Publisher's Synopsis
"Whatcha packin' there, Little Bro?" the thing that used to be my sister asked, almost genially. "Wooden stake, silver bullets, maybe some garlic?" I knew that killing It was going to be difficult-as much or more emotionally as physically. She knew that too. The .357 was heavy in my hand; I hadn't pointed it at . . . her. There was a fast flash of a pixieish smile across her features-like the flicker of a transmission from a malfunctioning and distant satellite; for just that instant: My Big Sister! Almost. "A Magnum, huh?" she-It-said, as if in approval of the choice. I gave no answer."Maybe loaded with depleted uranium bullets, something you picked up in the service? Think that'll do it?" she asked, cocking her head to the side, seeming interested. Like we were fishing up at the lake. Like we were musing together about what fly to cast. Depleted uranium?I nodded slowly, as if giving the matter serious thought. But-no-she'd gotten it right the first time. The Magnum was loaded with Vamp Killers: high-impact, hollow points; with a silver core. Maybe I should have dipped them in garlic oil; maybe I should have taped little "toothpick spears" to the point of each bullet; too late for that. I didn't give myself time to think. I brought the heavy gun up quickly and fired: center mass. Maybe twelve feet apart? Impossible to miss from that distance.Impossible.
