Kellen hurried to the kitchen, where water was standing in the sink. He rinsed his muzzle in the still water and then turned on the faucet, lapping at the flowing water, trying to rinse his mouth without swallowing any of Nick’s blood. Ethan entered, carrying Kellen’s tablet. “Need help?” Ethan asked, his voice soft, eyeing Kellen’s struggle. “Should I refill your bowl?” Kellen shook his head, water droplets flying, and kept trying to clean out the blood. Not a fan of vampire blood?” Ethan moved closer and took a cup from the sink. "Let me help.” He scooped water and tilted it toward Kellen’s muzzle, the cold, clear stream. Kellen recoiled, whiskers twitching, to keep water from going down his throat, then leaned in again as Ethan rinsed, feeling the cup’s chill steady him. “Nasty stuff, huh?” Ethan said, his tone light, but his eyes wary, scanning Kellen’s tense frame. Kellen growled, his ears flattening. Ethan jerked back, hands raised, the cup splashing. “Easy, boy.” His voice cracked, the night’s tension tightening his shoulders. Kellen whimpered, his muzzle dripping over the sink as regret flickered in his dark eyes. He needed his tablet to explain, but until he was cleaned up, that wasn’t an option. Slowly, Ethan resumed rinsing, his hands steadier and the water’s rhythm calming. “Were you agreeing with me?” Ethan asked. Kellen nodded, his tail twitching, the gesture small but clear in the fluorescent glare. “Sorry,” Ethan said, exhaling, his breath misting. “Tonight’s been… weird.” Finally, the blood’s tang faded, Kellen’s tongue clean. He pulled back, muzzle dripping over the sink. Ethan grabbed a towel and held it out. Kellen nuzzled it, drying his fur. “Did you just not want to swallow vampire blood, or is there something else?” Ethan asked, tossing the towel aside, his voice low. Kellen padded over to his tablet and tapped the screen, letters glowing: Any vampire blood isn’t good for me. I won’t turn, but I’ll have stomach problems. But Nick isn’t acting right. There’s something about Tracey. She smells wrong. Billy smelled wrong in the end. Maybe she’s like him. I’d need to run some tests. I only know Nick shouldn’t have her blood. His dark eyes locked onto Ethan. Ethan’s brow furrowed. “I’ll tell the others,” he said, his voice steady. “Stay here for now.” Ash, Kellen tapped. “You want to check on her?” Ethan asked, catching Kellen’s glance at the door, the hall’s shadows flickering under fluorescent lights. Kellen nodded, his fur bristling, and Ethan peered out, the glow of the rec room dim. “Coast’s clear,” he said, holding the door as the hinges creaked. Kellen darted through, tablet in his jaws, claws clicking as he ran to Ash’s room. Ash’s room was a soft contrast, its walls postered with video game heroes, templates for dreams if she needed to protect herself. She lay propped on pillows, her fingers weaving a miniature solar system—planets of light orbiting a glowing sun, her dreams stronger despite the meds. The IV pole, draped in a tattered scarf, stood sentinel, its drip steady. Ash smiled as Kellen entered, patting the bed, her eyes bright but fragile, the S.P.A.’s weight heavy on her. Kellen jumped up, curling against her, his fur a soothing warmth, her hand sinking into his coat, grounding them both. The solar system flickered, a comet trailing sparks, her control steady but thin. “Everything okay downstairs?” she asked, her voice soft, scanning his dark eyes. Kellen barked three times. One bark was for “yes”. Two was for “no”. And three was “for I don’t know”. “What happened?” Ash asked, her brow creasing, the planets dimming. He gave her a look to ask if she really wanted him to get up to use his tablet. “Who was the problem?” She conjured a dream-list, glowing names hovering—Alex, Cassie, Nick, Ethan, Kellen, Other. Kellen nosed Kellen, Nick, and Other, his muzzle firm, the solar system pulsing with her focus. “Other? The woman Nick brought home?” Ash’s eyebrow arched, her voice teasing but sharp, the planets spinning faster. Kellen barked once, yes, his ears twitching, Tracey’s wrongness a claw in his gut. Ash grinned, her dreams flickering. “Did you bite her before Nick could?” Two barks no. “You didn’t bite Nick, did you?” she joked, her eyes glinting, expecting a laugh. One bark, a growl rumbling, his fur bristling. Ash sat up, her IV tugging, the solar system wobbling. “You bit Nick?” One bark, his dark eyes steady, the memory of Nick’s fangs and Tracey’s scent sharp. “What happened?” Ash asked, her voice urgent. She brought him his tablet. He told her through the glowing screen. “We need Alex,” Ash said, her planets fading, her hand on Kellen’s fur. “I’ll get him up here. Nick won’t want you near.” She texted Alex. Kellen nodded and tapped, thinking: Hide any dreams first. She shouldn't have been able to create anything while on the IV. Since her dosage was reduced, she could manage small dreams. The plan was to restrict her abilities until she gained control, then lower the dosage further to allow her to adapt. Ethan was helping; it was nothing extraordinary—just knowing how to communicate with her correctly. Alex and Cassie sounded condescending, while Nick spoke to her as if she was inferior. All three lost patience quickly, which made her tense and caused her to lose her grip on control. But Ethan had endless patience and treated the dreams like everyday occurrences. Maybe being raised by ghosts helped. Alex arrived. Kellen replayed his tablet message. Alex frowned. “Tracey is still here. I’ll try to get a blood sample, but I can’t force her. You smelling something’s off isn’t going to work as an excuse to tell Winters, unless you want me to tell him you can read and write.” Kellen shook his head, his fur bristling. “I’ll figure out a story,” Alex said. “Ash, ideas?” “I could bump her with Jack,” Ash offered, her eyes glinting, gesturing at her IV pole. “If there’s something sharp, it could draw blood.” Alex nodded, his lips twitching in appreciation. “Smart. Risky, but smart.” “Or Kellen can bite her, too,” Ash teased, a spark of her old fire surfacing. “No way,” Kellen tapped, his growl firm, glowing. “Yeah, if something is wrong, that would be a bad idea,” Alex agreed. “Go get some blood. I’ll stay up here,” Kellen told him. “But before you do, put Nick in the sun room.” “Yeah, if there’s blood, he can’t be anywhere around,” Alex agreed, his voice low, texting Cassie to prep a sun spell. “Ash, stay safe.” Ash nodded, already rifling her dresser, pulling possible items, Kellen’s presence anchoring her as Alex left, the door’s creak echoing in the starlit room. --- Ash dressed as Jack, her elaborate costume—a tattered jacket pinned with safety pins, two open, with a rough edge of a belt buckle glinting, a spiked bracelet hooked to a sleeve, her fingers deft despite the tug of the IV. The air hummed with her focus; the planets disappeared, replaced by her sharpened control and sense of purpose. Kellen nodded, his dark eyes approving. “Nice work,” he tapped, his tail wagging. Ash maneuvered Jack downstairs, the pole’s wheels squeaking, her steps tentative, her IV swaying. She knocked on Nick’s door. “Come in,” Amy called, her voice soft, steady. Ash entered hesitantly, her steps tentative and cautious. People quickly noticed the faint glow of the IV attached to her arm and immediately assumed she was ill, which often elicited their sympathy. If she appeared meek and fragile, it would disarm them completely, making her seem even more vulnerable. “I’m so sorry about Kellen,” Ash said, sitting beside Tracey, her voice soft. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Tracey shook her head, her dark hair catching the light. “He just bit Nick and bolted.” “He’s Ash’s service dog. He’s supposed to help her monitor her medication,” Amy explained. “He can be protective of me,” Ash added, her voice soft, eyes downcast. “He’s wary of Nick because he’s a vampire. He might have smelled you on him and gotten confused.” “Will he attack me?” Tracey asked, her voice tight, glancing at the door. “I locked him in my room,” Ash assured, her comet flickering in her mind, suppressed. “Will you be okay without him?” Tracey asked, glancing at her IV. “I’m not sure I’d trust him now,” Ash claimed. “I’ll have to have him checked out.” “Could it be he sensed a problem with your meds and was trying to get your Nick’s attention?” Amy asked, her tone neutral, playing along, her eyes sharp. “He is a doctor.” Ash frowned, feigning worry, her IV clinking. “Maybe…” “Nick’s really a doctor?” Tracey asked, her brow arching, skepticism mixing with curiosity, Nick’s charm lingering. “I thought he was trying to impress me.” “He was a doctor before he was turned,” Ash said, her voice low. “They let him keep practicing because he’s the best ER doctor in town. Maybe I should have Nick check my IV just in case,” She stood, fumbling Jack’s pole, she made sure she brushed it against Tracey, cutting her in the process. “Ow!” Tracey flinched, clutching her arm, a red smear on her fingers, her eyes wide. “Oh, no!” Ash gasped, dreaming a handkerchief—white, soft, its edges glowing faintly—dabbing Tracey’s wound, the blood soaking through. “I’m so sorry—Jack’s got a rough spot. My meds mess with my depth perception.” “It’s fine,” Tracey said, her voice tight. “It doesn’t look bad.” “Need a bandage?” Amy asked, stepping closer. “I’m okay,” Tracey said, standing. “But I should go.” She handed Ash the handkerchief. “I’ll walk you out,” Amy offered, her voice calm, guiding Tracey to the door. “Nice work, Jack,” Ash whispered to the pole, its jacket swaying, pride flickering. She headed to the sunroom, its warded glass glowing under the bright lights, the air thick with ozone and tension. Nick paced in the inner chamber, his jeans torn, leg bandaged, his fangs glinting, eyes wild. Alex stood outside, Cassie beside him, a sun spell’s spark ready. Ethan leaned against the wall. “I’m fine!” Nick roared, pounding the glass, its wards flaring. “Kellen’s the one who should be locked up!” Ash handed Alex the handkerchief, its blood a dark stain, Nick’s nostrils flaring, his eyes narrowing. “What’s that? Tracey’s blood? How’d you get it?” he demanded, his voice raw, pressing the glass, the wards humming. “How much caffeine did you have?” Ash asked, her voice teasing, masking her unease, his reaction too sharp. “None,” Nick snapped, his braid swaying. “Why do you have her blood?” “Jack scratched her,” Ash said, gesturing to the IV. “Kellen smelled something off with her,” Alex said, holding the handkerchief. “She smelled fine,” Nick growled, his fists sparking against the wards. “Let me run some tests,” Alex said, pocketing the handkerchief. “Once the blood is gone, I’ll let you out.” “I’m the doctor,” Nick countered, his voice sharp, eyes locked on the handkerchief. “I should test it. Let me out.” “When the blood is gone,” Alex insisted, his hazel eyes firm, turning to leave, Cassie and Ethan following, their boots echoing. “Let me out!” Nick roared, pounding the glass, the wards flaring blue. “Caitlin, let me out!” Ash froze at the door, her IV pole still. “I’m not Caitlin,” she said, her voice gentle, eyes soft. “She’s gone. I’m sorry.” She left, the door creaking heavily, Nick’s confusion a shadow in the sunroom’s glow.