Bloodsucking fiends: a love story

Peary, "I'm sure of it. If she survived her mother, she can survive anything."
    She heard steam rushing through pipes, rats scurrying in shredded paper, the spinnerets of spiders weaving webs, the footsteps of a heavy man, and the padding and panting of dogs. She opened her eyes and looked around. She was on her back on the basement floor, alone. Cardboard boxes were scattered about the room. Moonlight and sounds of movement spilled through the broken window.
    She got up and stepped up on a crate to look out the window. She was met by a yap and a snort and the growling countenance of a bug-eyed dog with a pan strapped to his head.
    "Ack!" She wiped the slime from her cheek.
    The Emperor fell to his knees and reached through the window. "Oh goodness, are you all right, dear?"
    "Yes, I'm fine. I'm fine."
    "Are you injured? Shall I call the police?"
    "No, thank you. Could you give me a hand?" She would have leaped through the window, but it wasn't a good idea in front of the Emperor. She took his hand and let him pull her through the window.
    Once on her feet in the alley, she dusted off her jeans. Bummer had fallen into a yapping fit. The Emperor picked up the little dog and stuffed him into his oversized coat pocket.
    "I must apologize for Bummer's behavior. There's no excuse for it, really, but he is a victim of inbreeding. Being royalty myself, I make allowances. If it's any consolation, it was only on Bummer's insistence that we ventured down this alley and found you."
    "Well, thanks," Jody said. "I don't know exactly what happened."
    "Check your valuables, dear. You've obviously been accosted by some ne'er-do-well. Perhaps we should find you some medical attention."
    "No, I'm just a little shaken up. I just need to get home."
    "Then please allow me and my men to escort you to your door."
    "No, that's okay. My loft is just at the end of the alley."
    The Emperor held up his finger to caution her. "Please, my dear. Safety first."
    Jody shrugged. "Well, all right. Thanks." Bummer was squirming and snorting inside the Emperor's buttoned pocket like – well, like a pocketful of dog. "Can he breathe in there?"
    "Bummer will be fine. He's just a bit overexcited since we've gone to war. His first time in the field, you know."
    Jody eyed the Emperor's cruelly pointed wooden sword. "How goes the battle?"
    "I believe we are closing in on the forces of evil. The fiend will be vanquished and victory will soon be ours."
    "That's nice," Jody said.
    When Tommy heard her coming up the stairs he threw his book across the room, ran to the loft door, and yanked it open. Jody was standing on the landing.
    "Hi," she said.
    Tommy was torn between taking her in his arms and pushing her down the steps. He just stood there. "Hi," he said.
    Jody kissed him on the cheek and walked passed him into the loft. Tommy stood there, trying to figure out how to react. "Are you okay?" Once he was sure she wasn't hurt, he'd tear into her for staying out all day.
    She fell onto the futon like a bag of rags. "I had a really bad night."
    "Where were you?"
    "I was in a basement, about half a block from here. I would have called, but I was dead."
    "That's not funny. I was worried. They found a body out front last night."
    "I know, I saw the cops all over the place outside, just before dawn. That's why I couldn't get back."
    "The cops had my copy of On the Road in an evidence bag. I think I'm in trouble."
    "Was your name in it?"
    "No, but obviously my fingerprints were all over it. How did it get there?"
    "The vampire put it there, Tommy."
    "How did he get it? It was here in the loft."
    "I don't know. He's trying to freak us out. He's leaving the bodies near us so the police will connect us to the killings. He doesn't have to leave bodies at all, Tommy. He's killing these people in a way that leaves evidence."
    "What do you mean, he doesn't have to leave bodies at all?"
    "Tommy, come here. Sit down. I have to tell you something."
    "I don't like the tone of your voice. This is bad news, isn't it? This is the big letdown, isn't it? You were with another guy last night."
    "Sit down and shut up, please."
    Tommy sat and she told him. Told him about the killing, about the body turning to dust, and about being dragged into the basement.
    When she had finished, Tommy sat for a moment looking at her, then moved away from her on the futon. "You took the guy's money?"
    "It seemed wrong to throw it away."
    "And killing him didn't seem wrong?"
    "No, it didn't. I can't