Chapter 6
Light and Darkness meet



Even though she really wanted to stay with Vlad a bit longer then usual, she knew it would give him a bad impression to the Evans' family so she went back to the mansion. Mina's smiling face lit the whole room as she walked through the hall, humming all the way. Caroline, who was walking from the library, saw her friends' expression and behavior. "Mina? Are you all right?" she asked her. Mina looked at her with the happiest expression on her face.


"I am fine Caroline, I have never felt so happy in all of my life!" she said dancing around Caroline, not being able to contain her happiness. "Has something happened?" asked Caroline smiling at her friend's behavior. "Yes, something wonderful has happened! I want to shout to the top of my lungs cause of it!" said Mina stopping in front of Caroline and grabbing her shoulders. "What is it?" Caroline asked Mina interested to know what happened with her and the Count. Mina giggled as she looked at Caroline with a playful smile. "I can only say that you and Jack aren't the ones that are going down an aisle…" she told Caroline. Caroline's jaw dropped at what Mina had just said.


"The Count proposed!?!?" she squealed at Mina. "Yes!" Mina squealed back. Caroline hugged Mina in a tight squeeze. "I can't believe it!" Caroline said to Mina after she let her go. "He told me he already spoke to Mr. Evans, and also that he loves me!" said Mina jumping up and down like a young child being happy on its birthday.


"He already spoke to Mr. Evans? Mina this man must be serious about you," said Caroline amazed at the Count's cleverness for being one step ahead of things. "I believe so as well," said Mina smiling happily at her friend.



Outside of the mansion the black wolf with red eyes was watching Mina and Caroline talking through the window. "I cannot wait till your mine, Mina," it thought in its head as it looked at Mina desire reflecting in its eyes. The wolf moved to the back yard, moving like a snake in the grass till it head to Maggie's back window; which ironically was left opened. "Now to start the next phase of my plan," it thought to itself as it walked slowly up the stairs to the room. Maggie opened her eyes as she saw the handsome figure appear surrounded by mist, glowing its read eyes at her.


"You will be rewarded with a wonderful gift I will bestow on you," the figure whispered in her head. "But you must help me in my plan, my goal," it said to her in her mind again. Maggie nodded her head slowly. "I will do anything you ask, master," she said to the figure, as she bared her neck to him; offering herself as a sacrifice to it. The figure smiled at her. "Excellent, my dear. Excellent," it said as it moved to her baring its canine fangs as he smiled. The figure took his mouth to Maggie's neck and bit into the vain, tasting delicious blood….


*****The next day…*****


Jack and Van Helsing, along with Harker were discussing Maggie's strange illness. "She has it again, and it is getting worse," sighed Jack burying his face in his hands as he sat at the table with the other men. "Indeed," agrees Harker leaning back in his seat. Van Helsing was examining a blood slab that came from Maggie, and another blood slab that involved all the other victims of attacks that have been happening over the month before he came here, they all had matched with the same parasite in the cells. "Jack…did you say that one of your patients was saying some things of Maggie when she first became ill?" he asked as he still looked at the slab.


"Yes, Mr. Renfield," says Jack looking at his mentor and soon to be father-in-law. "He went on and on about someone he kept calling his master, and Maggie," he continued explaining. "Do you have his blood sample?" Van Helsing asked Jack. "Should be there, if I'm not mistaken," Jack answered. Van Helsing looked through the samples and found Renfield's blood slide, he then analyzed it. "Hmmm…" he said looking at the slab. "What is it professor?" asked Jonathan leaning on the table now, looking at him. "Renfield's blood slab matches the same as the victims and Maggie's as well," Van Helsing answers looking back at Jack. "I think I know what Maggie is suffering from now that I have looked at all of the blood samples," he says as he took his reading glasses off and wipes the sweat from his eyes.


"What is it?" asks Jack wanting to know the cause of his baby sister. "Have you ever heard of Vampires, Jack?" Van Helsing asked Jack. "Nosferatu, professor?" asked Harker with raised eye brows. "Yes, Nosferatu," Van Helsing nodded. "But professor, vampires are only pure myth aren't they?" asked Jack finding this hard to believe.


"I understand, you're questioning Jack. But let me ask you this; does Maggie have any wounds?" said Van Helsing looking at Jack head on. "Yes, two small puncher wounds on her neck. But that could be caused by a sharp piece of jewelry or a twig that caught in her hair," says Jack. "Then how did the other victims receive the same marks then?" asks Jonathan looking at Jack. Jack had his head down on the table. "You have a point there Harker," says Jack. "Gentlemen, there is a vampire here in this country and we must find it before it does the worse thing to any of its victims, such as Maggie," says Van Helsing folding his hands on the table.


"And that would be?" asks Jack raising his head. "Become a vampire themselves," Van Helsing answers. "I get the feeling that Renfield knows who the vampire is," says Jonathan looking at the professor. "I agree," says Van Helsing "But we have to protect Maggie in the process as well," he suggested. "My father should know of this matter," said Jack sitting up in his seat.


"Yes, but it is going to be hard for him to accept this answer," said Jonathan. "Indeed," agrees Van Helsing. "Shall we tell the women?" Jonathan asks Van Helsing. "Not at this time," Van Helsing answers. "Agreed, they are in a cheery mood and if we tell them of this they won't be able to sleep at night," says Jack giving his opinion on the matter. Caroline came in with a tray of tea and sandwiches for the men. And she seemed to be in a happy mood. "You seem to be in a happy mood my child," says Van Helsing as Caroline handed him his cup.


"I am father," she said as she served Jonathan's cup to him. "May I ask what it is about?" Van Helsing asked her. "Mina and the Count are engaged," she said after giving Jack his cup. Jonathan nearly choked on his tea. "WHAT?" he asked.


"It is true, he proposed to her last evening," said Caroline looking at Jonathan's expression. "And she accepted him?" Jonathan asked sound really upset about this state of news. "Yes," says Caroline. "She is in love with him after all," Caroline continued.  "Well I am glad she is happy of this," said Jack before he took a sip of his tea. "I agree with Jack, she deserves to be happy after all that has happened to her in life," Van Helsing said as he ate the sandwich Caroline just served him. Johnathan remained silent. He was going to have a talk with Mina later this evening…


Mina was watching the sun go down as she was rereading the note Vlad had sent this morning. It said that he will be coming to introduce himself to Van Helsing and Jonathan tonight after sundown. "I hope he comes soon…I want to see him again," she thought to herself. She had put on her favorite dress earlier to prepare for this evening. And was holding the rose he gave her on the eve of their first meeting.



A knock is heard on at her door…Mina was scared as she saw who had come into her room…Jonathan Harker.



Vlad walked into the parlor where almost everyone was there. "Good evening," he said. Caroline smiled as she saw him. "Good evening Count," she said. "Count, so good of you to visit," said Mrs. Evans. "It is my pleasure to see my friends every once in awhile madam," says Vlad bowing to her.


"Count Dracula, may I introduce you to Professor Van Helsing," says Jack extending his arm to the professor. "Count," Van Helsing said as he nodded his head to him. "Professor," Vlad bowed to him. "So you must Caroline's father," he said to Van Helsing. "Indeed I am," replied Van Helsing. "I trust you are not upset with loosing your daughter to Jack?" Vlad said to him. "I will miss my daughter true enough but I am hoping she will be happy with Jack," Van Helsing replied. Vlad smiled.


"By the way, where is Mina?" Vlad asked. "She is in her room, probably making herself up for you," said Mrs. Evans. "I should warn you Count, my assistant Jonathan Harker might try to fight you for Mina," said Van Helsing. "I cannot blame Mr. Harker for trying, Mina is as beautiful as an angel," says Vlad. "Which is why you are marrying her?" asked Van Helsing.


"No, I am marrying her because I love her," answers Vlad. "If you'll excuse me, I will go see that she is all right. I don't trust Mr. Harker enough that he will keep his hands off of her," says Vlad as he left the room and walked to Mina's room. When he was in the hallway close to the door he heard shouting coming from her room. "Let me go!" shouted Mina. "You are hurting me!" she cried. Vlad opened the door and found Harker was holding Mina on the floor as she was trying to fight him off. Faster before Harker could see, he yanked him off of Mina making him land near the nightstand.


"Keep your filthy hands off of my fiancé!" he shouted at him, before tending to Mina who was now shaking. "Are you all right my love?" he asked as he checked to see if she had any injuries, she had a swollen cheek. Mina looked at him with tears starting appear. "You stay away from her you bastard!" shouted Jonathan as he ran to Vlad and tried to attack him. But Vlad was faster and punched him in the face knocking him to the floor and knocking over a vase.


The sound of footsteps were coming to the scene, everyone was there watching a few seconds there. "You sir should be confined in the asylum for not only harming my fiancé, but trying to kill me in the process," said Vlad as he picked up Mina bridal style and started carrying her out of the room. She wrapped her arms around his neck burying her face there. "I am going to take Mina to my home till you decide how to handle him," said Vlad as he walked out of the room to take Mina away to his carriage. "I understand, we will let you know what we decide," says Mr. Evans. Van Helsing went to his now unconscious assistant. "I am sorry for his behavior," he said as he helped pick Jonathan up to carry him with one arm over his shoulder, and Jack helping him. "I can't believe Harker would try to harm Mina in a jealous rage," says Jack.


"I guess it goes to show you that love can make even the sanest man go insane," says Mr. Evans. "Well if he tries going to the Abby, he'll have a hell of a time with the wolves guarding the place like an armed force," says Caroline. "Wolves?" asks Van Helsing. "Yes father," she answered. "How the Count puts up with those beasts I'll never know," said Mrs. Evans shaking her head as she left to go check on her daughter. Who had an evil smile on her face.