Sam Harlan (Book 3): Damned Cold Read Online Free

of faith. The stronger the faith, the easier the exorcism. The young train with older priests so they might be prepared, so that their faith won’t waver. Demons are cowards.”
    “How does that work?” I asked. “How can the Church acknowledge demons and exorcisms, but vampires are kept quiet?”
    “No one knows where vampires come from,” Lewinheim said. “They are not fallen angels. They are … something else. Demons are as interested in vampires as they are in humanity. Nothing would suit the demons’ purpose better than to use the knowledge of vampires to corrupt humanity’s faith in God.”
    “So how did Jameson wind up fighting vampires?” I asked.
    Lewinheim sighed heavily, then raised a coffee mug from the small table next to his recliner and took a sip. “Patrick’s success came at a high price. The eighties were a difficult time. The Church had almost abandoned exorcisms after a … series of accidental deaths. That movie did not help. As the older priests retired, there were so very few who still believed. Patrick’s work was in demand, and it led to—”
    “He burned out,” I finished for him.
    Lewinheim took another sip from his mug. “His faith was still strong, but he suffered from stress.”
    “Post-traumatic stress disorder,” Callie said quietly.
    Lewinheim nodded. “It wasn’t called that, but yes, he had panic attacks. Nightmares. He had seizures. I thought he might lose his mind if he continued. Demons are infinite. They have forever to tempt humanity. Our lives are but a flicker of a candle to them.”
    I guessed what was coming next. “Someone was attacked by a vampire. Someone he knew.”
    “Yes,” Lewinheim said. “A parishioner was attacked and left for dead. Father Frank Ford, a dear friend of mine, was called in to try and cleanse the woman. He asked Patrick for help.” The old man’s eyes filled with tears, and he wiped at them with the back of his hand. “The woman turned and slaughtered Frank before he could finish the ceremony. Patrick managed to stab her with Frank’s crucifix. It was made of silver, you see, and set fire to the woman. She burned, and Patrick saw for himself what so few of us knew. He came to me, then, and I taught him as best I could. I introduced him to Jack. It was so long ago…”
    “Father?” Callie asked. “Are you okay?”
    Lewinheim blinked. “I … don’t know where the years went. I remember the look on Patrick’s face. He didn’t want to believe, but he saw it with his own eyes. I remember it as if it were yesterday. Where have all the years gone?”
    The old man was tired. I caught Callie’s eye and nodded at the door. “We have to go, Father. We have a job to do.”
    Callie leaned in and hugged the old man. “Thank you, Father. For everything.”
    “Of course, my girl. Be safe.” Lewinheim turned to me. “Be good, Samuel. Don’t lose your faith. I believe God works through us. Through you.”
    Before I could stop myself, I said, “God needs to start pulling His weight.”
     

Chapter Two
    We made our way down the stairs and to the vestibule where Sister Beulah waited. She glanced up from her desk and nodded at Callie before fixing me with an icy glare.
    I stopped and bowed my head. “Thanks for letting me pass, Sister. I’m sorry about earlier.”
    Sister Beulah harrumphed, but she relaxed a bit and said, “Be on your way, Harlan, and keep Callie safe.”
    I nodded. “As if my life depended on it.”
    There was steel in the old nun’s eyes. “It just might, boy. It just might.”
    Callie grabbed my arm and hustled me out through the front door. “Come, Sam. We’re running late.”
    We were crossing the street when I finally asked, “What’s up with Sister Beulah?”
    Callie glanced down the now-darkened street and pointed to a gap in the heavy traffic. We hurried across the street, and Callie said, “Sister Beulah protects the rectory. I thought you knew that.”
    In fact, I had not known that. “Why does