Boston newspaper
reporter Paul Butterworth sits in his office early on New Year’s Day, writing
his story while waiting for Dracula to come and kill him….
He arrived at a
crime scene where another woman had been murdered and drained of all blood;
Butterworth spoke to police but they wouldn’t reveal anything. Hours later yet
another woman was found bloodless in a cemetery. Butterworth suspected a
vampire, having once met Michael Morbius so he decided to consult writer Harold H. Harold, who knew something about the undead bloodsuckers. Harold related his
history with Dracula, including his most recent encounter, when Blade fought
Dracula but Harold chased the villain off. Butterworth got Blade’s address from
Harold and departed, mocking his informant. Butterworth heard a call on the
police band radio and arrived to find the police battling Dracula. He took
Dracula’s picture and the vampire pursued him, only fleeing when Butterworth’s
crucifix became visible….
Butterworth arrived
at Blade’s apartment to find Quincy Harker, Rachel van Helsing, and Frank Drake
present too. Blade recounted that same story as Harold, only making it clear
Harold did not contribute much to the battle and it was a crossbow bolt from
Rachel that drove the villain off. Dracula then burst into the room and fought
the heroes, knocking them around and on departing he left Butterworth with a
threat to return and kill him….
And now Dracula
enters the news office, dodges the silver bullets Butterworth fires at him,
snatches away the wooden cross he brandishes, noting that a cross will burn a
vampire but it takes a crucifix to kill him. Dracula pursues him through the
building until Butterworth points out that the sun is rising.. The vampire
flees, another threat on his lips….
Harold’s publisher
Paul Lamenzo arrives demanding to know what wrecked the office. Butterworth
hastily develops the photos he took of Dracula—and then realizes vampires do
not photograph. Lamenzo is severely angry….