• At first, I thought I was home; with sudden movements, my head hitting something that felt like metal, and the fast moving lights beyond my eyelids, I knew that I wasn't there. I opened my eyes to see a shadowed figure, who's face lit up only a moment every time we passed a light. The only thing I could make out of this figure, was that it was male. Another sudden jerk and my head hit the metal again. I now had the impression I was in a vehicle of some kind. I was about to speak, but I felt duct tape around my mouth. I tried to move my arms but I felt chords around my wrists. I groaned, and closed my eyes hoping that this was some odd dream. I felt a hand on my head, in attempt to sooth me.

    I opened my eyes hoping to see a familiar face, but it was the shadowed man again. I groaned, knowing that attempting to scream would be useless.

    "Your bonds temporary. We cannot have you making any... distractions... for our driver," the man spoke in a cold and empty tone. It made my flesh crawl with goosebumps. He put his hand on my head again. "You should try to sleep. I don't know how much you'll get when, He sees you."

    I of course, had no idea who "he" was, but my imagination got carried away with some creepy guy in a black suit, petting a cat, and looking at me like I was his next meal. I shuddered and glared at the man. What on earth was I doing here? Why did I have to get taken from my nice warm bed? I didn't do anything special. I mean seriously? A mousy brown haired girl, with tiny brown eyes, and as gangly as a pole isn't much to look at. And the same could be said about my gracefulness.

    The ride got smoother as we went along, and I felt myself begin to drift off, but I didn't want to take my eyes off the man. I didn't want to know what he'd do with me if I fell asleep. Suddenly everything went black, at first I thought I had fallen asleep, but the sound of a door sliding open and the feeling of hands around my waist told me I wasn't. I heard the sound of a large switch, and then I was temporarily blinded as I was turned towards the light and pulled out of the van.

    The man was behind me, so I couldn't see his face any better than inside the van. I looked around, but all I saw was white and the black of the tires of the van. I let out a yelp as the man moved his hold on me a little higher up. He mumbled something to me, but I didn't catch it. He dragged me to a door, this was when I realized my feet were tied up, and pushed me into a pitch black room.

    Great... I thought to myself, I get kidnapped from home, tied up and gagged, and then thrown into a dark room for no reason. I officially hate my life right now. It was cold in the room, and the tank top and matching shorts I was wearing didn't help in the least. The silence in the room, was creepy. It was as though the room was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Then I heard the faint sounds of fluttering. I looked around me, but all I could see was black. It got quiet again. I was on my knees, looking like some hostage off of some hijacker movie. Then I felt hot breath against my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. I looked to the side of me, still black. I felt my heart beating quicker, and could hear it pounding in my ears. I closed my eyes and began to ask anything that could help me, to take me back home. My answer was the feeling of a cold hand on my shoulder. Another hand, with what felt like long nails, pulled away the duct tape around my mouth. I let in a cold deep breath, my heart beating faster than before.

    "Hello, little one. Welcome to my home. I hope you enjoy it here," as deep male voice whispered in my ear. My hair on the back of my neck raised and I felt my stomach turn to lead. "Go on, say something. I'm not going to hurt you..."

    "Why am I here? Who are you? What do you want with me?" I blurted out. I was afraid that if I didn't speak anything, that I wouldn't be able to talk ever again.

    "Why?... You'll figure it out in due time. Who am I? Lets see if you recognize me with a little candlelight?" Flames burst around the room, showing me a room that might have fit in an 1800's mansion. Before me was a golden skinned man wearing only a pair of black baggy pants. He had dirty blond hair and strange eyes that wouldn't stay one color long enough for me to pick one. I've never seen him before. Ever...

    "I can tell by your eyes that you do not recognize me. How about now?" The man said as he morphed into a black skinned monster with bat like wings and thick curling horns. His nails became claws that glinted in the flames of candlelight. I was afraid of what I saw and closed my eyes hoping that this was still all a dream.

    "You still don't remember me? I guess... the curse is getting stronger. I'll introduce myself for a... five-thousandth time, little one. I am... was, known to you as Lysander. But my 'true' name is Seth." He slashed through the chords around my wrists and feet, then pulled one of my free hands into his claws.

    "I... um... well..." I stuttered, not really knowing what to think. He pulled my hand gently to his lips, while changing into his previous form, and kissed my hand.

    "It's a pleasure to meet you again... well I can't call you your previous name now can I? You don't remember. All part of the stupid curse... May I know what to call you, little one?" He asked me, still holding my hand.

    "Kia," I replied. I tried to pull my hand away, but his grasp tightened.

    "Well then Kia, come. I'll show you around my manor once more." With that, Lysander led me through a maze of hallways and corridors, showing me things like libraries, ballrooms, kitchens, and other things. The farther into the manor we went, the farther back in time the architecture changed. What once was wood now had turned to solid stone. We came down a hallway where it ended with a door. Lysander stopped and looked at me for a moment. He turned the knob, and gently opened the door. I gasped at what I saw....