Dracula Theory, page 20
Silence.
My cohorts and I stared off, watching Renfield disappear above us. In the distance, a lonely wolf cried out, but was not answered.
“W-what do you make of that?”
“Which?” Van Helsing replied.
“M-Mr. Renfield,” Davith added.
“Beyond the obvious fact that Dracula’s army continues to increase, not much. That man was already broken, so considering one as predestined to insanity as he has been given the gift of eternal life and superhuman strength does not bode well for our survival.”
“And yet we live.” I broke in on the conversation. Both Davith and Abraham stared at me. “If Mr. Renfield has such strength, he could have easily killed us. Ergo, the question remains as to why he didn’t? I would posit that Dracula has plans for us.”
“Methinks I’d much rather deal with the madman than the vampire,” Davith spoke up nervously.
“Are they not one and the same?” I asked.
“Point well made. But surely you understand the intent of my statement?”
“I do, indeed. There is, however, a much more important lesson to be had here.” I tapped a finger to the side of my head. “Dracula’s powers of control are far stronger than we originally thought. To that end…”
Jonathan. The voice of the Count returned. Let me be your salvation.
That was new. Until now the Count had plied me with the hope that I could, in some fashion, save Mina. And now I was the one in need of saving? From what? The only answer to that question I could arrive upon was Dracula.
“What do we do now?” Davith’s question pulled me from the spiraling chaos within.
Van Helsing looked to me. “Any idea as to Dracula’s whereabouts? We’ve come this far.”
I retrained my focus inward, hoping to reconnect to that fine thread of insight. The dual pulses were separated by a metaphorical chasm, one beating nearly twice as fast as the other. I spent every ounce of mental energy I could on Dracula’s heartbeat. Like clockwork, I turned in place, one click of a clock’s arm at a time. When the beat was strongest, I opened my eyes to see a massive cathedral dedicated to the Catholic arts. Multi-story stained glass windows loomed over us, depicting typical gloom and doom scenarios from the Second Testament. Very slowly my arm raised, to end in a pointing finger. “There.”
“That’s not possible. The sacred ground of a church would be off limits to the vampire. Unfortunately, Jonathan, you are incorrect.”
I closed my eyes again and doubled-down on my focus. My original conclusion was correct—Dracula and his minions were within the cathedral. I made no bones about cutting down Van Helsing’s rebuffing.
“Dracula is in that church, of that there is no doubt.”
“The vampire cannot enter a church. It is simply not possible,” Van Helsing shot me down.
I didn’t bother arguing my point further. Instead, I marched off, toward the temple of worship. Van Helsing called after me, but I refused to give quarter. Once across the cobblestone street, I could hear both Abraham and Davith following after me. I stopped and turned. “I cannot ask you to enter that building at my side. My war with Dracula is personal, so know you do this at your own discretion and peril.”
Davith shook his head. “There is no possible way I would allow you to walk into that building without a guard. Let me be that for you, Jonathan.”
I exhaled a fine thread of breath through barely parted lips and then replied, “It would be my honor.”
“Gentleman,” Van Helsing interrupted. “Against my better judgement … shall we proceed?” Van Helsing raised his arm and pointed it toward the building that loomed ahead of us.
We reached the entry to find a massive wooden door standing slightly ajar, an eerie red glow spilling from the space between door and floor—under normal circumstances, I would have protested an attempt to enter into such a building. Given what we now knew, making it inside would require a herculean effort to build up my confidence that breaking into a gathering of vampires was the right thing to do. Any given coward would have taken the easy route and bought their way into another country. That stigma of cowardice would not do. Not now. If I was to defeat Count Dracula and return my beloved to her rightful place, I had to be strong.
I crossed the threshold, expecting to be attacked by one or more of the vampiric monsters. Instead, I was greeted by a solemn silence. Something was amiss. Dracula’s heartbeat was throbbing within my skull, clearly indicating he and his following were close by. Reality offered a much different conclusion than the one my instinct insisted upon.
“Where are they?” Van Helsing whispered from behind. “I thought you were certain.”
“I was. I am. They have to be here.” Without another word, I took that first step toward the nave. Van Helsing was correct, in that the mythology of the vampire clearly indicated the beast was incapable of standing on sacred ground.
“This is St. Martin’s Cathedral.”
I turned to see Davith staring upward, to a stained-glass dome depicting the crucifixion of Christ. He took in the sight, lowered his head, and glanced around the room.
“Is that significant?”
Davith looked to me. “It is if you’re a creature looking to find the last place a vampire hunter might seek you out.”
Van Helsing scratched at his mop of tousled locks. “I don’t understand.”
“St. Martin’s is most known for the labyrinthian tunnel system, beneath the building, that is not part of the church.”
“In other words,” I started.
Davith interrupted. “Dracula is in no danger, so long as he remains beneath us.”
Van Helsing clapped his hands. “So all we have to do is find our way into the tunnels, suss out the vampires, and take them down.”
“If only it were that simple.” Davith shook his head. “Unfortunately, the system of tunnels is incredibly complex. It was designed by none other than Monsignor Giuseppe Alfonsi, a Catholic priest rumored to have lost his sanity while attempting to paint the perfect portrait of Queen Elizabeth. Once institutionalized, he was then commissioned to design a system of tunnel work that would be impossible to navigate. The intention was for it to be used as a line of defense against invaders. The plan was executed, but when too many innocent people wound up dying in the tunnels, St. Martin’s was built on top, forever sealing the maze from existence. Or so it was thought.”
“So you’re saying Dracula has broken into what lies beneath this church to hide away from us mere mortals?” Van Helsing crossed his arms. “I don’t buy that for a second. Those devils are infinitely stronger than we are, so there’s absolutely no reason for them to hide.”
Davith shook his head. “My good sir, you are forgetting the history you so tirelessly studied. Those minions have but one task—”
“To protect their master,” Van Helsing chimed in.
“To wit?” Davith responded.
“They would hide him away, in any location they could, until it was perfectly safe to move him.”
“Exactly. Which is why the tunnels below this church are ideal. No one would have thought twice about looking for Dracula beneath such a building.”
At least I hadn’t lost my mind. Or maybe I had, and realizing Dracula’s homing beacon was working exactly as expected gave me some maddening comfort in that insanity. I sent my gaze from Van Helsing to Davith. “What do we do?”
Van Helsing gave his weapon a pat. “We’re still armed. I say we venture underground and slay some vampires.”
You have arrived, Jonathan Harker.
The sound of Dracula’s voice sent a bolt of harrowing fear through my system. He knew we were here, and chances were good he was aware of our plan.
“No.” I said, while nodding my head yes.
Davith picked up on my ruse, tapping his head and mouthing Dracula.
I responded in kind. “We can’t venture into the tunnels, not without fully understanding the layout. That alone could take years.”
Davith pointed toward the church nave and gestured for us to follow him. “You can trust in my guidance. For once.” Van Helsing shrugged and nodded. With our strides almost in perfect sync, we three made our way out of the foyer and into the church nave. Davith crossed away from us and to a panel in the opposite wall. He gestured for us to come follow, to which we complied, still unsure what was to become of our lives. The priest hesitated and, before anyone had a chance to protest, slid a wall panel aside to reveal an entryway.
I mouthed tunnels?
Davith nodded, grabbed the largest candle he could lay hands on, lit it, and passed through the entryway. I didn’t hesitate to follow. From the other side of reality, Abraham and I watched the rest of the world go by in slow motion, until we agreed to follow the priest into the great unknown.
The hidden passage spilled out into a dark stairwell.
My hatred of stairs had grown exponentially.
We exchanged nods and steadied our weapons, before beginning the descent down the stairs. This could very easily mark the beginning of the end. None of us knew what dread waited below—beyond a coven of vampires. But what would they do to us once we arrived? Tear us limb from limb and feast on our flesh? Exsanguinate our bodies and drink the blood in some black ritual? The possibilities were endless, and I wanted nothing to do with any such outcome.
And yet, I had no choice. Mina was among the dead, and I would do everything in my power to save her from that macabre fate.
As we continued the climb downward, I returned my focus inward. Even knowing it was futile, I’d hoped Dracula’s presence would have vanished from within me, that maybe luck had taken a turn our way, and that the vampiric ghouls had chosen to leave London. I honestly didn’t care where they’d have gone, just that they weren’t here.
Harker.
Goddam it. The strength of the voice and the pulse were brimming within me. Dracula was indeed here, waiting below us. At least in the knowing of the Count’s presence, we weren’t so much walking into a trap as we were a battleground that gave us neither advantage nor chance for victory. Our only hope lay in the weapons we carried. I wanted to be able to place my trust in the holy water, but having faith in the church was foreign to my mind and heart.
You are lost without Mina. She has found sanctuary in our kind. Join us, and you will be whole again.
Dracula’s voice calmed the raging chaos inside me. I understood the logic in his proclamation, that if Mina could find family within a coven of vampires, why couldn’t I? After all, she was the only hope for my heart.
In a flash, I shook off the thought that I could willingly join a murderous cult following a mad king.
Who is the murderer?
Dracula picked up on my thought. Somehow the connection between us had amplified to the point where the bond was binary, a mental quid pro quo.
We existed in peace for centuries. It wasn’t until your master sought to profit from my existence that we were forced to defend ourselves. We only want to return to Romania and vanish from the prying eyes of mortals.
“No one is stopping you from leaving,” I thought.
My people are proud and feel it necessary to ensure no one ever hunts us down again.
“Jonathan,” Van Helsing’s voice brought me back to reality. “Are you coming?”
I had stopped on the stairs. Davith and Abraham were looking up to me, as if I’d lost my mind. “What if we’re wrong?” I dared ask.
“About what?” Van Helsing challenged in a whispered voice.
“What if Dracula and his people are in this system of tunnels hiding away from mankind? They might well be as frightened of us as we are them.”
“Bollocks. You saw what those creatures are capable of when threatened.” Van Helsing snapped.
“Who have they killed?”
Davith looked to me, his face lit up with astonishment. “They took Mina from you, Jonathan. Isn’t that murder enough?”
“No. It most certainly isn’t. Mina is still alive—”
Van Helsing cut me short. “You are wrong there, Mr. Harker. For Mina to join that clan of vampires, she had to cross over to the plane of death. She is no longer a living, breathing human, but one of the undead. Our only chance of bringing her back is in the death of the master. You know this.”
Join us, Jonathan.
“Are you with us or not?” Van Helsing insisted I answer.
With so much as a word in reply, I began the descent anew. What was to become of the situation below us, I had no idea. Even with that uncertainty fueling my steps, I continued downward. I had faith that logic would guide me through this nightmare.
Davith waved the candle ahead of him, in a vain attempt to shoo away the shadows. It seemed the darkness was thicker than normal in this passageway to Hell.
“How far down does this bloody staircase go?” Van Helsing whispered.
Davith answered, “Not much farther, I believe.”
After another flight, we reached the dirt and stone floor. The first thing that hit me was the smell—a mélange of history and dust, ageless air that had remained undisturbed until this evening. Who was the last living creature to have taken a breath in this forgotten chamber? Had it been decades? Centuries? A presence lurked in these tunnels that went far beyond those who stood on its ground at the moment—be they living or be they dead.
“What now?” Van Helsing’s voice broke the silent spell cast over the area.
“I suppose we start searching,” Davith answered.
“We have one candle among us that can barely light the dirt beneath our feet. How in the name of bloody Jesus are we supposed to successfully search these tunnels?” Abraham glared as Davith furrowed his brow and pursed his lips. “My apologies, priest. I cannot control my tongue in such situations.”
“Jonathan.”
The voice belonged to Mina. I quickly glanced around and spotted a pair of glowing crimson eyes. My pulse raced, nearly matching Dracula’s. In a moment of unbridled passion, the two pulses intersected, and I could feel the Count’s consciousness wrapped within mine. My body locked, arms and legs refusing to follow my commands. From the shadows, Mina emerged, her glowing red gaze bearing down on me, her flesh glistening and more refined than I remembered. From the corner of my eye, I spotted Van Helsing raising his weapon. Before he had a chance to douse my beloved with holy water, I dove, knocking Abraham to the ground. We struggled in the dirt, until powerful hands wrestled us apart. I looked up to see Mina above us, holding our bodies off the ground. Inhuman strength coursed through her sinewy muscles. She smiled at me, her cheeks sans their cherry blush and warmth. Even with death’s pallor washing the sublime beauty from her face, Mina was still ravishing.
“My love,” Mina spoke kindly, the sound of her sweet voice in perfect contradiction to the viciousness of her newly appointed teeth. “You are in no danger here.”
“Where are the rest of your kind?” Van Helsing spat.
Mina turned her gaze toward Abraham. “Vampire hunter. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t tear off your limbs and suck the marrow from your bones?”
“Because we are not a violent people.” It was Dracula’s voice that answered, out of my head and in my ears, for everyone to hear.
Van Helsing stood. “Bloody hell you aren’t. I’ve witnessed your kind—”
The flame from the candle intensified, until the entire tunnel was lit by its single, now-rising fire. A feat of magic, no doubt, perpetrated by the Count. Dracula waved his hand before him and numerous, contained fires ignited within the room. “I would appreciate your not referring to my children as your kind. You think us monstrous, yet we are not. Evolution gave birth to the vampire. Therefore we are as natural a thing as are you. We are a proud and ancient species. We have existed peacefully alongside humans for centuries, going out of our way to do no harm and make no mark.”
Van Helsing spat on the floor next to Dracula. “I have beheld, first hand, your idea of peacefully. Blood has been shed, lives have been lost.”
“Not by our hands. If you have seen one of my children murder a mortal, then I would challenge you to point them out to me. I will take it upon myself to discipline that individual according to our laws … which are significantly more binding and exacting than yours.” Dracula turned his attention to me. “Mr. Harker, you can feel it inside of you, can you not? The connection you have with Mina affords you an understanding the others might not have. Look into her eyes. If you tell me you see violence and hatred, we will kneel at your feet and allow you to cage us so that we may serve whatever purpose you might need.”
I did as Dracula requested, and glanced into the eyes that I knew so well. Even with the red glow having taken over the emerald irises, I could see the gentle perfection that lie within. Mina was there, not buried as I’d expected, but on the surface. Unlike what I’d witnessed from her earlier behavior, this was no monstrous creature to be feared and hated, this was my wife-to-be, a woman to whom I had given my heart and soul.
Mina must have sensed the fear melting away from me, as she offered a smile that warmed me to the depths of my being. I reached a hand out, hoping the gesture wouldn’t prove my assumption one of poor timing and flawed logic. To my relief, Mina grasped the proffered hand gently, pulled me to her, and pressed her moist lips to mine. Her flesh was cold, but in the knowing it was hers, the chill subsided. I capitulated and welcomed the kiss, spreading my lips to allow Mina’s snaking tongue passage into my mouth. When the bitter tang of blood touched down on my taste buds, my reaction was a bit of a surprise—I lapped at the flesh within her mouth, drinking the bitter flavor as if I’d not eaten in days. Some internal eye opened within me, giving me an understanding of existence I wasn’t certain would serve me well while alive. And in that second, I wanted Mina to take my life.
Dracula approached and cupped my chin in his hands. “You understand now, my child?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Very good. And what would you do with that understanding?”
“Join you.” My voice was distant, almost as if someone else were guiding thoughts from my brain to my mouth.
