I did it again people. Without taking my time, I published something I ended up not being pleased with. Some changes in this chapter that I think will go great for the story. I am sorry for those that have read it already. I promise that I won't do this again. I hope to have a Chapter 9 by next Sunday bit no promises. I want to take my time and make sure everything is right so I won't have to keep removing and editing. Again, I apologize. Thank you for all your continued support.

CHAPTER 8

The Grand Adventure Awaits Part 1

In a damp but lived in cave, a small fire near the entrance slowly dies out. Of the last bit of light coming from the remaining fire and setting sun, there appeared to be shadows on the walls. Not true though. Merely they were the drawings of someone that is not a true artist but still talented enough to draw something that looks, decent. Drawn in charcoal from partially burnt sticks, drawings of friends, family, and even himself. Sometimes letting his imagination run a little wild with vampires, werewolves, and zombies. Just one thing was missing from all these drawings, a certain someone, special.

Returning from his experience, dazed and confused. Vision was a little blurry or was it his uncontrollable red bangs? No, definitely blurred vision. The back of his head ached. Putting his hand at the spot, he could feel a lump forming under all the red hair. "Must have been from when I fell," he thought. "That's gonna be there for some time."

Reaching the cave, he staggered to his failing fire and carefully dropped a couple logs to keep the fire lit, almost falling in the process. Deciding it would be best to lie down before he truly hurt himself more, then he would be in real trouble. Walking into his homely cave, he looked around in the dim light of the fading day. Everything was as he left it, especially for the long blond haired mermaid that was sleeping near the water. He wanted to talk with her but not now. Not in his condition. Besides, she looked too peaceful to wake up.

Slowly getting to his knees and finally laying on his side, he rolled to his back. He covered his eyes with his hand. Using his other hand, he straightened out his long, red beard so it wouldn't get tugged. He was tired but couldn't sleep. His mind when to thoughts from his find earlier. The worn, red shoe. The cross with MAVIS scratched on it. Thinking to himself, "Who is Mavis? The name sounds familiar." Then a picture came into his head. Short, raven black hair. The small but very cute nose. The shimmering black lips. The… eyes. The beautiful, gorgeous, shimmering, large, deep blue eyes! Bangs, lots of bangs. And, and fangs? Something came to his mind. Something in the form of a jingle. It sounded familiar. Like he had sung it before.

Vampire girl with the fangy fangs.

Hair real cute with the bangy bangs.

Little princess gonna be a queen.

Legal bat lady turning one eighteen.

"Vampire? One eighteen? Mavis?" It was all too confusing. The castaway sat up quickly. A little too quickly and his head started to spin. His eye sight growing black. His head was becoming heavy as it teetered back and forth on his neck. Gravity won and his head fell backwards… again. But this time falling on something softer than a large root. Johnny was now past out. And soon, subconsciously, his mind became very much active with memories he never knew or forgot he had.

Flying into a girl on the steps, meeting her eyes and watching how they sparkled as he felt love struck. Moments of brief talking. That song… again. A roof with a beautiful view of surrounding mountains. A sunrise. THE FIRST SUNRISE. Holding her arms as he stood behind her, backing her up to stay in the shadow. The first kiss. Almost being ripped apart from her… forever. Being brought back, again. Traveling together. Hawaii? A second time?

Tossing, turning, and moaning in his sleep woke the mermaid, Azelea up. She didn't notice Johnny had laid down to sleep. Now being a creature of the water, it was not easy for her to reach him. "He must be having a bad dream," she thought. She called his name to try to wake him up, "Johnny." No answer came from the moaning and thrashing head of red hair. "Johnny, wake up! You're having a bad dream!" Azelea said loudly but not quite yelling yet. Still seeing no response, she slowly picked herself up with her arms out of the water and was able to slowly crawl toward him. She got used to doing this often in the cave and was quite good at it now. However, she couldn't be out of the water for very long.

Johnny was seeing people in a dream. Blurred faces but were getting clearer. His parents, brothers, and sister. Then as his family moved on, a couple more faces. One of a tall and dark figure with slick back hair. The rest were really strange. A face of a werewolf, a mummy, and a large blue man with stiches around his neck. He didn't know what to think of this. Finally came a lonely figure. Short and slender enveloped in a blur. The blur soon cleared showing the familiar face that he just saw earlier. Soon all other visions of family and the others vanished. Eventually Johnny saw multiples of this girl, all having a sad and disappointing look at him. Almost like he was doing something wrong to hurt her. The faces started to blur out and soon all was black except for a voice was heard.

Reaching her so called boyfriend, she shook his shoulders to try to wake him, "Johnny. Wake up. You're dreaming. Johnny!" Shaking him even more, she suddenly heard him gasp. Johnny's eye went wide open and quickly sprung up, impacting her head with a solid THUNK. "OW!" Azelea quickly held her head where she and Johnny impacted.

Breathing heavy and slowly recovering his bearings, he saw the mermaid slumped down, holding herself up with one arm and the other holding her head beside his legs. Seconds later, Johnny just realized what happened as his head started to hurt again. "Azelea! I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" Johnny put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her up and closer in respect for hurting her. "I'm okay. Really. Just a bump," she replied.

"Look at me?" asked Johnny trying to get a look at her head. His voice seemed calm and kind. Azelea couldn't resist and looked up at him, still holding her head. Johnny carefully took her hand and moved it away from her blond hair. He stared at the point of impact, slowly bringing his hand up to her soft hair and lightly feeling for any signs of a bump. There wasn't much of a bump but it was there.

"Does it hurt?" asked the hairy face?

"Not anymore," said Azelea as she just stared into his hazel eyes. Soon Johnny's hand wandered down her soft, blond hair. Slowly petting her head without knowing. Azelea didn't say anything. She was enjoying this. Johnny looked at her in the eyes and smiled.

"Good," he said with a gentle voice. "We better get you back in the water before you get sick." Azelea agreed but was kind of disappointed the moment was broken. To try to rekindle the mood, Azelea gave Johnny a quick kiss. Surprised at this, Johnny didn't know what to do but stare at the mermaid but did not pursue the moment any further. Slowly getting to his feet, swaying a little back and forth as his head felt dizzy. He slowly bent down and picked up Azelea in his arms. She looked at him, confused as to why he stopped being affectionate. Walking to the water, Johnny carefully put her down and let the wetness return to her skin and scales as he slowly walked away to Azelea's surprise.

"Johnny? Are you okay?" asked the concerned mermaid with a sorrowful look.

"I'm sorry Azelea. I'm okay. Just…" as he paused to let out a sigh, "I went for a walk earlier. While you were sleeping." Azelea was confused as to why this was bad and why he was acting so… cold. Her curiosity was peaking, "Okay? Did something happen?"

Johnny sat back down near the fire. "I was clearing a path. It looked like it was clear before but a long time ago. It lead to this clearing. The grass there was tall." Azelea came up to the water's edge and supported her head with her elbows and hands, looking intrigued at the hairy faced human as he continued. "It was beautiful. A lot of flowers grew around there." Johnny stopped again, almost purposely building a climax of a story. "I tripped over something and fell down pretty hard. After that… all I remember is waking up, my head really hurt. I think I blacked out or something. After that, all I remember is that I tripped over.'' Azelea stopped Johnny for a moment concerned for him. "Oh my, Johnny! Are you okay?" Her voice had a tremble in it but she kept it steady to not concern Johnny any more than what he already was.

"Walking back here was not the greatest," he continued. "I felt like my head was spinning. I couldn't see straight. I think I got a minor concussion from hitting my head." Without alarming the mermaid anymore, he quickly explained he was okay as he looked at her concerned face. "I promise I'm okay. I just need to rest my head. But anyway," As he continued the story, "I got up and was looking for what I tripped over. What I found was surprising to me. It was some sort of wooden cross. Hanging on it was an old, worn red shoe. And on the cross, there was something scratched into the wood. It looked like a name." Johnny paused for a moment as he stared at the steady flame rolling around the fresh wood he thrown on a while ago.

Azelea sat there on the watery rocks looking at Johnny's face. He looked like he had seen a ghost or something that scared him. It was a petrifying look to her. She was worried about his head and this concussion. She looked down slightly just staring, resting her eyes on a single stone, as she began to think. She worried if he hurt his mind in anyway. More importantly to her, what effect had hitting his head do to keeping some of his memories blocked from him?

"Azelea?" the mermaid heard from Johnny as she slowly brought her eyes to his as he looked at her with grief and a sad expression. A single tear dropped from his eye slowly making its way down his cheek and falling to the cave floor. "Who is… Mavis?" Azelea now felt a lump in her throat. The concussion did open up some memories to him. "Not good," she thought. Thinking quickly, she tried to come up with an excuse for him to forget about Mavis.

"I remembering you telling me she was someone you rescued after your plane crash. This was before we met. She was very injured, you told me. And she didn't survive," explained the mermaid hoping not to be caught in the lie.

"Then why is it I see her when I close my eyes? Why do I see her and me on a roof top enjoying a sunrise? Why do I always see a sparkle in her eyes when she looks at me?" Johnny started to slowly crawl toward the blond mermaid with concern and almost like a torment in his eyes. She was starting to get scared. "Why do I have these visions of her? Why Azelea!? Am I just dreaming or was it real!?" He finished as he came up on the mermaid, face-to-face. Azelea slightly backed away, scared he was going to do something.

"Please Azelea! Tell me!" as he raised his voice. Azelea looked hurt. Feeling the tender moments they shared. Keeping each other company. The love she experienced with him. It seemed it was failing and in jeopardy. She hoped he wouldn't remember that girl. That stupid girl! She put on a show, trying to look sincere as possible and heartbroken for him as she explained to him.

"You really must have hit your head really hard. I know it's difficult to understand, Johnny. But please trust me… she was just someone you saved. I promise sweetie, what you have told me before, you met her while you were traveling. That is all I know." Johnny just slumped down even more as he looked down at the rocks. Azelea took her hand under his chin and brought his eyesight to her. "I'm so sorry, Johnny." Tears started to run from her eyes. "I just wanted to help you. I hid those thoughts from you so you would not be in pain." She hoped her acting would pay off and he would not be mad at hiding those thoughts from her. Johnny did actually fall for it. He quickly hugged her.

"Oh, Azelea. I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to yell at you. I'm just scared. Maybe I did hit my head a lot harder than I thought." As Azelea embraced the human, she couldn't help but have this mischievous smile on her face which Johnny could not see. She patted his back and spoke to him.

"It's okay sweetie. I understand and I'm always here for you. Why don't you lay down for a little while? To rest your head." Finishing their embrace, Johnny gave Azelea a small kiss which she made sure to deepen in intensity. His furry face was just so cute and comfortable around her nose, cheeks, and lips. Johnny just stared at the mermaid after the kiss ended and smiled. He slowly turned away and crawled right back to his make shift bed and lied down.

"I don't want you to get up. If you need something, just call me and I will get it for you," assured Azelea.

"How are you going to get stuff on land?" asked Johnny

"I have my ways. Besides, I am getting stronger so it's not as hard. Trust me. You rest. I have to go somewhere really quick. I'll bring back some food for later." Johnny just looked at Azelea and smiled. Before leaving Azelea heard her name and turned around, "Azelea… Thank you." She smiled back and dove under the water. She took off out of the cave leaving the poor boy to remember his so called lost friend. As she left, she couldn't help but smile. She still had Johnny under her thumb.

As the sun began to set in San Jose, California, an airbus began a final approach and landed at the international airport. Taxing to the terminal and all occupants exiting into the main terminal, a trio walked toward baggage claim. Because of the tall stature and muscular build of the brothers, Brett and Kent, everyone around thought they were body guards for the small, pale girl that dressed strangely in all black with an accented red sash around her slimming waist and wearing sunglasses to protect from the final rays of the sun.

Finally reaching the baggage claim, the short girl removed her sunglasses showing off her large deep blue mesmerizing eyes. Other people waiting for their baggage sometimes stared at them. She would catch some people staring and just give them a closed mouth smile. The conveyor started to roll and bags started to come out, one-by-one. Quickly spotting their bags, Mavis gave a little nudge to Brett and pointed toward the rolling luggage.

Retrieving their belongings, the trio headed for the exit where their ride should be waiting. "Mavis," spoke Kent as she quickly looked up at him. "Now Janet is pick us up. And she does not know you are coming." Mavis looked up in amusement and with a smile.

"Oh, she is going to love this surprise. I'll walk behind you guys. You'll hide me well," Mavis replied as she giggled.

Exiting the airport, Brett and Kent quickly spotted Janet on the other side of the road waving at them. She was a little taller than Mavis and was just as slender. She had silky, straight red hair that came down below her shoulders and curled up on the edges. She wore a brown hair band on top of her head that came down behind her ears, helping push her hair back behind her shoulders. She had brown eyes, a little darker than Johnny's hazel eyes. Her skin color was slightly tanned from some sun. She was wearing a pair of fitted jeans and a tank top with a short sleeved unbuttoned shirt. She smiled brightly seeing her brothers again.

"Brett! Kent! Over here!" she yelled. The brother saw her and walked towards her with Mavis right behind. "I'm so glad you guys are back!" said Janet as she hugged them both. "Dad was going to pick you up but something came up at work so he couldn't. How was your trip?"

"It was good. Kinda getting used to the jet lag," said Brett.

"Do you know where we went, Janet?" asked Kent.

"No. Mom never told me the details. Only you two had to go to Europe," replied Janet

"We went to Transylvania," Kent said. Janet's smile dropped to a frown knowing what they were doing in Transylvania. Visiting Mavis.

"Oh. So… how is she doing?" asked Janet a little concerned and sad she could not see Mavis.

Brett and Kent both smiled at each other than back to Janet. Brett broke the silence as he formed the surprise, "Why don't you ask her yourself." Janet looked up a Brett a little confused on what he meant until both brothers parted from each other, revealing the young vampiress with a large smile, fangs and all. Janet's face lit up as her smile turned into a happy scream. She ran to her new sister and gave her the biggest hug ever. Brett and Kent just looked at the moment. Kent put his hand up waiting for a successful high five from his brother, which he received promptly.

"Oh my goodness! I can't believe you're here! This is so awesome! I've missed you so much Mavis!" exclaimed Janet.

"I know and I'm sorry for that. It has been too long. Never will that happen again. I'll make sure I visit more often," replied the vampire after ending their hug.

"Shall we?" asked Brett as he loaded the final bags into the truck. They all climbed into the sport utility vehicle, Mavis being allowed to occupy the passenger front seat while the brothers took the back.

"On to Santa Claus!" exclaimed Mavis. Janet smiled while the brothers giggled at Mavis's attempt to say Santa Cruz.

"I think you mean Santa Cruz," Kent politely corrected.

"Right. Sorry about that. I did the same thing when I first came here to meet you," said Mavis leaving it at that to not bring up the sore subject of Johnny. During the silence, Mavis remembered her promise in her letter to her Dad to call when she got there. "Oh. I promised my dad I would call him when I got here." She pulled out the phone Brett and Kent gave her and contacted the direct line to her father's office. It rang a few times. Although she was just calling her dad, she felt nervous. She really didn't leave on good terms with him. Will he be mad? Will he be okay with this? Should she mention the sailing voyage she will be embarking on? The ringing stopped and a familiar voice was heard.

"Good evening and thank you for calling The Hotel Transylvania. This is Vlad speaking. How can I help you?"

"Dad, It's me," Mavis sheepishly sad.

"Mavy? Honey Bat! Are you okay? You aren't in any danger? Please tell me there are no pitchforks pointed at you!" said the concerned voice of Dracula.

Mavis giggled at his concern and silliness, "Dad, I'm fine. There are no pitchforks. I promised I would call when I got to California. We landed an hour ago."

"That is good. I worried so much deadums. Why didn't you talk to me about this?"

"I tried to Dad. Remember? You kind of roared at me." Janet, Brett and Kent both looked frightened by the word "roar" and what she meant by that. Was that just a form of yelling to vampires? They certainly did not want to find out.

"I'm sorry deadums. I truly did not mean to. After I did it," there was a sigh and a pause, "I wanted to take it back so much. I promised you I wouldn't do that ever again and I still did. I'm so sorry Mavy."

"I understand Daddy. You want to protect me and I really love you for that. But there is a difference between protecting and imprisonment. I'm sorry too for leaving the way I did. I had no choice. If I stayed I would be too miserable. More than I have ever been. You wouldn't want to see me like that, right?"

"No I don't sweet fangs."

"Remember what you said those years ago? Go find your own paradise? I have grown up over the years and thanks to… Johnny, I have seen and experienced a lot of the world. People are not how they were back then. Besides, no one ever saw that I was a vampire, except for Johnny's family." The Loughran's in the SUV all smiled at that time when they first found out she was a vampire years ago. "And they have accepted me as part of their family. They see me as being just a fun person to be around, not what I am."

Silence filled the phone. Dracula understood what his daughter was saying and he should trust her judgement, knowing she has seen a lot of the world, more than him but he still had doubts. "I do remember Mavy. I just worry about my little girl. No matter how old you get, you will always be my little girl." Drac paused again and this time he sounded like he was about to cry. "I don't want to lose you again Mavy."

"I understand Daddy. I will certainly and always be your little girl. You will always be my Daddy no matter how old I get."

"How long will you be with Johnny's family?"

"I'm not sure Dad. I just need some time to be away. To be with Johnny's family. I promise I will be safe with the Loughran's and I will let you know when I will be coming home. I love you Dad."

"I love you coffin cake. I will miss you."

"I will miss you too. Goodbye." As Mavis hung up the phone, she could feel the three humans staring at her from the conversation with her father. She looked at Janet then back at the brothers realizing what they were listening to when she was talking with Dracula. "I'm so sorry that you had to hear that guys."

"So you came here because your dad is a control freak?" asked Janet. Mavis looked at Janet as she concentrated on her driving.

"Not at all. I really wanted to see you guys. Especially you. My dad may certainly be a control freak but he means well. He just has to trust me and my decisions. I wanted to come here anyway while Brett and Kent went to Hawaii." At a red light, Janet's face froze in surprise. She slowly turned her head to the vampire and stared at her then turned around to look at Brett sitting right behind Mavis, then back to Mavis.

"You know? Are you? Is she going with you?" quickly said Janet.

"Yes she knows. And we invited her," Kent spoke up.

"When they told me they were sailing to that island, for Johnny, I couldn't say no. It's for Johnny. And that just means more girl time for us while they make their final preperations," finished Mavis as she gave the red head driver a smile.

"I'll just have to get used to staying up a little later with you," replied Janet.

Reaching the Loughran household in Santa Cruz, Mike and Linda greeted Mavis with open arms. Everyone felt like a happy family, even if it was missing one special person. Talking and laughing what seemed like hours about Mavis's trips she had been on and just catching up two years of missing each other. Soon though, Brett and Kent had to leave tomorrow for Hawaii to finish preparations to Brett's reconditioned eighteenth century sailing vessel, the 'Sea Jewel.'

As all the men went to sleep, Linda and Janet stayed up a little later with Mavis so they could be able to stay up later and later to accommodate her vampire weakness, the sun. They talked some more, showing old photo albums of the family, especially Johnny.

"So what are we doing tomorrow?" asked Mavis.

"We were just going to go out on the town and do some shopping and just have fun," replied Linda.

"What about work, mom?" asked Janet.

"I took a few days knowing Mavis was arriving. We roughly have a week before she has to go with your brothers. I want to spend some time with both of you. You are all family." Mavis blushed and felt honored to be part of a great family.

"Also Mavis, sometime before you go, we want to show you something. It's something you should appreciate," said Janet. Mavis just nodded and smiled at her.

"Well, I'm tired. I stayed up as late as I could," Janet said as she yawned.

"Me too but you don't have to go to sleep just because of us Mavis. You are welcome to watch some television and anything in the fridge," smiled Linda.

"Thank you guys for your hospitality. I am kind of sleepy myself from the jet lag so I think I will head to bed also."

"You don't mind if you use Johnathan's old room, sweety?" asked Linda being careful to approach a difficult subject.

"That will be okay," reassured Mavis.

As the girls bid each other good night, Mavis went to Johnny's old room. Her bag was already in the room. Looking around, it seemed nothing was touched, including photos of Johnny as a child. She smiled at them as they smiled back. Preparing for bed, she undressed from her usual black dress and stockings for something comfortable sleeping shorts and a t-shirt. She stared at the bed. She remembered sleeping here when her and Johnny visited. She moved the blankets away and crawled in to bed. She laid there, staring at the ceiling for a while until her eyes gave up and she drifted to sleep.

Darkness was all around. No sound, no… nothing. A bright flash of lightning showed dark, turbulent seas. Another flash of lightning accompanied by a loud clap of thunder with the sound of roaring waters and torrential rain. She could see him, his red hair soaked and all around his face as he held onto her hand, looking scared and tired.

Darkness creeped up, engulfing Johnny along with the dangerous scene. Another flash of lightning and the scene is back. Her arm was stretched out but something was not right. She did not feel him. She moved her hand around in the dark and in the water. She can't feel Johnny. Panicking, Mavis looks all around her, around the swirling wind mixed with rain and around all the unforgiving waves. She calls for him, yelling over the storm. She looks over and sees him, floating and getting hit with waves. Mavis cannot see well; the rain is blurring her vision. She cannot see if Johnny is moving. She yells and screams his name. Trying so desperately to reach him but he drifts farther and farther away. Her tears are mixing with the rain as she continues to scream and yell for him. Darkness is taking her sight. The waves and rain are disappearing until it is just Johnny left. And quickly, Johnny is engulfed in the darkness.