Dear Elizzabat,
My friend and Queen, I have dire news! My host and I perchance rescued the half-human Kaiju Prince from the Great River near our home. He had been badly wounded with magick weapons and left to drown! His human mother had been kidnapped, and when he tracked down those responsible, he found that they were FOREVER KNIGHTS! I know, we'd ALL thought they were gone for good, but it seems they want to ruin the Treaty. They want the war to continue! Shaggy's not-so-mad scientist friend Velma thinks Van Hellscream sees the war as doing their work for them, and by preventing unity among monsterkind, it also prevents any chance of peace with the normies as well. Shaggy's witch friend Daphne thinks that they may try to target Draculaura & Clawd and Shaggy and me, given what Prince Duncan overheard before being discovered by the Knights. However, given that it was Forever Knights that murdered my parents, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to kill you and blame the werewolves! Either way, both Shaggy and Alpha Clawdeen are increasing security. I think you should, too.
On a more harmless but more annoying note, Regina Bathory and her son Drew had the audacity to show up here and demand I leave with them! I spoke my mind and Shaggy ran them off-it was so cool!-even Sugie and Chase got into it; Chase kicked Drew in the shin and Sugie bit his arm!
Your Eternal Friend,
Christina Rose Shadowfae Dracula.
Elizzabat read and re-read the letter in her hands, disbelieving the ink on the page.
"I have to gather my council," she finally decided letting the letter fall to the desk as she stood.
…...
The rain continued throughout the week, putting Christina on edge even as she sat curled in the library with a book in her hands. No amount of reading soothed her frazzled nerves.
"Christina?" Shaggy stepped before her.
"Hi," she moved over to make room for Shaggy, leaning into him as soon as he sat down.
"Do you want to like, talk about it?"
"No"
"Okay," he wrapped an arm around her, "We don't have to"
"What are-"
"Sugie and Chase are playing cards in her room, Clawdeen is napping and Duncan is keeping watch for response letters"
Christina fell silent.
...
The camp of the Forever Knights was quiet, the fires mostly died down, and sentries were posted to keep watch while most slept. The tent of their leader was still lit, however, as he was expecting...guests. He was pacing impatiently when.
"Good evening, Lord Van Hellscream", the regal yet smug voice of Lady Bathory said behind him. He turned to see her and her smirking son.
"It's about time", he grumped. "My army marches at dawn. It would be HELPFUL to know in which direction we're marching!"
"Mind your tongue, mortal!", Drew snapped.
"Now, Drew, no need to be rude", his mother chided gently. "Our friend has a point. However, sir knight, we had to wait until most of your camp was asleep to slip past your watch unseen. After all, you wouldn't want your followers to see you consorting with vampires now would you?"
Van Hellscream glared at the vampiress, wanting nothing more than to wipe that smug grin off her face. He unrolled a large map on the table. "Where is the werewolf's estate?"
"Here", Bathory indicated the location.
"It will take several days", Van Hellscream determined, examining the terrain and nearby settlements to avoid. "Once there, storming the place should be easy enough."
"Remember! Slaughter everyone else as you wish, but Christina is to be 'rescued' by ME!, Drew hissed, then he grinned wickedly. "Then she'll have no choice but to become MINE."
"And ve vill keep her hidden avay for her 'safety' and the massacre vill be blamed on the vampires", His mother smirked.
"Destroying the Treaty", Van Hellscream grinned. "You never told me why you were so willing to ruin the Treaty. Is it not to your advantage to have the Treaty?"
"Feh! It was of no true advantage to vampire nobles such as we!", Bathory scoffed. "The mangy mutts SHOULD be destroyed! And only turned and peasant pureblood vampires were required to fight; nobles only served as leaders voluntarily."
"And they DARED to use MY princess to make the Treaty?", Drew snarled. "They deserve to suffer for that!"
...
Clawdeen paced through the manor her mind still a mess. Shaggy was no help he just repeated what she had told him but now, NOW she understood why he'd had so many problems. He was right of course but it didn't make it any easier. So caught up in her thoughts was she that she didn't realize Duncan was coming until they crashed into each other.
"Whoa, you okay?" he caught her before she hit the floor.
"Yeah, Th-thanks," she stammered, "Think you can put me down now?"
"Oh, sorry," he set her on her feet, "So uh, what are you doing?"
"Thinking"
"About the treaty?"
"Yes, we've been trying to set up the actual signing ceremony but with the threat it's been put on hold"
"Understandable," Duncan nodded, "I haven't seen any responses yet"
"Most likely due to the weather," Clawdeen shrugged with a glance out the window right as lightning split the sky.
"If you aren't busy perhaps you could join me in the parlor, it would be nice to have a distraction, I keep thinking about Mom"
"Lead the way"
...
The foul weather continues. There's still no word from the vampire court or home. Even though this is because of the weather I can't help but fret. Shaggy, the sweetheart that he is, has tried everything he can to distract or otherwise entertain me but I despise being cooped up like this, especially with this threat looming...
Christina set her diary down with a long, heavy sigh.
"Why so sad, my little Love-Bat?"
"Grandmother!" Christina gasped with surprise, spinning around to hug the elder fae, "What are you doing here?"
"I've come to protect you and your brother, I've been watching"
"But, but, Grandmother, they have iron and, magical weapons and-"
"Shh, shh," Maleficent stroked her hair soothingly, "There's nothing a well-laid plan can't overcome"
"Are you certain?"
"Of course," Maleficent smiled, "Let's go inform the others I've come, shall we?"
...
Meanwhile, Chase and Sugie were settled in the library a card game between them.
"And I win again," Sugie set down her last card, "What's the matter Chase? Chase?"
The boy jumped turning to his werewolf companion with a frown.
"What's the matter?"
He shook his head, sliding her a note, something's coming.
"It'll be okay, you'll see"
Chase shook his head disbelievingly.
"You're scared, aren't you?"
He nodded, stepping over the cards to sit beside her.
"It'll be okay," Sugie hugged him, "I promise"
...
Shaggy couldn't remember what he was supposed to be doing. Responding to letters maybe? It didn't matter because the constant rain deterred the messenger owls not to mention soaked the parchment so instead of busy work he paced the study. It had been his father's once but just like the estate he was having trouble thinking of it as his. So lost in thought was he that he practically hit the ceiling at the light tapping on the door frame.
"I'm sorry," Christina apologized rushing inside, "Are you hurt?"
"No, no, I'm fine you like, just startled me," he recovered himself, "I was just about to look for you anyway, maybe you could show me how to make those cookies from dessert the other night?"
"I'd be happy to but first," Christina nodded to the doorway.
It was only then that Shaggy noticed Maleficent, the sight of her would have been enough to startle him all over again had it not been for Christina's reassuring grip, "Maleficent, forgive me I like, didn't see you"
"That's alright you were distracted," Maleficent acknowledged with an amused smile which quickly faded, "I heard about the impending threat, I've come to help in anyway I can,"
"Thank you," Shaggy was immensely relieved, "Like, we could discuss a plan after the children go to bed later tonight?"
"I believe that would be best, speaking of where is-"
Maleficent was cut off as Chase came tearing down the hall to slam excitedly into her side with a grin, "Yes, I missed you too," she hugged him.
"Hello," Sugie nervously greeted.
"Hello, Sugie, I trust you two are keeping out of trouble?"
"Uh, not exactly.."
"If that mud in the foyer was anything to go by," Shaggy declared.
"I wanted to go jump in the puddles," Sugie defended herself, "You used to all the time"
"I remember, now how about lunch?"
"We'll get Clawdeen and Duncan," Sugie pulled Chase away.
"Nope! I'LL do that; you two, like, go get washed and changed into clean clothes!"
"But Shaggy...!", Sugie started to whine, with Chase beside her with pleading eyes.
"Shaggy's right", Christina huffed in mock scolding. "We have company! You should both be presentable like the proper noble children you are! I will not have you looking like a pair of filthy rag-a-muffins! MARCH!"
"OK! Ok, fine. Come on, Chase", Sugie sighed as the two trudged toward the upstairs washroom while Maleficent stifled a matronly giggle.
...
Clawdeen was certain Duncan could hear her heart about to beat out of her chest as they traded happier childhood stories. Is this what her brother and cousin had gone through? She wasn't used to being so tongue-tied, in a family as large as hers you often had to yell to really be heard. This was all so strange but at the same time, she was filled with a giddy excitement from being so close to Duncan she didn't want this to end. Unfortunately...
"Lunch," Shaggy announced, lightly tapping the wall to get their attention.
"Already?" Clawdeen blinked in surprise with a glance at the old grandfather clock in the corner. Just how long had they been talking?
"Yep and we like, have company"
Shaggy hurried back down the hall so he could escort Christina.
"Company? In this weather?" Duncan looked out the window, the rain still came down in blinding sheets, thunder rumbling overhead.
"I suppose if the children can jump in mud puddles we can have company," Clawdeen shrugged, standing.
"Would you grant me the honor of escorting you to the dining hall, Clawdeen?" Duncan offered his arm with a charming smile.
Clawdeen didn't trust herself to speak with her heart stuck in her throat so she nodded, accepting with a smile.
...
Grandmother has joined us here. She assures me we'll have a plan. That we won't go the way of my parents but I must confess I still worry. It was such a ruthless act. Unprovoked, nasty. My parents had been summoned to the vampire court, i can't remember why. But they were on their way home when the knights hijacked their carriage, slaughtering my father and then my mother. Back home, I was none the wiser, Grandmother was watching us, most of her attention on Chase who'd begun to toddle about. But, I remember the gut-sinking feeling that overcame me at lunch, how I couldn't shake it no matter how I tried. Three days later we learned the truth.
Oh, Chase. He didn't understand, still a baby. I'm glad he cannot remember how I screamed and kicked. I threw the worst fit convinced they were wrong. It couldn't have been my Mama and Daddy those men were talking about. I just didn't believe it until they dropped Mom's wedding ring in my hand, the only thing recovered from the ashes. Within the hour, Uncle Dracula had come to discuss funeral arrangements with Grandmother. There were so many people coming and going, trying to hug me or 'help' with Chase. It was maddening! Then I was asked who I wanted to live with...
Christina rubbed her eyes furiously, trying to keep her tears from falling and blurring the fresh ink. The all-consuming fear was still coursing through her, the torrent of emotions that threatened to tear her inside out. Years and years of bottling it all up, shoving it down so she could be strong, so she could be there.
It all threatened to come undone.
All unraveling. Ready to take her and everyone else too.
She crumpled to the floor.
You know when cars get stuck and spin their wheels? yeah, that's me with this story. I just want to get to the and they all lived happily ever after part but I HAVE NO IDEA what I'm doing it's gone so badly off the rails.