The Van Helsing Conjecture – Excerpt No. 351

27 August 2025

Clara spotted a way to let Julia and Agnes blow off some steam. They came upon an arsenal of weapons, of various calibres, and styles. They even had one of the derringers that she used back in the day.

Her fingers went over the barrel before picking it up by the pearl grip. The familiar texture and feel took her back to a simpler time before dredging up all the times she got herself into trouble.

“Safe as always?” Clara asked in Latin.

Amelia nodded before that smile faded away, whereas Agnes was already smirking. Clara tossed the weapon to the acolyte while eyeing a Thompson submachine gun.

a cinematic photo of a dimly lit table covered in a variety of firearms including vintage tommy guns with worn wooden grips and antique derringers with intricate engravings, the weapons are arranged in a deliberate pattern, with some lying flat and others propped up against each other, the background is a blurred mix of dark shadows and soft lighting, with a slight film grain texture, the overall mood is one of nostalgia and grit, the photography style is reminiscent of classic film noir, with deep blacks and muted tones, the firewarms are the main focus of the image, with the surrounding environment subtly blurred to emphasize their importance.

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.