My Mind Rebels (Mina/Open)

[Sherlock Holmes]

The city streets in the late afternoon was an extremely interesting phenomenon to observe. Slowly, the world seemed to transform. As the sky shifted slowly to dusk, the side stands started to shut down and take away their remaining wares. The bars had started to light their fires, getting ready for the nightly rabble that would surely show itself in time.

In the clearing streets, one man walked alone. No woman was on his arm, being escorted to dinner. His brown eyes observed the thinning crowds, noticing the little things. Two men were getting in a heated argument about who had run into who. A child in rags slipped past them and stole an apple off of a passing cart (the man noticed, but let the child go). Another boy had dropped several boxes in the dirt, and was now being berated by a man who shared his eye color (and could be inferred to as a relative, perhaps father).

Sherlock Holmes sighed, rubbing his eyes as he paused on the street. But even then, he could smell toffee apples and baked goods being made in the nearby homes. He felt the soft tremble on the ground, and heard horses neigh in alarm as they almost hit a passerbyer in the street.

Why he thought this afternoon stroll would help ease his rebellious mind was beyond him. It became worse in crowds, his conscious wanting to notice every little thing. It made him a brilliant detective, but it made taking a simple walk impossible. But he had taken pity on his exhausted landlady, whose cousin was visiting her for supper. And since the last meeting of her cousin had not gone too well, he decided to eat his own supper elsewhere. Problem was, he wasn’t very hungry.

Sighing, the detective thought of perhaps visiting nearby tavern. Perhaps participate in one of its boxing matches to give him a much needed physical and mental workout. And then, as he opened his eyes, he noticed that the crowd had thinned dramatically. Also, another interesting observation.

A young woman (he would surmise around her late twenties, judging by the way she held herself and her facial features), was walking the streets with her son. (Again, he judged by the fact that they both shared the same brown eyes). She did not seem to notice the shady figure that had briefly nudged her was now walking off with her wallet.

Sherlock frowned, a poor thin child who had stolen an apple for food was one thing. A grown man who seemed middle-class (judging by his clothing) had no business taking the wallet of a lady. A married lady too, if the ring on her left finger gave any indication.

Sherlock didn’t run after the man, for the man was walking toward him. So he waited until the man was right next to him.

WHACK!

The riding crop seemed to come out of nowhere as it connected with the thief’s face. Sherlock used the confusion to use a well placed jab to knock the man off his feet. As he lay there, holding his face in pain, he had dropped the wallet, which Holmes retrieved.

The detective stood to his feet, immediately walking with swift pace up to the woman and her child. “Excuse me Madam, but I believe you have misplaced this…” He told her with a slight bow, extending the wallet for her to take. The thief, once realizing that he had been caught, had disappeared into the shadows of an alley. Sherlock kept that fact in mind.

[mina]

Mina had awoke that morning in England. Getting out of bed she put her best clothes on and awoke Quincy her son. His father had been out and about selling things to get more money. Mina dressed Quincy and they went out for the day. The sun was high in the sky and it was crowded in the town. Holding her sons' hand they walked through the sea of people.

Stopping by a crowded fruit stand Quincy handed a few things to his mother after they paid for them. Mina smiled down at him and asked him if he wanted any of it. The wind came and blew her hair over to her shoulders. The rest of it was on her back. Mina continued to talk to her son when they were traveling in the marketplace.

Mina continued to stroll along the sidewalks and stopped at the apple stand with her son who was by her side. Picking out a few things in there a man stood behind her but she didn't feel anything. A sigh escaped her when Quincy questioned her about his father. Jonathan had been rather busy as of late and hadn't been home in a while and Quincy missed him.

Leaving the stand she was suddenly stopped by a man. "Oh. Thank you" she said softly. Quincy stared at the man and she looked down at him. "Quincy. Its rude to stare!" she said softly. "Forgive me Sir, My name is Mina Harker and this is Quincy my son. Quincy don't be shy. Say hello to this nice man" she said nudging him lightly. "Hello" he said softly. "How can I repay you for bringing this back to me?" she asked curiously looking at him.

[Sherlock Holmes]

"Oh. Thank you"

The woman looked surprised, which reaffirmed Sherlock’s belief that she had been unaware of the robbery. He simply smiled at her thanks, but his eyes were already taking in as much as he could. As before she was in her late twenties and married. And she had chalk on her coat, indicating that she was a schoolteacher.

"Quincy. Its rude to stare!"

Ah and as for the child? Sherlock gazed down at the boy with his forever curious brown eyes. A boy of eight or nine, with brown eyes of his mother. Which meant that the woman had been married for at least eight or nine years or more (unless she and her now-husband had committed adultery or the child was from another marriage. Both seemed unlikely, but possible).

But what interested him the most were the faint scares around the woman’s neck. Barely visible, but they were there. Mostly around her artery regions, which made him infer that she most likely was apart of a violent crime. Judging by the scars, they were older. Which meant that the catastrophe happened right before or right after her marriage.

"Forgive me Sir, My name is Mina Harker and this is Quincy my son. Quincy don't be shy. Say hello to this nice man"

He smiled kindly and, forever the gentleman, bowed and taking her hand kissed it. “A pleasure Mrs. Harker,” After letting go of her hand, he went to his knee and held out his hand to Quincy, “And a pleasure to meet you as well, Mr. Harker.”

One would find it comical that a grown man was treating an eight year old boy as an equal. But though the kind smile remained on his face, he couldn’t help the tell-tale signs of a discomfort conversing to Mrs. Harker and her son. It was not their fault, indeed it was his own vices.

Simply put, he felt uncomfortable around females and children. They were too… illogical? Unpredictable? Yes, that was a better word. But no need to offend the Harkers, or any other woman or child he conversed with. Standing to his feet again to face the mother.

"How can I repay you for bringing this back to me?

“It was no trouble, madam. It is my business to notice what other people don’t, after all.” His brown eyes twinkled slightly, “I am Sherlock Holmes.” His name had appeared in the paper more than once, assisting Scotland Yard on numerous cases. But never a picture (he made sure of this).

[mina]

Mina looked at the man for a moment. She noticed her scares on her neck from what happened in the past. But she didn't mind. A few people had noticed and questioned her as well. Holding Quincy's hand she remained silent for a moment. Unsure of what to say at this point. Quincy went close to his mother and held tightly against her dress. She chuckled softly and brushed the side of his hair out of his face.

Then she felt him take her hand and plant a kiss upon her hand. Once he let go she watched him with Quincy. He seemed to have his way of children. Mina gave her son a lightly nudge to have him forward. But Quincy remained silent as he stared at the man.

Mina looked back at the man for a moment and then she finally got his name. "Ah, yes. I've heard of you" she said softly. "You are a detective are you not?" she questioned for a moment. A smile was upon her face, Mina had read about him in a few papers but that was it. Now, she has come face to face with him.

[Sherlock Holmes]

"Ah, yes. I've heard of you. You are a detective are you not?"

Holmes felt a sliver of pride at the idea that he had been ‘heard of’. Despite this, he didn’t let it show. Only let out a small smile in confirmation, “I am, a consulting detective to be precise.” The difference between a normal detective of the yard and a private consulting one was that he could choose his own cases, without the government telling him which ones he could or could not take.

“And you would be a…. schoolteacher correct?” He asked in an almost conversational tone. He didn’t explain to her how he had come to that conclusion because of the chalk on her coat.

He could have asked about the scars, but he bit his tongue for the moment. Unless of course, she asked what else he could tell about her. If he had to guess about her teaching position, he would wager that by how she handled herself, she taught etiquette and decorum. This could be further implied by the way she made sure her own child continued to have proper manners.

Sherlock paused for a moment, hearing a slight movement from behind them. He turned his head slightly and noticed that the man who had stolen Mrs. Harker’s wallet was back, this time observing them. What troubled him most was that he had not gone into the alley to gather more friends, but had returned alone. And was now just… staring. With quite manic-looking blue eyes.

But Sherlock was quick to disguise his concern. Flipping out his pocket watch, he pretended to check it. He already knew that it was a quarter to 3. He was much more concerned to make sure that the thief stayed there, and didn’t notice that Sherlock had noticed him.

An idea occurred in his brain, “Tell me, Mr. Harker, do you like toffee apples?” He addressed the child, a small smile on his face. If he agreed, he would have an excuse to lead the lady and child away from the watching man enough so that he could explain the situation without intruding ears or watchful eyes.

[mina]

Nodding she listened to his title and said "Ah, I see. It must be an interesting job with all these cases going around this city" she said softly to Sherlock. He was an interesting person. Mina studied him for a moment and then looked back to her son. Who was trying to pull her away so they could get home. But she didn't want to leave.

"Yes I am" she said softly with a soft smile. Mina looked at him and then back around her surroundings. It wasn't crowded as it was before and then she looked back at Sherlock for a moment. Unsure of what to say. Giving a slight sigh she moved her son out of the way of people coming by. And leaned against the wall behind them.

Mina looked around and then back at Sherlock as he talked to Quincy. Quincy nodded his head and she smiled softly. Letting out a little come to her. "Yes, he loves them actually. Jonathan and I try to keep him away from them though. But he's been good today so he's allowed to have a few" she said giggling softly. Then she looked around then back at him.

[Sherlock Holmes]

"Ah, I see. It must be an interesting job with all these cases going around this city"

“Indeed. It pays the rent, at least.” Holmes responded with a small smile. He did like solving cases, defiantly preferred to have problems on his mind rather than to not. To not have a case meant a dark mood (one that was closely approaching). Yes, he wished that his services were not needed. But they were, and as long as the world was imperfect he would use his skills for the greater good.

He noticed of course, that the boy Quincy wanted to be home. A smart lad, or rather he had a sense that all boys had to protect his mother from the strange man they were conversing with. And of course, he was right to want to run home. However, Sherlock feared leaving them alone. The thief was still watching, after all.

"Yes, he loves them actually. Jonathan and I try to keep him away from them though. But he's been good today so he's allowed to have a few"

That and the lad’s nod was all he needed. “Well, then I will have to treat you.” Gesturing with an arm, “There is a sweet shop not to far from here that serves the best kind. Something to do with where they get their Barley sugar, I believe.” He paused as he seemed to think about it. Then decided it was irrelevant.

“It is not far from here, just a few blocks. But if it incontinent I understand…” Even if Mrs. Harker declined the invitation, insisted that they had to go home. Sherlock would simply insist on escorting them to their home. At such an hour, and with the eyes of a criminal on their backs, it was the most logical thing.

And no matter how wild Sherlock seemed to be, no matter how random his actions, they were all logical and done for a reason. He himself wasn’t really in the mood for anything, especially sweets. But he was defiantly not in the mood to look up in the newspaper that these two had been robbed in the street, or worse because he decided to just leave them.

[mina]

Mina listened to Sherlock speak to her and she smiled at him. He was a very nice man for helping them with her wallet. However, Mina didn't realize that she misplaced it but it was nice that he returned it. Looking around she looked at Quincy who was tugging at her hand trying to pull her in the opposite direction. Giving a sigh she looked down at him and he stopped and just stood close to his mother. Turning back to Sherlock she listened to him.


She stayed silent listening to him speak. "Alright. " she said softly. Beginning to follow him down the street. Mina looked down at Quincy who nodded and remained silent as well. Looking back at Sherlock she said "Of course. Feel free to lead the way" she said smiling softly. Not realizing they were being watched.

Holding Quincy's hand tightly a bit she waited for Sherlock to lead the way to the shoppe. Looking down at him she brushed a string of hair out of his eyes and then looked at Sherlock. "Im ready, when you are Mr. Holmes" she said softly to him.

[Sherlock Holmes]

"Of course. Feel free to lead the way”

Sherlock smiled and began to walk at what looked like a relaxed stroll next to Mrs. Harker and her son. His hands behind his back casually. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched the man’s shadow start to move as they walked. By now, the crowd was thinning drastically. And the detective rectified that problem by making sure that they were walking behind a rather large group of people.

And when the noise in front of them was loud enough, he leaned his head sideways to whisper lowly into Mrs. Harker’s ear, soft enough so that Quincy and the people around them would not hear, “Do not panic, do not look behind you. There is a man who has been watching us converse, and is now following.”

He leaned away and looked casually over at the sky, staring up at a flock of birds that was now flying rhythmically over head. He didn’t look alarmed at all, but still kept his sensitive ears on the heavy footfalls of their pursuer. They were a heavy sort of cheap leather, Holmes would even call them Italian if not for their square sole.

The candy shoppe was indeed quite close. And it was crowded enough with last minute shoppers so that it would be the ideal place to discuss the strange man with Mrs. Harker. And with a handful of sweets, Quincy wouldn’t take notice of their conversation if they were discreet.

Entering after the Harkers, Sherlock noticed that the man who had been following, had now positioned himself on a bench across the street. The man had a battered bowler hat that covered his eyes as he stared down at his feet. The posture reminded the detective of a puppet at rest. A very odd one, and probably not a very comfortable one either.

Sherlock lead the mother and son to the counter, where a young woman around Mina’s age stood working. Her face lit up with a smile when she saw the detective. ”Mr. Holmes! How good to see you again.” There was both the hint of familiarity and of flirtation in her voice.

Sherlock took off his fedora, reaching inside his coat for his wallet. He smiled back at the woman, “Miss. Olander, how wonderful. I trust you are in good health.” Olivia Olander and her parents ran the establishment. Olivia herself had been kidnapped by a jealous suitor a little over a year ago. Her parents had hired Holmes, and he found their daughter. Problem was, now her parents (and Olivia too apparently) thought that Holmes was the perfect suitor. Already, they had asked him to dinner several times. But even thought Olivia was a comely girl, Holmes was not the marrying kind.

She giggled and mentioned to call her Olivia, but the corner of his eye was focused on the man across the street. He hadn’t moved, not a twitch. How odd…

“Well, Mr. Harker here,” He clapped Quincy’s shoulder lightly, “Can have whatever he wants. On my bill.” He winked at Quincy, and let Olivia giggle again and show Quincy what they had to offer. It was then that he decided to address the darker matter at hand.

“The man across the street on the bench, bowler hat on his eyes. Black trench coat and boots. He actually stole your wallet before I retrieved it.” He said out of the corner of his mouth, acting as if he was looking at a case of sweets. He let Mina look out the window at the man if she wished.

[mina]

With the detective by her side she held onto Quincy's hand with the other and had her free hand in her coat pocket. Looking around she talked a little with Quincy who just remained silent and nodded with questions that Mina asked him. A sigh escaped her as she continued walking with Mr. Holmes. He was a nice man who lead the way to the candy shop.

Suddenly she almost jumped at the sound of his voice. Remaining silent she listened to him speak again. Her eyes were looking straight ahead of her. She could see the sign of the shop and listened to him. Mina wanted to say something but she couldn't. Nodding she continued walking.

Quincy tugged on his mother's dress and he asked "Why was he whispering?" Mina looked down and said nothing and Quincy remained silent for the rest of the walk. Once they got into the shop she looked around then back at the detective and said "Are we safe now Mr. Holmes?" she asked curiously. Wondering if the follower was still outside or not. Mina still held onto Quincy's hand. Quincy was getting excited in the store and she looked at him and laughed a little. Mina didn't want to lose track of her son so she continued to hold onto him a little longer.

Mr. Holmes lead them to a counter in which Mina helped Quincy to. Taking off his jacket she smiled and fixed his shirt a bit. Then she sat down in next to Quincy. Mina remained silent as a woman behind the counter and himself converse for a moment. After getting comfortable Mina continued to fix his hair lightly and he squirmed a bit. Then she stopped and listened to Sherlock speak.

"Thank you Mr. Holmes" she said softly to him. Mina watched him and Quincy was just fascinated with everything around him. Mina watched her son for a moment and then back at the detective who began to speak. Turning slightly she saw the man across the street pretending to be asleep. As if she was going to go out and he was going to take her. Mina turned back around at him and said nothing for a moment. "You saw him?" she asked curiously. Whispering lightly so Quincy wouldn't get nervous. Mina said nothing more after that. "I never even felt him take the wallet out of my pocket" she said softly. "Nor my hand bag" she said softly.

[Sherlock Holmes]

"Are we safe now Mr. Holmes?"

Sherlock didn’t answer her. Not because he found the question ridiculous, but because he honestly didn’t know how to answer it. Mrs. Harker posed a question that was rather open to debate at this point. The danger was literally, right outside the window and waiting. For what, he wasn’t sure.

"Thank you Mr. Holmes"

The woman played a fine enough role, and Holmes was impressed. Most women would be panicking by now. Some would even faint or demand that the police be called. But she kept a clear head, which was vital if they were to get out of this and understand why this so called petty thief would continue to follow.

“It is my pleasure, Mrs. Harker.” He said with a kind smile, standing upright and watching as Olivia handed Quincy a Toffee Apple of his choice. The lad wasn’t bad, but Sherlock could see a profound difference in Quincy, and what he was like at that age. Sherlock could never keep still, always running around or talking in an excited way about something he had discovered (even to a complete stranger).

"You saw him? I never even felt him take the wallet out of my pocket. Nor my hand bag"

Holmes wondered briefly if the lady thought that he was in league with the man outside, but he pushed the thought aside. His reputation from the papers was enough. And if she still doubted him, she had but to ask Olivia about his stance.

“Sadly, the pickpockets of this city have their craft down to an art.” Sherlock sighed and shook his head but kept his voice low so that only she could hear, “What really astonishes me, however, is that he continued to follow. When I stopped him and retrieved your wallet, he fled down an alley. Most of his kind would simply move on to an easier target….”

He frowned out the window for a moment, staring at the unmovable man, “He hasn’t moved, not one twitch…” he said this more to himself than he did her, but she probably heard him. Not that it mattered at this moment.

Finally, he had enough of waiting. The plan appeared in his head. “Stay in here.” He ordered, “Stay close to Olivia and the counter, where people can see you. I will be back in a moment.” And with that he walked past her down a narrow hallway to where the back door lead out to an alley.

He walked swiftly outside, past the boxes and other garbage pails. He waited until a large group was readying to cross the street and joined them. The man on the bench didn’t move, not even until Holmes was right behind him.

“You know, it is quite rude to stalk a lady…” He growled softly down at him.

He was quite interested in the reaction. Slowly, the man turned around as if being lead by a yarn. His blue eyes, once full of fear and pain when Sherlock had stopped him before, were now blank and void of thought. The man stood jerkily, before slowly pulling out a butcher knife. Raising it in the light, he smiled in a blank way toward Sherlock.

The detective raised an eyebrow, and then easily blocked the arm as the knife was moved forward. Another quick jab to the nose and one to the pelvis was enough to make the man drop his knife.

The man staggered backwards, shaking his head in an almost drunken way, before lumbering forward with a wild hay-maker, which Sherlock blocked as well. He returned another jab to the pelvis, enough so that it was sure to bruise ribs. The man went to his knees in pain, holding his middle.

By this time, people were starting to notice the brawl. A police inspector blew his whistle, running up to where Sherlock and the man stood. The man immediately recognized the detective, ”Mr. Holmes! Whats this all about?”

“This man has been stalking a client of mine.” Holmes replied curtly, backing away to let the police officer cuff the kneeling man, “Put him on the bench if you would, Inspector…” The officer complied, lifting the man and forcing him back on the bench. Holmes was starting to find those blank blue eyes disturbing…

With a frown, Sherlock looked over at the candy shoppe window and gestured to Mina to come over as the officer cleared off the crowd. Waiting for Mina to make her way over, Sherlock looked over at the man, “Why are you stalking Mrs. Harker?” The man looked blankly over at the detective, before saying something in a language that Sherlock didn’t recognize immediately. But it sounded Hungarian, perhaps Romanian region:

” Am venit să fac voia nosferatu.”

[mina]

Once Olivia handed Quincy the Toffee Apple she smiled at her and thanked her. Quincy began eating it happily and he was swinging his legs on the chair they were sitting on. Mina looked around and ordered a small glass of water. Looking back at Sherlock she didn't know what else to say. Mina sighed listening to him speak about the man and the thieves.

Her eyes were down at the ground for a moment and smiled at Quincy. He was already halfway done with the little treat from Holmes. Looking around again she gazed at all the people that were coming in and leaving the place. But then she went to looking back at Holmes. Mina listened to him speak.

Nodding she stayed and listened to him. Quincy turned around and Mina distracted him. She thanked Olivia for bringing the glass to her. Mina sighed softly placing a hand to her hand and taking out a book for the time being. Though she only hoped her new friend would be alright.

Mina sighed softly and then put the book away. She looked up at Olivia and said "Tell me Madam, how do you know Mr. Holmes?" she asked curiously looking upon him and patted a hand upon her sons' head and looked back at Olivia. With a kind smile.

[Sherlock Holmes]

"Tell me Madam, how do you know Mr. Holmes?"

Olivia smiled, “Oh call me Olivia, dear.” She smiled slightly at the mention of her Mr. Holmes, “Well, I got involved with a gentleman who I suppose wasn’t much of a gentleman at all. When I tried to break it off, he kidnapped me and took me to Germany.” She sighed slightly at the terrifying memories, sitting there and wondering if she would ever see her parents again.

”Of course, my family tried to get the police involved. But they claimed that there was nothing they could do. What with him taking me out of the country and all. So my parents hired Mr. Holmes to track me down.” Olivia smiled slightly, ”Which he did, of course. He’s brilliant, that Mr. Holmes. Nothing gets past him. Its like he sees things us normal people overlook.” She leaned in slightly, ”And there is no Mrs. Holmes…. Yet…” She giggled slightly, obviously suggesting that she herself would take him to the alter yet. Then winking at Mina before walking back behind the counter.

Meanwhile, the man on the bench had promptly passed out. Though Sherlock had tried to question him more thoroughly, the man simply repeated the foreign phrase. And then he fainted, perhaps from pain. But Sherlock was not sure.

Out of the corner of the detective’s eye, he saw a shadow lurking in the entrance to an alley. But when he looked up, nothing was there. Sighing, Sherlock was about to tell the officer to take the man away, until he realized something about his clothes. The dirt on them held a grayish tint, a type only seen in the Carpathian Mountain regions. More specifically, Transylvania.

“Officer, you may take this man to the yard now.” Holmes requested quietly, “Let the Inspector know that he cannot speak English, but a dialect from Romania.”

As the officer grabbed the man and dragged him to his feet, Holmes walked back over to the sweat shoppe. Opening the door, the troubled look was still present on his face. He walked over and sat besides Mina with a small sigh, looking over at her with a small smile, “I don’t think he will be bothering you again, Mrs. Harker.” He stated, before asking Olivia politely if she would get him a glass of water.

When Olivia brought it, he took a drink, his eyebrows still knitted together in the ultimate thinking look. “Mrs. Harker, if I could be so bold, what do you know of Transylvania?” His brown eyes were locked on her form, ready for any kind of reaction.

[mina]

Mina listened to Olivia speak and she laughed lightly "Ah, alright. Olivia it is then. Forgive me for introducing myself to you Olivia. Im Mina, and this is my son Quincy" she said softly smiling at her and her son. Then she listened to Olivia a speak about the troubles she's been having.

"It would seem that Mr. Holmes is a very good detective then" she said softly looking over at Olivia smiling softly. "I'm happy he found you again and brought you back here to London" she said a moment later. Quincy looked at his mother and Olivia and wanted to say something but remained silent for a while.

Fixing the back of Quincy's shirt she patted him on the back lightly. Then she turned around again and saw Sherlock coming in. Then she went back to talk to Olivia for a moment. "Thank you Mr. Holmes" she said softly as he told her that the man wouldn't be bothering her again.

Silence fell between the four of them. The four that included Olivia. her new friend. Mina sighed softly and then heard the word Transylvania. Her eyes were wide with fear when she heard that word. Once that word popped into her mind. She had a flashback with the count that had died and in which Jonathan saved her from. However, Mina didn't know that someone would ask that question for a while. Sighing she placed a hand upon her hand and looked over at him and said "I know everything that people should know about that dark dreadful place" she said softly.

"I know that...I was merely killed there by Count Dracula. If it weren't for Jonathan I would have been dead, or either be Dracula's bride. Which I hope I do not wish to run into ever again" she said softly. "Now that I have a family, if he comes back I will do anything to protect Quincy from him. He was a monster to me. Hence why I have these..... theses scares upon my neck" she said softly to him. Her voice was shaky a little but she continued on. "I was saved by Jonathan and Abraham Van Helsing. So thankfully I lived. Im not exactly sure what happened to the count..." she said softly looking at the counter in front of them now. Mina looked back at Sherlock and asked "I want to know something Mr. Holmes. Why did you want to know about Transylvania?" she asked curiously.

[Sherlock Holmes]

When he had said the name of the region, he noted how her pupils dilated, and how her breath hitched slightly. Things he had seen before when chasing a criminal who knew they had been caught: fear. This Transylvania had elicited an emotional response from Mrs. Harker, and Sherlock readied himself for the story that would most likely come from it.

"I know everything that people should know about that dark dreadful place"

The detective did not look at her when she spoke, instead staring off to the side. But his brown eyes were serious and focused, sure signs that he was paying close attention to her words. He recognized all three of the mentioned names, and categorized them into his brain.

Jonathan (he assumed the last name was Harker) was inferred to be Mina’s husband. For she had mentioned him before, as they both were raising Quincy together to not eat so many toffee apples. And there was a quiver of affection in her voice as the name was mentioned.

Abraham Van Helsing was another interesting character. To be more specific, Professor Abraham Van Helsing was well-respected in the scientific community. His breakthroughs on the rare African bat were astounding to read about. That Mina knew him well enough was impressive.

And the final name, Count Dracula. Holmes had to rack his brains back into the dull days of his time with his governess in France. The woman was apparently part-gypsy, and she told him stories of her mother’s homeland in the Romanian region of Wallachia. One of the most prominent figures of that region was a Prince Vlad Dracul ‘the Implaer’.

Sherlock of course would assume that this Count Dracula was a decedent from the Prince Dracul, being that they were from the same country. But there was one small problem with this.

“Madam, this Count Dracula who was so violent against you. Surely he falsified his name? The Dracul name died out at the end of the crusades, with the death of Vlad Dracul’s son…” He frowned slightly as he finally looked back at her. Though his heart went out to her after hearing of such a violent crime, he was forever a man of logic. He needed to know every piece of the puzzle before he created the solution.

I want to know something Mr. Holmes. Why did you want to know about Transylvania?"

Sherlock shifted slightly in his chair, crossing his legs. “The man who had been stalking you is from that region of Romania. From the phrase he spoke, his dialect is Romanian. Also, the dirt that stained his clothing had a strange grayish-tint, found only in the Carpathian Mountain region. That with his dialect places him in Transylvania…” He paused, and looked over at her to measure her response.