Page 244 of Vameer

The golden glow remains still.

Then the air in my lungs turns to lead. Because I realize the glow isn’t on the water.

It’s a reflection.

From inside my house.

Slowly, I turn around.

A wormhole, like the one from Versailles, is in the middle of my living room.

And standing in front of it are two men. One with glowing eyes. And the other…

“Sorry to correct you, Johnstone.” Vameer grins at me. “You are gonna die for this.”

Terror consumes me, and my instincts take over.

I run.

My shoes slap against the floor as I race toward the back door.

A breeze moves past me, and a scream tangles in my throat when Vameer appears in front of me.

I grip the counter as I skid to a stop.

Vameer clicks his tongue. “Where you goin’, tough guy?”

I turn around, aiming for the garage door.

The wormhole is gone. But the other man is still there.

He’s near the path between me and the door, but his eyes are no longer glowing. And I’ll take my chances with him over the beast behind me.

My heart feels like it’s bursting inside my chest, but I keep my eyes on the door.

I think I hear the man scoff as I run past him, but maybe I’m hallucinating all this.

My fingers fumble with the dead bolt.

A footstep shakes my house.

I get the door unlocked and start to yank it open.

The handle is ripped out of my grip as the door slams shut.

I lunge for the handle again, pulling. But the door doesn’t open.

Vampire power.

Another trembling footstep.

I give up on the door and run for the stairs.

But Vameer beats me.

My legs feel like they’re going to give out as I back away from the vampire.

Vameer follows me, step for step.