The Vampire's Apprentice

Clancy was up the moment he was able to safely leave his chamber, and he was careful to seal it off. Someday someone would find it, but that would not likely be any time soon, and he wanted to keep it that way. That done, he made certain to settle his hat neatly on his head and brush off his favorite blue suit before going in search of Kitty.
 
Kitty was still asleep, and had she not needed to be woken, she likely would have remained that way. She looked peaceful, sprawled delicately across the length of the bed, still in her daytime clothes. It was as if she were enjoying the last moments she got to spend there, despite not being conscious enough to remember them.
 
Clancy sighed regretfully and left her there. There was still one more thing he could do on his own. He went out to the car and opened the back hatch. Then heading inside, he picked up his box (really an extra-large steamer trunk) and fit it carefully inside. It would be a tight fit for him, but he'd slept in worse places. Besides, he wouldn't care once he was "asleep." Once he was sure that was secure, he put the rest of the boxes in the back seat, leaving a blanketed area in the back for Sam, figuring the dog would prefer that over trying to balance on the seats.

Glancing toward the Mooney house, he saw the lights were on but the curtains were drawn. Odd they would be up at this late hour, but perhaps they were waiting to tell Kitty goodbye? Then why were they not here yet? Perhaps the twins were on lookout for their friend and would be over soon. He checked his pocket watch. Just a few minutes past nine. It had not taken him long at all to get everything packed, and he smiled to himself before glancing at the Mooney household. He wouldn't leave without letting Kitty say goodbye, but he hoped they came soon.

Now that everything was ready, he went up to check on Kitty again. He made his way up into her room and gently shook her arm. "Katheryn, time to wake up. Kitty, come along."
 
"Hm?" She mumbled, opening her eyes slowly and letting her blurred vision focus. "Going where? And why?" Kitty shifted her position slightly to look up at him.
 
"Today is the day we leave," Clancy explained patiently. "It's time to wake up and shake off the sleep. Also, you should put a collar and leash on Sam for the time being."
 
"Oh, yeah." Kitty closed her eyes again. There was a moment of stillness before she stretched and sat up. "I forgot about that," she yawned.
 
"What do you need to wake up?" Clancy asked. One of the, uh, blessings of his style of sleep was that there was no strangeness between wake and sleep, no drifting, only awake, or not awake.
 
"Alright. I will get it out for you. Please meet me downstairs." Clancy headed back downstairs and went to the kitchen to get out her coffee. Cold coffee had always mystified him. How could people drink the stuff? Nevertheless, he prepared it and set it on the table.
 
She gave herself two minutes to sit there and sleep, then she got off the bed and followed him down the stairs. Kitty found the coffee and without a word went to heat it up. It was too early— or, late—to be speaking, in her opinion.
 
Clancy waited patiently. It was quite amusing to see her in this state. He only ever witnessed her falling asleep, not waking up. "How do you feel?" he asked, when he felt he could risk speaking.
 
"Mmm." Kitty mumbled, watching the microwave with an intent but lazy eye. "Like I wanna go back to bed. It's friggin' midnight."
 
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye as the microwave beeped. Kitty went to open the door and see if the coffee was hot, popping the lid of the container and dipping her finger on the surface. Briefly scalding herself, she set her finger on her tongue before placing the lid back on and sipping it gently.
 
Clancy watched the ritual quietly, briefly remembering back when he made himself coffee. Oh, it was a far different ti-

BANG

He was on his feet faster than thought, his eyes on the window facing the Mooney's house. Shotgun. Or rifle. From the Mooney's.
 
Kitty almost choked on her mouthful of coffee, immediately dropping the cup from her lips at Clancy's sudden standing more than the noise. He'd moves so fast! It was short lived however, and after she had swallowed, she asked, "What was that?"
 
"Gunshot. Next door," Clancy said brusquely. And he was gone. He forgot to tell Kitty to stay or to be careful or any of that. he needed to isolate the gunman and end things now. That would protect Kitty and the neighbors.

He reached the door and tugged. Locked. He tightened his grip and shoved. The doorframe splintered under his strength, offering little resistance. He stumbled a step then caught himself and looked around, tensed and ready. Even so, he was not prepared for the sight that greeted his eyes.

EJ lay unconscious and sprawled on the floor in front of the door, bleeding from a gash in his forehead. Norville stood near the kitchen, white-faced, shaking, gun in hand. The twins cowered behind him, JC holding a profusely bleeding nose while JP held his arm tight to his chest. Across the room, Norville's mother stood equally white, splattered with crimson. On the floor next to her lay the body of a man. A very dead man.
 
Kitty went to the window, watching Clancy burst inside the house. If she had been able to pull away from the glass above the kitchen sink, she would have been pacing anxiously. The coffee cup sat off to the side, no longer priority.
 
Sam barked at the window until he realized the door was standing open. Then he took off out the door, barking all the way.

"Norville," Clancy said slowly and calmly. "Put the gun down, please." A gunshot wouldn't kill him, but they still hurt and all his other suits were packed.
Norville stood staring blindly at the body as if he didn't hear.
The eeriest thing about this scenario, Clancy thought, was that no one was screaming. "Norville. Listen to me. Put the gun down."
The boy jerked as if startled then nodded. The gun dropped with a clatter, making Clancy wince.
 
"Sam, sh– Sam!" Kitty turned just as the dog bolted outside. She hesitated for a moment, wavering between two options, but something won over and she went after the hound, again hesitating as she neared the neighbor's porch. She didn't want to know what was inside.
 
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