The Vampire's Apprentice

((A grand post to be the 2,000th!!!))

"I thought only one knight was supposed to get all three. Why is she rolling apples? And how did she get up there if the horses couldn't make it?" JP asked.
 
Kitty couldn't help but to laugh. "Well, maybe if you meet her, you can ask. For now, let me finish the story."

Interestingly, a few of these questions were things she, herself, frequently asked. How had the princess gotten up there? The girl didn't know, but continued on anyways.

"The next evening, the same thing happened, only this time a knight wearing silver trotted up. All the way up. He went to take the last golden apple right off the princess' lap, then dashed all the way back down the hill again, gone before anyone knew what became of him.

"Now, the King sent out a search. He needed to find who had the golden apples. One by one, every person came forward, but no one had the golden apples. Boot's brothers, who were last of all, did not have the apples either. The King asked them, 'Is there no one else?' And the brothers replied, 'Only our brother, Boots, but he sits and pokes at the ashes all day. He wasn't even allowed to come with us.'"
 
"'He might as well come,' said the King, so the brothers went to fetch Boots. When the King asked him if he had the apples, Boots replied, 'Why, yes. Here's the first one, and the second one, and the third one, too!' Then he whipped off his ash-covered rags and stood there in the shining golden armor. The King gave his daughter to Boots, and a great feast was held. If they haven't stopped celebrating yet, well, they're still at it!" Kitty concluded.
 
The twins stared at her.
"See, told you Boots did it," JP said then nestled under the covers.
"Yeah, but you didn't see how," JC pointed out, "and the princess must be extra special to get up a hill the horses couldn't." She laid down next to her brother.
 
"Night," the twins chorused.

Clancy sat in his chair now, and EJ lay sound asleep on the couch under one of the blankets Kitty had brought.
 
Kitty shut the door gently and meandered back into the living room, glancing first at EJ, then at Clancy. Not wanting to disturb the former, she nudged her head in the direction of the stairs, willing Clancy to follow her, before heading that way herself.
 
Clancy stretched then followed Kitty upstairs. "That was a nice story you told them," he said once they reached the top of the stairs. "I could not hear it all, but it was enjoyable."
 
"I'm glad you liked it." She smiled. "Hopefully they won't be too much trouble during the night. But besides that, would you like to finish answering questions, or should I save them for another time?"
 
Kitty nodded. "Yes, please."

She went to open the nightstand drawer and retrieve her notepad, but paused and drew her hand away, instead sitting down on her bed. The girl looked to him expectantly, trying to remember what exactly is had been that she'd asked earlier in the night.
 
Clancy sat on the end of the bed while Sam came panting up and flopped at her feet. "You asked me what I am most grateful for," he repeated. "I believe I have an answer for that, but I am not yet prepared to answer it. Not just yet. Ask another in its place?"
 
"Okay." She thought about this for a moment. "Hmmm.... If you had the option to press a button and start your life over again, would you?"
 
"That is a difficult question," Clancy mused. "I suppose in some ways I have lived many lives... but to start over entirely?" He gave it a moment's consideration then shook his head. "No, I do not think I would."
 
Clancy shrugged. "it is a tempting thought, I will not lie, but I know who I am and how I got here. Starting fresh would be thrilling, but then would I become an even worse monster? Better the devil you know, and all that."
 
She'd never heard the phrase before, but shrugged it off. His point was clear. "What do you think is the best feeling in the world?"
 
Clancy smiled pointedly - literally, with his fangs showing briefly. "Drinking the blood of a fresh, young human with a wildly beating heart."
 
Goosebumps rose. Kitty grinned nervously, though more for show than out of actual fear. It faded after a moment. "Last question. Hypothetically, you found a book someplace and started reading it. It's soon discovered that this book is of your life, and you come to the page that is the current moment. Do you flip the page knowing that you will not be able to change the events to come, or close the book and walk away?"
 
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