The Vampire Lovers Page #3

Very good, Mademoiselle.

Beautiful.

But not as beautiful as you, my love.

You've had more than enough tonight.

She's right.

Wouldn't do for a man in my position

to be caught drunk.

That's all right,

while your master is away.

That's just the point, Kurt.

That's just the point.

I'm left in a position of responsibility. Miss

Emma is very ill.

What is the nature

of the illness, Mr. Renton?

How would I know, man?

I'm not the doctor!

Why won't that bastard governess

let me send for him?

That's what I want to know.

I shall send for the doctor

should I think it necessary.

Acts more like a bloody vampire,

that one!

It's only a joke!

Not round here it isn't.

There's been three deaths

round here lately,

none of them by natural causes.

Just a scream in the night

and then found there, pale as death.

Pale as death.

The blood drained from them.

God!

Good night, Mr. Renton.

Doctor.

What is it, my darling?

I'm dying.

Yes.

Will I live until Father comes home?

Perhaps.

- Good evening.

- Good evening, Doctor.

There's a sharp wind tonight, Renton.

I'm afraid Mr. Morton is away.

Yes, I know.

I had a message from him.

Asked me to look in on Miss Emma.

- Was this you, Renton?

- Aye.

She has not been well

but I'm sure it's nothing.

I'll be able to set his mind at rest, then.

- Is she dead?

- Not yet, thank heavens.

What the devil have you got there?

Garlic flowers, sir.

They have an antiseptic scent.

- Have you been listening to gossip?

- No, sir.

Illness is a matter for modern science,

not witchcraft.

Yes, sir.

Take those flowers away at once.

Mademoiselle, this is my patient.

Kindly do not interfere.

Quite healthy, I suppose.

You can get some more, Renton.

Yes, sir.

- Where is Mademoiselle Perrodot?

- I don't know, sir.

Very well.

See that Miss Emma is not disturbed.

Have a maid sit up with her all night.

- Very good.

- I'll be back in the morning.

Very well, sir.

I have sent for Mr. Morton, sir.

Good. Whatever happens,

keep her away from Miss Emma.

Yes, sir.

- Good night, Doctor.

- Good night.

- Who told you to put those there?

- Mr. Renton.

- Take them out.

- But he...

Take them out!

Yes, Mademoiselle.

Remember I'm in charge

during Mr. Morton's absence.

Certainly.

Why did you order those weeds

to be put in her room?

Not I, Mademoiselle. The doctor.

I'm sure we agree

that he is in charge of the patient.

- Take those back, Gretchin.

- Sir...

Take them away.

Why don't you take them away?

Come on, boy. Jupiter. Come on, boy.

Come on, Jupiter.

What's the matter with you?

Jupiter, come back, boy!

- Good morning.

- Good morning. How's Miss Emma?

She is sleeping, sir, peacefully.

Had it not been for the doctor

and these remedies...

It's ridiculous.

I can't believe it.

Neither could I, sir, at first.

But let the landlord tell you.

It is the Karnsteins come back.

From that old ruined castle?

They were all wiped out.

Aye, sir. So we thought.

There was a young nobleman

whose sister was murdered by them.

This gentleman, a Baron Hartog,

he crept up to the castle

late at night and he lay in wait.

He saw a shroud

and he knew that without it

there would be no resting place

for any vampire.

Baron Hartog took the shroud

and he waited.

He chopped off the head of the vampire

and he staked the rest in their graves.

Then how could they be here now?

It's nonsense.

I beg you to listen.

Think of Miss Emma.

If you don't believe me, sir,

ask General Spielsdorf.

General Spielsdorf?

The General has gone away, sir,

to visit a friend, the Baron Hartog.

Yes, I remember now. The General.

That was where he went.

Where is the doctor?

He said he'd be here this morning.

- Shall I send for him?

- No, I'll go myself.

- Gretchin?

- Yes, miss?

Do not disturb Mademoiselle Perrodot

today, please.

She's ill and wants to stay in her room.

- Yes, miss.

- How is Miss Emma?

She doesn't get any better.

She had a quiet night.

- Are you going in to see her?

- Perhaps.

But I hate the smell of those flowers.

Can't you remove them?

I dare not. Mr. Renton said I wasn't

to move them under any circumstances.

- Where is Mr. Renton?

- I don't know, miss.

Thank you, Gretchin.

I can't stop,

I'm on my way to fetch the doctor.

The doctor is with us, Mr. Morton.

- What? Where?

- Here.

I traveled many miles

to find the Baron Hartog.

And very glad I am to make this journey

back here with him.

But you as an Englishman, Mr. Morton,

will be less aware than we are of the need

to seek out these evils immediately

and to destroy them.

Then you believe that it is true

about this family of vampires?

I know that it is true.

You asked where we were going.

Now I will tell you

and you can leave us if you wish.

Our destination is Karnstein Castle.

I was determined to avenge

the death of my sister.

I knew where these monsters sprang from.

And what had to be done

to rid the world of them.

But face to face,

my limbs seemed paralyzed.

I prayed to God

to give me back their strength.

But when the moment came,

I could not move.

That moment

has been a nightmare all my life.

I was saved by a cross I wore.

As it touched the vision of beauty

which confronted me,

I felt a shock of evil.

And God in his mercy

gave power to my arm.

It was a woman.

A very beautiful woman.

Thank you.

I think I'll sit with Miss Emma for awhile.

Yes, miss.

- Yes, miss?

- Could you remove those flowers?

They upset Miss Emma.

I'm sorry, miss. I can't do that.

The doctor was most insistent.

That seems silly. They have a horrid smell.

You wouldn't cause Miss Emma

discomfort?

I'm sorry, miss. I can't move them.

Why not? Why are they there?

- I can't explain, miss.

- Why not?

I'm not a child.

- You are in some things.

- What things?

It's best to keep away

from Miss Emma's room

and best to keep away

from Mademoiselle Perrodot.

Why Mademoiselle Perrodot?

She is a wicked woman,

if she's human.

- You don't mean...?

- Yes, miss.

Oh, no!

They were all evil in life

and remained evil after death.

That night,

I disinterred their bodies one by one.

I dug down into their graves

and did what had to be done.

I worked through the night

until, in my exhaustion,

I could dig no more.

There was one grave I did not find.

That of a young girl.

After the horrors of the night,

I couldn't spend another moment

in this place.

But here is her sweet and gentle face.

Mircalla.

Marcilla!

That girl is a guest in my house.

Her name is Carmilla.

And my daughter is dying!

Morton, wait!

Ebhardt knows every inch of these forests.

He'll get to your house in half the time.

For God's sake, save her!

That cross. It's marking her neck.

Put it back in the case.

- It's not marking her neck, sir.

- Do as you're told, girl.

No. Light, over here.

We must find that grave and quickly.

And take these away.

But you said yourself...

Do as I say!

Here! It's over here.

No shroud?

Fetch the box.

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