Chapter 14

The Ancestor

We introduce two new characters in this chapter, and answer some of the lingering questions, and open some new ones. As far as I know, Jacob and Karen are original to me, but if anyone had thought of them first or a similar role of characters, please pm me and I will be happy to give credit for whoever was first. Also, if anyone knows what Linda's maiden last name really was, please pm me as well. I made up something, but if the actual one is out there, I'd like to use it.

When Dracula felt the sensation that a powerful force was heading for the hotel, he headed for the roof, where he knew Mavis and Johnny were. When he came up, Johnny was first to ask, "Drac, what's a matter? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Not a ghost, but something is following Jenna and Dennis."

Now Mavis was concerned, "What is it?"

"I am not sure, but I only hope it is friendly."

Jenna and Dennis saw their family on the roof and joined them. Jenna was first to see the look of panic on Mavis's face. "Mavis, what is it?"

"Something is right behind you. And dad thinks it is very powerful."

"Did we lead it here?"

"Even if you did, we will find a way to deal with it," Drac said trying to reassure her.

About ten minutes later what was following them landed inside the castle, but went to the lobby. Dracula went down, because as the hotelier, it was easiest for him to investigate. Everyone else went inside to Dracula's library, where they would watch on surveillance to see what it was. Drac was stunned when he thought he recognized who it was. The stranger spoke first to Dracula.

"Dracula, is that you?"

"It is."

"Holy rabies, I haven't seen you since before Martha died. How have you been?" The new arrival was a vampire, slightly older than Dracula, but had striking jet black hair, in a style similar to Elvis Presley's.

Dracula was still unsure if it was indeed who he thought, but definitely thought it was him. "Jacob, is that you?"

"So you do remember me? I didn't realize this was your place, or I would have come by decades ago. I really missed you. And Martha. But not as much as my sister." Jacob's sister, Karen, was one of Martha's best friends. They had went to Hawaii together on vacation when Dracula met her, and Dracula and Karen became good friends as well. Jacob was never completely certain of Dracula the way the two women were, but trusted his sister's judgement enough not to object.

"Jacob, how long has it been, 120 years? More than that?"

"At least. I know I didn't get along great with you, but I did always wonder where you disappeared to after Martha. I can't even think was Karen will say when I tell her that I find you."

"I wonder what Mavis will think."

"Who is Mavis?"

"My daughter. They're on the roof. I think you should meet them."

"Them?"

"Yes, Mavis, her husband Johnny, and their son Denisovich. Johnny's sister is here also." The two headed for the roof, but when they didn't see them, Drac used his sight to find them. "They're in my study. Come on." The two went inside.

Jacob thought he recognized Jenna first. "Excuse me, but are you related to Linda Johnston?"

"Yes, that is my mother," Jenna said not sure of what to make of this.

"How do you know our mother?" Johnny was now also confused.

Jacob turned to Jenna, "You have her hair and eyes. You are even more beautiful than the pictures I have of you."

Jenna now started to feel creeped out. "How do you have pictures of us? Have you been stalking us?"

Jacob now saw the fangs in both of their mouths and was both proud and nervous. He showed them his wallet with pictures of Jenna, Johnny, and their brothers. "It is because I am your great-times-eight-grandfather. I zinged with a human more than 250 years ago. But at that time, it was a forbidden love, so we hid it from everyone. None of our children ever developed vampire abilities, so they stayed with her. But I did whatever I could to defend my descendants and their children. That was until your mother asked me to stay away from you."

Jenna was now even more confused. "How can you still look not a day over 50, but have been in love more than 250 years ago?"

Dracula stepped into answer, "Jenna, I am 540, Mavis is 131. Vampires are almost immortal, unless they are killed. We don't die of natural causes."

"It is true, Jenna. Forgive me, but I never introduced myself. My name is Jacob. I know this must be a shock, but please believe me."

Dracula then confirmed as much as he could. "I still remember his zing. Her name was Juliet. I always thought that was ironic after I read the Shakespearian tragedy. They had two children." He turned to Johnny, "But I never thought for a second that you were related to him."

"So Johnny is also my grandson?"

"Yes, and that would make Dennis your great-times-nine-grandson," Drac confirmed trying to calm Mavis who was still concerned. "Mavis, it is all true. This is the brother of one of your mother's best friends."

Dennis trusted his as soon as his Papa Drac said this, and went up to him. Mavis tried to stop him, but Dennis was too fast. He was in Jacob's arms before she could stop him saying, "Can I call you Papa Jacob?"

Jacob now had a tear in his eye. He thought he recognized the older bat flying back vaguely, but he never thought he would find this. "Please do. I am so happy that I found all of you." He turned to Drac and Mavis, "And I know that my sister will be very happy that I found you two."

Jenna was still a little confused and asked, "But why has mom never told us of you?"

"She asked me to stay out of your lives. I never understood why, because none of my grandchildren ever asked that before. I thought it had something to do with your father, but she never told me, and I respected her enough to stay away."

Jenna was now fighting back tears, but understood what she had found when researching they family tree back so far. "So you met our great-times-eight-grandmother in Hungary?"

"Yes. We were passionately in love, but at that time, humans didn't approve of monsters, even though most never attacked humans unless threatened. But I see you both got your fangs. I'm surprised by that, since none of our children did."

"We did," Johnny said. "Jenna got hers first, and I got mine three nights ago. Drac's been helping us train." Johnny then turned to Mavis. "I believe him. Your dad wouldn't bring you to someone who would hurt either one of us." He then turned back to Jacob, "grandpa, this is my wife, Mavis."

Jacob then reached for Mavis's hand and kissed it, "Charmed." He acted like a perfect gentleman, which began to calm her. She also knew that Johnny was correct about her father. He had sworn to her mother when she died that he would always protect her. He wouldn't break that promise. "If you'll excuse me, I think I better call my sister. She will be even more excited to meet you, Mavis. And especially you Denisovich."

Jenna corrected him, "His name's Dennis."

Drac answered, "That's not his vampire name."

Dennis then answered, "Papa Jacob can call me whatever he wants, 'cebause I know he loves me as much as Papa Drac."

"Thank you my little devil dog." Jacob answered. With that Jacob went to finish checking into the hotel. He then called his sister. "Karen, you will never believe who I just found. It is Dracula and his daughter." He waited until Karen stopped screaming in pure joy about this. "Yes, they are at the Hotel Transylvania. I also found two more of my grandchildren and you won't believe this. One of them is married to Dracula's daughter." Karen again could be overheard letting out a scream of pure joy. "Ok, sis. I will tell them. We will see you soon."

After hanging up the phone with Karen, Jacob went to the restaurant where Drac had said they would be. He didn't want to reveal too much, because he didn't want to spoil the surprise that Karen would surely bring with her to Mavis. She had a lot of birthdays to catch up on.

"So what did Karen have to say?" Drac asked his old friend.

"She is very excited to meet you. All of you," he turned to Mavis, "but especially you." Mavis was now blushing. "She has so much to catch up with you for." He then turned to Dennis, "And she will be very excited to see you. She always cared very deeply for your mother, but we just didn't know where they had went."

Mavis was beginning to feel more comfortable with Jacob and asked, "So when will she get here?"

"She will leave tomorrow at sundown. She would love to get here as soon as possible, but it is too close to sunrise. She should be here close to midnight."

Jacob retired for the day after this. He knew he would have a lot to explain to his sister, but nothing would be more important to him than his three new vampire grandchildren. He knew there was something about Jenna that looked very familiar when he started to follow them, but he still couldn't believe that he would be led to Drac and Mavis. Still the bigger surprise was that his grandchildren here were vampires also, or at least dhampirs. He hope that they would explain their awakenings in time, but knew someone who had been out of their lives for so long couldn't pry. He was surprised when he heard a knock on his door. "Who is it?"

"Papa Jacob, its Dennis."

"My little devil dog, please come in."

"Papa Jacob, I am so happy I found you."

"As am I my little buddy. And I know that your Aunt Karen will be even more excited to see you than I was. She was Mavis's devilmother, and promised to help your Grandma and Papa Drac raise her, and by extension, you."

Dennis had a wide smile on his mouth as he kissed his new Papa Jacob goodnight.