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"The dead travel fast," my father answered His uneasiness was very evident in his voice

I shivered at the thought It was horriblyWe were in such an exotic country with odd custoine what the driver had ed at e, the road twisted aaze and iray, one white as the e The wolves’ eyes sees appeared to carry thereat paws never touched the ground

The white wolf gazed directly into ripped my body Then the three wolves veered off the road and disappeared into the forest

I practically fell back into my seat, breathless with excite us! It was asp

"Yes, wolves! There were three wolves running behind us," I said My eyes ht "They were beautiful!"

"Nonsense! The night is playing tricks on your mind!" Mother cast a fearful look toward the s

"Truly I saw the behind us!"

May whimpered in fear and clutched Mother’s ar her sister Make her stop!"

Father patted htly "Be kind to your sister"

I frowned, then turned aze sharply out theDamn them all! They never believed me I was not fanciful I was merely much more observant than any of theht all about ainst ht caressexperience It was as if the night itself were atte to seduce ht sky rue cowered except forterror, I felt very e oncethefraainst nored an to thin I could see the dark iht I saw a flash of white I strained to see and witnessed a glih the trees It had to be the ivory wolf

"Lettheof my words

"I am here," the wind seemed to answernext to the road A beautiful wo on the wind The carriage sped past the apparition, and, ihostly woertips touched

With a gasp, I plunged e lurched unexpectedly as the forest disappeared I foundahead, I saw the road was leading directly to a great castle resting on the edge of a precipice

"There is a castle ahead!"

"A castle!" Mother forgot herself, leaning her head out of the"Thank God!"

The horses began to whinny and the carriage lurched The driver was trying to pull up on the reins to stop the carriage before it reached the vast courtyard of the castle

"Good God, Ovidiu! Do not stop them! There is shelter," Father shouted out

Whatever the two frightened Transylvanians were attee careened into the courtyard despite the efforts of the driver Snorting and neighing, the horses clattered to a stop

"At last! Shelter!" Mother snuggled her frightened youngest daughter to her body "It is shelter, htened!"

I cast an annoyed glance at the castle It had obviously fallen into disuse, and I doubted anyone should live within its walls Its craggy exterior bid no welco up, I saw a face peering down atnarrow topmost s But as the clouds slipped over the full moon, the face vanished

Ovidiu whipped the door open and stared at us with horrified eyes "We cannot stay here! We must leave!

"Do not be ridiculous We must consult with the htened his coat "We must take care of the wo about at his dreary surroundings He seeruesome castle, but he did have us to consider He atte red hair with his hands Resolute, he reat ancient door of the castle, and then he hesitated

Peering out at e for a ht I saw fear in his eyes, then he regained his composure, rapped on the door and waited

"Please, sir, please, let us leave this place," Ovidiu said piteously He fearfully gazed at the door and clutched his hand to his heart

The door opened and light spilled out of the doorway Aa lantern He carried it low at his side and I could not an

"Earl Wright, this is most certainly a surprise I did not expect you until toer was low, seductive and powerful It carried the accent of the country, and it chilled me to the bone

"It is the Count!" Mother s her hand over her heart "All is well!"

I glanced over at Ovidiu Thethat all was not as well as Mother thought

"I am surprised you found my home"

Father looked too startled to respond "Yes, err, ue "I take it this is your lovely faht"

"Yes, yes! We are all here per your kind invitation, sir We did not expect to find your castle It was quite by accident"

"A s happen on nights such as these in this country" The Count reached the doorway of the carriage and lifted his lantern His green eyes came sharply into focus and he stared directly at le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>