A Night with Dracula

It’s darker than I expected… gloomier. I’ve read all the stories, both true and then the legends, but I wasn’t prepared for the overwhelming, almost seductive evil surrounding me. When I was chosen for the trip to Count Dracula’s Castle for a one night challenge, I thought it would be an adventure… but now I an regretting my decision to even enter.

The darkness seems to envelop me in a welcoming embrace, but I’m not sure if I can accept it yet. I expected to be scared, but this isn’t even normal fear taking me over as I listen to the soft screeching of vampire bats and the odd whistling of the wind.

I shouldn’t even be here… I feel like I’ve made a mistake as I peer out the window to witness the last glimpses of the sun before it hides away in the mountains. The lake is still as glass at the foot of the castle grounds, mirroring the misty night’s image, making the moon glow in an oddly ethereal way. I take a deep breath knowing that for the rest of the night I have to pretend there is no other light except the bits of gloom that peek through the windows. One of the rules was that you had to pull the drapes closed for the night until the sun has set, so no light could enter. They wanted you to feel like you were as confined as Dracula would’ve been.

“There’s no such thing as vampires… it’s not real. You are fine.” I remind myself calmly, holding my breath as an odd gust wafts through the room, sucking out the last bit of warmth I carried in my skin.

I shiver harshly as I reach for my jacket, but it’s not where I left it. Something rustles on the stairs and I flinch. I try to look for the culprit, but the candles were fanned out with the wind. “Is someone there?” I squeak, frustrated by my obvious weakness. I watch as a little mouse scuttles across the floor and I heave out my fearful breath, laughing. “God, I’m such a wuss.” I say, shaking my head at my own foolishness.

“I hoped you wouldn’t be scared off already.” My blood freezes in my veins as the unfamiliar voice echoes through me, frightening me to my core. I didn’t have to see him to know that this voice held the worst untold dangers.

I clench my teeth to keep them from chattering. “I… I thought no one was here.” I manage to say with far less terror than I expected. He chuckles, sending an uninvited shiver down my spine. The laugh is closer than it was before, yet I didn’t hear movement. I stand up, quickly looking around but I see no one, “Who’s there?” there’s not even anything I can use as a weapon right now… I can hardly remember where the candlesticks were.

“If a voice alone scares you, then why did you come?” the voice whispers against my ear in a terrifyingly seductive way. I never thought a breath could feel like fingers… but his did.

I take in a shivering breath as tears fill my eyes, “I don’t know anymore…” I barely whisper.

A soft, frozen finger wanders down my arm, stopping at my wrist where a hand grasps me hard, forcing me to finally turn. Fear breaks me as I go to scream, but his hand touches my lips as my eyes widen in pure and utter shock. Before me is a handsome man with deathly white skin and piercing blue eyes that will haunt my dreams and nightmares forever if I live past tonight, “Did you really think they’d let you leave if you came?” he taunts, but his eyes are more curious than cruel.

I shift in his arms—but his grip is like stone—keeping my gaze steadily on his, “It was only one night.” The words come out pleading as a terror like I’ve never experienced envelops me whole.

He laughs, bringing his lips to my neck, “Now it is eternity.” He growls musically against my skin as I feel sharp teeth press hungrily against my throat.