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Jonathan was finishing writing his letters in the library where the Count had probably placed him. ,,Oh, poor Mina, my sweet fiancée. She´ll be patiently waiting for my return as she´ll be preparing the wedding with her mother. What a joyfull moments.“ It broke his heart, these thoughts, and her´s will shatter also. If he was feeling miserably before his feelings were on the verge of death by now. That was more than he could have envisaged.
Besides of his trembling psyche also his physical form was slowly withering away. Like a leaf in autumn. He did notice it before – nails falling of from his fingers, his hair becoming a bit more sparse. He blamed it on the cold but… Thanks to him being reckless his stamina was right now on a big fat zero and his chances at escaping rapidly reduced. The Count is not a human. I am sure of that. But based on what legend should I approach him? I never held any interest in fantasies therefore my whole life, its esencial being is based on numbers, laws and facts. He was intrigued by this being but at the same time he was deeply terrified of him. Speaking of the Devil and the Devil…
,,Have you finished all the letters?“ Jonathan jumped. How long has he been standing there in the corner, just watching? Perhabs the whole time. ,,As an excelent observer I must say that your hands have been unocupied for some time.“ ,,I was thinking,“ his guest answered. Dracula couldn´t miss the blank look in Jonathan´s eyes. Or the slightly elevated heartbeat. He is slowly disintegrating. How endearing.
,,Go on, ask.“
Silence
,,I believe some issues can be quite confusing. It is alright to ask.“ ,,Thank you for granting me the permission Count,“ he said with noticible bitterment. John took in another unsure but steady breath. ,,What the fuck have you done to me I…“ ,,Relax my friend. I specifically am not doing anything to you. It´s this place, my home that has afected you. It drains your life energy that´s why you feel so tired. It´s changing you in a good way! And there is nothing to worry about. The only thing I´ve done that could have caused you harm was drinking your blood.“ ,,What?“ ,,Oh, don´t act so surprised. I drank just a tiny amount to absorb your english skills. Can you imagine the language barrier with my old knowlidge? It would have been a waste of time even for someone like me.
,, What are you?“
,,A vampire.“ Just a simple idiom yet so powerfull at the same time.
,,And that means what exactly?“ ,,You don´t know?“ ,,Only the rough definition, and you don´t resemble a bloodthirsty monster. Most of the time.“ ,,These rumours come from the few uncultured swines. Otherwise we are quite sophisticated.“ ,,So there are more of you?“ ,,Well yes indeed! Only a handfull of them are older than me but..“
,,Like someone in those boxes,“ Jonathan really tried to pull himself together like he really did. Dracula still noticed. Something under the shell. A frantic poison seeping through and resurfacing. LIke when his dear lawyer fainted besides his coffin. ,,I´ll become like them won´t I? A soulless vessel whose only purpose is keeping alive you. Are you even able to comprehend that some people can’t withstand conditions such as these?! Especially their minds? You dare call yourself cultured, but you hide the tyranny behind closed doors!” ,,Most people are different behind closed doors Johnathan! As an adult you should know that.” ,,Most people don’t have to kill others in order for them to survive!” ,,You eat meat.” ,,But that’s not the same!” ,,Is it not, my dear?”
Jonathan was so worn out. If arguing with the Count took that much of his strength…
,,Are you thirsty my friend?” ,,Ah yes, thank you.”
Jonathan was greatly confused. What am I? A guest or a prisoner? A friend, employee or battery?
He brought the glass near his lips. With the first gulp he knew that his drink had been drugged. But he welcomed the mist that surrounded his mind. He couldn’t bear to think. On one side the Count was a respectable person; on the other he was kept alive by drinking blood. The dualism in everything that he managed to find since his arrival was killing him.
Before he could finish the whole glass his mind was already drifting away. He felt the physical things – like the wooden desk underneath him. Jonathan stayed like that for a while just drifting through the clouds caused by the opium. A blissful peace in the middle of invisible battlefield of his mind. What a strange type of drug.
His peace of mind got a bit distracted by a certain pair of strong hands that wrapped him in a warm blanket. Then someone picked him up bridal-style and started walking. He was gentle. If the drug wasn’t calming enough this certainly was. Or it was the drug. Who cares. They reached another hallway in the west wing and started to ascend some stairs. It felt like an eternity. Jonathan hasn’t seen stairs so long in here. Either way he didn’t know where he was. Or his imagination was playing tricks on him. Damn the drugs. The lawyer was certain that he heard the Count talking nevertheless his foggy mind was unable to decipher anything.
,,My dear you needn’t stress yourself so much. You are too precious to me to be locked away in some box, trust me. Your turning is faster than the others, yes, but it also means that after drinking only a bit your body will be restored. That’s good! Maybe I am unable to comprehend your fears right now. Even so I firmly trust in my judgment that your point of view will change with time. Perhaps one day you’ll be happy that you are not a mere mortal even with the cost it takes. Keeping you breathing will hurt me the same way it will hurt you. I know that. You know, I think you are the prettiest one yet. And the fiercest.” The Count smiled. He knew that it would end like this since the day Jonathan arrived. Well not exactly like this - he was planning to put him inside the box… That was before he met him. Fate is a strange thing.
Dracula reached the top of the stairs with ease. Jonathan shuddered when he felt the chilly air on his skin as they stepped outside. The Count placed him on the ground of the castle’s balcony still tightly wrapped in the blanket. He remained as he had been placed for quite some time, until his mind fully escaped the drug’s embrace. When he felt like he could control his limbs he sat up. Finally, he noticed the sun peaking behind one of the columns. So, he shuffled himself a bit that his whole body was bathing in the sunlight and closed his eyes. The count remained in the shadows. They stayed like that in complete silence. Neither one of them dared to rupture the newly found peace that surrounded them. Jonathan knew that something was different, one could say he felt it in his bones. Like he felt Dracula’s eyes watching his unnoticeable movements from the shadows.
When the sun completely disappeared behind the mountain tops the Count approached him.
,,Sorry to disturb you my dear, but the sun had already set.” ,,What a shame.” ,,I know. Was she pretty at least?” ,,Yes she was,” he frowned. Dracula sat beside him watching with curious eyes. ,,Then what’s wrong?” ,,Nothing I guess, like you said before I am just changing,” he paused ,,It’s just eh I’m having trouble breathing.” Oh. He’s having trouble breathing already? ,,Do you want me to ease your burden?” ,,You are capable of that?” ,,Yes although it requires for me to bite you, otherwise I can’t alter it.” ,,That’s fine. You can bite me.” ,,Are you sure? Jonathan shook his head as a sign of consent.
Dracula shuffled, making their knees touch. He then leaned over and brushed away one of the curls that were framing Jonathans face. ,,You realize that in order for you to completely recover I must kill you?” ,,I figured.” ,,So you’ll become like me and you could be my bride.” ,,I suppose I don’t have a choice.” ,,You don’t but perhaps one day you’ll learn to cherish this destiny.” All of the sudden the lawyers head was yanked back by a strong hand pulling his hair. This simple movement revealed the white almost translucent nape of his neck. Arbitrary he didn’t resist as the Count bit him. The transient pain was gone in few seconds and his mind got consumed by unexplainable euphoria. The vampires bite was intoxicating. First abrupt but therefore the Count was cautious. Jonathan was falling into deeper and deeper black of his mind, until there was nothing. Nothing at all.
SNAP
,,Sleep now my bride. When you wake up I’ll be there. I’ll be there to help you. At last you will be like me.” He took his newest bride into his arms and carried him back inside, while only the moon was illuminating their path.
His neck was hurting a bit when he tried to sit up. Someone pushed him back into his previous position. Then he felt cold silver cup brush against his lips. ,,Drink,” the Count demanded with cold voice. And Jonathan obeyed like Dracula knew he would. The cold liquid flowed into his mouth and into his throat seducing his thoughts with its metal-like taste.
Like that he sealed his fate, surrendering to the Counts touch. Becoming like him.
Jonathan drifted away from consciousness back to sleep again. Still in Dracula arms. Yesterday a mere dying human, today a newly born vampire.
The sun had risen. (The end)