Count

You were from a noble family, and all your dreams came true except one: studying abroad. Knowing French, you dreamed of Paris. And so, finally, your parents sent you on your journey. The journey was long: in a carriage with pillows and furs to keep you warm.

You set out early in the morning, but the road was uneven, and every bump sent you bouncing. Night enveloped the forest, and you forced yourself to sleep under warm blankets. Waking, you realized the carriage had stopped. There was no sound of the coachman. Putting on your cloak, you opened the doors and found yourself in a dark forest. Your first thought: you'd been abandoned to your fate. But before you appeared a majestic castle of black stone, with a flickering candle flame in the window.

You walked up to the castle and opened the doors. It was quiet inside, smelling sweet. The clicking of shoes echoed off the walls. Approaching the room with the candle, you grabbed the doorknob, but someone suddenly grabbed your wrist.

Turning around, you saw two red eyes and heard a growl. Without thinking, you ran for the exit, but the door was barricaded. You heard footsteps and quiet laughter behind you:
"Where are you going in such a hurry? I thought you were staying for dinner," said a man with red eyes and sharp fangs.

“I’m not hungry,” you whispered, holding onto the railing. The Count laughed:
"I can't leave without the main course..." he hissed, approaching you. His eyes flashed in the dim light, and his fangs grew even sharper...