CW for the full story: somewhat graphic violence, sexual acts, brief mention of suicide in joking, mention of WW2/H*tler (way less intense N*zi involvement than in the comics)

Tragedy had struck the powerful group of vampires haunting Europe. The great vampire Angelus had been cursed to bear a soul by the Romani tribe called Clan Kalderash. In retaliation, Angelus' closest comrades had slaughtered the tribe, still mourning the loss of their fellow demon to that pesky soul. Little did they know, perhaps the most powerful vampire of all, the legendary Dracula, was deeply allied with the tribe and would soon enact revenge of his own...

1898, LONDON

It's a bitter rainy evening when William the Bloody, a vampire for some twenty years now, and his elder sire Drusilla enter the dusty London bookshop. They browse absently for a while before Drusilla sets her attention on a thick volume high on a rickety shelf at the back of the store.

"Oh, Spike," she moans, beckoning in the hazy yellow light. "This one is exciting."

"What is it, Dru?" 

She reaches a delicate body finger to pull the volume from its perch, letting it fall into her waiting hand.

"Dracula? " Spike takes the volume and flips through it, eyes catching on key words such as, namely, highly specific accounts of just how to kill a vampire. "If this Dracula fellow's a real vamp he sure has it coming..."

Drusilla runs a finger down Spike's arm. "Can we get it, Spikey?"

"This?" Spike scoffs, unimpressed by whoever this sellout Dracula is.

"Pretty please?" Dru begs, staring at Spike with a pout that manages to get to him every time.

"Eleven pounds! For the Vampire's Suicide Manual?"

Dru continues to stare, puffing her lower lip and caressing his hand holding the heavy book.

"Oh, fine, if it's that important." He moves to pay the bookkeeper, muttering curses under his breath. 

"An excellent choice!" the shop owner quips as he binds the book in twine. Dru approaches and leans upon her lover. "For an excellent lady."

Spike scoffs doubly. He takes the book without looking and whispers to Dru, "Say, are you feeling peckish?"

Dru grins knowingly, eyeing the bookkeeper. She then snatches the book from Spike with a teasing bite, but immediately drops it to the floor, shattering the quiet rainy night with a deafening bang as it collides.

"Ohhhh!" She groans, grasping at her forehead.

"Is she alright?" asks the bookkeeper dumbly.

"What is it, pet?" Spike ignores him.

"Ohhh. He comes tonight. Dark, stormy night."

"Who, Dru?"

"Really, is everything alright?"

Spike flashes his vampire face at the shop owner, effectively shutting him up. Dru bows to the floor, picking the book up in shaky hands. She moans again, and kneeling on her knees on the dusty floor lifts the book up towards the fellow vampire.

"Dracula!" she cries.