The Vampire's Apprentice

The Clancy she sought was waiting at the kitchen table when she came inside. He looked at her cooly and raised a brow. "I presume you did not see my note?" he asked a bit pointedly. He did not mean to be overbearing, but he had to know that she would follow instructions when he asked. There would be plenty of times when he would need to tell her to do something without telling her why at least until later. It could be a matter of life and death, but if he could not trust her to follow a simple instruction, how could he trust her with the important ones?
 
"I did," Kitty took a chair. That look he was giving was not something she wanted to hear the reason behind.
 
"I see... and the instruction not to go outside was somehow confusing beyond your ability to comprehend? Something I doubt considering how many books you have gone through already," Clancy said.
 
Kitty got the point. Instructions were law, and she was not to disobey them. There was clear shame to her expression.
"Sorry," she mumbled. "I understood and didn't listen."
 
"Thank you," Clancy said. He took a sip of tea-laced blood from a coffee mug. "Although, now the neighbors will think that a mid-twenties man is living with a teen girl." He gave a melancholy sigh. "You would think Mrs. Pugglesworth would have learned not to snoop after the painting incident, but she is retired and has nothing better to do with her life than to spy on her nearest neighbor."
 
That would have been a good reason, Kitty considered in hindsight. "Technically you are, though I'm sure second cousins makes enough sense."
 
"One would think. Clearly you have never heard of the gossiping prowess of a woman in her early retirement years," Clancy said dryly. "She will have you, ah, what is the term? Oh, yes, 'knocked-up' by the end of the day, and the whole thing shall be utterly scandalous! Though, of course, she would not dream of confronting us as it is absolutely none of her business, but it shall be known throughout the town among a certain circle of busy-bodies as absolute fact." He rolled his eyes heavenward. "Heaven save me from retirees! Ah, well." He looked at Kitty. "Can you cook? Or bake?"
 
His utter distaste for the woman caused a small smile to appear.

"I can a little bit. Nothing special, and I tend to burn things... but I can follow a recipe."
 
"Excellent! If you are feeling well enough tomorrow, you can bake a cake or cookies or something simple and take it to her," Clancy said. "Give her something else to gossip about other than illegitimate children, but... please try to keep it classy."
 
"I will try," Kitty agreed. "Admittedly, I'll probably have a difficult time with only nonperishables to work with."
 
Kitty thought for a moment. "A box of cake mix and any ingredients listed on the back, frosting that pairs well, and a round baking pan if there isn't one already." Everything else she hoped to find somewhere in the kitchen.
 
She shrugged. "Dunno. You'll have to look for it; usually it's with the sprinkles somewhere near the baking utensils. Likely in a baking isle."
 
"Hmm, a singular isle for baking. Imagine that," Clancy murmured. "Very well. And is there anything else you need?"
 
"Apples." Kitty answered off the top of her head. "Canned food won't sustain me forever. I don't think there's anything else."
 
"Apples," Clancy said to confirm. "Very well. When you are feeling strong, you may go shopping for yourself. I will give you a card with a set amount of money on it as your allowance. Every month, I shall pay you by refilling the card. Will that work for you?"
 
"Excellent. Then I shall be back." He stood and moved toward the door. "I shall be perhaps an hour. If you are asleep, I shall endeavor not to wake you."
 
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