The Van Helsing Conjecture – Excerpt No. 63

“All good… no apology needed.”

In the distance a couple was walking down the sidewalk towards several restaurants. It was beginning to get dark and the fog from their breath came out in long streams. The way they held their hands hinted they had been together for a while. I never had that in life…the mission was always more important—

“I’m… still not where I want to be,” Julia said.

Clara only realised that the werewolf was talking when the last words registered in her mind. After a few breaths her mind formed a coherent message.

“Look… I—” Clara began, but cut herself off. The phone is the last place to confess.

“I owe you,” Julia said. “You picked up that phone and made sure someone was there for me.”

A cinematic photograph of a young adult couple, hand in hand, strolling down a quaint, lantern-lit cobblestone street in Montreal's historic district, as the last remnants of twilight surrender to the chilly winter evening, their visible breath misting in the cold air. The woman, with porcelain skin and raven hair, wears a warm, crimson scarf and a fitted, black pea coat, while the man, with a strong jawline and bright blue eyes, sports a rugged, brown leather jacket and dark denim jeans. The atmosphere is warm and intimate, with soft, golden light spilling from the windows of the inviting restaurant they approach, its signage and awning adorned with elegant, cursive script. The image is a masterclass in mood and ambiance, capturing the magic of a winter evening.

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.