The Vampire's Apprentice

The morning passed uneventfully, as did the first part of the afternoon. It was right around two when a hustle and a bustle started next door. Sam stood with his front paws on the windowsill and watched with interest as a van pulled up in front of the Mooney household, and Mrs. Mooney, EJ, and what looked like possibly a nurse carefully got a blanket-wrapped body out of the van, into a wheelchair, and pushed into the safety of the house. About fifteen minutes later, the van left with the presumably nurse.
 
Kitty noticed. She waited a few minutes longer before deciding to amble over; no point in interrupting an initial reunion. The girl debated leaving Sam inside, remembering the countless moments Clancy had asked her to keep the hound nearby, but she assumed his silly self to be more of a hinderance than an asset at the moment. Besides, she was only going next door. How bad could it be?

That's what they all say, Kitty mused, hopping onto the Mooney's front porch and rapping lightly with one hand, a container of still-warm cookies in the other. What they all say just before something bad takes place.
 
If only there had been some kind of dramatic music in the pause before the door opened to that something horrible. Instead, there was only the faint sounds of talking, a pause, and the door opened to EJ, who had not bathed recently, his clothes were a wrinkled mess, and his ill-dyed hair was standing up every which way with a good half-inch of red root showing under the black. So while not monster horrible, still pretty horrible.

"What's up?" he asked, peering at her through sleepy eyes. "Oh, it's you. More cookies?"
 
"Seems to be the only thing I'm good for nowadays," She offered them, trying not to let her nose scrunch too much at the manly, unwashed scent of him. "I also came by to check if you guys were doing alright still, and if you needed help with anything."
 
"Thanks, but we're good. Except I'm getting bored of spaghetti-o's and ramen," EJ shrugged. "Do you want to come in and say hi?"
 
"Y-yes, may I?" Kitty couldn't help but to sound slightly hopeful. She wasn't certain what to expect, but she was worried for Norville. That was reason enough to accept the invitation.
 
"Sure, come on in," EJ said, stepping back and inside.
The Mooney house was set up the same as the McCleary house, probably built off the same blueprints. The two differences were that where the McCleary house had a balcony in the second story, the balcony here had been closed off, and out back an addition gave an extra room. EJ stuck the cookies in the rather untidy - though not disastrous - kitchen and led the way to the back room. The whole house had the air of barely controlled chaos, like someone tried to clean, but the mess swamped right back in behind them.
EJ opened the door to the back room and stuck his head in. "Mum? Kitty is here to see Norville. That okay?" There was a mumble of assent, and EJ stepped out of the way. "Go on in."
This room was bare except for a low bed, a short table, and an overflowing closet threatening to spill out onto the carpeted floor. Norvil lay nestled among blankets, his left arm and leg in casts and a foam brace on his neck. He was bruised, battered, and every color of purple and yellow along his left side with a few cuts on the right side of his face. Not a pretty sight, but he was still breathing.
Mrs. Mooney looked up from straightening the blankets. "Kitty."
 
Mrs. Mooney nodded, still looking exhausted, but some of the weight was off her shoulders. "Good. We're doing good." She moved away and gestured toward her son. "He's awake, but drowsy and medicated. If you want to talk to him."
 
Kitty nodded again, stuffing her hands into her pockets and standing beside his bed. "Heya, Norville." She said quietly. "How ya doin'?"
 
Norville turned his eyes toward her and squinted fuzzily through one black eye. "Kitty Cat!" he greeted her, his voice hoarse and fragile, yet undeniably filled with delight and warmth.
 
"You broke a lot of things," Kitty gestured with her gaze towards his casted limbs. "I would advise you not to do that again."
 
He lifted his arm enough to see the cast that reached from hand to over his elbow. "Huh, look at that... cool. Now you can sign it, yeah?" He gave her a sleepy smile.
 
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