Prologue

Snow slowly fell from the heavens, blanketing the sleepy city below. The houses were aglow with
soft lights and smoke twisted up from the chimneys. Christmas was approaching slowly and the city echoed
the advancing holiday. Mistletoe graced the doorways of many a house and Christmas trees were being
towed into the stylish Victorian homes.

Emily Thomas looked up from her small book, her eyes turning to the fireplace before her. She let
out a heavy sigh and adjusted herself on the large, velvet couch. She turned her gaze to her husband,
William, who sat across from her. He rested on a large, plush armchair, a pipe in his mouth and the day’s
newspaper in his hand. His shinning blonde hair glistened in the low light and his soft blue eyes moved
across the paper slowly.

Without a sound Emily closed her book and fixed her hair. She looked back at William, who
hadn’t moved. A soft frown came across her face and she looked back at the hearth. The fire was
dwindling, and the wood was crumbling quickly. Winter nights in the north were harsh and a nice fire was
the quickest way to get warm.

“William, dear.” Emily said sweetly, putting on a soft smile. She met Her husband’s gaze and
smiled a little wider. She clasped her hands together and placed them in her lap. “The fire is nearly.”

Folding his paper, William looked at the hearth. A string of smoke twisted from the pipe as he
exhaled slowly. “So it is.” William took the pipe from his mouth and leaned into the cushions of his
armchair. “I sent Adrian out to get some more, darling. There is no need to worry.”

Emily frowned slightly and looked at William until he turned his eyes to her. “That was an hour
ago. I’m sure it doesn’t take long to gather a few logs for the fire.” She turned her eyes away and nestled
herself into the couch. “That man you hired is not fit for caretaker, William. I don’t know why you hired
him in the first place.”

“Dear, Adrian is the best worker in town. We couldn’t ask for better.” William replied, placing his
pipe in his mouth once more. He puffed on it for a moment, his eyes staying on his fair-haired wife.
“Besides, he shows nothing but kindness to us.”

“Kindness?” Emily said. She smiled and laughed softly. “Have you seen the looks he gives us
when we reprimand him? After the day we hired him I haven’t heard one sincere word from him.” Emily
lifted her chin up slightly and closed her eyes. “I think we should fire him, William. I know of another man
suited better for Adrian’s position.”

William shook his head. “I see no reason to get rid of Adrian.”

Emily frowned once more and opened her eyes. She turned her face to William angrily. “Really?
He has taken too long to get the firewood. He will be the death of us, William.” She turned her body
around on the couch so she could look at William clearly. “More than once I’ve caught him lounging about
while he is supposed to be working. Countless times I’ve seen him toss our dear Claire aside while he is
working. A proper caretaker wouldn’t do such a thing.”

“True.” William whispered. His mind began to wander on the subject. Slowly he began to pull
things from his own memory. There were times where he, too, caught Adrian slacking on the job. The man
he had hired as caretaker was constantly throwing dirty looks at many a person and, on more than one
occasion, he managed to spill a cup of fresh coffee onto his lap.

“What could that man be doing?” William breathed angrily. He shook his head. “Its not like I
asked the bastard to cut down a tree. We had enough wood on the side of the house.”

Emily just shrugged. “He’s probably sitting in the guest house. The fool couldn’t cut down a tree
if his life depended on it.”

William laughed happily and was glad to see a smile on his wife’s face. “You are probably right,
my dear.” He took a quick puff from his pipe before continuing. “I have watched him work in the yard and
laughed at his fruitless attempts at taming our pets and even chopping firewood properly. It’s a shame, I do
say, but the lad makes me laugh.”

“I wonder, what would have become of him if he wasn’t our caretaker?” Emily asked leaning
forwards slightly.

“Starve I suppose.” William replied with a laugh. He shrugged with a smile. “Either that he’d be a
bartender in some pub. Those low lives seem to work together.”

Emily smiled slightly and her eyes began to wander as William began to ramble on. Her heart
nearly stopped as her eyes came across a figure in the doorway. She turned her eyes to William, hoping to
catch his attention without much movement. William, though, didn’t seem to catch her futile attempts to
hush him.

Standing six feet, dressed in black, and chilled to the bone was Adrian. His midnight black hair was
free from it’s tie and hung around his shoulders. In his gloved hands was an ax, glistening from the snow.
Adrian shook slightly, from both the cold winter air and from anger. Without either of his employer’s notice
he heard nearly the whole conversation about him.

“Adrian!” Emily said nervously. She forced a smile across her face and placed her hands in her lap.
William glanced over his shoulder, finally calming his laughter. Emily let out a tense sigh. “I hope you
aren’t too cold! Too much snow isn’t good for someone.”

Slowly Adrian raised his head, the shadow peeling from his face. His soft brown eyes met with
William’s and than Emily’s. He clutched the ax in his hand, holding back the building anger. The
conversation was still too fresh in his mind and it lingered there. Adrian didn’t return the fake smiles of his
employers, but stood there solemnly.

William smiled to himself and puffed softly on his pipe. He studied Adrian for a moment. “Where
is the firewood, boy?”

Adrian turned his gaze to William and stared at him, unblinking. “There was no more wood on
either side of the house, sir.”

“Really?” William said. He paused for a moment. “Did you check in the shed?”

“Yes, sir.” Adrian replied. “I have checked everywhere. There is no firewood.”

William shook his head. “Than why don’t you cut some?” he said with a harsh tone.

Adrian lowered his head for a moment, hiding his face. His hand gripped his ax tighter than before
and he could begin to feel his arm tremble. “I think it was you, sir, who said I couldn’t cut down a tree if my
life depended on it.”

“Right!” William replied, laughing heartily. Emily watched him with wide-eyed fear. She switched

her gaze constantly from her husband to Adrian, noting the caretaker’s growing anger. “Why don’t you
prove me wrong, than?” he said, with a laugh. “Go on, Adrian. Chop a tree down. All of that was in good
fun. I don’t think you can take a joke!”

A heavy sigh escaped Adrian. “If I stay out in the snow any longer, I will catch a cold, sir.” he said
softly. “My work will be useless if I am sick. If you and your wife will allow me, I would like to change
into some warmer clothes before I return outside.”

Emily gave a weak smile. As she opened her mouth to reply, William silenced her. “The fire is
nearly out, Adrian. It will take you some time to chop a tree down and have it cut into proper pieces.” He
removed the pipe from his mouth angrily. “If you change into different clothes, then it will take longer for
the task to be done. Now, get out and get me some firewood.”

“Sir,” Adrian said through clenched teeth, “if I don’t change, I will become sick.”

“I do not care.” William yelled. “Out with you.”

Adrian closed his eyes as he felt his arms began to tremble with anger. “But, sir, I. . . .”

“I said, out!”

With a sudden cry of anger Adrian pulled the ax up and brought it down quickly, across his
master’s neck. Emily let out a scream and leaned towards William, her eyes wide with terror. William’s
body fell, lifeless, into Emily’s arms. His head tumbled to the ground, his face frozen in a mask of anger.
His blood began to bleed into the carpet and into the blouse of Emily’s dress.

“You killed him!” Emily wailed. Her vision grew blurry as tears began to swell in her eyes. She
held her husband’s body and closed her eyes. Her sobs began to grow as she looked up at Adrian. His
clothes and face were splattered with blood.

Adrian met Emily’s gaze without much emotion. “Quiet.” he whispered. Emily’s didn’t obey. “I
said, quiet.” Adrian growled. His fingers flexed across the ax’s handle. The cries continued and with one
final command of silence Adrian raised his axe and brought it down across Emily’s neck and chess, silencing
her instantly. Her body fell atop her husband’s decapitated corpse, her face in a silent scream.

With a sigh Adrian wiped his cheek with the back of his hand. The blood smeared across his skin,
slowly working it’s way into it. Adrian looked down at himself and sighed. His clothes were splattered with
blood, as was his hair and face. He raised his axe and looked at the blade for a moment. It, too, was soiled
by the Thomas’ blood.

“I think I’ll clean myself up.” Adrian whispered to himself. He pushed his hair behind his ear and
looked towards the fireplace. “Emily’s dresser would make a nice night of fire wood.”

Slowly Adrian turned away from the gruesome scene and began a slow walk towards the kitchen.
His footsteps echoed through the dimly lit halls and his heavy breath was nearly silent. His dark eyes
wandered the long hall, lingering on the staircase beside him. Atop the last steps was a small figure; bent
over, hugging it’s legs.

Adrian came to a stop beside the stairs, his eyes focusing on the kitchen door a few yards away.
He could hear the frightened breaths of the petite form. He tapped a finger against the ax. “Claire, come
with me to the kitchen. There is something there that I think you would like. Cookies I believe”

The child gripped the railing of the staircase with fear. “But what about mummy? She doesn’t
want me eating sweets after dark.”

Adrian sneered. “Your mother won’t mind, Claire. She and your father are taking a nap in the
foyer.” He turned his face towards Claire, catching her off guard. She looked like her mother, the same soft
blonde hair and large blue eyes, which grew wide with fear as they beheld Adrian’s bloody face. “Do not
worry, Claire. It’s only pretend.” He held out his clean hand and gave a soothing smile. “Come now, I do
not want those cookies to go to waste.”

Claire clutched the railing with fear. She shook her head slowly, tossing her golden tresses to and
fro. “Mummy wouldn’t be happy.” Claire slowly stood, her cotton gown falling around her. “I am
supposed to be in bed.”

With a frown Adrian grabbed Claire by the hem of her nightgown and pulled her into the banister.
She let out a cry of surprise at the sudden force. In another moment Adrian had her by her arm and
managed to pull her over the handrail. He dropped her carelessly to the floor, deaf to the child’s cries of
pain and fear. He seized the girl’s arm and quickly pulled her into the kitchen. Claire screamed once more
as she saw the bloody scene in the living.

“Quiet you brat.” Adrian growled. He pushed her through the kitchen door and followed close
behind her. The blond child collapsed to the floor, her face wet with her tears. She looked up at Adrian,
unable to make any type of response to the treacherous figure above her. She blinked, sending a new wave
of tears down her face.

“What happened to mummy and daddy?” Claire sniffled, wiping her face with the sleeves of her
nightgown. Her eyes shook as they met Adrian’s emotionless gaze. “Why are they laying on the floor?”

Adrian turned away from Claire and slowly made his way to the sink. He took a towel from the
counter and ran water over it. The towel grew heavy in Adrian’s hand and he quickly turned the chilled
water off. His eyes turned to the blade of his ax. With a heavy breath and a soft smile Adrian ran the towel
across the blade, smearing the blood.

Claire slowly stood, her eyes darting from Adrian to the kitchen door. She hugged herself
nervously and she found herself watching Adrian clean the bloody ax. “Adrian, what happened to mummy
and daddy?”

“Your mother is taking a nap and your father is, well, he is sleeping also.” Adrian whispered softly.
He looked at Claire from the corner of his eye. Her expression didn’t change. A frown crossed his face.
Adrian turned to Claire, who seemed to shrink as he glared at her. He clutched the ax’s handle and the
towel, causing a small stream to fall to the floor. “Claire, dear, did you see anything?”

Biting her lip, Claire shook her head. Her eyes darted around. “You said you had cookies for me.
I would like one.”

Adrian cocked an eyebrow. “Didn’t your mother say you could not have sweets after seven?”

“But I would like one.” Claire whispered, lowering her eyes.

“I will make you a promise.” Adrian said. He dropped the towel and moved towards a small glass
jar. Reaching in he pulled out a cookie baked earlier that day. He turned slowly, facing Claire from across
the room. “If you promise to tell me what you saw, I promise to give you this cookie and a few more. Do
you promise, Claire?”

Claire stared at Adrian for a moment. Could he be telling the truth? She bit her lip and her eyes

turned to the cookie in his grasp. She was a bit hungry, despite the fact that the image of her parents echoed
through her mind. The thoughts tugged at her memory, causing a few more tears to form and her stomach
churn with nausea.
Adrian took a step forward, never lowering his hand. “Well?”

“I. . . .” Claire said softly. She stopped for a moment, her eyes caught my Adrian’s emotionless
eyes. “I saw you hit daddy with the axe. You yelled at mummy to be quiet but she was yelling and crying.
You hit her too and she didn’t say anything.”

Without a word Adrian approached Claire. He smiled softly and Claire gave a nervous smile. With
a shaking hand Claire reached for the cookie in Adrian’s hand. In the blink of an eye he seized her, pushing
her into the wall that she had taken shelter by. She screamed and whimpered as Adrian pushed her small
body harder into the wall, seeming to be deaf to the screams.

Adrian knelt in front of Claire and tossed his ax aside. The blond child was whimpering, her blue
eyes wide with fear. “You saw it all than.” he whispered, his words hallow. His eyes burned into Claire’s.
“Answer me this question, Claire. You are six years old, but can you write?”

Claire couldn’t find the words to speak. All she could do was shake her head slowly, her eyes
forever locked on Adrian’s.

“Good.”

In silence Adrian pushed his hand against Claire’s neck. Her eyes widened and she began to shake
with the fear of what would become of her. With a twisted smile, Adrian brought his hand back, but quickly
thrusted the heel of his hand into Claire’s neck. A sickening snap echoed through the kitchen as the child’s
voice box was broken and her windpipe collapsed within her body. She fell to the floor as Adrian stood,
letting go of her body.

Adrian looked down at the blond child, his face an emotionless mask. He turned away from Claire
and returned to the cookie jar. Taking a small handful of cookies he returned to the writhing child. Adrian
held the cookies above her and let them fall onto the child’s body. Her blue eyes turned to him, their color
draining and the flesh of her face slowly changing its color from lack of air.

“One must never break a promise.” Adrian whispered.

Turning sharply on his heel, Adrian picked up his ax. He studied it for a moment. Blood still
stained the blade and was no drying. He sighed and slowly walked towards the sink. Adrian turned the
water on and held the blade beneath the wave. He watched as the blood slowly peeled away and
disappeared into the water itself.

A chilled breeze ran through house, causing Adrian to shudder. He turned and walked past Claire’s
body without looking at it. The smell of blood greeted Adrian as he stepped out of the kitchen and into the
hall. Without a word he moved into the living room and paused. The blood had stained to the rug and the
wood floors. It would take him hours to clean the wood and the rug was ruined.

Adrian looked at the hearth. The fire was completely out and only a twisting line of smoke was the
last remains. “Damn it.” he muttered. Adrian turned and took a seat in William’s armchair. He kicked the
dead body of his employer before resting his feet atop of it. “I suppose I should find some firewood. . . .
In the morning.” Adrian whispered. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes.