Eternal Night

(II) Chapter 37: The Dragon & the Lion

Frankie hadn't been in this part of Budapest before. In fact, she wasn't even sure they were in the city anymore – but they must have been because they never passed beyond the border wall. And yet, it was as if they had been transported to another place entirely.

Vlad had volunteered to drive, explaining that where they needed to go was a bit out of the way and being in a car would attract far less attention than flying. He hadn't said much else since, only speaking again when he parked the car in front of an ornate iron gate, completely overrun with foliage.

The Dracul crest could barely be made out amongst the ivy, the sight of the familiar dragon insignia with its outstretched wings and curling tail sending a shiver of anticipation down Francesca's spine.

"We'll have to walk the rest of the way," he said, already getting out.

Wherever they were, it was clear that nature had laid claim to this place decades ago, the trees and shrubs all overgrown and wild, slowly devouring any sign of civilization. A thick fog – perhaps from a nearby offshoot of the Danube – obscured much of Frankie's vision as she tried to take in her surroundings.

With preternatural ease, Vlad leapt over the gate, not even attempting to open it. He turned back to look at her, a silent query in his eyes. Are you coming?

His irises were glowing faintly in the darkness, reflecting off a shaft of starlight that had broken through the clouds above to settle over half his face.

She said nothing as she approached the gate, mirroring his earlier movements as she took an inhuman leap up, vaulting over the iron spikes of the sealed entry, and landing on her feet with a feline grace. She didn't get to catch his reaction, his back already turned to her as he began to lead the way down the old gravel driveway, the thick canopy of trees overhead blocking out whatever light lingered in the sky before the clouds veiled them once more.

Their progress was silent, yet not wholly uncomfortable, although the tension settling over Frankie like a thick blanket had her hyper aware of every move he made ahead of her. She attempted to distract herself by taking in the scenery with her keen sense of sight. In the darkness, there was an otherworldly beauty about this place, the ancient trees with their branches tangled together above her, vines of ivy spread out like a wave of dark green, devouring everything in sight.

"When I had asked for a place that was quiet, I hadn't expected this," she called out, keeping her voice low in case there was anyone else unseen in the darkness.

"It's hard to find true privacy in the city," he admitted, glancing behind him briefly to make sure she was still following. "You know, ever since we returned from your uncle's, I've found myself missing the nature and artifice combination." He tilted his head back to look around. She caught a look of something serene in his countenance and it made her curious.

"How did you find this place?"

"I've known about it for a long while, but it's been many years since I've stepped foot on this property," he admitted. "We should be getting closer now."

Closer to what, she found herself wondering.

As if in answer to her question, they turned around a bend just a few seconds later, the fog thinning out as the trees cleared.

Standing perfectly situated in the heart of the woods was a large mansion. She could smell the river before she could see it, off in the distance, separating the house from a grand-looking cemetery that covered a neighboring hill. It was littered with tombstones, statues, and even a few mausoleums – the resting place of royalty. The forgotten dead. If Frankie had to hazard a guess, from what she could see just from here, this place hadn't been visited in decades, maybe even a century.