Page 44 of Starved Until Sunset

“Go home. Now that we’re down two men, I need you back here tomorrow.” His expression softened slightly and, Demetrius thought, turned a little sad. “Make it ten o’clock. You’ve had a long night, I know.”

They watched him go, climbing the stairs slowly, as if every step took effort. When he closed his office door behind him, they turned to go. Once outside, Cody shot a look toward Shrieky Pete’s motorcycle.

“What the hell is wrong with that guy? One of his team is missing with just a puddle of blood left behind, and he’s more cantankerous than ever.”

“You heard him,” Demetrius said. “He’s stressed out now that almost half his team is out of commission.”

“Yeah, but, come on. Show a little compassion.”

“There might have been a change in his wife’s condition, too.” Cody grunted in response.

They got into Cody’s truck and as he drove them through the downtown area, the garland lights twinkling. Demetrius was surprised at the number of people on the sidewalks. No business was open this late, not even Hollow Grounds coffeeshop, but small groups of people walked up and down Main Street, talking and laughing. Some took selfies by the lamp posts he and Cody had decorated days before. Many of them took turns posing by the sculpture the town had commissioned to memorialize everyone lost on a full moon years ago during the werewolf uprising.

“Fucking tourists,” Cody said with a snarl. “We live here and fight to keep people alive, and they come here and glorify the things we go up against.”

“Yeah, I don’t like it either.” Demetrius couldn’t help a big yawn. “Hopefully it’s bringing in enough revenue to make it worthwhile.” He yawned again. “What a day. I’m so tired.”

“Me, too.” Cody’s voice was ragged with exhaustion.

Once they arrived home, Cody went to shower and Demetrius put together a bowl of bruised fruit he’d bought at a discount from Ike’s Market for Trevor. He filled it halfway with water and carried it outside, pausing just beyond the side door to check the night sky. Nothing threatening appeared to be circling overhead, no tall, pale figure with wings and no cloud of bats, so he continued out into the yard. Trevor wasn’t in his shelter, which didn’t really worry him. He was a raccoon, after all, and liked to forage. Demetrius left the bowl just inside the door of the shelter, and turned back toward the house. A tall figure stood in the driveway, and he jumped. His heart raced and tingles ran up his spine and across his skull. Seconds later, he realized it was Cody, and let out a shaky breath.

“You scared me,” Demetrius said.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to. I didn’t want you to be out here on your own.”

Demetrius put his arms around him. Cody hugged him tight, and the warm, familiar feel of his body helped slow Demetrius’s racing heart. Cody smelled of body wash and fabric softener, and it caused a swell of emotion inside him. Cody smelled and felt like home.

“What’s going on around here?” Demetrius said into Cody’s shoulder. “This time?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”

“Neither do I.”

Demetrius looked up, happy when Cody leaned down to give him a soft kiss.

“I’m wiped,” Cody said. “You ready for bed?”

“Just need to shower. I’ll be right there.”

Once Demetrius finished showering and had brushed his teeth, he double checked the doors were locked then quietly entered the bedroom. Cody lay on his side facing the wall. Demetrius made sure he’d set an alarm on his phone and plugged it in before sliding into bed. He put his arm around Cody and smiled when he pressed back against him. It wasn’t often Demetrius was the big spoon, and he tightened his arm slightly around Cody’s chest.

He pushed the fear and terror of the evening to the back of his mind as he focused on the immediate and more important things: the feel of Cody beside him, the comfort of the mattress they were still paying off, the familiar sounds of their home in the night. He drifted off to sleep and dreamed he stood in the middle of Main Street while terrible creatures swooped down around him and grabbed up those he loved. Faceless groups crowded the sidewalks, talking and laughing and taking photos as each person he cared about was snatched away.

He awoke with a jerk and a gasp. It was still dark, but he’d rolled away from Cody at some point, and was chilled because he’d also kicked off the covers. His heart pounded, and his mouth was dry and sour. The mattress dipped as Cody rolled toward him. A big arm slid around Demetrius’s waist and tugged him in tight against the long, strong length of him.

“Okay?” Cody whispered, voice slurred and scratchy with sleep.

“Better now,” Demetrius whispered back.

Cody kissed his ear, whispered, “Love you,” then settled back into sleep.

Demetrius’s heart steadily slowed, and he placed a hand over Cody’s, amazed as always at the size difference. He stared into the darkness surrounding them and tried to will himself back to sleep.

Demetrius slid into the booth at Margie’s and sighed. He hadn’t slept well, and he felt he was dragging himself through the day. Cody sat across from him, looking a little less tired, but equally stressed.

“Scraping up roadkill,” Cody grumbled as he glared out the window. “Again.” A group of tourists wearing headbands with werewolf ears walked past, talking and laughing. “And there goes another fifty bucks worth of trinkets and trash.” He turned back to Demetrius. “I still say we deserve a cut of all the profits this town makes.”

“Parson’s Pharmacy can’t keep the authentic imitation silver bullet charm bracelet and necklace in stock,” Demetrius said.