Chapters (42)
- DEDICATION
- EPIGRAPH
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- ALSO BY RICHARD KADREY
- CREDITS
- ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Steve put a hand to his forehead. “Where did you lose it?” he said.
“I didn’t exactly lose it,” Jerry said. “I had to give it to some vampires.”
Steve sat down on his desk. Jorge shook his head.
“Son, there’s no such things as vampires.”
Jerry went over to where his father sat. “You weren’t there. They sure seemed like vampires.”
Steve crossed his arms like when Jerry was six and trying to explain how broccoli was poisonous. “Really? What do vampires seem like?”
“They had fangs. And there were a bunch of them.”
“These are big vampires, I’m guessing?”
“Not exactly.”
“Medium? Were they medium-size vampires?”
“Sort of little. Like Girl Scouts, but with fangs.”
Jorge laughed.
Steve looked into Jerry’s eyes. “Are you on drugs? It’s okay. You can tell me the truth. I love you and we’ll find you a doctor.”
Jerry took a step back. “No, Dad. I’m not on drugs. You weren’t there. They were vampires. It’s where I saw Coop and that Giselle lady. In that magic place I told you about. Jinx Town.”
Jorge went over to Steve. Jerry heard him whisper, “We don’t have time for this shit.” Steve nodded.
“Jerry. I’m not mad. But I’m very disappointed. That was a sacred object I entrusted to you.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“We still need a silver dagger for the ceremony.”
“I know.”
“Do you? Do you know what this is going to call for?”
Jerry looked at his father. Visions of human sacrifice swam in his head. “No. What does it call for?”
“It means I’m going to have to call your mother and have her get Grandma’s good silver out of storage. There’s a carving knife in there that might work all right. But this is demonic blood we’re talking about. If it won’t clean off the silver, you’re the one who has to explain to your mom. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.” Standing there, head down, Jerry wasn’t sure what scared him more: a one-ton tusked and red-eyed monster from another world or the silent treatment from his mom if he messed up Grandma’s silver. For the first time in a long time, Jerry crossed his fingers that everything was going to work out and the world would end soon. At least a boar would kill him quick. Mom could draw out being mad for a long, long time.