Ashley was on a train heading to Transylvania. She wasn't the only passenger. The train was full of vampires traveling to the city for reasons she could only guess. Some sat quietly, reading books or looking out of the windows. Others talked in low voices, careful not to attract too much attention.
Ashley kept to herself. The fewer people she interacted with, the less stress and trouble she would have. As the first rays of sunlight appeared, Ashley closed her curtain and finally decided to take a look at the other passengers. Some of them were quietly chatting with each other. A young couple—young by vampire standards—were kissing each other, while an old gentleman was reading a book about the history of art.
She kept examining people around her and noticed something: not all of these passengers were vampires. Like the little kid whose mother was teaching him how to spell, or the old lady speaking to her pet wolf in a low but lovely voice. Neither of them seemed unusual to others. “So... werewolves, witches, vampires... they all live together in that city, huh? I thought they were natural enemies,” Ashley thought to herself.
But then, something happened she hadn't expected. A beautiful young woman sat down beside her. Her pale white skin made the faint veins beneath it visible, while her ruby-red eyes sparkled softly. The young woman glanced at Ashley and gave her a warm, friendly smile as she tied her long blonde hair into a ponytail.
“Long trip, huh?” the young woman was the first to speak.
“Long and tiring…” Ashley replied, returning the young woman's friendly smile.
But then she looked down, a hint of nervousness appearing on her face. The young woman noticed and cleared her throat as she leaned back.
“My name’s Selene. What’s yours?” she asked. Ashley hesitated for a second. Should I tell her my real name? Then she answered,
“Ashley. You can call me Ashley.”
“Ashley?” Selene repeated, sounding a little curious.
“Sorry... it's just not a common name among us.” For several minutes, neither of them said a word. Finally, the train attendant's voice echoed through the carriage.
“The train has arrived in Transylvania!” The train stopped, and the passengers went their separate ways from the station. Ashley stepped out of the train, holding her backpack tightly. The light of the stars and the street lamps illuminated the beautiful streets now that the sun had already set. She took a deep breath and blended into the crowd.
She didn't even know what—or who—she was looking for. She spent the entire night wandering through the streets, searching for anything that might lead her to the Blue Book. But as night slowly gave way to morning, she realized she needed to find a place to stay.
She made her way toward the first hotel she came across. The sign above the entrance read: “Boutique Hotel Von Graf.” She stepped inside the hall, which had old wooden walls and floors—these gave the place a certain aesthetic. The staircase looked like it had been taken straight out of a horror movie, but despite everything, the hotel made her feel both relaxed and curious.
A receptionist sat behind an old wooden desk. He looked up slowly as Ashley approached. His eyes lingered for a second on her red lenses, but he didn’t seem surprised. Just tired… like he had seen far stranger things.
“Room?” he asked in a calm voice. Ashley nodded slightly.
“Yes.” The man reached for a large leather-bound book and flipped through its pages. The sound of paper echoed softly in the quiet lobby.
“Name?” Ashley hesitated for a fraction of a second.
Then—
“Ashley.” He wrote it down without reacting.
“Top floor is empty. Room 17.” He slid a metal key across the desk.
Ashley picked it up. It was heavier than she expected. She walked toward the stairs.
Each step creaked under her weight, the sound disappearing into the old wooden walls of the hotel. The hallway upstairs was dimly lit, lined with old portraits whose eyes seemed to follow her as she passed. Room 17 stood at the very end.
Ashley stopped in front of the door. For a moment, she just stood there. Not scared. Just… aware…This place wasn’t temporary. This was where things would begin to change. She slowly unlocked the door.
The room was simple. A bed, a small table, heavy curtains, and an old window facing the dark city outside. No luxury. No warmth. But it felt like a place where things would happen. Ashley stepped inside, closed the door behind her, and placed her backpack on the floor.
For the first time that night, she exhaled fully. Then she looked at the window.
Outside, Transylvania was still awake. And somewhere inside this city… her new life was already starting to take shape.