I realized that I was a prisoner. I felt wild and afraid. I ran up and down the stairs. I tried to open every door. I looked out of every window.
But I could not leave. I felt very helpless. I sat down quietly and started to think. I decided not to tell Count Dracula. He is the person who locked me here.
He has a reason for this. I cannot trust him. I must keep my fears secret. I must watch everything very carefully. I am in a very dangerous situation.
The Count returned later that day. I went to my room. I looked through a small hole in the door. I saw the Count making my bed.
Later, I saw him put food on the dining table. This confirmed my thoughts. There are no servants in this house. The Count does all the work himself.
This thought terrified me. It means the Count was the driver of the carriage. He is the man who controlled the wolves with his hand. Why are the people in Bistritz afraid of him?
I am glad the old woman gave me the crucifix (a cross with a figure of Jesus). I touch it and I feel stronger. It is strange. I am an English Churchman, but this object helps me now. I want to learn more about Count Dracula.
Midnight.
I had a long talk with the Count. I asked him about the history of Transylvania. He became very excited. He spoke about old battles.
He spoke like he was actually there. He is very proud of his family name. He says his family are the Szekelys. He says they come from Attila and the Huns.
He told me his ancestors (family members who lived a long time ago) were great hunters and soldiers. He said they fought many wars against the Turks. He held up his arms and looked very proud.
He said the Dracula blood is special. He said his people were always leaders. But he said the days of war are over now. We went to bed when the sun started to rise.
12 May.
I will write down only the facts. Yesterday, the Count asked me about English law. I spent the day reading books about law.
The Count asked if a man in England can have many lawyers. I told him a man can have many, but it is better to have one. He understood me well.
He wants to use different people for different business. He said he chose Mr. Peter Hawkins because he lives far from London. The Count wants his business to be private.
He asked me how to ship goods to different ports in England. I explained how it works. He is very smart. He thinks of every detail.
Then the Count stood up. He told me to write to Mr. Hawkins. He told me to write to other people too. He said I must tell them I will stay here for one month.
I felt very cold and sad. I do not want to stay here. But I have no choice. I am a prisoner. I saw the look in the Count’s eyes.
He gave me three sheets of paper and three envelopes. The paper was very thin. He smiled at me. I saw his sharp teeth over his red lip.
I knew he would read my letters. I decided to write only simple things. But I will write a secret letter to Mina in shorthand (a fast way of writing using special signs). The Count cannot read that.
I saw the Count’s own letters on the table. He is writing to people in London and Whitby. He stamped the letters and left the room.
Before he left, he warned me. He said I must not sleep in other parts of the castle. He said this house is very old. He said I would have bad dreams if I slept in other rooms.
Later.
I will not sleep anywhere near the Count. I put my crucifix over my bed. I feel safer there.
I went to a high window to look out. The moonlight was very bright. I saw the mountains and the valleys. They looked beautiful and peaceful.
Then I saw something moving below me. It was the Count’s head. He came out of his window. He began to crawl down the castle wall.
He moved face down over the deep cliff. His big cloak looked like wings. He moved like a lizard. He used his fingers and toes to hold the stones.
I was terrified. What kind of man is this? Or is he even a man? I feel a great fear in this place. There is no way to escape.
15 May.
I saw the Count crawl down the wall again. He left the castle. I decided to explore the house while he was gone.
All the big doors were locked. I went to the hall. I pulled back the bolts and the chains. But the big door was locked and the key was gone.
I found a door at the top of some stairs. I pushed it hard. The door opened. I entered a new part of the castle.
This part was very old. Women lived here a long time ago. The furniture was comfortable but very dusty. The moonlight came through the windows.
I felt very lonely, but I also felt peaceful. I sat at an old table. I am writing in my diary now. I am far away from the Count’s rooms.
16 May. Morning.
God help me. I think I am going mad. I stayed in the old room last night. I did not go back to my bedroom.
I was very tired. I fell asleep. But I woke up and I was not alone. Three young women were in the room.
Two women had dark hair and dark eyes. One woman had golden hair. They were very beautiful, but they had no shadows on the floor!
They had very red lips and white teeth. I felt afraid, but I also wanted them to kiss me. They whispered and laughed. Their laugh was as hard as metal.
The fair girl came near me. She went down on her knees. She licked her lips like an animal. I saw her red tongue and her sharp teeth.
She bent over my neck. I felt her hot breath. I felt her lips on my skin. I felt two sharp teeth touch my throat. I closed my eyes and waited.
Suddenly, the Count appeared. He was full of fury. He grabbed the woman by the neck. He pulled her away from me.
His eyes were red like fire. His face was very pale. He shouted at the women. "How dare you touch him! This man belongs to me!"
The fair girl laughed. She said, "You never love!" The Count whispered, "I can love. You know that. But now, go!"
The Count told them they could have me later. He gave them a bag. Something was moving inside the bag. It sounded like a small child crying.
The women took the bag. They disappeared into the moonlight. They went out through the window. I felt so much horror that I fainted.