Count Rothchild

by Michael W. Huard

  She jumped up, seeing Lucy exit the nearby breezeway doors of their large shared bedchamber. Gaylen grabbed a shawl and went after her; from a distance she could see her in a light pinkish gown, that which was flowing in the constant wind and rain.

  Lucy then made her way to the edge of the bank near a light tower, where close to such Gaylen spotted a large schooner dug into the sand. She looked out to the water to see more of it. The storm must have grounded her.

  Something suddenly jumped from the boat. It looked like a giant dog; Gaylen was not sure what it was, but found she was now hastening to follow and secure her sleepwalking friend.

  A chill from the ocean via the storm was about, yet the moon still shone down from above.

  Lucy, her reddish hair blowing in the wind and rain, made her way close to the light tower, but stopped at a small chapel before it. The place was mostly in ruins now, but her favorite grayish blue stone bench still was there. The girls had played on that very bench as children.

  It was then Gaylen saw a frightful creature beyond imagination. She tried to call to her friend, but something tall, black and furry bent over Lucy as she reclined back on the stone bench with her legs spread wide.

  The creature raised its head with a howl, blood now upon the beast’s mouth. Gaylen could see its red gleaming eyes even from afar. She ran fast, but as she reached the stone ruins she found Lucy quite alone and very much asleep on the bench.

  What did I just see? Gaylen thought.

  She placed her warm shawl upon her friend, fashioning a pin to keep it about her neck. How clumsy she was as to clip the skin about Lucy’s neckline. Lucy was barely awake from such as Gaylen dragged her back to her chalet room.

  She got her into bed and could not believe her mishap, as Lucy’s skin about her throat was now pierced and her nightdress had blood upon it.

  Gaylen had thought she had seen the last of monsters upon her escape earlier.

  She held her own head in thought, thinking God needed to watch over them. She then dried off some from the storm a few moments later. Lucy seemed to be sleeping and thus Gaylen began writing a new journal entry to pass the rest of the night.

  Gaylen Van Warden new Journal entry

  I, I, I am lost for words. I cannot write anything.

  The next day flew by and Lucy never left her bed. She nibbled on food and asked for her window to be open even with coolness outside pouring in. None of the men had arrived as of yet, so again Gaylen attempted to write in her journal.

  I sit here this evening writing in my journal. I have not written much lately. For all that occurred, my wits are still uneasy. I have heard no news from Jonathan yet and Lucy now suddenly seems weak. I don't understand, for she eats and she likes fresh air, but at the same time the rose-red hue usually in her cheeks is fading. She’s growing weaker and the wound in her neck now has gotten worse. My wound is oddly fine; at least for the time being. I feel it still, it is there, and I fear one day it shall do me no good.

  Another day went by and Gaylen wrote again.

  Again I offer a new journal entry.

  I still have not heard from Jonathan, but it is much to my happiness that Alfredo, Lucy’s fiancé, has now arrived, for she is in such low spirits. I know he can help in this manner. I cannot concentrate on writing more here. In the morning I hope matters will be better.

  Alfredo immediately knew there was something seriously wrong with Lucy; he announced that they summon a doctor most quickly.

  Gaylen missed Jonathan so much. He had finished a business trip and she wanted to go home, but Lucy still needed her. She could see that Alfredo was glad she was here, too.

  Alfredo himself was a businessman; the short brown-haired fellow today wore a nice brown suit, and his earnings as a banker had done him very well. He looked to Gaylen, concerned.

  “I have called upon Doctor Emin Stewart. Don’t you fret, my dear; your friend and my love will be fine.” He then ruffled his brown mustache. “My funds will secure her well-being. I am most sure of it.” He patted Gaylen on the shoulder. “She will recover, don’t look so worried.”

  Gaylen found herself pacing about for an hour.

  Alfredo tried playing cards with her, but she still could not focus.

  “Listen,” he told her, “you can go to Jonathan. I will keep you updated via letter.”

  She was not leaving Lucy’s side at this moment.

  Dr. Emin Stewart arrived the following morning. He could see that Lucy lacked blood, but he did not know why. The red-headed man with a neatly cropped matching beard removed his rounded hat and sat looking at dear Lucy.

  He then noticed the so-called safety pin mark which had formed more into a larger cut; two small holes in her neck.

  The doctor swallowed, and looked to Alfredo standing before him. “I must contact my old professor and teacher, Oscar, Mr. Van Helsing; he will know what to do.”

  Alfredo was now quite troubled.

  “Yes, do what you must,” Alfredo insisted of the doctor. “Why must we seek help elsewhere?”

  The doctor seemed baffled himself. “We need his advice, trust me on this.”

  It was not two days later when they returned to Lucy's bedside with Professor Oscar Van Helsing.

  The professor or doctor, he was known as both, was a short, pot-bellied man with a beard made up of a salt and pepper coloring. One of his eyes was quite blind, yet the other now placed a keen eye all about Lucy. She was asleep at this very moment upstairs.

  “It is as I assumed from your definition, Dr. Stewart,” he then announced. “Let us take leave and I will explain more downstairs.”

  Van Helsing did not actually say too much the rest of the day. He delved into a book of his researching and avoided too much discussion at first. The others waited for him to reach a conclusion.

  Gaylen and Alfredo were both extremely nervous. Van Helsing made such small talk as saying that it was no doubt better served if they give it a day or two before a full conclusion could be stated. He hoped his initial discovery and assumption would turn out false.

  The day following Lucy was no better; pale and moaning constantly that her head ached.

  Professor Van Helsing had brought with him a great bundle of white flowers and as Lucy looked up she seemed happy.

  “Oh, thank you, doctor; they are so pretty.”

  Van Helsing then said, “These are only common garlic and not to play with. I am Dr. Van Helsing, dear; you are safe with me.”

  She, however, did not feel safe suddenly.

  Van Helsing sensed her fear. “I am only applying what is needed as such here; you have to trust me now, dear Lucy.”

  Alfredo went to his Lucy and held her close. “This is for the better, my honey. You get some rest; the doctor and I have everything under control.”

  Lucy tried to smile, yet dozed off unable to keep her eyes open. She was incredibly pale.

  Gaylen came to comfort her. “I love you, my friend. I am still here beside you.”

  They talked some, but Lucy drifted in and out of reality and was soon sleeping again.

  Lucy seemed slightly recovered after a few days. Perhaps everything would be fine after all. Lucy would continue to get better, thought Gaylen. She could thus return home and to her beloved Jonathan.

  She embraced Lucy. “I will be back soon. The good men are here by your side and soon all will be well. Do not worry, my friend. You are heading in the right direction now.”

  Van Helsing had not told her the truth, yet what was to come was nothing he wanted Gaylen to see. He assured her Lucy was fine.

  Gaylen left that afternoon.

  The next day, when the men returned, Lucy seemed to be doing even better, though she was still sleeping. The color had returned to her face.

  It was then the professor announced, “Ah, my treatment must be working.”

  Alfredo said, while still smelling the heavy aroma of garlic in the room, “I don’t know if I would give you all the credit, sir. Last n
ight before I retired, I came up here and smelt the horrible strong smelling flowers and I noticed the wreath you had placed around Lucy’s neck of your own accord earlier as well. I felt that it was too much of an odor and I removed it and opened the window wide to give her fresh air. Perhaps I was of help, too?”

  Professor Van Helsing’s face turned ashen. “You did what?”

  Lucy’s eyes opened up and she sat up abruptly. “I feel quite well today,” she announced.

  Yet suddenly her eyes became milky white; she convulsed, lurching out spittle from her mouth, and then fell to her side.

  The men rushed to her aid, but she appeared to be dead upon her bed.

  Later they found Lucy’s journal under her sheets. Her last writing was as follows, which Alfredo read aloud:

  “I have been awoken by a flapping at my window. Then outside I heard the howling of a wolf. So I went to the window and opened it for more looking out, but could see nothing at first, other than a big bat appeared right before me.

  I don’t know where it went, but I am back in bed now. Someone or something is crawling under the sheets with me. I can feel its breath upon my face. I cannot move. I'm still awake, but I feel like I'm sleeping. I have to close my journal now. I think I'm falling deeply back to sleep.”

  Doctor Stewart, Professor Van Helsing and Alfredo himself looked at one another in a dreadful demeanor. Van Helsing gritted his teeth, knowing very well what had occurred. He should have never told Gaylen it was fine to leave either.

  In the highlands, Jonathan had his girl back and it was a long time coming. His own travels and work had ended and both needed such a connection.

  “I’m not whole without you,” he explained to Gaylen, and these very words had her feeling somewhat safe for the first time in a while.

  She, however, when finally hearing the news of her friend’s death, was deeply devastated. The only happiness now for her was the escalation of her and Jonathan’s marriage. As the days passed, she forced her own self to remain together.

  Yet the planning of such was stalled when Jonathan appeared with her journal in hand one evening. He had read it all, and he was utterly shocked. She had added many more thoughts in such and begun a full story as well within its pages.

  They came to the conclusion that they needed to summon Professor Van Helsing once more. They needed to know his very thoughts on everything. Jonathan should never have let her go, he knew it. He desperately desired to unravel these strange occurrences.

  “Perhaps it was a series of dreams,” he mentioned, searching for answers.

  Gaylen knew it was more than dreams. “It happened and even Lucy’s death was connected,” she explained as they now had a long conversation about her journey.

  The couple sat in mostly silence waiting for Van Helsing to arrive.

  A few days later he made his presence known and went directly to perusing her writings.

  Upon reading such, he announced, “I believe that this is true.”

  Jonathon could not believe what he was hearing.

  Professor Van Helsing then went on to add, “The count is what you say yourself, Gaylen, a savage monster.” He took Gaylen’s hand. “I also owe you an apology; my assumptions were correct about Lucy, yet I let you leave her side, with my ego and my wit at odds before her death. I knew better, yet ushered you away. Again, you have my sincere apologies.”

  Neither Gaylen nor Jonathan knew what to answer; each waited for the professor to add more thought into the matter.

  Van Helsing did. “This man must be destroyed at all costs.”

  “How so?” asked Jonathan.

  Van Helsing looked to Gaylen and back to her fiancée. “We must travel to his home, his castle, and kill the beast while he sleeps. I shall add here; may God be with us.”

  Jonathan was clearly upset. “I will not have my beloved wife travel anywhere near such ever again. I strictly forbid it.”

  Van Helsing nodded in approval. He understood the cattle rancher’s concern. It was well merited.

  The Professor then proclaimed, “I shall lead us with Doctor Emin Stewart, Lucy’s Alfredo, who would welcome such revenge as to this all being connected, and I ask of you, Jonathan, as someone who would join me. And, of course, I will suggest that you, Gaylen, stay here.”

  Gaylen felt a sudden great anxiety; she immediately did not agree with the idea of being left out.

  “You are forgetting, I know the directions and I know how to get to him; it is beyond the isle itself, and there is more than meets the eye. You will need me.”

  Van Helsing thought about what she was saying, but all the while grabbed his traveling kit, showing them its contests. Inside was a cross, a hammer, sharpened wooden stakes, holy wafers and a vial of holy water.

  “These are the tools we shall need.”

  The couple stared at his presentations. Gaylen felt the hairs rise on her arms.

  He made note, “I think I should tell you something of the enemy that which we must deal with. These undead abominations do not die; they grow in strength; for they can exist for centuries.”

  Both Gaylen and Jonathon flinched at such an announcement.

  Van Helsing made it a point to ensure they were to explain everything to both Alfredo and Dr. Stewart upon their arrival as well. Ye he was not finished here.

  “The vampire we seek is among the strongest of all men. He has the strength of twenty together; he is cunning and may appear in different forms, those such as the wolf or the bat. He prefers the darkness over the light and it is the very sun that is his enemy.”

  “Then how do we stop him?” asked Jonathan.

  Gaylen was not so sure the Professor knew Rothchild as well as she did.

  “We can destroy him,” Van Helsing said, his voice growing louder and louder. “Oh, yes, we can! WE SHALL NEED THE POWER OF THE LORD WITH US, for it will be a terribly hard task. I believe it to be our duty.”

  Gaylen knew it would not be easy.

  Eventually the men gathered together days later. Everything was exposed regarding Gaylen’s voyage and Lucy’s horrible death.

  They agreed to take up such a monumental task. They had no idea what was ahead of them.

  Dr. Stewart announced, “I have news that would concern you all; there have been murders in the streets near the mausoleum that contains Lucy’s body.”

  Van Helsing seemed puzzled, but soon the Professor stated, “Well, this is interesting. Perhaps we will not have to travel to him after all; it appears that he has come near to us. We must make haste and investigate her grave site immediately.”

  The road to the coastal town where Lucy was buried was a swift journey.

  The old chapel and mausoleum stood before them now. They had planned to arrive in the afternoon before nightfall. The timing was good.

  Inside it was damp and dark. Van Helsing held up a lantern and instructed all to follow him deeper in. The place suddenly came alive once the light went on, what with a scurry of rats about.

  They reached Lucy’s stone sarcophagus only to see that the lid to such was already slightly ajar.

  The stern doctor Emin Stewart gasped, scratching his thick red beard, “Grave robbers, perhaps?”

  Alfredo and Jonathan both took now to sliding the lid more open. All then there saw her, and each pulled back as Lucy’s eyes were open staring up at them.

  “Give me the stake and hammer!” cried Van Helsing. “Pass them from my kit as I hold her down, quickly!”

  But it was then she tried to get up.

  All of them reached in together, holding her down. She was pale with bloodshot eyes and her fingernails three times as long as normal were digging at them to free herself. Dr. Stewart broke away and gave Van Helsing the needed tools. Alfredo turned his head to look aside, wishing to avoid the sight of what was transpiring.

  Van Helsing placed the stake to her heart and pounded it in with the hammer. She squealed in agony and hissed out at her invaders.

  She screeched,
“Damn you all!” as the stake penetrated into her fully. “The master will suck out all your souls, you demons, you foul animals.”

  Lucy’s body then gradually withered; it shrunk to be a small version of her once full frame. Then it kept shrinking, turning to dirt and then to dust.

  The room was awfully quiet now. Each man could hear the beating of their own nervous heart.

  Alfredo soon sobbed in the corner. Van Helsing placed a few holy wafers in the casket and followed with holy water that which he sprinkled all about its insides.

  The others then shut the lid.

  Van Helsing adjusted his wide brimmed hat a bit and then took it off wiping the sweat from his forehead. “She is no longer unclean; God Almighty has sent her to her final rest. She has been released from this terrible curse. Zeus, take Lucy and let her rest in eternal peace.”

  Alfredo, after such words, stepped from the shadows. “We must kill this Rothchild. Rothchild must die!”

  Jonathan Hartsell Journal entry

  Good lord, what I have witnessed has shaken me. The very thought of my beloved fair lady involved in such is pure madness. For lack of other words, this has scared the living shit out of me. As a man I must challenge all my courage to rid this shadow over both of us now.

  In the meantime, back home, Gaylen suddenly felt a pulsing in her own neck wound. It was as if it came alive once more. At one point it healed decently, but now this. She reached up to feel such and blood was on her fingers. She took to looking in the mirror and saw it was again open and prominent.

  Chapter 7