Letter from Elise Rusyn to her sister Sophia Meitmitz, delivered in Klausenberg 30th April, 1893. Found carefully preserved among Sophia's effects after her death on 27th May, 1922, and burned by her eldest son.
My beloved Sophia,
I hardly know how to begin. First of all, I am so sorry that I waited more than three years to contact you, and I can't imagine what you must have gone through. I am sorrier for that than you will ever know, and all I can say is that it was unavoidable, and as much for your protection as mine. Secondly, if you have ever loved me as your only sister, never let anyone read this letter. Ever. For the rest of your life.
Now, that said, I want you to know that I am indeed well and walking upon the earth. I have not been murdered or abducted. As you have probably surmised, I am with Vladimir and have been since my "disappearance". Please believe me when I say that I had not thought it possible upon this earth to love someone as I love him, and to be loved as he loves me. We are each other's religion: we share one soul. I believe with complete sincerity that I was born to be with him and to live as he lives, and my happiness with him is absolute.
I don't know what mad rumors, if any, continue to fly concerning Vladimir and me. If nobody has ever found Father Sandor, I enclose a map describing where his bones might still be. He believed that Vladimir was the Dark Squire come again, and tried to kill us. He failed, although I was seriously injured. Don't worry, though, as I am long healed and "all better now". Sandor did succeed in murdering a beloved friend whom I may not name to you, but who we still grieve for each day. Sandor's influence has lived on, though, and makes it impossible to live peacefully where I was born and raised, so we decided to make a clean break. You need not fear for my situation, though. Vladimir's resources are considerable, and I am living a life I never dreamed of while I was scratching at the edge of the forest. I will never return to Klausenberg or my house. If the house still stands, you will find the deed to it and the land under the loose hearthstone . . . you know where to look. Please keep whatever you would like and dispose of the rest as you see fit, if you haven't already.
Vladimir is an incurable traveler, and we do not stay in any one place for any great length of time. Indeed, we will be long gone out of Paris by the time you receive this letter. I don't know where we will go next, except that it will be astonishing for me. We may even go to America. Thanks to our mother, I was well-educated for a woman from our district. Now I see that I knew next to nothing. Vladimir has taught me French and we are now working on Italian. Last week I saw the Mona Lisa. It is an amazing life.
Those are happy things, but now I must tell you something that may frighten you. I beg of you, read this through twice before you do anything. Remember that I said Father Sandor believed Vladimir to be the Dark Squire come again. Sophia, my beloved sister, Father Sandor was right. My beloved Vladimir was indeed once known as Dracula. We did not meet shortly after Rolf left me, as I once told you. I am sorry that I lied to you about it. We met in the forest when I was only 17, out wandering under the moon as only a young witch can wander. He tried to take me as a vampire will, but he did not expect to encounter a witch, and I fought him off. He was amused and intrigued, and a friendship was born that night that has lasted ever since. Mama and Papa knew nothing of it, and Rolf only knew a little.
What Rolf ever really thought, I do not know or care. I believe now that the only reason I married Rolf is because though he was a lout he was handsome, and his looks reminded me of the one I really wanted but believed I could never have. I nearly confided in you so many times, Sophia, but ultimately I could not. Vladimir was gone from me too, the first year Rolf was gone, and when he returned I nearly died of relief. The next night he took me adventuring under the moon with him, to see as he sees. I lost myself to him that night, and I was glad.
And finally, I must tell you something else that I know will frighten you, and again, I beg you to be patient with me, and to remember what I have already said about my happiness. I told you that I was seriously injured when we were attacked by Father Sandor and his men and our friend was murdered. I must tell you that Father Sandor shot me and left me for dead. There was no hope for me . . . I was dying. Vladimir saved me the only way he could . . . he made me like himself. He did not want to, but left the final decision to me. I asked, and he gave, in spite of his grief. I died in his arms, Sophia, and was reborn there as well.
You know, or might think you know, how beings like us must survive. Let me tell you now that since I have come to Vladimir's life, I have not brought about the death of any person, and since I came away with him, neither has Vladimir. He has sworn to me, Sophia, that he never will again. He tells me that until we loved each other he waded in blood and did not care, but that I have been the author of a deep change within him. It has been very difficult for him, this transformation of centuries of instinct and habit, but his efforts are sincere: I can see that plainly. I do my best to support and help him, and he tells me I have saved his soul, or at least his belief that he might actually have one. I cannot express to you how that makes me feel.
You may be wondering about the money I have sent. It does grieve me that I will not see my nephews live their lives, and I want you to take half the money and divide it between them to help them and their families. Two-thirds of the remainder is for you to do whatever you want with. The rest is for flowers for the graves of our parents. Remember that Papa loved asters, and bring white roses for Mama.
I miss you, my dear chattering sister. I will always miss your affectionate teasing and your loud, joyful laugh. The one regret I have in giving myself to Vladimir is that you and I will probably never see each other again, not in this life and perhaps not in the next. Barring accident or interference, neither Vladimir nor I will age or die. You may have feared that I was dead. Sophia, I tell you now that it was not until I died that I truly began to live.
Vladimir offers you his love, and asks for your forgiveness. He also gives his protection: among the inhabitants of the night, and Sophia, I was amazed to learn that we are everywhere, Vladimir is a prince, and his word is law. There is a circle around you that none will ever dare cross: you and yours need never fear any being like us. Vladimir says this is the only gift he can offer in exchange for taking me from you.
I must close now . . . we must leave soon. Please rest easy, my dear sister. I am safe and my happiness is complete. I miss very little of human life. I've lost the ability to weep and I miss that, but I miss you far more than I miss the sun. Think of me often, as I will always think of you. And I must warn you, my dear Sophia: for your own safety, do not try to look for us: we will not consent to be found. You probably will not be able to be happy for us, but at least be at peace for us. Do not grieve for me. In this life I have chosen, I have found enough happiness for both of us.
Remember me.
With all the love in my heart, I remain,
Your devoted sister,
Elise
Hôtel Relais Christine
Saint Germaine-des-Prés
Paris
17 March, 1893