Dracula Theory, page 19
“And love is going to save me from a horde of vampires?” Van Helsing pulled his flask out, which I succinctly wrenched from his hand. “You’ve had too much to drink if you believe I can dismiss those shape shifting devils on my own. I am one man. Mortal, mind you. The closest thing to a fight I have ever waged was in the courtroom. Trust me when I say a war of words is no preparation for the battlefield you would have me march into.”
Davith patted me on the back. “I must correct you on one thing. You are two men.”
It did not surprise me to find the priest ready to stand by my side. In the short time I’ve known him, he’d grown to be a true ally and an even truer friend. However, in this instance, I couldn’t accept Davith’s proclamation of unity.
“As much as I respect your offer, I cannot abide you putting yourself in such danger. This is my battle to fight—”
Davith cut me short. “Nonsense. You could not possibly fight back those monsters on your own.” I started to protest. “I’ll have none of that. You need me by your side.”
Van Helsing decided to join in on the action. “No, priest. He needs us fighting with him from the shadows. We must use every advantage we can, and the element of surprise will be our best hope.”
“Very well.” I capitulated, knowing I probably couldn’t defeat Dracula and his minions on my own. “But we are still severely outnumbered.”
“Fear not,” Van Helsing grinned. “I have a few tricks up my sleeve.” Abraham turned to a safe and worked the lock. After a moment he turned back to us, holding what appeared to be a portable flame extinguisher, complete with pneumatic pumping system.
“What is that?” Davith asked.
“This, my pious friend, is the only thing we require to even the odds.” Van Helsing handed the device to Davith. “And since I have two, the odds are tipped into our favor.”
“What does it do?” I asked.
“It sprays liquid to a remarkable distance.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. When I did, my pulse raced to catch the shadow heartbeat in my head. “What are we going to do, bathe them?”
Davith raised the nozzle of his weapon. “I do believe Van Helsing’s plan is to fill these with holy water and spray the devil from the vampires.”
“Give that man a communion wafer,” Van Helsing proclaimed.
“There’s only one problem.” I stopped the celebration short. “Where are we to find that much holy water?”
Abraham chuckled. “That’s the easiest issue to resolve.”
“How?”
Van Helsing pointed to Davith. “He’s a priest. Holy water is nothing more than plain water blessed by a man of the cloth. Am I correct, father?”
“Although we in the priesthood like to keep that truth under wraps, you are most correct, my son.”
“So we fill the reservoirs, have Davith bless the water, and we head out. It’s so simple.”
“Very well.”
With my approval given, we set about filling the soakers with ordinary water and watched as Davith blessed the weapons. There was, on some level, a bit of irony that a vampire could be taken down by what was, effectively, wet prayers. A creature that could transform into wolf and bat, drink the blood of a human, live for centuries, and control the mortal mind had a rather tragic Achille’s heel. Refreshingly blessed water.
No matter how certain Van Helsing was of this plan, I had my doubts. From within the spire, we saw the depth of the vampiric rank and file. The crimson-eyed bastards were, as Mina had said, legion. Even so, the dueling heartbeats in my head insisted I venture out in search of Count Dracula. The death of that beast could mean the release of my love from his thrall. At best, she’d return to her mortal existence and be my bride. At worse, she’d die.
Either way, Mina would be free.
SEVENTEEN
Facing Fears
Night was closing in. Along with the waning sun came a strengthening of the secondary pulse in my head—so much so, it had effectively drowned out my own. I wasn’t certain if my heart was racing beyond what the human heart was capable of, or if Dracula’s own blood rushed through his system at such a maddening pace as to defy the logic of biology. Either way, the bond I now shared with the Count had grown exponentially since the injection. Was it possible for me to lose myself in the hypnotic rhythm of Dracula’s heartbeat?
My memory drifted back to the moment I first met the man. He held a charm and subdued charisma that could sway any woman out of her knickers and any man of his fortune. How could I not have seen the Count was far more than human?
The more I pondered the idea, the more I questioned the current totality of experience. Every conclusion I could draw insisted Dracula wasn’t dangerous. He wasn’t the man holding another captive. His truth didn’t involve profiting from the destruction of another.
That thread of thought collided with the imagery of bats and wolves and the memory of threats. Confusion wound itself tight against reality. In the end, however, it all came down to Mina. No matter the Count’s motive or moral compass, Mina was in danger, and it was my sworn duty to protect her.
“He’s out here,” I whispered into the chilly autumn air. My breath hung before me in beautiful, roiling wisps of mist.
“Where?” Van Helsing asked.
I wasn’t sure how to discern a location. All I could feel was the pulse, dancing against the insides of my skull. That, of course, would be no help to us. “I’m not sure,” was all I could say in reply.
“Focus,” Abraham hissed.
My eyes closed, and the scope of my hearing widened. In a moment of inspiration, I pinpointed all of my attention to Dracula’s pulse. It quickened, as if it knew I was there, knew I was aware of its existence. I turned my body in place to test a theory. Forty-five degrees to the right and the pulse weakened ever so slightly. Forty-five more degrees to the right and the heartbeat softened yet again. Returning to my original trajectory, and then thirty degrees to my left, the pulse rose in tempo and intensity. I pointed. “This way.”
“Are we planning on walking the distance?” Davith cautioned. “It’s growing dark, and there are nocturnal beasts in the city ready to drink our blood and steal away our mortal souls. I don’t know about you, but that is enough to make me quite hesitant to be on the street and vulnerable. If we are to save Mina—”
“We cannot travel by carriage this time.” Van Helsing interrupted. “Stealth must be on our side. Otherwise we run the risk of scaring the lot of them off.”
“Scaring them?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “We’re talking about vampires. I can say, with absolute certainty, the only ones scared at this juncture would be us.”
“You don’t know them as I do.”
I pulled Van Helsing to a stop. Not only had my curiosity been piqued, so too had my mistrust. “What are you not telling us?”
Abraham fixed his gaze upon me for an overlong moment. I was certain he was about to make a most profound confession, when he pulled away. This would not do. I grabbed his arm and turned him back around.
“If you know something that could aid us in this unholy transaction, speak now, before it’s too late.”
Van Helsing extracted a flask from his pocket. Before he could guzzle whatever libation he’d stowed away, I snatched the vessel and tossed it to the ground. “Now.”
“I was once in your position. The only woman I’d ever loved was wooed away by Count Dracula. She exchanged blood with the vampire and never looked back. It took nearly ten years of searching, but I eventually found her and pierced her heart with an arrow. I didn’t even get a chance to tell her I loved her, before snuffing out her brilliant light. In that instant, I vowed to exact my revenge upon that inhuman creature, not matter the cost. It was then that I set about creating the Dracula Theory, assuming I would be on my own in the endeavor. When the Baron came to me for assistance with Mina, I realized the gift that had been bestowed upon me. Under the guise of healing Ms. Murray, I could finally destroy the devil that forever wrecked my life.” Abraham’s usual bravado quickly returned. “So when I say I know them, trust me. And when I tell you they can be frightened, I speak from experience. Those demons only exist so long as Dracula remains intact. They know this all too well, which is exactly why they will go to any and all lengths to protect him. That means one thing—”
Davith completed the thought. “We must take out as many of them as possible to get to Dracula. Otherwise—”
It was Van Helsing’s turn to interrupt. “They’ll eat us alive.”
“Very well,” I replied. “You two will remain in the shadows, ready to end the lives of as many underlings as possible. In the meantime, what about me?”
“You are the bait,” Van Helsing said, too matter of fact. “You will approach Dracula, under the guise of joining his legion of darkness. Once he’s distracted, the minions will drop like flies, ensuring we have far less of an army to fight.”
I could work with this solution. I certainly did not want to, but it was manageable. After all, what did I have to lose? If I didn’t take down Dracula, Mina was forever lost to me anyway. Without Mina, I would be nothing. Ergo, my out-of-character bravery made perfect sense.
“Very well. We have a plan, so let’s execute it.”
Davith gave me a pat on the back. “Are you sure you are up to such a dangerous ploy, my son?”
“Not even remotely,” I said with the slightest laugh. “But seeing as how it might be Mina’s only chance for salvation, I am ready.”
“You chose wisely, my friend.”
With weapons in hand, and fear in check, we three mortals—in every sense of the word—set off, on foot, in search of Count Dracula and his unholy court of followers. With each step I took, the secondary pulse in my head grew slightly stronger. By the time we’d traveled a few blocks, the sound had become rather annoying. Another length of distance and I was certain the sensation would undo my sanity.
“What’s wrong, Jonathan?” Davith’s voice was wrapped in concern.
“It’s nothing.”
“Judging by the pained expression on your face, I cannot say I believe you.”
“Let’s just say we’re getting close to our target.” I pointed to my head. Davith nodded in return.
We’d reached a portion of the city best left to the ne’er-do-wells, impoverished, pickpockets, and tragically ill. This was where the good citizens of London retreated to die, or were cast off as the dregs of society. No one willingly took up residence in Saffron Hill, where dire conditions and extreme poverty were as commonplace as powdered wigs in Parliament.
“Why would a man such as Dracula want to hole up in this slum?” Davith crossed himself. “Forgive me my judgement, dear Father in Heaven.”
“If I were to venture a guess, Dracula knows the cast-off inhabitants of this locale are ripe for turning their backs on life, love, and lord. The Count can offer them an existence well above their station, one that could afford them unheard-of luxuries and, most importantly, immortality. Imagine a never-ending supply of food, without having to pay a farthing to sup, eternal youth, and strength beyond the wildest imagination. These souls are ready and willing to transgress against anyone and anything, so long as it means surviving without struggle.” Van Helsing turned to me. “What would you do for such a life?”
Indeed. The idea of transcending time and tide was a romantic notion that any mortal soul would be a fool not to consider. I was about to answer the question, when Davith chimed in.
“Nothing. The human being wasn’t meant to live beyond what God had intended. The idea of making a mockery of the Biblical order is appalling. As mad as it may seem, give me a few decades on this planet and, so long as I have lived a life of honesty, piety, and divinity, I would never seek to extend my stay beyond that which the creator had originally set out for me.”
“Not even if it meant you could convert thousands more souls?” A devilish tone lurked in Abraham's voice.
Harker. A voice inside my head called out. The sound was weak, but the clarity of tone and timbre made it very obvious to whom it belonged.
“Dracula,” I said under my breath.
Van Helsing grabbed me by the arm. “What is it?”
“He knows I’m here,” I replied, my voice a distant whisper.
“That’s not possible,” Van Helsing argued, before he realized his mistake. “Daylight has gone. The vampire has awakened and might very well be aware of your presence. We must hurry.”
Join us.
Two words, seductive in meaning and sound. My pulse raced, nearly catching up to the rhythm of Dracula’s. As our heartbeats drew closer in tempo, the connection between us grew stronger, as though he and I were becoming one.
I had to stop, had to slow down my beating heart. Should I cross over to that darkened existence, my chances of saving Mina would be all but lost. And yet, the pull toward tragic grace was dangerously appealing.
“Jonathan? Are you okay?” Davith’s voice was kind.
“I’m fine.” I lied. “Trying to home in on Dracula’s signal.”
She’s with me. Dracula’s voice returned to taunt me.
Mina.
Once again, my heart raced. One second the two pulses matched, and I could feel all control sloughing away. For that brief moment, my mind and body were puppeteered by Dracula himself. Upon feeling such a bleak sensation, I’d focus every ounce of energy I had to lowering the pressure in my heart. When my pulse returned to its normal rhythm, the puppet strings were cut, and I was freed.
Strangely enough, without that connection, I felt lost and profoundly alone, as though I were drifting in a void. The loss was tragic, and I quickly became desperate to reconnect.
I needed Dracula’s acceptance, longed for it.
“What is happening to you?” Van Helsing’s question jerked me from my reverie.
“I’m not quite sure.” Again, I lied.
“Are you able to still feel Count Dracula’s presence?”
“I am.”
“Well now, lookee what’s I found roaming the streets of London.”
The voice was all too familiar.
Renfield popped out from an alley. His face carried death’s pallor, and his eyes were a vampire’s crimson red.
“How are you—”
“Free?” Renfield stopped Van Helsing short. “The master released me. His power transcends the physical. You should all know that by now.” Renfield drew up close and sniffed me. “Especially you. Jonathan Harker has Dracula’s stench. What has the master offered you? Immortality? Women? Power? He promised me to live among hundreds of others who would accept me as one of their own—no questions asked.”
In a moment of tragic irony, Renfield’s right hand quickly snatched a fly out of the air and popped it into his mouth. “Won’t you three join us?” Renfield sniffed me again. “Especially you. The master is most interested in having you become a member of the rank and file.” Without prompting, Renfield bared his teeth to reveal two deadly canines. The second we recoiled, the squat man broke out into gales of laughter. “You are such predictable cowards.”
Van Helsing broke rank. “Mr. Renfield, I would suggest you taking your leave immediately.”
Renfield leaned in, dangerously close to Abraham. “Or what?”
“We shall not hesitate to kill you.”
With that, Mr. Renfield doubled over with laughter. “You cannot kill me. I’m already dead.” He tilted his head to the right to reveal a pair of puncture wounds on his neck. “See? I’ve crossed over from the land of the living, and it is glorious. I cannot recommend enough that you three join us. Trust me when I say this new life of mine is filled with a joy most profound. If you follow me, you can be a part of this magical journey.”
“No thank you, vile creature.” Van Helsing shouted.
Renfield placed his hand over his chest—where his heart might have beat, had he remained alive. “You cut me to the core, Damn Helsing.”
Not one of us had a chance to reply, before Renfield launched an offensive. He leapt into the air, with far more grace and power than I’d have given him credit for, and landed on the shoulders of Van Helsing. Renfield grabbed Abraham’s head in his hands and, with every ounce of strength he had, twisted. Abraham shouted and scrambled to gain purchase on Renfield’s legs. Before Mr. Renfield popped off Van Helsing’s head, I grabbed the weapon dangling from Abraham’s grasp, turned it on Renfield, and sent a stream of holy water blasting against Dracula’s spawn. Renfield hissed and immediately released Van Helsing from his grip. Abraham peeled away, grabbed his pneumatic water cannon from me, and trained it on Renfield.
“Take us to Dracula now, or I will hose you down with hellfire.”
Renfield slapped at his smoking flesh, doing everything he could to calm the holy burning. Smoke continued rising from his arm and neck, where the bulk of the blessed water splashed down. “Have no fear, Harker, the Master will come to you. He’s quite anxious to see you again. If Dracula’s lucky, I won’t have killed you before the great convergence between the living and the dead.”
In the blink of an eye, Renfield was upon me, his blood-stained eyes burning holes in my retinas. “You and your enterprise crossed a line that cannot be uncrossed. Dracula lived in peace for over a century, until you carried the Baron’s business to the Count. And now? Look at the chaos you have unleashed. The children of Dracula have no choice but to defend their father. You, and everyone you hold dear, will die.” Renfield forced his face into the crook of my neck and took a deep sniff. “The scent of the living is intoxicating. If it were not for the covenant, I would drain every drop of blood that flows through your veins.” Mr. Renfield’s eyes rolled up into his head. “Such a scintillating treat, human blood. The only thing that equals its flavor is fear—which pours from the three of you like the sweetest sweat.” Renfield shivered. “I must be off. Fret not, my pets, we are watching you. At some delicious moment, between night and day, you will die.”
Before my eyes, Renfield shifted into a bat and flittered off into the moonlight.
