She pulled the car into the gas station, twisted the key, and blew out a sigh. Rain blurred the windshield of the car; the rhythmic sound was a balm to her frayed nerves. The flickering lights and undulating shadows, however, were not.

She got out of the car, gave the machine her credit card, and drummed her nails against the convertible door as the machine processed her card. In this neighborhood, at this time of night? She didn't want to stay long.

One of the lights flicked out, and an eerie feeling crept over her. Shaking, she fed the glossy navy blue car more gas. A cloud drifted over the mood, and she squinted to see the numbers on the pump. Another light bulb flickered and died. Her hands tightened on the handle. A lock of straight black hair slipped from the hood of her formfitting plaid coat. She shoved it back with wet hands, blinking away the misty rain.

She was the only one shivering in the biting cold, the only one struggling to ward off the pouring rain, the only one tightening her hands on the pump as yet another light flickered out.

But that didn't mean she was alone.

A small thing watched her. Just a small thing. It gazed up from the rain-soaked pavement, smiling eerily. Willing the wealthy young beauty to glance down…willing those icy blue eyes to meet its own.

They did.

She flicked her eyes down, caught by a colorful glimmer. Frowning, she leaned down and picked it up. She didn't feel the invisible net that snapped shut around her—didn't see the final chapter of her indulgent life rushing up to meet her. She only saw the flawlessly cut blue diamond glittering up at her, hanging from a platinum chain, surrounded by smaller sapphires and white diamonds. Captivated, she turned the glimmering stone this way and that, heedless of the rain.

Lightning flashed overhead, followed by a massive crash of thunder. The harsh white lit shot the necklace into fiery brilliance…illuminating a horrific, ghostly face within the pale blue jewel. She slapped a hand over her lipglossed mouth and dropped the necklace. The ghastly face, mutated and bloody, deformed and hideous, stared up at her with sunken black eyes. Its torn mouth opened, displaying curved, moist fangs.

There was a terrible, strangled scream, and the last light flickered out.

The blonde teenager pulled her red Mercedes into the gas station. Rain beat against the sleek car. As she got out, a glittering necklace caught her eye…