___| CHAPTER ONE |___

Raindrops hit car windows at high speeds and flattened out before flowing off the smooth surfaces in rivets. The powerful and brutally chilly winds fought with tree branches while the ice-hard fist of a cold winter's night pounded at anything in its wake-not one single person was insane enough to walk on the streets that night. Normal people were snuggled under their warm sheets at home in the city of Anrich.

Hannah Fong was not home. She was, in fact, sitting in her ancient car with her almost frozen over mind concentrating on controlling the shivering hands that gripped the steering wheel and the feet that manned the pedal and brake. She had no idea where she was going.

All she wanted to do was to leave the chaotic world that she lived in behind for just one short moment. It was Hannah's first day of winter vacation and she was so tired of studying herself into a coma, living as the absolute lowest life in the poor college student pond, her overly demanding parents controlling her whole future, and hearing the same monotonous buzz of the bus outside her apartment window every night. She wanted to break out of the tedious pattern during her break and just leave everything behind for one moment. Just one moment.

All she could hear over the soft murmur of her car radio was the steady beating of the rain against the outside of her car. It was a strangely relaxing sound. She didn't know what time it was. She didn't think she especially cared either. All she wanted was just that one moment and she'll be damned if one rainy night was going to stop her and get in her way.

Hannah was only acutely aware when streetlights had stopped popping up and appearing as she drove on. The full and pale moon hung in the sky but Hannah didn't stop to admire. There weren't any other cars that she could see around her-all she could see was the headlights of her car infront and the vast darkness smoldering everything behind that point. How many hours had she been driving? Three, four, didn't remember but somewhere in her mind she knew she hadn't meant to kept count.

She felt reckless and free as she drove with nothing but her stuffed teddy bear beside her, strapped into the right seat. When she left her apartment, she had not thought to take anything with her but her precious and beloved bear, Ellie. Even though Hannah was fully aware that nineteen year olds don't carry teddy bears around, she didn't care. Everyone needed a comfort object and since Ellie had been through so much with her, the teddy bear was hers. She would need her during this delicate time, she thought to herself with a slight smile on her face.

All that was really missing from the scene outside was lightning. Hannah smiled and flicked her shoulder-length ebony coloured hair back. Lightning would definitely make the "one stormy night." storyline complete. The roads started to get a little bumpier and it was then that Hannah realized she wasn't on the standard, concrete city streets any longer. She was driving along a gravel trail somewhere far away-that was all Hannah knew. It's okay though, thought Hannah, she could just activate all the locks and bunk in her car when she felt too drowsy to drive. Her soft bear would comfort her.

Hannah drove on for about another hour before she stopped and parked the car to the side of the narrow gravel road. The road curved to the left ahead of her but she was so drowsy that she didn't care to continue on. She could see the outline of an obviously impressive house-no, mansion more like-ahead of her also. No doubt belonging to some bored rich old man, Hannah thought as she unbuckled her teddy's seatbelt and pulled it to her chest.

She locked all the doors and positioned the cushion in the she couldn't sleep. Eyes wide open in the dark, Hannah suddenly felt extremely vulnerable. As the rain continued to beat down in its soothing rhythm, Hannah began to truly think of her actions. Where the hell was she? How was she going to get home? What was she going to do in the morning? Most importantly, exactly why did she do what she had just did?

Groaning, she nuzzled her nose into her teddy's fur and thought things over. She turned her bear over and stared into his cute dark eyes.

"Ellie, what did I just do?" she asked her teddy softly. Ellie stared back at her. Hannah sighed and hugged her bear again.

"Oh don't look at me like that, Ellie." She suddenly felt the burning need to find out what time it was. All thoughts of being free and reckless dimmed a bit as she searched her small car compartment for a small clock, mentally crossing her fingers in hope that it really was still there. Her fingers swiped at what felt like a box-like object and she immediately pulled it out.

3:07 AM, the clock showed. Damn, no wonder she was so tired-she really had been driving for five hours! A sudden jab of fear and worry attacked her mind. If she had been mindlessly driving away for five hours, how long would it take to get back to her apartment? No doubt a lot longer than the time it took her to get "here" was.

Shit, was there a map in the compartment? Hannah wondered. She rummaged through the other contents and pulled out a slightly outdated map book. It was a few years behind, but it was all she had and she was grateful that it was even there. Streets don't change very much. Hannah grabbed the flashlight that she knew was under her driver's seat and turned it on, spilling light onto the map book.

Questions soared through her blurry mind. What street was she on? Was it even a freaking street? If she didn't know her remote location, the map book wouldn't do her jack. Hannah glanced up to her front car window and saw the gigantic palace of a house again. She noticed that a room was lighted through one small window. Perhaps she could go and ask what street it was? Someone had to be awake still with that one bright window shining against the dark night.

Yes, Hannah decided, that was what she would do. She'll walk up to the house and knock for directions. Simple, simple. As she unlocked her door and stepped out, she grabbed her teddy (for comfort), map and flashlight. After locking her door again, she knelt down and picked up a thick, heavy stick protection, just in case.

The walk was longer than she planned. The huge house didn't look to be that great of a distance away from her car, but it was. Perhaps she should have driven the car up, Hannah thought. She mentally slapped herself-why the hell hadn't she? The rain still poured down mercilessly and Hannah was now dripping wet. Had she no brains at all? No logic to speak of? It was too far to walk back to the car now, thought Hannah, why can't I do a single freaking thing right?

Finally, she was infront of the great stone mansion. It was too difficult to see the building in techno-colour detail, but she could still tell that it had a definite "elegant, gothic" appeal. It was not a time to stand and gawk at architecture, though.

Hannah made her way up the stone steps, taking special care not to slip, and hugged Ellie under her coat tightly. She taking wanted her bear to get wet, so she stuffed Ellie under her jacket and also put the map and flashlight in her big pockets.

If only my parents could see me now, she thought grimly but with amusement. Wet, lost and completely ill mannered looking-it might just be enough to drive them to their graves. Their perfect, little daughter wasn't so perfect after all-gasp.

She frowned at the elaborate stone knockers, before using one. The loud, clanking noise echoed throughout the darkness. Hannah waited for several moments before using the knocker again. No one opened the door. The light at the small window was still on, so someone must be home. Hannah waited a little longer, but still, no one came to the door. Now that she was closer to the house, she saw that from far away, the building looked elegant and stylishly gothic but up close, the material of the walls and roofs appeared peeling and rotting. She shivered.

Still no one answered. It wasn't likely that anyone was going to now, thought Hannah. She might as well get her sorry self back to the chunk of rusty metal called her car and sleep. Wait it out till morning and knock again. People might be awake by then. After all, no one is really all smiles when someone comes banging on their door in the early morning.

She sighed and turned around to make her way back.

Hannah was only vaguely aware that it was not any less cold in the morning as she stumbled over the dominating waves of drowsiness and sleep. She shifted her position in the car then snapped her eyes open. She suddenly remembered she had to go to the mansion and ask about the street. A quick glance at the clock she dug up the night before told her that it was currently eight in the morning. A bit early, but maybe someone would be awake?

Well, at least it had stopped raining, Hannah thought as she made her way to the house. In the broad daylight, the mansion still gave out a strange, shivery kind that made Hannah glance around a few times. She was probably just being paranoid, she thought.

Once at the door, she grabbed the doorknocker as she had done the night before and clanked its weight against the heavy door. She waited for a moment, studying her worn runners all the while. "Why had I gone psycho and done what I had the night before?" was a question that kept repeating itself in Hannah's head. Was she completely irresponsible?

Clank, clank, clank, she tried again. The same echoing noises sounded but still, no one answered. It was clearly a hopeless case. Why was she even trying? She was completely and utterly lost and not even God with a bible map could help her now. She'll just get back to her car, regain herself, and stumble around, hoping that she'll somehow blindingly drive her way out-har har.

Hannah backed away from the door and turned around readying to leave, only to be completely surprised out of her mind to see a man leaning against the dark metal, vine entwined gate fence. She definitely hadn't seen him then , at least she didn't think so.

The man had quite fair skin, light blue eyes and dark brown hair that waved slightly. His arms were crossed and the side of his back leaned against the metal. He wore a long, dark trench-coat type article of clothing that fell to his knees and contrasted with his plain white button dress shirt inside. His legs were clad in brown trousers and his feet in purely black shoes. The man's whole face held a sort of classic, distinctly featured appeal. He looked to be maybe in his mid-late twenties but at the same time had a timeless look to him.

Before Hannah could even react to this surprise, the man uncrossed his arms and began to walk towards her. Hannah's feet seemed rooted to the spot and she stood still, anticipating his every next step.

"What are you doing here?" was the first thing he said to her when he stood a few feet infront of Hannah. His voice was deep and masculine.

"Uh, I'm lost," she explained, "I was here last night to ask for directions but no one answered." Suddenly remembering the updated map book she held in her hand, she lifted it. "Can you tell me the name of that street off to the side, or the name of this area? Then I can just look it up in the map."

The man's blank expression never faltered. "No," he said simply. "You won't find this place in your map."
Hannah looked up and stared into the man's blue eyes. She frowned. Why did the man say that this place wasn't in the map? It had to be!

"Excuse me?" she tried.

"This place isn't on maps," he said simply as he walked around Hannah and began making his way to the mansion's huge doors.

Hannah spun herself around to see his retreating back. "Because it's a secret government facility?" she joked and laughed tensely, trying to cover the wave of anxiousness inside her.

The strange man didn't answer or turn to face Hannah. He just kept on walking until he reached the doors. If Hannah had blinked at that one moment, she would not have seen the heavy carved doors fling open of its own accord without anyone touching them and the man strolling in without breaking his stride. Hannah gulped. Who was this man and what did the hell did he mean by the place not being on the maps?

The doors stayed open and Hannah concluded that she was to follow. She took a few hesitant steps, and then walked forward.

"What did you mean by what you said earlier?" Hannah raised her voice to be heard by the man ahead of her. Walking behind him made Hannah see how much taller he was than her. Expecting him to just continue walking and not answer her, Hannah was surprised when the man abruptly stopped in his tracks and motioned her into an elegant antique chair by the fireplace that she had not noticed suddenly light itself and come to life. It was morning and light outside, but was considerably darker and colder inside the mansion.

"What is your name?" he asked her, ignoring the question he had asked her before.

Hannah hesitated. Should she give this stranger her real name? When she looked back at the man, she strangely felt like she was obliged to answer truthfully. It was a really weird she was being controlled and held by a few puppet strings or something but she didn't dwell on the thought.

The man obviously noticed her hesitation as he gave a wry smile that made his whole face appear slightly eerie but his classically appeal still held, if not deepened.

"," she answered. The man nodded and continued to stand even though there was a chair identical to the one Hannah was sitting in just opposite.

Hannah looked into the fire then at the man's face, which was reverted to the window on the opposite side.

"Um, who are you?" Hannah asked as she squirmed in the chair. The whole place was giving her the creeps and this man was giving her the most.

The man turned from the window and looked at Hannah before walking purposely towards Hannah. Hannah froze.

"Nicolas Owen," he said, then bent down to pick up Hannah's hand and press his lips to the back of it in one swift movement. Hannah could tell that what he did was not done in affection, but looked to be a habit, as if he had done this hundreds of times before and was doing so again in chivalric etiquette.

Like a typical gentleman from the old ages or something.

"You will be staying here for the next month," he said abruptly, breaking through her thoughts.

"What?" Hannah exclaimed, back upright and straight against the chair.

"The border has closed," he said simply, as if those words were the immediate dawning answer of confusion.

Hannah stared at Nicolas like he had two gruesome heads. "What border?"

"The border between the manor area here and the outside world," Nicolas said, as if Hannah were a bit slow. Right then, Hannah knew she got herself in a hell of a lot of trouble. Something weird was going on here, and she just drove right into it-literally.

"It'll open again next full moon, which will be on the thirtieth of January."

Hannah paled. This is so not happening.I am NOT stranded in some heebie-jeebie gothic place for a whole MONTH with this creepy guy! She had to go to school after two weeks! Besides, how was she to explain her sudden disappearance to her enraged parents when she came back?

Hannah caught herself before she could think about it anymore. By thinking of all that, she mentally forfeited into believing what this Nicolas had that was some bogus story about a border separating them from the "outside world". Uh huh, right.

He was crazy!

"Um, of course. Thanks for letting me in, but I'd better get parents might start worrying," Hannah said as she stood up from her chair. She doubted her parents even knew or cared as it has only been one a whole month missing would be a different story.

Nicolas turned and stared at Hannah under his eerie gaze. "You don't believe me," he stated.

Hannah didn't make eye contact with suspected that if she did, she'll get that strange controlled, puppet-string feeling again.

"No," Hannah said honestly of her own accord before beginning to walk back to door.

Suddenly, Hannah felt a disconcerting feel in the air that made her stop walking. Trouble, she thought.

"You won't be leaving this area. You can go on and walk back to your vehicle now, then try to drive out of this place till you are blue in the face, but you won't be leaving this area until the next full moon," the man said frightening coolly.

Hannah turned around and looked at him even though she knew better than to make eye contact. She didn't know why, but she believed him of her own free will, even though his story was extremely sketchy and "out there", she saw truth in his eyes.

Then something popped into her mind and she blushed.

"Oh um. I left something in the car that I have to get." she mumbled almost inaudibly. She reached for the elegant door handle but was interrupted by Nicolas.

"Is that what you forgot?" She could hear the amusement in his voice as she turned. There in his right hand was Ellie, her beloved teddy!

Hannah walked to him and Nicolas gave her back the cuddly bear. As her hand touched the soft texture of the plush, Hannah felt herself tense. This man just pronounced something out of thin air that was supposed to be in my car!

She looked up at the man's face and immediately was hit with another shot of the strange controlling feeling. She no longer wanted to ask how he got the bear. Instead, she asked him another question.

"W-what exactly are you?"

Hearing this, Nicolas just smiled one of his eerie smiles, then decided to play with her mind a bit.

"Whatever you think I am, Hannah," he said with strangely brilliant appeal.

Before she could stop herself, Hannah blurted out, "I think you're a lunatic."
Then he laughed. Not of the small ha-ha variety, but of the deep- down ones that aren't very common and show honest amusement and pleasure.

"Then I am one," he said. Hannah shook her head when Nicolas turned around and motioned her to follow him to her sleeping quarters.

As she followed, Hannah hugged her bear tighter. It was going to be one hell of a month.

=============================================================== AN: Just a quickie note. Thank you, Giggless2004 for pointing out that Alison slip-up (the main character in my other story is Alison). I've fixed it. About how easily she accepts it all, you'll know more about what Nicolas has the ability to do (remember the puppet-string feeling?) later on and all the details in the future chapters. You were definitely a good reviewer ;). Thanks so much.