“The land of Bran Castle, the legendary home of Dracula.”
“I knew that would get you excited. Sorry to cut this short, but I have some things to take care of before we leave.” He stands and together we head out of the coffee shop. “I’ll call you with all the details.”
I nod. “I’ll be ready.”
As soon as I’m back in my dorm, I rush around my room, packing all the things I’ll need for my stay in Transylvania. Later that night, when my head finally hits the pillow and my eyelids are heavy with sleep, he speaks to me.
“We’ll be together soon. Now sleep.”
And then he goes silent.
Two
Allison
* * *
There couldn’t be a better place to finish my paper than Transylvania, birthplace of Dracula. Simon holds my hand as we approach his family’s estate. Calling it an estate doesn’t do it justice, because it is bigger than anything I’ve ever seen in my life. Almost like a modern-day castle jutting from the lush green landscape. There are three towers on top of the white castle with conical spires pointing at the crystal blue sky.
“Wow,” I breathe out, staring at the sprawling structure.
Simon shrugs beside me. “Yeah, it’s home.”
When Simon explained his family and their wealth, he never spoke of castles in faraway lands. “Are you royalty or something?”
He turns to me. “Or something.”
The car moves closer to the front entrance, and I gawk at the monstrosity of a home. Nothing could have prepared me for this.
A few people wait by the colossal front door. Servants, I’m guessing. Or helper people. Whatever one calls their staff. I don’t have a lot of experience with this type of life, so I’m not sure of the correct terminology.
When the car stops, a gray-haired man in a black suit opens my door. “Welcome,” he says as he helps me out of the vehicle.
“Thank you.” I gaze up at the home before me, unable to take in the enormous structure at one glance.
Simon takes my hand, and we enter a marble foyer made less sterile by ornate urns filled with colorful flowers.
“Mother,” he says, dropping my hand and kissing a brown-haired woman, wearing wide-legged blue slacks and a white shirt, on the cheek.
She smiles, revealing a sparkling row of pearly whites. “Simon, so happy to have you home.” Her blue eyes land on me. “And this must be Allison.” She takes my hand, encasing it in her palms. “So thrilled you’re here.”
I grin, overcome with relief at her warm welcome. “Thank you for having me.”
The same man who helped me out of the car enters through the front door, carrying my luggage. “I’ll take these to her room, Ma’am,” he says to Simon’s mother.
“Thank you, Aston.” She focuses back on me. “You can call me Lina.”
“Such a beautiful name,” I tell her. “This place is”—I take in a deep breath—“spectacular.”
She glances around at the Renaissance artwork and suit of armor in the entryway as if they are as inconsequential as items from a second-hand store. “It’s just things. Once you get settled, we can take you on the tour.”
“I’d love that,” I say, smiling at Simon.
“Let me show you to your room,” he says.
We cross the floor, and I follow him up the wide staircase, marveling at the crystal chandelier above us. “You grew up here?”
“Yes.”