Chapter 3

That night, I was sound asleep.

A whisper of cool air brushed across my face.

I opened my eyes groggily.

The little bat was lying on the pillow beside me, curled into a tight ball, with one wing draped over my shoulder.

Patting me. Gently. Again and again.

Was it trying to soothe me like a child?

I snorted out a laugh.

I reached over and poked its round little belly.

"Eli, I just thought of something.

"In the comic, you're male... um, a male vampire?

"Never mind. The point is, in the comic you're a guy, but I still don't actually know what gender this bat version of you is.

"I also don't know how old you are. You're not older than me, are you? Like one of those centuries-old vampires who still look young?"

I opened a search engine.

"How to determine a bat's gender and age."

The results told me: Do not handle bats without professional training. Contact your local wildlife authority.

I tossed my phone aside.

If I could contact the authorities, would I be hiding a diamond-dropping bat in my apartment?

The little bat's purring sounded like the faintest wind chimes.

After a moment's thought, I gave in to curiosity and scooped up the soundly sleeping bat.

Through my gloves, I held it by its tiny legs and examined it from every angle.

At first it was drowsy and confused. Then its eyes flew wide open.

Its green eyes filled with horror.

The white ear tips slowly turned pink, and eventually even its wings flushed red.

I panicked and flipped on the light.

"Are you okay, Eli?!"

It broke free and shot into a corner.

It had its back to me. I was about to go over and coax it when I noticed it was looking down, checking itself too.

Its movements were frantic.

A few seconds later, it seemed to confirm something and let out a long, heavy sigh of relief.

Then it sighed again, flapped its wings, and stomped a claw hard on the floor.

"So you're a little boy..."

I stood behind it with a knowing expression.

The little bat heard my voice and froze solid, from ear tips to wingtips.

The next second, he flew past me, dove back into the little nest I'd made for him, and let out a string of aggrieved squeaks.

At first they sounded like a kettle coming to a boil. Then they grew more and more agitated, until he sounded exactly like a screaming rubber chicken protesting its innocence.

Sensing me nearby, he shoved all the little trinkets he had secretly collected from my room out of his nest.

In the comic, the vampire treasured keepsakes from the person he loved.

I'd thought that was just a romantic plot device.

But what Eli had hoarded wasn't gold or jewels. It was my hair ties, a pen I'd used, candy wrappers I'd opened, and he'd even taken my empty boba cups.

Earlier he'd been guarding them like precious treasure. Now he didn't want a single one.

"Really don't want them?"

A few seconds passed. A wing tip crept out and slowly rolled every item back inside, one by one.

I gently stroked his back.

"If I offended you just now, I'm sorry. I don't know much about vampire etiquette or bat-form boundaries. Please forgive me."

His ears gradually turned white again as he calmed down. I breathed a sigh of relief and kept trying to comfort him.

"I was actually about to compliment you."

The little bat's ears shot straight up.

"Being small is adorable."

At that, he collapsed into his nest and cried even harder.

I watched his tears nearly soak the cushion and quickly clamped my hand over his tiny mouth.

"Stop crying! Cry any more and I won't keep you!"

The little bat choked back his tears, hiccupped, and started spinning in frantic circles.

Then, as if remembering something, he fluttered into my bedroom.

He dragged out my phone and tapped the screen open in seconds, pulling up a voice message I'd sent to Nightfall.

"Baby, when we meet, can I see your abs?"

Then his reply played.

"Of course. I won't disappoint you. I'm impressive everywhere."

The little bat looked at me, eyes full of expectation.

It hit me all at once.

He was afraid I'd think he was too small.

But he was just a little white bat.

Being small really was adorable.

I scooped him up with a look of total understanding, kissing him and coaxing him, repeating over and over that I'd never stop liking him.

He seemed satisfied. A low, soft rumble came from his throat, and he gradually fell asleep.