Six-year-old Brandon hates to go up the stairs to bed because there is always a man sitting there, a man only he can see, but tonight he closes his eyes and makes the climb with his mother watching, and then he hears his mother scream--and that is only one of the stories in this collection about all-too-real fears.

When a middle-aged man returns to his childhood home in Sussex, England, for a funeral he remembers frightening childhood memories relating to the neighbor girl who promised to protect him from the darkness unleashed by a suicide at the pond at the end of their street.

"Thomas Ward faces his ultimate test as he and his master prepare to deal with the Fiend once and for all"--Provided by publisher.

Betrayed by Kurda and reeling from the brutal slaying of Gavner, the vampire's assistant, Darren Shan, finds himself branded a traitor and hunted by the vampire clan.

Teenage vampire Bianca finds herself the target when evil wraiths attack her boarding school, Evernight Academy.

These days, Anita Blake is less interested in vampire politics than in an ancient, ordinary dread she shares with women down the ages: she may be pregnant. And, if she is, whether the father is a vampire, a werewolf, or someone else entirely, she knows perfectly well that being a Federal Marshal known for raising the dead, and being a vampire executioner, is no way to bring up a baby.--From publisher description.

The story of True Norwegian Black Metal and its most notorious practitioners: a group of young men with a flair for publicity, church-burning, and murder: MAYHEM. Oslo, 1987. Seventeen-year-old Euronymous is determined to escape his idyllic Scandinavian hometown and create 'true Norwegian black metal' with his band, MAYHEM. He's joined by equally fanatical youths - Dead and Varg. Believing that they're on the cusp of a musical revolution, the group...

After proving herself in battles against zombies, vampires, and other deadly creatures, Dru Anderson will face her greatest challenge and make a sacrifice in order to escape with her life.

"When Barton brings Slappy to life, he's thrilled to find a new "friend" that's willing to help him get revenge on the bullies. Slappy's never had someone like him before. What's up with this Barton kid? Will Slappy's new Best Friend Forever end up his Worst Nightmare Ever?"--

With the sixth and final relic almost within his grasp, Luke learns something unexpected about the author who has been helping him in his quest to return with his terrified parents to his own world, presenting a dilemma that is not helped by a witch causing havoc in the neighborhood.