"The Bloody Vampire" "There he is" " And the mandrake?" " It's under the hanged man's feet" "What's that?" "It looks like a carriage coming from Mexico" "But it doesn't make any noise" "We should hide" "There" "Flog those damned horses!" "We have to get there before the full moon is over!" "Hurry!" "For Satan!" "Did you see the coachman?" "He looked like death" "Yes, I thought he looked like death too" "It's truly strange that neither the carriage nor the horses make noise" "It's like they weren't touching the ground" "Let's let him go on his way, whatever it may be, and let's take care of our business" "Here's the mandrake" "Let's dig it up carefully so we don't damage the root" "Certainly, this is where the mandrake holds it's wondrous properties" "From this root you can extract hallucinogenic narcotics, love philtres, hate philtres and many other things except boric acid" "Excuse me Master, but from your last lesson I understood that boric acid is obtained from mandrake root" "That's true Ricardo, but it isn't from the common variety know as hanged man's mandrake that it's obtained" "And all the trouble I went through to find a hanged man" "I didn't know there were other kinds of mandrake" "There's only one other than this kind, and no one but our family knows of it's existence" " Except for me Father" " All in due time my daughter" "And you too Ricardo, as Inez's betrothed you will one day be one of us" "This mystery is part of the inheritance left to us by our ancestor Jose Balsamo, first count of Cagliostro, and was a primary reason for his ending his days in a cell in Rome" "But that was a long time ago Lord, today" "It'd be the same today." "In every age Man tends to oppose progress" "Do you think that if it wasn't for the risk we run" "I'd limit myself to passing on my knowledge to a small group of brave souls and gather them here in my home in the greatest of secrecy as if it were a crime?" " We struggle against death" " And risk our lives by doing so" "What would happen to Justus if he was found stealing a corpse in the graveyard for us?" "Nothing my Lord, because they'll never catch me," "I will steal all the cadavers your Excellency desires" "I know, my loyal Justus." "You who should hate all mankind for the way they've treated you show yourself to have a heart of gold by risking yourself to correct the monstrous error of certain men who have forbidden under penalty of death the practice of dissecting cadavers" "How do these wretches expect us to help turn what we only know in theory into a practical reality?" "We will never stray from the path Father, we'll forge ahead until the end" "That's what I like to hear my daughter, do not deny the Cagliostro blood that flows through your veins" "We'll fight to give life while others struggle to give death" "How was the journey my Lord?" "It went well Hildegarde, it was as fast as usual" "There's nothing faster or more silent than her, you can't even feel her approaching" "Have you given them the narcotic?" "Yes Lord, to both of them like the other times" "Good." "Have the chest taken to your room, as always" " I'll see you there later" " Yes my Lord" "When will this all end Lord?" "Soon Hildegarde, soon." "It won't be long before I heal my illness, in the meantime..." "In the meantime my Lord, we are both in great danger, the day will come when it will be impossible to hide the disappearances of so many young women," " if we're discovered" " No one knows anything in Mexico, and the Countess is bound to my will" "Leave now" "I don't think they suspect anything yet, though Ms. Brunhilda is starting to wonder about her mother's prolonged absence, she's told her grandfather" "I'll calm my daughter down." "And the Marquis?" "He's the one that worries me the most, every full moon it's like he awaits his daughter's return" "It will be some time before the Countess can come, it's been some time since she's left from her bedroom" "You'll have to accompany me on my return to help me" "Yes my Lord" "Very well, let's not waste any more time" "The full moon is nearly gone, if I let it pass" "I could have a grave setback with my illness" "Rise Genevieve, I order it!" "On your feet" "Lay down in the coffin" "Now you will begin your eternal servitude to the Frankenhausen, like Elena has, and Soledad and all the rest!" "And you shall remain there until the end, when all the men and women in the world shall be my slaves" "This girl's cadaver, dead for just a few hours, has flesh as flexible as it was in life, which will permit us to perform the experiment I propose as rigidity would be an insurmountable obstacle" "Tonight I would like to show you the workings of this marvellous apparatus that my ancestor invented for the express purpose of filling the heart, arteries and the veins of a vampire or his victim with boric acid, the only method to destroy this frightening disease" "and the danger of contagion that it represents" "Are you trying to say that vampirism is contagious Master?" "I'm surprised that you Ricardo, one of my most gifted pupils, would ask that question" "It isn't contagious precisely, but it is transmittable" "It seems you've forgotten some of the details from my earlier explanations and theories on the theme, for example, how many kinds of vampires exist and what the differences are" "I do remember Master, there are only two kinds of vampires, living vampires and dead ones" "Living vampires are the carriers of the disease and live like any mortal, looking for victims whom they kill to sustain themselves, draining their blood completely and turning them into dead vampires" "These dead vampires remain still and contained within their coffins" "I see the time has come to lift the mysterious veil that occults this illness a bit more" "The revelations I'm about to make will be the last thing that you learn from me and will leave you in a position to clearly understand everything that's contained within these manuscripts" "A detailed account of the investigations my family undertook regarding vampires, and which from this moment on I bequeath to my daughter Inez with the obligation to see things through to the end if I should fall" "But Father, you'll live for a long time" " You can't die" " You mustn't!" "No one can decide that but god" "It's true that I possess the philtre of life and youth left to us by the first Count of Cagliostro, but an accident could happen to me as it did to him" "This night I will embark on the journey which you all know about, and it's filled with numerous and grave dangers" "This isn't an undue precaution" "They must have noticed the grave robbery" "No, I don't think so, I left the grave just as I found it, there wasn't a single trace" " Go see who it is" " Yes Lord" "Who would knock on the door of a honourable home at this hour?" "It's me Justus, open up, it's urgent" "Lazarus!" "What's wrong my friend?" "It's my mistress, she's suffered an attack" "What do you want me to do?" "Help me." "I'm scared Justus, it's been a long time since the lady Countess took ill and she isn't recovering" "She's like a dead woman" "Was it the Lord who sent you?" "The Lord Count has been gone since the full moon, I'm alone at the house" "You mean, Genevieve also..?" "Like the Lady's other servants, she left without even saying goodbye" "Doesn't this all seem strange to you?" "I don't know, I don't know That matter is none of my business" "Will you help me or not?" "I appreciate your friendship very much and I would love to, but I don't know how" "You've told me many times that your master is a famous doctor, if he wanted to" " Go see your mistress?" " Yes, talk to him" "You've told me he's a good man and respects you, please help me Justus and I will be in your debt for life" "But my master has left Mexico and I don't know when he'll be back" "If that's the case then I'm sorry to have bothered you" "Wait" "There's a friend of the family here who's a doctor," " let me talk to him" " Thank you," "I knew I could count on you" "There's no danger, it's a friend who came in search of aid" "He works as a lackey nearby, it seems his mistress has suffered an attack" "But I can't go now" "I know my Lord, I told him your Excellency had left Mexico, but I don't know if I've done the right thing..." "You've done very well Justus." "Now let's continue" "Excuse me my Lord," "I meant to say that I wasn't sure if I'd done the right thing by telling my friend Lazarus that there was a doctor here who could see his mistress" " But Justus!" " Don't scold me my Lord," "I have a great interest in helping him because he's the only friend I have" "Ricardo, do you have any objection to going?" "None Lord." "Let's go" "Thank you my Lord" "Let's continue with our illness" "The first to have the privilege of discovering the truth was an ancestor of mine, the first Count of Cagliostro, through a very sad occurrence" "This forebear of mine was married twice, and his second wife died tragically, burned at the stake along with other victims of a famous vampire who ravaged the areas of Turengia, Celisia, some places in Germany and even Austria" "This vampire was known by the name of the Vampire of the Moon because he had a predilection for attacking on the night of the full moon" "No one knew who he was exactly" "From that moment on, my ancestor dedicated his life to finding the origin of the Vampire of the Moon and made such important discoveries that in his will he made the utmost obligations of his inheritors to search for the Vampire of the Moon until they found him" "and the extermination of vampirism" "What he wrote here brought into practice what today is only a theory" "I'll read you some excerpts from the manuscripts" "It's untrue that there exist or have existed many living vampires in the world" "The ones that are known or have been known all belong to a single family by the name of Frankenhausen, after the region where they first appeared in the 12th century as their true origin is lost in the mists of time" "It's untrue that it's always the same living vampire that periodically appears and disappears" "The ones that reappear are the firstborn of this family that in every generation remain unknown until they reach a certain age when vampirism manifests itself which they alone inherit along with the title of Count, freeing the rest of their family from this terrible illness" "What she's suffering from is a state of shock, has she had some fright?" "I don't know Doctor, when I came in because the Lady hadn't called me for so long she was already like this" "Well, didn't the other servants see anything?" "The other servants can't come here, the Lord forbids them from going past the kitchen" "Only the ones in service to the Lady, a housemaid and a servant, can roam the house freely and the housemaid left a few days ago as soon as the Lord left on his trip" "If you'll come with me I'll give you something to give her when she recovers, there's nothing more to be done" "Yes Doctor, I'll go with your lordship, I'll guide you" "Who is this gentleman?" "The Lady suffered an attack and I went in search of aid" "I asked you who this gentleman is" "I'm Doctor Ricardo Peisser" "Let me introduce myself," "Count Siegfried von Frankenhausen" "Doctor," "I beg you to forgive my housekeeper Frau Hildegarde's rudeness, she's very rigid about having my orders obeyed in my home and Lazarus, Lazarus knows that no one, absolutely no one, for whatever reason can enter this place without my permission" "Not even if the Countess' life was in danger?" "Don't exaggerate Doctor, those attacks my wife suffers are of no importance" "Regardless, she's on the verge of cardiac failure due to considerable agitation" "It just seems that way" "I was on my way to find a remedy to calm her" "Don't bother Doctor, I tell you she's alright, it will pass soon" "I'm grateful, but you mustn't worry any more" "Goodnight" "Now you won't forget that you're nothing more than the Countess' lackey" "Fortunately I'm here now, I'll restore order to this home" "Come Eugenia, calm down, you're very agitated" "Don't touch me!" "What are you doing here?" "Can't you see?" "I've come back from my journey to the House of Spirits" "Don't come closer!" "Don't come closer or you'll regret it" "Leave, get out of my room!" "I've told you not to come in here, I've told you a thousand times!" "I just came to give you news of Brunhilda" "What have you done with my daughter?" "Our daughter" " She's alright" " You lie, you lie!" "And your father the Marquis is in good health" "They can't be alright after not seeing me for so long" "Why won't you let me see them?" "Because you're very sick and your presence would make them suffer" "You, having compassion for others?" "Since when?" "The Count Frankenhausen who's never had feelings is now like every other mortal?" "The heartless wolf has become a tame lamb" "Don't mock me Eugenia, choose your words carefully" " or I'll have no mercy on you!" " Mercy?" "You have mercy?" "Have you had mercy on any of my servants who you've sacrificed in full flower of youth" " to your bestial instincts?" " Silence!" "Silence!" "What have you done with Genevieve on this last journey?" "What did you do with Julieta, with Soledad, with Elena, with all my other ladies in waiting?" "They have became eternal servants of the Frankenhausen and have saved my life" "Have you ever thought of saving your soul?" "Quiet you wretch!" "Never say that word in my presence or I'll" "You don't scare me" "I know how to destroy you because I know what you are, that's why you have me imprisoned here, locked away in this horrible mansion, so I won't scream out to the world that you're a vampire" "You can't make me surrender, you see?" "Get out of here immediately or I'll pierce your heart with this stake" "Do you see how I can kill you when I want?" "I haven't killed you yet because you're the father of my child" "For her I've put up with my captivity and your presence, so she won't die of shame knowing who her father was" "But if you lay a hand on Brunhilda, just one of your bloodstained hands," "I'll kill you like you deserve, you disgusting vampire!" "Get out!" "You horrify me!" "And you sadden me" "Your neurosis has become dementia, you're completely mad" "Boric acid is the only chemical that counteracts a certain substance which I call vampirina which flows through a vampire's veins and feeds on red blood cells, causing them to seek out victims whose blood to drain and replace with large quantities of vampirina" "Let's suppose this were a vampire, living or dead, it doesn't matter which, her veins would be full of vampirina" "By means of this apparatus we'd introduce boric acid into her veins, thus nullifying it" "All we need to do is fill this container with boric acid" "Let's use this oil for now" "Start the mechanism" "Afterwards we pierce the vampire's heart with the injector" "This section of the apparatus is where the real miracle takes place, as any body it works on will no longer produce vampirina" "If dead vampires don't move from their coffins, why is it necessary to treat them with boric acid?" "Dead vampires remain still within their graves while the living vampire that created them remains alive, but when he dies with a stake through his heart or reduced to ashes by fire, the only two methods known to kill them," "his victims, because of the vampirina, rise from their graves in search of prey who in turn will create yet more victims" "If this chain reaction isn't stopped in time, as it luckily has during every outbreak until now, the day would come when all of humanity would be made up of dead vampires" " That's frightening" " Yes my daughter, now you understand the importance of my ancestor's theory" "And now Ricardo, did you understand the answer to your question about contagion?" "Yes Master, but we still haven't obtained any boric acid, however" "The opposite is written here" "Boric acid can only be obtained from mandrake root, but only of one variety, the black, called so because it's root and flowers are that colour instead of white like common mandrake's" "The most important thing to note is that black mandrake only grows in vampire lands" "Here" "You'll have the rest when you bring her, as always" "I'll do my part, as always." "Let the German know" "Well hurry, it looks like this time she's in a bigger rush than usual" "Good day Lazarus, hello innkeeper" " Good day, the usual?" " Yes Lupe" "You seem very happy" "Yes, everything's going well," "I have very little to do." "My master's on a trip" "How'd it go with the doctor last night?" "Well, well" " What happened to you?" " Nothing" " Goodbye" " Lazarus" "What bee got in his bonnet?" "It looks like things aren't going as well for Lazarus as they are for you" "I saw it on his face." "How can a man stand to be beaten?" "One can't judge everyone else by one's own standards Justus, life holds many mysteries" "Lazarus' Master's house does too, and large ones at that, right Lupe?" "I don't know what you're talking about" "You're saying you know nothing about what the while neighbourhood whispers, that strange and mysterious things happen in that house, that no one dares pass by that door, and when they do, they cross themselves" "This is the first I've heard of it" "Is that so?" "So you don't know anything about the servants?" "The only thing I know is that they pay me very well to bring them" "Look, Lazarus just gave me this to find a housemaid for his Mistress, and he'll give me more afterwards" "And what do you say to the relatives of the girls who disappear?" "I don't have to say anything, the conditions are they should have no relatives or acquaintances, that they're orphans" "Ah, you have it all planned out, eh?" "In the end that's none of my business, they can take care of themselves" " Oh, you scared me" " Am I that frightening?" "No, not you, I was reading a story my great grandfather wrote about the vampire family" "What family do you mean?" "Which do you think?" "The one that father told us about last night" "I don't remember" "Oh yes, he told us when you went to see that sick woman" "It must have been when we left to speak with Lazarus because I don't remember either" "Yes, it's about some German Counts" "Look what a strange coat of arms they have" "It's strange and fearful" "Isn't there an inscription on the manuscript that explains what it represents?" "Of course it does, how would that escape my great grandfather?" "Here on this page, look" "The count's coronet has a vampire over it, black and with its wings spread" "The shield is German and black to represent the night, and over it there's a silver skull with a red F in gothic script on it's forehead that represents the death that the firstborn of the Frankenhausen carry with them" "Yes, Frankenhausen." "What's wrong?" "That's the name of my friend Lazarus' master" "It can't be possible" "Maybe not Justus," "I met him last night and I don't think it's him" "There wasn't a single coat of arms like it says here, there are others." "The count is affable" "Affable?" "You should have seen Lazarus' face this morning" "Well he seemed like a normal man to me" "He can't be that normal when such mysterious things happen in his house" "Ask anyone in the neighbourhood" "This morning I found out they're looking for a housemaid for the Countess, that no one dares even approach their door" "And knowing all this you never told father that just feet away there's a Frankenhausen?" "Your father never asked Ms. Inez" "Didn't you know that my life and his have no other goal save to find a count by that name?" "In truth I didn't" "Alright, alright, it's no use lamenting what's already happened, the important thing is finding out what Count Frankenhausen has to do with the vampire" "If we could find out by the time father returned it would make him ever so happy" "I'll help however I can Ms. Inez" "The first thing we have to do is find out what his coat of arms are" " I'll ask Lazarus" " No, we must be cautious" "If he suspects he's being watched he'll disappear" "There must be some other way" "Perhaps I should go back and ask after the Countess' health" "No, wait." "No one knows me in the neighbourhood because I haven't been in the capital long, they don't even know father has a daughter because I've always been away at school" "I have an idea" "Much too fine for a housemaid" " She was raised well" " Parents?" "I'm an orphan maam" "My name is Hildegarde, the help calls me Frau, I like it better than maam" "Yes Frau" " Relatives?" " No, Frau" "Frau, may I tell you something privately?" " Of course" " Excuse me" "Take her, she meets all the conditions, I guarantee it" "A good friend brought her to me, a trusted servant, and besides, it'd be very difficult to bring another one because no one wants to serve at this house anymore" "Alright, I'll accept" "It's just that this one is going to be a little more expensive, you can see for yourself that she's quite fine" "Alright, you'll be staying." "The first thing you have to do is remove that cross you wear and make sure that no one in this house sees it again" " Yes Frau" " What's your name?" "Inez Sanchez at your service" "It's the Countess whom you must serve" "Lazarus hasn't come, did you make it clear to him that I'm calling?" "Yes Countess" "It must be Lazarus, open it" "Why the reaction?" " Forgive me, I didn't know that" " Why are you here?" "Just to meet your new housemaid" "Frau Hildegarde talked about her so much that I became curious" "She said she was a jewel, but I see she's sold her short" "Thank you sir..." "Count?" "Yes, I'm Count Frankenhausen" "May I my Lady?" "Come in Lazarus, your timing is impeccable" "Close the door and lock it so we won't be bothered, then come here" "Why have you been gone for several days?" "Because I was sick" "You know that I don't want that damned Frau Hildegarde from the Count's staff attending me, why don't you see to me, since you're part of mine?" "Because I've been sick" "Don't lie, I sent people to call you many times" "Why haven't you come?" " Who has dared to hit you?" " His Lordship the Count" "But why?" "Because the night your Excellency fell ill, I brought a doctor" "When I went to accompany him to get a remedy the Lord arrived and punished me for allowing a stranger into the manor" "I didn't know of that visit" "You Excellency didn't come to her senses when the doctor was here" "Afterwards the Lord didn't want him to return, though the doctor said it was a serious condition" "That wretch" "I beg that your Excellency not speak of this to the Lord, he would punish me again, and more severely this time" "Don't worry Lazarus, I'll find some way to resolve this" "Now you may go" " May the Lady Countess rest" " Goodnight" "You can go too" "Lock the door from the outside and take the key to come in when I need you," "I have a copy." "This room must never be open, don't forget it" "Yes my Lady" "And I recommend you do the same in your own chambers" " Yes my Lady, may you rest well" " Goodnight" "Don't be scared, I need to talk to you" " What's wrong?" " Lower your voice." "Come" "Even the walls have ears in this place, and they'd be willing to skin me alive" "Who would do such a monstrous thing?" "The Count or the Frau" "You don't know what sort of people they are" "I've just met them, I can't judge" "That's why I waited for you to leave the Lady's chambers," " to warn you" " Me?" "About what?" "I can't say anymore, but heed me well:" "trust no one other than the Countess," " she they hold captive" " That's not possible" "Believe me, I'm telling you nothing but the truth" "You should have never come to work in this house" "Inez's idea strikes me as a good one," "I need to see the doctor that attended me during my crisis so he can help me in my recovery" "But my Lady, do you know the danger I'd be in if they find out I'm seeking out the doctor?" "The danger will be mine, since I'll be the one going" "All you have to do is show me where I can find the doctor Lazarus" "But they'll find out, surely they will" "We'll take advantage of those mysterious trips the Frau takes sometimes" " Keep an eye on her and let me know" " As the Lady orders" "As far as the Count is concerned we don't have to worry, he sleeps all day" "He comes out of his chambers once the sun sets and locks himself in again at dawn" "Shall I tie your Excellency's hair up or shall I leave it loose for later?" "Is it shiny?" "I believe so, odd that your Excellency doesn't have a mirror" "In this home, mirrors are forbidden" "The latest philtre you prepared wasn't satisfactory, they woke too soon" "I'm preparing a new one based on the fruit of the white lotus" "You'll see, with this plant they'll sleep a whole year" "It has to be diluted or they sleep until the end of all time" "Be aware it will be costly" "The important thing is that it's effective" "Count Frankenhausen pays those that serve him well" "A dash of buttercup, marigold, a bit of yellow bugle since it goes so well with black nightshade" "Ah, and a bit of Venus' navelwort so they have good dreams" "A brew of swallowwort mixed with king's cup" "And now..." "belladonna" "Hurry, I don't like being out of the house long, especially when we have a new servant" "Before accepting you should think it over well Doctor," "I don't want to hide the fact that simply by being my ally you'd be in great danger" "Medicine is a road full of difficulties, sometimes they're so great that the practitioner loses his life" "I'm glad to see that aside from being a gentle you're also brave" "Your Excellency compliments me" "I repeat once again Countess, you can count on me" "I don't know how I'll do it though, since Count Frankenhausen threw me out once already, but I will" "We'll find a way, let me think about it" "Whatever I decide on I'll let you know through my housemaid Inez who though new to my service seems as loyal to my person as yourself" "Before beginning my treatment" "I must place a condition on your Excellency" "I accept Doctor" "You have to be to completely honest with me and tell me the whole truth" "Of course I will." "Are you talking about something specific?" "Yes Countess, the night I went in aid of your Excellency" "I realized that what you were suffering from was fear" "You're more intelligent than I supposed Doctor" "It's true, what made me lose my consciousness that night was fear, a fear that is greater and more irresistible each time" "Why?" " Must I tell you now?" " Yes my Lady" "Very well, if that's what you wish, I will" "Lady Countess, Frau Hildegarde is approaching" "Keep calm." "Sit Doctor, I beg you" "Inez, go to my chambers and wait for me there" "Lazarus, open as soon as she knocks" " We have a visitor" " I see that" "The doctor came to see how I was feeling" "It's good to know that there are people who worry about one's health" "Fortunately I find you in good health Countess" "Regardless, I'm amazed that the Countess has left her chambers and exposed herself to having a relapse" "Your interest gladdens me Hildegarde" "You're mistaken Countess, my interest is solely for Count Frankenhausen" "My amazement is greater still at seeing the doctor" "I hadn't the slightest doubt on the meaning of the words that the Lord Count spoke in his presence, that he should never return here without the permission of the lord of this manor" "You go too far Hildegarde," "I also rule in this house and I'll prove it to you once and for all" "Doctor, I hope you can do me the favour of dining here toni" " No, not that!" " No?" "Why not Hildegarde?" "Because-!" "The Count would not be pleased" "But I would" "Can I count on your presence Doctor?" " Of course Countess" " At 8 then" "I'll be here my Lady" "Lazarus, accompany the doctor" "At your service Countess" " Goodbye Lazarus" " Have a good afternoon Doctor" "It will be an eventful dinner" "In my profession as a doctor of natural science," "I lean towards the school of the Dutch doctor Armand Borgheim" "His theory is very simple, a doctor must be a servant of nature, limiting himself to aiding and directing its functions" "That theory seems admirable Doctor" "Of course, that's my belief and that of any realist" "Nature is very wise and is always right in the end" "I expect you'll subject me to a treatment like you just spoke of Doctor" "It'd be my pleasure if the Count has no objections" "Oh no, none." "I'd be happy if you could aid my wife" "I'm sure I'll recover soon" "A toast to nature's wisdom" " Shall I serve coffee my Lord?" " No, we'll have some in the living room" "You heard the woman Hildegarde" " Have Inez serve it" " As my Lady wishes" "Count, I hear we're to have coffee, do you refer to the Arabic beverage?" " Exactly Doctor" " Have you drank it before?" "No Countess, I just know that coffee is a beverage from Asia, that it's obtained through infusion, cooking a plant named coffee that originated in Ethiopia" "I admire the fact that you're so well informed" "My hobbies of alchemy and chemistry permit me to produce nearly all known organic substances" "Some, like coffee, only in theory, as I've never had the seed," "I've never even seen it" "In my travels in Asia and Africa" "I acquired the custom of drinking coffee" "Since then I've had quantities imported" "I leave the amount necessary for your work at your disposal" "And now, would you permit me the honour of being the first to offer you a cup of coffee?" " It's delicious" " And dangerous" "When the body becomes accustomed to it it's difficult to do without it" "Is my Lady feeling well?" "It's nothing, I'm just tired and sleepy" "If the Doctor would permit me, I'd like to retire" " I beg you to Countess" " It'd be best if you rest, the effort you've made to leave your chambers has exhausted you" "I expect a visit from you soon Doctor" "You can count on it my Lady" "Goodnight." "Inez, would you come with me?" "I feel like I'll fall asleep before reaching my bed" "Yes Countess" " What will happen to the Countess?" " Nothing Doctor" "You heard her, she's just sleepy" "I don't think so." "Could it be the coffee?" "I understand that coffee produces strange effects" "Yes, but drowsiness would be the opposite one" "The camel drivers in the caravans that cross the desert spend whole days without sleep because they drink coffee" "In any case I worry about the Countess' health" "It's a matter to worry about Doctor" "Not physically, as she's completely healthy" "The place where her illness resides is here, in her mind" " In her mind?" " Yes Doctor, my wife suffers from an acute mental ailment" " It doesn't seem that way" " Sadly, she's completely mad and sometimes she's even dangerous" "That's why I have her here in Mexico, completely imprisoned in this house," "because having her with her father and our daughter Brunhilda could lead to an unfortunate accident" "And what does her mania consist of?" "She has several, like believing herself to be sick, but the main one is that she believes I'm constantly trying to kill her" "That's why I ask you now that she can't hear us Doctor, that you leave her and pay her no mind" "If your Excellency believes it convenient I shall do so" "Thank you" " May I ask your Lordship something?" " Whatever you wish Doctor" "Why is it that while you use the title of Count you use the coronet of a Marquis?" " You ask because of this coat of arms?" " And the others around here" "This home belonged to my wife's parents who gave it to us when we married" "and this coat of arms is the one she'll inherit when her father dies" "It isn't easy for me to find a title by its blazon" "Though I'm very interested in heraldry, sadly my means have not allowed me to acquire books and scrolls to study it" "You have no reason to worry Doctor, in this home's library there is a magnificent collection of everything known about heraldry" "From now on it's at your disposal" "How can I thank your Excellency for his kindness?" "By visiting my library when you wish as if were your own home" "I'm thankful for the privilege Count, now if your Excellency would permit me I must leave, it's growing late" "I repeat that this home is like your own" " Did his Lordship call?" " The doctor is leaving" "If I were in the Count's position I wouldn't trust that doctor" "It's best to have your enemy before you than skulking about the shadows" "Are you a doctor?" "Me?" "Why?" "You were taking the Countess' pulse" "You don't need to know medicine for that, anyone can do it" " How did his Lordship enter?" " Through the door" "It can't be, I locked it" "You might have only thought so and left it open, it's of no importance" "It's important to me, those were orders from my Lady" "You can be Countess whenever you like, I've already told you" "Let me go!" "When I ask a question" "I'm accustomed to being answered immediately" "You still haven't even though I've asked many times if you want to be my wife" "Let me go or I'll wake the Countess!" " Don't worry, she won't wake up" " Let me go!" "You see now that the door was open?" "You're troublesome and a fool!" "You may retire now" "Before going to sleep, the Countess ordered me to stay by her side all night" "But now I order the opposite" "I don't take orders from anyone but the Countess" "You insubordinate-!" "Get out of here or I'll-!" "I'm not the one that's going to leave" "The Countess ordered that neither Count Frankenhausen or you were to enter" "Get out!" "You'll regret this, you wretch" "Here it is, I've finally found it!" " Is your Lordship sure?" " Of course, listen:" "Coat of arms and blazons of the noble house of the Guzman's del la Selva," "Marquis' of the same title" "I thought it was a false one to hide the Frankenhausen's" "You see that the Count didn't fool me?" "It's authentic" "Despite that, isn't your Lordship afraid that Ms. Inez is in danger?" "If I had the slightest inkling she would no longer be in Count Frankenhausen's home" " But your Lordship just said" " Yes yes, I know, there's many suspicious things there" "There are no mirrors." "Vampires avoid mirrors because they aren't reflected in them" "He doesn't leave his rooms except at night" "Vampires don't go out during the daytime because they cast no shadow in the sunlight" "There's more details, but this could all be a coincidence" "Also the fact that he carries the title of Count Frankenhausen?" "That too" "There could be an identical title bequeathed by his Holiness the Pope, it'd be a pontifical title, not a noble one like Jose Balsamo says here" "While we still haven't seen his coat of arms..." "Your Lordship makes it difficult" "If you knew Count Frankenhausen personally you would think as I do, that he's truly a victim of his wife and that she's mad as he says, rather than him being a vampire" "You talk too much Justus and I don't want to speak" "Will you give him my Mistress' message or not?" "Of course I will, why would you think otherwise?" "I have as much interest in this as you do, the doctor is nearly a member of my Lord's family" "Well you know what you have to tell him" "I know, I know, that he's to see the Countess as soon as possible" " No, I'll pay" " Thank you." "Goodbye" "Wait Lazarus, you have to reciprocate" "What is it this time?" "About your Countess' life" "My Countess'..." "are you mocking me?" "My Lady's life is also in danger" "And what does your lady have to do with the Countess?" "Much more than you think." "A service for a service, if you answer my questions" "I'll tell you what my Lady has to do with your mistress and I assure you it'll be worth the trouble" "Alright, but hurry" "Who is Count Frankenhausen?" "I'd like to know that myself, no one knows" "He appeared out of nowhere many years ago at House of Spirits" " House of Spirits?" " It's my Mistress' home" "That's where they married and that's where Lady Brunhilda was born, the only daughter they have" "And where is that manor located?" "At the end of Mictecacihuatl, next to the Lagoon of Death" "And how does one arrive at the end of that Micte..." " Mictecacihuatl" " Well, however you say it" "It's the name of the Aztec death goddess" "And how do you get there?" "Even if I told you you'd never arrive if you don't make the trip with someone who already knows the way" "But you know it, you've come and gone many times, tell me" "You ask much but say little" "What were you going to tell me?" "Do you know who your Countess' housemaid is?" " No, Lupe brought her" " I brought her, she's my Lady Inez de Cagliostro, the doctor's betrothed" " No..." " Yes, you see that it was worth it?" "I don't want you to say anymore, I don't want to know more!" "Have you gone mad?" "This stays between us" "Forget everything we've said!" "What's wrong with Lazarus?" "Nothing, it's none of your business!" " Here you are" " What's wrong with them?" "Good afternoon Frau, how may I serve you?" "What do you know of Inez, the Countess' housemaid?" "Me, well... what I told you when I brought her" "I need to know more, I need to!" "I don't know a thing Frau, Justus brought her" "Who is Justus?" "I already told you that he can be trusted, he was leaving as you arrived" "He's a friend of Lazarus, the Countess' lackey" "Justus is Count Cagliostro's chamberlain" "A Count Cagliostro in Mexico..." "Since when?" "I don't know." "He lives in the neighbourhood very close to your own home" "Lazarus and Justus come here sometimes, just a moment ago they were drinking wine" "To be sure they were speaking very furtively," "I couldn't hear what they were saying, but all of a sudden Lazarus stood up and left so quickly he didn't even say goodbye" "What would you prefer, a purse full of coins or that I chop off your tongue?" "Chop of my tongue?" "If someone learns of a single word we've spoken here you can be sure of it" " Have you been here long?" " Yes, I was growing impatient" "I didn't know how to get in touch with you, it's like the earth swallowed Lazarus up" "No matter how much the Countess sends for him he doesn't come" " Who let you in?" " Frau Hildegard, she seemed very agitated" "I told her I was coming to the library, taking advantage of the liberty the count gave me" "The Countess desperately wants to talk to you, come" "No, wait" "First I want you to know that we have some information, the names of some of the Countess' family members and where her father the Marquis and her daughter live" "And about Count Frankenhausen?" "We haven't learned a thing, and you?" "Neither have I. Whenever I try to talk about him the Countess changes the subject" "It's the Countess!" "I hope we've arrived in time" "Here are the smelling salts" "Countess, Countess!" "Let me go, let me go, I can't breathe!" "Countess, it's us, wake up" " It's good that you came Doctor" " Don't worry, calm down" "It was him, it was him!" "He attacked me from behind!" " Who Countess?" " Count Frankenhausen" "My Lady, no one could have entered in my absence," "I locked the door when I left and it was locked when we came back" "I don't know how he got in but I'm sure it was him" "Didn't your Excellency see him?" "No, I don't know how it happened" "All of a sudden I felt like I was wrapped in something strange, a warm cloth, like the wings of a giant bat that tightened more and more, choking me until I lost my senses" "But how could he have come in, everything is closed" " It's strange" " I feel very weak Doctor" "It'd be best if we take you to your bed" "Yes, help me" "I was afraid of an attack like this," "Count Frankenhausen has been very agitated lately, that's why I called you Doctor" "Inez, give me the key" "It's the key to a secret passage that no one knows, not even Count Frankenhausen" "You can open the well in the garden and enter the house without being seen" "In case of danger I'll call you and you'll come to aid me Doctor" "You can rely on that Countess, but why doesn't your Excellency flee this place?" "Even if I hid in hell itself the Count would find me" "Maybe even more easily there, as he has a pact with Satan" "We should find some place" "It'd be worse, my daughter and father would be in danger" " I'm so drowsy" " It'd be best if you rest" "Yes, I need to sleep" "Don't leave me alone, for pity's sake" "I'll stay with you all night Countess, sleep soundly" "Thank you Inez" "What do you think of all this?" "From what the Countess has said, it sounds like the work of a vampire" "Vampires can't go through walls, how could he have come here with everything closed?" " I don't know" " It's very clear to me, the Countess has been victim to a hallucination" "And moreover, she's had a bout of hysteria which makes me believe that Count Frankenhausen is right" "And if Count Frankenhausen is a vampire?" "And if the Countess is truly crazy?" "How can we learn the truth?" "There's a way to find out for sure" "How?" "By entering Count Frankenhausen's bedchamber," " vampires sleep in a coffin" " We have to get the key" "What we have to do is leave this place immediately" "I won't leave this place without learning the truth about Count Frankenhausen," " I know what this means to Father" " At the cost of your life?" " I can defend myself" " Don't you understand?" "The only thing I understand is that it wouldn't be loyal to abandon the Countess now" "Alright, alright, you win" "Now you must leave, the Count may suspect" "But promise me that tomorrow you'll leave here for good" "I promise" "Go on Doctor" "You're here Doctor?" "I was in the library making use of your Excellency's kind offer" " That's always open" " Thank you Count" "Then I heard the Countess' cry of anguish" "How strange, I haven't heard anything" "Please forgive that I haven't kept my promise of not seeing her again, but I thought something serious had happened to her" "Don't worry, what happened to her?" "Nothing important, she had a nightmare or a hallucination" " Nothing more?" " That's all, but it hurts me to see that your Excellency was right" " About what?" " The Countess is completely mad" "It's best that you could see that for yourself Doctor" "I'm very shaken, if your Excellency would allow it" "I'll continue my studies in the library some other day" "It's at your disposal Doctor" "I don't know where Lazarus is, he's not here" " Goodnight Count" " Some other time Doctor" " Where are you going Hildegarde?" " I have things to do" "It'd be best if you take greater care of the house's servants, even you fail to see to my needs" "Your Excellency has no more need of my service" " What do you mean?" " Your Excellency already knows" "Since the Countess housemaid came here your Excellency has eyes for no one but her" "My poor Hildegarde is jealous" "Don't pity me Count, your Excellency is more worthy of compassion" "Don't disrespect me or I'll strangle you!" "Yes, I'm in love with Inez as I've never been in love with anyone" "I want her for myself, and I'll destroy anyone who interferes, do you hear me?" "The night of the full moon is approaching and you have to find me a substitute," "I want to keep her" "If you don't either you or the Countess will take her place, now you know!" "I know, I know full well who it is that's mad and it isn't the Countess it's your Excellency!" "I won't kill you because I need you" "I knew you would respond to my question and come to my bedchamber" "I, I..." "Don't say anything, I understand your feelings" "Words aren't necessary, I know what you desire" "It's only just that the future Countess Frankenhausen desires to learn the act she'll share with me" "Look!" "Enter!" "Look!" "The Countess will die during the next full moon and you shall be my wife!" "Lord Count, Lord Count!" "Don't come near me, what do you want?" "Lord, come with me and learn who your Inez is!" "I don't care, leave me alone!" "Does your Excellency not care to learn that she's a spy and that we're all in grave danger?" "This can't be true" "Your Excellency must come with me to the torture chamber, there's a person there that will confirm it" "Tell the Count the housemaid's real name" "You've told me already, he has to hear it from your lips" "Inez de Cagliostro" "Cagliostro..." "Is she related to Count Cagliostro?" "She's his daughter and the doctor's betrothed, they live a few houses away" "You knew this and hid it from me" "The Cagliostro's are the Frankenhausen's mortal enemies!" "I didn't know," "I only found out who Ms. Inez is today" "Tell him what you gave to learn it" "Talk you wretch!" "I told Count Cagliostro's chamberlain where the House of Spirits is" " And now Count?" " You were right Hildegarde, we're in imminent danger" "Does your Excellency insist that I find someone else for the full moon?" "No, there's no need" "Inez is a wretch and the Countess has betrayed me" "And Lazarus?" "He talks too much." "Cut off his tongue!" "Doctor, Doctor!" "What's wrong Justus, you act as if you've seen the devil" "Worse Doctor, much worse" "Sit down, calm down and speak" "Count Frankenhausen's home is shuttered and seems to be empty" "What are you talking about, that can't be" "Lupe told me that last night, at the height of the storm, she saw the Count's carriage speed off as if Satan himself was guiding it" "The Count must have left on one of his mysterious trips" "She had gone to bring them something they had requested and knocked over and over but no one answered" "She thinks everyone left" "That can't be, let's make sure" "But how Doctor, the house is closed" "We'll go in through the secret entrance" "Take the ladder and pull it down" "The Countess has deceived you Doctor, we've fallen into a trap" "No Justus, the entrance must be here" "Let's look for the Count's bedchamber" "Lazarus!" "What has happened to you?" "They've cut off his tongue!" "Was it Count Frankenhausen?" "Where's his bedroom?" "Let's go" "This must be it" "The vampire's coffin" "The coat of arms of the Frankenhausen!" "And Ms. Inez?" "She's in grave danger, we have to get to the House of Spirits before the full moon," "Lazarus will guide us" "God willing, we won't be too late" "They disappeared among the rocks" " Let's go after them" " No, it'd be dangerous, the vampire could hide in the shadows and attack us by surprise" "Let's wait, and not lose sight of where they disappeared from for a moment" "And Ms. Inez?" "We'll only find her by entrusting ourselves to god and following Count Frankenhausen's trail" "Someone's coming" "It's the Frau!" " No, leave her!" " We'll make her talk!" "There's no need, I saw where she came from perfectly" " Should I light the torches?" " Yes, let's not waste time" "Rise Inez, I order it" "Get on your feet" "Lie down in the coffin" "Murderer!" "Save the lady, I'll protect you!" "Genevieve!" "You cannot resist my desires, you will rise, I order it" "Now you'll put on those riding clothes because we're going to take a trip together on horseback under the light of the full moon which is more brilliant than ever" "This is what you've always wanted, but have never recieved" "Get dressed" "You know where we're going, to your favourite place, the Lagoon of Death" "Justus has died as he lived, sacrificing himself for others" "I was right when I said that his motto was" ""For Friendship and Loyalty"" "May god hold him close" "Thanks to him it's all over" "Except for the danger that menaces humanity" "The vampire lives and remains at large" "The End" "Translation:" "Turdis July 2009"