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

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

12th of May

The day started as many such do, in simple menial tasks. To keep a castle running even just for the guest and the four nosferatu found within is not so easy work as to have much free time. Thus when the count had bid me to fetch letter supplies from a nearby town, namely Bistritz, the speed to which I accomplished the task would surely have seemed suspicious, if not for the fact I remained completely out of sight between the borders of the town and the castle entrance. Even still it took a considerable effort on my part so that I still be timely on all other matters. My only source of respite be that the guest has started to adapt to that nightly schedule of the count, and so my watches over him become less and less as he sleeps through the day.

Still It is no wonder that I now find myself so exhausted, that despite my heightened abilities from the counts power I do still tire after a day of so heavy work. Tonight sleep will find me quickly and envelop me securely I do think. As of now the count talks with the guest of many things, in past the history of the count himself cleverly disguised as that of his ancestors, but today more of a business manor. Talk as that I can not endure, so I have stepped just away but still be close enough should my presence be needed.

Later

I had been so tired and what little sleep I found this night had not soothed me, and so in that early watch I did nap, it was short but apparently still long enough. The guest has seen the count climb down the cliff into the valley, himself going to please the children as they wish for their master's hand. The count has warned me that Mr. Renfield has grown quite suspicious himself, and I think it is not long before the count is to reveal all to him. For even in his wonderings at what he knows the man grows madder with the imprisonment and oddities.

This madness seems more apparent to me than any other, as I see him staring at places on the wall's for long amounts of time, before suddenly turning and staring somewhere else. It might seem as if he be deep in thought, but I think it is a sign of an unstable mental state.

16th of may

I must have dropped my guard after being assured in my mind of Mr. Renfield's madness, for today I made an incredible mistake, and I count myself lucky to still be alive and in the Count's service after my folly of yesterday.

The day started as any other recently with my general duties at early light and after dawn to watch the guest as he went about his day. He seemed in general low spirits as the letters the count had him write yesterday must not have improved his mood. I watched from above today, as the floor's had many a hole in them, and where there were not the gaps in the cielingboards worked just fine at providing a view of the man. I took my time meandering along the crawl space cleaning what I could, and not having brought any supplies to deal with insect with me, resorted to eating them I came across.

I must have gotten distracted over one of the halls, for one moment I was watching him, and the next I could only hear the remnants of a horrid screech that issued out during the opening of a door. I hurried back to the main room to try and Identify which room he was now in, but the boards did not avail me, as I could not see him in his room or the library, the sitting room or the hall. Fearing the worst I crawled back down into the main level and did my best to figure wear he had gotten off to. I did not notice at that time, but it was securely into dusk.

Here lies my biggest error, for I had thought to have locked all rooms securely when preparing for the guest. The man had by some miracle found a door not locked and with a force had opened it. When at last I found him a nightmare had already occurred. For the wives had quickly found him, lying on a couch in the room, and despite the count's warning had worked their nast spells, and come quite close to having a feast when the count had stopped them and had just pulled the tallest wife off the man and never did I imagine or see such wrath and fury in the monsters eyes. The Count waved the women away from the guest, and gave me such a look after I had come in the door that I thought I must surely die that night.

"How dare you touch him, any of you? How dare you cast eyes on him when I had forbidden it? Back, I tell you all! This man belongs to me! Beware how you meddle with him, or you'll have to deal with me." The Count's low voice a warning to the women in itself. It seemed to little change their attitudes, as the tallest turned to face the count.

"You yourself never loved; you never love!" she replied, and the three women all burst into soulless peals of laughter such that I had not heard from them before. I flinched at the sound, and curled in on myself, an effort to make myself smaller no doubt. The Count turned to the man lying still on the couch and whispered so low I almost didn't catch it.

"Yes, I too can Love; you yourselves can tell it from the past. Is it not so? Well, now I promise you that this man hath far more use to us alive then at your lips. Now go! Go! I must awaken him, for there is work to be done."

"Are we to have nothing to-night?" said one wife, and my attention was drawn to the bag on the floor, that evident carried the feeding for the wives, and here the guests face changed as subtle but noticeable disgust was shown at the recognition of a child given to the beastly women.

Here the count turned to me, and said naught a word, but beckoned I follow and quickly we were out of the room and far away in another area of the castle.

"You have failed me, and by you my plans be moved up, Why?" the Count's voice carried with it more anger then he had even displayed to the women. "Of them I expect, but you are not known to fail until recent." at this I knew my fate to be sealed.

"I am sorry Master, most sorry, allow me a chance, I can repent and fix ..." my begging statement was not halfway out my mouth before a heavy weight hit my head, and I found myself flying through the air, and my landing on the far side of the room left me winded, even still as soon as I had air in my lungs "please master, I only live to serve you, do not throw me awa...." again another blow, this one a kick sending me sliding into the wall.

I knew myself to be on the verge of death, even after so few as two hits and yet I still raise my head in pleading, for I was loyal and I knew that if it be the count's wishes I should die then that be that, and I have no place to argue but I had some small hope as to still be worth of him.

"You will move Mr. Renfield to his bed, and ready things, for at nightfall tomorrow shall he join you as my familiar." was the Count's last words to me. I struggled up and using a few insects I had since come upon was able to move the man. Now I know my days be numbered, for surely once the man be taught my position the Count will have no further need of me.

I write this now sitting still wounded watching the man from behind the stone walls I am so familiar with, which soon will no longer be mine to call home as familiar alone. He shows the signs of madness again, staring blankly at the wall, but no doubt he is trapped in his own mind trying to reason what he can of this so strange situation. It is my understanding the Count had wanted to wait till he was truly desperate for escape before approaching him, but by my erring hand is forced to move tonight. For this action I will eternally repay, and it is my hope that master may one day look upon me with favor again.

Here I will note that this page is written quite shakily as if one were scared or nervous. It once again is signed in that unreadable language of the same words but no inference to their meaning can be drawn. 

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.