Book excerpt: The crisp autumn air carried a hint of decay as the private jet touched down in Transylvania. Amber leaves swirled across the tarmac, their rustling a whisper of warning unheeded by the group of wealthy teenagers disembarking, their faces aglow with anticipation. This was to be the trip of a lifetime, a chance to explore the legendary land of Dracula and host the ultimate Halloween bash. Among them was Ethan Blackwood, his cocky grin and designer clothes a stark contrast to the ancient landscape surrounding them. He ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, eyeing the crumbling castle in the distance with a mixture of excitement and disdain. "Can you believe this dump?" he sneered to his girlfriend, Mia Chen, who rolled her eyes in response. "It's not a dump, Ethan. It's history," she replied, her dark eyes sparkling with genuine enthusiasm. "That's Castle Dracula, the actual residence of Vlad the Impaler." Ethan's best friend, Jake Martinez, chimed in, slinging an arm around both of them. "Who cares about history? We're here to party!" The rest of their group gathered around – Olivia Thompson, the social media influencer already snapping selfies; twins Zoe and Chloe Anderson, giggling and whispering to each other; and finally, Alex Novak, the quiet outsider who had won this trip in a contest, looking overwhelmed by the extravagance surrounding him. As their luggage was loaded into waiting cars, Mia noticed Alex hanging back, his face pale. She approached him, concern etched on her features. "Hey, you okay?" Alex startled, then offered a weak smile. "Yeah, just... I've never been out of the country before. This is all a bit much." Mia's expression softened. "Don't worry, it'll be fun. Stick with me, okay?" As they made their way to the castle, none of them noticed the old woman watching from the shadows, her wrinkled face twisted in a grimace of foreboding. The drive to Castle Dracula was a winding journey through mist-shrouded forests and tiny villages that seemed frozen in time. As they approached their destination, the castle loomed before them, a jagged silhouette against the darkening sky. "Now this is what I'm talking about!" Ethan exclaimed, leaning out the window to get a better look. "We're gonna make this place rock!" The cars pulled up to the massive iron gates, which creaked open as if welcoming them to their doom. As they stepped out, a chill wind whipped through the courtyard, carrying with it the musty scent of age and decay. An elderly caretaker, his face a mass of wrinkles and his eyes clouded with cataracts, shuffled forward to greet them. "Welcome," he wheezed in heavily accented English. "I am Petru. I have prepared the castle as requested, but I must warn you – this is no place for merriment. The walls hold many dark secrets." Ethan scoffed, brushing past the old man. "Save the spooky stories, gramps. We've got a party to set up." As the group entered the castle, Alex hesitated, glancing back at Petru. The old man's milky eyes seemed to bore into him, and he shivered involuntarily before hurrying after the others. The interior of the castle was a maze of stone corridors and cavernous rooms. Despite Petru's preparations, a thick layer of dust coated every surface, and cobwebs clung to corners and chandeliers. The teenagers spread out, exploring their temporary domain with a mixture of awe and nervous excitement. Mia found herself drawn to the castle's extensive library, its shelves lined with ancient tomes. As she ran her fingers along the spines, she felt a spark of static electricity and jerked her hand back. For a moment, she could have sworn she saw a face peering at her from between the books – a pale, gaunt visage with eyes that glowed red in the dimness. She blinked, and it was gone. Meanwhile, Ethan and Jake had discovered the castle's wine cellar, its racks filled with bottles covered in a thick layer of dust and mold. "Jackpot!" Ethan crowed, grabbing a bottle and blowing off the dust. The label, barely legible, read "1462" – the year Vlad the Impaler had been born. "Dude, maybe we shouldn't," Jake said, suddenly uneasy. "That stuff's probably older than America."