Hey! Update! Thank you guys so much for your reviews and IDEAS! They are being thought of, trust me. Things are getting closer to a climax around here, huh? Here is chapter 11 of Relying On You. Ciao! (HYFwF)

11: Abraham Van Helsing

The next day, it took Dracula an hour to ready himself to leave the moment he could. This was not boding well. Mimi, the monster, the book, Quasimodo for heaven's sake! What did it all mean? Did Quasimodo have the book already in his possession, or had he acquired it after being banned from the hotel and shunned?

Was this all the revenge of some twisted, human-hating monster that also hated Dracula?

It was nearing Halloween. Dracula and Jonathan still had much to plan in terms of the "extravaganza" he was to throw. So much was in between though! Why? Mavis meeting the late Van Helsing's relative, Mimi stumbling upon the haunted woods, Mavis' knowledge of such a particular spell, people turning up dead wherever she went… And possibly, just maybe, Micole Morgan wasn't as much of an accident as Dracula had assumed.

The vampire gritted his teeth. "This is turning into something far worse than I originally thought it may be," he said to himself. He turned and made his way to the library, where Jonny should be waiting for him. The human was there, along with Mavis. "Good morning, Mavy-wavy!" Dracula greeted, pleasantly surprised by her company. "Hey, dad," Mavis said with a wave. "Drac! What's up?" Jonny said, looking over his shoulder to acknowledge the vampire. He was leaned back in his chair, chatting with Mavis about something, and whatever it was had the young woman giggling her brains out. Dracula cleared his throat.

The two stopped, smiled slyly at each other, then faced Dracula with their full attention. "Time to 'party plan'?" Mavis teased Jonny. "You know it," he replied. Mavis lifted from her chair. "You don't have to go, Mavy!" Dracula informed her quickly. He was missing the quiet moments with his daughter around every corner!

"Dad, it's fine!" Mavis assured him as she made for the door. "Planning is you and Jonny's thing. I'll see you both later at dinner. And dad, have you seen Mimi?"

Dracula held back his frown. "No," he answered flatly. "I have not seen her lately. Perhaps she is resting."

Mavis eyed her father. She nodded slowly. "Yeah, probably. She didn't look too good the other night. I'll see you! Love you!" She waved at the two men. "I love you, too!" they chimed together. Dracula glared back at Jonathan, who shrunk into his chair with a nervous grin. When Mavis left, Dracula took a long time to pull out his seat and sink into it. He let his face fall against the table they sat at. "This is so exhausting," he mumbled.

"You ready for the biggest bash you've ever thrown!" Jonny asked cheerfully. Dracula gave him a small leer at the volume of his voice. "Please, I could really use a calm environment right about now."

"Oh, right," Jonny said dismissively, leaning back in his chair with a roll of his eyes. "I forgot Mimi's got you all jacked up inside."

"I am fine!" Dracula declared, balling up his fists. "I simply need to get some information."

"Well, how's about we plan Mavis and Mimi's shindig, then we worry about info hunting, huh?"

Jonny gave his friend an encouraging smile. With a heavy sigh, Dracula lifted his head up and, from within his cape, laid out papers and pens with a wave of his hand. "Let's get to it, then," he responded solemnly. "That's my vampire!" Jonny cheered, giving Dracula two playful punches to the arm. The two set to work.

Mavis rounded the corner to Mimi's room. She looked left and right before stepping out and sneaking down the long hallway. Well, she tried to sneak. "Madame Mavis," a suit of armor said. Mavis cringed and turned. "Yes?" she asked. "I do hope you aren't visiting miss Mimi. You aren't to disturb her, per your father."

"He isn't here," Mavis replied. "He won't know if you just let me talk to her!"

"I'm sorry, madam, but I simply cannot—" Mavis gave the metal frame a strong punch to the breast plate, flinging him back. At once she took off and dashed into Mimi's room, locking the door behind her. "Safe," she grinned.

"Mavis is here," Micole's voice came. Mavis turned. Micole was brushing her long hair, smiling at Mavis in front of her mirror. "Hey, you," the vampire greeted. Micole waved. "How are you, Mavis?" Micole asked.

Mavis zipped over to the girl's bed and helped herself to it. "You know, just thought we could hang out. Dad and Jonny are 'party planning' downstairs." She did quotation marks with her fingers. Micole laughed. "So it's just you and me, eh?" She put down her brush and lifted her thick hair into a ponytail, which she twisted into a bun. She grabbed the cape and brought it over her shoulders. She tied it at her neck. "Ready?" she asked Mavis. "Oh yeah," the vampire replied.

"You never told me that dream," Micole said to Mavis, letting her feet dangle from the roof. Mavis shrugged. "It was sort of a daughter-dad thing," she explained. The vampire had just finished relaying what she and her father had discussed. Micole nodded. "I understand," she said. The two ladies were atop the roof, sitting above the gutter, letting their feet hang freely. Micole sighed loudly. "I slept for an entire day again," she reported in a frustrated tone. Mavis looked over to her. "That's good," she said. "You're still healing."

Micole shook her head. "No, I don't think it's that, Mavis. I think it's because I'm changing, not because I'm healing! I'm so worried… Little things are changing now, too." She used a finger to lift her upper lip. Mavis searched her smile. "What?" she asked, failing to see an abnormality. Micole put her tongue against her k-9. "You see?" She took her other hand and opened her mouth wider, leaning towards the vampire. Mavis leaned in, as well. "Oh!" she cried. Micole's teeth were longer and sharper! "I oh, rih?" Micole said with her hands in her mouth. At once the shingles beneath her gave way, sending her sliding down the roof.

"Mimi!" Mavis shouted. The human could do nothing as she cleared the roof and sailed off of it, cape streaming behind her. "Micole!" Mavis cried. She transformed into a bat and soared after her friend, but Micole was falling too fast. Mavis struggled to reach her, but she wasn't sure if she would even be able to hold Mimi up at this velocity.

Micole was heading towards the water surrounding the hotel. She wasn't screaming, which was odd to her, and she wasn't frightened, either. Her sight was different; it was as though she could see in slow motion and knew what was coming and from where. She saw the way she would enter the water and how deep she would go, how long it would take to breach the surface again, which didn't scare her. Until she hit the water and reality reminded her as she rapidly sank: You can't swim.

Micole thrashed under the water, fear at last gripping her as the cape wrapped around her and made her feel trapped. She tried to scream and let all of the air out of her lungs. Bubbles surrounded her eyes, terrifying her further. Mavis snapped back to human form just above the water, diving in without panic. She swam down, the dark water impossible to navigate through properly. Micole was struggling against her cape, thrashing around and tangling herself up even further. She needed air!

Mavis had her arms stretched out, zombie style, feeling for any sign of Micole. Something gently buffed her side. She grabbed it without a second thought and began to push to the surface. Micole's body was going into shock. But something was happening. Her arms and legs felt like they were catching on fire as she ran out of air and sucked in a lungful of moat water. Power shot up her spine and to her scar. From there it filtered out, making everything less painful. Her brain took over, making her kick and push against the water. Mavis was also still pulling her upwards to escape.

The women's gasp for air was boisterous when the broke the surface. Micole coughed sporadically, bangs covering her eyes as she struggled to stay afloat. Mavis turned her around and easily yanked off the cape, shoving it away from them. She grabbed Micole under the pits and began to swim backwards toward land on the opposite side of the castle.

Upon getting to dry land, Micole collapsed. "Oh my god," she panted. "What happened? I thought I was going to die!"

Mavis was panting as well, just as surprised as her friend. "Yeah, that was really intense. Are you ok?" She put her hand on Micole's shoulder, trying to steady her. Micole nodded as she lifted up her head. "I'm good, I'm good. Just… wow! That was terrible! I forgot that I can't swim anymore. I forgot how a long time ago. I almost drowned!"

Mavis let out a small chuckle now that the danger was past. "You thought you could for a second there or something?"

Micole nodded. "Yeah! I don't know why, though. I was so calm as I was falling. I probably would have been fine if I hadn't remembered I suck at floating in water. Once I remembered I couldn't swim is when everything started going bad."

Mavis watched Mimi. That didn't make a lot of sense to her.

"Ok, well, are you ok now? You didn't cough up any water so you probably weren't going to drown yet."

Micole shrugged, at last able to try and stand. Mavis helped her up. The two stared around at the edges of the haunted woods. It was creepy and uninviting. "We should get back," Mavis said anxiously. Micole was about to nod when she heard something in the distance. "Wait," she said. They sat in silence, listening hard. Micole perked up. "I heard it again!" Without warning she grabbed Mavis' hand and took off at a high speed. "Hey, wait!" Mavis cried. She fell into rhythm with the human's stride, eyes darting left and right in uncertainty.

Deeper and deeper into the haunted woods Micole took them, until she finally slowed. She had a focused expression etched on her face as she held very still and let her ears do all the work. She turned slowly to the west, then the east. Mavis gasped. "I hear it now, too! This way!" She tugged Micole forward. It took another minute for the females to stop and settle. They watched the man on the hard dirt struggling before them. He put a sailor's pipe up to his lips and blew into it feebly, unaware of his guests. The sound was weak, yet it carried well beyond this spot.

"It's him," Mavis whispered in apprehension. "The man with the book…"

Micole turned her wide eyes on her friend. "You mean the one you walked with in your dreams?" She returned her stare to him. "How did he get here? Did he follow you?"

Together, they took the steps to reach him. He was lifting the pipe again when he noticed the pairs' shadow. He found the strength to turn towards them. Feeling sorry for his state, Mavis moved to his other side, allowing herself and Micole to be easily seen by him.

"I finally found you, monster," he whispered. Mavis jerked in surprise. "Don't talk to her like that!" Micole snapped. The man chuckled weakly. "I was talking about you. Monster."

Micole narrowed her eyes at him. "What do you know about me?" she asked tensely.

"You should get away from her," he went on to Mavis, ignoring Micole's inquiry. "She's a monster. You have a human to protect, don't you? Let her go while you can. Another like me will find her and take care of her."

He was clearly in pain and clearly near the end of his rope, though neither Mavis nor Micole could see any injuries to speak of. But he was upsetting both women, and Micole didn't like it. "Why are you here?" she asked him angrily. "Who are you? Really?"

The man looked at Micole for a moment before he answered. "I'm Van Helsing," he told her. "Named Abraham, akin to some before me. I followed a monster like you to this place. When I killed it, I was attacked from behind by a vile creature. It poisoned me." Van Helsing sighed. "I hope I killed it, at least."

"You're a vampire hunter," Micole stated, her nose tilted up. Van Helsing shook his head. "I hunt all monsters. I see no difference in breed."

"They aren't as different from humans as you think," Micole informed him. "You're looking at them the wrong way."

Van Helsing scoffed. "I have a gift for you, before I pass."

Mavis and Micole glanced to one another in awe. Micole jumped in front of Mavis as she saw Van Helsing reach into his large trench coat. From its confines, he pulled out a leather book, buckled clasp broken just as Bethinda's was. "The book!" Mavis cried.

"Ah," Van Helsing said with a ghost of a smile on his lips. "You remember this book."

He pulled it out and reached out towards Mavis. "This is the original book," he told her. "It is the real spell library designed for defense."

Mavis reached around Micole. The two took a few steps closer to Van Helsing so that Mavis could reach the book. When the vampire's fingers brushed against it, they froze. Mavis met Van Helsing's eyes. "Why are you giving this to me?"

With what appeared to be immense effort, Van Helsing lifted his left side from the ground a bit. He gazed directly at the women in front of him. "The spells work for and against monsters. No matter what the species, no matter their birth or creation, all monsters fall or are protected by this book. It is ancient, passed down to me from generations.

"I've been tracking a line of killings that I believed were monster related. That was when I met you." He lowered his stare at Mavis. "I don't know why, but something told me to help you. I didn't know why you needed it, or if you really even did or not, but I felt something take over the moment I laid eyes on you. Maybe it was your eyes. Big and blue and clear…" He sighed deeply. Laying his head back down, he went on, "Use this book to conquer monsters. I was attacked nearly a year and a half ago by a small monster. He stole a faux copy of the book in your hands. Since then, I had kept the original close at my side. Until now. I want you to have it, protect it, keep it. I taught you a spell from it. I trust that you learned it and used it many times."

Mavis let her jaw drop in shock.

"Each time you speak the spell to an individual, the magic takes hold. These spells are not for every eye." Van Helsing spared Micole a glance. "Whatever you are," he told her harshly, "I hope you recover you heart. And if I'm right about what is going on, your humanity, as well." With that, Abraham rolled completely over and stopped moving. Micole and Mavis crouched down, unsure of what to do. Micole put her fingers against his pulse.

"He's dead," she reported softly. She looked Abraham up and down, searching for injuries. Mavis was at her side, observing her new tome. She flipped it open, and the book fell to the page from her dreams. Her eyes grew large as she absorbed the text:

Monsters come in many forms from many facets of life. Do not be led astray by those that mimic the appearance of man, such as the Vampire. Dracula lives, thriving forever until he is slain. In that time, he will create more vampires, more monsters and cause more human death. Those like him must be stopped; he is the ultimate king. Others will be slain by your hunter prowess before you will be ready to face him. There are three spells to learn for bouts against vampires:

Protis Slavic soulvis magic minimus

Likum toi et moi

HANTIM SOUCE EC TEK TUMA

If your vampire is of equal power of Count Vlad Dracula, the first spell is not recommended, the second should not be considered, and the third is what you shall rely solely upon to heighten your chances of successful victory in battle against them. IF this spell shows little effect, then this final spell is to be

Mavis' fingers ran across the torn edge of the page in a frantic manner, eyes reflecting the alarm growing in her heart. No! she thought. Where's the rest of it!

Micole stood, dragging Mavis back to the cold air of the woods. "We ought to go…" the human said quietly. Mavis, jumpy now, slammed her volume shut and held it to her chest as she, too, stood up. "Yeah," she agreed. "Let's get out of here. We need to go back and change out of these wets clothes anyway…"

Micole and Mavis both had mascara running down their cheeks, hair askew and clothes stuck to their bodies. Shivering because they at last were drained of adrenaline, they began to walk back the way they'd come, side by side very closely. They both stared at the ground, each wrapped in their thoughts of differing intensity. Micole put an arm over Mavis' shoulder. Mavis wrapped her arm around Micole's torso in response. Whatever had just happened shook them both.

Mavis' room

Mavis carried Micole in bat form up to her bedroom. Once Mavis transformed back, the two stood where they were for a moment. Without a word, Micole began to head to the door. "Mimi," Mavis said, "I think we need to figure out a plan."

Micole shook her head. "I can't do this," she whispered. "This is too much. I didn't ask for this… any of it! I… I…" Micole began to shake. "This isn't fair! I can't turn into some being that people like Van Helsing want to hunt!"

Mavis didn't know how to reply to that. She held tightly to the book. "Mimi, please calm down. I don't want you to do something irrational—"

Micole wheeled around. "Irrational?" she said with an incredulous tone. "Irrational!? You want me to calm down so I don't do anything irrational? Irrational is me being in this hotel. Irrational is the fact that some mutant animal bit me and I'm turning into a MONSTER. Irrational is me believing that I belong here and can actually be friends with a vampire!"

Mavis lowered her shoulders. She watched Micole. "What?" She held tighter to Van Helsing's book. "What does that mean? What do you mean?"

Micole shook her head. "I have to get out of here."

Mavis felt the panic rise in her chest. "You can't!" she cried. "You have to stay here, where my dad can protect you!"

"Protect me from what?" Micole said snidely. "From all these terrifying monsters? The only real thing to be afraid of in this world are humans! They're the ones running around hunting things that they don't even understand! Things like me that don't care about anything and just want to kill are the stuff of nightmares and THAT'S what somebody should be protected from!"

Micole felt hot tears falling down her face. "I can't be here anymore. I'm leaving, to protect my friend. Mavis the vampire, who isn't nearly as scary as some human beings I know." With that, Micole stalked out of the room.

Mavis held on to the book, eyes shifting in thought. Rather than follow Micole like every bone in her body wanted to, she ran to her bed and opened the book. She stroked the ripped page with her fingers. "Whatever is missing here," she said to herself, "I have to find it. It has to be important, or why would someone have taken it?"

Mavis closed the book back. She stuffed it under her pillows then dashed from her room to find Jonny and her father.