VLAD: Return of Dracula

I sit with the large book in front of me, almost intimidated by the length.

"What is that?"I hear Eddie ask as he enters my room.

"It's apparently some sort of biography from Vlad Draculas point of view. It's super old, and Mr. Van Helsing wants me to go through and find some interesting things for the new Dracula display."I say as he sits a milkshake down next to me before taking a seat on my bed.

"Cool so it's like his diary?"he asks before taking a sip of his milkshake.

"Almost. It gives me a weird feeling."I say, running my fingers over the cover.

"You give me a weird feeling. Oh wait."he then brings both his knees to his chest and farts before dropping his legs.

"Nevermind. Just the dairy."he says as I wipe on a face of utter disgust.

"You're such a disappointment."I say.

"Hey! Someone's gotta be the disappointment and if it's me I'm proud. So do you wanna hang out or are you gonna stick to your weird vampire book?"he asks as I shake my head.

"Let me read a little and then we can hang out. And open my fucking window."I scoffs, covering my nose.

"You just hate me because I'm beautiful."he says as he stands.

......

I hear whispers as I open my eyes.

I noticed I was in my familiar dreamscape.

The whispers begin to grow louder and I turn around. I face the door I had seen before with the singular key hole.

The whispers stop instantly and I stand there in silence.

"Okay. I see the door, what now?"I ask into the echoey silence.

"How do I find the door? Show me."I say softly before closing my eyes.

The whispers start again and I instantly open my eyes.

Suddenly I was standing at the base of the stairs where Evan had shown me the archives.

I was staring down the two flights of stairs Evan had passed off as ancient junk.

"They key.."

"Bring me the key..."

My head begins to feel light, and my eyes begin to water.

"..the key.."I say softly.

...

I sit up with a gasp and I instantly put my hand on my neck, feeling a burning sensation.

I miss and stand up, walking out of my room and walk to the kitchen. I see Eddie asleep on the couch as I walk to the sink, turning on the cold water.

I pull my phone from my pocket, noticing that it was only 8pm.

"When did I fall asleep?"I complain as I cup cold water up to my neck.

I get a text message and I look over, seeing it was from Mr. Van Helsing.

- Reading well?

I chuckle, using some paper towels to dry my neck before texting back.

-I'm trying, some parts are a little difficult to understand

-i'm sorry about that. Should we go over it tomorrow?

-I was actually hoping to get it done tonight :/

It takes a bit for him to respond.

- maybe you could come over for a bit? We can set something up and finish tomorrow

I instantly begin to blush and I look over at Eddie asleep on the couch.

-That sounds good :)

- perfect :) I'll send you a car

I instantly begin to feel butterflies and I quickly run to my room to get ready.

...

I wipe my sweaty palms before picking up the book, hearing the car door open.

The driver steps aside and I see Evan at the top of his staircase smiling.

"Ms. Lilly! Hello!"he says as I get out of the car.

"Hi Evan! I have some notes already!"I say as I walk up the stairs to him.

"Perfect, I have some artifacts I'd like you to look at. "

....

"Wow."I say, looking at the artifacts that were laid out on his table.

"All of them were from the era of this book. Also these parts you can't understand are in Romanian love."he says, sitting the book down on the table as well.

"I wish we had some pictures of him."I huff.

"Don't be silly love, he's not real."he says as he walks over to a wine table.

"Fancy a drink? I have this absolutely ancient merlot, it's brilliant."he says.

"Sure."I smile as he pours two glasses of wine.

"Now, I simply must know why you are so obsessed with Dracula."he says as he hands me a glass.

I chuckle as he sits next to me and I sit up.

"Well, when I was a kid I was very much into vampire literature. Anne Rice, Stephanie Meyer, L.J Smith, if there was a hot vampire in it I'm reading it."I say, making him chuckle as he balances his cup on his leg.

"When I got older I looked into it more. There's so many things that we would never have known without the help of vampires. And the Van Helsing's of course."I say.

"I agree, they're a dangerous yet reliable species. It's the attacking humans not that sets them apart."Evan says, twirling his wine in his glass.

"Well, the number of attacks has gone down since the Van Helsing's revealed that vampires are real."I say before I take a sip of the wine.

"That's very true. Only because now the people know what to expect."he says as I lean against the couch.

"I think it was definitely a good idea on your part."I say, causing him to smile.

"I think you're very sweet for saying that."he says, looking into my eyes.

I instantly feel my cheeks flush and I clear my throat, sitting up a bit.

"Alright, um let's get to translating!"

...