He wasn't there in the morning, which had surprised her a bit until she felt the sun bursting through the window and onto her bed. The spot where he had lain was now laden in the light of day, the thing he had to avoid like some kind of poison.

A light knock on the door stirred her further out of slumber.

"Miss?" It was the maid who had dressed her last night. A whisp of a thing with bright red hair.

Mina tossed her legs over side the bed and smiled and the small girl.

"Good morning...er..."

"Martha, Miss," the maid would not meet her eyes.

"Martha," Mina tried a smile again but the maid looked away. She came up to Mina and began to the process of dressing her. She removed her nightdress and wrapped the corset around her, beginning to lace.

Mina spied a light green gown lying on the chair, one that she most certainly hadn't been wearing the night before.

"Is that new?" Mina nodded to the gown.

Martha glanced, "Yes, Miss." She waited, "He had it made for you."

Mina blinked, "What, this morning?"

"No, Miss," Martha tied the corset and walked to the chair.

Mina didn't understand. He had a dress made for her? When? Why?

She noticed that Martha was gripping the chair where the dress was draped, clutching it so tightly she looked ready to tear the fabric.

Martha turned to her, "Miss, may I please be frank?"

She was taken aback, "Yes, of course."

The maid finally looked up. Her eyes were the most startling shade of green.

"Get away from this place, miss," Martha's voice was so full of fear that Mina became nervous herself.

Martha grasped Mina's hands, "Begging all pardons, miss, but this is a horrible place. This is the devil's place and he..." Martha glanced over her shoulder, "he is the devil."

Those bright green eyes were so wild and fearful, Mina couldn't look away.

"The things I've seen, miss..."

"What have you seen?"

Had Martha known that Mina had kissed him? Of course not. No one knew that.

Why was Mina ashamed all of a sudden? She had wanted to kiss him so she did.

But he is a monster. A creature of the night.

You kissed him.

You wanted him to drink your blood.

Martha let her hand slip from Mina's and she walked to the window.

"It's...unnatural, miss," Martha whispered. "I can hardly explain it. He...he burn in the sun, miss. And that woman-"

"Yes?" Mina lurched forward.

Martha turned back around, "I've seen them..." She heaved, "I've seen them kill people, miss. The most horrendous ways. So much blood miss, I-" She grasped her mouth and sunk to the floor.

Mina rushed to her, the maid's sobs filling her ears.

Of course Mina knew it was true. Dracula had told her as much last night. But yet she hadn't seen the horror in it. Now, in the light of day she could see how monstrous it truly was.

He survived on blood. He kills people for it.

And he wants my blood.

And I was going to let him have it.

It hadn't seemed all so unnatural last night.

"Hush, Martha, it's all right. It's all right," she stroked the maid's bright red hair. "I'm here, no one will hurt you."

"He never hurts me," Martha explained. "He's just so haunting. It's like he's always there. He's made me clean up the blood before. So much blood I was sick. He just watches. He haunts."

Mina knew exactly what she meant. Even at home, Mina could always feel some presence watching her. But to her, it was never sinister. It felt as though some angel were watching her, not some devil.

Martha looked at Mina, "So you must leave, miss. Save your soul." Martha lowered her voice, "He's obsessed with you, miss. He speaks of you always and it upsets the woman. He makes meticulous plans for you. It's like you're his wife. He wants you, miss.

"But he's a devil, miss. And I wouldn't want a man like that obsessed with me."

Mina could hardly breathe.

"He wants you, miss. He's coming for you. You have to get away, miss. Get far, far away!"

Martha cleared her throat and slicked back her curls a bit. With a sniff, she raised herself from the ground. Mina followed suit, suddenly feeling as though her body was hollow.

The maid took the green gown from the chair and continued dressing Mina silently. As she sat her at the mirror, Mina saw that her eyes were as blank and as empty as her mind.

Obsessed with me. Obsessed with me.

But he cannot be a devil. Not after how kind he has been.

Murderer. Murderer.

Mina's hair was pinned and done and Martha excused herself, looking as though she hadn't been sobbing but a moment before.

There was a knock at the door and Mina nearly jumped from her skin.

"Yes," she said though her voice betrayed her nerves.

The door opened with a creek, and she knew from the footsteps who it was. Her eyes stayed at the mirror, then suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning she saw The Count behind her, but not a reflection of him in the mirror.

"Are you all right, Mina?" He asked and suddenly she felt her blood turn cold. I want to go home. I want no part of this. I'll marry Jonathan. I'll be safe and normal and happy.

But the hand on her shoulder was warm and the voice soothing.

I don't want Jonathan...

Mina became fearful of her own feelings.

"I feel ill," she said meekly. Her face looked pale enough for it to be true. "I would like to go home."

"Yes," he hesitated, "of course. I'll see your coach is ready."

Mina nodded and waited for him to leave before standing. Gathering back some courage, she walked from her bedroom and down towards the stairs until a black figure burst from nowhere and thrust he against the wall.

It was Gwenda, looking sicklier and more horrifying than she had the day before. Her skin was so sunken in that her face was barely more than a skull. Her eyes were dark and red like blood. Her lips dry and cracked.

Gwenda hissed, "He keeps you around like some little pet, but I see you for what you are."

Dracula! Mina cried out inside her head, too frightened to speak aloud.

Gwenda smiled catlike, "You little girl have no idea what you've gotten yourself into." Gwenda pulled her head back, revealing her fangs and Mina let out a cry.

Then she was free. No one was holding her.

Dracula pinned Gwenda to the wall. She thrashed like a wild animal but was not as strong as him.

"I told you to stay away!" His voice echoed and boomed as though it was coming from all points of the house. "She is not yours to take!"

Gwenda whimpered but Dracula was unmoved.

"If you ever so much as lay a finger on her again, I will burn you. You've seen me do it before. I won't hesitate!"

"I'm starved, Vlad!" She cried desperately. "You've brought me nothing for days and I'm starving!"

"Not her!" Dracula threatened. "Not her, you hear me!" He released her and the woman fluttered away and quickly as a bat.

Mina felt magnetically bound to the wall. She could not move. Her body wouldn't allow it. She could do nothing but gaze at Dracula

"Mina..." He said, his voice so soothing and human now.

What is he to be devil one minute and angel the next?

Mina felt herself sinking. Am I actually swooning now? I've never swooned in my life.

But the world soon went dark and Mina found that she did.
OOO
She woke in her own bed, completely unaware of how she ended up there.

Mina tossed to her side, surprised to find a large leather bound book lying next to her.

Vampyre it read in large gothic letters.

A note was attached.

Dearest Mina,
I'm sorry to have frightened you. Gwenda will never bother you again.
You asked about what I am and here it is. All that is known and all I have written. If you read this and wish to never see me again, I understand and will respect your wishes.
I did not mean to frighten you.
Count Dracula

Mina was unsure if she wanted to read the book or not. She was unsure if she wanted to tear the note up or not.
OOO
"Miss Murray," Dr. Jack Seward gave her a polite bow as she entered Westerna Manor. The bags under his eyes indicated what Mina had feared: Lucy's illness was progressing.

"How is she?" Mina clutched her bag.

Jack lowered his head, "Honestly, Mina, I am completely baffled. I've actually called my old teacher, Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, to help me. Never fear, he is a scholar of rare blood diseases. He should be able to help," Jack gave her that little smile of hope that people always gave to women. As if women were too frail to hear: it is hopeless. She will die.

They walked the large hall to the grand staircase, and up the stairs they went to Lucy's room. Her door was wide open and inside was a man named Arthur, one of Lucy's suitors. He looked just as deranged as Jack.

"Mina," Lucy smiled sweetly and it pulled at her gaunt face. Mina couldn't believe how ill her friend was. How could Lucy, usually so full of life, have turned into this. She looked no fuller than a corpse.

Mina went to her friend's bedside. Lucy's night dress was falling, her breast endanger of falling out. Mina straightened it for her friend.

"How are you feeling today, Lucy?"

Lucy giggled, "Tired. And strangely hungry."

"She keeps saying that and she won't eat anything," Arthur said dryly.

Jack cleared his throat, "It's the blood loss. It takes away the sugar and iron you need. Makes you feel hungry."

Lucy tried to pull herself up, which caused the two men to rush to her.

"I'm fine, chaps," she said. "Could Mina and I have a moment alone?" She asked so sweetly that the gentleman complied and soon it was just she and Mina.

"So, Mina," Lucy whispered, "tell me about him."

Mina felt a rush of fear. How could Lucy know? She hadn't told anyone of her friendship with Count Dracula. She certainly hadn't told anyone of...last night.

Could Lucy just tell? Was that a thing women could just tell?

"About whom?" Mina asked dumbly.

Lucy squeezed Mina's hands so tightly that Mina let out a small cry.

"The Master, Mina," her eyes seemed red, half crazed with some demon. She kept squeezing Mina's hands and Mina could not escape the painful grip. "Tell me about him. He tells me about you, Mina. All the time. It's just Mina, Mina, Mina! Why is that, Mina? Why doesn't he want me? He's only come to me once and won't come back." She leaned in closer and Mina watched as fangs came from her gums. No. No not Lucy too. "Your his filthy little whore, aren't you, Mina? You're his whore! Whore! Whore!"

By this time the men had rushed in, accompanied by some other man Mina did not know. It seemed to take the three of them to hold Lucy down, all the while she screamed obscenities at Mina.

The new man pulled out a cross and started chanting Latin to which Lucy hissed and writhed until she fell asleep.

Mina felt her own breaths, heavy and deep.

Suddenly, she felt that strangeness of someone watching her again. It's him. It's him.

The new man turned to Mina. He was short, but muscular. His face tired but not old. His hair was dark but greying fast and his coat disheveled.

"Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, miss," he said, taking her hand gruffly.

"Mina Murray," she answered. Still too stunned to say much else.

Arthur looked away from Lucy, "Doctor, what the Hell is wrong with Lucy. Excuse my language, Miss Murray."

Van Helsing moved to Lucy, putting his hands to the side of her neck and stroking gently. His hands must've brushed something, for he pulled back, looking somber.

"Gentleman, let's talk in the parlor," he noted Mina. "Miss Murray, would you please excuse us."

"Yes, of course," she said. She sat down in a chair opposite from Lucy, afraid to come too close. But she's my friend...

Dracula did this to her, Mina was certain. But why? Why would he do something to Lucy like this?

He was near. Mina wasn't sure how she knew it but she did.
OOO
Lucy woke gasping for air.

Mina had dozed off herself but Lucy's writhing awoke her.

Where is Jack? Where is Van Helsing?

Perhaps their meeting had gone longer than expected or perhaps Mina hadn't been sleeping long at all.

Lucy was gasping, pulling at her nightdress like some animal in distress. Her back and limbs seemed to contort in unnatural, demonic ways.

Mina rushed to her side.

"Van Helsing! Jack! Arthur!" Mina yelled as loud as she could. Mina reached for Lucy, stroking her friend's face.

"He's coming," Lucy's voice sound wholly demonic. "He's near." Lucy's eyes were bright red now. Not a dark red as Dracula's had been, but a bright, ferocious red.

And she had fangs. Full, giant fangs hanging from her gums like white stalactites.

"JACK! VAN HELSING! ARTHUR!"

Lucy lunged towards Mina, and Mina jumped back, catching herself on an unsteady dressing table. There she found a cross.

Mina held it to Lucy, who didn't recoil as she did before. She hissed and the cross seemed to turn to fire in Mina's hand, who yelped and dropped it.

Then Van Helsing appeared yelling some prayer to Lucy who didn't seem affected in the least. But he removed a vile of water from his pocket and began throwing it at her to which she screamed and screamed.

Mina hadn't even noticed that Jack was at her side, holding her tightly.

Must protect the frail woman, she supposed. It made her want to laugh.

Lucy was on the bed now, Van Helsing forcing her down. Then the windows opened with a force so powerful Mina nearly fell over.

No. I am not about to faint twice in one day.

But she did.
OOO
This is the second time today I've woken up not knowing where I am.

Mina stretched out her hand and found she was lying on a bed unfamiliar to her so she supposed she must still be at Westerna Manor. She heard a knock at the door and realized that must've been what stirred her.

"Yes," Mina said.

It was Jack. He smiled kindly, walking into the room.

"How are you feeling, Mina?" He asked, all professionalism. She would've laughed at him if she didn't feel so frail.

"What happened to Lucy?" Mina asked, sitting up and staring at him.

He moved his jaw, "Lucy suffers from a...very peculiar disease."

"She's a vampire, isn't she?"

Jack was agog, "Mina, I-"

"I know about them, Jack," Mina said coldly. "I know that what she is. I know something turned her into that."

Jack exhaled and his mask of perfect doctor fell away. He slumped onto a nearby chair.

"It's ridiculous, Mina," he said. "I've studied science all my life. I set aside all superstitious nonsense only to find out it's all true. There no other explanation for what Lucy is. No other!"

Mina nodded, standing and walking to her friend. She placed a hand on his back, hoping the gesture would make his nerves stop.

She never told Lucy, but Mina was certain Jack was in love with her. He'd met her a year ago when Jonathan and Mina announced their engagement and he had been wholly smitten, she could tell. Lucy had that effect on men.

"How do we...cure her?" Mina asked.

Jack huffed, "Evidently, we can't. Van Helsing says the only thing to do now is to free her soul."

"How do we do that?"

Jack hung his head again, "We have to drive a stake through her heart."

Mina immediately recoiled, turning from him and to the door. Kill Lucy? Was that he answer? And to do it in such a way...

"Forgive me, I shouldn't have said," Jack replied.

"No," Mina wrung her hands. "No, I'm fine. It's just so..."

"I know," Jack almost laughed. "It's all so insane, isn't it?"

Mina just nodded, brushing a stray curl back behind her ear.

Perhaps we don't have to slay Lucy. Perhaps Dracula could take care of her. Watch over her.

Like the way he watches over Gwenda?

That's different. She's evil. She's...

She's just hungry. Lucy is to. Why wouldn't she end up like Gwenda?

Jack passed Mina turning around to give her a polite bow.

"If you'll excuse me, I have to go speak to Dr. Van Helsing."

Mina nodded, not really hearing. Too many thought were flooding her mind.
OOO
The book was staring at her from the nightstand.

Vampyre it seemed to scream at her.

I want no part of this. No part of any of this insanity. Vampires aren't real. They shouldn't be real.

But they are. And you are a part of this. You became a part of this the minute Jonathan went to Translyvania.

No. No, not really. You became a part of this when you fell in love with The Count.

I am not in love with him...

But the words felt like a lie, even in her mind. How could she love a man she barely knew?

Man... Was that even the right thing to call him?

There was no future for them, she was certain. They were different creatures. It couldn't work.

The book kept staring at her.

I want no part in this.

Mina stared back at the book.

"Damn in all," she groaned. Mina grabbed the book and began to read.