The Vampire's Apprentice

"Don't think so." Kitty turned to look as well. "He's a loyal idiot, not a vicious hound. I can hold his collar if you're nervous."
 
She reached down to grasp his collar. "Let him sniff your hands first. Good rule for both cats and dogs."
 
The twins came around the fence and cautiously approached Sam. Sam leaned toward them curiously, not used to Kitty holding his collar. He gave them both a good sniff then sat still. The pair started petting him, grinning a little as they weren't mauled.
 
Kitty held onto his collar for a while longer, but finding everyone satisfied she hesitantly let go and rubbed the dog's head.
 
Sam looked up at Kitty and squeaked his toy.
"What happened to his ears?" one of the twins asked, poking the dog's head.
Sam looked at them, confused, but didn't react.
 
Sam sneezed then tried to give Kitty the toy. Play?
"What's he doing now?" one of the twins asked. The more that one talked, the more apparent the difference in voice became. That one was a girl. One girl with three rough brothers.
 
"Throw it where?" asked the boy.
"Across the yard, stupid," said the girl, boldly taking the toy. She drew back her skinny arm and threw it as hard as she could.
Sam watched the toy fly across the yard and bounce in the grass. Then he looked up at Kitty and whined.
 
"Dunno." Kitty was confused. She hopped over to where the toy was and picked it up, sitting back on her haunches. "C'mere, Sam! What's got you spooked?" She wiggled the rubber object and squeaked it.
 
Strange.... The toy was tossed back over towards the twins, and Kitty went to stand by them again. "Maybe he is broken." She joked. "Never was one for dogs."
 
Sam followed the toy until the twins held it. Then he looked toward Kitty, seeming confused.
"But you own a dog," the girl said as if Kitty had said the weirdest thing she'd ever heard.
The boy tried throwing the toy again, but Sam didn't move.
 
Maybe these kids were ghosts.... Kitty smiled at the thought. If vampires existed, who says ghosts couldn't?
"Yeah, I know." She nodded, leaving the toy where it lay with only a glance in its direction, and stepping to stand beside the small group. Her hands made their way to her hips and she observed Sam closely.
"Sorry he's actin' real strange. Dunno what's gotten into him. Y'all can still pet him if you like." A little bit of southern affliction had crept into her voice. Not too much, but some.
 
"Cool!" The twins happily put their hands all over the dog. The mutt closed his eyes and leaned into the affection, lapping up every clumsy stroke and poke. If these two were ghosts, they were connecting with him in all the right ways! Except where it came to toys.
"We're not supposed to be out here," the boy confessed. "Norville and EJ were goin' at it again, so we took off before our Mum noticed. She'll be screamin' them down about now."
 
"Ah, well, if she gets mad at you two, you can blame me for bribing you with a dog and some stories." Kitty plopped down onto the grass, letting one leg rest to the side and the other she lay her arm over.
 
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