The True Story of a Vampire by Depend Eric Stenbock

“The True Story of a Vampire” by Depend Eric Stenbock, printed in 1894, is a haunting and evocative story that delves into the darkish attract of vampirism. The story is narrated by an previous lady who recounts the tragic occasions that befell a noble household when Depend Vardalek, a mysterious and charismatic stranger, enters their lives. The Depend exudes a sinister appeal, step by step insinuating himself into the family and exerting a mesmerizing affect over the younger inheritor, Gabriel. As Gabriel’s well being deteriorates, it turns into evident that the Depend is a vampire, feeding off the boy’s vitality.

Eric Stenbock was a identified decadent nobleman and author, at all times excessive on opium and alcohol. He slept in a coffin and ate meals along with his pet toad on his shoulders. When he traveled, he invariably introduced with him a canine, a monkey, and a life-sized doll known as “le Petit Comte” and informed everybody that it was his son; he insisted or not it’s dropped at him day by day, and—when it was absent—he requested about its well being. A wierd man with equally unusual tales to inform.

The True Story of a Vampire by Depend Eric Stenbock (1894) 

Vampire tales are usually situated in Styria; mine can be. Styria is on no account the romantic form of place described by those that have definitely by no means been there. It’s a flat, uninteresting nation, solely celebrated for its turkeys, its capons, and the stupidity of its inhabitants. Vampires usually arrive at night time, in carriages drawn by two black horses.

Our Vampire arrived by the commonplace technique of the railway practice, and within the afternoon.

You should assume I’m joking, or maybe that by the phrase “Vampire” I imply a monetary vampire.

No, I’m fairly severe. The Vampire of whom I’m talking, who laid waste our fireplace and residential, was an actual vampire.

Vampires are usually described as darkish, sinister-looking, and singularly good-looking. Our Vampire was, quite the opposite, fairly honest, and positively was not at first sight sinister-looking, and although decidedly engaging in look, not what one would name singularly good-looking.

Sure, he desolated our residence, killed my brother–the one object of my adoration–additionally my pricey father. But, on the similar time, I need to say that I actually got here below the spell of his fascination, and, despite all, don’t have any ill-will in direction of him now.

Probably you could have learn within the papers passim of “the Baroness and her beasts.” It’s to inform how I got here to spend most of my ineffective wealth on an asylum for stray animals that I’m penning this.

I’m previous now; what occurred then was after I was somewhat lady of about 13. I’ll start by describing our family. We have been Poles: our identify was Wronski: we lived in Styria, the place we had a fortress. Our family was very restricted. It consisted, with the exclusion of domestics, of solely my father, our governess–a worthy Belgian named Mademoiselle Vonnaert–my brother, and myself. Let me start with my father: he was previous and each my brother and I have been kids of his previous age. Of my mom I keep in mind nothing: she died in giving delivery to my brother, who was just one yr, or not as a lot, youthful than in self. Our father was studious, frequently occupied in studying books, mainly on recondite topics and in all types of unknown languages.

He had an extended white beard, and wore habitually a black velvet skull-cap.

How variety he was to us! It was greater than I might inform. Nonetheless it was not I who was the favorite.

His entire coronary heart went out to Gabriel–Gabryel as we spelt it in Polish. He was at all times known as by the Russian abbreviation Gavril–I imply, in fact, my brother, who had a resemblance to the one portrait of my mom, a slight chalk sketch which hung in my father’s research. However I used to be on no account jealous: my brother was and has been the one love of my life. It’s for his sake that I’m now holding in Westbourne Park a house for stray cats and canine.

I used to be at the moment, as I stated earlier than, somewhat lady; my identify was Carmela. My lengthy tangled hair was at all times in all places, and by no means would combed straight. I used to be not fairly–at the least, taking a look at {a photograph} of me at the moment. I don’t assume I might describe myself as such. But on the similar time, after I have a look at the {photograph}, I feel my expression could have been pleasing to some folks: irregular options, massive mouth, and huge wild eyes.

I used to be by the use of being naughty–not so naughty Gabriel within the opinion of Mlle Vonnaert. Mlle Vonnaert. I could intercalate, was a completely wonderful particular person, middle-aged, who actually did converse good French, though she was a Belgian, and will additionally make herself understood in German, which, as chances are you’ll or could not know, is the present language of Styria.

I discover it tough to explain my brother Gabriel; there was one thing about him unusual and superhuman, or maybe I ought to fairly say praeterhuman, one thing between the animal and the divine. Maybe the Greek thought of the Faun may illustrate what I imply: however that won’t do both. He had massive, wild, gazelle-like eyes: his hair, like mine, was in a perpetual tangle–that time he had in widespread with me, and certainly, as I afterwards heard, our mom having been of gipsy race, it would account for a lot of the innate wildness there was in our natures. I used to be wild sufficient, however Gabriel was a lot wilder. Nothing would induce him to placed on footwear and stockings, besides on Sundays–when he additionally allowed his hair to be combed, however solely by me. How shall I describe the grace of that pretty mouth, formed verily “en arc d’amour.” I at all times consider the textual content within the Psalm, “Grace is shed forth on thy lips, subsequently has God blessed thee eternally”—lips that appeared to exhale the very breath of life. Then that stunning, lithe, dwelling, elastic type!

He might run sooner than any deer: spring like a squirrel to the topmost department of a tree: he may need stood for the signal and image of vitality itself. However seldom might he be induced by Mlle Vonnaert to study classes; however when he did so, he learnt with extraordinary quickness. He would play upon each conceivable instrument, holding a violin right here, there, and all over the place besides the proper place: manufacturing devices for himself out of reeds–even sticks. Mlle Vonnaert made futile efforts to induce him to study to play the piano. I suppose he was what was known as spoilt, although merely within the superficial sense of the phrase. Our father allowed him to take pleasure in each caprice.

One among his peculiarities, when fairly somewhat little one, was horror on the sight of meat. Nothing on earth would induce him to style it. One other factor which was notably outstanding about him was his extraordinary energy over animals. Every little thing appeared to come back tame to his hand. Birds would sit on his shoulder. Then typically Mlle Vonnaert and I might lose him within the woods—he would all of the sudden dart away. Then we might discover him singing softly or whistling to himself, with all method of woodland creatures round him–hedgehogs, little foxes, wild rabbits, marmots, squirrels, and such like. He would ceaselessly deliver these items residence with him and demand on holding them. This unusual menagerie was the fear of poor Mlle Vonnaert’s coronary heart. He selected to dwell in somewhat room on the prime of a turret; however which, as an alternative of going upstairs, he selected to achieve via a really tall chestnut-tree, by the window. However in contradiction of all his, it was his customized to serve each Sunday Mass within the parish church, with hair properly combed and with white surplice and pink cassock. He appeared as demure and tamed as attainable. Then got here the aspect of the divine. What an expression of ecstasy there was in these superb eyes!

To date I’ve not been talking in regards to the Vampire. Nevertheless, let me start with my narrative eventually. In the future my father needed to go to the neighbouring city–as he ceaselessly had. This time he returned accompanied by a visitor. The gentleman, he stated, had missed his practice, by the late arrival of one other at our station, which was a junction, and he would subsequently, as trains weren’t frequent in our components, have needed to wait there all night time. He had joined in dialog with my father within the too-late-arriving practice from the city: and had consequently accepted my father’s invitation to remain the night time at our home. However in fact, you realize, in these out-of-the-way components we’re virtually patriarchal in our hospitality.

He was introduced below the identify of Depend Vardalek–the identify being Hungarian. However he spoke German properly sufficient: not with the monotonous accentuation of Hungarians, however fairly, if something, with a slight Slavonic intonation. His voice was peculiarly mushy and insinuating. We quickly afterwards discovered that he might discuss Polish, and Mlle Vonnaert vouched for his good French.

Certainly he appeared to know all languages. However let me give my first impressions. He was fairly tall with honest wavy hair, fairly lengthy, which accentuated a sure effeminacy about his clean face.

His determine had one thing–I can’t say what–serpentine about it. The options have been refined; and he had lengthy, slender, delicate, magnetic-looking arms, a considerably lengthy sinuous nostril, a swish mouth, and a beautiful smile, which belied the extraordinary disappointment of the expression of the eyes. When he arrived his eyes have been half closed–certainly they have been habitually so–in order that I couldn’t determine their color. He appeared worn and wearied. I couldn’t probably guess his age.

Out of the blue Gabriel burst into the room: a yellow butterfly was clinging to his hair. He was carrying in his arms somewhat squirrel. After all he was barelegged as ordinary. The stranger appeared up at his strategy; then I observed his eves. They have been inexperienced: they appeared to dilate and develop bigger. Gabriel stood stock-still, with a startled look, like that of a fowl fascinated by a serpent.

However however he held out his hand to the newcomer Vardalek, taking his hand–I don’t know why I observed this trivial factor–pressed the heart beat along with his forefinger. Out of the blue Gabriel darted from the room and rushed upstairs, going to his turret-room this time by the staircase as an alternative of the tree. I used to be in terror what the Depend may consider him. Nice was my reduction when he got here down in his velvet Sunday swimsuit, and footwear and stockings. I combed his hair, and set him usually proper.

When the stranger got here right down to dinner his look had considerably altered; he appeared a lot youthful. There was an elasticity of the pores and skin, mixed with a fragile complexion, not often to be present in a person. Earlier than, he had struck me as being very pale.

Nicely, at dinner we have been all charmed with him, particularly my father. He appeared to be totally acquainted with all my father’s explicit hobbies. As soon as, when my father was relating a few of his navy experiences, he stated one thing a couple of drummer-boy who was wounded in battle. His eyes opened utterly once more and dilated: this time with a very unpleasant expression, uninteresting and lifeless, but on the similar time animated by some horrible pleasure. However this was solely momentary.

The chief topic of his dialog with my father was about sure curious mystical books which my father had simply these days picked up, and which he couldn’t make out, however Vardalek appeared utterly to grasp. At dessert-time my father requested him if he have been in an awesome hurry to achieve his vacation spot: if not, would he not stick with us a short while: although our place was out of the way in which, he would discover a lot that will curiosity him in his library.

He answered, “I’m in no hurry. I’ve no explicit cause for going to that place in any respect, and if I may be of service to you in deciphering these books, I shall be solely too glad.” He added with a smile which was bitter, very very bitter: “You see I’m a cosmopolitan, a wanderer on the face of the earth.”

After dinner my father requested him if he performed the piano. He stated, “Sure, I can somewhat,” and he sat down on the piano. Then he performed a Hungarian csardas–wild, rhapsodic, fantastic.

That’s the music which makes males mad. He went on in the identical pressure.

Gabriel stood stock-still by the piano, his eyes dilated and glued, his type quivering. Finally he stated very slowly, at one explicit motive–for need of a greater phrase chances are you’ll name it the relâche of a csardas, by which I imply that time the place the unique quasi-slow motion begins once more—“Sure, I feel I might play that.”

Then he rapidly fetched his fiddle and self-made xylophone, and did, really alternating the devices, render the identical very properly certainly.

Vardalek checked out him, and stated in a really unhappy voice, “Poor little one! you could have the soul of music inside you.”

I couldn’t perceive why he ought to appear to commiserate as an alternative of congratulate Gabriel on what definitely confirmed a rare expertise.

Gabriel was shy even because the wild animals who have been tame to him. By no means earlier than had he taken to a stranger. Certainly, as a rule, if any stranger got here to the home by any probability, he would disguise himself, and I needed to deliver him up his meals to the turret chamber. You could think about what was my shock after I noticed him strolling about hand in hand with Vardalek the subsequent morning, within the backyard, speaking energetic with him, and exhibiting his assortment of pet animals, which he had gathered from the woods, and for which we had needed to match up an everyday zoological gardens. He appeared completely below the domination of Vardalek. What stunned us was (for in any other case we preferred the stranger, particularly for being variety to him) that he appeared, although not noticeably at first–besides maybe to me, who observed every part with regard to him–to be step by step shedding his common well being and vitality. He didn’t grow to be pale as but; however there was a sure languor about his actions which definitely there was on no account earlier than.

My father acquired increasingly dedicated to Depend Vardalek. He helped him in his research: and my father would hardly enable him to go away, which he did typically–to Trieste, he stated: he at all times got here again, bringing us presents of unusual Oriental jewelry or textures.

I knew all types of individuals got here to Trieste, Orientals included. Nonetheless, there was a strangeness and magnificence about these items which I used to be positive even then couldn’t probably have come from such a spot as Trieste, memorable to me mainly for its necktie outlets.

When Vardalek was away, Gabriel was frequently asking for him and speaking about him. Then on the similar time he appeared to regain his previous vitality and spirits. Vardalek at all times returned wanting a lot older, wan, and weary. Gabriel would rush to fulfill him, and kiss him on the mouth. Then he gave a slight shiver: and after a short while started to look fairly younger once more.

Issues continued like this for a while. My father wouldn’t hear of Vardalek’s going away completely. He got here to be an inmate of our home. I certainly, and Mlle Vonnaert additionally, couldn’t assist noticing what a distinction there was altogether about Gabriel. However my father appeared completely blind to it.

One night time I had gone downstairs to fetch one thing which I had left within the drawing-room. As I used to be going up once more I handed Vardalek’s room. He was enjoying on a piano, which had been specifically put there for him, considered one of Chopin’s nocturnes, very fantastically: I finished, leaning on the banisters to hear.

One thing white appeared on the darkish staircase. We believed in ghosts in our half. I used to be transfixed with terror, and clung to the ballisters. What was my astonishment to see Gabriel strolling slowly down the staircase, his eyes mounted as if in a trance! This terrified me much more than a ghost would. May I imagine my senses? May that be Gabriel?

I merely couldn’t transfer. Gabriel, clad in his lengthy white night-shirt, got here downstairs and opened the door. He left it open. Vardalek nonetheless continued enjoying, however talked as he performed.

He stated–this time talking in Polish–Nie umiem wyrazic jak ciechi kocham–“My darling, I fain would spare thee: however thy life is my life, and I need to dwell, I who would fairly die. Will God not have any mercy on me? Oh! Oh! life; oh, the torture of life!” Right here he struck one agonized and unusual chord, then continued enjoying softly, “O, Gabriel, my beloved! my life, sure life–oh, why life? I’m positive that is however somewhat that I demand of thee. Sorely thy superabundance of life can spare little to 1 who’s already lifeless. No, keep,” he stated now virtually harshly, “what have to be, have to be!”

Gabriel stood there fairly nonetheless, with the identical mounted vacant expression, within the room. He was evidently strolling in his sleep. Vardalek performed on: then stated, “Ah!” with an indication of horrible agony. Then very gently, “Go now, Gabriel; it’s sufficient.” And Gabriel went out of the room and ascended the staircase on the similar sluggish tempo, with the identical unconscious stare. Vardalek struck the piano, and though he didn’t play loudly, it appeared as if the strings would break. You by no means heard music so unusual and so heart-rending!

I solely know I used to be discovered by Mlle Vonnaert within the morning, in an unconscious state, on the foot of the steps. Was it a dream in spite of everything? I’m positive now that it was not. I assumed then it could be, and stated nothing to anybody about it. Certainly, what might I say?

Nicely, to let me minimize an extended story brief, Gabriel, who had by no means identified a second’s illness in his life, grew sick: and we needed to ship to Gratz for a physician, who might give no clarification of Gabriel’s unusual sickness. Gradual losing away, he stated: completely no natural criticism. What might this imply?

My father eventually grew to become aware of the truth that Gabriel was sick. His nervousness was fearful. The final hint of gray pale from his hair, and it grew to become fairly white. We despatched to Vienna for medical doctors.

However all with the identical consequence.

Gabriel was usually unconscious, and when aware, solely appeared to acknowledge Vardalek, who sat frequently by his bedside, nursing him with the utmost tenderness.

In the future I used to be alone within the room: and Vardalek cried all of the sudden, virtually fiercely, “Ship for a priest directly, directly,” he repeated. “It’s now virtually too late!”

Gabriel stretched out his arms spasmodically, and put them spherical Vardalek’s neck. This was the one motion he had made, for a while. Vardalek bent down and kissed him on the lips.

I rushed downstairs: and the priest was despatched for. Once I got here again Vardalek was not there. The priest administered excessive unction. I feel Gabriel was already lifeless, though we didn’t assume so on the time.

Vardalek had completely disappeared; and once we appeared for him he was nowhere to be discovered; nor have I seen or heard of him since.

My father died very quickly afterwards: all of the sudden aged, and bent down with grief. And so the entire of the Wronski property got here into my sole possession. And right here I’m, an previous lady, usually laughed at for holding, in reminiscence of Gabriel, an asylum for stray animals–and—folks don’t, as a rule, imagine in Vampires!

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