Dracula Theory Read online

  And with that, the woman disappeared. I stood alone, watching the growing fog consume me in its foreboding blanket. The wolf’s howl returned, a sound that begged to seek solace within my ears from all corners of the land. For a brief moment, I thought my best avenue would be to purchase a return ticket to England and forget this quest. That was certainly an option—one that would put Mina Murray forever beyond my grasp. The mere thought of my beloved helped to reaffirm my dedication to the task at hand. I decided it was in my best interest to facilitate a quick retreat to my destination. With my bag in hand, I sprinted down the street.

  The establishment I sought came into view. The sign hung over the entryway like a siren song beckoning the lonely, “Come buy.” Without bothering to check if the previous danger had followed me, I pulled the door open and entered. There was no tinkle of a welcoming bell, only the glares of a rather motley looking collection of locals, many of them hunched over a drink or bowl of gruel.

  Whispered words were exchanged before the patrons returned to their meals. I made my way to the bar, set my bag at my feet, and nodded to the keep. “I hear the stew is good.”

  The bedraggled gent grunted and disappeared through a groaning door.

  A cloud of smoke wafted over me. Fright took hold of my breath, assuming the strange woman was about to reappear and finish what she’d started. Steeling my will against abject fear, I glanced over my shoulder to see an ancient-looking man had blown a lungful of pipe smoke my way. He peeled back his lips from the pipe and revealed a thicket of bent and blackened teeth. At the edges of his mouth, two overlong canines hung below his angry snarl and ended in dagger-like points.

  “You don’t belong here,” the be-fanged man warned.

  “I do believe this is precisely where I am to be at the moment.” My response brought out the man’s ire. His upper lip quivered, and his pupils narrowed to a pinprick.

  “What brings one like you to this town?”

  “Business.”

  “We have no business. This area has nothing to offer your kind.”

  I stood up slightly straighter. “My kind?”

  The gent leaned in close. There was a bitter tang wafting from him I couldn’t quite place. The stench made me instantly nauseous. When he answered me, his voice was a hiss.

  “Strangers.”

  “Who, may I ask then, is welcome here?”

  “No one.”

  The barkeep returned and slammed a bowl of stew on the bar in front of me. The broth was thick and brown, from which peeked potatoes, carrots, and a mystery meat of sorts. Before I could grab the spoon, the keep wrapped his fingers around my wrist.

  “That’ll be ten bani.”

  It was fortuitous that the Baron Murray had supplied me with plenty of the native currency. I extracted the money from my pocket and paid the man, leaving two extra bani for good measure. The gentleman nodded with the slightest hint of a grin.

  “Might I also have an ale?” I dared ask.

  “Five bani.”

  I handed the man six. He filled a mug with brew and presented it before me. Without hesitation, I drank deep from the hoppy liquid, before diving into the stew. Fortunately, the meal was tasty, although the meat a bit tough and had an unfamiliar flavor. That last thing I needed was to be the stranger in the establishment complaining about the food.

  My hunger was deep. In minutes I had the meal devoured and was paying up for more. The barkeep was happy to oblige so long as I was willing to continue sliding coin his way.

  “You smell of bourgeois.”

  I returned my attention to the pipe smoker. “How’s that, my friend?”

  “I am not your friend.”

  “I used the term loosely.”

  Yet another mistake—assuming the natives incapable of catching onto cynicism.

  “I don’t like you.”

  My brain insisted I back down. Unfortunately, my ego decided to step into the ring. I answered, “You don’t know me.”

  The toothy grin faded, replaced by a scowl that indicated I’d overstepped some unknown boundary. Before I could prepare myself to go to war with the man, his hand shot up to my neck in a blur. The grip around my throat was all-too familiar, my windpipe dangerously close to being crushed.

  “Alexandru,” the barkeep shouted. “Not here. Not now.”

  The grip loosened.

  “Then when? We must stand against—”

  The proprietor repeated his proclamation. “Not here. Not now.”

  Alexandru leaned into me and whispered, “Constantin won’t always be around to stop me from extracting your life.”

  “Go, Alexandru. I’ve had enough of your insolence for one day. You scare off more patrons than you’re worth.”

  Alexandru snarled, his left daggered tooth on full display. “You would go out of business if it weren’t for me.”

  Constantin rolled his eyes. “There are always plenty of drunks ready and willing to part with their money. You aren’t the first, and you certainly won’t be the last. Now … begone.”

  Alexandru departed in a huff, leaving behind a half-empty glass. A quick glance at the vessel had me questioning my sanity. The lip of the glass looked as if it were stained with blood. Before I could draw nearer to examine Alexandru’s abandoned drink more closely, Constantin snatched it away.

  “Would you care for another drink? Or more stew?”

  “No thank you, good sir. I would, however, be interested in a room.”

  Constantin tilted his head in curiosity. “We are not an inn, my friend. I can serve you spirit and stew but have no beds to offer.”

  The denial stopped me cold.

  “If you’re looking for a room, I can certainly recommend St. Mary’s. The church is but a short walk from here, and they are always willing to take in strangers. In fact, the deacon is seated over in the corner there, having a bite.” Constantin waved at the seated man. “Vasile. Come.”

  The clergyman stood, his towering frame draped in a threadbare black cassock. Vasile lumbered to the bar, his hooded eyes half open and his lips drawn into a seemingly permanent scowl.

  “Why must you pull me away from my supper, Constantin? I get so little time to myself.”

  Constantin unleashed a belly bouncing laugh before replying, “We have a guest in the city who needs a bed for the night. Can you oblige?”

  Vasile’s eyelids lifted to reveal a pair of bloodshot orbs beneath. After a great sigh, he simply nodded and turned back toward his meal. “Let me finish my stew in peace, then I will escort you to the church where there is a cot to rest your head and a fire to warm your bones.”

  With that, Vasile made his way back to the table. I turned to the bar and slapped enough coin down for another round. “Might as well.”

  Constantin laughed again, as he snatched up the bani.

  “Harker. Jonathan Harker.”

  “I like how you think, Mr. Jonathan Harker. And how you spend.”

  The ale gifted me a false sense of security that I desperately required. Given I’d been accosted twice in one evening, I needed something to soothe my nerves. At this rate, I’d be lucky to survive this trip with my life intact. My standing up to this danger was a stark reminder that I would, upon wedding Mina, finally have the spine to back down the Baron to let him know I was more than enough man to care and comfort his daughter. I didn’t need his cache of wealth to lap from.

  By the time I swallowed the last mouthful of the bitter brew, Vasile returned to the bar and gestured for me to follow. Before I could make my exit, Constantin bellowed, “Return here in the morning, Jonathan Harker. You won’t find a better breakfast in town.”

  “I most certainly will, good sir. Until then, have a pleasant evening.”

  I followed Vasile into the darkness of night. The second we were beyond the security of the establishment, the wolf’s cry returned. At the sound, Vasile picked up the pace. “Hurry, Mr. Harker.” His voice carried enough warning to have me rushing to meet his str
ide. Before long, Vasile and I were sprinting down the street, his priest robes flowing in his wake and my heart pounding in my head for release. Had it not been for the Baron’s threat to prevent me from marrying Mina, I’d have already booked my passage out of this maddening village. I was not made for such capers.

  A simple memory of Mina prevented me from turning back: A celebration of her birthday. We waltzed through a crowded room, each and every eye locked onto us in awe of the beauty I held in my hand. Mina’s steps were angelic, her laugh an equal measure of heaven. It was that moment I knew I was destined to marry her. My heart nearly leaped from my chest as I spoke the words, “I love you” for the first time.

  A distant howl wrenched me from my reverie. “Why are we—”

  Vasile raised a hand to silence my question. Together we raced toward the church without a word. When finally we reached the entryway, the priest crossed himself, voiced a quiet prayer, spit into the wind, pulled open the door, and gestured for me to enter.

  Inside, the church was a perfect calm against the quiet storm of fear rising within my chest. After catching my breath, I dared ask, “What was that all about, Father?”

  Vasile turned to me, his eyes darting around the ancient entryway. He replied in a rough whisper, “An ancient curse haunts this village.”

  With that, the man turned and marched off. Before the darkness consumed him, I followed. “What more can you tell me?”

  Silence.

  St. Mary’s was a maze of narrow stone walls that meandered into a winding chaos. Candles were distributed in such a way that barely illuminated the path. Shadows danced on the floor, playing tricks on my eyes and mind. After more turns than I imagined possible, Vasile stopped short of a doorway and pointed his long, bony finger at a lone cot. “You sleep there. Do not leave this room until daybreak.”

  Before I could ask anything of the man, he took his leave. I set my bag on the floor and gave it a nudge with my foot, until it was out of sight beneath the cot. Considering the temperature, and the lack of blankets to be found, I’d be sleeping in my clothes. Fortunately, exhaustion was taking hold of my resolve, so getting a good night’s rest shouldn’t be an issue.

  I dropped onto the cot, to be overwhelmed by a rather familiar odor. Looking around the darkened room, I spotted the source of the stench.

  “Garlic?” I brushed my fingers over the rope of cloves, a gesture that caused the smell to waft even stronger. Had I not already been one foot in the land of slumber, I’d have tossed the garlic rosary from the room. Instead, I let my head drop to the cot so sleep could carry me away from this maddening place.

  THREE

  Castle Bran

  I was awakened by the sound of song, the soft droning of choir boys rehearsing a mass. The composer was Joseph Haydn and the music the Heiligmesse in B-flat major. To hear the piece sung by a young choir lent an air of innocence to the structure and melody. My heart wanted desperately to sit back and enjoy the sounds. However, my mind quickly reminded my body where I was and what I was to do … so my legs insisted I stand and make my exit from St. Mary’s.

  The second I left the room, I realized my folly. Given the twists and turns of the halls, finding my way out of this maze would take me the better part of the morning. So, instead, I followed the sound of Haydn. The quick journey landed me in the nave of the church, where the choir stood at the end of the room, masterfully singing under the leadership of a stout man with a baton. The conductor’s arms moved sharply while his body remained in a counterpoint stillness. One by one, the boys fell into silence. The conductor turned and, upon spotting my presence, marched toward me.

  “Get out,” the man ordered.

  “I’m terribly sorry. I was looking for the exit and managed to get lost.”

  Some of the boys snickered.

  “Silence,” the conductor shouted.

  “Leave at once.”

  “He is my guest, Dumitru.” The voice belonged to Vasile.

  Dumitru turned to the priest, his baton pointing sharply. “We had a bargain, Vasile. No one is allowed to hear the mass until it is presented for the celebration.”

  “Put an end to your theatrics. The man is a visitor. I’m guessing he won’t be long enough in our village to attend the festival or hear your concert.”

  “That would be a correct assumption. I will only be staying long enough to meet with the Count, and then I’ll be on my way.”

  The room fell eerily silent, until the conductor turned to the choir and commanded, “Leave us at once.”

  Without question, the boys filed out of the nave, the last of them closing the heavy wooden door in his wake.

  I glanced between Vasile and Dumitru. “Did I say something wrong?”

  Vasile turned to me. “What business have you with the Count?”

  “I am not at liberty to say. I was sent by my employer and must protect his desires at all costs.”

  Dumitru shook his head. “Ignorant Englishman. You’d be better served concerning yourself with your own protection. What good is your employer here? Should you find yourself in trouble, there’s next to nothing they could do to save you from—”

  Vasile struck Dumitru in the ribs with an elbow. The man fell instantly silent.

  “I would imagine the trouble I could dig up in such a small town would pale in comparison to that in a real city.”

  Both men laughed, until Vasile’s voice interrupted. “You have no idea what danger awaits you here.”

  “How so?” I dared ask.

  Dumitru answered. “The lengths to which the citizens of this town will—”

  Vasile placed a hand over Dumitru’s mouth. “Be silent. You’ve already said too much.”

  The priest returned his attention to me. “I suggest you return to England, before it’s too late.”

  It was my turn to laugh. “What could possibly happen to me here?”

  “Unspeakable acts,” was Dumitru’s answer.

  “Care to explain yourself?”

  The priest and the conductor stared at me in silence.

  “Very well. I’ll be taking my leave then.” I tipped an imaginary hat. “Good day to you both.”

  Before I could turn to exit, Vasile stopped me with a hand to my shoulder. “Our town possesses mysteries you neither understand nor should. We have secrets that do not belong to the world and, we will stop at nothing to keep them silenced. Whatever business you have with Count Dracula, leave it and go.”

  “Unfortunately, sir, the business I am involved in doesn’t allow me such liberties. I must honor the wishes of my employer, no matter the cost.”

  “Even if the cost is your life?” Dumitru whispered.

  I offered a nod and turned my back to the men. Without much ado, I found the exit and left the church, the words of Dumitru’s warning ringing soundly in my head. I doubted their veracity. After all, what could possibly happen to a man such as myself in a town such as this? My mind was certainly playing tricks on my heart. I’d already either witnessed or suspected enough danger in this tiny village than I ever cared to encounter.

  As cold doubt turned to sickening fear, I once again had to recall the image of my darling Mina to carry me through. With that to bolster my confidence, it was easy to convince myself the biggest danger in Romania was going mad with boredom, or even possibly finding nothing of interest and leaving empty-handed. That, of course, wouldn’t go over very well with the Baron. Disappointing that man could easily lead me to a life of bitter regret.

  And so, I continued on with my quest to locate one Count Dracula.

  My stomach growled, reminding me of Constantin’s offer of breakfast. Without hesitation, I made my way to the establishment and sat myself down at the bar.

  “Good morning, Mr. Harker. I hope you enjoyed your stay at St. Mary’s.”

  “I wouldn’t exactly call it joy, but I did get to hear the boys’ choir rehearsing a lovely mass.”

  Constantin wiped down the surface before me. “I s
uppose, then, you met Dumitru?”

  “Indeed, I did.”

  Constantin shook his head. “Pardon my saying so, but the man is an ass.”

  “He and Vasile certainly offered dire warnings for me.”

  My statement brought Constantin to a stop, his brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed to slits. “And what was this warning?”

  “That I was in danger and should abandon my quest.”

  I retrieved a handful of bani from my pocket and offered them to Constantin. “What kind of breakfast might a man purchase with this sum?”

  Constantin’s eyes widened and his lips curled up into a deadly smile. “Quite a hardy one, my friend.” The man scooped up the coin from my hand. “If I may be so bold, what is your business in our town?”

  “My employer has sent me to discuss an urgent matter with Count Dracula.”

  Constantin froze, his eyes and mouth shut tight. After a moment, he gestured for me to follow him into the kitchen. Once we were beyond earshot of the tavern’s main room, he turned to me and, with a grim darkness painted over his face, said, “Forget your duty and leave this town. Nothing good will come of you visiting the Count.”

  “I don’t understand. Why is everyone warning me against this man? Is he a monster?”

  Constantin’s voice dropped to a whisper. “It is not Dracula you need to be concerned about.”

  “Then who?”

  “Everyone.”

  “I only mean to speak to the man.”

  “That is enough to get you killed.”

  The look on Constantin’s face made it clear his warning was as truthful as it was dire. I pressed on.

  “I have no choice. Should I return to England without having spoken with the Count, I fear my very future would be in jeopardy.”

  “Unless you forgo your quest, your future is already forfeit.”

  I’d already crossed the point of no return. No matter what tragedy lay before me, I was in this for love’s own hand. I would not back down and forgo my chance at truest happiness. “Please, friend, point me toward Dracula’s home, so that I may speak with the man and take my leave. I have a map, but my journey would be greatly expedited with your assistance.”