Chapter Six: A Night of Entertainment
The streets of Budapest were filled with such life at night. Carriages and carts wheeled to and from on the cobblestone streets. The buildings towered as magnificently as he remembered. Couples strolled here and there under the lit streetlamps and the ever watchful eyes of the police guards.
For tonight, Dracula had plans to attend a most entertaining act that a troupe of his own vampire fledglings was to perform. It was something that they wanted to call the "Masquerade of Apparent Death." It seemed silly for a lord such as himself to attend such things, but he was bored.
A few hours later, after the show, he joined in the few of the small social groups in the lobby. It was delightful to have simple gossip with mortals once again. They could be such scheming creatures at times, as he recalled from personal experience.
An elderly man with a brushed goatee addressed him. "Lord Vladislaus, will you be joining the other gentlemen in the smoke room for a brandy?"
Dracula smiled pleasantly. "I haven't been in company of such beautiful women for so long, that I am afraid that I must stay behind to chat with the ladies. I do hope that you will forgive me, sir."
The man smiled and walked away to join the other gentlemen. The ladies were left behind in a circle around Dracula, which rather pleased him. They were all very lovely ladies, save for the few elderly women that reminded him of old crows. He bowed politely to one of these women. "Do I have your permission, Lady, to borrow your beautiful young daughter here for a stroll outside?"
The young girl across from him blushed behind a lace fan.
"You may, sir, provided the girl won't catch a cold," replied the elderly woman.
Dracula flashed his most seductively gentleman smile. "I wouldn't dream of allowing the young lady to stay out for long."
Rowena, the daughter of a business man and one of the most gorgeous red- heads he had seen in many years, took the arm that he offered. He led her outside to take a short walk through the garden promenade in front.
He had had his eye upon this beauty ever since he had re-entered the circle of gentlemen, and he had no intention of taking her back to her mother tonight. He had everything prepared perfectly for this evening.
A young man with light slicked back hair entered the well-kept garden promenade with hurried countenance. He took a quick glance at Rowena with him and haughtily approached them. "I would appreciate it, sir, if I could speak quickly with my future fiancée. It is quite important."
Dracula nodded. I'm sure it is. He watched the both of them talk quietly near to the carriage that the boy had come in. Rowena's heartbeat was rampant with worry. The news must be disturbing, no doubt. The young man quickly opened the carriage door and ushered her in it.
Dracula immediately returned to the girl's mother to inform her of the young blonde that had taken her. She did not show any signs of surprise. In fact, she looked as if she knew and expected the boy. Good. He bid the ladies goodbye and quickly left for to follow that carriage...
The streets of Budapest were filled with such life at night. Carriages and carts wheeled to and from on the cobblestone streets. The buildings towered as magnificently as he remembered. Couples strolled here and there under the lit streetlamps and the ever watchful eyes of the police guards.
For tonight, Dracula had plans to attend a most entertaining act that a troupe of his own vampire fledglings was to perform. It was something that they wanted to call the "Masquerade of Apparent Death." It seemed silly for a lord such as himself to attend such things, but he was bored.
A few hours later, after the show, he joined in the few of the small social groups in the lobby. It was delightful to have simple gossip with mortals once again. They could be such scheming creatures at times, as he recalled from personal experience.
An elderly man with a brushed goatee addressed him. "Lord Vladislaus, will you be joining the other gentlemen in the smoke room for a brandy?"
Dracula smiled pleasantly. "I haven't been in company of such beautiful women for so long, that I am afraid that I must stay behind to chat with the ladies. I do hope that you will forgive me, sir."
The man smiled and walked away to join the other gentlemen. The ladies were left behind in a circle around Dracula, which rather pleased him. They were all very lovely ladies, save for the few elderly women that reminded him of old crows. He bowed politely to one of these women. "Do I have your permission, Lady, to borrow your beautiful young daughter here for a stroll outside?"
The young girl across from him blushed behind a lace fan.
"You may, sir, provided the girl won't catch a cold," replied the elderly woman.
Dracula flashed his most seductively gentleman smile. "I wouldn't dream of allowing the young lady to stay out for long."
Rowena, the daughter of a business man and one of the most gorgeous red- heads he had seen in many years, took the arm that he offered. He led her outside to take a short walk through the garden promenade in front.
He had had his eye upon this beauty ever since he had re-entered the circle of gentlemen, and he had no intention of taking her back to her mother tonight. He had everything prepared perfectly for this evening.
A young man with light slicked back hair entered the well-kept garden promenade with hurried countenance. He took a quick glance at Rowena with him and haughtily approached them. "I would appreciate it, sir, if I could speak quickly with my future fiancée. It is quite important."
Dracula nodded. I'm sure it is. He watched the both of them talk quietly near to the carriage that the boy had come in. Rowena's heartbeat was rampant with worry. The news must be disturbing, no doubt. The young man quickly opened the carriage door and ushered her in it.
Dracula immediately returned to the girl's mother to inform her of the young blonde that had taken her. She did not show any signs of surprise. In fact, she looked as if she knew and expected the boy. Good. He bid the ladies goodbye and quickly left for to follow that carriage...