The Vampire's Apprentice

"Calling the police is not an option?" Norville asked as he sat down across from her. "That's usually what Mum does if EJ goes off the grid."
 
"It's not an option." She shook her head. "See, Mr. McCleary... is a vampire. And when I say that, I mean it. Allergic to garlic and sunlight with the fangs and sucking blood type vampire. If that were discovered, he would be executed."
 
Norville stared at her blankly for a long moment. Then he took a bite of his cookie. Chewed it thoughtfully. And swallowed. "Okay," he said with a nod, "or studied for awesome healing powers, which would be hella invasive. No good, but... uh... one question?"
 
"Vampires, whatever the incarnation media gives them, are insanely powerful with only a few massive debuff," Norville said. "If something was powerful enough to take out a vampire, what do you got going for you? Unless you aren't human, either?"
 
"I'm human," Kitty replied. "But I also serve as his familiar. My job is to take care of the daytime tasks that he cannot do. In return, I get to live despite knowing his secret. Though, I could very well be killed for telling you this, and now that I've told you, you could be killed for knowing, but I promise, if it's in my ability, I won't let that happen."
 
"Thank you. I don't think Mum would like it if I died," Norville said soberly. "How about you give him one more night? If he doesn't show, I'll arrange it so I can help you look for him. Two humans can do more than one, right?" He smiled supportively.
 
She paused for a half-second, but shook her head. "I've already thought this over. You need to stay here in case I don't come back. As much as I trust you, Norville, I don't want you coming with me to vampire territory without a mark. You're not a familiar. You're food."
 
Norville reached across the table and touched her arm. "One more night? Please?" he begged. "I'll stay if you really want me too, but I could be some help. If you go now, I'll just try to follow you, but if you wait just one more day, I'll do whatever you say. Promise on my Beanie Baby collection!"
 
Kitty once again hesitated. Without a word, she stood and climbed the stairs, heading to her bedroom. There, she fished through the drawer in her nightstand, returning with a silver quarter.

"I'll flip a coin. Heads, I stay another night. Tails, I leave immediately. Sound fair?"
 
Norville shifted, clearly unhappy with his current position, but he set his jaw stubbornly. "If you leave now, I'll follow you if you want me to or not. If you wait, I'll do what you tell me to. No quarter flip." His jaw quivered. He was clearly about as used to setting his foot down stubbornly as he was accustomed to breathing underwater.
 
Kitty gave him a hard stare and flipped the coin anyways. It wasn't so much wether he came with as it was wether or not she left immediately. All of her wanted to go out and looking to find Clancy, but Norville's words had a lot of common sense attached to them. She was evenly split between two choices.

The coin rattled against the table, and she peered in close to see the outcome.

Heads.

Kitty briefly considered finding a new coin, since this one was apparently biased against her.

"Heads. I'll stay another night, but don't come check up on me. I'll come over there when I leave, and you will not be coming with me. Okay?"
 
Relief flooded Norville's face and he nodded anxiously. "I understand! I'll give space, that's cool." He finished his cookie and stood. "I gotta get home. I need to keep an eye on my brothers."
 
Kitty snapped the lid back on the container and handed it to him. "Thanks for not thinking I'm crazy." She said earnestly. "It means more than you think it does."
 
Norville smiled as he accepted the container. "Mmm, I think you are a little crazy, but you aren't insane, and I guess I have to be at least just as crazy to believe you." He leaned over suddenly and gave her a one-armed hug. "He's going to be fine, Kitty-Cat. You'll see! And I'll be here whatever you need."
 
She nodded. "Thanks." I sure hope you're right. "Now, off with you. I'm making my own list of chores for today. And you can tell the twins Sam will be outside if they want to play."
 
Norville nodded and headed for home.

Sam sat next to Kitty and looked up at her worriedly. He had no idea what was going on, but he could tell she was upset.
 
Kitty did absolutely no reading that day. There was too much going on in her head to focus. She couldn't even stand to watch the twins while they romped with Sam, instead trusting the dog more than she normally would have and tidying up inside. The girl always had to be doing something to keep busy; something to keep her mind off of everything else. She hardly noticed the evening creep up over the horizon, looking for something—anything more—to be doing in distraction.
 
Sam was patient and calm with the twins, though he still wasn't thrilled with being separated from Kitty. When he was allowed back in the house, he followed her around with a toy in his mouth. Occasionally, he offered it to her in the hopes of making her feel better. It did not seem to be working. As evening grew deeper, he moved toward the bedroom and looked back. It was bedtime, wasn't it? Weren't they going to bed?
 
Sam was right, but Kitty was anxious and impatient. She couldn't sit still, much less sleep. Trying to do something besides thinking, she pulled out her notepad and started to doodle. Doodle a Clancy, maybe a pair of fangs.... Another random thought that popped into her head.
 
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