Work Text:
Jonathon Harker's Journal
May 14th
This afternoon I awoke late after another long night talking to the count. Once I had refreshed myself I left my chamber in search of breakfast. This has almost become my strange nocturnal routine, and I sought to continue it as I usually do: with further exploration of the castle.
Many days ago I decided this was the best way to spend my days, perhaps the only way, other than reading and filling in this notebook. I hope, probably in vain, that I might find an exit, or at least another living being.
Midday had passed and I left my candlelit quarters, taking with me only a lamp and my journal. The corridors just outside of my own are dim although familiar from my daily exploration, and I made my way hastily through these gloomy passages I knew to be lined with locked doors.
Upon reaching the end of a particularly narrow corridor not too far from my chambers, I reached for the rusty metal door. This was when I first realised something strange was afoot. My hand gripped the rough handle and I pulled it. Nothing. I tried again, this time with more of my strength. If this was a different place I might have given up, but this door was always open. It lead a particularly dusty spiralling stairwell which opened up into a large space lit by many stately windows. The room was almost like an artist's workshop lined with many portraits, a fair few featuring Dracula himself in all kinds of historical styles and piled high with painting equipment. It had never before been locked.
I found myself confused, there seemed no good reason for this door to be locked but there was nothing i could do at present. Slightly dejected, I turned around the corridor and up another even narrower one that veered off to the right. This one I had explored a couple of times and again I found the few doors normally open locked. However most of the rooms they lead to had always been empty so I wasn't missing out on too much.
The trend seemed to continue, usually after a few hours search I come across a new unlocked door, a new empty room to enjoy, but not this day. Today felt like an utter waste and it was making me restless, how am I ever going to find about more about this god forsaken place? And this restlessness soon turned me frantic when I discovered another door usually open, locked and bolted.
After this find, I fear some panicked mood overtook me. Rushing about the place I tried all of the doors usually open. My arm ached from the battling with the study locks. My forehead broke into a sweat for all my running around. I had nothing to show for it. I got into no room new or old.
However I knew when to admit defeat, and those gloomy passages were growing ever darker. Dracula would be awake soon. Slinking back to my (thankfully unlocked) chambers I picked up a book at random and threw myself into my chair by the fire. All there was left of today was to await the count and his chatty nighttime mood.
Soon enough I heard the quiet footsteps of Dracula's approach. Slowly he walked into my chambers, as ever dressed in all black but there was something that shocked me. Unless my eyes were to deceive me he looked younger than before, not by too many years but still his face was less wrinkled and his hair littered with black strands. He smiled showing off those pointed teeth and took the chair opposite me. As was always.
"My good friend, Jonathon Harker, I must apologise for I am a very busy man and could not be with you today, however I hope your day has been a good one."
I am beginning to grow suspicious for the count always seems busy despite his lack of friends or duties. In fact I do not recall ever seeing him in the sun.
"Yes thank you," I answered him politely, "What would you like to discuss tonight?"
"Discuss?!" The man(?) cried "Why my friend, you have not eaten yet, let us dine."
He may have said 'us' but as always I alone dined. The count merely sat at the other end of his mahogany table, watching me eat with an unblinking stare, like a man bewitched.
Eventually, he began to talk, asking me the usual things, of England and law and my friends and family. Topics he had already, I felt, exhausted but I let him go on for I had nothing better to say and curiously the count had an almost nervous air that evening. Although I now know why, I was sure my mind was deceiving me at the time.
The usual hours had passed and at some point we had moved towards the fireside. Seeing the first signs of morning, the count turned to me and made his almost nightly speech about how the time gets away from you and, oh, how tired I must be. The count must have a very strange sleep schedule because he cannot possibly loose track this often.
I however allowed it, and moved back to my chambers. The day, I thought as I changed into my bed clothes, had been a strange one. There were a number of things just so slightly off, the locked doors, Dracula's nervous mood. It was over now though, and I got into my thankfully warm bed. Here I began to write out my journal for today although I am writing this part now the next day as I was interrupted only five minutes in.
Managing to hide my diary, I sat up in bed at the knock at my door.
"Yes?" I called out.
It swung open. There stood the count, dressed in a black nightshirt and carrying a black blanket. It was most strange.
"Jonathon, I find myself in a dilemma." Dracula said in a low voice. "It seems the door to my room is locked, as with all other rooms in the castle."
"But count, do you not have the keys?"
"I-- the door is locked." He repeated, offering no explanation. I thought there was no point in asking again if he was unwilling to explain.
"Jonathon, I have nowhere to sleep. Would you be so kind as to allow me to rest in your own room today?"
Here I did not know what to do. Well, I knew logically I should refuse, what kind of a question was that, the man clearly had the keys and it was highly inappropriate. However, the expression in his red eyes was oddly longing and I knew it was no excuse, but I was lonely after all my time in the castle. Practically speaking this could play to my advantage as well, if I stayed awake past the count I could attempt to search his person for the keys or the like. With all this considered I made a decision which I knew a more logical man would not.
"Yes," I said slowly.
Smiling his pointed teeth, Dracula took a step towards my bed and then halted. His eyes fixed almost worriedly on the crucifix.
"It does not do to sleep beside such religious symbols, if you could please remove that crucifix, my friend."
And so I did, and Mina or whoever may read this record, I am sorry for I know this should have served as warning enough for me to change my mind but I did not, I was curious now and I had my plan to search the count. That's what I am telling myself. Removing the cross, I placed it onto the bedside table.
The count's face returned to that almost sincere smile and he climbed into bed beside me, avoiding the side with the crucifix.
His body was tall and cold, as cold as his hands when I had shaken them. He took his black blanket and wrapped it around himself as if trying to warm up.
"Goodnight Jonathon" he said sleepily as the sun began to glow behind the darkness of the blinds.
"Yes, goodnight count" I replied and although I had planned to stay up and search the count we both fell asleep incredibly quickly.
It must have been mid morning when I awoke with a start. I had not waken naturally, indeed it was a shock of cold that awoke me. And another shock when I realised that cold was the arms of Dracula himself around my middle. I was unsure of what to do, sharing a bed with the count had gone much better than anyone would have thought so far, and his freezing skin was less unpleasant than one would imagine. Still, it was improper!
I must admit that after thinking this through, I decided what more harm could be done and allowed the count's arms around me. Shifting myself slightly, to better position myself in his arms I began to fall asleep once again. It had been a very late night. But something stopped me. The count's voice still mostly asleep.
"Jonathon, my darling, you are so warm, so lovely and warm" he mumbled into my neck, tightening his hold on me.
Dear Mina, I am sorry for I know I should have thought of this as disturbing and wrong but I will be honest. I found the count quite adorable between his half asleep musings and his cold arms surrounding me. God help me, for there must be something quite wrong in my brain.