Descending Son by Scott Shepherd

Author:Scott Shepherd
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Mystery, Horror, Vampires, Thriller
ISBN: 9781477808733
Publisher: 47North
Published: 2013-10-28T17:00:00+00:00

Jess had promised to “make it right” and meant it. Of course, he didn’t have a clue how to do that. But he knew it would be impossible from a jail cell. If Thaddeus Burke had the chance, he wouldn’t hesitate to lock Jess away and forget where he put the key.

Jess got in the SUV’s driver’s seat. He shut the door and rooted around in his pants pocket for the car keys. He dug them out and started the ignition.

His father sprang up from the backseat.

Jess began to scream but Walter’s cold hand grabbed him by the throat.

“I warned you to leave this alone.” The Walter-thing’s voice was a crisp hiss laced with static.

A panicked Jess struggled in his father’s arms. He shoved an elbow into the vampire’s neck and wrenched away. Jess pulled out the crucifix and jammed it in front of Walter’s pale angry face.

The Civatateo swiped it away like it was a paper clip.

Jess moaned.

“Catholic superstition,” Walter snarled.

He leaned forward and Jess could see him clearly in the reflected moonlight. His white shirt was covered in blood, which no doubt had previously been in Edward Rice’s veins. There were plenty of splotches around the Civatateo’s mouth as well.

A horrifying smile emerged on his father’s face. He wiped some of the stray blood off his lip with a finger, and matter-of-factly placed it in his mouth. The slight slurping sound was the most unnerving thing of all. Jess desperately tried to hold onto his sanity. It wasn’t easy. Neither was trying to comprehend how he could be in the clutches of a monster and still be alive.

At least for now.

“Why did you kill Edward Rice?”

“He had to die.”

“Because he was going to tell me the truth?” asked Jess.

“Because he deserved it.”

The vampire’s voice was wrapped in gravel from an ancient burial ground. Jess felt like he was watching a robotic version of his father. Whatever remained of Walter Stark was in there somewhere, but buried way down deep.

“You were many things before—but never a killer.”

“I’m not what I was.”

Understatement of the year. “What do you want?”

“To be left alone.”

“And if I can’t do that? Leave it alone?” asked Jess.

Cold fury appeared in his father’s eyes. His mouth darted open, revealing the razor-sharp fangs.

Jess lurched back against the car window, smashing his head. The pain was secondary to absolute fear.

Walter hovered over his son. “I would reconsider. While I can still fight off the urge.”

Sirens sounded in the distance, giving Jess hope to survive one more night. He looked out the side window.

“Maybe this is a good time to all sit down and sort this thing out.”

But when Jess turned around, the back passenger door was hanging open and the Civatateo was gone.

At least he didn’t ask to be dropped somewhere, thought Jess.

Realizing he was on the edge of madness and hysteria, Jess leaned over and slammed the back door shut. He sped off in the opposite direction of the approaching sirens. As he made a right on the next street, he could see the squad cars pulling to a stop in front of Edward Rice’s house.

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