# Hunter's Moon Ch. 01

Author: Lycandope
Tags: Adventure, Female, Halloween, Horror

My Halloween story!
A young Twilight fan convinces her friend to take a trip to visit Dracula's homeland during the week of a blood moon.
Part 1 of 2. Probably. Maybe 3 total.

"No," Heather said.&nbsp; "Abso-fucking-lutely not."

"Come on," Teri whined.&nbsp; "Just one week.&nbsp; That's all I'm saying.&nbsp; What else are you doing?&nbsp; Nothing, that's what."

"I'm trying to pay off my student loans!"&nbsp; Heather shouted.&nbsp; "You know, that thing we owe?&nbsp; The one you keep ignoring?&nbsp; They won't just forgive it, Teri.&nbsp; You know that, right? It just keeps getting worse and, eventually, they'll-"

"One week," Teri interrupted.&nbsp; "I won't ask for anything from you ever, ever again."

"Blood," Heather said.&nbsp; "Sharks.&nbsp; Water.&nbsp; Student loans.&nbsp; It's stupid, anyway.&nbsp; _Twilight_had nothing to do with Dracula.&nbsp; From what I can remember of the movies you made me sit through.&nbsp; They weren't even the same kind!&nbsp; Dracula didn't **_sparkle_** in sunlight; he burst into flames and died screaming!"

Several nearby customers turned curiously to the arguing women.&nbsp; Heather pulled her light jacket tighter against her chest.&nbsp; Despite the mid-day sun, the air was permeated with a bone chilling cold.&nbsp; Heather's pale cheeks burned bright red, nearly hiding the spray freckles along the bridge of her nose.

"He was still a vampire.&nbsp; And the first one!"&nbsp; Teri said.&nbsp; The young woman spoke with an enthusiastic fervor.&nbsp; She waved her hands while she argued and seemed constantly on the edge of an impish grin.&nbsp; "Look, I know you think it's dumb, but-"

"More than dumb, Teri."

"Four words," Teri said, a grin finally breaking out on her wide, open face.&nbsp; "Super Hunter's Blood Moon."

"Teri, you're killing me," Heather said, groaning while rubbing her temples.&nbsp; "I'm literally dying here.&nbsp; I can feel my brain cells screaming in agony while they suffocate from all the bullshit in the air.&nbsp; What in the world does-"

"And it's October!" Teri shouted, her hands raised triumphantly.&nbsp; "Seriously!&nbsp; Almost Halloween.&nbsp; Halloween, a Hunter's **_Blood_** Moon and Dracula!"

"I can't afford the trip, Teri," Heather sighed.&nbsp; She'd known the other woman since the 2nd grade.&nbsp; Arguing after a certain point was useless because the other woman would simply overrun her with her enthusiasm.&nbsp; It was both infuriating and annoying endearing.

Teri's eyes took on a thoughtful calculating look.&nbsp; Heather sipped her chai, enjoying the warmth and the sweetness of it.&nbsp; She tried not to worry about her friend; her mind often wandered down strange, incomprehensible paths.

"Two words, then," Teri said.&nbsp; She was looking down at the round glass table between them.&nbsp; She pushed at a few grains of spilled sugar while she spoke.

_Crap,_ Heather thought.&nbsp; _Her serious face.&nbsp; This is bad._

"I'll pay," Teri said.

"You can't," Heather replied immediately.&nbsp; "I basically do your financial planning for you.&nbsp; What little there is.&nbsp; I know what you can and can't afford.&nbsp; You can't afford a trip for two to Romania.&nbsp; I don't even know how you plan to afford one ticket."

"I can too.&nbsp; That's how much I want you to go, Heather," Teri pleaded.&nbsp; "Come on, we're getting older and who knows when we'll go on a trip like this again?&nbsp; Why'd you even get a passport if you're not going to use it?"

"Every adult should have a passport.&nbsp; Just in case.&nbsp; It's smart planning."

Teri sighed, sinking back in her wrought iron chair.&nbsp; "I'm going whether you go or not.&nbsp; What if I die on my trip because you're not there?&nbsp; What if a handsome, pale vampire swoops in and steals my virginity?"

Heather snorted.&nbsp; "Your what now?"

"Or my innocence!&nbsp; I would swoon in his arms while he made me his immortal lover, destined to cower in a coffin by day and feast on the blood of mere mortals by night and it'd be all your fault!"&nbsp; Teri held the back of her hand to her forehead while leaning back in her chair.

"Jesus, Teri," Heather said.&nbsp; "Breathe once in a while.&nbsp; Anyway, you'd be all over that.&nbsp; Don't lie."

"Not if I couldn't **_sparkle_** , Heather.&nbsp; I'd be a Dracula vampire.&nbsp; Not a Team Edward vampire.&nbsp; It's not the same thing **at all.**"

Heather flicked a small crumb to the nearby perpetual crowd of begging pigeons.&nbsp; She watched the ensuing fight while she considered.&nbsp; "You can really afford it?"

"Yes," Teri answered.&nbsp; "I can afford it.&nbsp; But, you pay for your own food."

"I can take care of my own meals," Heather said, distracted as she worked through the details of a possible trip.&nbsp; " **_If_** I was dumb enough to go."

* * *

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.&nbsp; The current weather on the ground in Cluj-Napoca is thirty-two degrees Celsius with clear skies and we'll be landing at Cluj International Airport in thirty minutes.&nbsp; Please ensure your tray tables are stowed and your chairs are in the upright position.&nbsp; Thank you for flying with Lufthansa."&nbsp; The speaker's voice was professional and soothing and was soon repeating the message in Romanian.

Heather gripped the arm rests while the plane descended.&nbsp; Her eyes were closed as she breathed deeply and evenly.&nbsp; Teri sat in the window seat next to her, staring at the landscape.&nbsp; She loved the mountains that seemed to ring the area.&nbsp; Farms and greenery stretched far off into the distance.

"You should look, Heather.&nbsp; We passed all of that bad weather a long time ago.&nbsp; Don't worry so much."

Heather turned her head minutely and opened a single eye briefly before groaning.&nbsp; "I see.&nbsp; Yes.&nbsp; Very pretty."

The plane touched down with barely a bump but Heather's knuckles turned white.&nbsp; Slowly, the young woman's muscles relaxed as the plane taxied to the gate.&nbsp; She flexed her hands over and over to work blood back into her fingers.

"Oh my god, oh my god, I'm so excited!"&nbsp; Teri bounced in her seat when the seat belt lines turned off.&nbsp; People stood to gather their luggage and stretch.&nbsp; "I didn't get to go on my senior trip in high school.&nbsp; They went to **_France_** and I couldn't go because we couldn't afford it.&nbsp; I was so mad but, seriously, this is way, way better."

"Yeah.&nbsp; Now I know I don't like airplanes.&nbsp; I'm going to burn my passport when I get home.&nbsp; I'm fine with cars.&nbsp; I don't need to go anywhere special.&nbsp; New York has everything I need.&nbsp; I'm good."

Teri made a face at her friend.&nbsp; "Don't be like that.&nbsp; We still have our mid-life crisis to go through.&nbsp; I expect in fifteen years we'll both take a month long trip to Europe when our husbands leave us for younger women."

"Teri," Heather said, trying vainly to fight off her friend's infectious happiness.&nbsp; "We're not married.&nbsp; I don't even have a boyfriend."

"Well, not yet," her friend agreed.&nbsp; "But, eventually!&nbsp; Unless, of course, we find our immortal beloveds and we swoon our way to an early engagement.&nbsp; We'll never get older so they **_can't_** leave us for younger women.&nbsp; Practice it with me.&nbsp; Swooooooon."

"Augh," Heather groaned.&nbsp; "You're insufferable.&nbsp; Help me with the bags so we can get off this death trap."

* * *

"I don't think he understood me," Teri said.

"Gee, you think?" Heather replied.&nbsp; "Let me see the dictionary.&nbsp; Holy hell, Teri.&nbsp; What're all these little accent things everywhere?&nbsp; We only had like, three in French."

"En Francais, you mean?" Teri asked.

"Shut it.&nbsp; You cheated your way through the classes.&nbsp; Um, crap.&nbsp; Umm... Vor... vorbiti engleza?"

A grizzled old man stood in front of a pristine dark yellow taxi.&nbsp; His beard was spotted with white and gray and his thin hair waved in the cool air.&nbsp; He had his arms crossed in front of his chest.&nbsp; He watched the two women as the spoke.&nbsp; When he answered Heather, he spoke slowly but firmly.&nbsp; Despite how carefully he spoke, neither women understood him.

"I thought you said people spoke English here?" Heather asked her friend.

"That's what the travel agent lady said.&nbsp; That the, what do they call them here?&nbsp; Cabbies?&nbsp; Taxi drivers?&nbsp; Whatever, that a lot of them spoke English."

"This is the third one, Teri.&nbsp; None of them speak English.&nbsp; I think your travel agent lied to you.&nbsp; Where's your map?"

"Somewhere in my backpack. I can find it.&nbsp; Probably."

"No, just... what's the name of the place again?"

Teri paused.&nbsp; "Hog-his?"

"Hoghiz?" the old man asked.&nbsp; Both women turned to him.

"Yes!" Teri said loudly, nodding her head.&nbsp; "Hog-his!"&nbsp; She pointed at the driver and made steering wheel motions with her hands.&nbsp; Heather covered her face in embarrassment.&nbsp;

The old man spoke again.&nbsp; He nodded and opened the trunk of his car.&nbsp;

"Hah!" Teri exclaimed.&nbsp; "Success!"

"Why didn't we just stay here for the night?&nbsp; Cluj-Napoca is huge and has tons of history.&nbsp; I'd rather explore and rest.&nbsp; We just got here, Teri."

"No," Teri said emphatically.&nbsp; "That was the deal.&nbsp; The Hunter's Moon is tonight and I'm not spending it in a big dumb city.&nbsp; You promised.&nbsp; Bran Castle first and then, on the way back, we'd spend a day at the city.&nbsp; I wanted an authentic village experience and there's a little one in Hog-his.&nbsp; So, we're going to stay at an inn and go out and watch the moon."

"But-"

"I'm paying.&nbsp; Don't forget.&nbsp; My rules."

Heather whistled low.&nbsp; "You'd fit right in around here, Madame Dictator."

Teri lifted her chin, gesturing to the taxi as the driver closed the drunk.&nbsp; "Open the door for me, peasant.&nbsp; I needs must ride this strange mechanical carriage."

"Come on, princess.&nbsp; It's getting colder.&nbsp; Let's go find this creepy village."

* * *

Heather slept fitfully in the back of the taxi.&nbsp; The inside was as spotless as the exterior and the driver played classical music quietly as he drove.&nbsp; Late afternoon turned into evening until, three and a half hours later, the driver pulled in front of a huge old building.&nbsp; Heather stirred and stretched and yawned before unbuckling her seatbelt.&nbsp;

"Merci!" Teri said as she got out of the car.

"He's not French, Teri."&nbsp; Heather opened her door and shivered in the sudden cold.&nbsp; The driver already had the trunk open and was unloading the bags.

"The dictionary says it's close.&nbsp; Wow.&nbsp; Wow, Heather.&nbsp; Look at this place.&nbsp; It's beautiful."&nbsp; The young woman hugged herself.&nbsp; Her eyes were wide as she turned in a slow circle.&nbsp; Old cobblestone roads mixed with dirt roads and a few paved paths.&nbsp; None of the buildings looked new and Teri clapped her hands in delight at several of the homes.&nbsp; "Heather!&nbsp; They have shutters on their windows.&nbsp; **_Shutters_** , Heather!&nbsp; They look like they came from a storybook."

Heather dug for her wallet.&nbsp; She'd left her purse at home and decided to keep a wallet well hidden in her backpack instead.&nbsp; She'd designated herself Keeper of the Coins due to Teri's spending habits.&nbsp; Smiling at the driver, she paid him for the roundtrip with a bit extra in thanks.&nbsp; The old man smiled, nodded and left.&nbsp; Heather watched him go.

A large, well-kept wooden sign hung above the door of the inn.&nbsp; Heather couldn't understand the words but an artistic bull's face filled nearly the entire sign.&nbsp;

"This is the place?" Heather asked.

"Yup!&nbsp; Just don't ask me to pronounce it.&nbsp; It's the only inn in the town.&nbsp; Coo-choo-lata.&nbsp; Something like that.&nbsp; The town, I mean."

"You are the very definition of an ignorant American tourist.&nbsp; Did you bring your guns and fireworks and bald eagles, too?"&nbsp; Heather asked, sighing as they made their way to the inn.&nbsp; Their wheeled suitcases squeaked behind them as they bounced on the cobblestones.

"I know **_where_** we're going. I just can't pronounce it.&nbsp; Ask me about vampires or Dracula or Bran Castle and I'll tell you all about it.&nbsp; My tongue doesn't work right for Romanian."

The inside of the inn was warm with a large fire roaring in the center of their great room.&nbsp; A few people looked up at the newcomers before returning to their meals.&nbsp; The smell of stew and fresh-cooked bread filled the room and Heather's belly rumbled.&nbsp; She hadn't wanted to chance eating on the plane.

A smiling, middle-aged woman stood from a nearby table.&nbsp; "Welcome!"

"You speak English?" Heather asked.

"Oh, yes.&nbsp; I was born just outside of London.&nbsp; My husband owns the place and I mostly run it.&nbsp; You're just in time for dinner.&nbsp; Teri and Heather, yes?"

"Thank god," Teri said.&nbsp; "It smells wonderful.&nbsp; I'm so hungry.&nbsp; I'm Teri, by the way."

"Oh, my manners!&nbsp; I'm Elena.&nbsp; We'll get your things stored in your room."&nbsp; Turning to the side, the older woman spoke in Romanian to a teenager.&nbsp; The young boy looked up from his phone, scowled and then grudgingly took the two women's suitcases.&nbsp; "Just leave your backpacks and Constantin will come back for them.&nbsp; Your room is at the very top of the stairs."

"Thank you," Heather said to the young boy.&nbsp; He grunted in reply.

"Sit, sit," Elena told the two women.&nbsp; "I'll bring your dinner.&nbsp; It's simple beef stew tonight.&nbsp; The bread is fresh and we get our butter from the farms.&nbsp; Well, the beef is, too.&nbsp; May I bring you some wine?"

"Yes, please," Heather answered.&nbsp; "For both of us."

Teri and Heather sat opposite each other, close to where Elena sat.&nbsp; The older woman brought out their food and then settled in next to them.

"Oh my god," Heather exclaimed.&nbsp; "This stew is amazing.&nbsp; Seriously."

Teri nodded emphatically, her mouth full, as she scooped up thick chunks of potatoes and carrots onto still warm bread.&nbsp;

"Thank you," Elena beamed.&nbsp; "My husband cooked tonight.&nbsp; What brings you two to Cuciulata?&nbsp; Your travel agency didn't give me much information.&nbsp; I don't mean to pry but we seldom get people passing through."

"We're going to Bran Castle," Teri answered.

"Ah, Dracula is it?&nbsp; Are you a fan of his, then?"

"Oh," Teri said, blushing slightly.&nbsp; "I... I like vampires.&nbsp; I'm not like, **crazy** , about them and I don't think they're real but it's all interesting and I thought it'd make a great excuse to go on an adventure.&nbsp; I dragged my friend along. "

"Well, the castle and surrounding area is beautiful so I can't say I blame you for visiting.&nbsp; And I've heard the tour guides are more than happy to elaborate on Vlad's bloody history.&nbsp; Thankfully, though, you'll find the area is quite a bit more calm these days.&nbsp; We hardly behead people anymore."&nbsp; Elena smiled as she spoke.&nbsp; The older woman had small wrinkles at the corner of her eyes and mouth and her smile came easily.

"We're actually planning on going out for a little hike this evening, too.&nbsp; Tonight is the blood moon and I kind of planned the whole trip around that.&nbsp; It makes it more spooky and mysterious."

Elena covered her mouth to hide her giggle.&nbsp; "Oh, goodness.&nbsp; Yes.&nbsp; Well, I'm sure you'll have a very good view.&nbsp; The evenings are wonderful in the country.&nbsp; That is certainly one thing I do not miss from the city.&nbsp; Even at my age I still like to sometimes sit under the stars in the summer."

"Are there any wild animals nearby?" Heather asked.&nbsp; "Bears?&nbsp; Wolves or other scary things?"

"Snakes!&nbsp; There's no snakes, right?" Teri added, shivering.

"Oh, no," Elena said, waving her hand.&nbsp; "Nothing for you to worry about unless you go far from civilization.&nbsp; Still, you're both quite smart to ask.&nbsp; Don't get lost, make your presence known and don't go too far and you'll be safe.&nbsp; I would be more worried about twisting your ankle, honestly."

"Well, thank god," Heather said.

"Although, I will add that you should go out sooner rather than later.&nbsp; Daylight is always better for safety and you'll be able to see more of this beautiful country.&nbsp; There are farms all around but, to the south is a wonderful area to visit.&nbsp; Forestry mixed with wide open unworked fields.&nbsp; This is an ancient land and archaeologists visit more than the tourists.&nbsp; Always finding new ruins, it seems."

Teri glanced over at Heather.&nbsp; The young woman's eyes were lit with the thrill of adventure.&nbsp; "I think that sounds perfect.&nbsp; Are you ready Heather?"

With a sigh, Heather pushed her empty bowl away.&nbsp; She quickly swallowed the last big gulp of her dark, red wine.&nbsp; "Not even a moment's rest?&nbsp; We just landed a few hours ago."

"Four words, Heather," Teri said.&nbsp; She nearly vibrated from excitement.&nbsp; "Super.&nbsp; Hunter's.&nbsp; Blood.&nbsp; Moon."

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/Vm28BYG1