Yellow Pages family intervention

He had to tell Vanna. She was in a good vampire spot, he thought. Old enough to be an experienced vampire but young enough to retain her empathy. Especially towards her little brother...

Incoming Call

It almost felt as though she was never at her new apartment these days, constantly holed up in her pharmacy getting the space clear, clean and up to spec, so that was where she was when the call came through.

Hi Dad; what's up?

Vanna

Very carefully setting her tools aside.

Okay, he had to ease himself into this talk...

Hey luv, have you seen Mike lately?

Dad

Surely she could be forgiven for the almost audible eye roll she gave at the question. Of course he wasn't calling about her.

What's he done now?

Vanna

Samiel's tension was audible in his voice.

Well, are you sitting? If not, sit down...

Dad

Oh god.

What had her little goblin brother done now?

She did not sit down, leaning against a door frame.

What's going on?

Vanna

Sigh...

Mike was attacked by a vampire. He's getting turned.

Samiel

Attacked.

Her little brother has been attacked.

And was turning.

Some apple vampire had killed him. Had tried to reverse the damage and failed?

Her little brother had been killed by a vampire.

She clutched her phone tight, so much so that the case cracked.

Where is he and where is the vampire?

Vanna

She tried to keep her voice even while her eyes flashed and static electricity crackled across her skin.

He noticed that sharp note in her voice. Oh dear.

Mike's home and... Vanna, could you please watch over him? I need to pick myself up a little, I'll take care of that vampire.

Samiel

Mike was at home and Dad would deal with the vampire.

Unacceptable.

Dad had already dealt with so very much even in just the last year.

Tell me where the vampire is and I'll deal with them.

Vanna

There was no point in hiding it...

It's Monty. I don't know where he is right now, might be home or might be somewhere else. I haven't seen him since that night...

Samiel

A shaky breath, he had to pull himself together.

Please, take care of Mike, okay? You're slightly more persuasive than I am...

Samiel

The little whore hadn't learned his lesson from the first time he'd almost done Mike in, and that thought put Vanna right on the edge of bloodlust, ability sparking on and off, ruining her perfectly tamed hair.

As if that was the worst of it.

Persuasive? What do you mean, what needs persuasion?

Vanna

What needed that more than her fangs and claws tearing bloody flesh until it melted into ash?

Mike is acting a bit odd... He's weirdly calm about this whole thing and I'm afraid he might do something stupid...

Samiel

He felt so heavy.

Something stupid was a fucking given; it was Mike they were talking about. But Vanna wasn't so disinhibited by rage that she couldn't understand her father sounded right at the very end of his tether.

Maybe she could do both, watch the fledgling and murder the whore.

And what are you going to do?

Vanna

She tried so hard to soften her voice, to reduce the aggression and let her father hear her empathy. She could work out her own feelings later.

Samiel rubbed his face and tried not to groan.

I'm staying till I'm sure Mike is safe and sound with his resurrection. I have my clutch watch Monty. Once everything is taken care of, I'm going on a vacation with my b---...

Wait, was Samuel his friend or boyfriend at this point...?

...friend.

Dad

If anyone needed a vacation it was Samiel Blackfeather.

She could decipher the b-friend part later, once some details were ironed out.

You're letting the murderer away with it?

Vanna

Colder now in her tone, disapproving.

Samiel took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and formulated his thoughts well.

I'm not doing him a kindness by letting him live, Vanna. He wanted me to kill him.

Dad

Then grant his wish.

Vanna

He thought about what Samuel told him...

Enough blood was spilled already... And sometimes mercy is the more cruel punishment. He'll have an eternity of suffering the consequences of what he did.

Dad

Not good enough. Make him truly understand suffering.

Vanna

She muttered darkly, fuming as she tried not to give herself over to claws and fangs.

He didn't even know what to say to that. Vanna made up her mind, but he didn't wanted her to act on it...

But then again, what power did he had to stop her?

Vanna, please...

Dad

Tired... Headache...

Disgust, not at her father but at the whole situation, released in an aggravated sigh with tongue raised against the back of her mouth.

I'll watch Mike but I can't promise you I won't hurt the attacker if I see him.

Vanna

Fair enough, can't say I wouldn't do the same.

Dad

Which was one of the reasons he moved out...

Is he at his own place or yours?

Vanna

He doesn't have his own place, we live together. But after Sam went there to grab some of my stuff, it seemed like no one was there for a while.

Dad

Let her process one thing at a time, Dad.

I thought he'd moved until his own -- never mind. Is he at home or not?

Vanna

I don't think he is, no.

Samiel

So what you're really asking is for me to find him.

Vanna

There was a misundestanding.

Ah, sorry, had wrong person in mind. Mike is home.

Dad

One headache at a time, one headache at a time...

For fu... right, okay. So he IS at his place, then?

Vanna

Yeah, Mike is at his place...

Dad

Fine. I'll head over as soon as I can.

Vanna

Thank you... Oh, and...

Dad

Yes?

Vanna

I love you.

Dad

A sigh, relieving tension.

I love you too. See you soon.

Vanna