Dr. Frankenstein opened the door of his room and strolled down the corridors of his castle until he came to the dining room. He opened this door and took a seat at the already crowded table, full of children whining and squabbling and fighting over breakfast. A very harassed-looking Justine was trying to feed them all and stop the fights, which she was doing unsuccessfully.

"Good morning," said Frankenstein, cheerfully. She looked up and glared at him.

"Good morning," she retorted shortly. "Victor, get that out of your mouth!" she cried, rushing over to the child.

"I want my breakfast," Frankenstein continued, lightly.

She whirled on him. "Do you?" she hissed. "Well, I suggest you go get it, then."

"Don't be stupid," replied Frankenstein, grinning. "You get it for me."

"I will not!" she hissed. "You can starve for all I care!"

"You don't mean that," he said, lightly.

"I do," she retorted, seizing a couple of the children's bowls. "So go get your own breakfast."

Frankenstein sat and watched her, with a grin on his face. "You shouldn't work so hard," he said.

"What else am I supposed to do?" she hissed. "Let them starve?"

"You'd let me starve," replied Frankenstein.

"These are children," retorted Justine.

"No, they're not," said Frankenstein. "They're monsters. They can starve, and Adam and Victoria will be happy to have others to replace them. Anyway, if a few died, they couldn't be missed out of this huge bunch."

Justine gaped at him, and then hissed, "You're a horrible man, Victor Frankenstein."

"Thank you, I try," he replied, grinning. "Bring me my breakfast."

She was about to strike him, but just then Victor threw his breakfast at Albert. She rushed over to sort it out and Frankenstein took that moment to steal Karl's breakfast and was heartily eating it when she returned.

She glared at him. "You stole his breakfast," she hissed.

"Yes, I did," replied Frankenstein lightly, gulping down a spoonful of porridge.

She snarled and went to get Karl another bowl. She placed this in front of him and Frankenstein immediately swapped. "There, you see?" he said. "I told you you'd get me my breakfast."

Her hands were clenched in fists, but she didn't respond. "Justine, I'd like another bowl of porridge, please," said Hans, holding up his empty bowl.

She turned to him, forcing a smile. "Right away, Hans."

Frankenstein grinned to himself, then withdrew a sheet of paper from his jacket. "Victor Frankenstein: 1, Justine Moritz: 0," he wrote. He put it back in his jacket and smiled. "We'll see who wins the next one," he murmured, grinning.

Dr. Henry Jekyll stumbled up the stairs of the hotel and leaned against the wall of the corridor his room was in, clutching his head. "Damn that Edward Hyde," he hissed.

"Headache, is it?" asked Count Dracula, sitting up in front of his door.

"Yes," hissed Jekyll. "And how did you pass the night, Dracula? Was the floor comfortable?"

He shrugged. "It wasn't bad. I didn't actually sleep though. I did some thinking, and I've come to several conclusions. Firstly, I think Elizabeth's been so mad at me of late because I've been running about with other women, and I don't think she likes it when I do that."

"Brilliant," muttered Jekyll, sarcastically. "And what else?"

"Well, I've decided to turn over a new leaf. I don't want Emma Carew," he said, firmly. "I don't think it would have worked between us, her being interested in science and all that rubbish."

"I'm flattered," grumbled Jekyll. "Anything else?"

"Yes," he said, standing up. "When the maid comes, she's going to be very concerned about me staying the hallway all night, but I won't let her make too much of it. I'm not really interested in her, either."

"Good for you, Dracula," sighed Jekyll. "Can I have the key?" he asked, holding out his hand.

Dracula gave it to him. "Miss Carew has passed a night undisturbed by visitors," he said. "I made sure of it."

"Yes and…thank you for that," said Jekyll, slowly. "I'm afraid Hyde was very angry, but I'm glad you stood up to him."

"Of course," snorted Dracula. "You don't think I'm intimidated by that horrid little man, do you?"

"No, I suppose you wouldn't be," sighed Jekyll. "Thankfully. See you later, Dracula."

He unlocked the door to his room and was immediately embraced fiercely by Emma Carew.

"Oh Henry, where were you all night?! I was so worried, I was afraid something terrible had happened to you! And I couldn't get out and find out what had happened to you, and Dracula wouldn't tell me, and…"

"Dracula?" demanded Jekyll, suspiciously. "When was he here?"

"He wasn't," she replied. "I spoke with him through the door. He said something about Mr. Hyde, was it Mr. Hyde?" she asked, gazing at him in concern.

He nodded heavily. She gazed at him in pity. "Oh Henry, I'm so sorry. I know how painful it is for you, and I keep hoping that someday he'll just disappear. But he won't, will he?"

"No," sighed Jekyll. "He won't."

"Well, we'll just have to make the best of it," she said, with forced optimism. "Anyway, I'll go get dressed and we'll go down to breakfast. I'm so glad you're safe," she whispered, kissing him.

He sighed as the bathroom door shut and sat down again. "Hyde," he muttered. "Hyde, Hyde, Hyde. I must be rid of you. I must. Emma and I can't live like this, not after we're married. It will be terrible. I either have to get rid of you or…" His voice caught in his throat. The other option was too terrible to think of. "Or I can't marry Emma," he whispered.

"There, all ready," she said, appearing from the bathroom and smiling. "Shall we go down to breakfast?"

"Yes," he said, gazing at her. How terrible it would be if he had to let her go. It would rip him apart, he couldn't live without her. "Yes, of course."

They met Dracula and Elizabeth in the hallway, she not speaking to him. But when the maid came around the corner, and Dracula merely tipped his hat to her and strolled off, Elizabeth glanced at him in surprise.

"Dracula, darling, are you feeling all right?" she asked him.

"Perfectly," he replied, smiling at her. "Why?"

She shrugged. "No reason." But she slid her hand into his and allowed herself a smile.

After breakfast, the four decided that it would be best to go to the opera, to see how Erik was getting on. They arrived a few minutes later and were ascending the stairs when a pleasant voice called, "Count Dracula!"

Dracula turned to see Meg Giry at the foot of the stairs, dressed in her ballet outfit. "Why, my dear Miss Giry, how lovely to see you this morning," he said as, taking off his hat and bowing, he kissed her hand.

"It's lovely to see you again," she replied, smiling. "I'm glad you remember me."

"Ah, Miss Giry, it would be impossible to forget you," he said, smiling. "Your exquisite dance and your exquisite loveliness more than imprinted themselves on my memory."

She grinned at him and Elizabeth glared. "Come along, Dracula," she said, taking his arm.

"Count Dracula, I wonder if you would stay and watch today's rehearsal," Meg said, laying her hand on his. "I have a rather interesting scene which I'd be honored to have you critique."

"My dear Miss Giry, it would be an honor," he said, bowing again. "But I don't know much about critiquing dances, I must admit," he said with a grin.

"I'm sure you'll be splendid," she said, smiling at him. "As you are in all other things," she murmured.

He gazed at her and whispered, "I'll be there, Miss Giry, I promise you."

"Thank you," she said, smiling. She raised her hand to him again and he kissed it. Then she sauntered off, tossing her blonde curls.

Elizabeth seized his hand. "Come on," she growled, furious. "I don't want to see any stupid rehearsal."

"Well, you don't have to stay, darling," replied Dracula.

She looked at him. "I won't leave you alone with that woman," she hissed.

"She's a very nice woman," retorted Dracula.

"Like hell," retorted Elizabeth. "She's up to something, can't you see it, Dracula? Or are you really that blind where women are concerned?"

"I'll thank you, dearest, not to insult me about my knowledge of women," hissed Dracula. "I know far more about them than you do."

"Of course, with your vast experience," she growled. "It's a wonder you don't know how to keep them."

She stormed off up the stairs and Dracula followed, sighing. Jekyll shook his head. "So much for his new leaf," he muttered.

They reached the manager's office and knocked, but there was no response. Dracula knocked again, louder, and the door was at last opened by a thin, pale-faced young man.

"Yes?" he asked, his voice tired.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, is the director in?" asked Dracula.

The boy shook his head. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "He's downstairs supervising rehearsals. I'm finishing up his bills for him. May I take a message?"

"No, thank you, we'll find him," said Dracula. The boy closed the door and the four started back downstairs.

"He must really be nervous," said Dracula. "He's started leaving his office now to personally direct. He's worried."

"And he should be," added Jekyll. "Almost two weeks from show and no Don Juan."

"He'll find one," said Emma, confidently. "He's worked so hard, it would be unfair of him not to."

"Life's not always fair, darling," murmured Jekyll, thinking of Hyde, and how he would, if not destroyed, make him give up Emma, the only woman he loved, forever.

Erik was seated in the front row, watching a dance on stage with a disgusted expression. "Hello, Erik!" called Dracula, cheerfully.

He whirled around. "Hello," he replied shortly, turning back to the stage.

"Lovely day," commented Dracula.

"No, it isn't," growled Erik, darkly. "My dancers are incompetent, they consistently…no, no, no!" he shrieked, standing up. "With passion! Honestly, have you people never been in love?!"

He leapt onto the stage and pried the dancing man and woman, who happened to be Meg Giry, apart. "It's passionate, seductive, erotic, lustful! You want this woman! She's the only thing you want in this world! You must have her or you'll die! You're on fire, you need this girl! Act like it!"

He threw the man roughly back at Meg Giry and said, "Once more, from the top."

The dance began again, an intimate and seductive dance which entwined the man and woman many times. Erik put his hands over his face and moaned after the first five minutes. "With feeling!" he groaned. "With feeling! The man's never felt passion or desire! Here, get out of here," snapped Erik, seizing the man's arm and thrusting him toward the wings. "You're fired. And the rest of you," he said, turning to the other dancers who were attempting the same dance but who were not the center focus of attention. "Feel the passion! Apparently you need an example of a passionate and lustful man, well I…"

Erik's eyes suddenly fixed on Dracula. "Yes!" he cried, happily. "You'll do perfectly! Come up here, Count Dracula!"

"Oh no, I couldn't," replied Dracula, modestly. "I can't dance, really."

"Of course you can," snapped Erik. "Anyway you've had plenty of time to learn. Get up here."

Dracula did so reluctantly, and Erik said, "You really don't have to dance. Just show them what it feels and looks like to be full of desire. Here, you can dance with Meg," he said, shoving Meg Giry forward.

She smiled at him and said, "Don't be afraid to touch me anywhere, Count Dracula. The dance calls for that sort of thing," she whispered, sliding her hand up his chest.

"Meg, that will do, we haven't started the dance yet," said Erik, gesturing to the orchestra. "Begin."

Elizabeth watched the whole dance with burning, furious eyes. Jekyll found he could not look at Emma, because it was too embarrassing. Emma was blushing furiously. But Dracula and Meg Giry did nothing but look at each other, when their eyes were not shut out of pleasure. The dance was indeed extremely passionate. Elizabeth winced once or twice but would not take her furious eyes off the two.

The dance ended at last with Meg Giry leaning with her back against Dracula's chest and her throat tilted toward him. His hand clutched her waist as his other pushed gently against her cheek so that her throat was exposed. He could not resist bringing his mouth down to lick it. She let out a cry of pleasure as her hand shot up and touched his own cheek. "Oh my God," she whispered, through shut eyes as he delicately licked her naked throat. "I want you."

Erik burst into applause. "Splendid!" he cried, happily. "Splendid! That is just the sort of reaction we need! Now all of you must do that on opening night, and the crowd will go wild! But especially you, Meg, my dear," he said, taking her hands as they broke. "If you can do that on opening night, you'll be my next Prima Donna."

"I hope I can," she said with a smile. "It all depends on the partner I have," she whispered, gazing at Dracula who was returning back to the chairs.

He sat down, gazing at Meg, and then turned to Elizabeth whose eyes were blazing. "What?" he asked, innocently.

She struck him and stormed off. Jekyll gaped at him, and Emma was blushing bright red. "What?" demanded Dracula, growing angry. "What's the matter with you people?"

"I just can't believe you'd have the nerve to do that," hissed Jekyll. "With Elizabeth standing right there."

"The nerve to do what?" he demanded. "It was just a stupid dance."

"It's a dance that's going to shock and appall audiences opening night," retorted Jekyll. "You should be ashamed of yourself, putting something like that on stage," he said, turning to Erik.

Erik shrugged. "When one writes an opera about the greatest lover the world has ever known, one has to risk some shock and appall, don't you agree?"

"No, frankly I don't," retorted Jekyll. "I think it's sick."

"Well, that is grand," replied Erik, lightly. "I have the disapproval of the man who is Mr. Hyde. He thinks my opera is sick. Perhaps he should look at some of the things he's done before he passes judgments on my work."

Jekyll grew angry. "Watch it, Erik," he hissed. "I'm not in a very understanding mood today."

"No, I daresay you aren't," he retorted. "Else you would have loved my work. It's genius, and it shows raw, human passion. I'm sorry you can't appreciate it."

Jekyll started forward, but Emma caught his hand. "No, Henry," she hissed. "It's not worth it."

"What do you mean by that?" hissed Jekyll at Erik.

He shrugged. "You heard me," he retorted.

"Gentlemen, please, no fighting," said Dracula, sternly. "You are both quite on edge at the moment, but it will not do to come to blows. We'll be going now," he said, seeing the murderous look in Jekyll's eyes.

"Count Dracula, what about the scene I wished you to see?" asked Meg Giry as he strode off, pulling Jekyll after him.

He turned and smiled at her. "Some other time perhaps, Miss Giry. Good morning."

He left, with Jekyll struggling against his and Emma's hold and shouting to Erik, "You can take your stupid Don Juan and shove it…"

The door shut. Dracula sighed and released Jekyll. "Miss Carew, look after him," he said. "I have to go find Elizabeth. She has to be around here somewhere."

He walked off and Jekyll sat down. Emma took a seat next to him and said, "Henry dear, you shouldn't worry about what others think. I don't, else I wouldn't be engaged to you."

He glared at her. "What's that supposed to mean?" he snapped.

"Well, it's just most of my friends don't approve of you," she said, slowly. "But it's all right because I love you anyway," she said hurriedly. "And I really do want to marry you."

Jekyll snorted. "They don't approve of me," he growled. "No, of course they wouldn't. They don't know anything about love. Just like that stupid phantom!" he shouted at the shut door."

"Henry, don't let him get to you," said Emma, comfortingly. "I agreed with you. That dance was a little…" she shivered, "risqué."

"That's putting it mildly, my dear," retorted Jekyll. "I'd hate to be there to see the whole opera opening night."

"Especially if there's no Don Juan," she added.

"Yes, there's always that hope," said Jekyll, brightening. "What will poor, dear Erik do then?" He laughed. "My dear Emma, you've quite cheered me up," he said, kissing her cheek. "What would you like to see today?"

"Well, I hear the Louvre is very lovely," said Emma. "We could go there."

"A splendid idea, my dear," he said. "Assuming that Dracula and Elizabeth show up soon."

They did, Elizabeth looking very sullen and angry. "Where to now?" asked Dracula, trying to avoid her eyes.

"Emma would like to go to the Louvre," said Jekyll.

"Wonderful," said Dracula, brightening. "Elizabeth's always wanted to go there, haven't you, my darling?" he asked her.

She grunted. "It hardly matters what I want, though, does it, Dracula? It's what you want, isn't it?"

"Elizabeth, please…" he began, but she turned away.

"Let's go," she commanded, shortly.

They took a cab to the museum, and Jekyll followed Emma from one work of art to another, exclaiming in delight. "Oh, Henry, isn't it lovely? Isn't art wonderful? Look at that, isn't it beautiful?"

"Beautiful," agreed Jekyll, bored. He was not a fan of art in general, but if it made Emma happy, he was glad to suffer it.

"Here's the Mona Lisa!" cried Emma, rushing over to painting. "Oh, Henry, isn't she beautiful!"

"Not as beautiful as you, darling," he replied, taking her hand.

"Henry, you shameful flatterer," she said, blushing. "Miss Bathory, Count Dracula, come see this!" she called across the museum.

Elizabeth angrily pulled Dracula away from a sculpture of a naked woman and dragged him over to the Mona Lisa. He gazed at it, unimpressed. "I should have told him at the time it was too boring," he sniffed.

"You knew Leonardo da Vinci?" asked Emma, wide-eyed.

"Yes, and I knew her," he retorted, nodding at the Mona Lisa. "And she didn't like it either. But Leonardo was so delighted with that smile that we hadn't the heart to tell him that the rest of the portrait was boring."

"I don't think it's boring," replied Emma.

"Fine," retorted Dracula. "Think what you will. But mark my words, posterity will find this picture boring. Not like this one," he added, turning to a picture of a reclining nude.

"Yes, I'm sure you would have liked the Mona Lisa better if she were reclining naked," retorted Elizabeth, disgusted. "So like you, Dracula. Why don't you ask little Meg Giry to do it? She'd be delighted at the chance."

"Darling, that's not fair," he said, hurt. "I don't care about Meg Giry."

"Oh, don't you?" she asked, raising her eyebrows. "That dance would have implied differently."

"Darling, I had to do what Erik asked. It would have been rude not to," he said, defensively.

"Oh, and such a gentlemen you are for accepting," she retorted. "I'm sure you didn't enjoy it one bit."

"But darling, I don't love her," he said, sincerely.

She glared at him and stormed off. Dracula sighed, sitting down. "I don't understand what I've done wrong," he muttered. "So far my new leaf hasn't been as successful as I had initially hoped."

"Keep trying, Dracula," said Jekyll. "You'll get the hang of it eventually."

He sighed. "I certainly hope so. I thought once I showed disinterest in other women, Elizabeth would warm up to me again. But she hasn't. I just don't know what I'm doing wrong."

"You'll figure it out," muttered Jekyll, grinning at Emma.

"Come on, Henry," said Emma, taking his arm. "I want to see the Winged Victory. Would you like to come, Count Dracula?"

"I suppose," sighed Dracula. "I haven't much else to do at the moment."

On the way there, Jekyll suddenly started coughing. Emma looked at him, "Henry, is it…"

"I…don't…know," gasped Jekyll, clutching at his chest. "I don't…"

Dracula acted. "Get him out of the museum," he said, seizing one arm. "And hurry, before he changes!"

"What brought it on?" asked Emma as she took his other arm and hurried him out.

"I don't know," retorted Dracula. "Maybe Hyde's been locked up for so long that he forces his way out spontaneously."

"Oh, poor Henry," murmured Emma, gazing with tear-stained eyes at Dr. Jekyll who was rapidly changing into Mr. Hyde.

They left the Louvre just in time. Mr. Hyde broke free from both of them and turned on Dracula, furious. "What the hell did you do that for?" he demanded. "I wanted to smash some things. It would have been fun."

"I know," retorted Dracula. "And who do you think would have to pay for the damage? Me, and I'm not willing to do it. So go release your anger someplace else, Hyde."

Hyde snorted. "It's not just anger," he snapped, turning to Emma. He grinned unpleasantly. "There's lust and desire and a great many other feelings. I'm sure you've felt them, my little Emma," he murmured, approaching her. She shrank back from his touch, but he seized her shoulders. "And the only way to end them, little Emma, is to satisfy them," he murmured, drawing her to him.

Count Dracula shoved him away with one hand and took Emma's arm. "Go someplace else, Hyde," he repeated sternly. "There's a red light district a few streets down. Go indulge yourself there."

Mr. Hyde grinned. "I will, thank you," he replied. "But realize, little Emma," he said, turning to Emma and smiling. "Dr. Jekyll can't keep me locked up forever. And someday you'll be all alone, with nobody here to save you," he said, shooting an angry glance at Dracula. "And you'll be mine."

He chuckled and scurried off. Emma gazed after him, tears in her eyes. "Oh, poor Henry," she murmured. She then burst into tears. Dracula let her lean against his chest as she sobbed. "It's not fair, Dracula!" she cried. "It's not fair! I love him!"

"Love's never fair, Miss Carew," murmured Dracula. "We just have to go on, or give up."

She broke away, wiping her eyes. "No," she said, her voice quivering but resolute. "No, there's a way. There's a way we can be together. It's the only way, the only…"

She trailed off, with tears falling from her wide eyes, but her jaw was set. "There's only one way," she whispered.