The dark fog that clouded her sight began to dissipate, and she could feel her body once again. Sort off.
"Ow, my head hurts…" she muttered. She began to notice details, like the fact she was lying on a bed (which was weird, since she last remembered being out in the forest, and then… nothing…), and the fact that she was moving sluggishly. She also could feel soreness in her face. She tried to sit up, but a hand in her shoulder stopped her movement softly. The long piano-player fingers were familiar to her.
"Dad? What happened? I… don't remember much. And why is my face sore?" she asked, her voice hoarse from dryness. Her father handed her a clear glass with a red fluid inside. Blood beaters. The teen vampire gulped the contents in one go, just to fight off the dryness and replenish some force.
"It's ok, darling. You were caught by surprise by a shadow bear, my dead ums. They are very sneaky and vicious too. When I was notified… I feared for the worst, Mavy. I thought you were…" The words were caught in his throat, and he broke his usual cool calm for just a few seconds. He recovered quick enough to have a good look at his daughter. By the expression on her face he could tell that she had just realized how close she had been to danger. The mythical vampire just ran the back of his hand by her cheek, easing off some of the stress and anguish she was feeling.
"How did… who stopped that… thing?" she stuttered, still in somewhat of a shock. I could have died… I should be dead. Why am I not? Who saved me, and why?
The old count gave a slight smile, "Do you remember Joseph Horseman?"
"Yes, the driver of the hearse. Is he the one that saved me?" Mavis asked, slightly perplexed, since the driver was rarely at the hotel.
"No, it was his son, Kevin. He was out with his horse in the forest when he heard you scream. He and Hades –his horse- scared off the shadow bear and brought you into the Hotel" he said coolly, holding her hand for comfort. Mavis could remember Kevin. They had been friends many years ago, when they were younger. They were so close that they were rarely seen without each other, and they could spend days playing around the Hotel. He had been one of the few men that the Count hadn't scared away from her life Then, one day, Kevin was no longer at the Hotel. Mr. Horseman had told her that he had decided to go out into the world (Kevin was older than her for some years) and she had never seen him again. It was something that had upset her greatly. She had felt abandoned by his departure, feeling lonely once again in the Hotel, and betrayed by her good friend. But now he was back, and so was she… Maybe we could hang out. After all, I do owe him for saving my life…
"You should go look for him later, honey bats. Even if only to thank him" her dad said, echoing her thoughts, "and I have to thank him and Joseph later. I'll give him his stay for free, that should be a good start…"
"Yeah, maybe it will… Dad… did you know he was coming back to the Hotel? Be honest, please." She asked, still lying in bed, but looking at him with pleading eyes. She just wouldn't forget the fact that he had lied to her once, and she probably wouldn't forgive him if he did so again. Truth was easier. Simpler. And this time, it wasn't something nearly as worrying as his precious girl going out into the world.
"Yes, I did, darling. I knew he was coming a week after you came back" he said with a neutral voice. The girl was shocked for only a few seconds. She understood, or at least she thought she could, the reasons why her father wouldn't tell her about it, but it wouldn't hurt to ask him for them.
"Why didn't you tell me? I… I'm not mad about it, dad. I just… want to know." Her look told him everything: she was being sincere. She just wanted to know why, not to incriminate or accuse him of anything.
"I didn't think you were ready to be around anyone. You were very heartbroken by that time, and I didn't want to put any more pressure on you. I wanted to wait until you were ready to go ahead with a normal life. This hardly qualifies as it, but at least now you know, my darling. If you don't feel ready, tough, I can just tell him you are ok"
"No, no! I'm… I'm ok, dad. I'll go look for him as soon as I feel better, ok?" Mavis interrupted. She really needed to get out. Her break-up with Johnathan was going well into a month and she was still waking up with a cold sweat and tears on her eyes. While, she was sure, Johnathan was enjoying her new Hawaiian girlfriend.
She needed it. She needed to get up from her bed and get out of her room.
She needed to go back into real life.
Kevin sat on his rooms' bed, thinking to himself.
How the hell did I NOT recognized her? Why didn't I remember about her? Ghoul, have I been away that much? I could swear she looked different last time I saw her. But no… she still looks a lot like I remember her… except… well… she looks kindda… prettier… Ghoul, what am I thinking about? She's Count Dracula's daughter. Even if she where into me, her dad wouldn't let me be around her. It's one thing to save her life. Hanging out with her? No way, I won't live beyond the second day. Besides, I wanted to show dad that I can stay out of trouble. If I do this I might even get him fired…
It was gnawing at him, both the fact that he hadn't recognized his childhood best (and quite probably only real) friend, and the fact that he was thinking of her as being attractive.
"You are awfully quiet, kid" he heard from his right, and turned to face Jack. The pumpkin was grinning widely, and not just because it was his usual expression, but rather because he was finding something to be really funny, and Kevin could guess what it was.
"I'm... thinking, Jack. You know, like talking, but without making any noise?" he jabbed, trying to get the pumpkin head to talk about anything else.
Kevin began remembering things from when they were little kids.
"Just a bit higher! Why does Modo hide the cookies in the tallest pantry?" a forty-ish year old Mavis said, while reaching up as far as she could.
"Probably because he doesn't want us to eat them. Or maybe your dad told him to. Doesn't matter, anyways, can't you just turn into a bat and get them?" the boy bellow told her. She was standing on little Kevin's shoulders, and he was having a bit of trouble keeping his balance.
"I could, but where's the fun in that? Besides, I can only do it for a while and it's very tiring still. So stop whining and help me get just a little bit higher"
"Ok, ok, Hotel princess, just give me a sec"
He got on the tip of his toes, giving her the few millimeters she needed to catch her objective. And then… he slipped. The young man fell to the floor, easing his fall with his hands. Meanwhile, Mavis hung on to the cupboard with one hand and a box of monster cookies on the other.
"Kevin! Help!"
"Don't worry… just… let go, I'll catch you, Mavy!" he answered, extending his arms in front of him so he could break her fall.
"Are you sure?" she asked, not frightened but neither very comfortable.
"Yes, just trust me, Ok?"
"Fine…"
The girl dropped and fell straight into his arms, finding the momentary trip amusing. She was a giggling mess when Kevin set her upright back on the ground.
"My hero!" she joked, giving him a kiss in the cheek and running off with the cookies, expecting for him to follow. And of course he followed.
The cookies didn't last long, and the empty lobby was the perfect place for eating behind their parents backs. Both kids had chowed down the snacks in almost no time and were now sharing a love-seat, with their bellies full of cookie and their laps dotted with crumbs.
"Too... many… cookies" Mavis said with a light smile and rubbing her tummy with her right hand.
"Yeah… if I see another cookie… it will be way too soon…" Kevin could barely answer, sitting by her side and looking at the ceiling with an expression of nausea.
They stayed still for a few minutes, before Mavis decided to cuddle near him, feeling sleepy all of the sudden. He shifted almost automatically, to let her accommodate herself against him. Being both of them so young, they just weren't aware that the closeness there was between them was something that would be considered awkward for adults. But they didn't know, nor did they care, and soon they both fell asleep, Mavis resting against him and he resting his head on top of hers, while embracing her with his right arm. Count Dracula would find them some minutes later, worried that he hadn't seen his daughter all night and something could have happened to her. The sight before him would have probably made him angry in another circumstances, but he knew the Horseman family too well to be mad at this kid, who was his daughter's best friend and the person that cared the most for her (after himself, of course). He shrugged it off, using a blanket to cover both kids and shield them from the icy air coming through the revolving door.
He still had a hotel to run, and his daughter was in good hands.
Without warning or explanation Kevin just stood up and got out from the room leaving Jack talking to himself.
Room 174. Damn, even that stayed the same.
He knocked softly, not really wanting to disturb her if she wanted to rest. What the hell am I doing? He wanted to chicken out, but the door opening stopped him before he could even think thoroughly about it. It was Count Dracula himself, and Kevin could only try his best to NOT look too intimidated by the famous vampire.
"Count Dracula… sir… I was just…"
The tall vampire just raised his hand, indicating him to stop and relax, and so he did, "It's ok, Kevin, I remember about you. You don't have to 'Sir' me at all. Actually, I wanted to thank you, for saving my daughter from the shadow bear. I cannot tell you how important that was to me, and I will compensate you to the best of my ability, boy"
"I'm… flattered, but that won't be necessary at all…"
"Nonsense! I insist, it's the least I can do to repay you. And also, I wanted to ask you a favor"
"Sir? I mean… Count?"
"I would like to ask you if you could help me take care of her. I know you two used to be very good friends, and I think you still value each other's company. I cannot be with her as much as I would want to, so I would really be forever in debt with you if you accepted. Can I count on you?"
The logical answer would have been 'Yes, of course', but Kevin was too shocked to string two words together, so the Count just took his nod as an answer, shook his hand, and then left to attend his business. The young Horseman stood in front of the door, weighing the pros and cons of opening it.
It's now or never, opportunity taken or opportunity lost. It's my choice.
He finally steeled himself, knocked lightly on the door, and turned the knob to it. A sweet smell he hadn't taken in on years reached his nose. The familiar form on the bed shifted to look at him, eyes wide all of the sudden. She sat on the bed, straining her aching muscles. No words at all from any of them, the silence so thick that even a yeti could walk on it. Her intent gaze made him want to cow away, but he held firm, trying to string his thoughts together into something that could be called a sentence. She beat him to it.
"Too many cookies", with a bright smile.
"Way too soon…" A short, but meaningful answer.
I really love to write about Hotel T... though sometimes I think I let myself go too much. Anyways, this would be it for now. I know my new updating rotation might not be very popular but the way I see it it's a win-win: everyone gets its own dose of fanfics and I'm less pressured to meet unrealistic deadlines. So, don't forget to leave your input on the 'Reviews' secton (feedback=better stories, don't forget) and... that's it, I guess. Oh, wait! Yu'll be happy to now that, tough am heading home for the holidays I will still update as timely as possible on these seasons. See you on my next update which is... Red Typhoon, if I remember correctly.
