The Classified Dossier: Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula(84)
Dear Dr Watson,
I am afraid that we cannot depart at once for London as you and Mr Holmes request, for reasons that I believe the rest of this letter should make abundantly clear.
We also have been weathering strange occurrences, and while they might not be as bizarre as the affair you described involving the Innsmouth whaler, they have been a bit more direct in their hostile intent towards us. Knowing what we know about the Mariner Priest, we cannot help but think that this assault came from him.
This is what we know: some intrepid soul, a man of iron courage, I should think, made their way secretly into Transylvania, avoiding notice and detection as a stranger, evaded the villages and roving Romany bands that would have no doubt alerted Vlad to his presence, and penetrated into the castle during the day while we slept. Not just into the castle grounds, but past the few servants that might have been about during daylight and down into the foundations of the castle, placing a great deal of explosive there. Neither of us is well-versed in such things, but it must have been a great deal, perhaps involving more than one trip. It was cunningly done, Vlad says, and indicates at least a rough survey of the castle and great stealth.
All we know is that we woke to an upheaval of the earth as if the very land was split asunder. We did not know it at the time, but have since discovered that several storeys of the western side of the castle were broken by the blast and several tons of mountain collapsed onto our resting place. The collapse could easily have crushed us where we rested but though our resting places were breached, the heavy stone above us broke in such a way as to provide a small amount of shelter. You are familiar enough, Dr Watson, with the nature of our existence to understand how close to death such a situation could bring us. Though we did not need air in the same way as we would have in our previous lives, we had neither strength to shift the rubble or any sustenance. A vampire may be able to do without food for much longer than a non-vampire, but that also made starvation a very real possibility considering how thoroughly we were trapped, a much more frightening prospect.
However, given some few days, we were able to shift the stones enough to effect a passage out. Even then, it was a very close thing and we emerged weakened and emaciated. Were it not for the assistance of Vlad’s faithful servants that sought us out, we should not have survived.
It may be some time before we can journey to London. However, before this disaster befell our home, I was able to acquire a steamer ship, the King’s Ransom, which now lies in wait for us in Varna. Vlad was not keen on trusting this particular modern device, but I have convinced him that speed would be of the essence. When we come, it shall be by that route.
The Mariner Priest is getting bolder and more powerful. If he is willing to strike at us in this manner, it cannot be long before a similar blow falls on the two of you. Please be on your most vigilant guard, for I should hate to lose either of the few friends I have left in the world.
Fondest wishes,
Mina
Chapter 16
NEW FRIENDS
“Holmes!” I said with some exasperation at our table in Baker Street. “My breakfast might not be what it once was, but I hardly think it will be improved by this!” I held up the bloodstained corner of some paper that Holmes had strewn all over the table. “Nor do I think you want your documents tainted in this manner.”
“There you would be wrong, Doctor,” Holmes said tartly. “For that document was tainted long before it came in contact with your repast. Forgery is too kind a word for it! A complete fabrication would be a better expression, and one that would have hindered our battle with Moriarty in no uncertain terms, for all that it is steeped in tedium and monotony. To say nothing of Mrs Hudson’s fate! Even worse, for all that I have pledged to remain on my most vigilant guard, this oblique attack would have landed a telling blow, except for the timely intervention of Watson’s Irregulars.”
“What on earth are you talking about, Holmes?” I asked, getting more perplexed by the moment.
“An agent of Moriarty’s,” Holmes said, “for it must be one of his, though I have not as yet begun to trace the trail, set into motion a complicated swindle involving forged tax documents and a false claim by the crown threatening to seize the property.”
“The property?” I said. “Baker Street?”
“None other,” Holmes said. “Agents of the crown, likely innocent themselves, but working on the falsified information, issued a warrant to seize the property only yesterday. Fortunately, our good Samaritan, one Beatrice Gladstone, or one of your Irregulars, intervened on our behalf. Spending a not-inconsiderable sum to clear the matter up.”
“My Irregulars?” I said, “I’m sure I have no idea to whom you refer.”
“A reader, dear boy,” Holmes said, and his irritated expression split into a rueful smile. “One of Watson’s Irregulars. No? I thought it a catchy term but I see you do not. At any rate, she is an avid fan, by the sound of it. She works in the government office where the false papers landed and, recognizing the address from your lurid tales in The Strand, immediately set about to rectify the situation from her own pocket. I tried to send a cheque to recompensate her this very morning, but she’s already replied and refused. It seems that Mrs Gladstone has won the argument for you regarding your literary talents. At least this round, anyway.”