this was the last hope of a BASTION that he could find , that he could procure . for outside , they hunted . in the spars of a late SUMMER , the air was laden and humid , wretched of life and waste and decrepit places in the EARTH drowning in grave soil and the murky stagnation of brackish waters . within the bowels of an opera , a NAMELESS place he cared not to name , he would wait and remain here . dracula MOVED amid the hollow recess carved hugely into the farthest reaches of it , crags and STALAGMITES and stalactites jutting and piercing from floor and ceiling , exacerbating the DARK and unhallowed ground it would continue to become as he remained . soles clopped with a chill of DISSONANCE , taloned digits running over the coarse stone . dracula paused , breathing RAGGED as another hand clutched his side , sinking to his knees and DOUBLING over in pain .
they couldn’t FIND him , for madam giry had promised him this much . he’d saved her daughter from them , meg only HALFLY as immortal as he , but nonetheless . ‘ they’ll never suspect , ‘ he said with a HOARSE strain of laughter . but as his breathing quieted , something struck discord in the air . singing . MELODIOUS , angelic chorus raised by a single voice . it was ... beautiful . extraordinarily so . much of him was MOVED by a terrible curiosity , and wanted to ascend to hear where it was COMING from . in spite of his state , something stronger in him compelled him to .