Jonathan was still awake, wrapped in his blanket, when Alphonse arrived. Just like Jonathan thought, he let himself in the door. Jonathan listened to his footsteps slow, however, and then quicken to the bedroom.

He burst into the room, and said loudly, “Jonathan?”

“I’m okay,” Jonathan replied.

“He was here?” Alphonse asked, and when Jonathan simply nodded, the vampire’s shoulders sagged. He trembled visibly, before coming to sit by ...