Page 162 of Volik

He’s impossibly tall.

His eyes…

I take a step back.

His eyes are pure black.

I shake my head.

That’s not possible.

It’s a trick.

He takes another step toward me.

The light reaches his face.

And there’s a glint.

I don’t want to look up.

I don’t want to see.

But my gaze jerks higher. And the air in my lungs disappears.

Horns.

Black eyes and horns.

And that’s when I get it. Why I recognize him.

Fear coats my skin, making my sweat feel like ice.

Fighting to inhale, I lower my eyes from his horns.

The vampire stares back at me.

Volik.

Slowly, I reach up and pull my headphones off, the song fading to a muffled noise as I toss them to the floor.

“H-hey man, I don’t know what you’re looking for. But I can hook you up.” My voice trembles embarrassingly.

He tilts his head to the side. And my knees almost buckle.

“O-oxy. Juice. Whatever.”

His lip lifts in a sneer. And… his fangs…

“I did not come here for drugs.” The vampire’s voice is low. Rough.

Sweat drips down my forehead.

When did it get so hot in here?

But I still feel cold.

Scared.