Chapter 2 - London - One Week Later

Lucy whacked her friend on the head with a book. "Mina stop daydreaming about your fantasy prince. He isn't real, however Johnthan is and has a successful business started. Mr. Harker would be a good match for you. He's charming, sweet, successful, and I can see in his eyes that he loves you the way Arthur loves me."

Mina looked up from her perusal of the manor's grounds and smiled at the only sister that she had ever had. "Johnathan is not the problem, or at least his qualifications are not." She sighed tiredly. "When you were being courted did you ever have the feeling that any of the suitors were just not the person that you had always been waiting for?"

The blond looked at her friend blankly. "I'm not certain I know what you mean Mina."

The young brunet searched for the right words. "Let me put it this way, did any of your suitors make you feel safe, happy, loved, and mike it seem that if you were with him that nothing could ever go wrong?' Mina looked her sister-in-all-but-blood strait in the eye.

"Yes. Richard makes me feel that way." Lucy had gone quiet, almost breathless.

Mina took her friend's hand. "The way you feel about Richard, that does not happen to me around Johnathan. But the mere mention of Vlad Tepes makes me feel that way."

666

Romania

Vlad Tepes sat on his throne, awaiting the arrival of one Johnathan Harker. Several months ago Renfield had contacted Borgan, Burk, and Sons, a wealthy real estate company in London where Mister Harker works. Something had drawn him toward the city and he could give a guess that his Dragoste lives there.

He looked up as the throne room doors opened. Renfield walked through the ancient oak doors, escorting a man whom Vlad assumed to be Johnathan Harker. The London buisness man had a thin frame, mousy brown hair, washed out brown eyes, and slightly tanned skin. He was dressed in a simple brown traveling suit, his hat and luggage already being taken from him.

The vampire commonly known as Count Dracula, stood from his throne and walked toward his guest. "You must be Johnathan Harker." Vlad spoke like a man who was used to holding people's attention with his voice.

"And you must be Count Dracula." The Englishman shook the Count's hand. "It will be a pleasure to work with you."

Dracula barred his teeth in a dark smile. He keen nose had caught his Dragoste's scent on the real estate agent's clothes. "I'm certain it will. Welcome to Romania Mr. Harker."

Sorry for the short chapter and the long wait. More will be coming soon. Until then.