But she held on tight, her small fingers surprisingly strong.
"I'm not leaving you," she said with the stubborn determination that only children possessed. "You're hurt, and hurt people need help. That's what mama always said."
I felt my control slipping.
The hunger was rising again, stronger this time, fed by the scent of her blood and the steady rhythm of her heartbeat.
My vision started to blur around the edges, red creeping in from all sides.
"Emma," I gasped, my voice barely human now. "Please."
She looked up at me with those wide, innocent eyes, and I saw the exact moment she realized something was wrong.
Really wrong. Her grip on my hand loosened slightly, and a flicker of uncertainty crossed her face.
"Mister?" she whispered. "Your eyes are different."
I could feel the change happening, could feel the monster taking over again.
But this time, I was aware of it. This time, I could see it coming and was powerless to stop it.
