Chapter 24: Class Reunion p2

During the crazy antics of Mavis's creepover party, Dracula and Ericka were still on their ride through the darkened forests and a countryside on the freeway over 88 miles per hour, using the smartphone as a navigator to guide their way through. One time, they had to stop at a gas station to refuel or to use the restroom. Dracula had trouble turning it on, so Ericka did it for him. The light of a setting sun shone on the trees and reflected off the ocean, creating a mixture of pink, orange and violet in the sky, and a gentle atmosphere. It was a beautiful evening for a magical ride to return to her hometown and attending a class reunion.

However, as the hearse entered the Borgo Pass in-between the majestic mountains, the road felt rougher and the atmosphere took a dramatic change. Shadows grew taller as the sun vanished behind the mountains. Nature surrounding them had gone dark, except for the light of a full moon or the hearse's headlights. Ericka often jumped in her seat upon the sound of wolves howling in the mountains, but Dracula reassured her the wolves will not bother them since he has control over them.

They came to a narrow road to the right where an abandoned hut from old times stood close to the road. It brought back a memory for Dracula where he had first met Jonathan Parker in the disguise of a carriage driver to deliver him to his old home, Castle Dracula. He wondered how long has it been since he's never seen his former home. He snapped out of it as he needed to focus on getting to the village first. The mountains appeared to be like high black walls all around them. He drove the vehicle so fast that Ericka had to hold onto the cushions of her seat. She noticed several clouds covering the moon and the only light they had were the hearse's headlights. The wolves continued to howl all around them. She closed her eyes in fear, praying the hearse doesn't run off course and crash.

Suddenly, the device began to shake violently and a bright light flashed out of nowhere, blinding Ericka for a second. The rushing adrenaline of the hearse's roadrunner speed caused her to faint. As quick as it happened, the journey was over. The magically teleported vehicle arrived at their destination, much to Dracula's relief. "Whew, finally!" he sighed, and looked at the clock. It was six pm, just enough time to make it to the school.

Opening her eyes, Ericka gawked when she recognized the familiar civilian sights that lay beyond before them. "We made it!" she cried.

Dracula drove the hearse onward, entering the unfamiliar landscape he had no knowledge of, which made him secretly anxious. Sherman, Illinois appeared just like any other ordinary city that tourists visit during their vacationing. There was plenty of telephone pole and wires as they passed downtown shops, restaurants, move theaters, a barber shop, a library, motels, a bakery, a power plant factory outside the city released smoke into the air, a railroad station and train yard at some distance, a harbor full of ships and boats old or new, lavishing parks and playgrounds for children.

Dracula looked around in wonder and nervousness. Illinois was like a whole new world to him. It had a mixture of countryside just beyond the city that reminded him of the wild woods of the Transylvania county, and a suburban area with multiple giant glass buildings he had never seen before in his life. Soon they were entering the city and it was a nice town. There were many local businesses, cafes, and a lot of fountains for some reason. The vampire had to stop at a traffic light, glancing at his surroundings curiously.

"So, this is where you used to live?" Dracula asked, studying this strange city that was far different than the one he was used to seeing. "Not what I expected."

"Yep. It brings back memories, good or bad," Ericka sighed, wondering how the town will take the news of her marriage to a vampire. But there was no turning back now. They had come all this way to attend her class reunion. Who knows how everyone will react, expecting a hostile greeting or perhaps a warm welcome. "Are you ready?"

"I'll be with you always." He gingerly stroked her cheek, then he resumed driving.

Problem is that Dracula had no idea where to go or how to find the school his wife attended in her youth, so Ericka had to guide him there since she was impressively familiar with her surroundings. Most of the time, she often pointed at several spots that she recognized from her past. First, they passed the police department.

"This is the police department," she said. "It's run by Chief Fernandez, although he wasn't much of a chief because he never does a damn thing about Carter Quinston's actions because every bad thing he did was not illegal and he gets away with it. I just hope he retired and those new police are much better than him."

Second, they passed a restaurant that used to be Ericka's favorite spot.

"That's the Café, where my friends and I go there to hang out," she said. "Mr. Montgomery is the best chef in town, his cooking is excellent. His wife is really sweet and a great cook, she lives upstairs the café with her husband, so they practically own it."

"Perhaps we should go there after the reunion if you want," Dracula suggested.

"We'll see. Oh! And over here is Dr. Silverstein's office in that building, he's the only physician I've known growing up, other than his wife," Ericka pointed out another building, then another one and more followed after. "That's the TV station where Donnie O'Connell tells all that goes in town. Mr. Silverstein is the head banker of the city's bank, this is the library where Mrs. Flannigan works and where I worked a part time job there since I loved reading, the fishery at the harbor is owned by O'Reilly, and that big mansion right there is where Mayor Fred Peabody lives with his wife, Mary, and their prissy daughter, Tanya. And that taller and fancier looking resort is owned by Carter Quinston, James's father, and a bigger jackass than his son!" She irked at the mention of their names.

"You seem to know pretty much everybody and everything in this town," Dracula said, surprised by how much she remembered everything.

"I grew up here," Ericka shrugged, and then she pointed out to a grand church with a bell tower surrounded by a small park-like area with a lovely field. "That's the church where people attend on Sundays, it's where my brother married my teacher, which I don't like to talk about..."

But Ericka paused upon noticing Dracula's face turning paler as he gazed his sight away from the church, and it took her a moment to realize that he is a vampire, which means vampires don't like crucifixes and anything holy. But she remembered how he scoffed at her creating a holy cross with two candle sticks, yet she wondered why he avoided looking at it.

"Honey, I'm sorry. We don't have to go inside the church..." she placed a hand on his shoulder with an apologetic expression.

"Oh, no! It's not that I don't like the church," Dracula explained rather awkwardly, "it's just that humans assume we vampires are related to the devil."

"You're nothing like a devil, Drac," Ericka assured him, twining her arm around his own. "You're a good man, a loyal friend, a protective father, and a caring husband."

An affectionate grin spread across his mouth as Dracula said, "You don't know how much those words mean to me."

Just then, she made him stop the hearse when she gave a cry.

"What is it?" he asked, close to a panic thinking something was wrong.

Ericka pointed to an ordinary and simple-looking house in the neighborhood. It looked more fancy and modern than the rest of the buildings in town, except for the Mayor's home and the Quinston resort. "This is my house!" she exclaimed. "I grew up in that house."

"Ah, so this is where my Ericka was babied and cared for!" Dracula joked, planting a kiss on her cheek.

"I hope you don't call me that in front of my classmates and teachers," Ericka chuckled. "My dad used to call me that too. Boy, was I so embarrassed!"

Dracula smirked amusingly as he continued his drive passing the small Van Helsing mansion. They had been on the road for several minutes until...

"There's my school! Stop right here!" Ericka ordered.

The hearse parked just outside a large high school where so many crowded vehicles found their parking spots and people exited their cars to walk up to the front entrance, a nice front courtyard with a polished marble water fountain in the center joined by the marble statue of its Mayor Fred Peabody (Ericka realized the former mayor must have passed on a while back), a small staircase leading up to the school entrance, a few benches here and there, and a huge red banner hanging high above the entrance reading WELCOME TO SHERMAN HIGH! in big white letters. People dressed in formal clothes walked up the staircase to the front entrance to show the invitation to an employee they were invited.

As the couple exited the car, Dracula extended his arm out in a gentlemanly fashion, Ericka took his arm and they walked side-by-side as they strolled up the staircase, but not before he leaned down to ask her a question.

"Why does your school have a water fountain? And why does it have colors red and white?" he commented, his eyebrow arched.

"I guess our school just likes carved water fountains to give it a warm touch," she guessed. "Red and white are our school's colors, which symbolizes are mascot, the bearcat."

The couple displayed the invitation Ericka received in the mail to the employee, who granted them entrance. As Dracula and Ericka first entered through the halls of the high school to reach the gym where the gathering took place, they were stopped by two old classmates who recognized her at once.

"Ericka ? Is that you?!" A young woman with orange curled hair in a formal dress approached her, while she was accompanied by a young man with a nerdy appearance, a freckled face, buck tooth, square-shaped glasses, chestnut brown hair, and wore a tuxedo.

Ericka noticed the two people, trying to remember if she knew them. Then after looking back, she remembered immediately who they were. "Dawn Smith! Gerald Fenwick!" she cried as she hugged them and they returned the hug with equal affection.

"Wow, look at you! You haven't changed a bit." Gerald flattered her, secretly eyeing her up and down.

"You're still as pretty as a rose," Dawn added with a smile.

While Gerald was complimenting her, Ericka could feel the jealous stare from her vampire husband, wanting to know who these strange people were that his wife knew so well.

"Oh, umm, guys..." she hesitated, "I'd like you to meet my husband, Count Dracula! Drac, this is Dawn Smith and Gerald Fenwick, friends of mine."

When the two humans heard that he was THE actual Count Dracula, Gerald's eyes beamed with amazement while Dawn was dumbstruck. Immediately, Gerald rushed over to Dracula and hyperactively shook the vampire's hand and was rambling on like a fanboy meeting his idol. "Oh my God, I can't believe that I'm actually meeting you, Count Dracula! It's such an honor to meet the Prince of Darkness in person. I saw you on TV over news about real monsters appearing at the festival in Transylvania! I still can't believe that you're actually here and-" Gerald rambled on and on, which made Dracula feel awkward as he wondered if this human was alright.

Suddenly Dawn interrupted her friend's rambling when he realized how Ericka introduced the vampire. "Wait a minute! Did you say that Count Dracula is your husband?!"

"Uhh... yes." Ericka answered nervously.

Dawn couldn't believe her ears. Her old classmate was married to the most famous vampire in history, especially the infamous Count Dracula. The only thing she could say was, "Wow."

"Umm, is everything okay?" Ericka asked, believing the next moment her old friend would turn her nose up at her because of her marriage.

"Ohh yeah, it's just I remember back in school. Literally every guy was crazy-crushing over you, even me. I just didn't think any guy or myself was gonna be good enough to snag you because you were so pretty. But, I guess the only man that was worthy to capture your eye was THE Prince of Darkness," Dawn explained, still mesmerized by the news. "Although I don't know how James would take the news, he had his heart set on marrying you."

"Tell James he can kiss my butt!" Ericka snarked jokingly, although Dawn didn't find that comment funny at all, but Gerald laughed about it.

"OMG! Ericka Van Helsing , its you! Its really you!" An ecstatic young lady with dark brown hair in a low bun and tan skin showing she is on Spanish descent, wearing a formal dress, came bounding down the hallway approaching the foursome. She is Julie Fernandez, another classmate and the police chief's daughter.

"Hello, Julie! So good to see you again." Ericka gave her a big hug.

"Gosh, it's been so long since I last saw you," Julie smiled. "But you don't look any different than when you left town to avoid getting sent to the mad house!"

"Well, you don't look any different either." Ericka complemented back, although those last words from an old classmate felt forced. "Oh, this is my husband Dra-"

"COUNT DRACULA!" Julie squealed ecstatically, grasping Dracula's arms and pulled him into a great big hug, almost suffocating the vampire with her own superior strength. "I've heard so much about you! Gerald and I are your biggest fans!" She gave him kisses on both cheeks, mildly surprising him. "You are gonna love Sherman High, c'mere, c'mere!"

"But, I-" Dracula began as he felt himself being hauled down the hallway with his wife and the others following close behind.

Julie burst into the gymnasium with her captive vampire. The gym was a lot bigger than his own auditorium back at the hotel. It had been decorated to give it a lively and colorful feel to it, tables pushed together to create a three longer tables for plenty of guests to sit and chairs set up in place, the buffet table at the far corner filled with delicious foods to eat and beverages for drink, balloons or streamers everywhere, another banner read the words Welcome! and the stage had been set up with a microphone on a stand.

"Please, make yourself comfortable. Let me know if you need anything. I helped organize the catering and decorations." Julie pushed the baffled vampire into the gym and set him down at the end of the table up close to the stage. "There's plenty of food and beverages for you, so please help yourself. Sorry that we don't have any blood, or rather we do since we're humans, but I do hope you like water, tea or coffee."

"Uhh…" Dracula thought this crazy girl was offending him or if she had lost her mind, nice though she is.

"Back in school, Gerald is a monster fanatic who studies the history of you and your friends. Julie was super obsessed with vampire romance novels," Ericka explained as she took her seat beside him. "Twilight was her number one favorite."

"Everything from that movie that represents vampires is a total lie!" Dracula told her straight forward with irritation.

"Ohh..." Julie reacted plainly, rethinking what she thought she knew about vampires. But she had one question that she wanted to ask. "Alright, I still have one question. Is it true that vampires are the best lovers in the world?" she asked, smirking at the two who were blushing like crazy after hearing her question.

"Okay, that's enough, Julie." Ericka politely yet sternly told her to back down on embarrassing questions, but she whispered in her ear, "Yes, they are."

"Eeee!" Julie squeaked, then she admitted through a whisper, "I'm so jealous that you got to fulfill my high school fantasy!" She returned to a group of several people she knew when asking Julie what was going on.

"Well, I'm gonna go use the ladies' room," Ericka said to her husband. "I'll be right back."

No sooner had Ericka left for the ladies' lavatory, Dracula decided to amuse himself by going to the buffet table to see if there's anything he'd like to eat. Nothing appetizing like the foods he was used to at the hotel, but he didn't want to appear rude to these strange people. He grabbed a plate and used several different tonsils to pick some meat loaf, mashed potatoes, a slice of lasagna pasta, and for a drink he picked out a cup of water. He even got a second plate and put the same food choices on it for his wife to eat when she returns.

The Count had no idea that his presence attracted unwanted attention of a snake in the grass. A beautiful woman, close to Ericka's age, approached the table in a seductive manner, her hips swaying with every step she took. Her hair an auburn blonde which she kept as a side ponytail over her left shoulder, her skin fair, her eyes a hazel gold, dark pink glossy lips, and her attire a red dress with a V-neck with a white shawl wrapped around her shoulders told the woman to an important person to the people, but the looks in the eyes of the former students loathed her with distaste. The woman eyed the vampire up and down, recognizing him at once from the story on the news about the monsters' existence, finding him to be quite attractive, as she grabbed the same napkin he reached for to get his attention.

"Hello, Count Dracula." The woman greeted in a syrupy high tone, making the vampire scrunch his face in surprise and annoyance.

"Err, hello, ma'am." Dracula greeted back with false interest. He recognized the want and flirt in her eyes, as all women did whenever they see him.

"Welcome to Sherman High," the woman introduced herself. "My name is Tanya Peabody. I'm the mayor of this city."

"Nice to meet you, Madam Mayor. Now, if you'll excuse me..." Dracula tried to hurriedly return to his table, but Tanya managed to grab hold of his left arm and pulls him closer.

"What's the rush? Would you like to share a table with me?" Tanya hugs his arm closer as her breasts press up against his side. "And please, call me Tanya," she purred.

This gesture made Dracula very uncomfortable. He tried to escape her grip, but she seemed to have a very tight hold on him. At that time, Ericka had emerged from the restroom and as she searched for her husband, she noticed Gerald pointing out to the buffet. And what Ericka saw at the buffet table made a scowl of fury present itself on her lips, so she marched over with each step a heavy stomp.

"Hello, Tanya!" Ericka greeted in a high icy tone, alerting the female mayor of her presence.

"Ericka?" Tanya's hazel eyes grew large in surprise and shock, but it past as she smiled like a snarky Siamese cat. "It's been a long time. I thought you wouldn't come."

"I wouldn't miss this reunion for the world." Ericka placed a firm arm on Dracula's right shoulder, hoping the mayor got the message that this man belonged to her. "I see you met Dracula."

Dracula quickly frees his left arm swiftly from Tanya's grasp and moves to stand beside his beloved Ericka, taking her warmer hand into his large colder one.

"So, what's the deal with you and Dracula?" Tanya noticed how the couple held hands and then gawked at them. "Don't tell me he's your date!"

"No, he's my husband!" Ericka confirmed while wrapping her arm around Dracula's arm.

But Tanya threw her head back and burst out laughing, thinking she was making a joke. "Your married to Dracula? Like that'll ever happen!"

"Does she look like she's joking?!" Dracula spat venomously, displaying his wedding wing as he extended Ericka's hand to show off her own wedding ring.

After studying the two rings, Tanya gasped incredulously. "Wait, you're serious! You two are actually married to each other?!" she cried in disbelief.

"Yes, she's my wife. How hard is it to understand that, little viper!" Dracula annoyingly growled at the female mayor.

Growling in her own frustration, Tanya pointed a warning finger at them. "I'd advise you both to be on your best behavior or I'll have you thrown out of my town! I am the Mayor of this town, and I will be keeping an eye on you!" She stormed back to her own table.

"I can't believe that she's the Mayor after everything she's done! She's still the bitch who rules this place like a princess!" Ericka grunted, fuming silently.

"Let's forget about her and focus on me learning about the girl I married." Dracula playfully cupped her cheeks to give them an affectionate squeeze, though Ericka felt her cheeks hurt, she smiled as she pulled him back to their seat after helping herself to some food and drink.

Half an hour has passed, a lot of former students or retired staff members entered the gymnasium, greeting old friends by warm hugs or friendly handshakes, then finding an empty seat to sit down and settle themselves in while helping themselves to the buffet table. Several staff members whom Ericka recognized were engaged in their own conversations; Vice Principal Newton, Miss Brown the school nurse, Mrs. O'Brien the art teacher, Mr. Stevens the music teacher, Mrs. Jenkins the math teacher, Professor Baxter the science teacher, Coach Steel the gym teacher, Mr. Gregson the culinary arts teacher, Mr. Jefferson the history teacher, and Miss Babcock the guidance councilor. There was just one person whom Ericka sadly wished to see part of the reunion as she eyed a photo of an elderly man with features like a goat with a long goatee and spectacles in his eyes above the engraved name Dr. Desmond. The Bimbos, Julie, and Gerald with his elder brother and former graduate Mitchell Fenwick, Dawn, and a spikey blonde haired young man whom recognized Ericka as Jeremy Preston, Polly's younger brother. They took their seats to get closer to the couple, much to her embarrassment.

"Hello, Ericka," greeted Juniper, nudging her elbow in Ericka's arm playfully. "Had any cravings since the baby?"

"C'mon, Amber, let's not bring it up!" Ericka protested.

"Aw, don't be so modest, Ericka . We know you're still pregnant with Count Dracula's child!" Lavender added, wiggling her eyebrows.

WHOOAAAT?!" Dracula's and Ericka's jaws fell open in disbelief. They had forgotten about the misunderstanding over assuming Ericka's pregnant due to the mix-up, and had forgotten the biggest mistake was explaining it to the Bimbos, unfortunately the Bimbos do love to gossip and the news of Ericka's false pregnancy had spread like wild fire.

"But I'm not-" Ericka protested.

"But she's not-" Dracula protested.

"And it's very nice to meet you, Count. I'm Jeremy Preston," said the young man politely. "My sister and her husband couldn't come due to harsh weather in Pennsylvania. We're all in the same classes with your wife."

Everyone either smiled or waved at them politely, or just nodded in a friendly gesture.

"We want to welcome you to Carpathia, Dracula," Jeremy said.

"Thank you, all of you," Dracula replied sincerely. "I'm surprised my beautiful wife has such good friends. Now I would very much like to hear all of the wonderful stories of my Ericka ."

Snickers and giggles tickled their throats as Ericka's face turned a bright shade of red.

"I thought I told you never to call me that in front of friends!" she whispered harshly.

"Hello, hello! Can I have everyone's attention?" Principal Green called out through the microphone to everyone from the stage. She was older woman with curly white locks of hair and wore a blue jacket with a white dress underneath. "I like to welcome you all back to our school, I thank you all for coming," she announced. "Especially to an interesting guest that's joined us tonight! Please welcome Count Dracula!"

The spotlight landed on a silently surprised Dracula, who was waving nervously at the thunderous applause and cheers of the crowd.

"And apparently, he's here with one of your old classmates... Ericka Van Helsing !" Once Principal Green had announced Ericka's name through the mike, almost everyone was surprised to hear that she was here at the reunion as numerous shocked gasps and muttered whispers spread throughout the gymnasium. "And, this is interesting news - they are married, and they're going to have a baby!"

This shook off everyone's wide eyes and jaw dropping stupefied shock even more, until they applauded for the happy couple. But the only two who were really shaken by this misunderstand was the couple themselves, Ericka and Dracula. They were baffled at how the retired principal heard about it. Even though the pregnancy turned out to be a mix-up, they knew that they had to tell everyone the truth somehow.

Former staff and students came over to congratulate the couple, although Ericka could've swore she heard some of them muttering "What will her father say about this?" and "This is quite scandalous." Once things have calmed down, everyone started catching up on old times at the area where the human and vampire couple sat, but most of the time, they were so eager to get to talk about Ericka's wild younger years to Count Dracula.

"I'll go first!" Dawn volunteered. "When Ericka first met us in elementary school, we all assumed she was snooty like Tanya because Margarita forced her to wear a dress to school and she was just as pretty as Tanya is, attracting quite a lot of attention by the boys. She didn't get along with Molly because she used to be shallow, going too far to prank Ericka to wear a creepy cape that kind of looked like yours to her birthday party..." Dawn nervously cleared her throat as Dracula glared at her for the comment of creepy cape just like his own, "but we heard Ericka rescued her from the construction by the old factory. That night at the party, we all laughed at Ericka when she came onto the dance floor with the cape, but Polly told everybody to shut up as she guiltily approaches her to dance with Ericka . They've been the best of friends ever since."

"That's adorable," Dracula said as he glanced over at Ericka adoringly. "But who is Margarita?" His eyebrow raised.

"Margarita is my aunt, my brother's older sister," Ericka explained. "She's strict and likes to be organized, and she owns toy poodle named Gwyn."

"You know, your Aunt Margarita is doing okay. I just wanted you to know that," Dawn informed her.

Listening to Ericka's description of her aunt brought a memory back for Dracula. Margarita sounds exactly like his own sister, Lydia. She was always strict and relied on order and tradition, not to mention she owned a chicken named Diane. He shuddered at the idea of these two women meeting and trying to control order and tradition.

"If you think my aunt is a stick in the mud, you should hear about my cousin, Christopher," Ericka told him. "He's the son of my dad's and aunt's brother. You see, Christopher is a constant troublemaker and likes to con people into his schemes. He stole a hot air balloon and made the other kids pay him their money for a ride. When I confronted him about it, he twisted my words to turn it around on me. I wanted to hit Mitchell for calling me bad, but I wanted to show everyone I was just as much fun as Christopher is. However, the balloon crashed at my home when neither me nor Christopher couldn't control it. Aunt Margarita had the damn nerve to deem me a bad influence when Christopher blamed it all on me, and my dad forced upon me a double amount of chores while Christopher gets away with it by returning all of the money to the kids. I decided to run away after that, but I was found by Dr. Desmond, the only teacher in my school who's been my kindest friend," she nodded up at the old man's photo for Dracula to see. "Dr. Desmond told me how the owners of the balloon came to the house to have Christopher arrested for stealing it. He was forced to apologize for blaming it all on me, but I was still in trouble so I kind of gave my family the silent treatment, until Christopher returned to his parents."

"Your cousin sounds just as bad as my nephew, Klaus." Dracula huffed, before he asked curiously, "And who was this Dr. Desmond like?"

"He's our history teacher long before Jefferson replaced him," Ericka explained whilst she linger her gaze at the photograph. "Desmond was the only one who understood him, and he treated me like his pupil and a granddaughter. Whenever I had problems at home or at school, I go to him for solace or advice on what to do. However, he got arrested for a crime he didn't commit and he died of a heart attack as a result. Polly, a few others and I did some detective work and learned it was the Quinston father and son duo responsible for the frameup, but we couldn't prove it in time."

"Ugh! Again with the hatred on the Quinstons!" Coach Steel, who passed by their table, sighed in frustration. "James and his father aren't the bad guys, they do great deeds for our town and for other people. They would never frame an innocent being."

Horrified, Ericka couldn't believe ears. After all those years, James was still popular in the village and his deceitful nature hasn't been exposed. She wanted to make a harsh retort, until her faithful husband stepped in.

"If what my wife says is true about these people, I believe her!" Dracula growled, his eyes slightly gleaming red as he held onto enough self control to hold in the roar.

Coach Steel drew back in fright as the others stared in frightened astonishment at witnessing a real vampire's eyes glowing, but he rolled her eyes ignorantly as he dryly stated, "Whatever. But you should be aware that your wife;s blind hatred against good people cloud her judgement, like the time she hated Monica Florescu before and after she dated her father."

"What happened?" Dracula asked.

"Back then in our childhood, Ericka and Tanya were assigned to work together for the school's art show," Gerald cut in to tell the story. "Around that time our teacher, Miss Florence, was disappointed in Ericka being late for class often. Ericka wanted to be Student of the Month by participating in the art show to prove she's a good student to Miss Florence. When she was assigned to work in a project alongside Tanya, things went okay at first since they worked together, until Ericka tried to fix Tanya's sabotage of Molly's painted portrait. Miss Florence was infuriated when she found her with the ruined painting and unfairly accused her of sabotage instead. She wouldn't even let Ericka explain herself and suspended her from the art show, that poor girl was heartbroken. But Molly managed to reason with Miss Florence that Ericka would never stoop low, putting her foot down if her best friend wasn't allowed to come back than she would quit, and Ericka was finally allowed to come back to the art show. The problem is Ericka held a grudge against Miss Florence ever since. Her grudge soured when she witnessed her father falling in love with her teacher. I remember Andrei Van Helsing was smiling and babbling like an idiot as Miss Florence first spoke to him. Oh man, Ericka hated it, especially that he went behind her back not telling her about him dating her teacher, as she believed her teacher was a bad person after how she treated Ericka , even though Miss Florence had been trying to socialize with her." At those last words, Gerald aimed a disappointed scowl like he was trying to send a message to Ericka .

"Which she still IS!" Ericka interrupted as her voice sounded bitter, making Gerald frown in her direction. "She didn't bother to apologize for how she treated me!"

"Yes, she did," he retorted, "but you just ignored her."

"I'm sorry that your father had to do that to you." Dracula gently placed a hand over Ericka's smaller one to offer comfort. "He should know like I do that family comes first."

"Thank you." Ericka's hand grasped his larger one for support.

"How did you all take the news of your teacher dating the parent of a classmate?" the vampire asked.

"When we found out, we taunted Ericka as a teacher's pet," Mitchell explained out of guilt. "We kept taunting her during a school trip, so Ericka punched me right in the face and began fighting against us. It got her in detention for a week, but Polly told Miss Florence the reason for Ericka's actions is because of our teasing, so Miss Florence gave all of us a strict lecture of her disapproval at our teasing, just because she dated Andrei doesn't give us the right to make fun of her. Then she wanted to make Ericka's detention more fun by talking about her father to get to know him and the family, but it added fuel to Ericka's fire because she assumed it was cruel and she blamed Miss Florence for the teasing."

"Ouch!" Dracula winced, feeling it was all too horrible for his poor wife to endure. "But I'm disgusted at you for causing all this trouble in the first place. How did your father take the news of your dislike against your teacher?" he asked his wife.

"It was during breakfast we got into an argument over school and Monica when I wanted to go with him on his business trip just to avoid her," Ericka sighed. "He forbid it, told me to deal with it so I wouldn't miss school, and he grounded me until his return home, but I said cruel and unkind things to him like I hope he never comes back. It was then Gerald got stuck in a ditch caused by a violent storm that I had to be the one to rescue him. Aunt Margarita was proud of me, but my father was still angry that I had not been confined to the house. Normally, a lot of kids regret their words when disaster strikes, but I told him how I never wanted him back. He still had the nerve to invite Miss Florence to our home for Christmas dinner, usually she comes to our house as if she owns it, but she doesn't belong there."

It was by now that Dracula got the message that these people were forcing her to tell him the negative story of his wife, or trying to remind Ericka of a resentment they held against her for leaving. He hoped somebody had good things to say about her, expecting a request for a positive story of his wife's childhood or teen years, noticing Ericka's sullen expression. So, he said, "Look, these are all... err, interesting stories. But I would like to hear positive stories about my wife."

"I have another good one!" Lavender volunteered. "Her grandparents own this really wealthy restaurant and they came for a visit. A country farm came to the city's park. Ericka's late sister, Rosette, was a five times winner in their contests. They often participate their animals in the agricultural shows. Ericka was so eager to learn more about her late mother and wanted to participate in the show. Although it made Miss Florence feel more distant, especially when Ericka accused her of hiding Rosette's picture frame out of jealousy, even though it was for safekeeping. She was going to take a tutoring job out of town afterword, but Andrei decided to put Miss Florence first by proposing to her during a romantic picnic on the lake." Dracula assumed it must have been a romantic proposal, but he grew concerned by the wincing Ericka made as she listened. "Ericka won first prize in the fair's horse show, but she was hurt that her dad failed to attend. She grew horrified upon learning the reason why; her dad and Miss Florence's engagement. A huge argument developed between father and daughter when he came home with his new fiancé. Ericka blamed her teacher for manipulating her father to avoid the show on purpose and for trying to replace her mother. Andrei scolded her by telling Ericka that she's not important, blaming her for Miss Florence almost leaving when he learned of their argument over his fiancée safekeeping Rosette's photograph. That was enough to make Ericka run away to sneak on a boat to live with her grandparents in Paris, believing she was ignored by her family and because her grandparents are really nice, she decided to go live with them."

"Holy rabies!" Dracula gasped, his eyes widened in shock as he turned to Ericka . "Did he really believe your not important to him because of Miss Florence?"

"It's not that Andrei did it out of despising his daughter," Miss Brown the retired school nurse said, as she passed by their table, carrying a cup of coffee. "He just wanted Ericka to know that she wasn't the important person on the planet, since there are other people important to him."

"Thank you, nurse!" Ericka scorned, though she smiled tightly to keep on the mask.

Dracula could sense how tense Ericka's body was as he felt the former nurse was reminding his wife how unimportant she is in town. How he longed to suck that bitch's blood for her comment, even though she didn't mean to sound rude. "Didn't your family learn of your disappearance? Surely, they must've been worried," he asked.

"My grandparents agreed to let me stay in their restaurant, just until things cool down at home," Ericka stuttered. "They sent a letter to my family, telling them where I went and I needed time to get over the sudden engagement and the fight. They deserved to feel guilty for what they did to me, especially my dad, right after he received the letter." Then her features lightened up, which put a spark of joy in the vampire's heart. "But living in Paris was a lot of fun, despite the work I had to do, it was amazing. I lived there for about two months, usually making up excuses to avoid returning home. However, my friends called me and chided me for leaving without saying goodbye and how much my family missed me at home and my dad's marriage to Miss Florence is not replacing my mother and how sorry he is about the fight. In a way, they persuaded me to return home." Her face frowned. "But I still cannot forgive and forget what my father and Miss Florence had done to hurt me."

"Oh, well, I'm still proud of you for catching the thieves. You were always a brave woman, my love," Dracula complimented her sincerely, his eyes big and adorable as she aimed a sympathetic smile in his direction. "So, how about your father's wedding? I take it you enjoyed the ceremony."

"Weeelll…" Ericka hesitated, "Everybody accused me of ruining the carriage, the cake, the bouquet and losing the rings on purpose to ruin the wedding out of spite for the couple, but I can assure you that I did not. I had another quarrel with my father that he decided I'm not worth it to attend the wedding since I'm not going to accept Miss Florence as a part of the family."

"That bastard!" Dracula's fangs bared as he wished how he could tear out that man's throat, and the look in those hard red eyes send a chill in the skins of the people sitting closer to him.

"But she did go to the wedding!" Amber piped in. "Ericka just got captured by Black Thorn, a mob leader, as revenge for arresting some of her gang members during their attempts of stealing the prized horses at the country fair. Miss Florence refused to get married without Ericka at the church because she is part of their family," he added icily in her direction, "so Andrei went back to the house, only to get captured and Ericka escaped. She got plenty of help from Corbin in rescuing her father and arresting Black Thorn."

"James helped you catch the..." Dracula gawked in disbelief.

"He only did it to gain glory," Ericka scoffed, ignoring the displeased expressions of her former classmates. "And his mother was killed by Black Thorn when he was younger. Back to the story, I had been forced to go to the wedding because my father became fearful for me after what recently happened. I refused to dance with my father at the reception, especially after Miss Florence's so-called speech of becoming a part of our family that I stormed out. Aunt Margarita kept watch over me after my father and Miss Florence left for their honeymoon in Bucharest. Upon their return, I learned Miss Florence was pregnant with my younger sister. Everyone was happy for them, except me. They didn't think I was responsible enough to help care for a baby, even after I couldn't babysit the younger kids since I was too young, no matter how hard I tried, so I rejected the idea of having a new baby in the family because I felt a baby will be nothing but trouble, and since they don't believe I'm responsible enough even after I grew old enough to babysit, it added fuel to the fire."

"Wait a minute! Bucharest is where we had our honeymoon!" Dracula exclaimed in surprise. "I guess that explains where you got the idea from, honeybat."

"You honeymooned in Bucharest?" Dawn was amazed. "That's so cool!"

"It was wonderful," Ericka sighed, affectionately giving her husband's hand in bliss.

"We saw you on TV when you and Dracula captured this rapist at the mall," Gerald added. "That must've been scary!"

"Oh yes, I'm sure it was." a familiar haughty voice interrupted their moment.

Ericka , Dracula and the others whirled their heads around to see a smirking Tanya's hips swaying as she approached their end of the table, having just overheard their stories about Ericka estranged relationship with her stepsister and brother .

"You should've seen how scary it was during science class, cause Ericka fainted at the sight of blood during biology class!" Tanya bragged, feigning dizziness to mock her in front of the now staring peers and staff. "Ohhh, no! Blood, I'm gonna be sick!" she taunted out loud for all to hear. "Especially that fiasco at the talent show!"

Dracula was infuriated at how this mayor enjoyed making a joke out of his wife, especially at these people who remained standing where they stood and nobody did anything to stop this, and came close to unleashing a roar at this bitch of a mayor, until his wife shot upward from her seat.

"If I remember correctly, you were the one who ruined my performance!" Ericka snarled, her temper triggered as he eyes blazed with rage. "You did it because you were threatened by me and knew that I was a better singer than you! Besides, you got what you deserved when some phony movie producer asked you to cut your hair for a role in the film, but you never heard back from them and you looked like someone chopped off your hair to look like a boy!"

Gasps erupted from the crowd, Gerald snickered quietly, and Tanya reacted in mock horror as she brushed it off.

"Even if I didn't mess up your little act, you would've bombed away!" the female mayor shouted, her insult triggering another reaction from her victim.

"I'll show you right now!" Ericka insinuated, storming right up the stage by the staircase and passed the satisfied madam mayor, eager to watch her make a fool of herself.

Principal Green objected strongly to this, "Ladies, please! We are here as a get together, not to bicker over old grudges and accusations!"

Ignoring the older woman, Ericka signaled the DJ to play a familiar tune. Once she clenched the microphone in her hands, Ericka suddenly lost a brief moment of courage and her hands trembled nervously. The memory of last time she had done this flashed through her eyes; as a nine year old, Ericka wanted to impress the dashing new boy at school with a dance act she had been practicing. A jealous Tanya snuck backstage and stuck her foot out of the corner of the stage curtain, just as Ericka's feet made contact with her foot and lost her balance, crashing against the backstage props. In front of the audience no less as everybody roared and howling with laughter. Pretending it was all part of the act, Ericka took a clumsy bow before she rushed out of the spotlight and caught sight of a sniggering Tanya who sneered at her humiliation.

The flashback ended, just as she noticed Dracula coming at the side of the stage, up the staircase, and stood beside his wife, clasping her hand in loving support. Ericka opened her mouth to say something, but the vampire placed a finger on her lips to genuinely silence her.

"I told you before, I will always be with you," he said as he tenderly stroked her cheek, nodding his head to encourage her.

DJ restarted its tune by Dracula's hand gestures. Killing Me Softly by the Fugees was the exact same song that Ericka had danced to back in the talent show, only this time it became a romantic duet.

I heard he sang a good song, I heard he had a style

And so I came to see him, to listen for a while

And there he was, this young boy, a stranger to my eyes

Strumming my pain with his fingers

Singing my life with his words

Killing me softly with his song

Killing me softly with his song

Telling my whole life with his words

Killing me softly with his song

I felt all flushed with fever, embarrassed by the crowd

I felt he'd found my letters and read each one out loud

I prayed that he would finish, but he just kept right on

Strumming my pain with his fingers

Singing my life with his words

Killing me softly with his song

Killing me softly with his song

Telling my whole life with his words

Killing me softly

After a moment of silence, the audience exploded into a round of cheers, whistles and applause. Ericka felt her anxiety melt away after feeling nervous for no reason. Dracula twined an arm around her waist to bring her form closer to his own. She gazed up at his blue eyes with gratitude, feeling his arm push her closer to his face as they gradually began to close the gap between them for a romantic kiss, until a harsh voice ruined the moment.

"Not so fast, folks!" Tanya shouted to the audience. "I know the only reason that you brought your vampire boyfriend with you is so you could show him off!" she accused, pointing a sharp nail in their direction.

But Ericka wouldn't take that nonsense from Miss Snooty Princess right now. "I didn't bring my husband with me to show him off! He came with me to support me!" Ericka defended herself, then decided to clear things up with something else. "And another thing, I'm not pregnant!"

This earned a lot of stupefied gasps from the audience when they heard this.

"But you said that you were pregnant!" Juniper protested.

"Obviously, that was another lie that she spread to gain attention and to hog all the glory from everyone!" Tanya accused hotly.

"No! There was a misunderstanding when all that happened, but I found out the pregnancy test got mixed up with Wanda, so I told Drac everything and that's the truth!" Ericka explained.

"You're a liar, and always the troublemaker!" Tanya rebuked sadistically.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Dracula bellowed as he stormed off the stage and right over to Tanya, towering over her small form "My wife is not a liar, nor did she use me to gain attention over you people! Ericka is the sweetest, kindhearted, most special girl I've ever met, and that's saying something from your kind! In fact, I wouldn't have revealed myself to the human world again or any other monster if it wasn't for her!"

"ENOUGH!" Principal Green yelled, cutting in-between the mayor and the vampire before it got worse.

"Oh, great. What do you want to say to me now, old lady?" Ericka questioned bitterly, not really caring to hear what she had to say.

"Not much, but Ericka , all I can say to you now is that you surprised me!" Principal Green told her former student, who was stunned at what the older woman told her. "I know you and I didn't have good terms in the past, but I'm only doing what is right for you. But you really made a life for yourself. Despite your choices dealing with problems your family, your friends, and yourself have faced. I must admit I'm proud of your choice."

For the first time in her life, Ericka felt a deep respect for her retired principal after hearing those words. Maybe her former classmates were right and she can't hold on to a grudge forever.

"Well it doesn't matter anyway, Ma'am!" Tanya said callously, glaring at Ericka on the stage. "I know the only reason everybody here is being so nice to you is because you married a famous vampire and proved to the entire world that the supernatural exists, especially ghosts! But I know everybody in town is still mad at you for rejecting James's proposal at graduation and attacked him when he tried to make up with you!"

After those words struck her like a blow, Ericka may seem like she might go mad when she started to chuckle a little and then burst out laughing. This seemed to confuse Tanya and everyone else, especially Dracula, who hoped she hadn't lost her mind.

"You know what, Tanya, I finally get you now!" Ericka began to tell her off as her chuckles calmed down. "I get that why throughout my school years, you and James ade my life full of crap. Despite being popular and being the mayor's daughter, and getting everything you want, there was one thing that you wanted that you couldn't have that I did. Real friends who accepted me for who I am!"

This seemed to put a shock on the crowd even more, but before things could go even further, Tanya's fists shook and she lashed out at Ericka as she bellowed angrily, "GET OUT OF HERE! YOU ARE HEREBY BANNED FROM RETURNING TO SHERMAN, ILLINOIS EVER AGAIN!"

Everyone gasped at the mayor's declaring of Ericka's banishment, but Ericka didn't seem to care about it "Whatever, you can't really do that anyway. Even if you could I wouldn't care, I'm happy with the choices I made! Let's go, Drac!" She told her husband as she headed for the exit.

But not before Dracula turned back around and he released the roar he longed to shove in the mayor's face. He roared so fearfully and violently in Tanya's face, everyone drew back at the sight of his burning red eyes and enlarged fangs. The roar was so strong the impact made Tanya fly back and crash into the buffet table, ruining her hair and her dress. Lavender secretly caught it on video and uploaded it on her smartphone.

And just like that, Dracula and Ericka left the school, not looking back. Some of the worried staff or students wanted to go after them, but most of the crowd members restrained others to prevent them because apparently what Tanya said about the people in town are still resentful against Ericka for going AWOL is true.

"I'm so sorry about that. Tanya has always been such a big baby," Ericka said, holding the vampire's hand as he lead her to the exit and to their parked hearse.

"It's alright, my love," Dracula told her with sincerity. "I'm just sorry that you got banished from your hometown, and to hear all those stories about you having family problems."

"Tanya is right. People here can still hold a grudge like I do, even if what I say about James is true for instance."

"It's probably their own fault. But perhaps you should try letting it go like your pals said. It's better to forgive and forget."

As soon as they reached the hearse, someone called out their names and they whirled around in alarm, believing someone intent on harming them. To their surprise, it was Dawn as she came rushing out of the building to reach the parking lot. At first, Dracula shielded his wife when he believed this woman thought of coming over to insult them. But Ericka recognized the look of concerned sorrow in Dawn's eyes and gently pushed her husband aside so she can talk to her. Whilst she did that, Dracula spoke to Mavis on his iPhone to let her know of their homecoming.

"I just wanted to make sure if you're okay, even Gerald is worried about you," Dawn said. "And to say I'm sorry about all those stories we told about you to Dracula."

"It's all right, Dawn. I figured my husband would have to hear stories about me," Ericka kindly assured her as she placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "But I'll tell him the rest on my way home, or perhaps tomorrow night." She gave Dawn one last embrace of farewell. "I'm glad I got to see everyone again."

"So am I." Dawn returned the embrace, and then rushed back inside to rejoin the party, or to clean up after what happened.

"We better get going, honeybat." Dracula opened the hearse door and allowed Ericka to get in first, like a gentleman. Then he climbed inside and shut the door, started the hearse and drove out of the area. "I called Mavis to let her know we are on our way home."

"Okay." Ericka nodded.

The hearse drove out of the city, the couple ignoring the staring faces of the townspeople since word immediately got out over Ericka's homecoming and her marriage to Dracula and their sudden feud against the mayor. To Ericka , it felt like these people were telling them to get out and never come back to this poor provincial town. It didn't matter because she didn't belong here anymore. In the first place, she never quite fit in, no matter how many times she proved herself or tried to do right. Glancing over at her husband, she watched him glaring at the townspeople intently. Ericka was glad to have such a supportive and protective vampire for a husband. She could never forget the love in his eyes when he sang with her on stage, as if displaying how deep their love is to everyone. Even if her former classmates liked him, nobody in this ignorant naïve town could accept her understanding, caring and loyal vampire husband. Maybe someday, the people will come to their senses and force Tanya to welcome her back. If she doesn't, Tanya could be outvoted as mayor and replaced by someone better.

Lights of the hearse shone through the darkness as the hearse exited the city and it began to turn up speed at 88 miles per hour. The teleportation device began to shutter and sparks flew as the hearse vanished through a bright light. Ericka shut her eyes, then a gentle tap on the shoulder made her eyes open. Nothing but darkness all around them as the hearse ventured into the darkened Borgo Pass mountains. No wolves bothered to howl as if respecting in silence for what she had been through, but some of the wolves wandered around the valley and kept a close watch on the hearse like guard dogs.

Things were quite for the first 20 minutes in the hearse, until Dracula broke the silence. "I... I'm sorry how things turned out tonight, Darling, I-"

Before he could finish, Ericka cut him off. "No, it's fine, Drac. Actually it was better than I expected!"

This answer had confused Dracula. After everything that happened at the class reunion, why is she alright with how it ended. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well I got to see old friends, finally sing my song from the talent show, and telling Tanya off was definitely what took the cake." She rejoiced from the memories. "But most of all, I enjoyed it that I got to do it with you." She told him as she leaned on her husband's shoulder. Dracula smiled tenderly at his wife, pleased at what she said. "Someday, I hope to go back there and show Mavis or our friends where I grew up."

Then Ericka looked up at her husband, put on a seductive smile, and whispered, "You know what? Once we get home, I'm gonna show you how grateful I am that you came with me!" She playfully stroked his chest.

This got Dracula hot and bothered in the collar, and in his pants, that he quickly stepped on the gas pedal to make the hearse go faster so that they could get home sooner. Their midnight drive took them through the Borgo Pass, the nighttime drive on the freeway of the countryside (once again, they had to stop at the gas station for restrooms and to buy a bag of pretzels for a snack), and entered the darkened forest that brought them to the secret underground tunnel that delivered the hearse right back to its destination; Hotel Transylvania.

No sooner the hearse pulled up the front entrance, Mavis and friends ecstatically burst through the revolving door with lightning speed, taking Dracula and Ericka by surprise as Mavis threw her arms around both of her parents in an affectionate hug, which the parents lovingly returned with equal affection.

"I'm so glad you're back, I missed you Mom and Dad!" Mavis cried, smiling.

"We missed you too, Mavy-Wavy!" Dracula replied, slowly parting from the hug.

"Is everything still in ship-shape when we left?" Ericka asked.

"Everything is A-Okay!" Johnny gave them a thumbs-up, signaling that all was well.

"Oh, thank darkness," Dracula sighed in deep relief. "Because for a moment I feared I would come home to find the hotel in chaos or you kids doing something crazy."

At those last words, Mavis and Johnny exchanged awkward grins. The Count had no idea of what occurred between them during his absence, and hoped he never found out about their dare. Mavis briefly shot a glare at Pedro, who almost stupidly gave away the big secret, until he clammed his mouth shut nervously.

"So how was your class reunion?" Hank, Alex asked. "Did you have a good time?"

"Weeelll…" Ericka hesitated once again, before she composed herself, "I'll tell you about it tomorrow. The sun is almost up, you kids should get in your sleeping bags. Drac and I need to have some 'things' to take care of." She winked slyly at her husband.

Smirking seductively, Dracula guided his beautiful Ericka back inside the sanctuary of their home, their sanctuary, the place where she knew where she truly belonged all her life. Mavis and the gang had no idea what was going on, but decided to take her stepmother's advice and turn in early for a good day's sleep.