Tudor Rose [BoyxBoy]

Chapter 23 - Hysteria

Henri could sense that Michael was entranced by Mina Murray from the way he followed her with his eyes. He could not blame his lover though, as she was undeniably enchanting. He trusted in Michael's ability to protect them, but he did not feel at all safe. The vampire hunter Van Helsing was the largest and most threatening man he had ever come across, and it was obvious that he did not believe their story. Henri felt as though Michael was only trapping them deeper and deeper in a lie, making them all the more vulnerable. He had long since stopped his attempts to calm Henri, clearly more focused now on his investigation, which Henri resented slightly.

"He wrote to me when he arrived at the Count's castle," said Mina, "He said the Count was gracious, and he spoke of the wonders of his home. I wrote back, inquiring further about the Count's riches and other such things. I also made mention of the engagement between Lucy and Mr. Holmwood, though I received no response."

"Well that is certainly not reason enough to presume him dead, my dear," said Fitzgerald Murray. Mina spun around, and Henri could see a will of fire in her eyes, a forcefulness and strength that she had clearly inherited elsewhere than from her father and brother.

"I would not have made the assumption, had Lucy not disappeared. When my correspondence with her ended, I began having nightly visions. They were horrible, wretched sights. The blood soaked bodies of children, mangled corpses... and red eyes, the eyes of a man. Somehow, I knew the visions coming to me were Lucy's visions. I could feel her soul calling out to me, asking for help. But what could I do here?"

"Still," said Arthur. "What does that have to do with Jonathan?"

"It's just a feeling I have," said Mina. "Somehow, I know there a connection."

"You believe it is the Count from Transylvania who made Lucy into a vampire?" said Van Helsing.

Mina hesitated before saying, "Yes. It has to be." She sat down again, and looked directly at Michael for a brief moment before turning away and avoiding his gaze.

The servant girl from before came bursting into the parlor room, panting heavily and trying to recover from a fit of hysteric crying. "Come quickly, it's the mistress!" she wailed. Everyone in the room rose quickly to follow the girl. She led them outside where it was already dark to a hedge maze where the iron gate door had been bent and broken and was now on the ground.

"What happened here, Myrtle?" asked Murray.

The girl tried to speak but suddenly collapsed, and Arthur was the fastest to get to her. She had fainted. Arthur lifted her to an upright position and Mina bent down to fan her face before Arthur pulled his hand away and everyone saw that it was covered in blood. He turned her body over and by the candlelight they could see gashes running down her back.

"Were those there before?" asked Arthur. "I swear I did not see anything like this."

No one had an answer. Henri looked to Michael, who was watching Van Helsing.

"Is she alive?" asked the vampire hunter.

Arthur held his fingers to her neck. "Yes, I can feel her pulse."

"Take her inside," said Van Helsing. "Mr. Murray, take your children and go with him."

"I'm staying here," said Murray.

"I'm staying as well," said Ethan. Mina said nothing but did not seem to even considering moving.

"Lord Quincy will you help me?" asked Arthur as he lifted the girl into his arms. Lord Quincy followed him back to the house, leaving Henri, Michael, Van Helsing, and the Murrays with only their candles and the light of the moon to guide them to whatever scene of horror had sent the servant girl running into the house.