Sympathizer: The Stone of Attamon

Disclaimer: I don't own The Little Vampire.

A/N: A retelling of The Little Vampire where some plotholes are filled in, Tony's visions and sympathy are explained and expanded upon, loose ends are tied up, and Gregory is given a personality beyond just "BLOOD!". Slightly AU as a result.

Chapter One

"Ab ovo, in toto, nil desperandum, sine die." The words rang through the air, carried on the voice of one accustomed to authority. Tony couldn't help but feel awestruck as he listened and watched. The expectation settled heavily on his skin as he waited in rapt attention, just like the vampires around him. A beam of red light shot from the comet in conjunction with the moon, and a cheer rang up through the crowd. This was it. They would finally have what they always wanted.

But their joy was cut short with a single cry through the darkness: "Vampires!" The vampires all turned to face the intruder, causing the leader to break the link between the amulet and the comet. The hunter approached on his carriage with its flaming cross, and as he and the head vampire began to square off, he produced a stick. With a flick of his wrist, two arms popped out, forming a two-fold cross. The vampire recoiled but joined the fight nonetheless. "Give me that stone," the hunter growled. The struggle devolved into the vampire trying to do just the opposite while keeping the crosses away from his face.

"Keep hold of it!" another vampire yelled. "Don't let go." This one, Tony thought, as he'd done every night since he'd first moved into this bedroom, but he could never figure out why.

The struggle continued, and the clan watched in horror and anticipation and dread. Tony wanted to bite his nails clean off.

Finally, the stone was dislodged from its place in the amulet and sent flying over the edge of the cliff into the sea. The clan shared a collective gasp of terror. The one with the tenor voice, whom Tony felt at once he should know, watched the stone sail in its arc to land in the water with a soft plink. Then, he made his move. He bolted, heedless of the others or the vampire hunter, over the edge of the cliff.

Here Tony found himself back in his own bed, floating in the water, staring up at the vampire diving for him. It was as if he'd forgotten everything he experienced up to that point, and now he was firmly convinced that this vampire, just like any other he might ever encounter, wanted to drain him dry. Instinctively, he pulled the bedspread over his head.

TLV

Tony waited for a moment before peeking out from under the covers. The storm was still raging outside. The sight of his stuffed monkey startled him for a moment until a lightning flash revealed it to be exactly what it was, but the following thunderclap drove him in terror from his room and down the hall to where his parents slept. He burst through the door and tripped over a half-empty suitcase. "Hon?" Dottie asked loudly as she and Bob both sat up.

"What?" Bob added breathlessly before reaching over to turn on the light. Dottie removed her face mask.

"You have another nightmare?" Dottie asked as Tony got to his feet.

"The vampires were back," Tony replied.

"Oh, this is ridiculous," Bob said with a sigh. Tony walked over to his mom's side of the bed and climbed in. "I've gotta get some sleep." Bob switched the lamp back off, and all three of them tried to get settled as the wind howled through the open window, waving the light curtains.

"Mom, do you like this place?"

"It's a big change for you, I know. New house, new country."

A haunting wail from outside prompted Tony to ask, "Hear that?"

"It's the wind," Bob replied.

"Or the undead." A bat chirped outside, accompanied by a frantic flutter of wings. "Mom? Dad?"

"Tony, if I don't get some sleep, then I'll be one of the undead." Tony closed his eyes and settled into his mother's embrace, trying to think of something other than the thoughts haunting his mind.

TLV

It was a song on little bat wings, and the vampire who'd just started circling the castle knew it well. He took off almost at once and picked a course almost at random. His sudden actions had been noticed by someone inside, but he had no time for that. Not now. Instinctively he flew as fast as he could. Desperation and dread started to build within him, but he forced them away. He had to find somewhere safe for a vampire to hide, and for that he needed a clear head. He could worry about the rest of the particulars later.

Because on little bat wings, his brother had sent him a warning signal.