He scooted the leaning front door aside just enough for him to slip out onto the porch. The night air immediately wrapped him in a cold embrace, but he was too pumped with adrenaline to notice. What he did feel, however, were the eyes on him, unblinking, unrelenting, and he noted the increased number of undead gathered around the Shady Rest. There were at least thirty surrounding the porch, lining the front steps, and flanking the yard as well. He was the sole white man facing a tribe of late-show Indians, only these natives were long of tooth and glassy of eye. They became a gauntlet at the porch steps that he would have to pass. If only it were the late show, he wished. Tomahawks would be a welcome fate.

“Let the woman go,” he called to Danner.

“Now, now,” scolded the vampire. “This is my game. I make up the rules. Come here. Join us.” When Stiles didn’t move fast enough he tightened his hold on Billie and forced her to her knees. “Come here,” he barked, “or I drain her here and now!”

Begrudgingly Stiles began his walk. He crossed the porch and started down the steps.

Jack-o’-lanterns lined the way, ghoulish grinning faces that could barely hold back their carnal need for sustenance. Despite their master’s orders, some even grabbed for him, tearing his vest and shirt, raking his flesh with dirt-caked nails. One of them lunged too close and in reflex Stiles caught the groping arm and broke it. Then he swung at the accompanying leer and felt teeth shatter beneath his palm and then the whole mob seemed to fall on top of him. His only defense was to cover his head—blows rained down in torrents, hammering him to the ground, blinding him, filling his vision with starbursts and the shifting colors of pain. The mauling culminated quickly when he felt a singular body pin him to the ground and wrap cold arms around him. He could tell from the shape of the wriggling form that his attacker was female; from the scent of leather, that it was Georgetta Stovall. He felt her face burrow into his shoulder and keep moving, closer and closer and he tried to fight her off but he could not keep her teeth from finding his neck.