Fourth bride
Mina opened her eyes. She knew at once, where she was: the crisp winter light and the dark mahogany-paneled walls told, that she was in the castle. She was laying in the bed.
They had lost: Jonathan, Van Helsing, the three young men who had courted pure and virtuous Lucy Westenra: Doctor Seward, Arthur Holmwood and Quincey Morris. She had heard the command and ran away, leaving men to London.
And she was changed. She could feel it.
She climbed from the bed - red and golden satin made it look Turkish, or at least what English thought about exotic east - and she understood she had still her walking-dress on. Now she needed a bath. And new clothes.
In the one corner of the room was a mannequin, dressed with a long red organza-dress. Was that for her? Did the vampire women dress like that? They had not Vampire Fashion Magazine, had they? No articles like: A ball-dress to the fashionable vampire lady for the midnight parties. Red like blood, black like night, or white like cold transylvanian snow.
Oh, I am witty, she thought and went to look the flowing, gorgeous dress more closely. The perfume of clean, almost flowery fabric was very enticing. Was there bath anywhere in the castle?
The door was opened, and a beautiful woman in lilac dress stepped in. She was stunningly gorgeous creature with the vampires rosy bloom of health and life and masses of lustrous, golden hair. And that dress...
-We sensed that you are awake, she said. She spoke German, which Mina understood. -I am Polina. Erzsebet and Carmilla are waiting for you. And Vlad, of course.
Mina nodded. -Can I first take a bath?
A woman named Polina nodded. -Sure. There is a bath-chamber in next room. The fire is keeping water hot.
-Thank you. Her civilized British manners made Polina smile, so that her small fangs were shown.
After Mina had bathed - she had even found some good soap which made sweat and dirt to crumble easily for her new, rosy vampire skin - she put the red dress on and brushed her black hair. Lustrous, black hair. Good. Now to meet Vlad Dracula, the descendant of infamous and filthy Vlad Tepesh. The Count and his child-killing brides. Hm. This was really a different dinner where she had used to.
She found the Count and his brides at the library. The Count with his black clothes and blood-reeking breath, and the three gorgeous rose-cheeked women, all of them sitting at the oaken chairs. The dark-haired woman in wonderful peachy organza-dress had a small child on her arms.
A black crow and too exotic, but poisonous flowers.
Did she look as otherwordly beautiful than those three women? Probably.
-This is Erzsebet, Polina said and the dark-haired woman nodded. -And that is Carmilla. A woman with dark mahogany-red hair and yellow dress just looked her, serenely. - We must soon leave, because Van Helsing and others are soon here. But first you must feed.
-From a child? Mina looked at the victim-to-be, who played with Erzsebets dark hair.
-Later you can take a bigger prey.
The deep sound came from the Count. He smiled and showed his canine teeth. -Do it, Mina.
She looked at the child. She did not feel anything - disgust, horror, pity. It was different breed, meant to nourishment of the vampires.
I am indeed changed, she thought.
-Do it, Mina, Dracula said and now his voice had impatience which told she should to act. And quickly.
Mina walked to Erzsebet and took a baby to his arms. Then, matter-of-factly, she sunk her fangs to the childs neck.