So, I recently finished Dracula, and it is an awesome book! I love it so much. So this is a modern day retelling of the book, but with Luke Evans as Dracula, and going with the history provided by Dracula Untold. So I've edited my first chapter, so please re read if you have already started reading.
Mina walked past the flower shop, hoping Arthur wouldnt come out to talk, but he spotted her first. It was a lovely day but she didn't have time to stop and chat, nor did she want to either. He came hurrying through the shop to talk to her. 'Mina! How lovely to see you,' Arthur cried. She smiled and hugged him back, trying not to stiffen in his embrace. He always hugged her, even though she hated to be touched by people that weren't her family, or very close friends. 'Arthur, are you well?' She asked, stepping out of his embrace. He smiled at her, his dark eyes shining, and his smile a little plastic. 'I am indeed, Mina. And yourself? Where's Lucy?' He asked. Mina smiled, Lucy was her best friend and she had been the one to introduce Arthur to Lucy. She thought they'd be perfect together. 'Studying, actually she's waiting for me, we're supposed to be helping each other study for our mid-term exams. I'll tell her you asked after her,' she said and hurried off. She liked Athur well enough, but he definitely wasn't the sort of person she'd go on a date with. Something about him made her hair stand on end. She walked quickly, picking up her pace after glancing at the time on her phone. She was supposed to meet Lucy at the library for 11 o clock. It was now 20 past. She adjusted the strap of her bag, and walked into the library.
Lucy looked up and saw Mina hurrying towards her. 'What took you so long, did you get lost?' Lucy asked. Mina shrugged, inhaling the musty smell of the library.. 'No, I ran into your fiancee. He insisted on hugging me and talking.' She slumped down in a chair and pulled out her note cards. Lucy winced. 'Sorry Mina. I keep telling him not to hug everyone he meets. But he thinks its a nice thing to do, that it puts people at ease,' Lucy explained. Mina shook her head. The library was quiet today, no giggling teens texting their mates or parents with screaming children. She smoothed her dress over her knees, it was black with red roses all over, and one of her favourites. 'Well, let's just study, our first exams tomorrow at 9. And if I fail I'll have to take it again at the end of the year.' Mina told her. They tested each other on their knowledge and then Mina went off to find a book that she had to re-read. She was looking through the library, in the classics section, when someone cried, 'look out!' She looked up to see one of the library ladders falling down. She felt something crash into her, and found herself over by the wall.
'Are you alright?' A voice asked. Mina looked up into deep blue eyes, tinged with red. A pale face looked down at her. 'I'm fine, thank you,' she said a little breathlessly. She scolded herself mentally. She sounded like some besotted teenager. Get a grip, she told herself. The man holding her, was tall, and looked like he worked out everyday. He had shoulder length black hair, that looked incredibly soft. His eyes were full of worry, and his pale face made his lips look the colour of blood. 'Oh good, I thought I might have shocked you, crashing into you like that, but otherwise you would have been hit by the ladder,' he said, a hint of a european heritage showed in his voice, pointing at the ladder on the floor. 'I'm Vladimir, by the way.' He helped her upright, took her hand and kissed it softly. Mina watched mesmerised. WAKE UP! She shouted in her head. Who kisses hands these days? How weird! 'I'm Mina. Are you a student here too?' She asked. Vladimir nodded. 'Sort of, I'm taking evening classes in classical english literature,' he told her. Mina nodded.
'Ah, I'm taking Classical literature, full time. This is my second year,' she replied.
'I feel very bad, taking you by surprise like that, would you let me buy you a drink? To make up for it?' Vladimir asked. Mina thought for a moment. He seemed nice enough. Okay so the whole kissing her hand thing was outdated, but perhaps that was how they did things still, where he was from. Plus she found it very charming. 'Sure, let me just grab my things,' she told him. She went back to Lucy, and explained where she was going. 'Go for it, he looks gorgeous!' Lucy told her. Mina rolled her eyes at her friend, and hurried back to Vladimir. 'Okay, where are we going?' She asked him. 'My favourite coffee place.' he told her, linking his arm with hers.
Mina took in her surroundings, she was sitting on a loveseat in a corner of a coffee shop. The place was painted a deep red, and furnished with black sofas and chairs. The mugs were black too and the waiters and waitresses wore deep red aprons, keeping in with the theme. Vladimir blended in, with his black jeans and coat, and his red scarf. The only light came from candles and table lamps. It was perfect for a coffee date. Stop that! She told herself. He's just being friendly. Ok, he's ridiculously handsome, so what makes you think he'd choose you? Grow up Mina, she told herself. Vladimir, turned and walked over to her, 2 mugs in his hand. 'Tea, for you. I got you some sugar, too' he said, placing the mug in front of her. She tipped in two spoonfuls of sugar, added a little milk, and stirred. She took a sip, and savoured the sweet taste.
'So, Mina, where are you from?' Vladimir asked her. Mina smiled at him softly.
'Well, it's a small village, in the south. Close to the sea. I love the sea, the smell is wonderful. But it's also close to the woods as well, which is lovely. What about you Vladimir?' She asked. Vladimir smiled when she said his name, he liked the way she said it. 'Just Vlad, is fine, it's what all my friends call me. I'm from Romania, but I have lived almost everywhere in europe,' he said.
'Wow, but you're only young, you cant have lived everywhere,' Mina replied. Vlad shrugged.
'I'm 25, and I've lived in almost every single country in Europe, it's why I'm here in is one of the last places on my list,' he told her. Mina's mind whirled. She wanted to travel the world, and here was Vlad, who'd been to all of europe already. 'I'd love to travel,' she told him.
Vlad smiled, and took a sip of his coffee, she really was quite something. Her deep brown hair enhanced her green eyes, her lips were the colour of blood, and her skin was a creamy white. She was enchanting, and he couldn't keep his eyes off her. Mina caught his eye, and blushed, and immediately looked away. Vlad smiled, she was enchanting. Mina finished her tea, and looked at her phone, she had 3 missed calls from Lucy, and a text from her mum. It was half past 2, and she had an essay to finish. 'Gosh, look at the time, I should go. It was lovely meeting you,' she said, standing up and pulling her jacket on. Vlad's mind reeled. She couldn't be leaving yet, he'd only just found her. 'Of course, yes it was wonderful to meet you. Perhaps, we could meet up again?'He asked quietly. Mina stopped, her bag halfway onto her shoulder. 'I'd like that,' she replied, looking at her feet. Vlad grinned. 'Might I call on you?' He asked, taking her hand. Mina nodded looking up at him. 'Well, I'll walk you home,' he said, her hand in his. Mina smiled gently, and lead the way out of the coffee shop.