Dawn Berkoski

Following the advice of a man dressed in a cape, I headed further north into Transylvania. I was told that the city of Cluj-Napoca had amazing culture and history. I planned to explore it all, while hunting for vampires.

Corvinus, a name associated with vampire lore, has roots in this ancient city. It is the birthplace of Matthias Corvinus, the Hungarian king who imprisoned Vlad, the son of Dracul, in his castle. Of course, I searched for the 15th-century house where Matthias grew up. You can see the plaque on the wall. I also visited someplace far older, the Gothic church of St. Michael.

Guarding the entrance of the church from atop his horse, sits a magnificent statue of Matthias Corvinus. His generals surround him, gazing up with admiration, as I was. Vampire or not, Corvinus lives on in this city. I would find something special here. I felt it in my bones.

So, I wandered the narrow streets searching for more clues. That’s when I noticed a wooden table outside a shop with a book lying on top. I headed straight for it, delighted by my find.

Jules Verne?

How wonderfully strange. And next to the book, a sign for a museum. The Steampunk and Fantasy Museum! My inner child leapt for joy. Vampires were forgotten as I went inside and was plunged Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea.

The museum had everything, even a time machine! But I didn’t need to sit in the questionable contraption to explore the past. I was already surrounded by history in the beautiful city of Cluj-Napoca. I couldn’t be distracted from my quest any longer.

Before I continued on my search for the undead, I headed upstairs. There, in the corner of the room, at a little table covered by a cloth of stars, sat a fortune teller. A shiver of foreboding filled me as he raised his head and stared in my direction.

“Do you want me to read the cards for you?” he asked as he shuffled a tarot pack. “It’s free with your ticket.”

I was going to say no, perhaps I should have said no, but then I saw the stuffed Raven beside a map that read, “Land of Hope.”

“Sure,” I said. Besides, he knew the magic word: free. When in a fantasy museum, I thought as I walked over. I chose three cards as directed.

“Past, present, future,” he murmured. “What do you want to know?”

“Tell me about my love life.”

Spoiler: I’m gonna die alone.

But he did give me a clue as to where I should search for vampires next.

“They’re probably hiding someplace dark.” He stroked his beard, and the nearby candle flickered. I swear the stuffed Raven moved. “Someplace deep underground.”

I thought of Jules Verne and nodded. “The center of the Earth.”

So, I journeyed to the deepest and darkest place I could find nearby, the salt mines of Turda.

Dawn B~