Ballistic Kiss (Sandman Slim 11)

“Wait—can you hold the creature in place with magic?”

“Sure, but why?”

“So that we might learn from it.”

I’d ignore anyone else, but not Vidocq. I bark a little more hoodoo, pinning the Stay Below to the floor. Now that it’s helpless, it’s kind of a pitiful thing. Half obliterated, cut off at the waist from the light in Flicker’s bundle. What’s with us now was probably saved by being dragged into the Room. Seeing it sliced across the middle like that, I can’t help thinking about how Stein died. What a sad and frightening death it must have been for him. How much longer does he have before the Council and I will have to kill him?

I say, “Do something or let me put this fucker out of his misery.”

Vidocq creeps over to the Stay Below and pours one of his potions into its mouth. The thing thrashes and shrieks on the floor. I have to bark more hoodoo to keep it pinned.

I say, “What the hell was that stuff?”

“Watch,” he says. “With luck, in a moment we should see the creature’s origin.”

Something coalesces in the air. It’s a low-res image, like something from an old-fashioned photo projector. Fuzzy, with the colors pale and faded. Over a minute or so the image sharpens enough that we can pick out details.

“What is that?” Vidocq says.

“It’s Hollywood Boulevard. Can you read what’s on that sign?”

Over the street is a wide expanse, like a billboard. It’s covered in lights and blocky black letters.

“I see the word ‘devil,’” Vidocq says.

“Me too. I think that’s neon around the edge of the billboard.”

“That’s not a billboard. It’s a marquee.”

I squint at the apparition and see that he’s right. As I creep closer to the Stay Below, the words come more into focus. I can see two words clearly now: “Devil” and “Jones.”

I get even closer.

“It says The Devil in Miss Jones.”

“What is that? Some strange exorcism?” says Vidocq.

“No. It’s an old porn movie. That’s the marquee of the goddamn Pussycat Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.”

Vidocq frowns at me.

“How curious.”

“That’s a word for it. Are you sure your potion is working? That’s the spook’s origin?”

“I’ve been making this formula for over a century. It’s never failed me.”

“The lost angel was supposed to hang out there. Maybe this thing knew her? Or was part of the party scene?”

“How curious.”

“Is this thing going to tell us anything else?”

Vidocq shakes his head. “Perhaps if it was intact. However, in its present state, I doubt there’s anything more than this impression.”

“Okay then.”

I raise the Gladius and slam it into where the Stay Below’s heart would be. It lets out a small gasp and blips out of existence.