Carpathian 11 - Dark Descent

on to her sanity? That she wasn't joking, and she belonged locked up somewhere on heavy medication?
    What are you doing? The voice came out of nowhere, unexpectedly as it always did, catching her by surprise. Masculine. Sometimes amused. Sometimes teasing. Always aluring. She tried not to hear it. Tried not to respond. But she could never help herself. She always talked to him. Laughed with him. Wanted him. In spite of the beauty of his voice, this time he sounded infinitely weary, strained, as if he were in pain.
    "Come on, I'm so close to the entrance I should be able to see it. Jubal," Joie appealed to her brother, "you know I'm right. I'm always right. There's a network of caves, most of them unexplored, and we're right on top of it." Joie was certain she'd already begun her descent into madness. She'd rather be with that voice in her head than with any real person in the world. She lived to hear that voice. She thought about him day and night, was consumed by him. Joie lifted her chin. I'm proving you don't exist so I can get over you. I have a list of would-be lovers a mile long, and Id like to have a little fun for a change.
    Now is not the time. Get out of here. It is dangerous.
    Of course you would say that. You don't want me to know you aren't real. Look, honey, it's been fun, but we have to break up. I can't have a mythical lover, even if you're an awesome lover in my dreams. A girl wants to have the real thing once in a while. It isn't like I can introduce you to my family. Hey, guys, this is my invisible pal, Traian. He has a name like a locomotive, but that's my fantastic imagination.
    Traian is a very old and respected name. Go away from here, Joie. I will not comment on your name, as it would be considered extremely rude.
    Comment away, Traian. You're not real and neither is this conversation, so insult me all you want.
    "You're always looking down when you should be looking up, Joie," Gabriele said with a sigh. "If you reach straight up, you might be able to catch a cloud. Have you even noticed the flowers? They're gorgeous. I wish I knew what they were caled. For once in your life, think of something besides caves." She waved her arms to encompass the countryside. "This is Dracula country. If you'd forget your obsession with caves, we might be able to explore the old castles for a change."
    The flowers that are pink with a yellow middle are called Tratina. The white daisies are Marguarete. I cannot remember offhand what the blue ones are called, but it will come to me.
    Are you eavesdropping on our conversation?
    You are thinking loudly. And denying my existence, which seems to be a habit of yours lately.
    Joie gave a little sniff. He was a figment of her imagination and he knew the names of the flowers. "Gabriele, the pink ones are Tratina, and the white daisies are Marguarete. I have no idea what the blue ones are caled."
    "You're a walking encyclopedia," Gabriele said, impressed.
    Jubal stared at the wild countryside surrounding them, on either side and below. There were many deep gorges and several caves. Green valeys and plateaus made the view breathtaking. Below them, in the heavier depressions, water had soaked the ground, causing peat bogs. There were vivid green beds of moss and numerous shalow ponds winding their way around stands of birch and pine. It was magical, and yet Jubal was uneasy. The air was crisp and cold and the sky seemed clear, yet a strange mist covered the surfaces above them. At times he thought something moved in the mist, something alive and terrifying.
    "Joie, give it up and let's get out of here," he said. "This place feels haunted to me. I don't like the vibes."
    Gabriele turned her head. "Realy?" She arched a winged brow at him. "That's strange, Jubal, I feel the same way. Like we shouldn't be here, or that we're intruding in some way. Do you suppose it's al the vampire stories we were listening to at the inn last night? Normaly, creepy stories are amusing, but I definitely feel apprehensive." She raised her voice. "What about you, Joie? Does this place give you the creeps?"
    "We came here to explore the caves," Joie said firmly. "We're always very respectful when we go spelunking, so there's no reason to be nervous. I know the opening is here; I'm so close to it." She walked carefuly around an outcropping of the mountain, stepping over her brother's outstretched legs without even glancing at him. "The entrance is here, I know it is," she muttered.
    The others feel