Chapter 11: Protective Family

The doorbell to the B&B rang and the door opened to reveal a family friend. "Hello, everyone!" He called out pleasantly.

"Why, King Pepi!" Oxana said in surprise. "What a pleasant surprise!"

"Welcome, old friend," Boris said warmly. "How are things at the museum?"

"Going well," the mummy replied. "The director is having some renovations done to include a couple more sections for the Egyptian exhibit, so the museum's closed for a bit."

"Oh, wonderful!" Oxana said. "More of your country's history right here in Pennsylvania."

"Yes," King Pepi said before seeing Vampirina come down the stairs with a younger girl. The little vampire saw him and gasped.

"King Pepi!" She said, running up to him and hugging him. He scooped her up into a hug and noticed the younger girl had shied against Oxana, peeking up at him curiously, but looking a bit afraid.

"Hello, Vampirina," he said to the young vampire before turning to Emily. "And who is this little one?" He asked with a smile.

Boris chuckled and gently pulled Emily to stand in front of him and Oxana. "This is the newest member of the family," he said. "Our little Emily."

The little girl didn't look overly sure about the mummy, but Vampirina knew that her little sister was curious. "It's okay, Emily. King Pepi is a friend of the family and he's really nice," she said. "Just like Demi and Remy."

"Someone call moi?" Chef Remy asked, coming out of the kitchen and gasping in surprise at seeing the Egyptian mummy standing there. "Why, Your Majesty! Welcome!" He said warmly.

"The famous Chef Remy Bones," King Pepi said with a gasp. "I'm honored to meet you. I've heard you're the best chef in the world."

"Thank you," Chef Remy said, being humble but was secretly bursting with pride that a royal king was speaking praises about him. Vampirina giggled and looked at Emily.

"See? King Pepi really is nice," she said, reinforcing her earlier statement.

The four-year-old didn't look completely reassured, but did at least curtsey to the king. "Hi," she said softly.

He smiled. "Hello, little one," he said, finding her shyness cute. He also didn't take offense. She was just a little girl and had probably never met royalty before. In plus, he didn't want to make her any more nervous than she was about meeting him.

Oxana and Boris were pleased that Emily had at least greeted Pepi politely and he seemed to be willing to make her feel less nervous around him. "Well, why don't we get you settled in your room?" Boris asked.

"Thank you," Pepi said. "And…I hope you don't mind, I brought my sarcophagus with me."

"Oh, that's completely alright," Oxana said, not minding at all.

A little bit later, King Pepi was settled in and he saw Emily peeking in the room, watching him. He smiled. "Come in, Emily," he said in a pleasant voice.

She swallowed a little, nervous. She had never met a royal person before and was still a bit unsure about him, something he picked up on. "Don't be afraid, little one," he said, his voice becoming soothing. "I don't bite."

She quickly held back a giggle, but he chuckled at seeing her smile, knowing she was holding back a giggle. "So, you're the newest Hauntley," he said. "How do you like living here?"

"It's good," she replied, telling herself to answer politely. "Mom and Dad are good to me."

"And the others?"

Emily smiled. "Vee is awesome," she said. "Like big sister."

She then giggled. "Remy is funny, like Demi. Gregoria is nice and so are Penelope and Wolfie."

Seeing she was talking more and becoming more relaxed, he smiled. "Sounds like you're fitting right in," he said before music began playing and he went up to her, picking her up and setting her on a throne like chair he had brought with him before he began singing.

"It can be tough and scary

Being a new kid in a new place,

But don't worry, cause I've got some advice,

So let's get a smile on your face."

Emily giggled as King Pepi gently tweaked her nose, giving her a friendly wink as he continued singing.

"A smile helps break the ice,

It leads to 'Hello' and 'How do you do?'

People become drawn to you then

So you'll no longer feel sad and blue.

A smile helps you a lot,

Cause it never goes dim,

Things are looking up for you, kiddo

Cause a smile helps you fit right in."

Emily again giggled, seeing that her older sister was right. King Pepi was very nice and she felt her earlier doubts vanish. He was making her feel better and treating her as if he had known her forever. Seeing her smile, Pepi grinned and playfully tickled her ears, making her giggle before he continued the song.

"Shyness and cuteness go hand in hand

And a smile can brighten a day,

So keep your chin up, girl

Luck and happiness are heading your way.

A smile helps you a lot,

Cause it never goes dim,

Things are looking up for you, kiddo

Cause a smile helps you fit right in.

Yeah, things are looking up for you, kiddo

Cause a smile helps you fit right in."

Giggles sounded out from Emily, who clapped in appreciation as the upbeat song lifted her spirits and she hugged King Pepi, who returned her hug, seeing the young girl and Vampirina as his nieces. Emily rested her head on his shoulder, a sign that she trusted him and he smiled, gently ruffling her hair.

Later that evening, after dinner, the girls were up in Vampirina's room playing a board game while King Pepi, Oxana, and Boris visited in the living room. Chef Remy, Demi, Gregoria, and Penelope had already turned in for the night and so it was pretty quiet.

"Did Emily warm up to you, old friend?" Boris asked.

"Yes, she did," Pepi answered. "She's a very sweet girl, just like Vampirina."

Oxana smiled. "Thank you," she said. "We've been trying to help Emily through the troubles she's been facing and I'm glad she doesn't feel afraid of you."

"Troubles?" King Pepi asked. "What sort of troubles?"

After he was told about what the little girl went through, he stood up. "That's awful," he said. "And the police haven't caught those two yet?"

"No, not yet," Boris said. "We are worried they're going to come after Emily."

All of a sudden, the lights went out and all three looked up before hearing the window in the kitchen smash. Oxana quickly went into bat form and looked to see the Stemwrithes breaking into the B&B and the house. She flew back to the living room and transformed again. "Darling, it's them," she said to her husband. "The Stemwrithes. They're breaking in."

Boris stood up. "Go awaken Remy, Gregoria, Demi, and Penelope," he said to his wife. "I'll see if I can stall the Stemwrithes if they get in before you come back with them."

Pepi jumped up. "Boris, Oxana. I'll protect the girls," he promised, running upstairs to Vampirina's room and finding both girls there. Emily was looking afraid.

"Them," she said fearfully.

"They're breaking in?" Vampirina asked fearfully. Now it took a lot to scare a vampire, but she was scared for her younger sister.

"Come with me," Pepi said, picking them both up and carrying them to his room, shutting the door behind them. Emily clung to him in fear.

"Don't want them to get me," she said in a scared whisper.

"They won't, Emily," King Pepi said reassuringly. "Those two are going to get a scare they won't forget."

He set them down. "And if need be, I'll help your parents and you girls can hide in my sarcophagus," he continued before hugging them and rubbing their backs to soothe them. "Shh. Those two won't get in here or get to either of you."

While that helped a little, the girls were still scared. Especially Emily.

The Stemwrithes had entered the house, but hadn't been prepared to face an angry plant, a protective ghost, gargoyle, and skeleton, and two super protective vampires. "How dare you break into our home!" Oxana hissed angrily.

"Emily is our daughter and we're here to take her home!" Mrs. Stemwrithe said sternly.

"You won't get her!" Chef Remy said, ready to defend the family.

"Ah, but you're wrong," the lady said with a smile. "My husband is going up the stairs as we speak."

They rushed to stop him, but Mrs. Stemwrithe was quicker and she bypassed them all, pulling out a gun to make them stop and headed up the stairs after her husband. "Have you found her room?" She asked.

"Not yet," he said. "But I'm willing to bet she's up here."

Hearing the couple, Emily whimpered and Pepi knew they were headed that way. "Emily, Vampirina, quickly. Inside my sarcophagus," he said, opening it and helping them inside. "Don't worry, only I can open it. You'll be safe."

"King Pepi," Vampirina said worriedly. "What about you?"

He smiled. "I'm going to make sure those two don't take away your little sister," he said, but his voice had a hard undertone to it. "Now, stay down and keep still."

At the gentle command, they nodded and he closed his sarcophagus, knowing his nieces were safe and he stood in the middle of his room, ready to scare the Stemwrithes. A moment later, the couple entered his room and he faced them, his eyes glowing a bright purple color before roaring loudly and making scarab beetles fly around the couple, scaring them as the beetles began tearing at their clothes a bit. "LEAVE EMILY ALONE!" He thundered.

No one had ever seen Pepi when he was angry or protective, but while he was a kind king and a nice monster, when it came down to protecting his friends and family, he could be quite fierce.

The Stemwrithes looked at him. "Why are you protecting a brat?" Mr. Stemwrithe asked.

That was the last straw and Pepi grew angry. "That 'brat' is my niece!" He thundered. "And I'll protect her just like I protect my friends and family!"

With that proclamation, his eyes flashed a mixture of bright purple and bright green colors and he grabbed the evil couple, holding them so that they were staring right into his eyes. The flash of colors was his hypnotic stare, which was a power he very rarely used, but it worked and the couple soon passed out and he tied them up, helping Boris and Remy take the tied up, passed out couple downstairs. "Pepi, thank you," Oxana said to him gratefully.

"You're welcome, Oxana," he said before going up to his room and opening the sarcophagus. The girls jumped out and hugged him.

"Gone?" Emily asked.

"They're downstairs," he said. "Tied up and waiting for the police to arrive. They can't get you, Emily. Never again."

She hugged him and he carried both girls downstairs where the police sergeant was ordering two of his men to load the couple into the cruisers and take them away. He then looked at Oxana and Boris and took off his hat. "Mr. and Mrs. Hauntley, may I make a request?" He asked politely.

"Of course," Boris said.

The older man looked at them seriously. "Take care of my great niece, Emily," he said.

They all gasped in shock. "She's…your great niece?" Oxana asked.

He nodded. "I've been watching over her from afar," he said. "And I was glad when you adopted her. I know she'll have a good life with you."

Touched that he trusted them to take care of the little girl, they nodded. "We'll take good care of her, Sergeant," Boris said. "We love her like a daughter."

The sergeant nodded. "I can tell," he said. "She's thrived under your care."

With a nod, he left and Pepi let out a sigh of relief and looked at Emily. "The danger's gone, Emily," he said.

She smiled. "They can't come back?" She asked.

"Never," Oxana said firmly. "You're our daughter, sweetie."

"And nothing's going to change that," Boris promised.

Smiling, Emily hugged her family, feeling the weight of her fears finally lift away. She had a loving family and she never had to worry about the Stemwrithes ever again.

She smiled again, happiness filling her heart and peace washing over her as her family hugged her with loving arms.

Well, the Stemwrithes are finally captured and can't get to Emily anymore. :)

I want to extend a big thank you to newbienovelistRD, one of my best friends, for the suggestion of Pepi singing a song for Emily. Thank you, Amiga! :)

I hope all of you are enjoying the story. We just have a couple chapters left before the end. I'm very happy that my first true Vampirina story has been such a hit with all of you. :) Also, the song Pepi sings for Emily is one I made up. :)

Please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418