“Who arrrre you and wherrre am I?”

I had the shock of my life when I got up that morning. I tried to grasp his words and make sense of them to reply, but both my brain and tongue were tied. When I finally had a look at him I immediately realised who he was. White skin, sharp canines, a black cape hanging from his shoulders and asking about Transylvania… It could only be the infamous Count Dracula. Still, it didn’t make any sense. Count Dracula was a literary character, how could he be in my library? Was I dreaming or had I drunk too much with my friend Brad the night before?

“Wherrre am I? Who arrre you?” he repeated.

“Well... I have no idea what’s going on.”

He looked very confused but I started thinking of Brad’s words the night before, when he visited me for some drinks. I always thought he was a nice guy, but a tad bit of a loony. He worked at the local bookshop too.

“How do I get back to Trrransylvania?” the vampire called me back to reality.

I had no answer. I just kept staring at the count like an idiot.

“Please, I need to go back to Trrransylvania. Rrrrememberr my storrry? I shall die if I spend too much time away frrrom my land.” he begged, showing me his pale, skinny hands.

It was true, I remembered that part from the book I had read a few years ago. This guy would vanish into dust if he didn’t go back soon. But how to send him back?

“What is the last thing you remember before ending up here?” I tried to find out.

“I was just rrreading my books in my librrarrry. I fell asleep and then I woke up in yourrr librrarrry.”

Hmmmm… maybe Brad wasn’t that drunk after all. He had told me about a portal but I didn’t pay much attention, though.

“I have a friend who works in a bookshop.” I told him, scratching my ear as if it could clear my thoughts. “I think he may be able to help us. Let’s go see him, the shop only closes at 6pm. However, you can’t walk around like that. You can have some of my clothes.”

“What is wrrrong with my clothes?”

It was a mission to convince him that this was the 21st century and if he walked around in his vampire outfit he would terrify all other walkers-by. Even worse, we could both be considered lunatics and end up having to run away from the cops.

“I am starrrting to feel hungrrry.” he complained as we walked onto the underground and found two seats. “These people smell verrry nice.”

The closest people turned their heads around to us.

“When we finish this trrrip we must go hunt.”

“No, no, no.” I said. “You cannot just go hunt people like that.”

“But I am hungrrry and these people smell delicious.”

By now people were staring at us inquisitively, eyebrows frowned.

“Listen, count. If you want to get back to Transylvania, you need to trust me. We’ll get something for you to eat when we’re out of here.”

I realised I didn’t even know what to feed him with. To my knowledge, no vampire would be happy with a burger or pizza. We finally arrived at our destination. The count was getting visibly upset, his eyes now glowing red. I was terribly worried. He had to go soonest.

“I am hungrrry and I need my land.” was one of the many comments he would make out loud, embarrassing me to the core.

“Please, count, we’re almost there. I beg you not to attack anyone. Otherwise you may never be able to go back to your beloved Transylvania.”

We finally arrived. Thank goodness the library was now empty, but unfortunately Brad wasn’t there either. I saw his mother though, closing the till. I suddenly remembered that the bookshop was a family one. When she looked at the count, she sighed in relief:

“Oh goodness, I am so happy you found the count, George. I have been wondering about his whereabouts the whole day.”

“What the hell is going on? I didn’t want to believe him but now...” I had never felt so puzzled in my life.

“Brad must stop playing with this portal. He loves visiting his books, but that always means a character must come to our times. Five years ago we almost lost Dorian Gray. I’m worried also that one of these days the portal accident locks and he’s unable to come back.

“So is Brad in Transylvania at the moment?!” I asked raising my eyebrows so much they almost touched the ceiling. “You have to help us. The count must return to Transylvania. I’m worried he may start biting necks soon.”

“Please, madam. I am verrry hungrrry.” the count’s eyes were shining like a predator’s. He was also going paler and paler, he needed his land.

“Come with me.” Brad’s mom said.

We followed her to the basement where she started looking in the shelves.

“Where is Stoker? I need to find the first version ever published of Dracula.”

“You have it here??” I was astonished.

“We have them all. We belong to the family of the librarian who created the literary portal. I must be his great great great granddaughter. Actually I don’t even know how great I am, pun intended.” she added giggling, but I didn’t find it slightly funny. “Ahh, here it is.”

She picked an old book, blew the dust off and walked towards a red carpet hanging from the ceiling. Behind it was an old wooden door, one of those you find in old mansions and castles. The portal.

Brad’s mother opened it and immediately an intense bright yellow light almost blinded us. The count shouted in agony, covering his eyes with his cape. When I opened mine again I thought I had gone mad. The book was wide open, floating in the air and the lady was muttering some words, her eyes closed.

“For the one who must return, we send the one who belongs there.” I heard her say. It was like a magical formula she kept repeating.

I saw a circle of light spin and suddenly the count was dragged into it, shouting in pain. A second later, Brad literally landed on the floor, screaming too. The light went off and the door closed with a deafening sound. However, a few more seconds later, after the carpet covered it again, the basement plunged back to calm, as if nothing had happened.

Brad was still on the floor twinkling his eyes.

“The portal mustn’t be abused.” his mother scolded, eyebrows frowned, hands on her waist.

“Sorry mom, I just love visiting my books.” he apologised as he got up and rubbed his eyes.

“Why did the count appear in my house?” I asked.

“Because you were the last person I visited before going into the portal. That’s how it works somehow. I think it needs some adjustments...”

“You just leave the portal, Brad.” his mother yelled at him. “Imagine this breaks and you can’t return.”

I was speechless and still very confused.

“Brad, let’s go have pizza. There’s a lot I want to know.”

He looked at me relieved, but I wanted him to tell me every single detail of this crazy story.