Diaries Of The Family Dracul - Lord Of The Vampires Part 21

So it was agreed: We would try to discover which ships had set sail yesterday for the Black Sea, the most logical route and the way by which the Impaler had first come. Madam Mina's description of the sounds indicated a sailing ship-too small to be listed in the Times.

Fortunately, Arthur knew that at Lloyd's we would find a listing of all ships that had set sail.

We went there at once-without disturbing the Harkers, especially as we wished to avoid any further encounters with Jonathan. There we learned that only one ship had set sail for the Black Sea on 3 October-the Czarina Catherine, bound for the port of Varna.

She had sailed from Doolittle's Wharf, our next destination, where we learned from the manager that a tall, very strange pale man had come at five o'clock yesterday afternoon, and insisted that a box be loaded onto the ship.

There can be no doubt: He is headed for home!

Chapter 17The Diary of Abraham Van Helsing.

15 OCTOBER, NIGHT.

Left London the morning of 12 October and arrived via the Orient Express in Varna this afternoon, after travelling day and night. Madam Mina continues to give the same report at every sunrise: waves lapping, darkness.

After much debate, we decided to let Jonathan come with us. It would have been cruel not to permit him to come, since we were taking his wife (who has been of great use thus far).

We remain ever-vigilant around him, and wear our talismans at all times, as my death would be most convenient for Elisabeth. It would cause Vlad's immediate destruction, and she would have no more worry from us; she could merely meet the ship when it docks, and retrieve the first key from Vlad's pitiful remains.

According to Zsuzsanna, the fact that Elisabeth is nearby awaiting an opportunity to attack, means that she has not seen the fifth line; she needs the first key in order to read it!

Apparently, after Vlad discovered the first key and read the fifth line, it disappeared when Elisabeth stole the ma.n.u.script. This is good news, for it means she will not rush to Vlad's castle ahead of him (and us). No, she follows us (or rather, Harker) because we follow Vlad.

But her proximity is not the best news for me; only Arminius' talisman upon my person- even when I bathe-protects me. (Thank G.o.d, it is still strong enough to repel her!) Another hopeful piece of news: Zsuzsanna says that when she travelled with Elisabeth to London, she noticed that, despite her abilities to move about freely during the day, she was still limited by the slack of the tide. Knowing this -and knowing that when Vlad was at his most powerful, he, too, was still restricted by flowing water (evidenced by his decision to come to London by boat, and, Zsuzsanna says, the route he chose as bat when she followed him one night to Hillingham)-we can posit that Elisabeth is still so restricted.

I have finally pressed one of Arminius' crucifixes upon Madam Mina; I explained that it was a "specially blessed" piece designed to ward off the vampire, and would protect her more securely than her own little golden cross. She now wears both; I suspect it has had more than a little effect upon her and Jonathan's private life...

As for Zsuzsanna and Arkady, they have secretly accompanied us the entire way, and serve as our "spies." They will be of much use to us if and when we find it necessary to continue on to the castle. However, before we departed for Varna, Zsuzsanna announced that she had broken off all psychical contact with Harker-this so Elisabeth has no means of learning what our little band is up to. With that a.s.surance, we have taken her into our confidence regarding the fifth line, and our plan for dispatching Vlad and obtaining guardianship of the first key.

I still find it difficult to trust her; were it not for Arkady, I do not think I would even deal with her. So she has come to her senses and is filled with regret-am I to pity her? She has cost me my wife and son. I do my best to be civil to her, for my father's sake. Beyond that, I owe her nothing.

Arthur continues to put his lordly t.i.tle to good use on our behalf. He has convinced the shipper of Vlad's box that it contains something stolen from His Lordship's friend; we now have surrept.i.tious permission from them to board the ship when it docks and open the chest-at our own risk.

29 OCTOBER, NIGHT.

After an agony of waiting-day after day of sitting, reading, contemplating, conversing, all of us now obsessed with putting an end to this affair- Arthur received a telegram from Lloyd's yesterday, saying that the Czarina had entered Galatz at one o'clock, 28 October. Galatz-more than one hundred fifty miles to the north! We had languished in Varna thirteen days, waiting restlessly, while the Impaler laughed at us all!

Somehow, Madam Mina's thoughts revealed to Dracula our presence in Varna; now he has cut her off from his own plans. Zsuzsanna advises me that Vlad cannot do so without also losing access to Madam Mina's thoughts as well (just as she, Zsuzsanna, no longer has access to Jonathan Harker's thoughts), and Arkady confirms this. For the time, we are free to use Mina's great intelligence to a.s.sist us without revealing to Vlad our strategy. I write this on the train to Galatz.

30 OCTOBER.

Today we set foot upon the Czarina Catherine at last. As feared, we had come too late; the box had already been taken, but we managed to speak with the captain, an amicable and forthcoming Scotsman. The box, he said, had caused such consternation among his Roumanian crew that it would have been thrown overboard were it not for his intervention.

He cheerfully produced the receipt, which showed that it had been recovered by an Immanuel Hildesheim, Burgen-stra.s.se 16.

Blessedly, Hildesheim was in his office and, after a bit of baksheesh, directed us to a Petrof Skinsky, a businessman involved in shipping from upriver to the port. Hildesheim had turned the box over to Skinsky-who, unfortunately, we could not find at his address. As we were leaving, however, one of his neighbours came running out of a house, crying that Skinsky had been found murdered, with his throat torn out.

When we returned home this evening, discouraged, Madam Mina looked over our notes, and in her logical, precise manner wrote down a series of deductions concerning Vlad's whereabouts. She then read them to us, and I summarise them here: Since Vlad had chosen Skinsky as agent, it only makes sense that he arranged to have the box shipped upriver, such being Skinsky's primary business.

Now, the Danube meets two rivers leading to Transylvania, the Pruth and the Sereth; of these, only the Sereth flows into the Bistritsa River-which runs near .the Borgo Pa.s.s!

Here is our plan: Arthur will obtain a steam launch, and he and Jonathan will follow the vampire by boat. (In secrecy, we agreed that Harker would not travel with me, as I would be too imperiled; Lord G.o.dalming is less at risk, and knows to take precautions around him.

At any rate, he will also have Arkady's invisible presence to protect him.) Quincey and John will pursue on horseback along the riverbank, in case Vlad makes a sudden decision to come ash.o.r.e, whilst Madam Mina and I take the train to Veresti, and from there travel by land directly to the castle.

Our hope is that Elisabeth will not follow myself and Mina to the castle (nor Zsuzsanna, who will guide us through the forest, and knows Vlad's lair best of all). As long as Elisabeth does not possess the first key, and thus no knowledge of the fifth line, she will stay close to Vlad, with the intent of destroying him and obtaining the second key.

Once we dispatch the Impaler, however, the question arises: How shall we then destroy her, who is so powerful?

Arminius, be not far!

Chapter 18Dr. Seward's Diary.

5 NOVEMBER.

Six days riding, in falling snow and bitter cold-and always with a faint sense that behind us, just beyond my peripheral eyesight, follows a great darkness, that darkly glittering indigo that I have come to dread. Quince knows it, too, for late last night when we made camp and were sitting round the fire, he said softly: "Can you feel it, Jack?"

I nodded, and as quietly as I could said, "Elisabeth."

At this he gave silent a.s.sent, and we have spoken no more of it. It means the professor's a.s.sumption is right; she is not so powerful yet that she can travel upon the river, and board Dracula's boat whenever she lists. I am glad she chose to follow us, and not the professor.

That was my greatest concern, that she would pursue and kill him, then board the ship and remove the key from a box filled with Vlad's rotting remains. Perhaps she fears that we would obtain the key before her, and with our talismans keep her at bay forever.

She is wise to do so.

Just after dawn now-a grey sky, lightly falling snow. I woke to Quince's hand upon my shoulder, and the distant sight of the tsigani's big leiter-wagon, flanked by a small army of gypsies, hurrying away from the sh.o.r.e. Quince has the horses ready now: we follow!

The Diary of Abraham Van Helsing 5 NOVEMBER, MORNING.

In Veresti, I procured a carriage and a fine team of horses, and enough provisions to last us a minimum of ten days. With our blankets and fur wraps, Madam Mina and I were quite comfortable, and took turns driving whilst the other slept; I sensed Zsuzsanna following at a respectable distance, lest she frighten the horses. Travelling day and night with a few stops to refresh the animals, we reached the Borgo Pa.s.s by dawn, 3 November.

By that time, Madam Mina was becoming more vampiric, sleeping during the day and becoming lively at night, and giving up altogether her little diary.

By yesterday, we had reached the perimeters of Vlad's castle-though we camped a slight distance away. I would not take Madam Mina inside, for the closer she drew to it, the more she fell under its spell; thus, whilst she rested, I inscribed round her a magical circle, and sealed it with the Host. This she could not cross, even when I asked her to do so, so I was satisfied as to her safety therein.

Last night it was that three vampire children-two boys, and a little girl-appeared to us; I remembered Jonathan's diary, and knew they must be the vile progeny of Zsuzsanna and Elisabeth. (No sign of Zsuzsanna at the time; perhaps she became distraught at the sight of them, or perhaps she was, in response to desperate need, out hunting for more sustenance.) Outside the circle, in the fire's orange glow, they took form-beautiful, sweet, alluring, and possessed of a grotesque innocence. Madam Mina and I were safely ensconced within our circle, and there we remained. I could not bear to look at them, thinking of my little Jan; I looked instead at Mina's face, and was deeply relieved to find there horror and disgust.

At dawn today, I rose, leaving Madam Mina trapped and protected within the circle, and headed for the castle. (Where Zsuzsanna was, she had not said, though we had agreed that she would serve as scout, to alert us when Dracula and Elisabeth approached. The cold morning air was peculiarly electric; this was the day, I knew. This was the day...) It was a sad, sad duty that lay before me, in the Impaler's lair; I had been inside this castle two decades earlier-once, in a failed and tragic attempt to rescue my adoptive brother; another time, to murder the foul creature that my poor little Jan had become. Each dark stone, each decay-scented room, was laden with anguished memories.

Even so, I had learned many years before, when Arminius taught me the painful art of vampire-hunting, to harden my heart against emotion and approach the task with the coolest of heads. This I did when I found the lair of the three children-two of them nestled together, sweetly asleep in the same overlarge coffin. No pity did I have; not until I had wielded stake and knife, and saw their immortal, gleaming bodies pa.s.s into merely mortal remains. Only then did I weep for them and their mothers and fathers.

And when I had mourned them, and whispered over their resting-places a prayer for the dead as I placed in each coffin a piece of the Host, I called to mind the fifth line: To the first return, and the castle deep within the forest.

Here I was, within the castle, but where should I begin to look for the second key? I wandered a time through each room-Vlad's vast throne room, with its Theatre of Death, and the inner keep wherein rested his great, lordly coffin. This I sealed with a portion of the Host. And again I roamed, examining each item in each room, looking for clues, for places where something may have been buried. I spared no one place, not even the dreadful catacombs of earth deep beneath the castle-more horrible to me even than the Theatre of Death, for more had met death down in that evil cellar, and more had suffered there a long imprisonment. And so many hundreds-perhaps thousands-are buried there that I could hear their bones still crying out in agony.

It was late afternoon when I emerged empty-handed and perplexed, and as I headed down the slope towards our little encampment, Zsuzsanna appeared before me, so abruptly that it gave me a start.

Her dark eyes were ablaze, her pale skin aglow-not with any magical glamour, but with pure antic.i.p.ation.

"They come," she said. "They come, and Elisabeth follows!"

Thoughtlessly, I reached out and grasped her arms- dropping my hands only when she recoiled and winced in pain. "Dracula comes?"

"The tsigani bring his box in their great wagon- many of them, surrounding it and bearing arms."

"And of our party?"

"All of them! They follow on horseback... and Elisabeth follows them." Just as suddenly, she disappeared.

I ran swiftly down to where Madam Mina stood inside the circle, waving her arms at me with unabashedly joyous excitement. "Doctor!" she cried. "Dr. Van Helsing! We must hurry." And she pointed to the east. "My husband is coming!"

Her words evoked within me similar excitement-and also a certain unease, for she was mentally linked not to Jonathan, but Vlad; to which was she referring? But her joy was so innocent, and her eyes so pure-like those of our Madam Mina of old-that I smiled, and recollected the pieces of Host from the snow, freeing her.So we struggled together down the steep slope that faced the east, I carrying furs and rugs and provisions, until the castle stood high above us against the clouded sky. I found a hollow worn within a great rock nestled into the mountainside; this I lined with furs and enclosed within a circle, again sealed with the Host, and settled Madam Mina comfortably inside.

Beneath us wound the roadway leading upward to the castle. From my pocket, I produced a pair of field-gla.s.ses; though a hard wind had suddenly picked up, and the light, constant snow began to swirl, I made out the dark figures of the tsigani riding alongside the leiter- wagon-at such a furious pace that the wagon swerved dangerously from side to side, coming very close to knocking some of the accompanying hors.e.m.e.n from the roadway.

Suddenly, from the north, I saw two dark figures on horseback rapidly approaching the gypsies... and, with a cry of gladness, recognised Quincey Morris' great Stetson -white, but not so white as the swirling snow. "Thank G.o.d!" I cried, relieved that they and not Jonathan Harker would be first to approach the wagon, and lowered the field-gla.s.ses to pa.s.s them to my excited companion. "Madam Mina, look!"

Zsuzsanna Tsepesh's Diary 5 NOVEMBER.

I left Bram and Mrs. Harker upon the hillside, and swept down to where the fierce tsigani rode beside the great wooden chest. I knew I must stop them, and quickly, before Elisabeth arrived, for I could sense her nearing, waiting for the perfect moment to lay claim to the key. Thus I flew down to the roadway, perfectly invisible, and hovered between the two horses pulling the wagon. Gently, I set my palms upon dieir muzzles.

The effect was immediate: The poor frightened creatures reared at once, causing the wagon to rock crazily to one side and very nearly overturn. The driver swore, and the gypsy army reined in their mounts, who also shied at my unseen presence.

At that same instant came the thunder of approaching hooves, and a calm, steely voice shouting: "Halt!" I smiled, for the voice belonged to Quincey Morris; and he and John Seward came racing up like apocalyptic hors.e.m.e.n bent on G.o.dly vengeance. Once they had the key, their talismans would protect them from Elisabeth, and we would all escape and formulate a plan against her; I was overwhelmed with joy, for we were so close, so close to the first victory...

Yet at once those clattering hooves were answered by others, as from the opposite side came Harker and Lord G.o.dalming. G.o.dalming struggled valiantly to overtake his companion; I could see the anguished grimace on His Lordship's face as he flogged his steed to go faster, faster. But Jonathan rode with a deadly fury straight from the maw of h.e.l.l, at a speed born of immortal desperation.

"Halt!" cried he, with such fervent pa.s.sion that even the tsigani looked upon him with fear.

Now the gypsies were trapped between our men upon the narrow pa.s.sage; and to translate their intent, Seward, G.o.dalming, and Morris raised their Winchester rifles. (Only I noticed that G.o.dalming's rifle was placed so that, with a very slight movement, he could quickly have Harker within his sights.) And on the cliff above, Van Helsing stood, pointing his own rifle down at the colourful army below. Even so, the gypsies drew their knives; and their leader pointed up at the reddening sun, which now kissed the tops of the mountains. Again, I stroked the horses' muzzles in order to create a helpful distraction; again, they reared.

But only one of our party took advantage of it. In a wink, Harker let go his rifle so that it hung from its strap, unsheathed his kukri, and, with inhuman daring, slashed through the wall of armed men guarding the wagon. From the opposite side, Morris did the same with his Bowie knife in an effort to reach the chest-but alas! Jonathan reached it first and, with vampiric strength, lifted the box and flung it down to the ground.

He leapt down and began to pry off the lid with his knife; Morris, who had come thus far with only a few shallow wounds upon his arms and face, jumped down as well and attacked the chest's other end with his Bowie. By this time, I saw that Van Helsing's aim had shifted, and G.o.dalming's, too, in case Jonathan were to seize the key.

Soon, the lid of the box was pulled off, and there lay Vlad, helpless and exposed, eyes red with rage and the light of the sinking sun. That rage turned to triumph as the sun slipped down past the horizon...

But his triumph lasted less than a second. Harker's curving knife tore through the Impaler's throat, while at the same instant, Morris' weapon plunged deep into the vampire's heart.

The frightened tsigani turned their horses and raced away, abandoning the wagon. I remained and watched with bitter joy as the body dissolved at once into dust: mere dust, lifted by the swirling wind to expose beneath a small golden key.

It lay closest to Morris, who swooped down for it; at once, Harker moved forward and embraced him, as if in celebration. But as he pulled back, I saw the bright flash of the kukri knife-bloodied, as he drew it from Morris' chest.

The wounded man groaned, and fell forward, half into the coffin. Callously, Harker thrust an arm beneath him, groping for the key; fearful of further harming Morris if they fired upon his attacker, the other two men instead dashed up behind the pair. Gentle Seward, whom I had judged incapable of the slightest violence, lifted the b.u.t.t of his rifle and brought it down with force upon Harker's skull. He then bent down to retrieve the key-but I was faster and, in a swift move, seized the shining object and at once sped towards the castle.

At once the sky deepened-not with night, but a burst of glittering indigo which reflected darkly off the fallen snow. Elisabeth had appeared, I knew, but I dared not look behind me.

So long as the others did not yet possess the golden key, she would be too much involved in the search to do them harm.

I hurtled with the key towards the castle, with no plan other than instinct, no desire but to protect the others. In my heart, I knew I had to find the second key, and somehow hide it from Elisabeth... but what my heart desired, my brain could find no way to produce.

Even so, I flew up the mountain towards the castle, key gripped tightly in my hand. All had grown silent as the men tended to Quincey; I heard nothing save utter stillness, and one sound that pursued me, echoing off the mountains: Elisabeth laughing.

Elisabeth laughing...

The Diary of Abraham Van Helsing 5 NOVEMBER, CONTINUED.

In horror, Madam Mina and I watched as Jonathan brutally stabbed Quincey; her horror continued as John came forward and struck her husband a solid blow upon the head with his rifle, but in truth, I felt only relief. As she wept silently into her hands, I gently took the field-gla.s.ses from her, and again watched.

Yet my hopeful emotion changed again to fear as John and Arthur searched futilely within the earth-box for the missing key. Had Elisabeth somehow stolen it-or Arkady, or Zsuzsanna? Or had it never been within the box at all?

As Seward and Arthur gave up the search and knelt to attend their mortally wounded friend, the snow about them glittered indigo, with such intensity that I knew it could only herald Elisabeth's arrival.

So it did. She appeared in radiant glory, brighter than the full moon and infinitely more compelling, and with the merest sweep of her hand, John and Arthur fell mute against the snow. The unconscious Harker evoked from her a shrug of disgust, but when she peered into the empty coffin, she bared her teeth in feral anger; and then she gazed up in the direction of the castle and began to laugh.

"Zsuzsanna!" she called, with malicious gaiety. "My foolish love! The mortals can protect themselves from me -for the moment-with their silly charms. But you, my darling, cannot. Certainly the key cannot protect you- you have seen the good it has done Vlad!"

Abruptly, she disappeared, and John and Arthur raised themselves slowly to their knees. I handed Madam Mina, who was still distraught, the field-gla.s.ses, and, taking her arms rea.s.suringly, said: "Dear Madam Mina, do not be sorrowful. You are free from the vampire's taint-and soon your husband shall be too. Remain here in the circle, which shall protect you from all harm, and should Jonathan approach, do not heed him, but stay within!"

And I ran upward towards the castle. What I could accomplish there, I did not know; but Elisabeth knew Zsuzsanna had gone there with the first key, and thus I was bound to follow.

Yet the deepest panic I have ever known gripped heart and lungs, so that I struggled to draw in air. I had to find the first key somehow, and prevent Elisabeth from finding the second-but how?

Over the castle above, a great looming shadow gathered-a darkness blacker than the depths of night, a sign of the Dark One's impending arrival. Beneath my coat, my skin p.r.i.c.kled; this was the image I had been warned of in my dream, the dream where I had been utterly, irrevocably engulfed, devoured by that darkness.

On the way up the hillside, I prayed fervently with each ragged breath: "Arminius, help us! Arminius, help us..."