Chapters: 23 and 24

Dr Seward, Van Helsing and Jonathan wait at the Piccadilly house until Arthur and Quincey return; thankfully this is before the arrival of Dracula. They get in position to attack him when he arrives. He was expecting the attack though and tries to fight back despite being stabbed in the chest by Jonathan. The crucifix again scares him off and he threatens the five of them that he will seek revenge, before fleeing. The stress of everything and dealing with what his wife has been through has made Jonathan look a lot older and more 'haggard'. This is in contrast to the Count, who is made younger and more energetic by feeding on Lucy and on Mina. Early the next morning, Mina asks Van Helsingto hypnotise her and this helps them to discover that he is on a boat. They visit the dockyard in search of boats that have set sail for Transylvania. They discover that the Count is aboard a boat for Varna, which will land in about three week's time. Eye-witness accounts confirm it is the Count from his physical description and his superior strength, which is showcased when he easily lifts his heavy box. The group decide that they will travel across land because it is much quicker and will meet the Count at the end of his voyage. Van Helsing and Dr Seward both have doubts over the safety involved in telling Mina all of their plans. This is because of the possibility that Dracula has previously hypnotised her and could learn their plans of attack through her. They are saved the trouble of telling her when she decides not to attend a meeting and then makes Jonathan promise not to tell her anything of their plans until her red scar has disappeared. He promises, but then she seems to have a sudden change of heart and becomes adamant that she comes along on the journey. She believes she could be helpful and would be safer if she stayed with them. It is hard to tell whether or not Mina has the best intentions of the group at heart, or if she is in some horrible way still being influenced by Dracula...