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The storm bellowed overhead and erupted with such fury the entire carriage began to shudder. The horses whinnied with terror as the carriage lurched into motion. It had not traveled far when the storm began to beat down on us with such savagery the driver was forced to seek shelter in a thicket of trees. The hiding place only spared us a little from the brutality of the wind and the rain. ligtning flashed brilliantly all around us.

For several hours, we huddled inside the carriage, cold and wet, fearing the ferocity of the storm. I sat close to Father, trying to seek both warmth and assurance. Deep within me was a horrible fear that we were never going to be free of this place. Oh, how I wished I had behaved myself when my family had been in Italy and France. Perhaps if I had been more agreeable we would not be in such a horrible predicament. Guilt raged within me as fiercely as the storm. My mother sat across from me, her eyes clenched tightly while her fingers slid over the beads of her rosary as she prayed. Ever faithful May sat beside her, following her in her prayers. They did not deserve this. Perhaps I did, but they certainly did not.

Whimpering slightly, I pressed myself more deeply into the embrace of my father and felt his gentle hand patting my back.

I thought of my nightmare of Prince Vlad and those horrible women with the sharp teeth. What if had not been a dream? What if all of this was a manifestation of his evil? Of his power? Then, surely, we would never escape.

I felt warm tears fall down my cheeks and covered my face with my hand.

After a while, we became hungry and ate a bit of the food the gypsy women had given us. I still remembered their dark eyes as they had handed us the basket. I suspected it was pity I had seen dwelling in their gaze. I ate slowly, feeling a tight pinch in my throat and a nervous flutter in my stomach. May was too upset to eat, but I ate the piece of chicken and the fruit Mother gave me. Even though my stomach was churning, I was famished. I had felt listless since awakening in the morning and the burning emptiness inside of me did not lessen with the food. Yet, the food tasted divine. As I chewed on the succulent flesh of a ripe apple, it never occurred to me that I was eating my last meal.

The day slipped by quickly for it was mid-afternoon when the carriage finally rolled past the castle. We said not a word as we watched it slip past the window. May whimpered a bit so I reached out and took her hand to calm her.

For what seemed like an eternity, the carriage kept turning down narrow roads as the driver tried to find his way down into the valley below. But every road that initially turned downward would soon lead right back up the mountain. No matter which way the carriage turned, we could not escape the presence of Prince Vlad’s castle looming over us.

The storm clouds disappeared into the horizon and the sun appeared hovering low over the valley. The evening was approaching.

“Father, the sun is beginning to set,” I whispered.

“I know, dear, but we will not turn back. We can travel at night if we need to. ”

“I cannot believe the day has already passed us by,” Mother said. “I just cannot believe how horrible all of this has been. ”

“There, there, Antoinetta. We must not worry the children. ”

“Too late, Father. I am very worried and very frightened,” I said.

“As am I!” May clutched her rosary tightly. “Oh, I just wish we were far away from this horrible place. ”

“Ovidiu will find a way down and soon we shall be in a cozy inn,” Father said firmly.

“Oh, God, Edric, let it be true. ”

I watched as the bright orange sun descended to its resting place beyond the mountains. Long, black shadows filled the lush valley below and to my absolute delight, I saw the flicker of lights in the distance.

“Father, the village!”

“Thank God! It is there, Edric!”

“Ovidiu, Ovidiu!” Father leaned out of the carriage window.

I threw my arms around May and kissed her on both cheeks affectionately. “You see, May! All will be well!”

“They see the road that leads downward. It very clearly cuts down toward the valley,” Father announced with a jovial laugh.

I cheered and hugged him. We all embraced each other as Mother clasped her rosary tight and thanked all the Saints, the Virgin, and the Holy Trinity. Father just smiled at her, slightly shaking his head as he sat back in his seat and finally relaxed.

My eyes settled on the quickly setting sun while I settled back in my place. Night moved swiftly to embrace the earth, and I felt a chill rush through my veins. An overwhelming terror filled me as the sun fell below the jagged, majestic lines of the mountain range. The night fell swiftly and the carriage rolled to a stop so the lanterns could be lit.

“We must hurry!” I tried to urge the men to work faster. My pulse began to throb in my neck and wrists. Despair spread through my soul as the fear that we would never escape rose up and filled me. The night was a tangible, sinister force surrounding the carriage, pressing in around us, trying to slow us down, and trying to stop us. I knew, instinctively, that we were in great danger. I could not explain my own emotions, but deep within me, I knew we were

now being pursued.

Fearfully, I glanced back toward the distant black silhouette of the castle.

“Do not worry, Glynis. We will be in the village soon,” Father declared.

Ovidiu finished lighting the lanterns and climbed back up on the driver’s seat. We lurched onward, descending.