Page 98 of Dark Obsession

“Cody!” Demmy shouted.

Cody turned in time to see one of the motorcycle riders from The Rusty Screw rushing toward him. The man moved vampire fast, but Cody could almost track him if he focused hard enough. Dropping to one knee, he pivoted away from Vicki, crushing a garlic bulb in his fist as he went. The vampire hit the counter above Vicki, denting the rounded, stainless steel edge and making Vicki scream. Cody saw the hem of the vampire’s t-shirt flap out, and he jammed his hand up beneath it, smearing garlic along the cold flesh of his torso. Smoke billowed out from the neck and bottom of the t-shirt, and the vampire screamed until Demmy drove the mop handle into his chest.

Both Cody and Vicki were coated in gunk. Vicki sputtered and coughed, and Cody quickly pulled her out of the corner and got her on her feet.

“Wipe that stuff out of your eyes. Don’t swallow it,” he said.

“What is it?”

“Vampire blood.”

“What?” Vicki opened her mouth as if she was about to scream again, but Cody gave her a gentle shake and she cut off.

“You need to run. Don’t look around, don’t stop, just go out the back and run to Memorial Park. Got it?” She nodded, and he pushed her toward the door to the dining area. “Run fast.”

She ran.

The tall steel door of the walk-in cooler across the room opened slowly, releasing a frosty cloud into the heat of the kitchen. Bastian stood just over the threshold, smiling. Beyond him, Cody saw Zenona sitting in a chair, head down and blood running down her neck. Her arms were behind her, and he figured she’d been tied up in some way.

Rage burned through Cody and he took a step forward as he said, “Motherfucker.”

“Uncouth, as usual.” Bastian stepped out and closed the door behind him. “She’s been in there for a while, so she’s really quite cold, as you can imagine. Honestly, though, I’m surprised you figured out my location at all.”

“We’re full of surprises,” Demmy said, coming up alongside Cody and realigning his grip on the makeshift stake.

Bastian cocked an eyebrow. “Yes, I’m beginning to realize that.” He went to the other end of the walk-in and put his hand on the top hinge. “Funny thing about these marvels of invention. They have emergency releases and safeguards to keep people from being locked in, but one hinge can make all the difference.”

He tightened his hand on the hinge and Cody heard the metal groan before something popped. Before he or Demmy could react, a shout from the dining area caught Cody’s attention. Bastian dropped his hand from the dented and slightly crumpled hinge and smiled at them.

“Oh, no. It sounds like your little brother might be in a bit of trouble now that more of my supporters have arrived. They’re fresh as daisies, which is more than I can say for your vampire cavalry of one, and they’re simply itching for a fight and a good, hot meal.”

Cody growled low in his throat, his hands clenching. His leg muscles burned for action, and he stood on the balls of his feet.

“Not going to rush out there to save him?” Bastian grinned. “So be it.”

He ran at them. Cody circled to the other side of the center workstation, watching through the open shelves as Demmy feinted to the left then dodged right and jabbed. Cody heard a quiet grunt, and Bastian stopped by the dishwasher, one hand on the counter and the other touching a spreading dark wet spot on his side gleaming under the lights.

“You’ve been sampling my product, I see,” Bastian said. “I believe I’m owed a payment.”

Another thump from out in the dining area, and a cry of pain. Cody glanced toward the pass through window, but all he could see was heads moving to and fro.

“Staying to face me down instead of saving your loved ones? How very off-brand for you.”

Bastian moved again, faster this time. He grabbed Cody by the throat and slammed him against the smooth metal of the walk-in. Cody kicked his feet as Bastian lifted him, the heels of his shoes banging against the door. He lashed out, his feet hitting Bastian’s body, but it was like kicking a cement wall. He gasped and choked, trying to pry Bastian’s fingers loose and slapping at his cold hand keeping him in place.

Demmy charged, but a shape jumped down from somewhere over Cody’s head, followed by another. Annie and another woman each took one of Demmy’s arms and hauled him across the kitchen until his back hit the side of the dishwasher. The mop handle clattered to the tiles. They leaned in on either side of him, dragging their tongues up the sides of his neck. Demmy shook his head to try and get them off, but it didn’t work. He grunted and struggled to pull free, but they were too strong for him.

Cody forced himself to abandon every natural impulse and dropped his hands to his sides. He stuck them into his pockets as he stared into Bastian’s furious expression, the sneer revealing his fangs and his eyes like burning embers. He skimmed his fingers over the dry skin of garlic bulbs but couldn’t find purchase. Shadows at the edge of his vision started to close in. His chest burned as his lungs screamed for air, and tiny lights flashed like fireflies within the creeping shadows. His sight and hearing narrowed to Bastian’s face, the heavy thump of his kicking feet, and Demmy screaming his name.

A bulb shifted slightly. He snagged it, clutched it tight, and pulled his hand free. His arms at least 500 pounds heavier than before, and it took everything he had left to bring both hands up. One clawed at Bastian’s hand around his throat, and the other rammed the garlic into the vampire’s mouth.

Bastian screamed and released him. Cody collapsed, hands at his throat as he coughed and choked, pulling air into his starved lungs. He lay propped against the walk-in, watching as smoke poured from Bastian’s mouth. The vampire tried to pull it out, but Cody had pushed it in deep, and he couldn’t quite get it.

The two women holding Demmy rushed to Bastian’s side. Annie stuck her fingers in Bastian’s mouth and shrieked when the garlic burned her as she tried to pull it free. Blood still glistened across the leather jacket where Lucia had shot her in the shoulder.

In a sudden splash, the other woman dissolved, revealing Demmy standing behind her, holding the mop handle. Annie hissed and ran off, the clink of buckles on her leather jacket the only sound.

Bastian whirled, side-arming Demmy and sending him flying across the kitchen. The makeshift stake flew out of Demmy’s hand. Cody tried to get up, but his legs went out from under him, and he slid down the cooler. The Fang seemed to be taking its sweet time helping him. He might be more injured than he thought. He gulped air, his throat burning, and leaned to one side in an effort to see Demmy.