Page 35 of The Shadow of the Count
“Damn it.” He wanted to deny it, to scream and cry, but the world had taught him better. “Then what do we do? We can’t just wait.”
“We wait for him to rise up, and then we kill him.”
Donnie closed his eyes. “How?”
“We drive a stake through his heart and remove his head.”
At Clark’s words, his legs collapsed. “No. No.”
“Yes. A stake through his heart and his head must be separated from his body.”
He was really gonna start hating Yvgeny.
“I won’t have it.” That was enough. More than enough, and Donnie simply would not have it.
“Donnie. You don’t have to be there.” That was Peter again, finally touching him.
“No. No, I won’t let you defile him, dammit.”
Clark stared at him, arms crossed. “What he will become will be worse, Donnie. It will be an abomination, and it will come after you and all of us.”
Donald looked to Douglas, then to Jeb. “You can’t let this happen.”
Jeb shifted his shoulders uncomfortably. “It ain’t my choice, Donnie. I’m not the one in the know. We’ll see what happens, I reckon. He tries to rise up, we got to put him to rest.”
“It’s not right. Douglas, this isn’t right. It isn’t.”
“None of it is, brother.” Douglas muscled everyone else out of the way, grabbing his shoulders as soon as he was close enough. Douglas stared into him, blue eyes so like his very serious. “I would do it for you, if I had to. He wouldn’t want to be a slave to this—whatever it is. It is no way to live.”
“Are we seriously discussing the desecration of a corpse?” Dr. Richard stared at them, one after another. “Demons are not real, men.”
He ignored the good doctor. “He was my friend.”
“Which is why we must help him, Don. The count’s women… They were no longer people.” Peter’s voice rang with a quiet horror. “They were beasts. Purely driven by hunger.”
“And by his hatred.” Yvgeny sighed. “I seem heartless, Mister Donald, but I am not. I am so, so sorry. But your friend…he will need us.”
“Now? Does it have to be now?” Lyle was barely laid to rest, and he was so tired.
“No.” Clark’s single word was a huge relief. “We will see if he rises tonight. Make sure that what I fear is true.”
He looked at Peter, begging for…something. Anything. Peter took his arm. “We’ll go to sleep. We have until night. Can someone send us some food?”
“I’ll have someone bring a tray,” Richard murmured. “Lyle’s family has said we may stay as long as we need to. Donnie, would you like me to stay with you?”
“Thank you, doctor, but I’ll make sure Don rests.” Peter spoke firmly, taking him by the arm. “Lead the way.”
He took Peter to his rooms, his whole body aching. His head and his heart hurt, and as soon as the door closed, he silently asked Peter to hold him.
Peter came to him immediately, holding him tight and rocking him. Somehow Peter’s arms felt stronger, his embrace more comforting. Or maybe he just needed it more.
Because he did.
“Kiss me, love. Please? I missed you so.”
Peter made a soft sound before pressing their lips together. This kiss wasn’t hesitant at all. No, it was hungry, wanton, and he melted into it.
His lover wanted him. Needed him. Peter had never been so forceful, and Donnie yielded happily, needing to be led and taken. Donnie needed to forget the horror that waited for them in a few short hours, to pretend that he and Peter were alone in all the world.
