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Consternation gripped Charles Holland as he sat with Henry Bennett, awaiting a revelation that threatened to shatter his cherished hopes forever. His once hopeful demeanor had given way to a pallid countenance, a stark contrast to his earlier joyful arrival at the hall’s doorstep.
Henry’s seriousness betrayed the gravity of the impending news. Charles couldn’t dismiss the idea that something truly dreadful loomed over them. He knew Henry and Flora too well to attribute their actions to mere whims or passing fancy.
It would have been easier for Charles if Flora had acted capriciously, proving herself unworthy of his love. Pride could have helped him endure such a blow. But Flora’s earnest plea to forget her, accompanied by a sense of noble sacrifice, hinted at deeper mysteries.
“Tell me everything, Henry,” Charles urged, his voice tinged with apprehension. “I trust your words implicitly.”
“I’ll conceal nothing from you,” Henry replied solemnly. “Prepare yourself for a revelation beyond belief.”
“Indeed?”
“Yes, one that may challenge your beliefs and hopes.”
“You speak in enigmas.”
“And yet, I speak the truth, Charles. You witnessed Flora’s desperate plea for you to let go of her.”
“I did.”
“She was right to do so. A terrible event has unfolded in our family, one that might make you reconsider your ties with any of us.”
“Impossible. My feelings for Flora won’t be swayed by external events. She’s deserving of love, and I’ll stand by her through all trials.”
“Don’t assume this upheaval stems from ordinary circumstances.”
“Then, what is it?”
“I’ll tell you. Have you ever heard of vampires in your travels or readings?”
“Vampires?” Charles leaned forward, incredulous. “What do you mean?”
“You may find it hard to believe, but we suspect a member of our family is one of those dreadful beings known as vampires.”
Charles stared at Henry, his mind racing with disbelief. “Are you serious?”
“I understand your skepticism,” Henry continued. “It’s a fantastical notion, but we have compelling reasons to believe in its reality.”
“Can you, for a moment, entertain such a superstition, Henry?” Charles exclaimed, his disbelief palpable.
“I’ve asked myself the same question,” Henry replied firmly. “But, Charles Holland, we must let go of our judgments and prejudices in the face of undeniable evidence. Listen to me without interruption. You’ll hear the full story, down to the smallest detail.”
Henry proceeded to recount the series of chilling events to Charles, from Flora’s initial alarm to the moment Charles found her in his arms.
“And now,” Henry concluded, “you must form your own opinion about these extraordinary occurrences. Remember, multiple witnesses corroborate these facts, along with the servants who’ve glimpsed the horrifying visitor.”
“I’m utterly bewildered,” Charles admitted.
“We all are,” Henry said solemnly.
“But it can’t be real,” Charles protested.
“It is,” Henry asserted.
“No, there must be a mistake,” Charles insisted desperately.
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“Can you offer any alternative explanation for what we’ve witnessed?” Henry challenged. “If you can, please do, and I’ll cling to it as tightly as you.”
“Any other supernatural phenomenon might be arguable,” Charles mused. “But this is too outlandish, too contrary to nature.”
“I agree,” Henry conceded. “But our reasoning collapses against the simple truth of ‘We have seen it.’”
“I’d question my own eyesight,” Charles murmured.
“One might, but not several witnesses,” Henry countered.
“Please, spare me from considering such a dreadful possibility,” Charles pleaded.
“I understand, Charles,” Henry said empathetically. “But you must realize that you’re free from any commitments to Flora now.”
“No, never!” Charles exclaimed passionately.
“Consider the consequences,” Henry urged.
“Do you think me heartless, to abandon her based on this?” Charles retorted. “I love Flora, and even if she’s tormented by the supernatural, I’ll stand by her.”
“Charles, I admire your devotion,” Henry acknowledged. “But if we accept the existence of vampire's, we must also accept their traits.”
“What do you mean?” Charles asked, puzzled.
“That a person visited by a vampire becomes one after death and continues the cycle,” Henry explained.
“That’s madness,” Charles objected vehemently.
“Yes; surely it can be caught; as I understand, this species of being is not like an apparition, that may be composed of thin air, and utterly impalpable to the human touch, but it consists of a revivified corpse,” Charles spoke with a mixture of determination and dread.
“Yes, yes,” Henry echoed, his voice tinged with apprehension.
“Then it is tangible and destructible. By Heaven! if ever I catch a glimpse of any such thing, it shall drag me to its home, be that where it may, or I will make it prisoner,” Charles declared, his eyes gleaming with a strange resolve.
“Oh, Charles! you know not the feeling of horror that will come across you when you do. You have no idea of how the warm blood will seem to curdle in your veins, and how you will be paralysed in every limb,” Henry cautioned, his words a stark warning.
“Did you feel so?” Charles inquired, searching for reassurance.
“I did,” Henry admitted, his tone somber.
“I will endeavor to make head against such feelings. The love of Flora shall enable me to vanquish them. Think you it will come again tomorrow?” Charles pondered, his mind already racing with plans and strategies.
“I can have no thought one way or the other,” Henry replied, his voice heavy with uncertainty.
“It may. We must arrange among us all, Henry, some plan of watching which, without completely prostrating our health and strength, will always provide that some one shall be up all night and on the alert,” Charles suggested, his mind already planning for the worst.
“It must be done,” Henry agreed, a sense of duty driving his words.
“Flora ought to sleep with the consciousness now that she has ever at hand some intrepid and well-armed protector, who is not only himself prepared to defend her, but who can in a moment give an alarm to us all, in case of necessity requiring it,” Charles proposed, his protective instincts kicking in.
“It would be a dreadful capture to make to seize a vampire,” said Henry, the gravity of their situation sinking in.
“Not at all; it would be a very desirable one. Being a corpse revivified, it is capable of complete destruction, so as to render it no longer a scourge to anyone,” Charles explained, his voice firm and resolute.
“Charles, Charles, are you jesting with me, or do you really give any credence to the story?” Henry questioned, a note of disbelief in his voice.
“My dear friend, I always make it a rule to take things at their worst, and then I cannot be disappointed. I am content to reason upon this matter as if the fact of the existence of a vampire were thoroughly established, and then to think upon what is best to be done about it,” Charles replied, his tone serious and unwavering.
“You are right,” Henry conceded, acknowledging the logic in Charles’ approach.
“If it should turn out then that there is an error in the fact, well and good -- we are all the better off; but if otherwise, we are prepared, and armed at all points,” Charles concluded, his voice steady with resolve.
“Let it be so, then. It strikes me, Charles, that you will be the coolest and the calmest among us all on the emergency; but the hour now waxes late, I will get them to prepare a chamber for you, and at least tonight, after what has occurred already, I should think we can be under no apprehension,” Henry reassured, a glimmer of hope in his tone.
“Probably not. But, Henry, if you would allow me to sleep in that room where the portrait hangs of him whom you suppose to be the vampyre, I should prefer it,” Charles requested, his curiosity driving him forward.
“Prefer it!” Henry exclaimed, surprised by Charles’ request.
“Yes; I am not one who courts danger for danger’s sake, but I would rather occupy that room, to see if the vampire, who perhaps has a partiality for it, will pay me a visit,” Charles explained, his adventurous spirit shining through.
“As you please, Charles. You can have the apartment. It is in the same state as when occupied by Flora. Nothing has been, I believe, removed from it,” Henry acquiesced, his trust in Charles evident.
“You will let me, then, while I remain here, call it my room?” Charles asked, seeking confirmation.
“Assuredly,” Henry replied, his voice tinged with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
This arrangement was made to the surprise of all the household, not one of whom would, indeed, have slept, or attempted to sleep there for any amount of reward. But Charles Holland had his own reasons for preferring that chamber, and he was conducted to it in the course of half an hour by Henry, who looked around it with a shudder, as he bid his young friend good night.