Lord of the Vampires (35 page)

By the end of our meeting, it was decided that we would rise in the wee hours next morning, and go at once to Carfax to inspect the boxes whilst Dracula was, hopefully, still prowling in the night. However, all the men were of one mind regarding Madam Mina: after Lucys recent death, none of them could bear the thought of her endangerment, and so pressed her to remain at the house, where she would be unquestionably safe, for the front and rear doors and every window of every occupied room would be sealed with a talisman. So before we discussed our plan of attack, we dismissed her, on the grounds that we were protecting her and the less she knew, the safer she would be. This she reluctantly agreed to, especially since her husband was quite adamant, though I was of two minds about it. I did not wish to see her endangered, but also was sorry to lose one of our best minds; frankly, of all of us, Madam Mina is made of the strongest mettle.

And, as John said in his angry grief, what good had ignorance done poor Miss Lucy?

Nonetheless, Madam Mina left before we made our plans for Carfax; with her gone, we agreed to leave at four the next morning. When our gathering dispersed, I went off with John for a private conversation, for during our discussion I had noticed his especial excitement in mid-meeting, sometime after Jonathan revealed the information about Carfax.

So it was that we took our leave of the others and stole to my cell, where we could be assured of remaining unseen and unheard.

The moment I had stepped inside and closed the door, John, who had entered before me, exclaimed, Carfax! Dont you see, Professor? Its the crossroads!

What? I neared him, frowning with curiosity.

Quatre face
, he said, and when I continued to look at him askance, added, Ah, I suppose you do not speak much French.
Quatre face
, the Old French for crossroads. Thats where the name Carfax comes from!

We stared at each other as the revelation overtook me; the smile which gradually spread over my face was mirrored in Johns own. The crossroads, I said softly, where buried treasure lies. The first key!

He joined with me on the last three words, and we laughed with delightgently, though, and not overlong, for Dracula had been residing there some time. What if he had already found it?

John and I agreed at once that we would both look carefully for signs whether this had happenedand in case it had not, for places where the first key might be buried. Thus we went early to bed, for I was quite exhausted (not having had a sound sleep in the past two days, as I was either in a boat, train, or carriage).

So I slept deeply but woke intensely alert around three; I dressed and made my way to Johns office. He, too, rose early and met me there. By three forty-five, both Quincey and Arthur had joined us, so we waited for Harker.

Before he arrived, the attendant rushed in to tell John that Renfield was pleading to see him. I frowned, thinking that this clearly was the result of Dracula interfering with our plans, and John caught my gaze and began to tell the young man that Renfield should have to wait. But the attendant persisted: He is more desperate than I have ever seen him, sir, and if you do not come, he will throw one of his violent fits.

So John went; and I and Quincey and Arthur joined him. To everyones surprise, Mr. Renfield seemed not only sane but positively elegant, making a very persuasive case that he had come to his senses at last, and begged to be let go. And he honestly seemed sane to us all, and most sincerebut John, who has dealt long with madmen, decided to observe him a period longer; and I, of course, trusted him not at all, and attributed his desperation to Draculas influence and the fact that the stronger talisman was indeed prevailing. Why should we free him that he might be used against us?

We left, whereupon most of Mr. Renfields newfound composure deserted him, and he began to beg piteously for release.

By five oclock we were at the door of the old Carfax estate, each of us with a small electric lamp affixed to his breast, and sporting one of Arminius crucifixesexcept for Mr. Harker, who wore his own. And all of usexcept for Harker, whom we were all reluctant to trustbore in our pockets pieces of Arminius sacred Host in order to make the boxes uninhabitable to our foe. (In this way, even if Dracula were privy to Jonathans thoughts, he would not be warned in advance of our real intention.) In addition, Arthur wore a silver whistle about his neck to call on canine assistance, if need be, for none of us doubted the old building was crawling with rats.

John utilised his surgical skill and an old skeleton key to get us in the front entry, and we moved quickly inside, and soon discovered a table in the hallway containing a ring of keys. These I gave to Jonathan, and bade him lead us to the chapel, as he was familiar enough with it to find the way. In my life, I have never seen so much dust collected in one place; in fact, the floor was buried under a carpet of dust and dirt some several inches thick, so that I could not tell whether I was walking on earth or stone or wood. Despite our desire to be as quiet as possible, lest the Impaler had abandoned his hunting early, both Arthur and John burst into a paroxysm of coughing at the throat-tickling clouds stirred up by our footsteps. The walls, too, were covered with a grey film and laced with thick, ancient spiderwebs, many of which hung low and swayed languidly in our wake, broken by the weight of the dust collected thereon.

I felt secure the Impaler had gone, for his aura had become so intense and large of late that I would have sensed it very near the entry. This notion was reinforced when we arrived at the arching wooden door to the chapel. After some false starts, Jonathan found the right key and unlocked the door.

When it swung open, the vile stench of the vampires lair wafted out. I was inured to it after so many years, and proceeded directly in, but the others behind me had not expected it, and so were overwhelmed. Nevertheless, they forced themselves to follow.

Within was a pathetic ruin of what had once been a vast, high-ceilinged place of family worship: a few rotting timbers left of what had once been pews and an altar, and, on the filthy wall beneath a veil of spiderwebs, the outline of what had once been a large cross. Perhaps it had been a beautiful place, for there were two large arching windows perhaps of stained glass, but long ago covered, as always, with the thick film of dust.

The room spoke strongly of gloom, decay, impermanence. This in itself was discouraging enough to seebut far worse was the realisation, after some sileni counting, that the wooden boxes set out in careful rows were not fifty in number, but twenty-nine.

Twenty-one missing! I sidled over to John, and whispered for him to quickly tell Quincey and Arthur
not
to seal the boxes off with the Host. Doing so would only alert the vampire to our plan, so that he might more cleverly hide the remaining boxes. John managed to tell the other two men whilst Harker was distracted counting and looking about for some other place the crates might be hidden. I then instructed all the others to sift through the dirt and dust and come up with any clue that might lead us to where the other boxes had been moved; of course, John knew well that he was meant to search for traces of the manuscript or first key.

As we all searched, I sensed an abrupt change in the rooma glimmering hint of indigo which disturbed me and yet did not. At that same instant, Arthur and Jonathan both reacted to something in the shadows. I thought I saw a face, Arthur said apologetically.

I said nothing, but crouched down to open boxes and sift through dust and cobwebs for any clue as to the manuscript or key. As I was doing so, one of the men moved over and stood beside me, waiting to confer about somethingor so I thought, for in my peripheral vision appeared a pair of trouser legs and boots.

I glanced up, mouth open to ask,
Yes
? But the question died upon my lips as my eyes focussed upon a tall man dressed in black, with flowing silver-and-jet hair and mustache; a mannay, a vampirewhose skin gleamed immortal, mother-of-pearl white.

* * *

Vlad
, I thought, staring up at the intruder, but said nothingsurprise had taken my voice. Disappointment washed over me like the bitterest sea; so even Arminius help had come to naught. If his talismans could not even discourage the vampire in his lair, then none of us were safe, and poor Madam Mina, left alone in the asylum

But as I stared, my dismay began to ease. For the eyes were not the deep evergreen of the Impalers, but hazel, and soft; and the nose not so sharp, nor the lips so cruel.

Indeed, the face bore no wickedness nor wanton sensuality, but gentleness mixed with sorrowful joy.

Dear God, I whispered, unaware that Id had any intention of speaking; the words seemed to spill from me without the intervention of brain or teeth or tongue or lips. Dearest God

I looked about me to see the others busily at work, quite unaware of the immortal standing near them. The vampire was invisible, but I was not; when he turned and motioned me to follow round a corner, I did so, doing my best to seem as if I had just thought of a new place to search.

Once we were both out of sight, he opened his arms to me, and we two embraced.

Bram. You have made me proud, he whispered into my ear. Very proud

Arkady, I breathed, and drew back to better look at him. Father How can this be? Twenty years ago, I left you dead in Castle Dracula, a stake piercing your heart.

He patted his now-whole chest and smiled. I do not quite understand it myself, but somehow I was resuscitated by whom, I do not know. Perhaps it was possible because I was never decapitated. His smile faded and he looked intensely into my eyes. I would speak more of it, but we have little time before the sun rises, Bram. And there is something that must be found, and quickly, else Vlad will grow so powerful that no one, not even the Devil Himself, will be able to stop him.

Yes, I knowthe manuscript.

He was taken rather aback. Who told you of it?

Arminius.

A ghost of the smile returned. I am glad, then, that he still helps you. And again more seriously: Vlad has not yet found the first keyof that I am sure. If he does, he will gain even more strength than he has now. It is here, somewhere; I search for it when I am able, but I am no match for him these days. Hardly, probably, a match even for you now.

I smiled as I shook my head.

Now I shall return to invisibility, and join your search. But we must work quickly, for there is not much time left before he returns. He stepped away from me, and began to fadebut ere his disappearance was complete, he paused, and with a wistful expression asked:

Is Mary still alive?

I am not a man given to tears; but I have shed many of late. And at the question, my eyes filled with them again. She is safe, and in Amsterdam.

At my reaction, his expression became one of anguished concern. But she is not well?

She is dying.

Ah, he groaned, coming to full visibility, and turned away. Were it not for Vlad, I would see her one last time He gathered himself again, then asked, And your little boy, JanI know it is a difficult thing, but did you

I killed him, I replied bitterly. And, yes, Gerda is still quite mad from it all.

He rests, Arkady said, and wound a cold arm about me. He rests sweetly and at peace, because of you. Soon Gerda will have respite from her sorrow; the time will come. You must believe

And he put his face against my neck and wept cold, cold tears. John would have been terror-struck, I know, to have seen me permit a vampire such access to veins; but with Arkady, I had no fear. My one concern was not to yield to my griefnot here, in front of the others; not here, when there was work to be done.

Soon he straightened, and said, sighing, Always sorrow with us Tsepesh. Always sorrow I had wanted so to spare you the pain Vlad can inflict

Just as I wanted to spare
him
, I said, pointing at John, who had moved to our periphery. He was working with his back to us, but even so, Arkady studied him with sad fondness.

Another son, he marveled; it was not quite a question.

Your grandson, I confirmed.

He looked back at me. Then we
must
find a way to spare him, Bram. Your life and mine destroyed, and the lives of those we love That is enough.

And as I gazed back at him, he took on a gossamer appearance; before he had completely faded, I whispered, Come to me again. The asylum on the very next property

As I composed myself and returned to the others, I heard his voice whisper in my ear:
I have left them with a little distraction

Indeed he had. I found myself ankle-deep in dust and squirming rats; in fact, the boxes and floor and walls were covered in the black crawling creatures, and their tiny eyes reflected the glow from our little lamps with an eerie phosphorescence. Almost immediately, Arthur blew his whistle; soon three terriers appeared, and after some reluctance (no doubt they sensed Arkadys presence), the dogs grew bold and dispatched the writhing lot.

By then sunlight was approaching, and it seemed that we had done as much as possible for the time. We left relieved that none of us were harmed, but quite concerned about the missing boxes. Any delay is to be feared, but at least Harker is out tracking down the other boxes.

* * *

3 OCTOBER.

The worst of all days since we lost poor Lucy.

Until last night, all had been going well, and I dared hope. I am glad we permitted Harker to join our party, as he has been an invaluable source of information as to where Vlad moved the boxes. The count, it seems, has acquired other properties in east and south Londonin New Town, where Whitechapel Road becomes Mile End; and Jamaica Lane, Bermondsey. He has also purchased a house in the citys very heart, at Piccadilly. Today we shall go there, and search for titles to other properties, and kjys to them. And perhaps, Fate willing, we shall come across a very different key.

By yesterday, Jonathan had completed his research, and we were in possession of the necessary addresses; Arthur and Quincey spent the day rounding up horses so that we could all move quickly from destination to destination.
Tomorrow
, I told myself,
the vampire will be ours
! I was filled again with optimism: but alas! In my foolish desire to protect Madam Mina from harm, and from knowledge of the evil, I have spent little time with her and so did not see the obvious.