The Sanctuary

Dracula

He came, borne on the wings of malignance, a pompous, self-righteous, foreboding figure.  His disappointing lack of height was generously accounted for by an apparent attachment to all things culinary.  His awkward, black clad frame ambled toward the Cabrera household, dispersing a small group of children in his path.  In short, his furrowed brow and perpetual frown signified not only his disapproval, but his grave concern at the errant ways of one who had strayed so far from the flock.  It was the stuff nightmares are made of, for none but priests have the position and the influence to inflict mortal dread on the faithful and faithless alike.  I observed his progress until he disappeared into the house, where he was joined in the sitting room by Mercedes, the peaceful silence of the afternoon broken by their severe whispers.  He expressed his alarm on behalf of �the child,� an alarm Mercedes readily confessed she shared, stating Kelantha had not been herself since her return.  The resolute Father Torquemada then informed her it had always been in her nature, her wretched disposition that inclined toward waywardness; he had seen it in her at her very first communion.  And now she had married a foreigner?  Indeed, Mercedes answered, her daughter had entangled her life with one not even devoted to the Church.  Then came the headaches, the fainting fits and the awful coughing of blood�it all pointed toward the same conclusion.

�Forever tainted,� Father Torquemada asserted, and Mercedes gasped.  Was it all irrevocable?  Could nothing be done?  Must her daughter suffer daily for her unfortunate connection?  Surely her soul would not be tainted simply because his was.

I turned away from my window perch and glanced at Kelantha, deeply asleep and blissfully ignorant of her part in their harsh discussion.  I eased myself beside her, careful not to disturb her restful position, and began to stroke the lovely dark hair as if to comfort her.  It seemed a vulgar offense to claim such perfection was tainted, as though it were a crime to reach for something more than this dying world had to offer.  If they could not see, if they shut their eyes and refused to acknowledge anything beyond the neat lines society drew for them, then let them drown in their own restrictions.  I doubted the pretentious priest had any notion of the deity he claimed to represent so well.

Kelantha stirred with the softest of sighs, and I cleared my thoughts lest they disturb her, closing my hand over hers protectively.  Our repose was interrupted as the door suddenly swung open, revealing a timid maid who apologized profusely as I turned on her angrily.  She curtsied hastily and ruefully stated that the se�orita�s presence was requested downstairs.  I had expected this, and informed her the countess would be down presently.  My presence, it seemed, would not be required.  It was just as well, for I had no intention of abandoning her to them.  I was loathe to wake her, but Kelantha offered no complaint as she prepared to descend.  I heard the polite murmurs wax into low warnings, incessant urges that the prayers and sacraments long forgotten would be returned to, followed by Kelantha�s vague assurances.  Then the true reason for the visit was disclosed: Kelantha was to be blessed and prayed over, that the sickness infecting her body might lose its force, and she might be restored into health and good graces once more. 

Within moments I was in the room, before any of them could remonstrate or react, and drew Kelantha to me, proclaiming my relief at finding her.

�I cannot tell you how worried I was when I discovered you were not upstairs resting,� I exclaimed anxiously, utterly ignoring the other two figures in the room.  �You remember very well what the doctor told us. Come, my dearest, do try to rest some more for my sake.�

�Excuse me,� the priest thundered, glowering beneath his thick eyebrows, �Who are you?�

�Father,� Mercedes ventured, sounding slightly scandalized by his tactless query, �That is the count.�

I turned in his direction.  �And who might you be, if I may be so bold?�

�I am the young woman�s guide and confessor.�

�In that case,� I said evenly, �Perhaps you will be good enough to reiterate my point. She must not be allowed to overtire herself; surely you must see that.�

Mercedes gave the priest a helpless glance, almost guiltily, and asked whether they should postpone it for another time?

�No!� Father Torquemada objected, �If you, sir, are this poor child�s husband, I am shocked at your want of concern. No amount of rest can cleanse her of the ailment in her soul.�

�I beg your pardon,� I began coldly, �But all I see here is a dangerous collection of superstitious beliefs and selfish motives, and I will not subject her to either. Now, if you will excuse me, I shall attend to my wife.�

�Take this,� Mercedes held out a rosary and glanced at me carefully.  �For her comfort.�

I took the beads, thinking how strange it was that they spoke of Kelantha as if she were not standing in the very room with them, and escorted her back to her own chamber. 

�I trust you have no objection?� I asked her abstractedly, placing the rosary in a drawer and savoring the cool relief I felt without it.  Kelantha only sighed and retreated to her bed, drawing the thick quilt about her.  I lingered until she was asleep again, then slipped unnoticed into the corridor and to the courtyard beyond.  There was one person I sought, and refuse me though he might, I had to seek him out.  The cathedral was easily gained, and I scanned the many carvings of saints and Latin inscriptions that graced the stone fa�ade.  At last I found it�pro bono publico, �for the public good,� the words that would grant me entry.  Was I not a part of the public?  Did I not come here with pure intentions?  The wooden door yielded to my touch, and soon I was within the sanctuary.  The heady scent of incense, the soft Ave Marias offered by the nuns, the altogether tranquility of the atmosphere was soothing yet, but it was not what I searched for.  It was simple enough to locate the correct office; that impenetrable aura was unmistakable.  My knock was answered affirmatively, and presently I faced him again.  He was surrounded by books, holding one in his graceful hands, but looked up upon my entrance.

�Count Dracula,� Archbishop de Vivero smiled, �Whatever could you have done to anger Mercedes so?�

�I insulted Father Torquemada,� I returned candidly, though this was the most recent of my flaws, and certainly not the one he had been informed of.  I expected a rebuff, but the Archbishop almost laughed.  No, he did laugh, and made no attempt to conceal it.

�Roundly and sharply?� he asked.

�Quite.�

�I am glad to hear it,� he answered, �I expect it was precisely what he deserved. Admittedly, not all of us who choose the Church were designed for the vocation. I believe Father Torquemada misjudged his calling. With his traits, he might have had a very fine career as a gaoler.�  He pronounced the words in all seriousness, but a ghost of a smile played over his countenance.  �But surely you did not come to confess�is there something I can do for you?�

�I came on behalf of Kelantha,� I stated simply, pausing as the Archbishop seated himself.

�She is ill?� he asked hastily, anxiety etched on his face.

�It is consumption,� I said softly, �She did not wish it to become known, but it became evident, and this afternoon both Mercedes and Father Torquemada favored her with an explanation of how the doors of heaven are firmly closed to her. �Forever tainted,� I believe, were his exact words.�

The Archbishop stared at me for a full moment before responding.  �My poor child,� he murmured absently.

�I ventured to disturb your studies in hopes that you might speak for her. I have no desire for the events of this afternoon to be repeated. Kelantha needs her rest as long as it is available to her�what she does not need is to have her peace unsettled by unkind lectures with no truth in them.�

�Of course I will speak to them,� he answered, �I was unaware of the severity of her condition. Thank you for your trust.�

I turned to leave when his voice called out once more, obliging me to stop.  �Excellency, I would like to speak with you again, whenever your convenience allows.�

I gave my assent and said we would look forward to it, which was true enough on Kelantha�s part.  For myself, I did not know what to make of him.  He baffled and eluded me yet, this strange archbishop.  Yet there were other thoughts to efface his idea from my mind; my thoughts turned even as I bent my steps toward the house, where I knew another elaborate dinner and semi-sincere conversation waited.  It did not matter to me whether Mercedes would have informed the entire household of the incident earlier; at the moment, there was only one whose innocent concern had caused the most alarm, who was both aware and ignorant at the same time.  Cristina would be in her garden by the time I arrived�too early for any refreshment, but long overdue for the discussion that was owed to us.

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