Dracula: The Dark Prince

Plot

Vladislaus Dragulia was a Romanian prince, a Knight of the Secret Order of the Dragon, and a direct descendant of Abel. He was tasked with driving the Turks out of his homeland. During his military campaign, he left his wife, Erzebet, to rule in his stead. When he returned, he discovered that his advisers, displeased with his methods, had murdered her along with his knights. In retaliation, he killed all the advisers except one who had remained loyal. With the help of a faithful squire who was mortally wounded, a furious Vladislaus turned against God. As a result, he was cursed to eternal loneliness and became known as Dracula.

Centuries later, a group of keepers searching for the Lightbringer—the only weapon capable of killing Dracula—were attacked by a monstrous undead armored figure called Wrath. Sisters Alina and Esme were tasked with delivering the Lightbringer to Leonardo Van Helsing while their guards fought off the assault. A band of thieves led by Lucian found the sisters and stole the weapon. Leonardo arrived just as Wrath and his undead attacked the thieves. In the struggle, Lucian activated the Lightbringer, revealing himself as the direct descendant of Cain and the only one who could wield it. He wounded Wrath, but most of the thieves were killed, and Alina was kidnapped by Wrath and taken to Dracula.

Dracula recognized Alina as his murdered wife, Erzebet, and ordered his advisor Renfield to protect her. Meanwhile, Leonardo told a skeptical Lucian about his lineage. The group learned that the Lightbringer was activated by Lucian’s blood, which killed the undead, and Leonardo explained that with Dracula’s blood, it could bring the dead back to life. At the castle, Alina tried to leave but was stopped by a resident named Demetria, who showed her the dining room and said the inhabitants enjoyed living there. As Alina became entranced by the atmosphere, the courtiers—revealed to be vampires—attempted to bite her, but Dracula rescued her just in time.