To my family and to my best friend

` Our story begins in the year 1654, in a place very far away from where we are now. place full of untamed magic and legends. !egends that come to life only when people believe in them. "ut this one, this one was very much dead. There was a town located at the edge of #ar$ %ood, an angry forest filled with dreadful creatures of the night. %olfs, bears, spiders, and things whose souls no longer connected to the people as they once did. &o, this legend is different from all others, about a classical story of a haunted mansion. This little town was called "lac$wood, the streets were gray, the town itself held no color. Or the warmth of the sun, 'ust the dar$ shadows of old and crumbling buildings. &o flower that boomed lived very long, it was dar$ and depressing. (n a town li$e this you would e)pect dar$ and depressing people as well. ll wore the only color that ever traveled to "lac$wood, the color blac$. ll the people*s faces and s$in were pale, tired circles lay around all their eyes. "ut one+. youth around the age of 1,, her s$in a slight pale color. -in$ lightly brushed her chee$s, her lips pin$ and thin. .he always wore a long blac$ dress with a bow in the bac$ of her hair tying her long raven hair. /er eyes were as blue as the as the snow that fell in the winter. They glowed through the colorless scenes of "lac$wood. /er name was nna. /er mother was the only one who came out from the small town to live with nna*s father. nna was claimed as her mother*s growing legacy of beauty. %hich each passing year, the features of womanhood surfaced. nna lived with her father, 0arcus, and her grandmother, 1va. 1va had lived in the village her whole life2 she was the oldest woman in the village. .he lived longer than the normal person is e)pected, ,3 years. 1very .unday, the day everybody loc$ed their doors. (n fear when the tainted animals came and stal$ed whoever was roaming in the night. nd every .unday, nna listened to the story of 1va*s life. 45p top that hill, the one 'ust a few miles from "lac$wood. The one in which no has been to in years, the haunted mansion. "lac$wood 0anor,6 7randmother 1va then rambled off about how beautiful manor once loo$ed, how this town was the most beautiful in the entire world. The people were happy and the sun shone every day. 1va then told the story of when she was invited to the manor herself. 4( was indeed, when ( stepped into those doors. 0agic seemed to float carelessly in the air, ( had been invited there to meet the young man of the house. %hose father wished him to marry a woman from the town. lthough, ( promise you ( was thee most beautiful at the ball. (n till one women showed up.6 1va made a grunting gesture whenever she spo$e her name. 40arry "eth, that*s what her dreadful name was. .he was a witch ( tell you, (*ve tried convincing everybody that she was. "ut one believed me. That night of the ball he chooses her to become his bride. &ow mind you this, 0arry "eth was in fact a witch8 .he put him under some devilish spell, an unholy deed. ( then went home, all of my dreaming for the most handsome suitor waned.

4#ays later on the night of the wedding he invited everyone in the town. %hen ( went to the manor, that*s when it happened. ( was in the ballroom where the vowels were to be spo$en, his father. s$ me to fetch the young master to see what was ta$ing him his sweet time. The young master, oh dear, there goes my memory again+6 nna sat waiting for 1va to remember whatever she had to see. 4Oh yes, 9ictor, that what his name was. :es, well 9ictor*s room was in the tallest tower, in the %est %ing. ( climbed the stairs to fetch him, and then when ( got to the door ( stopped. There was tal$ing on the other side, ( loo$ed through to the $eyhole to see what was going on. Then ( saw them, 0arry "eth and 9ictor. /e loo$ed 'ust handsome in a groom*s outfit2 he was man of ;3 at that time ( believe. nyway, then the tal$ing turned to shouting. They were yelling at each other about something, but ( can*t remember what it was about. "ut then he turned his bac$ to pic$ up something, it was a gold ring. /e turned around and then it happened. .he stabbed him86 1va always made a stabbing motion with a fa$e dagger through her chest. 4 nd then, he fell bac$wards, and onto the bed. ( was frightened, and then ( ran down the tower and bac$ into the ballroom. ( screamed what happened, ( was losing my head. The father ran to his boy to see if it was true. /e ran with him to show what ( had seen was true. %hen we got to the tower, 0arry "eth was gone, poof8 nd only 9ictor lay on the bed, his eyes shut, he lay perfectly. !i$e a body in a coffin already, his father went to pull the dagger from him. "ut, the second he touched the handle, it burnt his hand8 &o one could touch him, so his father had no choice but to leave his son there.6 1va made a sad face before continuing. 4/is father soon wasted away in the manor, no longer wor$ing, and living. /e soon died, and manor fell in shambles. nd there 9ictor stayed unchanged by time, 9ictor*s father still tired though. /e went mad, trying to convince the ladies of "lac$wood to pull the dagger from 9ictor. 4That 9ictor was still alive, only one could pull the dagger from 9ictor. nd restore to land, to bring 9ictor bac$. That he would marry which ever women who could pull it, and that he must by the terms of the curse. .ome tired but failed, other*s feared to be cursed. nd that has how the sun never shines in "lac$wood anymore. nd that was 53 years ago2 nobody has seen 9ictor*s body since 9ictor*s father passed.6 1va after finishing her story, soon always fell asleep. nna had heard the stories many times. .ome times she wished to go to "lac$wood 0anor, and see what has become of 9ictor "lac$wood. nna sat at the table en'oying dinner with 7randmother 1va and her father. There was something she desperately wanted to as$ her father. nna placed her for$ on the table, then built up her courage and as$ed. 4<ather, ( was wondered2 tonight is the ll /allows 1ve party. nd many of my friends are going. ( was wonder if ( could as well=6 nna s>uirmed in her seat waiting for her father*s answer. 1va was placing some soup in her mouth when she said. 4( say you let her go, it*s about time the girl gotten out of the house for once. nd go hunting for suitors.6 0arcus, was about to protest with 1va, 0arcus was a >uiet man, not much to tal$ with. 4( don*t $now, you*re still so young nna,6 /e turned saying to nna, the 1va slammed her fist on the table. 4&o nna is going 0arcus, ( $now your always saying ?don*t get in my business when it comes to raising my child* "ut fact of the matter is nna is 1, a full grown adult, nna you didn*t even have to as$. nd her

beauty isn*t going to last forever, ( will promise you that. 0ay as well find a suitor in her prime while she still has full wor$ing, birthing hips.6 nna didn*t li$e it when 1va mentioned how birthing nna*s hips loo$ed. "ut 1va had a point, nna didn*t need 0arcus* permission for things anymore. 4<ine+6 0arcus said, then groaned as he got from the table. (t too$ >uite a toll on 0arcus, to learn that his little girl wasn*t so little anymore. 0arcus has always dreaded nna*s eighteenth birthday. nna got up at the same time and hugged 0arcus, and then she said she loved him and >uic$ly went up stairs. .he opened her bedroom door, then she 'umped slightly up and down. nna*s crush was going to be there tonight2 she couldn*t help but feel the butterflies flutter in her stomach. s she went through her doors loo$ing for her costume. fter giddy girl 'umping and silent screaming into her pillow, she finally found her costume. nna pulled it on over her corset2 it was a silver threaded dress, with fa$e diamonds stitched onto the dress. nna sat at her des$ for the remaining time, getting her long raven hair to curl. "ut to no avail, she then too$ the top half of her hair. Tying it with her blac$ bow, and braiding the strands of hair that flowed behind. nna then placed on blac$ ma$eup for her mas$, with was silver and blac$, and >uite simple. -ainting her lips a bright red, she was ready to leave. s she observed herself, she noticed how beautiful she really was, her curves finally fit with the dress. %earing long blac$ gloves, and thigh high boots under her dress. .he placed on her mother*s nec$lace, it was a silver loc$et. %hen you opened it, it was a picture of her mother and father. (t was a cho$y nec$lace so it didn*t fall down her corset. s nna chec$ed herself for the last time. .he heard a small tap on the window2 she wal$ed to the window and opened. (t was 7arret, nna*s crush, her best friend, (sbell, and a few of her minor friends. 4 re you coming=6 (sbell as$ed, nna shoo$ her head and said. 4:es8 (*ll be down in a minute86 %ith that she shut and latched the window shut, then ran down stairs. s she did she passed 0arcus and 1va. 1va caught her by the arm and said. 4%ell hold on a second and let us get a loo$ at you. Twirl around for me.6 nna smiled and turned around, 1va gasped and said. 4Oh, you loo$ 'ust li$e your dear mother, so beautiful2 ( don*t thin$ you*ll have any trouble finding a groom tonight. (sn*t that right 0arcus=6 1va as$ed loo$ing at 0arcus, 0arcus grumbled then said. 4:ou loo$ very beautiful nna, go and have fun, but not too much fun.6 That was the last thing he said before nna made her way out the door. 4"ye86 .he waved bac$ then 'oined her friends. (sbell and nna hugged, as a group of girls surrounded nna and tal$ed non@stop of how beautiful nna loo$ed. Then 7arret turned to her, nna felt herself blush, she curtseyed and he bowed. 4.hall we go=6 /e as$ed, holding the carriage door for her. .he stepped inside saying than$ you, then the ne)t thing she $new+ .he was dancing to violas and drums and flutes, as they played their e)citing tunes. nna 'igged and reeled with many men that night. .he never lost her footing, dancing craAily around the village tavern, loosing herself. .$ipping and laughter too$ place within the drun$en men*s shouts. 7arret had pulled nna away from the crowd2 nna too$ a small sip from wine as 7arret spo$e.

4!isten after this were going to "lac$wood 0anor8 :ou want to come=6 7arret as$ed in a high whisper, nna almost spit her wine out. 4:es8 B"ut, why=6 nna as$ed, 7arret then said. 4:ou*ll see when we get there.6 nna couldn*t refuse, 7arret was going to be there, she li$ed the feeling of brea$ing some rules, and she would finally see what had become of 9ictor "lac$wood. Only four of the friends, including, nna, 7arret, (sbell, and 1ri$. 1ri$ who was a new member who was founded by (sbell. Only two got in the carriage as 1ri$ and 7arret drove. nna and (sbell tal$ed e)citingly about their night. (sbell e)plained how she found 1ri$ alone, as$ed him to dance. Then she was golden, they danced through each song together. nna a little daAed from the one glass of wine, felt herself go nauseated. s the street went from cobblestone to dirt road. -retty soon it began to rain, and thunder too$ place of the night sounds. fter what felt li$e hours to nna, was only fifty minutes for everyone else. They stopped in front of a big iron gate. The gates loo$ed as if they had been beaten into many times. #ead veins of plants grew around the gates for so long. They had closed the gates shut, nna and (sbell loo$ed through the window in the carriage as 7arret and 1ri$. 0ade efforts in brea$ing the plants loose from the gate to force it to open. They opened the carriage with umbrellas, nna stepped out careful to not getting mud on her dress or shoes. "y now the road was once again worn cobblestone. .he wal$ed with 7arret through the gate, and threw the wal$ way. Then the grey manor came into view, 1va was right even in this state of waning away. (t was big and beautiful with old plants reaching up its walls. dead, but somewhat alive garden was around them. nd there it was the tallest tower, the %est %ing, where 9ictor "lac$wood forever slept. nna thought they were 'ust going to dare each other into going into the manor. "ut 7arret said. 4 lright, were going to go see it, were going to go see if the legends are true.6 nna began to tremble with e)citement, as 1ri$ pushed the wooden door into the %est %ing open. They wal$ed inside, to find a long, wooden spiral staircase going up. -igeons and other birds had made their homes in the window seals of the tower. nna pulled herself from 7arret, and then started up the stairs without a second thought. 4%ait nna, have you forgotten all about us86 (sbell said chasing after her, ta$ing 1ri$ by the hand, and of course 7arret not far behind. fter a few feet, nna slowed2 this really was the tallest tower. .he couldn*t imagine wal$ing up and down these all the time. 4.o what do you thin$ he*ll loo$ li$e=6 (sbell as$ed, 4( don*t $now, some say he always loo$ed freshly dead. Others say he turned to ash.6 1ri$ answered as they made their way up. 4 nna, you $now when we were $ids you always claimed you would meet 9ictor "lac$wood.6 (sbell said, giggling. 4#oes, somebody have a crush on 9ictor "lac$wood=6 (sbell said, seeing half of nna*s face, nna turned around and said. 4&o, ( don*t ever $now what he loo$s li$e.6 (sbell and 7arret giggled as they could see nna was lying. %hen they too$ their finally step they were on a wooden platform. %here a blac$ door stood, nna suddenly found herself scared, 7arret seeing his chance. .tepped forward and pushed open the door, nna felt her $nees go wea$. The room was circular, and in the middle facing the right hand side. %as a moth eaten purple canopy bed, where there was a dusty white sheet on the bed. 5nder it was someone no one has seen for years. (n the middle of the white, something long and big stuc$ out.

Cight where his chest would be, nna remembered from 1va*s story. /ow 9ictor "lac$wood was struc$ through the heart, nna didn*t feel so scared anymore. nna wal$ed forward with her friends ne)t to her, then nna curled her fingers around the edge of the sheet. .he closed her eyes, and then wiped off the sheet, as she heard it fall to the ground. .he heard nervous gasping come through the room. nna allowed her eyes to open and couldn*t believe what she saw. /e was the most handsome man she ever laid her eyes upon. /is hair, blac$ as a starless s$y, tall, slightly tan. /is hair gelled bac$ from so long ago, it stayed that way. ll of his hair pushed bac$ and out of his face. /igh chee$ bones, a thin and pointish nose. #imly colored lips and dar$ chee$s. /is chin aligned perfectly with his 'aw line to his ears. /is eyes were closed, nna then noticed the dagger. (t stuc$ out li$e a sore thumb2 the blade had strange writing written all over it. The handle was of a croo$ed boney hand. nna turned her attention bac$ to his face. .he too$ her hand and stro$ed the side of his face lightly. 4%hy don*t you go ahead and $iss him while you*re at it.6 (sbell commented, nna blushed and said. 4%hy don*t we see you $iss a dead man (sbell=6 nna as$ed, (sbell pointed and said. 4Only if you try and pull the blade out while $issin* him.6 nna thought she may as well2 it would be her first $iss. (sbell had already had her first $iss, but nna would have an interesting story she thought. To her children she would say, 9ictor "lac$wood was her first $iss. (t sounded so amaAing, but she wanted to see if (sbell would really do it. 4 lright but you have to $iss him and try and pull the blade out first.6 (sbell laughed and said. 4 lright, come here 9ictor.6 (sbell said ma$ing her way to the bed. nna stepped bac$ with 7arret and 1ri$. (sbell loo$ed down then loo$ed around and said. 40e=6 They group of three started to giggle. 4/ow, yes this do is real how could you tell=6 (sbell drun$enly said as she pretended 9ictor "lac$wood was really tal$ing to her. (sbell gasped playfully and said. 4&o, no, no, dear 9ictor "lac$wood, how romantic of you to propose marriage to me on a first date. %hen fine nna over here she is perfectly single.6 nna laughed loudly with the boys when (sbell finally got close and listened. 4Oh, nna he said, he doesn*t want any $iss, he wants your $iss. /e wants you to pull the blade, awa$en him8 nd become his bride86 (sbell saying standing and bowing. 4&ow wait a second (sbell, you had to $iss him first.6 (sbell laughed and said. 4"ut you*d be the first women to $iss him, and he*d be your first $iss. (t*s really romantic, come on nna.6 4:eah nna.6 7arret said po$ing her shoulder. 4<ine, move out my way.6 (sbell moved over, and let nna through. nna stood over his body2 she wrapped her fingers around the cold blade. 4Cemember you have to really try and pull the blade nna, or it wouldn*t wor$.6 nna giggled nervously, nna leaned in. .he closed her eyes, and felt his cold dead lips press against her*s. .he tugged on the blade, as hard as she could. Then her hand lifted with something in her hand, she opened her eyes in shoc$. .he loo$ed at the blood stained dagger2 she dropped it to the ground and loo$ed at 9ictor. .he was now sitting on the edge of the bed. .he loo$ed bac$ at 7arret, 1ri$, and (sbell. (sbell went red2 7arret*s 'aw was wide open. nd

1ri$ was too drun$ to care, (sbell then waited then said. 45m, see old myths, it*s not true. %ow, ( was worried he was going to come bac$ to life, steal you, and ma$e you his bride.6 (sbell said with a nervous laugh, nna then loo$ed down at him. 4Diss him, $iss him, $iss him86 7arret and (sbell started to chant, nna then couldn*t help herself, but be the center of their attention, and she didn*t want to disappoint him. nna leaned down again, and $issed his once more. "ut something was different, his lips weren*t cold anymore. (n fact they were warming up, she opened her eyes. .omething was very wrong. nna then in panic pulled bac$ brea$ing the $iss when, he decided to $iss bac$. /e nna sat up, and then eyes flashed open at her. They were bright red, then he frowned. /e deeply into nna and she found herself unable to move, his handsome gaAe peered into her. .he loo$ed with her eyes to see her friends. They were perfectly still2 he loo$ed bac$ where nna*s gaAe was headed. /is frown deepened, he tired to lift himself, but found it challenging. /e groaned as he gave up, nna found herself to move again. .he 'umped off the bed, but his hand caught her*s. nna then felt 7arret at her side trying to urge her out. 4 nna what are you doing8= Eome on86 /e hoarsely whispered nna couldn*t bring herself to loo$ away from the man in the bed. /is pleading loo$ towards nna, but his dangerous loo$ towards 7arret. nna then felt sorry for him, and then she as$ed herself. If you just woke up to remember the person you thought you loved just killed you. To soon find out your home was in ruins, and soon find out your family was dead. And it was fifty years later; youd be pretty scared and angry too. And to only have a stranger in your mitts you think you can trust, and soon have to marry . ust because she pulled the blade from your wounded heart. 47arret we have to help him.6 nna said loo$ing at 7arret, 7arret was shoc$ed and angry and said. 4:ou want us to help this thing8 &obody comes bac$ to life8 Only /e can do that, not witchcraft. /e*s a demon8 :ou can*t trust him86 nna loo$ed into 7arret*s eyes, and suddenly became very protective over 9ictor. 4/e*s not a thing8 /e*s 'ust a human who*s deathly scared86 nna said sternly loo$ing at 7arret, (sbell wal$ed over and said. 47arret*s right nna how do you $now we can trust the undead86 nna loo$ed at all of them and said. 4-lease8 !et this be a secret8 /e wouldn*t hurt anybody, loo$ at him8 /e can barely get out of bed86 nna said pointing at him, she turned bac$ to 9ictor to see slightly hurt in his eyes. 7arret bac$ed away with the drun$en 1ri$ by his side, then said. 4(f that*s the way you want it, (sbell. :ou can either come with us, or go with the demon bride8 nna, were going to $ill him, right here right now. 1ither you get out of my way, or you die with him8 ( don*t want to do this, come with me, and be my wife.6 t the proposal, she felt the pressure around her hand tighten. nna wal$ed closer bac$ to the bed, ta$ing his hand tighter. nna loo$ed at (sbell, then said. 47o, (sbell, ( don*t want you to get hurt, go.6 .he urged, (sbell didn*t want to abandon her friend, but she respected nna*s wishes. (sbell bac$ away leading 1ri$ out of the room, (sbell left the door wide open. (n case a >uic$ escape for nna was needed. 47arret please, 'ust stop. /e may not be a demon2 he may 'ust be trapped here, trapped in his own body. 7arret please, 'ust leave him be, he scared, hurt, and wea$.6 nna placed her body between 9ictor and 7arret, nna felt 9ictor s>ueeAe her arm. Then tried to pull her out of the way, nna turned around. /e loo$ed at her with desperation2 he didn*t want nna to get hurt.

nna loo$ed at him, and he got the message he understood what she had to do. /e too$ her hand and placed it on the left side of his hip. nna grasped the handle of a sword, and then 7arret spo$e again. 4<ine, nna ( loved you, but to protect the town, and your soul.6 .he heard 7arret slightly whimpering, then he charged for nna and 9ictor. nna pulled on the handle, the sword slid out. nna whipped around and pointed the tip at 7arret*s throat. /e stopped and held his hands up, nna wal$ed towards him and through the door. 47arret please, if you really loved me you*d wait for me. ( will marry you, if you promise to give me at least a mouth. Fust a mouth8 ( promise, ( will return and marry you.6 nna spit out the words, with regret filling the promise. 7arret loo$ed wide eyed, then said. 4<ine, a mouth, that*s it. (f you can prove he*s human, still, (*ll let the poor bastard live. 7ood@bye then nna6 %ith that 7arret peacefully wal$ed down the stairs and outside again. nna watched him e)it the tower from up above he let the sword fall in her hands. Then she turned and 'ogged bac$ in the room. .he saw 9ictor*s efforts into trying to move, but in no avail. nna leaned the sword against the wall. Then wal$ed over to the bed. 4/e*s gone2 you don*t have to get up.6 nna said lying him bac$ down on the bed. /e gripped nna*s arm, then tried to say something. "ut his voice was dry2 he couldn*t even ma$e out a word. Then he drew a shape on nna*s forearm with his finger. (t felt li$e a tear drop, then nna figured water, he needed water. nna got up and said. 4(*ll be right bac$, don*t go anywhere.6 Then ran down the stairs, she had to find a cup or something inside the manor. Then catch some rain water. nna fined an umbrella, ne)t to it, was the glass (sbell had been drin$ing out of earlier. nna pic$ed up the glass and held it out the door. The rain started to pour heavy enough to get the glass full in only a minute. nna >uic$ly wal$ed up the stairs, her blac$ gloves slightly soa$ed. /er red lipstic$ smeared a bit from $issing 9ictor. .he opened the door again, to find 9ictor groaning. nna wal$ed to the bed, and held the cup to him. /e almost shoot up, he too$ the cup from nna and inhaled the water down his throat. /e dran$ the whole thing before lying bac$ down. /e huffed, then managed a. 4Than$ you,6 nna nodded and went to the window, she busted it open. /eld the cup out again, and then brought it bac$ him. /e dran$ the whole thing down in one gulp. fter about a few minutes of doing this, he was spea$ able again. /is voice was no longer dry2 he was finally ready to spea$ to nna. nna sat on the bed with him, then curious she moved the bloodstained cloth. To her surprise, the dagger mar$ was no longer there, but left a scar. 4/ey, hey are you o$ay=6 nna as$ed, as he turned his head and groaned. .he placed her hand to cup his face, and then turned his face to loo$ at her. 4:es, it*s 'ust2 (*m not use to everything moving in my body again.6 nna wearily smiled, and said. 4(*m sorry about 7arret, he was 'ust scared.6 /e seemed to thin$ for a moment before understanding. 4(ts alright, ( would have done the same thing too.6 9ictor then put his elbow behind him and pushed himself up. /e sat up when he loo$ed at nna in the face2 she loo$ed bac$ at him for a moment. /e hugged on tightly to her for support, she got up. Then tired to help him out of the bed, then standing, she realiAed he was very tall. The top of her head was right below his chin, and then he spo$e as he stretched his legs out. 4( would imagine this is all very strange to you.6 nna nodded, then he said. 4%e haven*t been properly introduced, ( am 9ictor "lac$wood.6 /e bowed his head, unable to bow his

body. nna did a >uic$ curtsy before saying. 4 nna Caventail, it*s a pleasure to meet you. -roperly of course.6 %ith that he finally too$ some steps, getting use to his body again. /e wal$ed with lots of muscle weighting down on him2 he had wide shoulders and small waist. 9ictor turned around, his hands placed on his hips. Then he loo$ed at nna, wondering what was to be done ne)t. Then he remembered, he stood straight and said. 4%as it my father who sent you=6 nna then remembered, she folded her hands in front of her. 40r. "lac$wood, do you $now how long you*ve be asleep=6 9ictor thought for a moment, and then answered. 4 wee$ maybe.6 nna didn*t wish to be the bearer of bad news, but she said. 40r. "lac$wood, your father, he has passed on. (t has been fifty years since, you*ve been asleep.6 .he saw his face fill with despair2 he pulled on an old wooden chair. 9ictor sat bent over and barred his face in his hands. nna then remembered, there may be one person he $nows. 45m do you remember a woman by the name of 1va=6 9ictor loo$ed up and smiled, then he said. 4:es, she was >uite a funny woman. %hy do you as$=6 4"ecause (*m her granddaughter, she*s still alive. .he was the one who saw you stabbed. .he warned your father, but it was too late. .he herself tired everything to help you and your father. .he told me that story of what happened that night. 1very .unday, she told me you were $ind, but fierce, gentle, but frightening. ( use you listen to those stories as a little girl, and ( always wondered what had become of you. That is why ( came here tonight, to see if the stories of 9ictor "lac$wood were true. nd tonight, that legend has proven itself.6 nna said, 9ictor loo$ed at her, a weary smile formed on his lips. 4( would li$e to yet again meet 1va, one of these days.6 4( am sure she would love to meet you as well. "ut ( thin$ we both need to rest first.6 9ictor shot up from the chair and said. 4( have rested long enough, (*m sore not tired. "ut ( image you are, hopefully the manor hasn*t fallen in complete ruins. !et us find a room for you2 ( am sure we can find something. Or we can try and snea$ you bac$ into town with your family.6 9ictor offered, nna thought for a moment. 4&o, by the time we reach town it would be the afternoon of tomorrow. nd besides (*m sure 7arret would love to tell 1va and my father. That ( was here, no doubt we*ll being seeing my father one of this days. nd of course 1va, hec$, once she hears about this. .he*ll drive a horse here herself if she has too.6 nna said giggling imaging 1va on a small s$inny horse, with her white hair flying the wind. 4( imagine she would, she was a very independent woman. 9ery fun to be around.6 nna didn*t want to press the >uestion then why didnt you choose her instead of !arry "eth# "ut nna $ept it to herself2 nna noticed 9ictor no longer needed any help. s they made their way down the stairs. (t was >uiet both tired to bring up a conversation. "ut each sentence ended in aw$ward silence. %hen they reached the bottom of the tower, nna pulled out the umbrella. %hen she opened it, 9ictor gently too$ if from her. They wal$ed outside and to the front entrance of the manor. nna didn*t loo$ up in fear of the rain hitting her eyes. 9ictor found the door loc$ed and grumbled to him. Then he got close to the door, he whispered something so >uiet nna barely noticed. Then the door flung open, 9ictor wal$ed in with nna behind him. nna gaAed in amaAement, it must have been magic. <or inside the manor, matched nothing at all to the inside of the manor. The inside of the manor didn*t loo$ li$e it aged a day. "ut nna*s horror as she loo$ed away from the beautiful painting and many glass chandeliers hanging on the ceiling. .he loo$ed to the ground to see stone statues

of people. They all loo$ed as if they were staff, but they all wore horrified glances. .he loo$ed to 9ictor for an answer. /e shoo$ his head and frowned, and then he too$ her hand and said. 4Eome, we must go somewhere first. .omething is wrong, all these statues, they represent all of my staff.6 nna $new it2 some $ind of curse had befallen the manor. s they wal$ed past each statue they loo$ed as if they were running for the door, but none made it. 9ictor started with a fast wal$, urging to get to where ever he needed to get. 4#on*t let go of my hand, you may not be protected from the spell. (n till we find you something to bloc$ the curse from you.6 nna didn*t want to turn into stone, and forever be stuc$. nna gripped his hand tighter, she wasn*t going to let go of his hand for anything. Cushing down golden and crystal plated halls, where lights and chandlers of great beauty danced. nna swore, some of the paintings as they passed, waved to either 9ictor or her. They soon arrived to red and golden traced doors. %ith a big stone loc$ on it, 9ictor then whispered something again. The loc$ fell off, 9ictor turned the handle, and they were inside. (t was the largest liberty nna had ever seen in her entire life. The fire place, which somehow still burned, tall and bright. Tall statue of women playing interments were on the side frame of, one a harp, one a flute. 4 re they supposed to be there=6 nna as$ed, 9ictor didn*t let go of her hand and said. 4:es, don*t fret2 they are none of my staff. /old on a minute, ( thin$ ( remember where it++.<ound it86 (n a spilt minute, 9ictor pulled out a loc$et. ttach to a thin golden chain, 9ictor placed the long golden chain and loc$et around nna*s nec$. /e let go of her hand suddenly, he waited for something to happen but when nothing did, he rela)ed. 4 nna you must never ta$e that off while you are inside the manor, even within the s>uare gardens.6 nna understood and nodded2 she pulled her long hair from under the chain and as$ed. 4%hat*s going on, ( thought the manor would be ruins within=6 9ictor shoo$ his head and busied himself at a rather large des$, full of drawings, papers, mountains of boo$s. 9ictor stopped at one picture2 he pulled it from the des$ and gave it an intense loo$. nna went behind his shoulder, finally ta$ing off her mas$. .he loo$ed at it, and recogniAed it to be the dagger. Two sides of it, but only half drawn dagger. 9ictor loo$ed bac$ at her for a moment. /is face blan$ finally able to see nna*s face, he stared for a minute before nna spo$e. 4%hat*s that=6 9ictor shoo$ himself from nna and said. 4(t*s a picture of the dagger, written in a different language difficult to understand. Only those who were born with its tongue or practice spea$ing nothing but this language. Ean understand it conte)t, loo$s li$e my father was trying to translate the words on the dagger.6 nna thought for a minute then said. 4/e must have found something useful on there. 1va use to say after wee$s your father went mad. /e ran around town claiming that he had figured out a way to awa$en you. That the ?one* must pull the dagger from the cursed one*s chest. /e had almost every women and girl in town try. -ut on was able to, ( see now your father was not mad.6 9ictor thought for a moment, then he continued to loo$ around the papers. nna crossed her arms, then let him be. /e pulled out a rather large boo$ leather boo$. nna recogniAed the writing to be 1gyptian. 9ictor wal$ed over to the rather fluffy rug, and sat down. nna flowed and loo$ed over his shoulder. 4:ou read 1gyptian writing=6 nna as$ed over his shoulder, he turned his head. 4:es, come listen to this.6 /e said, his eyes went bac$ to trailing the page. nna too$ off her gloves, and headwear. .he sat on the floor ne)t to 9ictor, then she waited for him to say something.

4( thin$ my father was studying how to free me from the curse, because loo$ at this.6 /e placed the large boo$ down, where there seemed to be 1gyptian style art telling a story. t first it showed a man and women, who seemed to be holding each. Then 9ictor read aloud. 4%hen the &ile followed, and crops grew, the peaceful -haraoh u$e. !oo$ed for wife after his rule, at the time of his decision a women appeared. .he was beautiful, he loved her for all she was.6 nna and 9ictor turned their head to ne)t page, this time it was a picture of the women in a crouch position. 4The women, one moon had a nightmare. They nightmare so great it seemed to had ta$en over her soul. sic$ness of the mind grew within her, and soon she began to believe. /er beloved -haraoh had betrayed her.6 nna this time flipped the page, she wanted to hear the end of the story. The ne)t picture was of the man and women, who loo$ed li$e they were fighting each other. 4"ut the women*s mind grew so sic$, she no longer trusted her partner to be. On the day of the wedding, is when the sic$ness too$ its toll upon the women.6 nna loo$ed on the ne)t page to see the women stab the man with a dagger. The dagger loo$ed e)actly li$e the one in 9ictor*s room. The man seemed to fall bac$, with red flying from his chest. 4The women then $illed her lover that day. "ut yet he was not dead, the people called this curse, The .leeping #ead. %hen the pharaoh was curse, the land began to die, and so along with its people. The people feared the palace, for all of the pharaoh*s servants along with him. <or ever slept+6 nna turned the page, to see stone statues of people that ran along both pages. 4Their bodies turned to stone, waiting for the day their master would call upon them again.6 9ictor this time flipped the page this time, and on one page. different woman, with a light auras and halos were painted around her. 4"ut not all was dar$, soon a young woman came. Elaiming she would be the one to pull the blade from the pharaoh*s chest. /er beauty was beyond compare in all the land.6 On the ne)t page it revealed the beautiful women pulling the blade from the pharaoh. They flipped the page, to see+ &othing. The pages were ripped out, 9ictor seemed frustrated, and where was the rest of story= nna pic$ed up along the story it was an e)act event of what was happening to "lac$wood now. 9ictor got up suddenly, threw the boo$ on the chair and continued to go through his father*s papers. 4%hat does it mean8= %hy did 0arry "eth curse me, to be this thing8=6 /e shouted banging his fists on the table, nna 'umped in her own lap. nna slowly got up, she gingerly brushed herself off. nna didn*t understand what he meant by ?thing*= "ut nna didn*t want to get to close, so many things were happening for him all at once. nna wanted to comfort him, he hung his head. nd was still stuc$ in a stiff position. .he heard angry grow in his voice again, then he pounded his fists on the table. 0a$ing the flames of the fire place fly from the fire. nna fell bac$ as a reaction, he got up from the des$. /e paced angrily around the room, spea$ing to himself, as$ing himself >uestions. nd all the while, boo$s and wind in the room grew craAy. "oo$s threw themselves from the shelves, the wind whirled around nna. .he gripped her shoulder to try and protect herself from the cold breeAes, she didn*t want to upset him more. nna then soon realiAed the notation. /e was a wiAard, nna was told that wiAards and mages. 5sed emotions to fuel their magic.

nna needed to find a way to calm him down before the whole liberty came apart, with her buried in boo$s. nna wal$ed over to him, still clutching her shoulders. .he placed a sha$y hand on 9ictor*s shoulder. /e shot around, his eyes had changed color again, this time to blue. nna then said. 4(*m sorry this happened to you, (*m sorry your father had passed. ( $now what that*s li$e, to have a parent you dearly love 'ust pass li$e that. ( $now how frustrating that feels, and how achy it feels. %hen someone you thin$ you love stabs you in the bac$ for something you never did. :ou*re not alone, ( pulled the $nife, and ( don*t $now what happens in the story ne)t. "ut, we can find out, go through your father*s wor$ and find an answer to all of this.6 9ictor then let everything go, the boo$s returned to proper place. nd the wind stopped. nna loo$ed at him, he loo$ed as if he was about to cry. "ut no tears or wateriness came to his eyes. nna placed her arms, around his waist, the bended them to rub his shoulder blades. s she hugged onto him, he seemed to hold her bac$. They stayed li$e that, then they went to sit by the fire again. This time they both lay, nna hugged onto him. Trying to prevent an emotion brea$ down from happening again. 4%as it your mother who died=6 9ictor as$ed, nna*s memories returned to that fateful day. 4:es, she was very sic$ for a long time. .he got sic$ when ( was 15 years, and for about ; years she was in bed. <inally she was no longer with us one morning. ( had a nightmare one night2 my mother*s disease wasn*t contagious. %e $new because, she had a disease that made her hair fall out. nd her chest grew lumps, well anyway. ( went in to sit by her for awhile, while she slept. (t always helped me get bac$ to sleep, ( noticed she wasn*t breathing. ( panic and called for my father, he rushed in with 1va. The doctor who had lived with us to care for my mother was there too. They sent me out, and awhile later, my grandmother said the doctor pronounced her dead. .he*s been dead for a year now, the doctor said, she died 'ust before ( came in. .he had left me a note, saying something li$e. ?<ind yours now my love, goodbye, ( love you so much*.6 !istening to nna*s story seemed to calm down 9ictor a load. nna felt a small tear roll down her face. 9ictor noticed and wiped it away. 4( didn*t mean to upset you.6 /e said hugging her tighter, she shoo$ her head and said. 4&o, it 'ust, ( miss her, the way she use to tal$ to me. /old me, love on me, ( felt protected in her arms. "ut she*s gone now, ( must learn to mange without her now. Fust as you must to mange without your father.6 9ictor sat up and said. 4( do guess though ( must e)plain myself to you then.6 nna sat up and was ready to listen. 41)plain what=6 nna as$ed, now curious. 4%ell, for the episode you saw bac$ there, that were my powers acting up.6 nna nodded proceeding she was following. 4%ell on the dagger there were translation notes that described the terms of the curse. %ell first off, (*m still cursed. nd sadly so are you now it seems.6 nna loo$ed shoo$, she was cursed= .he loo$ed at him intensely for him to continue. 4On the notes, the curse is described as a bro$en heart spell. The spell only wor$s on a male, a male of power wealth, and more importantly magic. The catch of the spell is, when the male is stabbed by a female. .he gains his power, and everything he owns. The signs are the servants turning to stone and the sleep curse. nd the land the male was protecting begins to die, you see "lac$wood was once a beautiful place. 0y family use to heal and $eep the land safe, the duty was to be pasted to me. "ut since my recent nap, ( have not been able to do my 'ob. nyway, the curse can be bro$en the dagger describes a maid of

one, one of ( don*t $now. .he will pull the dagger free from the curse male, but as the male regains his power. The evil female, will do everything in her power to $ill the maiden. %hich is you, for as long as the maiden lives so does the male. They say if a witch is successful in $illing the maiden, the male will physically live, but his depression consumes him. <or the males are now connected to the maiden, therefore ( am connected to you. "ut that*s not all2 the maiden will heal the land once more. "ut at a cost+6 nna was at the edge, first she frees a sleeping mage, then she finds out a witch was now out to $ill her, and on top of that. nna and 9ictor are forever connected, and nna is supposed to heal the land. "ut at what cost. 4%hat cost=6 nna as$ed, 9ictor shoo$ his head. 4( don*t $now, the notes stop there the rest of the dagger is covered in my blood. nd even if we tried to wash it off we can*t, the blood will forever be there until the curse is bro$en.6 nna fell bac$ with a long sigh of frustration. 4Then why were the pages in the boo$ ripped out, why is fate deciding that we don*t find out whats the $ey to brea$ing the curse=86 .he said with slight anger and annoyance. 9ictor turned and loo$ed at her, then said. 4:es it is frustrating.6 thought then came to nna*s mind. 4%ho was 0arry "eth=6 9ictor sighed angrily, then loo$ed at the fire and said. 4.he use to be my best friend growing up. /er mother was an herb witch that lived in the village. s a young boy learning to be mage. 0y mother would bring me to the herb shop, our mothers had been friends before we were both born. %e grew up together learning magic, as teenagers that is where it all turned bad. .he got in trouble with many people in the village including your grandmother. s ( learned !ight magic, her father taught her #ar$ magic. "oth of our mothers died in a carriage accident, that*s what really turned 0arry "eth. fter that she disappeared for awhile, when she returned she was not the same 0arry ( once $new. .he wore all blac$ all the time, got in fights with all of the villagers. .he spo$e differently to me. On the night of the ball is when she returned, that night ( pic$ed her. ( didn*t want her to ever leave me again.6 4%hen ( finally had a chance to really spea$ to her, she was different. The way she tal$ed was very unlady li$e, trust me on that. .he spo$e vulgarly, did horrible and vulgar things. On the night of the wedding, before ( was suppose to wal$ down the ale with 0arry. .he came to my room, and this is what caught me. That we should 'ust slaughter everyone at the wedding, 'ust for $ic$s. nd that we should go to war with the mortals, that we should run the world together. %hen she purposed this, ( called the wedding off, (*m sure your grandmother heard our shouting. ( held my family*s ring to her face and told her my power would never be hers. ( turned to recollect myself for a moment, when ( turned around that*s when she $illed me. The pain was sharp, it grew cold and dar$. Then ( remember falling on the bed and going to sleep.6 nna got bac$ up and said. 4( wonder what could have happened to her to ma$e her li$e that so much.6 nna as$ed, 9ictor shrugged his shoulders. nna that moment wanted nothing more than to get out of the itchy dress. nna stood and said. 4Eome on, maybe we can find a way to awa$e your servants.6 9ictor then stood, his height over towering nna again. They wal$ed out, and loo$ed at the froAen people. 4 lright, how do we do this=6 nna as$ed, 9ictor shrugged his shoulders. /e wal$ed over and po$ed a man, with

no avail of anything. nna wal$ed over, feeling the shape of the man*s face. To nna, he had more of a rat face. %ith two buc$ teeth and only hair on the top of his head, with was swirled in a funny way. %hen nna stro$ed his face, still nothing happened. nna stepped bac$ ne)t to 9ictor, nna shrugged and said. 4%e*ll figure out something tomorrow.6 They wal$ed away to find a room for nna, as they wal$ed on she noticed herself grow very tired. .he struggled to $eep up with 9ictor*s fast pace and to $eep her eyes open. 9ictor opened a door, to reveal a guest room. (t was bright red and a fire burned, huge windows were on her left. nna loo$ed to see it had started snowing, the gentle fla$es made nna even more tired. 9ictor noticed her weariness and lead her to the bed. .he sat for a minute, then lay down. Ta$ing small pillows and buried away her head, she heard 9ictor giggle a moment. "efore she felt him pull a blan$et over her, nna buried herself deeper into the sheets. Then noticed that she was still wearing the itchy dress. lthough she was more tired than itchy. .he felt the cover lift again and two fingers press over her brow. (n that moment, the dress turned into a sil$ nightgown. nna smiled in comfort, then felt the cover move bac$ over her face. Eurling into a ball, she heard the door shut. Then fell into a dreamless sleep, as she moved in the sil$ blan$et canon. nna still in the sil$ cocoon the ne)t morning. <elt a finger po$e her side, being e)tremely tic$lish. nna burst out of the covers, she pic$ed up a pillow ready to hit 9ictor in the face. "ut instead, she saw a man before her. /e loo$ed deathly scared of pillow still raised above nna*s head. .he let it down, then e)amined him, she recogniAed him as the rat face man. /e was no longer stone, and he seemed >uite clean. nna then loo$ed at him again, and realiAed, he had whis$ers8 /e had a pair of small and round glasses at the tip of his nose. Then she also noticed, the place where human ears were suppose to be. %ere no longer there, instead grey round ears struc$ up on the top of his head. &ow he really did loo$ li$e a rat, nna felt her 'aw drop slightly. The man stood straight and said in a s>uea$ li$e voice. 4<orgive my lady, the master told me it was time for you to arise. nd to wa$e you, ( too$ the liberty myself to introduce myself. ( am lbert, head staff and trusted butler to his grace. (*m sure my features frightened you. 0ost humans cannot see what we really loo$ li$e. -lease forgive me for po$ing you awa$e, ( had no intention of scaring you.6 nna found her voice and said. 4Oh its >uite alright, (*m 'ust very tic$lish. (*m nna.6 .he said introducing herself to lbert. 4(t*s a pleasure to meet you !ady nna. .eeing as you will be a guest for a long while. The master had me, ta$e you some brea$fast as well. nd said, to come out and e)plore the rest of the manor when you felt li$e it. (*m sure /olly, is somewhere. .he will help you dress once you*re finished with brea$fast.6 lbert turned around and placed a silver tray on nna*s lap. (t was full of food, bacon, eggs, toast, and some things nna didn*t even $now what they were. "ut it all loo$ed so good, nna didn*t even care what it was. This was more food than most of the villagers ate in a wee$. 47ood day my lady, when you are ready 'ust call me. ( will give you a grand tour.6 %ith that he rat man e)ited the room, nna then noticed a long worm li$e tail whipping in the air. lbert closed the door behind him, then nna gorged herself.

nna lic$ed her lips ;3 minutes later, with the silver tray completely empty. nna sat up from the bed and stretched her arms and legs. Then she loo$ed out the windows, it was still snowing. nna then felt the nec$lace still on, she went to a mirror and opened the loc$et. .he gently brushed her mother*s picture. nna then loo$ed around for a wardrobe, she found a wavy dresser ne)t to the bed. nna wal$ed over to the dresser, and when she touched the $nob to open the middle drawer. .he heard yelp, nna 'umped bac$. Then the warobe itself, turned into the shape of a women. %ith doors running down the front of her figure. .he loo$ed li$e she had a long dress on, for nna saw no legs. "ut drawers going up and down her front. The dresser lady placed her hands on her hips. 4Eareful please, these things are very fragile.6 .he said, nna nodded. Then the women said. 4<orgive me, (*m /olly, (*m called that because that was the type of tree ( was carved out of.6 .he said her name with pride in her voice. nna then cleared her throat. 4(*m nna.6 /olly giggled and said. 4:es ( $now, here we should find you clothes before the master comes loo$ing for you and a nightgown.6 /olly pulled open one of her own doors what loo$ed li$e 'ust s$inny drawers turned out to be deep. <or /olly reached her whole arm into the drawer loo$ing for clothes. .he found nothing, the she grabbed a handle that was to her side. nd she opened herself, to reveal dresses on hoo$s. .he loo$ed at a green one and gasped saying. 4/ere, you*ll loo$ 'ust beautiful in this one86 /olding the dress the nna. (t was s$in tight dress, and it was long and green with warm green sleeves. (t had on light green stripe going down the middle, nna too$ it from /olly. Then twirled with the dress in her hand. .he stopped and placed the dress on the bed and loo$ed at it. 4(*ve never seen one dress besides me mother*s wedding dress. That was a different color other then blac$86 nna never got many chances to try on another colored dress. /olly laughed and said. 40y, "lac$wood really has gone to hell, hasn*t it=6 nna loo$ed at /olly and nodded in a yes. 4%ell go on2 try it on, andlet*s see how it loo$s.6 nna >uic$ly slipped off the night gown, which after it fell from her, turned bac$ into the costume. Then slipped on the green dress, /olly gave nna a pair of heels. Then nna sat in the mirror brushing her hair. %hen she was ready for the day, /olly urged her out the room. nna shut the door behind her, and wal$ed out to see no stone statues, in fact there was no one. nna then called lbert*s name, she heard crac$ing and when she loo$ed to the wall to her right. giant hold opened and lbert stepped out, as he did the hole closed. .eeing as though there was no hole there in the first place. The rat man greeted nna and said. 4Eome, the master 'ust told me to bring you to the study straight away, he seemed very e)cited about something.6 nna remembered the study, maybe 9ictor had discovered something. nna nodded and followed, as the two wal$ed towards the study. s they did nna watched to see what loo$ed li$e humans at first. Turned into either half furnture half human, or half animal. 0ost of the maids had turned into mice, some of the bellhops turned into birds. "ut others turned into giant candle holders, with five or si) golden arms. %here large candle stic$s burned bright as they lit all the lights in the manor.

lbert and nna came to the study door, lbert $noc$ed on the door there was no answer. lbert opened the door, and pea$ed his head in. .eeing nothing he opened the door wide open for nna. .he gracefully wal$ed in, then turned to lbert. 4%here is he=6 nna as$ed, lbert shoo$ his head in confusion. 4( don*t $now, ( shall go find him, you stay here. (*ll be right bac$, no pee$ing.6 lbert closed the door, nna noticed the study was cleaner. .he wal$ed over to the giant des$ to see many papers with writing nna didn*t understand. nna saw board scribbles, on the sides of the pages. Then many well drawn pictures as well, of gardens and the forest. nd among many other sceneries nna didn*t seem to recogniAe. nna decided while waiting she*d loo$ around. <ind many boo$s, she found one that pee$ed her desired interest. "ook of !agic for "eginners $olume %, nna sat in a chair and front of the fire. nd still she couldn*t read the writing on the page. nna then grew frustrated with no ability to read the boo$. s nna dearly wished to read it, she repeated to herself. s she flipped fumbled through the pages of the boo$. nna then loo$ed in amaAement, after the third time, the symbols on the page changed. To reveal 1nglish, the symbols flew around on the pages, turning into letters and numbers, which soon turned into words. The words and sentences made more sense, nna flipped bac$ to the first page in the boo$. 4.pell 16 (s what it was called, 4<ireball6. nna wondered if it was a good idea to do magic without 9ictor, but she decided against it. nna read the instructions, then she held her palm facing upward in front of her. Eoncentrating, repeating the words >uietly to herself, then she felt her hand go warm. .he opened her eyes to see a fireball floating above her hand, she twisted her hand around. To see the fireball crawl around her hand. nna placed the boo$ in her lap with her other hand. .he entertained herself by throwing the fireball bac$ and forth with her hands. Then nna loo$ed at the boo$, which said how to blow out the fire ball. The boo$ said to 'ust close her palm to ma$e a fist. nna did as the boo$ intruded, and the fireball was gone. nna con'ured it again, totally unaware of the tall man leaning on the side of the chair. Observing with amaAement, he placed his hand over her face. %aving his hand up and down over her face, truly nna could not see him, but she could hear him and feel the small force he was giving. nna felt a gust in her face, she held the fireball up, which 9ictor moved his hand away from 'ust in time. nna let the ball die, and focused on the ne)t spell. 4.hoc$6, 9ictor wondered how she was going to con'ure a spell li$e this. .he couldn*t even read the boo$, or could she= %hen lbert had found 9ictor in the garden turning his best to fi) the poor tended to garden. %hich was ta$ing a large amount of time and energy. lbert had shown up out of the breath, and e)plained in wonder how nna could see him. 4%ell of course she can see you lbert.6 lbert shoo$ his head and said. 4&o, see .11 me, she can see everyone in the manor, she $nows ( have rat ears and a tail8 .he has some $ind of magic, and sir, (*ve had >uite enough of witches.6 9ictor claimed nna was not a witch, and by what he was observing, he was right.

9ictor let the spell die, and tapped nna on the shoulder. nna slammed the boo$ closed and loo$ed bac$ at 9ictor. /oping not being in trouble for being caught red handed doing magic. 49ictor, you scared me, um, how much of that did you see=6 .he as$ed, 9ictor grinned and said. 4 ll of it.6 9ictor then whipped out a fireball of his own 'uggling it in his hands. Then let it the fireball die, nna pulled out another one and stood. 4( am doing this right, because yours is a different color=6 nna was right, 9ictor*s fireball was the color of green. nna*s was of regular organ fire colors. 4:es, it wouldn*t change color in till your ready. nyway having fun=6 nna nodded and swirled the fireball in her fingers. 4:es, (*m sorry if (*m not supposed to. ( wouldn*t have unless the boo$ didn*t change to 1nglish for me.6 9ictor pic$ed of the boo$ and loo$ed at it, it was the same as always. 4 re you sure=6 nna nodded and said. 4:es, the symbols 'ust changed to 1nglish for me. ( 'ust read it and well.6 .he let the fireball die. 9ictor focused on the boo$ for a moment before nna as$ed. 45m, you said you found something=6 9ictor loo$ed up and smile ran across his face. /e placed the boo$ down and went to the des$, then he turned and said. 4( found something they may help us.6 Then he read something written down on a piece of paper. 4(t*s a letter from my father, ( found in some of my favorite boo$s. #ear .on, ( e)pect now that if you are reading this, it means ( have pasted and you have awa$ened. ( give my greatest than$s to the young mistress who pulled the dagger from you. nyway, here are clearer terms of the curse. 0arry "eth, she had long left town after your death. ( e)pect according to the boo$s in the study, she is no less on her way bac$ to $ill the young mistress. "ut do not fret the both of you, for ( have placed a spell around the manor preventing 0arry "eth from entering the manor. ( don*t $now what will brea$ the curse but in this event, in till the curse is bro$en 0arry "eth and the demon that has clinged to her soul. %ill forever fight her way to $ill the young mistress. .he will use whatever she can find to hold it against you and the young girl. "ut enough of dar$, according to the writing on the dagger. The young girl will gain magic in her blood, she will be able to fight for herself if need be. "ut according to the dagger, if the mistress is slain, not only she dies, but the land around her as well.6 nna waited to see if 9ictor would continue, but he didn*t. 4That*s it=6 nna as$ed, 9ictor nodded his head and put the paper bac$ down. 4%ell... ( guess all we can do is wait in till we find a way to defeat her.6 nna said, 9ictor nodded in agreement. 9ictor was about to say something, but then loud banging too$ place. nna and 9ictor loo$ed at each other, could it be 0arry "eth. They ran out the study, and 'ogged to the entrance. %hen they were at the door, 9ictor held his hand out bloc$ing nna, a few feet from the door. /e loo$ed outside the peep hole, then a familiar and rather funny yelling too$ place. 49ictor "lac$wood, you let me see my granddaughter right now86 4(ts, 'ust 1va.6 /e said, he unloc$ed the door, and opened it. On the other side were 0arcus and 1va. 0arcus too$ one loo$ at nna and rushed in without second thought. nna was surprised, normally before entering a home. 0arcus would have as$ed $indly and properly, instead he rushed in right past 9ictor. /e hung on to nna then loo$ed at her and said. 4 nna were leaving right now, ( wouldn*t let you become a #emon "ride86 s 0arcus firmly grabbed nna*s hand and was rushing her out the door. 4%ait da@86 0arcus bac$ed into nna as 0arcus gaAed upon 9ictor. 9ictor, very unsure how to act.

rched over yelping, as 1va hit 9ictor in the head with a purse. 9ictor bac$ed away from the craAy old women with the purse. 4That*s for not returning my granddaughter home. Oh for goodness sa$e 0arcus, he*s not going to ma$e nna a #emon "ride. :ou*re letting the nonsense of 7arret going into your head. ( told you 9ictor is $ind. &ot a demon, remember ( was there when he was stabbed.6 9ictor then chec$ed his hair, then straightened. 45m, it*s finally good to ma$e your ac>uaintance 0r. Caventail. nna has told me so much about you.6 1va placed her hands on her hips and grunted, then 9ictor turned to her. 4( it is a very special and really deeping pleasure to see a long time friend. %elcome bac$ 1va 0orningwood.6 1va then smiled and said. 4(t*s good to see you too 9ictor, it*s been a long time.6 1va and 9ictor had departed, leaving 0arcus and nna. nna led 0arcus to the room where she was staying for awhile. nna and 0arcus en'oyed a game of chess. %hen 0arcus stopped and said. 4/oney bird, ( thin$ we need to.6 nna loo$ed up from the game and said. 4 bout what=6 .he as$ed, then 0arcus sighed heavily. 4 bout you pulling the blade, and you marrying two different men.6 nna then thought for a moment. Then she remembered, she was destined to marry 9ictor, and she promise 7arret. 4&ow, in the eyes the !ord, you made you vowels to 7arret. &ot 9ictor, nna ( don*t believe he*s such a nice boy.6 nna then grew angry she hated how people 'udged 9ictor before they even meet him. 4/e*s very $ind in the manner of spea$ing. /e was $ind to me, last night we were trying to figure out how to brea$ the curse, and father ( can*t leave. ( don*t thin$ you and 1va should either.6 0arcus loo$ed as if nna had been bewitched. 4%hat do you mean=6 /e as$ed, then nna said. 4<ather according to the dagger that 9ictor was stabbed with, 0arry "eth the one who $illed him. (s coming bac$, and she will do anything to $ill me. 1ven hold you and 1va against me.6 0arcus then said. 4 nna, ( don*t believe that, ( thin$ he*s tric$ing you into staying with him. /e is no longer of 7od, he is a demon, he is not longer pure, or human. lthough, saying this, ( do suggest you marry 7arret and leave 9ictor, now. "efore he gets to attached you, and before you*re too bewitched under this spell. The local priest said, once you marry another besides 9ictor. 9ictor will lose grip of you, and turn into his rightful age. nd dye, li$e every human. nd the priest said he will be punished to wonder the earth as his body rots for doing this to you.6 nna rose and said. 4( 0 &OT "1%(TE/1#888888 &# (< 0 CC:(&7 7 CC1T %(!! #O T/ T TO 9(ETOC, T/1& ( C T/1C #(1888 ( %O5!# 0 CC: 9(ETOC O91C 7 CC1T, (& < ET. That*s e)actly what (*m going to do, if 9ictor proposes and spea$s his vowels of promise to me. Then ( will marry him. "ut now, ( recline my vowel to 7arret, the wedding is off. &ow ( thin$ you should leave.6 nna said then she went out the door. %ith tears streaming down her face, how could 0arcus act that way= /e never believed in what the church said, he believed in science more than anything. %hy did all the sudden did that change= s nna ran down the hall to get away from her father. s he called after her, she bumped into somebody. .he loo$ed up into 9ictor*s gaAe. /is face turned soft as he saw nna, 1va ne)t to him. 4 nna what happened=6 /e said ta$ing her by the shoulders, nna then hugged onto him. /e hugged her bac$ trying to comfort her. 4%hat is troubling you, darling= %hat did you and father

argue about=6 nna was crying so hard she couldn*t spea$, everything was changing so fast. /er father had completely changed, he wasn*t himself. 9ictor held on her to her gently, nna wanted nothing more, but to have her protector near her. 0arcus caught up out of breath, then he saw 9ictor holding nna. 9ictor loo$ed up2 9ictor had a slit hinge of anger for 0arcus for ma$ing nna cry so hard. 40other, nna, we are leaving now.6 nna turned to him, then nna pulled 9ictor*s protective arms still around her to show her father. I have chosen, and there is nothing you can do about it. .he saw her father*s face grow red. 4:ou are coming nna, as your father, ( still own you, and you are marrying 7arret86 1va then screamed at 0arcus, and for the first time 0arcus said. 4.hut up women, you spea$ to a man li$e that again and ( sell you over to the "ritish .ervant .ociety86 1va stepped bac$, never had she ever 0arcus spea$ li$e that. 0arcus always believed women were 'ust as e>ual as men. nna then loo$ed at her father with such anger, and she could feel 9ictor*s arms tighten around her. 471T O5T886 nna shouted as she shot away from 9ictor and loo$ed at 0arcus straight in the eye. 4:ou are coming with me8 &# :O5 %(!! 0 CC: 7 CC1T8 &# :O5 %(!! &191C .-1 D TO 0 & !(D1 T/(. 191C 7 (&, :O5 /1 C 01886 %ith this 0arcus bac$ handed nna on her right chee$. This time 9ictor stepped in, he put himself in front of 0arcus. nd pic$ed up 0arcus by his over coat. 9ictor*s eyes turned a bright red as he said. 4&ever hit her again, father or not.6 /e turned and threw 0arcus at the door, 0arcus stopped in mid air 'ust before he hit the door. The door opened, 0arcus placed on the other side. nd the door slammed shut and loc$ed itself. Then 0arcus continued to bang on the door. 1va was crying in shoc$ of her son ever saying that to her. nna still on the floor shoc$ed by the hit, 9ictor wal$ed to her. /e bent down, and loo$ed at her. /e lifted her up into his arms, and she buried her face into his chest. .he hung onto him with dear life and cried her eyes out. 1va then wiped her eyes clean, then said. 49ictor if what you told me is true, then ( do believe that 0arry "eth is here. nd she posses my son. nna, that was not your father, he would never yell or hit you li$e that.6 Then thought of it, 1va maybe right. Then she needed to tell 9ictor what 0arcus said. 49ictor, 0arcus mentioned, or what it sounded li$e was. (f ( marry another, then the bond between us, is bro$en. nd the curse on me will be bro$en. "ut you will wonder aimless on the earth as a rotting corpse. nd ( promised ( wouldn*t let that happen to you, and ( am sorry for him. /e would never say that.6 9ictor held her closer to him, then said. 4(*m sure, 1va has told me about him, and so have you. /e sounds li$e a good man, and ( hope to properly meet with him. Once we defeat 0arry "eth and end the curse.6 1va then said. 49ictor, ( thin$ this old women needs to ta$e a wal$ for a moment.6 9ictor nodded and said. 4(*ll ta$e nna to her room.6 /e then wal$ed away with nna in his arms. nna too afaired of letting go of 9ictor. 9ictor, placed nna on the bed, and sat on the edge of the bed with her. nna sat up, then pulled the une)pecting 9ictor down with her. This unnormal for most people, no man or women, were ever in the same bed together unless married.

4 nna doesn*t this seem a bit improper=6 /e as$ed, as he was stiff. nna shoo$ her head and said. 4:es, but my father, ( have always had a man in my life. nd now, you*re all ( have 9ictor.6 9ictor seemed to wearily smile, and then nna spo$e again. 4/e and 7arret spo$e so cruelly of you, before they even got to $now you, and+6 nna then felt a rush of emotion swipe past her li$e a wave, she couldn*t control her hormones. 9ictor saw her distraught, he sat up with her and placed his hands on her hips. The source of her hormonal outbrea$, his hands glowed. s the magic calmed her, she too$ deeper breathes. %ithin seconds nna was laying on the bed totally e)usted from the emotional outbrea$. 9ictor lay with her in an attempt to put her in a sleeping spell. %hich he barely had to do considering she was so tired. 9ictor wrapped the sheets around nna then said. 4/olly, come out here please.6 /olly the little dresser turned into her half human form. 4:es master=6 4Tell me of the deciousion nna and her father were having.6 /olly sighed and said. 4( don*t $now if you*ll be happy or confused by this but. nna*s father suggested nna to marry 7arret, and that nna was under a spell. nna said this after her father claimed this. ?(< 0 CC:(&7 7 CC1T %(!! #O T/ T TO 9(ETOC, T/1& ( C T/1C #(1888 ( %O5!# 0 CC: 9(ETOC O91C 7 CC1T, (& < ET. That*s e)actly what (*m going to do, if 9ictor proposes and spea$s his vowels of promise to me. Then ( will marry him. "ut now, ( recline my vowel to 7arret, the wedding is off*6. /olly said this by opening her mouth and nna*s voice was portrayed. 9ictor had mi)ed feelings, then loo$ed bac$ at nna. true beauty she was, but 9ictor*s $ind lived for centuries. /is father had married a human woman long ago. /umans had no power in their blood, magic is what made them live for such a long time. 9ictor remembered his father, he remembered 9ictor*s father always loo$ing the age of ;4. Only when other mortals saw him, did he ma$e himself loo$ li$e a middle aged man. 9ictor*s father was G4; years old when 9ictor was stabbed. 9ictor then wondered, now that nna had magic in her blood. Eould it be possible that she would live a long youthful li$e himself.= 9ictor wal$ed over to her, she awo$e him. .he choose him, today, by hiding within 9ictor*s arms. .he chose him2 he was the only man she had now. /e felt a sense of responalbilty now, she was his to protect. 9ictor brushed her lips with the bac$ of his hand, these lips. Of which a $iss of life was given to him. nd he didn*t even as$ for it, she chose him over 7arret. .he ran to him for safety and for comfort, not her father. /e had only $nown her for two days, and feelings within him began to stir for her. /e $new it wasn*t the curse*s connection binding him to this. (t was true feeling, a feeling his only recogniAed when he saw 0arry "eth at the ball. "ut nna was something else, she was made for him. /e wal$ed to the opposite side of the bed, sat and brushed the long beautiful hair out of nna*s face. nna turned over laAily and wrapped her arms around 9ictor*s waist as if he was teddy bear. <eeling this deeply improper and perverted of him, for thin$ing of such thoughts he was having now. /e got up away >uic$ly and >uietly and thought it better to separate himself from the vulnerable nna. nd go wor$ more on the garden to distract himself.

n hour later, nna awo$e, she got up and wondered how she had fallen asleep. .he got out of bed in the green dress. .he brushed her hair >uic$ly and slipped on her shoes. .he wal$ed out of the room, it was only 13HG3. .he wal$ed around to see none of the wonderful half human half furniture or half human half animal people. %hen she called for lbert, not even he showed himself. The manor was dar$, the candles blown out. nd everything was eerily >uiet2 nna made her way to the study. "ut 9ictor was not there, the fireplace was even blown out. The windows gave a blue grey light as shadows of snowfla$es on the carpet fell. nna felt very cold, and when she blew out a big breath, her breath turned to fog. .he rubbed her shoulders and wondered what was going on. nna then repeated the <ireball spell and a fireball appeared. nna held it up as a light, she threw the fireball at the fire place. "ut it did not light, nna found a blan$et on the chair and sat on the shaggy carpet. s nna tried to warm herself of up, she heard the ruffling of papers. .he turned around >uic$ly to see papers flying from the des$. nna got up, and held the fireball over her head. Then she heard the clashing of boo$s falling to the ground behind her. .he turned around to see no one there, as nna turned around loo$ing for what was in the room with her. /er fireball une)pectly went out, the room became pitch blac$. nna*s heart beat over and over, harder and harder. .he felt herself almost go into panic, until two hands pushed her. &ot very hard but when she landed and opened her eyes. .he got up to see everything old, and tattered. The chair scratched up, all the papers and boo$s spread all over the place. The beautiful statue women who had once were beautiful and bright. &ow the fell apart, even the blan$et around nna had turned into a rag. .he dropped the rag and ran out of the study. %hen she did the ma'estic beauty she had once seen. Dnow the giant windows were boarded up and bro$en, the floors crac$s. The painting on the floor tore up and even most missing. nna then shouted 9ictor*s name, but he did not answer bac$. nna then thought, of the one place he may be. .he ran out the manor, and then noticed, she was bac$ in her costume. 1ven her mas$ was bac$ on her face, nna then felt around her nec$ for the loc$et 9ictor gave her. (t was not there, she then felt herself run through the halls and out of the doors. %hich were surprising open, and when she loo$ed outside everything was worst. %ell worst then "lac$wood was normally, then nna loo$ed towards the %est %ing. .he tried to open the door but found it boarded shut. nna then $ic$ed at the door, and $ic$ed again. %hen the door busted open, nna at the bottom shouted his name. /e still did not answer. nna then ran up the spiral staircase to afaired to stop herself. Then she got to the landing and turned the door handle, when she did. .he busted into the room, and she loo$ed around. /e still wasn*t here, nna felt herself begin to cry. Then she heard footsteps behind her, she turned around to see a person behind the door. /e stepped forward, and nna*s heart ached from his very site. (t was 9ictor.

"ut more corpse li$e, his clothes tattered in his groom outfit. /is face a blue pale and large dar$ circles formed around his eyes, and on one side of his face. %as what loo$ed li$e a spot of his rotting chee$, you could see his teeth behind strands of flesh. /e held out his hand to close the door, and nna realiAed that his hands were now bones. Then he loo$ed at her with sadness and anger all at the same time. 4%hy=6 /e simply as$ed 4%hy, what= 9ictor what happened to you==6 nna as$ed with worry and panic in her voice. 4%hy= %hy did you marry him nna. 0y sweet nna, why did you marry 7arret= :ou said you loved me, you said we*d be together for the rest of forever. %hy, why my love. %hy do you no longer love me=6 nna had completely no idea what he was tal$ing about. 4%hat= ( didn*t marry 7arret, 9ictor please tell me what is going on= %hy are you li$e this 9ictor, please answer my >uestion. ( don*t love 7arret ( never will and ( would never ever marry him.6 4Then why did you, nna be with me forever. ( love you, be with me forever.6 /e wal$ed closer to nna, she was frightened. /e got close to her face, then nna noticed something funny. .he couldn*t smell him2 in fact she couldn*t smell anything. s nna was about to come to the revolution of something. 9ictor $issed her, nna couldn*t help but $iss bac$ then he murmured under his breath. 4"e with me forever.6 Then nna felt an immoral pain in her stomach. .he bac$ed away from him to see he had stabbed her, with the very dagger she pulled from his heart. nna in a state of panic loo$ed bac$ at 9ictor. nd lonely tear came from his eye. Then she heard his voice in the distant calling her name. 1verything then was pitch blac$ again, and she was lying on a bed, and someone was sha$ing her. 4 nna, nna, nna wa$e up86 .he opened her eyes to see 9ictor, healthy and alive. .he flew in a sit up position and too$ in a large breath. /er body in cold sweat, then 9ictor shoo$ her awa$e again and then as$ed. 4 nna, are you alright= .pea$ to me86 nna then loo$ed at him and said. 4(*m alright.6 Then 9ictor too$ her within his arms and held her. 4( had thought 0arry really had gotten to you. :ou*d had been screaming in your sleep for over three hours.6 9ictor seemed for panic$y then nna did but she welcomed his touch. nna held onto him, then she too$ her face away from his chest to loo$ down. .he had a wet spot over her stomach2 she lifted her shirt, to see a small, but deep punched mar$ on her lower stomach. 4Oh my+6 nna then realiAed could that dream have been real= .he lay bac$ down realiAing her pain 9ictor placed his hand over nna*s in'ury and whispered chants. white light appeared from under his hand, and when he lifted it the wound was gone. Only soft pin$ flesh was left, then he pulled her shirt bac$ down. /e felt her forehead then compared it with his own. 4:ou*re not sic$, but how in the world did you get that stab mar$. #id you dream of someone $illing you=6 nna loo$ed at him with sad eyes, then she said. 4:es,6 as a >uiet whisper. 4%ho, or what did this person loo$ li$e=6 nna couldn*t bring herself to answer loudly, but then she said. 4+++.you did.6 /e seemed to hear her cause he shot up in shoc$. 4%hat=6 /e as$ed >uietly. 4:ou did, it was awful the manor was in ruins the whole place there wasn*t anybody. t first though everything was normal, then ( tried to find you. ( couldn*t find you anywhere in the manor. .o ( went to the %est %ing, when ( got in the room you weren*t there at first. Then ( turned

around and there you were. "ut you loo$ed li$e a corsep your hands were bones, all of the color had been drained from you. Then you as$ed why ( had married 7arret, and why ( left. Then you got close to me, you were whispering something. Then you $issed me, then stabbed me. "ut 9ictor no that would never happen.6 .he hung onto him, to $now he was real and would never $ill her. 9ictor*s hand then stro$ed her hair, she closed her eyes for a minute. .he opened them again to see herself in the mirror reflection, and undead 9ictor holding her. .he pushed him away and loo$ed at him with her own eyes. /e was alive and normal 9ictor. .he loo$ed bac$ and him and herself in the mirror. 4%hat, what did you see=6 /e as$ed her. 4Oh, 9ictor ( can*t tell what is a dream and what is real. Fust a minute, ( saw your corsep holding me.6 4Oh no.6 /e whispered, then nna loo$ed at him. 4%hat oh no=6 .he as$ed him, then he as$ed. 4#id you father leave anything while he was here. nything, even if it*s the smallest thing=6 4%ell, no, ( didn*t seem him set down anything.6 Then 9ictor got off the bed, and loo$ed under it. Then he spotted something, he pulled out a wood doll. -oorly made, it was 'ust stic$s tided together to loo$ li$e a doll. 4%hat is it=6 nna as$ed pulling the covers further over herself. 4(t*s a dream doll, parents normally use it on children to give them good dreams. Or bad ones to teach them a lesson, loo$s li$e 0arry "eth sent your father in here to drop this off. 0arry was spealiAed in the tric$s of the mind, and spirits of the undead of unfortunate futures. This doll will tell us a lot more, if the doll ma$es the flames burn blue then the spirit connected to the doll isn*t here. "ut if the fire turns green, then loo$s li$e the spirit in your dreams may be here with us.6 nna loo$ed terrified then she loo$ed at the doll and then at the fire. 4Throw it.6 .he said. 9ictor wal$ed to the fire, and threw the doll in, he bac$ up. Then the fire burst, and green was the color that too$ place of the beautiful organ flames. The spirit, then was in the room with nna and 9ictor. 4%hat $ind of spirit is it, it can*t be you=6 nna as$ed as 9ictor sat at the des$ reading through a rather thic$ boo$. 4(t sounds li$e, an Ombre (nconnue, meaning nameless shadow in <rench. These souls are the type that have died before born. They are left blan$ souls willing to ta$e the form of whomever they consume. 0arry "eth was a necromancer. .he must have called upon and when she did. .he gave it memoires, and identity and pain. This nameless shadow truly thin$s it me, but with different memories. (f what you said is true then what ( can thin$ is that. (s in his mind, your married to 7arret, he*s a depressed corpse. nd wants nothing more but to be reunited with you. nd he thin$s the only way to do that is to $ill you. nd ( can tell you this spirit will not li$e it if ( hang around. /e*ll must li$ely try to $ill me as well, $nowing 0arry "eth. .he*ll do one of two things, $ill me, or put me bac$ under the spell.6 nna listening to this felt better about what she was dealing with. 4(s there any way to banish the spirit=6 nna as$ed. 4(f we do we*ll 'ust piss him off. .pirits li$e this are neither dead nor alive. .pirits li$e this have to either accomplish their goal, which in our case is not going to happen. Or we can do what is called a .ealing, we ta$e something prior to his memories and seal him within it, li$e a bo) or something. nd maybe something you*ve had for a long time, considering he*s after you.6 9ictor said closing the boo$, and as he did dust flew out of the pages. Eoughing, he set the boo$ down. 4%hat would it have to be=6 nna as$ed, he then said. 4 nything that can open or close with lots of emotion in it. %ith the same e>uality of his pain.6 nna then thought, of her loc$et, she placed her

fingers on it. (t maybe her only chance, she was sure her mother didn*t mind. (f it was to save her life, although nna didn*t want to give up one of things her mother left to her. (t was what they had to wor$ with. 4%hat about this=6 nna as$ed, and then she too$ of the cho$y nec$lace. nd handed it to 9ictor, he opened and as$ed. 4:es, this will wor$, is this your mother=6 /e as$ed loo$ing at the picture of the young women. 4:es, when she was my age, is when she also meet my father.6 9ictor closed the loc$et then said. 4%e*ll have to gain more information about the spirit though. The .ealing can ta$e days even wee$s. nd this spirit which is possible listening to us right now will do everything in his power to ma$e sure the .ealing doesn*t happen and that he $ills you in the process. /e*ll even try to posse you in some way. /e*ll try to get you alone in every way he can, and isolate you. (*ve already placed a spell around 1va when you were sleeping. .he*ll be fine, but we can*t tell her the more people that don*t $now the better.6 nna nodded in agreement, then she heard a voice calling her in the distance. 4/e*s calling for me.6 nna said, 9ictor was up and in front of nna. nna stood up and said. 4%e should go somewhere he can*t.6 .he grabbed his arm, and was leading 9ictor out the door. Then they both turned toward the fire place as they saw embers ruffle in the air, as if a roc$ was thrown in the fire. nna was at his side now, she wal$ed forward to see nothing. .he turned around to face 9ictor while saying. 4%ell doesn*t loo$ li$e++6 .he turned around and gasped the undead 9ictor was right behind the real 9ictor. 49(ETOC "1/(&# :O586 .he shouted, 9ictor turned around and when he did. Eorpse 9ictor pushed him hard enough to send him flying through the air and into the fireplace. %hen he clashed the shelf of fireplace caved in on him, causing the fire to go out. nd burying 9ictor within its rubble. 4&O86 nna yelled. .he couldn*t believe it, 9ictor, was dead. nna turned around in a rage and shouted. 4:O5 C1 &OT 9(ETOC8 :O5 D(!!1# /(086 "ut when she said the spirit flashed away in blac$ smo$e. 4#on*t you see.6 (s what she heard coming from the walls, she twisted and turned as she heard him continue. 4/e, was an imposter, he was trying to $eep us apart.6 4T/1C1 (. &O 5.86 .he shouted bac$, then she bac$ away and felt herself bump into somebody. Dnowing who that was she flashed away and loo$ed at Eorpse 9ictor. 4<irst you say you love me, then you marry 7arret, then you come bac$, and say you didn*t and that you loved me. &ow you are saying were not meant to be= nd you prance around with an imposter me= 0y sweet nna, my love, my life. "e with me, forever, ( can ma$e you happy.6 nna was bac$ing away, until his tripped over and onto the couch. 4:our not 9ictor86 .he shouted bac$ in his face, he seemed hurt and saddened, nna almost felt sorry for him. Then she heard crac$ing and large piece of marble stone flew right in front of nna hitting the spirit. (t hit the wall crashing the doors open and bro$en. .he saw the Eosrep 9ictor from behind the piece of marble fireplace and pushed it off himself. Then nna loo$ed to see the fire place rema$e itself, then the fire lit. Then a figure wal$ed out from the flames, a completely burnt body, the flesh burned of his teeth. "ut his eyes, had changed to a furious red. &ew and tan flesh began to crawl over the burnt body revealing 9ictor, with his hair perfectly swiped bac$ and out of his face. nd he grabbed what loo$ed li$e his white shirt out of mid air and fluffs it to reveal his tight paints, blac$ boots, and flurry white shirt. 49ictor+6 %as all what nna managed to say before the spirit turned horrifying. 47et out.6 %as all 9ictor said as the red in his eyes grew even brighter. The spirits eyes hollowed and his mouth

crac$ed open to reveal a huge abyss of a mouth as he screamed in a furious anger both leaving within a blac$ smo$e. nna got up and was in front of 9ictor, who blin$ed a few time before his normal dar$ eyes came bac$. 49ictor how did you+.6 .he was pointing at him and at the fireplace at the same time. 4(ts part of being a mage. nyway he didn*t hurt you did he=6 /e as$ed, 4&o, he didn*t but are you immortal=6 nna as$ed, 9ictor hoped she wouldn*t. 4:es, and so was my father, my mother was mortal.6 nna felt herself go numb, all of her energy was suddenly drained from her. 4( thin$ ( need to sit.6 nna then sat bac$ on the couch. 4Too much for one day=6 9ictor as$ed, nna nodded and said. 4:eah, but (*m too scared to sleep, for fear that he*ll try to $ill me in my dreams again.6 nna fought to $eep herself awa$e, 9ictor sat with her and said. 4(*ll watch over you tonight, ( don*t really sleep anymore. nd ( rarely find myself tired.6 4Ean*t you cast a sleep so ( don*t sleep=6 nna as$ed li$e a whinny child. 4&o, sorry, if ( do that you could age faster. "ut then it ma$es everything more complicated considering you magic in your blood now. :ou could be immortal now, or still be mortal. .o, that would end badly.6 nna threw her head bac$, and whined even more. Then fell to lay on her side on the big fluffy couch, and then she too$ the purple fluffy blan$et and wrapped herself in the blan$et. 4Then (*m not leaving the study.6 4-erfect, it ma$es my research easier.6 9ictor said getting up and wal$ing to the des$. /e sat and began to research and write. nna fell asleep to the white noise, or crac$ling embers and a >uill scratching letters on the paper. nd every once in awhile she heard 9ictor flip a page of a boo$. nd every once in awhile she felt him stare at her. nna then heard the door open and an elderly women voice whom she presumed was 1va. 4(s she asleep=6 1va as$ed, nna heard 9ictor place his >uill bac$ in the in$ well and say. 4:es, deep in sleep if you as$ me.6 47ood because ( need to spea$ with you.6 nna then grew interested, why would they be tal$ing about her behind her bac$= 4(t*s about nna, 9ictor, and more importantly about you. :ou $now you don*t have a lot of time left.6 nna then thought, a lot of time for what= 4( $now, ( feel my body growing wea$er. ( barely resurrected myself today when battling 0arry*s Ombre (nconnue.6 49ictor, you must speed this love thing up. :ou and nna had only $nown each for three days, but the spell won*t last for long. :ou $now what you must do, you must marry nna.6 4( $now, but she deserves time to+6 4 nd so do you, (*m sure nna would understand. :ou heard what /olly told you, nna 'ust wants you to as$ her formally that*s all. .o what*s the problem= "ecause if you don*t soon, you*ll die in your own body and end up wondering the earth forever, and end up loo$ing li$e 0ister. #ead man.6 4( $now, it*s if ( marry her (*m scared she*ll be mortal again. Or will she stay immortal= ( don*t want to spend an etnery either way by myself. nd how do you $now ( can give her a life= ( don*t even $now if we*ll ever get her father bac$ either.6 4#on*t you worry about that as long as you and nna have each other you*ll be fine. :ou*ve got four days left 9ictor, ( suggest, you go and find your family ring.6 4( can*t, because, 0arry "eth has it. ( can*t marry without it. The magic wouldn*t allow me too. nd in four days if ( can*t get the ring, you heard nna today. .he doesn*t want that to be my fate, if she heard us tal$ing. :ou $now her better than ( do, although ( am afaired she*ll do something rasce.6 4:our probley right, but 9ictor you*re going to be all she has soon. ( don*t have much time myself, (*m ,; years old the spell you cast on me only $eeps me alive until ( have guided the youth to you. ( thought ( would have a daughter and she*d pull it, ( was almost released when ( had a son, but then he brought 0argret to "lac$wood, and gave birth to nna. &ever in a thousand years

did ( e)pect it to be my granddaughter, the day she was born. ( thought nothing of ta$ing her there2 ( loved her more than time itself. ( didn*t want her to get hurt, ( never $new she somehow found her way up to the tower.6 4 nd now loo$, e)usted, she has to fight the spirit herself and 0arry "eth. "ut ( strongly suggest you tell nna of the ring. (f the ring isn*t the Cing of "lac$wood, then the wedding will seem li$e it never even happened. On the day you and nna marry then ( will pass. "ut while in here for the ne)t fifty years as a ghost, ( do e)pect to see some great grandbabies.6 9ictor giggled and then said. 4( will, ( can*t face 0arry "eth, because she holds my family power. (f ( were to step outside the walls of the manor, my power will wane. Only when ( have the Cing of "lac$wood, and then she must create a Cing of Caventail. Ean we then be married in body and soul. "ut ( need, the ring, but yet ( can*t get it.6 The conversation ended there, as 1va pressed on about wanting to have one of the great grandchild named 1va the second. nna thought for a long time, he has four days, and nna wants to get the ring. &o, she needed to get the ring from 0arry "eth somehow. Then nna thought, could she turn the Ombre (nconnue against 0arry "eth, if real 9ictor couldn*t fight her. Then Ombre (nconnue 9ictor can, she would 'ust have to somehow spea$ to the spirit without, getting herself $illed. s the night press on nna thought of way to get the ring. nd how on earth she was going to separate herself from 9ictor. /e was going to cling and follow nna around li$e a lost puppy. Then nna needed to figure out how she was going to convince the spirit. .he didn*t want to lie to the poor thing, it was suffering enough pain. Then most li$ely 9ictor was always aware of where nna was at moment of the e)act day. .o it would be almost impossible for nna to leave without 9ictor noticing then following her out of the manor. "ut she needed 9ictor here, where he was safe, nna had to do this tomorrow. .he had to find 0arry "eth and get the ring. Then find a ring to become the Cing of Caventail. .he came up with the craAiest and most illogic plan in the world. "ut it was going to have to wor$. The ne)t morning, 9ictor still at the des$ greeted nna. nna greeted him bac$ and went to her room to get fresh clothes and a bath. fter that was done nna instead chose something comfortable to move around and run in. short dress with tights, and high boots. .he slipped on her cloa$ and headed to the gardens, being the daughter of a mechial student and living with a doctor while your mother was sic$. nna pic$ed up on some things, li$e a dose of me chin that ma$es you sleep. nna pic$ed the right ingredients, then she sat on a bench crushing them in a mi)ing bowl. .he then placed it in a small bag to pull out later. %al$ing around the manor, she found lbert. 4 lbert could you bring me a fresh pot of tea please=6 nna as$ed. 4Of course my lady, right away.6 nna thought he meant in a few minutes, but as he entered his right hole, returned in G3 seconds. 4/ere my lady, would you li$e me to carry this for you=6 /e as$ed, nna shoo$ her head and said. 4&o, (*ll be 'ust fine than$ you. (*ll bring it 9ictor, than$ you.6 .he too$ the tray from lbert then wal$ed to the study, before she entered she poured the mi) into the tea. .tirred it nice and easy and wal$ed into the study. 4Tea brea$.6 nna said as she wal$ed into the study. 4There you are, ( was being to get worried.6 9ictor said setting the >uill down and stretching from the chair. nna placed the tea tray on the table and

poured the cups. 4 lbert made it 'ust the way you li$e it.6 nna said as 9ictor sat ne)t to her, 9ictor too$ the cup from her. Then stopped and smelled the tea and said. 4(t smells different, did lbert add some new leafs in here=6 4.mells li$e normal tea to me.6 nna answered trying to cover her trac$s and not drin$ the tea. 4:ou drin$ it first.6 9ictor said, nna wasn*t worried at all, throughout the years of being polite and eating things that loo$ed disgusting. .he had developed >uite the talent for holding things in bac$ of her own throat and tal$ing clearly at the same time without swallowing. .he swallowed and held the tea, then said. 4.ee, tastes fine to me.6 ll the while when she pretended to ta$e another swipe, she really spit the tea bac$ out. 9ictor seeing it was safe, dran$ down the cup, in fact the whole pot. /e lay on the couch minutes later drowsy, he fought to $eep his eyes open. 4%hat did lbert put in that tea=6 /e as$ed rubbing his face trying to $eep himself awa$e. %hen it seemed the drugs had almost ta$en effect Iand by the amount he had dran$, he would be out for a few hoursJ nna got up and said. 4(ts not what lbert put in the tea, it*s what ( put in the tea. (*m going 9ictor, (*m going to get the ring from 0arry "eth.6 9ictor in the state of panic tried to reach for her but he was slowly fading. 4(*m not going alone2 (*m bringing the Ombre (nconnue 9ictor with me. ( will be bac$.6 4 nKna+ stop+.wait.6 %ith his last words he fell into a deep sedated sleep. nna placed a blan$et over him, then ran out and swung her cloa$ over her shoulders. .he was going to the %est %ing where Ombre (nconnue 9ictor would most li$ely be. nna was at the landing of the %est %ing itself. .he $noc$ed on the door and said. 49ictor, 9ictor, can ( come in=6 .he as$ed, when she did the door slowly opened. .he stepped in then sat on the bed, she wanted to be as if she was spea$ing to him normally. The door closed by itself, and then nna said. 4( $now you*re mad, but ( 'ust want to spea$ with you.6 nna 'ust heard the crea$ing of the floor boards, then a mirror appeared leaning on the wall near the door. .eeing nna on the bed at first, then Ombre (nconnue 9ictor behind her, she loo$ed bac$ to see he was not directly near her. .he got up and wal$ed to the body lengthen mirror, with Ombre (nconnue 9ictor following li$e a shadow behind her. 4( need your help 9ictor, ( need to tell you, ( didn*t marry 7arret, and these are memoires 0arry "eth gave you. ( don*t want to die, but ( don*t want to see you suffer. (f you help me, ( will help you anyway ( can. <ight 0arry "eth with me, ( need you.6 nna then placed her hand on the glass, waiting for a response. 4:es my love.6 Then Ombre (nconnue 9ictor*s boney hand wrapped around her shoulder and she felt him, she turned around. /is corpse li$e state gave nna shivers, but she hugged him none the less and said. 4Than$ you. &ow, ta$e me to 0arry "eth.6 9ictor, then said. 4:es, my life.6 /e then hung on to her tightly, as they began to swirl, and winds blew past her face. nd when she landed, she landed in the last place she wanted to be. The #ar$ <orest. The &ark 'orest couldnt be in maybe a beautiful meadow# Ombre (nconnue 9ictor still behind her, said. 40arry please reveal yourself.6 There was no response, then leafs around them began to ruffle. nd then from above, a dar$ smo$e landed only a few feet from nna. The blac$ smo$e disappeared and there stood a young and beautiful loo$ing woman.

.he had curled, wild red hair, with painted bright red lips, bright green eyes. .he had pale s$in, and a witched smile, nothing about her seemed warm. %earing tight, cheap, blac$ leather, and had colored tattoos decorate her chest and arms. nna thought if she got rid of the tattoos and wore better clothing she*d be really pretty. 4%ell well, this is the girl who pulled my dagger out from my ) boyfriend. "y the way how is he=6 The girl as$ed, her voice sounded high pitched and of a young women. nna tired to bac$ up to Ombre (nconnue 9ictor but found he was no longer there. 4%hat is your name= nna that*s right, nna, na, nnie or whatever.6 0arry "eth seemed to spea$ as though she were from a different place. 4&ow, what do we do with you, the longer you live, the more my power fades. Or rather 9ictor*s power.6 .he held up her ring finger for nna to see, the Cing of "lac$wood. golden ring with a blac$ gem placed on it. 4 nd of course your power, hope you mother doesn*t mind.6 .he held up her right ring finger and there it was. nna*s mother*s wedding ring, which was only a silver ring, with the words Caventail written on it. nna felt herself grew angry her mother was buried with the ring. 47ive them bac$.6 nna said, 0arry threw her head bac$ and laughed. 4%ell, ( thought you*d be more polite then that, but even if you said please, no.6 %as all 0arry said. 4( wor$ed hard for this power, ( thought 9ictor loved me too you $now. "ut he used me, 'ust li$e he*ll use you. "ut, then 9ictor was so cruel. nd let me guess he didn*t tell you everything now did he=6 0arry as$ed circling nna. 49ictor has done nothing wrong it was you who were the selfish one, you cursed him for power.6 4Oh really, well let me show you what really happened between us.6 0arry "eth said, before, nna*s vision faded, and images of a bright town was formed. (t loo$ed to be a newer version of "lac$wood. nna*s vision was forced to focus on a couple, who*s heads were hidden under an umbrella. The umbrella was lifted to reveal, 9ictor and 0arry "eth. /e wal$ed 0arry "eth along the streets li$e a gentleman. Then two old women 'ust behind them, one who loo$ed pretty for her middle age said. 49ictor darling, wait for mother.6 9ictor turned around to a woman, who nna guessed was his mother. The two old women caught up, and then one whom nna guessed was 0ary*s mother considering the way she greeted her. 0ary*s mother was overweight and seemed >uite aloof from the cheery group. Then a group of young women came by, called 0arry "eth, a whore, and witch as they pasted. nger grew within 0ary*s eyes, then as if by chance, and by an un$nown force, dirty water from the gutter. .plashed on to the group of girls. They screamed as the water hit them, then nna saw 9ictor ta$e 0arry by the shoulder and heard him whisper. 40arry don*t do that.6 4"ut they called me a+.6 4#on*t care what they called, all that matters is what you thin$ of yourself. #on*t let them get to you darling.6 0ary*s mother seemed unpleased with 9ictor and with the group of girls. Then the vision shifted into night, and the town was empty. nna 'umped as she heard screams, and there the group of girls from early for running right for nna. .he tried to move but her feet were glued, when she put her arms out to stop them. The girls ran right through nna.

nna loo$ed to an invisible force grab them by their an$les and drag them into a dar$ alley why. nna plugged her ears as the sounds of gushing and flesh slashing echoed through the town. Then the vision shifted again, this time the town police and 9ictor, along with his father at the scene. /is father did loo$ middle aged, and then standing on 9ictor*s side was 0arry "eth. %hen the bodies were being carried out, 9ictor pulled 0ary "eth to a nearby alley what. 4%hat happened 0ary, the stench of #ar$ magic was all over the place.6 9ictor said in horse whisper, then 0ary began to sob. 4(t was my mother ( tried to stop her, ( tried to convince her of what you said. "ut she didn*t agree and she, she was the one who+6 40arry who have to stop your mother, my father $new it was her. 0ary, the Eouncil is getting together, to decide whether to...6 4%hether to what 9ictor=6 4%hether to $ill your mother or not, my father will be attending and so will (. 0arry your mother had $illed twenty girls over the past year.6 4( $now, but 9ictor ( don*t even $now if it*s her anymore, her soul is gone, ( feel it.6 The image faded again and this time, in the day again. "ut this time people were screaming. 4The carriage crashed get a doctor, !ady "lac$wood, and !ady "eth are in there86 nna then saw the image fade again, and this time nna was holding onto her mother crying. 9ictor came from behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder. 0arry turned around and hissed at 9ictor. 4(t*s your fault8 :ou could have stopped the Eouncil86 .he shouted at him. 4:ou don*t thin$ (*m upset about this too8 &o one can stop the Eouncil8 0y mother wasn*t even supposed to be in the carriage86 0arry got up and said. 4:ou are the cause you did this8 This is your families* fault86 The vision faded, and nna was again in the #ar$ <orest. 4(t was his fault he could have stopped it.6 nna loo$ed at her, 0arry blamed 9ictor*s family for her mother*s death. 4/e couldn*t of, he couldn*t stop it, he did nothing wrong. :ou said it yourself your mother was gone before her body even died.6 nna saw 0arry hand her head and begin to laugh, and rather insane and cruel laugh. 4%ell, well, still not convinced, my family, gave them their power. This power belongs to me8 9ictor promised to be there for me, and then someone came to town. .omeone who still lives, your grandmother. .he then turned him against me convince him that ( was up to $now good. :our entire bloodline 0s. Caventail decided that my family, were no longer apart of this town. (t was your grandfather that $illed my father86 nna then saw, 0arry had blood on both Caventail and "lac$wood. 40y father was going to rage great war on this world, until the day your grandfather murdered him8 .o you see dear nna, (*ve watched your family for a very long time. 1ven a certain sic$ness that $illed your mother and drained her of her beauty.6 Then nna then thought, nna*s mother didn*t get sic$ for any reason. 0arry gave it to her, 0arry $illed her mother. 4 nd ( promised to ma$e all of your descendents pay8 nd end you and 9ictor*s bloodline. ( couldn*t believe 1va hid you for years8 ( couldn*t believe when ( saw your pretty little self pull the dagger from 9ictor and wa$e him up from his little nap. 7arret could have done the 'ob for me, but you were persistent. &ow, (*m going to let the corpse groom get what ( brought him here for. 9ictor,6 .he called out, but no answer. 49ictor.6 .he said again, and she began to grow impatient. 49(ETOC86 .he screamed and Ombre (nconnue 9ictor landed ne)t to nna, 0arry then saw her own spirit had betrayed her.

4&o, 0arry, you leave my nna alone.6 %ith that said, he charged for 0arry, 0arry with an angry loo$ on her face. East an attac$ spell sending him bac$wards, he got up >uic$ly. 40arry stop it doesn*t have to be this way86 nna shouted, 0arry turned to her and said. 4.tay out of this you little bitch86 Ombre (nconnue 9ictor charged for her again, this time they loc$ed. Their battle too$ flight as nna was forced to ground by the air. nna then screamed the fireball spell and shot it in the air, and hitting 0arry. The fireball seemed to have no effect, then 0arry dropped from the s$y suddenly. !anding on her face she got up, and she was mess, dead leafs were ruffled in her hair. .ee then loo$ed at her hands, the rings were gone. 4&o, no, no, no+6 .he $ept repeating to herself as she scrambled through the leafs. 4&O86 .he yelled then she loo$ed at nna. 4( may not have the power of a mage, but ( still have the power of a necromancer86 %ith that she screamed a word nna didn*t understand, and ground beneath her began to rise. nna got up and 'umped off the rising ground, and her an$le reeled with pain. .he saw a fleshy, boney hand come from the ground and grab her an$le with a death grip. .he was sha$ing him off, when suddenly the two rings were dropped in front of her. 0arry saw them and ran for the rings. "ut nna grabbed the rings, in a large force of light. The two rings combined and grew into a powerful sword. The sword was light and powerful. nna too$ the sword and swung it at the figure rising from the ground that had her an$le. The figure let go, and nna was forced to limp through the pain. .he held the sword up to 0arry, as she was only a few feet from nna. 49ictor, ( am you master ( command you to $ill her86 0arry screamed, then nna saw Ombre (nconnue 9ictor*s reflection in the sword blade. 4(*m sorry nna but, ( must obey my master, she created me.6 nna swung the sword around, and he was not there. .he heard 0arry laugh, nna swung around again, and saw they were both gone. nna didn*t let down her guard, nna then begin to fast limp through the forest. (t had been long hours that nna was trapped in the #ar$ <orest seeing no end. The sword still in hand, nna dearly wished there was some way to ma$e this 'ourney >uic$er. 0arry could come bac$ at any moment, and $ill nna. Or Ombre (nconnue 9ictor may, but nna didn*t want to be out here when the wolves came out. s she continued e)usted through the trees, and 'ust as it was about Twilight. nna finally sat on the stomp of a cut tree. (ndicating she was near town, nna too$ off her shoe to see her an$le and it worst then she thought. /er an$le had four long straight mar$s, and one curling in the opposite direction. The mar$s were purple and had yellow outing the mar$s. nna rolled her pant leg bac$ over the mar$, and huffed as she was trying to catch her breath. nna was thirsty and hungry, during the way, nna had eaten on snow. .olving her thirst problem, but her mind wanted li>uid. nna soon camped near a stream, nna being raised all her life with some sort of fire going about. #idn*t $now how to ma$e one, but luc$ily, she 'ust piled wood together and lit is ablaAe with the fireball spell.

nna sat in the snow, trying to warm herself. "ut the cold of the night was closing in, nna feared if she fell asleep the cold of the night would ta$e her lungs. .itting in the snow feeling sorry for herself, she was unaware of the predator that had been stal$ing her for half an hour. "ut $ept its distance, fearing the blade, which was firm in nna*s grasp. nna couldn*t help herself any longer when her eyelids had finally shut. The creature behind the roc$, creped over, and smelled the girl. CealiAing her scent, she smelled of "lac$wood, had they returned= /e wondered, were they here to heal the land and fill it with food once again= The creature then nudged at nna*s in'ured foot, nna 'er$ed up and grabbed her an$le. Then she loo$ed up and screamed. The creature was an over siAed giant white wolf, with beading yellow eyes. !oo$ing at nna as she screamed, he sat and titled his head. %hen nna realiAed he wasn*t going to attach her, she stopped. They loo$ed at each other in the eyes for minutes. 4 re you a "lac$wood=6 The wolf, as$ed, nna then being use to things that were tal$ing and shouldn*t be tal$ing. 4&o, but ( am Caventail, and ( live within "lac$wood manor, with its master. 9ictor "lac$wood.6 The wolf seemed to recogniAe the name. 49ictor, were you the one who awa$ened him=6 nna nodded, the wolf then said. 4(, you smelled a lot li$e the boy. "ut what are you doing in the #ar$ <orest, while that witch is out loo$ing for you=6 /e as$ed, nna then responded. 4( $now, ( had to get two things from her. The Cing of Caventail, and the Cing of "lac$wood.6 The wolf stood up instantly and said. 4Then it is true, you are the one to heal the land of "lac$wood. (*m 7ori$2 ( for centuries have been an alley of the "lac$wood*s. Eome, we must get you bac$ to "lac$wood. The sun rises in an hour, and then you will only have three days. nd the witch could come out at a second with her Ombre (nconnue.6 nna then said. 4( can*t wal$, my an$le was in'ured badly.6 nna said standing up on one foot, and using the sword as a cane. 7ori$ loo$ed at the sword intensely for a moment. 4 re those the rings=6 /e as$ed nna shoo$ her head the wolf amaAed said. 4&ever in a hundred year, did ( thin$ that sword would come again.6 4%hat do you mean=6 nna as$ed. 4:our family and the "lac$woods have been in league longer then you $now of. &ow, it*s time for the land and the families to awa$en. Elimb onto my bac$, it shall be daybrea$ by the time we reach "lac$wood 0anor.6 nna wal$ed over to 7ori$, he lay down, and nna climbed on his bac$. nna tied the sword to her belt, and wrapped her cloa$ around herself. 7ori$ then $ic$ed off with powerful legs, nna felt herself hand onto the animal for dear life. s he raced the wind through the forest. 9ictor lay on the couch in the manor, trying to wonder what had happened. %hy was he sleeping= 9ictor sat up and stretched then he loo$ed at the teapot tray in front of him. ll the memories flashed together again, 9ictor tried to run out from the couch. "ut his legs turned to 'ell@o, and he found himself tripping all over the place as he trying to head for the door. 4 lbert86 /e shouted, and soon scatting was heard from the other side of the door. 40aster8 nna she is nowhere in the manor8 .he*s been gone for hours86 lbert shouted out of breath, then 9ictor felt himself panic. 4#id you chec$ the %est %ing=6 9ictor as$ed, lbert nodded in a yes s>uea$ing as he was out of breath. 4/ow, how, did she

get out master= nd why were you sleeping=6 lbert as$ed trying to straighten himself. 4 nna put something in the tea, and he forced my body to sleep.6 9ictor said. 4Oh this is my fault ( should have insisted ta$ing the tea to you master.6 lbert said while trying to help the daAed 9ictor. 4(t*s not your fault, anyway have you tiredK4 "efore 9ictor could finish all throughout the manor, a wolf howl was heard loud and clear. 47ori$.6 9ictor whispered, before finding his strength again, he ran to the front of the manor. %ith wheeAing lbert not far behind, as 9ictor got to the door, 1va was already there and she opened the door. %hen 9ictor was outside with her. /e saw she had been crying, then as they witness. giant wolf wal$ing through the gates of the "lac$wood 0anor, through the dead garden and past the froAen fountain. nd upon his bac$ was a cloa$ed figure, the figure slid off, patted 7ori$ and then turned around. .he pulled off her hood, she was messy and loo$ed very tired. 4 nna86 9ictor shouted and ran to her, nna fell over in e)ustment. 4.he is fine, 9ictor 'ust tired, but you must heal her an$le once she is ready.6 9ictor loo$ed up and said. 4Than$ you 7ori$, it is good to see you again.6 7ori$ then sniffed the side of 9ictor*s face, then leaned down to nna*s face and gave her a small lic$. 4:ou as well, !ord "lac$wood. Ehec$ under nna*s cloa$.6 9ictor was curious and loo$ed, he gasped. Then pulled the handle away from nna*s buc$le, behind him he heard 1va gasp. 4The@the@the+6 .he couldn*t even finish its title. 4The .word of <irinne.6 9ictor finished, holding the sword above his head. nna had slept half way through the rest of the day, 9ictor had invited 7ori$ inside. "ut 7ori$ said, he felt more comfortable outside. %hen nna awo$e, 9ictor had as$ed her how the sword came to be. 4%ell, when ( had the rings, the second ( touched them. The rings, they brightened into a large light, and then they bonded and grew into the sword.6 %as all she said, then she got a scolding lecture from 9ictor about tric$ing him. 4%ell, how else was ( going to get out the manor without you following me=6 .he as$ed, 9ictor was about to say something, but stopped and realiAed if nna didn*t, the rings would be lost. 4<ine, alright, but nna, what about 0arry=6 /e as$ed, as nna set her in'ured an$le on his thigh. /e curled his fingers around her foot, and a light appeared under his hand. nd rubbed her foot gently as the in'ury faded away. %hen he was done, nna twisted her foot. 4Than$ you.6 nna said, then sat up and crawled over the couch over to 9ictor. .he sat ne)t to him, and lay her head on his shoulder. 4To tell you the truth though, ( wasn*t all that scared. "ut, ( was at first, before running from the manor. %e really owe it to Ombre (nconnue 9ictor, he*s the one we really should be than$ing for getting the rings.6 nna said, and then by her surprise, 9ictor turned to lie on the couch facing the fireplace. !aying nna ne)t to him, on the board of the large couch. nna then grabbed the blan$et, and wrapped herself and 9ictor in it. 4( guess you*re right, ( 'ust thought he would have $illed you instead of believe you.6 9ictor said, nna laid her head bac$ on his shoulder. nna was a little surprised, 9ictor was normally very proper about most things. %hen a man and women were lying down together.

"ut lately nna rarely thought he cared anymore. 1verything was >uiet as nna, and 9ictor shared their thoughts and emotions 'ust by loo$ing at each other. Then 9ictor bro$e the uncomfortable silence and said. 4 nna there*s been something (*ve been meaning to as$ you.6 /e said, he sat up, then nna suddenly felt her $nees go wea$. Is he about to ask, what I think hes going to ask. /e held his hand out to her, to assist her in pulling her off the couch. /e wal$ed her over to the fire place, and loo$ed within it flames. 4 nna even though our time together has been short. ( have been meaning to as$ you this, since the day you wo$e me up.6 nna stood e)cited and nervous as 9ictor loo$ed at her, got down on one $nee. "rought out a little blue bo) opened it to reveal a silver ring in crested with three small diamonds, the middle one being slightly bigger. 4 nna Caventail, will you marry me=6 nna stood speechless, and then she managed a soft whisper. 4yes.6 9ictor didn*t >uite hear her, but then her voice grew louder. 4yes, :es, :1.86 nna screamed, 9ictor being >uite tall, nna tac$led him bac$wards in a large hug. nna removed her head from 9ictor*s chest, to loo$ him in the face. large smile on both their faces. nna then pulled him in une)pected $iss, at first he was shoc$ed, then $issed her bac$. %hen they bro$e it, then slipped the ring on her finger, then 9ictor shouted. 4 !"1CT86 lbert was in the room within a few seconds. 4:es, master, oh@4 s he wal$ed in on nna and 9ictor. 4 lbert, ( have ma'or chore for you. Tell /olly to ma$e a white dress with a veil, and prepare the ballroom for a wedding86 9ictor said with e)citement a big rat smile appeared on lbert*s face with his sharp buc$ teeth stic$ing out. 4:es sir8 ( shall inform 1va at once sir86 %ith that he was out of the room. 4Oh 9ictor86 nna screamed into his chest, he then grinned bigger seeing this is actual what she wanted. 4Oh ( have another surprise for you. 0r. Caventail, you can come in now.6 nna then loo$ed up and saw her nervous father wal$ through the door. nna got up from 9ictor and loo$ed at her father. /e was crying, he pulled out his han$ie and wiped his eyes under his glasses. 4/i baby, (*m sorry, ( hit you, ( didn*t mean to.6 /e said, nna realiAed what he was apologiAing for. .he wal$ed over and embraced him in a large hug. 4( $now daddy, ( love you, and ( need someone to wal$ me down the ale.6 nna said, her father pulled bac$, more tears streamed down his face. nna turned around again and said. 4#id you=6 9ictor nodded, nna turned and held him even tighter. Then a women burst open the door. 4 lbert 'ust told me, it is tr@41va too$ one loo$ at 9ictor and nna, noticing the shining ring on nna*s finger. .he screamed with delight, she wal$ed over, grabbed nna by the face. Dissed both her chee$s then embraced her in a hug. 4Oh, loo$ at you, hope you don*t mind being called !ady "lac$wood. Oh, we don*t have much time, we have to send a message bird to (sbell. :ou and her always tal$ing about being each other*s brides* maid of honor. %ouldn*t want to disappoint her. Oh, nna, my granddaughter is getting married8 "ut 9ictor,6 .he turned her attention to 9ictor. 4( do e)pect great grandchildren from you two.6 40other, that*s a little too early to thin$ about, don*t you thin$=6 0arcus as$ed, 1va turned around. 4(ts perfect timing8 (*m going to die the day they get

married, bit (*ve got to spend fifty years here in my ghost hood. (*m at least going to see my great great grandchildren.6 0arcus loo$ed distraught by the thought of 1va dying. "ut then the thought of her in ghost hood, didn*t really sound li$e she was leaving them. 4"ut, what am ( standing here tal$ing about having babies. nna my dear it*s time to put those birthing hips to good use.6 47C &#0 86 nna shouted, that was not e)actly something she wanted 9ictor to hear. nna loo$ed through the corner of her eye, seeing 9ictor covering his large grin, and red chee$s. 4Oh well, what are standing here for, 9ictor when*s the wedding=6 1va as$ed him. 4The day after tomorrow, at 13 in the morning.6 9ictor said, then 1va then said. 4%e don*t have must time at all, nna you and me, were going up to see a 0essage -igeon. %rite a letter to (sbell straight away nna8 7o, go, go.6 .hooing nna out of the door, she barely got to say goodbye to 9ictor before her grandma rushed her out completely. #own the hall nna, realiAed her fiancLe and her father were alone together. nna didn*t want to thin$ about the $ind of man to man tal$ 0arcus and 9ictor were most li$ely having. nna rushed her into the room, where /olly wasn*t there. nna >uic$ly wrote a message to (sbell, to come to "lac$wood 0anor. nna set the message on a bird. %hen she did, she was surprised she >uic$ly got a response an hour and half later. &ear Anna, (es Anna I will come to "lackwood !anor tonight, with )rik, and cant you believe it were getting married I e*pect you to be my !aid of +onor. Anyway hoping your news is good, Ill see you in two hours from ,-... /incerely, Isbell nna loo$ed at the cloc$ it was 5HG5 (sbell should be there soon. nna then went to thin$ing what color the maid of honor dress should be. nna then thought since the first color of dress she saw was green. The dress should be light green, lbert and 1va returned with a tray. .potted with flavored icing and in lbert*s other hand was cubes cuts of ca$e. 4&ow, 9ictor said he li$e the chocolate ca$e with white icing, and strawberry filing.6 lbert said, nna tried the combination, she didn*t li$e the chocolate ca$e part. 4 s$ him about marble ca$e instead ( li$e everything else.6 lbert went out through his rat hole, 1va then said. 4 lright, nna, have you messaged (sbell=6 1va as$ed she sound out of breath. 4:es, ( did, she*s bring her fiancLe with her. .he should be here in about fifteen minutes.6 47ood good, because you*re having either a "ridal .hower or "acorlette party tomorrow. 9ictor is having a stag party tomorrow, he didn*t have one the last time. Then as a wedding tradition, 9ictor isn*t allowed to see you the whole wedding day until you wal$ down the ale. &ow that*s the fun part, grooms li$e to see their brides before that time. :ou should as$ your father, he tried on his wedding day. Dnowing 9ictor he*s going to try his hardest.6

nna was almost barely listening, impatiently loo$ing at the cloc$. Then she heard a $noc$ at the door, 1va then saw nna bolted from the chair. #etermined to get to the door first, still in a light pic$ sil$ robe and thigh high night gown. nna opened the door, to see (sbell and 1ri$ behind her. 4/i, nna, how are you, and wow@@@4 %as all (sbell said as nna lead her in, and saw the stated of the manor. 4"ut outside it loo$s all old and in ruins.6 1ri$ said setting his and (sbell*s bags near the door. 9ictor was wal$ing down with lbert, whom to nna loo$ed half rat. "ut to (sbell and 1ri$ loo$ed li$e a strange little human man. 4(s that=6 (sbell said ta$ing one loo$ at 9ictor, seeing him clean, and lively. 4:es, that*s 9ictor, and he*s >uite nice and not demonic at all. ( want you and 1ri$ to meet him.6 nna said leading (sbell and 1ri$ to 9ictor, as 9ictor was done tal$ing with lbert. /e greeted (sbell in a formal gentleman way, then greeted 1ri$. 4/ello ( am 9ictor "lac$wood, welcome to "lac$wood 0anor, nna has told me much about you (sbell.6 (sbell was ta$en abac$ by 9ictor stunning loo$s, when his features were awa$e and moving. 4%ell ( wish ( could say the same about you, but this is my fiancL 1ri$ Fohnson.6 (sbell said showing 1ri$ to 9ictor, the men shoo$ hands and 1ri$ said. 4/ello, it*s good to see you awa$e, and me sober.6 The men gave a deep hardly, a giggle, deep throat chuc$le. fter an hour, (sbell was already having a long conversation with 9ictor then. %hen nna felt comfortable about it. 4(sbell ( want to tell you the real reason ( as$ed you to come.6 nna stood up with 9ictor then said. 4(sbell, ( would love to have you as my "rides 0aid of /onor.6 (sbell*s eye grew large, nna was glad she was sitting down. Then her smile grew almost to her ears, as she une)pectly got up and gave nna a tight hug. Tight enough to where nna could only say 4air86 (sbell let go of her and said. 4%here*s the ring=6 (sbell as$ed, nna pulled her left hand from behind her with the ring on her finger. 4%ow, would you loo$ at that.6 (sbell said loo$ing at it, then showed nna her own engament ring. 4.o when are you two getting married=6 (sbell as$ed, 9ictor answered. 4The day after tomorrow.6 4(t*s a little soon, but it wor$s, oh nna. %ere going to have ourselves a downright fun "achorllet party tomorrow8 Oh can*t you believe it 1ri$86 1ri$ truly seemed happy, for he got up and gave nna a hug on congrating her. 4%ell, then what are we going here, nna we must go through all the dressers and find you a wedding gown. "oys, we are to be gone, 9ictor, ( hope you don*t mind if 1ri$ 'oins your stag party. ( hope you boys will have fun, anyway tata8 :ou can*t see your bride before the wedding.6 %ith that said, (sbell dragged nna away. (n nna*s room, when the girls were allowed to act li$e girls. They held hands and 'umped up and down, (sbell threw of her shoes and tac$led her to the bed. 4%1C1 71TT(&7 0 CC(1#86 .he said, her and nna screamed in 'oy. nna had learned early (sbell*s wedding was in a mouth. 4%ell nna, what color is me dress=6 (sbell as$ed. 47reen, it was the color of the first dress ( tried on my first day here.6 4%onderful, and nna didn*t e)pect you to find a suitor that handsome.6 4:ou $now what funny (sbell is= The night ( went to the party 1va said she*d scold me if ( didn*t come bac$ with a suitor. That night ( went out and found the best of all86 40e too8 1ri$ really is wonderful too, ( thin$ we both found our soul mates that night.6 4( guess we did8 0y god, (sbell, me, nna Caventail.6

4#on*t you mean, nna "lac$wood does have a ring to it doesn*t it.6 nna and (sbell giggled, as the changed into clean pa'amas. nna and (sbell decided to share the bedroom for the one night. They climbed in bed, and went under the covers. 4.o, nna, what is 9ictor li$e, li$e, when you too are alone=6 (sbell as$ed, nna wasn*t sure why she wanted details but she answered. 4/e*s really strong, he gentle but. %hen he finds the need too, he can get really angry and fierce. /e seems gentle at first, but if you have seen someone try and hurt me. 9ictor loo$s li$e his heads going to e)plode.6 4 oe, gentle and rough, good combination. %hat else=6 4%ell, he really li$es to read, and snuggle. /e*s always really happy a lot of the time, he doesn*t get sad that much. 1ven learning of his father*s death, which he was surprisingly calm about.6 Then the memory of the out of control libery that night shot in her head lier ( what she said to herself. "ut she couldn*t let (sbell $now about his powers, or her own. nna and (sbell continued their conversation well into their sleep. #uring the night, nna was violently wa$ened by a laAy sleeping arm of (sbell*s hitting nna in face. nna sat up fast, and loo$ed to see (sbell still sleeping. nna >uietly slipped out of the bed, put on her sil$ robe and decided to go see 9ictor. %al$ing down the blue light hallway, since outside it began to snow again. nd the glow from the white snowfla$es shined through the windows. nna then opened the study door, where there she found 9ictor once again at his des$. "ut to nna*s surprise, asleep, hunched over the des$. nna wal$ed over to see he had buried himself in the boo$s. /e stirred as nna loo$ed down at him. 4 nna=6 /e managed to say, nna smiled and rubbed his bac$ as he attempted to get up. /e stood and laAily wal$ed to the couch with nna. 4 nna (*m growing wea$er.6 /e said as nna laid him on the couch. 4#on*t worry were getting married tomorrow remember. (t*s one in morning2 ( suggest you get more sleep.6 nna lay with him on the couch and she spo$e softly to him. 4Today is going to go very slow, and tomorrow even slower.6 nna said, as her impatienctince was growing until she could finally wal$ down the ale. 4( $now, its time*s torture.6 9ictor said, as he had laid his head down on nna*s shoulder. They were comfortably tal$ing before, a woman, or half a women, half a duster came into the room. nna loo$ed to see the upper half of her body the wooden handle and her lower. %hich loo$ed li$e a large feathered dress. .he floated effortlessly to the boo$ shelves and began to dust. Then lbert came through the door, with brea$fast and loo$ed to see the couple snuggled up on the couch. 4%ell so this is where we had run off to this morning miss nna.6 /e sat as he set the tray on the little table in front of them. 4Than$ you lbert, by the way what time is it=6 lbert pulled out his poc$et watch and said. 4.even am.6 /e said, and slipped the watch in his poc$et. 4Oh, my lady, /olly wishes to see you and !ady (sbell. <or the fighting to the gowns. nd !ady (sbell has said to not come bac$ to the room until M at night. On that note, /olly said to meet her in the #ressing Coom in the upper level. &ow, can ( get you anything else=6 4&o, than$ you lbert.6 lbert e)ited the study, and has nna tired to get out from the bed. .leeping 9ictor held on tighter to her, nna giggled. 49ictor darling, ( have to get off of the couch sometime. nd you have a stag party to attend to tonight. nd a groom outfit fitting, and we*ve got to go pic$ out decorations. nd ( need

to go fit my dress, and (sbell*s and@4 "efore nna could go on with her list of things to do. 9ictor $issed her, then said. 4<ive more minutes.6 Then buried his face in her nec$. 4 lright.6 .he said, and stro$ed his arm. 4:ou $now though, you can*t see me tomorrow until ( wal$ down the ale.6 nna said, 9ictor sprung his head up and said. 4%hat, why=6 4(t*s a tradition2 you can*t see the bride until she wal$s down the ale. (t*s the rules.6 4(n my time we never had something li$e that, or stag parties.6 4%ell, this one is more fun.6 .he giggled then when 9ictor*s arms were no longer holding their iron grip on nna. 4( love you gotta go.6 .he said giving 9ictor a >uic$ pec$ on the lips before bolting off the couch. <or the rest of the day, which was prepared for the wedding. nna stood up li$e a mani$in as /olly made her dress. 9ictor had gone out the manor bar, to drin$ with 1ri$, and many or the younger manor male staff. nna was crammed with writing her vowels, then she and (sbell, to nna*s surprise. /ad her party in nna*s room, where achole was served, food and many or the younger female staff was invited. nna had made friends with many of them. nna grew embarrassed, despite the wine, when the wedding night. /ad become a sub'ect of their conversation. nna had invited the whole manor staff to come to the wedding. s the day of wedding grew near with each passing hour. 1va, had grown more distant and weary, nna was depressed about 1va leaving. "ut 1va assured her after she died, she would still see and tal$ to nna. .he would still seem alive. 0arcus, had had a long tal$ with nna. nd that he was so sorry by the way he spo$e to nna. nd how during her resting the previous day, 9ictor had found him. nd unbounded him from 0arry, then as$ed 0arcus for his blessing to marry nna. nna had wished she had 9ictor*s parent*s blessings. That ne)t morning, nna sprung out of bed with (sbell. nna loo$ed at the poc$et watch on the table. 4(sbell8 %e slept in, its MH3586 nna shouted, (sbell gasped then said. 4(t*s alright, calm down, we need to do your ma$eup before we do anything else. &ow the wedding isn*t until 13 we*ve got time.6 s (sbell was calming down nna, 1va came through the door, she loo$ed fine, but was weary in her age. 4&ow, nna, as a woman of Caventail there is something ( want to give you. (n my family a mother would be giving this to a daughter, but ( never had one. .o ( would li$e to give this to you.6 nna wal$ed over calmly, although inside she was crying. 1va pulled out a bo) and opened it, she held out silver tiara. 4(t would go beautifully with your wedding gown.6 nna too$ it from her and said. 4:es, yes it would.6 1va gave nna a $iss on the forehead and said. 4<or goodness sa$e girls8 7et yourselves ready, we don*t have much time.6 %ith that said, many staff women came in with a huge ma$eup bo). They opened and began nna*s ma$eup, and (sbell*s as well. &e)t was the hair, (sbell had chosen an up style. #uring the time the girls sat there nna*s e)citement grew. nd she was stressed as well, her $nee shoo$ up down. .ometime (sbell placed her hand on nna*s $nee to get her to stop. %hen everything was done, /olly >uic$ly slipped nna into her dress. The tiara was placed on nna head then the veil was slipped to her hair. %hen she loo$ed at herself in the mirror, she was very pleased with her image. 1va came into the room, herself dressed and ready and when she saw nna. .he gasped and tears began to poor. 4:ou loo$ 'ust li$e your mother.6 .he said as she handed nna her white roses, nna then felt herself grow nauseated. 47randma, what if, what if ( fall= Or the sword doesn*t wor$=6 4:ou won*t fall, and the sword will wor$, you*ll see. &ow give me a turn.6 1va said, nna twirled around once, and 1va cried even more. Then

0arcus and (sbell entered the room, (sbell gasped and said. 4 nna you loo$ beautiful8 nyway, you*d better than$ me, because ( saw 9ictor trying to snea$ his way in here with 1ri$ not too long ago. nd ( gave them >uite the scolding.6 nna giggled then was about to say something, when lbert came through the door. 4%e are ready for the bride.6 nna felt her stomach turn. 5ntil her father too$ her arm, nna felt safe. .he didn*t feel so nervous anymore, they wal$ed down the hallway to the ballroom. %hen they were at the doors, (sbell and 1ri$ entered first. Then nna said to her father. 4#on*t let me trip.6 4( won*t baby.6 nna swore she heard (sbell gasp in delight as they went through the doors. 9ictor must have down something special, nna wasn*t allowed to see the ballroom for decoration. .he had no idea what if loo$ed li$e. 4Ceady=6 0arcus as$ed. 4Ceady.6 The doors opened outward and revealed the ballroom. nd to nna*s surprise, a snowfla$e landed on her nose. (t was lightly snowing in the ballroom, but it wasn*t cold. nna tightened her grip on her father*s arm and began to wal$. .now lightly fell on her as she did, everyone stood. nd at the end she saw 9ictor, his white smile shined in the snow as he saw nna. %hen they were at the end, 0arcus gave nna*s hand to 9ictor and said. 4Ta$e care of my baby girl.6 4( will.6 9ictor said, before 9ictor and nna turned to the man whom was marrying them. Then as the normal priest vowels were said he said 4 nna as the bride you may spea$.6 nna remembered all her vowels and said. 49ictor, all my life, ( have heard stories of the manor upon the hill. %here a soul rested forever trapped in time. s a little girl, ( wanted to go up there and see the legend for myself. That night si) days ago, ( finally was able to see my goal. That night, everything in my life changed, ( wo$e you up with $iss. ( defended you from a man who meant you harm, and ( had only $now you for a minute. <or a day you promised to protect me. The ne)t day you saved my life from a force that wished to ta$e it. The third day ( repaid you by getting the rings, from an evil force. nd in return you have my father bac$ to me, so that today he could give me to you. :ou have done so much for me in a short wee$. nd ( 'ust want to say, (*m not marrying you because ( have to, (*m marrying you because deep within my heart. ( love you, and never want to let you go. nd now to this day, ( understand what my mother meant, the day she died. .he meant for me, to go and find you.6 nna felt a tear drop down her face, and then the priest said. 49ictor now your turn.6 4 nna, (*ve been asleep for fifty years, dreaming of someone, who was going to wa$e me up. (n my dreams ( saw you, when he held the sword up in my defense. ( $new you were the one, you were the one. ( understand what the boo$s and drawings were saying. To find your soul mate, and never let them go. :ou find me2 you ris$ed your life to $eep me from a horrible fate. nd you gave me the $iss of life, and then you did something craAy. Fust so we could be here to marry today. ( love you, and this time, ( $now this feeling here, is real. :ou made my heart beat bac$ to life, and now ( give it to you. %hen ( saw you again, ( realiAed, it wasn*t the curse that was connecting us. (t was the fact that we both loved each other. nd now, ( see, you*re marrying me today, because you love me. ( 'ust want to say, (*m marrying you today, not to save myself from a horrible fate. "ut because ( love you till the end of time.6 47ood, now the rings if you will.6 9ictor then turned around to 1ri$ who had the sword. 9ictor unsheathed it, and nna and 9ictor held the handle. %hen they did the sword glowed in a brilliant light, and when they felt the sword leave their grip. The rings had changed, the ring on nna*s finger was silver with a blue diamond. nd the ring on 9ictor*s finger was gold, with an ony) blac$ swirl. 4"y the power

vested in me, ( $now pronounce you man and wife. :ou may $iss the bride.6 %ith that said, 9ictor lifted nna*s veil and loo$ed into her eyes. They blue in her eyes glowed with the snow and white around her. /e leaned close and 9ictor and nna shared a magical $iss. %ith that they parted and nna heard the familiar voice of 7ori$. .itting where the man 'ust now was standing who married them. Then nna realiAed it was 7ori$ who had married them. 4Eongraudalations !ady and !ord "lac$wood. &ow ( thin$ it*s time the land wo$e up don*t you.6 7ori$ stood and howled, the ceiling above them dissolved to reveal a night s$y with a shining moon. nd nna felt magic run through her veins. .he closed her eyes, and saw the #ar$ <orest, the snow began to melt and flowers and now life began to string up from trees and ground. nna opened her eyes again and loo$ed at 9ictor. .he couldn*t have been happier in all her life then in that moment. The )nd #