Hey there :D This was highly inspired by the first four chapters of the classic, Dracula and I really hope you enjoy it(best read after 10pm while listening to Stateless songs). Do review :) It totally helps me write better.
THE AWAKENING
Elena's Diary
1 November. Hitherto, I cannot understand why Aunt Jenna kept urging me to pack more things. I had gently reminded her that I would be gone for no more than two weeks, but she remained adamant. Perhaps she is sick with worry for my safety. Left the house at dawn. Caroline was already at the train station when I arrived. I'm still very grateful to her for coming as my company, although she claims not to mind.
Despite being ridden with lethargy, my eyes cannot seem to stay shut for more than two minutes. So here am I, attempting to jot down the rush of emotions and thoughts flooding my brain. I can't decide how to feel about this. This journey should not make me afraid, yet the fear in me does not stop building up in my bloodstream as the train continues on. There is no cause for it, but my mind is wandering to Aunt Jenna. I simply cannot comprehend why she was crying so much. I can almost hear it again. Her weeping. And her apologies. That truly baffled me. I was the one who decided to go.
Something bad is going to happen. There, I wrote it out. It was repeating in my mind. The ominous gravity of this… It came back. That bizarre chill I felt when I made my way to the harbour. The exact degree of brood that overwhelmed me when the town was dead, but I could sense in the silence of it all that they were watching me from behind their doors. When I discovered that the town was awake but pretending to be asleep.
Morning is appearing. The slight warmth of the sun did nothing to melt away my worries. Look at me! I'm at the brink of tears. How possibly childish of me! I am thinking too much. Something bad is going to I desperately want to talk to Caroline but she is asleep. She looks like an angel. Her blond hair lambent in the wind, dancing at the corners of her face. It settles my heart. I cannot enter slumber, but I feel at rest already.
Caroline's Diary
3 November. I am uncertain what to expect at the Salvatore's Manor, but one thing I know for sure, it will be a wonderful escape from the hell hole I live in. Oh how I hate Mother. I absolutely detest her. She forces me to do the things I would never want to do, and she has no care for how I feel about being obliged to do so. The moment my father left, I lost my family. I don't know who to blame for this mess I call my life. Recalling all this itself makes my blood boil!
It is quite so difficult to write now. The carriage is shaky and it is dusk. Not too long ago we had finally reached. After three whole days! A rather well-built young man was there to fetch us. He was masked such that features from his eyes down were hidden, a black cloth tied across his face like a bandit. It was particularly suspicious, but his eyes looked trust-worthy. As of now he is outside, driving the carriage.
Elena fell asleep quickly. I'm glad. She had been looking so languid that it troubled me. I wish I could sleep too, but the wolves are keeping me awake. They've been howling so loudly, and every time I take a peek outside the carriage I see their shadows. Huge shadows swiftly shifting around the dark. It is so very frightening. All I
Dear God! I can still feel my heart hammering against my ribs. A moment ago, the carriage jerked to a violent stop. I heard low growls coming close. I was so terrified! The wolves were going to attack us! I could hear the beasts closing in on us. I daren't even breathe. Our coachman looks strong but he would definitely be powerless against them. He would be killed. And so would we! I hoped that the beasts would not know that we were inside. It was so quiet outside that I cautiously, curse my curiosity, leaned forward and used a finger to lift a corner of the curtains in front. From that tiny space I saw.
The beasts were but a metre away from the young man, who stood fearless in their faces. They looked absolutely terrorizing up close. Their evil eyes, giant sharp teeth, and long red tongues hanging out hungrily from their mouths. I've never seen such large wolves, twice the height of an average man! The young man then raised his arm and did a dismissive wave. To my relief, yet now to my utter perplexity, they turned and ran off.
I quickly sat back down in the carriage and pretended to be asleep. "You two alright in there?" I heard him inquire over the wind. Hearing no answer he carried on. My small candle is about to die. I cannot write much more. All I want is to reach the Salvatore Manor immediately!
Elena's Diary
3 November, Midnight. I desired to write a little here before I go to sleep. I awoke as we stopped outside the Salvatore Manor. I then realised that we were on high ground, in the darkness I saw little lights dotting the land below- the town, and beyond. It certainly would do more justice to call the place Salvatore Castle instead, for it was huge and old. But beautiful.
When we entered, Lord Salvatore came forward, took my hand and kissed it lightly. I was surprised to see a handsome young man for I had expected to see a grand old gentleman. I had never seen a man with such a beautiful face, almost like that of an immortal. He had eyes the colour of onyx, the first of his features to strike me because they were so dark and so deep. His nose was sharp in an aquiline way, and his jaw was exquisitely defined. His rumpled dark hair was combed back like a nobleman.
I was extremely embarrassed for I was looking so intently at him I forgot to introduce Caroline. He then smiled before greeting her the same way. The burly coachman stepped behind Lord Salvatore and bowed as he was introduced as Lord Salvatore's right hand man, Lockwood. He did not remove his veil. A pretty young girl looking no more than 3 years younger than I was came running to us and curtseyed.
"May I call you sister? You may call me Anna." She beamed and bent towards me, "You smell really good."
"Both of you should be needing rest now, my apologies for holding you up." Lord Salvatore gestured for Lockwood to take our luggage and turned to Anna, "Show them to their rooms. And behave yourself."
Anna's smile widened as she led the way. She seemed a very polite girl. Perhaps Lord Salvatore is strict where guests are concerned. "There are a lot more of us in the house, but as of now they are busy. Alright, this is your room and that is Miss Caroline's. I wish both of you a good night." She told us before skipping off.
There is only the sound of wind and leaves rustling outside. I would prefer to share a room with Caroline. It is much too eerie to be alone. The unpromising presence is lingering on my skin. I'm keeping a lighted candle beside my bed to prevent being enveloped in the darkness of the night.
4 November. I slept a lot. had a strange dream yesterday night. When I opened my eyes I saw a figure standing over me and it was gone when I blinked. It seemed so very real when it happened that it seized my heart, but now that I am fully awake I know it must be nothing more than a dream. I found a black rose beside my candle. The thorns were sheared off the stalk cleanly with the petals were cool and velvet to the touch, and the edges were stained blood red. Its scent was so wonderful that it removed my unhappiness from yesterday.
I considered cutting off the stalk and wearing it in my hair, but decided against it for it would be an complete waste. Since it still had three leaves, I took my glass bottle and rushed to the washroom to fill it with water. After I placed the rose in it and set it back beside my candle, I spent many minutes just looking at it.
I went to freshen up and knocked at Caroline's door. She looked much better than she did yesterday. There were more people downstairs as Anna has mentioned. When they saw me they had quite a reaction, they seemed so entirely astonished that I doubted my appearance. Nonetheless, they hid it quickly and warmly introduced themselves to me.
Lunch was laid on the table, but only for two.
"We've already eaten." Anna appeared smiling like sunshine. She immediately stopped as though she had forgotten something before curtseying adorably, "Good afternoon, sisters."
"Will you not sit with us?" I invited.
"May I, too?" Came a voice from behind. Lord Salvatore descended from the stairs, in a suave grey suit. Anna bowed and left the room.
"Of course!" I then thanked him for the black rose. An expression of confusion took over his face, followed by a shadow of fury, disappearing as rapidly as it had appeared.
"You're welcome," he said coherently at which as we finished our breakfast, "Explore freely this house of your own will, but enter not the locked rooms."
"If they are but locked, how shall we enter?" I smiled.
"You might go searching for keys which you should not be." He said with a tone that disturbed me.
"I understand." I took my leave with Caroline in arm to stroll around the ground floor. She asked me about the rose as we entered the kitchen. I was about to respond when both of us fell into a stunned silence. As young ladies, we loved visiting kitchens to put our noses into the amazing aroma of a soup brewing while watching the hustle of the cooks preparing a meal. And stealing a little of the food onto our fingers as we left.
Oddly, it was bare. Not a soul was present, nor was there a trace of ingredients. But it had to be the kitchen! There were some utensils, a kettle and two jars of salt and sugar. Caroline and I exchanged glances as I knew we must be having the same thought. Where had our breakfast come from?
I have made up my mind to ask Lord Salvatore about it later. We continued down, trying not to think about our previous findings. The hall was huge, it looked as if my whole house could fit in it. Framed portraits hung on the wall. We took pleasure in viewing them, spotting Lord Salvatore and a few friends we met before breakfast. I even saw Anna, in a slightly old-fashioned dress, smiling the same bright smile. Looking quite the same. Despite the portraits dating back twenty years ago.
I was hesitant to tell Caroline as she seemed not to have noticed the dates on the bottom left. Perhaps the numbers were blotted and inaccurate.
"What a queer arrangement, is it not?" Caroline pointed to an empty space where a portrait should have been.
"You're quite right." I told her, observing that all the other portraits were hung in pairs.
There were several other doors, unfortunately they were locked. Only one door with a brass ring was available. To our utmost disappointment it was vacant. Caroline suggested we headed back to our rooms for a short rest before we go for dinner. The peculiar facts that do not add up clouding my mind seek a place of refuge, therefore I have only here to dispose of them.
Caroline is calling for me.
