In Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula," the term "brides" refers to three female vampires who reside in Dracula's castle and are his companions, not his wives. They are:
* The three women in the coffin: These are the most prominent "brides" in the novel, depicted as pale, beautiful, and seemingly immortal. They represent Dracula's power and his ability to create other vampires.
While there's no concrete number of "brides" Dracula has, these three are the most notable and are often portrayed as his constant companions. The concept of Dracula having multiple brides has been explored and expanded in various adaptations of the story, but it's important to remember that this detail isn't explicitly stated in the original novel.