Their hideous, hungry, cruel faces lost nothing by the glaring lights that shone upon them as they floated past. From beneath came strains of weird, inhuman music.
I understood more clearly now the meaning of these terrible things. So intent were they upon their prey that they never noticed us.
“This is the Vampire’s Feast,” said Vestné, turning to me.
“Do they absorb the whole?” I asked.
“Oh, no. They are only allowed those parts which are of no use to us. When she is in a fit condition she will be placed in a common cell to suffer the just punishment. It is really a term of refinement and purification; after that she will be fit food for us, and servant too.”
I said nothing, but watched the hideous creatures at their meal. On the whole they interfered little with each other, still now and then a savage growl would break out when one usurped, even in the least, another’s portion.
“They should do good work after this,” said Vestné. “They have been feeding here for days. Come away, they are not very beautiful to behold even at the best of times.” So we went out again.
“You have locked the door?” I asked.
“Oh, yes. They can get out without keys, all except the prisoner.”
And from thence we passed on to another cell, in which we found another woman. What struck me most about her was her beauty. Thin and gaunt she might be (so were they all), but despite all this hers was a beauty of a very unusual order.