Chapter Text
You never know what you'll find in castle Dracula. Even after living here for several years.
"Mama! Papa! Look!" Emma happily squealed. "A puppy!!" She happily held up the undead dog with half its skull and leg exposed. It wagged its curly tail.
I gasped, restraining a curse. "What in God's name!?" Alucard was better at not freaking out than I was. "And where did you find this puppy, Emmaline?" He crossed his arms.
"In the old Forgesmaster's room. He was scared of me at first but then I fed him a biscuit and he likes me now!"
Alucard narrowed his eyes. "You know you're not allowed in there."
"I know." Emma shrugged. "But I heard him barking and I found him there scared. He must've been all alone." I was disgusted when the zombie pug licked my daughter's face. "Look! He's friendly!!" Emma giggled. "Can we keep him? Pleasseeeee? I promise I'll take good care of him."
"No." Alucard said firmly. "Absolutely not."
"Why?" Emma cried.
"We're not keeping a zombie, Emma." I said firmly
"It's not a zombie, it's a dog," Emma protested
"An undead reanimated dog." I specified.
"So?"
"You can't have a night creature as a pet." stated Alucard.
"Why not?" bemoaned Emma. "The Librarian is a Night Creature and we keep him."
"The Librarian is different, honey." I said. "He's a person, and we know he's not dangerous."
"My puppy's not dangerous!" Emma denied. "He's friendly and he likes me! Look!" She set the dog down. "Sit! Shake paw!" The pug sat and held out his paw, wagging his tail with a friendly bark. "Good boy! See! I can train him, and I'll feed him and make sure he's safe. Please let me keep him?"
"No." Alucard put his foot down.
"But Papa!"
"No Emmaline." He growled. "There are plenty of dogs in the village you can choose as a pet. Not a dead one. We are not keeping a night creature and that is final."
Emma gave me a pleading look. "Mama...please?"
"Listen to your father Emma."I nodded in firm agreement.
.......
Alucard grumbled beside me in bed later that night. "I can't believe we're letting her keep that damn dog."
"Hey, I was the one who stuck to my guns." I turned my back to him. "You're the one that gave in."
"What else was I supposed to do?" Alucard growled. " Let her be despondent until the end of time? She would never forgive us, or forget." he shrugged. "At least we've set ground rules. The dog stays inside the castle so it doesn't scare the villagers, and it's Emma's job to feed and clean up after it."
"You know we're going to end up doing that. You can't rely on a six year old to care for a pet, especially a resurrected one."
"I know." The blanket rose and fell with a heavy sigh. "What matters is she is happy. And that means the world to me."
Indeed, we heard Emma giggling in her room along with a playful bark. Emmaline Lisa, it's time for bed. I mentally called her.
"Okay Mama! Goodnight!!" Emma called out. The pug barked again. "Biscuits says goodnight too."
"Goodnight Biscuits." I responded, much to Alucard's amusement.