“But, then, the thirst began. A small child had fallen on the sidewalk outside my home. He bled only a very little bit, but I could not control myself… I was compelled to extract the blood as soon as I smelled it. I had been unable to dictate my obsession until Tuesday, when you cut yourself.â€? Darsie stopped and looked at his hands.
“I don’t understand. How does that explain what is happening now?â€? I ventured.
“How can you not understand? I cheated the devil and—I’m dying. Slowly and painfully, like all of my victims.â€? Darsie collapsed to the floor. I watched the man from whom I’d cowered just moments before, whimper like a child.
“’Twas a noble thing you did, trying to save you wife.â€? I knelt down next to him and stroked what was left of his hair.
“She resented me after that—â€? His eyes grew wide with fear, gazing at something I could not yet see. “Go now, quickly!â€? he urged, pointing to the door. Running out of his house, my ears were filled with his screams of terror.