A Dracula Untold tale - After the end

The night was chilly, but all the same pleasant, as the wind stroked on their cheeks and played with their hair. The moon was full, and it spread its light around them, making the atmosphere romantic, almost vibrant. They were walking slowly, shoulders touching in an intimate yet not forced way. They barely knew each other, at least she barely knew him, but the conversation was flowing like a rushing stream; it found no obstacles in its way, but even if it did, it was so powerful that nothing could stop it.

At times, Mina was glancing at Vlad, giving him half smiles with blushed cheeks. Then she turned away from him, never getting the chance to see the pain or the disappointment in his eyes. For her, he was a handsome, interesting gentleman, with an exquisite taste in poetry. He was ultimately though nothing more than a stranger, no matter how attracted she felt. For him, she was the love of his life, a love that was taken from him so long ago. Now he had finally found her again... A handshake was not nearly enough for him; he wanted to hug her, gently touch her silky hair, shyly give her a kiss on the forehead. He wanted to squeeze her and spin her. All the broken pieces of his heart would then glue back together, but he couldn’t do it. He was a stranger!

They were walking slowly, as if they wanted to trick time, he thought and remembered something she would say to him: “time is always too short for those who need it, but for those who love, it lasts forever.” Of course, it was merely a metaphor, but he planned to make it a reality. Their love would last forever, just like their life…

His mind landed back to reality and he glanced at her. He didn’t know what she was talking about, but her eyes were shinning, and her lips were moving so fast. She was passionate about it and he was lost, until he felt her hand reaching out for his.

Time froze!

Her touch made the memories flood back inside his head, memories he had been trying to block for centuries. He felt the warmth of her arms around him, the softness of her voice when she whispered: “I love you”. He remembered their wedding, the birth of their son but then horror came. The memory of her death, the taste of her blood, her blank look and stiff body made him sick; he never wanted to taste her blood again.

“Vlad, this is my house” she told him, and her voice was colored with expectation. Not today, not like this. He had one chance to make it right. This was where they had to part.

“Goodnight, dear” he said and kissed her hand. “Until we meet again” he said formally, and she laughed.

“I will text you” she replied and left. Before she closed the door, she gave him a final look full of promises. She would soon be his again, to hold and to love, to care and to protect.

What weird times, he thought and started running with supernatural speed. He wanted to return home way before the sunrise. Suddenly, he felt a severe pain in the stomach and fell down, rolling on the street.

“Get up” he heard someone say. His fangs started getting sharper; he was mad with that insolent man, but he would show him that he wasn’t someone humans should mess with. He got up and turned around with eyes red from anticipation and fangs full on sight, before he identified the man who was standing across him. His fangs and eyes went back to normal; they wouldn’t help him in this case anyway.

“Long time, no see” he said ironically, and Vlad felt the hair at the back of his neck rising. A chill went down his spine. This visit was not for good. Not now, not now that he had found Mirena again. Vlad stood there for a few seconds, unable to decide what to do. Had there been a different man, he would have fled and hided. Vlad Dracula was never the hiding type though; he would confront the Master Vampire. He would stay and fight.

 “Merry meet” he replied, and a smirk appeared in his face. He had to prove that he wasn’t scared or weak. He was just as strong, just as determined.

“Vlad, Vlad, Vlad. You have been a rather busy man over the last few centuries with all your business enterprises and your travels. Oh and of course let’s not forget all those marvelous poems. Afterall, your poetry got you a new girlfriend as well”.

“Keep Mirena out of this. It is none of your business” Vlad said angrily and for a split second his eyes turned red and he struggled to keep his fangs out of sight.

“You are utterly wrong. See, I have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time” he said, and Vlad couldn’t hide his confused expression. The Master Vampire continued.

“You are the last piece of a very large puzzle. It all started when you set me free from that cave. Once I was finally out, I started plotting my revenge against those who betrayed me. I spent my centuries travelling the world, picking out individuals with, let’s say, certain abilities and turning them. I was creating my very own army of powerful vampires willing to serve me until their dying breath. But then I started noticing differences between them. Those who were turned first were strong like a hundred men, fast like falling stars, dominant over the night and the night creatures. Then the people I turned started losing their connection to the night’s creatures; they were unable to see and hear through them. Until finally, the last vampires were completely worthless, merely stronger and faster than humans.

I realized then that the most powerful vampire is the first one to be turned in each line. In my line, you are the first, hence the strongest and most useful. So, I had to change my plans. Of course, I could use some more first-turned from your line but, oh yes, you don’t have a line, because you murdered them all. You owe me more than you realize and it’s time you started paying off the debt by playing your part in my plan”.

 “I am not doing anything for you” Vlad said and spat in front of the Master Vampire. He looked at him full of hatred.

“Yet you are. See, I have always known you would resist, even though we had a deal. So, I have been watching you from a distance, patiently waiting for the right time to appear – and it has. Your precious Mirena is back, and now you have something to lose” he said, and Vlad’s knees gave him up and he fell to the ground with an echoing sound on the empty street. He had just found her, and she was in grave danger once again because of him. He didn’t deserve her, but he couldn’t stay away now. He had to protect her at all costs.

“Get up, Vlad. I won’t hurt your precious Mirena if you hold up your end of the bargain. You must take your place in the ultimate game of hope versus despair. The world’s fate hangs in the balance, for a little while longer at least. It’s time we broke this balance. Join the winner’s side”. Vlad got up and breathed slowly, calling upon the night creatures to give him more strength and courage.

“What do you want me to do?” he said and surprisingly his voice was steady and emotionless.

“Firstly, I want to check the theory that you possess all of my abilities” he said and started running. Vlad followed him unwillingly, until they found themselves outside a bar full of people. A girl was alone outside, smoking and talking with someone on her phone. What on earth did he want to do to this poor girl, Vlad wondered, but ultimately kept his thoughts to himself. The Master Vampire walked towards her and looked her straight in the eyes. Then he leaned and whispered something to her ear. She hung up the phone and followed him across the street, where Vlad was standing.

 “Go on, love, show him what I taught you” he encouraged her, and she approached Vlad, cut a straight line at the side of her neck with her nail and told him to drink.

“What did you do to her?” Vlad yelled and stepped back, as far as he could from the girl.

“Drink” he said but Vlad took a few more steps back.

“Drink!” he screamed, and the girl almost started crying. Vlad moved towards her, touched her softly at the cheek and licked the line from her neck. He sank his teeth and slowly started drinking her blood, being careful not to harm her more than he had to.

“That’s enough” he said and forced himself to stop.

“Now, look her in the eyes and make her forget ever meeting us. Convince her that she scratched herself and tell her to go back inside and have fun with her friends” he commanded and waited eagerly for the result. Vlad did as he was told, and the girl went back in the bar, having forgotten everything.

“How is this possible?” he asked.

“It is of no importance. Frankly, the only thing I care about is the fact that you can do it, too. My plan can work now! Come, Vlad, we have to start”.

“I am not going anywhere until you explain everything. I refuse to become a pone in your twisted game”. The Master Vampire took a deep breath to calm himself. Vlad was annoying him, refusing to cooperate, refusing to uphold a promise, asking questions all the time. He was nothing alike the rest of the vampires he turned. But he needed him, so he had to be patient with him; give him time to process everything.

“You have the ability to infiltrate the human mind and control it. By this time tomorrow, we will be controlling every human on the planet, amazing, right? You see, my vampires are all strategically placed in vital positions. They work in big channels all over the world. Some of them work in google, too. Fascinating tool, don’t you think?” he asked but he gave no time for a reply.

“First, we will hit with the televisions, social media and the internet. Everyone with access to a screen will be infiltrated by you, wherever they are. Then, I will hit with the help of the night creatures. They will spread my message to the rest of the humans. And finally, the lesser vampires will do the dirty work, checking if someone escaped. But it all starts with you; you will be the one spreading my message. Tomorrow, every channel will be broadcasting you”. Vlad felt sick.

“The sun will not rise tomorrow, I promise you” he said and smiled.

“Keep Mirena out of this” he said finally, having accepted his defeat, for now.

“Despair will rule over the human realm and vampires will rise to take their rightful place at the top” he said, ignoring Dracula’s request on purpose. Vlad felt the anger overtake him. He stopped suppressing his vampire side, his fangs became whiter and sharper and his eyes were bright red. He grabbed the Master Vampire and hit him against the wall, growling.

“Why do you care about humans all of a sudden?”

“I don’t. This is merely the beginning of an immortal game” he said plainly. And then Vlad understood.

“It’s not about the humans, it’s about revenge against the vampire who turned you and then left you in the cave to rot. That’s why you need me to spread the message to the world. You will hide in the shadows; nobody can blame this on you”.

“You are not as dumb as I thought, I will give you that. You see, I will mess with the balance of the world and that will flush him, the devil himself, out. He has been hiding and eluding me for centuries. His arrogance grows by the minute and he thinks he is superior to everyone. He has recently claimed a new role for himself. He is determined to eliminate his own kind, to keep the world safe and ignorant of our existence. I made some of my vampires make a mess a few years back, and he appeared to clean up. Imagine the clean-up he will have to do after tomorrow. He will be weakened and exposed. And most importantly, he will not expect my being involved. He will just think that you finally measured up to everyone’s expectations of Dracula. And that’s when I will strike with no mercy. A stake through the heart isn’t enough for me. I will make him suffer, beg for death” he said and punched Vlad, setting himself free from his grasp. 

“Never touch me again” he warned him. “We will begin tomorrow at noon. I will be waiting for you outside her house. Bring her, too” he said and ran. The Master Vampire was long gone, but Vlad was still able to hear him say: “Let the games begin!”

He looked at his watch; he had six hours and so many things to do. He had to find the Original, he had to stop the Master Vampire. But first, he had to get Mirena. She had to be protected at all costs. He would never leave her alone again. He knew better. He glanced once at the sky, just to confirm the Master’s words, the sun wouldn’t rise today, he was right. Nothing could get pass the thick clouds he had created. He took a deep breath and ran faster than the wind, with the Master’s phrase still echoing in his head, “Let the games begin”.