extricating himself without looking like a complete chickenshit . He looked back to the bowl where the clouds of blood had already dissolved . Fuck it .
“ I beseech thee spirits by the power of blood ,” said Edward . “ Hear our words and know them . Our blood , from hearts encircled by the serpent , is given in your service .”
“ Our blood in your service ,” answered
Sean . “ What are you asking for ?” “ Spirits ,” said Sean , feeling stupid and trying not to grin . “ Do something horrible to Jesse Hoskins . Hurt him , maybe even kill him . By our blood I beseech thee .”
“ Spirits ,” whispered Edward , also grinning . “ Give me power . Share with me the secrets of dark magic . By our blood I beseech thee .”
The boys each picked up a candle and snuffed them in the bowl of water .
“ So , that ’ s it ?” asked Sean . Even having had low expectations , he couldn ’ t help but feel disappointed . He ’ d hoped there would at least be a coincidental howl of wind or gathering of clouds . There had been nothing at all .
“ Yup ,” said Edward . He looked pleased with the results , nonexistent as they ’ d been . “ That ’ s it .” “ Think it did anything ?” “ Obviously ! Couldn ’ t you feel the demonic power coursing through your veins ? Psych ! Nah , I don ’ t think it did shit , but it was fun .”
They laughed . “ Wanna play Street Fighter ?”
1997 “ I ’ m telling you ,” Edward insisted . “ It worked this time .”
“ Bullshit ,” said Sean . They were standing in the gazebo at Wishing Well park , surrounded by naked trees and broken bottles . “ It ’ s a coincidence . It ’ s fucked up , but there ’ s no connection at all between your little art project and him dying . He ’ s been on his way out for years .”
The wind was bitter and carried occasional specks of snow , lost fragments of a blizzard waiting to descend . It was mid December , but they ’ d already had several bouts of snowfall and the days were bitter enough to keep it . Sean sipped beer that bordered on slush . The cold bottle chilled a dull ache into his hand , but he was just buzzed enough to not care . Edward was pacing the cement floor excitedly . His steps echoed . He wore a long coat and gloves with the fingers cut off . His hair was long , down to his shoulders . He looked like a homeless man in a fifties movie . “ Oh , come on ,” said Edward . He dragged a hard lungful from his cigarette . “ He overdosed at almost the exact same time . We killed him , man .”
“ Fuck off , that ’ s crazy . You don ’ t know what time he died , you ’ re just going on rumors . Besides , what about all the other dolls ? Why didn ’ t they work ?”
“ I did something different this time . I used blood .” “ Really ? Gross , dude .” “ Mixed in with the hair . I think that ’ s what did it .”
“ I think you ’ re taking this stuff too seriously . You need to get laid and nobody wants to fuck a wizard .”
“ Speaking of which ,” said Edward , halting in the centre of the gazebo . “ We should get going . Jen ’ s going to to be at the frat tonight . I want to meet her there .”
“ I stand corrected ,” said Sean . “ That spooky bitch actually might want to fuck a wizard .” “ She ’ s not spooky , she ’ s fucking hot .” “ Gothic chicks … if you ’ re into necrophilia , go ahead .”
“ Dead girls don ’ t say no ,” said Edward . He ’ d read that on a T-shirt once and used it whenever he could .