“You wished to give it all up.”
She quickly read the note and looked up at me. “Don’t go.”
“‘Close at hand,’” I said, quoting Polidori’s note. “That means it is easily gotten, does it not? There will be no difficult quest this time. Perhaps he even has it in his shop!”
“Victor, we do not even know what ailment Konrad suffers from. It may just be-”
“The pox? Yes. And it might be mild or it might be fatal. Or it might be his old illness returned. We need to be ready.”
“We must wait until Dr. Murnau returns.”
I groaned. “That might not be for days-or weeks, if something unforeseen happens.”
“For all we know, this Elixir of Life could harm him.”
“It’s a risk,” I admitted. “But what if he gets even worse? What if Dr. Murnau comes and can’t help him? You’d do nothing when we might cure him?”
Elizabeth’s gaze broke away from mine.
“It’s within our grasp,” I pressed on. “We have only one ingredient left to create the elixir. One! And it will work, I feel certain of it-more certain than I can say.”
I wanted to tell her of my dream, how I had healed Konrad-how I had raised him from the dead. But how to tell her without sounding demented?
I took her hand. “Don’t be so easily turned from our quest. Its way was never smooth, I grant you, but it was all the more glorious for being full of dangers and terror. At every turn our strength was tested, our courage called forth. And it was all done not for ourselves but for another. That is what makes it glorious.”
Elizabeth fixed me with her hazel eyes. “Is it truly done for another, Victor?”
I frowned. “What?”
“Is it for Konrad, or really for you? For your glory?”
Her words bit deeper and swifter than a serpent’s fangs, for there was poisonous truth in them, but I would not admit it.
“For Konrad!” I exclaimed, and turned my self-anger at Elizabeth. “How dare you question my love for my brother! No one is closer to him than me!”
“He is a brother to me as well,” she said. “And more.”
“Yes. Sweetheart, too,” I snapped.
“So I have double reason to care for him,” she said hotly.
“Then show it,” I said. “The clock ticks.”
“Konrad himself wanted us to abandon this quest,” Elizabeth reminded me.
I made to leave the room, but she grabbed my arm. “Victor, if you leave this house, I will send a note to Mother, telling her of your intentions.”
I turned to look at her, and knew she was not lying.
“I don’t understand you,” I said, feeling betrayed. “Where’s your fire?”
“You burn enough for all of us,” she said more gently. “Will you at least wait until we learn more from your mother? Let us see what tomorrow brings.”
“Very well,” I said reluctantly, and left the room.
The next morning Henry arrived after breakfast to inquire after Konrad and our household, and it was grand to see him again, even in such dire circumstances.
He stayed with us all morning, and just before lunch the footman entered the sitting room with a letter.
“From your mother, I believe,” he said, offering me the envelope on a silver tray.
Most eagerly I took it and opened it. “Read it aloud,” Elizabeth urged me. My Dears, I wish I had better news for you. When Dr. Lesage came yesterday, he said that Konrad was not suffering from the pox, but from his old illness. Last night was very bad. Konrad tossed and moaned, for not even sleep eases his pain. I write this letter to you at ten in the morning, and he still has not roused. His pulse is weak, and he is now so still and pale that it frightens me. I expect Dr. Lesage again shortly. But unless there is some drastic improvement, I fear the worst. My dear Elizabeth, I have never asked you this, but please pray. Pray that Dr. Murnau arrives soon.
I would ask you all to come back, but another servant has broken out with the pox, and Dr. Lesage says we must wait another day before he knows whether it is smallpox or its milder cousin. So for now, please remain in Geneva.
Do not read this letter to Ernest. Tell him that Konrad just needs a little longer to recover. He is too young to bear such worries.
With my great love,
Your mother
“Konrad’s dying,” I said.
“You can’t know that,” Elizabeth retorted, her voice catching.
I stood. “I am going to Polidori, to finish the elixir.”
Elizabeth said nothing for a moment. Her eyes glimmered with tears. “The last time Polidori gave an elixir to someone, it killed them.”
“ This elixir will be different!”
“I could never forgive myself if we murdered Konrad.”
“Can you forgive yourself if we do nothing?”
“I say we continue,” said Henry quietly.
In surprise and gratitude I turned to him.
“Easy for you,” Elizabeth snapped. “You wait at the bottom of the tree! Or outside the cave!”
“My days of waiting and watching are over,” said Henry. “I’m ashamed of my cowardice. From now on, I’m coming wherever our journey takes us-be it the very gates of hell!”
I clapped him on the shoulder, stirred by his passion. “That- that — is the kind of strength needed now! Well said, Henry Clerval. To the very gates of hell! Let us be off at once.”
I strode for the door.
“Wait,” said Elizabeth. “I will come with you.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Your brother, how is his health?” Polidori asked as he opened the parlor door to us.
“Very poor indeed,” Elizabeth said.
“I am most distraught to hear it,” said Polidori, looking at me closely. “Come in, come in.”
We three followed him inside. The room was malodorous with the smell of wet cat. Krake was sprawled before the hearth, gazing at us with his green eyes.
“Please sit,” Polidori said.
“I cannot,” I said, pacing. “Just tell me what we need.”
Polidori hesitated a moment, as if reluctant. “This last ingredient is different from the others, and you may be sur-”
“Out with it! The sooner we know, the sooner we can get to work. My brother’s life fades with every minute!”
I felt a hand on mine, and turned to Elizabeth. The calm reassurance of her gaze was like a balm to my inflamed soul. I allowed myself a deep breath and then exhaled, feeling ashamed.
“Forgive me, Mr. Polidori. I am not myself.”
“No, no, young sir, it is I who must apologize. I’m long-winded, I know. You will be pleased to know the ingredient is easily had.”
“That is excellent news!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“But it will severely test your resolve,” said Polidori.
“What do you mean?” Henry asked nervously.
