Chapter 3

Sorry about lack of updates, but I was having writers' block on this story. I didn't forget, though, since I've had a "Sleepy Hollow Revival" since purchasing the DVD recently.

The weak sun rose eventually and somehow managed to chase away some of the fear. Klaus and Ichabod had searched everywhere, but they found no trace of the killer. Dawn had started all the children out in different beds but they all ended up in hers. She hadn't complained and felt more secure about their wellness this way. Dawn's eyes opened when she heard the door open.

Her dark eyes connected with Klaus's ethereal blue ones and they shared a grateful smile, the kind that said "I'm glad to see you". She held out her arms and he crossed the room in a quick stride. The weight of their father sitting down on the bed woke the children and they crowded towards him.

"I'm glad you're all right, Father," Hanne breathed, clinging to him.

"Same here," Jaegar breathed.

"Don't leave us again!" Hope demanded. Even the cat meowed a protest as Klaus reached to scratch behind its ears.

He hugged and kissed them all. Dawn closed her eyes for a second, drinking in the warm, solid feel of him in her arms.

"It will be all right," he tried to assure them.

The next few days passed with some uneasiness. While the older children were in school and Hope was playing in the next room, Dawn and Katrina sat together with their cups of steaming herbal tea.

"I don't like it," Dawn sighed, "the air feels really sinister. I don't want to keep my kids cooped up, but I'm so afraid that something will get them if I turn my back for just a second."

"I don't blame you," Katrina answered, "I feel that way, too. I have a theory about this creature, but I don't think anyone would like it."

It sounds like a vampire to me," Dawn said bluntly.

"Exactly. Most of what I know is from legends, but legends often have a basis of fact from somewhere."

Dawn nodded. She had grown up over the years and learned that stepping into a story did not equal a happily-ever-after. Living in this world did not come free of consequences.

"Garlic," Dawn said with a smile. Katrina chuckled.

"It makes one's breath smell strongly, but I don't know if that would be enough," she remarked.

"Mommy, mommy!" Hope burst into the room.

"What?" Dawn asked, alarmed at her daughter's pale face.

"There was a lady at the window! And she didn't have any clothes on! She was all white and she looked at me! She was so scary, Mommy!"

Dawn lifted Hope into her lap. Hope buried her face in Dawn's shoulder.

"Easy, easy…what were you doing before you saw this person?" Dawn asked, not wanting to jump to conclusions.

Hope thought for a minute.

"I was playing with Tiger and then he fell asleep. I got sleepy, too, I guess. I saw her when I woke up."

Dawn frowned. The inner psych major that had been buried a long time ago surfaced.

"Sweetie, it was probably just a bad dream."

"But-"

"I believe that you saw her," Dawn said soothingly, "but your mind plays tricks on you when you go to sleep or wake up. If you see her again, let me know, okay?"

"Okay…"

"It's almost time for lunch. We should probably get something ready for your brother, sister, and father."

Though Dawn often packed lunch for Hanne and Jaegar, they preferred to eat at home when she had the time. Dawn had introduced the concept of cheeseburgers to them and they loved them—Dawn actually knew how to make a lot of things from her own world that hadn't been introduced yet. She had also introduced them to pizza and pasta after several trial-and-error attempts at the dough recipe and consistency.

"What would you like to have for lunch?" Dawn asked Hope.

She thought for a moment.

"Pizza!" she announced.

It only took a few minutes for Dawn to assemble the ingredients. She always made a batch of tomato sauce two or three days in advance. Klaus had often joked about her affection for tomato sauce and said she would turn into a tomato one of these days. Dawn was surprised to find how much she enjoyed cooking. Though she could still use her technology, she relied on it less and less as she got used to doing things the old fashioned way.

Hope scrolled through the list on the music player and chose a nice upbeat song. The three of them took turns kneading the dough until it was the right consistency. Dawn shaped it into a flat circular shape and placed it on a flat pan. They spread the sauce over it while Katrina grated the cheese. When they had enough, they spread it over the top.

"Messy, but good," Dawn said as they cleaned up the table, "I can't tell you how many of these things I screwed up on before I got it right."

"Lots," Hope said helpfully. Dawn pretended to be insulted.

"Well, thank you Hope. You put the 'brutal' in 'brutally honest'."

"Well, you told me to tell the truth," Hope commented.

Katrina chuckled.

Below the shuttered window, Agatha crouched and listened. She inhaled deeply, taking in the scent.

If only, she thought bitterly. Her body wouldn't digest anything but blood right now.

Viktor would not be pleased. He had gone to try and hunt down a few hearts himself and she was supposed to be at home resting. Her curiosity and desire for sunshine had gotten the best of her.

She couldn't stay out for long, or the sun would burn her milky skin. She was also rather conspicuous against the brown, gold, red, and orange landscape with tinges of green here and there. She'd already almost been spotted twice.

She'd gradually forgotten what it was like to be human. As she slunk away into the woods, she tried not to think about the gruesome task ahead of her. She had been hoping to surprise Viktor with one of the hearts, but she hadn't been able to do it. The child had spotted her at the window and screamed bloody murder. It was probably a good thing she hadn't gone through with it—both Klaus and Dawn would have become much more vigilant and protective of their other children if she had have killed Hope.

Viktor returned to see her sitting on the shore of the lake, her chin in her hand.

"Agatha, what are you doing out here? Someone could have seen you!" he scolded.

"Forgive me, Viktor," she said darkly, "I only wanted to feel the sun on my skin."

"And you will soon enough. But you must exercise patience and vigilance for now."

His green eyes were chilly right now. Her head was down like a pouting child's.

He raised her chin.

"Don't pout. You'll be all right."

"I can't help it," she sighed.

"Come inside."

And she obeyed just as she always had.