As night succeeded night, the vampiress was seen less and less stalking her parapets. More and more, the shadow of the terrible queen was known in the surrounding districts—children, mostly, found pale and dead, some orphans, waifs without homes, some drawn away from their families in the night, their little corpses left strewn in alleyways and rubbish heaps.
In her bower, the man with the keen eyes grew with every kiss. She looked down at him lovingly each night, watching as his flesh slowly filled in and muscles succeeded bones. Her cold fingers traced the contours of his chest.
Tale Told 