Let Darkness Come

[Dr. McNinja]

"Whaaaat?" Doc exclaimed, "Alucard was Dracula all along?"

"Let's not play games, Doctor," the Count sighed, "You know who I am, and I know who you are."

Doc flexed his fingers nervously. "Yeah, well, wasn't hard to figure out. 'Alucard'? You didn't even try, you just reversed your name."

The Count flashed an amused smile. He more or less appeared as he normally did. A pitch black cloak covered his shoulders, draping over his armrests. Under it, he donned an equally black suit of armor. His skin, in direct contrast with his clothes, was chalk white.

His throne room was no less intimidating. There appeared to be more than a dozen of skeletal statues embedded into the wall. 

"Are you here to kill me, Doctor?"

"I thought you heard," Doc said, slowly pacing the throne room, "I'm here to join your army."

"Ah, yes," Dracula said, casually checking his claw-like nails, "But your reputation precedes you. You are a fine physician. A formidable warrior. And supposedly, a famed vampire slayer."

Fuuuuuu-

"Yet, our transaction is not yet complete. While I am obviously... uncomfortable with your presence here, we have a common enemy." Dracula smiled. "I understand you have had many... disagreements with someone named 'King Radical'."

Doc flinched and scowled at the vampire.

"God, you have ears everywhere, don't you?"

Dracula chuckled. "I have reason to believe that this King Radical is, in fact, working together with the people of Darkshire."

Dr. McNinja scoffed and rolled his eyes. "So Radical doesn't want the Moors to be overrun by vampires," Doc shrugged, "Big whoop."

"Yet, as you are surely aware, Radical appears to have ulterior motives."

"And?"

Dracula snapped his fingers nonchalantly. One of his vampires stepped forward, holding a scrap of paper.

"This is a sketch that one of your agents acquired before she was compromised," the Count explained, "You may recognize the chest."

The vampire handed Doc the sketch. He warily held the scrap of paper and examined it. The chest in the sketch was the same one Radical was holding when he betrayed Doc back in Coruscant. He still had the burns and scars from the fight with that polar bear, and his shoulder was still sore from the bullet wound.

Dracula seemed to notice his discomfort.

"I imagine you are curious why exactly Radical carried through such endeavors for this chest," Dracula smirked, "And what exactly is inside."

Dr. McNinja recomposed himself and glared at the vampire king.

"Well?" Doc snapped, "What is it?"

"Ah, I shan't tell you that quite yet."

Doc drew his sword. "I thought we were done with the games."

"Oh, trust me, Doctor. I prize this particular intel," Dracula smiled, "And it seemed to me it is the only thing keeping me alive. Well, that and my army of nightmares. If you would recall the Redeads."

The grotesque sculptures around the room started shuddering, and their eyes glowed red. Doc panickedly scanned the room. Fifteen Redeads. No way out.

"After all, you've killed one of their brothers with that very blade, along with two others," Dracula sighed with boredom, "They'd very much like you to sheathe it."

The Redeads snarled at him. Doc gripped his katana, then shifted his stance. "Now you're threatening me?"

"Oh, rest assured, I consider you to be an ally out of necessity."

"We are not allies."

Dracula smirked. "Are you suggesting you will fight this King Radical and his allies of Darkshire... by yourself? Best of luck."

Doc grit his teeth, his jaw bulging a bit. He softened his stance and tensely sheathed his katana. Almost on cue, the Redead's eyes faded back into hollowness.

"You see, Doctor, I also feel a... distaste for Radical," Dracula sighed, "He has consistently proven himself to be an... issue. Which means we have a common enemy."


"What's he done to you that you hate him so much?"

Dracula let out a hearty laugh. "You're not one to judge."

"Answer the question."

Dracula scowled. "Within that chest is the key to a weapon. A weapon that threatens your life and mine. It is the weapon which can bring Radical's visions to fruition."

Dr. McNinja clenched his teeth. 


"The key that King Radical has," Dracula continued, "leads to an Artefact."