*Chapter 12: Uninvited*


A deer is grazing around the grass. It was unaware of the presence of a vampire watching from behind the bushes. Shadow watches the deer in silent, his eyes glow a bit. Maria is behind him.

"Now, watch closely." Shadow whispered to her. "This is how we hunt the animals around the forest." Maria is nervous, but she couldn't stop Shadow. It is in his nature to kill the animals to feed. The black hedgehog is in a crouch, watching the deer. After a moment, Shadow jumped over the bush and lunge at a startled deer. Maria watched Shadow pinning the deer down and bite down on the neck. The deer struggles a bit, but then went limp. Shadow pulled his fangs out of the neck and wipe the blood away from his mouth. Maria came towards the dead deer in silent. She closes her eyes. Shadow looked at her. "What's the matter? Was it too much?" Shadow asked.

"It's not that. But...I feel bad for this creature." Maria said. "I don't like how mobians hunt the innocent animals either."

"What do we eat? Sand?" Shadow asked her, raising a brow.

"I know we had to eat meat and such, but...hunting animals like this is...just-"

"Maria, I told you we don't drink from mortals. The other choice is to hunt the animals." Shadow told her. "Would you rather want us to drink from the innocents?"

"No! Of course not!" Maria said. "It's just I've been thinking."

"About?"

"About...becoming a vampire." Maria said. Shadow stared at her. Could this be it? Is she willing to be his bride? "Will it hurt?" Maria asked. "If...I am...ready." Shadow's heart sank. She isn't ready or in love with him yet. Shadow crossed his arms.

"To turn into a vampire, the venom runs through your veins and then you need to drink the vampire's blood to live. After a while, you will become a vampire." Shadow said. "Being bit is like a pinch. It'll hurt a little." Maria touches her neck at the thought of being bitten by Shadow.

"Shadow!" A voice called. Shadow and Maria turn to see a purple bat flying towards them and transform into Blaze. "You must come back to the castle! There's a problem!"

"What's wrong?" Shadow asked.

"Rouge will explain it to you. But...you must take Maria home." Blaze said.

"Has something happened?" Maria wondered. "Was it another vampire attack?"

"I'll meet you at the castle. I'll take Lady Maria home." Shadow told Blaze, taking Maria's hand. "Tell the others I'll arrive shortly. And take this deer with you." Shadow pointed at the dead deer on the grass. Blaze nodded and pick up the deer. Shadow lead Maria out of the woods to take her back home. "I'll come back tonight and tell you what happened." Shadow told her.

"But, I have dinner with Lord Antoine at my manor. So, you must wait. I don't know how long he will be there." Maria said. Shadow nodded at her.


"Antoine is a WHAT?!" Shadow yelled. The group are in the main hall for a meeting after Rouge had told him and the others about earlier. "Rouge, are you sure? How did he walk in the bar without being invited in? It's impossible!"

"I wish I knew, but...the smell he has is...unfamiliar." Rouge said, pacing back and forth. "I know he is a vampire, but he is something else. I couldn't put my finger on it."

"So, Scourge and the other two work for Antoine." Silver spoke, tapping his chin. "But, you said something about the wolf who is with him?"

"Yes." Rouge said. Espio made a sneer.

"You see him?!" He asked. "I'm gonna make him pay for making me a vampire!"

"Espio, we can't kill anyone! At least...not yet." Blaze said.

"Maria has dinner with Antoine at her manor tonight." Shadow said. "Something's gonna go wrong. What if Antoine is planning to bite Maria?"

"He won't. He said he will wait for a month. We got time if he keeps his word." Rouge told the count. "I suggest that you should arrive at the manor for a visit. Like unexpectedly."

"That will make it suspicious, Rouge." Shadow said with a look.

"I can't go with you. Antoine knows who I am." The white bat said.

"I'll go with Shadow." Silver said. "I am mortal and it'll be safe for us to see Antoine's intentions." Blaze was about to protest, but Silver stopped her. "I'll be fine. Antoine won't do anything while Maria and her grandfather are around." He said.

"He's right. If I bring a vampire with me, Antoine could sense it." Shadow said. "But I got an idea of how to look out for his goons." Everyone stared at him, interested to listen to the count's plan.


"Nice of you to come by for dinner, Lord Antoine." Gerald spoke at the dinner table as the feast was set. Maria sat next to her grandfather was Antoine sat across from her while the servants are serving the drinks. Before they begin to feast, a knock was heard. Antoine turned to the front door with a confused look. Mighty walked up to the door and open it.

"Oh. Count Shadow and Silver." Mighty said. "What a surprise. Come in." Shadow and Silver step inside the manor and follow Mighty to the dining room where the others are about to eat. "Gerald, we have guests. Count Shadow and his friend Silver." Mighty said.

"Count Shadow! Nice to see you again." Gerald said. "My, I didn't expect to see you for the second time today. Is there anything you need?"

"No thank you, sir." Shadow said with a small smile, coming in the dining room. "I was gonna ask Maria for a nice quiet walk, but I didn't realize that you are already having a feast with..." He turned to Antoine, acting like he doesn't know him. Antoine cleared his throat and stood from a chair.

"I am Lord Antoine D'Coolette. So, you are the famous Count Shadow the Hedgehog." The coyote said, coming over to the black hedgehog. Silver stood next to Gerald, his yellow eyes move to the window to see Blaze's bat form fly by. "Pleasure to finally meet you at last, sir." Antoine said, his hand sticking out. Shadow took it and they shook. Shadow could smell the coyote's scent. He is definitely part vampire. What else is he? After they pull their hands away, Antoine returns to his seat and Shadow sat next to Maria. The yellow hedgehog is concerned about this.

"Well, we are having dinner right now, Shadow. But, you and Silver are welcome to join us. Nice to have some more company." Gerald said. He then out a nervous chuckle. "A bit awkward to have both the count and the lord in my manor."

'Yes. Very awkward.' Antoine thought. Shadow sneered a bit, hearing the coyote's thoughts.

"Well, let's eat." Maria said, forming a smile.

XX

"What's going on in there?" Scourge asked, standing around in the garden as he started to hear voices inside the manor. Bean is on the rooftop, shrugging to him in response. Then, Fang appeared in the garden and made a look in his red eyes. "Fang?"

"Count Shadow is here with a mortal hedgehog." Fang told the green hedgehog. "But, they are not alone."

"Huh?"

"Hello, boys." A voice said. Scourge turned around to see Blaze and Espio standing there. "We were in the neighborhood and see that you three aren't invited inside. Why is that?" Blaze asked.

"What the hell are you two doing here?" Fang asked, baring his teeth.

"That doesn't matter." Espio replied. "Tell us why you are here. Guarding a place that isn't yours."

"We're here to see if Lord Antoine is impressing his-"

"Bean!" Scourge and Fang shouted at him.

"Sorry!"

"Impress Lady Maria? Like how?" Blaze asked the woodpecker who covered his mouth. "Like make her fall in love with him so they could get married?"

"How do you know?" Bean asked, coming down from the rooftop. Fang made a face palm. Scourge hits Bean on the back of the head.

"You moron." He growled. Bean rubbed his head, groaning a bit. Blaze glared at the vampires.

"Any reason why Lord Antoine wanted to marry Lady Maria?" She asked.

"We're not gonna talk!" Scourge said. "You two better leave us, or else-" He was cut off when he hears his master's thoughts. Antoine could hear them and uses his mind to tell them to quiet down. "Damn." Scourge sighed.

"We're not here to fight either." Espio said. "Yet, I see one missing vampire. A wolf. Where is he?"

"You mean Barker?" Bean asked.

"Shut up Bean!" Fang growled. "You're gonna make things worse!" The vampires stopped bickering when they all hear Gerald's voice inside the manor. They all transform into bats to scatter.
The old hedgehog opened the door to look around the garden, holding a lantern.

"Who's out there?!" He called out.

"Sir, you must be hearing things." Antoine said. "It may be the wind."

"Is it a vampire?" Mighty asked, standing by Gerald. Before anyone could say a word, they hear squeaky sounds from above. Gerald and Mighty look up to see a green bat losing balance and transform into Bean. The woodpecker looked up at Gerald and Mighty. He form a nervous grin, showing his fangs.

"Evening."

"A vampire!" Mighty and Gerald cried out. Mighty grabbed Bean by the neck and drag him over to the yard. "Gerald, get a stake! Quickly!" He said. Antoine wanted to stop the armadillo, but he couldn't do anything. If he tries to get Bean spared, Mighty would question him why. Shadow, Silver, and Maria are in the manor as Gerald fetches the stake.

"That vampire was-" Maria tried to speak, but Shadow grabbed her shoulders.

"Maria, he works for Antoine. Same with the other two!" Shadow said. "And there is something you need to know about Antoine."

"He's a-"

"Shadow, Silver, take my granddaughter to the other room. I don't want her to see this." Gerald said, walking pass them with a sharp stake. Maria was dragged away as Gerald went outside with Mighty and Antoine.
Bean struggled under Mighty who pinned him down with his foot. Antoine watched in silent.

"No! I'm innocent! This isn't what you think!" He pleaded. "Spare me!" Gerald hands Mighty the stake who took it gratefully. Bean looked over at Antoine. "You won't let them do this, will you?!" The coyote turned away, shutting his eyes. Mighty brought the stake up, looking at the woodpecker with determine.

"Do it, Mighty. After this, we burn the body." Gerald said. Mighty smirked and brought down the stake to the woodpecker's heart.

XX

Shadow, Silver, and Maria can hear the scream of agony outside. Bean is dead. Maria cringed after hearing a cry of a vampire dying. After a while, Mighty and Gerald walked in the living room in silent. Shadow and the others look down at Mighty's hand to see a bloody stake.

"It is done." Gerald said.

"Where is Antoine?" Maria asked.

"He is...watching the body being burnt." Gerald replied, taking his granddaughter's hands. "And...I'm afraid we have to cut this dinner short."

"I...understand." Maria said with a nod, trying not to sound too disappointed. Coming in is Antoine, putting on his coat, telling everyone that he had to leave since he had lost his appetite. Gerald lead him out the door as Mighty takes the stake to the back. Maria turned to Shadow and Silver. "What were you saying about Antoine?" She asked.

"Maria, Antoine is a-"

"Maria, come say goodbye to Lord Antoine." Gerald called.

"Uh, coming!" Maria called. She turned back to the hedgehogs. "Shadow, come visit me after everyone here went to sleep. It's best you two should leave. I'm afraid that the other vampires might be around watching my manor."

"...She's got a point." Silver told Shadow. "Blaze and Espio were with Scourge and-"

"Blaze told me that they retreat to Lord Antoine's manor. They were unaware of what happened to Bean." Shadow said. Maria left them to join her grandfather to say goodbye to Antoine. Shadow faced Silver. "This is a big problem, Silver. If Antoine is that smart, I must make a move."

"Like what? Bite Maria's neck against her will?" Silver whispered.

"I had no other choice. The necklace Maria wears can protect her, but I don't know if it'll work against Antoine. He is half vampire. I never smelled anything like it." Shadow said. "If I must, I ask for Maria's hand in marriage. We tell her about Antoine, she will choose me as her husband."

"Are you sure? What about Gerald Robotnik?" Silver asked. "He can't know you being a vampire."

"I'll think of something. Just give me some time to think of something. I am coming back to Maria's bedroom a little later." Shadow told him. Maria came over to them. Shadow turned to face her. "My love, I will return to you. And we do need to talk. It is very important."

"S-sure." Maria replied nervously. Shadow can sense that she is scared. Shadow kissed her hand and wish Gerald a goodnight. Silver followed Shadow as the door is closed behind them.

"...This is gonna be tough." Shadow said with a sigh.


Bunnie, Fiona, Scourge, and Fang watched their master pace back and forth in the living room in front of the fireplace. Antoine was furious. He lost Bean. He died in front of the lord's eyes.

"The count's idiots ruined it!" Antoine shouted, his teeth turning into fangs and his eyes glow red. He turned to Scourge and Fang. "You two were lucky that you didn't start a fight or things would be twice as bad! But Bean! Bean had to die right there!"

"How is it our fault that the count and his allies came around?" Fang asked.

"Master, you must reconsider about Lady Maria." Bunnie spoke. "You must...find somebody else to be your...third mistress." Antoine slowly turn to her. His left eye is twitching.

"What did you say?"

"I said-"

"That hedgehog is loaded! And her grandfather has short time to live!" Antoine said. "He won't find out about our secret! And that Mighty will be taken care of."

"But master, the count and his allies know about us now." Fang spoke. "What happens if Maria finds out what you really are? What then?"

"She will be my bride sooner. Look at moi! I am part vampire, and I can hypnotize Gerald to convince him that I will ask for Maria's hand in marriage. He will obey my command." Antoine said, pacing again. "We will get married at the city hall. No need for a big wedding." Bunnie shook her head at him. Fiona didn't say a word. "As for Count Shadow...his heart will stop beating! Same goes for his fools in his castle!" He forms an evil smirk. "They will see what it's like to have a stake in their hearts!"


"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Back up!" Sonic spoke as he and Sally are invited to Shadow's castle for a meeting. "You are going to ask Maria to marry you? But, does she even love you back yet? Is she ready to become a vampire?"

"No. She...doesn't love me yet. And she is not ready to become a vampire. But, she didn't have to be a vampire yet." Shadow told the blue hedgehog. "She can become my bride, and I will wait for her word. I'd do anything to protect my true love. A vampire only falls in love once. I cannot find another."

"How are you gonna convince her grandfather?" Blaze asked.

"I suggest you tell him what Antoine really is, and that way Gerald will approve of you marrying Maria." Espio spoke.

"I'm with Espio on this one." Sally said. "It would make sense if you tell Gerald about Antoine."

"I get a feeling that Gerald will find out about us later on." Rouge spoke.

"I agree." Blaze said.

"Can I be a flower girl for the wedding?" Honey asked.

"Honey, this is serious. And...the wedding will have to wait." Blaze told the young vampire. "...Will there be a wedding?" She asked the black hedgehog.

"Yes and no. The vampires that can walk out in the sun would ruin everything." Shadow said.

"You and Maria could...elope." Sonic suggested.

"Everyone, let me think!" Shadow said. "I need to think. Now, I must be ready to meet Maria tonight. If one of you wanted to hunt, be careful. We don't know what Antoine is planning..." He walked up the stairs to get to his bedchamber.
Will Maria understand that she must marry Shadow so she will be safe from Antoine and his vampire goons? Shadow will have to make her understand if she didn't believe him. It won't be easy to convince Gerald. Shadow didn't want to hypnotize him either, but he will if he must. It has been a few days since Shadow and Maria have seen each other.

'Maria, I love you. I'd do anything to protect you. I hope you agree on marrying me.'