Book Three: Chapter 110

Stumbling, Daryl was suddenly aware that the stone lions guarding the front walk were still very far away. Blinking his eyes rapidly, he took a few more steps. His legs were numb beneath him. Tilting forward, he crashed into the front walk, the breath leaving his body and the Grimoire tumbling free of his grasp.

Gasping for air, he tried to reach the book. Soft footsteps moved toward him, Dana’s tennis shoes coming into view. She pushed the Grimoire toward his face, then knelt down in front of him.

“You’re not you when you’re sleepy,” she said, a sadistic smile stretching across her face.

“What?” He bit down on his tongue, struggling to stay awake. “What happened?”

“The hunger. How do I get rid of it?”

“I was... using my magic to...” The words fell from his mouth, shattering on the cold concrete below him. “You’ll have to... eat. Can’t stop... transformation.”

“What do I need to eat?”

“Flesh... living...” He could barely keep his eyes open.