Demon Night

“Charlotte, I told you there’s a big picture. Healing people is only part of it; that will help bring order, because fear of death drives men to irrational acts. The rest of it, however, will have to be done by example. But it’s difficult to be an example—or make examples—when you can’t obstruct human free will. That’s where vampires like Mr. Henderson come in.”
    She tried to meet the vampire’s gaze again. “So you’re going to be his hired thug? Listen to him—he’s an insane, twisted asshole. And you don’t look like the type of guy—”
    “What you don’t understand is that Mr. Henderson and every other vampire has abilities and gifts that a normal human can’t comprehend. It’s a blessed existence. But there is a drawback: bloodlust. It’s an affliction that forces them to…”
    “Fuck,” Henderson said in a low growl.
    “Mr. Henderson!” Dylan’s eyes flared brightly, illuminating the steering wheel and dashboard with crimson. “Charlotte, it’s better not to mention in polite company, but vampires, being forced to feed from each other, are forced to engage in other acts with their partners, as well. The bloodlust isn’t always so powerful, but when a vampire is as hungry as Mr. Henderson is, it just takes the other vampire desiring him to leave Mr. Henderson absolutely no choice in whether there is consummation. And whether the bloodlust forces full consummation or not, he’ll still experience…arousal.” Dylan’s mouth curled with disgust. “No one should be forced into an intimacy that they’d rather experience with a loved one, should they?”
    She didn’t know what to say. Agreeing with anything he said seemed like surrendering to all of it.
    “And vampires can only survive on blood from a living, non-animal source. But if Legion re-creates the property in living blood that nourishes them, and we can manufacture a substitute that they can drink from a bottle…that’s freedom . And that’s what Mr. Henderson here is looking for; that’s what so many vampires need. And that’s why Jane will continue her research even after she discovers the source of the blood…because she won’t want to see you so dependent on it, and forced into intimacy every night by the one who feeds you. None of the other scientists have their relatives, that’s for certain.”
    Charlie touched Henderson’s hand. It was clammy beneath her fingers, and she barely suppressed her shudder. “Do you really believe him? Any of this? He’s a demon .”
    “He has to, because the stakes have recently been upped. We aren’t the only demons in town—we’re just the only ones looking for a way back to Grace. Setting humanity on the right path will help us get there.” Dylan narrowed his eyes, his focus seeming to shift inward. “Well, I’ll be damned. Your hero is on his way, Charlie. This should be fun.”
    Ethan. She closed her eyes and sent him the image of the SUV with all of her might.

    The horrific visual of a nosferatu thrusting his huge body between Charlie’s legs, his fangs tearing at her neck, had slammed into Ethan only an instant after he’d felt the faint brush of Charlie’s mind—but the wavering image of the floating bridge had been enough to send him speeding toward it.
    The traffic was heavy approaching the bridge; he spotted the black SUV at the same moment the image bloomed behind his eyes. Hope and relief lay beneath Charlie’s fear, but they changed to horror a few seconds before Sammael’s voice traveled the same distance:
    “I guess we’ve no choice but to start now, Mr. Henderson. Just make certain not to touch her wrong.”
    God Almighty, no . Ethan dove. He’d be seen, but it didn’t matter much. Charlie’s hoarse cry filled his ears—his name.
    And then nothing.
    He hit the SUV’s roof, used the ski rack to pivot and kick at the windshield. His boot slid down the glass like it was buttered. His wings dragged with the speed of the vehicle—he vanished them, swung around and grabbed hold of the driver’s door handle. His arm wrenched with the force of his pull, but he might as well have been trying to move a mountain.
    The demon’s eyes gleamed brightly inside. The symbols had been scratched into the dash next to him, and three drops of blood reflected the crimson light.
    A hand slapped soundlessly against the window behind Sammael, grasping and frantically searching for something to hold on to.
    Charlie. The vampire’s fangs were in her