guide. Mom saw me and waved for me to come to her.
“Are you okay?” Mom asked.
I tried to act casual, but my shaking didn’t help. “I’m
fine. Are you guys ready to go?”
I wanted to run out the front door, but they would’ve
known something was wrong.
“Yes, we’ve seen this place before, and there’s nothing
new, as far as I can tell,” Mom said.
We stopped at a souvenir shop outside of the castle, but
I didn’t want to go in.
“Mom, can you get me a couple of cool keychains,
please?”
⁓
⁓
“Sure.” She walked hand in hand with Dad inside.
While I stood there waiting on them, a woman came out
of the castle screaming something in a language I didn’t
know. Maybe she had the same experience as I did, and that painting
was a prop or something. I had no clue why she was screaming,
but I was somewhat relieved that I wasn’t the only one
frightened.
Mom and Dad came out with a bag full of stuff, and we
returned to the inn.
Another week went by fast without any other odd
events. We went to a few more tourist sites and celebrated
my parents’ anniversary. It was nice seeing them so happy.
Our last night there, I couldn’t sleep, so I walked out
onto the balcony and sat in the rocking chair. I looked at the
mountains while breathing in the fresh, crisp air.
Morning came faster than I wanted. I didn’t want to
leave that beautiful place. I felt as though I belonged there. I
staggered over to the dresser and placed my clothes into my
suitcase, making it almost impossible to close. I sat on top of
it, bearing down until I could zip it shut. When it closed, I
got up and wrestled the suitcase out the door with tears in
my eyes.
We took the same route back to Bucharest. On the
plane, I stayed quiet, thinking about all the weird stuff that
happened.
“You don’t look well, honey,” Mom said. “Are you
coming down with something?”
I nodded and closed my eyes, feeling depressed for
reasons I wasn’t sure of.
⁓
⁓
nable to breathe, I sat up holding my chest—
panting heavily. Dad removed his hand from
my mouth. “Calm down. You were screaming
again, so we came in.”
“Sorry, I had a bad dream again with the lady impaling
me with a dagger.”
Mom took a tissue off the end table and handed it to
me. “It was only a dream, honey.”
“I know. I just don’t understand why I keep having the
same nightmare.”
Dad sat next to me and wrapped his arm around me.
“Like your mother said, it was only a dream.”
“I know.” I rested my head on his chest and glanced
over at my love seat near the window.
Mom sat on the other side of me and rubbed my back.
Dad pointed at my open suitcase on the floor with
clothes piled on top. “It’s been a week since we got back
from Romania. I think you may want to unpack it and wash
your clothes.”
Mom leaned forward and picked up the candy wrappers
off my end table.
I giggled. “You know I’m a procrastinator.”
He winked. “If you still want to become a good lawyer
like your mother and I, you better change your ways.”
“I still have time.”
“You’ll be eighteen soon. That will pass by fast,” Mom
said.
I hugged her. “I know.”
Mom kissed me on my forehead. “Maybe you should
move your room back upstairs. I don’t like you down here
all by yourself.”
“No way. This room is bigger and not a hot box.”
She sighed. “Alright. Try and get some sleep.”
“I’m too restless. I’m going outside to get some fresh
air.”
“Make sure you lock up when you come back inside,”
Dad said.
“I will. Night.”
After I heard Dad’s loud footsteps go back upstairs, I
walked down the creaky hallway, opened the double doors,
and stepped out onto the wraparound porch. Not wanting
to sit on the one-hundred-year-old swing that came with our
house, because it squeaked, I continued down the stairs and
sat on the bench that was in the middle of the front yard,
facing the road. As I admired the beautiful Victorian homes
that surrounded ours, a warm breeze carried the scent of
fresh roses and saltwater. I glanced at the night sky to see if
a storm was brewing, but it was cloudless with stars.
⁓
⁓
When a porch light came on, I turned to my left, and
my childhood friend Liam came out of his house.
“Hey, Viata, long time, no see.”
“It’s after midnight. Why are you up?”
“I heard someone scream.”
I sighed and looked across the street. “It was me.”
“Seriously? What happened?”
“It was just a nightmare. So, are you ready to start school
in a few days?”
Liam approached me with an enormous grin on his light
brown face. “No way. They need to extend summer break.”
“Be glad it’s our last year.”
“True.” He stopped at my black Mustang and tapped
the hood. “Let me clean this beauty for you. It’s filthy.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll clean it tomorrow.”
He walked over and stood in front of me. “I still can’t
believe your father gave you his favorite ride for your
birthday. It has too much horsepower, and you drive like an
old lady.”
“No, I don’t, dickhead.”
“Hey, dickface. I was kidding. Chill out.”
My mouth fell open. “Liam!” I leaned forward to punch
him.
He chuckled and jumped back before I could hit him.
“You started it.”
I giggled and looked up at the sky. “I know.”
“So, what are you doing out here?”
“Watching the stars.”
“Why are you so obsessed with space?”
I turned to him. “I’m not.”
⁓
⁓
He squinted his dark brown eyes and sat next to me.
“There’s nothing new up there.”
“How do you know? We can’t be the only people
around.”
“I believe in aliens. Does that count?”
I plucked his ear. “You would. What’s your obsession?”
He touched his chin, thinking. “Under Armor, Adidas,
and hot girls like you.”
I playfully smacked his hand. “I’m far from being hot,
but thanks.”
He turned to me. “You’re very sexy.”
“Thanks.”
“How was Romania? Did you go see the hospital where
you were born?”
“Yes, but it was closed down and dumpy. I still can’t
believe my mom went into labor there while they were on
vacation. I swear she did that on purpose.”
“Are you sure your mom or dad isn’t Romanian? They
do love that place.”
“No. Mom is Irish and German. Dad is Italian and
something else. I just can’t remember right now.”
“Now I know why you’re so pale,” he joked.
“Shut up. I try to tan, but the sun hates me.”
He shook his head. “Did you see any vamps?”
“Nope. No vampires, but a lot of weird stuff
happened.”
“Like what?”
“Where do I start?”
“I’m all ears. Start from the beginning.”
I didn’t want to shove my nutty nightmares and
experiences onto one of my best friends—but everything
⁓
⁓
flew from my lips, and there was no way to stop myself from
telling him about the dream on the plane where I was
stabbed with a dagger, the leopard in the woods, and the
stranger at the train station that bowed to me.
Liam readjusted himself. “Wow, that’s some crazy shit.”
“I’m not done yet.”
“Continue.”
“When I was inside Bran Castle observing Vlad the
Impaler’s picture, a male voice whispered ‘remember’ in my
ear.”
“That’s freaky. Who’s Vlad?”
“Um ... Dracula.”
“I like Vlad better.”
“I don’t like any of his names.”
Liam had a puzzled look. “Are you positive the man at
the train station and the lady from your dream called you
Virginity?”
“It’s Divinity, stupid.”
He laughed. “Honest mistake.”
“Sure, it was.”
“I can’t believe that leopard didn’t kill you guys. Does
Romania even have them?”
“Nope.”
He rubbed his face. “That’s insane.”
“Tell me about it,” I said. “Enough about me. Did you
go camping?”
“Yes, you didn’t miss much. It rained the entire time,
but that didn’t stop me from meeting a lot of hot babes.”
“Is that why you ignored all my texts?”
He elbowed me. “Don’t be mad. You could’ve been my
date, but you don’t like black boys,” he teased.
⁓
⁓
I rolled my eyes at his old joke. “One, you’re like a
brother to me, and two, I did ask to go with you, but Mom
and Dad freaked out.”
“Chill. I’m messing with you.”
I nudged him with my shoulder. “You, me, and Kaylee
should get together tomorrow for lunch.”
“Call her. She just got back from camp with her mom.”
“I will. I just haven’t felt good since we got back from
our crazy trip.”
“I’d be in a mental hospital if that happened to me.” He
stretched both arms out and yawned.
I laughed and stood up. “I’m going to bed.”
He got up. “Okay, don’t keep hiding in your room like
you have been for the last week.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been feeling depressed ever since I got
back from Romania, and I hate it.”
“If I had pink walls with flowered pictures everywhere,
I think I would be depressed too.”
“Funny. You can thank my mom for that.”
“Speaking of her, she said she was going to let me clean
her office and file paperwork over the summer to make some
money, but she never called me.”
“Are you sure you want to become a lawyer?”
“Heck yeah. Will you ask her if I can work for her after
school? I need a job so I can take my hot babes on a date.”
I shook my head smiling. “Sure.”
“Thanks.” He hugged me.
“You make me feel like I’m four feet tall.”
“It’s not my fault you stopped growing at five foot
three.”
I pushed him. “Five foot five,” I corrected.
⁓
⁓
“Whatever. Night, dickhead.”
“Night, dickface,” I shot back and walked inside
smiling.
I didn’t want to have another dream, so I forced myself
to take one of Mom’s sleeping pills. I went into my room,
laid on my bed, and snuggled under the satin sheets.
Shortly after, my body felt heavy, and my heartbeat
slowed down. My eyes closed.
“Viata, come to me,” a man said in a Romanian accent.
When something buzzed in my ear, I smacked it away,
sat up, and looked around the dark forest.
“Hello?” I called out in a shaky whisper.
With no answer, I glanced at the light mist climbing up
the trees that surrounded me. I stayed in the moonlight and
walked carefully up the steep hill, doing my best to protect
my feet.
In the distance, a man, wearing jeans with a black shirt,
walked toward me. As he grew closer, the moonlight
reflected off his well-built body and pale features.
I stood frozen.
“Good evening. I’m Bain,” he said with a thick
Romanian accent. It was the same voice I just heard and
ignored.
I looked up at his jet-black hair that fell to the side of
his seductive dark brown eyes. There was something familiar
about him. “Hi, I’m Viata.”
As he stepped closer, his scent of the ocean breeze and
sandalwood drew me in. He took my hand and kissed the
top of it gently, causing the hairs on my arms to raise from
his ice-cold, full lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Viata.”
⁓ ⁓
never having an older man kiss my hand before. My eyes
found his again.
“Nice to meet you too. Have we met before? I feel like
I know you?”
His eyes turned amber. “No.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, then glanced at him. His eyes
were normal again. Maybe the darkness is messing with my vision.
I stepped out from under the tree and into the moonlight.
Bain followed me and stood in front of me. “You’re
utterly flawless.” He took a step closer. “And your eyes are
captivating.”
“Thank you.” I smacked my arm.
“Why did you hit yourself?”
“The mosquitoes are eating me alive. Aren’t they biting
you?”
“No. I guess they don’t like my blood.”
“Oh. So, why are you out here alone?”
He examined me from head to toe. “Perhaps I should
be asking you that question. You’re the one who’s wearing
nightclothes.”
“I don’t know how I got here.”
His perfectly shaped eyebrows arched. “That’s odd.
Walk with me. I don’t think you should be out here alone.”
Normally, I would run but for some reason, I trusted
him. As I took a step toward him, I stepped on something.
“Ouch!” I dropped to the ground, and I observed the small
amount of blood coming from the bottom of my foot.
Bain turned away.
“What’s wrong?”
He faced me like he was in pain. “Nothing.” He took
off his shirt and ripped it in half like it was paper.
⁓
⁓
I scooted back. “What are you doing?”
“Be still. You don’t want an infection, do y
ou?”
I shook my head and watched him gently but quickly
wrap my foot. I couldn’t help but stare at his muscular arms
and hairless, solid chest. I wondered why he cared so much,
being we had just met.
When Bain caught me looking, I turned away. He stood
up and reached for my hand.
“I got it. Thanks.”
He gave me a half-smile and walked on.
I followed him up the hill, and a loud growl came from
behind me.
Bain turned around and narrowed his eyes on
something past me. His jaw tightened. I whipped around to
see what he was looking at, but there was only darkness.
I ran up to him. “Is that a wolf?”
Bain grabbed my shoulder. “Don’t fear me.” He picked
me up with his ice-cold hands and tossed me over his
shoulder like I was weightless.
“Let me down!” I shouted, trying to get out of his firm
grip.
“Be still. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Bain ran through the woods until we came to a
lighthouse. He kicked the door open and ran up the black
spiraled steps within seconds and set me down on the
observation deck.
“How ... how did you go that fast? Are you on steroids?”
⁓
⁓
“Something like that,” he said bluntly. “Stay near me.”
He leaned over the railing and looked down at the empty
parking lot.
I grabbed the red rail. “Why did you bring me up here?”
Hissing and growling sounds echoed all around us. My
heart pounded against my chest like it was about to explode.
I grabbed hold of Bain’s arm, then branches snapping came
from the woods behind us.
Bain placed his hands on my face. “I’m sorry to have to
do this, but I must protect you from the Annialmorts and
the Cravers.” He let go of my face and grunted as he grasped
his head.
As I stepped back, the piece of his shirt got stuck on
something and fell off my foot. “What the hell are those?”
Bain’s face contorted like he was in pain. He grabbed
me and jumped off the observation deck with me in his arms.
As we dropped, I screamed, got dizzy, and everything went
black.
When a bright light appeared, I sat up on the swing of
the front porch and clutched my pounding heart. I shielded