This won´t be long chapter, either, but I am slowly moving the story toward the Hammer´s idea of vampire cult and it´s disciples preying Transylvania...
"You are a doctor, are you not?"
Van Helsing looked up from his morning tea to the portly inn-keeper. "Yes, I am. Do you need help?"
"Well... your coach will not come for hours, and our priest is ill. He is young man, but he was atttacked and wounded to the neck last. It was... well, he is not in very good condition." Inn-keeper changed glances with his wife.
"Was the attacker a vampire?" Van Helsing asked softly.
Inn-keeper hesitated, not knowing what to to say to this well-dressed, soft-spoken man, who clearly was not from the area.
"Don´t understand me wrong," Van Helsing said kindly. "I know vampires are more than superstition. Believe me, I know."
"Well," inn-keeper blurted, "priest said there was young blonde man, dressed in finery, and three women..."
"Three?"
"Yes. One of those women, one with the red dress, bit him."
Van Helsing looked Marianne. "Don´t go out, if the inn is not in fire. I come back so soon I can."
"Be careful, " Marianne said and squeezed his hand.
"I will."
.
.
In her garlic-filled room, Marianne opened her bigger luggage and took something from the bottom. Fabric of red satin and black lace, long red veil over the back like darkly romantic version of bridal gown, shimmered in the oil-lamp light.
It is too lovely to thrown away. Who cares it is from the vampire? I love Abraham, a man I´m engaged with. It is only a dress...