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most of the time,” Serenus said. “You have to keep it quiet, too; if word of this gets out….”
    “Then vampires from all over the world are going to be knocking down your door,” Nyesha finished.
    “And utter bedlam would follow. We understand; we will do whatever is necessary to keep the secret,” said Eugene, standing up with far more grace than his pudgy body seemed capable of. “It is the least we can do to show our appreciation to such a generous master.”
    “If you call me that one more time, I swear I’m going to hit you,” said Sam. “I don’t care that you’re my elder.”
    “Then what should I call you?”
    “Sam.”
    “That’s far too casual an address, even if you choose to allow it,” said Buckley. “It would be…very uncomfortable.”
    “Well, you’re making me uncomfortable,” said Sam.
    Eugene looked downright puzzled at that.
    “I…see.”
    “Remember everyone, don’t forget to also feed normally, ok?” Miri interjected. “When I started eating food again I felt full for a while and didn’t bother to feed, then I got super-hungry and went on a blood binge. You still need to feed normally two times a week, at least.”
    “Yes, Momma,” said Billingsly.
    Ethan yawned around his mouthful of cookie, and Eugene extended a hand to him. “Come, boy, it’s past time for you to go to sleep. And I plan to wake you up early so we can watch the sun rise together.”
    “Okay!” said Ethan, running Eugene’s side. “G’night Cassie, g’night Jay, g’night Mike, g’night Khalil, g ’night Master—”
    “How many times do I have to tell you to stop that?”
    After most of the vampires had left, Cassie nibbled on one of the remaining pastries. She had been eating a lot lately, but didn’t seem to be gaining weight for once; it was weird, but she wasn’t looking a gift horse in the mouth. “Nyesha seemed like a different person,” she ventured.
    “That’s how she was before,” said Miri. “The time you met her was when she was different.”
    “I suppose her tormentor being dead rather agrees with her,” said Serenus. “I’m going home. Don’t stay up too late, children.”
    “Are you sure you’re all right going home alone, Ser?” asked Sam. “It’s past midnight.”
    Serenus smiled. “Thank you for your concern but, despite appearances, I’m not entirely helpless, you know.” Then he left, tossing the cup from his umpteenth espresso drink in the trash on the way out.
    “We should get going too,” said Mike, indicating Jay and Cassie. “Not everyone’s parents have been magicked into oblivion.”
    “What, are your parents suddenly paying attention to you now?” Cassie asked. She realized after she said it that it had sounded more biting than she had intended, but Mike didn’t seem to mind.
    “They’re getting there. My Mom actually asked me what I was getting up to these days.”
    “My Mom thinks I’m at the library studying,” said Jay.
    Cassie and Mike exchanged glances.
    “She’s as gullible as you are,” said Cassie.
    “I am NOT—”
    “Cassie, can I speak to you for a moment?” asked Sam from behind the counter.
    Cassie felt a pull in her stomach. “You guys go home. Miri and I will catch up with you at the bus stop.”
    When Cassie went behind the counter to talk to Sam, Miri followed her. “I said I wanted to talk to Cassie,” said Sam pointedly.
    “I’m her bodyguard. Where she goes, I go.”
    “I don’t need you to protect her from me .”
    “Oh, you say that now,” she said with a wink. Sam just sighed.
    “Anyway Cassie, I wanted to ask you if you were…free tomorrow after work.”
    “You mean, for a magic lesson?”
    Cassie wasn’t sure why he would want to practice magic with her, because the truth was, they had plateaued. They had made some progress with her training, since she was much better at energy transfers now (and, presumably, could provide much more magic if need be, although Sam only ever took a drop),