

The Landowner's Secret

Copywrite 2018 Sandra Maggs

Published by Sandra Maggs at Smashwords

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Prologue

There are people in this world who think I'm crazy, but I'm not. I have so much to tell you, it's difficult to know where to start. The beginning is ultimately the best, but without this story, the beginning wouldn't make as much sense. I'll take you back there eventually, but first you need to know more about what I do and why.

It's going to sound kind of weird, but there was an incident in my life which changed my path and now I follow one that's just a little offside. Keep an open mind. There's nothing spectacular about me, I'm just an ordinary person, but I have my own unique agenda.

Years of research and survival instinct helped build my business to what it is today, lucrative. My intuition tells me you will most likely laugh when I reveal how I earn a living, but go ahead, laugh your head off. There was a time when I would have joined you and thought someone like me to be stark raving mad. Whether you believe my story or not, I'm not alone, there are others in this world who do the same as I do. The difference is, they join in the madness. I on the other hand aim to rid the earth of the supernatural abominations who are responsible for pain and death. I'm talking about vampires.

I'm not a psychic, but it's easy to guess what you're thinking. People like me are crackpots, right? I once thought the same, but after you read this story, you'll realise there is an explanation for everything. There are things on this earth that don't always make sense, what makes them believable is delving into the depths and finding the evidence.

So, dear reader, the final thing before we get to the story is, after you read this book, you may change the way you think about the undead. But don't be fooled by their charisma, and remember they are killers. Start looking about you and question whether or not the pale young man leaning against a pole in a carriage on the northern line of the London Tube is a vampire. Or wonder if the woman who serves up the school dinners has just sucked the life out of the physical education instructor and dumped his body behind the bike shed.

Believe me, they are out there. In fact, you might be in the same room as one right now. So be cautious dear reader and if you need me, let me know. Until I hear from you, read on, and make your own decision. Perhaps the information you receive from me may one day save your life.

Regards

Lucinda Gryffon

Part 1

Aiden

Time, it passes by without a thought. It's the one commodity that puts space between you and the everyday events that define your life, and as it slips away, those everyday events slowly but surely fade into the past.

Aiden Winchester couldn't accurately remember the dark miserable event which had changed his life completely. The day that took his family from him was slightly fuzzy, but even so, the past still lurked in his memory. Aiden winced whenever he thought of what life had become for him. Now after the years had lengthened the void between him and the unfortunate incident, the whole affair had made his past, present, and future, somewhat depressing. He still had important memories of his mother tucking him in as a young boy, and his father giving him advice about, well, almost everything, but there were moments in his life that had definitely become hazy. He could hear the voice of his father as it floated to the surface of mind.

"Do you know what that is Aiden? That's the smell of knowledge and knowledge is power."

Guidance from his father echoed in his head over and over. Influence from the past. The voice of the most important man in his life, now long gone. The words crept from the depths of his memory and he smiled as he recalled them. That's the smell of knowledge, the smell of knowledge... The sentence bounced around in his mind, the resonance of his father's voice and perhaps the most imperative gift ever given to him.

Aiden hadn't been much of a reader before his father gave him the advice. There had always been more important things to do than sit around reading books. But since the very first moment the words were spoken, he had, to some extent, become liberated by the humble novel. The feel of the paper, the beautiful print and the concept of stringing letters, words, and sentences together to form paragraphs, pages, and chapters. The chapters became stories and then eventually, a finished book. A book that could make you fall in love, or make you laugh or cry, or perhaps even save your life, if you knew how to use the knowledge gained. It delivered a sense of freedom in every respect, taking the reader to different places and presenting situations that might never be experienced otherwise. This advice had transformed Aiden into the educated man he had grown to be. He was sure his father would be proud of him.

The smell of knowledge. He heard the words continuously while searching the wooden bookcase in front of him. Neglected shelves filled with odd bits of dusty chipped crockery and tattered second-hand books faced him. Finally, Aiden's eyes rested on an old, well-worn paperback. He plucked the novel from its resting place and flipped through the pages taking in the odour of the paper and years of human abuse. The smell of knowledge that had been shared by many. Aiden examined the cover of the used book. It was shabby and dog-eared, as if it had been carted around for decades and then discarded, finally ending up in the charity store for him to discover. He looked back at the shelf to see if there was another that might interest him. Deciding on the one already chosen, fishing around in his pockets, Aiden found some loose change. Mentally he added the amount and checked the price of the book. Smiling to himself he headed towards the counter dodging the circular racks of vintage clothing and boxes of discarded shoes with their bright, neon coloured, bargain priced tickets adorned with black permanent marker.

Behind a glass display counter containing pieces of paste and costume jewellery, exhibited in an amateurish haphazard way, an overweight elderly woman sat nodding off. The lines on her face were deep as if carved with a chisel by Father Time himself. Aiden could see she had once dyed her brassy hair which was pulled back from her face and secured with a

black ribbed headband. The roots were grey and neglected. She was like the paperback, worn, as if she had lived a thousand lives in one, handed from one person to another and then cast away into the dusty surroundings of the drab second-hand store. Aiden dropped the coins which clattered onto the glass top cabinet bringing the woman to her senses with a jump.

"Keep the change love," he said winking at her, and held up the book for her to see the orange sticker with the price written boldly in black.

She leaned forward and squinted at it through her glasses, indicating to anyone who took any notice they were not as useful as they once had been, just like their owner.

"Thank you dear," the woman replied, looking at the amount on the counter and scooping it up to lock it away in an empty container. Quickly she slipped the gun-metal grey cash box out of sight, looked around anxiously and then scribbled the amount of the sale and the item in a notebook, squinting at the page through her glasses to ensure her entry was correct.

He turned his back on her and abandoned the grimy stale-smelling shop. Instantly the woman slipped from his mind, she had served her purpose and was left to nod off in between visits from random bargain hunters and the like.

Aiden strolled along the street with the ragged paperback in his hand whistling a tune he had heard earlier that day. A familiar tune which refused to vacate his head. A song his father had sung regularly to his sister with a melody that lived within tormenting him, and although he tried to evict it, the stubborn tune clung to the carousel of his mind with its thorny tentacles as each thought he produced rode the same roundabout. It mocked him with a rhythm he was more than accustomed to and at times drove him to despair. He despised it, yet it brought a familiar comfort and Aiden whistled the tune as he walked towards home.

Winter had finally ended, and spring was fresh in the air. The time of year when new life arrived, and the dark skeletal branches of the trees blossomed and were awash with tiny green sprouts ready to grow and soak up the sun and rain. The time of year for parties and picnics and enjoying life after hiding away throughout the long winter months. The sun rested its rays on the top of Aiden's head and spread through his body gradually warming him. His hand started to sweat slightly around the paperback, and he switched the book to the other hand and wiped his damp palm on the back of his jeans.

Checking for traffic, Aiden crossed the deserted road. He always checked for traffic, a habit that had been drummed into him as a child which had lingered and followed him into his adult life. Vehicles were scarce around here though, there was rarely a motorist in sight. People seldom travelled this way and if they did, they were usually just tourists passing through on their way to a brighter more favourable destination, or just lost and looking for direction.

The village, once a thriving community, was like the paperback Aiden had just purchased. Forgotten, and left to gather dust in hope that it would be discovered and brought back to life. Surrounded by hills decorated with clumps of dark green trees, the heart of the gully housed the few remaining locals. Slowly farmers and villagers alike had moved away to

somewhere more pleasing with a livelier aspect. The fields that had once been dotted with cattle and sheep had been left to their own devices and the grass grew green and lush. Acres and acres of farmland left unattended in the hopes that one day it might be resuscitated.

Climbing a gate secured with a rusted padlock and a thick flaking chain, Aiden made his way across the field towards his family home, Winchester Manor. This had been the way to and from the village for as long as he could remember. The old metal gate had been a part of the property longer than Aiden and was the quickest way to the shops. He rarely walked around the long way or drove his car, it was tradition. A pathway had been trudged into the neglected grass which was infested with long drooping weeds and in desperate need of a tidy up.

The fresh scent of early evening filled the air as the day began to finish. From the side of the field bordered by a hedgerow of hawthorn and prickly holly, a rabbit appeared stopping to sniff the air enjoying the same fragrance of the new season that Aiden himself enjoyed. Pausing, he watched the creature freeloading on his property, as it nibbled at the long lethargic blades of the intruding weeds, intrigued by the way the tiny beast cleaned its face with its paws. There was once a time when he would have fired some sort of hunting rifle at the small animal, but those days were long gone. Eventually the rabbit disappeared into the thick growth that grew along the boundary of the estate, and most likely continued to enjoy freedom. God knows how many more there were in there living rent free on his land. Aiden continued along the worn pathway towards the house wondering how on earth he had lapsed in his duties and allowed the grounds to become overrun with weeds and pests.

The property belonged to his family. It had been passed from generation to generation just as the paperback in his hand had been passed along. Acres of land with fields and woods, it ran through the gully of the enormous cliffs that surrounded the village. A large stone manor house had been built right in the centre of the cleared grounds. Monstrous, intimidating and threatening, it almost dared anyone who approached to enter at their own risk. Nobody knew what was hidden within the silence of the looming Georgian building, nobody except for Aiden Winchester. He had lived there all his life and unlike the frolicking rabbit, he felt he was a prisoner of the large vacant property. The neglected, dated décor with yellowing wallpaper and furniture covered with white dust sheets, and of course, the loneliness of Winchester Manor, which conquered his mind chasing away any cheerful thought he might be desperately trying to hold on to as he drew closer. Gripping the paperback tightly, he turned his latch key in the lock and opened the front door to the ominous structure as quietly as he could. It creaked. Aiden went inside and closed the door behind him. Silence reached out and embraced him with cold unrelenting arms.

Aiden's nostrils filled with the smell of boiled cabbage and fried fish. He wrinkled his nose slightly. The evening meal was almost ready. It was an unappetising odour and he wasn't

looking forward to eating. One of these days he would learn how to cook for himself. There had to be a few recipe books somewhere in the old place he could use to invent something a little more pleasing to his palate than cabbage and fish.

A long hallway bathed in soft light stretched before him. Aiden headed along it and unlocked a door which led to the library. This was where he kept his coveted novels. He slipped his latest treasure into a gap on a shelf. Standing back, he took stock and admired years of self-indulgent work. The shelf was almost full. Soon he would start again, filling a new shelf until there was no space left. The library was his favourite room. Dark brown wood panelling covered the walls, traditional of the era of the manor. A rolling library ladder allowed Aiden to reach his resources on the higher shelves. Electronic books didn't interest him at all. He had spent hours and hours arranging the hard copies and tatty paperbacks according to genre. He cherished the collection. The shelf in front of him which held his newest gem, was one of many that hosted the paperback books which were the most educational for this stage of his life. It was filled with the knowledge his mind desired. His appetite for the topic was ravenous and he satisfied it with the novels he found in the village second-hand store.

Pulling apart the curtains, the large window at the end of the room framed the fading daylight as the moon rose in the darkening sky anticipating the beginning of another night. Aiden stared out into the greying evening, there was nothing out of the ordinary to see, just

another ending to another day. He pulled the curtains closed again to shield his collection from any of the creatures that might be lurking outside in the shadows. It was his compilation and he had no intentions of sharing it.

In the silence of the library, the old grandfather clock ticked loudly keeping time as well as it had the day his family bought it, seconds, then minutes. He stood alone listening and just looking around the room at his handy work in reverence. Another part of his life ticked away, slipping by almost unnoticed. Aiden wondered about the years he had spent alone in the manor collecting books. Was this his destiny? Would the rest of his life be consumed with his lonely quest for knowledge? They were questions that couldn't be answered, but all the same, questions he asked himself from time to time.

Something disturbed Aiden's thoughts. From outside the room he could hear the faint noises coming from the kitchen down the long hallway towards the rear of the expansive building. Hopeful, he imagined a young attractive woman baking biscuits to keep in an airtight tin for him to enjoy with a cup of tea in the afternoon. Or an array of delicious dishes for a party of friends who chatted in the parlour sipping wine. That was never the case though, his imagination was deflated with the realisation the noises were the preparation of a dinner for one and it was miserable at that.

Taking one more look around his private paradise, Aiden left the library, locking the door behind him to secure his precious books. Slipping the key into his pocket, he made his way

along the now dark hallway passing the doors to the unused lifeless rooms toward the pungent cabbage smell. Frightened slightly by the room he approached, he pulled himself together and remembered who he was. As Aiden neared the kitchen, he coughed loudly and stopped outside the closed door. From inside the room, the faint sound of light footsteps reached his ears as the owner of the culinary preparation rushed to organize the place setting and vacate the kitchen. The servant's door clicking closed at the far side of the room was the signal for Aiden to enter. Opening the kitchen door, he stepped inside and the depressing sight of the rectangular wooden table neatly set for one met his eyes. A solitary plate of fish and greens sat alone with a single glass of what smelled like riesling. The fragrance of the freshly poured wine wafted into the air and mingled with the scent of the food making it slightly more appetising. He sat down at the table and sprinkled salt and pepper over his meal. Aiden raised the glass to toast solitude, the meal, and the emptiness of the manor.

That's how life was for Aiden Winchester, he was always alone. In the deserted room at the friendless table he sat eating his meal in seclusion. The fish which had been lightly fried in butter was delicious, but cabbage wasn't his favourite vegetable. There were a few beans on the plate but mixing the two couldn't mask the flavour of the cruciferous green. He added more salt and pepper in an attempt to disguise the taste and ate it. He ate it because he was hungry and because his parents had always reminded him there were children in this world starving, and the old behaviours had sadly survived longer than those who instilled them. Aiden washed it down with the glass of wine thankful to rid his taste buds of the presence of cabbage.

From somewhere in the manor, music sounded, the sound of a lone piano. Softly, the melody drifted faintly into the room and surrounded him, the same tune that played over and over in his head. Unrelenting and irritating he heard it repetitively.

Leaving the place setting as he had found it but without a scrap on the plate, Aiden headed upstairs to spend another night by himself. Locking the door to his bedroom he flicked a switch to the on position and filled the room with light. The four-poster bed that he occupied during the darkest hours, had seen better days. The frame still strong and sturdy, supported curtains that had passed their use by date a long time ago. Dust had taken its toll on the fabric, once thick and luxurious, it now crumbled on touch. Aiden didn't care. It wasn't as if there was likely to be anybody to impress anytime soon, no Lady Winchester on the horizon, not even a lesser conquest. He was the sole inhabitant of his bed and had been for as long as he had occupied the room. There had been the odd occasion when he had come close to inviting someone to stay, but it had never quite come to fruition and Aiden remained a single man. He undressed, dumped his clothes outside the room in a basket on the landing and locked the door once more.

Climbing into bed and settling under the warm covers, Aiden lay listening to the faint piano music. The Mountains of Mourne, a song his father had sung on many occasions. Sleep soon arrived and brought with it a dream of days gone by. He saw his parents, his

sister, and those who had ruined his life. A dream he dreamt regularly. A dream which often turned into a feverish nightmare.

********

Sunlight partnered the early hours of the morning and crept into the room through cracks and chinks, like a thief robbing Aiden of a little more desired sleep. The windows of all the rooms in the manor were furnished with thick dusty drapes that remained closed at all times. But the material was old and with age came deterioration. In places, the light intruded through the weave and cast thin streams upon the forgotten décor.

As Aiden opened his eyes in the dim glow of the early hours, he remembered the dream. The Winchester family were there still in his mind as clearly as the day they were taken from him. His father, his mother, and his sister Mary, she was there beside him, bathed in sunlight like some sort of celestial princess. Smiling to himself he thought about her as he savoured the sleepy moment. She had been beautiful, the image of his mother, his father used to say. Aiden missed all three of them, the sound of his father whistling, the laughter of his mother and the constant visitors calling on the ever-popular Mary Winchester. He wished he could turn back time and return to that moment.

A distant noise chased away the memory and Aiden lay still listening, straining to hear. A faint rattle of pans downstairs in the kitchen met his ears and he relaxed snapping on the bedside lamp. Soon after, the powerful smell of smoky bacon cooking, wafted up to him

through the different levels of the house and the solidness of his locked bedroom door. Sitting up and wiping the sleep from his eyes with his fingertips, he waited patiently, waited until he heard the light footsteps in the hall, waited until he heard the tray being placed on the floor outside his door, waited a few minutes longer for the sound of the annoying piano music which was his cue.

Aiden climbed out of bed, scratched his head, and stretched, yawning. Unlocking the bedroom door, he retrieved his breakfast from the landing. Setting the tray down on his bedside table, he slipped back under the covers and lifted it carefully onto his lap. The hot tea, the bacon and brown sauce sandwich and the morning paper were arranged neatly on the breakfast tray. Removing a folded linen napkin from under the plate which the sandwich rested on, he tucked it into his striped pyjama top. Aiden skimmed the paper searching the articles as he prepared the tea that was poured into a fine bone china cup decorated with blue flowers. He added milk and sugar, both stored in their own individual vessels which matched the cup and saucer. His mother had always used it. The china had been a wedding gift and every cup of tea he drank kept her alive in his memory. Aiden sipped the sweet hot liquid, washing down each bite of the warm sandwich as the butter melted from the heat of the bacon and oozed through the white bread onto his fingertips. Some things never changed. The breakfast ritual was one of them. The ceremony usually took no longer than twenty minutes, but today was slightly different.

An article in the paper caught his eye, a couple of paragraphs about a family who had been murdered not too far from his home. The bold heading and a photo of the young family had made the front page. They looked to be in their thirties and the kids were not much more than toddlers. It made him shudder at the thought. There had been a few in the area over the last month and he couldn't help wondering if there was something he might do to prevent it, but he was just one person after all, and one person couldn't save the world.

Aiden left the tray with its empty china and the folded newspaper on the bed and went into the ensuite bathroom. He locked the door and turned on the shower. The water, cold and invigorating, sprayed like needles from the shower head as he eased his way under it. Shocking at first, Aiden soon became accustomed to the harshness and lathered the soap in his hands. After a good scrub, he turned off the tap and grabbed a towel. Taking cold showers wasn't something Aiden particularly enjoyed, but he had been doing it for years. There was never any hot water. The boiler didn't work. It hadn't been replaced since the day it stopped heating. During the winter months, he would heat water on the electric stove for a bath, but now the days were getting longer and warmer, it was back to cold showers again. Some day he would sort it out.

Staring at the man in the mirror, Aiden ran his hand over the dark stubble on his chin. One of these days he would grow a beard, but today wasn't that day. Lathering up the shaving soap in a bowl with a brush the way his father had taught him, Aiden applied it to his face. The sharp edge of the razor cleared path after path of soap and bristle. He rinsed his skin then patted it dry with a towel and ran his fingers over his chin feeling the smoothness of it.

Finally, he splashed on some aftershave as a finishing touch, and ran a comb through his dark wavy hair smiling at himself in the mirror.

Emerging from the bathroom, he noticed immediately the breakfast tray had been cleared away and the bed neatly made. His clothes for the day were carefully laid out for him, a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a jumper. Simple yet classic. Aiden quickly dressed and waited until he heard the faint sound of music coming from down the hall. It was the familiar sound of the piano that constantly played the same folk ballad over and over, the tune which haunted him night and day and lingered as a conscious reminder of his loneliness. The song he couldn't forget.

The dark heavy drapes remained closed as Aiden opened the bedroom door and stepped out onto the landing. He walked along the hall and paused outside of the room the music was coming from. He listened with his ear to the door for a moment and then continued downstairs. As usual there wasn't a hint of another person in the lower part of the house. The kitchen had been cleaned and the laundry waited in a basket by the door to be hung on the clothesline. Whistling the way his father had always done, he grabbed the basket and went out into the fresh air. Aiden breathed in deeply, ridding his lungs of the staleness of the dark manor. The brightness of the day made him blink, but once adjusted to the light, his green eyes drank in the view of the sunlit property, from the wooded area nearby, all the way to the gate with the rusted chain.

The usual morning chores ushered Aiden right into midday. After sorting out the washing, he commenced pulling weeds from an almost empty garden patch to begin planting the summer vegetables. His mother had always done the same thing. In his mind, he saw himself standing beside her as a small child examining the seedlings and inquiring about each one, while his mother listened patiently and answered all of his questions. Growing vegetables had been one of the legacies she had left him. He continued seasonally, year after year in her honour. The soil held her touch. Never once had his mother been afraid to sink her elegant hands into the earth to rid it of left behind roots belonging to weeds, and old vegetable plants that might go to seed. The image was as real as the ground that he now worked alone. He missed her as he plunged his own hands into the garden bed and felt the moist softness of the rich dark soil.

Every now and then Aiden would glance towards the manor that housed the room where the music played. He could hear it faintly from the garden. The same song played over and over and over to remind him of his past, present, and what his future was likely to be. Doing his best to ignore it, he continued with the lonely task at hand.

Winchester Manor hadn't always been the dismal place it had become, once the property had been filled with life. After the terrible mishap with his sister Mary and his parents, he was left alone. The tragedy had been unforeseen and if Aiden had possessed the knowledge he had now, there might have been a way to avoid it. There had been rumours leading up to the event, rumours about the kind of incidents happening in the area, but they were never taken seriously by his parents. The speculation had been dismissed. If they had listened, it might have prevented the tragedy that had left him on his own, but Aiden couldn't be bitter. It was silly to wallow in self-pity, so he just got on with life as he now knew it. His sister Mary had been a close companion. She had been so energetic, and they had been inseparable, not just a brother and sister, but best friends. Popular and sparkling was the way everybody had described her, and such a kind-hearted girl never existed anywhere else. But she had been taken from him just after her sixteenth birthday and all that was left now was emptiness. He recalled the two of them picking mushrooms in the woods to make soup with, and paddling in the nearby stream together, the games and the laughter of the past, the endless summer days, and of course, the parties. Yes, once there had been life in the now dismal manor.

Aiden washed his hands under the garden tap. Chilly water gushed out as he cleaned away the dirt from his skin and he picked it from the quick of his fingernails. Suddenly the only sounds were running water and the familiar birds that frequented the trees on the property, the mournful music had for the moment, ceased. Enjoying the altered feeling he savoured the moment and smiled to himself.

Sitting in the sun and enjoying the spring rays, Aiden waited patiently. The morning air had been quite crisp, but the sun was bright and as it rose higher in the sky, the air warmed and he removed his jumper. The washing flapped in the breeze and the smell of the soil that he had just worked wafted his way. A flurry in a nearby hedge commanded his attention and a rabbit hopped madly away towards the forest that grew throughout the property. Another bloody rabbit and not a gun in sight.

Thanks to his heritage, Aiden was the Lord of Winchester Manor, the master of his land and he surveyed it with a keen eye. Life could be a lot worse; his parents might have left him with nothing at all. He thought of the parties he could throw, the holidays he could easily afford and the life he could have. The furniture could all be restored and if the manor was given a good clean, it would be much more pleasant. He could have the boiler replaced and take a hot shower for the first time in years. The grounds could be landscaped professionally, and he could spend his days more enjoyably. But at this point in time, these things that seemed so normal were all completely out of the question.

Music reached him again interrupting Aiden's thoughts and bringing him back to the reality of the lifestyle he had succumbed to. He entered the house by way of an outer door that lead straight to the kitchen, famished and ready for the midday meal. There was the usual place setting for one with a bowl of tomato soup, from a can no doubt, and a few crackers. He made a mental note to get some bread from the nearby bakery. To accompany the meagre meal, there was a glass of orange juice which tasted slightly out of date. He slurped down the soup and munched on the crackers. The juice was ignored, and he opted for tap water. While Aiden sat alone at the wooden kitchen table and ate his lunch, the music played upstairs. As soon as the less than satisfying meal was finished, he headed out towards the old gate that led to a brief stretch of freedom.

The tiny hamlet of Crippling Bump consisted of just a few shops set in a row along what once had been a busy high street. One by one as the area became abandoned, the shops had closed and now there were just a handful trading. A handful of shops to service the surrounding farmers who hung on to their properties out of desperation. The desperation to belong somewhere and secure their heritage. Aiden belonged to that small group. Every now and then he thought of leaving, but where would he go? He had always lived in the village, so he clung on for dear life and watched as the community slowly disappeared. His ancestors had settled the area and even named it. Before the road was cut through the rock, it had looked just like a crippling bump, resemblant of a bunion on the side of a foot, on what otherwise would be a rather flat area, hence the name.

Cocoa's Bakery had been operating for as long as the village had been there. Not only did they make the most amazing bread, the chocolate cake produced in the kitchens of the landmark store was rich and delicious, and quite renowned in the area. Aiden smiled when he remembered sharing the cake with his sister. All their birthday cakes had been ordered from the bakery and each birthday cake had been better than the one before. Generation after generation had run the business, making loaf after loaf to feed thousands of people over hundreds of years, and even now the bakery was still a lively institution within the slowly dying village. A bell tinkled as he opened the door and stepped inside. Aiden breathed deeply and smiled at the baker who stood behind the counter. The mouth-watering aroma of baked goods filled his nostrils and made him feel hungry after the poor midday meal. The shelves were filled with the warm appetising bread that had been freshly baked that morning. Aiden surveyed the loaves and rolls displayed on the stainless-steel wire racks and after a quick purchase of a simple uncut cob loaf, he was outside and on his way home.

Disturbing a less than inspiring journey, his hearing picked up a foreign sound. A car, a blue Mini to be precise, went by and pulled up in front of the local pub. A rare event had occurred. Aiden watched as the driver got out, most likely to ask directions due to the lack of signage in and out of the village. A stranger had arrived in Crippling Bump, he watched her go inside and then reappear, returning to the car to retrieve a few bags. The attractive woman disappeared into The Cantering Filly once more as if to stay. A tiny spark of excitement entered his life.

Aiden glanced at his watch. He liked to be home before dark to avoid any unpleasantness that might come his way. There was certainly time for one drink before heading back to the manor. Checking for traffic, he crossed the road and made for the pub. Intrigued by the stranger and feeling slightly enthusiastic about meeting someone new, he opened the door and entered the bar. Ordering a pint of his favourite pilsner, Aiden looked around the white walled room with its low, dark wood, beams and dim artificial lighting. The Cantering Filly was the only pub in town and had once been a haven for the locals who gathered daily for a drink after work, or a Friday night to celebrate the beginning of the weekend. Now there were only a handful of locals left, and today, he was alone as usual. Choosing a table in the corner by a small window, he sat sipping the beer hoping she would appear. With each second that ticked by, Aiden became a little more anxious. Curiosity kept him there and he purchased another pint. He wanted to meet the woman, perhaps even get to know her, but the day was slowly disappearing, and he couldn't wait too much longer. As if by his will, she suddenly appeared and ordered a drink at the bar. Looking around, she spotted Aiden alone in the corner. She smiled an attractive smile. He smiled back. The stranger approached. His heart began to pound in his chest.

"Do you mind if I join you?" she asked him.

Her voice was like a poetic symphony and instantly drowned out the tune in his head. Aiden tried not to appear to eager. He didn't want the stranger to think he was starved for company. "No, please do," he replied, gesturing for her to sit opposite him. Remembering he was a Lord, Aiden stood and pulled out the wooden chair from the small round table for her and she placed her drink carefully down in front of her on a cardboard coaster. "You're not from around here," Aiden remarked when they were both seated.

"I'm just passing through, on holiday," she said taking a sip of her drink. Her fingers touched the frosted glass delicately and left small vacant spots. "I'm Lilia, Lilia Cooper."

"I'm Aiden, Aiden Winchester," he told her taking another mouthful of his beer and watching droplets of water run down her glass from the circles where her fingertips had been. The droplets gathered on the cardboard coaster and when she lifted the glass again, a wet circle was left on the small square advertisement.

"Winchester, the name sounds familiar," she said. "I think I've read something about you somewhere."

"It might be the family home, Winchester Manor," he informed her, looking casually out of window at the approaching evening. "It's kind of a landmark in these parts. My family has lived here for a long time."

"Ah yes, Lord Aiden Winchester. I remember now," she said, raising her glass to him as if to perform a toast. "There was something I read in a magazine a while back, it's a Georgian Manor. Is your home open for tours, because I'd love to see it?"

"No, it's not a tourist attraction, just the place where I live. I'm sorry, I'm going to have to leave you, I must be off now," he told her, worried about the daylight that was slowly slipping into night. "Are you staying in the village for long?" Mentally he crossed his fingers and hoped for the best.

"A few days, or a bit longer," Lilia said. "Why the rush? Is there somebody at home waiting or did I upset you? Was it the Lord toast thing? I didn't mean to offend you."

"No, I live alone and to be honest, I'm not that easily offended. There are actually people in the area that refer to me as Lord Winchester. It's just that I don't want to have to stumble through the field to the manor in the dark. You see, I cut across the field to my home. The ground is uneven, and I twisted my ankle once and had to crawl home," he explained finishing his beer. The story sounded a bit farfetched, but it was the best he could come up with at such short notice. "Maybe I'll see you again."

"Maybe," she said. "Maybe you could show me the sights."

"Perhaps," he agreed, trying not to seem too keen. She certainly was nice to look at and she seemed interested in him or at least, his family home. He wanted to see her again, it was nice just to have a sit-down conversation. "There's not much to see though, not in the immediate area."

Aiden left Lilia sitting at the table with her drink. He would have to hurry now. It was just touching dusk, the time when one isn't quite certain whether it's day or night. Climbing the gate which creaked beneath his weight, he clutched the bag that held the precious cob loaf and headed across the field towards the house. His pace quickened as the smell of the bread drifted up from where he held it close to his chest.

A fox appeared from the hedgerow and ran to the middle of the field surprising him. He stopped, stunned by the sudden appearance of the creature. Its eyes shone in the early evening hue as it halted in its tracks and stared at him. They observed each other for a moment and as Aiden quickened his pace, the creature turned and darted back towards the hedgerow, clearly disturbed by the presence of another being. Perhaps he could take up hunting again, there seemed to be enough wildlife on the property. First rabbits and

now foxes, maybe the fox would eat some of the rabbits and he wouldn't have to waste as many bullets.

Aiden unlocked the door of the house and once inside he quickly locked it behind him. Again, he was alone. As he had been on so many occasions, he was greeted with the smell of food coming from the kitchen, but tonight it was a more appetising odour.

All the meals were eaten in the kitchen now. The dining room had been vacated years ago and all that was left in there were memories. Memories of his parents, memories of his sister Mary, memories of a more pleasant time in his life. If truth be known though, Aiden never liked the dining room. He found it much more pleasurable in the kitchen. Now that he was the man of the house, he pleased himself. Although, sitting alone every night wasn't really his idea of fun.

Slowly, he made his way towards the room at the end of the hall. A sound came from within along with a superb rich meaty aroma that reached through the door and invited him to enter. The culinary proposition was too much to resist, but the routine had to be followed and Aiden stopped. He waited. Clearing his throat, he heard the door at the other side of the kitchen open and close.

The evening meal consisted of stew. A plate of the most delicious, hearty, beef stew Aiden had ever tasted. He tore at the fresh white bread and dipped it into the gravy. There was more of the appetising concoction in a large pot on the stove. A second plateful followed the first, and then a third, finally over satisfying his appetite. There had been no need to eat that much, but the flavour was seductive. Aiden leaned back from the table and washed the food down with a glass of wine that had been left for him. The bottle stood nearby. A second glass was poured.

His thoughts turned to Lilia Cooper, the pleasingly attractive stranger who had just arrived in the lifeless village. Someone to talk to and share a drink with. A breath of fresh air in the staleness of his life. He wondered where she was from and why she had chosen a place like Crippling Bump to visit. It just seemed very odd. Nobody ever holidayed in the village, there was nothing to see.

The rest of the wine was poured, and the glass accompanied him to the library. Aiden locked the door behind him and turned on the light. He gazed at the shelves of books, all the same genre. Swooning a little from the combination of beer, wine, and a full stomach, he removed a book from its place and sat on the old brown Chesterfield sofa that had belonged to his parents and his grandparents. The leather was aged and cracked in places, but still in good order and with use, came comfort, the type of comfort that can never be provided with new furniture. Years and years of sitting gave the leather and it's filling the softness required, and now it was just right for relaxing on for long periods of time.

The smell of knowledge, his father's words whispered to him again. He opened the book and began to read, soaking up the information. Word after word, sentence after sentence, paragraph after paragraph, his mind consumed page after page and chapter after chapter

of the written text. Aiden read well into the night, until his eyes, sore and overworked, made his sight blurry. He rubbed them trying to see clearly but put the book down just as the chorus of dawn began, and crept upstairs to his comfortable bed. As the morning approached, he slept soundly, far too tired to dream.

********

With the sun already high in the sky, Aiden slowly opened his eyes, his head heavy from the previous night's wine and reading until the small hours of the morning. Sitting up in bed, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and for a moment contemplated lying down again. The vintage Rolex watch that had belonged to his father lay on the dusty bedside table. It showed the time to be almost half past ten. Breakfast had come and gone. The untouched tray had been removed from outside his door. He felt hungry but at the same time, slightly unwell and his mouth was dry.

The ritual cold shower washed away the fatigue and he left his room to begin the day, pausing for a moment at the door to the room along the hall. Aiden listened touching the varnished timber tentatively.

"I can hear you breathing," a voice whispered from the other side of the solid slice of polished oak.

"I'm sorry," he replied quietly retreating, and headed down the wide dark wood staircase.

In the spotless kitchen, Aiden discovered his uneaten breakfast in the bin on top of the waste and felt slightly guilty about sleeping in. He filled a glass with water from the tap and gulped it down, filling it again and drinking that one too, in an effort to drown his thirst. Wiping his mouth on the back of his hand, he grabbed an apple from the refrigerator and rubbed it on his shirt before taking a bite. It would tide him over until lunch time. A wicker laundry basket sat near the back door filled with the clean damp laundry, once again waiting for him to hang it out. The washing from the previous day still occupied the clothesline, he had returned too late to take it in, so the clean clothes had stayed out all night.

Although delayed, the repetition of the daily chores had commenced. He began by taking the dry washing from the clothesline into the kitchen and dumping it on the table. A noise interrupted the slightly tainted routine, something unfamiliar distracting him from his duties, the sound of a car in the driveway. Aiden headed around to the front of the house. Lilia Cooper. She waved at him from the car and he felt the anxiety rising. She shouldn't be here. Not now, not ever. He had to get rid of her, quickly.

"Hello," he said approaching the car smiling at her in an effort to hide his concern. The driver's side window was open, and he could see her clearly. Pretty in a subtle way, her brown wavy hair framed her face. A touch of makeup highlighted her features and Aiden liked her genuine smile. He also liked the cleavage that was on display from his vantage point. The white V-neck top showed just enough to make him want to pursue further investigation.

"Hello," she replied. "I just wondered if you'd like to show a stranger around the area. I have a map and GPS, but there's nothing like the company of a local to explain the history of a place, especially someone who has lived in the area their whole life."

"I think I can manage that," he said anxiously, not wanting her to hang around for too long. "I just have a few things to do. Can I meet you at the pub later? Say around two?"

"Sure, but it's no trouble for me to pick you up here my Lord," she said smiling in a cheeky way.

From that one simple sentence, Aiden felt alive once more. The haze and sourness cleared from his life and he saw only clarity and perhaps the chance of some sort of nocturnal pleasure.

"That won't be necessary. I like to walk and it's just across the field. Besides, I have my own car," Aiden explained, trying to keep the panic out of his voice. "I'll meet you in the bar and there is no need for you to call me my Lord. Aiden will do nicely."

"It's a date, Aiden," Lilia agreed looking slightly embarrassed.

He watched her leave, and as soon as the small vehicle had vacated the driveway, returned to the clothesline behind the house and commenced filling it with the washing that had been sitting in the basket all morning. The faint sound of music had disappeared. Aiden continued pegging out the damp laundry. The task filled the time he expected it to and when the music began again, he headed inside for his midday meal.

Lunch was waiting on the table, a bacon and brown sauce sandwich. Aiden checked the bin. The morning's uneaten breakfast stared up at him. Relieved, he sat down to eat the sandwich in the loneliness of the dreary kitchen. Sitting in the dim light, he examined the meal that had been prepared for him. The bread had been sliced too thickly and the bacon, which was smothered in brown sauce, was scarce, along with the butter. It sort of stuck to the roof of his mouth almost making him gag. Aiden made a mental note to buy some more food. Perhaps even a sliced loaf to make things easier.

After rinsing the few dishes and folding the dry laundry, he thought about Lilia and wondered why a few encounters with the stranger had challenged his routine so quickly. Once he wouldn't have bothered. The women had come to him. But years and years of pushing people away and seclusion on his part had made it almost impossible for a female to penetrate his solitary cocoon, and the invitations to social events from pursuing women had faded away. The tables had turned.

Aiden locked the front door and headed across the field towards the village. With Winchester Manor behind him, he tried to block out what he had left. The breeze surrounded him lightly, reducing the sun's effect. It was pleasant walking on such a bright day with just a soft hint of the spring wind. He thought of Lilia sitting in the bar, nervously wringing a paper napkin in her hands and perhaps tearing at it a little, whilst awaiting his arrival. He smiled to himself wondering if that were the case. Climbing the chained gate, he made his way towards the pub. Her car was in full view. Highly polished, it reflected the rays of the sun, a reminder of her. Aiden wondered again why she was in Crippling Bump. It seemed slightly peculiar that anybody would come to this area just on a whim and stay longer than the time it took to ask directions.

Lilia sat waiting at the table in the corner of the quiet bar, the same table they had occupied on the previous afternoon. Aiden sat down with her and smiled. She smelled divine. Her fragrance floated through the air and he breathed her in. She smiled. Her eyes were brown. He hadn't noticed until now.

"Have you had lunch?" she asked.

"Yes," he nodded, not sure if he was smiling or grinning like a loon. "Have you?"

"I've just finished. Shall we go?"

"Where?" he answered her question with another. "There's not much to see around here." It was true, there was bugger all in Crippling Bump. The outlying area and villages were a bit livelier, but still quite ordinary although picturesque.

"For a walk along the road, I noticed a few shops that look a little interesting."

"That sounds entertaining," he agreed trying his hardest not to sound sarcastic. Aiden didn't want to go too far from the Winchester estate. He didn't want to risk not being

home by nightfall, so a walk up and down the village high street, although uninteresting, would be quick enough not to keep him out too late. "I'll point out the tourist attractions."

There wasn't much to show her on the high street of Crippling Bump. They wandered to the end of the small shopping strip and then crossed the road and wandered along the other side. Lilia inspected the shop windows and Aiden told her the local history. She listened asking the odd question here and there. It was nice. He enjoyed her company. When the couple arrived back at The Cantering Filly, he checked his watch. The time was getting on and he didn't want to risk the washing being left out again. He needed to be home before the air started getting damp.

"I'd better be going," he said, nervously looking at the time. It was difficult for him to hide the anxiety, but he did his best. The last thing he wanted was for Lilia to start prying more into his private life.

"So, you're rushing off again? I can drive you home," she offered, "I know where you live, remember? It wasn't very hard to find that out. It seems everybody knows where you live, although, few like to visit you. I think there might be some sort of class division in these parts and they feel kind of common in comparison."

"Of course the locals know where I live, but I like to keep to myself. Besides, there's always been a problem with class division around here and a lot of the villagers find it difficult to even speak to me. Some can't even bring themselves to look at me, they avert their eyes when we pass in the street. A ride home won't be necessary. Like everybody else, I too know where I live," he said taking a step back. He stared into her deep brown eyes and felt

something he hadn't felt for a long time. "Look, I'm sorry. I've sort of been a recluse since, well, for quite some time now. I didn't mean to be rude to you. Would you like to have lunch with me tomorrow?"

"Sure, at your place?" she asked.

"No, I was thinking more of a picnic type of thing," he suggested. Aiden knew she wanted to see inside of his home, but it was impossible at the moment. The whole affair needed careful planning and it wasn't something he could manage on such short notice.

"I like picnics," Lilia said agreeing. "I'll pick you up from the manor around eleven and we'll go for a drive. I'm sure you can suggest a nice secluded spot for us to - picnic."

Aiden agreed smiling at her knowingly.

"Can I get your mobile number?" she asked, pulling a phone from her bag, and preparing to add the information.

"I don't have a mobile. I don't need one," he said.

"Oh, okay then," she replied looking rather puzzled. "I'll pick you up tomorrow at eleven then."

They parted.

Once again back at the lonely manor, Aiden locked himself in the library and picked up the unfinished book reading from where he had left off that morning. He was almost at the end. The books he read all finished the same way, brutally. The same story over and over, the characters just had different names. As he read, the music coming from upstairs drifted through the house to the very place where he sat, reminding him of the reason he was reading and the reason he was alone. Returning the book to its rightful place on the shelf, he left the library and locked it behind him.

The washing would be dry by now. Aiden needed to get it in before the daylight vanished completely and the night air set in. Filling the basket with the clean dry clothes, he carried it into the house and then went back outside to enjoy the remainder of the day. He thought about his family continuously, his father, his mother, and Mary. Now there was Lilia. There was a seductive attractiveness about her and the few encounters he had experienced had made him feel as though life was almost normal. Aiden felt more alive than he had in years, free of the sourness of the manor when they had been together that afternoon. It was almost as if a window had been opened to rid his life of the bitterness and the suffocation of his past.

The music stopped. He listened to the world without it, the sounds of the vanishing day reached him from the land surrounding the manor and refreshed his feelings towards life, instantly returning Aiden to the afternoon he had just experienced. A burden felt as

though it had been taken on by somebody else. The song of the chirping cricket accompanied his cares which were carried off by the evening breeze. He knew it would change when the music started again, but for that short amount of time, freedom was within his realm.

Aiden walked away from the manor, this time in another direction towards the thick wooded area on the opposite side of the property to the village shops. The trees had been there for hundreds of years, a long time before his home was built. Once a thick forest, the land had been cleared by his ancestors to reveal the section on which the manor stood. In the past, there had been fields full of crops, and cattle, but now nothing was farmed, and a lot of the land had been sold to neighbouring farmers. The fields that were kept as part of the Winchester estate were home to foxes and rabbits free to do as they pleased. Aiden remembered the fox hunts, he remembered riding with his father, but since the night when his family had been taken from him, the horses had been sold, the stable was torn down and the old ways no longer existed.

The woods had been a common place for Aiden and his sister Mary. They had spent hours climbing the trees that lined the property. She always climbed higher. He could never match her; she had been fearless. They had pretended they lived in the trees and nobody else existed. Two years younger than him, she would taunt him, but it made him love her more. Aiden had encouraged her to try to beat him at anything and she had succeeded on several occasions, but since his family had been taken by tragedy, the fun they had shared was simply a cruel memory. He felt as though he was a failure, unable to protect his younger sister against the evil that had removed her from his life. The Mary he loved so much was gone forever, and misery had moved into the manor. Perhaps someone like Lilia Cooper could change it if Aiden had the courage to let her.

The yellow sun gradually turned a deep orange as it began setting. In the distance the sky changed from a pale blue to a slightly dull darker hue. Thick purple-grey clouds were gathering, forming a menacing heavenly landscape, and coming together to create what looked like a thunderstorm brewing on the horizon. Aiden hoped that it wouldn't ruin his plans for tomorrow, if the picnic didn't go as planned, he would have to think of something else. Turning, he headed back to the manor. A melody sounded faintly from the upstairs of his home and he went in for his dinner. The left-over stew from the previous evening awaited him with the remainder of the bread.

Aiden remembered that he hadn't done any shopping. It was too late now, everything closed in the village as the sun went down. The shelves in the pantry were almost bare and there wasn't much in the fridge either. He would have to get some food in tomorrow before the picnic. If he prepared the lunch himself instead of buying readymade sandwiches from the supermarket in the next town on, it would be a lot tastier and he was sure he could manage to make a sandwich. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing worse than biting into a sandwich that had been stored in the refrigerator.

Sick to death of being alone, Aiden needed some distraction in his life. He needed the companionship and the mindless nagging that sometimes accompanied a relationship.

He craved affection and the intimacy he had experienced in the past, wishing for the occasional explosive argument with somebody so he could make up afterward. A night here and there on the sofa wouldn't even bother him too much if it changed his life for the better. Aiden imagined the constant presence of a woman in the manor. The parties and the life would be restored. He could get to know people again; contact those he had lost touch with. Crippling Bump would be a better place.

The sun had set, and darkness enveloped the manor. As Aiden headed upstairs for the evening, the heavens opened, and the wind and rain lashed at the windows. The weather had taken a turn for the worse as he expected. A distant rumble of thunder followed the flashes of lightning and accompanied the rain drops that attacked the outer walls fiercely.

Locking the bedroom door, Aiden sought a good night's sleep. He set the alarm for seven a.m. and turned off the bedside lamp. Silence surrounded him, and in the dark he could almost hear his own heartbeat. Outside the wind howled and the thunder struck. Rain hammered the windows violently trying it's hardest to breakthrough. Ignoring it, Aiden thought about the picnic and where they would go together, he thought about what he would do if the rain continued into the day. He wanted to show Lilia the picnic ground that overlooked the village. Not the most secluded spot, but the view was nice. There was history there too, and a monument to the founder of Crippling Bump. If it was too wet, he would offer her a meal at The Cantering Filly, his treat, and then perhaps a trip to the local library for a historical touch. Yawning, Aiden closed his eyes falling into an instant sleep aided by the vicious lullaby of the severe weather.

********

As bleak as the prior evening had been, the morning was glorious. Aiden was thankful that the weather had revived itself and the sun dominated a blue sky which had completely cleared of all grey. Any hint of the savage thunderstorm had vanished.

Feeling a lot more positive than he normally would, a speedy drive to a neighbouring village for a spot of shopping followed a quickened morning routine. He needed the supplies to make the picnic lunch and the closest supermarket was about half an hour away from where he lived. Fortunately for Aiden, it was one of the very few business' in the area that was open 24/7 so he didn't have to wait for the store to start trading for the day.

With the shopping stowed away in all the right places, Aiden prepared the picnic lunch they would share. It consisted of ham and cheese sandwiches cut diagonally, fruit, and a bottle of wine. Plus, he had purchased a chocolate bar for each of them. Not something that Aiden normally indulged in, but apparently all women love chocolate. Another tiny piece of important knowledge his father had shared with him and he was sure something like that would never change. Aiden packed two glasses and a corkscrew. It wouldn't do for them to swig wine from a bottle but even more importantly, they needed to get the cork out first. He placed it all carefully into a basket so the sandwiches wouldn't get squashed and grabbed a blanket for them to sit on. The idea of a picnic was slightly outdated. They could have gone for a drive and found a nice café or pub somewhere, but people in these parts knew him and he was tired of the stares and whispers. Aiden carried his haul to the front door and placed it quietly outside, eliminating the need for her to enter the manor. Upstairs the music stopped.

Feeling just a little anxious, he constantly checked his watch and nervously waited for Lilia to arrive to pick him up. Suddenly he wondered if he should have offered to drive. It seemed very odd to Aiden that she was taking the lead in an almost masculine manner. But considering his dating mentor had been his father, coupled with the fact that his social life had been scarce over the years, he figured that perhaps things had changed.

From his vantage point by the front door, Aiden had a good view right along the extensive drive to the road. His date was right on time. He smiled to himself thinking of the afternoon that lay ahead. An afternoon with the very attractive Lilia Cooper in the bright sunshine. Aiden thought nothing of what he was leaving behind, the mournful music haunted him, and the dusty darkness depressed him. Today he felt only happiness and hoped that it was a good omen.

Crippling Bump picnic ground was only a five-minute drive from the manor. The road spiralled up towards the best view in the region with a cleared grassy area dotted with wooden benched tables, and a large stone monument erected with the name of one of Aiden's ancestors chiselled neatly into the rock. Once a very popular spot during the warmer months, the picnic ground was now deserted, and the only living occupants were the plants and trees that were home to an array of wildlife. More importantly, they were alone, and this pleased Aiden. Opting to spread the blanket on the ground instead of sitting at a table, they sat in silence for a while, neither of them knowing quite what to say at first. The sun was warm, and the sky was now splattered with white wisps of cottony cloud, unlike the fierce dark clouds of the previous evening. It was almost perfect.

"So, what's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" Aiden asked smiling at the cliché pick up line.

"Not much, I just felt like getting away from it all and it's very quiet around here. What do you do for a living?" she asked him between bites of the sandwich that he had prepared for her.

"I don't really do anything." Aiden told her as he poured wine into the two glasses feeling pleased that he had remembered the corkscrew. "I just live in the manor and do odd jobs around the house." It sounded dull. He could have told her anything though, but it was best to try to remain as close to the truth as possible. Especially because she seemed a bit pushy and he didn't want to reveal too much to her at this stage.

"How do you live?" Lilia asked taking the glass from him and swirling it under her nose. "I mean, how can you afford to live?"

"I have money. It's old money that's been in the family for years. I don't have to work. My ancestors saw to that. They invested wisely. What about you, what do you do?" he asked turning the attention from his fortune to his guest.

"I'm a vet," she replied shading her eyes from the sun. Lilia fished around in her bag and pulled out a pair of sunglasses. "I take care of sick animals."

"We can move into the shade if you like," Aiden suggested feeling the heat, regretful he didn't bring a pair of sunglasses himself.

They moved their picnic to the shade of a tree. The blanket was spread on the cool grass and they sat comfortably out of the sun, sipping wine and enjoying the food he had organized. It was a pleasant change to be out in the fresh air and Aide tried to ignore the tune that played in his mind.

"Do you enjoy that?" he asked her.

"What?" Lilia asked, staring into her glass.

"Being a vet," he replied, studying her puzzled look. Her brow knit, and Lilia pursed her lips as she looked into the glass of wine.

"Oh, being a vet, I love it. I love animals. I always have. When I was younger, I'd drag dogs home from school and tell my mum they had followed me. As soon as I let go of their collars, they would run back to where they lived. But any time I could, I'd bring home some type of creature to look after, I sometimes prefer them to people," Lilia explained leaning against the tree and stretching her legs out in front of her. "Do you ever get lonely? You know, living in that big manor by yourself."

"Not really. I spend a lot of time outside in the garden, so I don't notice how empty the manor is. I like to read too," he explained being careful not to tell her too much.

"Where are the rest of your family? Do any of them live in the area?"

"My parents are dead," he told her shifting uncomfortably on the blanket and staring at the view of the surrounding countryside. It stretched for miles and he scanned it with his eyes, searching the vast open fields, that were dotted with cottages and trees, for a place to hide his feelings. "I had a sister too, but there was a terrible tragedy. I still have relatives, but they don't visit very often, and I don't really visit them. Most of them live overseas."

Silence followed his short statement and he waited for her to speak, his thought pattern slightly chaotic as Aiden remembered bits and pieces of the tragic event. He tugged at a long weed and pulled it from the earth examining it closely, and then used it to swish away an insect that was hovering around them.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," she said quietly. "You don't have to talk about it."

He smiled and lay on the blanket propping himself up on one elbow. Aiden examined her features, her dark hair, her brown eyes that were big and doe like, and her expression which indicated she had a questioning mind. The curves of her body were exquisite, and the fabric of her clothing hugged her frame. Aiden liked her, although he hardly knew her, she seemed endearing. He thought to himself that it would be easy to fall in love with woman like Lilia, if he was the romantic type. Right now though, the best he could offer her was a quick shag on a blanket under a tree. "How long are you staying?" he asked, looking up at her.

"That depends on what people do for kicks around here," Lilia answered.

"This," Aiden replied sitting up and laughing. "There's this and the local pub. The council used to hold a dance once a month in the town hall, they'd hire a band and put on refreshments, but they stopped doing that a while back. Crippling Bump isn't the happening place it once was."

"Oh, I see. I don't know how much country serenity I can stand. I prefer the busyness of the city," she admitted taking a sip of her wine. "But there is something about this area that I like. The views are amazing. and I know there's a lot to see in other nearby villages. Plus, I've heard a few stories about this part of the country, and I'd like to follow up on them."

"What sort of stories have you heard," he asked feeling slightly concerned. He hoped the stories had nothing to do with the attacks on the nearby families. "Is there anything I can help you with? I've lived here my whole life and have knowledge of the surrounding area."

"No, it's fine. If I told you you'd only laugh at me, a lot of people do you know," Lilia said.

Sensing she was now uncomfortable with the conversation, he changed it. "You haven't told me anything about your family," Aiden remarked. "I don't see any rings on your

fingers that would tie you to anybody legally, so my guess is you're not married. Do you have a partner?"

"There was once. In fact, there have been many special guys, but none were quite right for me," Lilia explained. "As for my family, there's just me and Mum. Dad left years ago. Sorry, I don't even know why I'm telling you this. I hardly know you."

"Don't be sorry, it's okay," he lied. Aiden had his own sob story and really wasn't interested in hers, however, he was good at pretending to understand, especially when the person talking was as attractive as Lilia.

The conversation between the two lasted as long as the wine. As the bottle emptied the afternoon came to a close. It was almost as if it was some sort of life force that had expired. Silently they packed up the picnic and put it away in the basket.

The day had been a lot more pleasant than Aiden thought it would be and when she dropped him off at his home, he imagined spending more time with her and more intimate time at that. Resisting the urge to kiss her although he wanted her, they said their goodbyes. No unnecessary complications were needed, not yet anyway. There was some careful planning required. It was best to keep her at arm's length for as long as he could, so things could be a bit more organized.

After re-establishing the boring routine he had grown accustomed to and removing his clean, dry washing from the line, Aiden headed inside. In the library, he selected another paperback from the shelf. His mind drifted as he looked at the words getting to the end of

a page and realising he hadn't read any of it properly. He started again but it was useless.

Nothing stuck in his head and he couldn't recall any of the storyline at all.

Lilia, her name rolled around in his mind. He saw her face, imagined her gentle touch. He had only known her a few days and there had been very few conversations between them, but Aiden had been starved of company for so long now, the craving of just having a chat was overwhelming. Thinking about the difference he felt after the afternoon was enough to encourage him.

Aiden felt as though he could even love somebody in time. It would be easy. To him, Lilia seemed so very satisfying in every aspect, but not the most practical relationship and at this point in time, highly illogical. The conversation between them had flowed easily and when she had naturally opened up to him earlier that day, it indicated that she felt comfortable and there was already an element of trust after just a few encounters. Aiden felt something stir within, a lust that he hadn't felt for a long time. If the opportunity arose for something a little more amorous, he would certainly pursue it.

Outside the sun was setting and the smells from the kitchen drifted into the room. It would soon be dark. Aiden put the book on the sofa and left the library locking it behind him. He put the key in his pocket. The only key to the only room in the manor where he felt completely at ease with his life. Once again, he coughed before entering the kitchen. The sound of a door closing was his signal and he went into the room to eat his evening meal alone.

The table was set for one as usual. He sat in his regular place, always the same chair. A plate of food and some cutlery lay before him. Tonight though there was a difference. Tucked under his knife was a folded scrap of music manuscript paper, a note. He opened it; three simple words were written. Don't forget me. He folded the note and put it in his pocket and wished there was somebody else to share the meal with him.

Aiden dreamt that night. Lilia, she had now ventured into his subconsciousness. He saw her smile, heard her voice, Lilia. He felt different when she was around. She changed his dark to light, his night to day. He needed her. She had brought the life back, the life that he had lost. He felt her slip away as he stirred and awoke to face the morning. Day light, and there she was again, occupying his thoughts.

********

There was something very different about this morning. Aiden went to the bedroom door and unlocked it. He couldn't hear the music and there was nothing coming from the kitchen. No sounds and definitely no smell of bacon frying. Aiden left his room and walked softly and silently to the end of the hall. He stood at the door and listened, straining to hear any noise coming from within.

"I can smell her on you," the voice whispered from within its confines.

"I'm sorry," he apologised, and continued on to make his own sandwich and tea for breakfast.

Downstairs the setting for one from the evening before remained where he had left it. The remnants of food stuck to the plate were hard and dry. The laundry hadn't been done and Aiden had gone without breakfast. Quickly, he cleared away the mess and started the washing. He fried some bacon for his sandwich and made a cup of tea. The morning paper lay on the front doorstep waiting for someone to retrieve it. The boring routine had been broken. He sat troubled by his conscience and the consequence of his actions. After eating his meal, he continued in the normal way with a cold shower and then finished the meagre domestic chores he completed each morning. There was no music today and as he was soon to learn, no lunch. It felt familiar, a kind of déjà vu. Every time he came close to even starting a new relationship, it had to be ended. Aiden was fed up with the loneliness and the constant sacrifice. He needed it to work this time and if not this time, he didn't want to spend the rest of his life alone. There would have to be compromises made for him to enjoy his future.

The afternoon was spent in the library with its walls lined with shelves of books that Aiden relied on for comfort and further education. Today he was not in his usual spot on the leather sofa. Instead, he sat at the bulky mahogany desk with his back to the large window thinking. Lilia, but he pushed her from his mind. Aiden had opened the curtains to escape from the darkness for a while. On the back of his head, the warmth of the sun streamed in through the window. In the front of his mind sat the perplexing situation. There was a remedy to the position he was in, but he had to approach it with care. Aiden chewed the end of the pen thinking and then he wrote.

It seems that I have upset you. Please know that it was never my intention. Have you ever considered what this is like for me?

He folded the note in half and then opened it and looked at the words once again. They were honest, and the selfish question more than necessary. Aiden had continuously made sacrifices and it was time for things to change. Folding it again, he went up the wide staircase with its carved balustrades to the first-floor landing. Stopping at the room at the end of the hall, he slid the paper halfway under the door. Aiden watched as it disappeared. He waited, dreading the response.

"I forgive you," the voice whispered from the other side of the locked room.

Aiden smiled to himself and went back to the library and locked himself in for the rest of the afternoon. Upstairs the music played once more and although it was somewhat depressing, the normality gave him comfort and he slipped back into his dismal groove.

Dinner was served at the regular time in the regular way.

A day without his new-found friend Lilia was miserable for Aiden. Twenty-four hours had passed, and he had not seen her. She was somebody to talk to and somebody to listen to, a voice that wasn't a depressing melody or a whisper through a door. It was refreshing. Aiden was tormented, torn between the dark and the light, between obligation and reckless

abandon. He stared at the ceiling and felt trapped like a rabbit in a snare. Tomorrow he would decide what to do, but right now Aiden was far too exhausted. This was all too difficult for him, juggling his emotions was never meant to be a full-time profession. Generations before him had contributed to his easy lifestyle, but the more he pondered the way he felt, the more problematic it became. As he closed his eyes for the last time that day, Aiden felt as though he was being watched, but the only thing that occupied his room with him was loneliness.

********

Making his way through the field towards the village, the grass had continued to grow and was now joined by daisies that were almost knee high. The large white and yellow heads acted as a time machine and took him back to days of innocence. He pictured his sister at a very young age, picking the daisies in that very same field for their mother. She had loved picking flowers and making daisy chains to wear as a garland for her head, pretending she was some sort of fairy princess. Shaking his head, the past disappeared and brought him back to the present. Aiden made a mental note to arrange to have the grass cut, it wouldn't do for him to continuously slip back to his childhood, now he had to focus on what was ahead and what he could make of his future.

He would hire someone to do the work. It was well away from the manor and the job was far too time consuming for him, besides, he didn't want to do it, he was a Lord after all and felt the need to maintain a basic amount of snobbery.

The bottoms of his jeans were soaked from the morning dew and as he climbed the gate he tried to shake some of the water from his shoes. Aiden's heart almost skipped a beat as he jumped down from the creaking metal construction. The blue Mini was gone. He could see The Cantering Filly clearly, and the car space that had been occupied for the last few days was empty. Maybe she had just gone for a drive, but twenty-four hours was a long time and he had neglected to contact her yesterday. Who knows what goes on in a woman's mind when she is left to ponder the events of something as complex as a picnic.

In the bar, he was alone. He checked his watch. It was too early for beer. Aiden ordered coffee, a beverage he wasn't particularly fond of, but when made with frothy creamy milk, he enjoyed it on occasion..

"There's a note here for you Lord Winchester," the girl behind the bar said handing him a sealed envelope with his latte.

"Thanks," he said taking it from her. He knew her name, but it had been filed away with the rest of the unimportance in his life and at that moment, eluded him.

Sitting by himself at the familiar corner table, Aiden tore open the envelope which had his name neatly printed on the front. The second note in just a few days. He was starting to sense a trend developing.

Aiden

I'll be back around 1.00pm. I'll meet you in the bar.

Lilia

Aiden slipped the note back into the envelope. Folding it he put it in his pocket and checked his watch once more. 10.35, a hell of a time to be sitting in the local drinking alone, even if it was just a cup of coffee. The drink was accompanied by a biscuit that had clearly been purchased from the village bakery. Delicious, the sweetness of the biscuit made the coffee a bitter and he added sugar. Dunking the baked treat into the drink, he finished it and contemplated calling in at the bakery on the way home to get some. Aiden knew they came from Cocoa's. He had bought biscuits there before. Right now though, a walk would do him good, away from the dusty manor and the depressing music. He would hike to the picnic ground where he could think more clearly about the situation.

The May calendar usually brought with it the sunshine of spring with the remnants of a winter chill in the wind, but this morning was more like a summery day you might expect late in June. It approached with a promise, a sign of what was to come. Pleasant evenings filled with light and warmth, and long days accompanied by heat. Aiden trudged up the steep hill. Miniscule landslides of small pebbles and fine sandy soil were created as his footing gave way on the difficult to walk, uneven pedestrian path. Finally, he reached the car park and the grassy area where he had shared his lunch with Lilia a few days before.

From where he stood, Aiden could see for miles. He could see The Cantering Filly and the empty space where her car had sat for the past week. Winchester Manor now small and distant, was tucked away behind some trees looking abandoned and sheltered by the surrounding flora. He wondered what would happen if he never went back? A question Aiden had asked himself many times in the past. He had learnt long ago that leaving a problem behind doesn't mean it won't be there to greet you if you return and

eventually he would have to make his way back. A nagging conscience would devour him, and he would once again return home faithfully. Aiden wanted to throw open the doors to the family home and invite Lilia in, into his life, but more importantly, into his bed. Having known her so short a time and wanting to be more intimate with her made him feel like his old self, but this was different, she was a comfort to him as well. Perhaps it was the disruption to his loneliness that made her more desirable, or maybe he was just a lustful male who had been missing the joy of sex.

A flash of blue caught his eye. Her Mini, he knew the car without even looking. He watched as it pulled up at the pub. Aiden checked the time, it wasn't quite eleven thirty. He wondered for a moment where she had been, but the thought was soon dismissed. It would take him half an hour to walk home and have a bite to eat which left plenty of time for him to return to the pub before one o'clock. Aiden started down the track towards the manor. Downhill was much easier and he soon had a steady pace going. Although, the stone along the path was loose in places and, not wanting to slip, he opted to use the grassy areas beside it when he could.

At the bottom of the hill, after checking for traffic, Aiden crossed the road heading towards the gate with the rusted padlock and chain. The anticipation of his meeting with Lilia put a spring in his step and he felt weightless as he crossed the field. Nearer to the house, the sound of the melancholy music reached his ears and he felt himself come back down to earth. He checked his watch once again. Lunch would be waiting.

Choosing to enter his home through the door at the rear of the house, Aiden went inside locking it behind him. Once again, a solitary place setting awaited him garnished with a sandwich filled with sliced cucumber and salmon from a tin, one of his favourites. There was no tea, but the kettle was hot. He made a pot of tea for himself and sat down to eat the midday meal pouring the steaming liquid into the only cup on the table. It was comforting after the coffee in the pub and he sipped at the tea remembering the tea parties that his sister had insisted he attend. Pink plastic cups and teddy bears made him smile.

The usual melody invaded the kitchen, surrounding Aiden like an army. Each note played represented one of his captors and the swarm closed in around him. With every mouthful of the delicious sandwich, he slipped back into darkness as the tune infiltrated the borders of his mind. Finishing the food, he put his dishes in the sink and ran the water to rinse them off. For one moment, Aiden contemplated staying in, forgetting Lilia, and letting her fade away like so many others before her. Drying his hands on a tea towel, he rejected the thought forcing it from his head, and was soon out in the sunshine and on his way to The Cantering Filly. The darkness behind him, he headed towards the pub and towards Lilia Cooper.

The small vehicle drew him in the direction of the heritage building like metal to a magnet and thoughts of his new friend churned through his mind. Lilia was waiting at their table. It had become their table now, where once it had been just another place to sit. They

ordered drinks and sat talking, learning more about each other without Aiden having to reveal his secret. Another drink and then another and the afternoon glided into early evening. He checked his watch as he normally did around that time of the day.

"Please don't go," she said reaching across the table and placing her hand lightly over his. "You could stay the night with me."

"You don't understand. As much as I'd like to, I can't," he told her as he savoured her touch. He wanted to stay with her, he needed to stay with her, but there was the other matter to consider.

"What is it Aiden, what is it you're not telling me?" Lilia asked withdrawing her hand and folding her arms in front of her chest. "Are you married?"

"No certainly not. I'm not sure why you would even think that. It's just the situation, it's complicated. We need to get to know each other a little more. I'm just an old-fashioned bachelor and slightly reclusive, that's all," he reassured her, "But married, definitely not."

"Well I think it's time you invited me over and gave me a tour of the grand manor," she said. "I love Georgian architecture and I've heard Winchester Manor is one of the loveliest in this part of the country."

"Of course, I'd like you to see it too, but not tonight. I really must go," he said, and with that he got up from his seat and left the bar.

"Well bollocks to that," Aiden heard her say as he left the pub and closed the door behind him.

Lightheaded from a few too many drinks, he stumbled across the field. Night fall was upon him and it was almost dark. Panic started to rise within, and Aiden felt as though he was walking through a narrowing tunnel. It was as if he could see nothing but the manor. As he stumbled around to the front of the house, he fumbled in his pocket for his key to the latch. The door closed behind him and he was instantly overcome with a sense of relief, safe within the staleness of its prison like state.

Finding the kitchen occupied, Aiden once again sought refuge in his beloved library and closed the door locking it behind him. The book that he had removed from the shelf a few days before lay where he had left it. He sat on the chesterfield, his head spinning slightly. Opening the book, he took a deep breath. The smell of knowledge. It made him feel sick as a distinct stench of moth balls floated from the paper. It must have been stored away for years and then discarded just in time for Aiden to make his purchase. He started to read, page after page until he could smell dinner, the aroma fighting its way into every corner of the house and overpowering his will to stay hidden away. Placing a bookmark at the page he was currently reading, Aiden put the book down on the sofa and went out for his meal.

As the food sobered him, he finally relaxed. Thinking, he recalled the conversation from the inn. Lilia wanted to come to the manor. Aiden rested his elbows on the table and put his face in his hands. Despair closed in around him. He should have ignored the car when he first saw it. He should have gone straight home instead of going for a drink. He should have said no to her when she asked to sit with him. But he never and now it was all about to fall apart. The visions in his mind crumbled. His world shattered. He would sleep on it.

"Aiden, Aaaaiiiidddeeen," the voice called. He turned and saw her there, his beloved sister Mary, standing in the moonlight calling his name. She stood under the leafy cover of the trees they had so often climbed together. Aiden ran towards her along a path they had tread many a time. He ran faster, but it felt slower and the more he tried, the further she moved away from him. He tried harder and continued to move forward, but his feet felt like clay and as they became heavier, he watched as she slipped further and further away. There was another person there looking on, Lilia. He turned and there she was bathed in the rays of the sun, just standing in the light watching and waiting, waiting for him. The darkness enveloped his sister Mary and she vanished leaving Aiden and Lilia alone together. He opened his eyes. It was morning.

********

Aiden enjoyed his breakfast in bed as usual, lapping up the luxury wondering if he would receive the same service from Lilia if he invited her to stay the night. He scanned the paper

searching for anything that might interest him, sipping the steaming tea from the usual delicate china.

He would invite her over for afternoon tea. They could stay in the library. No, that was his room. There was no way he wanted her poking around in there. She would ask questions about the books and he would have to lie to her. She would ask about the locked doors. Ask about the music. It was complicated. He could entertain her in the garden and say he'd left the radio on, but it was always the same song and besides, Lilia wanted to see inside the manor.

After his usual morning routine, instead of spending time in the garden, he went straight to the library. Above him the melody went on and on. It was difficult to concentrate. Aiden thought about the obstacles he faced. Sitting at the desk, he wrote another note trying to put the delicate request into words without overstepping the mark.

I have a friend and she wants to visit the manor. I'd like it very much if you would cease playing for one afternoon. I promise I haven't forgotten you, but this is important to me. Oh, and if it isn't too much trouble, could you make some cakes?

Aiden stared at the words and wondered if he was pushing his luck asking for cake. If the answer was no, he could get some nice cakes from Cocoa's Bakery in the village, but he wouldn't compromise on the visitor. He took the note upstairs and slipped it under the door. It was taken. Waiting anxiously, the note came back. Dreading the answer, he retrieved it from under the door, a single word was written on it along with his.

Yes.

"Thank you," he said through the closed door and breathed a sigh of relief.

There was so much preparation to be done. Aiden commenced work removing the staleness from the manor. It seemed like an awful lot of trouble for one visit, but if this was successful, it might lead to more visits, perhaps of a more pleasurable nature.

Exhausted from hours of cleaning, Aiden wrote out an invitation and left it at the pub for Lilia. He couldn't help smiling. It had been such a long time since he had entertained at home, he just hoped his simple afternoon tea didn't end in disaster.

********

Lilia arrived at the manor at precisely two thirty on the day of the scheduled rendezvous. A few days had elapsed since they had seen each other, and Aiden was feeling slightly nervous about the date. Since it was afternoon tea in the parlour, he had decided to wear something a little more formal to impress Lilia, although he wasn't sure why. Instead of the usual jumper, he chose a blazer. It was just enough to compliment his casual look and added a touch of sophistication. There were many things that could go horribly wrong, but his fingers were crossed that any catastrophe would be avoided. Aiden greeted his guest in the driveway, helping her from the car like a gracious host and the true gentleman he been brought up to be.

"Thank you for inviting me," Lilia said smiling at him. "I was beginning to think you had some sort of nasty secret."

"Never," he lied, hoping he could keep his nasty secret to himself, at least for the afternoon. "Come inside. I'll give you a bit of a tour."

He led her through the front entrance of the manor, and they stepped onto the parquet floor of the entrance hall and he closed the door behind them. Aiden had made sure to open all of the downstairs doors, and all of the drapes at the windows. Every single dust cover had been removed from the furniture and stashed in a storage cupboard. Tirelessly he had worked vacuuming the rugs and polishing the wooden floors to make sure the musty smell had been evicted from his home. All of the ornaments that were placed strategically on tables and cabinets to add a little colour and personal style to the manor had been dusted so any hint of lingering staleness was expelled. Aiden felt quite proud of his handy work. The couple wandered slowly through the downstairs rooms with high ceilings and sash windows which let in plenty of light, until they came to the library.

"I like this, let's see what kind of books you read," she said browsing the shelves.

"Not now, I've prepared a special afternoon tea. It's in the parlour. Come with me," he said taking her hand and guiding her out of the library and away from his beloved books, the books that he kept to himself.

The parlour had been prepared in the same way as the other rooms, the curtains had been opened and the furniture dusted in anticipation. There were fresh flowers in vases, and cakes and tea for two on a small table. The china was the familiar blue floral tea set that he used regularly, but today Aiden wasn't sipping hot tea alone and a wave of euphoria swept over him.

"This is nice," Lilia said referring to the tea service as he poured them both a hot drink. "The parlour, you are old fashioned, most people call it a living room."

"I did indicate that I was slightly old fashioned and traditionally this room has always been the parlour," he explained sipping his drink. "Here, would you like a cake?"

"Did you make these?" she asked and nibbled the edge of one.

"Yes," Aiden lied. "I do all my own cooking."

"You're quite talented in the cake decorating department," Lilia told him between sips of her drink.

"I learnt a lot from my mother. She liked to bake," he lied again, slipping deeper and deeper into his own web. The cupcakes were decorated in a very feminine way, Aiden hoped that Lilia didn't suddenly think he preferred the company of men.

"Do you mind if I use the bathroom?" she asked after two cups of tea.

Aiden hadn't thought about that and the bathroom was upstairs. Instantly panic set in. He could direct her towards the downstairs cloakroom, but it wasn't as nice, and he was slightly ashamed he had let some things lapse. He tried to stay calm and keep the dread out of his voice.

"No, please, be my guest. I'll show you where it is," he said standing.

"I'm sure I can find it," she said. "Maybe you could make some more tea for us."

"More tea? Okay. The bathroom is upstairs. The first door on the right. It's no problem for me to show you," he told her trying not to sound too anxious. He didn't want her wandering around the upstairs alone.

"It's fine, I'll find it," Lilia told him, and she left the room.

Aiden stood there and stared after her. Tea, he would make another pot of tea. Surely nothing would go wrong. She was just going upstairs to the bathroom, that was all. A simple trip to the bathroom. He heard her footsteps on the stairs as he went to the kitchen to boil the water for the tea. Aiden had given Lilia firm instructions on where she would find the bathroom, but he felt she was a bit nosey. Perhaps he was reading too much into the situation. He had read articles in papers and magazines about women who had rummaged through men's belongings trying to find out more about them and hoped she wasn't nosing around upstairs trying to get into his bedroom or any other room for that matter. When Aiden returned to the parlour with the steaming pot of freshly brewed tea, Lilia was sitting waiting patiently.

"So, you found it then," he asked her, pouring them both a drink from the china teapot, and feeling quite relieved.

"Yes," she nodded.

"More cake?" he asked, relaxing and offering Lilia the plate of chocolaty sweet treats.

The afternoon went far too quickly, and night drew nearer as they chatted away and laughed together. It was all going smoothly until Aiden started to get anxious again. She was staying too long. He looked at his watch.

"Let's go for a walk," he suggested.

"Okay, where?" she asked.

"Just out, leave the cups and plates, I'll take care of them later." He hurried her out of the house as quickly as he could, worried as the sun started to go down.

"You know," Lilia said when they were outside in the driveway, "If I didn't know better, I'd swear you had something to hide."

"There's nothing," he assured her. "Haven't I proved that by having you here today? Don't you think if there was something I was hiding you would have discovered it?"

"Are you sure because it just seems a little strange? You're all nice and friendly one moment and then you try to push me away," she said looking into his eyes earnestly. "What is it Aiden? Why are you trying to get rid of me all of a sudden?"

"I'm not trying to get rid of you and I'm not hiding anything, I just like my evenings to myself," he lied once more. Even he knew the lie sounded ridiculous and unbelievable. "Besides, you're far too nosey and what I do in my spare time is none of your business." Aiden regretted the words as soon as he heard them. But what is said, can never be unsaid.

"Well then maybe I should go," she said walking away from him. She paused for a moment turning to him, clearly waiting for him to stop her, before opening the door of her car.

Aiden said nothing and looked down at the ground, willing it to open up and swallow him whole. He didn't want her to be here after dark, but he felt guilty chasing her from the property. It was difficult.

Lilia turned and got into the vehicle. He watched until the car was no longer in sight. Heading back into the house, Aiden locked the door and went from room to room closing

the drapes, finishing in the parlour. The dishes were still there. It was getting dark. He went to the library, snapped on the light, and locked the door. He drew the curtains in there as well and sitting on the chesterfield he started to think about everything. The difficulties of the situation engulfed him. He felt confused, alone, and angry. Angry with himself, angry with the circumstances, and angry with the world. He had insulted her and didn't expect to see her again, but an apology was necessary. What to do? It was all new to him. Noises crept in under the door. Aiden listened and heard the afternoon being cleared away to make way for the usual solitary evenings of the manor and as he waited, he concluded life would always be like this and to try to change it would be a fool's errand.

********

The next time Aiden saw Lillia, it wasn't intentional. Although he knew she was still at the pub due to the presence of her car in the parking lot, Aiden had purposely avoided her. He had attempted to push Lilia from his mind, thinking it would be better for them both, but it wasn't so easy.

The milkman had traded in his horse and cart for a sea change years ago and although Aiden tried to drink his tea black, it just wasn't as tasty without milk and not at all the way he liked it. That was the reason he went out that day, he had to have milk for his tea. At first he thought of driving miles to a supermarket, but it seemed like a waste of his time. So, it was just intended to be a quick walk to the village.

The grass in the field had been mowed the previous day and Aiden could smell the sweetness that had been released into the air. He sauntered through the field with his hands in his pockets whistling. That song again, it was stuck in there forever, never to leave.

Taunted by the car parked by the pub, he tried to ignore the damn thing. As long as it was there, it was just another reminder of his pathetic life. He checked for traffic and crossed the road to get as far away from the pub as possible. He didn't want to risk bumping into her. Aiden had successfully chased her from his mind, well almost. Lilia no longer occupied his thoughts every waking moment, just every second one. He was almost at the store, but instead stopped in at the second-hand shop again. There might be another book for him to add to his collection. The same old woman sat behind the counter. She smiled at him and gave him a nod. He smiled back and wondered faintly if she remembered him and the type of novel he had bought from her a few weeks back. The books were stacked on the shelves near the back of the shop. Aiden scanned the titles. So engrossed, he didn't notice the door to the shop open. He didn't notice her browsing through the racks of discarded clothing. He didn't notice her approach him. He didn't notice her at all.

"Aiden," she said quietly and coughed to clear her throat.

He turned and there she was. Lilia. For a moment, Aiden's instincts told him to act in a dismissive manner, to let her think he wasn't interested in what she had to say. But he

couldn't, he admitted to himself he needed someone in his life, and she was his best option at this moment in time. Plus, there was the apology he owed her, and she was kind of sexy.

"I'm sorry," he whispered swallowing hard. "I never meant to upset you."

"It's alright. You were right. I'm far too nosey, it's one of my more prominent faults," Lilia told him. "Are you going to buy that?"

He looked at the book in his hand and looked at her again. It was too late to hide it now and it was only one book, not a shelf full. What was the harm in her knowing anyway?

"I think so," he said trying to act as if it wasn't a deliberate purchase, but something found on chance. "I haven't read it yet."

"I wondered about the kind of books you read," she said staring at the used paperback. "That type of thing isn't really for me. I've tried reading them, but I couldn't get past the first chapter in most. They all seem the same and from the movies I've seen, they all meet the same ending, ridiculous really."

"We appear to have very different tastes in literature," he said pushing past her toward the counter, feeling slightly insulted by her comment about his choice of reading material. "I happen to like them, so forgive me for leaving but I'd like to make my purchase and go home and read my ridiculous novel." Aiden paid for the book. He turned and smiled sarcastically at her and then left the shop. Halfway across the field with the paperback in

his hand, the realisation arose, he'd forgotten to buy the milk. Turning around, he started to head back to the store, and she was there again on the other side of the gate, just leaning against the rusting metal, watching. Aiden hesitated. He walked slowly across the field toward the gate and Lilia.

"I'm not sure why you are angry with me. I didn't mean to upset you," she explained when he drew near.

"Look, there are things about me you just wouldn't understand," he said with conviction. "Right now though, I have to get some milk which is self-explanatory. I'll meet you later for a pint if you like, say around four? We can talk about it all then."

Lilia agreed to their date and he headed back towards the shops to get the forgotten milk, leaving her leaning against the cold metal of the gate. Aiden didn't look back, but he was pleased they were meeting later. He missed talking to someone and his life felt better when she was near. By the time he returned to the field, Lilia was gone.

Back at the dismal manor, the milk was in the fridge, the book added to a shelf in the library and Aiden had a piping hot cup of sweet, milky tea. Upstairs, the music played. It seemed more annoying than ever before. He listened. Seconds, then minutes. As the hour went by, part of his life disappeared again. He thought of Lilia sitting in the pub at their usual table waiting for him. If he didn't go, she would understand he didn't want to see her. But there was no reason not to. He would tell her. Tell her it was all too complicated. She would ask questions. He would lie or tell her the truth – he wasn't sure. Like so many before her, Lilia would disappear out of his life, becoming part of his past, just another chapter in the book of Aiden Winchester, Lord of the Manor. Aiden Winchester, destined to spend the rest of his pathetic life alone, suffering for someone else's lousy sins.

In the corner of The Cantering Filly at the table they had grown accustomed to sharing, Lilia waited. The sight of her sickened him, sickened him because of what he was about to do. She was so enticing. They had a drink together and then another. He couldn't do it. They ordered a meal, a medium rare steak each. Nightfall surrounded the pub and he stayed put. Another drink, after which she took him by the hand and led him to her room. Her lips were soft and flavoured with wine. The touch of skin against skin made Aiden feel alive and unshackled. It had been so long. He looked up at her as she straddled him and closed her eyes, her hair cascading over her shoulders. Aiden cupped her breasts in his hands and felt the hardness of her nipples against his palms. They came together as one and he relished the moment, realising in an instant what he had missed over the years. Lying beside her in the darkness of the small rented room, Aiden came to the realisation that if he wanted his life back, there would have to be some changes made.

Just before daylight while Lilia lay asleep, Aiden crept from the small room on the first floor of the pub. As he made his escape, he thought about what had occurred. Her face, the smell of her hair, her body. She captivated him. He pictured them living together. He saw himself falling in love with her and then having a family, perhaps even grandchildren, and growing old together. The manor would be alive again. There would be parties and people coming and going. Only one hurdle stood in his way. It was impossible.

As the sun breathed life into the day he approached the manor. Aiden despised the building and all that it represented. The hatred grew with each step. Hatred for the feeling it gave him, hatred for everything inside it, hatred for himself. The disgust of his way of life consumed him and he slipped once again back into the familiar dark mood and any thought of changing things slithered away.

********

Greeted once again with the stale silence, Aiden went straight upstairs to his room. A couple of hours sleep was in order. He removed his clothes and welcomed the comfort of his bed. Staring at the wall, he thought of Lilia, his head now belonged to her. There was no use trying to deny it. He closed his eyes and when he opened them again it was almost two in the afternoon. He smiled when he thought about what had kept him awake in the night. The unfamiliar sound of silence greeted him. Aiden couldn't hear any music coming from the room down the hall. It brought him back to reality, back to the rotting carcass that surrounded him. Why wasn't there music? He didn't understand and as for Lilia, she would never understand the situation. Aiden vaguely wondered what had happened to his

breakfast, and lunch for that matter, but the silence of the manor was the thing that bothered him the most.

The afternoon went unrewarded. Depressed, Aiden spent hours chopping wood. Winter would come again, and he needed to be prepared. The fuel could be stored in the shed to ensure that it dried out properly. Repeatedly he wielded the axe taking out his emotional frustrations on the logs. Sweat bled from his brow and he wiped it with his forearm. The air began to change around him. It started to feel cooler. The daylight faded, and it was time once again to enter the abyss.

Inside, dinner was ready, plain and ordinary, but still no music. There had to be a reason. He ate without tasting. Everything on the plate merging into one indistinguishable flavour. Aiden picked through it mindlessly, not thinking of anything except Lilia. An evening in the library followed.

The smell of knowledge wafted up as Aiden opened the book, forever busy trying to take it all in, trying to learn everything he could. It was always the same story and the same words, but in a different sequence. Time after time he read about the same character with a different name. Knowledge is power. It could all be used to his advantage, but a heartless one. A brutal benefit that was unthinkable, but a benefit that would end the loneliness and give him back his life. It would be a sacrifice to his emotion, the emotion that drove him towards the life he longed for. It could be done. He would sleep on it.

********

For Lord Aiden Winchester, the day started as so many had before, the ritual breakfast and cold shower with his clothes set out, hand-picked for him so he didn't have to bother himself with insignificant decisions. He left the confines of his room and headed downstairs only to pause for a moment outside the room down the hall.

"Do you love her?" the voice whispered through the door.

"I'm not sure, perhaps," he replied, knowing the torment he delivered with the short but honest answer.

That was the extent of the conversation. There was never much more than that, but the words played in his head like the mournful song he had heard on so many occasions. The future would be as the past had been if he didn't decide what to do soon. He could escape the darkness or remain the way he was until he was as dead as a post.

When Aiden heard the car in the driveway he knew exactly who it was without looking. Since spending the night with Lilia, he had kept his distance trying to come to a conclusion. The sound of the car door closing reached his ears and he heard her footsteps as she approached the door. Aiden opened it before she could knock, and she stood there in front of him, his lifeline perhaps.

"Hi," Lilia said. "Can I come in?"

"This isn't a good time, but I can meet you later," he suggested.

"It's never a good time, is it? Just forget it Aiden. I don't know why I came here. I thought you were a nice guy and now you're pushing me away again. I should have known better," she said tearfully.

He watched her walk away and get in the car, making no attempt to stop her. Aiden stood in the doorway until he was sure that she wasn't going to return. He closed the door and commenced with the normal routine, but it was no good. On his mind she was and there she would stay. With everything he did, Lilia haunted him. Aiden felt sorry for her, he had never meant to be so hurtful.

Later in the afternoon he walked across the field and stood leaning against the gate for what seemed like a lifetime. Her car was still there mocking him, daring him to make things right between them. It wouldn't change anything. He lingered for a while longer and as the night drew closer and a mild panic set in as always, he turned and went home. Everything had been destroyed, all Aiden had hoped for and dreamed about, gone in one brief, cowardly moment.

The house was in silence and there was no sound of a presence in the kitchen, only a delicious aroma drifting through the manor. Aiden went in and sat down to the meal. Roast chicken with roast potatoes, his favourite. At first, he didn't notice, but after a few minutes the realisation he wasn't alone hit him. There was someone else in the room

standing in the shadows watching him. He continued to eat, not looking up, knowing perfectly well who it was. Her long onyx hair, her green eyes, and her alabaster skin, she was so pale from hiding away for so long, pale from her existence and the being she had become. He wanted to speak. But there was only silence, the silence of always, the silence of loneliness. Aiden looked up from his meal. Ghostlike she stepped towards him. He could see her clearly now, her face and the smile he missed. Different than she once had been but no older than when she had left him. Tears welled in his eyes. He loved her, he had missed her so much, and here she was, his sister Mary.

Mary

Time is not as valuable when you know that you have eternity. If something's endless, there's not as much respect for it. If you knew that your time would never run out, would you live your life differently? Or, would nothing change?

In the case of Mary Winchester, her future was abundant, it would never end. Mary hadn't planned for the catastrophe that had destroyed her family. But preparation wouldn't have

saved any of them. The result would have been the same. Now, there was no urgency in her day, because she had all the time in the world.

Mary had always acted on a whim. Spontaneity had been one of her most prominent qualities. But after all the years had passed, her simple existence had become more predictable than ever. The repetitive routine was the mundane direction she travelled and there was rarely any digression.

"Do you know what that is, Mary my love? That's the melody of connection and you are the melody maker." The sound of her late father's voice rattled through her head. Over and over again, the words ran through her mind as her fingers touched the piano keys delicately, the sensation from the cool ivory invigorating. She imagined him by her side as she played. Her father, he was always so very determined and so intelligent. The knowledge bought by a wealthy family had been passed on from generation to generation. She remembered him as kind and considerate and Mary's first and only real love. She knew there would never be another man like her dad. She missed her parents who had been brutally taken from her, her father so handsome and her mother so kind and beautiful. Cruelty had removed them all from her world, including her brother Aiden.

As the afternoon slowly edged closer to evening, Mary finished playing and went to the door of her room that always remained locked. Listening carefully with her ear up against the wooden surface, silence whispered to her, and she heard nothing else. Turning the key in the lock, Mary Winchester came out of her hiding place cautiously. The room protected her from the rest of the world, a very different world than the one she had once enjoyed so readily. As she descended the stairs to the ground floor of the manor, her repetition always the same, Mary wished for a new beginning. She wished she could turn back time and start again, to end her infinite sentence of solitary confinement.

Itching to see inside the library, she tried the door. Aiden spent a lot of time in the room reading, just as her father had, but there was nobody inside today and it was locked as usual. Mary knew she could enter the room if she wished, her supernatural strength was supreme. But for some reason Aiden wanted the Library for himself. Respecting her brother's wishes, she practiced restraint.

The kitchen at the rear of the house was her downstairs domain. The kitchen where she cooked his meals. Pans and utensils had become her friends. Warmth from the oven her only endearment and she cherished the feeling of providing a home cooked bounty for her brother. The drab cream walls accepted her and held her close when she entered. It gave her a cosy feeling.

Upstairs, she spent most of her time in her bedroom where playing her piano was her only pleasure. Music linked their worlds, a parallel existence. Two lonely lives entwined, but rarely ever touching. The melody of connection was their bond.

A parcel of fish lay on a plate in the fridge. Removing it, she sniffed it and then checked for an accompaniment. Finding a quarter of a cabbage and some green beans, Mary decided they would go nicely together with the fish. She had been cooking Aiden's meals for a long time, ever since, well, a long time. All of the techniques for food preparation Mary had learned from a cook that her parents had employed years ago. She enjoyed the creativeness and it was a pleasure to prepare meals for her brother. Cabbage had been one of her favourite vegetables, cabbage and brussel sprouts. She remembered calling them big and baby cabbages and loved it when her mother grew them in the garden. A special part of the garden for Mary's big and baby cabbages. She recalled the natural process vividly. From the seed to the earth which produced the growth for the table. Mary had helped with the planting and then assisted the staff with the cooking. Those days were over. There were no longer any servants at the manor, just Mary and Aiden. The unfortunate and tragic incident that had left them without parents had reduced her to the station of an immortal kitchen hand.

In most homes, the appliances are replaced every now and then, but the appliances Mary used were very old. If she had her way, the entire house would be updated, and all of the sad looking rooms restored to their former glory, just as they had looked when her parents were alive. All of the opulence had faded and become drab and outdated. Walls needed painting and the floors needed a new coat of varnish. The oven had seen better days, the dishwasher was beyond repair and their old refrigerator would shudder every now and then which bothered her. It definitely needed replacing and daily she waited for it to turn up its electric toes. Nothing lasts for ever, but she knew why Aiden hung on to the past, after all, that's what he was doing. Afraid to replace the things that had once belonged to their parents in a vain effort to keep them in the picture. One day he would have to, and that day was getting closer. Mary just hoped he wouldn't ignore them like he had with the boiler. That had packed up years ago and he was still taking cold showers.

While the dinner was cooking, she started to listen, listen for any sound she could. Softly she walked through the downstairs rooms looking for a trace of her brother, her bare feet not making any noise at all on the smooth wooden floors. She knew nothing about him now, only that he had a thirst for reading. The manor housed them both, but she lived in the dark, and he in the light. More than anything she missed his companionship. Just once it would be nice to have a conversation in the same room as anybody.

Aiden was seldom home during the day and when he was, he spent his time between outdoor activities and locking himself in the library. It sort of hurt. She frightened him and she knew it. To her brother, she was a vicious killer and the memory of why he felt that way haunted her regularly.

It wasn't long after her sixteenth birthday when her whole life had changed in one dramatic evening. She remembered the event as clearly as if it had been yesterday. Just after the sun had set, her family had been sitting out in the garden enjoying the summer evening. Strings of electric lights were strung up to illuminate the area, so the cool evening could be appreciated. But with the arrival of the darkness came the arrival of the villains. At the time, there had been stories about another family who had been viciously murdered on a nearby property and little did her own family know, those guilty of the crime were nearby watching. She recalled it happening quickly without warning. Her father's neck was snapped in an instant and as his limp body fell to the ground, slumping in a lifeless mass, another of the posse seized her mother and tore at her throat with his sharp pointed teeth. The red bloody mess spurted dark liquid into the air so quickly that her life disappeared in an instant. But her own fate was to be the worst of the three. Frozen with fear, Mary remembered his malevolent smile, sort of mesmerising and hypnotic. She felt the teeth in her neck and then the thick salty taste of his tainted blood on her tongue, which filled her with a new and everlasting existence. The result of the exchange was endless loneliness. On that night, the night their parents died, for some reason she had been chosen to survive. But with survival, a price was paid. The brutality had been too much for Aiden to accept. He had been inside the house at the time and had witnessed the whole sordid occurrence from an upstairs window, now he couldn't even look at her and she understood. It wasn't fair. Once Mary Winchester had been a popular girl. At sixteen there had been parties and friends, now there was only isolation. Her friends had grown up and moved away and she was left to rot in the empty crust of the deserted manor. Aiden had remained, but he too grew older and one day he would be gone, and Mary would have nobody.

A familiar smell reached her suddenly, the fragrant stench of human blood, warm and pulsing. She knew the delicious scent instantly. Mary heard Aiden's key in the front door, she heard the door open and close. He was home. His familiar footsteps on the wooden parquet floor reached her as she heard him walk along the hall to the library door. Every sound touched her like a hammer hitting an anvil, the key rotating in the lock, the turn of the dull brass handle, the opening of the door and then the closing and locking of it. She heard him snap the light switch into the on position, she heard him slide a book into a space on a shelf, Mary's delicate hearing delivered every sound that Aiden made.

The evening meal was almost ready. All the meals were now served in the kitchen, Aiden preferred it this way, the dining room held too many happy memories they both wished to avoid. Memories of family gatherings filled with laughter and frivolity. Food had united relatives who visited to enjoy feasts fit for royalty, with desserts, designed deliberately to end banquets with superb flavour. Opulence of a luxurious lifestyle had glistened on the facets of the chandelier crystals now dusty from neglect. The chandelier that hadn't brightened the abandoned room for a decade.

She had set the simple table for one and lifted the sizzling buttery fish carefully from the pan. Mary prepared the dish for him arranging the fish on the plate nicely with the steamed cabbage and beans alongside. She placed it on the table and carefully poured a solitary glass of wine. The sound of the library door opening and closing reached her keen hearing, and

Mary knew Aiden was headed for the kitchen, her senses were enhanced, and nothing was missed. A cough sounded from the out in the hallway. She left the kitchen by the door that lead to the back stairs and headed up to her room to spend the evening by herself. That's the way it was for Mary Winchester, she was always alone.

In the insular precinct of her locked bedroom, she sat at her piano and played. The melody of connection flowed supremely throughout the room and crept through the keyhole and under the door to spread through the rest of the house. The majestic ivory of the magnificent Italian instrument was smooth to the touch, as the hammers struck the strings creating the exquisite sound. It connected Mary to her brother. The Irish folk song she played was one their father had sung to her from a very young age and very sentimental to her, The Mountains of Mourne. It was one of the first tunes learned by a young enthusiastic pianist. She imagined her teacher sitting alongside her singing the lyrics as she played. Her father had sung superbly and nobody else in her family ever delivered that song the way he had. The tune had been regularly requested at fun, evening recitals. Now though, the melody was played a lot slower and sounded slightly depressing, not at all like it had been when they were all together and her fingers had skipped lightly across the keys. Although it brought back memories, that under other circumstances would have been delightful, for Mary, they were slightly thorny.

When the transformation had first happened, she couldn't even bear to look at what she had become so why would anyone else? Aiden had turned away so often, in the end, she had just stayed hidden. Mary knew she could resist him, but could she do it forever? That she didn't know.

Starting in the pit of her stomach, the pain began just on dusk. It spread through her body like a rampant disease on a killing spree. Growing worse as the evening progressed it became unbearable at times, but she managed to fight it most nights. The insatiable appetite of a murderous fiend was powerful, but as she had morphed into her evergreen journey, control had risen to the surface and assisted her in an attempt to encompass it.

At the bedroom window, she threw the curtains apart. Darkness greeted her with an alluring passion. There was a full moon tonight and the brightness of the lunar beams beckoned. Mary opened the window to an unusual addition to their home, a small Juliet balcony she had begged her parents for. The night caressed her, gently seducing her. A tender breeze touched her, and she welcomed the cool clean air, longing for the adventure, the fear, and the excitement. As she sat on the sill, the inviting darkness tempted her to come out for dinner. Resisting for a little while longer, Mary closed the window. She would wait until her brother had gone to bed. Aiden would be finishing his meal soon and then he would retire to either his secretive library or the bedroom. Pacing the room, Mary waited, she had to wait for the familiar sounds, wait until he was safely locked away in his room as she was in hers.

Her teenage bedroom hadn't changed since the day her popular world had crumbled. Even after the years that had passed, Mary was still sixteen and destined to remain an eternal teenager. The same white furniture and the floral soft furnishings were viewed by her music idols, still residing on the walls. They scrutinised her never changing world with the familiar one-dimensional expressions as always. In the middle of the bed, an old brown teddy bear leaned comfortably against the pillows, relaxing as if it ruled the roost. There were pages and pages of sheet music piled on a chest of drawers and glittering trophies she had won dancing in competitions. She still loved both, but it was difficult to dance in her room, so she opted for her cherished piano and played it constantly. The dancing was something Mary preferred to do out in the moonlight alone.

As innocent as the day of the tragedy, Mary hadn't experienced the social education that came during the late teenage years. Nevertheless, her supernatural mind was much more cunning now and although she had missed her debut, that innocence was accompanied with a type of knowledge unknown to mortals. There had been no grand balls or dances for Mary Winchester, her season had come and gone without so much as a party invitation or a single societal outing. In the wardrobe were the same clothes she had worn back then, never changing, and her face was still the beautiful face of innocence. There weren't any lines starting to appear, no crow's feet at the corners of her eyes and her long black wavy hair would never turn grey. She was suspended, and as time moved forward, Mary remained the same age she had been on that horrendous night. Although the years were added, the progression that accompanied them was missing.

Sitting at the piano she played once again. Gently, she stroked her only friend, bringing it to life with her rousing touch, enticing a mantra of musical verse to come forth and join the emptiness of the increasing madness that struck her down with a solitary switch and evoked heartache.

Well after midnight when she was sure that her brother was asleep, Mary cleared away the table setting and commenced with the after-dinner cleaning. It never bothered her in the slightest, he needed taking care of. As she worked into the early hours of the morning, she made no sound, swiftly setting things right in the quietness of the kitchen. Before going back upstairs, Mary stood looking at the door to the back of the house, daring her to go out, daring her to take a chance in the darkness, daring her to be herself. She closed her green eyes, opened them, and unlocked the door. Stepping out into the night, Mary smiled. It was her place, her time, it was where she belonged.

The thick vegetation that adorned the property was home to many delicacies and Mary made her way swiftly towards the wooded area of the Winchester property, always very wary and conscious there may be others like her lurking in the shadows waiting. Every now and then a story would appear in the local paper about a grisly murder, just like the one her family had experienced, which meant the killers were either passing through, or a permanent chapter. The last thing she wanted, however lonely she might be, was to join a supernatural gang.

Cold weather didn't bother her anymore, the cool grass had no effect on Mary's bare feet, even with her heightened senses. She loved to dance barefooted to the tune in her head, usually dancing alone with nobody watching on. Tonight, she sensed someone else, another like herself, though unsure of how close. Mary could move fast if necessary, but she wasn't going to be afraid on her own property and she only sensed one. Times had changed and over the past ten years she had evolved into a much stronger, braver vampire than she had been when the monsters had first made her.

The fragrance of the new spring drifted through the night air. She took it in and quickened her pace to a run. Climbing was a strong point and Mary scaled the nearest tree rapidly and sought out a tender midnight snack. There were other creatures in the tree. Creatures that loved the night as she herself did. Nocturnal birds and animals scurried as she approached. Mary was far too quick though. The warmth filled her, the nourishment she needed to sustain her. After feeding, she danced in the moonlight by herself, the stars twinkling above her like stage lights. Twirling and leaping she moved to a tune she hummed and if there was someone watching, then let them watch. At that moment in time, Mary Winchester just didn't care.

********

As morning approached and the darkened sky paled, Mary headed back to the manor, both her sanctuary and her prison. Inside she locked the door and put the dirty laundry in the washing machine. Aiden would be awake soon and he would want some breakfast. The usual, a bacon and brown sauce sandwich on white bread, with a cup of tea along with the morning newspaper, which waited in its customary place on the front doorstep.

After collecting it, Mary took a quick glance at the paper quickly scanning page after page. There had been a few killings like the one she was more than familiar with. She wondered if Aiden read the same stories and questioned whether she was responsible for the gruesome events. With that thought, in the dim light of the kitchen with the blinds closed to keep out the prying eyes of the world, she prepared breakfast for the Lord of the Manor.

Climbing the stairs quietly, Mary placed a neatly arranged tray on the floor outside his room and then went to the end of the hall to lock herself away. She listened from the seat at the piano while she tapped the keys producing the sweet melody of connection, the sound that once again joined their two worlds. Mary listened for Aiden to open the door, listened for him to finish his breakfast, listened for the sound of the old pipes groaning as he took his morning shower, another luxury that was now unnecessary to her.

As always, Mary cleared up after Aiden. His room wore his scent, the warm tempting aroma of human blood. She straightened up the bedding on the old oak four poster and set out his outfit for the day, just as she had for the past ten years. His clothing had changed over time and it had been interesting for Mary, who never stepped out into the real world and hadn't been shopping since her transformation. Even though Aiden had grown from a teenager to a man, Mary still liked to look after him. The tray was removed, and she washed the dishes downstairs in the kitchen. The washing machine had finished its cycle and Mary put the damp clothing in the basket for her brother to take out into the sunlight. It wouldn't do for anybody to see her. She had been missing for ten years now and it wouldn't take long for the villagers to put two and two together. Mary imagined a lynch mob with burning clubs and pitchforks heading towards the manor. They would soon put an end to her and probably her brother as well, and although her existence had been reduced to loneliness, it was still an existence.

Before returning to her room Mary took some beef from the freezer to defrost. Aiden would enjoy a nice hearty stew and it would last more than one day, making her own duties easier. There were all sorts of recipe books in the house and she had a few in her room for inspiration. Cooking was one of the very few activities that unified the small family. Nobody made her do she things she did for her brother, the driving force was love. Once upstairs again, she locked the door and began to play. The music flowed beautifully from the piano, the same song, over and over and as Mary played, she knew Aiden was there, he had stopped outside her room to listen. She ignored his presence to continue with her performance, and he left. Conjuring a captive audience, Mary created the ambiance of a small stage in her mind. Round tables that held drinks for those seated enjoying the show were scattered over an intimate area. A dark setting highlighted enthralled onlookers and Mary sat beneath a spotlight in front of a red velvet backdrop, enhancing her white baby grand as she pleased the spectators. Cheers and applause rang out at the end of the song as Mary stood, bowing in acceptance of the adulation. But reality soon brought her home when she realised that her only audience was loneliness and her imagination had cruelly tricked her once again.

From morn until midday, the siblings connected through her music, Mary in her bedroom and Aiden outside working the land that their mother had once loved to garden. The smell of the tended earth reached her room as she heard the spade turn sod after sod and knew he was preparing to plant the summer vegetables, just as their mother had.

As noon approached, Mary headed downstairs and prepared his lunch. A humble tin of soup bubbled in a saucepan and was transferred to a bowl. On a small plate alongside it sat a few crackers and Mary poured her brother a glass of orange juice. Returning to her private retreat, she sat at the piano again producing the music that filled her room and dominated the manor.

Sounds of a door opening and closing downstairs followed his midday meal and Mary knew her brother had left their home to go out somewhere and still she continued to play. He made her angry, jealous, and sad. Leaving her piano, she decided not to dwell on her misery and do something that would take her mind off her isolation.

On the lower floor of their home shrouded in secret, Mary went from room to room looking at the ornaments that were somewhat dusty from neglect. Each piece reminded her of a life since removed from the current time. After that tragic evening, a lot of their parent's belongings had been put away, but there were still a few of the things their mother had loved the most decorating the house. The sentimental rubbish reminded them both of an era left behind. One by one she picked them up, inspected them as if to search for a memory, and returned them to their dust free spots on the dark wood furniture. It was difficult for her as there were so many recollections, and, in her tormented state, no one to confide in about the way she felt. There had been many a time when she had wished for a therapy session or two. Unable to attend her parent's funeral had denied Mary of the finality she required to move on. The thoughts she had were sometimes disturbing. On several occasions, Mary had visited the graves of her mother and father, wishing and praying for the whole situation to be some sort of horrendous nightmare, but it wasn't the case. Her parents weren't coming back, and her brother avoided her like the plague.

As she always did, Mary checked the library door and again it was locked, the only room in the manor she couldn't access and the only room that seemed to shield his thoughts from her. Intrigued she went to the kitchen. What secret was he hiding from her? Why did he lock her out? What sort of books did he read? There were so many questions and she was eager to find an answer to each and every one.

Having the manor to herself gave her time to prepare the stew, a recipe she had found in an old catering book that had belonged to someone from Winchester history. The meat required a few hours to cook and Mary had eternity on her hands. A combination of butter, garlic infused oil, and the meat coated in seasoned flower sizzled in the bottom of the stew pot. She added onions and heated them to a mild sweat and then added some beef stock and the necessary herbs and spices. If Mary had been hungry, she would have been keen to sit down to the evening meal, but she no longer had an appetite for anything cooked. She could have easily eaten the meat raw, but it was the blood she craved, and it was better warm from a living being, not cold and dead. Mary had tried in the past, curious of the effect that the dead animal flesh might have on her, but it was less than satisfying. Contrary to what she had read or seen in movies, vampires could drink blood from the dead, but the dead blood didn't hold the nutrients required to sustain her and why would you have your meal cold when you could have it straight from a steaming cauldron?

A cup of red wine was added to the pot. She held the cork under her nose until the aroma wafted from it and then placed it back in the bottle as best she could. Aiden would drink the rest of it later with his meal. Her parents had taught them well. Never cook with wine that you wouldn't drink. Mary put the lid on the pot and set to work on the carrots and potatoes that would be added later. The meat needed to stew, and she didn't want the veg to break up and become mushy.

Knowing there was nobody else on their land, Mary pulled the curtain back a crack and peered outside into the brilliant daylight. She could see across the field and all the way to the pub. The stream of light that intruded instantly, had no effect. Another myth about vampires, Mary could walk around during the daylight, the sun didn't disturb her in the least, but all of the window furnishings remained closed for privacy.

Sitting at the table, she flipped through the newspaper which had arrived that morning while the stew simmered away on the stove. There wasn't much to the local paper, but it was a link to the community and the outside world. Never having had a television in the manor when they were growing up didn't change after the tragedy. Both Aiden and Mary respected their parent's wishes. There's more to life than television, was a phrase they had heard regularly. Grim stories of slaughtered families greeted her and put Mary slightly on edge. Although she wasn't responsible, she knew they had been carried out by the undead and if that was the case, it meant there were others in the neighbourhood. She thought about the presence in the woods she noticed in the night. Perhaps the guilty had been right on her doorstep and she hadn't known. Mary wondered who it was and hoped and prayed she wasn't about to meet her maker once more.

Removing the lid from the stew pot, she stirred the contents with a wooden spoon, the bouquet was appetizing, even for a vampire. Mary added some water, a little more seasoning, and the vegetables. Returning to the newspaper, she perused page after page of the black and white print wishing there were a few coloured pictures of women's clothing.

Her own wardrobe was old, and some pieces were a little ragged. Favourite tops and jeans that had been worn repeatedly, were starting to wear out. She wished for an incognito shopping spree to enhance her diminishing collection and get some new makeup.

The sound of somebody rushing through the field towards the house alerted her and Mary knew it was her brother. There was something different though, he had clearly been to The Cantering Filly and had a drink. From two hundred metres away, the smell of alcohol reached her, alcohol, and bread, another one of the benefits of being a vampire, the heightened senses. There was an unusual accompanying scent, the light odour of femininity. It was barely there, but the smells intertwined with her brother's aroma making an interesting combination. It didn't mean he'd been with a woman it meant he had been near one, if she had touched him the smell would have been stronger. Perhaps it was the girl who worked behind the bar at the local. Maybe she had just eaten a sandwich, or perhaps her brother had a loaf from the bakery that had been touched by a woman. Aiden didn't know any other women. He had stopped socialising a long time ago.

The meal would be ready soon and she could head upstairs to her bedroom leaving him to his own devices for the evening and then in the morning, the boring routine would start again. It would be as it had been before. Setting the table for one, Mary dished up a plateful of stew and poured a glass of wine from the remains of the bottle she had opened to cook with. Leaving it on the table with his evening meal, she vacated the kitchen through the door to the back stairs and went up to her room.

Her beloved piano waited begging for her touch. The sensual strokes of the keys, her fingers on the ivory producing the music that oozed delightfully from her bedroom down the stairs invading his world and letting him know she was still in the house. Mary loved to play, she had started learning the piano before she started school and music was to her as reading was to her brother. Her translucent skin almost glowed as she spied herself in the full-length mirror she used to admire her never changing body. Another fable somebody had made up, Mary could see herself clearly. She had several mirrors in her room, because a girl can never have too many mirrors, even an immortal girl. The melody of connection flowed from her hands to the keys, and she closed her eyes and imagined her brother there beside her listening to her play with the appreciation that he once showed. Aiden, she heard him scrape the plate with a spoon and the sound of the chair moving on the floor as he went to the pot on the hob and helped himself to some more of the wondrous mixture. The sound of liquid being poured into a glass reached her keen ears and she played on, knowing he would retire soon, and she could clear away the dishes and head out for the night.

Mary found something very appealing about the dark. Once frightened by the mysterious night, she had hated it, but now it was her opportunity to do as she pleased without bothering about prying eyes. Playing for a while longer, her keen hearing picked up the sound of a downstairs door locking. He was in the library and she immediately ceased what she was doing. Quickly and quietly she ran down the back stairs to the kitchen, her feet barely touching the floor. The room, now vacant, was swiftly put back into the clean and tidy state it had been prior to the evening meal, the left-over stew was in the fridge and Mary Winchester was ready for adventure.

Once again, she was out in the night free of the constraints of the manor. She danced through the woods to the piano that played in her mind, a quicker brighter tune was invented in her head. She felt invigorated, light, forgetting the daily barricades she faced. Mary stopped suddenly, detecting someone nearby. She sensed the same presence that had been there on the previous night's visit to the woods. She saw him. He stood before her further into the thicket. His eyes glinted in the moonlight. He was watching her as she stopped in her tracks.

"Who are you?" she asked, curious about the stranger, knowing exactly what he was.

"Daniel, my name's Daniel," he replied. "And you?"

"Mary," she told him. He was new to her. Someone she had never seen before that moment. He smiled a wicked smile that enticed her to want to know more. It was all very intriguing. Until now, she hadn't met another vampire other than the one who made her and his wild bunch. Their meeting had been brief, and no words had been exchanged. For a while she had felt as though she was the only vampire on earth, but the appearance of another excited her.

Daniel was very handsome. His dark wavy shoulder length hair framed his pale complexion. Mary felt drawn to him, knowing they were the same. It had been a long time since she had talked to anybody outside of the manor and a fellow vampire would do just nicely. It would be pleasant to have a confronting conversation that was more than a few words through a thick heavy door.

"You live in the nearby manor. I've seen you before. It was a while ago, when you were new," he said, "I know what you are. You're like me."

"Where do you feed?" she asked shyly tilting her head to the side and looking up at him. She liked the sparkle of his blue eyes, he was cute.

"Around," he told her. "I've killed many in these parts, I'm not like you, I can't help myself. The sustenance from small creatures doesn't satisfy me."

"How do you know what I feed on?" she asked suddenly feeling worried, trying her best not to show the fear that was growing inside her. But the panic arose, and it was difficult to suppress as she stood before him wondering whether she should turn and run.

"I'm sorry, but I've watched you feed. I wanted to speak to you before now, but I didn't know how you would react," he admitted. "I didn't want to frighten you."

"Where are you staying?" she asked, suspicious that he knew of her, but she had never seen him before. "Do you live nearby?"

"No, I'm passing through the area, hiding in a cave not far from here, would you like to see it?" he offered.

"Maybe some other time," Mary said relaxing. She wanted to follow him, fascinated by the attractive stranger, yet she was mildly apprehensive. There may be others staying with him and self-preservation and the protection of her brother prevailed. Who knows what the handsome vampire's motives were, he might be setting some sort of trap so he could take over the manor or something equally as vindictive.

"Suit yourself," Daniel said. "I'll see you again, I hope."

A moment later he was gone, and Mary was alone again. She looked around, but there was no point to it, and she knew it. The other vampire had vanished into thin air. Hoping he would come back, a new type of hunger merged from the depths, a hunger she had not felt for a long time, the hunger for a sin she had never known. There had been many opportunities, but Mary had kept herself to herself and her innocence intact. She had been proud of her moral nature and it had been known amongst her friends she didn't want to experience anything more than a kiss before her wedding. Well, the wedding never came, and Mary was still as inexperienced as she had been prior to the incident which paralysed an everyday future. Now though, she was acutely sharper and although she had never known the sins of the flesh, Mary was more than ready. Ten years had passed and with the lingering innocence came a longing that was well overdue.

Beneath the canopy of the trees under the white moonlight in the cool darkness of the night, Mary hunted. Quickly she scaled the tall timber and sought out the creatures that emerged after sundown. There was an abundance of owls in the branches, and rodents were running about the area ready for the taking. They never seemed to learn that she was a danger to them. Squirrels were her favourite. They were quick and agile and the only tree creatures that made her work harder.

Resting in the low thick branches of a tree, she looked out through the darkness of the forest with her sharp eyesight, but she couldn't see Daniel anywhere. He must have gone back to his cave or off to kill another mortal.

She wondered where the cave was, she knew it wasn't in the immediate area because there was no longer any trace of him in the air. Towards the other end of the woods there were some rocky cliffs and Mary guessed there must be a cave there too. Her parents had forbidden both Mary and Aiden to go there saying it was too dangerous, and as they grew older, other things had interested them, so it had never been explored by either. They always thought of it as risky and so they had both stayed away. Now thinking Daniel might occupy a dwelling in amongst the rock, Mary aspired to visit the area. Experience told her some vampires lived in the company of others and she was afraid of bumping into the one who had changed her. She still recalled the evil face and the painful sting as he sunk his fangs deep into her neck. Mary had fainted in his arms and when she came to, she felt the immortal blood radiating through her as she swallowed his offer. It lurked in the darkest corners of her memory as if it had happened yesterday and although she had never killed another, if the opportunity for revenge ever arose, she would definitely seek to destroy her creator.

As the sun began to show itself on the horizon, Mary returned to her home.

*********

With the night behind her, and the day ahead, Mary prepared Aiden's breakfast and placed the tray outside of his door as she normally did. The usual meal delivered in the usual way.

This morning there was something amiss in the manor. Within the boundary of her bedroom, she played the tune she was renowned for. Mary listened for her brother to take the meal into his room. But when she didn't hear his door open, and there was no groaning of the old pipes, additional investigation was required. As she opened her door a crack and peeped along the hall, the tray was still on the floor outside of Aiden's room untouched. Mary crept along the hallway. Putting her ear to his bedroom door, she could hear the long slow breathing pattern of sleep. He must have been up late with his books again. The situation was infuriating. It was alright for her to cook his meals and do his laundry, but he didn't have the graciousness to go to bed at a decent hour so he could get up in time for breakfast and hang out the wet washing. Suddenly, the feeling of being Aiden's mother washed over Mary and she cringed at the thought wondering if it would always be this way.

Downstairs, the untouched sandwich was emptied into the waste and the dishes were washed. The laundry was still waiting for Aiden to hang on the line and Mary retired to her room to spend the day in safety.

As she played, she thought about the intriguing stranger she had met in the woods. Daniel with his wicked smile. Daniel whom she hardly knew. Daniel, who had awakened something inside her with just one brief conversation. Mary couldn't wait to see him again, to find out more about him. The anticipation of having an immortal friend outweighed any fear.

Growing up in Crippling Bump, Mary Winchester had relied on her parents to guide her through life and help shape her future. Since that fateful day of the attack, there had been nobody and she had to trust her own instincts. Now there was another vampire in the area. Although she was cautious, he could help her understand more about what she had become, show her the nuances of being supernatural and help her to embrace it. Plus, Daniel was cute, and she was lonely by herself all of the time. Suddenly, the world was a different place and the day couldn't go quick enough for her. Mary felt like her old self, an impatient teenager again with a slight crush and a date lined up for the evening, and as she sat on the piano stool thinking of him with the clock ticking slowly in the background, she willed time to go faster.

It was well into the morning when the door down the hall opened. His quiet footsteps deafening as he approached her room and paused outside.

"I can hear you breathing," she whispered from where she sat, knowing how easy it was to project her voice to reach his ears.

"Sorry," he answered from the hall, and when he was gone from her door, she heard him head downstairs.

An unusual occurrence broke the monotony of the morning. It was about forty slow minutes later when Mary heard the car in the driveway. The driver was female and from what she was sensing, one who wanted her brother. Mary could picture the type of woman in her mind. Who was she? She shouldn't be here, not now, not ever. Silly bitch, didn't she realise that she didn't stand a chance with him. He was far too afraid to have a relationship. There was no way Aiden would abandon Mary and the manor for the love of some cheap tramp he hardly knew. She heard the car leave and she knew her brother was still outside. He hadn't gone with the woman. Smiling to herself, she knew exactly where his loyalty lay.

Shortly after, Mary ceased playing for the morning. A bacon sandwich would do for Aiden's lunch, just like the one he hadn't eaten earlier. For a moment, she contemplated getting the neglected sandwich from the rubbish bin, but that would be beyond punishing and even though he had his faults, Aiden would always be her brother. Slicing the bread thickly, a small amount of bacon sizzled in the frying pan. After assembling the less than appetising sandwich with very little butter and far too much brown sauce, Mary left the plate on the kitchen table for him.

Back in her room, she took up playing again. Once more, the music flowed through the thick walls escaping her prison and filling the entire manor. The melody crashed through the door and flowed like a waterfall down the lavish staircase invading the lower floor of their home. Mary was annoyed. Frustrated by her condition, tainted tears ran down her face splashing from her cheeks onto the keys. She knew Aiden would be going out, most likely to meet the girl who had occupied the car. How dare he? Didn't he understand how alone she felt in the desolate manor? The more she played, the more the realisation came to her. The sound of back door closing as he left the premises reached her ears. She knew he was crossing the field. Out in the sunlight, and away from the darkness of his home, on his way to someone else. Mary's fingers hammered the keys in anger. She played harder and faster for hours and then snapping out of her mood, stopped. It was time to start preparing for her evening out.

Hopeful of another meeting with the appealing wanderer in the woods, she searched her wardrobe for something a little less worn. Removing items and pairing them together she assembled the perfect outfit for a midnight stroll through the woods. It brought back memories of outings with former friends. Mary smiled to herself when she thought of the past. She could have it again. Moving away from the area might be the beginning of a nicer future, but she was unsure of how to proceed. Perhaps Daniel could provide the information required for her to mingle amongst the living and fit in away from Crippling Bump.

The ground floor of the house was deserted and awash with the subdued light of the afternoon. After checking out the dwindling pantry supplies, Mary felt relieved she had made the stew the evening before and there was enough left over for Aiden's meal tonight. It wasn't her responsibility to stock the shelves and Mary hoped he realised there wasn't much left in there. Aiden's flippant attitude about the management of the house was annoying. Running out of food and not having things fixed, it bothered her. She didn't have to eat, but it wasn't the type of lifestyle her ancestors had worked so hard for. After arranging the leftovers on a plate for him, she returned to her room.

It would be dark soon and Mary would be free to go out again. Her hunger rose with the anger she felt towards her brother. It grew inside her festering, and as the feeling ripened, her thoughts turned once again to Daniel. She had never seen him before last night. Wondering if he would be out there again, Mary said a silent prayer and hoped her afternoon hunting through her wardrobe wasn't in vain. If Aiden could go out to see that strange woman, surely she could start a relationship with the cute vampire in the woods.

After her evening cleaning ritual, when the manor seemed lifeless with nothing left to be heard, Mary climbed out of the open bedroom window and jumped from the balcony to the ground landing softly, without even so much as a tinge of pain. The darkness was like a good friend, always there for her and it greeted her in a similar way that you would a close companion.

Tonight, it was raining. There had been a time when the rain would have bothered her, but not anymore. The large water droplets fell from spring's night sky like diamonds enriching the earth with the moisture required for it to flourish. Lightning lit up the heavens closely followed by the booming sound of thunder. Her hair was wet through and the beads of water fell from her locks, running down her back. She stood still in the dark with her arms outstretched under the cover of the threatening clouds as the rain showered her face and ran down her neck. The grass was saturated and slippery. It didn't stop her though. As Mary ran, her feet skipped over the blades the same way that her fingers did the piano keys. There were fewer creatures to choose from on a night such as this. It was as if Mother Nature had closed her supermarket due to bad weather.

As she neared the wooded area of the property, Mary caught his scent again, Daniel. Rich and earthy, she drew in his fragrance. He was closer and then suddenly right there beside her. The divine couple climbed and hunted until it was almost dawn. She could keep up with him, it was easy, and she enjoyed spending time with somebody instead of being by herself. The feeling opened up trunks in the attic of her mind releasing memories of a happy childhood.

"Are you going to tell me where this cave is you're living in? Is it on our property?" she asked brushing droplets of rainwater from his face with her fingertips. His skin was notably smooth like her own and his brown wavy hair dripping from the downpour.

"It's not too far from here and yes, it belongs to you. Nobody bothers me though and I like it," he told her. "Come with me, I'll look after you."

"I can't," she whispered. "I barely know you and you don't understand the way things are for me."

"Then help me to. I know you're not alone in that big house of yours. I know there is someone else unlike us. Who is he?"

"He, Aiden, is my brother and the only family I have now. He really needs me, and I need him just as much. That's all there is to know," she told him looking at his face and the intense expression he wore. "I want to see you again and even see your cave, but not tonight. Meet me here this evening."

After Daniel had agreed to another dinner date with her, the two parted going their separate ways. Mary wanted to follow the intriguing vampire. She wanted to spend more time with him, but she was still unsure. He was very charming and having someone around she could relate to was so refreshing. The situation was extremely complicated. First and foremost, there was Aiden to think of. She had to protect him at all costs. The thought of another vampire coming to the manor was ridiculous, especially one that snacked on human blood. It was difficult for Mary to contain herself when her brother was around, it would be crazy to expect Daniel to. Aiden would be served up as a walking talking bloody feast.

********

Dawn approached, the part of the morning when Mary was never quite sure whether it was night or day. The scent of washed earth from the rainstorm flooded the air. With a single leap, she was on the balcony and then through the first-floor window and back in her room. Swiftly she closed both the window and the thick drapes, protecting her from the outside world.

The carpet was wet from the rain that had poured in overnight. Mary placed a towel over the soggy area stamping on it trying to soak up some of the moisture. It would dry eventually, but there were more important things on her mind at the moment, such as her brother's breakfast and Daniel, his name was a new fixture. She could not and would not even try to forget him.

In a flash, Mary was downstairs and in the kitchen. The prepared breakfast was left outside Aiden's door and then, back in front of her piano, she played. Her melody felt sadder than ever before. Tears once again dripped onto the keys. She turned and stared at herself in the mirror, her own pathetic face stared back at her. A face stained with tears which she quickly wiped away with the back of her hand. Picking up a brush, Mary ran it through her long lush hair and shook her head afterwards loosening the dark locks that cascaded over her shoulders and down her back.

Why had this happened to her? The question had been asked over and over again, but it never really made any sense as she never had an answer. If it hadn't been for that night, her life would have continued in the ordinary everyday way. Mary would have finished high school and pursued her love of music and dancing, perhaps becoming a music teacher of some description, passing the melody of connection on to her students. Or, maybe even opening some sort of performing arts studio. Entertaining others had been one of her greatest joys. Her brother would have married one of the many local girls who admired his good looks and quiet lusty nature. Their parents would have grown old and looked forward to grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was pointless thinking about it now, it was just one of those things that were never meant to be.

Feeling sorry for herself had been a consistent pastime over the last ten years, but now she had met one of her own kind, the future which had appeared grim suddenly seemed slightly better. She snapped out of her momentary depression and decided a change was necessary, and it had to start with a conversation with her brother.

Aiden moving about downstairs disrupted her thoughts. He had left the manor early to do some shopping and then returned. A car sounded in the driveway. That woman again, she had no idea who she was competing against. Mary despised her without even knowing her. She was trying to take her brother away and it required supernatural restraint to stop herself from running down the stairs into the driveway to rip the woman's head off. She could do it easily, her strength was incredible. She pictured the two of them together in the sun, laughing and enjoying life while she was at home in the dark, locked away from the world.

Hours of thinking, trying to work out how to approach her brother without scaring him followed. Conversations were practiced as Mary paced her room. It would be difficult, but she knew she could make it happen if she really tried. Aiden would be receptive of change. Mary was sure of it.

As the end of the day neared, Mary left her room locking it behind her. She made her brother's dinner and slipped a note under his knife. Three simple words read, Don't forget me. She knew he would read it and put it in his pocket as a keepsake. It would remind him that Mary was still here, still in the same house and she would always be his sister. Back upstairs she waited, waited for him to finish so she could do her duty and then go and find Daniel, the new excitement in her world. The one true constant that might just bring an end to her misery.

Finally, when she heard his bedroom door close, Mary returned to the kitchen. The smell was unbearable. The stench of the woman almost masked the fragments of his scent, it was horrendous and there was no ignoring it. She left the place setting on the table and ran out into the night to escape from the manor. He could clean up after himself. There were more important things occupying her mind. Maybe his friend could come over and do his dishes and his smelly laundry.

Nature beckoned, and she knew he would be out there waiting for her, the mysterious, mesmerising, marvellous Daniel. She wondered where he came from, how old he was and how long he had lived in the cave on their property. He said that he had seen her before, when she was new, but it was ten years since that evening. Had he been watching her all that time? Mary hoped not, she found the thought of that slightly creepy.

They were together again. Up in the thick foliage of the trees under the canopy of green. It attracted memories of pretending to live in the trees with her brother. This time though, it was very different with another vampire by her side.

"So, Mary, why do you still live in the manor?" he asked her, as they sat in a tree together under the dark, cloudless, star splattered sky.

"It's complicated," she told him, not wanting to bore Daniel with the sorrows of her estate. "Mostly, it's because of the death of my parents, but more so, for self-preservation."

"What do you mean by that?" he asked.

"People just wouldn't understand, they would soon realise what I have become and then hunt me out and that would be the end of me. There's my brother too," she said. "We don't see each other at all, it's tough, but I know he's there and vice versa. We need each other Daniel."

"But he's not like us," Daniel said to her. "Wouldn't you rather spend your time with those like us who understand your circumstances?"

"No," she said, "he's nothing like us. He's still mortal and likely to stay that way, unless of course, I lose control and turn him into a vampire. I think that's what he's frightened of. That's why we're never in the same room together. As for those like us, you're the only one I've met since that night." Once again the face of her assailant entered her mind.

"If you saw them again would you know them?" he asked. "Do you know if they have been back here since, have you heard of killings like theirs in other parts?"

"I have no idea and to be perfectly honest, I don't want to know. I'd never seen any of them before that moment and I don't want to again. I'm not sure where they are now, and I don't particularly care. I haven't been away from Crippling Bump since that night," she explained bitterly. "What about you? Do you have any family?" Mary was interested to find out more about him.

"Once upon a time I did. I was married, and we had a beautiful child together. I left them, I had to. The night my life ended, and a new beginning was agreed for me without my consent, I just never went back home. It hurt me to do so, but I had become a monster and it would have been too difficult for all of us to stay together in one place. I went back every now and then to see them, they didn't know of course. My wife met someone else and presumed dead, I was replaced as he assumed the roles of husband and father. I haven't seen them for a long time, my little girl would be all grown up now. I've done a lot of travelling since that day Mary, then I stumbled upon you, it was about ten years ago. I saw you one night, but I moved on from here only to return a few weeks ago. I remembered that you were in the area and took a chance that you were still here. I was just passing through at first, but now I might stay for a while."

Intrigued by his story, she wanted to know more about his family. "A wife and a child, I can understand how difficult it must have been for you to give them up. Did you like being married?" she asked him, feeling a slight pang of jealousy knowing that she would never have a child of her own.

"I loved it, there's no greater feeling than knowing you have someone who loves you unconditionally. My daughter was beautiful, there isn't a night that I don't wonder where she is or what she's doing, or what she looks like now," he told her. "I could find her, but imagine the shock for her to find out her daddy is a vampire. It was better for me to drop off the face of the earth."

She examined his features feeling slightly relieved that he hadn't been lurking in the bushes for the last ten years watching her. He had kind eyes, not the eyes of a killer but slightly sad as if he had been through a lot of hurt over the years and after hearing the story of his family, Mary understood. Daniel had made the same type of sacrifices that she had. Being immortal was difficult, but giving up family was excruciating. "I know how you feel, even though Aiden is still there, it's as if he's gone forever," she told him, and rested her head on his shoulder. Daniel held her tight as if to protect her. He was strong and muscular. Mary felt safe in his arms. Around them, the leaves moved slightly with the midnight breeze and creatures lesser than them hunted the weaker not bothering about the killers. They sat for hours holding onto each other, and talking about two pasts left behind, but time went far too quickly.

"You can come to the cave if you like," he suggested as the night moved on. "I've fixed it up a little. It's probably nothing like you're used to, but it's nicer than most caves. I have cushions."

"Not tonight, I have to go home. Aiden will worry, he does you know, I can read his thoughts most of the time," she said. "I'll tell him about you though. Maybe we can work out a way for you to come to the manor, I too have cushions."

"It's difficult for me," Daniel said. "I don't have a great deal of willpower. I'm afraid I might hurt your brother."

"I understand," she replied. "I feel like that sometimes too, but I can help you Daniel. I can help you get stronger."

"We'll see," he said, and with those words, he was gone.

********

As the damp mist of the day's beginning replaced the night, Mary arrived home alone in the early hours of the morning. In her room, she sat on her bed hugging a stuffed grey stripy cat that she had received for a birthday a long time ago. She thought about Daniel, his touch, his voice. He was living in a filthy heartless cave and she was living in the manor with all of its protection and dignity. There was no point even contemplating him coming here, but she needed somebody to spend time with and she couldn't bear the thought of living in a dirty hole in the rock somewhere. It just didn't seem to be fair. Mary was torn. Torn between Aiden and Daniel, between loyalty and infatuation. She wracked her brain trying to think of a way the vampire could be a permanent part of her tiny universe and as the day progressed and the mist melted away, for the first time since the brutal attack had ripped her family apart, she forgot about her ritual duties.

Mary heard the door along the hall open, she heard Aiden walk towards her room and she heard him stop outside. She hadn't made his breakfast and the dirty dishes from the previous evening still occupied the kitchen. Plus, his clothes hadn't been washed.

"I can smell her on you," Mary told Aiden through the door, wrinkling her nose, recognising the stench of his new friend that lingered and couldn't be washed away with cold water.

"I'm sorry," came the apology, and she heard him head downstairs.

He could say sorry all he liked, it didn't change matters and he could go about the day by himself without her help. She had to make a decision and didn't need any interruptions. Aiden would realise from that one morning what it would be like if she didn't do his bidding and he was left to his own devices. Refocussing her attention on a more difficult problem, now she knew Daniel was out there, slightly suspicious, Mary wondered how many more were lurking in the shadows. He said he had been passing through, but had he? Was she the real purpose for his return to the area or was there some sort of local vampire support group out there she didn't know about? It might be nice to get to know others like herself to find out more and share her own story. Difficult though, it wasn't like they advertised a social gathering for lonely vampires in the district paper. She lay on the bed curled up in the foetal position with her bear and closed her eyes, but to a vampire who never needs rest, sleep does not come easy and try as she might, it couldn't be forced.

Mary knew Aiden hadn't left the house at all that day. She knew he was locked away in his beloved library. She knew everything about him; she could read his thoughts like music, although, for some reason she had no idea what kind of books he read. The room that was always locked was like an impenetrable fort, as if he had lined the walls with some sort of vampire proof substance that kept her out. She knew he bought books to hide away in there with, keeping them to himself. She also knew he had done his own laundry and made his own breakfast and lunch that day. He could make his own dinner too as far as she was concerned, and eat it in the library he refused to share with her.

A noise on the stairs interrupted Mary's thoughts. A pause outside her room and then she saw it, a piece of paper just under the door. Leaving the comfort of her bed, she picked it up, unfolded it and read the words silently to herself.

It seems that I have upset you. Please know that it was never my intention. Have you ever considered what this is like for me?

Aiden, her brother, her protector, and the few lines that he had prepared melted her stone cold, lifeless heart. How could she have treated him like that? Mary felt ashamed of herself. "I forgive you," she whispered through the door, leaning against the oak and touching its smooth varnished surface delicately with her fingers, wishing she could turn back time. Once again, alone in her room, Mary played her mournful music, feeling angry with herself for the way she had behaved. Things were never meant to be this hard. She had been born privileged and now, well, there was just so much disappointment in her world.

Just before dusk, dinner was prepared for her beloved brother and it was served in the way they had both grown accustomed to.

Her thoughts had once again turned to Daniel. He would be waiting in the woods for her. Handsome and heedless, pleasing and powerful, she needed him more than she needed Aiden. The thought of running away and never coming back crossed her mind. Aiden would be alone. He could have the manor and his mistress. But Mary loved her brother dearly and the loyalty she felt, kept her from leaving for good. Since the death of her parents, Aiden had been the only person she trusted, and she didn't know Daniel well enough to believe him completely.

Resisting the call of the night, she stayed in curled up on her bed with her bear. She knew he would be waiting just within the boundary of the woods, but she felt as though it was pointless. Her mind was split down the middle and one moment she would be thinking of Daniel and working out the possibilities of starting an eternal relationship, and the next she would be thinking of Aiden and dismissing any chance of a future with anybody. Even though she hadn't left the manor, she felt the vampire's pain and a longing from within. Something had to be done and soon.

********

Too many hours had passed without seeing her new ally and as Mary went about the mindless daily routine, he invaded her thoughts. She belonged in his world, a world far different than the one where she existed, a universe that ran parallel in time with that of her brother's. As the sun set over Crippling Bump, she made up her mind.

Mary ventured into the night just after the clock struck twelve, running through the field into the woods to Daniel. His scent was in the air. She stopped. The tree where they had sat together was empty, but he was near, she could sense him.

"You didn't come last night," he said startling her.

"I couldn't, it's a bizarre situation and I want to spend more time with you, but I don't completely trust you," Mary said, pleased she was here now and sharing her real feelings. It was pointless trying to hide her fears, she wanted to be with him.

"Come with me," he whispered taking her by the hand. "If I was going to hurt you, I would have done it by now."

"I can't, I want to, but it's difficult for me," she said touching his face gently. "I do want to spend time with you, but it's more complicated than I thought. I haven't had any contact with the outside world for so long and I'm torn between the security of the manor, and the freedom I have when I'm here with you."

Spending the darkest hours talking for what seemed like hours, the night aged and the morning drew near. Mary realised what he said was true. Daniel wasn't going to hurt her. Like he said, he could have done so already. Just before dawn he kissed her with the passion she would never have experienced as a mortal teenager and Mary found herself forgetting the world around her to submerge herself in the excitement that was her Daniel. In his arms, she felt they belonged with each other, and nobody else existed.

*********

The feelings inside her bloomed. Daniel dominated her thoughts as she sat playing, knowing she might have to give up her beloved home and brother to be truly happy. Mary had never known another bedroom, never lived in another house and change frightened her. But realising she wouldn't have to limit herself to certain rooms at certain times was exciting. She wondered vaguely if she would be able to take her piano. It was an inconceivable thought to carry it through the woods and as Mary pictured it, she smiled. But if they set up home somewhere else, the piano could be moved professionally. As she ran her hands along the housing of the beautiful instrument, she delighted in the thought that one day she might be playing her beloved piano somewhere else and her talent wouldn't be wasted on an empty room.

Mary heard Aiden approach and once more a note appeared under the door. She opened out the small piece of paper and read the words he had written.

I have a friend and she wants to visit the manor. I'd like it very much if you would cease playing for one afternoon. I promise I haven't forgotten you, but this is important to me. Oh, and if it isn't too much trouble, could you make some cakes?

Mary picked up a pen and wrote 'yes' on the paper, folded it and slid it back under the door. It was a bit cheeky of him to ask for cake, but her brother would be more understanding of her own plight if he was preoccupied with his new acquaintance, and if cake was the food of love, then who was she to deny him? Besides, if he were left to bake his own cakes, there was the risk of him burning down the manor and unlike Mary, he didn't have a friend with a comfy cave. For one tiny moment she contemplated lacing the cakes with some monkshood. There was some growing in the woods, she had seen it many a time. It just might be the solution, but what if Aiden ate the wrong cake? Or what if he didn't and the silly woman died, he could be charged with murder. What would he say to the police? My vampire sister did it. She's been hiding upstairs all these years. Mary decided against it, she knew they could both do without the drama.

Mary had baked many cakes throughout her past and present lives, and she had never heard anybody say that they didn't like chocolate cake. So, that's what she decided on. The cakes would be worthy of an afternoon tea to remember and she iced them with a lush green butter cream and then decorated them with some delicate pink sugar flowers that she piped, giving those enjoying them the illusion of a garden on top of rich chocolaty soil. They weren't perfect, but they were very girly. Hopefully he would be able explain that to his visitor. She admired her work, they looked delicious and Mary was sure there would be questions about the cakes and of course Aiden would make up some type of story, but that was his prerogative. Obviously, he hadn't told this woman about her so the whole friendship was so far, built on lies. At least Mary had mentioned her brother to Daniel.

As for the thought of another woman being in their home, it sickened her, but it was what Aiden wanted and she could cease playing for one afternoon, she would occupy her thoughts with her strong, handsome vampire.

********

On the day of Aiden's afternoon tea, Mary sat patiently, quietly hidden away, listening to the conversation. She didn't even have to strain her ears. The laughter reached her easily and it made her feel ill. It was unfair to think of her new infatuation living out in the wild while her brother played Lord of the Manor with his new friend.

As she tried to preoccupy herself waiting for the boring event to finish, the sound of footsteps on the stairs resonated in her ears, a different approach than her brothers accompanied by the stench of femininity. The visitor was coming upstairs. In a flash, Mary was at her bedroom door as she heard Aiden's guest outside on the landing. What was she up to? With her ear pressed hard up against the door listening to the woman's heartbeat slightly faster than normal, her fingers touched the wood lightly and she felt the human warmth of the visitor through the door. Mary saw the brass doorknob turn slowly and then stop as the person turning it realised that the door was locked. Although, she lived on the blood of animals, Mary couldn't contain herself. Dinner had arrived early. Slowly, she twisted the key as the lock clicked quietly and she turned the handle herself. Opening the door ready to pounce on her prey, the bathroom door across the hall closed. "Damn it," Mary whispered to herself and closed the door quietly, locking it behind her. She leaned against the smooth wooden surface wondering if the caller had simply made a mistake or whether she had been snooping. Did Aiden's friend know Mary was there? No, it was impossible. Aiden would never have discussed that with her. Nobody knew she existed except for her brother and Daniel. She went back to the bed and curled up with her bear wondering.

Shortly after, the date ended, and darkness enveloped the manor. The remnants of his liaison were cleared away. Mary knew it hadn't ended well for Aiden and for a short time, pity set in until reality took its place. The faint lipstick marks on the fine china brought it all home to her. There hadn't been another woman in the manor since the death of their mother, it was strange. Suddenly the opportunity of the situation engulfed her, and she felt as though a door to the world had been opened. If Aiden could have his friend over, then surely Mary could invite Daniel to visit for a day.

Later in the evening, she opened her window to greet the night and he was there, as if he had read her mind and received her invitation telepathically. Daniel stayed with her in her room and they lay together talking quietly. He didn't leave in the morning. She kept him, like a willing prisoner locked away, protected from everything. He was hers and hers alone and nobody would be the wiser if they were together in her room forever. Mary's need for a companion was overpowering and she couldn't stomach the thought of him leaving. She promised him she would talk to Aiden and work something out.

Daniel left her just after midnight to hunt alone. Mary joined him in their usual spot later in the night, she could smell the blood of humans.

"I've missed you," he told her, and they kissed under the dark, light studded heavens. Around them the fragrant night air was filled with the usual creatures and regular goings on, but they were oblivious to it. Nothing entered their moment.

"I can't stay at the manor without you," she told him. "Before you, there was only emptiness. It was almost as if I had forgotten how to love, as if my existence would be wasted on a piano. But now you're here, my world would be disastrous without you. I'm not sure what to do, but I'll talk to Aiden. You could stay with us in our house. You've seen how we live, it's like two separate worlds in there. We haven't even been in the same room for years. If you were there, it would be more tolerable. I'm sure it will be alright with my brother." Mary finished her little speech and wondered if she was being a bit hasty. She wasn't sure whether or not Aiden would relish another vampire in the manor, but it was worth finding out.

"I'd like that, but it would be difficult for me. I have trouble resisting. I'm not strong like you," he told her. "My feelings are mixed. The manor is safer for us, but the temptation is a risk and if your brother starts a relationship with his new friend and she moves in as well, there would be problems. Don't you see Mary, it's unlikely to work. At best, it would end in disaster."

"Daniel, I'm not strong and you're kidding yourself if you think that," she confessed. "The only thing that keeps Aiden and I together is staying apart. There are nights when I can smell him from my room and it's so appetising. It's all I can do to stop myself from sinking my fangs into his neck. When this first happened, we decided we would live in the manor separately. I know he can't stand to look at what I've become. I'm the same type as those who killed our parents. I detest him at times, I'm so jealous of Aiden. He still has his life and I'm doomed to exist in this way for eternity. I too have mixed feelings and if things work out with him and that woman, then it will be difficult. My father always told me that nothing is impossible, and he never lied to me Daniel. I believe we can make things work out for ourselves." Mary sat beside him, his strong arms wrapped around her, he held her tight. Unable to contain herself, tears spilled down her cheeks and her hatred towards all they stood for consumed her.

"You need to face your brother. You know, meet in the same room as him and talk to him. You're stronger than you think," Daniel reassured her. "It's almost dawn. I'll walk you back to the manor."

She held his hand as he walked her home. Nothing else mattered to Mary except for that minute. Parting was agonising, and she knew instantly she couldn't survive without him.

"I love you," he whispered, and before she could answer, he was gone.

Another day delivered another boring routine and Mary made up her mind. The Winchesters needed to put their past behind them and move towards a better future.

********

The evening meal was prepared and left neglected on the table and when her brother didn't appear, Mary covered it carefully with plastic food wrap to keep in the freshness, and put the ignored dinner in the refrigerator. Then out into the night to meet Daniel. He was waiting for her in their tree. A tree that had once just been part of the Winchester property, it now held strong in their minds as their rendezvous point, a place for them alone.

Daniel took Mary by the hand and they ran through the forest together, along the pathways worn with time, not stopping, but jumping rocks and fallen branches from the recent storm. He led her to his dwelling, a cave in the side of a hill concealed by a large boulder and a few overhanging branches. In the back of the cave where he spent his days, there was bedding on the ground and scented candles burning. Mary thought it a little grotesque, but it looked as though he had tried to make her feel more comfortable and although the residence wasn't up to her standards, the company was exactly the type she desired.

"Lay with me," he whispered, and she lay beside him on the makeshift bed on the ground in the grey rocky cave. She felt his cold skin against hers, marvellous and tingling, their bodies intertwined, holding each other and in the small hours of the morning, she gave herself to him. His strong arms wrapped around her, the smell of nature in his hair, he was her first and she knew at that moment, there would never be another. Daniel would be her one and only. Her skin tingled as he touched her with his strong gentle hands, the hands of an immortal killer. Mary felt him inside her. Her back arched and she cried out as she experienced sensations she had never known before. He kissed her passionately. She was in love with him and from that single moment Mary knew that Daniel was her destiny.

As daylight approached, they walked in silence holding hands, not running as they usually did, but delaying their parting. Nothing mattered but being together and before he left her, Daniel stole one last kiss.

Once safely locked in her bedroom, Mary sat at her piano but instead of playing, she thought about the night she had spent.

********

There would be no breakfast prepared for Aiden that morning and no lunch either. The time had come for some answers, answers to so many questions that pulled her in different directions. She had to confront her brother. He had a new life, a life that didn't include her and she had found the same away from him. She would go, he could have the manor. It would be full of life once again, the life he had been forced to give up. Daniel would look after her, Mary was certain of it. She trusted him now and finally felt completely safe with him. Her mind churned with the possible outcomes of the situation looking at it from all angles with the emotion of a teenage girl in love, a girl who wanted romance and companionship, a girl who was ready to throw caution to the wind for her happiness. Mary smiled to herself. It was all going to be alright. All she had to do was have a simple conversation with her brother.

Laying back on her bed, Mary ran her hands over her slender body, thankful that she hadn't been overweight in her teenage years and destined to spend her eternity obese. She thought about Daniel and what had happened between them. She couldn't wait to see him again, to feel his hands on her bare skin. The sensual feelings she had discovered aroused the unknown woman she thought she would never become. Although Mary was designed to stay a teenager in looks, she had grown up in an instant with Daniel and she longed for more. The sexual urge in her was strong. She would bring him home regardless and he could stay with her until they left. If Aiden didn't like the idea, it would be her secret. Daniel deserved to be treated like a king, not a pauper.

Once again sitting at her piano, she practiced the difficult discussion that she would have with her brother, in her mind. Everything was changing. Hopefully Aiden would meet her halfway. There was plenty of room in the manor and it was partly hers as well.

As soon as Mary could escape her comfortable room, she fled into the night. Daniel was waiting for her at the other side of the clearing. Smiling when he saw her, it warmed her as she ran to his arms.

"I have something for you," he said taking the gifts out of the rucksack he was carrying. "This is an mp3 player, there are songs loaded on it and I got you a magazine too. I wasn't sure if your brother ever bought you anything like this or if he even could without people becoming suspicious. I mean, what would people think if he started buying fashion magazines for women. So I got you these."

"This is really generous of you Daniel. Where did you get them, because I have a feeling that you're not the kind of man who likes to go shopping."

"I borrowed them," Daniel said. "I can take them back in a week and change them for other things. I figured that since you've been shut up in your room playing your baby grand, you've missed a lot of changes that might seem normal to me, but not to you."

"Thank you for the thoughtful gifts and I appreciate all you have done for me so far," she said flicking through the magazine quickly. "I read the paper, but there's nothing like this in it and we've never had a television. I've decided I'm going to speak to Aiden tomorrow evening. I have money, it's difficult to get, but if Aiden can work things out properly for us, we can go away and start again. Will you come with me Daniel?" she asked looking into his eyes with a silent plea.

"Of course," he replied.

That was all she needed; it was a sealed deal. As morning approached they parted, but both knew they would be together again soon.

********

Mary returned to her home. Impatiently she paced the room practicing the conversation over and over in her mind, the words sounding more and more ridiculous every time. Surely, he would understand. There was a lot at stake for both of them.

After he finished his breakfast and as he passed by her room, Mary heard Aiden pause at the door. He was searching for something, possibly her approval.

"Do you love her?" Mary asked him, knowing the answer before she whispered the question.

"I'm not sure, perhaps" he replied.

Mary heard Aiden talking at the door later in the day and she assumed he had invited his friend over again, but when the woman left without entering the manor, confused, she took her usual seat. As she played her piano she thought about what was about to transpire. The visits from Aiden's friend were known to Mary, but her brother had no idea about Daniel.

Tonight, would be the night for her to reveal her secret to Aiden. Would he understand? Wasn't he trying to build a new relationship himself? Didn't he tell her he thought he might love that woman? Had he changed his mind about a relationship in that short time? Mary didn't understand, but nothing would interfere with her plans.

Aiden had a love of roast chicken. It had once been the favourite of them both. They had fought over the wishbone on several occasions and Mary vividly recalled the arguments over drumsticks and wings. Cooking a meal like that for him would be the way to convince him to help her and Daniel. It was absolute. There was usually a chicken in the fridge, he bought one each week and she normally roasted the bird on a Sunday. This however was a special occasion and it didn't take long to organise the vegetables to cook alongside the meat. Mary would prepare a feast not just fit for a lord, but a king.

As she removed the roast chicken from the oven the bewitching aroma slithered from the pan filling the room with allure. She smiled imagining what it would be like to spend all of her time with Daniel and never have to cook another meal. She would replace cooking for her brother with her handsome and caring lover. His image occupied her thoughts always. The dinner was dished onto the customary solitary plate.

Instead of slipping away to her bedroom, Mary stayed in the shadows of the kitchen waiting, inconspicuous to anyone entering. She would wait until the time was right for the

approach. Mary didn't want Aiden to run screaming from the house in terror. This was important to both of them.

The door opened, and Aiden entered the room. Sitting at the table in his usual place thinking he was alone, he started cutting up his food. Mary gazed lovingly at her brother's every move. The way he held his knife and fork, the way he sipped his wine, the way he wiped the corners of his mouth with the napkin. At first, she stayed hidden, but it soon became obvious he knew she was there. He appeared anxious as Mary stepped out of the shadows he looked up from his plate, her brother, her world, her Aiden.

Daniel

From Daniel's vantage point, he could see all of Crippling Bump. Beginning with the tiny cluster of shops, to the miles of surrounding patchwork fields and forest. It looked as though someone had placed a giant green quilt over the earth to keep it warm. The farmhouses and buildings embroidered on the cover were spread widely and animals gathered in places to enhance the fabric of the land. He scanned the area with his keen eyes, absorbing the pleasing view.

He wasn't new to these parts, memories from ten years gone remained, and there was something in particular he recalled intensely, someone who made him want to return. Daniel hoped that he hadn't made the journey to the area for no reason. Disappointment was a meal he had been served on several occasions and not a dish he enjoyed.

As dusk approached, from the top of the rocky crag, Daniel spied the landowner crossing the field towards the manor. It wouldn't take much, even from miles away he could be there quicker than imagined and dinner would be served. But Lord Winchester wasn't the one he was looking for and taking his life might ruin Daniel's infinite future. There was someone else who shared the manor and she was the one he was seeking.

A coven, his coven had ruined the Winchester family and from the fragments of tragedy a beautiful flower blossomed. A flower by the name of Mary Winchester. Prior to the incident, Daniel had seen her on several occasions and given the orders to spare her, turning the mortal girl into an eternal goddess. After moving on from the area, her face had stayed on his mind and it was difficult to shift. Anticipating she had stayed hidden away in the manor, he trusted he hadn't been seen on the evening his gang had taken her parents so savagely. Daniel knew there might be a chance that Mary had spotted him, but it was a chance he would have to take. The past couldn't be altered, but if things worked out for him, his future would be exactly what he wanted it to be. Until that day, Daniel would remain as he had for the past few years, alone indefinitely.

A decision was made to head towards the manor later. If Mary Winchester was still about and hiding in the family home, she would have to come out and hunt eventually. Daniel guessed it might be around the witching hour. But as it was only just on dusk, there was another family waiting for him and they had no idea their unwanted guest was on his way.

Speedy on his feet, Daniel barely touched the earth's surface as he bolted like a bullet from a gun through the woods towards the source. After watching this particular family for days, he knew their every move and it didn't take long to wipe them out. Another family gone, just like that, a gluttonous attack which left him more than contented. Daniel was much quicker now than he had been when he first started taking on families. There had been a lot to negotiate when he was new at his craft, but after all of the years and all of the feasts, he was an expert. Tonight, as always, it was easy.

Feeling satisfied, as the first star appeared on the sky's inky background, he returned to the Winchester property to find some seclusion just inside the forest, the shelter he needed to stay hidden from view and keep an eye out for his interest.

It seemed like an eternity before he got his wish. Daniel watched Mary Winchester as she twirled and leapt in the moonlight, longing to join her. He had seen her dance like this on the stage before she had been reborn, but never this closely. Amazed by her beauty, she appeared to Daniel as an invincible spirit of loveliness, and watching her was pure joy. He wanted to applaud, to step out of the shadows and cheer, but stayed hidden so as not to scare her off. The talented girl had been popular among those her own age and there had been many parties at the manor. How things had altered, no longer the centre of attention, in fact, so far removed from it, it was almost laughable. Despite his feelings about the village royalty, Daniel was drawn to her. He had been from the moment he first saw her years before. She looked so carefree, as if nothing in the slightest bothered her.

Generally, vampires killed for food, but every now and then they would take a life and exchange it for immortality, to exist forever. People around would come and go, but Daniel would never grow old and die. His father had warned him about the devil and brought him up to be a God-fearing person, to do the right thing and avoid spending eternity in hell. But Daniel had found his hell right here on earth and all the God-fearing and praying and confessing couldn't change what he was.

Considering his past, Daniel had never in his worst nightmare imagined he himself would become a supernatural killer. The legend of the vampire had always been exactly that in his household, just another fairy tale. Nobody believed the world could sustain such a creature and if they did exist, why hadn't they wiped out the human race? Logic would tell you that the vampire could accomplish such a feat. They were strong, fast, charismatic, and most of all, cunning. Daniel had heard talk of vampires who had taken over communities and had vast fortunes which they secured to hide their identities. Once he had thought it all hearsay, but now knew it was true. He was proof they existed and weren't just folklore fantasy. Like those before him, Daniel had killed many, although, he had never turned a person. It was something that he couldn't bring himself to do, to change another's destiny would be the most despicable crime he could imagine, death was much more favourable. On the night of Mary Winchester's transformation, Daniel had issued the hit, but refused to do it, and instead, watched from a safe distance. He had wanted her for himself, even then.

While Mary danced, she hummed a tune. A bright, cheerful tune Daniel had heard many a time before. When it came from her, it was enchanting. Her long wavy hair shone in the moonlight and bounced around as she danced. He watched as it swished from side to side, almost hypnotically. He wanted to speak to her, to know her more intimately, but he was unsure of what she had witnessed that night ten years before. The more he thought about her, the more restless he became.

The coven Daniel had formed had been reckless. Their killing spree had stretched the length of the UK and they had become careless and sloppy, so Daniel had wiped them out. It wasn't unusual for vampires to kill amongst their own, and the battle to be a leader was always fierce. Now, he trekked alone, but the endless solitude was depressing, and he craved companionship, someone else like him, someone who would understand him. Mary wasn't cruel like the others he had travelled with, she hunted in the trees, feeding on wildlife. The two of them would be able to hunt together. Although, he had never really been satisfied with the blood of any forest creature. Perhaps he could change that. She could keep him company in his cave. But then, why would anybody trade the grand Winchester Manor for a hole in the rock? A question he had no answer for. Not only was she beautiful, but wealthy too. Why on earth would Mary Winchester leave the sanctity of her safe home to live in a damp, dangerous cave in the woods, because they were both alike? Daniel wasn't so sure he could make things go his way, but he wanted her all the same. She had been made for him and although time was never a barrier, there was none like the present.

Watching her until just before dawn, he returned to his rocky domain and thought more about her. It was time for them to meet, and the sooner the better. It had to be when night fell again, he knew she would be back, but caution was his priority, he didn't want to fill her with fear and never see her again.

The woodlands of the Winchester estate were extensive and hid many secret pleasures that Daniel had discovered, one of them being his current dwelling. The cave was well hidden, and he had stumbled upon it by accident around the same time he had destroyed the landowner's family. Although he could easily take up residence in one of the deserted farmhouses in the area, he couldn't risk the authorities discovering him and questioning him about the former owners. So, the cave was a much better option, secluded and secret, just the way he liked it.

Sick and tired of London, Daniel had left the city to escape from night stalker enemies. The dog eat dog streets were mean to him at first. Until of course, he adapted to his new physical state. In the process, there was many a fight with stronger beings and although it had been difficult, Daniel proved to be quite forceful and quick. There had never been a mentor to show him the way and the path hadn't been an easy one. From the very first night he had battled his conscience, to kill or not to kill and if not, how to survive. He had heard of others who hunted rats, cats and the foxes that frequented the suburbs and this was the existence he would have preferred. But, with his senses heightened, he became more aware of the delicious smell of the warm-blooded creatures who passed him in the street. They had no idea what he was and contrary to popular belief, he could survive in the light. The sun had no effect on Daniel, and he walked amongst the living daily. It was enlightening, the revelation of the myth of the vampire dismissed the stories he had heard and the movies he had seen growing up. These dark creatures had thrilled people for centuries, and he had never believed they existed until that significant night when he had met the maker of his endless future. Daniel had stumbled across his path by accident and his destiny had been decided for him, an infinite existence of sinful behaviour. Had he been asked, or given him a choice, he wouldn't have chosen this lonely road. Now, after all this time, there was someone he wanted to get to know better. Although her background was different from his, they were in one way, very much the same and from what he had seen, she had a gentle nature. There was nothing vicious about Mary Winchester.

********

Resting on some old hessian sacks in the back of the cave, the damp odour attacked Daniels sense of smell, and he shook his head as he thought of what might be. Even if he befriended the girl and coaxed her back here, she would detest the cave and possibly even laugh at him. The dwelling was far too humble and the overpowering dank stench, off-putting. There had to be something he could do to fix it up a little, maybe some fresh flowers strewn about the place or even a scented candle or two might help.

Daniel travelled quickly by foot. He ran through the forest towards a farm not too far away. He knew their routine; he had watched them constantly to give himself an advantage. The door was never locked, country people were just so trusting. On several occasions, Daniel had wandered through the rooms, moving little things around and reading magazines and books that had been placed on coffee tables, or just left lying around. He always made sure they were in a different place when he finished and often wondered if anyone ever noticed the family's possessions had been moved around slightly.

The scent of the living that lingered in the air was delicious, but today Daniel was on another mission, he sought the supplies to make his cave homelier. A haven for misbehaving, a bizarre type of bachelor pad hidden away amongst the rocks in the middle of the woods. It wasn't exactly a penthouse, but it would do for now. Filling a rucksack he found in one of the rooms, he fled from the farmhouse with the speed of light and was soon safe in his rocky abode.

Flicking the disposable lighter on and off he smiled at the flame. Fire could finish his endless existence easily, but fire could do the same to a mortal being as well. He arranged the candles around the cave well away from anything that might catch alight. The last thing that Daniel wanted was to turn his new and hopefully, future mate into a burns victim. The soft furnishings brightened up the drab grey orifice and the vampire admired his work.

Although Daniel had never been one to hide away during the daylight hours, he knew Mary would not appear until the evening. The other vampire clearly stayed well-hidden and didn't venture out until the sun had set properly. As twilight enveloped the woods, he headed towards the spot where he had watched her on the previous evening. The scent of a human drifted his way. The landowner. Daniel spied him crossing the field from the village. Thinking quickly, he instantly transformed into a fox. Running across the field he stopped directly in the path of Aiden Winchester. About twenty metres divided the two as they were both at a standstill, staring at each other. There was a familiarity about him, he looked like his sister. Daniel turned and went back the way he came to wait in anticipation for Mary.

As the midnight hour approached, he relaxed in the fork of an oak tree. Secluded by the fresh spring foliage Daniel waited patiently. It was only a matter of time before she would arrive. Around him, the breeze whispered the secrets of the darkened night. An owl hooted in reply and Daniel watched as the bird spied its supper and took flight. The majestic wingspan of the owl carried it in silence as it flew down and snatched up a small rodent from the grassy floor of the forest. Resting on a branch of the same tree Daniel occupied, the owl swallowed its prey whole. From a distance away, the scream of a fox reached his keen ears and Daniel smiled when he thought of the interaction with the landowner earlier that evening. Humans were just so easy to deceive.

Another half hour or so elapse before Mary Winchester arrived. He spied her from his squat, and watched her as she entered the forest. Carefree, she hummed to herself and he wondered if she would know him from that night ten years gone. He couldn't wait for ever to find out and sitting in the tree watching wouldn't give him an answer to his silent question. Quietly he leapt to the ground.

"Who are you?" she asked looking very wary as he stepped out from his hiding place.

"Daniel," he replied softly, not wanting to frighten her. "And you?" he asked politely.

"Mary," she answered.

He smiled at her and she smiled back. So far, Daniel was confident that she didn't know his face. Up close, she was positively radiant, her immortal scent which drifted through the night air enticing, and her smile warmed his cold dead heart. Her voice was like the song of the nightingale, music to his ears, and after just a few words, Daniel decided he could listen to her aria forever. It wouldn't matter what Mary said to him. Suddenly, something stirred from within and he wanted to hold her close and protect her, to keep her from harm. "You live in the manor. I've seen you before. It was a while ago, when you were new," he told her hoping that it wouldn't help prompt her memory. "I know what you are. You're like me."

"Where do you feed?" she asked shyly.

He liked the way she tilted her head when she asked questions. Mary had the look of a frightened deer about to run off at the snap of a twig. Her green eyes were wide with curiosity and they glistened by the white light of the moon, her face, the face of a teenage girl. "Around," he told her. "I've killed many in these parts, I'm not like you, I can't help myself. The sustenance from small creatures doesn't satisfy me."

"How do you know what I feed on?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, but I've watched you snack. I wanted to speak to you before now, but I didn't know how you would react," he admitted, noticing her look of angst as she realised he had been spying on her. So far though, things seemed to be going okay. All he had to do was keep his secret from her and she would eventually be his.

"Where are you staying?" she asked him. "Do you live nearby?"

"No, I'm passing through the area, staying in a cave not far from here, would you like to see it?" Daniel invited. Knowing the answer before he asked the question, he hoped that his invitation wasn't perceived as pushy.

"Maybe some other time," Mary said.

"Suit yourself," he said feeling slightly disappointed but trying not to show it. Daniel didn't want Mary to think he was desperate. "I'll see you again, I hope."

After her refusal to his invitation, he left her to enjoy the rest of the night. Daniel understood why she didn't want to go with him, she didn't trust him. After one brief conversation, who could blame her. She clearly knew nothing about him and there were things he had almost forgotten himself. But even a vampire gets a little disappointed with rejection.

More than twenty years had passed since his path had changed. Always a romantic, Daniel had proposed to his wife Jenna at the age of seventeen. The couple had known each other for a long time. Daniel had started working as photographer, and after setting up a modest studio, he was on his way to making a steady income. Jenna had of course accepted his proposal and they were married almost immediately. A year later, their beautiful daughter Lucy had come along and enchanted both of them. His world was complete. Daniel couldn't have asked for anything more than that. Things changed considerably just before his daughter's second birthday. That was when his maker struck, and his world had crumbled. Life as he knew it was over and a new path was designed.

Now the vast possibilities exploded, as his mind's eye conjured pictures of the future. The prospect of finally having an immortal partner who had been made at his command. Perhaps even someone to travel with. As a vampire, the sky was the limit, the world an oyster ready to be shucked. But it all involved wiping out families and not just any families, those with the type of wealth Daniel required to cement his place in the real world, the kind of families that Mary Winchester herself belonged to. Killing could provide the lifestyle she was accustomed to and he would be right there by her side. An existence woven as they were together through the centuries. Both of their families would turn to dust, but they would carry on and the changes they would witness would surely astound them. It was all a pipe dream at the moment, but Daniel had watched her, and a brief conversation with her had followed. He would pursue her as long as it took. As far as he was concerned, they needed each other.

********

On piles of dry hay Daniel had taken from a barn, the newly acquired blankets and cushions made for a makeshift bed. With his hands behind his head thinking, he lay on the slightly more comfortable berth. Surrounding him were the grey rocky walls and the semi-darkness. He gazed up at the top of the cavern. The grey stone stared back at him and he imagined the high Georgian ceilings of Mary's home with a crystal chandelier hanging in the centre of a grand room filled with couples dancing and perhaps some sort of live band – a string quartet, or was that too pretentious? Depressed by the mood in the cave, Daniel closed his eyes trying to free his mind of the rocky image. Sleep wasn't necessary for the undead, but today he forced it, just to while away the time. His mind still alive, he dreamt of her, Mary Winchester and her long flowing hair with waves that reflected the moonlight. He saw her smooth pale skin and brilliant green eyes that sparkled like emeralds, she wouldn't leave his subconscious and he didn't want her to.

Daniel awoke after a quick nap. He stretched and scratched his head. Typically he was thirsty, and he needed something to quench it. There were some things that he still had in common with mortals. The thirst when he awoke from sleep was one of them.

He thought once again about Mary Winchester. It was a long time since he had fallen for somebody and that person was still very much alive both in reality and in his memory. The feelings for his family had never left him and although he would never be able to go back to his old life, it niggled away at his conscience. Daniel felt confused. But in the midst of the confusion was one clear face, Mary's face, and he couldn't wait to see her again.

Travelling quickly through the woods, weaving between the thick trunks of the ancient trees, he hurried. There was sustenance required before the evening set in and he became preoccupied elsewhere. The mortal eye could miss a vampire in a blink and if you weren't watching out for one, they could pass you in an instant leaving just a hint of a stiff breeze.

Daniel knew of a tramp nearby. He had spotted him a few days ago and was certain that the man had no connection to the area and was passing though alone. A small dug-out campfire was cold when he arrived. The blackened burnt leftovers crumbled as he touched them and had lost their heat hours before. But the vampire was sure his prey couldn't have travelled too far and quickly picked up the filthy scent of the vagrant. The smell of the homeless, Daniel hated it. The unwashed fragrance grew stronger and attacked his delicate instinct as if to ward him off as he zeroed in on his prey. Striking quickly, his fangs pierced the skin of the tramp's neck and Daniel drank the warm blood feeling increasingly revived as the seconds passed. The body of his victim fell to the ground in a lifeless heap. Wiping his mouth on the back of his sleeve, he looked down at his meal in pity, the taste of the dirt from the tramp's skin still on his lips. Life hadn't been kind to the elderly man and Daniel felt as though he had done the old guy a favour by putting him out of his misery. At least, that's what he told himself as he headed back towards the Winchester property. Between the narrow spaces of the trees, he ran to the edge of the woods. Daniel could see the imposing manor where she spent her days, and there he waited.

It felt as though centuries expired before Mary arrived, accompanied by a bucketing rainstorm that had been brewing since early evening. The droplets of rain bounced from leaf to leaf penetrating the shelter of the lush green forest. Cascading in tiny waterfalls, they streamed into small rivers. Running down the branches and the trunks of the mammoth trees, the water collected in the flares at the bases of each of the massive specimens to form puddles in amongst the skirt folds where the roots were buried beneath the earth, ever reaching into the soil to devour the sustenance that kept the trees upright and living.

"Are you going to tell me where this cave is that you say you're living in?" she asked reaching out and brushing some water from his cheek. "Is it on our property?"

"It's not too far from here. Nobody bothers me. I like it," he told her, savouring the light touch that he had been waiting for. "Come with me, I can show you now."

As their conversation progressed, it was clear that it was going to take more than a few encounters to convince Mary to spend any time at all in his cave with him. Obviously, she was frightened. Due to the attack on her family that had reinvented her, Mary didn't trust him enough. But Daniel was positive she hadn't seen him that night. She wouldn't have returned if she knew his face. There would have been measures put in place to distinguish him and his end would probably have come by both of the Winchester siblings. Although, he felt he was making headway and it would only be a matter of time now. He agreed to meet her again and they parted company.

********

Daniel's heart leaped at the thought of her spending any time at all with him in his humble space. He needed a partner who would be there with him day and night, just as he once had. Of course, they would never have a normal relationship in the sense of the kind he had left behind, but they would have each other and that might just be enough. Staying in the same town for a lengthy amount of time would be impossible, but the situation would be better than now, and they would work it out together.

Rarely did the opportunity come along to speak to one of his kind without some sort of power struggle, and although Mary was timid, she had the sharp mind of a vampire and would not easily be swayed into doing something she thought dangerous. The pros and cons of the situation were complex for her, but for Daniel it was simple. He had nobody to hold him back, nobody depended on him, those day were long gone.

After his reincarnation, he had shunned his maker and tried to avoid other immortals. There had been plenty of conversations with the living, deceiving them was simple. He had spent a lot of time in Camden where some of the people he met actually believed that they were vampires, or at least tried to be. Daniel had referred to them as fampires, fake-vampires. He found them all to be ridiculous, but he fit in quite well. Nights spent in clubs and hanging out with the living undead as they had been known by others, had at times been hilarious. Daniel recalled one guy in particular who had lived on Bloody Marys, fooling himself into thinking that he was drinking real blood, and another who had lived on a diet mainly consisting of raw liver and beetroot. It was repulsive to think that people would go to such extreme measures to pretend to be something they weren't, but as we all know, it takes all types to make a world. Oddly though, none of the fampires he knew actually realised he was authentic, and it amused him to have pulled the wool over their eyes so to speak.

It had been easy pickings on the brutal London streets. Daniel had preyed on the lowlife scum and the homeless, saving both species from themselves. Never had he felt guilty after a kill, only satisfied, as if he had been suddenly recharged. Daniel felt as though the lanes and alley ways of the majestic city owed him a meal in some respects, after all, that's where he was made, on the outskirts. The feeling after feeding from a living person was indescribable and he could still remember his very first kill vividly. It was almost as if it happened yesterday. Daniel had been wandering through Brick Lane in London's east, trying to ignore the fragrant smell of human blood that surrounded him. At the time, he had felt like a modern-day Jack the Ripper and it was in the early hours of the morning that Daniel first struck. Outside of a modest fast food shop that provided the locals with bagels any time, day or night, he had taken her. There had been plenty of witnesses, all too drunk to realise what was happening of course, so nobody lifted a finger to stop him and Daniel had extracted every last exquisite drop from her wilting body. After the first, it was easy, and London had been a smorgasbord of delectable delights and he had, in some respects, cleaned up a lot of the trash. As time went by, he became far less picky and now Daniel was a killing machine. Age, class and culture never mattered to him. There was no discrimination when it came to his meals. It was all about the replenishment and the only thing that did it for him was the warm blood of the human.

Travelling became less of a problem and Daniel had seen most of the UK and some of Europe. It was simple to sneak aboard any type of public transport or even hitchhike, knowing even if the driver was a creepy serial killer, there would never be any difficulties for him. For a vampire, it was all there for the taking and if Daniel wanted to rule the world, he would find a way. But right now he had only one thing on his mind, winning over Mary Winchester.

They met again in the evening, where the clearing collided with the trees, under which they had spoken twice before. Another date to draw the two of them closer together and cement what Daniel hoped would be an eternity.

"So, Mary, why do you still live in the manor?" he asked her as they sat in a tree together after she had finished snacking on an owl. He watched the carcass fall to the ground knowing that the remains would be devoured by the forest scavengers before morning.

"It's complicated," she told him. "Mostly, it's because of the death of my parents, but more so for self-preservation."

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, not wanting to pry, but wanting to know the obstacles he faced. If Daniel was going to have any chance at all with Mary, he needed to know what he was up against.

"People just wouldn't understand, they would soon realise what I have become and then hunt me out and that would be the end of me. There's my brother too," she said. "We don't see each other at all. It's tough, but I know he's there and vice versa. We need each other Daniel."

The brother again. The landowner was the true obstacle that he faced. "But he's not like us," Daniel reminded her. "Wouldn't you rather spend your time with those like you who understand your circumstances?"

"No," she said, "he's nothing like us. He's still mortal and likely to stay that way, unless of course, I lose control and turn him into a vampire. I think that's what he's frightened of. That's why we're never in the same room together. As for those like us, you're the only one I've met since that night,"

"If you saw them again would you know them?" he asked, hoping there wasn't a glimmer that might kick start a search in her mind for his face. "Do you know if they have been back here since, have you heard of killings like theirs in the surrounding area?" The questions were pressing but not so much to alarm her in anyway, at least, he hoped they weren't.

"I have no idea and to be perfectly honest, I don't want to know. I'd never seen any of them before that moment and I don't want to again. I'm not sure where they are now, and I don't particularly care. I haven't been away from Crippling Bump since that night. It's almost as if I'm a prisoner in my own home," she explained, the bitterness sounding in her voice. "What about you? Do you have any family?"

Daniel revealed the story of his past to her. The wife and child he had left behind. Their conversation continued through the night as both revealed a little more each time the spoke. For Daniel, it was the breakthrough he was hoping for. The to and fro had a realness about it. Nothing was forced, and Mary opened up like the wings of a butterfly under the warming rays of the sun. Daniel realised now they were both as lonely as each other and building an empire together would be the gateway to happiness they deserved. Luck had handed him a rare gift and a feeling of gratefulness washed over him. If Daniel had been spotted on the evening that brought terror to the Winchester home, he would have no chance. But a fluke blessing was now on his plate and he savoured the taste.

********

Lord Aiden Winchester was a difficult problem. It was quite clear to Daniel that Mary was reluctant to leave him, but that could change. He wondered if it would be better just to wipe out her brother. It wasn't the most logical of solutions, but something to think about. She would forgive him eventually, or he could get rid of the body and she would be none the wiser, but upsetting Mary wasn't really his goal. She was so sensitive and from the touch of her hand, he realised that her feelings for him were definitely growing. In her lonely state, he could persuade her to stand by his side, even with the strong draw from the landowner.

Daniel's escapades were becoming quite well known and reports of an anonymous killer were printed in the local newspaper. Although there was nothing that would convince the authorities that vampires were involved, there was always a fear he may have left some clues that might give the police an inclination as to the type of culprit. Making sure they didn't, immediately entered his mind, so a visit to one of the homes to check that his tracks were completely covered was a must. A vampire hunt was the last thing he needed at the moment. Sitting alone in a cave wasn't the road he had envisioned for himself and if the police had finished their investigation, perhaps he could move quietly into one of the empty houses.

The forest was cluttered with broken branches, dense green shrubbery, and undergrowth. Scattered boulders and rocks decorated the terrain turning the woodland floor into an unfriendly obstacle course. Silken webs clung to tree bark and twigs, trapping a mouth-watering array of insects that waited for their captor to devour them. The fragrance of indigenous plants and flowers mingled, and drifted through the air in an effort to delight visitors. He ran along the overgrown pathways that were rarely trudged ignoring all of it. Dodging trees and leaping over streams, it took no time at all for him to reach his destination. Daniel was faster than Superman and knew if he sunk his sharp vampiric fangs into the man of steel's neck, he could render him powerless, kryptonite wasn't necessary.

He spied the taped off area ahead and Daniel came to an abrupt halt. There was someone else on the property, a woman, and the blood coursing through her veins was so tempting. The delicious living breathing aroma drifted through the air and the heavenly fragrance made him hungry. He moved closer to get a better look at his afternoon tea. She seemed familiar to him. That face, he knew it, but he couldn't quite remember where he knew her from. A step in the wrong spot, and the snap of a twig, and she turned towards him. Daniel was too quick though and leapt up into a tree, climbing higher and higher and out of her view. He could see her heading towards the place where he had stood just seconds before. The stranger called out asking who was there. As long as she didn't look up, she would be safe. He had only caught a glimpse of her, but he recognised the woman from somewhere, though where from he wasn't sure, a life left behind perhaps. It shocked him. Where had he seen her before? The only thing Daniel was sure of at that moment was his meal had been ruined by a memory. He watched her as she looked around and he wondered what she expected to find. Was she looking for trouble, because if she didn't watch herself, that's just what she would get. It seemed very odd that anyone would be wandering through a crime scene alone, unless she was some sort of detective. As she headed back towards the road, he noticed the car, a blue Mini. Not really a detective's car, but he was accustomed to the strange and Daniel had learned a lot over the years. He would have to watch out for her, she obviously didn't know how dangerous things could be in this area. The woman took off in her car. Daniel came down from his viewpoint and headed back towards his cave, deciding to avoid the house for now. There were other buildings in the area that were abandoned, maybe one of those might provide a shelter a little more appropriate than a hole in the rock.

His route took him past the Winchester Manor, where Mary spent her days. He pictured her lying around in comfort reading a magazine while the world passed by, those around her growing older, while she stayed suspended as a sixteen-year-old. They would meet again later in the evening and Daniel couldn't wait. Once more he headed back to the silent cave in the rocky hillside and looked at the newspaper that he had found a few days earlier. At least it was a way to kill a little bit of time before nightfall.

********

As the night disappeared and the morning approached slowly, it was apparent to Daniel that Mary had stayed in for the evening, she hadn't turned up. He knew the reason had something to do with Aiden. Daniel detested the man. Hatred for the landowner bubbled in the caldron of his stomach and he hadn't even met him. He should have finished him when they crossed paths a few days earlier. Feeling the rage building within Daniel stood on the top of the rocky crag and let a deafening roar come to the surface. It took all the strength he had to resist visiting the manor, it didn't seem right, and he didn't want to risk ruining what he had been working towards. The reality of his solitude sunk in and he suddenly felt more alone than ever. After their few brief encounters, he missed her. Mary Winchester had made a dent in his mind that couldn't be straightened out.

"You didn't come last night," he said startling her as he jumped down from the fork of a tree where he had been waiting. Daniel hadn't meant to scare her, but it was kind of funny.

"I couldn't, it's a bizarre situation and I want to spend more time with you, but I don't completely trust you," Mary said.

Finally her thick prickly exterior was beginning to soften. Opening up, was perhaps the beginning to the eternal ending Daniel hoped for. Just admitting that she didn't trust him was a breakthrough. He hoped that it wasn't because she had some sort of recollection of that night ten years ago. "Come with me," he whispered taking her by the hand. "If I was going to hurt you, I would have done it by now."

"I can't, I want to, but it's difficult for me," she explained. "I do want to spend more time with you, but it's more complicated than I thought. I've been out of touch with the world for so long and I'm torn between the security of the manor and the freedom I have when I'm out here hunting."

As he found out more about her, Daniel couldn't get her words out of his mind and thought about what he was expecting her to give up. The manor had protected her, and since the change, Mary's choices had been limited. Hunting for small animals was her way but just a game to him, and not the kind of nutrition he craved. Daniel wished Mary felt the same way. That would have to change if they were going to be together. Perhaps her beloved brother could be their first kill as a couple.

********

Restlessness gnawed away at his mind. It was definitely time for him to start working on a more definite strategy. Perhaps he could just give her an ultimatum. But the thought of that was preposterous, he had to work out another way to convince her to leave the past behind. They could travel and settle down in an area that would sustain them. Some place with a large population where they wouldn't stand out. In the forefront of Daniel's mind was the fact Mary had been locked away from the world for a decade and things had changed. Technology had taken over and to harmonise Mary and society, a crash course was required so she didn't draw any unwanted attention to them. But that would be difficult until they had a place of their own and he had the opportunity to introduce her to all of the things that she had missed over the years. He wondered if she had ever seen a smartphone. Daniel was sure that in the attempt to protect both of the Winchesters, far too much of the real world had gone unnoticed.

It was time to visit her in her natural surroundings. Winchester Manor was intimidating and uninviting and as he approached, he felt a pang of nervousness. There had been no formal invitation, it was now or never, and for some reason, he felt drawn. An appointment hadn't been necessary when his clan had attacked, and he didn't feel as though he needed one now.

From where Daniel stood, he could sense Mary. One supernatural leap was all it took, and he stood on her balcony. Mary opened her window; it was as if she was expecting him to turn up. He remained with her and they lay together whispering in the quiet comfort of her bedroom, surrounded by the teenage posters and the numerous awards and trophies for dancing and music recitals. Mary told him the story of the afternoon tea. Hearing she had almost taken advantage of the situation when Aiden's visitor had mistaken her room for the bathroom thrilled Daniel. There was always hope, no matter how bad the situation and that one tiny glimmer kept his dream of them staying together, alive. If push came to shove, Mary would kill another to protect herself and he wondered if he could use this information to his advantage.

There was a positive feeling of cosiness, and the manor was far more luxurious than his humble cave. He didn't leave her in the morning, Daniel stayed, like a willing prisoner locked away from everything. He belonged with Mary and if they were quiet, nobody would be the wiser if they stayed together in her room forever. His love for her was growing quickly. He couldn't stomach the thought of ever leaving. She promised him she would talk to Aiden and work something out. He knew the conversation would be difficult, but all the same it was necessary for a new beginning for both of them.

Daniel left the manor just after nightfall to find some sort of sustenance. She would join him later when Aiden no longer required her. Mary Winchester had become an immortal housekeeper for her brother and she obviously felt he couldn't do without her, just another obstacle Daniel would have to overcome. But he could manage, of this he was absolutely sure.

"I've missed you," he told her. He kissed her passionately, the taste of his meal still lingering. Distracted they ignored the sounds of the night. Their devotion towards each other was impenetrable and nothing could invade it.

"I can't stay at the manor without you," she told him. "Before you, there was nothing. It was almost as if I had forgotten how to love, as if my existence would be wasted on a piano. But now you're here, my world would be disastrous without you. I'm not sure what to do, but I'll talk to Aiden and we can work something out. You could stay with us in our house. You've seen how we live, it's like two separate worlds in there. We haven't even been in the same room for years. If you were there, it would be more tolerable. I'm sure it will be alright with my brother"

"I'd like that, but it would be difficult for me. I have trouble restraining myself when it comes to meals. I'm not strong like you," he told her. Honesty was best at this moment and he knew that it would be a quest in itself to resist the blood of a mortal. "My feelings are mixed. The manor is safer for us, but the temptation is a risk and if your brother started a relationship with his new friend and she moved in as well, there would be problems. Don't you see Mary, it's unlikely to work. At best, it would end in disaster."

"Daniel, I'm not strong and you're kidding yourself if you think that," she confessed. "The only thing that keeps Aiden and me together is staying apart. There are nights when I can smell him from my room and it's so appetizing. It's all I can do to stop myself from sinking my fangs into his neck. When this first happened, we decided that we would live in the

manor separately. I know he can't stand to look at what I've become. I'm the same type as those who killed our parents. I detest him at times, I'm so jealous of Aiden. He still has his life and I'm doomed to exist in this way for eternity. I too have mixed feelings and if things work out with him and that woman, then it will be difficult, but my father always told me that nothing is impossible, and he never lied to me Daniel. I believe we can make things work out for ourselves."

Daniel held her. He felt her tears of confusion and her hatred towards their kind and their world, so he held her tighter trying to protect her from her own self-loathing.

"You need to face your brother. You know, meet in the same room as him and talk to him. You're stronger than you think," Daniel reassured her. "It's almost dawn. I'll walk you back to the manor."

They walked in silence holding hands, not running as they usually did, but delaying their parting. The full moon cast strange shadows. The night was far more exciting when they could share it. To an onlooker, they would appear to be a regular couple except Mary never ever wore any shoes and their white as snow skin almost glowed in the moonlight. Nothing mattered but being together and before they parted, Daniel stole one last kiss in the hue of the dawn's early light.

"I love you," he whispered, and then in the blink of an eye, he left her.

********

When they next met Daniel and Mary ran together, along the subtle pathways that weaved quietly in and out of the forest trees, not stopping, but jumping over obstacles and damage from the recent storm. He led her to his dwelling, the infamous cave in the side of a hill, concealed by a large boulder and a few overhanging branches. Daniel took her to the back of the cave where he spent his days. There was bedding on the ground and scented candles burning. He knew the cave wasn't up to Mary's expectations, but it was the best he could do at such short notice and he didn't want to risk spending large amounts of time at crime scenes after visiting the last one.

"Lay with me," he whispered taking her by the hand, and she lay beside him on the makeshift bed on the ground in the back of the cave. Her skin was so soft, their bodies intertwined, holding each other and well after midnight, in the small hours of the morning, he took her innocence. Daniel held her in his strong arms, he knew he was her first and just for a moment the realisation came to him. Had the circumstances been different, he would never have had a chance with a girl of Mary's social standing. If he had never led the rampage that turned her, she wouldn't be with him. The thought lay heavy on his mind. The real reason she was what she was.

Daniel escorted Mary back to the manor just before dawn. Neither had to say a word to understand the bond that they had formed from one night of passion. When he left her, his thoughts still continued to trouble him. A moral dilemma had reared its ugly head and although Daniel wanted to be honest with her, that secret he had kept about the gothic attack, was one he would keep from her for ever.

********

Once back in his cave, Daniel thought of the night he had just spent. One night of desire had cemented their partnership. There was no-one else he would rather spend his eternity with and now he was certain Mary felt the same. All that was left was a simple conversation with the landowner and Daniel had faith.

Having been married in the real world, he was no fool when it came to women and knew that a present might help to sweeten the deal. Perhaps something to help her get a glimpse of technology or even fashion. It was time to go looting and see what he could find. Reluctant to return to the same farmhouse he had taken the soft furnishings from, Daniel ventured further. The occupants of the house he chose to ransack had been his victims, so he knew the place was vacant. He had prowled through homes in the middle of the night that were full of sleeping families, and snacked along the way.

In reality, Mary was twenty-six, but suspended as a sixteen-year-old and as luck had it, the first bedroom he came across looked like a teenage girl's bedroom. Daniel picked up a glossy fashion magazine filled with the latest clothing and accessories. He opened a wardrobe door. The girl had owned all sorts of things that would appeal to Mary. But he hit the jackpot with an mp3 player and the electrical charger. This kind of thing appealed to anyone of any age and he was sure Mary would like it. She could listen to music and flick through the magazine browsing the latest girly stuff. Daniel stuffed both of the gifts into his rucksack and was about to leave when he spotted a money box. He opened the bottom and looked inside. There was at least fifty pounds and if he wanted to make a future for them, he had to start somewhere.

Sensing there was somebody approaching, the vampire ran down the stairs and took a quick look out of the window. The blue mini, the same woman that had been at the other property. What was she up to? Waiting for her to enter the house, he moved quickly into another room where he would be able to spy on her without being seen. The woman headed upstairs, and Daniel followed quietly as she went into the room that had belonged to the youngest member of the family. The situation puzzled him, but there were more important things to do. Resisting temptation, he ran back down the stairs, through the kitchen and leaving the back door slightly ajar slipped out into the world like a penny falling through the hole in a pocket.

Beneath the starlit heavens in the chill of the midnight hour, Daniel waited patiently. He knew that she would arrive soon, and he was keen to give her the small gifts he had for her. Mary would ask questions, she would wonder where he got them from and possibly be angry with him for stealing, but it was his way of life and something she would have to come to terms with if there was any chance of them making it in today's society. Worst case scenario would be for her to laugh at him for giving her cheap presents.

The appreciation Daniel received on the delivery of the two small gifts was unexpected. After being locked away for so long and not seeing much of the world that passed her by, Mary seemed elated with both of the items. There were questions of course, but Daniel answered them truthfully and she didn't appear to mind. She sat alongside him flicking though the pages quickly.

A promise was made on the rugged branch of the old oak. Mary announced that she was ready to talk to her brother. The next time he saw her, she would either have good news or bad for him, but Daniel was sure in the long run, he would win out. That was all he needed. The pact was made. As morning approached they hunted, and after Mary was satisfied with her kill, he left her to confront her brother. Heading away from the house and the Winchester land, Daniel needed to find something more appetising.

Lilia

Blasting from the car stereo, a song from the seventies drowned out the monotonous sound of the engine, as Lilia Cooper drove the blue mini towards Crippling Bump. Smiling to herself, she thought about her grandmother singing along to the radio and sharing the names of the artists and stories related to the songs. There was always a tale to suit the song. Memories stowed in the pockets of her mind opened like gifts from the past, and she sang along tapping the steering wheel to the rhythm of the music.

Turning off the road into the carpark of The Cantering Filly, Lilia checked the travel book to see if they provided accommodation. The small village pub definitely had rooms for rent, but did they have a room for her? Leaving her car, she sought out the publican within the stone building who confirmed a vacancy and at a bargain basement price.

The typical English village wasn't renowned for tourists, very few people came to stay in the immediate area and The Cantering Filly seemed desperate for any business they could get. Apparently, people usually just passed through on their way to somewhere a little more exciting and she could see why, the high street was almost deserted. There was nothing remotely exotic about Crippling Bump, especially the odd name. But there was a reason she had been drawn here and hopefully it wasn't a wild goose chase.

Removing her bags from the car, she carried them to her room. A small double on the first floor, and the modest bathroom just down the narrow hall was shared. Lilia didn't mind sharing a bathroom, she was just happy to get out of the car and find somewhere to relax. Besides, there was nobody else staying in the pub at the moment, so she had the place to herself. Dumping the bags on her bed, she perused the room and its décor. None of it really matched the era of the building. For a moment, she wondered where they found the black floral bedspread that would have been in vogue during the eighties. There was nothing remotely modern about the room, except for the television. But the place was quiet, and It would do for a week or so. After all, there was only herself to please. But that's how life was now, Lilia Cooper travelled alone.

Famished after the drive from London, she headed down the narrow, slightly wonky, dark wood staircase, for a drink and a look at the dinner menu. The style of the pub was cohesive with the old-world English charm. Small windows were embedded in the thick outer walls and the glass criss-crossed with strips of lead. She wondered how long the building had been there. Sketches of parts of the village in silver antique frames lined the walls and Lilia studied them closely as she made her way into the bar. Stale beer stored in the carpet attacked her sense of smell, and she wrinkled her nose.

As soon as she spotted him sitting in the corner alone, Lilia knew who he was, Crippling Bump's very own royalty, Lord Aiden Winchester. She instantly recalled a story she had read in an old newspaper and knew exactly what had happened to the Winchester family. His parents had been murdered and his sister had disappeared off the face of the earth. Lilia kept all the clippings from all the newspapers she used for research and had volumes of information in her modest London home. That was the reason she was here. The reason that had brought her to Crippling Bump. With that incident from ten years ago and the few that had happened recently, Lilia had come to the area in search of the undead.

London was her life and she loved the grey skies and murky Thames, the streets plagued with the homeless, and the crowded cafés. The magnificent city was the gateway to the world. So many flocked to the grand old dame and used her as base camp for quick trips to Europe, and you could get flights to practically anywhere. Lilia loved her unconditionally and didn't intend on moving to the countryside. Although London had always been the love of her life, one never knew what was around the corner unless they took a good hard look. There could be hidden gems anywhere, even in a forgotten village pub. It was all about taking a risk and Lilia had taken so many.

After the solitary journey, she felt as if she needed some company, so purchasing a drink at the bar she headed towards him. He was good looking in a moody sort of way. There was a certain intriguing darkness about Aiden Winchester and Lilia didn't hesitate to impose. "Do you mind if I sit with you?" she asked him, hoping that he would agree.

"No, please do," he replied, gesturing for her to sit down.

Lilia was impressed when he stood and pulled out the wooden chair from the small round table for her to sit on. She placed her drink gently in front of her on a cardboard coaster.

"You're not from around here," he said.

"I'm just passing through, on a holiday" she told him as she sipped from the frosty glass. "I'm Lilia, Lilia Cooper."

"I'm Aiden, Aiden Winchester," he told her taking another mouthful of his beer.

He had strong rough hands that looked as if they had done a lot of manual labour. Not the soft hands with smooth skin and well-manicured nails that she expected of a person who had been raised in the lap of luxury. Perhaps being a Lord wasn't all it was cracked up to be. "Winchester, the name sounds familiar," Lilia said smiling at him. "I think I've read something about you somewhere."

"It might be the family home, Winchester Manor," he answered. "It's sort of a landmark in these parts. My family has lived here for a long time."

Lilia noticed him glance out of the window and followed his gaze. The sun was starting to set, and he seemed slightly troubled by something. But then, after the strange goings on in the area lately, she understood.

"Ah yes, Lord Aiden Winchester. I remember now," she said raising her glass as if to perform a toast. "There was something I read about a tragedy involving your family. It made you quite famous in these parts. Is your home open for tours? I'd love to see it."

"No, it's not a tourist attraction, just the place where I live. Sorry to have to leave, but I have to get going. Are you staying in the village for long?"

"A few days," Lillia explained as she watched him down the beer quickly. "Why the rush? Is there somebody at home waiting or did I upset you? Was it the Lord toast thing? I didn't

mean to offend you." Too many questions she thought, wondering if she came across as nosey, or desperate for that matter.

"No, I live alone and to be honest, I'm not very easily offended. There are actually people in the area that always refer to me as Lord Winchester. I just don't want to have to stumble through the field to the manor in the dark. You see, I cut across the field to my home. The ground is slightly uneven, and I twisted my ankle once and had to crawl home," he explained finishing his beer. "Maybe I'll see you again."

"Maybe," she said, reigning it in and trying not to seem too keen. "Maybe you could show me the sights."

"Perhaps, there's not much to see though, not in the immediate area."

Their short conversation was just that and he left her sitting at the table to finish her drink alone. Slightly bewildered by his odd behaviour, and suspicious by nature, Lilia wondered why he had rushed off. She considered the reasoning behind his quick departure. The excuse about the twisted ankle was poor. Maybe the reason he had to be home before dark was related to some of the unsavoury events that had happened in the area, if Lilia guessed correctly, then the reason for his sudden parting might be a fear of vampires. If he was worried about them, then she was in the right place, or perhaps she was just jumping to conclusions and thinking wishfully.

Tomorrow she would find the manor and get to know Aiden Winchester, Lord of the land. He might just prove to be useful. Tonight though, Lilia needed a good meal. She contemplated the blackboard behind the bar and decided on the fish and chips with mushy peas. One good thing about being right away from the city is the plates are always filled to the brim and Lilia was ravenous. After clearing the plate and one more drink, she turned in for the night to refresh herself for the encounter she hoped lay ahead.

********

It was just after eleven in the morning when Lilia left the pub to find Aiden. Winchester Manor was well known in Crippling Bump and it wasn't hard to locate. The ominous lump of Georgian architecture was the only one of its kind in the area and a vast contrast to her Edwardian terrace flat in Putney. It stuck out like a sore thumb amongst its modest surroundings.

Country life can be very appealing. The quietness and the fresh smelling air. Visually, Lilia loved the green pastures and the high-low aspect of the horizon, but she also loved the anonymity of the city. The crowded streets showcased all walks of life and gave her a feeling of being in her own isolated world as others rushed by, not even noticing each other. It boasted a moodiness that could only be achieved with overgrown buildings crowded together creating vast shadows and narrow backstreets. A stark contrast to the wide-open grassy pastures and powerful forests of the countryside.

As Lilia turned the car off the road and drove through the gateway of the property, she admired the low stone walls that ran alongside of lengthy driveway. The ruggedness of the different sized rocks that had been placed strategically together to construct the walls was remarkable and she imagined the hours of work that had gone into such a large project. Approaching the house Lilia observed the splendour of the stately home and the symmetrical frontage, with a blue door perfectly centred. The sash windows looked as though every inch of the building had been considered, they were impeccably placed. It reminded Lilia of a dolls house that she had owned a long time ago. Except for the small Juliet balcony that was protruding from the left side of the manor. It seemed kind of odd that someone would add that to a home like this one.

Upon closer inspection, Lilia noticed all the drapes were closed, maybe Lord Winchester was still in bed. She pulled up in front of the manor and Aiden appeared from around the side of the large structure, she didn't even have to leave the car. He sure was handsome, the kind of guy you could fall for after a quick glance, Lilia's kind of guy.

"Hello," he said approaching the car smiling at her.

The driver's side window was open, and she smiled back at him. "Hello," she replied. "I just wondered if you'd like to show a stranger around the area. I have a map, but there's nothing like the company of a local to explain the history of a place, especially one who has lived in the area their whole life." She hoped the request didn't come across as pushy and he agreed to spend some time with her.

"I'd like that," he said. "I just have a few things to do. Can I meet you at the inn later? Say around two?"

"Sure, but it's no trouble for me to pick you up here my Lord," she said smiling, teasing him a little. He immediately grinned as if he enjoyed the joke and Lilia suddenly felt like she had when she first met Sam.

"That's okay. I like to walk and it's just across the field. Besides, I have my own car," Aiden said, sounding ever so slightly anxious to her. "I'll meet you in the pub and there's no need to call me my Lord. Aiden will do nicely."

"It's a date, Aiden," Lilia agreed feeling slightly embarrassed by her comment. Perhaps in hindsight, it was the wrong thing to say.

After arranging to meet him later in the afternoon, Lilia left the manor and went for a drive enjoying the panorama. The roads were winding and narrow, and in some places the overgrown leafy foliage had been trimmed to make high tunnels out of the flourishing green plant life. It was common in rural areas and she relished the views of the rolling hills and the stone fences that bordered the boundaries of the properties, dividing the thriving greenery.

Returning to the pub for a spot of lunch before Aiden arrived, Lilia ordered coffee and a roast pork sandwich with stuffing, and sat perusing the morning paper. An article about a family that had been murdered not far from Crippling Bump took her interest. It sounded as though it was right up her alley and further investigation tempted her. That would have to wait until tomorrow though, this afternoon she was meeting Aiden and she was eager to get to know him. Since his family had lived in the area for so long, he would know all of the history. She ordered some more coffee and sipped away at the milky liquid which was topped with froth and a sprinkling of chocolate powder. As Lilia ate, a report of another murder caught her attention. Not just one person though, another family. Did the authorities in the area not know what was going on or did they just turn a blind eye fearful of the consequences. It didn't take a genius to realise these were no ordinary crimes. They were the same gruesome ritual type of killings that had plagued her past and also the reason she was a single woman. Noticing the date on the top of the front page, Lilia realised she was reading yesterday's news. Looking around, she grabbed that morning's paper from another table, but there were no updates on either crime.

Checking a map on her mobile phone and contemplating her schedule, Lilia made a mental note to go out to both crime scenes to have a closer look. Today she was on another mission. It would be helpful to find out what Aiden Winchester had witnessed all those years ago and what happened to his sister. She wondered if a little more flirting might benefit her. Perhaps she could bluff her way into his heart. Lilia hadn't come all this way with romance in mind, but if it happened, then so be it, and a Lord, well, it was kind of regal. She had her reservations about him and the past tragedy in his life, but she needed the full story and if she got close enough, he might just divulge the entire account in all of its gory truth.

At the table in the corner of the bar, tapping her fingers on the wood in anticipation, Lilia waited. Aiden entered the pub, sat down with her and smiled his charming smile. The scent of his aftershave wafted. His eyes were green. She hadn't noticed until now. "Have you had lunch?" she asked him, smiling intently and hoping she didn't have anything stuck in her teeth.

"Yes," he nodded, "Have you?"

"I've just finished. Shall we go?" she asked him, eager to get out and question him alone.

"Where? There's not much to see around here."

"For a walk along the road, I noticed a few shops that look a bit interesting," Lilia said, not really attracted to the shops, but she wanted to get to know all about the incident that ruined his family from his perspective. Not all things are reported in newspapers, but he had been there and if it meant spending an afternoon checking out boring shop windows, then she was willing to make the sacrifice.

"Alright then," Aiden agreed. "I'll point out the tourist attractions."

Lilia followed him from the building and checked him out from the back. Aiden Winchester had a cute bum. For a moment, she wondered what he was like in the sack.

By the absence of town folk, Lilia realised there was even less than she thought in Crippling Bump. Exploring the main street of the tiny village, the couple wandered to the end of the street and then crossed the road and wandered along the other side. Lilia looked in the shop windows and listened to Aiden as he told her the local history, interrupting him now and then to ask a question. It was nice. She enjoyed his company. When they arrived back at the pub he immediately checked his watch. It was clear that he was becoming anxious about the time again. She wondered why.

"I'd better be going," he told her.

"What is it with you and rushing off?" she asked him feeling slightly insulted. "I can drive you home, I know where you live. It wasn't very hard to find that out. It seems everybody knows where you live, although, few like to visit you. I think there's some sort of class division in this village and they feel inferior."

"Of course the locals know where I live, but I like to keep to myself. Besides, there's always been a problem with class division around here and a lot of the villagers find it difficult to even speak to me. They avert their eyes when we pass. A ride home won't be necessary. Like everybody else, I too know where I live," he said taking a step back and pausing for a moment. "Look, I'm sorry. I've been sort of a recluse since, well, for quite some time now. I didn't mean to be rude to you. Would you like to have lunch with me tomorrow?"

"Sure, at your place?" she asked, hoping for an invitation to see inside the grand manor.

"No, I was thinking more a picnic type of thing," he suggested.

Lilia agreed to the picnic and they arranged a time for her to pick him up from the manner. As she returned to The Cantering Filly, she watched Aiden easily scale the gate to the field he crossed regularly. The sky started to turn grim on the horizon. Looking up at the dark clouds in the distance that were joining each other to form one great mass, she shivered and went back into the pub. Not feeling particularly hungry, Lilia ordered coffee to take to her room.

As she relaxed on the bed and watched the small television positioned on an antique looking chest of drawers in the corner, she sipped the hot drink and thought about Aiden and the picnic. She wondered vaguely why he didn't invite her to the manor for a meal. Perhaps he didn't trust her. Maybe he thought that she was going to rob him or something. There was another thing that was bothering her and that was the closed drapes she had noticed when she visited that morning. It wasn't particularly strange, but most people opened their curtains during the day. Perhaps the answer was laziness. Maybe he never cleaned and just kept the drapes closed because he couldn't be bothered to open them. There were so many questions Lilia wanted to ask him, but it was early days yet and she hoped tomorrow would be just one of the many opportunities that might have to find out more about the tragedy that had torn his family apart.

Outside the rain was starting to fall, drumming a steady tempo on the roof of the pub and gaining momentum by the minute. After a shower, Lilia was definitely ready for a good night's sleep. She listened as the rain increased rapidly and pelted the windows, hoping it would subside by the morning and the picnic would go ahead. Thunder shouted in anger and the lightning lit up the sky as the yellow strands of nature's electricity ran in and out of the blackened clouds. From her second-floor window, she could see across the field that led to the Winchester home. The gloomy shape of the house outlined by the thrilling flashes of light looked like an abandoned haunted mansion from an old black and white movie. Lilia shuddered when she thought about what it must be like to live in the big empty place alone, especially on a night like this. She snapped off the bedside lamp and pulled the covers up over her head. Thunderstorms disturbed her.

********

Sitting on a blanket in a sunlit picnic area sipping wine with a wealthy, handsome man might possibly be every girls dream, but Lilia was determined to stay focussed and not let him distract her too much from her assignment, no matter how good looking he was. Attending the picnic was more like research and she had an array of questions. Although, Aiden's dark silence did make her want to get to know him more intimately, and not just to find out what it was he was running off to in the evenings.

"So, what's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" Aiden asked.

"Not much, I just felt like getting away from it all and it's very quiet around here. What do you do for a living?" she asked him between bites of the sandwich he had prepared for her. It was a nice touch really, him making the food for them to share and although he had rushed off on the last two occasions, Lilia felt as though he was genuinely making an effort to get to know her.

"I don't really do anything." Aiden told her pouring wine into the two glasses. "I just live in the manor and do odd jobs around the house."

"How do you live?" she asked taking the glass from him and swirling it under her nose. Lilia had no idea why she was smelling her drink, but she thought it might impress him a little to think she knew about wine. Although, she had no idea why she was trying to impress him either. "I mean, how can you afford to live?"

"I have money. It's old money that's been in the family for years. I don't have to work. My ancestors saw to that. They were wise when it came to investments. What about you, what do you do?" he asked.

"I'm a vet." She lied easily. There was no time required to come up with an answer. Shading her eyes from the sun, Lilia fished around in her bag and pulled out a pair of sunglasses. They always say your eyes are the window to your soul and if she kept them covered, it would be easier to deceive him. "I take care of sick animals."

"We can move into the shade if you like," Aiden suggested.

They moved their picnic to the shade of a tree. The blanket was spread on the cool grass and the couple sat comfortably out of the sun sipping wine. Lilia opened the chocolate bar Aiden had packed in the basket for her and took a bite. She loved chocolate.

"Do you enjoy that?" he asked.

"What?" she asked staring into the wine glass. Perhaps he was referring to the chocolate, Lilia was unsure.

"Being a vet," he replied.

"Oh, being a vet, I love it. I love animals. I always have. When I was younger, I'd drag dogs home from school and tell my mum they followed me. As soon as I let go of their collars, they would run back to where they lived, but any time I could, I'd bring home some sort of creature to look after, I sometimes prefer them to people," Lilia explained as she leaned back against the tree and stretched her legs out. "Do you ever get lonely? You know, living in that big manor by yourself."

"Not really. I spend a lot of time outside, so I don't really notice. I like to read too."

"Where are the rest of your family? Do any of them live in the area?" she asked cautiously, not wanting him to feel cross-examined. Curiosity badgered her, pushing her to ask more questions.

"My parents are dead," he told her. "I had a sister too, but there was a terrible tragedy. I have relatives, but they don't visit very often, and I don't really visit them. Most of them live overseas."

Lilia felt slightly uncomfortable, as if she had crossed an invisible line, prying into his private life and possibly dragging up old memories he found too difficult to deal with. She looked at him and he looked away. Infuriated by her own lack of compassion, she backed off slightly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," she said, noticing how troubled he was with her friendly interrogation. "You don't have to talk about it." The last thing Lilia wanted was a crying man on her hands. That would just be too much.

He smiled and lay on his side propping himself up on one elbow. She examined his features, his dark hair, the intense green eyes, and the expression as if he was an injured animal that needed comforting. Lilia liked him, he seemed endearing although she hardly knew him. She thought to herself it would be easy for a girl to fall in love with Lord Aiden Winchester.

"How long are you staying?" he asked looking up at her.

"That depends, what do the locals do for kicks around here?" she asked wondering if the answer included hunting vampires.

"This," he replied sitting up and laughing. "There's this and the pub. The council used to hold a dance once a month in the town hall, they'd hire a band and put on refreshments, but they stopped doing that a while back. Crippling Bump isn't the happening place it once was."

"Oh, I see. I don't know how much country serenity I can stand. I prefer the busyness of the city," she admitted taking a sip of her wine. "But there is something about this area that I like. The views are amazing, and I know that there's a lot to see in other nearby villages. Plus, I've heard a few stories about this part of the country, and I'd like to follow up on them."

"What sort of stories have you heard," he asked. "Is there anything I can help you with? I've lived here my whole life and have knowledge of the surrounding area."

Lilia noticed the concern on his face immediately. "No, it's fine. If I told you you'd only laugh at me, most people do," she explained, trying to avoid the conversation. He couldn't know the truth about her yet, perhaps not ever. She needed him to help with her investigation and plus, he was cute. Lilia didn't want him to think she was weird.

"You haven't told me anything about your family," Aiden said to her. "I don't see any rings on your fingers that would tie you to anybody legally, so my guess is you're not married. Do you have a partner?"

"There once was, in fact, there have been many special guys, but none were quite right for me," she told him, not wanting to reveal how Sam died just yet. It was still quite painful for

her to talk about. "As for my family, there's just me and Mum. Dad left years ago. Sorry, I don't even know why I'm telling you this. I hardly know you."

"Don't be sorry, it's okay," he said.

Aiden sounded as though he sincerely cared about what she said, and Lilia was a little surprised. From what she knew of men, there wasn't much understanding about anything unless the motive was horizontal.

They sat chatting until the wine bottle was empty.

Her prying mind had so many questions, but she couldn't come right out and ask everything before getting to know him a little more. If he knew about her investigating the murders in the surrounding area, Aiden might shy right away from her and she really wanted to find out as much as she could about his family tragedy. Alternatively, Lilia didn't want Aiden to think she was a gold-digger. She couldn't have that, so she kept her secret and told him she was a vet. A love of animals had led her towards wanting to care for them and she had started studying to become a vet, but after the death of Sam, Lilia had changed her focus and decided to take some time off. She picked up work here and there, mostly to do with hunting out the supernatural, but Lilia was becoming better and better at the extermination of the undead and word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool in the business world. What she did for a living soon got around and now she was making ends meet by doing just that, but she wasn't ready to tell him and hoped he didn't find out before she disclosed her secret.

********

After leaving a note for Aiden behind the bar on the day following the picnic, Lilia headed off by herself. For some reason, the GPS was on the blink and her mobile phone wasn't working properly. Flippin' countryside range difficulties, it would never happen in London. Armed with a map that had been supplied by the staff at the pub, and the information about the killings from the local paper, she headed off on her quest.

The two sites were relatively close together and as she drove away from the small village, the wooded areas along the road grew denser. A thick leafy umbrella of tall, timeless, trees shaded her car from the sun and she felt a slight chill. Perhaps the thought of the murders was making her anxious, but Lilia preferred to think it was more than likely the lack of sunlight. She had hunted so many of the supernatural beasts and knew daylight was no threat at all. Naivety wasn't one of her qualities and the facts had been gathered. Lilia knew all there was to know about vampires and had researched their weaknesses and although she didn't lean towards pyromania, fire was her best friend in this situation. She always carried some sort of combustible liquid, along with a disposable lighter.

Her very first extermination had been the hardest. A trip to Transylvania in Romania which supposedly was the origin of the beast gave her the chance to experiment. In the Carpathian Mountains she checked into a hotel in the tiny hamlet of Bran. So far removed from the city that she loved, it was almost as if the village had been forgotten. It seemed that the further she travelled away from Bucharest, the less civilised the communities were. On the side of the main road, villagers sat at their fold away card tables with balls of cheese they sold for a pittance. The farms on the edge of the town looked as though they didn't have fences, but the animals stayed put. Perhaps they didn't realise communism was a thing of the past and they were free to roam around and not limited to a certain amount of land. But it was the castle that had attracted her. Up on the hill overlooking the community it governed in a menacing way, supposedly the home of the once dreaded Dracula, or, at the very least, he stayed there one night. This is where her search began.

Knowing only the fantasy she had read and the rubbish that had been portrayed in movies, Lilia was naïve to the facts. It soon became apparent to her she had been fed bullshit and the vampire was just like her with a different appetite. After purchasing a sickle, she sat drinking coffee at a small café near the marketplace. At a nearby table, a woman sat watching Lilia. She smiled but the face of the woman remained stony. Feeling uncomfortable Lilia had looked away. When she eventually glanced that way again, the woman was gone. It was impossible though. The woman would have passed by if she left the café. Feeling slightly puzzled, she asked the waitress. A look of bewilderment showed on the young girl's face. The table had been empty, vacant all morning. That's when the realisation hit her. The demons could get about during the daylight and the purchase of the sickle had made her a deliberate target.

Lilia was ready for the fight. With the sickle, lighter fluid and some matches stowed away in an oversized bucket bag, she felt confident she could take on the undead. The monster struck late in the evening. Lilia had left the sanctity of the hotel and gone for a meal. As she walked back along the baron street, she spotted someone coming towards her. The woman from the café. She was ready though. It was all so quick. The vampire rose and travelled quickly towards her, about six inches above the footpath. Sickle in hand, as the beast drew near, Lilia swung the sharp instrument and lopped off the head of the monster in one swipe. Quickly she covered both the head and body in the lighter fluid and set fire to it. Disbelief overcame her as her rapidly beating heart slowed to a regular pace. Looking down at the sickle the hung loosely from her hand, Lilia expected the blood of the vampire to be dripping from the blade, but the metal glinted in the moonlight and was barely stained. That kill had led to others and each time she learned more about the undead. Now she was an expert.

Police tapes surrounded the area where the gruesome event had taken place, protecting any delicate clues that might help with the investigation. To the naked eye, there wouldn't be any. The demons that performed the heinous act were too cunning to leave anything behind, they craved blood so much there was never so much as a drop spilt. If the police had found anything that might point a finger, it would be a miracle.

Lilia left her parked car and ducked under the barrier. All the bunting in the world couldn't stop her from following this trail. There was nobody around and after checking out the area carefully, nothing was found. There was no sign at all that gave her the slightest hint it was a killing by vampires. But that's the way it always was and although she had no psychic ability, Lilia just knew. She had come across this too many times before. There were the usual broken branches and flattened patches of grass which she had seen on numerous occasions, but no blood or any type of clue left behind. Her investigation was interrupted, a noise, the snap of a twig sounded in amongst the trees. She strained her eyes to see if there was anybody about.

"Who's there?" Lilia called looking in the direction of the sound. Hesitantly, she left the taped off area and headed towards the spot the snap had come from. "Is anybody there?" she called again. Wondering if it had been her imagination, she wandered a little further in amongst the trees along a dirt pathway where the grass had been scuffed away by constant foot traffic. Lilia shivered a little looking around her, all the while questioning whether or not she was being watched by someone, or something. The disadvantage was not being familiar with the property and she felt slightly vulnerable as she looked carefully between the trunks of the trees trying to find whatever or whoever had made the noise. Deciding it must have been some sort of animal she had scared off by shouting, Lilia left the scene. There was nothing here for her to see, so she headed back to Crippling Bump.

Her rendezvous was scheduled for one thirty, but she had arrived back in the village too early just to sit and wait. Sadly, the note she had left for Aiden was still waiting unopened. So, rethinking her day, there was a decent amount of time for a bite to eat and some more research.

As the afternoon wore on, Lilia took a stroll along the road to the local library to see if she could dig up any dirt on the area that might help her with her pursuit. The archived newspapers were all on microfiche and stored in chronological order. As Lilia scanned article after article, she made notes on the types of crimes she thought might be supernaturally related, hoping to make out some sort of pattern or at least find out where the offenders were based.

Stumbling across the Winchester tragedy was quite a discovery for Lilia. There were articles she hadn't seen before and information she didn't have. It was strange. Aiden's parents had been killed and his sister had vanished off the face of the earth. Nobody really knew what had happened to her and the authorities never found a body. Aiden was quite elusive about the whole ordeal and a different thought track entered her head. Lilia wondered about him suddenly rushing off and finding excuses not to invite her into the manor. Perhaps he was hiding his sister there. She could have gone mad after witnessing the crime. It made more sense than any other explanation that she had come up with and she knew he wasn't married. There was a photograph of Mary Winchester in one of the articles. Lilia examined it closely, she had been a pretty teenager and had a softness about her. There was definitely a resemblance to the Lord of the Manor. Both Aiden and his sister had similar features, but the smile was identical. Lilia read the piece over and over. There had been an extensive search for the girl, but they found no trace whatsoever. The search had been abandoned with the thoughts that she was dead and possibly buried somewhere in the woods on the Winchester estate. What if she wasn't though? What if Mary Winchester had been reinvented by blood suckers, that made even more sense than her going mad. The crime was similar to those she had studied before. It was highly logical for her brother to shelter her and that would explain the drapes all being closed in the middle of the day. It would be necessary to keep out prying eyes. Was she jumping to conclusions? Only time would tell and now she had her suspicions, Lilia planned to spend as much time with Aiden as possible. Checking the clock on the wall, she realised it was almost five thirty and the library would be shutting soon. Deciding she would have to return to the small establishment at a later date for a little more research, Lilia left and returned to the pub.

Disappointed with the non-appearance of the handsome Lord Winchester, she wondered what she had done wrong the day before. A visit to the manor was necessary. Lilia was itching to get inside, but persuading him to invite her over would take time. Anything that might scare him off wasn't worth trying. There was definitely something he wasn't telling her. If Mary Winchester was the secret Aiden was hiding and the girl was indeed a vampire, she would surely know others in the area. For all Lilia knew, Aiden was harbouring an entire household of blood sucking demons. Although, deep down inside, she hoped she was wrong.

********

Living in the London suburbs all of her life, Lilia knew no other way. There had been plenty of holidays, but she had never entertained the thought of living in the country. Now, the narrow roads and extensive open spaces seemed slightly seductive. Acres of forest carpeted with blue bells and clumps of yellow archangel, on a backdrop of green leafiness provided an ethereal landscape. The sounds of native wildlife chorused a natural song. With the window open, Lilia took a few deep breaths of the crisp clean air.

A farmer's market notice caught her eye and she followed the signs to a neighbouring village for a wander around. The stalls, set on wooden trestle tables protected by cream coloured canvas marquees, displayed the very best of the fresh produce from the surrounding area, and there was an array of samples for tasting. Rambling from stall to stall, she nibbled at different cheeses and tried morsels of bread bathed in an assortment of flavoured oils and chutneys.

"Hello love," a woman said as Lilia approached a table hosting a display of cakes with a delicious aroma. "You're the young lass staying at The Cantering Filly. On holiday, are we?"

"Yes," she replied, wondering how it was that a woman whom she had never laid eyes on knew her business. "I'm Lilia."

"Lilia, what a pretty name, I'm Doris and it's nice to meet you. Fancy some Tottenham cake? It's fifty pence for one slice, or you can have three for a pound," the woman said tilting a tray towards Lilia to entice her.

"I'll just take one please," Lilia said, and Doris lifted a slice of the cake onto a paper serviette. Lilia paid for the cake and took a bite. The pink icing was sweet, and the cake had the familiar taste of vanilla, just the way Tottenham cake should. She wished she had bought three, but she didn't want to appear greedy. Plus, Doris was quite large and round, and Lilia guessed the woman had eaten plenty of Tottenham cake over the years. "Do you make these cakes?" she asked the stall holder.

"Oh no dear, all of these are made at Cocoa's Bakery, but we sell them here because they're such nice tasting cakes and we always sell a lot. My son and his wife run the bakery now, he has all of the secret recipes our family have developed over the years. This cake is from a recipe my mother made all of the time. Are you staying in the area for long?" Doris asked.

"I'm not sure," Lilia said finishing the delicious cake and licking her fingers. "I like it here, it's so tranquil and peaceful. But I had noticed a few murders in the paper and it's kind of put me on edge. What's with that? I just didn't expect that in the quietness of the English countryside." By the sound of it the woman was a typical country gossip who knew everybody's business. Lilia hoped she would help with her investigation without having to pry too much.

"Well, it's funny you know. We hadn't had any problems like that for such a long time, but lately it's been happening again. The last time was about ten years ago, a horrible incident at the Winchester Manor. There were a lot of stories going around about what really happened, some say it was vampires. But that can't be right, they're not real. I think it's one of those bikie gangs, you know the type, with their leather jackets and chains. It's all been quite sad really. The Winchesters were a nice family, even the kids. They were always very polite, and you'd think with all that money, they'd be quite stuck up, but not Aiden and Mary. You'd never know they came from that type of wealth. Anyway, their parents were killed and poor Mary Winchester just up and disappeared. Nobody's seen hide nor hair of her since that day. It's all very peculiar. If you ask me, she's gone a bit doolally with the whole thing and he's got her hidden away in some sort of asylum type place."

"But if that's the case, then somebody must know where," Lilia said, enjoying the information that was coming her way. "Surely a person can't just disappear off the face of the earth."

"That's the strange thing about it all, nobody knows what's become of her. There's been a lot of speculation of course. Some say she's gone abroad, but he never goes anywhere for too long and if Mary had been shipped off overseas, surely he would spend a little bit of time visiting her. After all, they were very close you know."

"How odd," Lilia said out loud to herself. "I wonder."

"We all do love and what's even stranger is there's never any visitors to the manor, not one," Doris told her. "But I'm rambling, how about another piece of cake."

"No thank you," Lilia said absently, thinking of her waistline and the conversation that she had just participated in with the very talkative Doris.

"Go on, my treat," Doris insisted. "I'll pop it in a bag for you and you can eat it later."

Lilia agreed to take the cake, after all she didn't want to hurt Doris's feelings and it was delicious. After thanking her, she continued around the market looking at the rest of the stalls before returning to Crippling Bump. Arriving back at the pub, she took the precious cake to her room for later. It would be a nice supper time treat. Recalling the revealing chat with Doris, it seemed as though the whole community thought the situation at Winchester Manor was fishy, and the disappearance very strange.

Sitting in the bar, waiting for Aiden, Lilia ate her lunch in peace. He had been in earlier and received the second note she had left. All the time she was thinking about the bizarre situation. He lived alone with all of the drapes closed and he rushed off at the end of the day before the sun fully set. It had to be something dark and sinister. Either he was hiding his sister from the world and had a fear of something in the neighbourhood that graced the dark, or he was completely nuts.

Lilia looked up as the door to the bar opened and in he walked. Right on time she thought. Knowing she couldn't grill Aiden about the situation, she decided she would delicately encourage him to invite her over. It felt as though she was nagging, but she was desperate to see inside Winchester Manor and Aiden was the only key to opening the door.

Time passed quickly and as the afternoon wore on they talked and laughed together. Sipping at cold drinks, they shared a myriad of stories about childhood and growing up in two completely different worlds. He was an upper-class country boy and she a middle-class city girl, but for all their differences, the situation felt right to Lilia. "Please don't go," she said reaching across the table and placing her hand lightly over his hoping he would just stay a little longer, so she could convince him to let her visit the manor. "You could stay here, spend the night with me."

"You don't understand. As much as I'd like to, I can't," he told her.

"What is it Aiden, what is you're not telling me?" Lillia asked withdrawing her hand and folding her arms in front of her chest. "Are you married?" she wanted answers and knowing that he was definitely single, she threw in the question anyway. It just seemed like the right thing to do.

"No certainly not. I'm not sure why you would even think that. It's just that the situation is complicated, and we need to get to know each other a little more. I'm just an old-fashioned bachelor and slightly reclusive, that's all," he told her, "But married, definitely not."

"Well I think it's time you invited me over and gave me a tour of the grand manor," she said. "I love Georgian architecture and I've heard that Winchester Manor is one of the loveliest in this part of the county."

"Of course, I'd like you to see it too, but not tonight. I really must go," he said, and with that he got up from his seat and left the inn.

"Well bollocks to that," she said and went to the bar to order another drink and a meal.

Reclining in her room that evening, Lilia sat up in bed with a cup of tea and her piece of Tottenham cake staring blankly at the show on the television. In her mind, conversations swirled, conjuring up all sorts of erratic thoughts about the Winchesters and the tragedy that had been bestowed upon them. It made her wonder even more about the after facts. What really had happened to Mary Winchester?

********

Lilia was pleasantly surprised when she received the coveted invitation to the Winchester home, for afternoon tea of all things. Handed to her by the girl behind the bar at The Cantering Filly, the invitation was written neatly on thick luxurious paper in bold letters. It was a little ostentatious, but it would do considering she never expected it. The main problem with the whole bloody situation was Lilia was starting to fall for Aiden slightly. There was something appealing in those mysterious green eyes and when he smiled, her heart jumped. She hadn't come to Crippling Bump to form a lasting relationship, her hidden agenda was slipping into second place to her feelings and Lilia had to continuously remind herself why she was staying in such a God forsaken hole, at the pub the world forgot, and what her visit to the area was really all about.

A small photo album she carried everywhere was a constant reminder of her vision. Opening her bag, she took out the leather covered book and turned the pages slowly. Sam was in every single photograph. They had been engaged and planned to marry, but two months before the wedding, a wrinkle appeared in their smooth journey. The body of a man in his early twenties had been discovered not far from their home in Putney. Sam had been murdered and the evidence was strange. An autopsy showed two puncture wounds in his neck and his body had been drained of blood. Although it pointed to the supernatural there was never any real proof. How could there be? Nobody believed that rubbish, right? The police had convinced the papers and the public the killing was made to look a certain way and the evil demons a fraction of the community had concerns about, were non-existent. But Lilia thought differently and thus began her quest. She vowed on that day, she would get even with the bastards who did it and she would hunt every single one of these vicious parasites out and get rid of them once and for all. Returning the album to her bag, she fought back the tears as she remembered she had a date with Aiden.

As Lilia drove along the driveway of the Winchester estate, she noticed the change in the appearance of the house. The curtains were all pulled back and some of the windows were open, it surprised her. Perhaps she had been wrong and completely off track. But on further inspection, there was one upstairs window where the drapes were still drawn. The room with the Juliet balcony, and Lilia couldn't help but wonder if she was driving into the perfect storm.

Aiden came out to her car to meet her like the true gentleman he was and escorted her into his family home. The architecture was incredible, and Lilia marvelled at the well-preserved furniture as they sauntered from room to room on the downstairs floor, flawlessly maintained in the true Georgian style. Slightly yellowing wallpaper covered the walls in a few of the rooms and some of the drapes were a little shabby, but they had been probably been there longer than her host. Aiden didn't strike her as the type who would redecorate every few years.

The tour of the library felt slightly rushed. It was almost as if he was anxious about her looking at his precious books. Lilia found his behaviour somewhat odd. She had no interest in what he read, but just pretended to be curious, the real attraction was the upstairs room with the closed drapes. She had to come up with a plan.

They settled in the parlour to a relaxing afternoon tea with delicious chocolate cakes. Although years of being a confirmed bachelor with no one to wait on him might have contributed to him developing his baking skills, Lilia thought differently. She didn't think he would have spent the morning piping pink flowers with icing, but stranger things had happened in her life. They looked as if they had been baked at home and as Lilia took a bite of the cup cake, she detected a slightly sinister taste with a tinge of death in amongst the delicious chocolaty sweetness. They sipped tea and laughed together, he was so very charming and when he really opened up, he knew how to tell a good story.

"This is nice," Lilia said, sitting and admiring the fine china as he poured more tea for her. "The parlour, you are old fashioned, most people call it a living room."

"I did indicate that I was slightly old fashioned, and traditionally this room has always been the parlour," he explained sipping his drink. "Here, have another cake."

She took another of the delicious cupcakes from the serving plate. "Did you make these?" she asked and nibbled at the edge of it.

"Yes," Aiden said. "I do all my own cooking."

"You're quite talented in the cake decorating department," she told him between sips of her drink, wondering who really made the chocolate cupcakes. Perhaps she should ask him for the recipe and see if he really knew what he was doing, but he would probably come up with a reason not to give it to her.

"I learnt a lot from my mother. She liked to bake," he told her.

"Do you mind if I use the bathroom?" she asked after two cups of tea. This was the opportunity Lila had been searching for. She hoped he would direct her upstairs, so she could check out that room with the closed curtains and the balcony.

"No, please, be my guest. I'll show you where it is."

"I'm sure I can find it," she said, noticing that he was slightly agitated. "Maybe you could make some more tea for us."

"More tea? Okay. The bathroom is upstairs. The first door on the right. It's no problem for me to show you," he expressed, sounding a little anxious.

"It's fine, I'll find it," Lilia said.

Leaving the room, it was just the escape she needed. Lilia dashed up the wide staircase as quickly as she could and stood on the landing between the bathroom door and the door to the room with the closed curtains. The carpet was worn, almost threadbare. As she stepped forward quietly, Lilia felt the boards beneath her feet move slightly and a creaking sound resonated. The upstairs of the manor had a musty smell and had clearly been neglected for some time. A thick blanket of dust provided armour for the skirting and up in the corner of the moulding along the ceiling, a small black spider made its silky home to trap the enemy. Lilia wrinkled her nose and fought back a sneeze. Aiden had obviously made a special effort downstairs and forgotten about this floor.

The door to the mystery room was right there within reach. Should she try it? As Lilia approached it slowly, she felt slightly apprehensive about opening it, but she had dealt with demons before and this might be her only opportunity. Staring at the handle, her heart started to beat a little faster. She put her ear to the door and listened. The wood felt smooth to the touch and there was an uncanny coldness about it, but definitely no sound from within. Taking a deep breath and holding it, slowly Lilia turned the handle and waited for the click of the catch, but the door was clearly locked and there was no key available. "Damn it," she whispered. Turning her back on the disappointment, she went across the hallway closing the door of the bathroom behind her.

When Lilia returned to the parlour it was vacant, and she sat on the sofa pondering the puzzling situation. She picked up one of the cupcakes and examined the delicate sugar craft on the top of the green icing. It was very quaint and gave her the impression of a garden. The look was extremely feminine. Lilia had seen cakes decorated by men and she knew it was possible Aiden could have managed it, but he just didn't seem the creative type. Maybe she had this all wrong, maybe the room upstairs contained Aiden's boyfriend, or perhaps he was in fact a closet cake decorator and had decided to come out. Lilia thought the subject was far too touchy, she would much rather ask if his missing sister was deranged and actually living upstairs in the room with the closed curtains.

"So, you found it then," he asked her, pouring them both another cup of tea.

"Yes," she nodded.

"More cake?" he asked, offering Lilia the plate of chocolaty sweet treats.

Lilia silently sipped her tea as she listened absently to Aiden talk about his mother and her china patterns, all the while pre-occupied with the locked room upstairs. If she was a gambler, she would have bet the entire house that the room belonged to Mary Winchester and that she was safely locked inside away from the ordinary world. The one thing she wasn't absolutely sure of was why.

The afternoon was progressing quite nicely, but as night drew nearer it was clear to Lilia that Aiden was starting to get anxious again. He looked at his watch three times within a minute.

"Let's go for a walk," he suggested.

"Okay, where?" she asked not really wanting to leave just yet. Daylight would start fading soon and Lilia wanted to see what happened in this house after the sun went down.

"Just out, leave the cups and plates, I'll take care of them later."

He seemed to hurry her out of the house very quickly, and Lilia wondered why he had invited her in the first place. "You know," she said outside in the drive, "If I didn't know better, I'd swear you had something to hide."

"There's nothing," he reassured her. "Haven't I proved that by having you here today? Don't you think that if there was something that I was hiding, you would have discovered it?"

"Are you sure because it just seems a little strange? You're all nice and friendly one moment and then you try to push me away," she said looking him in the eye and not believing a word he was telling her. There was definitely a reason for his behaviour and Lilia wanted to know. "What is it Aiden? Why are you trying to get rid of me all of a sudden?" Waiting for another lame excuse, she wasn't disappointed.

"I'm not trying to get rid of you and I'm not hiding anything, it's just that I like my evenings to myself," he told her. "Besides, you're far too nosey and what I do in my spare time is none of your business."

"Well then maybe I should go," she said walking away from him. She paused for a moment turning to him, waiting for him to stop her feeling sure that he would.

Bitterly dissatisfied, Lilia drove off leaving him standing in front of his beloved sanctuary. His rude behaviour and the prompt eviction from his home infuriated her. The situation seemed impassable for now, but she had another ace to play. There weren't many men on the planet who could resist a night of lusty passion and if seduction was the way to his heart and home, then that was the card she was willing to play. After knowing Aiden for such a short time, she had no illusions of grandeur. She just wanted to know his secret. He ran hot and cold and the recent dismissal from the family home had confirmed to Lilia that he was definitely hiding something. Maybe he was just crazy, but that locked room was mysterious, and she was very curious. Lilia would worm her way back into his home and find out who or what Aiden Winchester was hiding on the upstairs floor of that house.

********

After steering clear of the Winchester Manor and its moody inhabitant, the dusty second-hand store across the road from The Cantering Filly was the last place she expected to find someone like Lord Aiden Winchester. When Lilia saw him enter the charitable establishment, feeling slightly intrigued by what he might be purchasing, she couldn't resist following. He was at the back of the store browsing a shelf of shabby looking paperbacks and didn't realise she was there until she stood right beside him.

The purchase was a tatty second-hand vampire novel, and although it wasn't a strange item, Lilia was convinced that this had something to do with his sister. Maybe she was right, perhaps his sister was actually a blood sucking murderer and Aiden was harbouring her. Maybe he was gathering information to defend himself against her, just in case she attacked him. He seemed quite defensive about his book and left her standing in amongst the racks of discarded clothes.

Lilia followed Aiden out of the shop. She watched him cross the road and climb the gate. Deciding that she couldn't let the opportunity slip away, she pursued him stopping at the gate, wondering whether she should get in her car and drive around the long way. It seemed a tad more civilised than scaling the rusty barrier and running through the grass. Stopping short in the middle of the field, suddenly Aiden turned, stared at her and headed back.

"I'm not sure why you are angry with me. I didn't mean to upset you," she explained when he drew near.

"Look, there are things about me you just wouldn't understand," he said. "Right now though, I have to get some milk which is self-explanatory, but I'll meet you later for a pint if you like, say around four? We can talk about it all then."

Lilia wondered if he had made the date to avoid talking to her at that moment, but she agreed, although, she didn't expect him to turn up. It suddenly dawned on her Lord Aiden Winchester was far too set in his ways to let anybody invade his secret life and if that was the case she probably wouldn't see him again.

Returning to The Cantering Filly to wait for Aiden, she lay on the bed in the small room staring at the ceiling wading through the quagmire in her mind. Aiden and his mysterious home he kept to himself. What if she was right? How could the two exist together in the manor. Wasn't he afraid? Didn't he want a normal life? Loads of questions floated through her head. Lilia decided there and then if Aiden didn't turn up that afternoon she would sneak over when he was asleep and investigate without his permission. It wouldn't be the first time she had taken matters like this into her own hands.

It was a complete surprise when his Lordship actually arrived at the pub later to meet her. For hours they sat drinking, talking, and laughing together at the corner table that had become their place to meet. A meal was ordered and as the daylight came to an end, surprisingly, he didn't run off at dusk. Another drink and Lilia invited him back to her room. This time, he agreed.

Embraced in passion, she silently apologised to Sam. Aiden was her first since she had lost her fiancé, and guilt ridden, she gave herself to the Lord of the Manor feeling slightly unfaithful. But Sam was gone and not likely to appear at the door any time soon. Lilia hoped this would award her the all access golden ticket to the manor that she needed.

As dawn emerged she pretended to sleep, but knew exactly when Aiden left the room and leaving the bed herself watched him through the window. On the horizon, the sun slowly appeared to light the morning's path. As he crossed the field towards his home in the dimness of the early hours, her eye was drawn elsewhere. From the direction of the woods a couple approached the old manor. From Aiden's viewpoint, he wouldn't be able to see them, but Lilia could, a male and female. She saw them kiss and then the girl disappeared into the house and her company was gone in the blink of an eye. It had to be his sister, and if Lilia was correct, as she had suspected, Mary Winchester was the secret that Aiden was hiding, and she obviously had a friend that could move incredibly fast. So that was it, his sister was the reason he rushed off all of the time and she was probably the baker of the chocolate cakes too. But if that was the case, and she was running around in the small hours of the morning, perhaps she wasn't mad, but immortal as Lilia imagined. Smiling to herself feeling proud she may have worked out the mystery of his strange behaviour, she decided to give him a little space. If she was correct, Aiden would try to keep her at arm's length to protect his sister and perhaps even herself for that matter. Meanwhile, she would come up with a plan to get into that house and expose his secret once and for all.

********

After very little sleep, Lilia awoke once again feeling slightly sluggish, but there was work to be done and she had the information required for the expedition. The farms that had been left to themselves were enticing and Lilia wanted to check out a few of the abandoned houses in the area, the places nobody wanted. There was also another crime scene nearby and it was right at the top of her list. She had them all marked on her map and a full day of searching for clues was needed to get her mind off the Lord of Winchester Manor and back on the job.

Heading out of Crippling Bump into the hills, Lilia tried to concentrate, but she kept thinking of the night she had spent with Aiden and the mysterious couple she had seen near the manor. If the girl was indeed Mary Winchester, and she was, as Lilia suspected, a vampire, then she may be responsible for the crimes. But who was the guy with her? Where did he fit into the picture? Were there more vampires in the area? What if she was wrong about the whole thing? Question after question ran through her head. They were easy to come up with, it was the answers she was struggling to find.

Lilia tried the GPS which for some reason still wasn't working properly. She would have to rely on the old school paper map from the pub, it would just have to do. Out towards the crime scene she had visited a few days before, was the other sight she wanted to investigate, a farm where another family had been slaughtered. Surely with all of the tragedy in the area, the police must know something was not quite right. Lilia wondered why there hadn't been ritual burnings of the undead on a regular basis with a dedicated bonfire site.

Police tapes adorned the entrance to the driveway of the recently deserted homestead. Clearly the tape had been broken in the middle and then tied back together so she drove straight through snapping it in two again. Lilia watched it flapping in the rear-view mirror and smiled to herself. If the police turned up while she was snooping about, she would tell them who she really was and what she was looking for. They could check her credentials.

Pulling up in front of the house, she stepped from the car and closed the door quietly. Unsure whether any of the bloodsuckers were still hanging around, Lilia was cautious. If she hadn't read about the slaughter at this location, she wouldn't have known there had been one. It was typically textbook of the numerous scenes she had visited in the past. The door to the house was unlocked and Lilia went straight inside to look around. Everything seemed to be in place as she wandered through the empty rooms. Upstairs the children's bedrooms were tidy, and the beds were made as if the family would return that night. She picked up a small pink teddy bear and sat down on the bed in what must have been a younger girl's room. Looking around at the toys neatly displayed on shelves, and the wallpaper which hosted pink and mauve butterflies, tears welled in her eyes. It just wasn't fair. Putting the bear back in its place, she wiped her eyes with a tissue and left the room.

Standing at a small window at the end of the landing, Lilia looked out over the country side. She didn't expect to see a group of vampires waving at her, but there had to be

something she was missing. The killings didn't lead her anywhere, but she suspected Aiden's sister and her friend were somehow involved.

Heading down the stairs to leave the abandoned house, a noise that seemed to come from the rear of the home, alerted her. Lilia ran. She ran towards the direction from which the sound came, but the room was deserted and the backdoor open. Outside, she looked around quickly, but there was nobody about. Perhaps the door had been open when she came in the front way. But it had sounded like somebody opening a door. Her senses told her to get out of the house quickly, just in case.

Hunting vampires was something Lilia did regularly, and she travelled well equipped. If necessary, she could lop of in a head and set fire to the owner in a heartbeat, but she was unsure how many there might be, so the best thing for her to do was avoid them until she got some more facts. Around at the front of the house, she sat in her car and locked the doors deciding to wait for a while, just in case there was somebody lurking. There was nothing moving around in the area she could see except for a slight swaying of the trees in the wind. Almost hypnotic, Lilia watched as they moved back and forth slowly.

When she woke from what must have been a fatigue nap from an all-nighter with the only eligible bachelor in the village, it was almost two-thirty in the afternoon. Clearly there was nobody prowling the area, she would have known by now, they would have attacked her in her car. The element of surprise would have meant a victory to the vampires and her downfall, all because she spent the night screwing some guy so she could get into a room in his house. She started the car and headed back to Crippling Bump. Hungry and tired, Lilia needed to plan what she was going to do properly. It meant getting back into the manor, but she could do it, that she was sure of. All she had to do was bring out her inner actress.

The allowing of a certain amount of time to elapse before contacting someone you slept with wasn't foreign to Lilia, but she was unsure of how much time should elapse. It was imperative she gain access to the house as quickly as possible, so she could find out if the girl she saw was actually Mary Winchester. But first she needed a good night's sleep. Turning in early, Lilia was too tired to think or plan. Overcome with exhaustion, the next time she opened her eyes, the sun was creeping into the sky.

********

Over breakfast she considered her options. The best thing to do was go and knock on his door, but she was torn between the honest route and devising insidious tactics. Lilia sat thinking, tapping on the table with her fingers, a habit she had developed over the years. Aiden had left without so much as a good morning. Lilia wasn't sure what sort of message he was trying to get across, but there was only one way to find out and that was to confront him.

Once again she noticed all of the curtains were closed as she approached the manor. Stepping out of the car, she looked towards the window of the mystery room. There was no doubt in her mind his sister was in there. Lilia approached the manor. As usual, the door opened before she could knock.

"Hi," Lilia said trying to peer over his shoulder into the house, not quite sure what she expected to see. "Can I come in?"

"This isn't a good time, but I can meet you later," he answered.

"It's never a good time, is it? Just forget it Aiden. I don't know why I came here. I thought that you were a nice guy and now you're pushing me away again. I should have known better," she said tearfully, bringing out her inner actress.

Turning her back on him, she walked towards her car hopeful that he wouldn't run after her and see that she wasn't really crying. It was just as she thought, Aiden stood in the doorway of the manor making no attempt to stop her. The visit held no surprises and Lilia was disappointed he hadn't asked her in, but she would return when he least expected. Eventually she would get into the house and more importantly, into that room.

Returning to The Cantering Filly, Lilia Cooper planned her next move

Part 2

Aiden continued to eat the roast chicken looking up at his sister every now and then. Mary stood watching him and the clock ticked loudly mocking their silence and reminding them to make the most of the valuable time they had together. After years in the same house, all they had in common was the manor and a surname, time had distanced the two and the feeling of awkwardness had grown into a wide chasm which had clearly divided them.

"Would you like to sit down?" he asked her, shifting awkwardly in his seat as he finished his meal. Aiden pushed a chair out from the other side of the table with his foot. He wondered what she wanted, why she had stayed in the kitchen. The walls suddenly felt as though they were closing in around him triggering a mild panic he tried desperately to conquer.

"Do I intimidate you?" she asked moving closer and sitting at the table, "Are you uncomfortable?"

"A little," he admitted, knowing it was pointless to lie because instinct would tell her exactly how he was feeling.

"Don't be frightened. I can resist you," she reassured him softly. "I have something to talk to you about, and It's something that can't be said with a piece of paper. It's far too important to just scribble a few words or whisper through a dense plank of wood." Mary studied her brother's face. He stared at her in such an intense way and there was a worn-out look starting to appear. The carefree teenage face had been replaced. At the corners of his eyes were the crow's feet of maturity and his dark hair now had the odd grey guest. His jaw was strong and square, and the years had turned the boy she once knew into a man. Aiden was starting to look like their father.

"What is it?" he asked looking at her feeling his heart rate increase slightly. Mary's skin was so pale and her eyes a brilliant green. It was such a striking contrast. Her look was slightly frightening, but she was still his sister. He realised how much he missed her. She hadn't aged at all since the day of the attack. To Aiden, Mary was still very much the sixteen-year-old girl that she was on that critical night, only now she carried a different almanac.

"It's about my new friend. I met him in the woods," Mary said getting straight to the point, hoping her brother didn't start lecturing her. "He's been here. I snuck him in through my bedroom window." Feeling somewhat shameful for having a guy in her bedroom, she looked down at the table for a moment and waited for him to begin his rant.

"Wait, you met some guy in the woods and he's been here in the manor. When?" Aiden asked taking a sip of his wine, shocked at her announcement. "Is he here now? Does he know what you are?"

"No, he's not here now and yes, he knows. We are the same. He's a vampire like me. His name is Daniel and for the first time in my life, I feel as though I'm truly in love. But he lives in a cave. It's not very far from here, but it's dangerous. There may be other vampires hanging about and it's only a matter of time before they hunt him out and force him to join them, Daniel doesn't want that. He'd have to leave the area and I need him Aiden," she explained. "I'm lonely."

"I understand how you feel. I know what it's like to be lonely. But are you sure it's not just a crush? Are you certain it's not because you've been isolated and he's the first one that you've met?" Aiden asked, remembering what she had been like ten years ago. "What do you know about this bloke?"

Mary considered the questions and thought about it for a moment. She understood why Aiden was asking her. "I know everything I need to know about him. It's not a crush. I'm in love Aiden, I've never felt like this before. Besides, you're never home, you're busy running around with that woman who came over."

"That woman, as you put it, is very upset with me and I don't expect her to come back. We spent the night together in the pub and I've sort of been ignoring her since. I'm not proud of myself, but this situation is difficult," Aiden told her. "I understand what you're saying though, I'd like some companionship on the odd occasion too."

"I'm sorry Aiden, but it doesn't have to be like this. We could work something out," Mary said smiling. "I think your friend got lost on the way to the bathroom, she tried to get into my room. Luckily for us both I keep the door locked. If she had walked in, she would have been my afternoon tea. It was slightly odd, knowing there was another person in the house on the other side of the door. I think we can make this work if we try Aiden. I want to spend more time with Daniel, and I know you like that woman, I can tell."

"The only way we can make this work is if I tell her about you," Aiden said. He got up from the table and put his dishes in the sink. No matter what his sister said, the idea was impossible.

"But, what if she reacts badly, what if she doesn't like me? Worse still, what if she blabs? It could be dangerous for me Aiden. People must think that I'm dead or something. Imagine their surprise when I turn up and still look like a sixteen-year-old. Questions will be asked. Do you have the answers?"

"I've thought about this carefully. I appreciate you might be apprehensive, but I think I can trust her Mary. It's a touchy subject and I'm not sure how I'm going to approach it, but if it turns out she can't be trusted, we'll just say she made the whole thing up. Our family was and still is very well respected in the community. Nobody would believe a stranger – sometimes I have trouble believing it myself," Aiden said. "And that word, vampire, it kind of shocks me. Especially when you say it."

"Vampire, vampire, vampire, it's just a word Aiden. But, if you trust your new friend, then I suppose I can," Mary said hesitantly. "But if she blabs, I don't know what Daniel might do and to be perfectly honest, I wouldn't stop him. I feed on small woodland creatures, Daniel hunts humans. Your new friend might become an involuntary blood donor."

"What else do you know about this Daniel guy?" Aiden asked her, sipping his drink, feeling slightly annoyed by her comment. The last thing he wanted was to lure Lilia into some sort of deadly trap. "What if he attacks me?"

"I wouldn't let that happen. But, Daniel has the bluest eyes I've ever seen, he's wonderful and he makes me happy. I don't want to be alone anymore, the boredom is unbearable," Mary told him. "He brought the light back into my life, so to speak. But if I had to protect you, I wouldn't hesitate."

"That's what Lilia has done for me. I'm not sure if she's right for me, but I need someone just as much as you do Mary," he explained. "It's almost as if we met them both for a reason. Like you, I think I could be happy and whether it's with her or someone else, who knows? But I agree with you, we have to begin somewhere. It's time to start thinking about my future. We need to make some changes, before I get too old to attract the opposite sex."

"Wait a second, Lilia, is that her name? What a stupid name. It sounds like a name that somebody made up for some sort of ridiculous romance novel. But if you want to be with her, or someone with a name like that, you should go to her. Go to her and tell her Aiden, before it's too late and she's gone forever," Mary encouraged. "You have my blessing."

Leaving her seat she ran the water and squeezed it from the sponge. Mary wiped down the kitchen table and then turned her attention back to her brother. "Well?"

"Her name is perfectly fine and if I bring her home to meet you, I want you to be nice to her, none of your teenage bitchiness. Can I bring her back here, to meet you?" he asked.

"One step at a time Aiden, one step at a time," Mary said, shifting her focus to the clock on the wall. It was dark out, her time. "Perhaps you can just tell her and see how she reacts before you bring her here to meet me."

"I think I'll invite her over and tell her here. It might make up for the way I treated her. I could do it over dinner and you and your friend could come and meet us here after. If she reacts badly to my confession, she'll more than likely leave before you guys come into the room. Are you going to see him tonight?" Aiden asked, noticing she had checked the time. He pictured Mary and her friend ripping apart a sheep together. The thought was disturbing. But even more disturbing was knowing there would be two of them in the manor together, plotting where they were going to get their next meal.

"We did plan to meet tonight, but right now, I'd like to spend some more time with you. I feel as though we've forgotten each other. I've missed you and I've missed out on a lot of years," she said. "I want to get to know you again and find out what you like. I want to know what you keep in the library and the books you read when you lock yourself away. For some reason, you've kept me out. It's like you're putting up a barrier and losing yourself in a fantasy world. I want to understand you more and help you to understand me."

"If you really want to know what I have in there I can show you Mary, but I don't want to upset you," he told her, hoping that she wouldn't fly into some sort of demonic rage when he revealed his precious collection. "Do you remember what Dad told us about books? How he said that smell of the paper and ink was the smell of knowledge and how you can use what you gain from reading? I wanted to know more so I started buying any book on the subject that I could. I always thought that perhaps one day I might need the knowledge to defend myself, so I just continued. I haven't been a very good brother to you since, well, you know when. But I do love you, please remember that when you see what I read," he expressed, not wanting her to be upset when she saw his literary collection. Not knowing how Mary was going to react frightened him. He never thought this day would come. Aiden had always just assumed he would be able to keep his secret indefinitely.

"What are you talking about?" she asked puzzled, but also fascinated by his comments. "Defend yourself against what?"

"Come, I'll show you, but please don't be disappointed with me. I would never really want to harm you in any way," Aiden said leaving the kitchen with his sister following close behind.

Mary was intrigued, she suddenly had an inkling why he kept his books such a secret, but it was best to let him reveal it in his own way. At least the conversation had gone smoothly. As she followed him to the library, Mary wondered why she had been afraid to go to her brother about Daniel before now. He seemed to be taking it really well.

"Are you ready?" he asked her, taking the key from his pocket, and slipping it into the lock.

"Yes, I'm ready," she whispered in anticipation, excited about the revelation about to take place.

He opened the door and snapped on the light which instantly filled the room, exposing the secret Aiden had been keeping to himself. The shelves were almost full. There were only a few to go. Shelf after shelf filled with tattered used books all on the same dark subject.

"Vampires," she whispered, not quite believing what she was seeing. Hundreds of ragged vampire novels stood before her. "Is this what you do with your days? Sit in here and read silly stories about vampires?"

"Well, I don't know about silly, but yes," he nodded. "Please don't be offended. But I figured if you ever turned on me I could use the knowledge from these novels to defend myself."

Mary couldn't believe it. "Do you have some sort of vampire extermination kit to use against me in case I attack?" she asked him, trying not to laugh. "Does it have bulbs of garlic and stakes to drive through my lifeless heart? Are there bottles of holy water and crucifixes included? You probably think I sleep in a coffin."

"Stop teasing. I know you don't have a coffin in your room," he said smiling, feeling slightly relieved that her reaction had been positive. "I'd forgotten what you were really like. You spend all of your time locked away in your bedroom with your piano, playing that same song over and over. And, I don't have bulbs of garlic and stakes stashed away anywhere or any vampire hunting paraphernalia. I don't think I could bring myself to do any of the stuff in these books. It's quite brutal." Aiden felt a little more relaxed. One less thing for him to hide.

"I'd be too quick for you anyway. Remember when we climbed trees and I always climbed higher. I can climb a lot higher now and run a lot faster," she said. "Plus, you really need to know that a lot of the stuff in those made up stories is incorrect. Vampires aren't just creatures of the night; we can get about during the day too."

"Do you turn into a bat?" he asked. "You know, at night when you go out?"

"I can, I can turn into anything I like," she said. "If you invite your friend Lilia over one night, I could be the family cat and sit on her knee purring while she tenderly strokes me. It might be fun."

He admired his sister. Even though he had sprung his secret on her, she was still the same light-hearted girl. He suddenly wondered what he had been afraid of all these years. "I can just picture that," Aiden laughed. "I've missed you Mary, more than I realised. We have to make it work, for both of us. I need someone other than you in my life, but I can't bear the thought of losing you. Why don't you invite Daniel over and tomorrow night, the four of us can meet here over dinner?"

"That sounds kind of disturbing. You and your friend might be the dinner. I can try to get Daniel here, he's afraid though," she said. "He can't resist like I can. You'll have to be patient Aiden, even to me you smell delicious."

He stepped back and for the first time she saw the fear in his eyes. Although Mary felt as though nothing had changed between them, it was obvious she unnerved him and the thought of another like herself in the manor wasn't something he had ever bargained for. Maybe Aiden thought they would remain together separately until he passed away. She found the thought unpleasant and pushed it from her mind.

"There's no need to be frightened of me Aiden. I love you, and you will always come first. Blood's thicker, remember that," she told him reassuringly.

"I believe you, but you can't blame me for feeling just a little apprehensive," he said. "It's so unsettling knowing what you're capable of but I feel this is the right time for both of us to change the way things are in the manor."

"Go to her Aiden, go to the girl with the ridiculous name and tell her how you feel. Bring her back here to the manor. Tell her the truth, before she becomes a part of your past like all of the others," Mary urged. "Hopefully she won't go all mental on you when you reveal your secret. I'll go to Daniel and persuade him to join us here. Everything's going to be all right now Aiden. For the first time in years, I feel like I did before this happened to me, and I'm ready for adventure. The future's looking so much brighter than I ever imagined."

They agreed on the time they should both meet and although Aiden wanted to change his future, he was still very uneasy about the situation. He had complete faith in his sister's ability to protect him from this Daniel character and if there were any signs of trouble, Mary and her friend could leave the house and torture small animals in the woods, or whatever they did.

Leaving the library Aiden headed upstairs without locking the library door behind him. There was no need to now, one of his secrets had been exposed and it felt as though a weight had been lifted. For the first time in a long time, Aiden Winchester caught a tiny glimpse of happiness on the horizon.

Part Three

Mary hurried from the manor out into the darkness, the cool night air adding to her sharpness. Freedom invaded her thoughts, the freedom to make choices for the first time in a long time. After speaking with Aiden, she saw an extensive and happy future with Daniel. He was waiting for her at the edge of the woods. Mary could feel his presence as she ran closer to the tree where they had met on so many other occasions. Spots of bright light were scattered across the night sky and lit her path to the forest. Woodland creatures lurked within the foliage of the trees and others hid beneath bushes in a desperate effort to avoid an unpleasant attack. They never learned. Mary was faster than all of them and even though they hid, she could easily follow their scent. But tonight, there was a more important matter on her mind and the excitement overpowered her appetite.

Daniel sat on a branch in their tree, looking down at her, his smile as wicked as it been on the night they met. The moment was almost like something from a fairy tale and the ethereal couple were the main characters, destined to meet and get together to live happily ever after.

"I'm coming up," she said, leaping into the tree with ease.

"I've been waiting for you Mary," he said as she sat on the branch beside him. "I didn't think you were coming."

"I've been talking to Aiden. He knows about you and he wants you to come to the manor to meet him and his friend Lilia," she explained excitedly. "Come with me now Daniel. Come home and wait with me, we can stay in my room until it's time." Settled on the branch beside him, Mary waited for an answer, the night's silence, interrupted from time to time by a rustle of leaves or a scurry of a small creature, seemed to go on for eons while he sat there thinking, his concerned face revealing his thoughts.

"I'm not sure I'm ready," he told her, troubled by it. "I want to, but my willpower isn't what yours is and it's difficult. I haven't been shut up with a human for ten years building up my resistance. My sustenance comes from living people, not the forest creatures. Owls just don't do it for me." Daniel was mostly concerned with the possibility that Aiden may have seen him on the night of the attack. If Mary's brother recognised him, everything he had worked for would be lost.

"I can help you," she said resting her head on his shoulder. "You'll see, everything is going to work out for us from now on. We can be together, and you'll be protected by the thick outer walls of the manor. Don't you get it Daniel? This is what we both need, a home together."

"If it's what you want Mary. I'll come to your home and meet your brother and his guest, and I'll resist them with your help," he agreed. "There are things I need from my cave though, I have a little money stashed and if this doesn't work out, we'll need every penny we can get." If he could avoid meeting her brother he would. The only thing Daniel could think to do was leave the area. But it meant leaving her too and at the moment, he felt as though he needed her.

"Aiden and I have plenty of money and why wouldn't it work out? We only have to spend a little time with them, and then we can run off into the night and hunt while they spend time reading silly books and talking about wine or whatever they do," Mary said. "Trust me, I have faith in my brother."

He kissed her, and they made their way through the trees to the clearing which separated his world from hers. Mary took his hand as they approached the house and entered through the unlocked door at the rear of the home. The place was in darkness and the couple headed straight to her room, both of them listening to the sounds within the walls of the structure. The sound of Aiden breathing met their ears as Mary unlocked her bedroom door. She knew he was alone. They locked it behind them, and Daniel lay beside her as they waited, waited for morning, whispering quietly about the possibilities of their future together. Just before dawn, the couple slipped out of the room and down to the kitchen to prepare the beginning of Aiden's day.

"Why do you do this?" Daniel asked her as once again Mary prepared a meal for her brother.

The bacon crackled away in the pan as she put the kettle on for a cup of tea. After buttering the bread, Mary removed the frying pan from the heat and lay the hot bacon on its soft, buttery bed. A few squirts of the sauce were added and another slice of the buttered white bread, completing the breakfast sandwich. "If you're talking about breakfast," she said, "I do it because I love him. He's the only family I have left now that Mum and Dad are gone."

"Maybe things will change now he has someone else," Daniel said, watching her as she went through the motions of making the meal for the landowner. It felt as though Aiden was taking advantage of Mary and the best thing for them to do would be to leave. He needed to convince her. The less time they spent at the house with her brother, the better.

"Maybe," Mary agreed, "but until that happens, I'm all he has too. As shameful as I am, I'm still his sister and will remain so until the day he dies."

"I wouldn't say you're shameful, you're a beautiful girl who just happens to be immortal, you should embrace it Mary, it's not going to go away. Plus, things don't have to be this way you know, you could give him immortality."

The usual tray was on the table and Mary arranged it carefully with the sandwich, a cup of black tea, milk and sugar in their own china, the morning paper, and a napkin. Carefully she placed a teaspoon on the saucer beside the cup, and the tray was ready to be taken up to Aiden. It looked perfect. Just as it always was.

"That is totally out of the question. Aiden doesn't want to be a vampire. I know him. You should have seen the fear in his face, he's frightened by the thought of it. He couldn't cope like we do Daniel."

They left the kitchen and delivered the breakfast. Once again, behind the locked door of Mary's bedroom, they waited together.

********

The thought process that went through Aiden's head after the long overdue conversation with his sister, made it very difficult for him to sleep. He heard a downstairs door open, he heard them come up the back stairs and he heard the door to her room open and close. It gave him the creeps to think there were two of them just down the hall. He wondered about Daniel. What would he be like? He wondered if they would get along. He wondered if Mary would be accepting of Lilia. He wondered whether or not Lilia would freak out and go to the authorities. But most of all, he doubted whether the situation would really work at all. So many questions swirled around in his head. It didn't seem likely for them to co-exist, but he had to get past the fear and approach it positively. There was a lot at stake and although he didn't relish bringing Lilia into a situation that might be detrimental to her life, it was the only way to move forward. Exhaustion hit just before dawn and Aiden lapsed into a well needed sleep.

********

Lilia watched the sun rise from her room at the pub. Filling the sky with its golden light allowed her to see the manor clearly now and she knew exactly what she should be doing. Why did this have to be so hard? Why wasn't he being honest with her? If Aiden felt comfortable enough to sleep with her then he should be able to confide in her. Although the puzzle was complete in her mind, the situation was infuriating, and Lilia felt as though she was back to square one. The main reason she had made the journey here was to investigate the unusual occurrences and it seemed to lead to the Winchester Manor. He had invited her over, but put on a pretence and then hustled her out of the house with another lame excuse.

There was also the couple that she had seen near the house. The girl had entered the manor, so Lilia had no doubt that she had solved the puzzle of the missing Mary Winchester, but now Lilia wasn't entirely sure why she was hiding away. If she was a vampire and had been hidden in the manor all of this time, why had the killings stopped and then suddenly started again? And who was that bloke with her? That was the most perplexing question of all. There was a compelling need for her to know and she hoped that she hadn't ruined her chances of finding out. Only time would tell, but Lilia couldn't wait forever, if Aiden didn't come to her, then she would go to him, but it would be when he least expected.

********

Deprived from rest after tossing and turning for most of the night, Aiden awoke from a brief amount of sleep feeling less than refreshed. The smell of bacon greeted him and once again the sound of a door closing along the hall. He would go through the motions of the morning and then head over to The Cantering Filly. Aiden pictured Lilia in his mind as he ate his breakfast. She was the sole occupant of his thoughts when he showered and again when he was outside in the morning sun. Lilia Cooper, with her soft brown hair and her sensual fragrance. It was time to be honest with her. There would be no more secrets. Life would be just the way it should be and if she left, then he would forget her and move forward. There would be others.

After taking care of the morning schedule and eating a quick lunch, Aiden headed out. Lilia's car was parked outside the pub in the usual car space. He was hoping that she would be sitting at their table by the window sipping a drink waiting for him to walk through the door and when he opened the door and stepped inside, he was rewarded. Lilia sat by the window reading the paper. Aiden approached her cautiously and she put it down as he neared the table.

"Do you mind?" he asked referring to the empty chair.

"I guess not," Lilia said, feeling slightly relieved he had turned up and she didn't have to go chasing him again. She wasn't going to make it easy though.

There was resistance in her voice and Aiden knew why. It was obvious he had hurt her feelings. Apologising was familiar territory for him, he had apologised to his sister through the door a lot lately, but this was kind of different and he was slightly unsure how she would react.

"Please, let me apologise. I've treated you unfairly and I wouldn't be surprised if you never spoke to me again. For this I am sorry. But you must listen to me. There's a reason for it and I think it's time to tell you about the entire situation. Can you come to the manor later?" Aiden asked, not wanting it to sound too urgent, but important enough for Lilia to be interested. "I owe you an explanation."

"I was planning to leave the village and head off home tonight, but I'm intrigued by the Lord of the Manor's secrets. I accept your apology. What time would you like me to visit?" she asked, knowing very well what he was planning to reveal to her.

"I think around 6.30," he said smiling at her effort to keep the situation light." You can have dinner with me if you like."

"6.30 it is," she agreed. "Dinner sounds good. Are you sure you can't tell me now?"

"No, not here, I really must go and make something for this evening. There's shopping to do and the meal to prepare. I'll see you tonight," Aiden said, and once again left her sitting at the table in the corner of the bar.

********

Lilia watched him walk away closing the door behind him. She tore a page from the newspaper that she had been reading and folding it up, left the table and went to her room. Once again by herself, she reread the article that had caught her eye before Aiden had sat down. The body of an unknown traveller had been found in the forest not far from Crippling Bump. Another killing in the way that she was more than familiar with.

She pulled her case from inside the cupboard and opened it retrieving the scrapbook she carted around with her. Carefully, Lilia cut out the article and stuck it onto a blank page. The contents of the story were similar to all of the rest, but she needed more time to collect information and the invitation to the manor was just what she had been hoping for. Slowly, she leafed through the pages looking at the articles one by one. They all wore the same type of heading with the same type of story. The victims had been attacked, drained of blood and left for dead. Page after page of killings that made no sense, but Lilia knew, she knew what the cause was, and she knew she was closing in on the killer. If he was inviting her to the manor, the reason for it must have something to do with the way that Aiden had rushed off at dusk on more than one occasion and the reason he kept her at arm's length. Lilia was sure she was on the right track. Once again the same questions ran through her head. She felt slightly unnerved and confused at the same time, but nothing was certain in life and she was willing to take a chance.

At precisely 6.30, Lilia Cooper drove her car along the driveway of the Winchester estate. Looking up at the house as she pulled up, there was something about it, something unsettling that she hadn't noticed before and although eager to get to know more about Aiden's sister and her friend, she felt less than confident this time. Aiden had pushed her

away so often and now he was ready to tell all, and those apologies, he seemed to throw those around like rice at a wedding. It just didn't make sense for him to change his mind so suddenly, but here she was, ready to find out. Hopefully, they hadn't discovered her true mission and set a trap for her. But it was ludicrous to think like that, how could they know anything about her? She hadn't even given him her real name. Approaching the front door, she could smell the dinner cooking and there was music coming from somewhere. It was the sound of a piano. The door opened before she had the chance to knock.

"Hi," Aiden said, making her jump. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, I heard your car. Come in." He stood to the side as she entered the manor for the second time. He kissed her cheek and led her to the familiar parlour. On the small round table that had once showcased afternoon tea for two, sat a wine bottle and two glasses.

"Who's playing the piano?" she asked knowing very well that it must be his sister. Lilia knew Mary Winchester had been quite talented, she had read it in one of the many articles about the family.

"I'll get to that, but first let me pour you a drink," he offered and poured her a glass of red wine.

"Thank you," Lilia said taking the glass and clinked it against his. She felt uncomfortable, the situation seemed slightly bizarre. It was only the previous day he was trying to get rid of

her and now they were clinking glasses of wine. Lilia didn't quite know how to react. Taking a sip, she smiled hoping that he didn't sense her uneasiness.

"I hope you like roast beef and Yorkshire pudding," he said, sitting down on one of the chairs, gesturing for her to take a seat.

"It smells delicious. I miss home cooked meals, it's nice at the pub, and the food is enjoyable, but I can't stay forever," she told him, sitting down on the chair opposite him. "Eventually I'll have to return to London. Holidays don't last forever."

Aiden sipped his drink, upstairs the music stopped. Suddenly anxiety started to creep his way. He wondered what he had gotten himself into. There were so many things that could go wrong. It was too late now though. The evening would just have to play out, no matter what the consequences.

"Dinner will be served in the kitchen, I hope you don't mind, but that's where I eat my meals now," he explained. "I haven't used the dining room for a long time. Besides, the kitchen is a lot more informal."

"No, I don't mind at all. I like informal," she agreed following him from the room with her glass in her hand. They headed toward the kitchen.

For Aiden, the sight of the table set for two was more welcoming than he thought it would ever be and the food set out on the table was ready to be dished up. Two sets of everything greeted them, plates, cutlery, it was refreshing, and he almost felt normal for a second or two. The only mar in the evening was what was going to happen after the meal and it worried him.

********

"I can smell them," Daniel said as he paced the room anxiously. "Both of them, and it's making me nervous."

Mary sat at the piano and lifted her head ever so slightly to take a whiff of the odour of her brother and his friend. The delectable aroma aroused her, and her mouth watered slightly. She understood why Daniel was getting worried about the situation.

"I don't think I can do this Mary. It's a mistake and it will end in disaster."

"You can," she said trying to be supportive but getting slightly annoyed with his constant disbelief in himself. "I know you are apprehensive; I am too. But I'll be there to help you, and you will manage. It's ridiculous to think otherwise."

"I don't think you fully understand, it's difficult to explain," Daniel said. He sat on the end of her bed and stared at the floor wondering how on earth he had ended up in this predicament. If Aiden recognised him, the evening would end badly, and Mary would despise him. He may have to kill them all, even her.

"I do understand," she insisted, sitting beside him slipping her cold hand into his. "I once felt the same way. Living with Aiden has helped, although, sometimes the fragrance of his blood is really tempting. I suppose staying apart will have to continue, but you only have to restrain yourself tonight. Afterwards we can go back to the way it was before. Doors will be locked, and we'll rarely even meet."

"But we'll be prisoners, locked away day after day. I know living in a cave isn't appealing, but the freedom is priceless. I wouldn't expect you to stay. I thought we were going to leave and make a clean break, go somewhere and start over."

"Daniel, we'll be safe," she insisted. "Nobody knows we're here apart from Aiden and he trusts this woman. In turn, I have to trust what he tells me. My brother has kept this secret for years and I know he wouldn't do anything that might put my existence in jeopardy. Of course I want to leave and start a new life with you somewhere else, but at least give this a chance until we make some definite plans. Please, do it for me."

Daniel agreed, but it was only because of Mary. He had planned this for so long and in the few short weeks they had known each other a strong bond had formed, and he saw his eternity with her. But there was no way they could stay in the area much longer. Families had been wiped out and Daniel knew if he kept going, there would be no one left. Hunting was starting to get difficult and the longer they stayed in Crippling Bump, the harder it would be. They had to move away, or separate for a while, and the latter was not an option for him.

It was time for the immortals to make their way down the narrow back staircase. They had agreed to meet in the kitchen over dinner where two of them would eat and the other two would suffer. Mary hoped and prayed that Daniel didn't lose it and go straight for someone's jugular. This relationship was a means to an end, the end of her loneliness. It had to work out for them all, there was no other option.

********

Aiden and Lilia sat at the table. As he carved the roast beef, Lilia waited patiently for him to reveal his deep dark secret and explain why he had acted in such a strange way. If he didn't hurry up, she would blurt it out herself. Lilia started to feel anxious. Even so, nothing would ruin her plan, she had come too far, and failure wasn't a choice. If not tonight, then she would finish them tomorrow.

"There's somebody in the manor I want you meet. A family member that isn't what she used to be," Aiden told her as he piled the food on the plates. There was nothing neat about the presentation, Mary would have done a much better job, but he didn't want her to feel like a servant. Insulting his sister in front of their guests might be detrimental to his health. "Do you recall I told you about my parents being killed but didn't really say very much about my sister. Well, she survived the attack, but she's slightly different than the girl she was. The Mary that I knew growing up departed and a new Mary entered my life. I don't quite know what to say. My sister was transformed by the killers, and the killers were vampires. Lilia, my sister Mary is a vampire." Aiden watched her face as he revealed the news. Her expression never changed at all and he wondered what she was thinking. He thought she would have been at the very least a little shocked, but her face remained stony. Suddenly a smile grew, and Lilia burst out laughing.

"Aiden, I know you've been drinking, but do you really expect me to believe that?" she asked him, trying to mask her lack of surprise with comic disbelief. "Really? Your sister's a vampire? Do you think I was born yesterday?"

"No," he said smiling, "but I'm telling the truth Lilia. She's here in the house with her friend and he is a vampire too. I haven't met him, but keeping Mary's secret has stopped me from building any type of relationship, until now that is. I hope you understand. It was my sister who was playing the piano earlier. They're coming downstairs to see us, and I will finally meet her friend Daniel. I hope you can be a little understanding and resist running screaming from the house. Just remember, they have feelings too, and I'm talking about a family member here."

"I'll try, but I'm not a fan of vampires Aiden. Not that I've met any, but I've seen movies. I find them quite scary. Now probably isn't the time to tell you that, considering the situation," she said as she heard the quiet footsteps in the wall guessing that the door lead to a servant's staircase and Lilia knew they were approaching. Anger built inside her, but she remained composed enough to play out the charade.

Appearing in the doorway were the pale couple, Mary dressed in her well-worn clothing from a decade gone by and Daniel the romantic killer. Their skin as white as snow and their eyes fixed on the couple at the table in a disturbing manner made Aiden wonder if this had been the right thing to do. He stood to welcome his sister and her accomplice into the room, trying not to show how frightened he truly was.

"How do you do?" he asked Daniel, shaking the vampire's cold lifeless hand. The feel of the icy skin sent an involuntary shiver through him and he tried to pass it off as a cough. Embarrassed, Aiden smiled weakly hoping the vampire wasn't angry.

"Good, it's nice to finally meet you. Mary talks about you a lot," Daniel said trying to sound confident and not show his true feelings. For him it was almost as if he'd been coaxed into a trap and he felt uneasy in the presence of Aiden and his woman.

The introductions continued, and the two couples exchanged pleasantries. But as soon as Lilia saw Daniel's face, she knew him. Destiny had brought them together once more but under different circumstances. Finally, puzzle pieces clicked together to form the picture.

Daniel smiled his usual wicked smile and stared at Lilia. The woman that he'd come across twice before in the past few weeks, there was something vaguely familiar about her, but he wasn't sure what. Feeling perplexed, Daniel looked away and thought hard. That face, where had he seen that face before.

Mary stood beside her mate. Euphoria spread though her body as she eyed the scene. Her brother and her new friend exchanging pleasantries thrilled her and she knew that her future would be better.

"This is difficult for me," Daniel explained staring at the woman he had just met. "I'm not used to being in the presence of, well, anyone mortal unless they're my supper."

"We should go out," Mary said quickly, sensing the others were uncomfortable with the situation. "Let's go Daniel."

"It was nice meeting you both," Lilia said as hatred smouldered inside. "I'm sure we'll see each other again." The result of the next meeting would be in Lilia's favour though. She intended to make these two pay for all the years of hurt she had endured.

********

With that they left. Out of the manor and away from temptation, Mary and Daniel both felt relieved about putting some space between them and the other couple.

The meeting had been slightly less difficult than Daniel had first though, but still hard. "I'm glad we're out of there," he told her honestly. The situation had felt kind of forced and he had a hunch it wouldn't get any easier for any of them. At least her brother hadn't recognised him. Or so it seemed. "It was tough Mary."

Mary hadn't been tempted at all. All she cared about was Daniel at the moment. She was in love with him and thankful he was there. "You managed though and that's important to me. I need you Daniel. I'm not staying in that house with those two. It would be unbearable," she told him. "Can you imagine them getting all romantic and me just being the pianist?"

"We should go then. Let's just leave. We can go tonight and just put this whole place behind us. I can show you how to exist as a vampire in an everyday society," he told her. "There's something else you need to know Mary," Daniel said wondering how to approach the subject.

"What is it?" she asked.

He stared at her face. She was beautiful, and he thought about the woman they had both met that evening. Not sure if he wanted to poison Mary's mind against her, he changed his story. "I get the urge to travel every now and then," Daniel told her. "There may be times when I just take off into the night. Can you handle that, me being away for days on end?"

"I can come with you. It will be like one continuous adventure and better than being a shut in like I have for the past ten years. If you really want me to leave my brother and my childhood home, you have to include me in everything. Every thought, every action and every adventure," Mary insisted.

"It's good to hear you say that. I want you by my side. There's something else," he said as he put his arms around her and held her close. "I'm not sure what to think about this, but I know I've seen Lilia before. I definitely recognise her from somewhere. Twice in the past few weeks in this area, I saw her sniffing around nearby crime scenes that I happened to be at, but I'm sure I know her from another time and place. I just can't seem to recall when and where."

"What are you talking about, do you think she's really some sort of detective?" she asked. "Should we warn Aiden? What if she's after us? Why on earth would anybody be poking around crime scenes? What were you doing there?"

"I thought that I might be able to move from the cave to an empty house. Plus, that's where I got the things that I gave you the other night. I'm not sure why she would be there though, and I have no idea what or who she is. I definitely know her face though," he said. "I'm trying to remember when and where I've seen her before, but I can't. We should definitely let your brother know. I could be wrong Mary, but she seems so familiar and she may be a danger to us. But let's not panic. I know Lilia is no match, but I don't want it to come to that. If anything happened to her, your brother could be implicated."

"Okay, I'll speak to Aiden, but try to remember where you've seen her before the last few weeks. As for being dangerous, I know she's not much of a threat, but violence would be a last resort. Like you, I don't want to incriminate my brother at all. If push comes to shove we can leave Crippling Bump sooner than I wanted. Staying doesn't matter anymore now I know we have each other. The money and style of living doesn't mean a thing, all that matters is everything's going to be fantastic from now on," she whispered. "We'll be together forever Daniel. Just me and you."

********

In the kitchen of the manor, Lilia and Aiden ate their meals, both deep in thought. The bizarre introduction had left them both wondering different things.

"So that's why you rushed off every evening?" she asked pushing her food around the plate with her fork absently. Trying not to reveal what she was really thinking and feeling. Enjoying the meal, although slightly tainted by the news, she continued eating waiting for Aiden's reply.

"Yes and no. I don't really like to stay out after dark. There have been loads of strange happenings around here and I didn't want to end up like my parents or my sister for that matter. It had nothing to do with how I felt about you, but I did try to keep Mary a secret. If she hadn't met this Daniel fellow we wouldn't be sitting here having this conversation. I felt obligated to her after the attack, as if I had to protect her," he admitted. "I felt as though I had let her down and this whole situation was somehow my fault. I know it wasn't, but I couldn't help feeling that way."

There were so many ways she could approach this, but Lillia didn't want to cause any suspicion so she carried on with her pseudo disbelief. "This is difficult for me to come to terms with. I thought you were hiding something, but vampires? A wife would have been easier to deal with. Even when you told me, I didn't really believe you. But now I know, I'm kind of numb from it all. I always assumed they were a myth, and just made up to frighten people," she lied, hoping that her charade was convincing enough to fool him. "I feel as

though I'm in the middle of some sort of strange dream. This sort of changes things Aiden. I need time to come to terms with the situation. It's so surreal. I do like you and I'd like to really get to know you properly and spend more time with you than I have, but I'm not sure whether I feel safe. I'm going to be at the pub for a few more days at least, and if you want to see me, you know where I am, but I'm not sure I want to spend much time here with you. It's far too dangerous and something I have to give more thought to. Thank you for dinner. It's been enlightening."

Lilia didn't finish her meal, she just got up leaving Aiden sitting at the table dumbfounded. In her car on the way back to the pub, Mary and Daniel dominated her thoughts. They were the couple she had seen on that morning a few days before. She knew his face, but from a long time ago and she had already matched it with one that was filed in her memory. Back at The Cantering Filly she hunted through some papers she carried with her, searching for the photo of the vampire she had met earlier in the evening and finally she found it. There was no doubt about it, it was him, and as Lilia fell asleep, she shed a silent tear.

********

Aiden cleared away the leftover food and cleaned the kitchen. He hadn't done anything like this for years and regretted not replacing the dishwasher. If he was left to his own devices and his sister went away, he would have to employ somebody to do it for him.

Tonight was just a way of trying to keep his mind off the evening and the events which had occurred. He had gone over the plan several times in his head and still didn't understand why she had left so suddenly. Lilia had wanted to come to the manor and spend more time with him and the only way that it could happen was to introduce his sister to her so that there wouldn't be any secrets. But the moment he had been completely honest, she had pulled away. Women, they changed their minds so quickly and Aiden hadn't spent enough time around them to understand the complexities of female thinking. He wished his dad was around to help him.

When the stainless-steel sink sparkled, and the kitchen was in order, Aiden went straight to his beloved library. The door was still open. It felt strange not to lock it, but Mary knew he had been gathering information from the novels he collected and although it all seemed fruitless now, he had enjoyed it. The books in their resting places now lay dormant and untouched. Maybe he should donate them all back to the charity shop. They could always be purchased again if necessary. For some reason, it felt like the end of an era. But he was still alone and hopefully Lilia would stick around for a little while longer. Aiden thought about the difficulties he had faced introducing her to Mary. If Lilia decided she couldn't cope with the situation and returned to London, the whole charade would start again. He couldn't see himself spending the rest of his life with her, but the one night they spent together had been enjoyable. Even so, he didn't want to face the same problems every time he met somebody new. Aiden wondered how many more times he would have to put on an act for the sake of his family.

Climbing the stairs, he felt drained and his feet heavy, as if the ordeal had added extra weight instead of removing it. The thoughts that had possessed his mind over the past few weeks had come to a point and the release had left Aiden exhausted. His sister was happy with her new love and perhaps they would leave the manor and make a life elsewhere. Lilia was another story. He couldn't make her stay. Aiden would talk to her tomorrow. Tonight a decent night's sleep was in order.

********

"I'm not sure it's a good idea for me to come to the manor and stay with you until we really figure out what's going on," Daniel said as dawn approached. "I'll head back to the cave for the day and try to clear my thoughts. I'd also like to spend a little time alone and see if I can remember where I've met Lilia and maybe you should try to get Aiden alone, so you can talk to him. But as long as she's around, you should keep your door locked. I'm not sure I trust that woman."

Mary frowned, but it did make sense for him to try to work it out and they would have plenty of time together when the dust had settled. "I guess you're right, I barely know my brother and I really would like some bonding time. I'm not sure how he's going to take what I say about Lilia though. It's been years since I just hung out with Aiden and I don't really know him anymore. But it's time to make some serious plans and if his include Lilia then he needs to know what's been going on. I don't like the idea of you sitting alone in that empty cave thinking about another girl, but I agree you need to at least try to figure out where you've seen her before. I'll meet you here again tonight. I can't wait Daniel, it's so great, us meeting by chance and everything working out the way it has. I'll see you later," she said.

Waiting until Mary left, Daniel jumped down from where he rested and headed back to the cave. In the early light of the morning, he lay on his back with his hands behind his head looking into the air at the image he stored inside his mind. He had killed many and some in the presence of others, if Lilia had been a witness to one of his heinous crimes, there may be some problems living under the same roof. He would definitely have to think about making a future for him and Mary elsewhere. Although, Lilia's face didn't seem to be related to a killing, but there was something oddly familiar about her. At least Aiden didn't seem to know him. Daniel wondered where he had been during the attack on his family and exactly what he had seen. Now though, his focus was trying to recall how he knew the woman he had met at Winchester Manor.

********

Mary fried the bacon for her brother's breakfast sandwich, but today, he sat at the table reading the paper instead of waiting behind a locked door. For an onlooker, the scene was quite regular, apart from the closed curtains. That was one thing they might not be able to

change, at least on the lower level of the house. Mary would have to stay out of sight for the foreseeable future to protect her from what might be an angry lynch mob looking for revenge.

"Thanks for making my breakfast, and not just today Mary. I know it hasn't been easy for you all these years and I'm sorry if you felt as though I didn't care about the way things were, but you must know that it bothered me too. I kept looking for a way out, but there just didn't seem to be one," Aiden explained as he sipped his tea. "Every morning I would search the paper for grisly crimes and wonder if you were responsible for them. There was also the fear of something bad happening to you. Or you running off with some sort of vampire gang bent on terrorising the planet. So much went through my head and I was afraid to ask you just in case I made things worse. I'd listen in the mornings for a sound coming from the kitchen so that I'd know you were safe, and believe me the appearance of a bacon sandwich and a pot of tea at the bedroom door in the morning was very comforting to me in more than ways than one."

Mary poured her brother a cup of tea. After all of the years that had passed, he still liked it the same way. "I know you appreciate everything I've done for you," Mary said, sitting down at the table with him. "It's been difficult for me too. I've missed ten years of my life and the loneliness has been excruciating, I'm guessing it must have been the same for you. I don't know how the world works now. My season came and went without so much as one of the grand events that would have introduced me into society. There were times when I just wanted somebody to talk to, and not just through the door Aiden. I felt as though my existence was wasted on a great deal of nothing. I miss Mum and Dad but most of all, I miss you and all of the fun we had before the incident. It's time for me to start living again, or so to speak. I can't stay up there in my bedroom for ever playing that piano. It must drive you crazy."

"Well, I'm not going to pretend the constant playing of the same bloody song didn't annoy me just a little, but I know you love music and the piano was a constant reminder we once had parents as it was a gift from them. I haven't heard you play as much lately though. Is the reason Daniel?" he asked her as he finished the sandwich and wiped his mouth on the napkin.

Mary smiled to herself when she thought about Daniel. "Partly, he gave me an MP3 player. He stole it from somewhere. I don't particularly like theft, but it's the thought that counts, isn't it? The music loaded on it is okay. He also gave me a magazine and I hadn't realised how out of touch I was. I want to know that world again, even if it means moving away from here and starting over. I still dress like a teenager and I'd like to add a little more sophistication to my wardrobe. Would you help us, you know, financially?" Mary asked him. "I don't fancy becoming a criminal."

"Of course, if that's what you want, I'll help you. There's nothing I want more than for both of us to be happy and if that's what it takes, then so be it. There's some cash here in the house I can give you for a start. But I can get you some more," Aiden agreed feeling slightly relieved she was thinking of heading off and making a new life elsewhere, although, he would never tell her. "There's one more thing I have to tell you Mary."

"Go on," she said feeling intrigued.

"I hate cabbage," he confessed. "I only ate it because Mum and Dad always taught us not to waste food."

Feeling relieved he wasn't going to spring something else on her, Mary relaxed. "That's your big secret," she said giggling. "Since we're sitting here spilling our guts, there's something else I need to tell you Aiden. It's about Lilia."

Aiden looked into her sister's eyes. Her facial expression suddenly showed a look of concern he could read like one of his many books. He waited for her to speak again.

"Daniel knows her from somewhere. He's not sure where. He's seen her twice in the past few weeks too. Both times she was snooping around the homes where killings had occurred. We were wondering whether she has some sort of ulterior motive. I mean, what do you really know about her? Do you think she might be some sort of detective?"

"Lilia told me she's a vet," he said feeling slightly confused but also concerned. "Maybe it's a coincidence she was wandering around those areas, although, who on earth would be interested in places where families had been wiped out? I guess we'll just have to keep our wits about us. I don't think she's going to be harmful to you or Daniel, but who knows. She kind of nagged me into inviting her here, but I thought it was because of the architecture of our home."

"Please, be careful Aiden, it may be more than just a coincidence."

"I will be and until we know what's going on properly, you guys should stay out of her way," Aiden insisted. "I'm going to pay her a visit after breakfast, so I'll see if I can get some information out of her."

The table was cleared, and the kitchen put straight. Aiden headed upstairs for a shower. Now things were different, he planned to get a new boiler. It was almost like Christmas had come early. Times were changing, and he saw a future where he would be able to wine and dine any woman he liked. He would get professional decorators in and transform the mausoleum of the past to a present day more modern home and perhaps eventually start a family. He didn't relish the thought of his sister leaving, but it might be the only way to change things permanently.

The cold shower didn't bother him at all that morning. It brought with it hope and freedom and after dressing, he headed for The Cantering Filly to find Lilia. The

conversation he had with his sister that morning was slightly disturbing though. The thought that Lilia might be lying to him wasn't the best news, but on the other hand, knowing he was free to live a normal life was, and that was the real goal.

********

Mary once again browsed the downstairs rooms of the house, but this time she was smiling as she thought of the road ahead. The library was unlocked, and she entered free to read anything she pleased. Running her hand along the books on the shelves, she wondered if Aiden would ever have tried any of the stupid things in the idiotic vampire stories he had collected. Plucking one from its home, she sat on the chesterfield sofa where her brother had sat many a time and opened the book. The smell of knowledge reached her keen nose and she thought of her father. Mary began to read. She read page after page of the ludicrous story and became consumed with the characters and their lives. There were silly lies and ridiculous notions, but all the same the book was entertaining, and she had entered into the world of Aiden. They now shared a common activity as they had in the past and Mary basked in the moment.

********

Lilia admired the woman in the mirror, she was strong, independent, and full of confidence. Her face had changed a lot over the years. The last time she had seen Daniel, she had been so much younger. There was no way he would know who she was. Lilia

would never forget him though. She thought about all of those nights of research, sitting alone wondering why things were the way they were, and all of a sudden, he had walked into her life again. Now a story from her past was about to come to a close. There was finally a plot towards a happier ending. It was time to get the revenge for the years of torment and sadness he had inflicted.

Aiden couldn't be told. It would ruin her plans. She would keep him in the dark. As for falling for the Lord of Winchester Manor, now the truth had come to the surface, it was out of the question. After the fact, he wouldn't want her anyway. For now, she would maintain the pretence and keep stringing him along until the deed was done.

********

Aiden whistled a different tune as he headed for the pub that morning. It wasn't the depressing sad song of the past, it was a new one he thought up all by himself. He would call it, The Symphony of Aiden.

He couldn't wait to see Lilia although there was a feeling of dread in his stomach. Not knowing why she had been snooping around the crime scenes injected fear into his heart, but there was no time like the present to go and speak to her. The blue mini was still outside the pub and the omen was promising. That one symbol showed him she might want to hang around and get to know him more. After all, there was no longer anything to hide. Like the unlocked library, his life was now open and on display and he wanted to share it. He met her as she was coming out of the building.

"Are you going somewhere?" he asked her as he approached.

"Actually, I was coming to see you," she said smiling. "I wanted to apologise for running out on you yesterday. It was extremely rude of me. The facts don't change you, you're still the same person. Aiden I'm sorry and if you'll forgive me, I'd like to get to know your sister. I'm sure, behind the pointy teeth and the strange appetite, she's as intriguing as her brother."

Slightly suspicious of Lillia's sudden change of heart, he welcomed the news anyway. "You're absolutely right. Mary is a nice person, if you'll allow me to call her a person, and I think you could help her. Can we walk and talk?" Together, they walked along the deserted high street of the village. "The problem is Mary has been locked away from the world for ten long years and there have been a lot of changes. Mary hasn't seen many of them at all. Her friend Daniel managed to secure an MP3 player with current music on it and a fashion magazine for her, but she needs more than that to bring her up to date. I'll pay for everything of course, but would you mind going shopping with me? I know Mary would appreciate the gesture."

"Are you kidding? Aiden, I love shopping, although there doesn't seem to be much for her here," Lilia said looking along the array of shops. "We might have to drive to another village."

"I agree, the clothing they sell in this village is limited and I'm not sure that Mary would like any of it. She still wears the same stuff she wore before the night of the attack, so I know what kind of look she likes, but you might want to choose some more mature clothing for her too. Something she can wear out without drawing too much attention, if that's okay with you of course," he said. "I'll drive, I know just the place to go."

"So, we're going to turn her from vampire to glampire, right?" Lilia asked him, smiling on the outside, but boiling on the inside, wondering why Aiden would spend money on a monster who made other people's lives miserable.

"I guess so, yes." Aiden laughed at her joke. It was a relief to find Lilia so receptive to the idea, but it might have just been the thought of going shopping. Still fearful of the conversation he had with his sister, he would still have to keep his guard up, but it didn't stop him from feeling just a little bit happy.

An afternoon of shopping with Aiden, under bright florescent lights, surrounded by the fragrance of warm sugar from cake shops and donut carts, was just the opportunity Lilia was looking for to spend time with him away from the manor and the influence of his conniving murderous sister and her evil friend. As they sat in a café sipping tea and eating fruit scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, she wondered whether she should tell him about Sam and the way he died.

"Is there something wrong," he asked sensing she was feeling uneasy. Aiden silently questioned the information he had received about Lilia. Mary had warned him to be cautious and he wondered if Lilia was thinking about those places and the way the murders had been committed. He hoped there wasn't an ulterior motive for her getting to know him.

Serenaded by the buzz of chatter and clinking cups and saucers, the two sat in silence for the moment. Both wondering what the other was thinking. The artificial illumination of the shopping centre oozed in through the windows of the café bathing them both in glorious light. But neither could see into the other's mind.

"No, it's nothing. I'm just still a little dumbfounded about your sister and her friend. I never knew these creatures existed. I always thought vampires were made up for scary movies and books, to frighten the hell out of people. I had no idea that they might be among us and it's kind of put me on edge. It's going to take me a while to come to grips with it." Once again Lilia lied to him staring into the half full cup of hot milky tea. Telling him about Sam wasn't really an option. Aiden might guess what she was really up to. "Is that why you read those books?"

"That's exactly why I read those books. My father always told me knowledge comes from reading. So after the attack, I started reading vampire novels. I have so many and they're all so brutal. I'm not sure I could do any of the things I have discovered, to my sister, but it was worth reading them. Just in case. Now she tells me most of the stuff in novels and movies is wrong and the vampire can walk among us during the day. Garlic is for cooking and she's not frightened by the sight of a crucifix. Her reflection can be seen in a mirror and as for the holy water, unless you boil it in the kettle, it won't burn at all. She's not the wicked witch from The Wizard of Oz so it won't melt her, she's a vampire. So, all of the knowledge I've gained over the years is almost useless," Aiden explained.

"It's funny really, when I saw you with the novel in the charity shop, it never occurred to me you were researching anything. I guess you must have been slightly annoyed with me after my comment about your taste in used literature. I had no idea what you were going through. It must have been difficult for you all these years," she said, once again feeling the resentment towards him and his sister growing. Lilia wasn't interested in his Lordship's rubbish, he was harbouring killers and the more time she spent with Aiden, the more her dislike towards what he was doing grew. He was now just a reminder of the horrors in her past, the events she couldn't forget and let go of. Now it was her turn for revenge, and she knew exactly what to do, but unlike Aiden, Lilia had the correct knowledge to pull it off. "I wonder what other creatures are out there I don't know about."

"What, like werewolves and zombies?" Aiden asked in between sips of his tea.

"Exactly like that," she answered, lowering her voice. "If vampires exist, they might too. Your sister's friend might know some."

"We can ask him later. I just hope Mary likes the stuff that we're getting for her today."

A small fortune was spent on Mary Winchester that afternoon. From the clothes and shoes to cosmetics and accessories, Aiden went to town and spared no expense. He bought fashion magazines and a few books he thought Mary might be interested in. It didn't make up for her ten years of seclusion, but it was a start. As far as he was concerned, there was no amount of money that could buy what Mary had missed, but he was looking forward to helping make her future better. Obligingly, Lilia had chosen most of the outfits. Aiden didn't have a clue about shopping for women. He just hoped the clothes that had been picked out fit his sister. It might help them get to know each other a little too and although he was wary of Lilia, it would be nice for Mary to finally have a decent conversation with another woman. Lilia could help turn his sixteen-year-old sister into a sophisticated more mature being. Revamp her, figuratively.

********

When Daniel arrived back at the manor, he was relieved to find Mary alone. The warm bloody stench still lingered, but he was accustomed to the lingering smell of the living from moving through cities and knew there was an end in sight. If they were going to set up home together elsewhere, he would have to learn to fully cope. "I'm so glad you're here by yourself," he said as he stood in the doorway to the library watching her read. The electric light in the centre of the ceiling shone down on her like a spotlight, making her the star of the drab brown library. Her beauty radiated in competition with the brilliance, easily out-shining the brightness of the bulbs.

"If I hadn't sensed you coming, you would have startled me," Mary said looking up smiling at him.

Daniel handed her a bunch of roses still in bud. "For you my Lady," he said bowing slightly.

"They're beautiful," Mary said, taking the flowers from him and holding them under her nose. A strong sensual bouquet drifted from the petals. "Thank you Daniel. I'll find a vase for them." Mary left the library and returned soon after with a crystal vase filled with water. "This was my mothers." Arranging the flowers nicely, she turned to Daniel who seemed to be preoccupied with something else.

"Would you look at this," he exclaimed scanning the shelves of horror novels with his supernatural sight. "Why on earth has he got all of these books about vampires?"

"I think he was looking for a way to defend himself against me Daniel. I don't think he would have ever tried to hammer a sharp wooden instrument through my chest, but desperate times call for desperate measures. If I had attacked Aiden, he might have tried to ward me off with a bunch of garlic or a crucifix," Mary explained.

The couple laughed together at the ridiculous notion and Daniel continued to peruse row after row of literature, taking the odd book from the shelf, reading the blurb on the back, and then returning it to its place. All of them were black in colour making the vampire out to be a dark creature. The concept was cliché.

"Come and sit down here with me," Mary invited, patting the leather of the sofa next to her.

He sat beside her and looked into her eyes. Daniel felt as though he could sit there with her forever, as if this was his whole world and nothing else existed. Years could pass by without them seeing a single being and it wouldn't bother him. It was as if the library had suddenly become his cavern of comfort and nothing would ever change the way he felt.

"Did you figure out where you met Lilia?" Mary asked him, closing the book she was reading and setting it down on the sofa. She was feeling slightly anxious about the woman Aiden had introduced them to and eager to know what she was really up to.

"No, I don't think I've ever met her, it's just her face, it's so familiar," he answered with a puzzled look. "I wish I could work it out though, it's starting to do my head in."

"Aiden told me she's from London and you lived in London for a long time so it's possible you've seen her about or maybe bumped into her in the street, isn't it? Or maybe you took her picture. Didn't you have a photography business?"

Daniel thought. "Yes, but I don't think that's it. Also, there are millions of people in London Mary. It's not likely I ever bumped into her in the street and if I did, I don't think I'd remember her. Even if she lived in the same area as me, we probably wouldn't have even noticed each other. I think she reminds me of somebody else I know, but I can't remember who. I just hope she wasn't a witness to a late-night snack I had. You would reckon with the senses vampires have my memory would be something I could rely on. I wonder what I'll be like after a century has passed."

That one sentence shocked them both. To think they would still be exactly the same as they were on that very day in another hundred years, was kind of frightening but exciting at the same time. They sat in silence just appreciating what it meant to be immortal and how time no longer mattered. It would never run out. The chiming of the grandfather clock that stood in the library as a reminder of the hour meant nothing and if it stopped, neither would ever be bothered.

********

When Aiden and Lillia returned from their afternoon of shopping, Mary and Daniel had almost finished preparing the evening meal. Unsure whether or not Lilia would be joining her brother, Mary had cooked double the amount, just in case. It was one of the tasks she wasn't willing to let go of, not yet, and although it wasn't particularly dignified to be preparing meals for your sibling when you don't eat anything yourself, she still enjoyed it.

Having Daniel by her side made the task even more enjoyable. He knew his way around a kitchen and had some really good ideas to add flavour.

"I have some new things for you, Lilia helped me pick them out. I hope everything fits, but if not, we can return and exchange them for the right size," Aiden explained. Putting all of the bags down.

"I'll try everything on then," Mary said as she looked at the amount of store shopping bags on the kitchen floor. "How much stuff did you buy?"

"Not enough," Aiden laughed. "According to Lilia a girl can never have too many shoes or clothes or makeup or accessories."

"She's right," Mary agreed, smiling at both of them feeling excited about the new wardrobe. It had been a long time since anybody had bought her anything new. A wave of emotion washed over her as she recalled shopping trips with her mother.

"Maybe I can give you some help. An opinion on how things look," Lilia offered, keeping up the acting. She didn't fancy spending any time alone with Mary, but if it helped to fool them into thinking she was okay with the situation, then Lilia was willing to make the sacrifice.

"Okay then," Mary said, as Lillia helped her with the bags. She didn't particularly want to spend time just with her, but it would give her brother a chance to get to know Daniel and

that was what she wanted the most. If Lilia was some sort of vampire hunter, Mary would make short work of her. "Another opinion is always good, especially when it comes to the way clothing looks. It's been so long since I got anything new."

Upstairs Mary commenced trying on the new outfits that had been chosen for her by the other woman. Lilia sat on the padded piano stool and flicked through the magazine provided by Daniel a few days earlier.

"Are you in love with my brother?" Mary asked casually as she admired her new look in the mirror.

"I do care about him, I'm not sure if it's love, but I'd certainly like to spend more time getting to know him. That dress looks great on you. Green makes your eyes pop."

Mary agreed with Lilia and was thankful her brother had taken a woman to help him with the shopping. "Thanks, it's kind of weird having your brother pick out a wardrobe of clothes for you. It's been difficult for me. I've missed out on so much. It's been such a long time since I even wore a pair of shoes. I just run around without them."

"Wow, that's kind of weird. I guess it doesn't bother you," Lilia said, pretending to care. The situation was so annoying. All Lilia really wanted to do was lop of this demon's head.

"Aiden has missed out on a lot too and he deserves to be happy, just as much as me. He's such a good brother getting me all of this. I just wanted you to know that," Mary said sitting on the end of the bed and rummaging through some bags of accessories her brother had purchased. She pulled out a long string of beads thinking the tacky synthetic necklace was perfect to add a little spark to the dress. "What's this?" Mary asked as she sifted through the makeup.

Her attention turned to what the vampire was referring to. "That is eyeliner and a brush. Here let me do your makeup. I'll show you how to apply it. We don't want you out there looking like a hot mess," Lilia explained. "We have to wet the brush to paint it on. I picked out a contouring kit and some shadows too. I'll show you how to use the kit."

"Oh, I've only ever used a pencil or the liquid eyeliner. But my make-up ran out years ago and I didn't have anybody to get me any, so I've just been running around with a naked face, just like my feet. But, back to my brother, do you like him?" Mary asked doing her best to ignore Lilia's delicious aroma. There wasn't much space between them, and it was almost excruciating. The temptation was overwhelming, and Mary found it difficult to restrain herself. She wondered how Daniel was coping alone in the kitchen with Aiden. Secretly she prayed he could curb his appetite.

"Aiden's okay," Lilia explained. "Look in the mirror. I didn't realise you could actually see your reflection until now."

"Wow, I look so much more grown up," Mary said admiring her new look.

"Do you like it?" Lilia asked.

"Are you kidding? I love it," Mary told her. "I have so much to learn. I don't think Aiden would be able to help me with stuff like this, so thanks."

"It's not so difficult. I'm sure that in time you'll catch up with everything you've missed," Lilia said as she turned and lifted the lid on the piano keyboard, slowly she pressed one of the keys. "You play of course."

"Yes," Mary said as she sat down on the piano stool and placed her hands on the keys. "I love the piano, I always have."

Lilia listened as Mary played a song, her fingers tripping sensuously over the keys developing an exquisite sound. It was almost hypnotic, and Lilia was slightly disappointed to think talent like Mary's had been locked away and not shared with the rest of the world. For a moment, she felt sorry for the girl, but reality jolted her out of it as she remembered her purpose for being there at that time. "You're very good."

"My father taught me that song. I started learning when I was just a little girl and since we lost Mum and Dad, I've had a lot of time to practice," Mary explained as she stopped and turned to look at the other woman. For a moment, there was a strange connection between

the two. Lilia's expression was oddly familiar, and Mary felt as though she had seen it before, but she was unsure where.

"I can imagine, well, to a certain extent. Staying locked away in here for all this time must have been awful. But if it's alright with you, there's something I'd like to ask you," Lilia said. "Can you turn into a bat?"

"That's your question, of all the things you could have asked me, you want to know if I can turn into a bat," Mary said smiling. She didn't believe that was the only question Lilia had for her, but she played along. "Truth be told, I can turn into any animal I want to. I did tell Aiden I could pretend to be the family cat and sit on your lap when you came to visit. He tells me you're a vet and you live in London. That must be a really rewarding profession and such an exciting city to live in. I can't imagine what you're doing holidaying in Crippling Bump though. There's not really very much to do in these parts."

"My work is very rewarding," Lilia told her, feeling slightly on edge now. She wondered where this conversation was going. "I could never resist a creature in distress and Crippling Bump isn't such a bad place. I've spent a bit of time looking around the area, it's inexpensive and very quiet and peaceful. It seems surreal to be in the same room as a vampire and not be frightened, but somehow, I really trust you. I know you've been locked away for a long time but if you can change into anything you like, why don't you change into a bird and travel the world? That's what I'd do."

"I never really thought about it like that. I kind of slipped into victim mode as soon as it happened, and I've been that way since, until I met Daniel. He's so cool and he's like me so I don't have to stay hidden away. As for you, I must confess when Aiden first started seeing you I was jealous, but I think you came along just at the right time. Do you plan to stick around for a while? When do your holidays finish?" she asked, looking at the cover of one of the magazines Aiden had bought her during his shopping spree.

"Your brother's a nice guy, but my heart belongs to London and I really have to return soon," Lillia answered absently thinking about Daniel and the pain he had injected into her life. "Wait, I thought you rarely came out of your room, how did you know he was seeing me?"

"He came home wearing you, or your fragrance I should say," Mary answered looking straight at Lilia. "I didn't know it was you, I knew he was spending time with someone," she explained. "So, when you say, he's a nice guy and you like him, but your heart belongs to London, do you like him enough to change your lifestyle and uproot to Crippling Bump for him?" She waited for a reply to her question. It was slightly disturbing to think they had revealed a long-term family secret to somebody who was just passing through and didn't intend on sticking around.

"I changed my life for someone once and things turned out to be bitterly disappointing. I don't really like to talk about it and doing it again isn't something I'd really thought about

until now, but it's not totally out of the question. I'm not the type of person who would deliberately set out to hurt somebody though. I've had relationships that have ended badly before. So now I'm just a little more cautious. I could wear my heart on my sleeve, but I prefer to be a little more guarded," Lilia explained. "As for sticking around, I have a life elsewhere and I'm not going to uproot and move somewhere unless I'm sure it will work out. Like I said though, it's not totally out of the question."

"Look, I have to admit I didn't want my brother to start a relationship, but, not totally out of the question, just won't do, I need to know you at least see yourself sticking with it for a while and giving him a chance," Mary told her. "Aiden is a nice person and I love him a lot. I need to know he's not going to be lonely if Daniel and I decide to leave. He's been by himself for so long now and he deserves a better life."

"Firstly, it's none of your business whether or not I stick around, and secondly, these things take time and I won't be forced into a relationship with anybody just because you want to have one of your own and you're feeling just a trifle guilty about abandoning your brother after he's protected you all of these years," Lilia said, and stormed out of the room.

Mary stared after her, thinking she might have blown it for her brother. Aiden was a Lord and Lilia was a vet, they weren't even in the same league. Perhaps her brother should forget about her and start looking around for someone with a better standing in society. Once again she admired her look in the mirror and continued trying on her new clothes.

********

Aiden carried on with the evening meal while Lilia accompanied his sister upstairs. He felt slightly uneasy about being alone with Daniel, but he tried not to show it. Aiden wondered if vampires could smell fear.

"I've never met a woman who didn't like to try on clothes," Daniel said, sitting at the table while Aiden finished cooking the meal. He eyed him suspiciously wondering if Lord Winchester had any idea he was responsible for the death of his parents.

"Well, my sister isn't really a woman, she's actually still a sixteen-year-old girl and she's been locked away for ten years, so today would be quite exciting for her," Aiden said, adding salt to the pasta sauce. Stirring the pot a little he turned to face the vampire. "What I really want to know is how much you like my sister and how you plan to look after her with no visible means of support."

"Just because I don't have some big fancy manor house with a yard full of bunnies, it doesn't mean I can't look after your sister. There's always a way if you look hard enough," Daniel told him, feeling slightly angry with Aiden's snobbish attitude. "Besides, we have very strong feelings for each other and that's really all that matters, isn't it?" Didn't this guy realise how dangerous the situation was? Daniel wondered whether or not Aiden was trying to piss him off on purpose. As anger rose inside of him, he clenched his fists under the table, trying hard to control the rage that was coming to the surface. The yellowed walls closed in around him and he felt trapped, like a rabbit in a snare. It felt like a do or die situation and although Daniel was the stronger of the two, he knew springing an attack would be his downfall.

"I don't know, to be honest I've only ever had feelings for my family, but sometimes it's not quite enough. Where are you going to live? I mean you're welcome here, but I can imagine Mary will want to go somewhere nobody knows her, so she can walk around outside during the day. How do suppose you are going to be able to get a place to live in? Do you have any money?"

"I can get it," Daniel said, smiling in his wicked way. "Don't underestimate me Aiden, my behaviours may not be particularly dignified, but they suffice, and they will for your sister too. You see my Lord, my ways are traditional and us English vampires, we're keen on tradition."

"Listen," Aiden urged, sensing he was upsetting Daniel, "I never meant it the way it sounded. I'm just concerned about Mary. She's not as tough as you might have been led to believe. If in fact you do leave together, look after her out there and please don't think I would ever turn my back on her in any way at all."

"I plan to take good care of your sister and I know you have protected her for the past ten years and it's probably cramped your playboy style," Daniel said grinning, feeling slightly

calmer, "but I like Mary a lot and please believe me when I tell you I can look after her. There is one other thing that I did want to speak to you about."

Intrigue entered Aiden's mind. "Go ahead." The vampire's approach fascinated him, and he wondered if he was going to ask for his sister's hand.

The two were interrupted by Lilia who stomped into the room suddenly, looking furious.

"How did you go?" Aiden asked, "Did she like the clothing, does it all fit?"

"Who cares about your sister and her stupid clothes. Right now, I need a drink," Lilia said. "Mary is extremely rude, and she needs to mind her own business. This situation is all too much for me. I'm going back to the pub. I might see you tomorrow, or I might not." She turned, took one long bitter look at Daniel, and left.

"What did I do wrong, why did she look at me like that?" Daniel asked Aiden after he heard the front door slam shut.

"I don't know. Mary said you had recognised Lilia's face from somewhere, perhaps you have met before and she remembers you. Can you recall where you know her from?" Aiden questioned him feeling slightly concerned about Lilia's reaction. The last thing they needed was for Lilia to get angry and tell somebody about Mary and Daniel.

"I have wracked my brain and I can't come up with anything. It's driving me nuts," he explained. "She just has a very familiar face."

"Well, she was definitely angry," Aiden said. "I wonder what Mary said to her."

"I'd better go and find out what's happened," said Daniel. He left the kitchen via the back stairs and headed to Mary's bedroom leaving Aiden alone to finish cooking his dinner.

********

Lilia drove back to the pub and went straight to her room, angry with herself for storming out and missing an opportunity to finish what she had come to accomplish. She wasn't sure if Daniel and Mary were responsible for the deaths in the area. But everything pointed to them. It didn't really matter to her, she had to end their existence, rid the world of two more of the murderous fiends that had ruined her life. Maybe tomorrow wouldn't come for either of them, maybe she could finish the job tonight. It wouldn't be difficult, and Lilia knew when it came to matters concerning the supernatural, the quicker the better. She stared out of the window at the house in the distance. The turmoil of the past few weeks nudged her towards a decision. After the day she had just spent, she had to take a stand, before Mary and Daniel left the area. A secret had been revealed and Lilia had learnt from the past. She knew they would consider leaving to avoid any unpleasantness she might cause for them. In her mind, she staged an attack which would be carried out just before sunrise.

********

Daniel climbed the staircase to the floor Mary's room occupied. "What happened?" Daniel asked her as he entered. "Why did Lilia leave so quickly?"

"I might have said something to upset her," Mary told him as she turned and checked out her backside in the mirror, wondering if the new jeans made her bum look bigger than it was.

"You might have said something, like what?" he asked.

Mary didn't feel as though she had to answer to Daniel. The argument didn't really have anything to do with him. "I just asked her what her intentions towards my brother were. You know, the usual questions you ask when you're concerned about a family member. She got all huffy and left. I don't think she's right for him," Mary said candidly. "Aiden can do much better. There are plenty of women in this world who would be much better suited to the role of Lady Winchester."

He couldn't believe his ears. Right when they needed the help of her brother, Mary gets all snobby and starts causing problems. "I think that's for your brother to decide, not you, and I'm not sure he's going to be very happy about her storming out because of the questions you asked," Daniel told her.

"Why are you taking his side. Are you best mates now?" she asked him, hanging the new clothes on hangers and putting them away in the wardrobe. The old clothing, which had been replaced by the new bought that day, lay in a crumpled pile on the floor.

"I'm not taking sides, but this is a delicate situation and we need his support Mary. I have a feeling Aiden doesn't approve of me. He probably feels the same about me as you feel about Lilia, but he's being okay about it. Let's go downstairs and talk to him," Daniel urged. "I'm sure he's more than a little confused about things at the moment."

********

Aiden waited patiently for the couple to come downstairs. He had a hunch his sister had crossed some sort of personal line and the two females had locked horns so to speak. His intention was to go and see Lilia at the pub to find out exactly what had happened, but that would have to wait until morning, right now, he wanted to speak to Mary, so he knew how to tackle the situation. As he willed it, they appeared from the back staircase together. "What happened with Lilia?" Aiden asked dishing up a portion of the pasta and sitting down at the table. He sprinkled the meal with some parmesan cheese and mixed it in with his fork.

"I just asked her if she would give up her life in London for you? I didn't realise it was a forbidden subject," Mary told him, after sitting down at the table with him and Daniel. "By the way, she probably won't. I don't know what her deal is, but I don't think she came to Crippling Bump to start a relationship. That woman is up to something fishy."

"Don't worry," Aiden told them both. "I'm not sure she's my cup of tea and from what we've been told by you Daniel, she's been snooping around crime scenes. I agree with you Mary, I think she is up to something. Crippling Bump isn't the most favourable tourist destination in the UK, so an ulterior motive seems feasible. She pushed and pushed me to invite her here and now it seems as though she doesn't want to be around me. I don't blame you for her leaving the way she did. I don't think she's some sort of vampire hunter though, it sounds really crazy. But I have to find out. I'll go and speak to her in the morning and I promise you both, this time, I'll ask the questions we all need answers to. It's all I can do really. By the way, you look great in that outfit."

Mary smiled.

********

The night that followed was unexpectedly filled with turmoil. After trying to figure out what exactly was going on, Aiden turned in for the evening, too tired to think any more. In his mind, the events of the recent weeks which had turned his life upside down, swirled like a tornado. Difficult though it was, sleep finally came and allowed him to escape the fortress of failure that seemed to be looming.

The vampires left the manor for a few hours and returned home just before the sun started to rise. They had made some plans together and as her brother slept, Mary took the new clothes from their hangers and folding them carefully, placed them in a suitcase. Daniel could drive, and Aiden wouldn't mind if they borrowed his car. She had the cash he had promised to give her, and the car would be returned after they were settled somewhere.

Sadly, she gazed at the piano, her one comfort over the past ten years that wouldn't fit in her luggage. As the emotional parting approached, Mary ran her hands along the housing of the baby grand one last time.

********

In the nearby pub, Lilia had been asleep for a few hours. Her alarm had been set to go off just before dawn. She had a mission to fulfil, and to wait any longer would be futile. So as the night ended, and the sun began to inch slowly into the sky, Lilia Cooper left the pub on a mission.

Dropping the petrol container into the field, she climbed the rusty gate secured with the flaking chain as Lord Winchester had done on so many occasions. Filled with the adrenaline only fear can induce, she carefully crossed the field towards the gloomy Winchester Manor armed with the equipment required to finish the job. As she drew nearer, she started to feel a little anxious about what she was about to do. Aiden was in the house and he was a human being. If she was responsible for his death, she could go to prison for life. But it was a chance Lilia was willing to take. Aiden knew what he was doing was wrong, he should have done something about Mary years ago. Sister or not, she was still a vampire, and he was just as guilty as the parasites he was protecting. It was a case of guilt by association.

The curtains were all closed and from where she stood, it looked as though there was nobody about. There wouldn't be any problems executing her plan, she could do her work from outside. Luck was on her side when Lilia tried the front door and surprisingly it opened.

Aiden must have forgotten to lock it.

The petrol she quickly splashed through the ground floor of the manor would do the trick. She took one last look at his beloved library. Shelves of silly novels about vampires, did he really think that they were going to help him? What a ridiculous waste of time. Just before closing the front door, she lit a match and threw it onto the trail of flammable liquid that would lead to the end of Winchester Manor and hopefully the horrors masked by the grey stone walls. As Lilia ran from the scene, she prayed Aiden would escape, and hoped Mary and Daniel hadn't sensed her and fled before she could light the fire. If her plan didn't work, she would find out eventually and there would be other opportunities. For now though, she crossed her fingers and hoped for the best.

Back at the pub, Lilia put her suitcases in the car and started the engine. A note had been left behind the bar for Lord Winchester, on the off chance he might just save himself. The bill for the room had been settled the night before. All that was left to do now was return to her beloved London. As she drove from the village, a siren joined the hum of the motor and they sang the duet that Lilia had created as a tribute to her lost love Sam.

********

Aiden woke, slowly at first. Something had disturbed him. He could smell smoke. Sitting up and rubbing his eyes, the situation became known instantly, the house was on fire. Thinking quickly, he was soon on his feet, and suddenly realised what must have happened. They had worried about Lilia, but he didn't think she would set fire to the manor, bloody woman. It had to be her, but Aiden hoped he was wrong. Maybe the fridge had blown up or something.

Reaching for some jeans and a t-shirt, he grabbed his father's watch and left the bedroom. The smoke seemed to be coming up the main stairs, so he ran down the back way to the kitchen. The refrigerator was still intact, and flames were licking at the kitchen door from the hallway. Intense heat drove Aiden out of the backdoor of the house into the morning. He stared up at the building as he heard windows explode and the sounds of screams from his sister. A siren sounded in the distance as he ran around to the front of the manor trying to catch a glimpse of Mary's bedroom.

The disbelief turned to anger as he realised the real reason Lilia Cooper had come to the area, and she would most likely be well and truly out of Crippling Bump by now. He should have known; he had a feeling all wasn't right with her when she had continually pestered him about coming to the manor. He should have asked her about visiting those crime scenes when he first found out. It might have scared her off. Aiden wondered if she had even wanted to get to know him at all or whether it had all been some sort of malevolent plot to find out more about his family. The stories of his family and his sister had been broadcast nation-wide and she must have seen them. But why single out his family? It was far too difficult for him to understand.

He ran his fingers through his hair and closed his eyes hoping when he opened them everything would change, but he knew it was all in vain. As the fire engine pulled up, Aiden moved right out of the way and watched his ancestry crumble with the heat. He wondered about his sister and Daniel. Had they escaped or perished? Aiden didn't know, but he prayed they were in the woods watching as he was watching here.

Finally, after the fire was extinguished, Aiden was left alone with the acrid smell of the soggy burnt mess to contemplate the future. A stone shell of blackened wet wreckage met his eyes. All of his childhood memories and a past life had melted into chaos before him. The manor had been insured, but nothing could replace his sister and the personal belongings of his parents. The police had attended the scene and he had lied to them making up a story that wouldn't impact on Lilia. He hadn't mentioned his sister Mary or her lover Daniel and due to his status in the community, there would be no further investigation, after all, money talks.

Before heading to the pub to find somewhere to stay, he took one last look around the property. The car was gone, Daniel must have taken it. Deciding not to report it, he hoped he was right.

He would rebuild the manor, but this time around he would fill it with life. Perhaps he could put in a tennis court too, there were so many options. Aiden would meet the love of his life one day, just as his sister had and now there was nothing to stop him. He looked towards the woods. At the edge of the trees sat two foxes. The small beasts seemed to be watching him and as he stood wondering, they turned and disappeared into the forest. Aiden smiled to himself and turned towards the pub, crossing the field once again.

Part Four

The letter

Dear Aiden,

I hope you receive this, and believe me when I say I never wanted any physical harm to come to you. I know my actions must have caused you a great deal of pain, but that's a regret I must live with from this day forward.

I'm not a vet, I never have been. Forgive me for lying Aiden, I've told so many since we first met.

Two years ago, my partner Sam was taken from me just as your family were taken from you and since that day my mission has been to search for the creatures that ruined my life. My pursuit has taken me all over the world and this has become my profession, I seek out the strange and macabre and put an end to their miserable existence. Trust me when I say there are people out there who pay large amounts for me to end their suffering, just as I have tried to end mine.

When I first met Daniel, I knew him immediately. I'd seen his picture so many times before. Daniel is the father that left me and Mum years ago. I knew if I didn't do something about him, he might realise I was a relative because I resemble his grandmother, and I couldn't risk him revealing who I really was. I had to strike quickly, so I lit the fire. I expect you to let the police know I started it, after all, I set fire to your family home and that is unforgivable. However, my credentials will put me in good stead.

I hope you're finally free of the horrors of your past too Aiden, and remember, despite all that has happened, I'm sorry.

Lilia Cooper, aka Lucinda Gryffon

Another note and an explanation that made perfect sense. He understood now, the reason she had come to Crippling Bump, the reason she had pursued him, the reason she had set fire to his family home. It had been a hunt for vampires, a mission to destroy any who crossed her path. The realisation Daniel was the father who had disappeared years before must have been painful and although she hadn't been completely honest with him, he had kept secrets from her too. Lucinda Gryffon, was that her real name or just another she had made up? Aiden wondered who she really was and whether or not the woman he met was anything like the real Lucinda. Now she had gone, there was no way of knowing. The time had come for him to hunt the huntress.

Losing his family home had pushed him into unfamiliar territory. A purchase of a laptop and a mobile phone had been necessary to organise the remodel of his entire life. Aiden switched on the machine and entered the password for the pub's Wi-Fi. It was necessary for him to catch up with technology and a few lessons from the sales assistant had been more than helpful. Clicking on the icon that would launch a search engine brought the whole world to him and Aiden entered the name into the search bar. The page was displayed before him and there were several stories of Lucinda's escapades. Aiden wondered how long it would be before she wrote about this one. Hopefully never. He wondered vaguely if he should contact her and pay her to keep silent about the whole Winchester ordeal.

Aiden folded the letter and put it in his pocket. Building his life again from scratch had to start immediately. He left the pub and crossed the road without checking for traffic. That was something he didn't need to do anymore, there was never any traffic anyway.

Entering the second-hand store, the same woman who occupied the space behind the counter looked up and smiled at him with recognition. Aiden smiled back at her and made his way to the rear of the store where the used books were kept. He scanned the shelves for something he might find interesting. One in particular caught his eye, a book that he had read before, one that had been burnt in the fire. Plucking it from the shelf he opened it, the smell of knowledge wafted up from the musty pages, and his father's words ran through his mind. Aiden closed the book and placed it back on the shelf, he didn't need it any more, there was no need to gather that type of information any longer and he turned and left the charity shop venturing out into the street without making a purchase.

Staying at the local pub wasn't too bad, but Aiden needed to think about where he was going to set down some permanent roots. The insurance money had come through very quickly and he could rebuild his home or sell the land and make a complete break from Crippling Bump. It was almost as if he had been handed a get out of jail free card.

Aiden took a stroll to the rusty gate that he had climbed countless times, and stared at the remnants of Winchester Manor. The legacy of his family gone in one fatal night. There was no point regretting any of his actions, it was done and dusted. There would be no more endless days of mournful piano playing and loneliness. It would take time for him to fully recover, but Aiden knew whatever path he chose there would be no looking back now. He turned and walked back to the pub humming a tune that could not be evicted from his mind. That would stay forever, and although uncertain about his future, there was one thing he was sure of, the past was finally were it belonged.

About the Author

Born in a library, I was raised on literature and fed off the great and masterful writers of classic fiction. Now it's my turn.

After several attempts to have my work published, I'm doing it myself. Residing in the UK, I spend most of my waking hours researching and writing. This is my life, and the characters I create are the imaginary world that hooks me in for hours at a time.

This series is just a subsection of my work and although I love fantasy and time travel, I'm delving into other genres. Primarily I prefer young adults or early teens literature, but there's always room for growth.

I hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Keep on reading!

Sandra Maggs

Other books by Sandra Maggs

The Hooper Mysteries

The Mystery of the Cornerstone

The Mystery of Kissing Gate Woods

The Mystery of the Stone Arches

The Mystery of Wicklow Hall

The Mystery of the Vanishing Lake

The Mystery of the Cracked Wall

The Mystery of the Clock Tower – Release date – 5th December 2019

Hettie Hackwood's Magical Miracle Potion

The Bee Line

Jacqueline & Other Storie s

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