A month later, we're sitting at dinner with Agatha when the doorbell rings. I stand up immediately.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVgTo3dUC6
"I got it."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6Wa86NVj9
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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdnBcSqcJL
"Samual. What are you doing here?"292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY4I8oQx9M
He smiles sympathetically and I realize immediately.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3rr4midwO
"What? What is it?"292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNV5DBrraX
"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."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGkueEfomF
"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."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQ0XEd5KU2
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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5l2o6EjvUK
"Okay. I'm ready."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVEYp6MNac
"Come on. We've got to go."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7apukvVYR
We get into his car and speed down the road. 292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATVHmjTLID
"What time is it?"292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJG05J1nwZ
"Um." I look around. I pull out my phone and check the time. "It's 5:49 in the afternoon."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCBs2YPR1p
"We're about halfway there, so we should get there by 8:30 at night."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYM08JI6MHP
"I hope so."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAszdgQ28mJ
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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1GvLNXQY1
"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."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLri0XdlUj
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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGfSCGODGx
"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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE1By7iT7M
"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."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0pepzv8Dz
He growls and approaches me. I pick up the pole and hold it horizontally. I push against him and he pushes right back.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsi7iovGwOT
"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."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwbKLBAeF0
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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNkNZ71mYn
"You'll regret this, you know," he shouts.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuavxXPgUs
"No I won't," I shout back.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQCEPe4sZN
He struggles and I stumble to the ground. He pulls out a knife and kicks the pole away. He approaches me.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCcCy48oL7
"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."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcCWF6hZVv
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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9g1QJZaU8
"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."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaT1PLZqlr
"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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirusXjiB9V
"Please," he sputters. "Just … g-go. Take ……. care …. of ….." He coughs.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3TQbAGSFW
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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnBZ0epgdn
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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9HwlCL8RR
"Dracula!" I put my hands on each side of his face and kiss him. "I was beginning to think you were gone."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPn5yLizes
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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MFtvoctQq
"Are you really related to Sister Agatha?"292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7YndUmbk1
"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."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6LQFiyZgL
"Do you have a photo of him?"292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Mm3uNQGUO
"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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUS77kjg5i
He gasps and grabs the paper.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPJuGAp8Tg
"What? What is it?"292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZ7ljgCyqh
"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."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFxYOj51nO
"Wait. Was he right here in Transylvania?"292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ2ljTKwNk
"Yes. He stayed at my castle for a few weeks. That's the last I saw of him, though."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WujC5s2Uh
"Do you know where he went?"292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeru0JymQbY
"No, I don't. But I can help you find him."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCziISoRA1J
"Could you really?"292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1bMF4YM3k
"Yes, I could."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoifbcn0CE
I squeal and hug him.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9atxbd3lyT
"Oh, gosh."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkGTgOgTjM
I push away a little bit. "Oh. Um. Can I ask you something?"292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkESR1T7rZJ
"Sure. Go for it."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5mm1xhr92
"Could I stay here and give birth? And live with you? And the child? Please?"292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmK1P3wWnB
"Are you sure you want to?"292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8eSXwR0kr
"Yes, I'm sure."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAmFavAxxX
"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."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYKYxX3AeB
"How have I lost my mind? It's your child too. You deserve to see your child grow up and progress in life."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmacfCsWMkv
"No. That child does not deserve a father like me. And you know that."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr54JAk1rRI
"But she needs a father figure in her life. And I have a feeling that she's going to be a daddy's girl."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6w6NOAmvOj
"No. I can't. Okay? I can't." He gently pushes me aside and gets up. He goes back into the castle.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7p4sPVVam
I get up and follow him. "Dracula! Please!" 292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWD55Qwu24c
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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XrzPWBX4e
Dracula's point of view292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4QZ17lJCF
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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLE2kPqtJYR
