‘Sure. If we meet one, I’ll hold him down, and you lift his kilt.’
Floss giggles, and I laugh too, ushering them out of the flat and shutting and locking the door behind us. As we head down the stairs and out into the mysterious fog, I’m already planning which late-night pubs I’ll take them to for luring drunken punters; and my favourite shady graveyards, where we can loiter for fun during the day. There’s a definite lift in my step and a buoyancy in my being now. In fact, I feel happier and more hopeful than I have in centuries. All because of these new vampire friends showing up on my doorstep.It feels like I’ve known these girls forever.
Chapter 30
Will | London, present day
Is Alexander an idiot? Perhaps he’s so busy compelling the others to freeze that he’s forgotten about me. Or he thinks I’m inconsequential? Whatever the reason, I can move. So as Floss shuffles towards his outstretched hand, move I do, stealthily. But not to her. To Hester.
She has her eyes shut tight. ‘Kiss me,’ I whisper in her ear.
Her eyes fly open, and I can see she gets it. Without hesitation, she puckers up, and I place a soft kiss on her lips. The change is instantaneous, a spark lighting a fire that inflames my entire being with rage. But this time, I have a new mark.
In a flash of green scales, I rear up and launch across the room with my fangs bared, knocking Floss out of the way in the process. I quickly wrap myself around Alexander’s body like the boa constrictor I am. Squeezing, contorting, hissing in his ear. Then I tighten slowly, unmercifully, until I hearhis bones crack. Vaguely, I hear Sadie screaming, ‘Get the stake! Get the stake!’ So I must’ve interrupted Alexander’s control over them, but I’m too focused on the gurgling sounds he’s making. Oh, is he trying to talk? Hissing in glee, I loosen my tight hold around his throat to hear what he has to say.
‘Let. Me. Go. Asshole,’ he chokes.
How rude! And annoying. I don’t think I want to hear any more of that kind of talk. I resume squeezing his throat. Then Alexander’s body jerks sharply. Tongue flicking, I angle my head to see the stake I fashioned out of a toilet plunger poking out of his chest.
Ah, my lovely Hester has done the job. And well aimed too since she’s managed to angle it in between the coils of my body. I flicker my tongue out at her in approval, and she grins at me. Oh yes. This piece of shit is going down.
Literally.
Being staked in the heart means that Alexander isn’t dead, but he no longer has any powers or any control over his body. He crumples like a stack of cards, taking me with him. We smash to the floor in a cloud of glitter. Oooof! I attempt to wriggle from around him, but now I’m pinned by a staked vampire. I hiss in distress until I feel my body being gently unwound from around his. Hester drapes me over her shoulders and strokes my scales, and we have a moment.
Oh my god, Will. You were amazing. My hero!
She chucks my chin and kisses the top of my pointy head. My slitty eyes close briefly, enjoying the praise.My pleasure. What’s happening now?
Check it out,she tells me.
I undulate my head from breast height, feeling pleased with myself, surveying the scene. Damian and Elliott are crouched on either side of Alexander while Sadie holds his head, and Floss is stabbing him repeatedly in the neck with her Swiss Army knife until he’s lying in a pool of blood and pink glitter.
Damian puts a hand on Floss’s arm. ‘I think that’s enough, babe.’
‘Is he drained?I want him drained!’she cries, and I don’t blame her. She was seconds from death, and she wants to be 100 per cent sure this bastard isn’t coming back to haunt her any time soon.
But from the gaping wounds in his throat, the river of blood creeping over everyone’s shoes, and Alexander’s sightless eyes, it’s all over by the shouting.
‘He’s drained, babe. He’s gone.’
Damian takes the knife from Floss’s hand and helps her up. She collapses into his arms, whimpering.
‘My brave, brave girl. It’s all over now,’ Damian murmurs, stroking her back with a blood-streaked hand.Elliott hugs Sadie too—after she gives Alexander’s body a couple of swift kicks with her stiletto. I nestle my way into Hester’s hair, needing comfort myself, and she cuddles me. As best you can cuddle a snake.
‘Guys, this is all very touching, but we should celebrate later. We have to get out of here before anyone notices Alexander’s missing,’ says Elliott, breaking the moment. ‘Otherwise, we’re going to have a load of horny vampires after us.’
I tickle Hester’s ear with my tongue, making her giggle, as we head to the bathroom.
‘Kinky,’ says Sadie, sounding a bit envious.
Floss is a shaking mess, but she manages to fly Sadie down into the garden since she’s wearing high heels. The guys and Hester clamber down unassisted. I’m last, and I slither down the drainpipe. I’m expecting a quip, but no one says anything. I think they’re all a bit in awe of me.
But I don’t want to be a hero.
I want to change back into human form.
Yet try as I might, I can’t manage it. Perhaps I’m too stressed or traumatised. Hester carries me on her shoulders again, and we creep around to the front of the building. But when we get there, we find the place is in an uproar. Lingerie-clad women are piling out of the brothel en masse, stumbling down the street in their high heels—crying, laughing, and clutching at one another now thatAlexander’s enthrallment has been severed.
