Hand in hand, we entered the drawing room. Anara stood opposite Jack Seward, glaring at him, while Szabina hovered between them as an intermediary. My half-brother, Gabriel, leaned against the unlit fireplace, warily rubbing his temples. Gabriel looked up, his features softening with relief at the sight of me.
There had been several other vampires in our group, including Nikolaus and Kudret, who had served as my temporary bodyguards during my recovery. Szabina had sent them away to seek out more vampire allies who could help us defeat the remaining vampire leaders. They wanted to find members of the Order of the Dragon, an alliance of vampires and humans who once worked together to maintain order amongst vampires. The Order had largely been disbanded, but we hoped to find any surviving members who were willing to join us.
“Mina—thank Christ,” Seward said, as soon as I stepped inside the room. “Do you not think it’s worthwhile to at least warn the police in other cities that a bloody vampire invasion may occur? I was able to warn Scotland Yard—in a way. The police could at least help—“
“Human fear never serves any purpose,” Anara interrupted. “Humans cannot take on powerful vampires. Vampires are far stronger—“
“I’m aware that vampires are stronger than humans—you don't need to keep reminding me,” Seward said, between clenched teeth. “Us mere humans also have the right to protect ourselves.”
“What about a compromise?” I interjected. “Seward can warn the police to be on the lookout for suspicious persons. We all know they wouldn’t believe him if he even said the word ‘vampire.’ And we can keep seeking more vampire allies. It does not need to be one over the other. Are we in agreement?”
Seward and Anara grudgingly fell silent, continuing to glare at each other, but the others nodded.
“That is what the rest of us tried to suggest,” Szabina said. Along with Gabriel, Szabina had become the peacemaker of our group. She looked relieved to have the conflict resolved. “Let us cease our discussions for the night. The humans need to rest.”
Everyone obliged her and began to disperse. Gabriel approached me with a disapproving frown.
“You should have told one of us you were planning to step out. It is not safe for you to be alone.”
“Gabriel— “ I began, with a renewed rush of irritation. But I stopped myself when I saw the genuine worry in his eyes. I had slowly come to care for my half-brother. Unbeknownst to me, my mother had entrusted him with my safety before she died, and he took the task quite seriously. “I’m sorry. I just needed some air. I wouldn’t have gone far.”
The tension in Gabriel’s body dissipated; he’d expected me to argue with him.
“I don’t mean to be cross with you, Mina. I just worry.”
“I know,” I said, reaching out to squeeze his hand. “I will try my best not to give you cause. But I cannot make any promises.”
He smiled at my jest, bidding me goodnight before he left the drawing room with the others.
Together, Abe and I made our way upstairs. He walked me to my guest room, where he kissed me chastely before heading off to his own room. I watched him go with longing. Abe and I had yet to consummate our rekindled relationship. We had been too preoccupied with preparing our next move against the remaining vampire leaders; our desire for each other had not gone beyond a few passionate kisses.
Now, as I watched him head to his room, a memory from long ago of our bodies amorously entwined filled my mind. But I willed away my erotic thoughts as I changed into my nightdress. Abe was preoccupied by our upcoming journey, and I needed to sleep. My nightmares made it difficult for me to sleep throughout the night; fatigue had caught up to me.
Yet sleep remained elusive. I finally crawled out of bed, padding over to the corner desk, where I’d left one of my father’s journals. This journal had been missing from my home in London. I’d found it tucked away in a box in the attic not long after we’d arrived here. It contained just what I’d suspected: Father’s detailed observations and theories about vampires. He must have moved it here before his final journey to Transylvania to keep it away from me.
Had I found the journal before his death or even weeks ago, I would have found the details shocking. But it contained what we now already knew; evidence of the existence of vampires from multiple eyewitnesses, and Father’s theories about the vampire threat on the human world.
There was one part of the journal I’d not yet read. In the back was a letter, carefully tucked away in the back pages. Father must have known that I’d one day discover the journal, as it was addressed to me. I’d been reluctant to read it, for fear of the grief that might arise from his words.
I expelled a breath, removing the letter from the back pages. I moved over to the window, using the illumination from the moonlight that filtered in to read.
My dearest Mina,
If you have found this letter, it means you are now very aware of vampires. I am sorry to have kept so much from you; you must understand how much I fear for you, how much I desire to protect you. I would urge you not to pursue this dangerous matter any further, but I know you well. You are likely on your way to Transylvania as you read this now. If you must go, take Abraham with you. He will keep you safe. Make use of your self-defense training; this is why I insisted on you taking those lessons. Use the knowledge you have obtained from this journal wisely.
If I am not with you now…please know how much I love you. Though you and Abraham have tried to hide it from me, I know that you love each other deeply. This brings me great comfort, the knowledge that you and Abraham shall have each other if I am gone.
I fear dark times are ahead. I would urge you to focus on the light in the darkness, on the one thing that makes humanity worth fighting for: love.
Love always,
Your father
Reading the letter was like my father speaking directly to me from the grave. I pressed the letter to my chest. I will defeat the monsters for you, Father, I promised. I will end this war.
Blinking back my tears, I placed the letter back in the journal before making my way to Abe’s room. The door was ajar, and I peered inside. Abe was wide awake, seated at a corner desk, scribbling furiously in his journal by the dim light of a gas lamp. His chestnut hair fell haphazardly over his brow, his blue eyes intense with concentration as he wrote. As I studied him, another great swell of love for him arose in my chest, followed by an immense fear. What we were about to embark upon was even more dangerous than our previous journey, when we had raced from London to rescue Jonathan. We were now setting out to kill the two most powerful vampires in Europe—perhaps in the world. We had lost many allies during our previous journey. I could not bear to lose Abe, especially now that we’d just found our way back to each other.
Abe must have sensed my eyes on him, because he looked up, his entire face lighting up at the sight of me. His expression faltered when he saw the anxiety on my face.
“Mina?” he asked cautiously, getting to his feet.
“I—can’t sleep,” I said. There was no need to confess my fears about his safety; he would only issue reassurances that would do nothing to soothe my unease.
“We are both in similar predicaments,” he said, gesturing towards the open journal. “I have been writing down everything I know about the progression of mass epidemics and ways to prevent them…but it is difficult to compare bacterial plagues with vampirism. Studying plagues is perhaps not the most efficient way of getting to sleep,” he added, with a rueful smile
“No,” I agreed, returning his smile as I entered the room. “Perhaps we can lull each other to sleep.”
Moments later, we both slid into his bed, Abe’s arms wrapped securely around me from behind.
“I finally read Father’s letter,” I whispered, after a brief pause. “He knew that we loved each other.”
“Robert was always perceptive,” Abe replied. I could hear the smile in his voice, along with a hint of grief. “I had a difficult time hiding my love for you.”
“I was the one who couldn’t stop blushing around you,” I reminded him, smiling at the memory.
We fell silent once more, lost in our thoughts of the past. Abe’s comforting proximity soon lulled me to sleep.
But in my dreams, I once again saw Vlad’s face, crinkled and gnarled in death, his fangs bared as he hissed my greatest fear.
My allies will kill everyone you love.
2
Destruction
When I awoke the next morning, Abe was already gone. I could hear the deep timbre of his voice mingling with the others’ downstairs. I climbed out of bed and padded to my room, where I washed and changed into a comfortable blue afternoon dress, securing my hair in a bun before making my way down to the dining room.
I found it empty; though three plates of muffins and fruit alongside a pot of tea had been set out on the table. I’d temporarily dismissed the household staff my father’s family employed to care for the house and its grounds, paying them extra wages on top of the ones they already earned to keep silent about our presence here. I barely knew Father’s family and didn’t care to; they’d turned their back on him when he chose to pursue a career in science rather than the family business of finance, and his death hadn’t seemed to cause them much grief. Though Father officially left the home to me in his will, his family maintained it, and they wouldn’t be happy if they knew I was using it as a temporary hideaway.
The only staff member who remained was the cook, an elderly woman with kind eyes named Margaret, who came by several times a day to prepare our meals before leaving without a word. She’d maintained such a quiet presence that I’d barely seen her during the past week. She must have been curious about why we were here, but asked no questions, and only gave me polite smiles whenever I caught a rare glimpse of her.
I poured myself a cup of tea and left the dining room to approach the study, where I heard muted voices behind the closed door.
My friends all looked up when I entered. They were standing around a large map that was spread out over the center table. Abe stepped around the table to approach, leaning down to kiss me.
"I did not want to wake you," he murmured. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes,” I lied, my gaze sliding to the group. “What’s the map for?”
“We may have a way of finding Aurel Skala,” Szabina said, as I approached the table. “I know I should have mentioned this earlier…but I had hoped to keep her out of this. A friend of mine from long ago was turned vampire by Skala. Her name is Rosalind. She lives just outside of Berlin. Skala turned her against her will, and she has hated him ever since…she wants nothing to do with him or this war. But she may be able to direct us to his location.”
“If she hates him, how can you be certain she knows Skala’s location?” I asked.
“Children of vampires can detect their makers,” Szabina replied. “They are linked by blood. Remember when you underwent the transformation back in Budapest? You were able to hear Vlad in your mind.”
Only weeks ago I’d voluntarily undergone the Change to lure Vlad to us, so that we could kill him. Now, I recalled with a shudder the sensation of Vlad’s voice in my mind.
“There have been quite a few vampire attacks in Berlin,” Szabina continued. “It is likely that Skala or Bathory have unleashed their vampires in the city…which may mean they are nearby.”
“If they are,” Anara said, her eyes glittering with the promise of violence. “We will kill them there.”
“It is the best plan we have,” Abe said. “We must make haste. I suggest we take the first train that departs tomorrow for Berlin.”
Szabina left to go to a nearby post town to collect additional weapons that Abe had ordered from Amsterdam, and to arrange for our train tickets. Once she was gone, Abe, Seward and I sat down to eat breakfast, though I barely had an appetite. Now that a potential confrontation with Skala loomed ahead of us in Berlin, Vlad’s ghostly words from my nightmare swirled through my mind. After nibbling on a muffin, I pushed away my plate. I knew that I couldn’t dissuade Abe from continuing on this perilous journey, but perhaps I could deter Seward.
"Are you quite certain you want to come with us, Seward?" I asked. "Scotland Yard may need your assistance with any—“
“Have you gone mad?” Seward asked, looking at me with disbelief. “Of course I do. I finish what I start. And,” he added, giving me a sly smile, “perhaps ridding Europe of evil vampires will help me get a bloody promotion.”
I forced myself to return his smile, taking a sip of my tea. Abe’s perceptive gaze was intent; he knew exactly what I was trying to do.
“We all know how dangerous this is, my heart. The only way to stop these monsters is to find and kill them. We have no choice,” he said.
“I know,” I said, not meeting his eyes. “What do we know about Bathory or Skala?”
“Akin to the Draculesti family, the Skalas and Bathorys were ancient families of powerful vampires whose power declined over time,” Abe replied. “Szabina informed me that Elizabeth Bathory is quite old—older than Vlad Draculesti or Aurel Skala—and she has more loyal followers. Though she must be quite powerful, she has a tendency to avoid physical conflict and has her followers do much of her work for her—they even bring her victims to feed upon. I suspect it will be more difficult to track her down. Skala, however, is younger and more impulsive. Much like Vlad.”
“Yet Skala is more vicious than Vlad,” Anara said, entering the dining room with Gabriel. “My father told me tales of his savagery. He takes great pleasure in causing others pain—human or vampire. He does not kill for sustenance; he draws out the deaths of his victims for enjoyment. From what I’ve heard, he teaches his followers to do the same.”
"We heard similar tales of Vlad and Ilona’s cruelty,” I said, attempting to keep my voice steady in spite of my fear. “We were still able to kill them.”
“Yes,” Anara conceded, taking a seat at the far end of the table. “But Skala is not Vlad. Vlad sought power; Skala seeks…” she trailed off, searching for the right word, “destruction.”
The rest of the day passed swiftly as we made arrangements for our departure, packing our few belongings along with the weapons Szabina had picked up in town—knives, stakes, and capsules of aconite to douse them with.
During lunch, we discussed the precautions we’d take during the journey. Both Gabriel and Abe insisted that if we were to come under attack by vampires, I should stand back and allow everyone else to fight and get myself to safety.
“I know it isn’t in your nature to let others fight for you,” Gabriel said, when I started to protest. “But you became a target the moment you sliced Vlad Draculesti’s head from his body.”
By the time evening fell, I was exhausted from the discussions and preparations for our journey. Craving some quiet and solitude, I headed into the library with a mug of tea.
Szabina was in the library, her petite body perched on an armchair as she gazed out the window at the darkening countryside. She started to rise when I entered, but I gestured for her to remain seated.
“Stay,” I insisted. “I’ll go into the study.”
“No. Sit with me,” Szabina said, gesturing towards the armchair opposite her. “Please.”
I obliged her, sitting down and placing my tea on the side table.
“Are you nervous about going to Germany?” she asked, her vivid hazel eyes probing mine.
I knew what lurked beneath the surface of her question. I looked away from her discerning gaze. During our time in Transylvania, she’d revealed the true identity of my mother, whom I had known as Eva Murray. My mother’s true name was Isabel Ghyslaine, one of the last descendants of a family that had once been fierce vampire hunters before they’d changed their ways and became their allies instead. She’d been a member of the Order of the Dragon. Along with other members of the Order, she’d attempted to kill Vlad Draculesti. They had failed, and many were killed in retaliation, including my moth
er, who’d been tortured and killed in the German countryside by Vlad’s followers.
I had been to Germany before, on research trips with Father and Abe, but that was before I knew how my mother had truly died.
“Yes,” I admitted. “But it is necessary. We need to find the other vampire leaders. If you believe Rosalind can help, then we must try.”
“I do,” Szabina said. “She despises Skala for turning her. She used to hate being vampire and longed to be human again. I had to prevent her from taking her own life in the early days.”
I blinked at Szabina in disbelief. Besides Gabriel, I had yet to meet a vampire who seemed to hate what he was.
“What changed?” I asked.
“I do not know. She somehow found the will. The last time I corresponded with her, she seemed quite happy,” Szabina replied.
“When was that?”
“Fifty human years,” Szabina replied, and I stifled a gasp of surprise. Though I’d become used to both the presence and existence of vampires, their concept of time was still astonishing.
“I understand Rosalind’s feeling towards her maker. I was also changed against my will,” Szabina said, speaking so quietly that I had to strain to hear her.
“Oh, Szabina,” I whispered, my heart filling with sympathy. I only knew about snippets of Szabina’s long life—she had lived among her people the Romani when she was human, she had been friends with my mother, and she had been a member of the Order of the Dragon.
“It was a man whom I loved very much, but I was deceived. I did not know he was vampire when I fell in love with him. He enjoyed deceiving human women…it was a game to him, turning them vampire against their will. My people knew of vampires, but when I underwent the Change, my human family turned against me. I was left to fend for myself.”
The Mina Murray Series Bundle, A Dracula Retelling: Books 1-3 Page 34