The Van Helsing Conjecture – Excerpt No. 118

“I’ll wait a week to see if Julia calls,” Clara began. “I have my doubts she’ll be ready for another mission.”

“You’d also put her at risk,” Evelyn said. “Why don’t you just admit it?”

“Admit what?”

“That you want to spend another week with me?”

That was a given, and squeezed Evelyn’s hand. By then they were close enough to have a full view of the remaining two. The footsteps behind, and heavy breathing, also confirmed this was meant to be a trap… they really underestimated who they’re up against…

“You might get your wish,” Clara said in Latin.

a highly detailed and dramatic cinematic photograph of a young woman with long, dark brown hair and porcelain skin, her facial features soft and delicate, her eyes cast downward in a mixture of sadness and longing, her full lips pressed together in resignation, as she stands with her slender figure and delicate hands grasping the ornate gilded bars of a large, luxurious cage, her body partially obscured by the elaborate metalwork, but her presence drawing the eye, her magnificent black feathered wings, with intricate details and textures, spread wide and curved around her, the feathers rustling softly against the metallic confines, the overall atmosphere moody and melancholic, with warm golden tones and subtle shadows adding depth and dimensionality to the scene, the focus sharp on the woman and her wings, with a subtle blur effect in the background to enhance the sense of intimacy and drama.

Disclaimer: This novel is an work in progress and readers may encounter grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Please view this a draft and not a published work.