read.
What language or code he writes in, I cannot say, she said after a time. But he has written his name here; Harker. Jonathan Harker, Esquire.
I scarce heard her, for I had more carefully examined the legal document and scanned the stack of correspondence. I was stricken like Saul on the road to Damascus with a blinding revelation; and now, I felt my eyes blaze with the same red fury I had earlier seen in Elisabeths.
For I suddenly understood that this man was not here simply as a houseguest, to quench Vlads thirst. No, he was here for a far more sinister purpose: to assist Vlad in moving to England.
A half century ago, Vlad had sworn to me that he would take me from this dreary country to an exciting life in London. Only our difficulties with my brother, Arkady, and his son, the accursed Van Helsing, have prevented us from escape.
Now he was going at lastwhilst I would remain behind to starve. Why else had he prevented me from leaving the castle?
I turned to her, waving a paper in my hand. This! I hissed. This is a title deedto property Vlad has purchased in secrecy!
She stopped reading the paper in her hand, and faced me, one golden brow arched in an extreme inverted V as she peered at the document I clutched. London, it seems, she said, thoughtful, remaining calm despite my rage. Purfleet is outside London. And she held up to my gaze another signed paper, this a bill of sale for another estate. Piccadilly. In London proper.
Overwhelmed by rage, I sat abruptly in a faded brocade chair.
Has he spoken to you of this? Elisabeth stepped behind me and put a comforting hand upon my shoulder.
I shook my head, and she sighed. My darling Zsuzsanna I think he means to abandon you here.
The bastard! I swore, seething. He means to leave us here to starve! He means to destroy uswe who have only helped him!
She knelt beside me, her expression one of utter sympathy, and wound an arm about my knees, as if to comfort me. Zsuzsanna, I swear to you that he will not succeed! I have expected this all along, and made plans for it.
Then why did you come here, if you knew he would betray you?
He told me of you in his letter. I did not come to help him. I came to free you.
At that, I leaned down and embraced her, pressing her face to my shoulder, and felt hot tears sting my eyes. My sweet Elisabeth, you have been so good to me!
She held me so tightly, and I her, that when we let go, we both gasped. I shall be even better, she said, with a look of infinite resolve. I only ask that you trust me.
There is no question of that. But what shall we do? We cannot leave the castle.
Wait, my sweet. Only wait. When the time is right, we shall leave.
I cannot wait! I cried, and struck my heel against the floor like an angry child. Why can we not kill him now? . You are so powerful, Elisabeth. Why havent you yet destroyed him, and freed us from this castle?
At that she sighed and remained quiet a time, staring beyond me at some distant, invisible sight. Finally, she met my gaze again. When another century, perhaps two, have passed, Zsuzsanna, then you will understand. Immortality carries with it one unavoidable burden, that of ennui . It pleases me to have a new sportto avenge your suffering by destroying Vlad.
But it would be far too simple to destroy him here; and, I confess, it would be difficult, because his power is greater here than anywhere. And it would be far too swift for he has inflicted far too much suffering in both life and undeath to die quickly, without anguish. She straightened, suddenly infused with excitement. Let us give chase! Let us pursue him to London and torment him there, unravel his plans. And when he is utterly confounded, only then we will reveal that we are the source of his suffering.
She clasped my waist and drew me closer to her, then planted upon my lips a fervent kiss. Let me take you to London, Zsuzsanna! Let us conquer both Vlad and the city. I will dress you in the finest satins and silks, and adorn
What language or code he writes in, I cannot say, she said after a time. But he has written his name here; Harker. Jonathan Harker, Esquire.
I scarce heard her, for I had more carefully examined the legal document and scanned the stack of correspondence. I was stricken like Saul on the road to Damascus with a blinding revelation; and now, I felt my eyes blaze with the same red fury I had earlier seen in Elisabeths.
For I suddenly understood that this man was not here simply as a houseguest, to quench Vlads thirst. No, he was here for a far more sinister purpose: to assist Vlad in moving to England.
A half century ago, Vlad had sworn to me that he would take me from this dreary country to an exciting life in London. Only our difficulties with my brother, Arkady, and his son, the accursed Van Helsing, have prevented us from escape.
Now he was going at lastwhilst I would remain behind to starve. Why else had he prevented me from leaving the castle?
I turned to her, waving a paper in my hand. This! I hissed. This is a title deedto property Vlad has purchased in secrecy!
She stopped reading the paper in her hand, and faced me, one golden brow arched in an extreme inverted V as she peered at the document I clutched. London, it seems, she said, thoughtful, remaining calm despite my rage. Purfleet is outside London. And she held up to my gaze another signed paper, this a bill of sale for another estate. Piccadilly. In London proper.
Overwhelmed by rage, I sat abruptly in a faded brocade chair.
Has he spoken to you of this? Elisabeth stepped behind me and put a comforting hand upon my shoulder.
I shook my head, and she sighed. My darling Zsuzsanna I think he means to abandon you here.
The bastard! I swore, seething. He means to leave us here to starve! He means to destroy uswe who have only helped him!
She knelt beside me, her expression one of utter sympathy, and wound an arm about my knees, as if to comfort me. Zsuzsanna, I swear to you that he will not succeed! I have expected this all along, and made plans for it.
Then why did you come here, if you knew he would betray you?
He told me of you in his letter. I did not come to help him. I came to free you.
At that, I leaned down and embraced her, pressing her face to my shoulder, and felt hot tears sting my eyes. My sweet Elisabeth, you have been so good to me!
She held me so tightly, and I her, that when we let go, we both gasped. I shall be even better, she said, with a look of infinite resolve. I only ask that you trust me.
There is no question of that. But what shall we do? We cannot leave the castle.
Wait, my sweet. Only wait. When the time is right, we shall leave.
I cannot wait! I cried, and struck my heel against the floor like an angry child. Why can we not kill him now? . You are so powerful, Elisabeth. Why havent you yet destroyed him, and freed us from this castle?
At that she sighed and remained quiet a time, staring beyond me at some distant, invisible sight. Finally, she met my gaze again. When another century, perhaps two, have passed, Zsuzsanna, then you will understand. Immortality carries with it one unavoidable burden, that of ennui . It pleases me to have a new sportto avenge your suffering by destroying Vlad.
But it would be far too simple to destroy him here; and, I confess, it would be difficult, because his power is greater here than anywhere. And it would be far too swift for he has inflicted far too much suffering in both life and undeath to die quickly, without anguish. She straightened, suddenly infused with excitement. Let us give chase! Let us pursue him to London and torment him there, unravel his plans. And when he is utterly confounded, only then we will reveal that we are the source of his suffering.
She clasped my waist and drew me closer to her, then planted upon my lips a fervent kiss. Let me take you to London, Zsuzsanna! Let us conquer both Vlad and the city. I will dress you in the finest satins and silks, and adorn
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