Page 7 of The Count

“The phone by your bed dials straight to John’s cell. If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask,” he offered.

“That will be perfect,” I smiled.

“Enjoy your rest, Jasmina. It’s been lovely meeting you.” He bowed his head.

“You as well.” I returned the gesture. He stepped out, turning on his heel before he walked down the hall. I watched his confident stride, feeling both insanely curious and mildly terrified of so grand a man.

I thought about his warning to stay in my rooms at night. I was too tired to really think about it then, though, so I turned around and really got a look at my bedchambers for the very first time.

The canopy bed was enormous, draped with beautiful deep purple cloth that spoke to the royalty that probably stayed in this room over the many years of its existence. I touched the velvet fabric, remarking over the other glorious pieces in the room. A Queen Anne dresser. A Victorian desk. So many pieces of history in one room.

The property was worth millions. I couldn’t even begin to price out the furnishings inside it.

I stripped down to my underwear and dug out a pair of pajamas from my bags. I dressed quickly before I slipped into the remarkably soft bed and closed my eyes.

I slept for several hours, waking up only when the sun was beginning its downward arc through the sky. Its light pierced through the window, shining like a beacon upon my face.

I peeked out the window and a bit of movement caught my eye. I turned my head, watching as the count climbed into a private car. It drove down the driveway and disappeared from sight.

* * *

That evening, I dined with John’s company. After that, he gave me a guided tour of the Alucard Estate, at least as much as we could cover in the waning hours of day, which ended up being only about half the place, maybe less. We walked through some of the gardens first while he pointed out several of the exotic flowers that the family had tended to over the years. He brought me through many of the smaller cottages on the property as well. They were lesser only in retrospect to the main castle and were bigger than several of the flats that I typically sold back in London.

He stayed at one of the cottages. We didn’t go inside his, but he did take me out back to his small bird sanctuary. He kept a flock of swallows in a massive custom-built cage, and he brought me inside to help him feed them their favorite treat—dried flies from his hand. He placed some in my palm and a female sparrow landed on my wrist, gently pecking at the bugs, and flying away soon after. It was really quite remarkable.

We walked through the castle last, exploring room after room of priceless historical artifacts interwoven with more modern contemporary elements. There were several locked doors and hallways that he didn’t take me down, which sparked my curiosity more than anything. I kept quiet though. I was simply a guest here.

When I returned to my chambers late that evening, there was a bottle of plum brandy waiting for me, along with a small tray of desserts. I picked at the food, still quite full of the large dinner I ate not long ago. I poured two fingers worth of brandy into a crystal glass, taking a small sip and enjoying the very unique, sweet flavor. It burned a little going down my throat and I choked a bit at first.

I glanced out the window into the gardens.

I peeked back at my door and then at the liquid inside my glass. I swirled it around for a few minutes before I put it aside and stood up. Outside, the sound of a lone wolf howl echoed somewhere in the distance. The wind roared noisily. There was another storm rolling in. I could see dark threatening clouds on the horizon. On a normal night, I might not have seen them, but the light from the full moon cast an ominous glow on the thick billowy surfaces.

The hair rose on my arms and a harsh shiver ripped down my spine. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, telling myself that it was simply a strange new place, and I would get used to it soon enough.

I had to do something. It was still early, and I wasn’t ready for bed yet. I wanted to see more of the castle. If he did decide to list this place, I needed to know all the ins and outs, not just the ones that he showed his guests.

The count had warned me that the grounds might be dangerous at night. He hadn’t exactly said the castle was off limits. He’d implied it, maybe, but what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.

I took another sip of brandy, pacing back and forth. The wolf howled outside, a deep sad song that resonated throughout the night.

I was going to do it.

I downed the rest of my drink, needing both the liquid courage and the warmth that it offered. I put the glass aside and slipped into a pair of gray yoga pants. I pulled a soft, loose-fitting black sweater over my head and slid my feet into a comfortable pair of ballet flats.

I ignored the increasingly noisy wind gusts roaring outside the window, opening the door quietly just as raindrops pelted against the glass.

The hallway was dark. The only light was from a few dispersed candles flickering in the distance, casting the long corridor in endless shadow. I knew this wing was comprised of mostly guest rooms. I stopped and peeked in several of them, enjoying how the designer had chosen a single color and embraced it as the theme in decorating each one. I didn’t dally, moving quickly along.

I was most interested in the main levels. I took the main staircase, stopping when I heard someone moving around. I peered through the stairwell, seeing that it was John striding through the foyer with a candle in his hand. Was he making rounds of the property? When did he sleep?

A soft chirp echoed in the large room, and I realized that he had one of his sparrows on his shoulder. He cooed to the small bird and slipped it a small treat.

He was a slightly odd man, but a kind one. Before I had retired to my chambers, he had made certain that I had everything I needed and told me to not hesitate to give him a call no matter what time it was. It was protective in a way, and I found that his manner brought me comfort.

When the coast was clear, I started making my way down to the main floor. The property was rumored to have dungeons and secret rooms and all sorts of odd things. I wanted to find some of them.

As I explored, I found an endless number of guest rooms, dining rooms, sitting rooms, bathrooms, all the typical things you would expect in a mansion of this magnitude. On the right side of the estate, there was a massive three-story library, chock full of books. On the first floor, there was an extravagant solid gold stand showcasing a single book.

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