In a letter from Budapest, Mina tells Lucy about Jonathan's condition. He has suffered a horrible brain fever, which is blocking the memory of what occurred at the castle. He is described as a shadow of his former self; he has changed a great deal. Sister Agatha tells Mina that Jonathan was rambling on and on like a mad person talking of such terrible, frightening things, she often had "to cross herself." Mina spots a notebook, and Jonathan tells her that he believes what happened to him may have been recorded in it. He also tells her that she may read it, but he does not ever want to see it himself. Mina also tells Lucy that she and Jonathan have decided to get married immediately. After the ceremony she seals the journal, using her wedding ring, and promises not to open it unless it was for his sake.

From Seward's medical journal we find out that Renfield has been quiet and murmurs to himself, " Now I can wait." After three nights of Renfield's unresponsive demeanor, Seward arranges for him to escape so that he might follow him. Renfield does escape, unexpectedly, and an attendant follows him to Carfax. Once again, he presses himself to the chapel door. He attempts to attack Seward when he sees him, but is restrained. At this point he grows calm and turns his gaze to a large bat in the moonlit sky.

Now at Hillingham, in another one of her family's houses, Lucy records that she is dreaming once again. She also says that she awoke one night to some flapping sound at her window. When she wakes in the morning she is pale and her neck pains her. Soon after this Arthur writes to Seward asking him to come examine Lucy. On September 2^nd, Seward writes to Arthur, who is with his father, that he cannot determine what ails Lucy-it is like nothing he has ever seen. He is concerned about her "somewhat bloodless condition' since anemia was ruled out. At this point he sends for his mentor and friend, Dr. Van Helsing, who is an acclaimed scientist, metaphysician and philosopher from Amsterdam. He comes at once and is also quite concerned about Lucy's condition, but does not say what is wrong with her. He returns to Amsterdam insisting a telegram be sent each day to inform him of her condition.

Stoker returns to Seward's journal next and we learn about Renfield's changes in behavior. He becomes violent at the stroke of noon (this is when Dracula's powers are the weakest), howling and eating flies as he once did. He has been saving sugar so that he might collect more flies. He also sees Renfield trying to grab the sun, sinking to the floor as the sun sets. Then he stands and brushes himself off claiming that he is "sick of all this rubbish" and tosses the flies out the window. At this point Seward wonders if the sun and moon are influencing his patient's behavior.

Lucy's condition has deteriorated greatly and Van Helsing is sent for once again. Seward will not tell Lucy's mother because of her poor heart condition, but he does write to Arthur to inform him of Lucy's health. When Van Helsing arrives he ask that Seward say nothing to anyone until he can be more certain of her condition. When he sees her he is struck by how pale she is, how her bones are protruding from her body, and how labored her breathing is, so he orders an immediate blood transfusion. Seward offers to donate the blood but Arthur arrives and says he will give her his "last drop of blood." As the transfusion is completed, Lucy grows stronger, but Arthur grows paler. The scarf then falls away from Lucy's neck and the men see the puncture marks there. Seward wonders if this is how Lucy is losing blood because he recalls her saying she does not like to sleep since "all that weakness comes to [her] in sleep."

The next time Seward and Van Helsing visit Lucy they find her looking very badly. She is pale, her lips are pale and blue and her gums are shrunken. Van Helsing wants to do another transfusion right away and Seward is the only one available. He will give blood to "the woman he loved." Looking at her neck they take note that the wounds have a "ragged, exhausted appearance at their edges." Van Helsing reminds him not to breathe a word about this.