However, my first time to see the Blackwood Manor had been about a month ago. I was born and raised in England, and I never knew of its existence until my parents were killed. It was not until the lawyer read my fathers will that I had heard the name Blackwood Manor.”

“I am terribly sorry to hear about the tragic loss of your parents Elizabeth.” I replied. “However, it worries me why your parents had kept this magnificent place a secret from you for all these years. It seems as if they were trying to protect you from something that could harm you.”

I was beginning to wonder about these things, but I had to keep my curiosity in check at the time being, and let her carry the conversation. I soon realized that she could not give me any background whatsoever on this place. She seemed to be a very nervous young woman, and I had a strong hunch that she knew a lot more than she was willing to admit at this particular time.

“Mason, I kindly hope you will excuse my formality, but I am not accustomed to the way you Americans do things. This is my first time visiting the United States of America and everyone seems a bit out of the ordinary to me.”

I started laughing, and I could not control myself. I am afraid that Elizabeth had taken my laughing entirely the wrong way, totally misunderstanding what my laughter was intended for. Her face suddenly blushed and turned a light shade of pink, and she definitely retorted.

“I bloody well do not see anything funny about the way you Americans do things, it is preposterous!”

Now I was the one who was caught off guard, and I tried to explain to her that I had been laughing more at myself and not at her.

“I’m sorry Elizabeth. I really meant you no disrespect. I was just thinking about your lovely English accent right before your introduction.”

This time I was not going to make another mistake, and made sure that I introduced myself accordingly, as I extended my arm to shake her hand I said, “Elizabeth I am Mason Williams.”

Elizabeth too, now laughing reached out and took my hand, shaking it firmly and said, “In that case Mason, I am very pleased to make your acutance. I have just been in shambles ever since I arrived at the Blackwood Manor.”

However, I made sure for the rest of our meeting that little misunderstanding did not happen a second time. Elizabeth told me a few things about England, and I, in return told her a few things about the United States of America, and its ways of doing things. I tried once again to approach Elizabeth on the subject of why she had retained my services and brought me to the Blackwood Manor. However, she graciously declined by saying that I would definitely know by morning.

Elizabeth talked exceedingly about her parents, and I could tell right away that she had missed them terribly. I thought that it would make her feel a whole lot better knowing that I too had lost somebody close to me, so I told her about the tragic loss of my foster parents, Alexander and Charlotte Kingsley.

“Elizabeth, my foster parents informed me that my biological parents were killed in a horrific accident when I was a baby, and they had taken care of me ever since I can remember. I have not the faintest clue of what my biological parents even looked like.

“Six years ago my foster parents, Alexander and Charlotte Kingsley were horrifically murdered by some sort of a demon that called herself Bastelet, when I had just turned six-teen years old. She had a hideous smell to her, a smell that I still cannot describe.”

“Mason, I am pleased that you told me about them. I haven’t felt as if anyone has understood the things that I have felt since my parent’s death, until now.”

Somehow, I started feeling affectionate and strangely close to Elizabeth at this particular moment. I wonder if it had to do with her being such a beautiful woman. For some unknown reason that I just could not grasp, I felt as if I had known her my entire life. I blamed myself for being arrogant for even thinking that I did because I did not really know her at all.

Good grief, I had just met this woman, but I already wanted to have sex with her. So I said to myself, Mason Williams, do not make a complete fool of yourself, and at that moment the grandfather clock located within the hall chimed, making me jump, as the hideous sound echoed through the Blackwood Manor. An uneasy feeling came over me as I looked to see what time it was. It had just turned eleven o’clock, and before I had the chance to probe even deeper into Elizabeth’s past, she spoke out and said, “Mason, I do not know about you, but it has been a tiring day, and I am bloody exhausted. Alexandrea has prepared a room for you upstairs.