-Ivy-

I leave my room and go to the grand staircase feeling very befuddled. I was given permission to roam the castle freely but after all that has happened, I still don't understand why. I look down into the Grand room and see the maids moving around, changing the curtains to black ones, pinning golden drapes over the archways and setting black, Gothic floor candelabras on both sides of each of them. I fold my arms and rest on one foot, "Well, this is interesting."

I see Angel talking to Christine and Pamela. She looks up the stairs and sees me. She looks at me long enough for the others to see what has her attention. They don't understand why I'm wearing this dress, which makes it awkward for everyone. I briefly wave at them. Pamela and Christine smile a bit back at me. They nod at each other and part. Angel heads for the staircase and starts coming up. She almost passes me when I stop her. "Wait."
She looks at me, "Madam?"
I slightly point at everything happening below, "What's going on exactly?"
She turns around, looks at what I am pointing at and says, "We're preparing for the upcoming event Miss."
"Upcoming event?" I ask.
She nods, "Yes Miss Summers...for the holiday." she starts walking away. I raise a hand, "Wait...!" She doesn't stop this time. I frown and let my hand down. An event for Halloween... Will Mr. Vladoiu be hosting it? Will I meet him at last? I wonder...is this going to be a big party or something? I look at the windows and realize it's probably about 4 or 5pm now. When will this 'event' take place? I'm so confused and out of the loop! Why hasn't anyone told me anything?

I go downstairs and head for the archway on my right; a place I haven't been to. Surely, there's no doubt there are more 'secrets' to be revealed. Yes, I feel quite brave right now.

I make my way for the archway and see it's just like the other corridor that leads to the stables, but this one isn't nearly as long. As I walk the hall, I see a lot of light coming from the right side. I follow it and realize the light is coming through two big glass inlaid doors that have beautiful white drapes. I can't make out what's inside and my curiosity is getting the better of me. Quietly and carefully, I take a handle and pull down. The latch is louder than I expected and gives me pause. Pulling it open, I look behind me to see if I'm being watched. The maids are walking by the archway but no one is paying attention. I slip backwards through the door and quietly shut it.

When I turn around, I instantly lose my breath to the sight of a big majestic dark-gold organ at the other end of this room, a beautiful stage nearby, and then a great clock on the right of it, above the very fancy private balcony. It's like a box-seat area with no chairs. No...this is much more than a 'room'; this is a ballroom for sure! It's huge and round with soft tones of whitish blue and yellow marble floor tiles and there is a massive expensive-looking chandelier in the center of the high ceiling. I must add that the ceiling is decorated almost like you'd see in some parts of Buckingham palace! The windows have blood-red curtains nicely pinned back to the sides and there are a few tables with flowers and chairs spread out in some places. I imagine the majority of this 'event' won't be happening in the foyer as I thought; it'll be in here! I cover my mouth with a hand, "Wow..." Dmitri owns this.

My eyes wander over to the far left and find a dark almost-black door. "Hm," I wonder what's in there. I look at it up and down as I go to it. "Hmmm," The knob is ice cold as I turn it and pull the door open. The only thing I see is a stone stairway leading down. I assume it goes to the basement. I want to go down there but I'm not sure if that'd be a good idea. I glance back for a moment... This ballroom is starting to feel crowded–like I'm being ganged up on. I'm seriously now getting the feeling like I should run away. Something though...something makes me stand here fearlessly.

I hear one of the glass doors open and a voice very familiar to me says, "Esmeralda, are we done in here or what?" It's Leonardo. I didn't know they were helping the maids decorate. It makes sense though. "Almost. The last things we need are the candelabras but we have to get them from Christine too." Esmeralda answers; her voice is a little echoic. "Ah...ok," Leonardo sighs. I quickly go through the door downstairs, and after a minute, I notice the farther I go, the more I hear whispering at the end around the right corner. It creeps me out but curiosity just keeps driving me forward.

Finally, I meet the end of the stairs, very close to the voices now becoming clearer. It sounds like Nick–talking to someone. That can't be! He said he had a business call to take. His voice doesn't seem too happy; more like aggravated. Charily, I peer around the corner. Oh my gosh–it is him.

He's walking up the hall alone with his hands in his pockets, his head slightly down as if he's angrily looking up through his eyelashes, and the lights on either wall are beaming down on him, making him look even paler. This is very unnerving to see. I can just imagine horns slowly emerging from the sides of his head and his ears becoming very pointy. He's that devilish.

"No, I can't do that." he snarls. There's a moment of silence until I hear a disembodied male voice laugh the word 'coward'. There's quite an accent too. My eyes grow a little. That was loud and clear! Who is he talking to? Corneliu?

"They cannot touch her. They are silenced! Leave me alone!" He growls. What does he mean? I lean out a little more to listen in better, but now I see it seems like whoever was messing with him has left; he's more focused on where he's going now. I get a sudden feeling he sees me.

Quickly, I move back around and pick up the sides of my dress, now hurrying up the steps. I hear footsteps quickly coming my way. I glimpse back and see him abruptly stop at the end of the stairs, taking a hold of both walls, looking for me. "Ivy?" I pause, extremely nervous.
"What are you doing...?" He walks up the steps and approaches me. Before I answer, I look around in thought of a good way to explain it to him. He takes my chin in two fingers, "Are you alright?" I blink and nod, "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just...exploring. You said it was ok, so I did. I didn't know you would be down here. I thought you were in your office." Hopefully he didn't really see me.

He smirks, "You were exploring alright. I was in my office, but I took a different elevator down here to get something. I saw you peeking around at me." he says, now placing a hand on the wall beside him, crossing his legs and moving his head to one side, "Tell me Ivy...what do you think of the ballroom?" Crap–I'm so busted.

"I...loved it." I say.
"Ahh..." he smiles, "Well come now, I have more to show you. I couldn't leave you alone for long." he chuckles, "You will love this too." I watch him straighten his posture and I still feel uncomfortable about what I saw just a few moments ago.

"Will there be a party happening here soon?" I ask. He looks from left to right, "Why yes...as a matter of fact, there will be. I will be hosting it for Mr. Vladoiu." He smiles slow and genuinely. I blink a couple times. "...Am I invited?"
"Are you invited?" he chuckles softly, "Of course you are, my dear!" He takes my hand, winking at me, "Come now." I'm unable to say anything as I let him guide me back upstairs, out of the ballroom, up the corridor and to the other across the way. On our way through, we turn right into a small round room where there is a black spiral staircase going up to the second floor. He leads me up, and then, when we meet the top, I slightly spin around on my heels to look at everything around. We're in a big white room with many Gothic windows, big French-like double doors in the middle, few bright-colored cloth covered tables and chairs, and on the far left corner near the many windows is an easel. He paints in here, I'll bet.

I look at him, mouth open a tad. He smiles with a small chuckle as he slides his hands down into his pockets and walks forward, "This is Dmitri's paint studio. I paint in here–rarely." I move on behind him, admiring all the furniture and the way the room is set up. "Always too busy to paint, I take it?" I ask.
"Yes..." he says, "But when Mr. Vladoiu first gave me all the privileges that I have now, I would spend a lot of time up here."
"I see. It must have been nice."
"It was." he murmurs.

As I meet his side, he forms a thoughtful sort of face and asks me, "Ivy, while I was away from you, did you have any paranormal experiences?"
"No. I didn't have any at all." I say.
"Hmm, good."

"You know, I think they're interesting to learn about." I slightly, slightly hint to him.
At that, he makes an expression like he thinks I'm being cute. "So you want me to teach you some things..."
I give a couple shy blinks in reply.

"Hm," he looks ahead at the windows and waltzes toward them, "A spirit, like everything else over time, gains experience; they learn what they can and cannot do." I follow him until we stop at the double doors. He faces me and looks into my eyes, "If experienced enough, they know how to touch you–make you emotionally or physically sick. If they're experienced enough, they can possess your body and make you feel their pain. The latter Ivy, that's what I mean by control. I keep them from possessing me everyday–all the time that I'm here. This is why I'm constantly going to the coast. But, come the warmer weather, I will remain here." he sighs, "I consider it a burden rather than a gift. The only good from it is, I can use my mind to do physical harm to them." That's...very interesting... I've really never heard of anything like this.

"How does that make you feel?-Seriously." I ask.
A side of his mouth twitches. "It is sometimes too much to bear. I do it though. It keeps me on my toes..." he gets a sadistic smile on his face.
"What?" I slowly ask. He waves his hands, "You will learn of it all soon. No need to kill a perfectly good surprise." He looks pleasured by whatever is going on in his head. I don't think this 'surprise' is safe, considering that expression he's making.

"Soon–as in when?" I ask.
"Soon!" he turns and walks over to a closet-like room. "Hey!" I quickly trail behind him.

We go into that room and he starts taking out some painting accessories. I watch, then glance up to his face in wonder, "Painting–now? You don't have business to tend to?"
He looks out of the corner of his right eye at me, "I am free for now. Have a problem with that?" "Um... Well no." I laugh lightly. He finishes collecting the brushes and pastel-colored paint bottles. "Come." he gestures me with his chin to go with him to the easel. As he walks away, I say, "I can carry some of that, you know!" He stops, looks over his shoulder with an eyebrow rising. I go to him and take some of the stuff into my hands without looking at him. The feeling of being watched comes over me. Slowly, I look up to his smiling face.

"So so cute you are." he snickers. I blush and drop my eyes a bit. That must be his favorite word for me...

"Come now, let's go paint." he continues walking.
I'm painting too? I don't paint very well though! This is going to be embarrassing...

I meet him at the easel and he takes some of the supplies from me, sets them down on a small table near it, then starts opening the bottles. I take one and try to open it, but it's sealed by dried paint. I keep twisting it and twisting it–it just doesn't work. He finishes opening all of them, then he notices me struggling with my bottle. He takes it before I twist it again, "Allow me." Just like that, he opens it–No sweat. He puts it down and grins smartly at me. My lips part for a second. "Whatever." I fold my arms and roll my eyes. "Hm hm hm," he chuckles. Suddenly, he takes my hands and moves me in front of him. "What-! Hey!"
"Silence Ivy. Watch." He fits a brush with black paint on the tip of it into my hand and holds it there, then he leans in close to the side of my face and looks at me, "Ready?" I blink at him. His beautiful eyes scan mine. I gulp at him. "Yeah," I slowly look back to the white easel. "Good." he gently glides my brush across it and starts drawing the outlines of a rose. I watch for a while, becoming lost in awe of his skill. It's so very beautiful...

"Ok," he snakes the black brush out of my hand and gets a fresh one and dips it in dark red paint. "Nick," He pauses to hearing that. I smile at him, "You are so talented...it blows me away." He gradually smiles back, "Why thank you Miss Summers. I greatly appreciate that."
"Years of experience, I know." I nod slowly, slightly humored, "Yes, of course...you're welcome." Just then, we hear Walter come up the stairs, saying, "Sir,"
Nick turns to him as if he's bothered. I give the butler a somewhat stunned 'Oh, hello!' face.

Walter apologetically bows his head at the impatient Nick and proceeds inside. "All has been taken care of sir." he looks at me like I should get out for a minute. "Miss Summers." It's that simple expression that makes me turn to Nick in question, and Nick nods once. I do the same back, gently walk to a door and go out into a small open hallway.

There's a table and some chairs under a picture in front of me. It's nice out here; very comfortable. I almost go to sit down but the idea of Nick or Walter coming out at any time stops me. In this moment, I suddenly get an image in my head; I'm standing in a dark enclosed space. There's a square hole leading down into an abyss. Why am I thinking of this? I feel a cold blade placed at my neck and hear a woman breathe in my ear. I inhale sharply.

"Ivy...ohh lovely Ivy..." she chuckles. I don't know this voice.
"Who- who are you?" I shakily say.
"Oh, you know who I am..." My eyes enlarge. "Jennifer!" I spin around.

"Oh my god!" There she is! She looks terrible! Her hair is strung out, her eyes are red from exhaustion, she's extremely pale and she's boney. I place a shaking hand over my chest as I watch her run the knife over her arm, cutting it, making blood seep out and drip on the floor.

"You..." she says with an insane, murderous glint in her eyes, then she starts snickering, "Nick is quite infatuated with you... Oh yes he is..." I fearfully start backing up as she walks closer to me. Just then, the door flies open and then I feel a warm, male hand grab my mouth. I try to scream and fight him. Jennifer hisses at him and readies the knife to throw at us. He pulls me close and whispers in my ear, "Dormi acuma Ivy." his hand quickly slides away from my mouth to my neck and he tips me over his arm to make me look up at his face. I snatch his shirt collar, "Nick wait! Jennifer-" His eyes brighten, "Don't worry draga mea...dormi acuma." I try to look away but I can't; for some reason, I'm locked on his eyes. The room around him is getting darker by the second. "Nick," My grip on him is loosening out of sudden exhaustion. "You need rest." He whispers. Everything is going black. What is happening?! The last thing I feel is him pick me up into his arms, and then I'm out.

*Dormi acuma Ivy.

Sleep now Ivy.