Dracula excitedly ushered us out of the jet and into what must be the jet hangar. "Come come." He led us towards a set of overly long doors. He opened them and led us through them. "Welcome to my home."
Music that was considered romantic was playing above us. The room was a mixture of old fashioned and modern styles. There were columns running through the wall to the left of us, holding up at least 4 floors of books. The walls were marble looking and had flames running along the sides. The ceiling held a number of chandeliers and some columns held candle holders. The floor was sleek black and had cracks that glowed red. In front of us was a large window that replaced the entire wall showing the full moon and clouds.
"Wow!" Emma exclaimed. "You sure you've got enough room?" She looked out the window admiring the view.
"I'm liking the aesthetic here." I nodded feeling the alcohol loosening brain to mouth filter. "Really liking those books." I hummed staring at the many walls of books.
Suddenly Dracula grabbed my hand and pulled me to his chest. "Would you do me the honor?"
"What?" I tried pulling away but he wouldn't let go. Suddenly he spun me around and dipped me. Before I knew it he was dancing and pulling me around for the ride. My wedges, having no grip, allowed him to slide me around as he forced me to dance. I tried pulling away only for him to capture me again. My right foot slid away and Dracula took advantage to continue to dance. He moved me around with ease and spun me. I felt myself getting dizzy, the alcohol in my system made it worse. I felt myself falling only to be dipped again. The awful dance continued as my shoes never found grip. I slid wherever he pushed me and he threw me around like it was nothing. Just as soon as the dancing was calming down he activated his boosters.
"Hold tight." He grabbed my waist and spun us around in the air. When we landed he dipped once again. "Wasn't that magnificent." He leaned his face close to mine.
"Let go of her." Emma scowled and pulled me into her arms. "Lizzie are you alright?"
"I'm dizzy." I laid my head on her shoulder. "There's three of you and I want to throw up."
A short bold man that reminded me of Baba Yaga handed me a bucket. I thanked him and proceeded to vomit. Emma rubbed my back as I puked. "There, there let it all out."
"Oh, um," I could hear Dracula drum his fingers together. "Maybe I shouldn't have spun her around so much."
"You think?" Emma snarled.
Spider clicked angrily from my purse.
"You have a magical familiar?" Dracula sounded surprised.
I gave one last spit in the bucket. "Yeah, what's it to ya?" I gave the bucket back the short man. He left without being noticed.
"It's rare for a witch to have one." He explained. "Most have familiars that have been touched by magic, not ones made by magic."
I shrugged not seeing the importance of it. "So?"
"It means you're a powerful witch." He tried to inform me. "Which would explain why you're not affected by my powers."
"Look, listen that sounds nice and all," I bounced my head in sarcasm. "But we have another witch we need to find."
"That's right." Emma agreed. "You said you have a way to find her."
"Oh," he looked around nervously. "I did say that, um." His eyes darted left then right. "I'll get right on that. Renfield!" The short man appeared again startling Emma. "Show our guests to the spare chamber." He winked. "I'll call on you when I find her." He said looking at me. Like a complete weirdo.
Emma and I followed Renfield around the castle towards large pink doors. When he pushed them open the most pinterest looking room greeted us. Two long windows lined each wall with sheer, glowing, white curtains. A pink bed was placed in the middle where it was showcased on a three step floor with four columns on each corner, each corner also held a long pink plant. A white canopy hung from each column and was weaved through a large chandelier hanging over the bed, the canopy curtained either side of the bed. Two chandeliers hung on either side of the bed. A bath and mirror was placed to the left of the room and a vanity to the right, both sides held two wall lights. In front of the bed were spiraling stairs that led to an empty balcony with four large windows. It was all very pink.
Emma stared at the room in awe.
"This looks like a teenage girls dream room." I walked in squinting at how bright it was. "Why is there a bathtub in the middle of a room like this?" I turned right to see an almost maroon pink chair pressed against the wall, with a wall lamp above it and to the right. I decided to set down. "Thanks for showing us the way Renfield."
Renfield said nothing and closed the doors, leaving us alone.
"Renfield is such a chatterbox." Emma joked. "You don't think this room is breathtaking?" She asked.
"It's pleasing to the eye, but not very practical." I shrugged. "It looks like something a model or influencer would rent to take pictures in."
Emma hummed. "I wonder if the bed is any comfortable." She back flipped into the bed and bounced into a crouch. "What a mattress." She started jumping on it like a trampoline and jumped straight into the open canopy. She landed on the bed and didn't get back up.
"Emma?' I called out.
"Why am I so strict on my family?" She sighed.
"Oh Emma," I got and sat on the bed to pat her foot. "You're strict because you love them. Every time you talk to them you give them great life lessons." I reasoned.
"But they never appreciate them." She countered while sitting up.
I smiled. "I don't know about you, but I never listened to my parents. Until what they told me could happen happened." Emma's eyes brighten in recognition. "Just because they don't appreciate them now, doesn't mean they won't appreciate them later."
"You're right." She sniffed. "I remember being Fay's age and being rebellious too." She scooted closer and gave me a hug. "Thank you Lizzie, you're a good friend."
I hugged her back. "I better be, I was making a list on how to dispose the leftovers when you almost ate that tourist"
"Lizzie!" She gasped and looked me in the eye. We both stared at each other before cracking up.
We then heard a familiar sound and saw two familiar puffs of smoke. Right in front of us Baba Yaga and Cheyenne appeared.
"You!" Emma jumped off the mattress and ran after her. I pulled out my wand.
"Be cool." Cheyenne held Emma back. "She's on our side."
"What?" Emma asked in disbelief.
I just nodded and put my wand away. After Cheyenne once managed to accidentally train a pack of cats to attack Frank's awful boss, I never questioned her again.
"True, it is." The witch nodded behind Cheyenne.
"I've fallen for your lies far too many times." Emma spat.
"Technically she never lied to us." I pointed out.
"We can trust her." Cheyenne reasoned. "She brought me here, didn't she?"
"We'll," Emma looked at me for reassurance, "that's true."
"Dracula forced her to put the spell on you." She told us. "She was his prisoner."
"For a thousand years prisoner I was." She brought up.
"Dracula said he didn't feel happiness for a thousand years." Emma looked surprised.
Baba Yaga nodded. "1,000 year ago Dracula asked for Baba Yaga's help." She began. "You see, unhappy lady not first mortal he fell for. 1,000 years ago ask Dracula did for Baba Yaga to disguise him as a mortal man." She sighed with a look of helplessness. "But once he showed his true form he was rejected. Dracula angry he got, so very angry. Angry enough to rid the mortal woman's family. Mortal woman was no more, choosing to follow family."
Emma gasped in horror.
"Holy shit." I gaped in shock. "That's like next level evil."
"Yes," Baba Yaga agreed," Monster, he is. Who will stop at nothing to get what he desires."
Emma looked down. "I guess I didn't see him for who he really was. Now that we're here I might never see my family again." She went on her knees and cried into her hands.
Cheyenne and I went to comfort her.
Baba Yaga hummed thoughtfully. "For you change that I could." She stroked her chin hairs while looking at me. "Or teach you I could."
"Huh?" I looked at her in confusion.
"Take out wand" I took it out. "See family in minds eye." I thought of Emma's family. "Now repeat you will. From far, come near. Return ones dear."
I nodded liking how the spell sounded. I stood tall and held my wand up. With Emma's family still in my mind I repeated the words. "From far, come near. Return ones dear."
One by one everyone appeared in black smoke with glittering gold. Frank was shirtless for a bit but his clothes magical appeared.
"I did it." I blinked in surprise. I heard Baba Yaga harrumphed.
"You did it!" Emma squealed in delight. "Oh, I missed you all so much." She hugged Max. "Are you ok?" She went to give Fay a look over and hugged her too.
Max giggled in delight. "Yes, thanks to dad." He placed a paw on his leg.
"You should've seen him fight the giant beetle." Fay squealed.
"You fought a monster?" Emma looked up at Frank. He hummed an affirmative.
"And won." Fay added.
"What are we doing here?" Max finally asked.
"And what is she doing here." Fay angrily pointed at Baba Yaga, once she spotted her.
She raised her hands in surrender. "Here to help I am."
"She taught Lizzie the spell that brought us all together." Emma explained.
We heard the door open and gasped as Renfield walked in. "Lizzie, you mustn't leave this castle."
"Her?"
"Me?"
"I don't understand," Emma said confused, "I thought he wanted me."
"At first," Renfield nodded, "but once he heard that happiness broke the curse, he decided on Lizzie. Someone who struggles with happiness."
"We'll that's rude." I sputtered.
"If you don't marry my Master, he will destroy the world." Renfield informed us. He started to walk towards us.
We all looked at him in disbelief.
"Talk about overreacting." Cheyenne whispered.
Renfield rolled his eyes. "He plans to shoot a giant ice sphere into the sun." He explained. "And then-"
"The sun will be extinguished." Max interrupted. "And all life on Earth will come to an end. Except for vampires who don't need sunlight." He ended.
"But wouldn't they need blood to survive?" I asked confused.
"Oh yeah." Max started to rant. "If all life came to an end, what would they continue to eat? It's not like plasma will stay fresh forever. Even if they freeze it, it won't last forever either."
"Ok Max," Fay rolled her eyes, "we get it."
"Enough both of you." Emma looked worried. "In order to save all life on Earth, Lizzie has to marry Dracula."
"I thought he wanted a vampire bride." I was confused at this.
Renfield nodded. "He planned to have Baba Yaga turn you from witch to vampire."
"Makes sense, but I still don't want to marry him." I said.
"Then we'll stop him." Fay folded her arms in defiance.
Frank slammed his fist into his hand while nodding.
"But how?" Emma asked.
A light bulb looked like it went over Renfield's head. "My master is currently in his Lazarus bath. He needs it to stop himself from aging."
Fay stared at him.in disinterest. "Good to know, but we're trying to save the planet here."
He waves his hands to grab our attention. "You misunderstand. In the bath, he's helpless. But he's only inside until sunset."
"Ok, we've got no plan,"Fay threw one hand up, "and no time." She threw the other one up.
"Can't we magic the water into cement or something?" I asked Baba Yaga.
"Magic can hurt emotions yes, but never the body." She answered. Spider looked up at me and shook their head.
"Wait," Max pondered in thought. "Does this place have a kitchen?"
"Only the best in the catalogue." Renfield stated proudly.
"Splendid!"
We all followed Renfield to the kitchen. It was small and minimal but the pantry was enormous.
Max walked in and looked around. "Ok, we need salt, olive oil, and water." He listed off.
"We making Dracula pasta?" Emma joked. I snickered.
"With salt, olive oil, and sacred balm." Max tried to explain.
"Holy water you make." Baba Yaga finished with joy.
"Major anti-vampire mojo." Cheyenne added.
"Holy water will beat Dracula?" Emma sounded skeptical.
"It's worth a shot." I shrugged.
"For sure." The witch nodded.
"Once he's beaten, we'll lock him up forever." Max planned out.
Renfield and Max gathered three of the ingredients.
"Max," Fay called out, "where will we find sacred balm in a kitchen?" She asked. "I don't think it's gonna be in the spice rack."
"I once had a mummy faze." I said looking at Fay. "And if I remember correctly, you're covered in it."
"She's right," Max agreed, "your bandages are steeped in a sacred embalming fluid."
Fay laughed in delight. "Ok, sometimes being smart is extremely cool."
"I wonder if my paranormal phase will ever come in handy." I rubbed my chin. "Are ghosts real?" I asked Baba Yaga who shook her head in disbelief. Spider copied her movements.
As soon as Max finished making the holy water, Renfield led us to Dracula's Lazarus bath room. "The doors are automatic and only open at sunset. I will leave you now, I wish you luck."
Frank nodded, accepting the unspoken challenge. He placed his hands on the doors and pushed. He grunted as the center of the entrance gave way to his strength. We pushed what was left of the remaining doors open.
The room had stone walls and a waterfall in the back. On top of a large cylindrical stone sat a large and equally cylinder glass. Inside was Dracula in his leather outfit, with a different mask, upside down in water and cucumber slices.
Fay chuckled at how ridiculous Dracula looked. "It's amazing what people will do to knock off just a few years."
I raised my brows in disbelief. "Quiet," I hissed, "do you want to wake him up?"
"Too late." Baba Yaga stated. "Awake the dark one is."
"Oops." Fay gave a weak giggle.
"Lizzie, Emma, how could you betray me for your wretched family and friends." Dracula spoke, his mouth piece glowing red with every word. "I thought we were starting to get close." Emma gripped the holy water in her hands. "Oh, no, I sense you brought holy water."
"Wow!" Exclaimed Cheyenne. "How can he smell through that thing."
"That is pretty impressive." I nodded.
"Your heart is so dark, no one could love you." Emma spat.
"Well," I started but shut up once Emma glared at me.
She jumped with her vampire strength towards stairs leading up to his bath.
"Do be careful," Dracula warned, "it's very steep." He winced when Emma tripped. "Told you."
Emma got up and continued her way up. As she made it up she held the bottle over her head. "This is for the Wishbones."
Dracula's arms moved and something small shot into Emma's mouth. She grabbed her throat and fell on one knee. The bottle flew from her hand and hit the wall.
"For every antidote, there is an anti-antidote." Dracula laughed. "Bon appetite. And welcome back."
Emma's eyes turned red and her fangs extended. "I'm hungry!" She stared down at us.
"I'm sure your mother's love for you is bigger than her appetite." Cheyenne said while doing yoga. I wasn't going to question her.
Just then Emma tackled both Cheyenne and Frank. She landed on top of Frank and hissed.
"Mem-ma, non't." Frank pleaded.
"Now, bite him." Dracula encouraged. "And we shall live together for all eternity with Lizzie at my side. We are the same. You are a vampire." He kept going. "Fulfill your destiny."
"Put a sock in it!" I shouted.
Dracula was taken back and vampire Emma paid me no mind. She only hissed back down at Frank.
"I l-lo-ve you." Frank voiced out.
"What are you doing?" Dracula asked impatiently.
We watched in anticipation as Emma hissed and threw herself to Frank's face.
"Yes, Emma." Dracula shouted in early victory. "Do it. Do it now."
Emma's face softened as she leaned to kiss Frank. Dracula yelled in disapproval but he fell on deaf ears. We all shouted in joy as Emma beat her appetite.
"The greatest magic love is." Baba Yaga smiled.
"I don't know about greatest but it sure is cute." I nodded.
Fay and Max gagged as their parents kissed.
We were pulled from our moment by a loud buzzing. We turned to see Dracula walking down with...
"Are those hairdryers on drones?" I asked in disbelief.
"Why yes," he confirmed,"they are."
Frank put his arms around us. Trying to use his body to shield us from Dracula.
He waved a hand and the drones flew off. "Why does this always happen to me?"
"You leave my mom and her friend alone." Fay suddenly turned into a sandstorm. We ran after her. But before she could reach him he snapped his fingers.
Dracula let out a long sigh. "So much for romance."
I pointed my wand towards him. "There was literal romance that happened in front of you a while ago."
"Oh yes," Dracula looked at me with a smirk. "I forgot about your immunity towards my powers." He hummed as he looked at me. "Now what ever shall I do with you?" He walked towards me.
"You could unfreeze my friends and send us home." I suggested.
"Now why would I do that?" His chest was pressed against the tip of my wand. "When I could just keep you here and imprison your friends for trying to destroy me."
"You're insane," I pushed my wand into his chest. "If you think I'll let you get away with that."
Dracula laughed. "What are you going to do, stop me?" He pushed my hand down and grabbed my face. "You may be a powerful witch but your magic can't stop me."
Spider hissed in irritation and latched themselves on his wrist. Dracula yelled and flung his arm around to shake them off.
I took the opportunity and said the first thing I could rhyme. "Turn this fiend into green!" Black smoke shot from my wand and gold specks hit Dracula in the face. As soon as he was engulfed in smoke and glitter, Spider jumped off and crawled their way on my shoulder.
As the smoke gave way it revealed a green Dracula. His skin was green, his suit was green, his hair was green, his eyes including the whites were green. He was all shades of green. Dracula patted himself down, still not looking at himself. "Ha, I told you. You're magic can't stop me." He smirked.
"But it sure did something." I laughed.
Dracula looked at me in confusion then looked at his hand. "I'm green, I'm all green!" He yelped. When his shock subsided he glared at me. "You'll pay for this."
As he lunged forward I tripped back into Max's frozen form. I landed hard on my head and lost consciousness.
