If the GPS was right, the old green camper was parked in front of the goal. And if the clock was right, all of Sally’s adventures had taken only an hour. She would almost certainly be first if she could just cross this last 20 feet or so.

But they could see nothing except slavering faces. “Can you get any closer to the door?” asked Sally.

“Sure, you show me where the fuck there’s a door and I’ll drive this thing right up to it.” Lavinia looked exasperated.

“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.” An idea formed. “Try this. Turn right and drive slow. We should go up on the sidewalk. The vamps’ll get out of our way. Keep going until the last ones in front of us disappear and we see the side of the building.”

Lavinia smiled, punched her shoulder. “Fucking brilliant. Alright, here goes nothing.”

She cranked the wheel as far to the right as it would go, then put the barest pressure on the gas pedal. They must have been almost on the curb already because the van instantly bumped upward, first the right tire, then the left. They would have hit any trees, hydrants or mailboxes in their way, but there were none.

The cold faces in front looked worried, which was the most beautiful sight Sally had ever seen. Bodies darted left and right, the space in front of them cleared, and Lavinia stomped on the brake just before they hit the side of the building. They both stared in disbelief at a window display in front of them: Spiderman, Superman, the Avengers, Batman, some green swampy character Sally didn’t recognize because she never read comics, a black-haired vampire woman with an ample chest. And a name: Fantasy Life Comix and Games.

This was the goal Bunt had chosen? He probably had some deal with the owner, probably drooled over the vampire woman with the huge tits. Lavinia snorted. “There’s some damn good comics out there, sophisticated visual storytelling. But I bet Bunt reads only the acne pimply supercrap.”

Sally shook her head. If this information helped her win, she was happy. Otherwise she couldn’t care less. But she saw how to get in. The door was in a recessed nook.

Excitedly, she said, “Can you pull this lady around so the van blocks off the door nook? Tight enough that the vampires can’t squeeze between? Then either the door is unlocked or I smash it open and either way, I’m inside.”

Lavinia nodded. “On it, kid. You’re good.” She backed and turned 90 degrees, crunching vampires behind them. Cold hisses turned to piercing shrieks. “Love it, you suckheads!” she bellowed and brought the side of the van up against the building. The glass door was recessed about three feet between display windows (the number in black-rimmed gold letters on the glass reassuringly matched the address in the GPS) and it seemed the camper filled the entryway. Lavinia positioned her door to open into the alcove.

She looked at Sally meaningfully. “You can crawl over me, kid.”

Sally found herself excited at the thought of being on all fours over Lavinia’s lap – and terrified that Lavinia would push her out to the vampires while she was helpless.

“C’mon, kid,” Lavinia said, “Anything’s gonna happen to you, it’s gonna happen to me too.” Then Sally understood the risk Lavinia was taking and her fear of betrayal fled, a flood of love (and fear of the opposite kind) rushing in to take its place.

She still had a wooden stake and the last vial of blood. Thanks to Lavinia, she had only a small bit of open space to cross. The van was tight against the building but there might be space between the roof of the van and the roof of the alcove.

Willingly she crawled onto Lavinia’s lap, felt those capable hands turn her face to the right for a kiss. Lavinia’s hands roamed down the curve of her back and stroked her upturned ass, making Sally quiver. Lavinia joined her index finger to her middle finger and, looking deliberately into Sally’s eyes, thumped Sally’s left buttock. Not a spank exactly, just checking out the territory. Sally felt a rush of heat but forced herself to shake her head. “Not now, I can’t, I want to…”

But the dark-haired mystery woman’s hands were back on her face, one finger against Sally’s lips. “Shhh. Go.” Glaring into Sally’s eyes, she added forcefully, “Come back.” Lavinia cranked down the window in several quick turns.

The space between camper and door stayed clear of vampires for the moment. Lavinia held up a hand and visibly crossed her fingers. Sally now wanted badly to throw her arms around Lavinia and kiss her but Lavinia hadn’t said she could. Not at all sure she should play this game right now, Sally said humbly, “May I kiss you, Mas—” Horrified, she stopped herself.

Lavinia saw it at once. “Whuh did you almost call me?” she asked, amused, the wide-open window at her elbow.

Sally shook her head fiercely, face burning. Lavinia smirked. “I’ll ask again later, and you’ll tell me. Right now, get outta here. No, you can’t kiss me, not now.” Suddenly a jolt went through them both as Lavinia jerked her elbow away from the window. “Shit!” Fortunately, the space outside was still clear.

Lavinia’s eyes were wide. Sally, thrown out of her desired role, put her arms around the older woman and Lavinia accepted the comfort. “Damn it kid, you’re a bad influence, I swear. I ain’t been this careless in…” Lavinia hugged her back. “Go, willya? Get this over with. Unless you wanna just head outta town with me now?”

Sally was warmed by the hopeful look on the beautiful face but shook her head. “I love my sister, even though she’s a pain in the butt,” she said. Then before she could think any more, she flip-rolled forward out of the window.

She did a 360 and her feet slapped black and white tiles. She felt a swish of cold air behind her neck and was horrified to hear Lavinia suddenly bellow. The momentum carried her to slam against the store’s front door.

Then an icy hand grabbed her foot.