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"There, there," he said softly, patting e departed the castle courtyard, I resisted one last look and concentrated onand beautiful, any signs of harshness faded from her lovely features She was far too relieved to be away froe was soon traveling at top speed, away froe e froan to relax Even May smiled when Mother said, "Well, it would be that the first man on this journey taken with Glynis was totally unsuitable"

I giggled and snuggled up tous away from that horrible, horrible man"

My father just smiled and said, "There, there" But I could see the relief in his eyes and his strong hand holding mine made h the her in the sky only to be brutally overwhel clouds that billowed out over the valley I watched the approaching stor strength, but also pursuing us

"Father, if the storm hits us, will the pass become too treacherous?"

My father stared out the , conte deep within the stor ru stronger" He leaned out of the"Ovidiu! Ovidiu! Can we beat the storaze out over the lush valley "I do not even see the village"

Father pulled his head into the carriage His expression did not comfort us

"What is it?" Mother demanded

"The driver is confused He says that we are not heading in the right direction and every time he tries to double back, we only seean"

"I do not understand What does that mean, Father?" May looked very pale with her pink lips tree as far as I dared The dark,castle loomed close behind us "Oh, God!"

"Glynis, do not take the Lord’s in-Oh, Lord, no!" Mother obviously could not believe her eyes as the carriage turned slowly "Why are we heading back?"

"They are going to try and descend the e traveled the other night," Father answered His broas deeply furrowed, his hand clenched against his chin

"I do not want to go near that place!" I protested

"There, there, dear All will be well" My father took e raced down the steep path toward the castle, I could not tear e passed by the cru entrance and turned down the pass we had ascended previously I was afraid that every darkenedof the great castle hid the face of the horrible Vlad Dracula

Mother leaned forward and took my hand "We are away frohtened"

Impulsively, I kissed her "I will not be"

With a smile, Mother sat back and held May in her arht, dears The castle will soon be far behind us," Father said firhtened The dark, rolling sounds of thunder were nearly overhead and the first tiny drops of the coe I leaned against my father’s arm and he patted my cheek

"There, there, Glynis Just a few e inn"

No ht off the overwhel presence of the castle I could still see the decayed battlements over the tops of the trees I could not wipe from my mind the way Prince Vlad had looked upon me with such lust and confidence He had seee of h and the carriage lurched back and forth abruptly, then came to a stop We were all thrown to the floor in a heap of silk skirts

"Damn it all!" Father wrenched the door open and leaped out

Ovidiu’s voice called out, "Kind, sir, there is no way down!"

"Nonsense!"

I leaned out of the carriage and watched asout about hi fierceness His hat flew off and he barely caught it with one hand His pale hair was instantly plastered to his noble forehead

"No way down! No way down," the driver called out in heavily accented words

Terrified at their words, I ju shoes slipped in the ht the wind, my hand clasped to my bonnet "What do they le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>