Author Note: Thank you for the reviews! I would love to hear what you guys think about this chapter.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to the Midnight, Texas series.

Chapter Three – Lemuel, Unchained

It was a half hour since her brother and his 'new friend' had sequestered themselves away in the bedroom of the house, and Winnie was currently on the couch with a soda and her tarot cards. It had been only a short time since the siblings had showed up in Midnight, and they were enjoying the quiet after the craziness of their first few days in town.

She shuffled her cards until she felt they were ready to show her the answer she was seeking. Choosing to use the most basic spread she knew, Winnie laid out the cards and slowly flipped them over, but when she got to the last card she frowned.

"Well hell," she muttered as she picked up the card, the future card. "Is it too much to ask for a little peace and quiet? Or, you could be a little clearer on things. That would be nice."

She would have sworn The Tower card almost seemed smug as she clutched it between her thumb and forefinger. Gathering up the cards, she placed them back in the case they had come from and dropped it back into her bag.

Now that she pretty much knew the shit was going to hit the fan, sooner or later, she pulled out her gloves she had been carrying around and put them on. It was better to be prepared then get caught with your pants down, too bad for her brother that the gloves didn't fit him.

The door to the bedroom finally opened, and Creek walked out into the living room, but then paused when she saw Winnie on the couch.

The gypsy girl just glanced at the waitress before picking up her drink and taking a swig.

The corners of Creek's lips twitched up into a smile, "Winnie, hey, I didn't know you were going to be here."

Winnie gave a scoff before replying. "Imagine that, me in my own house, how strange." She smirked up at the other woman. "Don't worry, I didn't hear anything scandalous," she watched as the waitress started to relax before finishing, "from outside."

"Okay. I'll see you around," Creek quickly said in farewell before resuming her walk to the door.

Winnie jumped up and grabbed her bag and hoody before following the other girl out the door, "Actually, I was planning to go for a walk. Clear my head. I'd feel better if I could walk with you, and then I can walk back on my own. If that's okay with you?"

Creek paused on the porch, and turned to Winnie. "Sure, but I hope this isn't so you can give me the whole 'stay away from my brother' talk."

The giggle that statement received from the female psychic was obviously a surprise to the brunette.

Winnie was smiling as she pushed her arms through the sleeves of her emerald-green, zippered hoody and pulled the strap of her bag over her head. "No, Manny and I are adults. Unless it's life threatening, we're allowed to make our own decisions. We'll always be there for each other, but it's 'live and learn' for the most part."

"Huh," Creek said as she started walking again, "I wish my family thought that way."

It was silent after that until they passed by the pawn shop and heard a whistle. Creek was undaunted by the noise and in a hurry, so she only glanced around. Then her phone chimed and she checked her new message.

Winnie was keeping her eyes on the path, so when there was suddenly someone in front of them, the gypsy grabbed the brunette's arm and pulled her to a stop on the sidewalk.

Creek looked up to see why they quit walking, as the stranger spoke.

"Hello to you, baby doll," a male voice said, and as he came closer the women could make out the features of a long haired Native American man. He almost seemed to skip as he asked, "What you doing all alone, sweetness?"

"Walking home," the waitress said and continued to step back, "and if I'm not there in three minutes people are gonna come looking for me."

"Ah, is that so?" he asked.

Winnie could see that the man was focused on Creek and let the other girl get behind her. Behind the stranger, a bus at the end of the street was letting off people dressed in dark clothes.

The man was so close now that he was almost pressed up against Winnie, and still staring at Creek.

"I'm not scared of you," said the brunette girl.

Glancing at Creek out of the corner of her eye, the redhead whispered, "Why'd you have to say that?"

"Oh, really?" The man challenged, "How about now?"

Four things happened at that time; first the man grabbed Creek by the neck and opened his mouth to reveal a set of fangs; which caused Creek to scream; and a second later Winnie punched him in the face with a right hook; then the man was suddenly flung away from them and Lemuel was standing in front of the two girls.

Lem went after the vampire, grabbing the other and baring his fangs, ready to kill the threat. But, the face of the new vampire made him hesitate and he asked, "Zachariah?"

"Lem," the tan man answered with a smile, "It's been a long time."

"What happened?" Manny asked as he came running up to his sister and Creek. Behind him more townspeople were coming to see what was happening.

"Nothing. I'm fine." Creek tried to reassure him.

Winnie rolled her eye, "Yeah, we almost got eaten by a vampire, but we're fine."

"You don't seem fine," the Rev said coming to a stop next to the female psychic.

Bobo spoke too as he came to stand next to them, "You look scared."

"Didn't mean to scare anyone," the stranger said, his lip busted and bleeding.

Winnie snorted.

Manny slide passed Creek, "What did you do to her?" he questioned the long haired vampire.

"Better question is," the vampire replied as he looked past the approaching brunette to the redhead woman, "What did she do to me?"

"I hit you in the fangs, Kitten," she stated sarcastically, "Hiss at me and I'll do it again."

Lem raised his hands placating, "Uh, everyone, calm down."

"Lem, you know these folks?" Fiji asked.

"Zach's an old friend," the bald vampire stated gesturing to the other.

Creek's voice was reproving, "Yeah, nice friends."

"My apologies," the now named Zach said, "We were just having a little fun." The vampire looked away and down for a second, "If I knew you were a friend of Lem's, I—"

"Everyone in Midnight is a friend," Lem stated firmly.

Zach nodded and pat Lem on the shoulder, "I'm not looking for trouble."

"Then why are you here?"

"Looking for you," was the reply, "We were passing through on the way to Mazatlan, thought we'd stop for the night. Place brings back memories…when we were all together."

"That was a long time ago," Lem drawled.

"Too long," Zach added.

"One night, but that's it."

"Of course, we'll be out of here before morning."

"The restaurant should be a nice place for your friends to spend their evening," Lem nodded to the pawn shop and Zach wordlessly followed. The other vampires walking away in the direction of said restaurant.

The group of Midnighters left in the street all looked at each other and the reverend nodded in the direction of the church, "I think we should talk."

Winnie was walking next to the Rev at the head of the group, and he spoke quietly to her, "I find it interesting that you were able to harm Zachariah, especially since I was under the impression that vampires were stronger than humans."

She grinned, "Was that a question?"

"Only if you're willing to answer," was the response.

She held up a hand, "It's all in the gloves. My punch is more mind-over-matter than physical. The runes and symbols are designed to channel energy into force, how much energy is used determines how hard I can hit."

"Your brother said that was dangerous."

"This is different," she stated shaking her head, "I'm drawing on the energy around us. My power might be a hundred times stronger but the ambient energy in Midnight is nothing to scoff at. If I had been using my power, I would have knocked his block off and we wouldn't be worrying right now."

Everyone was gathered in the church when Manny asked, "A nest of vampires dropping in. This an everyday thing?"

"Lem's the only vampire I've ever seen," Creek said from her spot on the pew beside him.

"Me too," Bobo seconded, "Things are getting real weird here, Aubrey and the Sheriff getting killed."

"And the Rev getting out," Fiji added and turned to the psychic siblings standing across from her, "Demons under your house."

"And, uh, vampires. Delightful," said the male psychic causing his sister to bump shoulders with him.

Now the Rev spoke, "Vampires avoid Midnight. Lemuel's an energy-leaching vampire."

Fiji laughed, eyes on the floor as she started to talk, "Olivia told me all about how she and Lem—" she paused after looking up and seeing everyone looking at her, "Never mind. Go—go on."

The Rev looked back at the twins before continuing, "Lemuel can kill vampires, which is why they stay away."

"And Lem and Zach," Fiji started, "they seem close."

"Come on," Manny said raising one arm from where it had been cross over his chest to gesture with an open palm as he spoke, "they're vampires. They kill and feed on people."

"He's right," Bobo agreed, "Even though Lem vouched for him, we can't let our guard down."

"They said they'd be gone by sunrise," Creek reminded everyone.

"If anything happens, we'll gather here. The church is sanctuary." The reverend informed them.

"FYI, garlic, holy water, them needing to be invited inside—all lies," Fiji informed them.

"So how do you kill them?" Manny asked.

It was the Rev's turn to answer, "Silver's poison, debilitates them. But to end their lives, it's either sun or a wooden stake through the heart."

"Could be worse," Winnie told her brother, "At least we have plenty of wood."

Manny nodded a few times and finally said, "Awesome."

Everyone went back to their places after the meeting, except the two psychics. Manny told his sister that he had a plan and needed Olivia's help, so they stood across the street from restaurant and watched the blonde inside.

When Olivia left the twins approached her, Manny calling out her name.

The older woman sighed, "What?"

"Lem's friends," the brunette said, "You trust them?"

"I don't know them," she stated, "I don't know you either."

"I know a grift when I see it."

"Takes a con-man to know a con-man?" she remarked.

"Maybe, but either way those vampires are up to something."

"Yeah," Olivia sighed out the word before turning sharply to face the other two. "You have my attention," she stated, her expression telling them to 'move on already'.

"I can talk to dead people," he began before explaining, "Vampires make dead people. If there are ghosts in there," he nodded to the bus, "Maybe they can tell us what Zach and his friends are up to. I need a lookout…"

The blonde woman looked to the redhead silently asking why she wasn't the lookout, Winnie just shrugged, "He uses 'I' instead of 'we' a lot, since he's the advertised psychic, but he really meant to say, we need a look out."

Manny finished speaking, "…unless you really think they're not dangerous."

The bus was unlocked when they got there and the three entered.

"No vamps," Olivia told them.

"Not sensing any spirits yet," Manny informed the non-psychic woman.

Manny reached the back of the bus and Winnie watched over the other woman's shoulder as her brother opened the door there.

"Oh, God," he exclaimed.

Olivia followed him into the backroom, "A ghost?"

"Worse."

They all took in the sight of a girl lying down with tubes leading from her body to blood bags hanging above her.

"They bled her to death."

Winnie gasped when the supposed dead girl moved, and her brother's voice sounded a little squeaky when he replied to Olivia's statement, "Not quite."

Manny knelt down to speak to the girl, who seemed barely able to move. "We need to get you out of here," he told her.

Her voice was hoarse and weak when she asked, "Why?"

Manny huffed in disbelief at the question. "Look at where you are."

"You lost a lot of blood," Olivia explained.

"I didn't lose it. I gave it. I hitched a ride back in Tulsa. I'm having a blast," the girl explained before she passed out again.

"So, she's either brainwashed or crazy," Winnie said pointing at the girl, "and on that note, I think it's time to tell Lem."

When the siblings and blonde entered the restaurant they saw Lemuel dancing with a female vampire.

"Olivia, Manfred, Winifred, what's up?" Lem questioned when he saw them and immediately stopped dancing.

"You should know, that blood bag Zach's carrying—" Olivia began.

Then Manny continued, "It's from a girl they're keeping in the back of their bus."

"They're draining her," Olivia accused.

Winnie had been watching as Zach circled them and glared when he smirked at her.

The female Lem had been dancing with spoke up, "You were snooping around our bus?"

Olivia squared her shoulders and stared down the vampire, "You are in my town."

"It's okay, Pia," Zach told the black haired female, "Can't blame them for being suspicious. We're used to it. Girl on the bus—her name's Tiffany. She's a groupie."

Lemuel nodded, "It's true. It's a thing."

"A thing?" Olivia probed with a headshake.

"Zach and Pia can't drain energy like I can. They need blood. Groupies are the most humane way—a willing food supply."

"Humane? She can barely move," Manny said reproachfully.

"A stop at the Waffle House and Tiffany will be as good as new," Zach dismissed.

Pia spoke up next, her words directed at Olivia, "It's a hard thing to understand since you're not one of us."

Lem looked uncomfortable and cleared his throat. He and Olivia looked at each other.

"All right then, enjoy your reunion," Manny said as he backed away.

Winnie shook her head as she did the same as her twin, "This is so weird."

The siblings were still in earshot when Lem announced, "I need a minute with Olivia."

A second later, Zachariah was standing in Winnie's path to the door. He smiled slickly at her and she wanted to stake him right there.

"You should stay," he told the redhead, "We could have some fun."

"Do you mean fun, as in, me kicking you into the street at sunrise?" she asked with a fake smile.

"Ooh, temper," he exaggerated a wince, "I like woman that are a little firey, and it matches your hair." He raised a hand to pluck up one of her curls and stepped closer.

"I'm warning you, you have three seconds to let me go," Winnie said and silently started counting.

His only reply was to smirk. When she got to three, Winnie grabbed his hand with one of hers and snapped two of his fingers. He grunted and let go, and the redhead stepped around the vampire to leave.

Outside Manny was waiting for her and asked, "What happened?"

"Apparently my looks are only good enough to attract supernatural predators," she replied but then added as a second thought, "Bestiality really isn't my thing, but I prefer the tiger."

Once they were in the RV, Xylda appeared and they spent the next couple of minutes filling her in on what had happened after the sun went down.

"All vampires are killers," Xylda insisted.

"Except for Lem?" her grandson questioned her.

"He's the exception. He always has been, but make no mistake—this nest is dangerous. You are food."

"Lem said they changed. People do change," he argued.

"Are you willing to bet your life on it?" Xylda countered, "You have to protect yourself."

"I'm with Grandma on this one," Winnie added.

There was a noise outside and they looked to see a vampire loitering around.

"Remind me again why you thought we'd be safe here?" Manny asked turning back to their grandmother.

"Midnight's safe," she defended, "You just might have to fight to keep it that way."

"Then we better get ready for a fight," Winnie acknowledged, "but right now I have to go check on Joe."

Her brother gave her a confused look, "Why?"

"Because I told Chuy I would keep an eye on Joe if something happened while he was gone," she explained with a shrug as she left.

Winnie checked Joe and Chuy's shop but no one was there. So she looked around the street trying to decide the most likely place for Joe to be, even though she didn't really know him that well. She spotted the reverend heading back toward the church and decided to ask him if he knew where the blonde man could be.

Deciding it would be better to talk inside, Winnie quietly followed him into the church. She soon realized that he hadn't noticed her when he continued past the fount and down the center aisle, but then she spotted Joe and was going to call out just as the Rev spoke.

"I don't think I've ever seen you in my church before."

"First time for everything," the blonde man replied with a shrug.

Even when he turned around the reverend's focus was on Joe who continued talking, both men unknowing of their audience.

'Aren't weres supposed to have heightened senses?' Winnie thought incredulously.

"Chuy's in El Paso. NailCon."

"No one comes here for company. Sanctuary, confession, yes." The Rev said, "I'm assuming it's the latter."

Joe sighed, "The reason you haven't seen me here before…" the reverend looked at him questioningly when he paused and it took a moment for Joe to continue, "I'm fallen. I once was an angel."

"And now?"

"Now I'm living a grounded life with someone I love. And it's a life I want to protect."

"And you think the nest threatens that," the reverend filled in the blanks.

"Vampires are just the beginning of the threat," Joe warned.

"I guess when an angel comes heralding a warning, I suppose I should listen."

"Fallen angel. I'm speaking to you as a neighbor and a friend."

"And a reverend…" the Rev said with vehemence and conviction, "who will hear your confession and keep your secret."

Joe hesitated for only a couple of seconds before speaking, "The veil that Midnight sits upon—it's fraying…and evil is being drawn here. You've felt it, haven't you?"

"Last time I turned, the hunger was insatiable." There was a silence for a moment, letting the truth sink in. "So what do we do about this?"

Joe shook his head. "There's no we. Chuy and I may not be here much longer. And after we're gone, someone needs to know the truth, 'cause there will come a time when Midnighters are gonna have to make a choice—to leave or to fight."

Winnie bit her lip to keep herself from saying something, and started to back away toward the door but as soon as she shifted her weight the boards under her feet seemed to squeak unnaturally loud.

'My luck is cursed,' she thought and felt like whimpering when the noise drew the attention of the other two in the room, their heads turning so fast she almost got whiplash.

"Um, uh…" Winnie gulped down her ridiculous nerves, she know she had no reason to be afraid, heck Joe looked more frightened than she felt. She held up her hands in a placating gesture, "So, here's the thing, I totally did not mean to eavesdrop," she stated passionately then began to wring her hands together restlessly, "I went looking for Joe and I couldn't find him, y-you, at the shop. Then I saw the Rev and was thinking 'maybe he knows were Joe is', so I followed you. Figured it would be better to talk inside, with all those vampires running around outside, plus they can't come into the church. But then you didn't notice me when I came in, and then I saw Joe, but you guys started talking before I could say anything and-and…I'm sorry."

Joe stood up and faced her fully but he wasn't able to do anything else before the girl suddenly started speaking again.

"I won't tell anyone," she said strongly, "Chuy said to look out for you and sometimes looking out for someone means keeping their secrets, right?" That was when she remembered why she had been looking for the blonde. "Speaking of looking out, Grandma says these vampires are bad news and my intuition is telling me she's right. I came to warn you. It looks like it's going to be darkest before dawn."

Her brother came running in after that looking scared and winded, "They killed the hardware store guy."

"His name was Henry. He was a good man." The Rev stated, "They lied. They killed him, and anyone in town could be next."

"Waiting for sunrise—not that great a plan anymore, huh?"

"We need to warn everyone," Joe said to the reverend.

The Rev agreed. "It's time for Mass."

The two psychics returned to their RV. Winnie made a quick stop at her trailer to pick up a polished wooden stake with a silver handle that had once belonged to an ancestor.

Now they sat in the RV, Manny was trying to call Creek and Winnie was stretching.

"You have to stay limber, right Grandma?" Winnie asked.

"Right, but don't overdo it," the ghost cautioned.

"Right," Winnie agreed and instead she sat down and tried not to fidget too much. Then a thought popped into her head, "What would happen if you cut off a vampires head? That would kill them right?"

"She's not answering," Manny said with a frustrated sigh, "Why would they lie to Lem?"

Xylda's reply was quick, "Can't help it. Vamps are bloodthirsty and cruel."

"Lem said they were friends," he tried to defend.

"Once." Xylda emphasized the word sharply, "A lot has happened since. There's something you need to know."

The ghost explained to them, how she had come to Midnight when she was young and met Lem the last time Zachariah was there. At that time, Lem had become tired of killing and was ready to end his life until Xylda offered him a way to change. It was their grandmother who had given Lemuel the power to feed by leaching energy instead of needing to drink blood. Lem had run off the vampire who had made him and the rest of the nest that had taken up residence in Midnight.

"Alright, so Lem is different," Manny seemed to concede, "I still need to warn Creek."

"You do that, while I check out the pawn shop, maybe I can find something to use as a weapon. I've got protection, so I'll see what I can find that's made out of silver, and then I'll meet you at the church." Winnie said leaving the RV, and then watching as her brother left.

Winnie scoffed making her way to Bobo's shop as she thought to herself, 'My brother just left me in a town crawling with vampires to go after a girl. I don't know what I'll do to her if she ever breaks his heart, but I promise it's not going to be nice.'

She was in the pawn shop when a loud bell started ringing, and she cursed. The swords weren't silver, and so far neither was anything else in the shop besides the jewelry.

Winnie started whispering to herself, "What happened to silver? Now everything is stainless steel, silver is literally a precious life-saving metal! Yeah, it dulls. So! It's not going to kill anyone to buy a little polish and clean it up once and a while. But I'll tell you what will kill you, not having any silver during a vampire invasion!" She hissed angrily.

There was a chuckle that came from behind the redhead, it was deep and masculine. Letting out a groan, she turned around to come face-to-face with two vampires. The tall blonde one in front suddenly bared his fangs at her and came closer.

"Wait!" she yelled and was surprised when the blonde and the oriental vampire stopped, so she continued with her hair-brained escape plan as she backed up toward Bobo's office, "Do you find me attractive? Because I've been having a little dry spell lately," she questioned with a seductive smirk.

Watching as the blond vampire looked her up and down before turning to his friend and they shared a look before looking back at her with hunger and lust in their eyes.

"I'm not saying no to desert before the main course," the blonde said as he came closer.

Winnie smiled wider as she passed the doorway to the office, "Ah now that's just bad table manners," she said sliding off her jacket to hide the fact she had grabbed the stake that was tucked into her waistband, "and terrible last words," she added before staking the vampire.

The dust from the dead vampire was still in the air when the other vampire lunged at her. She reacted on instinct, and channeled energy into her right glove before shoving her palm against the vampire's torso sending him flying into the dark room.

Standing in the dark she heard the door quietly open, and hoped that it wasn't more vampires. A familiar blonde came into view and Winnie breathed a sigh of relief for a second, before warning the other, "Olivia, look out. There's a vampire in here."

Just as she said it the vampire jumped down from above and attacked the older woman. As Olivia fought with the vampire, Winnie's eyes grew. The woman seemed to be matching the creature blow for blow, until she was thrown against the metal mesh dividing the office from the shop.

The woman yelled out in pain, but as the vampire slowly came closer she dug through her bag and pulled out something. A beam of light hit the vampire and he burned to ash.

Winnie looked from the pile of soot to the woman and the…flashlight with a rock?

"What the hell is that?" the girl asked.

"Fiji made it," Olivia explained, "Looks like it works."

The blonde tried to get up but the let out a pained shout, before pulling out her cellphone and making a call. A second later she said into the speaker, "We have a problem…"

Winnie listened as Olivia explained that she was hurt and someone else was going to have to get the light. The gypsy pulled out her own phone and called her brother. When he picked-up she only said, "I'm safe and in the pawn shop with Olivia. She can't protect herself so we're stuck here. I know you'll think of something crazy, you're my brother, just don't get killed. Cause I'll bring you back to life and kill you myself, you know I can," she threatened.

On the other side of the line he let out a chuckle, "Yeah, I know, and I'll deserve it…Love you."

She gave a weak smile, "Love you too."

After that Winnie got Olivia to explain the plan. It was pretty cool how shining a light through the stone could act like sunlight. When Joe showed up to retrieve the light Winnie frowned, she waited until the two blondes were done talking before following Joe to the exit and quietly asking, "Are you sure about this? Olivia said you have to get to the roof, and something tells me you won't be taking the stairs. You could stay with Olivia, and I can go."

Joe gently gripped her shoulder in reassurance, "Thank you, Winnie, but I agreed to this." He smiled, "When he comes back, I'll let Chuy know that he picked the right person. You're a good friend."

He left quickly and Winnie returned to Olivia. As soon as the psychic returned, the blonde announced, "We need to find Lem."

Winnie agreed with a nod, "So, where do we start looking?"

The two women quickly made their way to the hotel. As they crossed the street Winnie saw the group of vampires and heard her brother calling out Zachariah.

Supporting Olivia they made it quickly through the alley behind the buildings and into the old hotel turned restaurant and found Lem in one of the abandoned rooms.

Winnie watched from her place beside the door as Olivia went to the vampire chained in the room. She was almost choked with the blonde's desperation, which battled with Lem's hopelessness, making the air thick with tension.

Lem was gone before Manny showed up, "Did he make it?"

Olivia was so relieved she could only nod.

Manny saw his sister standing next to him and quickly pulled her into a hug. The embrace lasted for several minutes before leaned back to look down at her, not wanting to let go yet, "Crazy night, huh? But it looks like I'll have to get a rain check on that resurrection."

Winnie scoffed and nodded her head, "Sure."

"Come on," he said to the two women, "Let's get out of here."

This time Manny helped support Olivia as they left. The reverend opened the doors to the church at the same time the siblings and Olivia exited the restaurant. They found the Lovell family, Fiji and Bobo gathering in the street.

"Olivia got to him in time," Manny announced and the others all seemed relieved.

Joe came into sight and Manny turned to speak with him as the others walked away. Winnie followed him but stayed a step back to give them a little space.

"How'd you get the light up there?" the medium asked.

The angel shook his head trying to dismiss his role, "Snuck in. You really stepped up, risking your life like that." Joe lightly placed his hand on the brunettes arm, "Thank you. You saved everyone here."

The male psychic nodded while biting his lip before silently walking away. Winnie stepped up next to Joe and they both watched her brother leave.

"I've always known him to do the right thing when you need him to," she stated, "but Manny is used to running away from his problems. That's why I worry about him leaving."

She turned to the blonde, "If people leave, who will be left to fight?" There was no answer from the angel, so she shrugged and went to find her brother.

Manny sat quietly on the couch sipping a beer when Winnie walked in. She passed him on her way to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water before joining him, making sure to sit on his right. The brunette pulled her closer to his side and she nestled in laying her head on his shoulder.

"Another long night," she commented, "Maybe we should start sleeping during the day like Lem."

He chuckled, "Maybe."

It was quiet until Winnie decided she didn't want it to be, "So…I had to hit on a vampire before I staked him."

Manny sputtered trying not to choke on his beer and laugh at the same time, "What?"

"Yeah, in the pawn shop before Olivia showed up. And she fought the other one before blasting him with a smaller version of the Death Ray."

"That was not a Death Ray, it was a flashlight," he protested.

"Yes it was," she nodded furiously, "A long time ago, some old guy—I think he was Greek—invented this device. He tried to use a bunch of mirrors to reflect the light of the sun and burn a whole through enemy ships. It was the first Death Ray. So we used a flashlight instead of a bunch of mirrors, but it was still sunlight-esque. Death Ray," was her smug conclusion.

"Where do you learn this stuff?" Manny asked in amazement.

She shrugged, "TV."

He laughed loudly for a minute until he slowly let it die down. He squeezed her shoulders, "Come on, we should get some sleep."

"Can I, uh," she hesitantly glanced at the bedroom, "…those vampires scared the crap out of me."

He gave her a small smile, "I was about to say the same thing."

Light was seeping in through the bedroom windows, but the siblings didn't care they closed their eyes and fell asleep easily, knowing the other was close.