The Vampire's Apprentice

Sam sat next to Kitty calm and alert. He liked the park and was completely at ease, but still watchful. He looked up with interest, alerting Kitty as Clancy walked toward them, his brow pinched slightly.

"I was concerned when I did not see you at home," he stated, his tone tight. Concern had been an understatement, and he had been desperately hoping to see her here. He looked around. "What are you doing here? Alone, at night, in the park, in the dark."
 
"Mmm." She didn't break her thoughtful stare away from the trees in the distance. "I probably could've left a note or something, couldn't I? Dunno why I didn't. Sorry to worry you so much."
 
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Clancy's eyes narrowed a little as he studied her. Something was not quite right here. Then he released his tension with a shrug and sat on the other end of the bench. "It would have been appreciated, yes, but that is past." He looked at the trees, trying to discern what she was looking at.
 
"Kinda nostalgic, ain't it?" Kitty asked him. "You and me, after sunset, sitting here on the bench. Feel like answering some riddles while I try to figure out if you're a vampire?"
 
She chuckled silently, noted only by the small movement of her shoulders. There wasn't much of a smile to show for it.

"I wasn't serious," Kitty replied, leaning back against the bench and folding her arms. "There would be no point."
 
"That has not stopped your questions before," he pointed out, "but in that case, what if I ask you a question?" He glanced at her. "Why are you out here?" he asked gently.
 
"Because it's quiet," She answered simply. "I can think about things without feeling like I'm going insane. There's a sort of... gloom in the house that's always pressing down on me. Out here, the air is clear, and so is my mind."
 
Clancy nodded slowly. "I see. How would you suggest going about clearing out the gloom?" He bit his tongue before the next words could escape, knowing they would only hurt matters. So he did not say, "Or shall we go about ignoring it and just try to hide from it?"
 
"I don't know. If I knew that, I would have brushed it away before it got as heavy as it has." Kitty shifted, sinking further into the bench. "It's practically unbearable, now."
 
Clancy shifted to study her sadly. "I think you do know what to do, and I think you are too frightened to face it," he said gently. "It is understandable and I empathize... but you should not let this control you and drive you from your own home."
 
"Is it wrong to be scared, then?" She asked. "Illegal to keep doing what I have been? I didn't come out here to start another argument, Clancy, and I don't want to. I want to be friends."
 
"Illegal, no, but potentially wrong depending on your definition, and definitely harmful," he answered calmly. "Do not see how arguments have any stasis on friendship. True friends argue because they are honest. And I am honestly telling you as a friend that you cannot keep doing this. You can come out here and relax, but eventually you are going to have to come home, and this subject is going to keep coming up because it is unavoidable. So my question to you is... are you going to do something about it, or are you going to keep hurting us both? I don't want to keep arguing, either, and it hurts to do so, but until you take care of it, it will keep coming up."
 
"Talk," he said firmly. "Open up to the therapist and actually talk to her about all of it. That is what you have not done, you have not actually faced it. I would welcome you to talk to me, but I cannot actually help you resolve the issue. I can only listen, and while that is helpful, it only goes so far. You need someone who can actually help you." His voice broke a little on the last few words, and he looked away, embarrassed.
 
Her gaze returned to somewhere in the dark distance, almost glowering.

"F-fine...." She mumbled quietly. "Just stop... talking about it."
 
Clancy said nothing for a long moment. "I am sorry," he said quietly. "I hope someday you will forgive me." He stood. "I will leave you in peace."
 
Words caught, and even though she did not want him to leave, Kitty was unable to ask him otherwise. It was lonely without his presence. Did he have to go?
 
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