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As she wakes up, Aggie swears she can hear roaring, as though someone's tearing past on a motorcycle outside. Only when she opens her eyes, all she can see is Goblin purring on her chest, the rumbling louder than anything ever. She's also more aware than ever of the particular smell of her cat, not unpleasant but familiar. However, now she's picking up the scent of his food, of his cat litter, even the lingering scent of his favorite rubber toys.

Aggie knows she's never done this before and it doesn't matter that it's late at night. She has to go to Barbara.

Quickly, she hurries upstairs and knocks on Barbara's door.

"I think something happened again!"

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I'm actually getting used to sleeping at night. I don't really do it well, but it's been happening more and more often since I'm not patrolling every night. So after the first knock, I'm up and out of bed. I really need to tell Aggie she can just use her key any time she wants, but I suppose I should be glad she's so polite.

Rushing to the door, I pull it open, looking up and down the hall expecting some kind of terror. "Aggie? What is it? What's wrong?"

It's so early in the morning that it prompts her uncertainty, especially right now. Breathing in slowly, she sits down on the couch. "I woke up and everything feels strange, like...I can hear and smell things too well. And I feel so thirsty..."

In like the wind and just as chilling I imagine as I try to listen to what Aggie's saying. It doesn't sound like any kind sickness I've ever heard of, but there's one thing I can do. Heading into the kitchenette, I pour her a large glass of water and join her on the couch, offering the glass with what I hope is a reassuring smile.

"Okay, that doesn't sound exactly normal, have your powers been acting up? Have you eaten anything strange or something given to you by someone you don't know all that well?" I know she hangs out with the magic crowd that's developing in Darrow and with a sudden reproachful regret I realize that after Tara's disappearance, I don't really know anyone in that area.

Christ, I'm a failure of a parent, aren't I?

Aggie takes a sip of the water and quickly shakes her head. What she wants is something...richer than water. Warm. Hot. Pulsing–

Almost knocking over the glass, Aggie squeaks with the realization that what she wants is blood. The second realization chases that as Aggie reaches out with her powers to move the glass and nothing happens.

"My powers are gone. Or they've changed. A-And I want...I think I want blood."

"I'm sorry, you what?"

I'm pretty sure my jaw is open, because that? Is a very specific craving that I don't know how to handle. And is it a craving or... "You can't just wake up and crave blood, Aggie, I don't think that's possible."

I hope that's not possible, but this place... who even knows anymore?

For a second, Aggie nervously tongues her own teeth, searching for fangs. It's occurring to her, rapidly, that this is city mischief again and she rubs her forehead.

"I just woke up and I could hear things...too well. Smell things. It's the city again..."

She sighs. "At least it's not those stupid toys again." There's very little Aggie actually fears, but Furbies hit the top of the list.

I would almost have the toys again. Those I could smash and fry and destroy, this is... how on earth do I fix something like this? But I have to remain calm, brave face, parent-like. God, I wish Dad here here. Even with everything I know he'd still... he's still my Dad. Whatever that means to us anymore.

"It's going to be okay, we'll figure something out." Reaching out, I put my hand on her shoulder and lean down so I can look her straight in the eye, being as hopeful as I can. "This... you know people like this, right? Can you wait until morning, or do we need to go wake one of them up for help?"

"I do," Aggie says, thinking of Damon and Caroline, but she doesn't have their numbers nor does she want to bother them just yet, even if she knows that she wants.

"Do you still have those steaks you got..." The raw, bloody meat might help she hopes.

"Uh, yeah? I mean, I was going to make them tonight, but I can cook them up now?" Although I doubt cooked is what she's looking for, not if she thinks she wants blood. It is without a doubt one of the most gruesome things I've contemplated in my life. Even learning how to use the bathroom again after losing my legs didn't make me this queasy.

Aggie frowns; she doesn't have it in her to say she wants it raw and, anyway, she can sort of tell from the look on Barbara's face that her guardian already knows. Asking for it feels awful.

"What do you think's happened?"

"Kiddo, this place redefines my conception of impossible and normal on a weekly basis. I really have no idea. Maybe you've caught some kind of virus. We should probably take you to the doctor when they open, just to be sure." Not that I think a doctor can help. I mean, what do I say? Help, my teenage ward is craving blood? I can think of any number of illnesses and viruses that cause cravings of all kinds, but with the sensory overload she's having I don't know if they'd apply.

And then there's the whole magic thing. Is this a side effect of some kind, something she's done, some spell gone awry? "In the meantime, I'd say head to the kitchen and take whatever you think you need. I'm going to get on the computer and see if there's anything I can find, okay?"

Research, that I can do. I don't know it's going to do any good, I'm pretty sure most of my searches are going to come up vampire, but it's something, right?

"Even if I eat the steaks?" Aggie says, clearly a little embarrassed and worried to ask that question. "I'm really sorry, I know we were gonna cook them with potatoes and everything." If any of this goes back to normal, she's so making up for this by using her monthly support from the city to buy some more steaks.

"What if I've become like Damon..."

"Even if you... eat.. the steaks." I really didn't want to think about that. I mean, who does, really? All things considered, I think I'm handling this pretty well. I don't think Dad would do it any better at least.

I don't know if I'm really sad he's not here right now, or really freaking glad.

"And Damon didn't seem that bad, that time I met him." In the daylight, giving me a teddy bear he'd won. Not your typical vampire behavior right? Do vampires even have typical behavior? Outside of movies, I mean? Something else to add to the research list.

"He thinks he's much worse than he really is," Aggie says sagely. "But usually, I can set him on fire so maybe he's just nicer to me." She's perfectly aware that this shouldn't be the way a thirteen-year-old girl thinks, but she figures it's better than lying.

"Maybe I shouldn't be so worried about him not being awake. He is a vampire, after all."

"Wait, you set someone on fire?" And the way she said usually kinda implies it's happened more than once. I... need more sleep. Or coffee. Or alcohol.

Let's go for coffee. With a heavy sigh, I head into the kitchen to start brewing myself a cup, trying to wrap my head around, oh, everything. I know she has these powers and she's been working with some people to control them. People who probably know far better than I how to do that. But I think maybe I need to meet more of these people because I don't really like the idea of Aggie setting people on fire if I can't supervise.

Aggie jumps a little, shaking her head even as she revisits her own phrasing. "No, I never actually do it. I just joke about it–I know he doesn't like fire and I'm usually..." she trails off with a determinedly embarrassed smile.

"Do you want me to make tea while you're in the kitchen?"

"No, I think this requires coffee, I've got it, Sparky." Part of me wishes I was just delirious from too many late nights, except that now that I'm not patrolling every night, I'm getting more sleep now than I have since before I came here. But despite everything, there is just something horribly amusing about the whole thing. I am taking care of a thirteen-year-old former ghost who was executed for witchcraft in ye olden days who now routinely threatens her vampire friends on fire. And who woke up today possibly - probably - a vampire herself.

If this were a movie pitch, I'd be laughed out of Hollywood.

But it's real life, and she's probably got to be a little freaked. So maybe instead of making all these decisions about what we should and shouldn't be doing, maybe I should ask where she wants. Other than the obvious. "So what do you think our next move should be?"

"All right," Aggie says. Trying to be discreet, she unwraps one of the steaks and puts it on a plate. The vague scent of flesh makes her stomach twist with fear and anticipation, but she knows it will help.

I'm not intentionally ignoring Aggie, but seeing her look at that raw steak it's just. Eeesh. And ewww. Whatever this is, whatever's been done to her, I really hope we can find a way to reverse it. While the coffee brews, I head to my bedroom to grab my laptop. Maybe there's something online, maybe it's not just Aggie. Maybe there's someone up at this hour that can help.

Heading back into the kitchen, I open the computer and start scrolling through recent online posts, social media, anything that could give me a clue. "Are you sure nothing strange happened to you yesterday? Where did you go, anywhere new?" Anything that could give me a clue to track down.

It's better, in her mind, that Barbara doesn't look. The raw steak helps in the way that drinking water on an empty stomach does. There's something inside of her, but it's not real sustenance.

"I came home from school. I talked with Flavia a bit and then I came inside and you've been with me up until I went to bed and nothing happened there..."

"That makes this a city thing then." one of those things that just seems to happen. Like Ice Bees. Or everyone being here in the first place. Not that it makes me feel any better because hell, having something I could actually chase down would be the ideal here, even it it was crazy and magical.

"Which means it might be temporary? I mean the really crazy things that happen seem to have a short shelf life. So this might just be something we have to ride out for a little while." Oh, God I hope so, because I'm barely up to raising a little witch, I don't know if I can handle a little vampire.

"Good," Aggie agrees. Eating the steak, completely raw, puts a more stable feeling in the pit of her stomach even if she's a little repulsed by what she's just done herself.

"I still think the Furbies are worse."

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