Some people say there’s a fine line between right ‘n’
wrong. ‘Course they say the same about dark ‘n’
light, good ‘n’ evil, whatever they don’t understand
it seems.
Other’s say that there is no line, that good ‘n’ evil
are the flip sides of the same coin. They say there’s a
murky gray between night ‘n’ day, and chaos ‘n’
order are the opposite ends of some blurry spectrum. Time’s
a river, forever flowing, or a ring that just keeps loopin’ round
‘n’ round.
The grass is always greener…
A bird in the bush…
Life’s a bitch, then you die!
That’s the one seems t’ hold the most truth more often
‘n’ not. Me own life’s testimony t’ that.
Hasn’t been that bad I suppose compared with some, what with all
the shit I’ve survived. Hell, I lived through three wars
now- maybe four, I’ve never really been sure what that bit was
down in the Falklands. I lived through the realignment of the
bloody multi-verse ‘n’ the rise ‘n’ fall of
darkness all inna same year. I been down ‘n’ out more
times than I care t’ count, but somehow in the end I always
manage t’ get back on top again.
I’ve fought with the ultimate Evil, ‘n’ I’ve
chatted with the ultimate Good. I’ve rubbed shoulders with
angels ‘n’ demons alike. Hell I’ve even tumbled
a few once or twice. I’ve ‘ad me share…
Women I mean.
There’s been a few in me life. Some were little more
‘n’ a distraction I admit. But there were a few-
jus’ a few that really meant somethin’ to me.
‘Course it was those what hurt the worst. Ripped out me
‘eart ‘n’ spiked it on stiletto ‘eels,
laughin’ all the while. Had it comin’ most times I
suppose.
I’m jus’ good like that. Heh!
Fuckin’ birds…
Can’t live with ‘em…
Can’t live with ‘em. I’m
sittin’ on a bench overlooking the Thames on the Lambeth
side. Queen’s Walk down by the Galleries,
y’know? It’s a beautiful day. Fuckin’
gorgeous for London: warm ‘n’ dry ‘n’ the only
clouds in the sky are light ‘n’ fluffy like cotton. I
can see the folks walkin’ ‘cross the Blackfriar’s
Bridge, not a care in the world. The autos are rollin’
along smooth, no yellin’ or blarin’ horns. Even the
river’s sparklin’ blue with birds lolling about
‘n’ ships driftin’ lazily downstream.
It’s idyllic…
It’s so bloody nice in fact
that I know it can’t last. Me life jus’ don’t
work that way. Anytime somethin’ good comes along I
generally bollocks up the works somehow, either ignoring it all
together or using it or jus’ drainin’ it dry. I
don’t expect nothin’ t’ come of this, one nice
day. It’ll be over soon.
I reach for a Silk Cut but the
feelin’ holds. I change me mind ‘n’ give the
fag a rest. I don’t need it, long as the sun keeps
shinin’ ‘n’ the birds keep singin’. High
on life? I dunno…
I feel somethin’ on me
shoulder. For a second I expect pain but it doesn’t
come. It’s nice in fact, like everything else: warm and
soft. It smells nice.
I glance over, smilin’ like an
idiot ‘n’ see Kit leanin’ into me sharin’ the
bench, sharin’ the day. She looks beautiful jus’ like
everything else ‘n’ gives me one of those warm smiles that
melts me ‘eart when she looks up. Her eyes are dark
‘n’ wide as she stares at me, smilin’ like there was
no place on earth she’d rather be.
Jus’ like I’d always
hoped. Like I thought it would be in the end. I lean in
‘n’ give ‘er a thrill, but she thrills me more I
think. I’m all breathless all of a sudden when I hear her
sigh-
“I love you, John
Constantine.”
She stares up at me expectantly,
waiting. I stare back, trying to ‘old me smile in place as
I gaze into ‘er wide, warm eyes. I know what she wants,
what they all want from me…
A good life. A normal life away
from all the shit ‘n’ horror that makes me day. I
tried once upon a time. I really did, but it weren’t good
enough. Too little too late. Story of me life,
except…
Here was Kit, still waiting.
She smiled up at me, ‘n’ I knew it was me last
‘n’ final chance.
“I-“
Constantine…
Fuck!
I glanced over ‘n’ saw
some tall bloke dressed in a long black coat ‘n’ boots
makin’ my way. His skin was white, so was ‘is
‘air, ‘n’ a right wild mess that was. He looked
vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t quite place ‘im.
It’s coming,
Constantine. Stop it now, while you are still able…
I turned back to Kit, but she’d
gone cold, ‘er face a chalky white. I went t’ brush a
stray hair outta her eye and she crumbled like dust, jus’ fell
away blowin’ on the wind. There was a fog rollin’
down on the river, ravens picking at the bodies on the bridge, the
dead. Everyone was dead.
There is not much
time…
I stared at what was left of
Kit. I wanted t’ cry, but there’s no tears. I
try t’ talk, but I can’t. Me ‘ands scream with
pain as ‘er body sifts through me fingers. It all goes
wrong.
Constantine…
Everything…
Constantine-
“Constantine!
"C’mon, old man! Stay with me!”
I look up through bleary eyes and the tears finally come as I stare at
the bare bulb blazing from the ceiling overhead. Me ‘ead is
swimming as I try me best to focus, tryin’ to remember where I am
and jus’ what the fuck is going on…
Me arms are under me ‘n’ feel numb, but oddly still hurt
enough for me t’ tell. Me ‘ands are the worst,
burnin’ with pain ‘n’ I find I can’t make a
fist. Me mouth’s dry ‘n’ feels packed with
somethin’ satiny ‘n’ rank that soaks up me
spit. There’s somethin’ wrapped about me ‘ead
too, bitin’ into my skin ‘n’ pinchin’ me lips
together. My face is dry ‘n’ crusty, me lips chaffed
‘n’ it feels like I haven’t ‘ad a water
forever. Odd that, because I feel like I could piss like a
freight train.
I’m on the floor still I realize, sprawled on the moldy smelling
mattress where I’d last woke up, ‘n’ the time before
that. Still on the mattress, still in the cramped, shitty room
I’d found meself in the first time. It was smellin’
of shit ‘n’ urine now, of sweat ‘n’ sex
‘n’ Chinese Take-in grown sour. There was that rat
smell too, the smell of vermin runnin’ about.
I moan but the gag stifles me best efforts, whatever’s balled up
in me mouth ‘oldin’ down me thick tongue. I try
t’ move, but me ‘ands are still lashed behind me back
‘n’ the dog chain affixed t’ me ankle still
jangles. Nothin’s changed save the hour, maybe the day.
“C’mon, Constantine. What’ve you got for me
today?”
I glanced down me body ‘n’ saw an all too familiar head
a’ hair bobbin’ about me crotch. I knew right then
why I had t’ piss. It was a daily ritual now, what, two,
three days? I’d lost track in me windowless prison.
It’d been at least two days since April ‘ad bashed me
‘ead in with a brick ‘n’ drug me ‘ere from the
sewers. Long enough for the gashes on me ‘ands t’ get
infected. Long enough for me to get dehydrated ‘n’
delirious. I tried to kick, but the spirit wasn’t with me
‘n’ I jus’ groaned into me gag-
“Nnnnhh…”
April looked up all smiles on ‘er face. Her eyes were wide
‘n’ bright as she gave me a flash of teeth, flippin’
her hair outta her eyes as she leaned back on ‘er ‘eels.
“Mornin’, Luv. How’s my big boy t’
day?” She giggled as she ran a hand over me manhood,
laughin’ louder as I moaned ‘n’ squirmed at ‘er
touch. Her hands were soft, almost tender the way she cupped me
‘n’ played with me like a fiddle. She ‘ad the
touch right enough, ‘n’ there wasn’t a bloody thing I
could do but what was expected. Hell, I was three times ‘er
age at least, but right then it jus’ didn’t matter.
April bent down again ‘n’ I felt the warmth of her
tongue. I clenched me eyes, grittin’ me teeth into the gag
as she started in with the bites again. She knew what I liked
apparently, what got me hot, ‘n’ she wasn’t even
tryin’, not by ‘alf.
It didn’t take too long ‘fore I shot me wad. Despite
myself I moaned; it hurt and it felt bloody marvelous too, but after I
was through I collapsed back onto the mattress again spent
‘n’ achin’. Me ‘ead was spinnin’
again too, so I jus’ lay there breathing ‘ard through me
nose, tryin’ me best t’ gather what wits I ‘ad left.
I felt April May shift as she finished up after a bit,
swallowing. She wiped me down a bit as I’d soiled meself a
time or two since she’d chained me t’ the wall. She
was smiling at me when I looked, her eyes wide with wonder
‘n’ delight as she dabbed at me manhood with a ratty stiff
towel. There wasn’t an ounce a’ pity in ‘er
face, jus’ a strange kind of fascination as she grinned, cocking
‘er ‘ead t’ one side-
April stood ‘n’ tossed the towel t’ the side.
She was dressed casual-like, in tight denims and a Ministry tee shirt
that was tighter than the jeans ‘n’ showed her
mid-drift. Still smilin’, she walked across the room
‘n’ sat in the one chair, an old fold up job,
‘n’ crossed ‘er legs. She was watchin’
me, kickin’ a leg as she lit a fag. God I wanted a fag-
“You like this, don’tcha old man?” she asked, taking
a drag ‘n’ blowing the smoke just over me head. I
caught the scent, but the smoke drifted by out of reach, useless.
“Mary said you would. Said you like it rough. Fine by
me. Payback I figure.” She giggled and took a long
drag. I laid me ‘ead back again ‘n’ closed me
eyes watchin’ the world swirl on me eyelids whilst she prattled
on.
Me ‘ands were burnin’ from the infection, I’d slashed
a gash into me palms when I was slidin’ down the cable wire
outside me flat t’ get away from April’s friends. Me
‘ead was swimming, me eyes hurt from the glare of the thousand
watt bulb dangling forever right overhead. It was ‘ard
t’ think, but I did me best, ignoring the fact that I was lying
‘alf naked in me own excrement on a sodden mattress with me
trousers down about me ankles for the last- how long? Two
days? More I was starting to suspect.
I still dunno who this ‘Mary’ was, but from the bits
‘n’ pieces I’d gleaned I figured she was the new
ranking Vampire Queen. April’s friends were all leeches,
‘er little Bully Boy club that she’d started runnin’
with when I’d shut down the shit at ‘er old school
‘n’ got ‘er transferred t’ what I
thought’d be a better life. Should’ve known better I
guess. Should’ve kept me head in me own arse
‘n’ not worried about this little chippie. My mistake.
April tossed her butt on the floor ‘n’ crushed it out, a
quick turn of ankle when she stood ‘n’ walked out of the
room. I ‘eard ‘er rummaging about in the next,
‘eard the all too familiar sound of a pint bottle being
opened. She came back in a bit, drinkin’ hard from a long
neck Guinness as she stood over me. God I needed a drink.
Water-
April smiled, wiping ‘er mouth with the back of ‘er
‘and ‘n’ wiping that on ‘er jeans in
turn. She stepped right over me ‘ead, the sole of ‘er
boot hovering over me face for a moment. I could see the black
mark of the fag she’d crushed out as she brought ‘er foot
down slow-like, pressing into me cheek. She stood there for a
minute; ‘er foot on me face as she knocked back her pint.
She belched, sighed ‘n’ giggled as she tossed the bottle
off into the corner where it smashed on the concrete.
She gave me a queer little smile then, licking the last of the ale from
her lips ‘n’ teeth as ‘er ‘ands slid down the
front of ‘er blue jeans. I could see she was rubbin’
‘erself, getting’ hot as she gave me the eye. In a
flash she was undoing the button on ‘er denims ‘n’
let ‘em slide down ‘er legs with a bit of ‘elp.
She dropped to ‘er knees, knocking the wind outta me as she
settled on me chest then started inching up. She was wet
already. I could smell ‘er sex as she scrunched up close,
coverin’ me nose ‘n’ mouth, burying me face deep in
‘er snatch again.
“C’mon, Johnny. Give us a kiss.”
She started grinding on my face again, riding me like a horse.
April worked me nose right up into her crotch ‘n’ before
too long I was straining for every breath. She clamped her thighs
hard ‘n’ I heard the blood roar in me ears whilst she
laughed-
“Harder Constantine!” She squeezed, snaking her fingers
into me ‘air, tugging. “I want to feel it,
Johnny. Make me happy ‘n’ I’ll give you a
drink.”
I could barely hear her but not being an idiot I got the drift. I
worked, pushing up as best I could against ‘er weight, gasping
for air through me nose when I could and around me gag. I was
seeing spots soon enough, ‘n’ me body was aching from the
effort but before too long I could feel her gushing with warmth and
‘er moans got louder ‘n’ louder. She screamed-
I thought she was going to collapse on top of me after I brought
‘er off again but she jus’ leaned forward and caught
‘erself on ‘er ‘ands and knees. She was
breathing ‘ard ‘n’ sweating something fierce as she
hovered over me, swaying back ‘n’ forth. I took
advantage t’ catch me own breath too, gasping as she raised up a
bit ‘n’ wiggled ‘er bum.
“God, Constantine,” she moaned, her voice deep and raspy,
“you are magic. The magic man with the golden
tongue…”
I heard her chuckle at some private joke as she settled back on
‘er arse, back onto me face. She wiggled some more,
‘olding me ‘ead tight between ‘er thighs until she
got situated. I couldn’t imagine she wanted more, but she
was looking t’ give now, not receive.
I thought she was going into orgasm again at first. Then I
realized it was too much, warm and wet. It smelt acrid
‘n’ of beer as it washed over me face, soakin’ into
me gag. It started t’ go up me nose as I gasped for breath
in instinct, thinking I might drown. I ‘eard April moan
again, a sigh of relief ‘n’ pleasure this time as ‘er
hot stream of piss washed past me gag ‘n’ started t’
fill me mouth. I was gagging by reflex, ‘n’
eventually ‘ad t’ swallow or I would drown. Before
too long I bloody well guzzled-
“Drink up, magic man,” she laughed in a high voice giddy
with delight. She squirmed about as I struggled under her, trying
me best t’ catch me breath as I swallowed all that I could as
fast as I could of her golden shower. It jus’ seemed to
keep coming ‘n’ coming and I wondered how many pints
she’d had besides the one I’d seen-
“Your reward for being a good little doggy. Lap it up,
boy.”
Not having much of a choice, I did, dabbing at ‘er twat with me
gag…
When she was finally spent April scooted back a bit ‘n’
settled on me stomach. Her skin was flushed hot ‘n’
slick with sweat from ‘er rutting but ‘er weight felt oddly
soothing as well. I sputtered; hacking and coughing into me gag
as I blinked away the acrid wash out of me eyes. She was
jus’ sitting there, her hands on ‘er hips ‘n’
‘er eyes wide with curiosity. Her hair was damp
‘n’ fell over one shoulder as she cocked ‘er head
with a smile. I could imagine how I looked, lying in a puddle of
urine, me grimy face streaked with ‘er piss. Me pants were
still balled up about me ankles ‘n’ I was wallowing in me
own excrement. I had to reek of the unwashed but April
didn’t seem t’ notice. She almost looked like she was
in love.
“Mary will be here soon, John,” she said, leaning forward
‘n’ pressing her hands flat over me nose ‘n’
mouth. She was still smiling as me eyes bulged ‘n’
she jus’ kept talking whilst I ran out of air. “She
called before. Sent word, she’s in Paris.”
I struggled as best I could, turning me ‘ead from side t’
side ‘n’ trying to dislodge ‘er ‘ands.
She ‘eld fast though, shifting ‘er weight t’ hold me
down. I was already breathless from our romp, ‘n’ now
I was getting no air at all. Was she trying to kill me? It
didn’t make sense-
“You need your rest, John. Need t’ be wide awake when
Mary comes t’ call…”
I was seeing spots. Me sight was going gray ‘n’ it
was getting harder ‘n’ harder to struggle. I screamed
into me gag for her t’ stop, wasting me last breath for
nothing. It jus’ made it all the quicker.
“Sleep, Johnny…
“Sleep…” Me ‘ead was throbbing t’ beat
the band when I finally pried me eyes open. Oxygen deprivation
will do that to you. Oddly though, the delirium from before was
gone. I dunno if it was the pain in me ‘ead or the forced
sleep, or even that I finally got something to drink in me system, but
I was seeing straight again after I don’t know how long. I
could think, ‘n’ that was all the edge that I needed.
April May was a fine chippie, but she’d made ‘er first
mistake ‘n’ I was all about taking advantage of it.
I struggled up, grittin’ me teeth as I propped up on me elbows
‘n’ shuffled back against the wall. The mattress
she’d kept me on reached a new pinnacle a’ stench when I
moved, I dunno how many days of feces ‘n’ urine soaked in
under me. I tried t’ ignore it, focusing on the pain in me
‘ead, the fire in me still swollen, infected ‘ands as I
tried t’ remember.
Any good mage from Fate on down t’ Faust ‘as ‘is set
a’ spells what he keeps ready all the time. Everyday
there’s a ritual, usually reading the words out of a book or
scrolls with all the trappings depending on the spell. I have a
few that I like t’ keep on hand. Words of Power are the easiest
usually. It don’t take much t’ recite the rituals, a
bit of prestidigitation ‘n’ concentration; neither of which
I was able t’ manage over the last few days. The finger
waggling was still a stretch, but I cried into me gag ‘n’
forced me ‘ands t’ move under me as I did me best t’
say the words I needed t’ gear up the spells I could remember by
rote. A flare of fire, a rumble, a cracker- simple little things
t’ pop a lock or light a fag. You never knew when one might
come in handy- like now.
It took awhile, ‘n’ of course I was in a rush as I
didn’t know what time it was or when me keeper might come
traipsing back in all cheer ‘n’ smiles. Too, the
bloody gag didn’t help any, spreading me cheeks with
April’s soiled smalls wadded up on me tongue. I was still
trying for the Knock when I ‘eard the outer door whine on rusty
hinges-
“Hullo?”
I perked right up t’ hear a man’s voice coming from the far
room. It wasn’t April then, ‘n’ somehow I
doubted that Mary was a pouf. I started screamin’ into me
gag for all I was worth, such as it was at the moment-
“Nnnnhh! Elllmeee!”
Translation: Help me! I didn’t really care if he- whoever
it was understood a bloody word I was saying, I jus’ needed
‘im t’ get ‘is arse in here ‘n’ free me
up. He came runnin’ though, ‘n’ for the first
time in I don’t know how long I felt the slightest spark of
hope. Course he ‘ad the obvious reaction coming into the
room ‘n’ seeing me trussed up like the proverbial Christmas
goose-
“Bloody ‘ell…” he gasped, standing froze-like
in the doorway ‘n’ flashing a torch in me eyes. The
bloke was a sewer worker by ‘is look dressed in filthy coveralls
‘n’ a hard hat. Most important of ‘is ensemble
however was the wide leather belt wrapped ‘bout ‘is waist
sagging down ‘is hips loaded with tools. I screamed again
‘n’ started thrashing about as best I could, ignoring the
fact that I was naked from me own waist down ‘n’ sprawled
in me own feces. He blinked at me outrage ‘n’ finally
charged forward.
He didn’t give a thought t’ me or me mess, kneeling right
down in the offal as he started ripping at me gag. I imagine
he’d slogged through worse at ‘is job. His fingers
were thick ‘n’ fumbling though, stained yellow
‘n’ cracked from whatever he ‘ad ‘is
‘ands in all day. He was babbling as he struggled with the
knot in back of me neck ‘n’ I grunted wishing he’d
jus’ cut the bloody thing-
“Saw this bird more’n once creepin’ about down here
but never could seem t’ catch ‘er. Saw ‘er
‘gain this mornin’ climbin’ the stairs into
Paddington so’s I backtracked t’ sees where she was
comin’ from. Followed ‘er footprints I did, right
along the walkway. Them ‘Murican cowboy boots stand out
like a sore thumb down here, y’know?” He grinned like an
idiot at ‘is own cleverness ‘n’ I rolled me eyes in
frustration, wishing he would hurry his bloody arse. I had no way
a’ knowin’ when April would be back, nor when Mary might
come t’ call.
“Right!” he shouted ‘n’ I felt the cloth fall
away from me crusty face. I started spittin’ at
April’s knickers what ‘ad been wadded up in me mouth for I
don’t know how long. I forced me tongue t’ move,
pushing on the filthy smalls ‘n’ started gagging when they
finally tumbled out all shite ‘n’ blood stained. I
wretched in spite of meself, dry heaves ‘n’ spittle.
“Cor, mate…” me savior gasped as he patted me
back. Cut the cords y’ bloody ponce-
“How long you been-“
“Thanksgiving!” I grumbled twisting about t’ show
‘im me bound up ‘ands. “Now cut me loose
ya-“ temper John, “jus’ get me loose, fore that
little tart gets back.”
“Lord, Guv. Five days?” he asked in shock. I
could see the wheels turnin’ as he tried to figure how I’d
come t’ this. I imagined he thought I was a businessman got
roughed inna tumble. He was moving though, ‘n’ I saw
‘im pull a sizable jack knife outta one of ‘is
pockets. He eased me forward as he started t’ saw at me
bonds ‘n’ I heard him whistle t’ see me ‘ands
all puffed up ‘n’ red with infection I’m
certain. Five days. It was December then, or
November? Thirty days has September, April-
It didn’t matter. I started whispering me incants full out
now, trying to wiggle me fingers ‘n’ wincing at the pain as
me mate cut the last of the cords. I had t’ be ready in
case we ‘ad company. Odds were Norton here could manage
April May, but if she was out bringing Queen Mary back to ‘er
posh pad we’d ‘ave a bit of the dark stuff I dare say.
I yelled as I felt the last bit of tight leather unwrap from me
wrists. Blood poured back into me fingers ‘n’ me
‘ands felt like they was aflame, burning as the blood mixed with
the puss of infection ‘n’ oozing outta the gashes in me
palms, the crusty wounds splitting open again. They’d never
healed proper nor been treated in the last week since I took a slide
down the cable wire outside me window back at me flat. I moaned,
looking through tear-filled, blurry eyes at the throbbing red balloons
what used t’ be me ‘ands.
“Cor…”
He was staring at me ‘ands too, dumbstruck until I waggled me leg
‘n’ made the chain pad-locked about me ankle jangle like
Marley’s Ghost. He blinked again ‘n’ nodded,
‘is hand whipping a small pair of bolt cutters from ‘is
utility belt. Who needs the bleedin’ Bat? I got
Sewer-Worker Man!
Me neck hairs bristled just as he leaned in and I felt the pall of doom
wash over the room. I looked about quick, but too late saw the
shadows coalescing, the mist roiling over the floor in our direction-
“Look out!” I shrieked, me voice catching ‘n’
cracking like a little girl’s, ‘n’ all I managed
t’ do was make ‘im sit up straight ‘n’ stare at
me. I’d painted a bloody target on ‘is back-
“What?”
He coughed ‘n’ blood spurted past ‘is lips
splattering me in the face. He blinked, in surprise this time
‘n’ looked down at ‘is chest like his stomach
‘ad jus’ growled with indigestion. The cutters
tumbled from ‘is fingers as he spasmed, blood gushing from
‘is mouth now. I was reminded of that picture with John
Hurt, where the little alien comes poppin’ outta his chest.
A hand exploded outta Norton’s- a claw really- the man’s
heart clutched in it’s long-nailed grip ‘n’ still
beatin’ like a big bass drum. Blood spewed ‘n’
I heard the man start t’ scream, but it turned into a death
rattle quick as his lungs ‘n’ throat filled up. He
shook for a moment, quivering, ‘n’ when the hand slurped
back the way it came he jus’ fell forward on top of me, pinning
me legs under ‘is bulk.
So close…
I looked up ‘n’ I dare say they shriveled right
quick. I was in gag reflex, smellin’ maggots
‘n’ the rich iron taste of blood on me lips. Add
t’ that that I was sittin’ in week old refuse, well,
I’m sure the imagination runs wild. I was cold too all
sudden like, racked with the shivers. It was the Fear, the bloody terror that only
the biggest sods exude, Dragons, elder Lupin, Vampires…
I was in the presence of royalty I figured, lookin’ up at the
tart what was standin’ over me, a tall slim model with a body
that wouldn’t quit, not by ‘alf. She was decked out
in leather head t’ toe like she’d jus’ stepped outta
me wildest five-fingered bondage fantasy. Knee-high black leather
riding boots complete with spurs, tiny leather smalls that left little
t’ the imagination and a corset that pushed up ‘er breasts
‘n’ looked too tightly tied t’ draw a breath in, not
that she needed to, being undead ‘n’ all. She was
wearing a black opera cloak ‘n’ kid leather gloves up past
‘er elbows, a spiked collar about ‘er slim throat t’
top it all off. She almost looked like Emma Peel from that
Avengers episode, except for her mane a’ fiery red hair
‘n’ lips and the icy alabaster sheen of ‘er
skin. An’ the teeth of course when she smiled.
She held Norton’s still throbbing heart in her hand as she stared
down at me, those cruel lips curling into an evil grin that sent a
shudder down me spine. I’d stepped in it now
‘n’ we both knew it. I’d never laid eyes on
‘er before but I knew without a doubt who she was. She
smelled of age-old rot, jus’ like ‘er sire before her.
