Learning Curve

Chapter 8 - In Control

There were many thoughts racing through Ericka's mind.

Was the veil on straight? Was she holding the sunflower bouquet correctly? Were her shoes on the right feet?

She took several deep breaths, blushing as she tried to calm herself on the walk down the aisle. Her racing heart steadied a bit as she saw all the smiling faces of all her friends in the pews around her. Some she recognized from the cruise - like Bigfoot, or the Chupacabra, or la Llorona - but as she got closer, she saw some more of the regularly returning guests of the hotel, all dressed to their best. There was Murray the mummy, Frankenstein and his wife Eunice, Wayne and his wife Wanda, Griffin the Invisible Man and his equally invisible girlfriend Crystal, and finally Mavis, her husband Johnny, and their little son Dennis.

But right there, up at the top of the altar, was the man that mattered the most right now - Dracula.

Dracula who - as she stood through the vows that Blobby offered, accepted the golden wedding band on her finger and leaned in to kiss - finally became her husband.

She giggled as he swept her up in a bridal carry, twirling her around a couple of times while the crowd cheered. Ericka laughed as he peppered her face in smoochy pecks and whispered over and over again how much he loved her, not at all caring who saw. The bliss continued throughout the reception, Dracula hardly being able to keep his eyes - or hands - off of her. More than once did she have to slap his hand away as he tried to reach for her breasts or grab her behind, and accompanied with it was a harsh reminder that there were children, like his own grandson, watching. She couldn't stay too mad at him though. Each attempt made Ericka tingle with anticipation. She knew what was to come next - everyone knew what came next after a wedding.

Yes, they had already done it a few times before, but this time it felt more special. It would be the first time they did it as a married couple - as husband and wife. As Mrs. Ericka van Dracula.

These such thoughts occupied her mind so much that the party was over before she knew it. Or rather, Dracula had ended it early for them.

"Okay, okay, thank you so very much for coming out to celebrate our marriage," he called out above the music, garnering the monsters' attention. "But, if you could please excuse us, we are going to head out early for the night. You know, busy busy schedule and all. You guys enjoy the rest of the party!"

Some monsters exclaimed their approval, others smirking as they already knew the unsaid reason why they were heading out.

"Avoid going near the honeymoon suite, people!" Vlad called out. "That, or wear an extra set of earplugs! It's gonna get loud."

Next to him, Mavis scrunched her face in disgust. Below, little Dennis tugged on the hem of her dress to get her attention. "Momma, what's Grandpapa Vlad talking about? What is Papa Drac going to do that's going to be 'loud'?"

"What's he going to be doing?" Vlad asked with a laugh. "He's gonna be eatin' the cookie, that's what!"

Mavis quickly intervened before Dennis could open his mouth and ask Vlad to elaborate some more. "OKAY Grandpa Vlad, thanks for the information! You see, Dennis, what he means is that... uh..." She searched her brain for some sort of answer that was not so repulsive to such an innocent mind, and Johnny stepped in to help.

"The honeymoon suite has lots of cookies to eat! And... your Papa Drac is going to be... um... munching on them really loudly!"

Mavis groaned, and facepalmed. "Johnny..."

He looked at her with a sheepish grin and shrugged. "What? It's the best I can think up right now!"

"I know," she said. "But now you've put that... image in my mind." She shuddered, her eyes wide, as she tried not to think of her father's antics with Ericka.