Chapter 11 Please Keep Yourself "Normal"
953 Words
Marguerite's furious reaction made Elena smirk a little.
[Marguerite's SAN -0.1]
[Marguerite's SAN -0.1]
"Why are you looking at me with that creepy, twisted grin?!" Marguerite snapped.
"I was just curious, Aunt," Elena replied sweetly, "why you didn't care when you saw me alone but freaked out when you found out I hadn't met Alucard?"
"Because it's not proper!" Marguerite bared her fangs in frustration. "When I saw you on your own, I thought Alucard had just stepped away for a moment. But now I see what's really going on! Your shameful behavior is ruining our vampire reputation!"
Elena gracefully curtsied again. "I'm sorry about that, Aunt. But remember—I'm not a vampire yet."
Marguerite froze as if she suddenly realized Elena wasn't what she expected.
"True… true enough," she said slowly, but don't forget—you're still a princess." Her voice dripped with disdain as she continued: "If you weren't the castle princess already, I would have turned you myself ages ago! Why wait for this ceremony?"
Catching herself again, Marguerite smoothed down her gown and regained her regal air once more. "Anyway—I'll track down Alucard myself so he can be with you." She added coolly," If all goes well and you become a vampire… we'll definitely have plenty of time together."
With that, she was gone in a flash.
Elena squinted her crimson eyes.
—Alucard's magic is linked to Marguerite.
"One mystery down."
She headed toward her dad's room, determined to figure out why her last "invitation" didn't work.
She needed to know—and make sure her ceremony went off without a hitch.
Only then could she fulfill her mom's prophecy and become the most powerful vampire around.
Drip… drip…
Blood was oozing from the walls, pooling on the floor like thick syrup.
Each step made a squelching sound, staining her heels red. Blood splattered on the hem of her gown, soaking through her shoes. The sticky feeling between her toes was just too much to handle.
It's all an illusion.
Mental trickery!
None of this is real!
But...
Why does it feel so real?
________________________________________
Elena found Dracula slumped over his desk, looking tense as ever.
"I'm here, Dad."
"Elena?" He turned around with an awkward smile. "You heard about it then?"
"The missing guest? Yeah."
Dracula let out a heavy sigh and ran his fingers through her silver hair apologetically. "I'm really sorry this happened. But I never thought any guest would bail on us! Every name on that list belonged to your mom's most loyal followers—they'd never turn their backs on her!"
"How can you be so sure?"
Dracula's expression darkened with what looked like fear.
"Because they got *'s blessing—and with that, total loyalty."
Elena frowned. Again with that blanked-out word—*—referring to her mom.
"I can invite someone new, right?"
Dracula's face lit up.
"Absolutely! This is your ceremony—you get to choose whoever you want! So smart of you, Elena!"
Elena grimaced at the memory of her long-nosed portrait. She was really starting to dislike the word "smart."
As expected, Dracula repeated his earlier instructions from the first vision:
Invite someone trustworthy before noon. The empty name card will fill in. The prophecy will stand.
"If I invite someone, will their name definitely show up?"
"Of course! A proper invitation always works."
Elena hesitated.
"What if… the name doesn't show up?"
Dracula stiffened.
"That would mean your invitation didn't work."
"Didn't work? Why not?"
Instead of answering, Dracula grabbed her hands tightly.
"Elena… have you already invited someone? And it flopped?"
"No, Father." Technically true—the Bloodbloom was in that first vision.
Dracula let out a sharp breath. "Then tell me—do you feel anything off? If the prophecy is falling apart, there must be some kind of effects. Are you… feeling anything weird?"
Elena wavered for a moment before admitting:
"I see blood everywhere."
When you're in a jam, just ask Dad. He loves you.
Dracula's breath caught in his throat.
"The curse… it's already started..."
"No way, Dad! I think I'm losing my mind! Someone as powerful as you is out to get me!"
"Just delusions, Elena!" Dracula shot back. "Delusions lead to madness! Do you even know what I am? A Monarch-class being! There are only a few like me in this world—and I know each one. None of them are here."
"But my friend can see through illusions—"
"Your friend's lying!" Dracula interrupted her, his confidence unshakeable.
Elena held back her response.
Mary's first rule: The painting in the third corridor always lies.
But she had proven that the painting was lying—not the mirror!
So who's telling the truth?
The mirror?
Or her dad?
Before she could think about it more, Dracula transformed into a huge bat.
"I need to find you a guest, Elena. To break this curse."
The bat's fangs sparkled as it spoke.
"Just stay put. Don't do anything. I'll be back by noon—whether I've succeeded or not."
"Can't I look around the castle for a guest too? We could—"
"Nope. You're not inviting anyone."
"Why?!"
"Because your invitations don't mean anything now." The bat spread its wings wide.
"What do you mean?!"
"It's simple. You're not normal. Like a drunk talking nonsense, your words carry no weight."
Elena tensed up.
So that's why the Bloodbloom "invitation" didn't work.
"What can I do then?"
"You can't do anything."
"But I have to take action!"
The bat turned its head sharply, eyes blazing with intensity.
"So focus, my dear Elena."
"Keep yourself *normal*."
With that gust of wind, the bat disappeared into the storm.
- Writer
