as if I had just stepped into a mountain cave. All the windows were closed.

om led to a separate hall. I could see massive bookshelves fr

. Then I thought I heard a sound as I waited for so

ar, revealing a canopied bed. There were sheer hangin

t the sight of this elegant place lured me in. My feet

y hair and hurled me like a rag

oice spoke. I gasped and tried to get up, bu

reathe, let

e flowing black silk. She had bright golden eyes that burned hot like two miniature suns. Th

en a face like this. She was also heavier than she looked. I felt as if I was pressed by a hund

d off, but it was pointless. She was a vampire,

woman let go of my throat yet still locked m

cold breath fanning my cheeks. She smelled like sweet-scented wildflowers in the deep dark fore

no words came out. Then

coaxed at me. "You k

kill me," I

laug

ng to kill you now. I'm going to

ite fangs drew out of her gum like a cat's claws. They were as sharp as butcher knives. A frightened gasp escaped my lips. My

one," she said. "

to that. But she nodded as

not going to b

creamed in sheer pain. It was agonizing how her razor-sharp teeth

an released

ps in satisfaction. "Too bad, I'm not hungry enough

e got off me and s

the door. "But from now on, you're

he sight of my own blood. It stained like red roses on the white shee

twenties, but I could never be sure what a vampire's real age was. Even so, she was the most

slipped through the door then

*

her pair of beautiful golden eyes staring at me. I gasped, stumbling away in fright. But an arm wrappe

young blo

ke with a hint of a Russian accent to me

ar. The woman looked down at my blood-smeared hand. Her perfe

he said more to herself. Her liquid

atred. I couldn't help it. She could kill me for that if she wished. But t

to walk away,

said. "You look bad. She must've

ha

ame to wrap her arm around my waist and

s sh

" I cried. My face s

r you'll pass o

e was

else until I found myself in another bedroom. The place was plain and much smaller

myself and saw the same woman beside my bed. Her l

?" I whispered. "You're

ok my breath away. It wasn't the cold wick

t mean I can't do this." She

I was probably the first person

the young w

a—?" I ec

man

in real

tioned in the history book that we used to study. "But—but didn't the C

n't hel

rried spring and summer music in it. I felt a

gue with you about t

ed a strand of her blonde lock behind

way," she said after a while. "Sta

d the other woman. But I noticed Anastasia's eyes were s

myself to trust these

ed th

I don't want your help," I said in

id with a low sigh. "I

the room wit