Page 117 of Only Fangs

“So without further ado, let me announce the winner of Best New Dating App.” The MC has an envelope which he opens and then he makes a shocked Pikachu face. It’s the same schtick he’s pulled for all the other categories and it’s definitely old by now. “I think I’ll be signing up to this one. The winner is Only Fangs.”

What? Did we just win? I turn to Brody and, judging by the look of shock on his face, yes, we won. I take his hand and pull him towards the stage, past the tables of other guests, a blur of faces clapping for us. A few people congratulate us on the way and I feel like the world is tilted off balance.

Standing on the stage, looking out at a sea of strangers, holding a small glass trophy, I realise what this means.

“We actually did it,” I lean in to whisper into Brody’s ear.

“Of course.” He drops a light kiss onto my lips. “I always had faith in you.”

“In us,” I correct him.

Back at our table, the three girls from the cosmetic company leap up to hug us and squeal over the glass award in the shape of a tear drop. “This will be us next year, ladies,” one of them says.

I sip my champagne and take a moment to breathe, to take it all in. But then I remember something. I whip my head round to Brody. He’s staring at his phone and I nudge him to get his attention.

“Do you remember what you promised me last night?” I ask. “If we won the award?”

He doesn’t say anything, just hands me his phone. On the screen is the website for Dogs Trust.

“You really mean it?”

“I have one condition,” he says, his tone serious. “Pick a good one.”

“They’re all good dogs, Brody.”

His face splits into a grin. “Well then, I guess we’re getting a dog.”

I kiss him hard on the lips. “I love you.”

Chapter 62

Brody

Ileave Ari on the dance floor with the girls from the makeup app. The secret act was not Ed Sheeran. Instead it’s some K-Pop idol I’ve never heard of, but apparently his songs are pretty catchy and everyone’s having a good time. Ari is dancing around like a lunatic, hopped up on champagne and the fact we’re getting a dog. Who knew it would take something so simple to make her so happy?

Our hotel room overlooks Hyde Park and I take a moment to enjoy the view of the moon turning all the trees to silver. I still can’t quite believe we made it. That I’m here tonight, with Ari, winning an award. I shouldn’t waste too much time up here, I need to celebrate with my girlfriend. But there’s something I need to do first.

The summoning incantation goes off without a hitch and soon there’s a huge leather clad man in my suite.

“Fancy hotel,” Victor says as he looks around. “I hope this means what I think it does?”

“It does,” I say and hand over a small box. It’s about the size of my phone but it’s heavier than it looks at just under one and a half kilos.

“You really did it, huh?” Victor opens the box and peers at the gold bars inside.

“I won’t bore you with how hard it is to take money from a legitimate company and convert it into gold to repay a demon loan, but let’s just say I’m now an expert in anti-money laundering legislation.”

Victor laughs and then puts the lid back on the box.

“There is one other thing,” I say. “I’ve been doing some research.” In truth, a lot of research, mainly involving an almost forgotten corner of the University of Exeter library. “I think I found something.”

He stares at me, his silver irises glinting in the artificial light of the room. “Whisper,” he says, taking a step towards me.

“True love can break the curse,” I tell him and then step back to study his face.

He smiles, but there’s a sadness to it. “Who could love me?”

I pick up my iPad from the coffee table next me and unlock the screen. I turn it to show Victor. The logo is black and silver.

Horny Devils.

“Our next venture.”

I don’t tell Victor about the other thing I found, buried in an archive of letters between an Augustinian nun who lived in the Priory at Abbotskerwell and her sister. It tells of a terrifying night when the sister witnessed her husband being set upon by a group of fanged men.

The letter continued. He has not been the same since. His temper grows and he has an insatiable appetite for raw meat. I fear he is turning into one of them.

Mary wrote those words to her sister in 1895.

If they are true then vampires can be created and not just born.

If they are true then maybe I can become one of them.

Maybe I can spend forever with Ari.