Before You Read: Target Vocabulary
Essential words to understand this chapter easily.
superstitious
/ˌsuː.pəˈstɪʃ.əs/believing that certain actions or signs bring good or bad luck through magic
sacred
/ˈseɪ.krɪd/connected with religion, God, or treated with deep spiritual respect
fascination
/ˌfæs.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/a feeling of great interest or mysterious attraction that holds your attention
paralyze
/ˈpær.ə.laɪz/to make someone unable to move or take action
Chapter Text Preview
Dr. Van Helsing and I travelled day and night through the freezing mountains toward Castle Dracula. The road was rough and lonely, and the local people were very superstitious. Whenever they saw the red scar on my forehead, they crossed themselves to protect against the evil eye. Every evening, the Professor tried to hypnotise me to discover Dracula's location, but the connection grew weaker each day. I felt heavier and slept for long hours during the daytime, while Van Helsing watched me with growing anxiety. When we reached the foot of the castle, a bitter mountain wind began to howl....
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