The Interview Part 2

"Mister Dracula. I have so many questions but I think I'll concentrate on the most important ones. Maybe we can repeat the interview again and then I can ask the rest. Provided, of course, I survive this night". She laughed and didn't mean it seriously, which Dracula could see immediately from her facial expressions.

Nevertheless it amused him and he bared his teeth and revealed his catches. With a theatrical gesture he jumped up and waved his arms. He had watched one of these strange Dracula movies and now imitated it. With a really exaggerated accent of his homeland he said.

"I will drink your blood and so on and so on."

"A really good imitation of yourself. Did you see that in a movie? Reminded me a little of Christopher Lee. He was a pretty good actor and became famous for his portrayal of you. May I ask what you think of yourself. Or in general what we made of you? At the beginning of the conversation you said that you weren't particularly pleased when you discovered the store" she asked and looked curiously up at him but Dracula was already sitting down again.

" You have made a farce out of me. You made me look ridiculous and made a myth out of me. But to be honest. You couldn't have done me a bigger favor. You think I'm a novel character and on top of that you think I'm just a few hundred years old. But nothing of what you know is true. Now when I walk through the streets nobody would think that I am actually Dracula, because the sun is shining and as your Blade and his companions have taught you, I cannot exist in the sunlight. Or better yet. I start to sparkle."

"Oh... That..." she had to laugh herself now. "This film is not exactly the greatest achievement of our time I think."

"No it wasn't. Not even the actors were well hit. Well... Who likes children". He shrugged his shoulders And waited for the next question.

"What motivated you to come to Gotham?"

Dracula leaned now and looked at her long and seriously. He had started so should he tell her? He would still be able to kill her if necessary.

"Many thousands of years ago I was not the only mystical being. Funnily enough, they also appeared in this ridiculous film. I'm talking about what you now commonly call werewolf."

When she said that, her suspicion was confirmed. She jumped up and looked at him.

"The strange murders! People torn to pieces. That was not you. You are here to stop these werewolves. You are here to protect us?"

Now he was amused to laugh and look at them seriously. "Most films are right about one thing, Miss Vale. Human beings do not interest me at all. I'm not here to save YOU. I am here because I will stop these beings. Because I have to stop them or my... Food will cease to exist. I am sorry." He shrugged his shoulders and saw something like relief in her face. "That seems to please her?"

"Yes, indeed. As you already know, this town already has a protector with a black cape and bat ears, but Batman unfortunately has a fundamental weakness. He lets his enemies live again and again and hopes that they will reform someday. You on the other hand say that you don't care about life... So you won't try to save the people they used to be?"

"No. I intend to destroy everyone who is affected by the curse. Because they can't be saved anymore. I had the opportunity to kill the leader wolf. Unfortunately he proved to be tougher than I thought and my brides had to hurry to my aid." He admitted.

"So is it true that you always have three women in your bed?" she laughed mischievously and Dracula grinned Amused.

"At the moment there are only 2 and even though both brides are quite lecherous, they are quite different from the women of past ages. One is a warrior and the other a sorceress. I can say without lying that I like the women of this century. Both physically and mentally. It is pleasant to see that you were able to free yourselves from the yoke of the man's world."

"Will you tell me more about this danger you want to prevent?" she asked and scribbled eagerly on her notebook. But to her regret he just shook his head and smiled.

"Believe me. You don't want to know more than what I told you. You certainly know many stories about the werewolves. And now imagine it all even worse."

"The world now has very powerful protectors. Have you heard of the Justice League?"

Dracula nodded and looked out the window. He had not only heard of this group, but had also had a fight against one of its members. Until then he had laughed at the thought that the humans would have a warrior who could take on him. But the fight with this woman had taught him better. And she hadn't even been the strongest of them. He had looked a little more closely at this group. An Amazon, Batman, a man who apparently... could walk fast and had something to do with lightning. Then another man in a green glow suit and a king from Atlantis. But the most dangerous was probably the leader of this group whom they all called Superman. He was probably related to the blond haired woman he had fought against and much more experienced than they were.

"Yes, I have heard of them. However, I must confess that I am not impressed by the way you call yourselves in this century .... I mean by that... how miserable must I be to call myself Superman?" he asked after a few minutes.

"To be honest, it wasn't his wish to be called that. If you believe the story, this name was given to him by Lois Lane because of the family crest on his chest.

"You mean this big golden S?" he asked astonished. He did not know this part of the story.

"Yes exactly. On earth it looks like an S but in his homeworld it is probably something like a rune. It is not a simple letter, but stands for his house, his family and means as much as hope. And that is what he became here on earth. He has saved the world a dozen times and fought dangers that would have destroyed all of us. Do you think you would work with them?"

Now Dracula laughed briefly but amused and Vicky laughed.

"I'll interpret that as a no. Mhm? now that I think about it. Power Girl fought in the Narrows against an opponent who could keep up with her. But there are no records of her opponent. You didn't happen to have anything to do with it," she replied.

"I would have to lie if I denied it. It was an interesting fight. Her abilities were impressive. However, I have already fought against other beings who possessed more power. But before you ask any more. The reason for this fight I can explain to you as well. I'm afraid she wasn't as open to the supernatural forces as you are. I fear the young lady has something against the undead." He shrugged his shoulders and more or less told the truth.

"Yes. I'm afraid the Justice League has been pretty nervous over the last few years. There have been many attacks on the world and well. Your reputation is not the best".

"And how would I change that" he asked curiously.

Vicky rose from her armchair and took another glass of Scotch. Looking out the window, she pondered for some time and then leaned against the windowsill and looked at him.

"That depends on what you have in mind for the city. But if I were you, I'd probably look for someone who has a broad spectrum of knowledge, so I can fill in the knowledge I missed. I would probably look for a scholar who could answer all my questions. Unfortunately this kind of people is not very trustworthy and usually not very socially acceptable. More important would be someone who has contacts in society. I think I would look for someone who is perhaps not completely accepted in the higher society. They are easier to manipulate". She pondered them thoughtfully.

Dracula looked at her and had to smile. She had a fine sense for these kinds of things. She had grasped his situation quite accurately. And she had recommended exactly the steps he had taken himself. Maybe this woman was worth more than just a little snack.

"I am impressed. What do you think of eternal life?" he smiled, but to his astonishment she waved off disparagingly.

"Don't blame me, but you can't give eternal life." She reacted and smiled amusedly at Dracula's raised brow. "You seem amazed at my answer?

Dracula just nodded helplessly. Never before had a woman refused this offer. They were far too vain for that.

"If you allow me, I will explain it to you. You claim they've been alive for thousands of years, right? And they were defeated at least once, if the story of Dracula was right?" "Right, Mrs..."

"Right Mrs. Vale. However, I can't follow entirely."

Now simply Mr. Tepes. They may have survived these defeats but it seems your women haven't been so lucky. So if you could really grant eternal life there are only 2 possibilities. Either your wives are still alive... or they don't have that gift."

Dracula looked at her piercingly but didn't respond to this statement and so Vicky continued with her explanation.

"you may seem immortal and also be able to overcome death themselves but either they are not willing or unable to transmit this trait to your offspring. And that means you might be able to give me the abilities of a vampire but only until one of the crazy ones kills me. Or am I wrong?"

"I must confess that I am impressed. You're the first woman to ever realize that. When I create a new vampire from my blood, it gets only a fraction of my power. So far, never one of my descendants has been able to fully attain my abilities."

"That's what I thought, and that's why I'd like to refuse. I admit that the prospect of staying beautiful for a long time is tempting, but I like the sunlight and think it's not worth it. After all, they don't really love any of their wives," she grinned and Dracula laughed amusedly.

"I think I know what they're alluding to. It's about my relationship with Mina, right?"

Now it was Vicky's turn to nod. "How many women had they really loved before?

Dracula stood up and went to her. You are an ornament of your kind my lady. I think I will visit you again soon. But then I will see to it that you become my wife."