A young boy is horrified to discover what his brother is really doing in their father's work shed. An old man whispers a word that sets his victim on the road to madness. A Victorian dandy and his dog might just save the world from the unspeakable denizens of an alternate dimension. In a house by a park, a religious zealot opens the gates of Hell. These twelve tales of psychological suspense and horror mix heart, brains, and balls to create a pulse-pounding literary experience.

Once a world-class wrestler, Cardinal now serves as hired muscle for a second-rate Chicago mobster. While collecting a parcel from a gangland lowlife, Cardinal witnesses the man's murder. Cardinal embarks on search for answers that will reveal a world of metallic charms and weapons, all forged with unimaginable powers, and a mysterious order intent on retrieving their relic.