Page 4 of Lucy Undying (Dracula #1)

4

Boston, September 25, 2024

Client Transcript

Thank you for inviting me in, Vanessa. You didn’t need to. Both because this is your office, not your home, so technically I don’t need an invitation, but also because I wasn’t going to kill you if you didn’t.

It must have been upsetting, though, seeing me decapitate that other vampire in your parking lot. Are you sure I shouldn’t be giving you therapy? No? Probably for the best. So kind of you, offering to listen to me. Therapy might be the only thing left that I’ve never done. How fun to be having a new experience!

Well then, to answer your questions in order of importance:

Yes, it’s fine that you’re recording this. I don’t mind. All these endless years, and I have nothing to show for them. Might as well live on as a ghost in your phonograph, or whatever they call them now.

Yes, vampires are real, and yes, I’m one, and yes, that other vampire was trying her best to kill me, poor thing. She might have succeeded, too, had I not outrun all her friends.

I hope your neck doesn’t hurt too much. The bleeding has stopped, at least. I’m sorry I didn’t get her before she bit you, but please don’t think too unkindly of her. She was basically a baby rattlesnake. All instinct and no control. You startled us, so she attacked. Which, again, I’m grateful for. They’d injured me enough already that I needed a little help, and you were an excellent accidental distraction.

And now to the other questions you peppered me with as I helped you back inside: How is this possible? Why is this happening? Are there more of them out there? Who are you? All valid things to wonder.

I’ll start at the beginning. The beginning is, as all beginnings are, soaked in blood and shrouded in darkness. The end will be, too, but we’ll get there together.

My name is Lucy Westenra, and this is my story.