1 November.
Dr. Van Helsing and I traveled fast all day. The horses were good and strong. Dr. Van Helsing paid the farmers for new horses. The country was very beautiful. The people were kind but very superstitious (believing in magic or bad luck).
In one house, a woman saw the scar on my forehead. She was afraid of the evil eye (a look that some people believe causes bad luck). She put a lot of garlic in the food. I kept my hat on so people did not see the scar.
Dr. Van Helsing did not rest all day. At sunset, he used hypnosis on me. He says I answered, “Darkness, water, and wood.” This meant Count Dracula was still on the river. I am not afraid for Jonathan. I trust God.
2 November, morning.
Dr. Van Helsing and I took turns driving the carriage all night. The air felt very heavy and cold. At dawn, Dr. Van Helsing used hypnosis again. He says I told him the water was roaring. The river was becoming fast and dangerous.
2 November, night.
We drove all day. The mountains were very close now. Dr. Van Helsing said we would reach the Borgo Pass by morning. We had four horses now. We did not see any other travelers.
I feel sad. I feel "unclean" because of the vampire's blood. I pray to God to make me clean again.
Memorandum by Abraham Van Helsing.
4 November.
I am writing this for my old friend John Seward, in case I do not see him again. I am at a camp fire. It is very cold and it is snowing. Mina Harker is very sleepy. She sleeps all day. She does not write in her journal.
At sunset, I tried to use hypnosis. It did not work. The Count’s power over Mina Harker was changing.
We reached the Borgo Pass yesterday morning. I used hypnosis one last time. Mina Harker said, “Darkness and water.” Then she woke up. She pointed to a small road. She said, “This is the way.” She knew the way from Jonathan Harker’s journal.
We drove for many hours. Mina Harker slept the whole time. I tried to wake her, but I could not. The sun began to set. The mountains were wild and rocky.
Mina Harker woke up at sunset. She looked very healthy and bright. She made supper for me. She said she was very hungry and had already eaten. I was worried. I was afraid because she was changing.
5 November, morning.
I am afraid I am going mad. Yesterday, we traveled into the wild mountains. Mina Harker slept all day again. I could not wake her for food. I feared the vampire's power was taking control of her.
We reached the top of a steep hill. I saw the castle. It was the same castle from Jonathan Harker’s diary. It was almost dark. I put the horses in a safe place. I made a fire for Mina Harker.
Then, I drew a large circle in the snow around Mina Harker. I put pieces of the Wafer (holy bread used in church) on the circle. This was a Holy Circle (a magic circle that evil things cannot enter). Mina Harker sat very still. She was as white as the snow.
I asked her to come to the fire. She tried to walk, but she stopped. She said, “I cannot!” She could not cross the Holy Circle. I was glad. If she could not cross it, the evil things outside could not cross it either.
During the night, the horses were very afraid. The snow fell. I saw shapes in the mist. They looked like three women in long dresses. These were the vampire women. They circled the Holy Circle. They could not get in.
The vampire women laughed. They pointed at Mina Harker. They said, “Come, sister! Come to us!” Mina Harker was very afraid. I held some of the Wafer and some firewood. I went toward the fire. The vampires ran away from the holy bread.
At dawn, the vampire women disappeared into the snow. I looked at the horses. They were all dead. They had died of fear. Mina Harker fell into a deep sleep. I prepared for my terrible work at the castle.
Jonathan Harker’s Journal.
4 November, evening.
Our boat had an accident. It was a terrible delay. Lord Godalming and I are now on horses. We are following the Count’s trail. We have our guns ready.
Dr. Seward’s Diary.
5 November.
At dawn, Quincey Morris and I saw a group of men. They were Romani men (men of a people who came from India many centuries ago). They had a large wagon (a large cart for carrying things). The men moved very fast.
I heard wolves howling in the mountains. Quincey Morris and I got our horses ready. We were riding to a dangerous fight.
Dr. Van Helsing’s Memorandum.
5 November, afternoon.
I went to the castle. I used a hammer to break open the old doors. I found the chapel. I found the tombs (stone boxes for dead bodies).
I found the three vampire women. They were sleeping. They were very beautiful. I felt a strange desire to wait. But then I heard Mina Harker crying out in her sleep. It was a cry for help.
I began my "butcher work." I drove a stake (a pointed piece of wood) through each vampire. I cut off their heads. They turned into dust immediately. Then I found a very large tomb. It said "DRACULA" on it. It was empty. I put the Wafer inside the tomb. Now the Count could never return there.
I went back to Mina Harker. She woke up and was happy to see me. We began to travel east to find our friends.
Mina Harker’s Journal.
6 November.
Dr. Van Helsing and I walked down the hill. It was very cold. We saw the castle on a high precipice (a very steep side of a mountain). It looked old and evil.
We found a place to hide between two large rocks. Dr. Van Helsing used his binoculars to look at the land. He saw a group of men on a wagon. They were the Romani men. They had a large chest on the wagon.
The sun was setting. At sunset, the Count would be free to move. Dr. Van Helsing drew another Holy Circle around me to keep me safe.
Then we saw more men on horses. It was Dr. Seward and Quincey Morris. From another side, Jonathan and Lord Godalming arrived. They were all chasing the wagon.
The sun was very low. The wolves were coming closer. The Romani men stopped the wagon. They drew their knives and guns.
Jonathan and Quincey Morris jumped off their horses. They ran toward the wagon. The men on the wagon tried to stop them. Jonathan was very fast. He jumped onto the wagon. He threw the big box onto the ground.
Quincey Morris fought the men. One of them cut Quincey Morris with a knife. Blood came from his side. But Quincey did not stop.
Jonathan used his large knife to open the box. Quincey Morris helped him. The lid of the box opened. Count Dracula was inside. He was very pale. His red eyes looked at the setting sun. He thought he was winning.
But Jonathan moved his large knife fast. He cut the Count’s throat. At the same moment, Quincey Morris pushed his knife into the Count’s heart.
It was a miracle. The Count’s body turned into dust. He disappeared forever. On his face, there was a look of peace.
The Romani men were afraid and rode away. The wolves followed them. We were alone in the snow.
Quincey Morris fell to the ground. He was dying. I ran to him. The scar on my forehead was gone. I was clean again.
Quincey Morris pointed to my face. He said, “I am happy to help. Look! Her forehead is clean! The curse is gone!” Then, Quincey Morris died.
Jonathan Harker’s Note
Seven years have passed. Mina and I are very happy. We have a son. His birthday is the same day that Quincey Morris died. We named the boy Quincey.
Dr. Seward and Lord Godalming are also married and happy.
We returned to Transylvania one summer. The castle was still there, but the evil was gone. We looked at our old journals and papers. We knew the story was wild. Most people would not believe it.
But we did not need proof. We knew the truth. One day, our son will know that his mother is a brave woman. He will understand that brave men loved her and fought for her.
THE END