Because he's a vampire, Jonathon Splinter needs to feed, hungry for blood. He seeks out young men along Lake Erie in the small town of Bitter. As Halloween approaches, Jonathon devises a plan for his next hunt with the help of his mortal lover and personal assistant, Toby Kinks.<br><br>Life grows bitter for Jonathon, though. Someone discovered his true identity and witnessed one of his bloody hunts where he not only fed but also murdered the man. Now Jonathon is being blackmailed.<br><br>With Toby’s help, Jonathon seeks out the blackmailer, and the two devise a plan in which Jonathon will hunt and feed on the man. But on the evening of the planned murder, Jonathon Splinter's bloody life will change forever.

Blood on My Hands

I whispered, “I’m here. It was just a dream”


He settled closer to me, panting. His chest was covered in thick sweat. Wide eyes and scared out of his mind.


“I’m not going anywhere. I promise. I promise.”


The next morning, Toby had left the cottage before me. We showered and had breakfast together. Then we took a short walk through the woods and along the lake, holding hands in the rain. I watched him drive away, into the storm: taillights dim in the morning’s fog, a backwards wave from the cab of his truck, a short horn blared his goodbye.


Chapter 22