Werewolf by Night #15

Dracula is on a mission to retrieve a book belonging to Baron Russoff, and will go through Jack to have it!

[Cont. from THE TOMB OF DRACULA #18.]

Within Castle Dracula, the Vampire Lord is about to sink his fangs into the Werewolf's throat, but the beast hurls him away. Before Dracula can attack again, Topaz, the companion of the Werewolf's alter ego, Jack Russell, uses her telepathic abilities to paralyze Dracula. Now with the advantage, the Werewolf throws his foe from a balcony, but Dracula merely changes to his bat-form to find another victim. Topaz calms the man-beast, and they explore the castle while they can.

Soon a helicopter piloted by vampire hunters Frank Drake and Rachel Van Helsing approaches. The pair are briefly accosted by Dracula, and Frank narrowly avoids a crash.

The next morning, at Russoff Manor, the home of Jack's father, he and Topaz read the Baron's diary, which provides the history of the lycanthropic curse that runs through Jack's bloodline. Nearly 180 years before, Jack's great-great-great-grandfather mourned the death of his wife, a victim of Dracula. As the Vampire Lord rested by day in his castle, the Baron drove a stake through his heart. His thirst for vengeance not sated, the Baron vandalized the castle till he discovered a young woman, apparently a prisoner of Dracula. Escorting her home that evening, the full moon transformed her into a werewolf, and she attacked her rescuer.

Later that day, Dracula awakens and finds Frank and Rachel in his castle. He incapacitates them, then rushes to search for Jack and Topaz, pausing to disable the helicopter, preventing any escape. The full moon rises, and the Werewolf finds Dracula at the helicopter before he has caused any damage. Topaz stands at a distance, using her magic to enhance the Werewolf's fighting ability, and to hinder Dracula's. The Vampire Lord sees Topaz and the diary in her hands, which he takes from her. Suddenly, an arrow from a crossbow pierces the book, an arrow shot by the recovered Rachel. She and Frank take the diary, and fly off in the chopper. Dracula shrugs off the Werewolf's renewed attack, and gives pursuit to the speeding aircraft.