I loaded up the crossbow and grabbed a Molotov cocktail out of the trunk and started back toward the mansion. As I approached, the figure disappeared from the window.

It was starting to rain again, I was in no mood for cat-and-mouse shit. The pills I took had worn off hours ago. I was almost sober and pretty pissed about it. I’d started marching up to the front door when I spotted a garage door opening to my right. A second later a sleek black sports car came roaring out. The fucking vampire was making a run for it. In a shitty new car.

I ran back to the Nova. Mo’Lock was in the back with the babies.

I yelled, “Hold on!”

The sports car had a decent head start but the Nova could tear it up. I stepped on the gas and went speeding down the narrow, winding hill streets. It was so narrow two cars couldn’t pass, one had to pull over to let the other by. I prayed I didn’t turn a corner and see anybody coming because it was pretty unlikely I could stop in time, let alone move over.

I caught up to the black car where the road hit Sunset Boulevard. It ripped out into traffic, almost hitting several cars, and went left where it was busy. I sped into the street and fishtailed as I turned. The streets were still wet and oily from the rain.

I weaved in and out of traffic chasing the black car. In the back the ghoul held the bundles and begged for me to slow down. I was amazed. The babies didn’t cry.

At Laurel Canyon, the Nosferatu made an abrupt left, skidding around the corner and speeding up the hill toward the valley. It was a two-lane street. I had to weave into oncoming traffic to stay with the sports car. After two near head-on collisions, I caught up to the black car and I rode its ass hard.

We came to the top of the hill on the valley side. The sports car went right onto Mulholland Drive. I was right there. Next to me was the crossbow. I rolled the passenger-side window down, almost crashing, and steered straight and around until I was side by side with the black car. I was in the oncoming lane again. I reached for the crossbow but before I could fire, a car appeared, headed straight toward me. I jammed on the brakes, fell back, and got behind the sports car again.

I looked. It was clear. I gunned the Nova and sped into the oncoming lane and right beside the driver’s side of the black sports car. The Nosferatu drove, glancing over at me.

I aimed and fired and hit him right in the fucking face. He lost control of his car as he faded to ash and swerved (thankfully) right and veered off the road into a steep embankment.