The Vampire's Apprentice

Clancy looked into her eyes, and he understood. Gently, he touched the cheek he had slapped. He wanted to tell her he was sorry. He wanted to tell her he meant to come back and not put her through extra worry.
 
Kitty reached to take his hand, guiding it lower across the vein within her neck. Her eyes told him she understood; that it was OK. "Don't think about it. Just bite."
 
Hunger flared in his eyes as he felt the steady rushing of blood under his fingertips. He tried to hesitate, but hunger and instinct overrode his desires. He leaned forward and kissed her neck tenderly before his fangs sliced the vein, releasing a chemical that while technically a poison introduced a euphoric rush that dampened the fear and pain, soothing the prey. His tongue lapped at the blood as it flowed, his saliva numbing the area virtually instantly.
 
She tensed initially, feeling she sharp pain of his teeth in her neck, but it was gone within a moment. Her eyes drifted closed, and a sigh escaped her lips. There were no cares here; no worries, no fear. It was a quiet, happy place. Even without added euphoria, Kitty was content.
 
Clancy drank deep, reveling in the warm, sweet and salty nectar as it rolled over his ruined tongue and brought healing to his weak and battered body. He pulled away after two pints of blood and rested, breathing deeply. His arms remained wrapped around Kitty, holding her close.
 
Kitty nestled herself a bit closer, finding this an ideal place to take a nap. She felt tired, almost nauseous, and wished silently that methodic drum of her heartbeat would stop pressing against her skull. Why had he stopped? Why was she still alive? It was hard to focus on the answers, much less the questions themselves.
 
Good, Kitty. Good girl. Clancy held her close, enjoying the sound and feeling of her heartbeat for now. He still did not try to speak. For a moment, he took pleasure in simply being.

He stirred at last and nudged her. Time to wake up! He picked up the notebook from where it had fallen and wrote, "Eat something. Drink."
 
Perhaps it was best not to question things at the moment. It took up too much thought space, which was already strongly reduced by headache.

No faster than she dared, Kitty pulled herself upright and shuffled into the kitchen. Somewhere she had stored... where... were they...? There was a long pause as she tried to put her thoughts in order. Right. Cabinet. She had tucked a jar of peanuts back there a bit ago. That would suffice.

Ah, but all she really wanted was to rest heavy limbs; curl up and go back to sleep. It was late, after all. Almost ten thirty, wasn't it? As if she could care to remember that; it didn't matter too much. Focus on eating, and find a glass of water. That's what was important right now.
 
Clancy rested a minute more then followed Kitty into the kitchen. He helped her reach the peanuts then fetched a glass of water for her. Soft hands guided her to a kitchen chair, and he set the glass in front of her. If need be, he would poke and pinch her to keep her going.
 
Graphite wasn't the only thing good for making pictures. In effort to keep herself awake, she started rearranging the peanuts on the table as she munched on them. Her eyes kept trying to close, even still.
 
Clancy ensured she ate as many of the peanuts as she could stomach, and only then did he allow her to rest. Again, he guided her gently not to her bedroom, but to his own. He laid her down then stretched out next to her. His bed was not nearly as wide as hers, but it was roomy enough for the pair of them. He drew her gently into his arms and held her once again, grateful and already exhausted.
 
He was cold... silent, like the dead. She heard no heartbeat within his chest, despite how close he was to her now. But he was alive. Kitty understood he was alive, and that she was alive.
Her breath evened, eyes finally being allowed to close. Kitty pressed into him, more than content in this moment, and she fell asleep.
 
Clancy occasionally moved a hand, rubbing her back and brushing her hair, but mostly he rested. Quiet and at peace. He closed his eyes, and when the light came once more, he was already asleep.

Sam lay in the doorway to the bedroom, guarding.
 
Kitty awoke sometime later, not quite sure where she was.... The memories returned as she stood between the kitchen and living room, observing Clancy's chair and where she had sat on the carpet last night. Turning away, she let Sam outside, then went to the kitchen table, picking up the notepad and pencil. His words were still there; she wasn't imagining things.
Setting the pad aside, Kitty went to find some breakfast, not caring what time it happened to be. She was hungry, and that was reason enough.
 
It was some time around ten in the morning when someone tapped lightly on the front door. Sam spun around and growled at the door, instantly on guard. He had no real way of knowing if this person was a threat or not, but after what had happened last night, everything was a threat as far as he was concerned.
 
Kitty looked up from her book, setting it aside on the couch and moving to open the door. She payed little heed to Sam, but his concern had been noted.
 
Sam stuck to her leg, growling unhappily.

Norville stood on the porch. He grinned a lopsided smile, but that smile faded and he took a nervous step back when he saw Sam. "Uh, hey! It's me," he said encouragingly.
 
He nodded. "If Sam says it's okay. Are you okay? That's a nasty bruise on your neck. What happened?" He stepped forward slowly, in case Sam tried to bite or anything.
Sam growled, but he recognized this one, and Kitty seemed okay with it, so he moved back.
 
She reached to cup her neck. "Oh, that. It's..." Kitty was about to say it was nothing, but he already knew about Clancy. Still, the girl closed the door before answering. "It's just a bite. I'll survive."
 
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