The Vampire's Apprentice

"He saved me from being kidnapped." She answered simply. "Then followed me home. I gave him a bath, for your sake."
 
"Excuse me? Kidnapped? Would you kindly tell me what has been happening today?" Clancy demanded, crossing his arms.
 
Kitty stepped into the house, trying not to let the dog inside with her. She leaned against the closed door.
"After I dropped off the dry-cleaning, I was headed back to the library. The dog was in an alley and caught my attention, and I removed a splinter from his foot. Figuring you probably wouldn't like having a dog, I left him there and was on my way again when a couple of thugs caught me. Same ones from before; one of them had the brass knuckles wrapped around his hand." Kitty tapped at her own knuckles and realized her flashlight was still on. She turned it off. "That dog saved my life, and the police caught the two men. I figured I'd wait 'til I told you about it before filling out the report."
 
"I see," Clancy said slowly. He looked her over and touched her upper arm. "They bruised you." Something dark crept into his eyes and he lifted her sleeve enough to see the finger marks on his arms. "How did this dog save your life, exactly?"
 
"He grabbed onto the leg of one man before they could shove me into a car. Their cursing was enough to draw the police's attention." To the best of her knowledge, that was what had happened. She hadn't exactly been paying that much attention to anything but escape. Kitty hadn't even noticed the bruises until Clancy pointed them out to her. She winced at the marks.
 
"And you are supposed to file a report with the police?" Clance asked releasing her sleeve.
Outside, the dog whined then sighed and walked to the grass to flop down sadly.
 
"Yes," The girl nodded. "But before that, there's still a dog outside in the cold. I'd like to ask if he can stay."
 
Clancy folded his arms again in disaproval. "You wish to keep a... dog." He huffed in irritation. A dog! Why a dog? If she was going to bring home any animal, why couldn't it have at least been something like a goldfish? Goldfish were lovely pets. Quiet and clean. Still, he understood the debt one felt to another, even an animal, for a life saved. "Very well, as it saved your life, you may look after it until such time as you find a more appropriate place for it to stay. While he is here, you will be solely responsible for it, and any trespasses it causes shall be treated as your own. Are we clear?"
 
"Point taken." She nodded again. "And the report; is there anything in particular I should mention or avoid mentioning about the kidnappings?"
 
"Tell them the truth," Clancy told her calmly. "Perhaps not entirely the truth concerning me, but that is a part of your job as a Familiar. Keep me out of things as much as possible. Perhaps just tell them that my appearance caused them enough confusion one killed the other, or that you were too sick to see anything that happened. And I am unavailable for questions."
 
Clancy gave her an irritated look. "With the police. I am unavailable for questions with the police. As for your questions, we shall see. Now. Where is this dog of yours?"
 
Kitty seemed apologetic, though misunderstandings were common.
"Outside, I believe." She opened the door again and called for the mutt. She still called him Sam, not having found another name. Perhaps it was short for Samuel.
 
The dog perked up at the sound of the familiar voice and followed it. He walked in and stopped short, staring at Clancy.
"That... beast is the mutt that saved you?" Clancy asked, repulsed.
The dog tipped its head with a curious whine. This person smelled funny.
 
"Yeeessss," Kitty drew out the word as if it were obvious, yet as though she were slightly concerned he would change his mind. She softly closed the door again.
 
"That is quite possibly the most disgraceful creature I have ever seen bearing the name of 'dog,'" Clancy said flatly. "And what were you calling it? 'Sam?'"
 
"Samuel for a dog?" Clancy said, his lip curling. "Oh, very well. Since the creature will not be with us long."
The dog tipped his head the other way, brow wrinkled as he tried to study Clancy and figure him out.
Clancy glared back. "A hard sound at the beginning of the name is better for a dog's name. They hear it better and respond to it. Names like 'Duke' or 'Clyde' or 'Bear.'"
 
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