Re: in-person: mina/dracula
"No, you did not." Dracula saw no need to soften the blow of his words, to sweeten truth with pretty lies or an absence of facts. "Your father did kill you, yes. I thought he would spare you. But alas, he chose Vanessa." Had he been capable of regret, he might have regretted this. Mina had returned, however, unscathed, and there was no Sir Malcolm here now to do as he had done prior. "It is easier to pretend, perhaps, but ignorance is never beneficial. Better to know the truth, to accept it as this. Your father would kill you again, were he here to do so? And Vanessa..." He shook his head in a mockery of sympathy. "She cannot be trusted either. No one can." The words probed deep, deep in her mind. Trust no one. Tell no one. He would not be betrayed by the lingering remains of Mina's humanity. It was an old skin she would shed soon enough.
He waved a hand, dismissive. "Humanity is made to be as such, man or woman. They are limited. Weak. Inferior. Bound by life and susceptible to death. Shall you be satisfied with mediocrity?" Ah, it was true that once she was little more than a pawn to him. Perhaps she still was. But lies flowed as smoothly as truth from his tongue, and sounded the same. It was impossible to distinguish between them. "You do not recall your fall, but you did." His eyes flashed briefly at the mention of Lucifer, but no more was said of the fallen angel. "I have many... children, if you will. But so few are like you. What you were matters not."
She was no mindless monster, no hideous beast that hid in the shadows and had no thoughts of their own. She was his, yes, but still retained what had made her her.
He watched her as she moved to the window, dreamy remembrance in her voice. "He is right," Dracula said. "You appear innocent, harmless, and in that lies power. You can lure anyone you wish to you." There was beauty in the night, in the creatures which dwelled in darkness. And soon, soon... there would be eternal night. No more day, no more light, no more would humanity reign supreme over a world they did not deserve.
"I would have you be at my side when night consumes day. When darkness devours light. You can have anything you wish, Mina. You will be like a god in my new world." He spread his arms wide. "What is there for you otherwise?"