I don't really like how I started this, so I'm going to try and make it a whole lot better.

Enjoy!

John Murray pulled up to the Count's residence far up north of the campus. The estate impressed him: trees, a lake, surrounded it and the mansion itself was a huge, crumbling building with gorgeous architecture. It was more like a castle than a mansion.

He drove through two massive gargoyles flanking the sides of the road, dead leaves swirling around the tires. Spring didn't seem to have touched this beautiful, yet somewhat intimidating, landscape. The trees were still bare, and the only ones that were green were the pines and other evergreens.

He parked his car just off to the side of the massive double doors and parked, exiting the car with his typical walk of confidence and skill.

John cleared his throat as he assertively knocked on the door, and started with surprise when they opened and no one was standing there. Or so he thought.

"Welcome," came a young, deep voice, "to my humble home. Please, enter of your own free will."

John stepped in, and was immediately accosted by a young man of about twenty, with dark, long hair tied back in a ponytail, with a buttoned up shirt with three buttons undone, and black jeans. John registered him as being an extremely attractive young male, but with no interest. He shook hands confidently.

"Thank you, your grace."

"Please, please, just Dracula will do just fine," he said, smiling, revealing extremely white teeth.

"You don't go by your first name?" Asked John mildly.

"I haven't been known by that name for centuries. Dracula will do. I've drawn up your supper, if you'll have it now."

"It would be impolite to refuse," said John. "Where should I put my coat and things?"

"Just leave them in the entrance, they'll be taken up to your room. This way, please."

John was lead into a huge dining chamber, complete with large, golden chandelier and large dining table. A candelabrum was lit in the centre, and a full meal was sitting at the seat beside the head. Dracula himself took the head, while John seated himself in front of the steaming meal.

"Please, begin," said Dracula. "I've already eaten."

John ate heartily, while sneaking in conversation. "Are your parents here with you?" He asked, biting into his beef.

"No, they died a very long time ago, and now I am the sole owner of the entire Dracula estate. I came to Canada to settle here and...leave my impact."

"You'll certainly do that by building new halls on campus. You'll be the most popular noble in the country."

"Popularity is a meagre and fickle thing, Mr. Murray."

"Please, just John."

"All right, then, John. And have you family here yourself?"

"Yes, my father and mother, and I'm soon to take a wife."

"Oh? You are to be married?"

"Yes, to a beautiful young woman named Nina." He rummaged through his pockets until he found his wallet, and pulled out a small photo from the inside plastic. He handed it to the Count, who stared at it intensely.

After a few minutes of silence, John was confused. It wasn't an amazing picture. It was just one of Nina sitting down by the lake, her eyes lost in thought, and completely unaware that he was taking the picture. After the flash had gone off, she had returned to reality, and had teased him about sneaking up on her. It really didn't do her justice, though. In reality she was much prettier and less spacey. Well, she was prettier, he wasn't sure about the spacey ness.

"So innocent," said Dracula, tracing the curve of her cheek. "You are a very lucky man, John, to be engaged to someone so angelic." He handed the picture back with what looked like reluctance.

"Do you believe in fate, John?" He asked, after John was taking the final bites of his meal.
"You mean like astrology? The castings of the universe? No."

"A shame. You westerners seem to have lost all contact with the Mystic."

"Oh, well..."John didn't know how to reply. "So shall we get down to business?"

"You seem to be in such a rush, dear John. You may remain here as my guest for as long as you wish, with no heed to this business."

"Well, it's not that," he shifted uncomfortably. "You see, it's Nina's birthday this Friday, and I really don't want to have to miss it. She told me it would be alright if I did, (she's really understanding), but I would still prefer to be there for it."

Dracula looked at him with his piercing blue eyes. "Your Nina sounds perfectly sweet," he said. "I'd hate to deprive her of you." He stood up and directed John into a small parlour, with a large roaring fireplace and comfortable chairs.

"So, my friend, where are the papers?" demanded Dracula. John, with a swift motion, opened up his portfolio, drew out his pen, and began to outline the agreement.

"So sign here, and you get the old Carfax Abbey, which you as the client understand that it has been abandoned for decades, and two new pieces of land where you can build more halls."

"Excellent." Dracula took the pen and with a flourish, signed his name.

"Thank you very much," said John. "And congratulations, you are now the owner of these stunning pieces of property."

"I look forward to meeting the young generation of Canada," said Dracula, his teeth gleaming. "It will give me a chance to practice my English."

"Your English is superb," said John, and it was the truth. His accent was British, and you couldn't even tell that he was Transylvanian.

"Still, I would like to be able to blend in well, instead of being pointed out as an obvious stranger."

John shrugged. "So now that that's taken care of, would you excuse me to return back to the campus? I truly am unable to miss too many classes."

"And your darling Nina."

"Well, that too."

"I find it a boorish Western custom that the guest leave so abruptly. I insist that you stay one more night, kind friend, and take advantage of my hospitality."

"Well, that's very kind of you, but..."

"I assure you that all your needs will be taken care of. Greta!" He called suddenly. An astonishingly voluptuous young woman with huge curves and a tiny waist appeared. Her face was a beautiful one, with soft blonde hair and gleaming blue eyes. John immediately felt stirrings of lust.

"Greta, please show John up to his room, and take care of any requests he should have of you."

"Dracula, please, I must..." but the temptation was already too strong. His words faltered. "Well, I guess I could stay for one more night. But it is Nina's birthday the day after tomorrow. I can leave no later than tomorrow night."

Dracula smiled. "Then leave you shall, but please enjoy the comforts of my home until that time."

John allowed himself to be lead by Greta up to his room. He almost managed to find words to strike up a conversation, but couldn't.

"There you are, sir," she said, where a large, four-poster bed was waiting. "Would you require anything else from me?"

John tore his eyes away from her bosom. "No, no thank you," he said with reluctance. She smiled, looked at him hungrily, and left the room.

John wandered around his new domain, taking it in. He had always wanted a home like this, one that everyone would envy. He pictured he and Nina in a room like this a few years from then, and the thought came easily. He walked over to the window, where there was a stunning view of the lake and the side of the castle.

He stood there, looking out into the moonlight, when suddenly, he noticed a black shape exiting a window on the side of the castle, slowly crawling down, face first, the steep walls. He exhaled sharply, and saw that it was the count, dressed entirely in old-fashioned black clothes and boots, and suddenly felt a tremor of fear. Who was this man?

He dismissed it. "He's probably just training for something," he said aloud, as he changed into a pair of boxer shorts and an old t-shirt. He snuggled into the sheets, which suddenly seemed ice cold. There was something wrong with this place that he just couldn't place his finger on.

Meanwhile...

"If I eat any more popcorn I'm going to barf," exclaimed Lucy, pretending to hurl into a pillow.

Nina smiled calmly. "I guess we should go to bed, then," she said.

"Ugh," Lucy groaned, clutching her stomach. "If you insist."

Lucy stumbled over to the security alarm and turned it on, before heading over to her room down the hall. Nina did the same.

"Night, Lucy," she called, and Lucy moaned in return. Nina settled down into the comfortable, Egyptian cotton sheets and pulled out her book. She nestled up against the sheets and read about ten pages before hearing a telltale thump from Lucy's room.

"Lucy?" She called.

"I'm fine, I just got up to go to the bathroom," came a weak, thin voice.

"Okay, Night!" There was no reply.

Nina turned off the light and snuggled deeper into the covers, enjoying the luxuries of Lucy's beautiful apartment. She would have to do this more often, she decided. Regardless of John. She hoped he would be okay with that.

Nina turned her gaze to the large French doors, and started when she saw a tall, lean, muscular figure standing there, looking in at her. She sat up hurriedly, and realized it was just her imagination. Still, it seemed so strange, and she felt no fear.

She lay back against the cotton, her mind blissfully empty, releasing all memory of the figure and slipping into sleep softly and peacefully.