Just Like a Virus

So Zagan didn't want to deal with messy situations when taking alyko? Penelope would have snorted if this whole thing wasn't so tragic. So many lives had been ruined by this cold, unfeeling monster beside her, and now he was worrying about it getting messy.

"You are a highly intelligent… creature," Penelope said, unsure if he found the 'V' word offensive.

"Vampire," he corrected her, drawing out the word in that emotionless tone of his. It made the hairs prickle on her neck and arms. "Are you afraid to say it?"

"Are you a highly intelligent vampire?" she asked quickly, proving that she was not afraid of the word. No, the word was not what she was afraid of.

He chuckled, although it sounded more like a death rattle in his throat.