spencer jumped back two or three steps in total shock , holding his knife out in front of him , his heart skipped a series of beats and he felt it go cold and hollow as it once again felt it shoot up through his throat and could practically feel it thump against his voice box ; his jaw dropped to the floor , the veins that coursed his blood froze into ice ; he felt his own face pull back as the cold air curled around the sides of his eyes .