Two

May 1898- Evening.

She set about her monotonous daily routine. Wash, dress, brush hair. Mina looked in the mirror on her dressing table and stared at the face before her. Gone were her rosy cheeks and bright eyes. Her skin was paler than before; dark shadows sat beneath her eyes and her face was thinner- she didn't know how much weight she had lost but her clothes were definitely looser. Six months of worry and loneliness had clearly taken its toll on Mina. Hair up. Make bed. Eat. She closed the door to her bedroom, which was where she now spent the majority of her time, wondering whether she thought of it as a prison or a sanctuary.

Mina headed down to the kitchen. Their townhouse was not large and so Jonathan had refused to hire a maid. "Why spend money on a service we don't need? It is just the two of us after all, and you don't work." Secretly, she wondered whether it was because he wanted her to be completely cut-off from any other human contact. She pushed the thought out of her mind. No, how could she think such awfulness of her husband? It was for the best really, she did not want to become used to such luxuries. She had had a modest upbringing and was taught that riches leave as quickly as they come, one should learn how to look after oneself.

After a simple breakfast of tea and porridge, Mina sat in the parlour and re-read the letter she had received the day before.

Dearest Mina,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and that you and Jonathan are enjoying life in the city. I find that I do not miss the hustle and bustle of London at all; I am quite sure moving my practice to Whitby was the right decision. The clean air does wonders for my patients.

Forgive me for writing to you, I know that the last time we met it was under the most dreadful of circumstances, but I find myself at a loss without you both. It has been six months and I miss you, my friends, terribly. Are we never to see one another again? You and Jonathan have moved on, Arthur has moved on, Dr Van Helsing has moved on. I am stuck here, quite alone, with nothing but my work to spur me on. I find myself still thinking of Lucy and I feel a great sadness. I feel…all wrong, as if I am still lost between normality and the horrid memories of last year. Do you suffer the same afflictions as I do?

Please Mina, will you and Jonathan come and visit? I have been working on some exciting developments at the Asylum and I feel like I am on the verge of discovery. If my work is successful, it could change the treatment of psychosis patients for the future. I do so wish to share all my news with you both.

Yours faithfully,

Jack Seward

Mina knew the words by memory, she had read the letter countless times since it arrived on her doorstep. Her friend sounded deeply troubled and she could empathise with him; it seemed as if everyone was unhappy nowadays. When he was destroyed, life was supposed to be better. If Mina was being honest with herself, not a day had gone past when she didn't think of him. It seemed as though he was imprinted in the very deepest part of her being. Every morning, as Jonathan left for work and Mina would settle down to sleep, the dreams would come. They were always the same; she, standing on the edge of a precipice, arms outstretched and the wind howling through her hair as violent storms build around her. She hears her name being called just as she steps over the edge. Mina. His , the dreams never changed. She would always wake up drenched in sweat, her heart beating she could hear his voice when she was awake. Mina. My Mina. Naturally, she would never divulge this information to anyone, lest they think her insane. Hearing voices was never a good sign. Perhaps Jack's new treatment could help her, or at the very least, the clean sea air would help to revive her. London still didn't feel like home. The thick smog was suffocating and she could not get used to the noise, the sharpness of the place. London was impersonal; the people were garish and uncaring. Mina was an outsider. She longed for good memories and she had never been happier than when she first visited Lucy in Whitby. She remembers the softness of the landscape and the vibrant colours of the Westenra gardens; the sea was wild and alive- its saltiness used to cling to the tendrils of her hair.

Mina knew what she needed to do, there was absolutely no question of not going, but she did not know what Jonathan's reaction was going to be. She had no idea how to approach this- they hadn't said more than two words to each other in the past few months. Still, Jack needed her, he needed them both. The clock chimed- it was 7 o'clock. Mina could hear keys turning in the lock of the front door, Jonathan was home.