MYSTERY STORY

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Back home in Serbia, Dunja decided to have a rest after such an interesting travel through some European countries.She was alone in her room remembering  her travels.As she was standing in front of her library her eyes were captured by a title “ Dracula “ by Bram Stoker.As she was interested in history and adventures she grabbed that book from the shelf and started reading it.

During the night she dreamed that she was inside  Bran Castle talking to Dracula.

The next day Dunja asked her mother where that castle was.Her mother told her that the castle was in Romania.Dunja told her mother about the story she read and how fascinated she was and eager to see with her eyes the real story and the real places.

Said and done.She invited her friend Marko , took her GPS and they started  a new adventure.During the travel they began to read about the history of Bran Castle and the found out that , first , the castle was made of wood  but later it was destoyed.The current construction was made in 1377 by Sigysmund of Hungary, this time being made of stones.It is located at 30 km away from Brasov a medieval city and it was built on a steep ridge.They have travelled for hours to reach the destination Bran Castle also called “Dracula’s Castle “.

Approaching the Castle, they entered a forest.While they were following a narrow path  leading to the Castle, they saw two men hunting.Suddenly one of the men shouted to them:

“ Hey, stop here! What are you doing here on my lands ?”

Dunja answered him in a trembling voice: “ Good afternoon, Sir !”

She realized looking at his clothes that the man was Dracula in flesh and blood as he was in her novel.

“Are you spies, coming to explore my Castle and my lands?”

“Why are you in such a hurry ?” said Dracula.

“No, Sir, we aren’t spies.We are two European travellers who love history, peace, culture and friendship.We come from Serbia.We have read a book about you and your castle and we want to share our knowledge about your country,Romania with our friends when we go back home.”

“Then, let me introduce myself, my children: I am Vlad Tepes, the Prince of  Romania , of Wallachia “, said Dracula with a proud voice.

“I love my country and its people ! “

“I see.Your name is a mistery for us.Then why Dracula ?What does it mean ?” asked Dunja curiously.

“Do not be afraid,”said Vlad Tepes ( Dracula ).”

“Dracula , I have inherited it from my father.”

“And what about your surname – Tepes ?”

“Well Tepes comes from a nickname meaning Impaler .So my name is Vlad The Impaler.This is because I impale my enemies.”

“Who are your enemies, Sir?”asked Dunja with a great interest.

“Those who lie, who don’t like justice, who steal from other people are my enemies.These people will be impaled by me.I can’t stand seeing how people suffer because other people take advantage of their poor situation “

“Loving our country and nation, we love ourselves.This way makes me proud to be a son of this nation! “ explained Dracula .So I think , now you understand why people call be “ Vlad the Devil ( Dracula ) “.

“We understand, Sir.You are not a bad man, a bad ruler.We will spread around your good advice, “  replied Dunja and Marko.

“Ok , then follow me to the Castle ! “

It was a great honour for them to be invited to have dinner together with Vlad Dracula at his castle in the Carpathians.

Dunja has promised to return to Bran Castle with her family and her friends from Serbia, Greece, Italy, Turkey and Tunisia as the host made her feel like home.She was impressed by the Romanian hospitality.

She and Marko learned a proverb while visiting Romania : “ Come to Romania as a tourist and you will leave as a friend .”

So Dunja and Marko said farewell to Vlad Tepes and were ready to discover other interesting misteries.

 

 

Scoala Gimnaziala “Inv. Radu Ion “, Vadu Parului, Romania

Class 7 coordinated by teacher Emilia Alexe