As part of the action used to cast this spell, you must make a melee attack with a weapon against one creature within the spell's range, otherwise the spell fails. On a hit, the target suffers the attack's normal effects, and shadowy wisps enshroud the target until the start of your next turn. If the target willingly makes a melee weapon attack against any other creature during the spell's duration, the target of this spell takes 1d4 necrotic damage and the creature being attacked by this target gains 1d4 temporary hit points as the tendrils of dark energy transfer life essence from one to another, and the spell ends.

This spell’s damage increases when you reach higher levels. At 5th level, the melee attack deals an extra 1d8 necrotic damage to the target, and the temporary hit points gained by the target of the subsequent melee attack, increases to 2d4. Both damage and temporary hit point rolls increase by 1d8/1d4 at 11th level and 17th level.