Page 94 of Blood & Snow
I watched the man's eyes go wide, then empty.
I watched the red spread across pristine snow.
"Stop," Xander says without looking at me.
His voice cuts through the spiral of images playing behind my eyes.
It's like he can tell I'm replaying it in my mind over and over.
But I haven't spoken a word since he did it.
He moves to the bar and pours whiskey into a clean glass.
The amber liquid sloshes around as he crosses to me.
"Drink," he orders but my fingers land on the blood staining his coat and hand.
It's nauseating, terrifying, but I take the glass.
My fingers can't grip properly and I almost drop it.
The whiskey sloshes against the sides as I bring it to my lips.
The first sip burns.
The second makes my stomach revolt again.
I drop theglass and it shatters on the hardwood, whiskey and crystal spreading in all directions.
My knees hit the floor.
The what’s left of my stomach contents empties in violent waves, returning in acidic surges.
I can't stop.
Each time I think the nausea has passed, another wave crashes through me.
This time I didn't even make it to the toilet.
I can't breathe or move.
All I can do is clutch at my chest and retch while Xander holds my hair back.
I'm shaking, sobbing now uncontrollably, and my mind races. Irina will disown me.
I'll never see the children again.
And my mother—fuck.
She's watching over me wondering what the fuck got into her daughter.
Xander's hand touches my shoulder.
"You're in shock."
I want to argue, but my body betrays me with another round of retching.
Nothing comes up now except bile and mucus.
