Snow had been falling for hours, but the moment Ivan stepped into Katya's quiet village, winter was no longer the coldest thing there. The entire settlement felt as if a predator had torn open a nest. Doors in that place were hung crooked after being forced open, and villagers were herded into the square, trembling as though the wind itself threatened to swallow them.
There, Ivan stood in the middle of the snowy road. His black coat stirred in the breeze, darkening the air around him like a shadow with a heartbeat. A cigar burned between his fingers, its ember glowing faintly with every breath he took.
Alexei knelt in front of him, face ghostly pale. He had tried to block Ivan's path the moment he arrived. The attempt had lasted mere seconds before Ivan's hand clamped around his throat. Alexei's body had lifted slightly off the ground, while his legs kicked weakly as air slipped from his lungs. After that, Ivan only released him when his eyes began to roll back.
