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Pressed as close as I can be against Dean’s back, I soak in the warmth of his body as we barrel around the winding curves. The scent of fresh pine and fall air cools my lungs, and the engine rumbling between our legs vibrates up my spine. My senses come alive with each quarter mile we drive.
Dean has been tightlipped about our date tonight, only specifically mentioning the ride, but where we’re headed is still a mystery. To be honest, even if our destination is nowhere but the split road we’re on, I would be more than happy.
After a bit of trepidation, I fall in love with being on the back of his bike. How could I not? This is by far the best form of transportation in existence.
About a half hour into the drive, Dean drops his hand to the side, indicating a turnoff. I lift my head from where I’ve been cuddling against him to see a white sign with hand-painted lettering advertising a tour ahead.
A tour?
I have no idea where we are, having not paid attention to the road signs during the trip. The short drive leads to a small parking lot, and Dean pulls into an empty space near the front of a white building. The second he shuts off the engine, I ask, “What are we doing?”
He gestures for me to climb off the bike, warning me to hold on because my legs might be unsteady. I do as he says while he disembarks the Harley and gathers me into his arms. “Did you have fun?”
“So much! I loved it.” Not a lie, but my curiosity is boiling inside, and I can’t hold out any longer. “But where are we?”
“Well, my baby bat, I was trying to think of something unique for our date,” Daddy says slowly, dragging out his surprise. “After a few days of research, I stumbled across a mystery nestled in the Lafayette Municipal Cemetery…”
“Holy crap! Are you talking about the Transylvanian Vampire mystery?!” My eyes dart around the mostly empty parking lot as if the vampire himself could be nearby. “I’ve always wanted to see this place!”
“Yes and no,” he says, smirking at me. “I booked us a private tour of the entire grounds. The creepy headstone is only one stop along the way.”
Launching myself clear across the space between us, I jump in Dean’s arms. “This is the best date ever!” I press a lingering kiss to his lips. “How’d you know?”
“How did I know my baby bat would want to visit the gravesite of a presumed vampire?” Daddy teases. “I took a wild guess.”
“When does the tour start?” I ask, unable to contain my excitement. “What else will we see? Do you know anything about the guide? Is it just the cemetery, or are we going to see other haunted places?”
“Slow down, baby bat,” Daddy pulls on the back of my jacket before I can run too far. “Don’t go flying off without me. Our tour guide is waiting for us inside, and please feel free to pepper them with all your questions because I’m sure they will be far more knowledgeable than I am.”
Dean wraps his arm around my shoulder, leading us to the front of the white building. It looks unassuming from the outside—four boring walls, a couple of windows, and a black door. But when we walk inside, I see the coolest little setup.
Part museum, part gift shop, part home. The entire space looks like it rolled right off the set ofThe Addams Family. Even the Gothic chairs tucked around a dark marble table and the moose head hanging from the wall would fit right in. My fingers twitch at my sides, wanting to reach out and touch my way through everything. The only thing holding me back is Dean’s attempt to muffle a laugh in a cough and someone greeting us.
“Good evening, and welcome to Full Moon Tours. I’m Luna.” A tall woman wearing a black flowing robe steps into view.
“No way!” I whisper-shout.
“Seems serendipitous,” Daddy concurs.
“You must be Dean and Tanner,” she says. “I’m thrilled to have you join me this evening. As a reminder, this is a walking tour. If you’ll follow me, we will begin right at the heart of the cemetery, stopping along the way. Please feel free to ask any questions, as I’m thrilled to share the history of our ancestors.”
“Come on, Daddy, move faster.” I push on Dean’s back, not caring in the slightest if Luna can hear me or not.
The tour lasts around an hour. We respectfully walk through carefully outlined paths in the cemetery, stopping by the old crematorium—which Luna claims is haunted by the spirit of a wrongfully murdered witch. The last stop, tucked beneath a winding tree, is the grave of Theodore “Fodor” Glava.
Luna begins a detailed recounting of the man and the history of his final resting place. Surely, a combination of folklore and other campfire stories to tell in the dark. The man who died and was buried here was rumored to have the appearance of a vampire. The belief he was demonic was only further confirmed when the tree began growing from the center of his grave.
Luna spins a tale of Fodor drinking blood from his victims in the middle of the night, fear running rampant in the small town, and the longevity of the story for years following his supposed death.
I may or may not tuck myself a little closer to Dean as she tells us these stories, silently thanking Dean for scheduling the tour before sunset. I may love all things horror, but I still get scared now and then. It’s all part of the fun.
Luna allows us to take a few photos before we leave the gravesite, even offering to take one of Dean and me in front of the tree. A photo I immediately set as my phone wallpaper when she hands the phone back to me. Returning to the small building, Dean and I sift through the gift shop for a memento to take home.
I’m browsing the jar of moon rocks when Dean appears at my side. “I think I found the perfect souvenir.”
“Really? What did you find?”
He brings his hand from behind his back, showing me a stuffed baby vampire that looks eerily similar to how I imagine Mr. Glava would if he was a stuffed cartoon version of himself. Squealing, I make grabby hands for the baby vamp.
