It hath been four days since Detective Holmes and Black came to speak with me within my castle.
Five days since that night.
Blood is the only thing that hath overfilled my mind of late.
I attempted to replace the taste of human blood with bovine-yet it sickened me.
I almost bit myself.
I locked myself inside my chambers, fearful of what I might do to my servants.
And yet, I knew I must go outside;
I needed fresh air.
My gaze fell upon the Frankenstein book resting on my table.
At once, I remembered.
Aslaug.
I want to see her.
I need to see her.
I would burn but to see thee once more.
Thou didst say thou wouldst love to see me again.
We might speak of the book thou so gladly recommended.
So I waited for nightfall.
The moment I stepped outside, I felt the cold wind kiss my skin,
and the moon gaze upon me, as it hath done ever since that night.
I knew it would be a pleasant evening.
Never have I felt such eagerness to return to Old Gina's Bookstore.
My heart pounded-clenching within my breast as I drew nearer to thee.
A sensation I never imagined myself capable of feeling.
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Is thee the cause of this?
As I approached the shop, I slowly realized that my steps had led me back
to the very place where it all occurred.
I could still smell it-
that strong, exquisite scent;
blood.
I walked into the alley where I had been reborn.
I did not linger long, only enough to remember how good it had felt.
Then I continued onward through what ought to have been deserted streets, yet they were crowded with policemen.
What can I say? They are here to protect us.
At last, I arrived at Old Gina's Bookstore.
A strong perfume reached me before I even crossed the threshold,
and thus I already knew thou wast inside.
My heart raced-pounding harder, louder than before.
O Aslaug, thou makest me feel alive.
I composed myself and stepped inside.
Thou greeted me with thy warm smile.
Thou toldst me how glad thou wast to see me again;
I made certain to say the feeling was mutual.
"How may I help thee this night?" thou askedst.
"I had come a little earlier,
so thou wouldst not be forced to keep the shop open late for my sake."
I asked whether thou wouldst honour me with a walk.
Thou seemed somewhat surprised-or perhaps nervous-yet thou didst accept.
I helped thee close the shop.
We talked.
We laughed.
We shared a delightful time together.
But as we stepped outside to lock the door,
a voice interrupted us.
Holmes.
My heart raced anew, though for a different reason.
I know for certain that I am not drawn to her as I am to thee, Aslaug.
At first, I thought Holmes had come to speak with thee.
Instead, she questioned thee regarding the late closing of the shop.
"It was for me," I told the detective.
"Some establishments remain open for several hours on my behalf,
for it is well known that my condition forbiddeth me the pleasure of daylight."
"What a peculiar affliction," Holmes replied.
Thou didst defend me at once, saying that thou too suffered from the same ailment;
hence why thou didst accept the night shift at Old Gina's.
Like myself, thou canst not endure the sun without pain.
"Be cautious then," detective Holmes warned.
"There is a killer wandering about."
We walked away from that cunning, troublesome detective.
I wished to confront thee about what thou hadst revealed.
Before I could speak,
thou toldst me thy parents died,
thou hadst been forced to move away.
I felt sorry for thee.
We are alike, after all.
I too lost both my parents-yet I still have my servants, while thou standest alone.
"Thou shouldst come to my castle tomorrow night for dinner," I asked, unable to hide my excitement.
I could see some hesitation in thy eyes, yet I insisted gently.
"I shall see thee tomorrow night then, my lord."
"Thou mayest call me Vladimir," I told thee.
Thou repeated it softly, looking directly into my eyes.
I felt mesmerised-aroused, though I could not tell whether in a carnal manner,
or whether the source of my arousal was something darker.
I felt my canines growing, slowly biting into my own mouth.
We reached thy doorstep.
I left in haste, telling thee I could not wait for the morrow.
What had just happened?
Was I about to repeat that sin?
No.
I must cease entertaining such thoughts.
They are dehumanizing.
What would my dear thee, Aslaug, think of me?
- V. van Helsing