Page 14 of Dracula: Bound in Blood

Vigo’s lips parted strangely. “The Count is unique, Mr. Harker. He is a man of great passion and power. I think you’ll find him quite captivating.”

Something in Vigo’s tone sent a shiver down Jonathan’s spine, and it had nothing to do with the cooling bathwater. As he sank deeper into the tub, allowing the servants to rinse his hair, Jonathan couldn’t shake the feeling that he was stepping into a world far more complex and dangerous than he had ever imagined.

Freshly bathed and dressed in crisp, clean clothes, Jonathan descended the grand staircase towards the dining area. As he entered the vast hall, he couldn’t help but gasp at the sheer magnificence of the space.

The dining hall was a cavernous room, its vaulted ceiling soaring high above, adorned with intricate frescoes depicting scenes from ancient myths and legends. Massive chandeliers hung from ornate chains, their countless crystal droplets catching and refracting the morning light that streamed through towering stained-glass windows. The effect was dazzling, casting prismatic patterns across the polished marble floor.

Along the walls, great tapestries depicting hunting scenes and royal feasts, their colors still vibrant despite their apparent age. Between them stood suits of armor, silent sentinels that seemed to watch Jonathan’s every move with their empty visors.

The centerpiece of the room was an enormous, dark, polished wood table that stretched nearly the entire length of the hall. It could easily seat a hundred guests, yet it stood mostly empty, save for an elaborate place setting at one end.

As Jonathan approached, the scent of freshly baked bread and aromatic spices wafted toward him, making his stomach growl. The table was laden with an astounding array of dishes – platters of glistening roasted meats, bowls of colorful fruits, baskets overflowing with various breads, and an assortment of pastries that made his mouth water.

“Is the spread to your liking, Mr. Harker?” Vigo’s voice startled him out of his reverie.

“It’s... overwhelming,” Jonathan replied, taking a seat at the head of the table. A servant immediately appeared, filling his plate with the tempting dishes. “Surely this can’t all be for me? Will anyone else be joining us?”

Vigo shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. “No, sir. All of this is for you alone. Please, eat as much as you like.”

Jonathan frowned, looking at the vast array of food before him. “This is really far too much. I’d hate to see such a large spread go to waste. Perhaps some of the servants could join me?”

Vigo’s face flashed with surprise, but his usual placid expression quickly replaced it. “You are very kind, Mr. Harker. No wonder the master has taken such a liking to you already. But there’s no need for that. The servants do not eat...at this time.“ He paused briefly before adding, “They will dine later tonight. They are not hungry now.”

Jonathan couldn’t help but notice the strange pause before Vigo’s explanation. It struck him as odd, but he decided not to press the issue. Instead, he turned his attention to the food before him, determined to at least make a dent in the lavish spread.

As he ate, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. The empty hall seemed to press in around him, the suits of armor and painted figures in the tapestries almost seeming to move in his peripheral vision. Every clink of his fork against the fine china echoed in the cavernous space, emphasizing his solitude.

Despite the delicious flavors of the food, Jonathan found his appetite waning. The opulence of his surroundings, the overabundance of food, the strange behavior of the servants – it all heightened his sense of unease. He couldn’t help but feel like a small animal being fattened for slaughter, though he chided himself for such morbid thoughts.

As he set down his fork, having eaten far less than he would have liked, Jonathan’s gaze was drawn once again to the stained-glass windows. The sun had shifted, casting long shadows across the room. For a moment, he could have sworn he saw a dark figure silhouetted against one of the panes, watching him intently. But when he blinked and looked again, there was nothing there but colored glass and dancing motes of dust.

Jonathan rose from the table, shaking his head to clear it of such fanciful notions. “Thank you for the meal, Vigo. It was... most generous.”

Vigo bowed deeply. “It is our pleasure to serve you, Mr. Harker. Is there anything else you require?”

Jonathan hesitated, then shook his head. “No, thank you. I think I’d like to explore the castle a bit, if that’s allowed?”

“Of course, sir,” Vigo replied, his ever-present smile widening slightly. “The castle is at your disposal. However, I would advise against venturing into the eastern wing. Those areas are... under renovation.”

Chapter Ten

The morning sun cast long shadows through the castle’s winding corridors as Jonathan set out to explore his temporary home. His footsteps echoed off the stone walls, the sound seeming to amplify the vastness of the ancient structure. Eventually, he found himself again at the entrance to Dracula’s library.

Pushing open the heavy oak door, Jonathan stepped inside. Now, he would see this room during the day. The library was even more impressive than he remembered. Towering shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, laden with books of every size and color. The air was heavy with the scent of aged leather and parchment, a scholar’s exciting perfume.

As he wandered through the stacks, his fingers trailed reverently over the spines of volumes that looked to be hundreds of yearsold. In one corner, he discovered a collection of scrolls that appeared to be from ancient Rome. Jonathan’s breath caught in his throat when he realized how much history was tucked away in this remote castle.

“Incredible,” he murmured, carefully unrolling one of the scrolls. “Some museums would give their entire collections for just one of these.”

The hairs on the back of his neck raised as he bent to examine the faded Latin text. Jonathan straightened abruptly, spinning around with the distinct feeling of being watched. But the library was empty, the only movement coming from dust motes dancing in shafts of sunlight.

Shaking off the unsettling sensation, Jonathan returned to his quarters. He settled into the room he had designated as his office, pulling out his briefcase to review some paperwork. However, he found it impossible to concentrate, his mind continually wandering back to the castle’s mysteries and its enigmatic owner.

With a sigh, Jonathan set aside the legal documents and pulled out a fresh sheet of paper. He began to pen a letter to Lucy, wanting to assure her of his safe arrival:

My dearest Lucy,

I hope this letter finds you well. I arrived safely at Castle Dracula, though I must confess the journey was more arduous than anticipated. The castle itself is a marvel of ancientarchitecture, perched high in the Carpathian Mountains like something out of one of your Gothic novels.

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