When they got home, the first thing Slappy did was check all the windows, doors, closets and the attic.
Amy thought it was weird and Sara even said as much when he marched passed her room.
He couldn't really care if Ray got the rest of them but he'd be damned if that moron laid a hand on his Amy.
"Slappy," Amy said when they nearly collided with each other, a skeptical look on her face, "what are you doing?" She shot him a curious glance, peering around him to look into the bathroom he'd just come from.
"None of your business," he answered, partly because she couldn't do anything since she was a human and partly to piss her off.
Scowling, she pressed onward. Her green eyes, a bit bloodshot, narrowed at him. "Seriously, what are you doing?" she demanded, glaring flatly at him as she stepped around him and headed into the bathroom.
He waited for a beat before saying, "Nothing that concerns you, slave."
She gave him the response he loved. Wheeling around, her face turned red all the way to her hairline and she was all tense. "I'm not a slave! Good Lord, you're so obnoxious! I'm not twelve anymore," she growled.
The words came to him suddenly and he didn't stop them. "Your chest sure does say you are," he sneered.
Her face flushed darker, like red velvet. "You're such a dick!" she yelled before she stormed away, slamming the door once she reached her room.
A door opened, pale yellow with Sara written in big, loopy handwriting, and Sara poked her head out. Her long, dark hair was pulled away from her face and she looked like she was fifteen again. "Don't use such foul language, Amy! And don't slam doors!" she called and when her eyes caught on Slappy, he was amused to see all color drain from her face.
Without so much as a squeak of terror, her head drew back and she slammed her door.
"What's all the slamming about?" Jed asked, annoyance in his voice as he stumbled out of his room, running his hands through his hair.
"Your sisters are having a match," Slappy laughed, rubbing his hands together as he heard Amy scream at Sara through the thin wall separating their rooms.
"You're a stupid cow!" she howled.
"You're selfish!" Sara shrieked back.
Jed shot Slappy a lopsided, goofy grin as he pushed past him, down the steps without another word.
Amy came down several hours later, wearing a sweater two sizes too big and a pair of sweats. Her damp hair is coiled on top her head, pieces curling around her face.
"Have fun fighting?" Slappy crooned, peering up at her from where she was fixing herself a mug of something.
"Not in the mood," she snapped, shooting him a dark glare over her shoulder without pausing in stirring the contents of her mug.
He shrugged absently and reclined back into his chair, watching her as she hustled about in the massive kitchen. It was as she leaned against the counter that he noticed it, that sour, decaying stench that he knew all too well.
Without a moment's hesitation, he climbed to his feet and stepped into the kitchen. "Amy," he said quietly, knowing she'd be more likely to respond to the use of her name,"have you seen that blond boy? Ray?"
She turned to face him, glaring. "Why does it matter to you? Oh, don't tell me you're jealous," she snickered.
"No, slave, I'm not jealous!" he answered, barely keeping the bite out of his tone as he stepped closer. He dew several lungfuls of air.
Annoyance gave way to anxiety as she bent backwards away from him, throwing her hands up. "Okay, dude, you're freaking me out. Stop smelling me! I'm not a damn bottle of perfume," she muttered, stepping sideways to get to the microwave as the count dwindled to single-digits.
Slappy ignored her request and placed a single hand on her arm, making her stop.
"What is it with you weirdos and grabbing me?" she demanded, attempting to tear her arm out of his grasp as the microwave beeped.
The scent was faint, probably no direct contact, but the growl that tried to escape him didn't seem to care.
"Stay away from him, Amy," Slappy ordered.
Amy finally tore her arm free, squinting at the skin as if to see if he broke the skin with his grip, and then glared at him.
"You're in my house, I saved you. You should consider yourself pretty lucky that I hadn't left you with two boys; I could have, you know, but I didn't. I'm not twelve anymore and you don't scare me. So stop trying to run my life," she snarled, shoving past him to grab her drink from the microwave.
"Amy—" he hissed, reaching for her again.
She spun around and the mug went flying at him, smacking him smack-dab in the face. Steaming liquid dripped down the front of his shirt off his chin, soaking the fabric within seconds.
He blinked in surprise, wiping the piping-hot tea out of his eyes as Jed laughed uproariously from his spot on the couch, where he'd been playing some Youtube videos.
"Stay the hell out of my life, Slappy," Amy said as she stormed past him, glowering. She purposefully bumped into him on her way out, knocking him backwards into the edge of the counter.
"Dude, you got pawned!" Jed cackled.
Slappy glared at Amy's back as she left.
It's your own fault that you grabbed Ray's attention, Amy, and I'm not sure I can keep him from you.