The Van Helsing Conjecture – Excerpt No. 327

3 August 2025

“What did you mean back there?” Julia asked.

Clara looked up from an assortment of copper jewellery that would never find an owner. This was an open-air market, filled with fish, meat, clothes, and accoutrements. As an acolyte Clara loved to take in the opulent artistry of the era. Historians would kill for such a find.

“People who never made the cut at The Tower,” Clara explained. “Individuals who once had a chance at a great life in the real world.”

a dramatic, high-contrast cinematic photograph of a brunette woman with striking grey eyes, porcelain-like skin, and elegant facial features, dressed in a fitted black corset with intricate lace details, a flowing black skirt with subtle tiered layers, and majestic large black feathered wings sprouting from her back, intently gazing at an array of intricately designed copper jewellery displayed on a ornate wooden pedestal, set amidst a tranquil, sun-drenched Roman era open-air market, adorned with marble columns, worn stone flooring, and lush greenery, with a warm, golden light casting long shadows, and a soft, atmospheric haze, devoid of people, capturing the essence of a bygone era.

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.