The Van Helsing Conjecture – Excerpt No. 363

8 September 2025

Amelia touched Clara on the shoulder. It took all she had to not react adversely. Instead of ignoring what she saw, the angel aligned herself entirely with the portrait.

Clara’s heart was at a gallop, her palms were clammy and wet. She forgot to breathe, forcing her autonomous functions to take over…

“Clara?”

“Who’s that?”

“That’s—was the reverend mother,” Amelia said.

“Augustine?”

a cinematic photo of two brunettes seen from the back, one wearing a long black skirt, a tight black corset, and large black feathered wings that stretch upwards, the other wearing a traditional black nun's habit with a white wimple, both standing in a dimly lit room with old stone walls, looking at a large antique portrait of a mature matron wearing a similar habit, the portrait has a golden frame and intricate details, the photography style is moody and dramatic with shallow depth of field, the colors are muted with shades of black, grey, and dark brown, the overall atmosphere is mystical and contemplative.

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.