A month later, we're sitting at dinner with Agatha when the doorbell rings. I stand up immediately.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHPxrcKtZ0
"I got it."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFv5dBR1s1x
Agatha gives me a worried look and I smile reassuringly. I go to the back door because I'm sure that's where the visitor is at. I get to the door and I peek through the blind. It's not who I expected. I unlock the door and open it.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EZZn9lG1X
"Samual. What are you doing here?"307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCe1LSdEnC
He smiles sympathetically and I realize immediately.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69DBBUYO0R
"What? What is it?"307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvIjVOx9C2
"It's—He … " He sighs. "People are after him. They want to kill him. I spotted some of them on my way here. I heard them saying they were going to force him to tell them where you are. Then they said they were going to kill him, get rid of his body, and come after you. I hope it's not too late."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c83OcF0e1
"Okay. I'll get my things ready. I was going to visit him really soon anyway. I think I might stay with him from now on. I'll be right back." I sigh. "Um. Stay here."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UCYJ8adqV
I rush to my bedroom and gather a bunch of things. I go and kiss mom on the cheek, say goodbye, and rush to the back door.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5rNULgpqA
"Okay. I'm ready."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqDZ6y408u
"Come on. We've got to go."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCdp5bAEyp
We get into his car and speed down the road. 307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW04ZQTTL83
"What time is it?"307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwMrxbaqND
"Um." I look around. I pull out my phone and check the time. "It's 5:49 in the afternoon."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlp6HnUelU
"We're about halfway there, so we should get there by 8:30 at night."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLabu5YaE9
"I hope so."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkEySi7yth
About three and a half hours later, we finally arrive at Castle Dracula. Right as soon as we stop and the doors unlock, I grab my things and jump out. I rush up to the doors and run inside. I throw my things to the side and run up the steps as fast as I can. I rush down the hallway and frantically look around. I don't see anyone. I run down another hallway and see an open door leading to outside. I go to the door and look out. I go out the door and realize I'm on the balcony. I look to my left and see Dracula holding someone against the side of the castle. Just as he starts pushing them over the side of the balcony, he yells out. He lets go and grabs something. He stumbles backwards and the guy gets up. The guy moves towards Dracula as he falls on his knees. And that's when I see it. The tip of a shiny silver blade sticking out Dracula's back. I look around frantically and find a pole. I grab it and try to hold it. Dang, it's heavy.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzyZmgNHpe
"Well, Dracula, guess you aren't as powerful as you thought," the guy yells over the wind and the howling wolves. "Time for you to make up what you've done over the years. I will find your child eventually. Born or not. If it's not born yet and I have to kill the mother in order to kill it, I will. I have no sympathy." He smiles. "I had better go now. I'll just leave you here to die."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTI6cYOKNG
I finally manage to pick up the pole. I round the corner just as the guy walks forward to Dracula. He starts to reach out. I decide to get rid of the pole and drop it. It rolls towards him and he half trips. He looks up and sees me. He smiles.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rlAm226yg
"Nikki Van Helsing. The descendant of Agatha Van Helsing. What is it? Ah, yes. You are the great, great, great granddaughter of Agatha. On your father's side. Interesting information that I'm sure you didn't let someone know." He smiles.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeUj6cmTRP
"Identity doesn't matter in a relationship. It's love and respect. That's all that matters. And equal responsibility. And my name is not Nikki Van Helsing. My name is Nikki Rose Dracula. End of discussion."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB1FL0Lmpc
He growls and approaches me. I pick up the pole and hold it horizontally. I push against him and he pushes right back.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6z3UR7TZO
"You might as well forget it," he shouts. "You're no match for me. And he'll be dead by then, anyway." He clears his throat. "And you don't have enough strength. Also, you've got extra weight on you. You won't make it."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIuFo51ugr
I can feel my face flush with heat from anger. I gasp. That's it. Just let him make me angry and … That's perfect! I push against the pole. Against him. He grunts in effort. I push harder. He stumbles backwards. Next thing you know, I have him leaning halfway over the side of the balcony.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydhP0Tjb6e
"You'll regret this, you know," he shouts.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMroBKojufl
"No I won't," I shout back.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXA3JiA3y2F
He struggles and I stumble to the ground. He pulls out a knife and kicks the pole away. He approaches me.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcvU7WrczA
"Face it. You are no match for me. You should just give up. The world cannot have peace and settle back until this monster and his child are dead. That means I'm going to have to kill you also."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbedqE7TDnn
I look up at him. Then, I remember something. I have a pet bat that can hear me from over a hundred miles away. I whistle. Ten minutes pass and nothing appears. I go to whistle again when I see something coming in the distance. Straight at him. He spots the bat but doesn't move in time. The bat dives at him and he stumbles backwards. He drops the knife and falls over the balcony. He shouts in horror and grabs the edge of the balcony. I get up and walk over to him. He looks up at me with a plea on his face.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChGCuq1BXe
"If you know what's good for you, you won't do this," he shouts. "Let me live, please. I promise I won't harm you or the child. Ever."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9n8zEVgQb
"No." I grab his hand and push it off of the balcony. He yells as he falls. I watch as he falls all the way down and hits the water. I turn around and go to Dracula. He’s lying on the ground now. Hands around the knife handle. But he doesn't have enough strength. I know he doesn't. I kneel down and gently touch his cheek. I lean down and kiss his lips.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb11QjmLj7
"Please," he sputters. "Just … g-go. Take ……. care …. of ….." He coughs.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryOdQp1YFW
Tears stream down my face. "No," I sob. "I'm not leaving. Please. D-d-don't leave me." I gasp. I grab the knife handle and yank it out. He yells out in pain. I throw the knife aside and look at his face sympathetically. He smiles weakly. I grab his bloody hand and place it on my cheek. He takes a deep breath. "No, no. Please." I snuggle close to him and kiss his lips. "Please don't go." He exhales wheezily and goes still. "No! Please!" I rest my head on his chest and sob silently.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGiwsUt1xk
Ten minutes pass, and nothing happens. Three hours pass and I start to lose hope. Finally, after fifteen more minutes, I start to get up and I see his hand twitch. I look up at his face. His eyes fly open and he gasps.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhyELoyaMi
"Dracula!" I put my hands on each side of his face and kiss him. "I was beginning to think you were gone."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYPyg9qg8l
He starts to sit up and I get up. He pats his lap and I sit down. He pulls me close and kisses me. I kiss him back.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0Yzxed640
"Are you really related to Sister Agatha?"307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MSxeIOHIW
"Through my father? Yes, I am. By blood, though. His last name isn't on my birth certificate. He disappeared before I was born. Or, at least, that’s what I was told."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCpoHxMWV8
"Do you have a photo of him?"307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5LSXCyRUh
"I always carry around a photo of him. For remembrance." I put my hand in my pocket and pull out a folded piece of paper. I unfold it and show it to him.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMhbU5cPnO
He gasps and grabs the paper.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ypBf45zaD
"What? What is it?"307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZm4i0ohM1
"I know this man. I met him before. In 2026. He said he had a wife and a little girl that he was looking for."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdk0l80Qia
"Wait. Was he right here in Transylvania?"307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSIucbqXC6
"Yes. He stayed at my castle for a few weeks. That's the last I saw of him, though."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsot7wkTvHa
"Do you know where he went?"307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvxXDp5XtM
"No, I don't. But I can help you find him."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSfhK8N3Wv
"Could you really?"307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgbC2XPE0V
"Yes, I could."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqEdQkIbGG
I squeal and hug him.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtseBlhnab4
"Oh, gosh."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSga9O1hiHr
I push away a little bit. "Oh. Um. Can I ask you something?"307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fLGnPnpGT
"Sure. Go for it."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeOgCOOtuQ
"Could I stay here and give birth? And live with you? And the child? Please?"307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPFE8f6FMq
"Are you sure you want to?"307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMv4A6UImI
"Yes, I'm sure."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzgIcqlec1
"So you want your child to be born in a cursed place like this? With someone like me being the only one to help you give birth?" He sighs. "You've lost your mind."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxTahAxC5E
"How have I lost my mind? It's your child too. You deserve to see your child grow up and progress in life."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64FMzc6hYB
"No. That child does not deserve a father like me. And you know that."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjU04Hfkr7f
"But she needs a father figure in her life. And I have a feeling that she's going to be a daddy's girl."307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUpCwqEbWJ
"No. I can't. Okay? I can't." He gently pushes me aside and gets up. He goes back into the castle.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNzBz1XKHV
I get up and follow him. "Dracula! Please!" 307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBrS28Rjjh
He just continues walking away. He doesn't seem to care. I stop. He's not going to listen to me. I give up and go downstairs. I grab my things and go upstairs. Once upstairs, I go to the nearest bedroom and shut the door. I throw my things to the side and lean against the door. I slide down the door and put my hands on my face as I sob silently.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T5rLakplM
Dracula's point of view307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHV168sdvPV
I walk up to the door of the bedroom I saw her enter. I stand in front of it and put my hand on it. I sigh. I turn around and lean against the door. I slide down the door and just sit there as the first tear I've shed in years streams down my cheek.307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OHnTLPBSs
