Page 61 of Dark Obsession

“Enough!” Marlowe roared, silencing them. But her escalation seemed to excite the others even more, and they pressed forward a few feet.

“We need to go,” Demetrius said.

“Yep, like yesterday,” Cody said, standing in front of him and Zenona. He looked at Andy. “Leave. Now.”

“Fuck you.” Andy glared at Demetrius and Zenona. “Fuck all of you.” He flipped off the vampires staring him down then pushed out the door.

Before the door had a chance to swing closed, the two vampires by the pool table, Jordan and Leo, charged it. Marlowe swung, connecting with Jordan’s chest. Demetrius heard the hard crack of breaking bone and the sizzle of burning flesh as the vampire flew back across the room, screaming in pain.

Leo dodged the blow and streaked out the door. Before it swung shut, Demetrius heard a high-pitched, terrified scream that made his blood turn cold.

“Get out,” Marlowe said, backing toward them. “Both of you.”

“We’re not leaving Zenona,” Demetrius said.

“I’ll guard her,” Marlowe said. “But I can’t protect all of you. Go!”

Demetrius looked up at Cody, and saw his indecision reflected back.

“Go,” Zenona said, barely lifting her head from the floor. “I’ll be fine. Get out.”

The group was closer now, starting to sidle around them. Their eyes burned red and their mouths hung open, exposing their fangs. If the group continued moving as they were, they would cut off any chance of escape.

He looked down at her. “I don’t want to leave you.”

She tried for a smile, but it was more of a grimace. “Go. They know me. Won’t hurt me.” Her right hand fluttered, patting at her jeans. “Key.”

“How will you⁠—?”

“For fuck’s sake, take the keys and get out of here,” Marlowe snarled, still brandishing her weapon. “I’ll get her home.”

Demetrius checked with Cody, who gave him a series of quick nods before saying, “Let’s go.”

With an apologetic expression, Demetrius said, “Sorry,” and slid his hand into the front pocket. He and Zenona had grown up, commiserated about Cody, and fought horrifying monsters together, but slipping his hand into her pocket felt wrong in so many ways. His fingertips touched the fob of her car key, and he pulled it and her house keys free. Still kneeling at her side, he said again, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she said, then another shudder ran through her. She gritted her teeth but managed a nod for him.

“Be careful,” Demetrius said, before Cody grabbed his hand and yanked him to his feet.

“Let’s go.”

Cody pulled him toward the door. Demetrius glanced back once, his stomach in knots, the skin across the back of his neck tight. The plastic fob was warm against his sweaty palm. Marlowe had adjusted her position, standing at Zenona’s side, holding the silver bar like a broadsword.

Outside, the humid air closed around them like a fist. Sweat slicked Demetrius’s scalp and back. Cody held his hand tight, striding fast toward the Subaru, forcing Demetrius to jog slightly to keep up.

He studied the fob, found the unlock button, and pressed it twice. The click of the locks opening along with the flash of the parking lights should have reassured him. But a figure stepped out from behind the Subaru in that moment, the flashing lights revealing a quick glimpse of his face. It was no one Demetrius recognized, and when Cody stopped dead in his tracks, he did, too.

“Ah, the Critter Catchers, at long last.” The man crossed his arms and leaned against the driver’s door. “Sounds like you really stirred things up in there.”

“Which one are you?” Cody said, still holding Demetrius’s hand, the skin of his palm warm and tacky.

The man grinned, his eyes burning red and moonlight dancing along his fangs. “I am Bastian.”

“That’s not at all pretentious,” Cody said. “We were just leaving, though, so if you don’t mind…”

“Leaving? So soon? The party’s just getting started.”

A woman came out from behind another car. Her curly blond hair framed a pale, heart-shaped face, and she wore a leather jacket and tight jeans. She snuggled in close against Bastian’s side as she stared at them.