A month later, we're sitting at dinner with Agatha when the doorbell rings. I stand up immediately.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHh955kl1i
"I got it."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CjfGGA8d7
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILR6p5nSBg
"Samual. What are you doing here?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Xr6PDPSpu
He smiles sympathetically and I realize immediately.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUw540GKcs
"What? What is it?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6gvmM39ej
"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."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsur9CShU3
"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."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFy7ztsKYE
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOwbz4u4RU
"Okay. I'm ready."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8VuBUmYJR
"Come on. We've got to go."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNagojOsnH
We get into his car and speed down the road. 247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2AfhgykvN
"What time is it?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GHkaxPZ5O
"Um." I look around. I pull out my phone and check the time. "It's 5:49 in the afternoon."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzrXn3bbr9
"We're about halfway there, so we should get there by 8:30 at night."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq7421ofiJ
"I hope so."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg160l9XdH
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoRqJqpyaM
"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."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8qEkHKITz
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGh7zWUUVrP
"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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVDk4wi1oA
"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."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPYrNBmipH
He growls and approaches me. I pick up the pole and hold it horizontally. I push against him and he pushes right back.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SAwn4RfgT
"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."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeR3d03FIE
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV31cJEsb8
"You'll regret this, you know," he shouts.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkS08EiprBJ
"No I won't," I shout back.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvhPB2ujiR
He struggles and I stumble to the ground. He pulls out a knife and kicks the pole away. He approaches me.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWRb6F7FKR
"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."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFaW3m6MCx
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTih6oUM4t
"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."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQBqpNS7Ma
"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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynMlw7kVoG
"Please," he sputters. "Just … g-go. Take ……. care …. of ….." He coughs.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXr83TF8t6u
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvSflHkcVe
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXS7yiwbIPD
"Dracula!" I put my hands on each side of his face and kiss him. "I was beginning to think you were gone."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEZFpwTmhJ
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dOS9pVEoZ
"Are you really related to Sister Agatha?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNriKeOUg9x
"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."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zc46OCwpL
"Do you have a photo of him?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LT0PSxzy9
"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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCdZzUiIjT
He gasps and grabs the paper.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZ6EdtBOLq
"What? What is it?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglwb8uevTv
"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."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeVKA1ty0M
"Wait. Was he right here in Transylvania?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnISnf1psIp
"Yes. He stayed at my castle for a few weeks. That's the last I saw of him, though."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7Mj3aQ2Kr
"Do you know where he went?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4aLKusRn4
"No, I don't. But I can help you find him."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZIwapw3Fu
"Could you really?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluBw9Dyskf
"Yes, I could."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3CYqwt1Kg
I squeal and hug him.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKytgya2RUN
"Oh, gosh."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2OKy5Y8yB
I push away a little bit. "Oh. Um. Can I ask you something?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0FAgRAPky
"Sure. Go for it."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5med10i7d
"Could I stay here and give birth? And live with you? And the child? Please?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRi9kdbuB8
"Are you sure you want to?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZC4FX8Plv
"Yes, I'm sure."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWvEnEJmn5
"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."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoumcOG7dn
"How have I lost my mind? It's your child too. You deserve to see your child grow up and progress in life."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnVj5mtRJf
"No. That child does not deserve a father like me. And you know that."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1E0oIMUFT
"But she needs a father figure in her life. And I have a feeling that she's going to be a daddy's girl."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSMCcJ6a2b
"No. I can't. Okay? I can't." He gently pushes me aside and gets up. He goes back into the castle.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHPmXs0VHS
I get up and follow him. "Dracula! Please!" 247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT803IyCVpc
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkvr8EylkZ
Dracula's point of view247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYz048NxHj
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTny2CFcs6
