Back to the present day. India riding her bicycle in the park. It was a bright, very bright day. She stops at the ice cream cart and has a chocolate vanilla ice cream for herself with a smile, then takes a seat on the park bench near the ice cream cart.
She watched the view, the sweet moment where people were having their own time, until something was whispering in her ears. She jolted. Shocking. Her eyes caught this figure.
"Mr. Grayson?"
"Miss Greene". he smiled. "Can I sit next to you?" she nodded, Grayson took a seat. "Ice cream?"
She is about to lick it. "Oh, would you like some?"
Hurried her feet toward the ice cream cart before he couldn't stop her, without her knowing that he cannot eat the ice cream.
Dracula don't eat ice cream, they drink blood... human blood. It Tastes better than wine or beer, which people enjoy having until they are drunk.
He smiles when she comes back with the ice cream in her hand. She handed it to him.
"I don't know what kind of flavor you like for your ice cream so I will take the same as mine for you".
Grayson reaches for the ice cream and eats it without hesitation. He licked it with a full smile on his face as she was happy to see his face like that.
He will do anything for his beloved love. Ice cream or not he will eat it for her.
"Thank you. Such a nice you brought me an ice cream".
"Pleasure". She sat back. "Because you are my former teacher, why don't I buy you an ice cream". there was silence, she spoke. "How's my mom, Mr Grayson have you seen her lately".
Shrugs, licked the ice cream again. "Not really. I am far too busy but sometimes I see her and sometimes I don't see her. Haven't you two called each other?"
"Like you say, Mr. Grayson is busy. I tried once to call her but her line was busy. I don't know what happened to her while I was not there with her. I even called Olive for my mom because she didn't see her too".
Grayson chuckled a bit while eating ice cream, she asked. "How did you know I was here, Mr Grayson?"
"Central park is actually my favorite place to be when I was walking alone after my meeting with my business partner. It calms me down, fresh air, soothes me and makes me more green. I didn't know you were here for the ice cream, so I saw you and I say hello".
She didn't notice there was an ice cream attached on her lips, he brushed her lips with his thumb. She shocked back away.
Grayson smiles. "Wonder why you are here alone beside the ice cream".
"Same like you told me earlier. It calms me down too, wandering with my bicycle alone, making friends. What about you?"
"Finding love". he smiled, their eyes met. She blushed for no reason. "Business actually. Away from the dracula's lairs".
She laughed, "You believe what my mom says on the internet. All the news. I don't know whether I will believe it or not. I don't believe dracula will existence among us".
"Why not?"
Shook my head, "It sounds stupid". Grayson smiles wider. "It's been the 21st century... Vampires. Doesn't make any sense, well except for Billy he adores that filthy creature".
Grayson smiles, "What if it is real for you, Miss Greene?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean what if that dracula itself is sitting right next to you right now". Grayson purposely mentioned himself. "What will you do then?"
Her eyes met him again, said. "Are you kidding me? I burnt that monster, I don't care what it takes!"
"Ah! Brave one I do believe. I hear the rumor say, the Sheriff agrees with your mom's exclusive news but still they cannot find that monster because it suddenly stops killing the human being".
Sighs, "But not two other victims which we concern, may their souls rest in peace". probably not.
"Poor them then". her smile was bitter.
Grayson nodded, he had to kill those men for blood. He needs it for his thirst. He looked over his watch, it's about noon.
"I'll tell you what, Miss Greene, what about us having lunch together? It's almost noon".
India looked over her watch, "Of course. Why not then?" finishing the ice cream.
"Good. You waited here, I want to make some call before we leave, just a moment and don't you go alright?"
She nodded, why suddenly she accepted his offer to have lunch together. She didn't watch where he was going to make a phone call.
All of a sudden Grayson hurled out what he was eating, leaning against one of the trees not far from where she was sitting. He wouldn't not let her see that, his face pale and his eyes are red like blood everywhere he sees.
His body trembling and shaking, holding his own breath, Grayson wiped his mouth, calming himself down before walking back to her with a smile.
He had to fake everything that happened. He won't let her be scared of him or know that he is the monster they've been looking for.
Not yet, not for now.
"Are you alright, Mr. Grayson, you look pale and sweating!"
He chuckled. "I am okay, just my friend. They make me laugh so hard about me trying to seduce my ex-student which is why I am now asking her to go for lunch". he lied. "They're crazy!"
"Of course". she suddenly laughed. "I have never seen people sweat and pale after laughing. You're the first I saw right now. Is it normal?"
He shrugged, "You're a doctor. Why don't you tell me".
"I am about to be a doctor but not right now. What else do you mean gossiping about me anyway". as she and Grayson walk side to side. "Wish you could tell me. Sounds fun having gossip behind my back".
Grayson smiles as his eyes will never leave hers. "Nothing else I am sure of you. I know the best diner around here but you must let me paddle your bicycle and you sit behind me. If there's no objection". She smiled and nodded.
"Sure".
Lend her bicycle to him. Both Grayson and India get on it, as he paddle.
Grayson smiled suddenly wider when she wrapped her arm around his waist from the back. The moment he's been waiting for to happen in his life. His wife Josette went back to him under this body of hers.
He wanted to hold her so badly, what sudden changing her to do so. Afraid of falling on her back or did she really do it by willing it.
"Hold me tight then!"
"What!" she couldn't hear him much. "What is it?!"
He smiled, "Never mind!" Happiness. He likes to say this. She will not leave him and he will make sure she isn't trying to run from him again.
She belongs to him. Belonging to a Prince of Romania, if she tries to disappear again she will face the real dark Prince of Vlad Dracul.
"There's no one when I first arrived at Gracey's Manor. That is why I'm coming back and getting his interview!"
"Are you sure you want to do this, Kim? I mean I regret it that I asked you to interview that man alone".
Flashback when Kim arrives at Gracey's Manor. She knocked on the door and no one was answering. For half an hour waiting, still no response from the inside. She stays for a moment until she decides to get inside the car and drive away from the Manor ground.
Back to now, Kim takes her chance to go there alone. Rescheduled the meeting and now she is here again at Gracey's Manor. Her eyes searched for something, hoping there would be a figure to notice her coming back.
Kim is still on the phone with her co-worker.
"Just be careful alright. Your interviews are too hot to publish on public figures. And insane".
Kim smirking, said. "I know right. The town thinks I am crazy for this stupid interview. Got to go". Hung up the phone, Kim stepped out of the car and slammed it.
This will do.
She walked at the door, the same door she was waiting for and knocked it.
"Hello!"
She jolted when the crow's group shrieked and flew out from the tree. It Sounds annoying and scary sometimes. The ground seems unwelcoming to her. Scared or not to be scared she needs to get this interview done.
She pushed the door open, "Hello?" Still no one answered her. She stepped in and left the door open. "Mr. Gracey?"
Her jaw drops as she looks at the entire decoration inside this manor. Amazing and classic decoration she has ever seen. Bigger that you barely imagine how this widower survives of his own wealth without wife and child's aside.
There is a sound making on her right side which leads to the deep hallway that she doesn't know what is waiting for her over there. Slowly she walks through it, she moves up to the door, puts a hand out to it. The moaning rises.
Kim pushes through, flings it open...
"Oh my god!" she screamed. Stepping back with wider eyes. Her palm hand on her chest.
A woman in black holding a knife stands in front of her. She swallows hard, eyes blinking as she looks at her.
"Scare?"
"Very!"
"It's to make the soup or answer the door. Can't do both".
Kim nodded, sighs. "I've been here before but no one answered me".
"Really? Perhaps you should have done this at your first meeting. Like I say... I can't do both. What brings you here Ms. Destler?"
Shocked. "So you know my name".
"My master told me that you will come for a second chance. He's been watching you from his study room and you left without saying goodbye".
Kim faced red, she spoke. "Well at least someone should stop me and you are?"
"I am Mrs. Bernard. If you saw the old man outside, that is Mr. Mills. And if you see a young lady that will be Lydia. Should you meet the butler himself at the door".
"I'm sorry I don't see anyone standing at the door".
Mrs. Bernard scoffs, "Where could he be then?" She laid the knife. "So you are journalists". she said, wiped her hands, regards Kim.
She stared at her with a sunken face. "Mr. Gracey will meet you in his study room. I can't help you but the butler will. He will come for you as soon as you leave this room".
What the old woman said is right, there is an old man who is waiting for Kim below the stairs. He smiled at her.
"Ms. Destler. Come, I'll show you the way".
The butler glides up the stairs. Kim follows, it appears the mezzanine ahead leads to a hallway. But as we draw closer to what we thought was a hallway is an enormous oil painting in which stands a man, his features lost in the shadows above, only his body visible.
Kim looks up. The butler waits coldly at the top of the stairs. "I believe that is Mr. Gracey am I right?"
"Yes".
At the second floor hallway, north wing. The butler leads Kim down a curved hallway, over aged persian carpets and turns to a door on his left.
He throws it open, stands back. Kim enters in amusement. She turns to the butler.
"What an extraordinary study room he had for himself. Is it true what I've heard about him?"
The butler stares at Kim with his lazy eyes. He spoke. "So you hear? don't worry. People heard lots about my master. What you see, what you hear. Doesn't matter to him".
"Why you, Mrs. Bernard, Mr. Mills and Lydia still work here if you know about him so much. Does he threaten all of you if you leave".
The butler said nothing but shook his head. "People from the town think they are having a better life out there. Perhaps as a journalist like you shouldn't hear the rumor that wasn't true to tell".
"You're certainly quite right..."
"Mr. Jenkins if you asked". Kim nods and smiles, "There is no such thing that you hear from them, from me they never know my master himself".
Kim breathed, "They liked to judge?"
"Too lazy to know each other. When you see a haunted manor like this from afar they will think there is a ghost who lived in here. We have worked for our masters for so long since centuries. Get the interview and you will know".
An awkward silence between Kim and the butler. He spoke back, "If you need anything don't call me. My master will''.
"What do you mean by all of you who have served Mr. Gracey for centuries?"
"Our great great line did before us".
Kim sighs with relief. The butler turns his feet and walks then closes the door behind. She studied the room. The room is spacious, in a rococo gothic style with low relief woodwork on the walls rising to a dark, coffered, ceiling of carved ivory.
A large fireplace dominates one wall. Its mantle is carved with the herd figures of werewolf, Kim touches the wood with a nod. This Gracey's man is living such a mysterious life she really wants to meet.
"Are you amused with my werewolf, Ms. Destler?"
She quickly turned on her back, didn't realize the room had stairs connected to where she didn't notice as she entered.
Above the stairs there stood Gracey's himself. A charming man she had never seen in her life. He smiled and greeted her as he climbed down.
"I'm sorry for my presence before that I keep you waiting in my manor alone. You must be wondering why but I have no intention to".
His feet step the last stairs. He walks toward her.
"Gabriel Gracey". he smiles, both shaking hands. "Forgive me. Please have a seat". he takes a seat. His eyes to Kim. "Are you married?"
She shook no, he spoke. "Pity. Beautiful woman as you are... no man ever tries to know".
"Divorcing actually".
"Ah! My apologies".
"No worries. I have a daughter who lives in New York. She wants to become a doctor".
He nodded, "Can I see her photo if you had with you. Just to get to know that all. Nothing I try to do".
"Well, I always carry my daughter's photo with me. The only daughter I had". She handed him a photo of India's. He looks at it then smiles. "My precious, Mr. Gracey, I would have lost my mind if I hadn't looked at it".
He nodded again, and handed the photo back to Kim. "Beautiful daughter you got there, Ms. Destler".
"Thank you. Are you from Romania? because your tongue says so".
For Kim, Gabriel Gracey in person are polite and friendly owners of Gracey's Manor. She doesn't see him as a murderer of his wife nor others people from the town claimed he used to.
Charming man like him, murdered? killing? there no make any sense of it. The butler was right, don't you ever believe what people had said about this man without knowing him.
"Yes. I was born in Romania, Transylvania, my birth place".
She nodded, "I hear alot about you. Two reasons why I am here. First, I've been asked to meet you, learning about your family history. Second, I heard the stories about you from town and your wife..."
"Of course!" He leans back on the chair. Snickering. "Where'd you like me to start first? or you are interested to hear how I killed my wife".
He could smell her blood running through his nose, he could sense her fear on him. How wonderful to have a guest like her whom she tried to get his interview and published articles about him worldwide.
Let them know who Gabriel Gracey was and the hidden inside of the Gracey's manor stood itself on the ground which people are afraid to get near.
An hidden mystery unsolved case. Where people believe he killed his own wife. The untold stories had been passed for generations to generations until now.
And here Kim was, "Are you ready to hear my stories? then be careful what you wish for, Ms. Destler". he smirked.