Okay, this is a very long one!

This is ALL in Otis's POV!

It goes through many different moments Otis had with Mina from the moment he met her until well…you'll see. So these will go in order but they are lengthy. This can hopefully make things clearer as to why Otis seems to side with Mina in the Team Meredith/Team Snow/Team Mina thing.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but Mina!

So Oblivious

Otis walked in to Mr. Craig's homeroom class knowing that his nephew was on the roster. He introduced himself to the class and tried with all his might not to make any obvious actions or remarks to the boy. Yet when he took an overview of the students his eyes landed on Vlad Tod for a moment longer than they should.

He knew their names, and he knew where they sat, so piecing together the 'who-is-who's wasn't so hard. Yet in the seat next to his nephew there sat a girl who was no on the roster. He took a quick mental count of the students and noticed that she was an extra. He tapped into her mind and instantaneously she grimaced while lifting her hand to her head. He exited her thoughts after finding out that she was a new student and today was her first day.

Mina Lovett…He scribbled her name on the roster until they printed a more updated one. He chanced a brief glance at her later on during their pop quiz on punctuation.

She was pale, as pale as any vampire he knew, and her lips were a natural rosy shade all to contrast her dark hair. She scribbled her answers here and there before she absentmindedly let her eyes flicker to the boy next to her. Her cheeks reddened when he noticed and smiled at her only to return to their quizzes without delay. Otis smiled; this girl had a crush on his nephew.

His nephew that was a vampire, no less.

He tried to read her mind again to be certain of what he already knew about her small infatuation. To see how long she knew him, if she knew what he was, things of that sort of nature. Again, she dropped her pencil and landed her hands on the side of her head when he didn't stop. She didn't seem aware of his mindreading, but she showed pain only when he did it.

It didn't matter; he got what he needed. Though, he would remember to keep that in mind as he got to know her better.

The only reason for his certainty? She was cousins with Vladimir's best friend. Also, she was getting quite the crush on him after only knowing him for a day…Otis had the strong feeling that the more contact he got with his nephew the more he would know of this girl.

Weeks passed and Otis was now passing out slips of paper to each student. It was his most recent project for the class but also a sneaky way for him to be sure that Vlad was a vampire. The boy would never tell him himself, so Otis had to find his own way.

He planned for Vlad to pick the 'vampire' slip from the hat. Yet when Otis walked toward his nephew he let the girl—Mina—pick first. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her take out the vampire slip. Mentally cursing, he had to change whatever inscription was on Vlad's paper. He boy started to protest his assignment and the girl instantly agreed with him. Apparently, it was something about her cousin never letting her know a single thing about vampires. She claimed she didn't know anything, at all, about them. Otis shot down her claim with a look at Vlad before dismissing the topic.

Months later Otis found he was nowhere near learning as much about Vlad as he wished he was. It was Valentine's Day and their project was due at the end of the month. Perhaps then he will have the right amount of information.

Otis sat leaning in his chair with his feet propped on the desk. There was a newspaper in his hands but he paid it little attention. He could hear his nephew in the hall on his way to class…talking with Mina. Again. Otis smiled.

"Extra clumsy today?" Vlad asked.

"You could say that." She said just as they were two steps from the door. Otis could even see them at this point and he found himself watching them with amused interest. "Vlad?"

"Yeah?"

The old vampire watched as the girl had a moment with the boy. She seemed too drawn to say or do anything but Vlad didn't notice. Otis realized that though the boy hadn't taken note of the moment he shared…he certainly felt it too. Did his nephew know that he stared at Mina just as often as she looked at him? Probably not.

"Mina…?" Vlad tried to get her back on topic and she went right to it.

She held up a card while nervously rambling. "Uh, yeah… I wanted to give you this…I just…wanted to say happy Valentine's Day." He took the card with a charmed smiled that she didn't see. Mina was busy curling and twisting her fingers together while he read the card. Otis noted that she wasn't even breathing in anticipation. He found her shyness quite cute, actually. Yet it was almost brave of her to give him the card. Most girls her age wait around for the boy to do the work, but not her. It reminded him of something…but he couldn't put his finger on it.

While rereading it, Vlad lifted his eyes to hers momentarily. "Thanks Mina."

"No…No problem." She didn't see what was painfully obvious to Otis; Vlad was blushing. Madly, in fact. "I—I just wanted to…yeah." She sighed in defeat.

Otis's heart warmed for the girl. They certainly had chemistry, of that he had no doubt. And after a few months Otis was willing to bet it could—and would—be so much more than that before Vlad becomes fully realized as the Pravus. If he was the Pravus, that is.

Meanwhile, Mina was trying not to look at Vlad in her embarrassment. Her eyes traveled all around them until they finally felt Otis's eyes on her. Otis saw—perhaps for the first time, he wasn't sure—the spectacular eyes of the human girl. She expressed her confusion on why he was staring at them but those eyes held something different. Something lost. Otis smiled, knowing of their young love-drama, and returned to his newspaper.

"Uh…Mr. Otis is watching us. Let's go inside." She changed the subject and scurried to the back of the room where she sat.

He tried not to chuckle at her desperate attempt to avoid the awkward Valentine. But as he pretended to read the newspaper he found his thoughts were trailing back to Mina. Well, technically, Mina's eyes.

He knew them from somewhere. They weren't hazel, nor did they change from green to blue. They were both colors at the same time. Did he know her parents? That was unlikely. Her cousin didn't have those eyes. Otis did know that she was an orphan…but he didn't kill any couples in a long while so he doubted that he could have eaten her parents. It wasn't so much the eyes, it was what they said to him that really hit him. If eyes could play music he imagined hers to play a sad, tortured, haunting melody. An ancient song, even, one that he might have known a long time ago. A song that Otis had long forgotten.

Either way, Otis had to 'talk' to Vlad about the book he confiscated from the boy during the class day. Mina waited for Vlad by the door but Otis gave her a look that he hoped told her to leave. If she didn't get the hint he would have to mind control her. Which he didn't like doing because it always seemed to give her a migraine.

As she took the hint and left, he spoke with Vladimir. But the boy seemed distracted by what he was seeing outside.

Otis saw Meredith talking to Henry—Henry was Vlad's best friend and Mina's cousin, that he knew—and she was giving the boy a card. Otis knew also that Vladimir had a crush on Meredith despite the attraction he felt towards Mina. So, when Vlad took out a box in the shape of a heart and tossed it in the trash as he stepped up to Otis's desk, the teacher gave him a sympathetic look. Otis looked down then back at the scene in the hall. Henry and Meredith were gone but Mina was there…hurt from what she just saw. Otis pretended not to see her as she ran off without waiting for Vlad.

While he spoke to his nephew, who didn't know he was talking to his uncle, he heard Henry shout out the girl's name in the hall. The simple word rang throughout the hall but Otis tried to pay it no mind. But he didn't fail to see Vlad snap to attention and almost turn green with guilt afterwards.

A few minutes before class was to start, Otis stood and taped a few pictures onto the board. One by one he placed vampire after vampire on the board and wondered why the few that were true Elysians were not killed or put on trial for revealing their nature to humankind. Vlad III the Impaler was placed in the center as probably the most well known vampire. He chuckled, knowing all too well the true story of the man in the portrait and the huge stir he caused to vampires worldwide. Next he put up a portrait of Erzsebet Bathory—The Blood Countess—who helped inspire Bram Stoker's Dracula. Another laugh, the town had the same name as one of the most famous female vampires. Then, he put up a picture directly underneath Vlad the Impaler, one that was related to him and so involved in the story he was to tell after Vlad and Mina gave their oral presentations.

Otis froze. He saw something he had never seen before. Well, he had seen it but never really understood why it was so familiar to him. Eliza, Vlad the Impaler's wife, the woman who jumped into the river. No human knew her real name, but every vampire was well informed about the true events.

What he had just realized was so striking about the legendary woman he never knew…was her eyes. The painter of the portrait made a point in defining the dark green and light blue in her eyes. They weren't hazel, nor did they change from green to blue. They were both colors at the same time.

Just like Mina.

It had to be a coincidence. He knew that Dracula's wife was reborn as Wilhelmina Murray in the late 1800s. After that—and the Prince's death—the Dracula coven had searched endlessly for their prince and princess to return. Every vampire in Elysia knew that. He himself had seen Casimir (the head of the Dracula coven) search every vampire in Siberia for the one who possessed Eliza's soul.

After so many centuries they must have given up by now. There was no way that she could be reborn again, or the Prince for that matter, could there be? Also, he remembered, the coven was positive that they would return as vampires already. Mina wasn't a vampire, not even a drudge. But…

She did have her infatuation for Vlad who was a vampire.

The bell rang for class to start and Otis buried the idea deep in his mind. He introduced vampires to his class and tried to get at Vlad by offering for him to pass garlic out to the class. The boy proclaimed he was allergic, just as Otis hoped he would. He didn't fight him as Vlad started his presentation first.

"My name is Vladimir Tod, and I'm… I'm a vampire. It's not easy, being a bloodsucking creature of the night. If I go out without my sunblock, I'll likely burst into flames. Aside from characters in books and stories that I can't prove to be true, I'm pretty sure I'm the only vampire left. It's kind of lonely, but at least I don't have to wait in long lines at the blood bank. If I concentrate, I can make my body float, and sometimes I can read people's thoughts. But for the most part, being a vampire bites."

It was short, it was simple, and it was exactly what Otis wanted to hear. As his nephew returned to his seat he called up the next project. "Miss. Lovett? Tell us what 'vampire' means to you."

She wasted no time in starting. "The word vampire often brings to mind images of bloodlust and immortal thirst. But we are much more than that. We vampires are civilized beings on this earth that are not only intelligent but also very kind and loving when hunger is aside. Yes, I do drink blood for my form of food. I am pretty certain the word 'blood clot' has completely different meanings to us than it does to you. And I can fly and read minds. Some of us are even able to seduce humans to do our bidding. I do not believe I am the last of my kind, simply that I am lost in a world of mortal take-over. Which is ironic, you'd think that since we are the immortal ones we should last longer huh? I am not the only one of my kind to not like killing, I am sure of that. Yet the hunger is often a chore that we often have to deal with in order to stay alive. I don't think we are bad people, just because we might have killed in our former life. I trust that we all are just tormented and misunderstood creatures of the night. Even though, to be honest. It does really suck to be me."

Otis's reaction was very similar to Vlad's; awe. She nailed vampires without even being one. She showed compassion for the creatures…something they don't usually get.

Again, Otis tried not to dwell on it as he began to talk about past vampires. The class seemed bored while the two in the back were anything but. Mina was eagerly hanging on Otis's every word while Vlad was much the same but showed he was well aware of every new fact the teacher said.

The very next day Otis was confronted by Mina. She walked right up to him the moment she came into class alone. Without Vladimir. "Mr. Otis?"

"Yes, Miss. Lovett?" He played on her formal talk with a smile.

She looked down. "Uh well, how was your dinner last night?" His smile fell and eyes narrowed. "I, uh I mean… Well I need to talk to Vlad. And he isn't here today. So…"

"Well he could quite possibly be out of the room at the moment, Mina." Otis tried to waltz around it and read her mind. He found that she knew he had dinner at Vlad's home and that Vlad view's him as a threat. That would not do at all. She shuttered from the pain as he read her thoughts. Again, Otis was intrigued, for no human had ever felt pain during a mindreading.

She shook her head determinedly. "No, Mr. Otis, he isn't. I would know. Trust me." He lifted an eyebrow. "But I just wanted to know how dinner was…if that question bothers you…?" Mina rubbed her temple to rid herself of the headache so Otis drew out.

"No, not at all. My dinner was fine." Then he brought on a challenging gleam to his eyes as he spoke. "Why exactly would you know where Vlad is or isn't?"

She seemed put off by the question. "Oh, well I…I kinda just have a feeling."

"Explain."

She became as still as a statue but the bell rang for class to start before she could answer Otis's query. "I am going to sit down now."

Otis helped Henry onto the couch of Vlad's home after their trip to Stokerton. He human drudge had fallen fast asleep and Vlad claimed there was no way he was going back home once he was so asleep. Otis asked if there was someone in his family to call to get him or if they could drop him off. Vlad immediately started to call Mina.

From what Otis heard of the conversation, Mina was just as out-of-it as her cousin when awakened. It didn't take her too long to arrive and Otis rushed to get the door. As soon as he opened the door for her Mina fell right into his arms, content in going back to sleep. He caught her skillfully and carried her to the living room where her cousin was. He placed her seated up beside the human and stepped back.

Vlad rushed over to her and shook her shoulders tenderly. "Mina? Mina?" He called softly but she barely opened her eyes. "We want you to help us take Henry home."

"Blad, did you know you have awesome hair?" She mumbled before falling back asleep. Vlad stood tall and sighed in defeat. Otis busied himself with laying Henry down on Mina's lap with a knowing smile.

"Just let them sleep here. They are too tired to go home." Otis said and Vlad agreed.

On the night of the Freedom Fest Otis waited outside his beat-up car for Vlad to bring Mina and say goodbye. In the last weeks of school Otis had learned a lot about Mina from Vladimir. He was almost positive that Vlad and Mina could possibly be mates.

Mates were once normal but eventually the Council of Elders deemed that the term 'mate' was used by vampires to get out of mistakes or trials that would likely kill them otherwise. If a vampire revealed their nature to a human and did not wish the change them, they only had to claim them as their mate. After the chaos Dracula caused, Em decided she had had enough of vampire mates. Now, true mates were rare. And Otis believed that his nephew found his mate before he even turned fourteen.

Otis also knew how she got her necklace from an old man with a Romanian accent. There was little doubt that the man was from the Dracula coven—maybe even Casimir himself. He insisted that Vlad should tell her of the fate. But the boy was certain that she could live without vampires and she was safest away from them. As true as that might be, Otis knew that if she really was a mate…she wouldn't have a choice.

"Vladimir, I see you convinced her. Mina, I am glad you are able to make it."

"Hello, Mr. Otis."

"Please, call me Otis. I'm not your teacher anymore." She shrugged and he smiled. "I wanted to speak with you before I left, and I never found the chance in class. And I fear you would interfere if I told you sooner. From what Vladimir has told me about you, I know you would do just that."

Mina looked at Vlad. "You talked about me?"

Vlad tried not to blush along with her. "You seem to know a lot of vampires. Your essay was remarkable to young girls as you interpret them. I was shocked." Mina blinked.

"Thank you." She shrugged again. "They are misunderstood creatures. You said you wanted to speak with me?"

"Yes. Vlad may we have a moment?" His nephew complied. "Mina, how long have you known Vlad or about vampires?"

"Uh, I met Vlad this year. I came to Bathory almost a week before you did sir. And I lived with my cousin Joss before hand, and he never let me do anything if it involved vampires." Otis committed that to memory. "I wasn't allowed to watch movies, read books, or do anything if it had vampires in it. So when I learned all I know this year, from Vlad. But I did do a lot of studying on my own."

Rather than commenting on her explanation he set his eyes on her necklace. "Let me see that." She did not remove it but let it rest atop her hand for him to see clearer. As he leaned closer to inspect it he was made to hold his breath to ignore her sweet blood. It was a warning that his nephew had advised him with earlier. "Ah, where did you get it?"

"In Romania," Otis stood tall, the Dracula coven lived there. "When I lived there with Joss. This old guy gave it to me."

"Yes, I believe Vlad told me the story. I just had to hear it for myself."

"What is it you want to tell me?" She brought the conversation back to its origins without an ounce of leniency. Otis chuckled as he took out a picture of Count Orlok, the vampire from Nosferatu.

"Examine this picture, every detail. And when you get home search the name Count Orlok. When you find this picture with the name you are in the right place. This is my last lesson before I leave Bathory. It is of the upmost importance that you research this in great detail Mina, and that Vlad not know of your studies."

"Why not? Can't he help me find this Orlok guy?"

"No. This is a secret between you and me. Am I clear?"

She nodded but the suspicion in her eyes only grew. "Mr. Otis, what part do you play exactly in the secret Vlad keeps from me? I swore to wait until he was ready, but I fear he never will be."

"I am strongly involved, Mina." He grinned. "And he will, if not I am positive you will meet the fate that the secret carries for you."

"I'm involved too?"

"Yes." He sighed. "Vlad may not be open to the idea yet you are." He held a pointed finger up to make his point. "Do not forget that, and keep this between us. And do not be so blind to the hidden truth. What lies in your future, and was in my past, along with Vlad's present; our strength comes from those not believing in us." He saw her eyes widen but he paid it no mind as brought his nephew back among them.

He reminded her again of their secret just as Vlad returned to them. He said a goodbye to them both before asking to talk to Vlad privately.

As Otis arrived in the clearing he was already biting into his wrist so he could feed his nephew. The gleaming stake in the boys' chest filled Otis with dread. The slayer boy had run off and D'Ablo scurried away long ago with his minion in tow. After he was at least mildly comforted that his kin might live he handed him over to the ambulance full of vampires. Then Otis's eyes landed on Mina.

She was unconscious and seemingly unharmed. Otis instinctively listened for a heartbeat as he made his way to her. He heard nothing.

"Mina…" He beckoned as he lifted her limp body into his arms. Her head fell to the side and he glimpsed the two puncture wounds in her neck. She wasn't breathing. She wasn't pulsing. She wasn't moving. She wasn't alive.

Otis cradled her head in his arm and used his free hand to move her hair from her face caringly. She was deathly still and Otis felt his heart break for Vlad. D'Ablo would kill the girl just to spite Vlad. He knew him well enough. Yet just as Otis ran the tips of his fingers along her necklace her eyes shot open. He felt his breath hitch but her eyes were closed as soon as they were opened. He listened…her heart was beating yet in a different rhythm. Her chest rose and fell with oxygen again yet it was shallow as if she were in a deep sleep.

Mina's skin was as white as snow, her lips still that ever rosy color was now prominent, and Otis shuttered. He knew that behind those lips were now fangs. Behind her closed lids her eyes were now able to make a man's heart melt. Underneath the beautiful young woman's façade was now a fresh, new vampire ready to kill.

Otis lifted her in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, and took her personally to the Stokerton Hospital. She was now a vampire…and he made the decision right then that he would be her vampric guardian.

He only wondered why he hadn't predicted this would happen before.

Through Otis and Vlad's letter he found that Vlad had no idea Mina liked him. He hadn't the slightest clue that she was probably in love with him. He refused to accept that she will one day know he was a vampire. Otis was always amazed at how oblivious his nephew could be.

Now he thought about how oblivious he was allowing himself to be.

Rather than waking her he found himself writing a letter to a friend of his that was once a member of the Romanian coven. Not the Dracula coven, but still rather close when information was involved. The letter spoke solely of Mina Lovett and all Otis Otis knew about her. Maybe his acquaintance would know the vampire who gave Mina her necklace. Or maybe…the letter's reply would tell him something he didn't want to know about the girl's fate.

Something like being Dracula's puppet.

So…Review!

Oh, and the next one will be a songfic with Vlad, Mina, and Dracula! :D