Time for the chapter on the count. The exciting plot begins!
Landing on the smooth stone brick floor, the count straightened his long black jacket and brushed his fingers through his silky black hair. In front of him was the Louvre pyramid, a triumphant centrepiece that marked the new entrance into the Musée du Louvre. It had been almost two centuries since the count had last visited the marvellous museum and it had undergone many changes since then, including the removal and addition of various artefacts.
Recently, the count had been informed that the rare Ramesses Rubrum Ruby, an exquisite gem, may be encased within the Great Sphinx of Tanis. According to legend, if sunlight shines through this ruby and lands on a vampire's flesh, it would cure them of their vampirism.
The count quickly surveyed his environment to ensure that any cameras fixed on him would not pick him out in the moonlight and then whooshed through museum doors. On a previous mission of his, the count had opened the doors by clicking his fingers, which resulted in the alarms going off … fun but not practical. Today - the count decided - it would be easier to stay under the radar and perform his personal mission quickly and undetected.
Making his way down the stairs, the count scanned the room for signs marked Egyptians. He had tried to download the museum's map online but the website was very confusing and he decided asking his family for help was not an option. He did not wish to explain why he needed such a map. He also didn't need a map, he was count dracula and had survived perfectly fine on previous missions.
The museum was well signposted and he whooshed through the Museum at a lightning speed, following the signs.
The first room was magnificent, beautiful beige stone formed the walls and the ceiling that surrounded him, with various statues of the goddess Sekhmet guarding the entrance. Inside were various artefacts and further statues in glass boxes. The count wondered how life must have been during these times, where care was taken to delicately carve stories and statues out of the finest stone. The breather world lacked this care and beauty now and he feared that the vampire world was following their lead.
The count walked carefully through the room until he arrived at the Great Sphinx of Tanis, in an arched tunnel room that drew your attention to the Sphinx's face. You could walk all around the Sphinx to take in its beauty.
"Right!" he exclaimed under his breath, straightening his jacket.
The count pulled out the sketch of the Sphinx and pondered about where the Ruby could be. Where would a vampire's master hide a ruby? Or where would a vampire hide a ruby? The count wasn't actually sure who hid it.
The neck appeared to be the most fragile part of the structure, followed by the head. No one would hide it there, not unless they were stupid. The chest it must be.
While the count had worked out the location and exact artefact hosting the ruby, he hadn't fully thought through his plan. Getting through a sphinx, would not go unnoticed and was going to cause serious damage to the famous artefact.
The count curled his fingers into a fist and looked at his fist, contemplating punching the Sphinx until he found the ruby.
He shrugged, worth a try.
CRACK
The limestone was strong and the count appeared shocked that his first punch didn't do more damage.
CRACK
A solid crack appeared across the chest of the sphinx.
CRRACCK
The crack deepened and lengthened, spreading across the chest of the sphinx like a stream.
The count stepped closer and inspected the sphinx. Right in the centre of its chest, he could make out a tiny glimmer of red. He had to rely on his vampire vision to depict its ruby tones, to a human it would have appeared brown or black.
Punching the sphinx one more time, the delectable ruby revealed itself.
The count opened his fist and grasped the ruby, pulling it out of the limestone.
He tossed it in the air and smirked, another cure in his hands. It was all too easy!
The count threw the ruby at the stone wall, causing it to smash into a million tiny pieces. Using his telekinetic powers, he lifted all the pieces and brought them into a cluster which he then set on fire. The beautiful, shattered pieces of the ruby transformed from their exquisite glimmering form into ash that joined the dust from the smashed up sphinx.
He laughed, looking back on the damage he had caused. A cloud of dust lingered in the air and covered every surface in the room. The sphinx was marvellously still upright but with a gaping whole in its chest and an alarming large crack across its whole body. The museum workers were going to enjoy this site in the morning and he knew this would go further than local news, perhaps even reaching global news. He'd never get caught though, museums never released footage of a cloaked figure destroying their artefacts, no one would ever donate to them if they revealed it.
Triumphantly, the count left the museum and returned to Garside as he had something he wished to discuss with his son.
Should he knock, no this was his previous home and he was Count Dracula …
The count walked straight into Garside acting as if he still owned the place.
"Dad?"
"My boy, just who I came to see!"
Vlad curiously glances at his dad, confused at why he has arrived and if Ingrid knew he was coming.
Then Vlad notices it. His dad's behaviour, like he's been up to something or flirting with someone. The way he had walked with a skip in his step and smiled like he was a child that had got away with breaking the rules.
He smirks back and Vlad feels slightly uneasy. What had his dad just done … ?
The count rolls his eyes, "So … what's this about you and the Duke?"
"Sorry?"
"The Duke of Argyll, sounds like you had a fun night! Invite me next time!"
"Ugh" Vlad responds.
The count laughs, his son never did enjoy confrontation, must have got that from Sally.