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She looked at me hopefully "Do you really believe that? You are not afraid?"

With a wild laugh, I twirled away froypsy woht their dark expressions out of the corner ofthem to keep silent, then rushed back to shower May with kisses as I pressed her firrand day Now rest up!"

Iher kisses, then shut the door firet the expression on her delicate face She was afraid Later, I realized she was afraid forhosts and other horrible creatures," I said to the gypsy wohed softly as the other crossed herself

"There is lish know," the soypsy followed, holding her lantern high

I frowned, following, quite perturbed by their behavior There was a certain part of me that was quite taken with the castle It seeothic romance that was found in the sensationalistic penny dreadfuls I could easily i the shrouded hallways and lurking in the darkened doorways

I shivered as er was the Prince The way he had gazed at me had unnerved me I had had a few men look uponwhat the caress of ainst theirs However, I was certain the Prince had been i uidingmy family far down the hall

"Why is my room so far away froiving you the nicest rooypsy woman said as she opened a door for me

The spacious rooe bed with beautiful, rich bedclothes that were showing their great age, and I wrinkled htgoas laid out for me on the turned down covers

I frowned "This is the nicest roo my rather rude question, they shut the door solidly behind me

This was such a horrid place Yes, the décor was ornate, but it was so old So worn So ancient

In the corner, steam rose from a small basin set out so I could freshen up I quickly discarded ed into the nightgown I longed for a proper bath, but that did not seeht over the s, I cliled down under the cover, atte outside theand thunder boo Except for the fire raging in the fireplace across the roohosts and goblins, entertaining a hed aloud at the ridiculous concept As I did every night, I said ht I heard whispers just beyond the edge of lanced about the room It was empty, yet I could still hear the hushed voices

"Who is there?"

There was no direct answer to er just on the edge of lared at the doorway "Who is at my door?"

Slowly, I ca froan to feverishly look about for any source of the odd phenomenon Try as Iin

"Ihair falling around my shoulders, I put a hand to my face As I listened, the soft whispers faded away Eventually, I began to believe I had iined the entire incident

Weary from the journey, disturbed by my own hallucinations, I cli with ht

Soon, sleep claimed me, and I fell into a restless slureat bed, in this old dark castle, I dreaest drea overto his waist A strange pendant hung against his e drea uponers

"Yes, my dearest Glynis, you are the one"

And in this dreahtened and arouseddown the bedclothes Moving onto the bed, he knelt over ertips Sliding a hand underhelplessly to my sides Slowly, his other hand dipped seductively intoheart

Into beat harshly, and I strained to fully open my eyes My body was on fire beneath his touch

Desire in his eyes, he leaned over, breathing inaway fro my throat I wanted to screahtmare, this odd dreaesture of a dark promise of as to come

"Soon," he said

A deep ht and looked about quite anxiously The bed was e partially off the bed My hand flew to my throat and it felt daown fell loosely over one shoulder, exposing one breast I quickly covered it, irrationally fearing it would so tofro into every darkened corner, and behind every piece of furniture I fancied I would find the Prince hiding there, waiting to ravish me once more in my sleep, but he was no where to be found

I was quite alone

The room was empty

The Prince did not dwell in the shadows

I was alone

Heart thudding, I forcedin returning

Chapter 3

The Journal of Lady Glynis Wright - Continued

I was already lying awake staring into the shadohen ht The breeze wafting through theI had opened shortly after awakening was cool and fresh I slipped from the bed and moved toward the , desperate to see the sun I had craved the war sun in hopes that it would chase away the wraiths of the night When it finally spilled over the horizon, the light felt cold and harsh, and I shrank back from theA chill fluttered over htmares seemed far away, yet I was still unnerved The power of their intensity lingered within htened me Its hidden supernatural pulse beat loudly in ue I felt quite irrational and foolish after the harrowing night in the forsaken castle I felt I had been claie, terrible dream