On that night it was raining as I met him. Him I mean a mortal; a human who dared to go too far. A mortal who believed he was a vampire without the venom rushing through his veins like mine. What was worse, he believed he was me. Dracula.
Not the one you may have seen in the movies but the historical one. The real me only as a human with the thirst for human blood. Of course, there have been few serial killers who were inspired by the ‘fictional’ version of me with a few similar traits, but then it stops. Not with that man. He went everything thorough from the beginning to the end. Not only on the victims but everything down to the last flaw of my character. At that time, I thought what I encountered the worst was behind me; I was wrong.
On that night, he smiled at me broadly. It was a devilish smile and that broad, on purpose, to notice the artificial oversized canines. Let his hair grow long and dyed it to pitch black along growing a moustache upon his upper lip. It was as if watching myself in a mirror or a dream, but it was not; it was the reality. From what I have researched from his past, it was hard to believe he led a contented life filled with positive opportunities. Happy childhood, loving parents, friends and girlfriend and had a positive reputation in his work as an industrial chemist in a food company in Bavaria, Germany. I was frozen and speechless at his sight. Barely able to grasp the logical mind that made him so. “Heinrich Sachhausen.” I mouthed his name in awe.
“He is dead, mortal!” He called angered with balled fists. A gust of cool and rainy wind made his long dark cape flutter along with the wind. The large hood remained well placed upon his head. Even the clothes he wore were the 15th-century style down to the last detail and correct as a Wallachian Prince. Except the cape was waterproof, which at that time was not possible.
I blinked and collected myself. What shall I say, to one who acts like me, to stop, think and talk? In my human time, I was ruthless, and no words could stop me, only violence and action. Very well, then I shall be ruthless with him too. Of course not too ruthless because under this costume lives a human who needs a serious wake-up call and I am a real vampire.
Like lightening, I sprinted up a wall. To his eyes, I am suddenly gone on the spot. If I charge from above, it is the least to expect. Quickly Heinrich looked around and soon began to walk towards the spot where I once stood. I held myself tighter to the rim of the roof while the rain was pouring from the night sky. What is he thinking? I would have remained on the spot if I were human and not knowing anything of vampires but fearless I would have been to the end.
Suddenly I heard a deep and dark chuckling coming from him. His shoulders shook along with the chuckling. “So. You are truly one of them. A vampire. An immortal.”
Immediately I leapt down and sprinted straight at him before he could turn to face me. I took hold of his wrists. Due to my speed, he and I fell to the ground. He groaned through clenched teeth and tried with all his strength to liberate from my firm grip. I began to grin, knowing my strength is useless to fight against for any mortal. “Why are you dressed like this? Why trying to resemble me?” I questioned furiously.
“What? You? You’re a nobody! I am Dracula!” He shouted at me while struggling.
“If you don’t stop struggling, then it will end painful with broken wrists!” I hissed as a warning for him to stop and get my attention. He did not stop. Forcefully I thrust his wrists to the ground. Stubborn, just like I was perhaps still am as a vampire. He grunted in pain through gritted teeth. “Don’t be like a child. Your wrists are not even sprained as a fact. I know because I was a doctor, Heinrich.”
Heinrich spat at my face and then chuckled to my reaction. Quickly I spat back in disgust. “How dare you! How dare you call yourself, Dracula! That name is not worthy for you to carry! No one can but me! I am Dracula! Vlad Dracula. It has become a cursed name through me! Not you! You’re Heinrich Sachhauser! Son of Friedrich Sachhauser and Paula Weinfeld. You were born on 23rd September 1991 in Freising Hospital!” I called at him. Deep down hoping he would snap out of it.
He laughed. “And that’s where you’re wrong. He never existed. Only I, Dracula is here!” He shouted with a broad smile.
“La naiba (Damn it)! Think of your love, Katharina! She loves you and wants you to return home!” I shouted and grabbed to the collar of the cape. Why is it all so damn, coincidental? Even his girlfriend has a close name like my beloved from my time, Ecaterina. Why does this make it all so difficult for me to face him? Only because he reflects me, most of it?
“Ha! Like I should care.” He laughed mockingly.
I would have snapped out as a human here because she was everything to me. The only one who saw beneath the cold and harsh exterior my heart and soul. She, Ecaterina, was loyal, loving and beautiful in everything. I would have done anything for her. I was in awe but quickly remained composed. My grip to his collar tightened and clenched my teeth.
Heinrich smirked. “Did you think I really loved her? Love died as my damned brother came. It was his fault that my mother died.”
He is talking of my younger brother Radu. My mother died giving birth to him and so blamed him for it. Childish thoughts. It was no one’s fault, and yet I made Radu also to my enemy. From what I know, Heinrich is an only child. “Snap out of it, Heinrich!” Is he schizophrenic? Only odd that I, the real Dracula, stand before him and try to shake to his senses. “I am Vlad Dracula! Son of Vlad II Dracul! Member of the Order of the Dragon! Look at me and remember the portrait that is left to remember! It is me without the moustache!” I paused to keep myself under control and give Heinrich some time to think. “The man who invented the cruel torturing methods, especially impaling, which was my favourite method to use on Ottomans and disloyal dogs! Vlad Zepesh! Vlad the Impaler! I am remembered for those actions, my temper and my hate!”
Heinrich was silent and looked at me as if trying to picture my face to that portrait. His eyebrows were knitted. Well, from the portrait I look about similar; I do not have that large yaw as a start, and from the venom, I have grown a bit younger. My eyes are the same only the colour is different now. They are grey.
I stepped aside and took a deep breath to hold my temper. I was close by hair from hitting or even killing him. “Before I agreed to this damn curse that I have now, I tortured not only for revenge because I was mad. I tortured to avenge what the Ottomans had done to my father, my older brother and me. After I received the news that they were buried alive, I made a vow that all the Ottomans will pay for it as long as I live with a slow and painful death that no one can forget. During the years I was held as a hostage and treated like dirt, I learned asides the culture of my enemies, that the emotion fear is powerful. Through fear, one can gain control and power. Secondly, I would have done anything to fight off the Ottomans not only for personal revenge but for the people, and the land like any Prince and King should do in battle or war. My only love, Ecaterina, was always there for me and loved me. My worst fear was not that I lose a battle or even my life but seeing my beloved person, the only thing I had, in the hands of the enemy. The rest I believe you can figure it out for yourself.”
I hope he snaps out soon or I am out of ideas what to say to prove him who I am and he is. I hate taking his life, he is a human but if he does not change, wake up or whatever I will have no other choice for everyone’s sake. “I had barely anything to hold on to. You, Heinrich, have many to hold, to love, cherish and to protect. Your family, your girlfriend. Why do you think you are me? You are nothing like me. You are Heinrich Sachhauser. You are like him.” I sighed.
Slowly Heinrich sat up and placed a hand to his head while staring to the ground before him with widened eyes. After a long moment of silence, I watched and hoped for the best. His hands began to tremble. Is it fear or the cold of the rain? Slowly I got up to my feet and walked up to him. He looked up with frightened eyes at me and gasped. I offered my hand to help him up. After swallowing his fear loudly, he took my hand.
He was speechless, but in his eyes, I saw a questioning gaze. Suddenly his oversized canines drilled into my flesh on my lower right arm. La naiba! No matter how fast I can shake him off of me, the risk is still too great that some venom is entering his system. Nevertheless, now I have a better perspective on how it is to be killed by a vampire or at least bitten. I blestem (Curse him)! He is giving me no other choice. Quickly I gave a firm fist punch to his face.
Immediately he lets go and takes few steps back with a sly smile while holding a hand to his head. He chuckled. “I can’t believe you fell for it.” With the other hand, he wiped away a few drops of black blood, my blood, cursed blood.
I began to smirk, almost laughing at him. He froze of surprise and blinked. “Quite the contrary, Heinrich. You fell for it. You successfully resemble me and thus drew the blood of the cursed. “Not the same way but similar. And for that, you give me no other choice but to kill you. Tell me, does any normal human bleed black blood?”
“Then it explains its different taste aside from the colour.” He grinned and licked his lips.
“I had at first hopes, but they were all for nothing. You are not only mad but also pathetic.” I hissed. In my great speed, I sprinted straight at him. Heinrich barely had a chance to move and barely realized I was gripping at his collar of his cape. “Let’s see.” I paused to decide with a broad smirk. “Shall I kill you with one of my torturing methods or drain you on the spot? Or no! I should ask if you are worthy to endure a slow, painful death?”
Before Heinrich could utter a word to my notation, my fangs drilled into his warm and soft flesh by the neck. His warm blood oozed in my mouth and within moments revived me with new strength and warmth. His blood flowing through my veins. As I let go of him, he collapsed to the ground like a lifeless doll. Quickly I crouched and checked for a pulse to be utmost sure. Nothing. Silence. He is dead. I threw him over my shoulder and carried him out of the lonely alley. This was exactly an ending I hoped never to occur, but alas he gave me no choice. If I had let him go with few drops of my venom, most potent, within his blood flowing through his entire body, it would have been a disaster. A murderer with vampire skills for real running free at night? Then the old wives’ tale would come true. Why did Heinrich not snap out of it? Was he afraid of something or plainly mad? All in all, he did good and precise research about me and acted well how I would have done if I were human in today’s time. But it was pathetic. Maybe I was or still am pathetic. Nevertheless, a fool who’s learned his lesson in a hard way.
At the hospital, I sneaked my way in through the back door and in lightening speed that the cameras will not capture my identity until I reached the cremation section. Placed Heinrich’s body into one of many furnaces, quickly removed his necklace from his neck and lit it on through a single press of a button. The necklace is all I need to prove that Heinrich is gone. It was the necklace that his girlfriend gave as a gesture of love and adoration. Why did he still wear it to the very end? Was he fighting with himself? If he did it alas not enough. If he had not bitten into my arm, then he might still be alive but placed into an asylum. What good will that end?
As Shakespeare would have it: What’s done, is done.670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5ZbY5dP21
