When Vellatra woke up the next morning, the first thing she heard was Nabikio coughing.
"Here it goes," she groaned, sitting up. "Can we leave the house? So you can still go to work, or I can get things?"
"We won't get sick, but we've still got germs on us," Lucard said. "It's probably better if we don't go anywhere. I came home with Sanoj; he can tell the others why I'm not there."
"Mommy," said Veelia, who was peeking into their room, "Nabikio got a cold."
"Thanks, sweetie," said Vellatra. "I'll go check on him."
"Morning, Sanoj," said Rajag and Snarlashtha.
"Morning," said Sanoj.
"Where's Lucard?" asked Rajag.
"His kids are sick, so he's staying home," said Sanoj.
"Can't Vellatra take care of them without him?" asked Snarlashtha.
"It's not that," Sanoj said, lowering his voice. "They've got the Creeping Horror."
"...He must be terrified," Snarlashtha said softly. "He lost a sister to that, didn't he?"
Rajag nodded. "His kids are a little older though; they should make it."
"I hope so."
Lucard opened the bathroom door and yelled.
"What's the matter?" called Vellatra.
"Nothing; Aileev's on fire in the bathtub." He approached cautiously. "What're you doing, honey?"
"It's something Mama taught me," said Aileev. "She says germs don't like fire."
"Okay, just make sure you don't set anything else on fire." Lucard ducked back out of the bathroom. "You know she's burning in there?" he asked as Vellatra walked by with an armful of wet towels.
"Yeah," said Vellatra. "I don't know if it'll work, but it's worth a try. Anything's worth a try." She hurried into the next room, where Lucard could hear Nabikio retching.
"Daddy?" asked a little voice. Veelia was tugging on his pant leg. "I think I got the cold." She sniffed.
"Come here," said Lucard, picking her up and cradling her in his arms.
"Will you get it?" she asked, looking at him in concern.
"Don't worry about me," he said softly.
