Adam Frankenstein: A Collection of Short Stories

by Sheila English

In Brompton UK there really is a mausoleum surrounded by mystery.

The mystery of its contents revealed to those who could never speak of it. Bram Stoker, once a member of the League of Supernatural Hunters, now a rogue investigator, followed Hannah Courtoy through the graveyard like children playing a game of hide and seek.

In Brompton UK there really is a mausoleum surrounded by mystery, reported to have been created by a man who'd gone mad saying he was building a time machine. All that is true.

He’d lost sight of Eli Van Helsing, but the warlock would be close.

In my mythology Van Helsing is a warlock and a member of Mary Shelley’s League.

Victor’s featured softened. He placed a hand on my shoulder as though we were old friends. He spoke softly as though he cared for me. “I do not deny that you will see horrors this night. You may wish you’d taken your life instead of this deal to save your loved ones. You may wish to take it even if you return. Some things, once seen, can never be unseen. You will know there are terrible creatures in your world and the shadows will haunt you all the days of your life.” He sighed and his thumb began to caress the pulse at my neck. “You have courage, young Mary. You have reason, intelligence. You lack only two things: The knowledge of how to thwart your enemies and a reason so strong you’d die for it. Beyond saving your loved ones. Beyond saving yourself. Fortunately for you, I can gift you with both.”

Dracula, in my mythology, started out as an abused child. Now, though he’s still a villain in many ways, he champions abused children. He’s currently trying to stop an evil witch who killed all the children in a nearby village. Victor Dracula needs someone to let him in to Frankenstein’s castle where the witch is held up. Victor finds himself admiring the young Mary Shelley and regrets what he must do to her. He just doesn’t regret it enough to spare her.

Dracula, in my mythology, started out as an abused child. Now, though he’s still a villain in many ways, he champions abused children. He’s currently trying to stop an evil witch who killed all the children in a nearby village. Victor Dracula needs someone to let him in to Frankenstein’s castle where the witch is held up. Victor finds himself admiring the young Mary Shelley and regrets what he must do to her. He just doesn’t regret it enough to spare her.

In that moment my heart broke for this unfortunate soul. He was immortal. He thought himself a monster and he looked the part. He was in pain, suffering and that might follow him for all time. I could only hope that, one day, science would be able to help him, or he’d find a witch with magic that could. Or, he'd find a way to die.

Adam Frankenstein was never the monster, but his large size and horrid scars marked him as an otherworldly creature. His mind was thoughtful and tortured.

Adam Frankenstein was never the monster, but his large size and horrid scars marked him as an otherworldly creature. His mind was thoughtful and tortured.

“You are free to leave,” St. John said. “You have a companion who will care for you. Be loyal. Be good.” “I can promise only to try,” Adam said. St. John smiled as he said, “I was speaking to Bella.”

I love that Bella, Frankenstein’s dog, has her own little personality without it being a distraction to the story. I knew that, if Adam were to ever find his humanity, he would need to give and receive love. Who else will love you regardless of what you look like?

Adam came to the boy and knelt down to be more on eye-level with him. Icy fingers crawled up Adam’s spine as he took the red ball gently from the dead boy’s hand. Stein had done extensive work on Frederick’s face where the dogs had marred his flesh. The eyes weren’t quite right, but they seemed a high quality glass. The doctor had been able to get a smile on the face, but the last few years, or perhaps from a lack of the right material to fully realize a human subject, the color wasn’t quite right and some of the skin on the face sagged around the eyes. The doctor’s taxidermy skills on the birds Adam had seen throughout the house showed a true talent, but something this large was extremely difficult to keep lifelike.

This story was both creepy and sad. It highlights how Adam made errors of judgement and how he addresses that.

Adam came to the boy and knelt down to be more on eye-level with him. Icy fingers crawled up Adam’s spine as he took the red ball gently from the dead boy’s hand. Stein had done extensive work on Frederick’s face where the dogs had marred his flesh. The eyes weren’t quite right, but they seemed a high quality glass. The doctor had been able to get a smile on the face, but the last few years, or perhaps from a lack of the right material to fully realize a human subject, the color wasn’t quite right and some of the skin on the face sagged around the eyes. The doctor’s taxidermy skills on the birds Adam had seen throughout the house showed a true talent, but something this large was extremely difficult to keep lifelike.

This story was both creepy and sad. It highlights how Adam made errors of judgement and how he addresses that.

“What are you, Adam? Some kind of X-man? Military experiment?” Before he could speak she put her hand up, palm toward his face. “Don’t you dare tell me you’re a vampire. Even I have my limits on what I’ll believe.” “So you’d believe I’m an X-man, but not a vampire?” He couldn’t stop the twitch at the corner of his mouth threatening a smile.

I love these two. They’re funny and engaging and you can feel the strength of their friendship. Rebecca is so no-non sense, so when she sees something she can’t explain she still tries to force rules on it.