toward wakefulness, hearing DeHaviliard speak, but not
able to make sense of it.
“First, we must all partake,” DeHaviliard told his minions,
“and, then, we all shall nourish as well.” He bent towards
the child and the young boy’s face lit with the rapture
brought on by that first wondrous bite. Though the child
could feel his life’s essence draining away, there was a
sense of wonder and joy to it. One of the women stepped
forward. She moved onto the bed. Beneath the moldering
scent of decay, he caught the scent of old perfume, and
her long curly tresses wrapped around his face and her
cold hands lay gently upon his chest. He felt them all, each
in their turn, lean down and, with open mouths, take from
him. And when it was over, he was left for a moment in
silence. The vampires stood together around the bed,
allowing his blood to mingle with theirs. Once they felt it
fully incorporated, the procession began again. However,
this time, the roles were reversed, and they were the
feeders and he was the fed. Opening small wounds at the
wrist and forcing him to drink their blood, they came to
him, one after another. He felt the mingling of their
bloods coursing through his veins. A new strength, like he
never could have imagined, surged through him. Far off in
the distant night, miles beyond the walls of the old house,
he could hear dogs baying, as if they were right below the
window. His eyes crashed open and took in the scene with
a clarity and uniqueness of perception that was at first
unsettling, but very quickly became more than
comfortable. And when all had returned what they had
taken from him, and given much more of their own as
well, he was no longer what he had been.
34