Memoirs of an Immortal Life (11 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Claudia Van Helsing’s Journal

8 August 1893

London

There seems to be much activity in the papers as of late, about what is referred to as ‘strange and unusual’ occurrences. Animals have been stolen from the London Zoo, and a storm which is said to be the storm of all storms occurred at sea. We have not been here in London but a day, only having recently arrived from Amsterdam for work my father is to be conducting with a former student of his, a Dr. Seward, I do believe. I must admit I am grateful to be abroad and far from home. I find the bustling streets of London to be refreshing and the shops quaint. I hope to spend time in the shops here. Father has said I may have new dresses sewn while we visit, which I am so pleased to have done. London is such a fashionable town. I will be the talk of Amsterdam once we return home. We are to have dinner with my father’s friend this evening. I am sure they will wish to discuss my illness, which seems to become the topic of every dinner conversation I am privy to attend.

I hope that once I am formally introduced to Dr. Seward, I might be able to find a suitable chaperone to see the city once Father returns to his work. I would hate to be condemned to the confinements of this boarding house our entire stay in London. I know Father will protest my wanting to be out so much with my condition, but I do so wish to see the city.

I will write to my friend Amelia as often as I can, while I am abroad, to tell her all that I see and experience. I do so wish that she could accompany me, but her father said it was too short notice for her to come. Had she been here, I would not have to wait for Father to find a chaperone. But I am sure she will be glad to hear from me, regardless.

Mrs. Billingsly runs the boarding house here in East London. She is a kind woman who said she, herself, would take me to her personal seamstress who is quite gifted with the needle and thread. She said to me, “After all child, I am a woman of more than ample shape and if she can sew me into a fine fitting, she can take a dainty thing like you and make you into a princess!” So at least I know I will purchase my new dresses. How I wish Amelia was here with me.

Father seems very excited about dinner this evening with his former understudy. He said it has been many years since he has seen him and that he was his best student, far better than any that have followed. I know it is probably a false hope, but perhaps this friend of my father could be the one who can unlock the key to my survival.

8 August

Late evening

How wonderful our dinner with Dr. Seward. He requested my father come to assist him with a matter concerning a longtime friend of his, a young woman named Lucy Westerna, who has fallen ill with a malady of the blood unfamiliar. I am certain my father will unravel the mystery quickly. Dr. Seward seems to be a rather nervous individual, but is pleasant nonetheless. He was quite interested in my condition and immediately asked if I would be willing to speak with the physicians he associated with at Cambridge, stating he knows several who specialize in anomalies of the blood such as mine. I found his immediate willingness to help sweet, even though I doubt they can help me. My father is the most brilliant man I have ever met and even he is confounded.

I sat quietly through most of dinner listening intently to my father and Dr. Seward discuss poor Lucy’s condition. At
first, the Doctor thought her condition to be one related to madness, but now she has a strange condition related to her blood which appears to be devouring itself and she has a strange unexplainable blood loss. My father was intrigued by every word that passed Dr. Seward’s lips, nearly hanging on them as they were uttered as though he were familiar with her condition. I, of course, was the respectful and quiet daughter throughout dinner and did not ask any questions, that is, until we reached the boarding house.

“You know what is wrong with Miss Lucy,” I said.

“I have my suspicions,” he replied.

“Why then, father, did you not tell Dr. Seward that you knew?” I questioned.

“Because until I see the manifestation, I cannot be sure what malady afflicts her, Claudia. Why are you so concerned?”

“No particular reason, Father. I was merely curious. It is not like you to not voice your suspicions, especially when you know they are correct,” I said.

“It is time for your bleeding, Claudia, and then rest.”

With that, my questioning about what he did or did not know about Miss Lucy’s condition was complete. I know he is certain of her condition. I cannot understand why he did not tell Dr. Seward
what has besieged her, unless he desires for the good Doctor to discern it himself. He must know that whatever it is that causes her illness, it presents no danger to her or he would have alerted Dr. Seward immediately.

Chapter Fifteen

Vladimir Dracul’s Journal

8 August 1893

London

I arrived today in London. How strange and wondrous this new land is to me, nothing like my homeland. Carfax Abbey is nestled in the center of the city towards the older part of London, not far from the wharf in the more historic district. When I left my home, I placed Jonathan in the care of my brides, who, no doubt, will be dutiful wives to him.

Today, I will send my faithful servant Orislov to the shopping district in search of a tailor, so that I might blend into my surroundings with
greater ease and be un-noticed. I am sure London will be much to my liking.

Many years I have remained in hiding, secure in the promise made with Matthias that I would not reveal myself, and would remain cloistered behind the ruins of my old home, the home I once shared with my beloved. Yet how can I ignore what has been placed before me when she has returned?

I can sense Ahbrim’s presence when walking through the halls of the Abbey. I know it will not be long before he once again enters my life, and the battle between us will resume once more. How it pained me to hide the truth from him. He was so consumed with saving my soul, yet I fear there is little left for him to save. If only Ahbrim could understand. If only I could have shown him how it was from my perspective. Alas, my life has been filled with many questions. It is the life I chose.  No one chose it for me.

The letters Mr. Harker received from his beloved Mina gave me great insight into her life and daily aspirations. She resides with a friend while her fiancé cares for my affairs of state, a Miss Lucy Westerna. I have considered how I might weave my way into her life, the many scenarios that I could use to approach her.
I find the most sensible would be to bring Lucy into my charge, for if she were like me, she then could easily influence Mina to dine with me at the Abbey. I will not force my life upon her. This choice she must make on her own, for I cannot condemn her to the life I have chosen. When I gazed upon her photograph I knew in my heart it was my Elisabeta come back to me by some strange force unseen, and I, her Prince, have waited centuries to find her once again. I pray fate is not cruel and this is not some dutiful lesson that I am to learn, for in my life I have suffered an ocean of heartbreak. I ask, is it not enough?

Carfax Abbey I find to be a wondrous estate, nearly mirroring the gothic structures once popular in the Old World. It eases the longing in my heart for my home. I did not know how deeply I would long for her once she was gone from my sight. I found the Abbey completely furnished at my rise this morning. Gaslight has not yet come to the Abbey, a formality that will have to be dealt with at a later date. I do not mind existing in candlelight in the interim. It is a kinder, more romantic way to view that which surrounds me.

I fear I will have to bring into my employment a large staff to maintain the Abbey as well as the other estates I purchased here in London. The Abbey, long empty and uncared for, is in need of a loving touch. I am certain many treasures lay buried beneath the dust that abounds. I hope to tour the other grounds, which I must make arrangements to do in the coming days. I am anxious to see if they compare to the splendor by which I am currently surrounded. If so, I must pen a letter to Peter Hawkins and thank him for the fine work of Mr. Renfield and Mr. Harker in their assistance and assessing my needs.

14 August 1893

Ahbrim’s presence is strong and yet, in a strange twist of emotions, I find solace in knowing he is here in this new country that I now call my home. I had hoped to begin my life anew without his interference, a folly on my behalf for believing I could exist without him, for each time I have sought a new life elsewhere, he has always been my silent shadow. His dedication and loyalty to me I find perplexing, even though they are traits I hold in highest regard. His pledge to me I long ago released in the hopes he would seek his own happiness without being bound to me. His vows to the Order he has kept in his own way and not as they had intended. My anger toward Ahbrim still lingers, but has softened somewhat throughout the centuries. Forgiveness I cannot offer. It is a trait I do not possess.

I have viewed the other properties here in London, and despite their unique beauty, they pale in comparison to the Gothic structure of the Abbey. She will make a comfortable home, one which Mina will come to love. I find the longer the desire burns to be in her company, the more she is in my thoughts.

I am not one to fall prey to the modern follies and beliefs of things such as reincarnation as the free thinkers of this age are so quick to accept. I cannot deny what I have seen and the memories she holds. How could it be that my beloved would return to me? In my
heart, there is no doubt, for not only does she bear an exact likeness to my beloved, but her mannerisms mirror my Elisabeta. In her thoughts, I see details she remembers that even I had long forgotten. Our first encounter left me speechless.

This day we spent many hours sitting next to the Thames discussing world affairs and her desires. She is an accomplished teacher whose students adore her. Her dedication to the children in her classes is evident as she speaks about them. I see so much of Elisabeta within Mina that my sensibility and reason is fleeting in her presence. Love is not reasonable, a sad fact I learned long ago. It causes men to behave irrationally, to
do, and act in ways not true to their nature. For what reasonable man would curse God and accept the fate I did were it not for love?

I watch Lucy from a distance to gage her transformation. She is surrounded now at all times by at least three companions. Mina comes now each day to visit her dear friend, enabling me to learn a great deal about those who surround Mina from Lucy.

Ahbrim comes with his young associate, a Dr. Seward, in pursuit of a cure for the poor, dear, Miss Lucy. I have no doubt he has assembled the pieces and knows exactly what plagues Lucy Westerna.

Abraham Van Helsing’s Journal

London

14 August 1893

Miss Westerna’s condition worsens greatly with each day that passes. In the years I have had to witness those unfortunate enough to fall into his hands, never have I had the privilege of witnessing the affliction from start to finish.

Her perception has increased greatly, nearly ten- fold. She hears that which no one else can hear, senses what no one else can sense. Dr. Seward and I have agreed keeping her heavily sedated at this point is in Lucy’s best interest. I admit it does little. She is not coherent and makes little sense when she is awake. It is not safe to increase the dosage or administer the laudanum at a more frequent occurrence
. The rate at which her blood is dying has increased. She has full development of canines that are now ever present.

I considered at length if a transfusion from Claudia could benefit Miss Westerna, however, she has bonded with the infection at rate unprecedented. I have taken samples of both Claudia’s blood and Miss Westerna’s to conduct further experiments at Dr. Seward’s laboratory. If God is willing, a cure
could be discovered for one of them.

11:30 in the evening

For hours I have toiled introducing Lucy’s blood to Claudia’s. My daughter’s blood is not strong enough to reverse the effects. Remarkably, Lucy’s blood, even though it is not in the final stages of vampirism, has slowed the process at which Claudia’s blood is replicating. Could Vladimir’s blood be that which holds the promise of a cure for those afflicted with the same blood abnormalities as my beloved Claudia?

I know he is here in London. No other vampire I have encountered produces the infection at the rate of him. I last saw him in Paris nearly ten years ago. Our meeting was not a pleasant one. He harbors old feelings and hatred. How can I reach the man I once knew and implore to his sense of decency given what he has become? Would he consider such a proposition based solely on the bond we once shared?

Lucy’s companions cannot accept her fate. Quincy and Arthur make ready to guard her in shifts. I was forced to profess what I knew afflicted Lucy to Dr. Seward. The nature of his being is now known to her associates and the implication, the possibilities he possesses shall fall to the wayside, lost forever to the world and the halls of medicine. How I wish those words could be taken back, for now I must find Vladimir before it is too late. I must find a way to save him for the sake of my beloved daughter Claudia before death comes to claim her.

Correspondence to Amelia VanDuresburg

12 August 1893

My dearest Amelia,

I hope this letter finds you well. How I wish you were here with me in London. You would so love the museums and science tours I have taken thus far. This afternoon Father is to take me to see the cinematograph, a type of moving picture; they say it is a wonder to see. I am so looking forward to it.

London is so cultured and advanced compared to our Amsterdam. The fashions of the women here are astounding. They have such colorful patterns and prints to their dresses. Father says I may have a dress made for you as well which I shall have sent by courier as soon as it is completed, as an early present for your birthday.

I met Father’s former understudy only a few days ago at dinner. He is a nervous sort who fidgets continuously but is quite pleasant. It was one of his associates who accompanied me to the Natural History Museum only this morning. I must tell you, Amelia, the things I saw there!