by Bekka Black
Copyright © 2010 by Bekka Black
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“Loneliness” reprinted from Selected Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke, translated by Robert Bly, Harper & Row, New York, 1981. Copyright 1981 Robert Bly. Used with his permission.
“Sorrow” by Edna St. Vincent Millay. Copyright © 1917, 1945 by Edna St. Vincent Millay. Reprinted with permission of Elizabeth Barnett, the Millay Society.
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To my son, my husband,
and my cell phone
Table of Contents
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Mina Murray
Text message from Mina Murray to Lucy Westenra
Subject: Renfield
Subject: Your Trip to Bucharest
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Mina Murray
Mina’s browser: Map of Romania
Mina’s browser: Romance in Romania blog
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Mina Murray
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Lucy Westenra
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Mina Murray
Mina’s browser: Paprika Hendl recipe
Mina’s browser: Bathory Cathering
Subject: Renfield slipping in and out
Mina’s browser: eating small animals alive
Subject: Re: Renfield slipping in and out
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Lucy Westenra
Text message from Mina Murray to Lucy Westenra
Subject: Phone dead
Subject: Locked in
Subject: You ok?
Mina’s browser: Manhattan Jujitsu Dojo
Subject: Count back
Subject: Locked in again
Subject: Freaking out
Text message from Mina Murray to Lucy Westenra
Mina’s browser: Abraham Van Helsing
Subject: Undelivered mail
Subject: Undelivered mail
Subject: Undelivered mail
Subject: Undelivered mail
Subject: Undelivered mail
Subject: I love you
Subject: Undelivered mail
Subject: Jonathan’s contact info?
Subject: Re: Jonathan’s contact info?
Subject: Call me
Mina’s browser: Tepes Travel
Text message from Lucy Westenra to Mina Murray
Subject: Call me
Text message from Mina Murray to Lucy Westenra
Subject: Delicate question
Subject: Re: Delicate question
Mina’s browser: Drakipedia - Psychiatric disorders
Subject: The cavalry is coming
Text message from Mina Murray to Lucy Westenra
Subject: Serious stuff
Mina’s browser: VMed - idiopathic autoimmine hemolytic anemia
Subject: More serious stuff
Mina’s browser: VMed - Splenectomy
Text message from Mina Murray to Lucy Westenra
Subject: Re: Delicate question
Subject: Re: Delicate question
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Mina Murray
Subject: Lucy just died
Mina’s browser: Gotham Times Obits
Mina’s browser: Poetry Speaks - Sorrow
Subject: A break?
Subject: Can we meet?
Subject: Problem with my blood
Subject: I’m so sorry
Mina’s browser: Poetry Speaks - Loneliness
Text message from Mina Murray to Lucy Westenra
Subject: Re: Can we meet?
Subject: Re: I’m so sorry
Subject: Re: I’m so sorry
Subject: Re: I’m so sorry
Subject: Re: I’m so sorry
Text message from Mina Murray to Abe Van Helsing
Subject: Autopsy attached
Report of Autopsy
Subject: Re: I’m so sorry
Mina’s browser: body snatching
Mina’s browser: coffin of dirt
Mina’s browser: Drakipedia - Vampire Weaknesses
Subject: Re: I’m so sorry
Text Message from Mina Murray to Abe Van Helsing
Subject: Re: I’m so sorry
Subject: Re: I’m so sorry
Text message from Mina Murray to Jonathan Harker
Subject: Call me, please
Text message from Mina Murray to Abe Van Helsing
Mina’s browser: Port of NY and NJ
Mina’s browser: NY Sunrises and Sunsets
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Mina Murray
Text message from Mina Murray to Jonathan Harker
Subject: We’re here
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Mina Murray
Subject: I’m sorry: Part I
Subject: I’m sorry: Part II
Subject: I’m sorry: Part III
Subject: Good-bye
Text message from Abe Van Helsing to Mina Murray
Mina’s browser (seven years later): Gotham Times Engagement
About the Author
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Mina Murray
Text message from Mina Murray to Lucy Westenra
From: Jonathan Harker
To: Mina Murray
Subject: Renfield
Sent: June 11 9:02 PM
* * *
Mina,
Here’s Mr. Renfield’s take on it:
>Harker,
>As I am sure you are aware, my son Randolph is indisposed.
>He was scheduled to fly to Bucharest tomorrow to meet
>with an important client. Can you go in his stead? The
>client requested you specifically, as Randolph apparently
>discussed you with him. The client was quite insistent.
>Although you are only a summer intern, I trust that we can
>quickly train you to carry out Randolph’s duties
>satisfactorily. As I’m sure you are aware, it is a wonderful
>opportunity for you. Please make your own flight
>arrangements and then fill out an expense report for
>reimbursement.
Then he rattled on like always. Indisposed? They hauled Renfield Jr. past me screaming. He actually bit the head off a little gray mouse he caught in the cafeteria.
Short version: I’m off to Romania tomorrow. First time out of the country by myself. Wow, huh? How could I say no to a free trip to Europe?
I’ll be stuck here in the cubicle cat
acombs until the middle of the night getting ready.
Want to swing by my dad’s tomorrow and ride with me to the airport?
I know Renfield Jr. and Lucy haven’t seen each other in months, but somebody should tell her what happened to him. I’m sure Renfield Sr. won’t.
Sorry I’ll miss your jujitsu tournament. You’ll just have to kick butt alone.
J
From: Tepes Travel
To: Jonathan Harker
Subject: Your Trip to Bucharest
Sent: June 11 19:02 PM
* * *
*********************************************************
THANK YOU! Travel Reservation Confirmation
*********************************************************
Dear Jonathan:
Thank you for booking your travel through Tepes Travel.
Your trip to Otopeni Bucharest Airport (OTP), approximately 12.4 miles from Bucharest city central, is confirmed. A summary of your reservation is provided below.
Your Tepes Travel Trip ID is 3141 5926 5358
Ticket(s) issued on Thu, Jun 11 at 09:01 PM EST.
*********************************************************
ITINERARY
*********************************************************
For your boarding pass, use reference code QENDYN for online or airport check-in.
Fri, June 12
New York, NY (JFK) to Otopeni Bucharest (OTP)
Flight: Delta Airlines KL 9080 operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Depart: 3:55 p.m., New York, NY (JFK)
Arrive: 6:00 a.m., Amsterdam Sat June 13 (one day later)
Flight: KLM 2701, operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Depart: 2:15 p.m., Amsterdam
Arrive: 6:10 p.m. Otopeni Bucharest (OTP)
Total Travel Time: 19 hrs 15 mins
*********************************************************
PRICING
*********************************************************
1 adult: $949.20
Taxes & fees: $110.00
Total: $1059.20
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Mina Murray
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Mina Murray
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Lucy Westenra
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Mina Murray
From: Mina Murray
To: Jonathan Harker
Subject: Renfield slipping in and out
Sent: June 13 8:27 PM
* * *
Jonathan,
I miss you. I wish you could have come when we visited Renfield today. Am attaching a photo of the gates. Kinda cool looking, but only if you know you can get right back out.
He looks terrible. He’s lost about 20 pounds and his face is yellowish. It was the saddest thing I’ve ever seen. I didn’t cry, but my eyes got full and I had to do that blinky thing you hate.
Lucy stared at him with her mouth open, like a bird at a snake, so I had to do the talking. Why do I always have to step in and do the yucky stuff? Here’s how it went:
Renfield: I must consume life forces to be strong. He decreed it. He has come to me even here. And He decreed it.
Me (keeping one eye on the door and wishing you were there): Randy, how are you?
Renfield: Weak. I must eat live meat. Could you get me a kitten? A soft little kitten?
Me: No. (Eww. Do you think he’d really eat one?)
Renfield: How about a bird? Or a spider? Or even a fly? Carnivores are better because they’ve already consumed life forces. You understand?
Me: No. (And I don’t want to either. Not ever.)
Then he started to cry and said it was the only way. He wrapped his arms around his knees and rocked and cried. Lucy stood frozen, so I had to hug him and tell him everything would be ok. And he smelled bad. But it had to be done. I couldn’t leave him there crying all alone.
After that, Lucy actually hit on this premed student who is interning there. Right in front of Renfield. And he wasn’t so out of it that he didn’t notice. The premed guy seemed ok. Gorgeous and blond, as that’s Lucy’s new type. Abraham Van Helsing. Dutch. Poor guy’s totally helpless under Lucy’s spell, like most guys (except you). Still, I wish she’d stop dating totally random guys. Worries me.
Hope you arrived at the Count’s and got a good night’s sleep finally, poor baby!
Love,
Mina
-----------------Attachment Below-----------------
From: Jonathan Harker
To: Mina Murray
Subject: Re: Renfield slipping in and out
Sent: June 13 9:09 PM
* * *
Mina,
I hope you get this. The Count’s daughter gave me a local mail server to use because the government won’t let me access the firm’s. Something about stopping spammers here from hacking mail servers back in the States.
I want to come home. Now. Seriously. Well, almost.
The Count lives in an old stone castle. One side opens onto a cliff. You can practically see the barbarians smashing up against it. The whole place is surrounded by bats at night. Wish I’d brought a taser. I’m attaching a picture here I took on the drive up. The Count “bid me welcome” with a bow and in perfect archaic English. He says things like “good sir.” It’s like he’s a 100 years old. Guess that’s just a good European education.
But he’s creepy. He’s pale as a bone and looks older than anyone I’ve ever seen. His skin is all weird. It’s thin and wrinkly, like tracing paper that was rolled into a ball and then smoothed out. He also smells bad.
Luckily, I won’t be here long. Renfield did all the real work with him last time he was here. The Count didn’t ask much about Renfield, even though they’ve been working together for months. And I wasn’t supposed to bring it up. But he did have a picture of Renfield and Lucy and you and me lying on his desk. He said Renfield printed it off of his phone. It was the one where we were all dressed up in Renaissance costume, right before my senior prom. Remember that? Your dress was lower cut in the photo than I remember, BTW.
He’s shipping three giant ebony boxes of dirt to Manhattan. They look like double coffins. When I asked why, he said he has something he wants to grow there that will not “flourish in foreign soil.” He doesn’t want the dirt to be sterilized, although I don’t know how it’ll get past customs. Apparently Renfield convinced him to ship it in a container with his household goods because they almost never check them.
Have to get back to dinner. The Count is hosting a farewell party, and the legal drinking age in Romania is 18.1 am finally old enough to drink legally somewhere!
J
-----------------Attachment Below-----------------
Text message from Jonathan Harker to Lucy Westenra
Text message from Mina Murray to Lucy Westenra
From: Jonathan Harker
To: Mina Murray
Subject: Phone dead
Sent: June 14 11:13 AM
* * *
Mina,
Could barely drag myself out of bed this morning. Big flask of Romanian wine = big hangover. Coincidence?
I am going to go look for the Count and see if he has any aspirin. Hope I can keep it down. My head is throbbing, I’m queasy, and the bright sunlight hurts my eyes. All self-inflicted, I know. Doesn’t make me feel any better.
Cell battery is dead and my adapter is broken. Only a matter of time before the laptop goes, too, I guess. Glad I’m leaving soon. Will call from the Bucharest airport with my flight details. Meet me by the baggage claim?
J
From: Jonathan Harker
To: Mina Murray
Subject: Locked in
Sent: June 14 3:32 PM
* * *
Mina,
I ransacked the house, except a few locked rooms. It’s eerie. It feels like no one really lives
here. I know the place should be empty because he’s packed everything, but there are drifts of dust and tattered cobwebs everywhere. It’s like no one has set foot in this house in years. The only clean rooms are mine and the dining hall.
These giant wooden shutters are closed everywhere, too. Guess that keeps out the bats that have banged against my window all night. I am exhausted, and yes, it’s more than the hangover.
I can’t find the Count. He must have accidentally locked me in this pile of rock. Crap.
Can’t even find his servants or his daughter.
I don’t like this place. I want out.
It’s cold, and it smells bad, like something died in the walls. Except the walls are solid stone.
Miss u. Why aren’t you emailing me back?
J
From: Mina Murray
To: Jonathan Harker
Subject: You ok?
Sent: June 14 5:05 PM
* * *
Jonathan,
I am worried about you. Haven’t heard anything since you told me about the Count smuggling dirt to the U.S. Are you sure that’s a good idea? Is that even legal? Who knows what microbes might be in that soil?
Hope you didn’t drink too much at that farewell dinner and do something stupid (like usual).
I went to the cemetery with Lucy today. It’s been exactly nine months since her mom died. At least she didn’t cry this time. I did. I kept thinking of you dying. Morbid, I know, but I got chills inside that crypt. Someday we’re all going to end up in a box. Alone.
Lucy has fallen for the premed guy! He was all she talked about. He sounds normal and stable, like the kind of guy she doesn’t usually give a second glance. I’m the one who likes nice guys, so it’s weird to see Lucy interested in one. Still, I have to admit he’s awfully hot. (I threw that in to see if you are paying attention. Were you?)
Me, I’d like to know what’s up with Renfield. He’s always been a bit creepy, but it’s awful to think of him locked away like an animal. It’s a different box from Lucy’s mom’s, but it feels as permanent and as lonely. And he’s still alive. Got the chills again.