JONATHAN’S JOURNAL

3 May, Bistritz, Transylvania.—I travelled by train for many hours and reached Budapest early yesterday morning. It seems a wonderful city but my time there was short. I only walked briefly through the streets.

Now, I’ve arrived in Transylvania. This place is full of wild beauty, with forests and streams, and small towns built on the top of steep hills. Tonight, I’m staying at the Golden Krone Hotel in Bistritz.

4 May.—I didn’t sleep well, although my bed was comfortable, because I had strange dreams. It didn’t help that a dog was howling under my window all night.

Later this afternoon, I’ll begin the last part of the journey. I’m going to see Count Dracula at his castle, deep in the Carpathian Mountains, which is one of the wildest and least known parts of Europe. I couldn’t find the castle on any map but the Count is sending his carriage for me.

As I was preparing to leave, the hotel manager, an old lady, hurried up to my room and said, “Do you have to go?” She looked extremely worried.

“Yes,” I answered. “I have important business.”

She fell on her knees and asked me not to go but I told her again that I had to. I thought she was worrying for nothing but she seemed really afraid.

She got back up and, taking a crucifix from her neck, offered it to me. I didn’t want to accept it because I’m not a Catholic but the poor lady looked so frightened that, in the end, I did.

As I walked to the main road to wait for the carriage, I looked back and saw the old lady and the other guests at the door of the hotel. They were watching me anxiously. I only heard a few words, which I translated later using my dictionary – pokol, which means hell, and vrolok, which means vampire.

Their fear stayed with me as I walked away. It has made me feel worried about my trip. If I die before I see my dear Mina again, these pages will be my last message to her.

5 May.—Here is what happened last night. It was almost dark when a carriage with four black horses stopped beside me. The driver was a tall man with a long brown beard and a big black hat, which hid most of his face. I could only see his bright eyes, which looked red in the lamplight.

Without a word, he helped me into the carriage and I noticed that his hands were extremely strong. Then we began our journey to the castle. As we left the town behind and sank into the darkness, I felt a cold fear all over my body.

From the mountains on both sides of us came a loud, terrible sound. A wolf was howling. Then another answered, and another.

As we passed through a forest, I heard the wind grew louder and snow began to fall. The wind carried the sound of the wolves to us. The night felt close and heavy around the carriage.

The howling came closer. The horses were frightened and the driver had trouble controlling them. He stopped the carriage and jumped down to check them. Then he disappeared into the darkness.

For a moment, there was only the sound of the wind.

The howling began again, closer than before. The horses shook their heads and moved their feet nervously. Then the moon appeared from behind a cloud and, by its light, I saw a circle of wolves around the carriage, moving slowly towards us.

Suddenly, I saw the driver standing in the road ahead of us. He raised his arms and spoke some words in a strong voice. At once, the wolves ran away into the trees.

I was so frightened that I couldn’t move. We started travelling again, higher into the mountains. Time passed slowly but at last I saw the castle. I couldn’t believe my eyes – what an incredible place! It was absolutely huge and ancient. No light came from its tall black windows.

5 May, continued.—I got down from the carriage. The driver took the carriage around to the back of the castle, leaving me alone in the dark. There was no bell and no servant so I just stood there, alone in the silence. not sure what to do.

What sort of place was this? And was this normal work for a young lawyer, sent here to explain the buying of a London house to a foreigner? It felt like a nightmare.

Then I heard a sound and the huge door opened slowly. Inside stood a tall old man with a white moustache, dressed in black from head to foot. He held a silver lamp, which made long shadows on the walls and floor.

In excellent English, he cried, “Welcome to my house! Please come in.”

We shook hands and I noticed that his hand was as cold as ice.

“I’m Count Dracula,” he said, reaching for my luggage. “My servants have gone to bed but I’ll carry your bags in.”

He was so friendly and polite that I felt calmer for a moment.

We walked along a corridor, up some stairs and along another corridor. At the end, there was a heavy door. Dracula opened it for me and I was pleased to see a fire and some roast chicken and cheese on a table.

I sat down straight away to eat as I was extremely hungry. The Count watched me. His face was very white and his mouth was red. His sharp, white teeth made his face look cruel.

He moved closer and touched my hand. I couldn’t help shuddering. And I suddenly felt very sick – perhaps because of his breath, which smelt terrible. The Count, clearly noticing my reaction, stepped back with a dark smile.

We were silent for a while and I looked towards the window, where I could see the first signs of morning. From the valley came the howling of wolves.

The Count’s eyes shone. “Listen to them – the children of the night!”

I didn’t reply.

“I’m sure you’re tired,” he said. “Sleep as late as you want. I have to go out and won’t be back till the afternoon.”

I don’t know what to think. I have doubts and fears. God protect me!

7 May.—It is early morning again but I rested well yesterday. I woke up late and ate the meal that had been left for me. When I’d finished, I looked for a bell to call the servants but there wasn’t one.

The plates, knife and fork are made of gold and the furniture in the room looks extremely expensive and centuries old. But there is no mirror anywhere – I had to use a tiny one from my bag to shave and brush my hair.

I still haven’t seen a servant or heard a sound except the howling of wolves.

I opened another door and found a small library full of English books and magazines about English life, customs, politics and law.

While I was looking at the books, the door opened and the Count entered.

“Ah,” he said, “these have taught me so much about your country. I can’t wait to walk through the crowded streets of London, to be in the middle of all that life and death.”

“Can I come in here whenever I want?” I asked.

“You can go anywhere you want in the castle, except where the doors are locked,” he answered.

We talked for hours about his new London house, called Carfax. He had bought it with my help but had never seen it. He asked me all about the place in great detail and then I brought some documents for him to sign.

Later, the Count left the room and didn’t come back for an hour.

“I’m informed that your dinner is ready,” he said.

He took my arm and we went into the next room, where I found an excellent dinner on the table. The Count didn’t eat because, as he explained, he’d already had some food on his way home. But he sat and talked while I ate.

He talked almost all night. I was very sleepy but didn’t want to seem rude so I didn’t tell him.

Finally, we saw the morning light come through the window.

“Oh, we’ve stayed awake too long!” he cried and quickly left.

I went back into my room and wrote in this journal.

8 May.—There is something strange about this place and I wish I’d never come. But writing down my thoughts helps me feel calmer.

I only slept a few hours and, when I woke up, I hung my little mirror by the window and began to shave. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard the Count say, “Good morning.”

I jumped with surprise as I hadn’t seen him in the mirror. I could see the whole room behind me in it but not him. When I jumped, I had cut myself and now a little blood was flowing down my chin.

When the Count saw this, his eyes shone with an evil light and he grabbed my throat. But his hand touched the crucifix and he stepped back, his eyes becoming normal again.

“Be more careful next time,” he said. “This country is more dangerous than you think.”

He picked up my mirror and threw it out the window. It broke into a thousand pieces on the stones in the yard below. Then he left the room without a word.

This is very annoying – I’m going to have to use the bottom of my metal shaving pot as a mirror now.

I had breakfast alone. Then I explored the castle and found a room looking towards the south. The view was absolutely beautiful. The castle stands on the edge of a very high, very steep cliff. If a stone fell from the window, it would fall three hundred metres without touching anything!

But the beauty didn’t help my mood much because, as I explored further, I found only locked doors.

There is no exit. The castle is a prison and I’m a prisoner!