Chapter 7
The Motivation
Warning, this chapter is a little graphic (blood) and may not be suitable for children under 13.
The next night, all of the family went to Grampa Vlad's house, unsure of what they would find. With the eclipse the night before and the loss of power that accompanies it the whole family feared the worse. The trip there was made quickly as the three vampires flew in bat form, while Johnny rode his broom. There was palpable tension among the group, as even Dennis seemed to understand the uncertainty that his mother and grandfather felt. They had tried to convince Johnny to stay behind, but he insisted on coming.
"There is his cave." Mavis said. The whole group approached together not knowing what to expect. Upon entering, there was no sign of Vlad, and everyone began to search for him. About thirty minutes later, Johnny finally found him, lying in his coffin with a stake thru his heart. Mavis's worst fears were correct; someone had killed her grandfather. Immediately, she began to burn with rage and grief, but Johnny was able to calm her down. "I swear on my life, that whoever did this will pay. Dearly."
Dracula and Dennis then approached and saw Vlad's body, and both began to weep. Dracula tried now to calm down his daughter as well. "Honey, you can't go looking for trouble now. This isn't the right time. You must calm down. If we were to seek the ones who did this, it would be too risky. What they say about revenge is true; it is a dish best served cold."
"Mommy, what happened to Papa Vlad?"
"He is dead, Denisovich," Drac answered. "Someone has slain him. My guess is it happened before the eclipse. Had it happened during, there would be more evidence than this. I think he has been dead for at least three days."
Johnny was next to comment. "Look at the scratches on his face. It definitely was a monster." Johnny did always like CSI type shows, and Mavis knew he was probably right anyway. "The bat demons probably got their revenge."
The group began preparing to transport the body to the cemetery outside the hotel to bury Vlad, but before they could leave, the vampires heard an unsettling screech. The bat demons were on their way back. Dracula's worst fear was now confirmed as well. This had been a trap.
The demons arrived two minutes later. The vampires had begged Johnny to hide, but he was being as stubborn as always. "No, I gotta try and help anyway I can."
"But, Johnny," Mavis pleaded, "there isn't much you can do. You are the easiest target. And I couldn't bear losing you also." Johnny relented and hid inside Vlad's closet. The fight lasted about 10 minutes, with the vampires defeating the demons, although many of the demons were able to retreat. They only managed to kill five of them, despite more than 20 attacking them. It appeared more that the vampires never were the target. After they left, the vampires went to find Johnny, who to their horror was gone. Johnny had been kidnapped.
Dracula was actually the first to speak, "We have to go and get him. Who knows what their plan is. I don't think they will kill him right away, as dead bait doesn't catch game, and I have a feeling that we were their game."
"But why did they kill grandpa?" Mavis asked her father. "If that shouldn't work."
"Because they knew they had to make sure we would come and stay for a while to allow them to attack us while they waited from a safe distance. Anyway, we must go now, before we lose the sent."
"Wait a minute," said Mavis grabbing her phone. "I am calling for backup." She dialed a number on her phone and Dracula heard her speaking. "Wayne, it's Mavis. I don't have time to explain, but Johnny has been kidnapped by the bat demons who previously served my grandfather. We need all the monsters you can get to help us find them." She hung up the phone. "He's going to round up a posse as quickly as he can. He said that Wilbur will be able to find us based off the GPS on my phone." With that the vampires followed what was left of the scent.
They caught up to them at their hideout that was only about five minutes from Vlad's cave. The waited outside, but Dennis, who had the best hearing was able to eavesdrop on their plans. Dracula was first to speak, "This must be a covert operation. If they suspect they might lose Johnny to us, they might kill him. So we must get him out of their ASAP. The cavalry can help cover our escape, but we must have him out of their custody before they get here." Everyone agreed. "Dennis, where are they holding your father?" He pointed to a room. "Can you tell if there is anyone else in there."
"No, Papa, but I don't hear anything coming from there except daddy saying bad words."
"Hopefully, his cursing them will buy us a distraction," Mavis said now visibly upset. "We must go now." Mavis and Dennis went into the room, leaving Dracula to create a diversion for them. He began to levitate stones, hurling them at the windows and walls. Instantly, the demons came out to see what was going on but was surprised that Dracula was alone. He began to kill every one of them by himself. This was the first time since he met Martha that his lust for blood would not be quenched until every last demon was dead.
Mavis and Dennis found Johnny quickly and began to also slay every demon they found. Like their father and grandfather, they didn't stop until everyone was motionless on the ground with blood still dripping from their fangs. The only one left standing was Johnny who started running towards Dennis with his arms outstretched towards him. The two were less than a foot from embracing, when Mavis, driven by panic, started to attack Johnny. She knocked him against the wall on the other side of the room before their son's voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Mommy, that's daddy. Please don't hurt him," Dennis said pleading for his father's life.
Mavis's fangs were less than an inch from Johnny's neck when she realized it was him, and she couldn't believe she almost killed her love. The two instantly embraced, with Mavis crying uncontrollably. "Oh, Johnny, I am so sorry. I almost did something terrible"
"Don't be. You stopped in time. You were in a blind rage. Dennis wouldn't have let you hurt me. Thanks, little man." Dennis now with a large smile on his face, despite the fact his fangs were also stained with blood.
"I just hope I would have stopped."
"You would have. I love you so much. Where is your father?"
"He is providing a distraction. We must get out of here immediately. The posse is on their way."
The two vampires didn't bring the broom with them, so they carried Johnny by levitation out the window with them, both of them clutching him tightly. When Johnny saw all the demon's bodies lying at Dracula's feet, blood still dripping from his fangs, he was the most afraid of his father-in-law he had ever been. As soon as they landed next to Dracula, the cavalry arrived. Frank had accompanied Wayne and his two oldest pups, Wilbur and Willy. The other monsters saw Dracula, and for the first time ever, were truly terrified of their best friend.
"Drac, what happened buddy?" Frank said to his best friend.
"They killed my father, and for the first time, I truly showed no mercy. I could have killed 100 of them. I wasn't going to stop." Mavis, Dennis, or Johnny didn't mention the fact that she had almost attacked Johnny. "I forgot how I hate attacking like that, but once you start, the bloodlust is tough to stop."
"Well, let's get out of here," Wilbur said. "We brought one of the hearses with us."
"No, I have to go get my father's body. I want him buried next to my wife's, next to where I hope one day to be buried as well."
Mavis added, "Dad, I'm coming with you."
"No!" This was the sternest he had talked to her in 40 years. "You must protect your family." Johnny now looked guiltily. He knew he had put his family in jeopardy by accompanying them on what was so obviously a trap. Everyone except Dracula, Mavis and Dennis got in the hearse. Dracula went to go get his father's corpse, while Mavis and Dennis flew in bat form in front of the hearse just in case more enemies were out there waiting on them.
The hearse arrived at the hotel in about 30 minutes after it left the hideout. Dracula arrived about 20 minutes later carrying his father's coffin. When everyone was safely inside the family all began to mourn the loss of Vlad. The funeral would be planned for the next night. No one slept much the following day, as they were all distraught over the events of the previous night.
