Page 182 of The Perdition Score (Sandman Slim 8)

“Sorry. But you’re still getting along?”

“It seems that way. It’s been nice having the band around, you know? Her and Candy having fun. Like old times.”

“I hope things work out for you two.”

; He stares at me.

“Wait. Did you just say something nice? Call Allegra. Your fever is back.”

“Nope. It’s just me. I’m turning over a new leaf. Saving the shit for Wormwood and those that deserve it and keeping things low-key at home.”

“So, we have to choose between you being an asshole or a hippie? I vote for asshole.”

“Be sure to put that in the suggestion box.”

“I’ll leave something for you in the box. But trust me, it won’t be a note.”

THE BAND FINISHES rehearsing around ten. I’ve never heard them sound better. They’re moving back to Alessa’s place tomorrow, where they’ll have more room. And she and Candy will be going on their first official date. I take this as a vote of confidence in my recovery since it means Candy will leave me alone at night with no one but Kasabian to babysit.

The four of them pile out of the room, sweaty and excited. Fairuza heads over to Kasabian and doesn’t seem freaked out at all anymore. It looks like she just enjoys being with him. Good for her. It takes a while to get over seeing your first corpse, but since Kasabian has been a corpse, I knew he was the guy to send her to.

Candy and Alessa chat with Vidocq and Allegra while I go around checking the doors and turning off lights. When that’s done, I order everyone out and lock the front door.

I’m putting my keys in my pocket when I remember something.

The rest of them are already down the street, heading for Bamboo House. I take the little statue out of my coat.

“Candy! I forgot to give you something.”

They turn and look at me standing in the doorway holding Kali. Oblivious to the fucking world. I head over to them when Candy points at something.

“Stark! Behind you!”

I turn around, but it’s way too late.

Where the hell did he come from and how did he know we’d be here? We never close this late. Maybe he’s been hiding by the corner of the store all night. Maybe he floated down in a gauzy bubble like Glinda the Good Witch. Whatever it was, I don’t see Audsley Ishii until the last minute and his knife is already halfway into my heart.

Kali hits the ground and I go down flat on my back.

Whatever Audsley stuck me with, it isn’t a normal blade. I’ve been knifed plenty of times and I know what it feels like. This time it’s all electric sizzles and paralysis. Down on the ground, I can’t move a goddamn muscle.

Which gives me a great view of my friends. Candy is halfway to me and Audsley when I hit the deck. As she runs she transforms. Her nails curve into claws. Her mouth is full of white shark teeth. Her eyes are red slits in black ice. Audsley doesn’t stand a chance.

As she’s tearing him apart, I see the shock on Alessa’s face. I guess Candy didn’t tell her about being a Jade after all. She’s going to have a lot of explaining to do.

Allegra kneels down next to me.

“Stark. Can you hear me?”

All I get out is “Only got me one time. It could have been ten.”

And then I’m dead.

NO, REALLY. I’M dead. I’ve been dead before and I know what it feels like. Except this is weird.

The last time I died, the angel half of me—the immortal Heavenly bit—broke away and ran off to play Robin Hood without human me. That doesn’t happen this time. I feel around for him and he’s there, at the back of my skull, and he’s as pissed off and puzzled as me.