“The year wasn’t important?”
“A year or ten, what’s the difference?” he says, snapping his fingers. “But you humans have such brief lives, you count every second like it’s your last.”
“Alright,” you say, steadying yourself. This is all starting to feel surreal. Even more than before. “And just how long isyourlife?”
He shrugs. “How many grains of sand are on the beach?”
“Uh, a lot.”
“Exactly.”
“Wow. Okay, wow. So you’re immortal?”
He shrugs. “Give or take.”
Whateverthat’s supposed to mean.
Maybe that means he can still be killed, but he doesn’t want to say it.
Either way, this definitely feels like a weird dream now. You still can’t believe you’re magically connected to a mysterious dude who came out of a book.
You don’t even know his name.
And now he’s here in your apartment.
“Wait—” An icy realization shoots down your spine. “Are you, like, a vampire or something?”
He laughs again, low and slightly evil.
You blink and he’s in front of you. Grabbing your wrists in one hand, he pins your back to the wall as he tilts your chin up.
“Why?” He murmurs, running the points of his teeth along the sensitive skin at the nape of your neck. “Would you regret letting me in if I said yes?”
They’re sharp.
His teeth are sharp.
“You really are—” You draw a surprised breath, torn between excitement and terror. “You’re a vampire!”
But he only laughs again, letting go.
“You’re too gullible,” he says. “I’ve never cared for the taste of blood.”
Never cared for it.
As in, he’s tried it?!
You shiver.
The room feels suddenly cold without his hands against your wrists, but he walks away, dropping into the upholstered chair in the corner across from your bed and slinging one leg over the armrest.
Like he owns the place.
Meanwhile, your brain is still busy catching up with what just happened. It’s late. You’re exhausted. And a strange, handsome man just pinned you to your bedroom wall—well, it’s also your living room wall, seeing as it’s a studio apartment. But the point remains.
You’ll probably go to sleep and wake up to discover this has all been a weird dream.
Pity.
