[b]Białowieża Forest - Poland[/b]

Orlok had not fed as recently as he would have liked. An unfortunate side effect of being in such thick wilderness was a definite lack of humans to feed on. For the past few days Orlok had been hiking through the dense forests of Poland, looking for beings who may or may not still exist. For many years, tales of shadowy predators with a taste for blood had circulated among the rural Poles. While stories of vampires had been popular for over a century, sightings in this day and age were rare. Most filed them away as myths and movie monsters. Orlok was glad of that effect, as he remembered the days when myths were accepted as reality and he was actively hunted.

However, Orlok knew that there was some truth to the vampires of Poland. It was Dracula himself who had sent him on this errand, believing that it would be fruitful to the cause. Apparently the Nazis had been experimenting with various creatures during the war, including vampires. That much was true as Dracula had encountered them himself. But in the decades since then, they were hunted down by the Allied forces, who wished to keep these experiments quiet. Unfortunately that silence meant facts were sketchy about the vampires. But if they actually did still exist Dracula would want to know. For he is the Prince of Darkness, lord of all vampires. And Orlok his fist.

The first inkling of the sun’s rays were beginning to appear over the tree line as Orlok made his way back to the truck he had arrived in. Sitting in the back of the truck was a box filled with the dirt of unhallowed ground. While Orlok could move about in daylight, it was very much preferable to sleep on top of unholy dirt. But as he neared his vehicle he saw a man waiting there, dressed all in black and holding a letter. Orlok recognized him, one of Dracula’s servants, and had been in his service for most of his life. Orlok then took the letter, slicing the envelope open with one of his dagger like nails. Inside was a letter written by the Count, requesting that he return to the castle, alongside all the other council members. That was odd for all of them to be together. But Orlok trusted Dracula, knowing that he had a grand vision, one that will better all creatures of the night.

Orlok was glad to leave these woods, as seeking these Nazi vampires seemed to be a wild goose chase. Dracula’s servant loaded Orlok’s box of dirt into a larger off road vehicle that he had arrived in. Orlok entered said box as the sun started to rise. Orlok would quickly fall asleep as the servant began the drive south across Poland, heading toward the Carpathian Mountains.

***

[b]Castle Dracula - Romania[/b]

Once the roads became so bad that a vehicle could no longer take them, Orlok and the servant got out and hiked the last leg of the journey. For Orlok, he could have walked it blind as he had made this journey countless times over the centuries. Even before Dracula built his castle, Orlok knew these mountains well, having hidden in them, preying on those who didn’t know the way. But life was much different know for Orlok, as he was an actual leader of monsters. That much weighed on him as the castle came into view, the servant opening the front doors for him.

Orlok walked into the entrance hall, that feeling of death and decay surrounding him as cobwebs clogged the corners and shadows seemed to move about on their own. It was a familiar darkness, one that welcomed Orlok to this home. That familiarity meant that Orlok knew where the kitchen was. As vampires do not eat, all that one might find in a vampire’s kitchen is vials of blood. Orlok opened one such vial and quickly downed the small bit of innocent blood. Having somewhat satiated his hunger, Orlok began to look for the master of the house.

The search would prove fruitless, as no one knew where the Count had gone. Within the hour, the other members of the council gathered in the castle’s library. Orlok stayed in the corner, bathed in shadow like he preferred to be. He listened intently as they squabbled, questioning what had happened to Dracula and what to do about it. The one known as the Phantom declared that they should reveal themselves and take over the world. Orlok grunted a small laugh. He had known other creatures that had the same idea. However, they failed to realize that they were creatures of the night, it was in there nature to remain a secret, to rule from the shadows.

As Orlok agreed with Hyde about looking more into Doctor Pretorius, many gunshots rang out. Orlok instinctively retreated further into the shadows. The Phantom stated that it was the Romanian army who were attacking. Orlok didn’t care, as he had fought many armies over the years that laid claim to these mountains. As the others leaped into battle, Orlok quietly made his way into the hallway and toward the servant’s quarters.

As Orlok slunk into the quarters, he raised a long finger to his mouth to ask for quiet, his eyes ablaze with hypnotic power, “Servants of Lord Dracula, honour your oath and raise your weapons. Castle Dracula is under attack.”