On the being of a Nosferatu's Familiar, The Diary of one Valdrada Steinbach

Chapter 2

7th of May

The guest slept all of yesterday, much to the counts dismay, for he had planned to practice his English with the man, so instead he must wait a day, and as such it was a plain day for myself, following out his orders. I saw little change from the normal, Though I did not deal with the wives meals today for the count took it upon himself to warn them off his guest.

Here I find it best to include a section from an earlier journal to explain these "wives" who show up so often in the narrative.

6th of december 1754

The count has told me that new beings are to be entering the castle today, three women I gather who he himself have bitten and gorged, and who he has fed with his own blood. This I believe has turned them into quite fearsome creatures, who with the counts blood running in them have become nosferatu themselves.

Later

I have come to have seen these ladies, and i've made my mind to call them the count's "wives" for they be dressed in burial clothes of pure white, with long trailing veils and trains. Truly they look the part of the undead, for their new form has them ghostly pail with bright red lips as that of a fresh apple. They have a weird and unsettling beauty about them, which makes one jolt in both awe and fear.

When he had first brought them into the castle the count had me arrange for their coffins (for they be bound by the same rule of sleep in the holy ground which they were laid) be moved quite near to his in the old chapel. I did this quite quickly with the help of some insect friends lying around. In all the time that it took me to move the boxes, the ladies said naught but a word, and it left me thinking they mightant even be able to speak without masters permission. This thought however was dashed when the tallest of the three, who had golden hair so near the colour of straw, and a small thin figure spoke up after watching me so curiously. "Are we and her alike?" she asked the count. For the first time in a while I swear I saw a smile creep onto masters face. "No, a servant can not compare to the lady's" was his simple answer.

It stung a little, to know that these ladies who just newly met master, and who had only been drunken off, and given to by the count were placed in a higher station then I, but only for a moment for I new these thoughts not helpful to my work, and so when I had finished I asked master if there be anything else I need do, or if I should retire to my other work. He waved me away and once I had left the room I could hear their voices in a slight conversation, About what I do not know but it did not concern me so I left quickly. Now it is quite securely day and the count and his new ladies have retired and so I am left to my own devices, and here I think to write.

Here we return to the 7th of may

Today however things were quite eventful with the guest waking at early morning, and today I have had my first glimpse of the guest. I had already set out the cold breakfast of simple fruit, bread, meat, and cheese and warmed the coffee over the hearth and hidden myself well away in other room when he had walked out into the area. I had looked through cracks in the wall and found myself staring at a rather well put together man. Not entirely too tall or short, and who's hair was neatly in order and had evidently just shaved his chin. He had brown locks, or a color I can't describe as anything but dirt brown, and nothing of his facial features was of particular notice, except maybe a somewhat long and pointy nose, and his eyes. Oh his eyes were of emerald green which shone exquisitely as he took in his surroundings.

The meal must have been agreeable as without much hesitation he had sat down, read the note left by the count and begun eating. Throughout the meal he took his time to familiarize himself with the surroundings, and slowly I could see his brain try and reason the oddness of the place. An oddness I knew well myself, for nothing in the world could compare to the count's castle. Its gray stone walls full either with cobwebs and aging or beautiful furniture and tapestry worth more than the entire rest of the inhabitants of the Carpathians.

After eating he made his way around trying to figure out what rooms might be open to him, and had just settled into the library and viewed several of the English books therein when the count had entered. I took that as my leave, and went to go complete my duties, at this point, quite exhausted of the little rest of the days past, and still recovering of the punishment allotted me, and so my dinner was of spiders and flies and all manner of insects that had since found itself in my room.

Tonight I will spend my time with the wives, for though they think me lower than them, and often will not talk with myself around. It is better to be with them and watch then to allow them to wander off and mayhap ruin the counts so carefully crafted plan.

8th of may

The guest has started to feel the oddness of this place more keenly, for the count warned me before the dawn that the Mr. had had a shaving mirror in which he had not seen the count for a moment, and today just after breakfast it could be observed the man starting to run around and try doors like a mad man. It is evident he has started to feel himself within the prison the count has set for him. It is also hopeful that he has not noticed my presence and of course not that of the wives who I have kept quite securely locked away in other parts of the castle. The act of which the wives have taken as a personal affront by myself on them, and now they smile as to show those oh so sharp canines when I am around, despite delivering to them a meal of most pleasant innocent blood that they could enjoy.

The guest must think himself alone in the castle, and become so hopeless that the count might entreat him with the idea of becoming his familiar. I think that after such a deal is made the man will be introduced to myself, and it will become my duty to instruct him in the ways of familiar, from their he will go on to London with the count to make his transition most seamless, as I must stay here and keep the castle.

Here the entry ends with a sentence in a language I do not speak, and all manner of linguistic professors I have here in asked say the same that it be some Germanic language of unknown, a few words may be made out such as "work" and "day" but none other be figured out. I have left it out here, for I myself can not figure out what letters make it up. This same sentence is seen several other times in the diaries but nothing of substantial connection can be made between them as to guess at its meaning.

AUTHERS NOTE

this work is based on Bram Stoker's Dracula, but is not a 100% faithfull retelling, however if you note an item where I have messed up what fact Is evident true to the orginal book, please let me know.

this is a rough draft, and their is zero editing currently, if you find anything in need of fixing let me know in the comments.

this work is in public domain as with its source materiel.