"I have not fed since leaving Paris," the demon said in a sibilant whisper.

The child's body was ripped open from throat to crotch and Azz tumbled out of the exposed cavity in a state of shock.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Azz screamed as he writhed about on the filthy city street. "What's with the violence here? You want food? I'll get you food, there's no need for the rough stuff. Please... "

The Lothgar demon shook its shaggy head slowly, thick ribbons of saliva dribbling from the corners of its mouth. "No time," it growled as it reached down with its horrible clawed hands.

Azz tried to get away, to squirm across the rock and brick, but the beast was too fast. It grabbed him, razor sharp claws sinking into the flesh of his body. He fought valiantly, but as he was brought inexorably closer to the demon's mouth and the rank smell of its breath filled his nostrils, he knew that this was the end. As the first bite was taken from his midsection and his life fluids spattered the ground, he again ruminated on the reason why he seldom did business with vampires.

Nothing but trouble, he thought as another hunk of his body disappeared down the gullet of the Lothgar demon and his life gradually came to an end.

Nothing but trouble.