Dark Tears

8/13/2019 Dark Tears

1/39

To my family and to my best friend


2/39

`

Our story begins in the year 1654, in a place very far away from where we are now. place full ofuntamed magic and legends. !egends that come to life only when people believe in them. "ut this one, this onewas very much dead. There was a town located at the edge of #ar$ %ood, an angry forest filled with dreadfulcreatures of the night. %olfs, bears, spiders, and things whose souls no longer connected to the people as theyonce 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 colorthat ever traveled to "lac$wood, the color blac$. ll the people*s faces and s$in were pale, tired circles layaround 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. /ereyes 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. nnalived with her father, 0arcus, and her grandmother, va. va had lived in the village her whole life2 she was theoldest woman in the village. he lived longer than the normal person is e)pected, 3 years. very unday, theday everybody loc$ed their doors. (n fear when the tainted animals came and stal$ed whoever was roaming inthe night. nd every unday, nna listened to the story of va*s life.

p top that hill, the one 'ust a few miles from "lac$wood. The one in which no has been to in years, thehaunted mansion. "lac$wood 0anor, 7randmother va then rambled off about how beautiful manor onceloo$ed, how this town was the most beautiful in the entire world. The people were happy and the sun shoneevery day. va then told the story of when she was invited to the manor herself. ( was indeed, when ( steppedinto those doors. 0agic seemed to float carelessly in the air, ( had been invited there to meet the young man ofthe 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. va made a grunting gesture whenever she spo$e her name.0arry "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 youthis, 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.


3/39

#ays later on the night of the wedding he invited everyone in the town. %hen ( went to the manor, that*s whenit happened. ( was in the ballroom where the vowels were to be spo$en, his father. s$ me to fetch the youngmaster to see what was ta$ing him his sweet time. The young master, oh dear, there goes my memory again+

nna sat waiting for va to remember whatever she had to see. Oh 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 $eyhole to see what wasgoing on. Then ( saw them, 0arry "eth and 9ictor. /e loo$ed 'ust handsome in a groom*s outfit2 he was man of;3 at that time ( believe. nyway, then the tal$ing turned to shouting. They were yelling at each other aboutsomething, but ( can*t remember what it was about. "ut then he turned his bac$ to pic$ up something, it was agold ring. /e turned around and then it happened. he stabbed him8 va always made a stabbing motion with afa$e dagger through her chest.

nd then, he fell bac$wards, and onto the bed. ( was frightened, and then ( ran down the tower and bac$ intothe ballroom. ( screamed what happened, ( was losing my head. The father ran to his boy to see if it was true. /eran with him to show what ( had seen was true. %hen we got to the tower, 0arry "eth was gone, poof8 ndonly 9ictor lay on the bed, his eyes shut, he lay perfectly. !i$e a body in a coffin already, his father went to pullthe dagger from him. "ut, the second he touched the handle, it burnt his hand8 &o one could touch him, so hisfather had no choice but to leave his son there. va made a sad face before continuing. /is father soon wastedaway in the manor, no longer wor$ing, and living. /e soon died, and manor fell in shambles. nd there 9ictorstayed 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.

That 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$woodanymore. nd that was 53 years ago2 nobody has seen 9ictor*s body since 9ictor*s father passed. va afterfinishing 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 va and her father. There was something shedesperately wanted to as$ her father. nna placed her for$ on the table, then built up her courage and as$ed.

uirmed in her seat waiting for her father*s answer. va was placing some soup in hermouth when she said.

( say you let her go, it*s about time the girl gotten out of the house for once. nd go hunting for suitors.0arcus, was about to protest with va, 0arcus was a >uiet man, not much to tal$ with. ( don*t $now, you*restill so young nna, /e turned saying to nna, the va slammed her fist on the table. &o nna is going0arcus, ( $now your always saying ?don*t get in my business when it comes to raising my child* "ut fact of thematter is nna is 1 a full grown adult, nna you didn*t even have to as$. nd her


4/39

beauty isn*t going to last forever, ( will promise you that. 0ay as well find a suitor in her prime while she stillhas full wor$ing, birthing hips. nna didn*t li$e it when va mentioned how birthing nna*s hips loo$ed. "ut

va had a point, nna didn*t need 0arcus* permission for things anymore.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 thesame 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 theretonight2 she couldn*t help but feel the butterflies flutter in her stomach. s she went through her doors loo$ingfor her costume.

fter giddy girl 'umping and silent screaming into her pillow, she finally found her costume. nna pulled it onover 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$, and >uite simple. -ainting her lipsa bright red, she was ready to leave. s she observed herself, she noticed how beautiful she really was, hercurves finally fit with the dress. %earing long blac$ gloves, and thigh high boots under her dress. he placed onher mother*s nec$lace, it was a silver loc$et. %hen you opened it, it was a picture of her mother and father. (twas a cho$y nec$lace so it didn*t fall down her corset. s nna chec$ed herself for the last time. he heard asmall tap on the window2 she wal$ed to the window and opened. (t was 7arret, nna*s crush, her best friend,(sbell, and a few of her minor friends.

re you coming= (sbell as$ed, nna shoo$ her head and said. :es8 (*ll be down in a minute8 %ith that sheshut and latched the window shut, then ran down stairs. s she did she passed 0arcus and va. va caught her

by the arm and said. %ell hold on a second and let us get a loo$ at you. Twirl around for me. nna smiled andturned around, va gasped and said. Oh, you loo$ 'ust li$e your dear mother, so beautiful2 ( don*t thin$ you*llhave any trouble finding a groom tonight. (sn*t that right 0arcus= va as$ed loo$ing at 0arcus, 0arcusgrumbled then said. :ou loo$ very beautiful nna, go and have fun, but not too much fun. That was the lastthing he said before nna made her way out the door. "ye8 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$ed. Then 7arret turned to her, nna felt herself blush, she curtseyed and he bowed. hall we go= /eas$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 reeledwith 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$en men*s shouts. 7arret had pulled nna away from thecrowd2 nna too$ a small sip from wine as 7arret spo$e.


5/39

!isten after this were going to "lac$wood 0anor8 :ou want to come= 7arret as$ed in a high whisper, nnaalmost spit her wine out. :es8 B"ut, why= nna as$ed, 7arret then said. :ou*ll see when we get there.

nna couldn*t refuse, 7arret was going to be there, she li$ed the feeling of brea$ing some rules, and she wouldfinally see what had become of 9ictor "lac$wood.Only four of the friends, including, nna, 7arret, (sbell, and ri$. ri$ who was a new member who was

founded by (sbell. Only two got in the carriage as ri$ and 7arret drove. nna and (sbell tal$ed e)citingly abouttheir night. (sbell e)plained how she found ri$ alone, as$ed him to dance. Then she was golden, they dancedthrough each song together. nna a little daAed from the one glass of wine, felt herself go nauseated. s thestreet went from cobblestone to dirt road. -retty soon it began to rain, and thunder too$ place of the nightsounds.

fter what felt li$e hours to nna, was only fifty minutes for everyone else. They stopped in front of a big irongate. The gates loo$ed as if they had been beaten into many times. #ead veins of plants grew around the gatesfor so long. They had closed the gates shut, nna and (sbell loo$ed through the window in the carriage as 7arretand ri$. 0ade efforts in brea$ing the plants loose from the gate to force it to open. They opened the carriagewith umbrellas, nna stepped out careful to not getting mud on her dress or shoes. "y now the road was onceagain worn cobblestone. he wal$ed with 7arret through the gate, and threw the wal$ way.Then the grey manor came into view, va 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 thetallest 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. lright, weregoing to go see it, were going to go see if the legends are true. nna began to tremble with e)citement, as ri$

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 withouta second thought. %ait nna, have you forgotten all about us8 (sbell said chasing after her, ta$ing ri$ by thehand, and of course 7arret not far behind. fter a few feet, nna slowed2 this really was the tallest tower. hecouldn*t imagine wal$ing up and down these all the time. o what do you thin$ he*ll loo$ li$e= (sbell as$ed,

( don*t $now, some say he always loo$ed freshly dead. Others say he turned to ash. ri$ answered as theymade their way up. nna, you $now when we were $ids you always claimed you would meet 9ictor"lac$wood. (sbell said, giggling. #oes, somebody have a crush on 9ictor "lac$wood= (sbell said, seeinghalf of nna*s face, nna turned around and said. &o, ( don*t ever $now what he loo$s li$e. (sbell and 7arretgiggled as they could see nna was lying.%hen they too$ 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 $neesgo wea$.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. nder it was someone no one has seen for years. (n the middleof the white, something long and big stuc$ out.


6/39


7/39

ri$ was too drun$ to care, (sbell then waited then said. m, see old myths, it*s not true. %ow, ( was worriedhe was going to come bac$ to life, steal you, and ma$e you his bride. (sbell said with a nervous laugh, nnathen loo$ed down at him.

Diss him, $iss him, $iss him8 7arret and (sbell started to chant, nna then couldn*t help herself, but be thecenter of their attention, and she didn*t want to disappoint him. nna leaned down again, and $issed his oncemore. "ut something was different, his lips weren*t cold anymore. (n fact they were warming up, she opened hereyes. 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 eyesflashed open at her. They were bright red, then he frowned. /e deeply into nna and she found herself unable tomove, his handsome gaAe peered into her. he loo$ed with her eyes to see her friends. They were perfectly still2he loo$ed bac$ where nna*s gaAe was headed. /is frown deepened, he tired to lift himself, but found itchallenging. /e groaned as he gave up, nna found herself to move again. he 'umped off the bed, but his handcaught her*s. nna then felt 7arret at her side trying to urge her out. nna what are you doing8= Eome on8 /ehoarsely 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 youthought you loved just killed you. To soon find out your home was in ruins, and soon find out your family wasdead. And it was fifty years later; youd be pretty scared and angry too. And to only have a stranger in yourmitts you think you can trust, and soon have to marry . ust because she pulled the blade from your woundedheart.

7arret we have to help him. nna said loo$ing at 7arret, 7arret was shoc$ed and angry and said. :ou wantus to help this thing8 &obody comes bac$ to life8 Only /e can do that, not witchcraft. /e*s a demon8 :ou can*ttrust him8 nna loo$ed into 7arret*s eyes, and suddenly became very protective over 9ictor. /e*s not a thing8/e*s 'ust a human who*s deathly scared8 nna said sternly loo$ing at 7arret, (sbell wal$ed over and said.

7arret*s right nna how do you $now we can trust the undead8 nna loo$ed at all of them and said. -lease8!et this be a secret8 /e wouldn*t hurt anybody, loo$ at him8 /e can barely get out of bed8 nna said pointingat him, she turned bac$ to 9ictor to see slightly hurt in his eyes.7arret bac$ed away with the drun$en ri$ by his side, then said. (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. ither youget out of my way, or you die with him8 ( don*t want to do this, come with me, and be my wife. t the

proposal, she felt the pressure around her hand tighten. nna wal$ed closer bac$ to the bed, ta$ing his handtighter. nna loo$ed at (sbell, then said. 7o, (sbell, ( don*t want you to get hurt, go. he urged, (sbell didn*twant to abandon her friend, but she respected nna*s wishes.(sbell bac$ away leading ri$ out of the room, (sbell left the door wide open. (n case a >uic$ escape for nna

was needed. 7arret 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$. nna placed her body between 9ictor and7arret, nna felt 9ictor s>ueeAe her arm. Then tried to pull her out of the way, nna turned around. /e loo$edat her with desperation2 he didn*t want nna to get hurt.


8/39

nna loo$ed at him, and he got the message he understood what she had to do. /e too$ her hand and placed iton the left side of his hip. nna grasped the handle of a sword, and then 7arret spo$e again.


9/39

body. nna did a >uic$ curtsy before saying. nna Caventail, it*s a pleasure to meet you. -roperly of course.%ith that he finally too$ some steps, getting use to his body again. /e wal$ed with lots of muscle weightingdown on him2 he had wide shoulders and small waist. 9ictor turned around, his hands placed on his hips. Thenhe loo$ed at nna, wondering what was to be done ne)t. Then he remembered, he stood straight and said. %asit my father who sent you= nna then remembered, she folded her hands in front of her. 0r. "lac$wood, doyou $now how long you*ve be asleep= 9ictor thought for a moment, and then answered. wee$ maybe.

nna didn*t wish to be the bearer of bad news, but she said.0r. "lac$wood, your father, he has passed on. (t has been fifty years since, you*ve been asleep. 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 $nows. m do you remember a woman by the name ofva= 9ictor loo$ed up and smiled, then he said. :es, she was >uite a funny woman. %hy do you as$="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 ofwhat happened that night. very unday, she told me you were $ind, but fierce, gentle, but frightening. ( useyou listen to those stories as a little girl, and ( always wondered what had become of you. That is why ( camehere tonight, to see if the stories of 9ictor "lac$wood were true. nd tonight, that legend has proven itself.

nna said, 9ictor loo$ed at her, a weary smile formed on his lips.( would li$e to yet again meet va, one of these days.( am sure she would love to meet you as well. "ut ( thin$ we both need to rest first. 9ictor shot up from the

chair and said. ( have rested long enough, (*m sore not tired. "ut ( image you are, hopefully the manor hasn*tfallen 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. 9ictor offered, nna thought for a moment. &o, by the time we reachtown it would be the afternoon of tomorrow. nd besides (*m sure 7arret would love to tell va and my father.That ( was here, no doubt we*ll being seeing my father one of this days. nd of course va, hec$, once shehears about this. he*ll drive a horse here herself if she has too. nna said giggling imaging va on a smalls$inny horse, with her white hair flying the wind.

( imagine she would, she was a very independent woman. 9ery fun to be around. nna didn*t want to pressthe >uestion then why didnt you choose her instead of !arry "eth# "ut nna $ept it to herself2 nna noticed9ictor no longer needed any help. s they made their way down the stairs. (t was >uiet both tired to bring up aconversation. "ut each sentence ended in aw$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 thefront 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.


10/39

of people. They all loo$ed as if they were staff, but they all wore horrified glances. he loo$ed to 9ictor for ananswer. /e shoo$ his head and frowned, and then he too$ her hand and said. Eome, we must go somewherefirst. omething is wrong, all these statues, they represent all of my staff.

nna $new it2 some $ind of curse had befallen the manor. s they wal$ed past each statue they loo$ed as ifthey were running for the door, but none made it. 9ictor started with a fast wal$, urging to get to where ever heneeded to get. #on*t let go of my hand, you may not be protected from the spell. (n till we find you somethingto bloc$ the curse from you. nna didn*t want to turn into stone, and forever be stuc$. nna gripped his handtighter, 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 traceddoors. %ith a big stone loc$ on it, 9ictor then whispered something again. The loc$ fell off, 9ictor turned thehandle, 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. re theysupposed to be there= nna as$ed, 9ictor didn*t let go of her hand and said. :es, don*t fret2 they are none ofmy staff. /old on a minute, ( thin$ ( remember where it++.uare gardens. nnaunderstood and nodded2 she pulled her long hair from under the chain and as$ed. %hat*s going on, ( thoughtthe manor would be ruins within= 9ictor shoo$ his head and busied himself at a rather large des$, full ofdrawings, papers, mountains of boo$s. 9ictor stopped at one picture2 he pulled it from the des$ and gave it anintense 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$e. %hat*s that= 9ictor shoo$himself from nna and said. (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$ing nothing but this language. Ean understand itconte)t, loo$s li$e my father was trying to translate the words on the dagger.

nna thought for a minute then said. /e must have found something useful on there. va use to say afterwee$s your father went mad. /e ran around town claiming that he had figured out a way to awa$en you. Thatthe ?one* must pull the dagger from the cursed one*s chest. /e had almost every women and girl in town try. -uton was able to, ( see now your father was not mad.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$. nna recogniAed the writing to be gyptian. 9ictor wal$edover to the rather fluffy rug, and sat down. nna flowed and loo$ed over his shoulder. :ou read gyptianwriting= nna as$ed over his shoulder, he turned his head. :es, come listen to this. /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 shewaited for him to say something.


11/39

( thin$ my father was studying how to free me from the curse, because loo$ at this. /e placed the large boo$down, where there seemed to be gyptian style art telling a story. t first it showed a man and women, whoseemed to be holding each.Then 9ictor read aloud. %hen the &ile followed, and crops grew, the peaceful -haraoh u$e. !oo$ed for wifeafter his rule, at the time of his decision a women appeared. he was beautiful, he loved her for all she was.

nna and 9ictor turned their head to ne)t page, this time it was a picture of the women in a crouch position.The 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.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. "ut the women*s mind grew so sic$, she no longertrusted her partner to be. On the day of the wedding, is when the sic$ness too$ its toll upon the women. nnaloo$ed on the ne)t page to see the women stab the man with a dagger. The dagger loo$ed e)actly li$e the one in9ictor*s room. The man seemed to fall bac$, with red flying from his chest. The women then $illed her loverthat day. "ut yet he was not dead, the people called this curse, The leeping #ead. %hen the pharaoh was curse,the land began to die, and so along with its people. The people feared the palace, for all of the pharaoh*sservants along with him. uestions. nd all the while, boo$s and wind in the room grew craAy. "oo$s threw themselvesfrom the shelves, the wind whirled around nna. he gripped her shoulder to try and protect herself from thecold breeAes, she didn*t want to upset him more. nna then soon realiAed the notation. /e was a wiAard, nnawas told that wiAards and mages. sed emotions to fuel their magic.


12/39

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. (*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 $now what happens in the storyne)t. "ut, we can find out, go through your father*s wor$ and find an answer to all of this. 9ictor then leteverything 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, heseemed 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. %as it your motherwho died= 9ictor as$ed, nna*s memories returned to that fateful day.

:es, she was very sic$ for a long time. he got sic$ when ( was 15 years, and for about ; years she was in bed.


13/39

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 maidenlives so does the male. They say if a witch is successful in $illing the maiden, the male will physically live, buthis depression consumes him.


14/39

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. %e*ll figure out something tomorrow.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 $eep her eyes open. 9ictor opened a door, to reveal a guestroom. (t was bright red and a fire burned, huge windows were on her left. nna loo$ed to see it had startedsnowing, the gentle fla$es made nna even more tired. 9ictor noticed her weariness and lead her to the bed. hesat for a minute, then lay down. Ta$ing small pillows and buried away her head, she heard 9ictor giggle amoment. "efore she felt him pull a blan$et over her, nna buried herself deeper into the sheets. Then noticedthat she was still wearing the itchy dress. lthough she was more tired than itchy. he felt the cover lift againand two fingers press over her brow. (n that moment, the dress turned into a sil$ nightgown.

nna smiled in comfort, then felt the cover move bac$ over her face. Eurling into a ball, she heard the doorshut. 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.


15/39

nna lic$ed her lips ;3 minutes later, with the silver tray completely empty. nna sat up from the bed andstretched her arms and legs. Then she loo$ed out the windows, it was still snowing. nna then felt the nec$lacestill on, she went to a mirror and opened the loc$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 thedresser, and when she touched the $nob to open the middle drawer. he heard yelp, nna 'umped bac$. Thenthe warobe itself, turned into the shape of a women. %ith doors running down the front of her figure. heloo$ed li$e she had a long dress on, for nna saw no legs. "ut drawers going up and down her front. Thedresser lady placed her hands on her hips. Eareful please, these things are very fragile. he said, nnanodded. Then the women said.


16/39

lbert and nna came to the study door, lbert $noc$ed on the door there was no answer. lbert opened thedoor, 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. %here is he= nna as$ed, lbert shoo$ his head in confusion. ( don*t $now, ( shall gofind him, you stay here. (*ll be right bac$, no pee$ing.

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 manywell drawn pictures as well, of gardens and the forest. nd among many other sceneries nna didn*t seem torecogniAe.

nna decided while waiting she*d loo$ around. uiteenough of witches. 9ictor claimed nna was not a witch, and by what he was observing, he was right.


17/39

9ictor let the spell die, and tapped nna on the shoulder. nna slammed the boo$ closed and loo$ed bac$ at9ictor. /oping not being in trouble for being caught red handed doing magic. 9ictor, you scared me, um, howmuch of that did you see= he as$ed, 9ictor grinned and said. ll of it. 9ictor then whipped out a fireball ofhis own 'uggling it in his hands. Then let it the fireball die, nna pulled out another one and stood. ( am doingthis right, because yours is a different color= nna was right, 9ictor*s fireball was the color of green. nna*swas of regular organ fire colors. :es, it wouldn*t change color in till your ready. nyway having fun= nnanodded and swirled the fireball in her fingers. :es, (*m sorry if (*m not supposed to. ( wouldn*t have unless the

boo$ didn*t change to nglish for me.9ictor pic$ed of the boo$ and loo$ed at it, it was the same as always. re you sure= nna nodded and said.:es, the symbols 'ust changed to nglish for me. ( 'ust read it and well. he let the fireball die.

9ictor focused on the boo$ for a moment before nna as$ed. m, you said you found something= 9ictorloo$ed up and smile ran across his face. /e placed the boo$ down and went to the des$, then he turned and said.

( found something they may help us. Then he read something written down on a piece of paper.(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 mistresswho pulled the dagger from you. nyway, here are clearer terms of the curse. 0arry "eth, she had long lefttown after your death. ( e)pect according to the boo$s in the study, she is no less on her way bac$ to $ill theyoung 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$en0arry "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 tothe writing on the dagger. The young girl will gain magic in her blood, she will be able to fight for herself ifneed be. "ut according to the dagger, if the mistress is slain, not only she dies, but the land around her as well.

nna waited to see if 9ictor would continue, but he didn*t. That*s it= nna as$ed, 9ictor nodded his headand put the paper bac$ down. %ell... ( guess all we can do is wait in till we find a way to defeat her. nnasaid, 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, 9ictorheld his hand out bloc$ing nna, a few feet from the door. /e loo$ed outside the peep hole, then a familiar andrather funny yelling too$ place. 9ictor "lac$wood, you let me see my granddaughter right now8 (ts, 'ust

va. /e said, he unloc$ed the door, and opened it. On the other side were 0arcus and va. 0arcus too$ oneloo$ 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. nna were leaving right now, ( wouldn*t let you become a

#emon "ride8 s 0arcus firmly grabbed nna*s hand and was rushing her out the door. %ait da@8 0arcus bac$ed into nna as 0arcus gaAed upon 9ictor. 9ictor, very unsure how to act.


18/39

rched over yelping, as va hit 9ictor in the head with a purse. 9ictor bac$ed away from the craAy old womenwith the purse. That*s for not returning my granddaughter home. Oh for goodness sa$e 0arcus, he*s not goingto 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.9ictor then chec$ed his hair, then straightened. m, it*s finally good to ma$e your ac>uaintance 0r.

Caventail. nna has told me so much about you. va placed her hands on her hips and grunted, then 9ictorturned to her. ( it is a very special and really deeping pleasure to see a long time friend. %elcome bac$ va0orningwood. va then smiled and said. (t*s good to see you too 9ictor, it*s been a long time.

va and 9ictor had departed, leaving 0arcus and nna. nna led 0arcus to the room where she was stayingfor awhile. nna and 0arcus en'oyed a game of chess. %hen 0arcus stopped and said. /oney bird, ( thin$ weneed to. nna loo$ed up from the game and said. bout what= he as$ed, then 0arcus sighed heavily.

bout you pulling the blade, and you marrying two different men. nna then thought for a moment. Then sheremembered, she was destined to marry 9ictor, and she promise 7arret.

&ow, in the eyes the !ord, you made you vowels to 7arret. &ot 9ictor, nna ( don*t believe he*s such a nice boy. nna then grew angry she hated how people 'udged 9ictor before they even meet him. /e*s very $ind inthe manner of spea$ing. /e was $ind to me, last night we were trying to figure out how to brea$ the curse, andfather ( can*t leave. ( don*t thin$ you and va should either. 0arcus loo$ed as if nna had been bewitched.

%hat do you mean= /e as$ed, then nna said.


19/39

argue about= nna was crying so hard she couldn*t spea$, everything was changing so fast. /er father hadcompletely 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$ed up2 9ictor had a slit hinge of anger for 0arcusfor ma$ing nna cry so hard.

0other, nna, we are leaving now. nna turned to him, then nna pulled 9ictor*s protective arms stillaround her to show her father. I have chosen, and there is nothing you can do about it. he saw her father*s facegrow red. :ou are coming nna, as your father, ( still own you, and you are marrying 7arret8 va thenscreamed at 0arcus, and for the first time 0arcus said. hut up women, you spea$ to a man li$e that again and( sell you over to the "ritish ervant ociety8 va stepped bac$, 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, andshe could feel 9ictor*s arms tighten around her.

7 T O T88 nna shouted as she shot away from 9ictor and loo$ed at 0arcus straight in the eye.:ou are coming with me8 :O %(!! 0 CC: 7 CC T8 :O %(!! & 9 C - D TO

0 & !(D T/( 9 C 7 (&, :O / C 0 88 %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*seyes turned a bright red as he said. &ever hit her again, father or not. /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. ndthe door slammed shut and loc$ed itself. Then 0arcus continued to bang on the door.

va was crying in shoc$ of her son ever saying that to her. nna still on the floor shoc$ed by the hit, 9ictorwal$ed to her. /e bent down, and loo$ed at her. /e lifted her up into his arms, and she buried her face into hischest. he hung onto him with dear life and cried her eyes out. va then wiped her eyes clean, then said. 9ictorif what you told me is true, then ( do believe that 0arry "eth is here. nd she posses my son. nna, that was notyour father, he would never yell or hit you li$e that. Then thought of it, va maybe right. Then she needed totell 9ictor what 0arcus said. 9ictor, 0arcus mentioned, or what it sounded li$e was. (f ( marry another, thenthe bond between us, is bro$en. nd the curse on me will be bro$en. "ut you will wonder aimless on the earthas a rotting corpse. nd ( promised ( wouldn*t let that happen to you, and ( am sorry for him. /e would neversay that.9ictor held her closer to him, then said. (*m sure, va has told me about him, and so have you. /e sounds li$e

a good man, and ( hope to properly meet with him. Once we defeat 0arry "eth and end the curse. va thensaid. 9ictor, ( thin$ this old women needs to ta$e a wal$ for a moment. 9ictor nodded and said. (*ll ta$e

nna to her room. /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 theune)pecting 9ictor down with her. This unnormal for most people, no man or women, were ever in the same

bed together unless married.


20/39

nna doesn*t this seem a bit improper= /e as$ed, as he was stiff. nna shoo$ her head and said. :es, butmy father, ( have always had a man in my life. nd now, you*re all ( have 9ictor. 9ictor seemed to wearilysmile, and then nna spo$e again. /e and 7arret spo$e so cruelly of you, before they even got to $now you,and+ nna then felt a rush of emotion swipe past her li$e a wave, she couldn*t control her hormones. 9ictorsaw 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. /olly, come out here please.

/olly the little dresser turned into her half human form.:es master= Tell me of the deciousion nna and her father were having. /olly sighed and said. ( don*t

$now if you*ll be happy or confused by this but. nna*s father suggested nna to marry 7arret, and that nnawas under a spell. nna said this after her father claimed this. ?(< 0 CC:(&7 7 CC T %(!! #O T/ T TO9(ETOC, T/ & ( C T/ C #( 888 ( %O !# 0 CC: 9(ETOC O9 C 7 CC T, (& < ET. That*s e)actlywhat (*m going to do, if 9ictor proposes and spea$s his vowels of promise to me. Then ( will marry him. "utnow, ( recline my vowel to 7arret, the wedding is off* . /olly said this by opening her mouth and nna*s voicewas 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 whatmade them live for such a long time. 9ictor remembered his father, he remembered 9ictor*s father alwaysloo$ing the age of ;4. Only when other mortals saw him, did he ma$e himself loo$ li$e a middle aged man.9ictor*s father was G4; years old when 9ictor was stabbed. 9ictor then wondered, now that nna had magic inher blood. Eould it be possible that she would live a long youthful li$e himself.=9ictor wal$ed over to her, she awo$e him. he choose him, today, by hiding within 9ictor*s arms. he chosehim2 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 $iss of life was given to him. nd he didn*teven as$ 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 $new it wasn*t the curse*s connection binding him to this. (t was true feeling, a feeling his only recogniAedwhen he saw 0arry "eth at the ball. "ut nna was something else, she was made for him./e wal$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. 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.


21/39

n hour later, nna awo$e, she got up and wondered how she had fallen asleep. he got out of bed in the greendress. he brushed her hair >uic$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 humanhalf furniture or half human half animal people. %hen she called for lbert, not even he showed himself. Themanor was dar$, the candles blown out. nd everything was eerily >uiet2 nna made her way to the study. "ut9ictor was not there, the fireplace was even blown out. The windows gave a blue grey light as shadows ofsnowfla$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


22/39

"ut more corpse li$e, his clothes tattered in his groom outfit. /is face a blue pale and large dar$ circles formedaround his eyes, and on one side of his face. %as what loo$ed li$e a spot of his rotting chee$, you could see histeeth 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$ed at her with sadness and anger all at the same time.%hy= /e simply as$ed%hy, what= 9ictor what happened to you== nna as$ed with worry and panic in her voice. %hy= %hy did

you marry him nna. 0y sweet nna, why did you marry 7arret= :ou said you loved me, you said we*d betogether for the rest of forever. %hy, why my love. %hy do you no longer love me= nna had completely noidea what he was tal$ing about. %hat= ( didn*t marry 7arret, 9ictor please tell me what is going on= %hy areyou li$e this 9ictor, please answer my >uestion. ( don*t love 7arret ( never will and ( would never ever marryhim. Then why did you, nna be with me forever. ( love you, be with me forever. /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 ofsomething. 9ictor $issed her, nna couldn*t help but $iss bac$ then he murmured under his breath. "e with meforever. 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 tearcame from his eye. Then she heard his voice in the distant calling her name.

verything then was pitch blac$ again, and she was lying on a bed, and someone was sha$ing her. nna, nna,nna wa$e up8 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. nna, are you alright=pea$ to me8 nna then loo$ed at him and said. (*m alright. Then 9ictor too$ her within his arms and held

her. ( had thought 0arry really had gotten to you. :ou*d had been screaming in your sleep for over threehours. 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 herstomach2 she lifted her shirt, to see a small, but deep punched mar$ on her lower stomach. Oh my+ nnathen 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 thewound 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. :ou*re not sic$, but how in the world did you get that stabmar$. #id you dream of someone $illing you= nna loo$ed at him with sad eyes, then she said. :es, as a>uiet whisper. %ho, or what did this person loo$ li$e= nna couldn*t bring herself to answer loudly, but thenshe said. +++.you did. /e seemed to hear her cause he shot up in shoc$. %hat= /e as$ed >uietly. :oudid, it was awful the manor was in ruins the whole place there wasn*t anybody. t first though everything wasnormal, 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


23/39

around and there you were. "ut you loo$ed li$e a corsep your hands were bones, all of the color had beendrained from you. Then you as$ed why ( had married 7arret, and why ( left. Then you got close to me, you werewhispering something. Then you $issed me, then stabbed me. "ut 9ictor no that would never happen. hehung 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 inthe mirror reflection, and undead 9ictor holding her. he pushed him away and loo$ed at him with her owneyes. /e was alive and normal 9ictor. he loo$ed bac$ and him and herself in the mirror. %hat, what did yousee= /e as$ed her. Oh, 9ictor ( can*t tell what is a dream and what is real. Fust a minute, ( saw your corsepholding me.

Oh no. /e whispered, then nna loo$ed at him. %hat oh no= he as$ed him, then he as$ed. #id you fatherleave anything while he was here. nything, even if it*s the smallest thing= %ell, no, ( didn*t seem him setdown anything. Then 9ictor got off the bed, and loo$ed under it. Then he spotted something, he pulled out awood doll. -oorly made, it was 'ust stic$s tided together to loo$ li$e a doll. %hat is it= nna as$ed pulling thecovers further over herself. (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 wasspealiAed in the tric$s of the mind, and spirits of the undead of unfortunate futures. This doll will tell us a lotmore, if the doll ma$es the flames burn blue then the spirit connected to the doll isn*t here. "ut if the fire turnsgreen, then loo$s li$e the spirit in your dreams may be here with us. nna loo$ed terrified then she loo$ed atthe doll and then at the fire. Throw it. 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 thattoo$ place of the beautiful organ flames. The spirit, then was in the room with nna and 9ictor.

%hat $ind of spirit is it, it can*t be you= nna as$ed as 9ictor sat at the des$ reading through a rather thic$ boo$. (t sounds li$e, an Ombre (nconnue, meaning nameless shadow in


24/39

fingers on it. (t maybe her only chance, she was sure her mother didn*t mind. (f it was to save her life, althoughnna didn*t want to give up one of things her mother left to her. (t was what they had to wor$ with. %hat

about this= nna as$ed, and then she too$ of the cho$y nec$lace. nd handed it to 9ictor, he opened andas$ed. :es, this will wor$, is this your mother= /e as$ed loo$ing at the picture of the young women. :es,when she was my age, is when she also meet my father. 9ictor closed the loc$et then said. %e*ll have to gainmore information about the spirit though. The ealing can ta$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 andthat 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 wayhe can, and isolate you. (*ve already placed a spell around va when you were sleeping. he*ll be fine, but wecan*t tell her the more people that don*t $now the better.

nna nodded in agreement, then she heard a voice calling her in the distance. /e*s calling for me. nna said,9ictor was up and in front of nna. nna stood up and said. %e should go somewhere he can*t. he grabbedhis arm, and was leading 9ictor out the door. Then they both turned toward the fire place as they saw embersruffle in the air, as if a roc$ was thrown in the fire. nna was at his side now, she wal$ed forward to seenothing. he turned around to face 9ictor while saying. %ell doesn*t loo$ li$e++ he turned around andgasped the undead 9ictor was right behind the real 9ictor. 9(ETOC " /( :O 8 he shouted, 9ictorturned around and when he did. Eorpse 9ictor pushed him hard enough to send him flying through the air andinto 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. &O8 nna yelled.he couldn*t believe it, 9ictor, was dead.nna turned around in a rage and shouted. :O C &OT 9(ETOC8 :O D(!! # /(08 "ut when she

said the spirit flashed away in blac$ smo$e. #on*t you see. (s what she heard coming from the walls, shetwisted and turned as she heard him continue. /e, was an imposter, he was trying to $eep us apart. T/ C( &O 8 he shouted bac$, then she bac$ away and felt herself bump into somebody. Dnowing who thatwas she flashed away and loo$ed at Eorpse 9ictor.


25/39

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$. 9ictorhow did you+. he was pointing at him and at the fireplace at the same time. (ts part of being a mage.

nyway he didn*t hurt you did he= /e as$ed, &o, he didn*t but are you immortal= nna as$ed, 9ictor hopedshe wouldn*t. :es, and so was my father, my mother was mortal. nna felt herself go numb, all of her energywas suddenly drained from her. ( thin$ ( need to sit. nna then sat bac$ on the couch. Too much for oneday= 9ictor as$ed, nna nodded and said. :eah, but (*m too scared to sleep, for fear that he*ll try to $ill me inmy dreams again. nna fought to $eep herself awa$e, 9ictor sat with her and said. (*ll watch over youtonight, ( don*t really sleep anymore. nd ( rarely find myself tired. Ean*t you cast a sleep so ( don*t sleep=

nna as$ed li$e a whinny child. &o, sorry, if ( do that you could age faster. "ut then it ma$es everything morecomplicated considering you magic in your blood now. :ou could be immortal now, or still be mortal. o, thatwould end badly. nna threw her head bac$, and whined even more. Then fell to lay on her side on the bigfluffy couch, and then she too$ the purple fluffy blan$et and wrapped herself in the blan$et. Then (*m notleaving the study.

-erfect, it ma$es my research easier. 9ictor said getting up and wal$ing to the des$. /e sat and began toresearch and write.

nna fell asleep to the white noise, or crac$ling embers and a >uill scratching letters on the paper. nd everyonce in awhile she heard 9ictor flip a page of a boo$. nd every once in awhile she felt him stare at her. nnathen heard the door open and an elderly women voice whom she presumed was va. (s she asleep= va as$ed,

nna heard 9ictor place his >uill bac$ in the in$ well and say. :es, deep in sleep if you as$ me. 7ood because ( need to spea$ with you.

nna then grew interested, why would they be tal$ing about her behind her bac$= (t*s about nna, 9ictor, andmore importantly about you. :ou $now you don*t have a lot of time left. nna then thought, a lot of time forwhat= ( $now, ( feel my body growing wea$er. ( barely resurrected myself today when battling 0arry*s Ombre(nconnue. 9ictor, you must speed this love thing up. :ou and nna had only $nown each for three days, butthe spell won*t last for long. :ou $now what you must do, you must marry nna. ( $now, but she deservestime to+ nd so do you, (*m sure nna would understand. :ou heard what /olly told you, nna 'ust wantsyou to as$ 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. ( $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 eitherway 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. #on*t you worry about that as long as you and nna have each other you*ll be fine. :ou*ve got fourdays left 9ictor, ( suggest, you go and find your family ring. ( can*t, because, 0arry "eth has it. ( can*t marrywithout it. The magic wouldn*t allow me too. nd in four days if ( can*t get the ring, you heard nna today. hedoesn*t want that to be my fate, if she heard us tal$ing. :ou $now her better than ( do, although ( am afairedshe*ll do something rasce. :our probley right, but 9ictor you*re going to be all she has soon. ( don*t havemuch time myself, (*m ; years old the spell you cast on me only $eeps me alive until ( have guided the youthto 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


26/39

did ( e)pect it to be my granddaughter, the day she was born. ( thought nothing of ta$ing her there2 ( loved hermore than time itself. ( didn*t want her to get hurt, ( never $new she somehow found her way up to the tower.

nd now loo$, e)usted, she has to fight the spirit herself and 0arry "eth. "ut ( strongly suggest you tell nnaof the ring. (f the ring isn*t the Cing of "lac$wood, then the wedding will seem li$e it never even happened. Onthe day you and nna marry then ( will pass. "ut while in here for the ne)t fifty years as a ghost, ( do e)pect tosee some great grandbabies. 9ictor giggled and then said. ( will, ( can*t face 0arry "eth, because she holdsmy family power. (f ( were to step outside the walls of the manor, my power will wane. Only when ( have theCing of "lac$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.The conversation ended there, as va pressed on about wanting to have one of the great grandchild named vathe second. nna thought for a long time, he has four days, and nna wants to get the ring. &o, she needed toget 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 herselffrom 9ictor. /e was going to cling and follow nna around li$e a lost puppy. Then nna needed to figure outhow she was going to convince the spirit. he didn*t want to lie to the poor thing, it was suffering enough pain.Then most li$ely 9ictor was always aware of where nna was at moment of the e)act day. o it would bealmost impossible for nna to leave without 9ictor noticing then following her out of the manor. "ut sheneeded 9ictor here, where he was safe, nna had to do this tomorrow. he had to find 0arry "eth and get thering. 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 mechialstudent and living with a doctor while your mother was sic$. nna pic$ed up on some things, li$e a dose of mechin that ma$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. lbert could you bring me a fresh pot of tea please= nna

as$ed. Of course my lady, right away. nna thought he meant in a few minutes, but as he entered his righthole, returned in G3 seconds. /ere my lady, would you li$e me to carry this for you= /e as$ed, nna shoo$her head and said. &o, (*ll be 'ust fine than$ you. (*ll bring it 9ictor, than$ you. he too$ the tray from lbertthen wal$ed to the study, before she entered she poured the mi) into the tea. tirred it nice and easy and wal$edinto the study.

Tea brea$. nna said as she wal$ed into the study. There you are, ( was being to get worried. 9ictor saidsetting the >uill down and stretching from the chair. nna placed the tea tray on the table and


27/39

poured the cups. lbert made it 'ust the way you li$e it. nna said as 9ictor sat ne)t to her, 9ictor too$ thecup from her. Then stopped and smelled the tea and said. (t smells different, did lbert add some new leafs inhere= mells li$e normal tea to me. nna answered trying to cover her trac$s and not drin$ the tea. :oudrin$ it first. 9ictor said, nna wasn*t worried at all, throughout the years of being polite and eating things thatloo$ed disgusting. he had developed >uite the talent for holding things in bac$ of her own throat and tal$ingclearly at the same time without swallowing. he swallowed and held the tea, then said. ee, tastes fine to me.

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. %hat did lbert put in that tea=

/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. (ts not what lbert put inthe tea, it*s what ( put in the tea. (*m going 9ictor, (*m going to get the ring from 0arry "eth. 9ictor in thestate of panic tried to reach for her but he was slowly fading. (*m not going alone2 (*m bringing the Ombre(nconnue 9ictor with me. ( will be bac$. nKna+ stop+.wait. %ith his last words he fell into a deepsedated sleep. nna placed a blan$et over him, then ran out and swung her cloa$ over her shoulders. he wasgoing 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. 9ictor, 9ictor, can ( comein= he as$ed, when she did the door slowly opened. he stepped in then sat on the bed, she wanted to be as ifshe was spea$ing to him normally. The door closed by itself, and then nna said. ( $now you*re mad, but ( 'ustwant to spea$ with you. nna 'ust heard the crea$ing of the floor boards, then a mirror appeared leaning on thewall near the door. eeing nna on the bed at first, then Ombre (nconnue 9ictor behind her, she loo$ed bac$ tosee he was not directly near her. he got up and wal$ed to the body lengthen mirror, with Ombre (nconnue9ictor following li$e a shadow behind her. ( 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 helpme, ( will help you anyway ( can.


28/39

he had curled, wild red hair, with painted bright red lips, bright green eyes. he had pale s$in, and a witchedsmile, nothing about her seemed warm. %earing tight, cheap, blac$ leather, and had colored tattoos decorate herchest and arms. nna thought if she got rid of the tattoos and wore better clothing she*d be really pretty.

%ell well, this is the girl who pulled my dagger out from my ) boyfriend. "y the way how is he= The girlas$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. %hat is your name= nnathat*s right, nna, na, nnie or whatever. 0arry "eth seemed to spea$ as though she were from a different

place. &ow, what do we do with you, the longer you live, the more my power fades. Or rather 9ictor*s power.he held up her ring finger for nna to see, the Cing of "lac$wood. golden ring with a blac$ gem placed on

it. nd of course your power, hope you mother doesn*t mind. he held up her right ring finger and there itwas. nna*s mother*s wedding ring, which was only a silver ring, with the words Caventail written on it. nnafelt herself grew angry her mother was buried with the ring.

7ive them bac$. nna said, 0arry threw her head bac$ and laughed. %ell, ( thought you*d be more politethen that, but even if you said please, no. %as all 0arry said. ( wor$ed hard for this power, ( thought 9ictorloved me too you $now. "ut he used me, 'ust li$e he*ll use you. "ut, then 9ictor was so cruel. nd let me guesshe didn*t tell you everything now did he= 0arry as$ed circling nna.

9ictor has done nothing wrong it was you who were the selfish one, you cursed him for power.Oh really, well let me show you what really happened between us. 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 wholoo$ed pretty for her middle age said. 9ictor darling, wait for mother. 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*smother 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 bychance, and by an un$nown force, dirty water from the gutter. plashed on to the group of girls. They screamedas the water hit them, then nna saw 9ictor ta$e 0arry by the shoulder and heard him whisper. 0arry don*t dothat. "ut they called me a+. #on*t care what they called, all that matters is what you thin$ of yourself.#on*t let them get to you darling. 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 herarms out to stop them. The girls ran right through nna.


29/39

nna loo$ed to an invisible force grab them by their an$les and drag them into a dar$ alley why. nna pluggedher ears as the sounds of gushing and flesh slashing echoed through the town. Then the vision shifted again, thistime the town police and 9ictor, along with his father at the scene. /is father did loo$ middle aged, and thenstanding on 9ictor*s side was 0arry "eth. %hen the bodies were being carried out, 9ictor pulled 0ary "eth toa nearby alley what.

%hat happened 0ary, the stench of #ar$ magic was all over the place. 9ictor said in horse whisper, then0ary began to sob. (t was my mother ( tried to stop her, ( tried to convince her of what you said. "ut she didn*tagree and she, she was the one who+ 0arry who have to stop your mother, my father $new it was her. 0ary,the Eouncil is getting together, to decide whether to... %hether to what 9ictor= %hether to $ill your motheror not, my father will be attending and so will (. 0arry your mother had $illed twenty girls over the past year.

( $now, but 9ictor ( don*t even $now if it*s her anymore, her soul is gone, ( feel it.The image faded again and this time, in the day again. "ut this time people were screaming. The carriage

crashed get a doctor, !ady "lac$wood, and !ady "eth are in there8 nna then saw the image fade again, andthis time nna was holding onto her mother crying. 9ictor came from behind her and placed his hand on hershoulder. 0arry turned around and hissed at 9ictor. (t*s your fault8 :ou could have stopped the Eouncil8 heshouted at him. :ou don*t thin$ (*m upset about this too8 &o one can stop the Eouncil8 0y mother wasn*t evensupposed to be in the carriage8 0arry got up and said. :ou are the cause you did this8 This is your families*fault8The vision faded, and nna was again in the #ar$


30/39

&o, 0arry, you leave my nna alone. %ith that said, he charged for 0arry, 0arry with an angry loo$ on herface. East an attac$ spell sending him bac$wards, he got up >uic$ly. 0arry stop it doesn*t have to be thisway8 nna shouted, 0arry turned to her and said. tay out of this you little bitch8 Ombre (nconnue 9ictorcharged 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 noeffect, then 0arry dropped from the s$y suddenly. !anding on her face she got up, and she was mess, dead leafswere ruffled in her hair. ee then loo$ed at her hands, the rings were gone.

&o, no, no, no+ he $ept repeating to herself as she scrambled through the leafs. &O8 he yelled then sheloo$ed at nna. ( may not have the power of a mage, but ( still have the power of a necromancer8 %ith thatshe screamed a word nna didn*t understand, and ground beneath her began to rise. nna got up and 'umpedoff the rising ground, and her an$le reeled with pain. he saw a fleshy, boney hand come from the ground andgrab her an$le with a death grip. he was sha$ing him off, when suddenly the two rings were dropped in frontof her. 0arry saw them and ran for the rings. "ut nna grabbed the rings, in a large force of light. The two ringscombined and grew into a powerful sword. The sword was light and powerful. nna too$ the sword and swungit at the figure rising from the ground that had her an$le. The figure let go, and nna was forced to limp throughthe pain. he held the sword up to 0arry, as she was only a few feet from nna. 9ictor, ( am you master (command you to $ill her8 0arry screamed, then nna saw Ombre (nconnue 9ictor*s reflection in the sword

blade. (*m sorry nna but, ( must obey my master, she created me.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$ 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.


31/39

nna sat in the snow, trying to warm herself. "ut the cold of the night was closing in, nna feared if she fellasleep 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 forhalf an hour. "ut $ept its distance, fearing the blade, which was firm in nna*s grasp. nna couldn*t helpherself any longer when her eyelids had finally shut. The creature behind the roc$, creped over, and smelled thegirl. CealiAing her scent, she smelled of "lac$wood, had they returned= /e wondered, were they here to heal theland and fill it with food once again= The creature then nudged at nna*s in'ured foot, nna 'er$ed up andgrabbed 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 eachother in the eyes for minutes.

re you a "lac$wood= The wolf, as$ed, nna then being use to things that were tal$ing and shouldn*t betal$ing.

&o, but ( am Caventail, and ( live within "lac$wood manor, with its master. 9ictor "lac$wood. The wolfseemed to recogniAe the name. 9ictor, were you the one who awa$ened him= nna nodded, the wolf thensaid. (, you smelled a lot li$e the boy. "ut what are you doing in the #ar$ uea$ingas he was out of breath. /ow, how, did she


32/39

get out master= nd why were you sleeping= lbert as$ed trying to straighten himself. nna put something inthe tea, and he forced my body to sleep. 9ictor said.

Oh this is my fault ( should have insisted ta$ing the tea to you master. lbert said while trying to help thedaAed 9ictor. (t*s not your fault, anyway have you tiredK "efore 9ictor could finish all throughout themanor, a wolf howl was heard loud and clear. 7ori$. 9ictor whispered, before finding his strength again, heran to the front of the manor. %ith wheeAing lbert not far behind, as 9ictor got to the door, va was alreadythere 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, shewas messy and loo$ed very tired. nna8 9ictor shouted and ran to her, nna fell over in e)ustment. he isfine, 9ictor 'ust tired, but you must heal her an$le once she is ready. 9ictor loo$ed up and said. Than$ you7ori$, it is good to see you again. 7ori$ then sniffed the side of 9ictor*s face, then leaned down to nna*s faceand gave her a small lic$.

:ou as well, !ord "lac$wood. Ehec$ under nna*s cloa$. 9ictor was curious and loo$ed, he gasped.Then pulled the handle away from nna*s buc$le, behind him he heard va gasp. The@the@the+ he couldn*teven finish its title. The word of


33/39

"ut lately nna rarely thought he cared anymore. verything was >uiet as nna, and 9ictor shared theirthoughts and emotions 'ust by loo$ing at each other. Then 9ictor bro$e the uncomfortable silence and said.

nna there*s been something (*ve been meaning to as$ you. /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. nna even thoughour time together has been short. ( have been meaning to as$ you this, since the day you wo$e me up.

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.

nna Caventail, will you marry me=nna stood speechless, and then she managed a soft whisper. yes. 9ictor didn*t >uite hear her, but then her

voice grew louder. yes, :es, : 8 nna screamed, 9ictor being >uite tall, nna tac$led him bac$wards in alarge hug. nna removed her head from 9ictor*s chest, to loo$ him in the face. large smile on both theirfaces. nna then pulled him in une)pected $iss, at first he was shoc$ed, then $issed her bac$.%hen they bro$e it, then slipped the ring on her finger, then 9ictor shouted. !" CT8 lbert was in theroom within a few seconds. :es, master, oh@ s he wal$ed in on nna and 9ictor. lbert, ( have ma'orchore for you. Tell /olly to ma$e a white dress with a veil, and prepare the ballroom for a wedding8 9ictorsaid with e)citement a big rat smile appeared on lbert*s face with his sharp buc$ teeth stic$ing out. :es sir8 (shall inform va at once sir8 %ith that he was out of the room. Oh 9ictor8 nna screamed into his chest, hethen grinned bigger seeing this is actual what she wanted. Oh ( have another surprise for you. 0r. Caventail,you can come in now. nna then loo$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 eyesunder his glasses. /i baby, (*m sorry, ( hit you, ( didn*t mean to. /e said, nna realiAed what he wasapologiAing for. he wal$ed over and embraced him in a large hug. ( $now daddy, ( love you, and ( needsomeone to wal$ me down the ale. nna said, her father pulled bac$, more tears streamed down his face. nnaturned around again and said. #id you= 9ictor nodded, nna turned and held him even tighter.Then a women burst open the door. lbert 'ust told me, it is tr@ va too$ one loo$ at 9ictor and nna,

noticing the shining ring on nna*s finger. he screamed with delight, she wal$ed over, grabbed nna by theface. Dissed both her chee$s then embraced her in a hug. Oh, loo$ at you, hope you don*t mind being called!ady "lac$wood. Oh, we don*t have much time, we have to send a message bird to (sbell. :ou and her alwaystal$ing about being each other*s brides* maid of honor. %ouldn*t want to disappoint her. Oh, nna, mygranddaughter is getting married8 "ut 9ictor, he turned her attention to 9ictor. ( do e)pect greatgrandchildren from you two. 0other, that*s a little too early to thin$ about, don*t you thin$= 0arcus as$ed,

va turned around. (ts perfect timing8 (*m going to die the day they get


34/39

married, bit (*ve got to spend fifty years here in my ghost hood. (*m at least going to see my great greatgrandchildren. 0arcus loo$ed distraught by the thought of va dying."ut then the thought of her in ghost hood, didn*t really sound li$e she was leaving them. "ut, what am (

standing here tal$ing about having babies. nna my dear it*s time to put those birthing hips to good use.7C 8 nna shouted, that was not e)actly something she wanted 9ictor to hear. nna loo$ed through

the corner of her eye, seeing 9ictor covering his large grin, and red chee$s.Oh well, what are standing here for, 9ictor when*s the wedding= va as$ed him. The day after tomorrow, at

13 in the morning. 9ictor said, then va then said. %e don*t have must time at all, nna you and me, weregoing up to see a 0essage -igeon. %rite a letter to (sbell straight away nna8 7o, go, go. hooing nna out ofthe 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,

Isbellnna 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 dressshould be light green, lbert and va returned with a tray. potted with flavored icing and in lbert*s otherhand was cubes cuts of ca$e. &ow, 9ictor said he li$e the chocolate ca$e with white icing, and strawberryfiling. lbert said, nna tried the combination, she didn*t li$e the chocolate ca$e part. s$ him about marbleca$e instead ( li$e everything else. lbert went out through his rat hole, va then said. lright, nna, haveyou messaged (sbell= va as$ed she sound out of breath. :es, ( did, she*s bring her fiancLe with her. heshould be here in about fifteen minutes. 7ood good, because you*re having either a "ridal hower or"acorlette party tomorrow. 9ictor is having a stag party tomorrow, he didn*t have one the last time. Then as awedding tradition, 9ictor isn*t allowed to see you the whole wedding day until you wal$ down the ale. &owthat*s the fun part, grooms li$e to see their brides before that time. :ou should as$ your father, he tried on hiswedding day. Dnowing 9ictor he*s going to try his hardest.


35/39

nna was almost barely listening, impatiently loo$ing at the cloc$. Then she heard a $noc$ at the door, va thensaw nna bolted from the chair. #etermined to get to the door first, still in a light pic$ sil$ robe and thigh highnight gown. nna opened the door, to see (sbell and ri$ behind her.

/i, nna, how are you, and wow@@@ %as all (sbell said as nna lead her in, and saw the stated of the manor."ut outside it loo$s all old and in ruins. ri$ 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 ri$ loo$ed li$e astrange little human man. (s that= (sbell said ta$ing one loo$ at 9ictor, seeing him clean, and lively. :es,that*s 9ictor, and he*s >uite nice and not demonic at all. ( want you and ri$ to meet him. nna said leading(sbell and ri$ to 9ictor, as 9ictor was done tal$ing with lbert. /e greeted (sbell in a formal gentleman way,then greeted ri$. /ello ( am 9ictor "lac$wood, welcome to "lac$wood 0anor, nna has told me much aboutyou (sbell. (sbell was ta$en abac$ by 9ictor stunning loo$s, when his features were awa$e and moving.

%ell ( wish ( could say the same about you, but this is my fiancL ri$ Fohnson. (sbell said showing ri$ to9ictor, the men shoo$ hands and ri$ said. /ello, it*s good to see you awa$e, and me sober. The men gave adeep hardly, a giggle, deep throat chuc$le.

fter an hour, (sbell was already having a long conversation with 9ictor then. %hen nna felt comfortableabout it. (sbell ( want to tell you the real reason ( as$ed you to come. nna stood up with 9ictor then said.

(sbell, ( would love to have you as my "rides 0aid of /onor. (sbell*s eye grew large, nna was glad she wassitting down. Then her smile grew almost to her ears, as she une)pectly got up and gave nna a tight hug. Tightenough to where nna could only say air8 (sbell let go of her and said. %here*s the ring= (sbell as$ed, nna

pulled her left hand from behind her with the ring on her finger. %ow, would you loo$ at that. (sbell saidloo$ing at it, then showed nna her own engament ring. o when are you two getting married= (sbell as$ed,9ictor answered. The day after tomorrow.

(t*s a little soon, but it wor$s, oh nna. %ere going to have ourselves a downright fun "achorllet partytomorrow8 Oh can*t you believe it ri$8 ri$ truly seemed happy, for he got up and gave nna a hug oncongrating her. %ell, then what are we going here, nna we must go through all the dressers and find you awedding gown. "oys, we are to be gone, 9ictor, ( hope you don*t mind if ri$ 'oins your stag party. ( hope you

boys will have fun, anyway tata8 :ou can*t see your bride before the wedding. %ith that said, (sbell draggednna away.

(n nna*s room, when the girls were allowed to act li$e girls. They held hands and 'umped up and down, (sbellthrew of her shoes and tac$led her to the bed. % C 7 TT(&7 0 CC( #8 he said, her and nnascreamed in 'oy.

nna had learned early (sbell*s wedding was in a mouth.%ell nna, what color is me dress= (sbell as$ed. 7reen, it was the color of the first dress ( tried on my first

day here. %onderful, and nna didn*t e)pect you to find a suitor that handsome. :ou $now what funny(sbell is= The night ( went to the party va said she*d scold me if ( didn*t come bac$ with a suitor. That night (went out and found the best of all8 0e too8 ri$ really is wonderful too, ( thin$ we both found our soul matesthat night. ( guess we did8 0y god, (sbell, me, nna Caventail.


36/39

#on*t you mean, nna "lac$wood does have a ring to it doesn*t it. nna and (sbell giggled, as the changedinto clean pa'amas.

nna and (sbell decided to share the bedroom for the one night. They climbed in bed, and went under thecovers. o, nna, what is 9ictor li$e, li$e, when you too are alone= (sbell as$ed, nna wasn*t sure why shewanted details but she answered. /e*s really strong, he gentle but. %hen he finds the need too, he can getreally angry and fierce. /e seems gentle at first, but if you have seen someone try and hurt me. 9ictor loo$s li$ehis heads going to e)plode. oe, gentle and rough, good combination. %hat else= %ell, he really li$es toread, and snuggle. /e*s always really happy a lot of the time, he doesn*t get sad that much. ven learning of hisfather*s death, which he was surprisingly calm about. Then the memory of the out of control libery that nightshot 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 anddecided 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$es shined through the windows. nna then opened the study door, where there she found 9ictor onceagain at his des$. "ut to nna*s surprise, asleep, hunched over the des$. nna wal$ed over to see he had buriedhimself in the boo$s. /e stirred as nna loo$ed down at him. nna= /e managed to say, nna smiled andrubbed his bac$ as he attempted to get up. /e stood and laAily wal$ed to the couch with nna. nna (*mgrowing wea$er. /e said as nna laid him on the couch. #on*t worry were getting married tomorrowremember. (t*s one in morning2 ( suggest you get more sleep. nna lay with him on the couch and she spo$esoftly to him. Today is going to go very slow, and tomorrow even slower. nna said, as her impatienctincewas growing until she could finally wal$ down the ale.

( $now, its time*s torture. 9ictor said, as he had laid his head down on nna*s shoulder. They werecomfortably tal$ing before, a woman, or half a women, half a duster came into the room. nna loo$ed to see theupper half of her body the wooden handle and her lower. %hich loo$ed li$e a large feathered dress. he floatedeffortlessly to the boo$ shelves and began to dust. Then lbert came through the door, with brea$fast andloo$ed to see the couple snuggled up on the couch.

%ell so this is where we had run off to this morning miss nna. /e sat as he set the tray on the little table infront of them. Than$ you lbert, by the way what time is it= lbert pulled out his poc$et watch and said.

even am. /e said, and slipped the watch in his poc$et. Oh, my lady, /olly wishes to see you and !ady(sbell.


37/39

to go fit my dress, and (sbell*s and@ "efore nna could go on with her list of things to do. 9ictor $issed her,then said. uic$ pec$ on the lips before bolting off the couch.


38/39

0arcus and (sbell entered the room, (sbell gasped and said. nna you loo$ beautiful8 nyway, you*d betterthan$ me, because ( saw 9ictor trying to snea$ his way in here with ri$ not too long ago. nd ( gave them>uite the scolding. nna giggled then was about to say something, when lbert came through the door. %eare ready for the bride. nna felt her stomach turn. ntil her father too$ her arm, nna felt safe. he didn*t feelso nervous anymore, they wal$ed down the hallway to the ballroom.%hen they were at the doors, (sbell and ri$ entered first. Then nna said to her father. #on*t let me trip. (

won*t baby. nna swore she heard (sbell gasp in delight as they went through the doors. 9ictor must havedown something special, nna wasn*t allowed to see the ballroom for decoration. he had no idea what ifloo$ed li$e. Ceady= 0arcus as$ed. Ceady.The doors opened outward and revealed the ballroom. nd to nna*s surprise, a snowfla$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 beganto wal$. now lightly fell on her as she did, everyone stood. nd at the end she saw 9ictor, his white smileshined in the snow as he saw nna. %hen they were at the end, 0arcus gave nna*s hand to 9ictor and said.

Ta$e care of my baby girl. ( will. 9ictor said, before 9ictor and nna turned to the man whom wasmarrying them. Then as the normal priest vowels were said he said nna as the bride you may spea$. nnaremembered all her vowels and said.

9ictor, 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 t

Documents

Dark Tears