Three days of working, sleeping, and watching TV without a looming shadow falling over her or a furious howl waking her up. Of believing that the rotting old monster was never, ever going to come back. It was wonderful. Then, just after sunset on the fourth evening, Yulric stormed out of the cellar and made a beeline for the couch. “So, you’re back, then?” she asked. He did not answer, but with an intensity not usually seen in those about to watch TV, threw open a Phantom Vampire Mysteries DVD case and inserted it into the player. “Where’d you go after the club?” she tried, hoping for a little insight. Still, he did not respond. He put on a season-one episode, but skipped over it completely, stopping only to watch the credits go by. At the name of the executive producer, he paused the screen. “Boy!” he bellowed. “What?” came an answering call from upstairs. “Bring me books and maps,” the vampire shouted back. The scurry of footsteps could be heard above as Simon ran about his room collecting his favorite things.
