The Vampire

The darkness is incredibly thick, like the vampire's beard,
like an animal doctor's beard. The shadow of blood cast
by the dead animals has turned black and crusty on the walls
and floor, but on the steel tables it looks red as the darkest,
shiniest red against a metal background. Suburban pets, mostly -
some used to be common; some, like the lizard, had been exotic.
The hideous, meaningless incisions that have been made in cat,
dog, rabbit, snake, bird. The vampire, who does not drink
animal blood, and refused any in this case as well, had been
a respectable veterinarian.