Prologue

He was a pale white young man with hair that matched his skin. One might think him to be albino, but they would be mistaken once they looked into his dark brown eyes. But once they did that they would never be the same. The man had longed for this moment, but always been afraid of it. He knew this was the only way now. So he walked down the cold stoned path, lined with ugly, dead apple trees. There was a house on the hill; less of a house and more of a mansion. A mansion that held the devil almost himself inside; that was Daniel’s destination. He had never met the devil inside, although he had the chance, but he had never actually needed his help, until now. He had been thinking the same thing on his way, don’t sell your soul to Satan, and it was now that he found his counter argument. He already had.

When he reached the house he hesitated. This was his last chance to run, but he knew what he had to do. He rang the doorbell, expecting no answer. He was correct. He tried the door and found it was locked. Figures, he thought. So he took out a small vial full of what seemed to be powder. He unplugged it and blew the residue onto the doorknob. He plugged it back and put it into his coat. He tried the knob again; it turned and opened the door into a wrecked room. The table that once held a vase of roses was overturned, the vase cracked on the wooden floor. The maroon rug was shredded at the corners, darker in spots where it was stained. Daniel stepped over the mess and called aloud “Is anybody here?” his voice was soft, despite what he intended and has done.

“No,” he heard a weak, slow cry from the hallway.

Daniel chuckled softly going down the hall where smashed pictures hung; this one of a beautiful girl with red hair, the next of a boy and a girl, each with brown hair and blue eyes, the last of a woman who reminded Daniel of a raven, with her long black hair and faded smile. He opened a door on the side and saw that this room was as messed up as the first. The sofa was overturned with chunks ripped out; the mattress was on the other side of the room from the bed; and the humongous mirror was smashed into small pieces. He ran a hand over the dresser’s clawed, brutal words: hideous, eternity, unforgiving, sins, lost-love, hell, trash, failure, no one, damned, and changed.

“Go away,” the voice came from the dark corner that Daniel had missed. As Daniel walked closer he saw a man was sitting their. He looked around the same age, give or take. He had greasy, dirty dark hair covering his face, and pale skin that was as filthy as his hair.

“Hello, Vladimir,” Daniel smiled looking at him. “I see you’ve changed quite a bit, my friend.”

Vladimir didn’t look up. “I’ve never met you. How is it you know my name? Or where I live? Or who I was?” He shouted the last word, full of anger. He looked up and glared. His eyes were hazel, surrounded by red bloodshot whites. His face was beautiful, despite this flaw.

“How could I not?” Daniel sat down besides him, and pulled out another vial. In this one was red, what looked like glitter. “Everyone where I’m from knows of you, and what you have done.”

“I’ve done no good,” Vladimir said putting his head into his knees again. “Who are you, again?”

“I have not said,” Daniel said. He opened the cap and sprinkled some on the floor. “I am Daniel.” He took out yet another vial, that was full of a liquid gold substance.

“I wanted to see how you were doing?” He unplugged it, pouring it on the glitter. It started to smoke.

“What are you doing?!” Vladimir shouted staring, but not getting up. “What is this?!” He starred at the smoke again.

“I am answering your questions,” Daniel smiled. He muttered under his breath, “forme să se ridice si spune o poveste, cred în tine, şi tu să faci.” He then said to Vladimir, “An incantation, the smoke will tell the story. I know what happened to you my friend, because similar happened to me....

“I was put in the human realm to watch over a boy with extraordinary powers.” As Daniel spoke the smoke he had made changed shapes, playing out the roles. “There was said to be no one like him, but they were wrong. In a way. And they who sent me knew it. But they didn't tell me. I was angry because of that. I was upset. That was when the Dark King of the Outer Realms called to me. He told me that if he were King and he were the one to send me he would've told me. Told me that I wasn't doing this for nothing. He told me that one day there would be a girl that would take over the Outer Realms and it was my duty was to kill the girl. So he could rule, and I could advise. But when the time came the one I watched over, Levon, stole my powers to save the girl. Now I'm more angry then I was before.

“I want to collapse the realms, Vladimir. I want to make sure they will never coincide again. That is why I have come to you, to ask for your help.” The smoke faded into blood red ashes sitting in front of Daniel, but the color was in his eyes.

“If you know anything about what happened to me, Daniel,” Vladimir said staring at the ashes, “then you know I am not able to help. My powers were taken from me as well, and for that I am grateful.”

Daniel looked at him, astounded. “You are grateful? You're grateful that you can no longer be who you once were? You look like a wreck to me,” he gestured around the room.

“Yes,” Vladimir smiled a smile that looked odd on his face that once showed evil.

“Can I show you as you have?” He gestured at the ashes.
Daniel hesitated before handing him the vials. “The roşu and then the aur lichid. You must do it yourself. And the incantation, forme să se ri—”

“I know the incantation,” Vladimir snarled before looking astounded. “I'm sorry,” he said quietly before saying the same incantation quietly. “I think we talk of two halves...

“The devil gave me immortality, you know that. He gave me wings. And I created the four most amazing creatures I've met. They were all my downfall. I sent Evan and Randy to find the Sunet Sange, Percival. He was said to be the one way to peace. A peace that I didn't want. I was selfish and needy. I sent them to tear him down. They found it to be wrong and teamed up together...against me, me their creator. I deserved death and they found pity in me, they found sympathy, they gave me a new life.

“A life which I do not deserve,” Vladimir said as the smoke faded once more. “I don't want to ruin it, Daniel.” He looked at Daniel with sad, wide eyes.

"You think the two are conected?" Daniel asked him. "Levon and Percival I mean?

Vladimir nodded. "He had a brother. And you said Levon was not the only one."

“I understand you,” Daniel said getting up and brushing the left over residue from his jacket. “I just don't see how this is better?” He gestured once more around the room. “I mean, at least do something with yourself.”

“You are young,” Vladimir said smiling at the wall. “You don't know any better than the foolish puppy that keeps coming back here.”

“Why is he foolish?” Daniel asked, still standing.

“Because he keeps coming back, but I won't change my mind to give him nothing,” Vladimir laughed insanely. “Young, and naïve.”

“You look younger than me,” Daniel noted. “I don't see the difference there is, my friend.”

“Because,” Vladimir got up this time. “I am over centuries older than you, and I can smell your true fear of me though nothing is left through these veins but a new blood I cannot smell.”

“You can get it back,” Daniel said turning around, looking at the shattered mirror; the reflection never seen of Vladimir before. It showed his true soul now, an old man, almost bones, with stringy hair, and sunken eyes. “The Dark King will be willing to help you, Vladimir.”

Vladimir looked at his own reflection. “He may, but I do not want it. It is evil that I never should have asked for.”

In a flash Daniel pinned Vladimir up against the wall, his forearem against Vlad's throat. “And this is what you want? To waste your life roating away in a filthy shack. They took everything from you. You have nothing. You would have been better off with them killing you and you know it. You're just to afraid to admit it.”

“That's not true,” Vladimir croaked, legs trembling. He had never been this week before.

“Admit it!” Daniel pushed harder. “You hate them. This is what they did to you, no one else did it to you. This is more hell to you than anything else.” Daniel leaned in, his face inches from Vladimir. “Lucifer would have had let you into his ring of hell. You weren't a regular mortal.”

Vladimir's eyes squinted, tears about to come. He choked in a breath and suddenly Daniel let him go. Vladimir fell to the floor, just another dirty mass on the floor.
Daniel was almost to the door when he turned. “When you decide to get up and join me here's my card.” He put a card from inside his coat on the desk.

Vladimir looked at it from the floor and put his head back down on the ground, sobbing.

***

Vladimir took the phone from the kitchen and sat on his bed starring at the card he held. Daniel Peregrin. Therapist. 555-360-0204...in his head Vladimir added the last seven numbers together...9, 15, 6. Of course, Vladimir thought. He sighed as he dialed the numbers.

“Daniel?” He asked. The voice on the other end spoke. “Yes. I have decided that you are...” he hesitated, “correct.”

“Thank you, Vladimir,” Daniel said, a smile in his voice. “I am delighted to hear that. You don't know the fear in the world when they know Dracula is back.”

Vladimir hung up the phone. What am I doing? He thought.


-S.