I watched as the caravan of my foes began to leave the snowy courtyard. My body had not taken long to materialize itself, maybe fifteen minutes? It mattered not. The brides were dead and yet my foes lived on as if they had done this world a service. All they had truly done was anger me further. I could have released Mina from the curse at any moment. She had known that. Why had she allowed them to hunt him? Did she love me at all or was it all a ruse to my demise?
I watched from my bedroom window, letting the anger I felt fester and stew. As the four men mounted their horses, Quincy morris body would be taken by wagon, Mina turned her face towards the castle. I could feel my eyes soften. From so far away I could see tears forming in her eyes. For me? For them? Her husband dismounted and grabbed her in an embrace. From this distance I could see her sob into his chest. A low growl escaped my lips. I hated Harker. Hated that the young solicitor played me as a ruthless kidnapper and child killer. Hated that he had enjoyed his little escapades with the brides while he was here but, played it off as rape just so he could seem like the innocent victim. What was worse was knowing that Mina believed him and pitied him. I hated Harker there was no doubt there but, I couldn't hate Mina. My love for her was still strong despite or because of everything that had transpired between us.
I turned away from the window as the group mounted, with Mina astride Harkers horse, and left the court-yard. I couldn't watch her leave. I had lived through her being taken from me before and I couldn't stomach it again. As I walked away from the sight in the courtyard below, I heard a whisper.
My Prince...
I practically ran back to the window. Where had the voice come from? There was no one in the castle but, me. The voice came again and I knew it as Mina's. How could her mind still be reaching for mine after our connection had broken? I shook my head, why do I care? She had chosen her path.
Find me...my love.
I threw back the heavy curtain only to flinch away from the sunlight. I hadn't fed since he leaving London and I was already weak from my regeneration. The court-yard was empty except for hoof prints in the snow, blood marks spattered here and there and...I squinted using my vampire eyes to see the object that had been left. It was Mina's ring, the one that Lucy had given before she was changed. A blue sapphire laying in the snow as if waiting for someone to retrieve it. The sun was starting to burn my flesh. I replaced the curtain in front of the window. She had left it for me to find, I was certain. A bauble that precious wouldn't have fallen off her finger without notice. I would wait til the sun set and retrieve it.
I couldn't help but smile to myself as I walked out of the bed chamber and down the stairs to the dungeon. A bauble such as that must be returned to its owner.