I stare up at the dark and decrepit-looking mansion nestled among the trees of Hoia-Baciu Forest. It’s four-story’s high, and aside from the numerous windows, the structure almost looks like it was carved from a giant rock. It’s built – or likely conjured – from stones of charcoal grey, with spires lining the edges of the roof as if screaming to the world not to touch or come near it. I’ve never looked at a home’s exterior and thought it resembled a living person, but everything about the home Azadou built for himself screams him: dark, scary, isolated and threatening all who come near.
I make my way up the winding stone steps, my heart lodging itself in my throat as I approach the front door. As I raise my fist to knock, I sense that addictive cold presence that stops my breath short as
