The Blood Room

Rough working draft, as per discussion with @monicavanfleet exploring Bram Stoker’s possible blood room in one of Dracula’s English properties

The Piccadilly Mansion sat about 200 yards from Hyde Park abutted by neighbouring mansions.

Lord Godalming had been to school with one of the neighbours at 345 and had allowed access through his property. Which they realised overlooks Green Park and Buckingham Palace. God forbid the monster could have access to the Queen!

Godalming & Harker, using ropes, climbed out of the top roof window, and traversed across the flat leaded section of roof and using a jimmy lifted the sash windows on the roof section at 347.

Godalming entered first and Jonathan handed Godalming a leather folding tool bag then climbed through after him. Both carrying their pistols. The room was clearly being used for storage with Chesterfields covered in dust sheets, they climbed through checking under the sheets to see if anything which might belong to the count was stored there. Nothing was found so they made their way to the adjoining room. It was empty, save for a family of large spiders webbed into the corners of the ceiling.

Across the hall lay two similar doors, they decided to try the one directly opposite the room with the Chesterfields. Before they tried the door, Harker felt a feeling of foreboding and looked to his friend who took charge, pushing open the door. Immediately something felt off, the light was wrong, they realized the room was painted entirely red. The window coverings were red. Within the room there were packing crates which they prised open to find the soil they had found at Purfleet, and set about making the soil unsafe for the count, to the right hand side sat an ominous shape under cover, Harker lifted his cross and whispered a prayer under his breath.

Godalming put his hand on Harker’s shoulder saying ‘be strong my friend’.

They lifted the cover together to find the coffin they had expected, blood stained its lid where spindly fingers had lingered, both men drew their pistols as they lifted the lid.

Godalming exclaimed ‘The monster!’ Jonathon’s shoulder slumped, with a great deal of knowledge of what the count was capable of.

To their horror lay a child of about 4, grey skinned and puncture marks on her neck. They inspected her gums and found no indication of the evil wolf like teeth of the count.

The girl had a feint pulse, so they bundled her up to bring to Dr Seward.

As Jonathan held the girl in his arms he heard a flutter at the shutters. Godalming rushed to the window, opened the shutter to find a large bat, he set aim with his pistol but the bat flew off to the North.

Monica Van Fleet as mentioned this is my first draft.

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