The Vampire's Apprentice

"I want to know because it is weighing you down and hindering you. You will never be'ready' to say anything about what happened," Clancy said, unruffled by her outburst. "You have to force yourself. Once you get started, it will slowly become easier. Not telling is hurting in a different way. It is like a steel barb working its way deeper in your flesh and slowly festering and poisoning you. It hurts to pull it out, but that is the only way healing can begin. Come, tell me what it is that is hurting you so much."
 
Kitty was silent, letting her hair fall partially in front of her face as she pressed her elbows further against her sides, hunching slightly. He was right. He was right, but she still wanted to close herself off. Pretend like consequences didn't matter and go back to being stubborn. Just think a little. Think slowly and be rational about it.

"Okay." Kitty answered softly after a minute. "I will try again, but you've got to come here. Sit next to me."
 
Clancy was a little surprised by the request, but he stood and inched over to sit next to Kitty on the couch. He turned slightly to be able to look at her and said in a soft, gentle tone, "I am here. I will listen. Please tell me."
 
This was better. Not so isolated. She gingerly reached for his hand, taking and examining his palm like she had done prior, running her thumb lightly across its cold surface. Then, with what evenness she could muster, and after another long pause, she spoke, though Kitty did not look up.

"This isn't the town I was born in." She began. "There's another one very, very far away from here—in what direction, I do not know. Up until almost... three months ago, that was where I lived. Me, my three brothers, and my parents. The house was small and dark, never seeming to have enough light. There were two small bedrooms, one being the master bedroom and the other where my brothers slept. I kept myself to the couch.

"If you've ever read Matilda, you've already got a good idea of how I was often treated. Staying up late because my parents decided they wanted to watch TV into the night, sitting on my 'bed;' ignoring me when I asked for it back. Always being undermined by the two eldest." Kitty stopped for a moment.
 
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Clancy watched her trace on his hand with interest. Her touch almost tickled. "That would be rather annoying," he agreed calmly.
 
Her hands seemed small and stubby compared to his. His seemed white as paper when put next to hers. Kitty inspected this, and resumed.

"One afternoon, sometime around lunch, my family decided they would be going to eat at a new place that had opened up a while ago. I had things I needed to catch up on, so I opted to stay behind." Her gentle grip on his hand tightened slightly, as the anxiety was growing more difficult to push down. "The youngest of my brothers decided to stay behind as well, to keep me 'out of trouble.'

"So it was me, him, and a free afternoon. After I had finished with my homework, we went out someplace on our own, planning to get back before dark. He was nice like that." Her voice had begun to choke again. "Always doing things with me instead of hanging with my older siblings, roughhousing and heading off to get with friends. We went for ice cream; there's a parlor down a few blocks and into town, just past the spaghetti shop."
 
"That sounds like a nice evening," Clancy said. He did not remark that her brother actually sounded like he had an unhealthy attachment to his sister. That was likely not something to be touched upon for a couple of years.
 
"It... it was," Emphasis being on was. "We never even got to the place. T-there was a kidnapping... and..." She bit at her lip, hard, and pressed her smaller palm into his. A long moment of silence followed.
"A kidnapping," she repeated hoarsely. "I watched... his life fade. They beat him–" Don't cry. "–while I stared, and I–" Don't cry.

Kitty stopped. "I've...."

How tightly had she been grasping his hand? Releasing it to clear her vision was like peeling dried glue off of skin.
 
"Someone tried to kidnap your brother and beat him to death?" Clancy asked mildly. His hand ached a bit, but he could take a lot of pressure.
 
"They tried to kidnap me." She restated. "It was the same incident you rescued me from that night... in front of the library.... Except they succeeded, and he died. No one could hear me scream.... They were gone by morning."
 
"They made me watch as my own brother—the only person in the world who saw me as more than nothing—was beaten to a slow, bloody murder." She replied, going deadpan. "Then they turned to me, had their fun... and left."
 
Clancy considered this for a moment. "I am sorry to say it, but you are wrong," he said with a shrug. "From the sounds of things, your brother was the target all along. You were merely a... bonus. I am sorry to put it that way, but that is the only thing that makes your story make sense. He must not have been the angel you thought he was and was, in fact, mixed up with some unsavory people. You were just a very unfortunate casualty. It is curious that they left you alve. Most likely, they knew you would not be strong enough to tell anyone and get them reported."
 
Kitty slowly crossed her arms tightly in front of her and sent her annoyed look at the floor instead of at him. "It doesn't matter. It happened, he's gone, and I'm stuck with a vampire for the rest of my life. Not much point in wondering why anything ever happened, is there? Who was right and what was wrong. Pointless. Pointless information, isn't it?"
 
"Not in this case," Clancy said calmly. "In this case, you need closure, and in order to get that closure, you need to face what happened. Truly face it and stop seeking ways to distract your self and curb your suicidal tendencies."
 
"I'm done talking about it." She replied. There was still more to say, of course, but she wasn't in the mood to finish. Kitty didn't want to become any more irritatedly agitated than she already was.
 
"That is fine. I expected you to not want to talk to me further, and I am a terrible therapist," Clancy said with a shrug. "I've had two hundred years of havoc and fighting and bloodshed under my belt, I cannot claim to be an innocent and empathetic listener. I am far too calloused and cynical. So we will find you someone else." He hesitated then awkwardly reached out and gingerly patted her shoulder. "I am not entirely heartless. I am... sorry. For the little that is worth."
 
She didn't say anything for a moment, then glanced in his direction. "How do you keep going?"

((>-> I'm back. Waves. Let's try this again.))
 
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