June 1898

The day before

Jonathan Harker stood at the front door and studied the sign before him.

DAWN HOUSE

DR JOHN SEWARD

SANCTUARY FOR THE INSANE, TROUBLED AND DISTURBED.

He rang the bell and waited. It was a glorious June day and Jonathan felt happier than what he had done in a long time. He had purpose now, a job to do, although at times he felt a twinge of guilt thinking of what future lay in wait for Mina.

This is the only way. We cannot divorce; I would not give her the satisfaction and have my colleagues think me less of a man. She needs help. she still pines for that…that… creature. I am the victim here, it is about time my fortunes changed for the better. A new start.

Yes, Jonathan Harker was about to change the course of his life and he felt positively sprightly. He had not had a drink in three days, not since that fateful night when Mina showed him where her true loyalties lay. He had thought about it in great detail and had come up with a plan that would leave him playing the concerned, innocent husband, doing everything he could for his beloved wife. Little did Mina know that she was already playing into his hands. He knew she would go against his wishes and leave for Whitby, all he had to do was to get there first. He had hidden the front door key and had asked William, his clerk, to stay at the house.

Housesitting? Of course, Mr Harker! Only a maid in, you say? No problem at all. I'll make it easy for her. I tend to work late and leave early so I doubt we'll cross paths. Have a lovely holiday with Mrs Harker.

Jonathan knew that with Mina's strange sleeping patterns, she would assume it was Jonathan coming in late and leaving early for work. Simple.

The door opened and he was shown in by a nurse, she would have been beautiful if she had not been so pale. Jack must be working his staff hard.

"Please, have a seat Mr Harker, Dr Seward is expecting you."

Jonathan took in his surroundings. A coal fire, hanging floral tapestries upon dark wooden panelling, velvet chairs and gas lamps. Dr Seward had clearly been successful in his new practice. Making himself comfortable on the heavy chair, Jonathan stared at the grandfather clock. He had one in his study back home, just like this one. He remembered listening to the chime as he had finished sending two telegrams: one of which was to Jack, requesting an urgent visit.

"Jonathan! Come in, come in. How the devil are you, my old friend? Jack Seward beamed at him, shaking his hand vigorously and beckoning him into his office. Jonathan sat down as Jack closed the door.

"It's been so long, Jonathan! You look well, how is Mina? Where is she? How have you both been? Tell me all your news!" Jack waited eagerly for Jonathan to regale him with happy events from the past six months.

"I have lots of news to tell you, Jack, but not all good. I come seeking your advice as a friend and a doctor. You must hear me now, for I have much to tell."

Jack's smile disappeared as he saw the anguish in his friend's eyes. Something was very, very wrong.

"Go ahead, Jonathan. Whatever you have to say I am here to help." He sat forwards at his desk with his pen in his hand, ready to take notes.

"Where to begin?" he hesitated momentarily as he collected his thoughts.

"I am here because of my wife, whom I dearly love and am deeply afraid for. Over the past six months her behaviour had deteriorated to the point that I am unsure what to do anymore or how to help her. You must understand Jack, that I only want to protect her. I want her to get better but I am just unsure how she can get better."

Jack looked up from his paper and stared at Jonathan in disbelief. "Mina is unwell? Has she seen a Doctor in London?"

Jonathan shook his head slowly and continued. "It started with little things at first, odd behaviours that I simply chalked down to Mina experiencing the traumatic events from last year. She began to isolate herself, Jack. At the time I thought that that was what she needed, perhaps she did need a break from socialising, perhaps she did need a break from her work in order to recuperate from…well from you know what." Jonathan pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. "She never went back to her teaching, Jack, her teaching! How could she abandon it?" He looked up as he heard a peculiar noise, almost like growling. Seeing the open window behind his friend- who looked completely stony faced- Jonathan concluded it must have been a dog of some sort and continued on with his tale of woe. "She rarely leaves the house. Four months ago she refused to…to even sleep in the same bed as me, her husband. She sleeps in the guest room now, sleeping in the day and waking at night. She will not speak to me. If she does, it is incoherent mumbling. I hear her in the middle of the night, speaking of…that creature we destroyed. What if she is still connected to him? I don't know what to do anymore, Jack. I sent you the telegram because I am beginning to fear for her life. She is pale, she does not eat. She does nothing. She is not the woman I married, I just want my Mina back. Can you help me? Will you help me, Jack?"'

Jack said nothing for a moment, his keen eyes staring at Jonathan as he finished his notes. Although he hadn't seen his friend in a while, he could tell that he wasn't being completely honest with him. Seeing disturbed patients day in and day out gave Jack the ability to see when he was being deceived. He glanced towards the cast iron grate that was placed next to the door. Dracula would have heard every bit of this conversation. He guessed that the Count would also be savvy to Jonathan's potential web of lies. Jack sighed. "What would have me do, Jonathan?"

His words stung. Jonathan could feel his temper rising. "I don't know! Help her, for God's sake. She needs help. I've come to you because I think she may be on her way here already, thanks to your letter! I found it ripped to shreds in her room. When I asked her about it, she hit me. She hit me! Can you believe it? I'm ashamed to say that I'm not only scared for my wife, but I am scared of my wife! If and when she gets here, I need you to help bring back the sweet and innocent Mina I married." Jonathan was panting with anger; he closed his eyes and tried to regain a measure of calm.

Jack put his pen down. What is your game, Jonathan? He decided that his best bet was to humour him for now. If he was right and Mina was on her way, then this would please Dracula greatly. If he was lying, well…he wouldn't want to be around to see what bloody fate awaited his old friend. "It sounds like she may be experiencing anxiety and severe emotional issues as a direct result of the trauma she went through last year. If she comes, I will talk to her and perhaps see her as patient. You must know though, Jonathan, that if I think she is in direct harm to herself or others, then she must stay here for treatment and I cannot tell you how long that may take."

Jonathan smiled inwardly. "Whatever it takes, Jack. Thank you, you are a true friend. Now I'm sure I have taken too much of your time, I must get back to my lodgings."

Jack stood up. "Now, now, old friend. I won't hear of it. You must stay here; I have plenty of rooms. We have much to catch up on. Come, I insist."

Jonathan nodded in agreement and shook Jack's hand once more, pleased that everything was finally beginning to work out how he wanted it too.

Under the floorboards, in the cool darkness of the basement, Dracula grinned maliciously.