DISCLAIMER: I do not own Dracula, in either literary or film form.
AUTHORS NOTE: Hopefully you enjoy this chapter, a lot more happens than th first, questions welcome and please review!
Dark Waltz
Chapter 2
Journey's End
The journey to the Carpathian mountains had been quite tiring for Jonathan, he had taken 5 ferries, changed trains 4 times between countries and now from Budapest was to catch a carriage to the designated meeting place, where a representative of Count Dracula would meet and escort him to his destination. He could not help feeling some anxiety about this meeting, not knowing how collected the Count's mental faculties were and having some experience of the eccentricity of the aristocracy through the Westenra's. They allowed their daughter Lucy to flout propriety at every turn, so much so that Jonathan feared she may be a bad influence upon his sister. However, he hoped that the ancient lineage of the Count would circumvent any modern eccentricities, Romania was the old world, many inhabitants had not even heard of the invention of the typewriter! Surely the most shocking thing the Count could testify to would be the bloody accomplishments of his ancestors and the mysterious heritage of his abode.
The carriage jostled and the horses snorted as the carriage trundled along the deserted mountain passes of the mountains, Jonathan made a point of not looking out the window, the steepness of the incline giving him occasional attacks of vertigo. At this moment as he slumped against the side of the carriage he was grateful Mina was not with him, it would not do for her to see him distressed or weakened. She was a gentle soul, so innocent yet…he had always considered her an old soul, her eyes often presented a mystery to him, sometimes when she was pensive he believed her a much older woman. Although he flattered himself that he was committed to his guardianship of her, often it was she who cared for him, she possessed wisdom of spirit that he had not encountered in any other woman, not that he was terribly experienced with the creatures.
Jonathan turned his attention to the other occupants of the carriage, an old veiled woman who was speaking a foreign language to a much younger girl, probably Mina's age. The two had been in constant communion since the beginning of the journey, the language sounded rhythmical; he believed it some eastern European dialect, although the colouring and dress of the ladies in question indicated some kind of gypsy heritage. The carriage jostled one final time and came to a halt at a frozen, desolate and deserted cross road. Tipping his hat to the ladies in the carriage he alighted and collected his belongings, checking his watch and noticing the time he commented to the driver:
"We are early driver, no one is here."
He took a step away from the carriage intending to close the door when the young gypsy girl caught his hand and placed something in it, stating something emphatically in her lyrical dialect. The old woman reached forward and slammed the carriage door and it sped off into the dense fog. Looking closely at the object in his hand he determined it was a wooden rosary, he had seen Catholic's use such things.
Not that he himself had ever been spiritual. However, looking at his surroundings of mist and strung up animal corpses, he felt a chill descend down his spine and despite his personal misgivings placed the talisman around his neck. Now he had two good luck charms, his sister's portrait and a Catholic symbol, Jonathan could not know that these two objects would both save his life and endanger his sisters.
A shrill neighing caused his heart to race for a moment before a black and demonic carriage appeared from the mist, almost as if it had materialised from it, he had not heard the pounding of hooves or the rolling of wheels. The dark cloaked driver beckoned for him to enter, with some trepidation he did so, and it sped off at inhuman speed, faster than he could possibly have imagined of stallions, this carriage only having two while his previous had four.
A blue light appeared to surround the carriage, flame like and whipping in the Carpathian gales. Suddenly through the window he saw the castle of Dracula emerge in its medieval magnificence, in its time it must have been glorious but now appeared in dire need of maintenance. He alighted the carriage with his carry luggage and approached the imposing front door, a draw bridge he had not noticed on the journey closed across the courtyard behind him, the castle at one time must have been a fortress; none could have overcome the chasm surrounding it.
Jonathan reached to use the creaking and rusted door knockers but disconcertingly the doors opened of their own accord. He waited uncertainly on the threshold and noticed a flicker of movement of the side of the large atrium, the shadow appeared before the man, he was old, slightly hunched with a curious arrangement of white hair and a luxuriant red silk robe. He held up a lantern and spoke in surprisingly articulate and slightly accented English:
"Welcome to my home, enter freely of your own will and leave some of the happiness that you bring."
Jonathan considered this a curious greeting but perhaps it was a cultural one, such places did have strange ways. Jonathan moved his foot forward, feeling like he had been holding a breath and shifted his weight, moving completely out of the doorway and into the atrium. He felt the need to question the man, just to make sure the identity of this strange personage:
"Count Dracula?"
"I am Draculia and I welcome you Mr Harker to my house."
The Count made a sweeping eye movement to the fortress of stone surrounding them in its eerie glory, and then indicated for him to follow. With one moment of hesitation Jonathan moved after him.
….
Jonathan's dining experience with the Count had been both shocking and illuminating. The Count appeared cultured and aged at one moment, whilst discussing his ancestry, then flipped on a whim and became violent when he believed Jonathan had insulted him, even brandishing an antique sword. Jonathan did not know how to react to such a taciturn individual but decided to do what he had come for, his job. He was currently seated in a well equipped study, sorting through the documents required for the transaction, after the incident he felt the need for comfort and so had placed the portrait of Mina on the desk where he could see it, her wise eyes gazing fondly at him.
Jonathan felt a chill down his spine that he was beginning to identify with the imminent appearance of the Count, why he would have such a reaction he had yet to fathom, while the Count had appeared violent he was an old man, Jonathan was sure he could over power him if necessary.
Behind him stood a map of London with red markers over the properties the Count wished to acquire, all curiously spread out in different locations. He asked the Count for his seal on the documents, this being done he felt a sense of relief; he was no longer required here and would soon leave to return to England and the comforting presence of his sister. Jovially Jonathan announced:
"There, you Count are now the owner of Carfax abbey, congratulations."
The Count praised his skill and stated he was a worthy successor for Mr Renfield. As Jonathan gathered and ordered the documents and questioned the Counts choice of property, the Count approached the desk and gazed upon the miniature portrait of Mina Harker, a pensive and joyful look upon his face.
"Do you believe in destiny?...that even the powers of time can be altered for a single purpose… and the luckiest man in this life is the one who finds….true love."
Jonathan found this an odd question, and turned from the board to see the Count holding the miniature of Mina, startled he said:
"You found Mina, I thought I'd lost her"
Dracula's eyes bored into his own as he repeated and emphasised the name "Mi-na". Returning to the portrait the Count blithely asked:
"She is your…fiancée? A wife perhaps?"
Jonathan was take aback by the question and replied:
"No no, Mina is my younger sister, she awaits my return to England, I am responsible for her and currently she is staying with a family friend"
The Count appeared pleased by this response, Jonathan let out a breath he did not know he had been holding.
"Sister? I take from your words that your parents are no longer living?"
Jonathan found the question somewhat intrusive, but knowing the temperamental nature of the Count and being so close to freedom, he chose to answer without delay.
"No not for some time, I am responsible for Mina, she keeps house for me and is also a School Mistress, she does love children."
The Count appeared pensive for a moment and then returned the miniature to Jonathan, stating:
"You are fortunate to have family living, I am sure she is a deserving sister and you a doting brother."
Feeling the conversation was taking an unexpected turn Jonathan tried to end it:
"Yes we are very lucky, now Count, all the documents are signed and I believe that I can begin my journey tomorrow to confirm the paperwork."
The Count's demeanour changed again, he seemed to be calculating something and then he spoke the words that caused Jonathan's heart to falter.
"You will write letters to your firm and your family member, stating that it should please you to stay with me for a month from now."
Jonathan was taken aback by this request.
"A month? You wish me to stay so long?"
The Count leaned into Jonathan's space, his face less than two inches from Jonathan's own.
"I will brook no refusal and should I require you longer than this time I shall be glad to send someone to accompany your dear sister here, it would not do to inconvenience her generous hosts for too long."
Jonathan felt a sense of foreboding dread and although he had never been especially religious, the way the Count had looked at Mina's picture filled him with dread, he prayed the Count did not need him more than a month.
AUTHORS NOTE: I hope you like how this is progressing, as you notice I have skipped some of the dialogue from the film because I wanted to get further to the action, I hope my brief description of the scenes have explained them thoroughly enough for anyone unfamiliar with the film version, please review if you wish for more chapters!
Lady Extremely English Voldemort
