The Vampire from Transilvania

With my legs tucked under the blanket, I hesitated to put the card away and go to bed - had I finally stumbled upon something worthwhile? A beautiful rectangle of black paper lay on the bed in front of me. Curtea Johannes Honterus 2, Brașov 24.12.17 20.00 I wasn't wrong with the address. As soon as I got into my uncle's car, I immediately checked the guidebook. The Black Church, indeed, was on Curtea Johannes Honterus 2. So tomorrow, at 8 p.m. sharp, there would be a meeting of Seekers there. The real Seekers. How was I going to explain my absence on Christmas Eve to my aunt? And so late. Especially since I hadn't said a word about my plans before. Although that could be blamed on my recent adventure. I'd planned to spend Christmas Eve out of the house from the beginning, but then I'd given up on that idea, thinking that they wouldn't let me go anyway because of the accident. When I realized that I was already planning how to trick my aunt into going out at night, I covered my face with my hands, sighing deeply. It probably wasn't the best idea I'd ever had. On the other hand, I'd gone to a secret meeting last night on a tip from someone online I didn't know much, and nothing bad happened to me. Everything turned out pretty decent. The Dungeon Seekers turned out to be nothing more than a hobby club. Or was Etienne telling the truth, and there were other Seekers conveniently hiding behind the back of the fake group? If to believe the Frenchman's words, it was true, and it also meant that they were the ones involved with the vampires. Watched them. I didn't fully understand how, or what that surveillance meant, but I felt a lingering sucking sensation in my throat, as if I was just a stone's throw away from solving the mystery, from making my dream come true. It took me a couple minutes to calm down and return to my own thoughts. And, of course, messing with vampires wasn't something you could assume was completely safe. That obvious fact, mentioned by Etienne, was not in doubt. After all, the creatures of the night fed on blood, and that implied some  damage, as well as the need to regularly renew their own ranks (Etienne seemed to have said that thanks to them those kept themselves in line... I wonder which one?). And how often were new recruits needed? They must have been recruited among the fans. An ordinary person would hardly believe in the existence of vampires, and those who would believe would have to be brave (or crazy) enough to dare to... To what? I had no idea, again returning to Etienne's words about surveillance and the risk mentioned in passing. If such a secret society really existed, the reluctance of my casual acquaintance to tell me — the first person I met, all the details was understandable. And then, remembering that telephone conversation on the street with someone unknown, there was no doubt that Etienne was really upset. Apparently, he'd been at the party looking for newcomers, and he'd left with nothing. Why did he even need to trick me? No apparent reason came to mind. Besides, I'd imposed myself, literally clawing at him and demanding to know everything. If he'd been interested in me, he probably would have suggested it sooner. Not in the hallway (where I'd nearly flattened myself in a miraculous display of equilibrium), but he could have come back later. If he’d wanted to. I had to admit that I didn't seem like a good fit, and if it hadn't been for my persistence and Etienne's failure at the party, I would never have got the card. A ticket  I corrected myself. This was my ticket to the world I was so desperately seeking. Here it is, Alex, accidentally fell into your hands. Or maybe not by chance at all, because I was only thinking about it. And, it seems, life gave me a chance. I only had to apologize to my aunt and her family for the lies they were going to hear the next day. I was indeed incredibly embarrassed to deceive my relatives, but I firmly believed that I finally had a tiny opportunity to penetrate the hidden secrets of a secret world. Having made up my mind, I spent a couple of night hours trying to find a suitable excuse to slip away, and I found what I was looking for. There were going to be many Christmas celebrations in the central part of Brasov. One of them was perfect for my plans. In the municipal building, located in the old town and therefore not far from where I was looking, the annual charity event was scheduled. From the description on the official website, I understood that at the beginning of the evening, anyone could visit the usually closed main hall of the municipality for a token fee. In the second part of the evening, an auction of contemporary art objects made by Brasov artisans was planned. All the money raised was intended for one of the city's orphanages. ‘Here.’ I explained to my aunt. ‘It's a rare chance to visit the municipality.’ I didn't have the strength to look into her eyes, and I suppressed my gaze. ‘I don't know, Alex. It's a little late. And the holiday is tomorrow. Maybe you'll stay home after all? I'm going to roast a duck.’ ‘I wouldn't stay long. Doors open at eight. They promised little tours and drinks. I think an hour would be enough for me, and by ten, maybe a little later, I'd be back.’ I was feeling pretty bad at this point. I'm sure my face reflected the mental torture of having to lie — to lie to a person who'd been so kind to me, inviting me into home, not to mention the fact that my aunt had saved me from my mother's wrath by covering up my night's absence. If she said no, I wouldn't argue anymore. I just can't. My mindset of getting consent at any cost melted away like an icicle left by the fireplace. ‘Well.’ My aunt frowned, looking away and thinking. From the tension, I didn't dare move, waiting for the verdict. ‘Okay.’ She finally exhaled, as if giving up. ‘If you promise to be back by ten, I'll let you go. Only your uncle will walk you to the municipality, won't he?’ ‘Sure.’ I said, as if a stone had rolled off my shoulders. That means luck is still on my side. The day dragged on unbelievably long, even though the house was in a state of pre-holiday hustle and bustle. The day off was spent preparing for the upcoming holiday season. As usual, we put up and decorated the tree, for which my uncle and the twins had gone in the morning. Aunt Tasha and I didn't stay in bed either; we got up early and started cooking to sit at the table in the evening. When the men came back, they had been assigned to decorate the house with Christmas trees and garlands. It took an effort on my part not to betray excitement. The only thing I couldn't manage was the gaze that kept finding the clock, no matter what room I was in. ‘I should probably go pack.’ I said, taking a few moments to prepare myself to say the cherished phrase when the time came. No one paid much attention to me, only my aunt gave me a muffled ‘uh-huh’ as she continued to string the brightly colored stars. My uncle and I traveled to Brasov in two cars. I guessed that my aunt wanted to make sure that I would really get to the right place — in a building belonging to the local authorities, she probably didn't have to worry about me. I was still offered a couple of hours to spend with my uncle. Luckily, the twins had heard the conversation, and they shamelessly expressed their opinion about disgrace of going out with parents. I assured them there was nothing to worry about, but I was allowed to walk alone for a while. We arrived at the place in half an hour. This time, like last time, there was a lot of traffic — many people were going to celebrate Christmas on the street, as it was customary in many European countries. We parked away from the center. I was about to say goodbye to my uncle when he spoke first, ahead of me: ‘I'll walk you out.’ I was afraid to argue, so as not to arouse suspicion. We reached the municipality about fifteen minutes later. People were crowding around us. There were plenty of those who wanted to look inside. ‘Here we are. Don't worry, I'll wait alone.’ Uncle, with his usual stony expression, looked around. ‘I'll stay with you until the opening.’ Shit. I was a little disappointed, hoping to get to the church right in time. All that was left to do was smile politely and turn around to the entrance. I'm sure it's okay if I'm a little late. After all, it's a party. It's a pity, really, that the time is so short. Don’t worry, Alex. I consoled myself. At the last party it took you even less time to figure out what's what. The main thing is to get there, and there you'll socialize, get acquainted with someone, exchange contacts, and it's a done deal. If everything is as Etienne said and they're looking for volunteers, I just need to show my seriousness and arrange a new meeting. I'll come the next day! Any time! ‘Alex, they're letting in.’ My uncle's voice brought me back to reality. Having recovered my spirit, I looked for the front entrance — the upper corner of the door (the only thing that could be seen because of the crowd) opened. ‘See you later, then.’ My uncle nodded as he watched me start up the front steps. ‘Careful.’ I said when I was shoved for the third time. ‘Sorry.’ The lady behind me said, but when I turned around, I wasn’t looking at a stranger. I took the opportunity to glance over the heads, searching for the spot where I'd left my uncle. I swept my eyes over the faces and found no one. I stopped and took a closer look: uncle was gone. ‘I'm sorry, I'm sorry.’ I yelled, turning around and heading in the opposite direction. There were grunts and words of indignation, but I didn't care; I was concentrating on getting free of the human bodies that were shamelessly delaying my meeting with fate. I would like to say that I ran with all my might toward the church, but alas, the people flooded the streets hardly gave me a chance to quicken my pace. I found myself at the church two dozen minutes later — a terrible waste of time! Rounding a formidable body of the gothic monument, I flew up to the grate. It was closed. So were the doors behind the metal bars. The windows were black. The silence said the same thing. How could it be? With frustration, I yanked the bars toward me. No, it's probably just camouflaged so it can't be seen from the outside. The walls must be thick enough to keep out the noise. Especially if the music wasn't blaring like crazy and the street was noisy enough. There must be another entrance. Of course there was! I rushed around the church in a circle, peering intently into the shadows of the stone blackened by time and fire. I went around it twice. Nothing. Unable to think of anything better to do, I found the cherished ticket in my pocket and swiped it outside, illuminating it by my cell phone screen. Of course I hadn't got anything wrong. But what then? A stupid joke by a dorky Frenchman? ‘Who's hanging around here?’ Came from behind me, causing me to jump with surprise. ‘Etienne?’ ‘Who did you expect to see? I'm the one who gave you the address.’ He reminded me grudgingly. ‘If I'd known you didn't care enough to show up on time, I would never have done it.’ ‘I'm sorry. I'm very grateful. It's just the way things are, you know? Actually, I'm very punctual and serious. You'll see for yourself.’ A black eyebrow arched skeptically. ‘I don't think, I'll get the chance.’ He muttered. ‘What do you mean?’ Have I already failed? ‘Let's go.’ he ignored my question. ‘The other recruits were already inside. Some of them have been traipsing around the walls for an hour.’ He noted, apparently deciding to add another pound to the weight of guilt on my shoulders — I hated to let people down, even in trivial matters. We approached one of the recesses in the wall. A couple of steep steps, and there was a narrow, elongated door in front of us. It looked like it hadn't been used in years, but when Etienne touched the knob, it slid open with ease. ‘Please.’ He ushered me into the sparsely lit hallway. After a moment's hesitation, I stepped awkwardly into the church. Etienne closed the door tightly behind us and led me forward. The feeling of déjà vu didn't last long. Only the day before, we’d walked down the same long, dimly lit corridor. And yet something was strikingly different. The smell that permeated the casemates here was persistently musty and humid from the damp walls. I could barely make out the meager furnishings of the corridor, which consisted of huge wooden beams deeply embedded in the ceiling, and framed partitions that must have served as additional support. We had been walking for several minutes and had left behind several flights of stairs that led lower and lower. Once Etienne stopped at a door and fiddled with his keys. Big as from Pinocchio's fairy tale, black and unsightly, they clinked ominously in the semi-darkness. ‘How much farther do we have to go?’ I didn't want to sound like a whining child with no patience at all, but the images from horror movies and thrillers kept coming to mind. ‘We're almost there.’ Etienne said calmly, turning the key in the lock. ‘Are your knees shaking already, vampire seeker?’ He winked at me. The Frenchman's confidence and calmness cheered me up, and my fears subsided a little. Another steep staircase leading downward was waiting for us, but before I could get scared again, it ended with a new door, and my escort interrupted the silence for a while: ‘Are you ready to meet your destiny? ‘ The Frenchman said in a high-pitched voice, looking at me with an emphatically serious gaze, yet it was obvious that he was mocking me. ‘I’m always ready.’ I replied nonchalantly. ‘Then please.’ And the Frenchman opened the door for me, just as he had done at the party yesterday. At that moment the memory of yesterday, so reminiscent of this day, vanished. What I saw was a stark contrast to the low-ceilinged basement with its cheap paper Christmas decorations. I found myself in a hall of incredible size, more like the vaults of a cave. There were tiered chandeliers with electric candles hanging from the high ceilings. I'd seen them in palaces and museums back home. Soft satin light glided along the walls that were covered with a myriad of melted candles cascading like the growths in the cave. ‘Wow, I had no idea there was such a thing under the church!’ I couldn't find better words to express my delight. ‘Yeah, it's pretty here.’ ‘We should take a tour.’ ‘It's not easy to get in.’ My guide said meaningfully. So they don't take mere mortals here.  I said to myself, becoming more and more convinced that these Seekers were real. And the more I saw, the easier I found it to believe. As we made our way deeper into the hall, I got a good look at the crowd. ‘I should have told me it was a formal event.’ I hissed at Etienne, worried that my outfit was completely inappropriate for the occasion. The fancy evening gowns looked like the ones I'd seen on the oscar broadcasts. The girls — or should I say women — were wearing fantastic outfits of silk and lace. I had to watch carefully where I stepped in my stained, thawed snow-covered shoes to avoid stepping on another plume that slid down the marble in front of us. ‘Don't worry. They don't expect much from you here.’ Etienne said nonchalantly, stopping a passing waiter and taking a glass off the tray. ‘Here, drink it. It'll help you relax.’ It was easy for him to talk, considering that having thrown off his coat at the entrance, he remained in classic knee-length pants and a cream shirt with a funny lace collar remotely resembling a jabot. I suppose for the French, with their obsession with fashion and style, that was an acceptable choice, though I found his appearance rather pretentious for our age. Still, I would have agreed to wear anything slightly appropriate for the occasion instead of jeans and a yellow sweater. It was little consolation to be told that I wasn't expected to do much, so I hurried to take a sip of champagne. It was sugary sweet, different from anything I'd ever tasted at home, but I ignored it, trying to avoid another rag that rustled across the floor, millimeters from my dirty soles. After a couple of minutes, during which Etienne and I walked around the room, giving my escort a chance to say hello to the people he knew, I calmed down a little. The champagne might have been the cause, though it was unlikely to have worked so quickly. More likely, as I looked around, I realized that no one was really looking at me. I didn't manage to catch a single glance. Undoubtedly, the crowd that filled these walls was engrossed in their own kind, not paying the slightest attention to outsiders. They must have had many encounters with those wishing to join their ranks, and it was understandable that not all of the newcomers stayed for long. I didn't doubt that there was an aptitude test, or maybe some kind of exam. The more I looked around, noticing that the jewelry on the female kind was in the old-style frames and hardly resembled fashionable crystals, or that the china and glass on the tables near the walls was hardly modern thing, the stronger became my conviction that I’d really got into not the simplest society, and it was barely in the mood to let anyone in. So there had to be some kind of check, and unless I wanted to wave goodbye to what might be my only chance to find what was hidden, I had to be on my guard. ‘Come.’ Etienne called, leading me to the center of the room. I followed obediently, still looking around. I didn't think I'd be at a social event. If it weren't for the various designs of the attire, I would have easily believed that time had stood still here for two maybe three centuries at a row. Where else would I have seen women covering their smiles with a fan. It looked strange, and I would like to say unnatural, but the ease with which many of the weaker sex handled the accessories they’d got their hands on didn’t allow me to seriously think about faking it. How silly, in comparison, looked my classmates, who had barely learned to smoke and hurried to replace a cigarette with an electronic device. Or compare at least the way we used makeup. Crumbling mascara, different thicknesses of eyeliner, a strange choice of lipstick color that made the skin look pale and unhealthy. Everyone here knew how to use makeup, or everything was created by the skillful hands of professionals. I guess, once again returning to the level of the event, the ladies who found themselves here could well afford it. A new excitement touched my consciousness lightly. Would I, as a working-class woman, be a good match for them? Maybe I should ask Etienne about it. The sluggish thought wasn't sharp enough to make me rush to open my mouth. I only cast a glance at the broad back in front of me as the Frenchman turned around. ‘Sit here for now.’ He said and took me under his elbow, helping me to get a place. I suddenly found myself sitting on a curved bench. The outside of it jutted outward so that I was in full view of the center of the room. Just like the other persons, must have been my age, on my left and right sides. Turning around slightly, I found an empty space behind me, but a few meters away the exact same bench, densely occupied by the people whose tops I was observing at this very second, loosely closed the circle. We were sitting with our backs to each other on two arched benches, with a large gap between the ends of the benches, through which we could easily get into the middle. Tired of watching, I turned back around, facing the dancing couples. As before, no one was paying attention to me. To all of us. We just sat and looked around. I didn't want to sleep, but the heavy apathy and lack of any desire to move weighed heavily on my shoulders. It seemed that I had to prove myself and I didn't seem to have enough time. Overpowering myself, I bowed my head slightly, glancing at my watch. Five minutes past nine. I still had time, so I could happily stay still for a while longer. It's so nice to rest. Another languid thought arose. I don't remember how long I sat like that, staring at the others. A minute or an hour? It didn't matter. I don't remember ever having so much pleasure just sitting and staring. A beautiful couple in front of me swayed slowly in a dance. The woman in a ruby-colored dress with drops of transparent crystal on her neatly shaped lobes smiled languidly at her partner, covering her huge dark eyes with fluffy lashes. His lips were moving, probably showering his partner with compliments. Then they suddenly froze and she took a slight step to the side. It was harder to tear my gaze away than to keep following her, and I turned my head slightly, not wanting to find a new object to observe. Fortunately, the lady hadn't gone far away or disappeared into the crowd. On the contrary, she was heading towards us. She glanced at our faces with a complacent glance, as if she had found someone, and hurried along the bench.   I was curious as to who had attracted such a beautiful woman, and I was also curious to get a closer look at her. Making an incredible effort, I turned around a little more. The woman walked to the bench and entered through the vacant aisle begind. She approached one of the guys from the back — he was sitting not far from me, but from my seat I could only see his profile and an ear. The woman leaned very low, shielding the guy from my view, as if she were whispering something to him. The guy flinched, barely noticeable, as she leaned in, and then I saw him collapse slightly. After a minute or more, the woman straightened up and, setting right his shirt with a friendly gesture, floated away. Unbearable laziness prevented me from following her any further, and I stared at the forsaken fellow. He seemed a little pale — or had he been that way all along? There was a satisfied smile on his face, as far as I could see, as if he'd been told something important and now he didn't have to worry. Another man walked behind us, distracting me and causing me to shift my gaze. He approached the guy on the opposite pew. And just like the woman before him, bowed deeply, as if he too was about to tell him something in confidence. A few long moments, and he straightened up. His face flashed for only a second — the man was satisfied and smiled slightly. People kept coming up to us from time to time. And whispering something. I would have thought about it, but the thought was so reluctant that I just brushed it off like a pesky fly. It doesn't look like me. I thought, but as before, I hurried to put it out of my mind. I didn't have the energy or the will to think about it. It was easier — much easier — just to stare at nothing, occasionally catching a glimpse of a beautiful face. I don't know how long I sat like that, but a new face caught my eye. This time it was a man. Handsome. Older than me, but not by much. Blond. Nice features. He looked at me with interest, his eyes burning with the kind of fire that comes out in moments of excitement. He smiled at me and, setting his glass aside, began to approach me. I didn't look to see where he was going. He was probably going to go around the bench and tell me something, too. Or maybe he wasn't. I don't know if I was curious or so indifferent that I had almost forgotten about him. A helpless feeling of resignation to everything in the world stroked my back. A caressing hand brushed my hair off my shoulder, and I felt someone's breath just below my ear. ‘You smell nice.’ Came a pleasant, low voice. I didn't like the compliment. Too intimate. But I didn't protest. I didn't respond at all. It seemed like desire should have flared up, but it never did. The other man's breath grew hotter. Goosebumps rolled over my skin. ‘The girl wants to dance.’ Another voice said. I hadn't noticed that someone had appeared in front of me. The voice sounded distantly familiar. That's probably the only reason I lifted my head with a tremendous effort. His dark hair tucked back, his nose prominent, his lips stony; Vlad was staring down at me with an icy stare. The persistent feeling that I'd been wronged came out of nowhere. The warmth at my neck dissipated. I couldn't see the face of the man behind me; my attention was riveted on another gaze. Vlad held out his hand to me, inviting me to dance. A dance? I didn't even have the strength to turn around. How would I be able to dance? And yet, the urge to reach out, which had arisen somewhere in the back of my mind, was palpably strong. Like a snowball, it was gaining strength, crowding out all other thoughts and desires, fighting apathy, pushing back willlessness. As if lifting a hundred pound barbell, I slowly reached out and placed my hand in his open palm.