Okay, last chapter. Thanks to all who reviewed/added me to their alerts. Hope you enjoyed the story.

Chapter 3

Once in the hall, Dracula clutched his spinning skull. He placed his palms against the cold wall and rested his head on it. "Cursed, cursed life! Why I must transform at every bantam aroma of warming fluid!" He skimmed the floor and floated to his room once again.

Ripping off his smock, Dracula's body began to separate again. Candlelight cast haunting images around the room, and Dracula's cries of pain could be heard over the shuddering yellow foliage outside. After the division was complete, Vlad seized a nearby dagger. Holding it viciously, he advanced on his sinful counterpart, the vampire. The two struggled and let out tempestuous roars. The vampire brought down his murderous claws, clamped one around the blade and used the other to slash Vlad's face. Blood trickled down Vlad's nose and trailed down his chin.

"Brother...please, end this madness..." Vlad pleaded, dread filling his human eyes. "Put the dagger down. Without me, you will not be able to control yourself... j-just look at what we have become already!" He paused, studying the beast's lifeless expression as an involuntary shudder racked his body.

"It is you who have become the monster Vlad. You who are so eager to dispose of me." The vampire spat as he let his mouth expand and his teeth lengthen, holding his jaw inches away from Vlad's neck. Saliva dripped off the fangs and dribbled down the man's chest. "You are forced to hide from humanity - forced to develop into someone you are not. Yes, the sun rises and brings light to the masses, but you… we are restricted by its blazing illumination." Vlad's eyes widened as he surveyed his enemy's sickening mouth.

"It is you who must contain our impulses, you who must dwell in the shadows while all else enjoy the alabaster world. You know what you are truly meant to be; it is the humans who cannot accept it," he spat. "Now, accept your fate openly, so we can finally destroy the human side that holds us back. It is the only way we will survive."

Vlad understood and closed his eyes slowly, waiting for the strike. He felt two teeth press against his soft flesh. They pushed against the neck, ready to puncture.

Unexpectedly, Vlad jumped back in pure terror, and raced toward the exit. Grasping the cold knob, he prepared to wrench it open, however something powerful crushed him against the wall. The next thing he knew, stabbing agony gripped his entire body.

Vlad felt life escape his body, as if it was being torn from him. He crumbled to the floor, Count Dracula standing over his cadaver. The demon watched as the remains dissolved before his eyes, until there was no corpse below him. Unfazed, He walked over to the small walnut desk and began to pen a letter to Jonathan's advisor, Mr. Hawkins:

Sir Hawkins,

I acknowledge the genius in Jonathan Harker that you described in your previous letter. He and I are getting along just wonderfully, and I've developed such a fondness for the lad. I beg your permission for the young man to stay just a trifle longer. There are still some small property matters that must be resolved before Mr. Harker takes his leave. I estimate that Jonathan will be prepared to return to England on June 29. I'm sure an apt gentleman such as you won't mind the delay. I shall make sure everything is set for his departure when the time comes. As I remember, the journey back to England is a long one...

Your friend,

Count Vlad Dracula

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