UNIVERSAL STUDIOS DRACULA take VI

Tonight, Professor Willie Lumpkin had decided to sit up with Jason and MJ on the terrace; the young couple sat on the loveseat. The old Professor sat across from them while listening intently to the young beauty.

“And then, Mina Jane?” the elderly Professor probed.

“How could she know anything about the woman in white?!?” the blonde man snapped in annoyance, this old geezer HAD to be senile, “It’s bad enough for her to read it in the newspaper without…”

“Please, please, Mr. Harker,” stated Willie as he motioned to Jason with his left hand, trying to calm the younger man.

After his pacifying of her fiancé, the old man then lowered his hand and turned his attention back to MJ, “And when was the next time you saw Ms. Lucy after she was buried?”

The arrogant man stood up, took the newspaper from under his arm, and threw it to the floor in frustration. He just could not understand it; this whole thing about the undead was ludicrous! The wiry, old man turned back to the Doctor’s daughter after the fiancé had left.

“I was downstairs on the terrace,” explained Mina Jane, as she remembered her dark-skinned friend, “She came out of the shadows and stood looking at me.”

The young woman then took a breath, she knew she had to continue. No matter how terrifying this matter was.

“I started to speak to her,” the redhead turned her head to the Professor, “and then I remembered she was dead.”

Mina Jane then looked up with a pregnant pause before deciding to continue.

“The most horrible expression came over her face,” MJ shivered from the memory of what happened, “She looked like a hungry animal…a wolf.”

The beauty then turned her head away from Professor Lumpkin, “Then she turned and ran back into the darkness.”

“Then you know the woman in white is…?” inquired Willie.

MJ's green eyes widen in realization and lowered her head, “…Lucy.”

“Mina Jane, I promise you that after tonight she will remain at rest,” the Professor vowed, “her soul released from this horror.”

Having had enough, Jason Harker decided to come back, only to hear his woman make a foolish request.

“If you can save Lucy’s soul after ****,” asked MJ, “promise you’ll save mine.”

The blonde man could not believe this, he quickly sat back down next to her. He could not understand why her father trusted this senile old fool.

He then embraced his betrothed, “Darling, you’re not going to die, you’re going to live.”

“No, Jason, you mustn’t touch me,” stated the young woman in fear as she shook her head, “you mustn’t kiss me ever again.”

“What are you trying to say?” Jason questioned; it was almost like a demand.

Did this old fool put something in her head when he was out? She gently put her hand on the blonde’s shoulders and turned her head to the old man.

“You tell him,” MJ insisted as she grasped the older man’s arm, “You make him understand!”

Mina Jane then removed her hand and took ahold of herself, “I can’t.”

The Professor knew that this was not his place. And so, Willie stood up then walked back into the bedroom to give the couple their space.

“Professor?” the young woman begged but seeing the old man walk away told her she had to say it.

MJ turned to her love and put her hand on his, then looked him in the eye, “It’s all over, Jason, our love, our life together.”

The young woman hated this. The look in her beloved’s eyes was painful to see.

“Oh, no!” she said and shook her head, “No, no, don’t look at me like that.”

She did not know what to say. Mr. Harker's expression was of hurt and anger.

“I love you, Jason…you…but this horror!” she confessed, but the red head turned her head away from her lover, “He wills at me.”

“Mina Jane, you must come indoors,” called Willie from the bedroom, “You must.”

The young woman nodded and obeyed while her handsome fiancé then stood to follow her. Professor Lumpkin then closed the door when the couple had entered the room. Mr. Harker stopped a foot from the old man while Mina Jane continued on until she stopped and stood by the fireplace.

“Do you know what you’re doing to her, Professor?” asked the annoyed young man, then turning to his elder, “You’re driving her crazy.”

“Mr. Harker, that is what you should be worrying about,” stated the shorter man, as he pointed outside toward sunset, “The last rays of the day’s sun will soon be gone, and another night will be upon us.”

Doctor Jarvis entered the room and found the 3 morose individuals. Immediately Edwin had Jason marching up to him with a determined look in his eyes.

“Dr. Jarvis, I’m taking MJ with me to London tonight or I’m calling the police,” threatened the younger man, sharply.

The red-haired beauty sighed as she sat in a nearby chair. All this was getting to be too much, the young woman knew he meant well.

“But Jason!” Edwin responded, he had just come into the room and now his daughter’s fiancé was making demands of him.

The younger man then turned to a sitting Mina Jane, “MJ, please get your bags packed?”

Willie stepped forward in order to stop the foolhardy youth, “Jarvis, I must be master here or I can do nothing.”

“Alright,” agreed Edwin.

“Mina Jane, both this room and your bedroom have been prepared with wolfbane,” the wiry Professor explained, “You will be safe if Dracula returns.”

“She’ll be safe alright because she’s going with me,” the arrogant youth demanded, “MJ, I’ll be waiting in the library.”

“Oh, Jason!” the young woman exclaimed, as she stood whilst her lover stormed out of the room through the door her father had just come through.

“Father, talk to him,” she pleaded as she grasped Edwin’s dress shirt, “Please don’t let him go.”

The Professor turned to a desk lamp and switched it on and started to bring out the herbs. Willie knew that no matter what. He had to protect the young woman.

“Oh, Ms. Briggs,” the old man called.

Immediately, Nurse Briggs came into the room. She was ready to assist him in any way possible.

“Ms. Mina Jane is to wear this wreath of wolfbane when she goes to bed,” the elderly man instructed the woman, “Watch her closely and see that she does not remove it in her sleep.”

“I understand, Professor,” obeyed the nurse as she took it after he handed it to her.

“And under no circumstances must these windows be opened tonight,” Willie further instructed her.

“Very well, Sir,” Nurse Briggs replied before she walked away whilst the Professor continued to sort through the wolfbane.

The wiry, short man began placed the wolfbane in every entrance, including the doors to the terrace. The sun could be seen setting.

******************

It was not so strange for Vlad to climb out of the box as he normally would have. Once he was out, he left the crypt of the dream abbey.