Chapter 3

School wasn't something Mina enjoyed most of the times, it wasn't like she hated it or things like that it was just that she sometimes she found it boring at times, especially because of a few teachers like the case with geography. Even with that she was able to interact with her friends like Scot Dingleman or Marsha and Becky whom for a time wasn't around that often. However there was another case that was bothering her was her father and her new girlfriend. It wasn't like she didn't got used to her in the past 2 months and a half since she had tried to visit them once every week if possible and by all accounts she didn't had any conflict with her and anything on the contrary their relationship was really cordial. Even with that it was strange for her to have another grown-up female around and this due to the fact that she literally never knew who her mother was or why she left. Even with that all those thoughts that were inside her head had to be pushed aside at the moment as she closed her locker, she didn't noticed however that one of her friends was near.

"Hey Mina, how are things going?" Marsha asked.

"Oh Marsha what are you doing here?" Mina asked not noticing her.

"Our lockers are near one another."

"Oh yeah I remember." Mina sighted.

"You seem a bit distraught, did something happened." She asked, of course Mina would usually say everything to her or her father but she decided to keep secret regarding Bunnicula been a vampire rabbit and the supernatural that really was happening since she knew how she would react, but also she didn't told her of her father's new acquaintance. Maybe it was time for that.

"It's just my dad, he started to try dating again." She said and the other girl nodded.

"Oh and how is her girlfriend what do you think of her?"

"Well, she is fine, I don't have anything against her or things like that and we get along. It is just that this is, how can I put this very new, I never was used to having another adult woman around my dad."

"Hey, maybe it isn't that bad maybe you will get used to, from what I know been a single parent isn't quite a very easy thing and you surely noticed." Marsha said.

"I know I do admit that he sometimes get lonely and it isn't great for him, however the idea still is a bit….." She tried to say while taking her book.

"Difficult to come by, maybe everyone would and yet try to think of the positive, if they like each other him and she has no issues with you than maybe it will be for the best. And who knows I don't want to rush but if your dad decides to propose to her then….." On hearing that Mina dropped her book it was holding, that idea was for her now too difficult to handle, never thinking about this till now and now it came like on a rock on the head.

"AND what if I don't want that!" She exclaimed with a harsh tone taking her best friend aback by this reaction which made her realize her mistake.

"Sorry about this Marsha I don't know what came to me." She started in shame before her friend placed her hand on her shoulder.

"You don't need to be like that; maybe you will like her more in time and even get used to the idea." She explained while taking her friend's book up.

"sight, I don't know Marsha the very idea is to put it shortly." She started not knowing what to say.

"Frightens you?"

"In a way, dad always tried other dates too but the last one didn't worked at ALL." She started not wanting to mention how the ventriloquist was actually possessed in some way.

"That thing was also rushed from what I heard, it isn't this case now from what I know."

"It wasn't but still is a bit problematic." Mina said feeling even more troubled.

"Hey, you don't need to be pessimistic you can always tell me and besides from what you told me about her, she seems like a very great person, works with animals as a vet and also knows a lot of stuff and helps you at homework when she comes around." She said with a smile and even Mina had to admit that she helped her when she came at thing that she wouldn't understand and also because she was forcing her to do it, but it was with good intention. It didn't however took long for another one to join their group, one whom they haven't saw for some time.

"Hey what were you 2 talking about?" Becky asked.

"Oh we were just talking about her dad's new girlfriend." Marsha said.

"Ohh, your dad is dating again?" Becky asked.

"Yeah, she is by all accounts alright I don't have anything against her, and she is alright by all accounts."

"And what do you think? Your dad could try to propose to her?"

"Don't know about that yet."

"Oh good because let me tell you, from what I know step-parents do tend to get too much involved in your life. I can tell you that since my mom found me another dad and boy is he very intruding in my life, he isn't a bad guy but boy is he so intruding sometimes." Becky said.

"From what I heard he is working in the law profession." Marsha said hearing about him.

"And he just became a judge after been a lawyer for some time." Becky said.

"So you say that it isn't so great with step-parents." Mina asked.

"Yeah and my parents when talking do sometimes tend to sweet-talk a lot. It really is annoying." Becky said before her phone rang and her face turned annoyed.

"Urgh, here goes again." She said to herself answering. "Hello Will…..No I am fine…I got only one hour of courses left…..Oh you can't come home due to a case outside?...No me and mom will be fine it wouldn't be a problem" She said with a bit of a lighter tone "Sure I will, don't worry, you don't need to be this way….We will talk when you return….Sure I love you too, dad." Becky said ending the call feeling a bit annoyed with this once every 2 days calls.

"This is what I am talking about." Becky said placing her phone back in her backpack.

"Yet it seems like he does care." Marsha said.

"Yeah he does, with the exception of been called once every 2 days. At school when he is away solving cases." She said before turning to Mina. "I hope if you get a new step-mom you wouldn't be called who knows how many times."

"Ahh maybe not, who knows I don't think it will happen yet." Mina said before the bell rang, by all accounts it was the last hour and also they go 2 more weeks away from the summer holyday, she was however glad that now it was Friday.

Back at the Orlock building later

"Ahh nothing better than a good book." Chester said before Bunnicula jumped with a face that scared him out from the sofa.

"Urgh Bunnicula!" Chester shouted not linking this prank but he and Harold only started to laugh.

"You know I now am kind of glad that when Maria comes around you guys don't try to scare me to the bone." The Siamese cat said right when Arthur came in a rush.

"Ohh boy I hope I am glad that I took the costume early, I only hope that I can find a good enough evening." Arthur asked himself pulling out a small box from his pocket, inside was a wedding ring and the animals saw it. "Ohh wonder if it is too early yet, I don't know if Mina is prepared for this or if it is again too soon. Ohh maybe I still have to wait a bit more." He said to himself placing the ring on the table while he left to think about this while occupying his time with some work around.

"I knew this even will eventually come, that he will propose her." Chester said to himself.

"Ohh but Chester is that so bad besides Bunnicula told us that there are instances of some regular people to marry supernatural ones. And besides Mina's dad feels really lonely sometimes." Harold said.

"Urgh it's not like I don't want that or that I don't know this fact but the thing will be how Mina will react when her dad will try to propose to Maria or how it will be when she finds out that her future mom could be a vampire."

"Hay its not likkee sha dasn't knaw ma?" Bunnicula said.

"I know that Mina knows about your secret, but the difference now is that she is a human vampire. What she or her dad will think then." Chester said.

"Ohh Chester it's not like she wouldn't be a good caretaker for Mina or her dad, she does good with us."

"Because she is a vet Harold." Chester said rolling her eyes before Mina had entered, from what it seems her mind was full with thoughts.

"Oh boy I really wonder if what Becky said is true about step-parents." She said to herself while the others went to listen.

"Hey guys you wonder what I am thinking about? I met with Becky and told me how step-parents could be from her experience with her step-dad telling me how intruding he might be and she doesn't know the reason why. And I really wonder if that could me my case too." She said leaning towards them.

"Urgh I wonder if that is the case with all step-parents." Mina said before noticing something on the table a small box.

"What is this?" She asked herself while approaching and she saw that it was a wedding ring suspecting her something which was confirmed by hearing her dad in the next room.

"Oh boy, maybe I could try to wait, who knows if Mina will accept the idea of proposing to Maria, who knows maybe I could try to talk to her about this so we could reach an understanding." He said to himself not knowing that she was hearing him and made her unease, she thought that it wouldn't happened this fast, she then thought that she had to do something about this.

"Sorry dad, but not yet." She said taking the box with the ring before going out the door.

"Na-na nat good." Bunnicula said.

"What should we do?" Harold asked both knowing this was a bad idea and even Chester had to agree.

"Let's see what she wants to do." The cat said following her outsider starting to look around for their owner on the street and to their shock was with a certain someone, by all accounts they knew that he was more a loony rather than trouble yet he could be unpredictable.

"What is the problem that bothers you young lady?" He asked in an actorical way which even for Mina was weird.

"Oh sorry sir I am just a bit unease with what my dad would want to do, he would like to propose to someone. I know he wants all the best for me I just think that it is a bit too soon. Or I don't know what to say about it." She explained while the man looked attentively.

"Oh indeed it is hard for one to accept change in probably such a short time, however for some they can't accept the idea even when they have time on their side if they don't act they will always loose." He said.

"Yeah and the idea of having a step-mother really is strange despite the fact that Maria is a nice person and she does seem caring but it is just hard that I he could bring someone new in the family." She explained to which the man started.

"Ohh my I know the woman and to tell you the truth she is an extraordinary person but choose someone else instead of and now I need to take an action that will have maybe repercussion." He said in a dramatic actorical manner which startled Mina by what he was doing. And the pets knew exactly what will unfold.

"Na-Na!" Bunnicula called.

"Mina get away from him." Chester called

"He is dangerous." Harold said but to no avail she didn't understood them but turned around towards them.

"What is going on?" Mina asked before she felt a hand on her shoulder and a handkerchief driven to her mouth knocking her out.

"I will have you my live even I have to use extortion." He called in a dramatic manner before vanishing in the nigh.

"Na-na-na-na, Mina!" Bunnicula called desperate alongside the others.

"Oh boy, what do we do?" Harold said.

"We need to go after her." Chester said.

"But where could we find Mina."

"Maria it tha only one.

"Bunnicula says that Maria is the only one that could help us."

"We must get to her clinic immediately, there is no time to lose." Chester said and they immediately went in the direction of the clinic.

"There you go madam, you only need to rest your voice and take those pills once a day and you will recover in a 2 days." She explained to a patient of hers which was a Banshee ghost.

"Thank you." She said before leaving before 3 more people burst in startling her it the Chester, Bunnicula and Harold.

"Huh what is going on?"

"MariawegotaproblemMinawastakenbyRalfandweneedto…" They all started in cacophony.

"Wait, wait each one at a time, each one at a time you are all unintelligible." She called them trying to calm them.

"Maria we got a problem, Mina was taken by that actor Ralf." Chester started shocking her.

"We naad ta faind tam."

"And get Mina back." Harold finished.

"I knew he would be a nuisance that drama filled vampire actor." She said to herself in disbelief getting her hands on her head before turning to them.

"There is only one place where he could have went, the V theatre. However problem is how is to stop a love struck reneged." She said before someone came in.

"Ohh, hurt I am, hurt I am to core of my existence because I lost my desire for love in the world of theatre. And now treatment I need." Said a blond vampire woman with yellow eyes with a long black dress before collapsing in a chair while the doctor rolled her eyes.

"Can I help you with something?" She asked coming to her.

"Only if you can put back together my broken heart of someone who had lost his love for Ralf McBlood the actor of all the V actors that existed and me and him always were in plays, but struck me down because of ignoring me." She said in a drama play before turning to the others, which immediately gave them an idea.

At the V Theatre

"Urgh, what happened, where am I?" Mina asked herself feeling her eyes very heavy as she was trying to wake up, adjusting her vision to the surrounding she noticed that she was now inside a theatre seeing the large curtains to the scene as well as the comfortable cushion however it didn't seemed very comfortable. And she wasn't quite one who was going to the theatre that much so she decided to try to leave, but it was to no avail.

"huh?" Mina said looking down to see that she was tied with a rope to the seat which made her concern. "What the…"

"Comfortable it is not, for the spectator to stay tied to the seat." Said the man from the scene still acting.

"Why did you had to tie me up?" Mina asked now confused.

"So guilty I am but what can I do for I am in the trap of romance."

"Trap of romance?" The girl asked before in a flash the man came to her with a rose still acting.

"I am in love with one who helped me revive myself to continue my career to act in plays of all kinds of shows but in order for me to be complete I need the fair maiden Maria Delavant to notice me." He said more in an drama manner.

"Wait you also like Maria?"

"Like such a small word, it is more love like a spell coming due to her healing. She might be a vet but she is a doctor that heals a lot more than companions of every kind." He said at which point Mina rolled her eyes, if this guys was in love with Maria it was no wonder that she would rather prefer her dad over him not mentioning the fact that by how she knew her she isn't someone who likes such drama that he gives.

"Dude you are weird."

"Weird? Wonder what that would mean since I am just someone who only desires love." He replied still as if he was on the stage which made Mina roll her eyes.

Outside the V Theatre

"Gere we are." Bunnicula said pointing to the theatre.

"Hope we aren't too late." Chester said worried to the bone.

"I hope the same thing let's enter." Maria ordered as she tried to open the gate but to no avail they were locked.

"They are closed." Harold said.

"Not for long." The vet said as she turned into a mist for her to enter inside to open the doors. "Come inside." The pets and the 'patient' entered the corridor and as they were at the entrance to the main hall they heard a scream.

"Mina!" Bunnicula exclaimed in total terror.

"That's IT!" Maria shouted her eyes fully red with anger.

"aaahhh." Mina gave a groan at what was happening before her, no wonder now that Maria tried her best to stay away from him, he was totally crazy and obnoxious with all his acting. Both of she and her had to admit weren't with theatre and now she knows why.

"You know maybe the reason why she didn't fell for you was because of this. Have you thought of trying someone else?" Mina asked wanting him to stop.

"Who else can it be, in this world that is vast?" He asked before a hand came.

"Let Mina go! YOU MANIAC!" She shouted and she immediately threw him into a wall.

"Maria?" Mina asked both confused and amazed by what just happened so easily throwing him in the wall, the then woman turned to her friends.

"Bunnicula, Chester, Harold untie her. I will keep him busy." She ordered before turning to the loony actor. "You had made a giant mistake for doing such a thing."

"Ohh, but it was only in the name of love, I never understand why you chose someone else who is a mere mortal."

"Because unlike you he cares about other people aside from him and because you are an annoyance who complains about the simplest things making them from mosquito and elephant." She hissed with anger at him ready to punch him hard, right before Bunnicula came to her.

"Gaait ramambar tha plan." He tried to say to her to realise that anger took the better of her before remembering what they were suppose to do.

"Huh, what am I doing?" She said her eyes returning to normal before letting him go before turning to Mina whom Harold and Chester were still trying to untie her, by all she was totally confused by what had happened.

"Mina sorry, that you had to see this, are you alright?" She asked thinking that she might now be afraid of her, she however nodded.

"I-I am fine, but what just happened?" She asked confused while Maria helped the others to untie her.

"It's a long story. I am sorry that you had to see this I understand that you are afraid now. And I do apologise for this." She said with a warm voice.

"N-no it's alright there is nothing to worry about I just wish to know what was that?"

"Indeed all of us need explanations since; all are in confusion who knows if we can get the answer." Said Ralf getting on his feet.

"And the answer is hard to find, but it can be found in all the cracks, if one looks very close." Said the woman who seemed to have immediately caught the ears and eyes of Ralf.

"Indeed one can look everywhere and thinks it found what it wants."

"But sometimes appearances could deceive and could mislead." She responded as they approached.

"Mislead I might have been, by the blindfold that was on my eyes." He said coming to her and bowing in admiration to her.

"Well I am the light that now shines before your eyes." She responded while the spectators that were there saw this as the most awkward moments they could have even seen.

"R-Right how about we leave and you reflect on your relationship." Chester said in a totally awkward manner.

"The most wise and correct words had been said by the cat, and no one can deny that truth there is in them." Ralf said nothing taking eyes from him new love while the spectators looked at one another and decided to walk out of the scene leaving the theatre while the actors were retorting probably everything in all the drama manners possible.

"Sorry that you had to witness that thing earlier." Maria said to Mina now in front of the theatre.

"The scene those 2 were doing, don't worry even I can tell as to why you preferred to date my dad. That was the most awkward thing I ever saw.

"Did he tried to do anything to you still?" She asked worried.

"If you referred to that screaming, it was actually out of annoyance, I never was interested in theatre anyways and I now know why I didn't." She said calming her down before a thought came to mind.

"I need to however ask something, how come that that actor understood what Chester had said and how come you didn't freak out when Bunnicula showed his bat wings even now?" Mina asked noticing that her rabbit still had his bat wings and he immediately landed to change them back to normal ears while the woman looked a bit a shamed.

"I had tried not to tell you or your father about this, but you know that I had been the one who took care of Bunnicula when you brought him to the clinic. Right?"

"I know that and if I stay to think a normal vet would have surely freaked out when it might have realised that he is a vampire."

"Exactly, truth is that I am not actually, normal. Although I do sometimes wish to be: going out during the day not only during the night feeling solid food again not just liquids and also not having the sun irritate my skin." Maria said explained looking a bit ashamed.

"You describe the weaknesses of a vampire." Mina said before the woman turned to her and the girl on a closer look noticed at last what she was talking about more specifically she noticed the eyes, the white skin and the fangs.

"No way." She said in utter disbelief before Maria place her hands on her shoulders.

"I know it is scary but listen I would never hurt you or your father and the idea of turning any of you is the last thing I would especially that been a vampire isn't always the best of things. Sometimes if not always it is a very lonely existence compared to normal people. You always have to live a life of a shadow among people, and despite the advantages there are many more disadvantages since not all vampires are good and would always try to make twisted unrealistic plans. But simply lose their minds due to the passing of time and the feeling of loneliness that comes with it, it is not a life you or your father should have." She explained making the girl think about everything she had just told her.

"I understand."

"If you want I can break up with your father and end-"

"No, don't do it." Mina said looking at her.

"I am not afraid of you Maria and also you really made my dad more careful and even helped him with his loneliness and I do have to admit that I wanted to do something, which could only be considered a stupid decision." She started before showing her the box with the ring.

"He would want one day soon to propose to you, he just bought the ring and I tried to take it and hide it, because I was afraid and didn't knew how things will be especially that a friend of mine Becky told me about her relationship with her new step-father who is working in the law profession Will. From what I saw while we were at school he was always calling her wanting to know how things are and for Becky she felt that she was intruding in her life." Mina said.

"Is he a judge named Will?" Maria asked.

"Yeah he just called her yesterday, and from what I heard he was sometimes intruding in her life. But from what I can tell from that conversation he wanted only to know why if she was fine."

"His actions were obvious Mina, because he was married before I was one who took care of his pet dog when he came here. And I heard from him that he had lost his wife and younger child in an accident 3 years ago and with some difficulty he recovered, what he is doing is just trying to be protective caring for the wellbeing of his new wife and step-daughter. He didn't told this to Becky because he was and still is trying his best to forget what happened."

"Ohh, I didn't know this."

"Even with that I wish to know, do you think that I would intrude in the life of you and your father if he wants to propose to me?" Maria asked making the girl look down at the box with the ring, by all accounts she had to admit that she and him always had a good time in their relationship but maybe this was also because she literally didn't knew who her mother was and didn't even know as to why did she left them and by all accounts Maria didn't intrude at all in their lives, that was also because of her work, but aside from that she only was trying to be like a good companion for her and father.

"No, you would not, since you actually wanted to do one thing, and that is trying to be a good mom. And if I would say otherwise it could now mean that I could lose the possibility of having the coolest mom ever." She said wrapping her hands around her which the woman with a smile returned the gesture alongside the others before they separated.

"So maybe I should tell my dad that there isn't any trouble if he wants to propose to you." Mina said getting the box in the pocket of her trousers.

"Indeed, but maybe not yet, he probably needs to first speak with your about this and also even I will require some time to process the information. Not to mention that he probably also took this decision out of sudden, he must first try to cope himself with the idea and also you must be the one who will help him." Maria said explained.

"I understand."

"For now, let's get you back home, since I will need to return to work very soon." Maria said while she alongside Chester, Harold and Bunnicula were following them on their way to the Orlock Building. Once in front of it Maria bid farewell to them going back to her clinic while they entered the inside and in their apartment where her father was trying to now find the ring and whom Mina placed it on the table near the sofa. Finding it he tried to explain to her his intention and she told him that everything is fine with her, but he should try to still wait a bit, remembering what Maria told her. So at the moment, the proposal and the future wedding was for now delayed, but even with that unlike earlier however Mina was feeling a greater sense of relief and happiness now with the idea that she would have a step-mother who not only cares about her and her father but that would be like none other.

"Well Chester you were right, marriage will be coming soon." Harold said in a happy voice.

"I told you so." Chester said, but this time it was no more with concern but with calm.

"Hey you don't seem scare anymore. Last time you thought about this you were very suspicious."

"Well I was, but unlike other times and other cases, this time I believe I can live with another supernatural creature as part of the family." He said right before Bunnicula jumped near showing his skull on fire that scared him and made him jump back.

"And if you tell me." He started "I believe it would be no problem if there is someone who could be able to draw some lines."

This is the third chapter, hope you had enjoyed it.