Blade (the
doppelganger), killed by Dracula last issue, is quietly buried with his
vampire-hunting colleagues (Frank Drake, Rachel van Helsing, Harold H. Harold,
Hannibal King) and his girlfriend, Safron Caulder, in attendance. After they
leave, Dracula arrives to gloat over his fallen enemy—but he sees the mystery
figure from the party last issue. He recalls their previous encounters: While
ruling a province in Old Spain, Dracula had sentenced a rebel leader to death
but the mystery figure appeared suddenly and forced Dracula to free the man
with barely a gesture. Their second encounter was in Vienna in 1870 when
Dracula led a vampire army to conquer the imperial castle but again the mystery
figure sent him away merely by an act of will. Dracula decides to visit a movie
theater showing a film based on the vampire. He has contempt for the human
audience and when a little girl offers him popcorn, he rudely insults her. This
causes a woman nearby to rebuke Dracula and he responds by killing her. The
audience flees—except for one—the mystery man whose mission from his Master is
to defeat Dracula. He shows his face, revealing golden skin, silver hair and
glowing red eyes. Assuming that his foe is a demon from Satan, Dracula boasts
and defies Satan. The Golden Man announces that one of them shall die that
night. With the power granted by his Master, the Golden Man forces Dracula out
of his mist form and summons a blinding light. He then transports Dracula to a
circus where the vampire is to entertain the humans that he has always
considered clowns. Dracula escapes but his opponent faces him on a roller
coaster (!), the Golden Man constantly using his superior power to humble the
arrogant vampire and proclaim his certain doom. Dracula draws madness down upon
the humans as a defensive ploy but his golden enemy is able to dispel it. While
the Golden Man is distracted, Dracula stabs him through the back with huge
metal spike, claiming victory over Satan. The dying man corrects him, pointing
out that there is another side to the battle of Good versus Evil; his spirit
leaves his body and ascends. Dracula tries to pursue but cannot. He returns to
Domini at the church but then notices a familiar glow in the eyes of the painting
of Jesus Christ and, understanding, he screams in terror….