Page 7 of The Doctor and the Devil
“You are the most disgusting, shameful ass,” Hubert hissed. “But I’m not about to let you get an eyeful of that pretty doctor all by yourself.”
It appeared that my decision had been made for me. I would not visit Mina tonight. I fantasized about eviscerating the men but forced myself to focus on my plans. Perhaps I could simply lead the men away, giving Mina some peace to rest unbothered for the night.
I swirled down to Pascal and Hubert and called forth one of my other abilities—an ancient form of mesmerism. Isuggestedto both men that they follow a stray dog for a few hours, convincing them that it might be the Beast of Gévaudan. When they caught sight of the animal across the alley, they took off after it with abandon.
Satisfied that Mina was safe from all prying eyes but my own, I allowed myself the small pleasure of drifting up to her bedroom window. Inside, she slept, snoring delicately and murmuring to her dream companions. What I wouldn’t give to explore her mind in those moments.
The night air started to warm, and I knew sunrise would soon be upon me. It was time to return home. I shifted into my wolf form, gathered my clothes up in my jaws, and kept to the shadows until I arrived at the edge of the city. Once I found the main road heading north, I took off with supernatural speed. My great claws dug into the damp earth, sending up showers of mud and leaves with every footfall. I inhaled deeply, using my lupine senses to paint a picture of the farmlands around me as they gave way to the towering trees of encroaching forest.
I followed the Seine northwest from Paris, winding through silvery green woods, until I arrived on the outskirts of Rouen. I departed from the main road and climbed to the top of a small hill, on which sat the crumbling ruin of a once-grand feudal castle,le Château du Diable.Built during the eleventh century and destroyed during the Hundred Years’ War, it had long since gained a reputation as a damned, haunted place, which caused the locals to avoid it entirely.
It was utterly perfect for my needs.
After the assassination of my father, I channeled my grief into the only remaining pursuit—finding my cruelly abandoned true love.My soulmate, if I’d had a soul.The moment I received word of Mina settling in Paris, I set my plan to action. My land agent found the property between Rouen and Paris and quietly prepared the castle for future habitation.
The charming ruins were shored up to prevent further decay, but still retained the appearance of an unlivable monument to evil. A crew of loyal workers dug down around the foundations and built an underground abode suited to my uncommon needs. I was glad to have a home here, where I could continue to work on my family’s curse and keep a watchful eye on Mina.
I climbed the slick stone walls of the high tower, which would be an impossible feat for any human. The only door into my home was at the very top, disguised beneath a massive granite slab, which afforded me another layer of protection against any human invaders. Only a very old, very strong vampire would have the strength to move the stone and gain entrance.
I pushed the stone away as if it were a simple wooden door and jumped inside. The six-story drop to the floor was another precaution—I didn’t require stairs, and anyone who made their way past the stone door would certainly fall to his death.
The interior of the tower appeared empty and ruined, but that was just for appearances. The only item inside the round chamber was a rusted wrought-iron brazier that stuck out about a foot from the wall. I pulled on the piece of metal and waited for the muted clanking sound that indicated the hidden passageway was shifting into place. My engineers had been particularly clever in designing the antechambers of my home and the mechanism still delighted me.
A small stone staircase appeared in the floor, which led down to my suite of rooms. Rather than the dark, gothic structure above, my rooms below had an altogether different feeling. I longed to leave behind the miasma of death and decay, so every hallway and room was built with pale, glittering marble floors and white and gold silken wall coverings. The ceilings bore elaborate frescoes of bluebird skies with puffy white clouds, whirling around a painted gilt sun. With the candles and fireplaces lit, I could imagine it was a day out in the sunshine. If this was as close to heaven as I could get, so be it.
As soon as I reached the bottom of the stairs, I shifted into human form. My bare feet padded silently along the plush blue and gold carpets that stretched the entire length of the hallway, winding deeper underground to my bedchamber.
I paused in front of the massive wooden doors carved with scenes from the Hades and Persephone myth, reaching out to stroke one long clawed finger across the smooth face of my Queen of Spring.
Soon, Mina.
Sighing, I pushed the doors open into my grand bedchamber—not filled with dirt, death, and a coffin, as the peasant rumors suggested—but a room dedicated to the beauty and awe of the night. A floor to ceiling mural of the night sky, set with stars and heavenly bodies welcomed me, as did the nearly black, navy-blue curtains that adorned my massive four poster bed. My dressing room and bathing room led off this main chamber with doors set into the celestial mural disguised as constellations.
I considered ringing for a bath, but given all the transforming I’d done this evening, I needed to feed more than anything. Rather than disturb my manservant, Guillaume, I went to the small armoire near my bed and pulled out one of the crystal bottles filled with blood. This had come from one of my last victims near Gévaudan—a merchant with a penchant for brutality against his wife, mistress, and young daughter. His blood tasted as rotten as he’d been when he was alive, but the memories of his death were that much more satisfying.God, how he’d screamed!
I licked the last of the blood from the bottle and set it aside. Exhaustion crept through my veins, and I barely made it to my bed before sleep took me, and as ever, I dreamed of Mina.
3
MINA
April 15, 1768
Van Helsing’s Clinic, Rue Ordener
The insistent bangingat my back door frightened me. Since the sun was only just beginning to set, I knew it wouldn’t behim—or any of my vampire patients—but I’d been on edge for the last two days since he’d shown up.
Heart pounding, I went around back to see who was too wary or nefarious to come in through the front door to my clinic.
“Charlotte!” I exhaled, relief washing over me.
“My darling doctor,” she trilled, pushing her way into the back storeroom, arms loaded with baskets of bread, cheese, and vegetables. She set them on my worktable and brushed the crumbs from the mossy green silk of her gown, set off with pink silk rosettes.
“I brought a basket of meat pies, as well—merde,where did I put it? I might have left it in my carriage. One short moment and I’ll just pop out to check…” the distracted Comtesse mumbled as she rifled through her parcels. Before she could leave, an enormous broad-shouldered French officer with striking green eyes and a queue of dark brown hair lumbered into the room, ducking as he filled—and exceeded—my doorway.
“Antoine,chéri, did I leave—?”
He looked at her, pushed a linen-covered basket in her hands, and swept her up in a passionate kiss. Once the Comtesse de Brionne was flushed and panting, he tipped his hat to me, winked at his dizzy fiancée, and departed without a word.
