Safe and Sound (Hotel Transylvania Fanfic)

Chapter Four: Bleeding Out

            When Dracula saw his daughter for the first time, he couldn't believe his eyes. Dusk was settling on the world, giving everything a golden glow, but Mavis's bright blue eyes lit up the world with their own light. Her cries always died down when he was with her, and her big blue eyes seemed so full of life and mischief, even at her age.

One day Martha was awake with her for hours, unable to get her to stop crying. Dracula smiled and held Mavis close in his arms. When she continued to pout he smiled and sang, "Hush little vampire, don't say a word, papa's gonna bite the head off a bird."

Martha laughed when Mavis quickly fell asleep. "I can't believe that always works. Well, if you put her down maybe we can sleep for a few hours."

"I think I'm going to stay here for a little while," Dracula answered slowly.

"She'll be fine. Just put her in the crib; nothing's going to happen to her."

"I'm going to protect her forever, you can count on that."

Martha rolled her eyes and left, leaving Dracula alone with his daughter for the remainder of the day.

v----v

The sound of Mavis crying woke them both up at the same time at sunset. Dracula rose and yawned, and drowsily opened his eyes. It was still too bright outside for comfort. He made his way slowly to Mavis's room, half-blind and exhausted.

"Honeybat won't you sleep for just a few minutes?" Dracula muttered as he picked her up and cradled her gently in his arms. She continued to cry. "Aww Mavy-Wavy, why won't you settle down?"

Another noise caught his attention, making him look outside in confusion. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw hundreds of humans carrying torches and pitchforks standing just outside their door. He had mistaken the torchlight for sunlight. There weren't any human villages for miles around...how did they know where they were? How did they find them? One of them threw a torch into the house, making some blankets and part of the floor catch fire.

"Honey?" Martha called from a few feet away.

Dracula handed Mavis to her as the baby's cries became higher-pitched screams with every passing second. "Go hide; I'll take care of this."

Dracula slid down the stairway and pulled the door open, making the screams of "Vampire!" and "Monsters!" so much louder.

"Please, listen to me!" he called over their voices, and still they didn't listen. "Please, we mean you no harm! We only want to live here in peace! We promise not to hurt you or your families! Please, please!"

Martha's scream made Dracula's head whip around. Ignoring the humans he raced back up the stairs, choking on the thick smoke filling the castle. He tore away a fallen beam to find Mavis in her cradle, unharmed save a little cut on her forehead. He picked her up and spent a moment trying to soothe her again until Martha's anguished cry stopped him. He raced through fires and tossed massive stones and wooden frames away as though they were pebbles and twigs. Finally he found Martha on the floor, her breathing labored and fast.

"I'm here Martha, I'm here," he said hurriedly, brushing her curly hair from her face as he had done when they kissed. It seemed like only days ago.

"Honey...." Martha coughed and reached out for Dracula's hand. "Protect Mavis...keep her safe...don't let her...let her get hurt."

"No, no, no, Martha, we'll get out of here," he said, slowing his breathing down and trying to keep a steady head as he watched his wife carefully.

Martha gasped and winced. "Please...keep our daughter safe. You said it before, please...just promise me."

Dracula stared at Martha for several long, agonized heartbeats, the realization finally dawning on him. "Martha...don't do this," he pleaded. He leaned down and kissed her, a heavy tear falling into her smoky hair. He bit his lip to keep from crying out; felt the blood leak out around his tooth. "I will, my darling. I will protect our little Mavis...forever, I promise. I love you."

A sigh passed from Martha's lips as her last breath left her. She closed her eyes and went limp in the free arm he held her with. Dracula pressed his forehead to hers, letting the tears fall freely from his eyes to leave long streaks on her ash-covered face. He gave a choked sob, ignoring the smoke filling his lungs and burning his throat. He stayed by Martha's side a few moments more as the tears streamed down his face. Then, remembering his promise, he pulled Mavis closer to his chest and covered her with his cape in an attempt to block some of the smoke. With one last look at his wife he jumped from an open window and landed heavily on the ground. Whether the humans saw him, he couldn't tell; nor did he care. He just ran, as fast as he could. At last he stopped on a hill, overlooking the burning castle where he had begun to raise a family. Still Mavis cried in his arms. As he turned away from the castle, striking out into the forest, he sang;

"Hush little Mavis, I think you could,

I will protect you; I promised I would.

And if a human ever tries to do you wrong,

Remember that with daddy is where you belong."