their path. It groaned and squealed, finally giving way from their combined might and revealing an
opening big enough for them to crawl through.
The vampire zipped through first, shouting behind him, “All clear, come on!”
Safely back on the factory floor, Snod began to approach the vampire again.
The vampire watched him warily, saying, “Remember our bargain. We’re done, right? You’ll leave
the city?”
Snod couldn’t stop thinking about what it had felt like to be inside him, the lovely sounds he made, or
the way his eyes fluttered as he came. He knew it couldn’t happen again, and no one could ever find
out. His memories would have to be enough to last a lifetime.
“Yes,” Snod said abruptly. “I’m going to go.”
“Wait,” the vampire said, almost frantic, speeding over to Snod’s side.
Snod blinked, licking his lips slowly. “What?”
The vampire bit the end of his finger, gently rubbing blood over the puncture marks he had left on
Snod’s neck. “Yeah, probably wanna get rid of those first,” he said with a smirk, stepping away.
Snod touched his neck, surprised to feel the wounds had vanished. He knew vampire blood was
powerful, but healing like that was astounding. There was so much they didn’t know about these
creatures.
“I never asked,” Snod said quietly. “What’s your name?”
“Are you serious?” The vampire laughed. “Wow. You really wanna know that now?”
“Yes,” Snod replied simply.
The vampire stared Snod down with those impossibly green eyes, debating for a long moment.
Finally, he said, “Francis Barnaby Temple. But you can call me Frankie.”
Snod nodded, a flicker of a smile curling his lips. “Frankie.”
The vampire stuck out his hand, saying, “Nice to meet you, Obadiah.”
Snod shivered when their hands met, resisting the desire to pull him back into his arms. “Nice to meet
you, too, Frankie.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way or anything,” the vampire said with a nervous chuckle, “but I really
hope I never see you again.”
Snod smirked. “Don’t worry. You won’t.”
“We’re not all monsters,” the vampire said with a wistful smile. “I hope, if nothing else, you
