Andrew was in pain, he had never been so hungry, so thirsty in his life, but he retained a sense of himself. Whatever he was on, whatever he had become, he was not going to feast on another human being who’s only sin was being an assistant to Purity, a sin that she seemed to being paying for already. The insanity that gripped him faded away, and though he could barely keep his eyes open the way his whole body seemed to throb in pain, he kept hold of his humanity.

Sean waited, and seeing that Andrew would not budge, stood still, and it seemed he paled a bit more, just ever so slightly. For a few seconds he seemed transfixed, dazed, inspired by what he saw. Then a vicious, golden smile grew from his mouth. He titled his head forward, a dark shadow falling across his face. “Yes. Oh yes, I see it now. You. You are a special boy. You run deeper than your blood, oh yes you do.” He walked towards Andrew, almost playfully, as if he were acting in a scene. When he lifted his arm in a dramatic gesture, Andrew knew that Sean was acting out a scene. “Yes. Yes! This is what we’ve been waiting for!” He spun around, and his fat jiggled around strangely, as if it weren’t really flesh. “You will be my brightest star, Andrew Vassar. Purity! Take this dear child of yours to the Prince. See that the town knows there’s a seventh.”

A light tap on the floor signaled Purity’s entrance. Andrew could feel her presence as she came from behind. She held out a large vase of blood in front of him. “Drink Andrew.” She sounded sad and despondent.