newborn vampire ’ s most sensitive area . Sara ’ s thrashing , indeed , was similar to that of the mother who now stood watching EMTs take her child to the morgue . The mother did not know the pain of seeing her child transform and die a fiend , like Mrs . Holstadtler with Sara , but she did know the pain of losing a child far too early . Sometimes I wonder what is harder : Seeing your child die in front of you without being able to stop death or hearing that your child is dead without having been there to protect it . The Holstadtler ’ s saw their daughter change , bear fangs , and die by stake . However , these two unsuspecting souls did not see their child ’ s death but were viewing the aftermath . I couldn ’ t possibly imagine what it would be like for them , though I did understand the Holstadtler ’ s pain intimately .
The EMTs lifted a covered body onto the gurney . The frame of the child was smaller than anticipated . Much smaller . Head to toe , the body buckled in only took up half the space . This child was younger than Sara by about five to eight years . It was clear to me that Sara was not the only child to succumb to her Transylvanian Master . For some reason , that fiend was praying on children . But why ? I knew I could not leave New Haven just yet .
* * *
I exited the hotel in jeans , brown suede mid-boots , and a black hip-length double-breasted wool coat that had all four holes buttoned . The winter air bit hard against the skin , like a hunger-starved feral cat after mice . I slipped on black leather gloves and buttoned the collar of the coat to protect my neck from all things that bite . I half wished that I wore a sweater instead of the button-up shirt that I did , but it was too late . I was dressed , out-of-doors , and 112