Due to a problem with my pc I lost the Italian chapter and the almost completed translation. I had to redo all the work, but I had no time to send it to wallaceb for beta reading.
I dedicate this fanfiction to my girlfriend and all my readers, reviewers and the beta reader wallaceb.
September 28, 1894 - September 28, 2014
Happy 120th birthday Mavis!
CHAPTER 9 – Let her go.
"Don't waste any more time." Ruthven said, placing a hand on Mavis' shoulder. Erzsebeth did the same on her other shoulder and both pushed the girl causing her to fall, but instead of impacting the floor they passed through it. The girl was falling into darkness. She could see the corridor from which she had fallen above her beyond an opening that was becoming more distant, while below her there was a second opening through which a flickering light came. Soon the vampire across it landing into the bedroom of Ruth and Erzsy, who arrived a moment later.
Mavis looked up; there was a strange puddle of black bitumen, which moved like water in a swimming pool. It was on the ceiling as if it had its own gravity.
"A portal to go down four floors?" Mavis asked. "If you didn't want to take the stairs we could take the elevator!"
"Unfortunately, you know we are not well-liked. Tomorrow is an important day for you and I don't want your father spending it sulking, you know he doesn't like you spending time with us."
Mavis smiled a little, but then she frowned again as she knew why she was here and was not at all pleased.
"So, are you ready Mavis?" Erzsebet asked.
"No, I'm not, but what else can I do?"
"Okay, follow me." The woman said, walking toward the door.
Ruthven instead sat on the bed and began to pen something into a small diary; Mavis looked at him for a moment, and he, seeing this, with a gentle wave of his hand made it clear to the girl that she could go.
The two left the suite and in a few steps they reached the next door.
Erzsebet knocked on the door and soon after entered lighting the torches with her powers.
The room was very minimal, unlike the luxurious baroque suite; there was only a large closet and four beds with one girl beside each one of them. They were dressed in simple long white nightgowns, but even though they were all dressed alike, they were all of different ethnicities and stood motionless at attention with their arms crossed behind their backs.
"So Mavis." Erzsebet began to speak. "You are free to choose the one who best suits you. My maids were chosen by selecting the best specimens of every kind of human race and their blood is pure and of excellent quality. You'll be spoiled for choice."
"My name is Chun and if you want the strong taste of a tireless oriental I'm here for you." A girl with black bobbed hair and almond-shaped eyes said while making a slight bow.
"Or a spicy aroma, I'm Shanti from India." Another girl exclaimed, her hair was long and black, dark skin and a red bindi in the middle of her forehead.
"Why not the sweetness of us, loving South Americans? I'm Jewel." Said the girl with the brown skin and long Rasta, blowing a kiss.
"If you want something to keep you awake, have a savory breakfast, Mediterranean flavors are the most appreciated in the world. My name is Maria and I come from Sardinia." The last girl said who had black and smooth hair, brown eyes and tanned skin.
Mavis had been listening to them, but despite being annoyed by their behavior she never interrupted them.
"You... that is how you see yourself? As if you were cows to sell at market?"
Mavis protested, grieving for them.
"Mavis," Chun said with a light-heartedness that contrasted with the tension of the young vampire. "It's not what you think; this is just a small price we are happy to pay. We humans are so limited, for us youth flies away in too little time and there is nothing more horrible than helplessly watching our bodies grow old. Eternal youth, this is what they have promised and vampires always keep their promises."
Mavis felt herself broken in two. She could not conceive of their choice, but then they seemed so happy. "Maybe you're right..." She mumbled, pitying the four girls who were at ease.
Chun came up to Mavis, took her hands gently and brought them back to her own neck, then the Chinese girl left them and hugged Mavis making sure that her neck was near the mouth of the vampiress.
"N... No, I don't want..." The young vampire muttered, reluctantly, putting her hands on the human's hips, as if to push her away, but it was as if she had no strength.
"If you don't want me why you don't let me go?" The girl whispered with a contemptuous tone of defiance in the vampiress' ear, while she broke the hug.
Mavis reacted as she would have never expected. It was true; there was something about her that prevented her from leaving that prey. She grabbed her forcefully, so that she could not suppress a grimace of pain. Then the vampire pulled her to herself, until her lips touched that warm and luscious neck. She could even feel the beat of the arteries with the simple touch and she stopped for a moment, lulled by that relaxing sensation.
The girl moved her hair away from her neck to avoid bothering the young vampiress and tilted her head slightly.
Mavis could no longer resist and sank her sharp fangs into the neck of the girl who reacted by making a satisfied smirk. This time the vampire was more relaxed, not only because she was not hurt or in danger, but mostly because she no longer felt that demonic voice in her head that she hated so much. This time everything was quiet pleasant so Mavis was able to control herself that neither the bite nor bleeding were painful for the victim.
She drank until satiated and when she finished she left the girl who was rescued by the other three and helped lay her down on the bed.
The young vampiress looked at her full of guilt; she looked back at her, smiling. Seeing her feel well also made Mavis smile shyly, but she stood firm, thoughtful, until her thoughts were interrupted by Erzsebet:
"I don't think it was a bad experience, don't you?"
The girl took a while before answering:
"You're right, maybe I got too influenced by what my father told me and by my horrible first time..."
"So little Mavis." Ruthven said, he had witnessed the scene leaning against the closed door, Mavis had not heard him come in. "How are you? How do you feel with all of this energy streaming inside you? Don't wish you had more and more?"
Mavis looked at him puzzled. "Why should I want more? This blood is much more energetic than the synthetic, probably it will be enough even for a couple of weeks, and in any case I want to avoid it as much as possible."
The Lord was stunned at this reply. While the countess was able to better contain her amazement and pretending to be worried, she tried to divert the topic:
"Oh! Mavy! Damn, it's late, your father will already be awake and he's probably looking for you!"
"Holy rabies, you're right, I'd better go!" Mavis exclaimed as he prepared to run to her room but she was stopped by the woman's voice:
"Mavy, wait, it's too late. It's better if you wear it now." She said and with a snap of her fingers the young girl found herself wearing a long-sleeved black shirt with red buttons and lapels, short black jeans, her black leggings with red stripes, and black tracking boots.
"So you should be comfortable for your little adventure. And keep those clothes as well, they're too informal for me, but are perfect for you." Erzsebet said, and then used her powers to open the door. "It's better if you hurry now!" She concluded.
Ruthven shifted slightly without adding anything.
"Thank Erzsy, you're a friend." Mavis said gently before turning into a bat, the woman smiled at first, but when the bat flew away she frowned.
"Damn!" She burst out, slamming the door with her magic almost unhinging it, "What the hell happened? How does she maintain such strong self-control? Yet she's not used to human blood!" She continued angrily.
"You've got a tough nut to crack?" Said Ruthven by kidding her, but the thing that angered the Countess even more was his calm and total disinterest.
She came to the Lord, took him by the collar of his shirt and lifted him bodily off the floor, furious, but he did not seem to care, in fact, he was enjoying himself seeing her become more and more angry. She looked into his eyes, then, without saying anything she left him and he landed slowly. "You're acting like a child; you know how important our mission is." She scolded him.
"And you act like a sour Granny. Chill out or you'll get wrinkles! I know what our goal is; yelling and getting nervous will not help us..."
The woman turned and walked toward the door. "You're right, time is running out, we need to change strategy; I'm sick of babysitting that little brat. We shall organize something more direct." She concluded out the door.
The Lord smiled. "Finally... Admit it; there are people who you can't bend to your will!" He said mocking her.
The vampire lady stopped, offended. "I can bend anyone, with her I just need more time that we do not have."
...
"Mavy Wavy? What time is it?" Drac asked, playfully, breaking abruptly into the room of his young daughter, but he found no one there and it left him confused and a bit worried.
"It's adventure time!" Mavis said, excited and already equipped for the excursion with the big backpack given to her by her father, maybe with too much load for the short trip.
"My little-corpse, are you ready? You couldn't wait to leave, right?" Mavis jumped down on the floor and smiled admitting that her father was right. "But don't you think you've got a bit too much stuff?" Drac continued.
"A true traveler carries everything that could be used, and even what seems useless. You never know what unexpected events could happen in a last minute trip!" Jonathan came into the conversation, also with his big backpack.
"Jonny!" Mavis squeaked, brimming with joy, and ran to her beloved, hugging him, "Can you believe it, Jonny, can you believe it?"
"Maybe the second time is the good one." It was Griffin, with his usual biting remarks; he also came to say good morning to the girl.
"Griffin." Wanda muttered. "Why must you always be so bad?" Then approaching Mavis. "Oh, dear, you're a charm, I brought a couple of things that you might need. Here you go a nice wool sweater ..." She said, giving her a knitted sweater, but it was not in good condition. In fact it was a little lopsided, had a sleeve longer than the other, some small tears here and there and it was full of dog hair. "Yes, I know it's not perfect, but with this band of wild puppets is difficult to knit in peace... and then its better if you take these too, they may not be a bazooka, but it's the best that I was able to find." She ended by giving her a couple of frag grenades.
"Those are bombs! They are made to kill! "Jonathan cried, then turning to Wanda. "But how did you come to mind to give her something so dangerous?!"
But he seemed to be ignored.
"Jonny?" Mavis called his attention. "How I look with a pretty ring?" He kept looking down at the shiny steel ring on the ring finger.
The human paled suddenly, so that everyone noticed it. "You... you... you..." He stammered, terrified to the point of not being able to speak, "You removed the safety pin?"
Mavis looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "You mean iron the ring? Yes, I pulled out of here." She said, showing the grenade at the boy, but by doing so she loosened her grip and the arming lever jumped off, "Oops, is this normal?"
Jonathan threw himself behind the bed for refuge, while the others remained impassive.
"They say it might explode..." Wayne said, far too calm as if he did not realize the danger.
Drac, irritated, took the triggered bomb, smashed Murray's foot who screamed in pain and the vampire took the opportunity to throw the bomb into his mouth. The explosion made a hollow sound, like that of distant thunder and inflated the mummy for a moment before returning to normal.
"This iron pineapple will remain in my stomach for a while..." Murray said, bending due to the stomachache.
"Don't speak nonsense, Murray; we all know your stomach is in a canopy at the British Museum." Dracula said, then returning to Mavis. "I'd better bring this other one where no one will ever find it." And the grenade disappeared in purple fog. "Well, shall we go to breakfast, since you two are so anxious? I don't want you wait any longer." And he turned toward the door. "By the way Jonny, do you want to stay hidden all day?"
The boy peeped out from behind the bed and looked around, "Are you all right guys?"
"Yes, and we're all waiting for you for breakfast!" Frank said with a chuckle.
"Everyone except me, I'm already full." Murray pointed out.
As the group left the room, Mavis was joined by Wanda, who whispered:
"Sorry for the bad gift, I found them while looking for something useful in an abandoned military camp, but I never knew how they were used and what effects they had. I just wanted to give you something to protect yourself."
"Don't worry Aunt Wanda, I grew up and I learned to stand up for myself."
The woman-wolf smiled proudly. "Maybe you're right, you've grown a lot, and you no longer need a nanny. I'm so proud of you; this will be a great day."
"Yeah, I want to capture it." The young vampire replied. "Jonny, remember to pick up your phone, I want to make an album full of pictures of this important day!"
The boy turned to her, appearing a bit sad. "I'm sorry my little batty-girl, the battery is completely gone, it was too cloudy in recent days to use my solar battery charger."
"No, that's too bad, Frank, can you do something? You're the electricity expert of the hotel." Mavis replied to that bad news.
The blue giant looked down and saw Jonathan who was handing him his phone attached to the charger.
"Hmmm, does it work at a hundred and ten or two hundred and thirty volts?" Frank asked the boy.
"Both."
"I work at two hundred and thirty volts." Having said that, Frankenstein took the plug and inserted it into his nose to the disgust of the others, but the phone switched on in charging mode.
"Does it work?" Frank asked in a voice reminiscent of a cold, as he put the phone in his jacket pocket.
"Well... yes, it works, but... that sucks!" Jonathan replied, making a big laugh along with everyone else.
The breakfast was very quick and, once finished, Dracula, Jonathan, Mavis and her aunt and uncle went out on the apron where the hearse and the headless driver was waiting for them, who seeing them opened the door to pick up the three.
"Hey, Jonny, your phone." Frank said, pulling off the charger from his nose, from which were drawn two long strands of mucus that when touched did short circuit sparkling and stunning giant for a moment. Then he shook his head and handed them to the boy but he took the phone and said:
"Thank you, but you can keep the charger, I do not think I need it."
"Do not worry." The count said to the driver. "Mavis, do you want to drive the hearse?"
The vampiress blinked. "Are you serious? You really want me to drive?"
"Well, you can drive better than me." Jonathan interjected. "I destroyed four cars, a boat and an airship, but I have not driven them, I crashed on it with my third car... and don't ask me how I made it fly up there."
"Then stay away from the old tricycle of my daughter!" Drac teased him as he went up into the hearse.
"I didn't do so much damage on a tricycle, I just knocked down a fridge on Christmas day when my parents gave it to me and then nothing else happened, also because it was crushed by the fridge and my parents never rebought it..." The boy replied, following the vampire.
"Are you ready guys? Fasten your seat belts as you go!" Mavis said, enthusiastic, and without even waiting for the two to close the door, she floored the accelerator making Jonny and Drac roll back and crash on the rear window, and with a tire screech the old hearse departed and crossed at full speed across bridge separating the house of the young vampiress from freedom.
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