The Van Helsing Conjecture – Excerpt No. 188

“Ask Reverend Mother Augustine…”

He was either fishing for information or genuinely had no idea. In a way, Clara was curious to see how far this reality differed from hers. Still, it was notable that this man was not interested in the bombshells she was dropping.

Even if what he said was true, any hunter worth their salt would ask where all her knowledge of The Tower came from… Not to mention my grasp of Latin…

The limits of the human body were something that Clara was no longer accustomed to. She had been something other than human much longer than she had lived as one.

a cinematic, high-contrast black-and-white photograph of a worn and weary woman sitting in a dimly lit, ornate confessional, its rich wooden tones and intricate carvings evoking a sense of nostalgia and secrecy. Her brown hair is disheveled, framing her pale, heart-shaped face, with prominent cheekbones and a pointed chin, and grey eyes that appear sunken, red-rimmed, and heavy with fatigue. Her skin has a warm, golden undertone, weathered from time spent outdoors in the harsh Canadian coastal mining town environment. She's dressed in attire fitting for 1915, with a high-neckline, long-sleeved blouse, and a long, dark skirt, all slightly tattered and faded, conveying a sense of hardship and desperation. The atmosphere is somber, with shafts of soft, diffused light peeking through the confessional's latticework, casting eerie shadows on her face, and emphasizing the emotional weight of her words.

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.