The Van Helsing Conjecture – Excerpt No. 305

Next came a chorus of gasps followed by a wave of whispers. That ceased when Walter cleared his throat, which highlighted his authority and the hold he had on the rank and file.

In her day, the Reverend Mother wore the same uniform as acolytes. It was a symbolic gesture to ensure hunters were not overshadowed by her authority. The men didn’t feel the same way.

The head of men wore the garb of a cardinal, which also highlighted that they had their place in the church. We usually kept to ourselves.

Clara was more aptly dressed like a nun, with notable exceptions. Even though her feathers were black, as was the uniform, those wings were hard to ignore.

A dramatic, high-contrast cinematic photograph of a middle-aged man with a strong jawline and piercing brown eyes, dressed in the ornate red garb of a Catholic cardinal, clutching a worn, wooden-stocked rifle in his right hand. The somber, rustic atmosphere is set in a grand, high-ceilinged dining hall with rows of long, polished to a warm sheen, and lined with sparse, ornate wooden chairs, set against the backdrop of weathered, red-brick walls, adorned with faded, golden sconces, casting a warm, soft light. The overall mood is one of contemplation, as if he is lost in thought, surrounded by the remnants of a once-grand feast, now abandoned, with only a few scattered, and the faint hint of a forgotten meal lingering in the air.

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.