The Count

The universe is vast and amongst its vastness, are many different people. Of the people that live in this vast universe, in planets that stretch as far as one can imagine, there is one man who has piqued the interest of the public continuously, The Count. The term man is limiting for The Count because for the last two centuries his life has touched the universe, shrouded in complete mystery. No one knows anything about The Count, which is the one thing that everyone knows.

The Count's first appearance was that of a sculpture he made, large mosaic monoliths in every country’s capital city. People were both amazed and frightened by his talent. The almost seamless unfractured statue were thought to be perfect.

Decades later, The Count came out with a novel. It was a simple story, the life of a young boy who tried to find Shangri-la and fell in love with a woman there. The title was "Love ending Eternal" and was a best seller for years and was considered one of the best novels written for the age of exploration. Revered as a perfect book.

A hundred and twenty years after The Count's first appearance, a painting appeared. This was not just any painting, this painting floated above Earth. The painting was one hundred kilometers by one hundred kilometers and all it was a self-portrait of The Count. People flocked to the painting to view its wonders. All could see even the smallest detail put into the work of The Count. A perfect imitation of real human looks.

Of all the images that the public has of The Count, he is always wearing the same thing. He wears a mask covering the top part of his face, a decorative dark red suit with flower designs on the lapel and a cape with it. His features were more mature than a younger man, but that was of his first appearance. When the novel was released, he made another appearance which shocked everyone; he had not aged in the five decades since his sculptures. When questions about the title being handed down the generations were asked, The Count dismissed them.

What was The Count? For years people tried to find out by constantly berating him any time they got. After years, The Count released a statement saying one simple thing. The statement an article titled "I'm dying" and that he had seventy years left. Shocked, the people wanted more information. The Count was nothing but a mystery case. Only months later and The Count released another statement that his final project was arriving, his estate. Secretly, The Count was living on his own planet, the size of Pluto, but just as inhabitable as Earth. There was a catch though, it was locked up entirely. He had his original pieces of art, his first sculpture, his first manuscript, and a piece of the painting all had one of four keys that opened the gate into his estate.

It didn't take long until the first three keys were found, but no obvious hint as to where the fourth was. The Count went silent for another twenty years. Over the course of that time, since he had now shown where he lived, constant reporters flooded his estate with letters asking for an interview before he died. Of all the journalists and reporters who asked, The Count asked that I come in.

My name is Sean Dellkorf, and when I appealed to The Count for an interview all I said was "I want to create a perfect story for the seemingly perfect man"

When I arrived at the estate of the count, the thick fog that laid over the entire planet was lifted. My ship landed on a spaceport that was on the small ocean of The Count's planet. A boat took me to the manor of the count. As we rode to the manor, the wind and water splashed against my face, and the dim red sunlight blinded my eyes. The manor sat on a floating dock and had no grounds. It was large and had its own gate. Upon arrival, The Count stood in front of the sun, blocking my eyesight, but making his silhouette that much more defined.

I walked up to the gate to be greeted by an automated servant. The gates opened and the sight of The Count became more magnificent. He wore his mask and his red suit with the cape. No wrinkles anywhere to be seen and his walk was filled with gentle grace in each step. His complexion was pale as if he were finally aging.

"Hello Sean," The Count said in a charismatic authoritative way. Immediately the presence that he had given off intimidated me. Being as charismatic as he was not shocking.

"Good afternoon Count," I replied

He led me into the manor which had a large wooden sign that read "The County" referring to what the planet was called. Red paint climbed up the walls which felt to go up forever. The room was dim with candles and natural light only. Ancient paintings decorated the walls. There was one table that The Count had set up. Two open seats were set with plates, cutlery, and glasses filled with wine. We both silently sat down across from each other. It wasn't important what the food was because The Count didn't eat.

"I'll just get started," I said to break the ice, "Why'd you call me here?"

"You said I was perfect; I want to prove the world wrong."

"Interesting. My next question concerns you. What are you?"

"You're familiar with my story 'Love Ending Eternal' correct?"

"Yes," currently I didn't know where The Count was going. Everyone had read his novel, so why is he bringing it up?

"The story of a boy looking for Heaven on Earth and falling in love with a woman. Achieving impossible."

"What's the point?"

"You've heard of Frankenstein, no?"

"Yes, A doctor trying to recreate life. Striving for the unknown, becoming consumed by it. Are you trying to say something Count?"

"I hardly remember my father or my family, but I do remember my father's will. He always strove for perfection, I inherited it so that I could achieve his dream. It only recently occurred to me how close both my father and I were to Dr. Frankenstein." The Count stood up; his food was untouched. He went for the inner pocket of his suit and pulled out a small book. "This is my final key. My life story. No ending. I ask that you tell my story after I make my final appearance."

"Why is it so small?" I asked him.

"Nothing to tell." The Count had the door opened and gestured me to leave.

Two weeks passed and no news from The Count. Everyone was on the edge of their seat. The fog that set on The County lifted. A frenzy began and people came from everywhere to see the planet. Still unable to land on the planet, all anybody did was hover over the planet. Soon, a video transmission came onto everyone's ship from The Count.

"Hello and good evening. You've all gathered here, to see my final work. Centuries ago, I started my art. Hiding the fact of who I really was, I'd hope to become perfect. I was disgusted with the being I really was." As The Count said that, he removed his mask to reveal skull. through the eye sockets, mechanical pieces of wiring could be seen. The Count continued to remove pieces of clothing to show off pure skeleton with different mechanical parts attached. The Count's body had been dead for centuries.

The Count described the story of his family. In the early 20th century, his father was a man inspired by the stories of Frankenstein. To achieve this, he killed his own son, to make him immortal through "cybernetics”. He succeeded and tried to do the same to himself. The procedure failed and The Count was orphaned. His father left him with the will to achieve perfection and spread it to the world. This curse took him two-hundred years to break.

"If I could cry, I would. The only preserved piece of my body I have is my mouth. I’m not even myself. So, I give a message to the world, perfection is meaningless, become flawed, embrace who you really are." The Count shouted. Piece by piece The Count fell apart. His brittle bones shattered; mechanical pieces of his body toppled on top of each other.

Hours later the people with the four keys came together to open The County to the public. In the back of the last key, the book that The Count gave me, the will said that I will be given the rights to both his inheritance and estate. I published the story of his life and watched over The County. I could never shake the regret of calling him the perfect man, forever it haunts me.