The Devouring by Simon Holt

Author:Simon Holt
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Young adult fiction, Legends, Fiction, Myths, Other, Supernatural, Pets, Siblings, Dogs, Fables, Brothers and sisters, Nature, Horror, JUV001000, Horror & Ghost Stories, Social Issues, Animals, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, Emotions & Feelings, Family, Action & Adventure, General, Horror stories, Fear
ISBN: 9780316035736
Publisher: Little, Brown
Published: 2008-09-01T04:16:16.395094+00:00

13

Aaron wanted to hang on to his copy of the book that night, but offered to print one out for Reggie later. When Eben dropped her off at home, she raced up to the bathroom, stripped down, and let the steaming water hammer at her, as if it could wash away the horrifying memories of the Vour in the basement and of Eben spewing blood.

Back in her room, she eyed the volumes on her bookshelf: the abominations of Lovecraft, the creatures of King, Stoker’s seductive vampirism, Poe’s deathly plots. She and her mother had read half of them together for bedtime stories, her mother’s voice giving life to all of the horrible, beautiful monsters.

“I sure hope I’m not turning you into a paranoid neurotic reading you this stuff,” Mom would say, seated in the chair by Reggie’s bedside.

“Don’t stop now, Mom. It’s getting good!”

“It doesn’t scare you?”

“Well ... a little bit.”

“Hmmm, I guess that could be a good thing.” Mom laughed. “That you’re not scared of being scared. Maybe you won’t grow up to be a wuss like me.”

“You’re not a wuss, Mom.”

“In some ways I am.”

“Like how?”

“Well, sometimes when things scare me, I want to turn and run away. But not you. You get in the face of what scares you.” She poked a finger in Reggie’s cheek. “You’re a little Mithri-dates.”

“Miss Who?”

“King Mithridates.” Mom put the book aside. “Mithridates became a king when he was just a boy. His greatest fear was that someone would poison him to steal his throne. So he gathered up every poison that grew in the kingdom, and as the years went by, each day he ate a tiny bit of one — wolfsbane, deadly nightshade, hemlock, snake root — a different poison every day to strengthen himself against their effects. Three times in his reign traitors poisoned him, but they couldn’t kill the king. In a way, he conquered his fear by making it part of him. Like what we do with the books.”

“Is that true?” Reggie had asked, wide-eyed.

Mom nodded.

“I tell the tale that I heard told. Mithridates, he died old.”

Reggie stared at the empty chair, wishing she could go back to those times, if only for a moment.

“So, Mom, got any more words of wisdom?” she asked aloud. “Maybe something on killing Vours? If you do, feel free to call, anytime.”

She got into bed, pulled the covers around her, and fell asleep, wondering if she could ever do what Jeremiah’s sister had done.

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