"I do not appreciate being provoked," the vampire had said, hovering just long enough to make his warning known. Autor remembers the breeze stirred up by his leaving.

So he laughs. A little brokenly. He turns to his teacup and finds it empty.

"He was fast. And I won't forget," the boy says, refilling his cup. "But he really didn't do anything to me, Rae. See? I'm fine."