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Diary Entry: Arthur Holmwood 16 September

So much has happened since the start of the term, actually since June. We've all been so busy with everything else...

Lucy has almost finished her painting of Mina, though she denies the poor girl is the model. The grief in the painting is so real that the scene almost comes to life. It's a beautiful piece of work. Lucy's planning on submitting it as her masterpiece for her art degree.

Professor Van Helsing is on his way back from Amsterdam. He should be here tomorrow afternoon, which should be good for Mina. Lucy spends time with her every day, though she says Mina rarely speaks. She does not leave her house for any reason, it seems. Lucy reported in mid July that the food in the house had all gone bad, but that Mina didn't seem to notice. Of course, she also said that Mina can't be eating a thing besides what Lucy has her eat during the visits. If this lasts too long I'm worried that we will have to interfere somehow, and with force. The girl is already far too thin, last term Jonathan said only 120 pounds to her five feet and seven inches. I really hope the Professor can snap her out of this. To grieve is one thing, but to let yourself waste away... I don't understand it.

Mr. Hawkins has spoken of reclaiming the house for the University, as Jonathan no longer works for it. I've put everything I have against it for Mina's sake. The house was nearly paid off by the late Mr. and Mrs. Harker before the University claimed the property as its own. And I really think that forcing Mina out of her home would push her over the edge. I hope she will resume classes next term, as the school routine seems to be helping Lucy and Dr. Seward along very well. And me.

There's a bad storm sweeping in all of the sudden. The sky just up and turned black! And now it's beginning to lightning and hail. Looks like some areas are loosing power...

It was night by the time the storm had died, leaving the chill air fearfully calm. The cold glare of the moon shown down on the quaint college town. By that point all of the power had gone out, and people were, for the most part, settled indoors.

Thus were the outskirts of Hawkins University into which Mina Harker stepped out at last. It was not far of a walk, most of which Mina hardly remembered, until an old mansion loomed before her. Near to the vacant building was a small chapel, and even closer to that was a near-ancient cemetery. It was there that she feared most to go, but it was there that she knew she would find peace.

'I... It's been too long. I'm sorry. I just couldn't bring myself to come here again...

'I missed the deadline for registration. Classes started without me this term. I always wondered what it would be like if that happened; if the world would stop and wait for me, or if it would just keep on spinning and leave me behind... It kept spinning. Though none of it quite seems real anymore, you know?

'Of course you don't. Who am I fooling?'

Mina stood still before Jonathan's grave, hugging herself as tears glistened in her eyes.

'I miss you... so much,' she said after a long pause, her voice breaking and tears falling freely for the first time since the accident. 'I can't count how many times in the last few months that all I've wanted, all I've needed was someone to hold me. And there's no one. Lucy tries to help, she really does, but she's so distant, and it doesn't even feel like she's really there. It's like I'm alone with only the figment of a voice from the past as a companion, and then only during the day. The house is so lonesome at night...

'You always said that if the house got any bigger we'd have to hire a maid just to add some life.' A sort of laughing sob cut off Mina's words as she let her head fall to her chest. 'You have no idea how big it is without you there.'

After several long minutes of staring at the gray headstone, Mina continued. 'Quincy wrote me a letter. He really wanted to be at the funeral, but his dad was sick and he couldn't leave him. He won't be back this term. I guess that's best,' her voice trailed off wistfully.

For a long time Mina stared into the miniature forest that grew within the cemetery. Her mind hovered in the past, playing out memories on the screen of trees. Each memory coming with increasing pain, though the sadness clouding her elegant features could hardly deepen. Mina signed deeply and looked again at the headstone that read simply: Jonathan Harker Beloved Brother, Beloved Friend

'Forever the untouchable are we,' she whispered quietly, hugging herself tighter as she shivered.

'Forever untouched.'

Mina closed her eyes against the phantom voice and her onrush of tears.

'You're not as alone as you think.'

Mina opened her eyes slowly, looking to the source of the voice emerging from the shadows beyond her brother's grave. All she could see was a tall figure cloaked in black and backdropped by the silver moon. His skin was very pale, almost a ghastly white in the night's glow. He made not a sound as he continued to approach her slowly. At first his dark eyes were fixed on the pale headstone as he circled round to the side as if to read the inscription. He was within arms reach of Mina now, and, had she cared to look, his ethereal features were entirely visible by light of the moon.

But Mina was not looking. She had looked away and had to scrunch her face and blink fiercely to fight a fresh surge of tears that nearly sent her to her knees. Without warning he turned his dark gaze to Mina, and she met his unblinking eyes through her own painful stare.

'Forgive me, dear lady. I did not mean to cause you more grief,' he apologized, his lilting voice soothing Mina's nerves with an almost hypnotic power. She stared blankly into his eyes from the foot of the grave and, for a time, remained mute, unable to voice her thoughts had she wished to.

When she finally broke free of his gaze she blinked and swallowed the lump of tears in her throat. 'No,' she said in hardly above a whisper. 'It's alright. It's actually quite a comfort to hear those words. My brother... he used to tell me that all the time.'

When she looked up again she found him smiling softly and actually taking a step toward her. Holding her with his eyes he reached out a hand and gently brushed the long strands of dark hair from her tear stained face. His fingers were cold against her warm skin, but she did not pull away.

'Your pain will not last forever.'

He let his hand fall to his side and looked down at her in a way that made her shiver and look away.

'We will meet again.'

Mina looked up hesitantly, only to find him vanished and a heavy mist beginning to settle over the cemetery.

A/N: I'm not known for updating on a schedule as writing ability tends to come and go based on mood and school, and all that other jazz, so no promises about when the next chapter will be up, though I do hope to make it longer and a bit more full than this one. Anywho, I hope you like it so far. I'll admit it's a bit weird, but if you've read Dracula, you've read weird. It's just not typical ;)