Page 50 of Starved Until Sunset

“Good evening.” His thick European accent made him sound like the Count Dracula character in so many black and white movies Demetrius had watched on TV as a kid.

“Aldrik?” Dr. Graham—Michael’s—voice was edged with fear.

With quick, lithe movements, Aldrik pulled his legs up out of the bag and swung them to the side. He hopped effortlessly off the stretcher and stood tall and strong beside it, the body bag now looking like some kind of evil, deflated balloon. He was nicely dressed in tan chinos and a blue button down shirt with the sleeves cuffed to show strong forearms. A small runner of blood from just above his hairline had dried along the side of his face.

“I simply had to join your little soireé, Michael,” Aldrik said, now with the same English accent as Michael. He looked as if he belonged there in Parson’s Hollow among the tourists, with his modern clothes and hair style. Except for the fangs. As if sensing their confusion, Aldrik turned to their group. He locked eyes with Demetrius a moment, and another shudder rattled through him as Cody’s grip tightened on his arm.

“My apologies for the theatrics,” Aldrik said. “I couldn’t resist the ridiculous accent. Too many old movies, I’m afraid.” He looked back at Michael and gestured to the runner of blood on his own face. “I had to fake my death in order to get to see you, Michael. I’m very hurt you’ve been in town for so long and haven’t once extended me an invitation to visit.”

“How did you know about this meeting?” Michael said. To Demetrius, he sounded quiet and submissive.

“Oh, I’ve been here long enough to have ears everywhere. It wasn’t difficult to learn of your Monster Club meeting tonight.” His smile showed the points of his fangs, and even though the morgue was quite cool, Demetrius felt a ball of sweat run down his side. “I’ve known you followed us here for quite some time now. You’ve been trying to root out my—how have you put it?” Aldrik squinted and looked up into a corner of the room. “Lair? Den?”

“Nest,” Zenona said, stepping toward Aldrik. Her fists were at her sides and her jaw thrust forward. “And it was my word, not Michael’s.”

“Zee, no,” Lucia whispered, holding a hand toward her but not looking away from Aldrik.

“Ah, the love interest.” Aldrik smirked as he looked her up and down, then he gave an exaggerated pout. “He’s had one of you in every town we’ve done this dance, you know.” Cocking his head, he crossed his arms and assessed her. “Dark hair and eyes, strong personality, smart and beautiful. My dear brother does have a type.”

“I’m not your brother.”

Demetrius was glad to see the flash of anger in Michael’s eyes, but fright followed soon after when he noticed something about the… Oh, no.

“Cody,” Demetrius whispered.

“Yeah, I don’t get it either,” Cody whispered back.

“No. Michael. He’s a⁠—”

“Vampire?” Aldrik said, pinning Demetrius in place with a look. “Yes, Mr. Singleton, he is.”

“All right. Stay the fuck away from us,” Cody said. “Both of you.”

“It’s not like you think,” Michael said, holding out his hands. “I’m here to help.”

“He is,” Zenona said, turning to look at them. “He’s come here to stop him.”

There was a blur of movement too fast for Demetrius to follow, and the sounds of a quiet struggle. A moment later, he was startled to discover Aldrik was now on the opposite side of the room near one of the autopsy tables. He had an arm around Zenona’s waist, holding her tight against him, and his other hand on the side of her head, tipping it slightly. His face was just visible over her shoulder, mouth open to allow his fangs to graze the skin of her exposed throat as he fixed Michael with a wicked leer.

“No!” Michael said, holding out both hands. “Don’t hurt her.”

“Oh, but she smells so good. “All that rich, Mediterranean heritage pumping through her body.”

“Let her go,” Lucia ordered, gun aimed at him and Zenona.

“Or what, Deputy Durant? You’ll shoot me?” Aldrik looked back at Michael. “I do hope you train this group better than you did the last few. While there’s nothing I love more than a free meal, it does get tiresome when there’s no challenge if I’m being forced to play with my food.” He looked at the group of them and a malevolent smile curled his lips. “You have no idea how many I have turned since I was invited to your idyllic small town. And now that Father’s come to visit, you can expect your streets to run red with blood. Father’s appetite is a thing of legend, and he isn’t patient enough to drink slowly and turn people. He never did like having too full of a house at the holidays.” Aldrik nipped gently at Zenona’s neck, making her flinch and cry out. “Happy Halloween.”

Another blur of movement, which ended with the flapping of the stainless steel doors behind them. Demetrius heard a quick scream from Zenona echo back to them down the tiled hallway, and then everything was silent.

“No!” Michael zipped past them and out the doors as well.

“What the fuck?” Cody said.

“Zenona!” Lucia ran out into the hallway, followed closely by Deputy Walsh.

“What the fuck just happened?” Demetrius said, pressing himself against Cody’s back and taking comfort from his tall, strong frame.

The doors flapped open again and Michael stood there with a stricken expression and wide eyes.