Dracula A Love Story Characters

This page lists the characters appearing in the book Dracula: A Love Story, however very minor characters that have minimal bearing on the story have been omitted from this list.

## **Main character**

#### **Laia/Lale**

 *(Main Character: You, the player)*
Click here to learn more about Laia/Lale on her individual character page.

The Main Character in this book is called **Laia Burnell** by default. When she touches the paintings she is restoring, MC travels back in time to the 15th century, where she becomes **Lale Khatun**, the niece of the Ottoman ruler, Sultan Murad

## **Love Interests**

#### **Vlad**

 *This character is a possible Love Interest.*
Click here to learn more about Vlad on his individual character page.

In the present time, Vlad is a wealthy castle owner with a love for art. He commissions MC to restore some 15th-century paintings. When we travel back to the Ottoman Empire, we see Vlad as a young man who is being kept at the court of the Ottoman Sultan.

#### **Leo/Aslan**

 *This character is a possible Love Interest.*
Click here to learn more about Leo/Aslan on his individual character page.

In the present time, he is a businessman travelling through Romania. When we travel back to the Ottoman Empire, we see him as a young man named Aslan.

#### **Sandra**

 *This character is a possible Love Interest.*
Click here to learn more about Sandra on her individual character page.

Sandra is a character in the present and in the past, but not at the Osmanian court. She is an ex policewoman and the reincarnation of a woman who made a supernatural pact to protect Vlad and Laia from any possible danger.

#### **Noe**

 *This character is a possible Love Interest.*
Click here to learn more about Noe on his individual character page.

Noe Lokid is a businessman and allegedly a childhood friend of Vlad, although Vlad does not seem particularly fond of him. He says he is from Switzerland and arrives at Vlad's castle while - he says - is on a business trip in Romania. Him and Vlad met as teenagers when they were studying theatre together.

This all turns out to be a lie. Noe is actually a demon and he and Vlad met in the Dark World, when Vlad was turned into a vampire.

#### **Sehzade Hasan**

 *This character is a possible Love Interest.*
Click here to learn more about Hasan on his individual character page.

Hasan is the Crown Prince in 1444, Sultan Murad's son. He is Lale's cousin but he is in love with her and asks her to marry him. At the beginning of the book, he is the victim of a tragic accident and perishes in a storm, struck by lightning. Lale paints his likeness, defying the rules that forbid her to do so. He is the subject of the first of the six 15th-century paintings at the centre of this story.

Hasan loves dogs, and after his passing Lale has a chance to adopt his favourite hound Guzellik. Hasan had told Lale that Guzellik was his best friend, one of the few he could actually trust, because being the heir to the throne means that everyone wants something from him, while his dog's love is unconditional.

Hasan returns to the story in Season 2, although his nature has not yet been revealed.

#### **Mehmed**

 *This character is a possible Love Interest.*
Click here to learn more about Mehmed on his individual character page.

Mehmed is another of Sultan Murad's sons (from a different mother compared to Hasan) and Lale's cousin. When we meet him he acts ruthless and selfish. He becomes the new Sultan when his father abdicates but later loses this title because of his behaviour. He is infatuated with Lale, although his feelings are not reciprocated.

**Trigger warning**: Mehmed tried to sexually assault Lale, however he will be stopped. After this event, Sultan Murad sends him away and he only returns two years later. He might or might not apologise sincerely depending on your choices.

Mehmed had already been sent away with his mother when he was a child, however details of this accident are unclear so far. What we know from flashbacks from his childhood is that his mother Huma was bullied by the other noble ladies and only Lale's mother Aisha was friendly towards her. As a result, Mehmed was also unable to play with his half siblings.

## **Present day**

#### **Millie Burnell**

Millie is MC's sister and she is 16 years old. She is passionate about vampires and had dreamed of visiting Dracula's homeland for a year before their trip. She loves vampire stories, books and games. She wears a t-shirt with an image of Victor Van Art on it and is a big fan of Moonborn, which in the DLS world is a videogame. She has a huge (unrequited) crush on Leo.

#### **Cathy Nolan**

Cathy is Leo's sister and she is a classmate and friend of Millie, Laia's sister. As Millie, she is also passionate about Moonborn, which in this book is a videogame, and she wears a t-shirt with an image of Max Fall, one of the main characters in it.

#### **Nosferatu**

Nosferatu is Leo's beloved pet cat. A Sphynx cat, Leo tells Laia that he is in Bucharest to allow his cat to spend time with his Romanian cat relatives since he has been depressed recently and an animal behaviourist suggested this might help.

Leo says that when the first Sphynx cats appeared in Canada in the 60's, several kittens were bought by the family of a Romanian prince that valued and collected rare cat breeds. As a result, a separate line of Romanian Sphynxes started. The princes made sure that the bloodline stayed pure and people keep doing it now. Nosferatu was an exotic gift to a girlfriend of Leo's neighbour. When they broke up, the cat ended up on the streets until Leo took him home

You can improve your relationship with Nosferatu throughout the book and this will allow you to see different scenes and have help from the cat in certain moments in the story.

#### **Mica/Fiona**

Fiona the cat appears in the story first (you can customise her name if you choose to help her in a diamond scene in S1 Ep10) and then as a mysterious, ghostly girl that appears near Vlad's castle in Romania.

You will discover the two are the same and that she is in fact a young *mavka*, a type of spirit. She will follow MC and the others to the United States when the story moves there in Season 2.

In Season 2, Ep8 we learn from a phone call with Ilinca that mavkas cannot travel huge distances, however black cats can infiltrate the borders between worlds and use special paths through space only they are aware of.

Mavkas are the souls of dead infants, up to two years old, and they are lost for some reason. They are very kind and help looking after wounded animals. Not all of them have cat bodies, but if a mavka takes care of an old or ill cat, when the cat passes away might give his body to the mavka as a sign of gratitude. This is what must have happened with this particular mavka. The infant's soul, after living for a long time in the body of a cat, acquires some of the cat's abilities, such as for example travelling through space.

The fact that the girl looks a lot older than an infant is due to the fact that souls do not have age and if they are not weighed down by sin, they all look like beautiful young girls or boys.

Later in the same episode, we learn that the mavka, in her human form, calls herself Mica.

The mavka's identity is concealed to strangers by telling everyone that Vlad adopted her after the death of her parents.

Mavkas love water and often live near bodies of water.

#### **Ilinca**

Ilinca is Sandra's adoptive sister, although they are related. The first time she appears in the story - Millie and Leo had meet her randomly - she seemed in some sort of hysterical state, but when MC meets her, together with Sandra, she seems completely recovered. She lives in the Cold village, the closest settlement near the Cold Forest, together with her father Mihai.

Ilinca possesses divination powers and is able to talk to spirits and have visions.

#### **Mihai**

Mihai is Sandra's adoptive father, although they are related. He is an enigmatic man and seems very troubled and his daughters are worried about him. He lives in the Cold village, the closest settlement near the Cold Forest, together with his daughter Ilinca.

#### **Jean**

Jean is a lawyer. He was sent to Bucharest by Vincent (MC's boss) to test MC's loyalty and try to buy the paintings from her. He will also assist Gradish in the sale agreement of some of the paintings between him and Vlad.

#### **Gradish**

Gradish is an art collector that owns some of the paintings that Vlad is trying to purchase. He also own a female Sphynx cat, Gardenia, that is a relative of Leo's cat Nosferatu.

#### **Anton**

Anton is Vlad's butler. He had worked for a long time at the castle, but when we meet him he has been Vlad's butler only for one day, because - although the castle belonged to Vlad's ancestors - he has become its owner only recently. It's implied that Anton has stolen some money from Vlad even after such a short time working for him. Theft is something Vlad can't stand, but he lets Anton go with a last warning.

#### **Valentin**

Valentin works as part of the staff of Vlad's castle in present day Romania.

#### **Vincent**

Vincent is MC's boss and owner of the art gallery MC works for. He asked MC to procure the 15th-century paintings in Bucharest, however since he did not trust her, he also sent his colleague Jean to try and test MC's loyalty. He appears to be French although

#### **Nela**

Nela is Leo's boss. She is apparently very particular and demanding and Leo doesn't have much choice when it comes to deciding when and how to spend time with her.

#### **Gardenia**

Gardenia is a Sphynx cat and it's related to Nosferatu, Leo's beloved pet cat. She belongs to art collector Gradish.

#### **Annie Burnell**

Annie is MC and Millie's mother. She lives in Lastville.

#### **Commissioner John Dougan**

Commissioner Dougan is a family friend of the Burnells. MC says that she has known him since they were little as he is a friend of her parents and visited often when she was young. He lives and works in Lastville.

#### **Mayor Patrick Mackenzie**

Patrick Mackenzie is the Mayor of Lastville. Rumours have it that he has a much younger girlfriend, and it's later revealed to be Erzsebet. He states that she is very traditional so not only they don't live together but also they don't have any sexual relations before the wedding. The feeling is that Erzsi is not really in love with the Mayor and is just using him.

#### **Erzsebet (Erzsi)**

Erzsi is Mayor Mackenzie's assistant and fiancée. She is Hungarian and moved to the United States fairly recently before the events in this book. She met Yustin while frequenting a library where he worked and recommended him to the Mayor for the job at Black Castle.

Mayor Mackenzie states that she is very traditional so not only they don't live together but also they don't have any sexual relations before the wedding. The feeling is that Erzsi is not really in love with the Mayor and is just using him.

#### **Gordon Ruthven**

Ruthven is a wealthy businessman and philanthropist with a special passion for art. He seems particularly interested in MC's experiences in Romania and has also recently offered a substantial sum to the Lastville local government to transform the Black Castle, a local landmark now in ruin, into a hotel and art centre.

Ruthven goes missing in Season 2, and Vlad is suspected to have hurt him because of their disagreement over the hotel and Ruthven's strange fascination with MC. Commissioner Dougan investigates his disappearance and discovers that he was amongst the hooded people who tried to abduct MC at the beginning of Season 2. Noe states that some dark forces were at play and were involved with Ruthven's disappearance as he can't sense his energy any more, not in the human world nor in the Dark world. Noe thinks that Ruthven invoked the wrath of some very powerful dark entity.

#### **Yustin Right**

Yustin is a researcher currently working at Black Castle. His grandmother was Hungarian, but he and his family never lived there. Yustin tells Laia that he moves around a lot because he is an historian and translator. He used to work at a library before moving to work at the castle after Erzsebet's recommendation to Mayor Mackenzie. The two of them met because she used to frequent the library where he worked, as she is Hungarian. He is not afraid of ghosts and enjoys living in the castle.

In Season 2, Episode 9, Sandra tells MC that she suspects Yustin is from Romania, because she hears him say a prayer in Romanian. He also had mentioned a tradition he was familiar with that Sandra recognises as Romanian. Hungary and Romania share a border so there are many ethnic Hungarians in Romania, so Sandra thinks Yustin might be one of those.

#### **Ted**

Ted works for Gordon Ruthven as a steward on his private jet plane. He also works as his private assistant.

#### **Bee**

His full name is Byron Haze. He is the teacher in Lastville. He puts a lot of effort in the Teenage Centre to unite the teenagers from various social classes, all part of a big, innovative program. Vlad promises that part of Black Castle will be used to house the centre.

#### **Brock**

Brock is the one who set on fire the mayor's car. He is Cassie's brother. He has control issues and blacks out when he's upset.

He is part of the group of teenagers that make use of the Teenage Centre, an association for disadvantaged youth. Vlad promises that part of Black Castle will be used to house the centre.

#### **Cassie**

Cassie is Brock's sister. They both live in Lastville.

She is part of the group of teenagers that make use of the Teenage Centre, an association for disadvantaged youth. Vlad promises that part of Black Castle will be used to house the centre.

Cassie befriends Cathy and Millie, Leo and MC's sisters, in occasion of the Saturday of Lights/Day of Rebirth, a yearly event that takes place in Lastville to commemorate the end of some destructive fires that happened in the past.

#### **Henry**

He works in the same agency "Tetra" as Leo. He is friends with Leo.

#### **Aquil**

Leo refers to him as Alan. He also works in the same agency as Leo and Henry, but he has a higher position than both of them.

#### **Agnes**

Agnes is the mystery girl MC saved in the Black castle. She can shapeshift into a strange creature. She was close with Baron Sotet. Your behavior towards Agnes will play a role in the future.

#### **Baron Sotet**

His name is Armin. He is the owner of the Black castle, who left a chapel in his will to MC.

#### **Margot**

Margot is a tailor and café owner in Lastville. She went to college with MC's mum Annie and they have been friends ever since.

#### **Miriam**

Miriam works at Black Castle in Lastville. In S2 Ep8 she says she is from Foraminis, in the North Branch. Both Sandra and MC are confused by this statement but no further explanation is given for now.

#### **Asmodeus**

Asmodeus is a magician who became famous on a TV program. Cathie, Millie and Cassie invite him to perform at the Saturday of Lights event, however he struggles to perform and his show is underwhelming.

#### **Bram Stoker**

Bram Stoker is the author of the famous novel, Dracula, published in 1897. It is shown that Baron Sotet is the one who gave Bram Stoker inspiration for the novel by telling him about his unfortunate meeting with Vlad.

## **15th Century**

#### **Sultan Murad**

Sultan Murad is Lale's uncle and the ruling Sultan of the Osmanian Empire when we first meet him. Later in the book, he abdicates in favour of his son Mehmed. He returns to rule for a few years before leaving again once again in favour of Mehmed.

Lale considers him a wise and honest ruler.

The Sultan had three sons die young, Hasan being the third one. Rumours of a curse are heard at the Osmanian court.

Depending on your choices, the Sultan will be more or less kind towards Lale.

#### **Khalil Pasha**

Khalil Pasha is the Grand Vizier at the Osmanian court and Saphie's father. He is the main minister and advisor of the Sultan.

#### **Saphie**

Saphie is a friend of Lale and the daughter of the Grand Vizier Khalil Pasha. At the beginning of the book she is in a secret relationship with Damet, who's a soldier. Saphie is the subject of the second painting made by Lale: she commissions her one so she can give it to her boyfriend Damet to carry with him while he's deployed. Since having figurative art is forbidden, Lale treats the canvas with a special substance so that the image appears only when the canvas is heated up. Saphie and Damet later marry.

#### **Damet**

Damet is a soldier in the Ottoman army and he is Saphie's secret boyfriend first, then husband.

#### **Zara**

Zara is a girl who is part of the Harem. She becomes friendly with Lale because she can read and Lale asks for her help with some of her study assignments. She is later seen helping children in the school.

#### **Nuray**

Nuray is a girl at the Osmanian court who's friendly with Lale. She is single when we first meet her, but later we see her married to Yavuz Pasha, a violent and ruthless man.

If at first her relationship with Lale is strained, as they are the only two girls who had been allowed to study in school with the boys, as time passes, the two become friends.

It is implied that she is infatuated with Kemal, a soldier who works for her cruel husband, and that she is reciprocated.

#### **Yavuz Pasha**

Yavuz Pasha is, from 1448, in charge of culture and education at court. He is a violent man and beats his wife Nuray.

#### **Halime**

Halime used to be Sultan Murad's favourite, but has lost favour and is now only another concubine. It is implied that she was involved in Lale's mother death and she seems to be a cruel and malicious woman. She used to bully Huma, Mehmed's mother, as we see in many flashback scenes.

#### **Aisha**

Aisha is Lale's mother. We only see her in flashbacks as she has long died when the story takes place. She seems to be a very kind and generous person.

#### **Shahi Khatun**

Shahi Khatun is Lale's tutoress. She is a very old-fashioned person and often pushes Lale in uncomfortable, even dangerous situations, in the name of tradition. She disagrees with the Sultan's more progressive initiatives, including the fact that girls and boys, nobles and captives all study together.

It is explained that "Khatun" is an honorific way to address women in the Ottoman empire.

#### **Daye Khatun**

Daye Khatun is Mehmed's tutoress.

It is explained that "Khatun" is an honorific way to address women in the Ottoman empire.

#### **Mustafa Hojam**

Mustafa Hojam is Lale's teacher. Throughout the story, Lale has various chances to impress him with her eagerness to learn and her reliability.
A cheerful and positive man who loves his job, Mustafa teaches a variety of subject to his pupils, from riding to literature and science.

It is explained that "Hojam" means "teacher" and it's an honorary way to address a mentor at the Osmanian court.

#### **Dimitris**

Dimitris is Lale's art teacher. He values her talent and helps her conceal the fact that she is creating figurative art, although this was forbidden.

#### **Ali Bey**

Ali Bey is a fighting trainer at the Osmanian court. He trains Vlad and Aslan in the art of war.

#### **Gul Khatun**

Gul Khatun is the responsible of the Harem at the Osmanian court.

#### **Damla**

Damla is Nuray's servant after she marries Yavuz Pasha.

#### **Huma**

Huma is Mehmed's mother. We only see her in flashbacks as she has long died when the story takes place. She was bullied by Halime, Yavuz Pasha and other members of the court, but Aisha tried to protect her.

#### **Kemal**

Kemal is a janissary and works for Yavuz Pasha, however he seems to have developed feelings for Nuray and to be reciprocated.

#### **Simion**

Simion is Sandra's father and we meet him only in a flashback scene where we see Sandra being given her powers and instructions.

#### **Skanderbeg**

Skanderbeg is Albanian lord and military commander, member of Albanian League at war with Sultan Murad II. In Season 2, Ep.7 we learn from Vlad and Ali Bey that Vlad considers him a liberator-warrior. Skanderberg's real name is Gjergj and he is the son of an Albanian prince. He was kept captive by the Ottomans as a child and Ali Bey knew him personally. He is a strong and fearless warrior. His nickname Iskender is after Alexander the Great. When he was at the Ottoman court, he was a successful soldier commanding a large cavalry. Sultan Murad treated him as a friend, but they became enemies as he joined the Sultan's opponents in 1443, during the battle of Nish, bringing with him 300 janissaries. He gathered a large army and is liberating the Albanian cities that are under Ottoman rule. The battle of Svetigrad, where Vlad and Aslan meet him, was crucial for the Ottomans to conquer Albania again.

#### **Esme**

Esme is Sultan Murad's daughter. She also seems to have a bit of a crush on Radu, Vlad's younger brother.

## **Dark World**

#### **Ostar**

Ostar is a demon guarding The Sleepy Barren. He despises titles and privileges.

#### **Septentrion**

Septentrion is a demon, Noe's former mentor and friend of his father.

#### **Procul**

Aditum Procul, holds an important position among demons, he is Noe's grandfather.

#### **Karnivan**

Karnivan is a powerful demon who was supposed to marry Betelgeuse, Noe's mother.