Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
VIVI
CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS
For a tour guide, Marius isn’t all that chatty. He’s said a few things about our surroundings, commenting on the vegetation and wildlife—focusing mostly on the black bear population—while primarily concentrating on the road.
I would be a little more concerned if I weren’t tracking our progress on my phone. But he’s heading right for Negru Castle.
By my calculations, we’ll be there within the next thirty minutes.
My stomach knots at the prospect. Or maybe it’s in knots from my weird dreams last night.
I woke up shortly after falling asleep, an unexpected scent in my nose.
Lavender with a splash of vanilla. Very specific.
And utterly unlike everything else in my hotel room—a fact I learned this morning when I tried to find the source of the fragrance.
I already knew my own products weren’t the cause, but I thought maybe one of the complimentary soaps might be the culprit.
Nope.
Nothing matched the crisp lavender or subtle vanilla.
However, the aroma chased me into my dreams, creating a chaotic fantasy involving the heart of my research—Count Negru.
That’s not his real name. But that’s what I call him, the mythical creature that isn’t so mythical.
My vampire.
What if he visited me last night? I think, my heart skipping a beat.
It’s a fool’s desire. A ridiculous fancy driven by my compulsion to hunt him. However, I allowed that fantasy to play through my mind all night, dreaming about my obsession and pretending that scent belonged to him. That he found me. Touched me. Did other things to me…
My thighs clench, my mind whirring with dangerous thoughts. I shouldn’t be this obsessed with a mythical creature. This hungry for his touch. His—
Marius clears his throat. “Right, so, Negru Castle is about fifteen kilometers from here. When we arrive, the gate should be open for us, thus allowing us to drive all the way up to the front entrance. There are no tours today. Or, well, ever, really. So it should be fairly easy and quiet.”
I nod.
Then I frown.
Because his words… his comments… There are no tours today. Or, well, ever, really.
I… I know that part. I’m aware that Negru Castle is a private estate that doesn’t allow visitors.
Yet somehow I failed to question how Marius—a complete stranger to me—has access to the grounds.
Why didn’t it occur to me to ask?
Oh, right. Because he showed me that video and I jumped at the opportunity to hire him.
My lips twist to the side. I may have made an impulsive decision…
Which should make me nervous. Or perhaps prompt me to send an SOS to Gaby.
But I didn’t come all the way here to hide or approach this with caution.
I came here to find a vampire.
To prove that monsters exist.
That means meeting one.
I glance at my driver.
Or two… I narrow my gaze.
Marius is extremely handsome. Maybe even unworldly so. The way the sun streams into the car makes his blond hair almost resemble white gold. His jawline is chiseled in that model-perfect kind of way. His eyes are hidden beneath a pair of shades, but I saw how deep blue they were last night.
Although, he doesn’t have fangs when he smiles.
And he’s out during the day.
Is he a familiar? I wonder, aware of the lore that vampires keep human lackeys. Is that how he booked this tour? Have I been… set up?
“You mentioned being a tour guide,” I say slowly. “But where are you from again?”
“Nowhere near here,” he murmurs.
That’s not a helpful answer. In fact, it feels intentionally vague. “If you’re not from anywhere nearby, then how have you managed to secure a tour with a private estate?”
He glances sideways at me, his lips curling up on one side. “Does it matter?”
Not really, I nearly admit. Instead, I ask a question I think I may already know the answer to. “Do you know someone inside Negru Castle?”
His focus returns to the road. “I know many individuals, Ms. Dalca.”
Individuals, not people. That… feels specific. And yet intentionally vague again, too. “Do you know Count Negru?”
“Count Negru?” he repeats, his brow furrowing. “Is that his rumored name?”
“His?” I echo.
Marius’s jaw clenches. “Are we playing a word game, Ms. Dalca?”
“I don’t know, Mr. Scaevola. Are we?”
He says nothing for a beat, his hand tightening on the steering wheel. “You’re not going to jump out of my car, right?”
I look out the window at the surrounding forest. “That wouldn’t end well for me.”
“Nor me,” he mutters. “So please don’t try it.”
“Worried about the mess?” I wonder aloud, studying him again.
“Something like that.” He’s no longer smiling, his humor seeming to have died as our conversation turned real.
“You’re not a tour guide, are you?” It’s more of a rhetorical question at this point. I should be terrified. Thinking of an escape plan. Texting Gaby. Something.
But I started ignoring my self-preservation instincts when I began obsessing over Count Negru.
“Do you want a real answer, or a playful one, Ms. Dalca?” he asks, once again avoiding my inquiry. But I don’t need an answer to the tour guide query. I know he’s something—or someone—other.
“A real answer to a legitimate question,” I counter. “Does he know we’re coming? The Lord of Negru Castle? Or whatever his name is these days?”
“The one called Count Negru?”
“That’s my nickname for him,” I admit. “Because none of the records actually depict a first name. They’re all variations of lord and king in other languages.
” That’s something I determined early on in my research while pulling the property deeds.
“He changes it when he transfers the estate to the next generation.”
Marius smirks. But it’s not the carefree, teasing grin from earlier. This is a bit more sinister. “You speak of these things without any fear.”
“Because I’ve been researching his existence for years. I know he exists. And I know what he is.”
“And what’s that?”
“A vampire,” I reply without hesitation.
“Hmm,” he hums. “An interesting assertion.”
“A correct one.”
“Is it?” he counters, glancing at me again before refocusing on the road. “What else do you know, little researcher?”
“I know you’re avoiding my questions,” I inform him flatly.
“Indeed,” he admits. “Because they’re not mine to answer.”
“Meaning he knows we’re coming.” Not a question, but a statement.
“Meaning I should stop talking,” he replies. “Just do me a favor, Ms. Dalca, and remain seated. I don’t want to have to chase you.”
I don’t understand his statement until we come to a crossroads that requires him to stop.
Rather than even consider the door, I fold my arms and stare him down. “I’m not afraid of him.”
“I believe you.” The car resumes speed before he adds, “Which has me questioning your mental state. Humans don’t believe in supernatural occurrences. Your kind is always rewriting what you see. So why are you different?”
“My kind?” I focus on that part of his statement instead of the rest of it. “If you’re not human, then what are you?”
He merely shrugs. “Maybe I’m a vampire, too.”
“Are you?” I ask, my heart skipping a beat in my chest.
“No,” he replies. “Not a vampire.”
And my heart sinks. “Oh.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“Because I am,” I admit, twisting forward again to stare out the window before us.
“You’re that eager to meet your doom?” he muses. I can feel his eyes on me, but I don’t bother looking at him again. Instead, I focus on the trees framing the street—a street that appears to be narrowing ahead. “You realize humans are food for vampires. Yes?”
I don’t reply.
Because yes, of course I realize that.
I just don’t care.
I can’t explain this obsession or why it seems to matter more than my own life, but it does.
If Count Negru wants to eat me… I don’t think I’ll be able to stop him. Heck, I might even encourage him.
“I never claimed to be sane,” I mutter, the words ones I’ve said to Gaby countless times.
“That’s fine,” Marius replies, drawing my attention back to him. “Sanity is boring.” His gaze meets mine briefly through his sunglasses before returning to the road. “At least I know why you’re so calm. If you were of sound mind, you would be screaming right now.”
There’s not a whole lot for me to say to that, so I remain quiet.
“I’m thankful, though,” he adds. “That you’re being quiet, I mean. Not because you’re saving my eardrums, but because screaming is an aphrodisiac. And you, my darling little researcher, are expressly off-limits.”
His nose scrunches with the words, then his expression smooths out once more.
“Anyway, you requested a real answer to a legitimate question, so I’ll oblige you with one. Yes, he knows we’re coming.” The car slows to a crawl as he approaches a gate.
The iron bars swing forward before we can come to a full stop, the grounds seeming to automatically open for us to enter.
“In fact, he’s expecting you for dinner,” Marius goes on. “I’m under strict instructions to take you on a brief tour before introducing you to your new quarters.”
A fluttering sensation takes off in my chest. “My new quarters?”
Marius doesn’t elaborate. Instead, he navigates us down the long drive—framed by an open courtyard blossoming with unique flowers and bordered by the forest beyond. It’s magical, reminding me of another world, and that feeling I experienced last night in Bra?ov returns.
The one where I feel like I’ve left my reality and stepped into a storybook.
“You’re definitely not a tour guide,” I mutter, more to myself than to Marius. Though, the words are about him.
“I’m a tour guide today,” he offers. “So, technically, not a lie.”
I grunt. “Okay.”
“I elaborated on some trivial facts on our way here,” he points out. “And I’m supposed to provide you with a brief rundown of the castle grounds. That’s very tour guide–like.”
“You also claimed not to be into kidnapping these days, and yet…”
He smiles. “Kidnapping implies taking someone without their consent. You very willingly slipped into my car this morning, Ms. Dalca.”
He slows the car again as we near the front of the castle where a fountain sits in the middle of a circular drive. Navigating around it, he parks us close to the entryway steps, then slides out from the driver’s seat and rounds the front of his vehicle to pause outside my door.
Marius opens it, then waits for me to decide how I want to proceed.
“It’s still technically kidnapping,” I inform him as I unbuckle myself and join him outside. The crisp air carries a note of lavender that curls around me in an enticing caress, one that reminds me of last night. My dreams…
I swallow.
He was in my room, I realize. Count Negru… was in my room.
I’m certain of it. Not just a fantasy. Not just a thought. But a reality.
Because his scent is everywhere here. Or perhaps he just carried this aroma with him when he visited me at the hotel.
Regardless, he was there.
And now… now I’m here.
Outside Negru Castle.
About to be given a tour and shown to my new quarters.
“I never said I wanted to stay at the castle,” I add, my words for Marius. “There’s no need to prepare a room for me.”
He smiles. “You don’t really think he’s going to let you leave, do you?” He leans down, his long silver-blond hair tickling his shoulders. “Tell me you didn’t come all this way to find a vampire without considering the consequences of your desires.”
I can’t tell if he’s toying with me or not. Part of me hopes this is a joke. But a larger, more insane part of me… hopes this is real. That I’ve finally found the object of my obsession. That said object is planning to keep me.
And how fucked up is that?
I should not want to be kidnapped by a vampire. Or forced to stay in a castle.
Yet every part of me tingles at the prospect.
I’ve utterly lost my mind. That much is clear.
And I can’t seem to bring myself to care.
“I guess you should take me on that tour, then,” I tell him.
He straightens, surprise filtering through his features. “You’re a fascinating creature, Ms. Dalca,” Marius says softly. “Let’s see how long you keep this unique confidence, hmm?”