UNIVERSAL STUDIOS DRACULA take VIII

The dream-walker, having made his way to the house and now stood out on the terrace, now watched the individuals with amusement. He stood at the door; he would bide his time. This was all a dream, after all.

“What did he want you to do?” probed the Professor.

“That which has already been done,” replied the former solicitor then she started to giggle.

“Strike me down dead, Doctor; she’s got me going,” exclaimed the brown-skinned orderly as he grabbed hold of the young woman, “Now she’s twisted and broken them iron bars as if they was cheese!”

“Dracula is in the house,” realized Willie.

“In the house!?!” cried Edwin and Jason at once as they began to rush out of the room.

“Doctor, this time he can do no harm,” assured the eldest gentleman, “We are ready for him.”

“Randy, come with me,” ordered Doctor Jarvis, having calmed down and motioned to follow with his hand, “I’ll show you where we can put Ms. Renfield where she won’t escape again.”

“Well, all right, but I have me doubts,” the young orderly then took Betty by her arm and escorted her out of the room as they followed the Doctor, “Come along, fly-eater, now you mustn’t get out this time, I’m awful sorry I have to lock you up but that’s what you get for always escapin’.”

Having seen them leave and since that younger man, the blonde was gone. Vlad knew it was time for him to enter.

“Lumpkin!” declared the nosferatu as he strolled into the Parlor, “Now that you have learned what you have learned, it would be well for you to return to your own country.”

“I prefer to remain and protect those whom you would destroy,” responded Willie he as closed the distance between them.

“You are too late, my blood now flows through her veins,” Vlad recited as he continued just past the couch, “She will live through the centuries to come…as I have lived.”

“Should you escape us, Dracula, we know how to save Mina Jane’s soul if not her life,” the old man informed his perceived opponent that stood about 2 feet from him.

“If she dies by day,” the undead King countered, “But I shall see that she dies by night.”

“And I will have Carfax Abbey torn down, stone by stone, excavated a mile around,” the shorter man threatened, “I will find your earth box and drive that stake through your heart.”

For a moment, the dream-walker forgot where he was and his expression became that of anger. Normally the sight of this dwarfish man threatening him would lead an amusing laugh. But he was reminded of would-be hunters of centuries past that proved to be major thorns in his side.

“Come here,” Vlad tried to command with his right hand raised toward the old fool, having temporarily forgotten his circumstances.

Willie began to feel the "effects" of his enemy drawing him in. But he fought through them.

With his senses having come back to him, the vampyr smiled as turned his hand, palm up, “Come…here.”

The Professor took 3 steps toward his foe, but still fought. Then old man backed up. The former Voivode had found himself enjoying this little game.

“Your will is strong, Lumpkin,” remarked Dracula.

Tired of this farce, Vlad walked up to the old fool. But stopped short when the skinny geezer reached with his right hand into his breast pocket.

“More wolfbane?” questioned the former Wallachian ruler mockingly.

“More effective than wolfbane, Count,” Willie replied confidently.

“Indeed?” responded the opposing male inquisitively.

Dracula knew what he needed to do and knew what would happen. And so, he lunged at the old man, Willie then whipped out a small cross at which. Vlad grabbed his cape and pulled it in front of his face and left, leaving the old fool with a smug expression. For now, this dream was getting to be enjoyable for the nosferatu.

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

Upstairs in the hallway Jason could not help pacing the floor just outside of his betrothed's bedroom. All he could was listen to his woman’s complaints. As the blonde man paced outside the door, Nurse Briggs helped Mina Jane prepare for bed.

“Open the window, Briggs, so that you can let in some air,” MJ complained, “The awful smell from that horrible weed.”

The young woman did know why but the weed was very offensive she wanted it gone! MJ turned to find the nurse swooning, and for some reason felt like she did not want to go to bed. Once, she was up, Mina Jane quickly dressed herself in a flowing gown.

It’s stifling,” the red head continued, “I can’t stand it.”

Immediately the young woman threw open the doors and walked out onto the terrace. She did not care for the old man's instructions.

“But the Professor gave orders,” she heard the nurse protest.

“Oh, never mind the Professor now,” MJ dismissed, with a wave of her hand.

“Now, please, go back to bed at once,” Nurse Briggs insisted as the red head watched her exit backward through the door, “I’m going to call your father.”

Meanwhile, in the hallway a blonde was in the midst of wearing a hole in the floor. This whole "vampire business" was ridiculous. He had no control over the situation, and he hated it! Then the nurse came out of the bedroom and rushed over to him.

“What is it, Briggs?” Jerome asked with concern for his woman when the medical employee approached him.

“I don’t know, Mr. Harker; I felt strangely dizzy,” the nurse tells him as she touches her head, “And when it cleared away, Ms. Mina Jane was up and dressed and out on the terrace.”

The man watched the nurse lower her hands and clasp them, “And I can’t get her to go to bed.”

“Well, let me see her,” says Jason insistently, “Tell her I’m here.”

Then he heard behind the door, “Jason?”

Jason then pushed on through into Mina Jane’s room only to see her come in from the terrace, dressed in a flowing reflective, metallic dress with an open neck.

“Oh, Jason, I’m so glad you’re here,” spouted the lovely young woman joyously with open arms, “What have they been doing to me, dear?”

Worriedly Mr. Harker hurried over to her to see if she was all right. This whole nonsense about **** and undeath was just getting to be too much.

“Locking me in my room!” she continued in a sarcastic manner, “Oh, and the horrible smell of that awful weed; it’s been like a nightmare.”

The red-haired beauty found her fiancé staring at her with a strange expression on his face.

“What’s been the matter?” she asked him as she led him back out on to the terrace, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“MJ, you’re so…like a changed girl,” gasped the blonde man giddy, “Why, you look wonderful.”

Mina Jane gave 1 of her lovely smiles and clasped her hands to her chest.

“I feel wonderful,” MJ declared as she grasped the hands of her husband-to-be, “I’ve never felt better in my life.”

“I’m so glad to see you like this,” he replied, “I’ve been awfully worried about you.”

The nurse’s voice cuts through the air as to get their attention. Jason turned his attention to the nurse with irritation.

“Mr. Harker, you’ve got to bring Mina Jane inside,” urged Nurse Briggs

“That’s all right, Briggs, now that I’m here,” he responded, having done a 180° turn.

“Run along, Briggs, don’t worry,” added the young woman, then she gazed at her beloved with a smile as the nurse left and turned around to walk about the terrace.

“Jason, look!” cried the beauty as she pointed beyond the terrace, “The fog’s lifting; see how plain you can see the stars.”

“Yes, millions of them,” he responded, “I’ve never seen them so close.”

Jason then turned a bit to get a better angle. He had to admit, the night sky was beautiful.

“Why, it looks as if you could reach out and touch them,” the handsome man added as he looked to her.

MJ did not know why but she was found herself staring at his neck as she presses her right hand upon her chest, at the base of her throat.

“Would you like me to get your hat?” the man offered.

His question brought the young woman out of her reverie.

“Why, what’s the matter?” Mr. Harker asked, concerned that she was acting strangely, again.

MJ does not really understand her urges, herself. All she knew was that Jason looked... appetizing.

“Oh, nothing,” she uncomfortably tries to assure her beloved, “Nothing at all.”

Then she looked around, hoping to change the subject. Spying the small couch off to the side and it hit her. The redhead knew what to do next.

“Come,” urged the young woman as she took her fiancé’s hand and pulled him on to the sofa, “Let’s sit down.”

The couple sat down, facing each other. Silence surrounded them.