I thought I had prepared myself before coming here. I had read all the articles, seen all the published pictures, read interviews with people who worked for and with the castle’s habitants. I had even researched Lord Reynard and his princes—his many adopted sons—and how long ago his ancestors had come from Europe and helped shape the United States’ history.

But nothing could have prepared me for the real Castle DuMoir. Nothing could have prepared me for how magical and beautiful and unreal this place looked and felt.

The village was straight out of the 1800s, but well-kept and with electric lamps illuminating the stone paved roads. The lake made a thick C around the village, and its banks were white sand, torches lit every few feet, and the water was pitch black shining under the moonlight. When it was time for the boat ride, the guests were divided into five smaller groups and each boarded a luxurious yacht. The winery was a maze of tall hedges that always ended in some kind of plaza—one had stone benches, another had a small fountain, another had a little chapel, and more.

All the while, they offered us food and drink—a taste of stew and ale at the tavern, champagne and hors d'oeuvres in one of the yachts, grapes and cheese and wine at the winery. I confess I tasted them all, but I never took more than half a bite. Meanwhile, Judy ate her part and mine and always asked for more.

I was careful when letting her finish my portions, watching out so Karl and his convoy weren’t looking at us. I didn’t think they saw it.

When our group was finally being guided from the village to the castle through a long, winding, uphill trail, Judy frowned at me. “Did you notice all the people we encountered here are too beautiful?” The light coming from the lamps flanking the path illuminated half her face.

“Yes,” I answered. There was no reason to lie.

“Seriously, it’s like that’s a requirement to work here. The job application probably says something like ‘you should be me more beautiful than a Greek god or goddess.’” She chuckled at her own joke. “That’s the only thing I can think of.”

“Maybe it’s luck,” I said. But it wasn’t luck, it was consequence. And it wasn’t only the people serving in the stores or restaurants. The many guards positioned throughout the estate were also as attractive as Karl and his assistants.

“I want to be lucky like this,” she whispered.

You have no idea what you’re talking about, I wanted to tell her, but I kept my mouth shut.

So far, I had been able to keep the anxiety at bay and almost enjoy this visit. Almost.

But, as we rounded the last curve of the path, and it opened to a big clearing, which was probably a beautiful colorful garden when in the sunlight, revealing the large stone castle with its turrets and balconies and its many illuminated windows, my heart skipped a beat.

The anxiety and nervousness slammed back into my chest. After a sharp inhale, my heartbeat sped up, and I rubbed my clammy palms on my jeans.

“It’s so pretty,” Judy said, her tone carrying a dreamy lilt. “So grand, so imposing.” She sighed as if being here, seeing this castle was the biggest achievement of her life. “I bet it’s even prettier during the day.”

Karl guided us down another stone path that cut through the garden and led us straight to the castle’s front entrance. Wide stone stairs led up to huge dark wooden doors—the doors alone were sixteen or seventeen feet tall.

Karl gestured for us to stop, then raced up the stairs and faced us with a big grin. “Ladies and gentlemen. We’ll now walk around some of the most beautiful rooms of the castle, like the foyer, the living room, the library, the dining room, and after changing into ball attire, we’ll finally stop at the ballroom, where we’ll meet the other groups and party before it all ends.” I sucked in a sharp breath. Weary, I glanced around, but everyone was still smiling, still laughing, still content about the visit. “Who knows? We might see Lord Reynard or a prince or two around the corridors.” Some women, including Judy, let out sounds like shrieks of anticipation. “Please, follow me.”

Like a good guide, Karl lead us through the castle, telling us interesting facts about each room, like where the materials used in the foyer’s construction came from, which books Lord Reynard treasured the most in the library, who was who in the many paintings spread along the hallway walls, the many illustrious guests that Lord Reynard, and his ancestors before him, entertained in the living room, which instruments Lord Reynard knew how to play in the music room, and which was Lord Reynard favorite food in the dining room—the table was covered with these rare dishes, and the guests were invited to try them out.

As usual, Judy ate all that crossed her path. I approached the table, pretended to pick on a bruschetta, but didn’t eat anything. By now, Judy and the guests were starting to trip over their own feet.

Then, finally, we were taken to large rooms with vanities, chairs, mirrors, and hangers filled with luscious gowns. A couple of young women met us at the doors and guided us to the vanities where they styled our hair and enhanced our makeup. The girl helping me chose a long, full black gown for me. When I reluctantly put it on, I felt awkward and out of place. I was used to fancy dresses and attire, but it didn’t seem like a good idea to be dressed like this here. I especially didn’t like the way the dress exposed my neck and shoulders—I shuddered.

Next, they took us back to a wide hallway, and at the end, I could see a grand, curved archway in smooth, white stone.

I barely had time to acknowledge the beauty of the ballroom as we crossed beneath the archway and stepped inside. Two young women, standing to the side of the archway, handed us champagne flutes.

“Please, join us in the center,” one of them said. “Lord Reynard will make an appearance soon.”

This was it. It was almost time. I inhaled sharply as the anxiety returned in full force.

“Wow,” Judy muttered, her huge eyes going from the young woman’s face, to the champagne in her hand, to the ballroom. She had a dark green gown on, which went well with her smooth skin and brown hair.

I tried shoving my nervousness to the back of my mind and live in the moment. Pretending I was fine, I took in the room.

Wow indeed.

Our shoes made a clink-clink sound on the shiny, black stone floor as we walked deeper into the large, white-walled ballroom. I looked around and felt like an ant in the imposing room. The ceiling was five stories high, and right in the center, it curved downward as if the weight of the three big, crystal chandeliers were too much to bear. Floor-to-ceiling windows took up most of south side of the room, and on the north side, a wide staircase led to a large balcony with a black, stone railing.

One hundred people in this ballroom was nothing, and we all huddled in the center, admiring the place.

“What now?” I heard a woman to my right ask the man beside her. Looking like a politician in his sleek tuxedo, the man simply shrugged.

I glanced around. Everyone was chatting, grinning, admiring the place, enjoying their fine clothes, and sipping their champagne.

“You won’t even drink that one?” Judy asked me, her eyes huge, as if I were absolutely crazy. “Give it to me, then.” She reached for my flute, but I pulled it back.

“No, let me keep this one.” This one … this one they would be watching closely.

She recoiled, hurt by my barked words. “Oh-kay.”

Karl appeared on the stairs. With graceful steps, he went up to the balcony then smiled down at us. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to the owner of this beautiful castle, Lord Reynard DuMoir.”

The doors at the back of the balcony opened and a tall man with long, blond hair emerged from the shadows to loom over us at the balcony railing. He wore an elegant black tux with black shirt and burgundy tie and a long, black cape. His smile was even more dazzling than Karl’s.

Ten young men trailed behind him, all dressed in the same black tux but with white shirts and without the dramatic cape. The men formed a half circle around the lord of the castle.

The princes.

The glass felt slippery in my damp hands. I let out a shuddering breath.

“Oh my God,” Judy whispered beside me. “They are all … gorgeous!”

Indeed, like everyone in this castle, the young princes were all handsome in a too-perfect-to-be-true way.

“Welcome to my little castle,” Lord Reynard said, his rough voice booming all around us. “I’m so glad you are here tonight. Please, let’s celebrate.” The two young women who had been distributing drinks at the doors a few moments ago, now walked among the princes and Lord Reynard, handing out silver flutes. I wondered if they really had champagne in those. Lord Reynard took a flute, then raised it high. “To a happy night.”

Ninety-nine guests smiled at him. Ninety-nine guests lifted their glasses to the lord of the castle. Ninety-nine guests downed their champagne in two, three gulps.

I quickly put the rim of the glass to my lips, but drank only a sip, then as if I had choked on the drink, I lowered my head and coughed, while not so subtly dumping the rest of my champagne on the floor.

Ninety-nine guests swayed and barely paid any attention as Lord Reynard and the princes discarded their flutes. Ninety-nine guests swayed and didn’t even noticed as the other six doors on the bottom floor of the ballroom opened and more incredibly beautiful people, mostly men, entered the room and lined the walls. Ninety-nine guests didn’t see as the doors were closed again and locked.

My heart thundered in my chest. The glass finally slipped from my trembling hand and shattered on the floor.

“My dear guests,” Lord Reynard said, knowing the guests couldn’t really make out his words anymore, not ninety-nine of them at least. Though I was sure his speech was part of the game. Part of the thrill. “I’m so, so glad you are here tonight. You see, we only have theses feasts twice a year so as not to attract unwanted attention. Do you know how much work is involved in making sure you all disappear and no one comes looking for you?” He took a step down the stairs. “If it was a little easier, we would do it more often, because, oh, we almost starve between these parties.” He took another step down. “Almost.”

Judy bumped into me and I nearly jumped out of my skin. I grabbed her arm and turned her to me. Her eyes were dazed and her mouth hung open, like she wanted to smile, but her jaw was too numb. Damn, I should have stopped her from drinking and eating.

“Judy,” I whispered her name, trying to shake her off the induced stupor.

Lord Reynard took another step down the stairs. “Now, my dear guests, I want to thank you for coming. For sending your request to visit us and for accepting our invitation.”

In rhythm with Lord Reynard, the people along the walls advanced forward a foot.

No, I shouldn’t have stopped Judy from drinking and eating. Maybe I should have drank and eaten a little more, then my heart wouldn’t be thumping so hard against my chest, it hurt.

I inhaled deeply, trying to slow my breathing, to calm my heart, before one of them noticed—heard—I wasn’t a freaking doll like the others.

Lord Reynard grinned, revealing his fangs. “Thank you, my guests, for your generous donation.” Like a cat, he leaped from the stairs. I watched, my heart skipping a beat, as he seemed to float in the air for two seconds, making a graceful arc above our heads. Then, he landed silently in the middle of the guests. I held in a gasp, but the other ninety-nine guests didn’t even blink. “Let’s feast!” he yelled.

The vampires attacked.