August 9th:

Over the past few days, Lucy's condition had gotten worse and worse. She was having intense nightmares, trouble sleeping, and she was growing extremely pale.

Mina and Ada had been working tirelessly to figure out how to help her. Mina walked into Lucy's study, where Ada was, looking through a series of books.

"Where did you find those?" Mina asked. "The local library. They had a few books on Romanian folklore. I figured I'd refresh my memory on how the strigoi work, but I can't find anything telling me if people who are bitten can turn without dying. All I know is that Lucy is growing sick, and if we don't do something-" Ada was cut off by Mina. "Don't say it." Mina said.

Ada sighed before sitting on the desk. "How did life get so bad so quickly?" Ada asked. "I don't know, hon. On the bright side, we can still save Lucy, and Jonathan may still be alive." Mina said.

"You're right. I have an idea for how we can spend the night." Ada said, making Mina rather excited. "And no, it's not what you're thinking." Ada said. "Oh… what are we gonna do?" Mina asked.

"We're going to go out and search for Jonathan tonight." Ada said. "You really think we can find him?" Mina asked. "I'm sure we can." Ada responded.

Then, the two heard Lucy holler for them from downstairs. They went downstairs and entered the living room, where Lucy and her mother were waiting for them. "Arthur and I have decided to hold the wedding on the 28th of next month." Lucy announced.

Mina seemed to be happy that Lucy and Arthur had a date set for the wedding, but Ada rolled her eyes in frustration over the fact that she would have to live in the same house as Lucy's mother for another month, more than another month actually.

Later that night:

Mina and Ada left their room in the middle of the night, and they went outside. "Why are we searching at night?" Mina asked. "Because, if Jonathan was the man that ran away from the shipwreck, then he clearly doesn't wanna be around the people in the town. Think about it, if he wanted to help, why would he run away. So, he's most likely coming out at night." Ada explained.

They proceeded to enter the house's shed. Mina grabbed a bolt-action rifle, while Ada grabbed a lever-action. "If you see Dracula, shoot him." Ada instructed as she loaded her rifle. "Okay, got it." Mina said before Ada slung the rifle strap over her shoulder, and she grabbed a kerosene lantern and put fuel in it.

They proceeded to leave the shed, and they began wandering around the town. After a while, they made their way up a hill to the rundown abbey. They went inside the dilapidated building. Portions of the building were collapsed, and the area was in no way livable.

"We haven't been able to find Jonathan anywhere. If he's not here, then he's in the woods." Ada said. They proceeded to walk towards the hatch that led to the basement. Right as they were about to open the hatch, they heard a whaling screech. They looked and saw Dracula in his winged form, standing atop the walls.

Before Ada could say anything, Mina quickly aimed and fired, only for Dracula to swifty dodge the bullet, and fly down towards them. "Get down!" Ada shouted, and the two of them dove to the ground, avoiding getting picked up by Dracula.

Dracula landed, and turned to look at them. He proceeded to let out another screech, before Ada quickly got up, aimed and shot him through the chest, knocking him back for a second.

"Mina, run!" Ada shouted. Mina got up and rushed out of the abbey. Dracula looked Ada dead in the eyes, and began rushing towards her. Ada shot him several times, before he raised his right hand into the air, prepared to slash Ada with his claws.

As his hand swung down, Ada blocked the attack with her rifle, before shoving Dracula away. Ada then noticed Mina standing behind Dracula, having returned. Ada quickly got out of the way, and a bullet whizzed through Dracula's head

Mina and Ada proceeded to leave the Abbey swiftly as Dracula's head wound regenerated. "Alright, how are we gonna get out of this?!" Mina asked. "I told you a few days ago. One of the things I remember about Strigoi is that they need to be invited into your home." Ada said.

"So we just need to get back to Lucy's house, and we're safe?" Mina asked. "Yes!" Ada answered.

They made it back into town as Dracula flew towards them. He dived down and hit the ground hard, almost landing on Mina. "Holy shit!" Mina exclaimed as they continued to run. They returned to the house, and they noticed that the house had a welcome mat that just read, "You're welcome." Ada rolled her eyes before picking the mat up and throwing it into the street, and they went inside, before closing and locking the door. "We'll lock this just to be safe." Ada said, panting loudly.

"Going out was a horrible idea, but at least we're alive." Mina said. "Yeah… but now Lucy's mother is just going to nag me when she figures out that we lost her oil lamp. She always targets me." Ada said. "Hon, that is the least of our worries right now." Mina said.

"I know, it's just… she reminds me of my parents." Ada said. "Wait, you never told me that your parents acted like that." Mina said. "I don't wanna talk about it anymore." Ada said before heading upstairs.

The next day:

Seward entered Renfield's cell. Renfield had been extraordinarily tired during the morning, would return to normal during the day, although calmer than usual, and he would grow increasingly restless during the night.

"So Renfield, about your cat idea-" Seward was quickly cut off by Renfield. "I'm done with that plan. I just wanna return to my master. You have to let me leave!" Renfield pleaded.

Seward thought for a moment, and he quickly developed an idea. If he wanted to gather more information on Renfield, then seeing where he'd go would be a rather good idea. "Alright, I'll let you leave, but only if I'm allowed to follow." Seward said. "Thank you, thank you." Renfield said, looking out the window. The sun was beginning to set, and Renfield smiled sadistically.

"Master will love you." Renfield said. Then, Seward opened the cell door, and Renfield rushed out. Seward and one of the security guards followed Renfield, and they opened up the main entrance of the asylum before following Renfield into the town.

Eventually, they arrived at the abbey. "He's here, somewhere." Renfield said. "Very well ten." Seward said before knocking Renfield out. "We'll begin investigating this place to see what we can learn soon enough. Seward said before slinging Renfield's body over his shoulders.

He and the security guard began making their way back down the hill, before Dracula flew down and picked the security guard up. Seward's eyes widened in fear, and he quickly ran down the hill, still carrying Renfield's body.

"You are not gonna kill me, you are not gonna kill me!" Seward said under his breath as he ran through the town, and towards the asylum. Dracula, who was feeding on the security guards blood, resumed his pursuit, but when he flew over the town, he couldn't see Seward.

However, he could track Renfield through a psychic connection. He flew down towards an alleyway where Seward was hiding, and Seward, realizing that Dracula was approaching, quickly made a run for it, cutting through the narrow alleyways of the town, before making it to the asylum. He quickly rushed inside, and slammed the doors shut.

The next day:

Seward was in Renfield's cell, practically abusing Renfield. "Son of bitch!" Seward shouted before he began choking Renfield. Renfield was weak enough in the mornings for him to do this.

"I'm gonna ask you again, what was that?" Seward asked. "That… was my master." Renfield said.

Seward proceeded to shove Renfield into a wall. "You're lying! That wasn't human, but I know for a fact that you know what that was. You're too strange not to know." Seward said.

"I have no reason to lie to you. My master refuses to come and rescue me himself, and I fear that there's no point in telling falsehoods when I myself have nothing to lose anymore. After all, the only thing I have left are my thoughts as I rot in this prison. But… I also have patience, so please stop attacking me." Renfield said before sitting back down on his bed.

Seward frowned before storming out of the room, and slamming the door shut. Renfield didn't even twitch at the loud crash of the door. Now, he was just waiting for the right time to escape. Perhaps Dracula will take him back when he returns. Perhaps this was a test from his cruel master.

Later that day:

Seward received a telegram from Arthur, asking him to perform a checkup on Lucy. Seward worked in psychology, but he also trained in the field of medicine, so he was qualified for this.

He arrived at Lucy's house, and knocked on the door. Arthur opened the door. "Seward, we've been waiting for you." Arthur said as he stepped aside for Seward to enter. Seward came in and went to the living room where Lucy, Lucy's mother, Mina, and Ada were waiting for him.

After the checkup: Seward came back into the living room with Lucy. "I cannot identify the ailment, but Lucy is non-anemic at the moment." Seward said. "Oh dear, is there anyone who can help?" Lucy's mother asked.

"I'll contact my former teacher to come and examine Lucy." Seward said. "He should arrive soon once I contact him." Seward said before leaving.

A week later:

Seward's teacher arrived, and he knocked on the door to Lucy's house. He was a tall, 48 year old, able man, with a rather fit physique. Ada opened the door. "Are your Dr. Seward's former teacher?" Ada asked. "Professor Van Helsing." the man said before entering the house.

After the examination: Van Helsing walked up to Seward outside of Lucy's room, while Lucy rested in bed. "There is no condition that I can peg as the cause of this, but I'm still worried." Van Helsing said. "Alright, I'll inform Arthur." Seward said before leaving.

August 25th:

Over the past two days, Seward wrote to Van Helsing, informing him that Lucy was getting better, but on this day, Van Helsing received a letter, requesting his assistance once more.

Meanwhile:

Renfield was sitting on the bed in his cell, waiting. At this point, patience would be his only way out of the asylum. Then, he heard Dracula's voice in his head. "Renfield, come to me, prove your commitment and come to me. You will be needed soon." Dracula's voice said in Renfield's head. "Patience, master. I will arrive soon." Renfield said in response.

A/N: And that's the end of chapter 9. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.