Jonathan picked up his young bride in his arms, "Oh Jonathan, how romantic" She told him and kissed him deeply, "I have to admit this is a bit exciting." "You see my dear," Jonathan said with a sly smile, "It doesn't have to be all bad now does it?" The coachman was long gone now and they were alone, so why did he still feel as if eyes were upon him? He stood there a moment longer with his wife in his arms, it was dark and the wind sent cold chills down his back. He stepped towards the door and fumbled a moment with the large brass knob. The great door slowly creaked open and they stepped over the threshold. "Welcome to your new home my dear..."

Everything inside was left untouched except for what the rats had got. And the dust of time that showed its mark. Armed with candlelight and open eyes, through the dark they fought their way 'Til every room was lit again.

"This place does have a certain...charm to it." Miriam said lighting the last candle she blew out the long wooden match and continued, "Now that it's all lit up its not nearly as dreadful as it was, don't you think so my dear?"

Jonathan was staring transfixed at an old portrait of a graying but noble old man. He knew this man, this face so much like his own. It was his Grandfather the great Count de LaFey, Jonathan knew very little about him for he had died seven years before he was born in 1811. What he did know was that he was once a hard as nails soldier who had fought his way out of the slums of London as a young man and on to some of the greatest battlefields of Europe and Asia. He eventually was promoted up the ranks till he was commanding legions of men, in this way he managed to claim some land of his own and the title of Count.

For some reason after his marriage to the Countess De LaFey nothing more is really know, No one ever talked about it...

As he stared at the portrait it began to take on a life of its own...It began to breathe! No that was not quite true it seemed that the entire house began to breathe, it seemed to be alive!

Jonathan jumped as his wife gripped his shoulder and began to shake him, "OH Jonathan you scared the devil out of me!" She cried wrapping her arms around him, weeping she said. "It was like you weren't there! I called your name again and again and you just stood there... staring at that dreadful portrait!" Her voice was stronger now almost angry, "Well who is it anyway? why were you acting that way?" She demanded.

"Its my Grandfather, The old Count." He tried not to snap at her but after what he had just seen he was a bit unnerved, "He was the man who built this place." It was clear that Miriam had not seen what he had seen. Maybe she was just to freighted over his own strange behavior to notice anything else. That or maybe...just maybe he was going mad? Either way it would do no good to tell her what had happened so he said, "I am sorry my dear it must have been the long trip." He reassured her, "Now come the candlelight has begun to fade," Jonathan said "Let's go to bed" The fireplace had ceased to burn and both were fast asleep before the dawn, Dreaming...Dreaming but they did not know about the shadow on the wall it really came Alive!

The darkness came closer to home on the following night and Miriam slept like a rock when Jonathan's face went white.

The bedroom was ice cold but the fire was burning still the flames themselves seemed frozen as if the cold of the mansion had drained out the soul of the fire! Suddenly there was a blinding light that swept over the room and a mist began to rise from the floor, curling its way around his body like a serpent entwining itself in every nook and cranny of the room.

Through the mist, surrounded in a halo of bright light a ghostly figure began to appear before him! It was The Family Ghost had risen again... The Ghost of his Grandfather, "Don't be scared," came a haunting voice, "Don't be scared now my friend I am Count de LaFey, Let me take you to the crypt down below where Abigail rests!"

Jonathan could not believe his eyes the apparition moved closer and said, "Let Miriam sleep she never would understand now come let us go... It's time to know" Jonathan did not know what else to do so he followed the ghost on a winding path through the mansion. They swept past the hall of portraits where the painting of the count seemed to glow in their wake. Down the grand staircase and strange as it seems even though his mind was numb from the shock of what was happening he could still feel the cool smoothness of the highly polished, hand crafted banister as his hand slide down the length of it, and in spite of himself he couldn't help thinking of how Miriam had admired the stairs when they first saw them, she had said that they were the most elegant part of the house. They even shared a joke about how she had better not find Jonathan sliding down them. It was the first and only time they had laughed since they had arrived...

He realized that he had paused at the foot of the stairs, lost in his thoughts, when the ghost called to him "Come We Must Go...Time Is Growing Short!" They continued on through the darkened mansion. The apparition always floating just a few feet ahead after the passed the main entry they turned into the dining hall were the count passed right down through the center of the great table that ran the length of the room, passing eerily through the center-piece that had sat there since the count himself had dined there. Jonathan of course choose to go around the table following him through the servants entrance to the room. Jonathan had not yet explored this part of the mansion and probably never would have if not for this unearthly visitor.

The servants area of the mansion was like stepping into another world, gone were the lavish wall hanging and colorful portraits, in their place was chipped and peeling paint and even in the dim light he could plainly see that the dingy and meager conditions that the servants lived in were far and removed from that of the count and his wife. They passed quickly through the servant's quarters and came out though an undiscript doorway beneath the north staircase. They crossed the north hall and went back under the stairs through another door on the opposite side of the arch like staircase. Jonathan realized that he had not even noticed either of these doors before, they were so well hidden right in plain sight. This door had brought them down a darkened hall filled with cobwebs from the years and years of being unused. At the end of the hall, there was a carved archway and in the dim candlelight, he could see the images carved into the stone, Devils and demons danced along the center of the arch and at each end there were praying angels on bent knees. What Jonathan didn't see was scrawled on the floor in a smeared black chalk were the words
'Herein Lies Evil'
Beyond the arch were the steepest stairs Jonathan had ever seen. They were quiet narrow and it made him feel dizzy just looking down them. He carefully stepped forward.

"Wait!" the haunting figure said suddenly, "Beware of the slippery stairs You could easily fall and break Your neck! Now hand me that torch and I will lead the way to the secret in the dark. Take a look into the vault, The sarcophagus...of a child...Abigail has been in here for years and years...stillborn!"

Abigail, Jonathan thought to himself why does that seem so hauntingly familiar? The Count Continued, "The spirit of Abigail is inside your Wife and there's only one way You can stop the rebirth of evil itself!" He paused and in the silence Jonathan knew what was to come next. In a voice that chilled, he's bones the Count said,
"You must take her life now..."

"WHAT?!" Jonathan exclaimed, "Why, why must I kill my wife?" He asked the Count. "Who is this Abigail and what does she have to do with my Mariam?"

An ominous look came over his ghostly face, his empty eye sockets burned red with the memory of that time so long ago..."It was so long ago yet it seems like only a fort-night..." he paused attempting to control himself,

"The year was 1777 and I was finally going to have my heir but after nine months of loving and sharing I found out that my dear beloved wench of a wife had been having yet another one of her scandalous affairs! You could say that I 'uncovered' my cheating wife shortly before she was to give birth...How could I have been so blind?" he continued, "Needless to say no bastard baby will inherit what's mine so in my grief I began to plot a terrible plan I knew then that she would die before giving birth." a sinister look came crossed his face, "I knew that time was short and the perfect date for such an evil deed was fastly approaching it would be the 7th Day of July and she would be dead!" with that he let loose a haunting laugh. Jonathan shivered and asked, "Wh...What did you d..do?" at that instant the basement room went black! Now poor Jonathan knew true fear, around him in the air the face of the Count began to glow his cold dead face seemed almost alive in all it twisted glory. then beside him appeared another face and then another, until all he could see were those empty sunken eyes, burning holes right through Jonathan’s soul. Suddenly the faces began to swirl around Jonathan’s head mockingly they spoke together and in turn they said, "Why Jonathan ...Have you not yet Guessed? A ray of eerie light shone down on the stairs that we had just descended, the old brick and mortar wore cracks all along the wall. The steps that were so narrow and small, a treacherous place it would be to take a fall...before his eyes the ghostly scene begins to play out...

At the top of the stairs Jonathan could see her standing there, a beautiful image in white, in contrast to the darkness within. The light from behind her shown with a heavenly brilliance that made the Countess look like an 'Angel of light'. Although her face was shrouded in shadow he could see the fear in her eyes. Oh yes, she hated going down these slippery stairs and she wouldn’t if she had her drothers but for some ungodly reason her husband had given all the servant’s the night off! What was that fool thinking? She thought angrily to herself as she began to descend the stairs. Suddenly behind her stepped the huge figure of her husband, the Count's eyes held a dark, deep hatered his upper lip was curled back in a snarl and even from where Jonathan stood he could hear the low animal like growl. The Countess heard it to and she spun around her heart pounding from her chest. When she saw his face she knew that he had come to kill her. So he pushed her down the stairs to die... "No" She cried out as his powerful hands struck her in the chest and shoulder. She tumbled down the steep stairs until she hit the bottom of the stairs. The Countess had broken her neck, her lifeless eyes stared vacantly at the ceiling.

The scene changed, the count stood over his wife’s limp and lifeless form. His hands and shirt were covered in her blood. He had become obsessed with a strange idea he would mummify the girl for the future to find... and he did! First he cut the baby from her womb and then he dragged the body up the stairs and out of the mansion through the servant’s entrance. Once outside he burned his 'beloved' Wife.

Returning to the cellar he began the process of mummification, his methods were crude but effective and by the time he was finished he decided that he would name the baby and in his madness he spoke to the little dead girl, "Oh you thought you would take what’s mine did you! For that I curse your soul for all time!" He began chanting words that Jonathan could not understand when he was finished he said, "Abigail you must rest in shame, Rest in shame!"

With that the room went dark and Jonathan was left alone with his fear. Could all that he had seen be real? How else would he have found himself standing here in the cellar cold and shivering but covered in sweat? He began to doubt his own sanity, but still he tried his best to shake it off and make his way back to his bed. Stumbling forward, hands outstretched he felt his way toward the stairs and quickly made his way back to the master bedroom. Thankfully Mariam was still asleep, he quietly crawled into the bed beside her and was asleep within moments. His rest would not be sound all the rest of the night his dreams were filled with the images of the night before, he could still hear her screaming as she fell down the stairs. Suddenly he found himself in front of a strangely familiar church and although he knew that nobody was inside the church the bell was ringing! For no reason the flowers are dying! Oh these were deadly omens indeed! The next thing he knew he was back inside the mansion, the air is unbearable, a rotten smell of death he steps forward and in a hazy blur he finds himself in the dinning room the table is set for 3! What could it mean? He thought to himself, when through the haze he swore that he could see Mariam standing there holding her enlarged stomach, caressing it with a blank lifeless look on her face. In the background he heard the sound of a baby crying. The sound grew louder and louder until the sound filled his head, filled the room, filled the entire mansion! He covered his ears but to no avail, he looked up and through his own tear stained eyes he could see Mariam holding out the baby to him and he screamed!

He awoke bolt upright still screaming, the tears running down his cheeks, it had seemed so real! He reached out next to him for his wife but she was not there nor was she anywhere in the room. He tried to calm himself as he got out of bed and slipped on his housecoat. Jonathan began to make his way around the mansion, room by room searching for his wife but what he found made him stop dead in his tracks and drop to his knees! He could not believe his eyes in the center of one of the unused rooms was a sight that made him believe all the crazy events of the previous evening.

He called out to his wife. "Miriam come here and see what I've found, it's moving!" he could hear her running toward him she must have heard the terror in his voice, "Look" he screamed to her, "An empty cradle swaying in the air!" He jumped to his feet and said accusingly, "I did not bring it in here, now did You?" grabbing ahold of her shoulders and shaking her. When mariam saw the cradle all she could say was "No, no, no" over and over tears streaming down her face, she broke away from her husband and ran down the hall....

Miriam slammed the door to the master bedroom, throwing herself on the bed she continued to weep until she fell asleep.

On the very next morning when the mist was eaten away by the sun Miriam woke up to find out that she was growing hour by hour! She held her stomach and she could not believe she looked as if she was 5 months along she began to get out of bed and collapsed back, suddenly she heard...no felt a voice in her head...so softly at first 'Miriam....Miriam' and then louder and more insistent. 'MIRIAM! CAN YOU HEAR ME?' As if from the depths of her soul, a cold chill begins to rise through her body and the room begins to slowly spin and darken. Her heart raced, beads of sweat rolled down her face as she struggled to get out of bed. she slowly got to her feet but she felt as if she had no control of herself she held out her hand and it seemed to be someone else's it was as if her body was no longer her own...she cried out for Jonathan However, nothing came out! She tried to walk to the door but her feet would not move! suddenly the world was frozen in time the colors of the room around her sharpened and then began to blur as her consiousness seemed to be pulled inside her as she sank deeper and deeper into into her mind that had now become a prison.

Abigail had taken control of Miriam. She began to walk down the hall to the room where Jonathan was still crouched down on his knees crying he knew the ghost had been telling the truth. This was 9 he knew the pregnancy would not last overnight!

Oh she started singing a lullaby, rocking the cradle again And then she said "I'm having Your baby my love" But it wasn't love, Oh no She was possessed... and he knew...

"I will get what is rightfully mine!" The voice of Abigail came from Miriam Speaking with different tongues, Miriam was eaten alive from inside and again she said "I'm having Your baby my love" But it wasn't love, Oh no Jonathan knew she was possessed... possessed

Jonathan jumped to his feet and spun around to face his wife. his tears now turned to a deep hatred, "Abigail, I know You're in control of her brain, Abigail!" he screamed at her, "And I know that You're the one that's speaking through her, Abigail!" he grabbed her shoulders looked deep into her eyes searching for some small trace of his once beautiful and loving wife, "Miriam can You hear me?"

Miriam/Abigail threw back her head and laughed "I am alive inside Your Wife" she shrieked in an unearthly voice, "Miriam's dead, I am her head..." Jonathan cut her off, he was furious. "Abigail, don't You think I know what You've done, Abigail!" He pushed her away in disgust and said, "I'll get a priest, and he will know How to get her soul back!" His mind raced what would he do now. Who would help him? His heart sank when suddenly...

Miriam doubled over as if in pain, strange sounds came from deep within her alternating between her own beautiful voice and that of the deep guttural voice of the monster bitch Abigail. Grabbing first her head and then her stomach, still bent over she looked up at her terrified husband but her eyes were only white they were so far rolled back in her head. She made a choking sound and for a moment, Jonathan feared she was having a seizure and that she might swallow her own tongue!

He could no longer stand by and watch this happen to the women he loved. Possessed or not he did love her and he had to try to comfort her, he drew her close to him and wrapped his arms around her. Caressing her hair and whispering softly to her, he rocked her as if she was a small child. with all his might, he willed her to over come the spirit inside of her lending his strength to her on a level that can only be shared between a husband and his wife. It appeared to work for when she again looked up at him her beautiful blue eyes were as clear as the day he first gazed into them some three years past when they literally bumped into each other, he remembered that warm and sunny afternoon well, he was on his way up the marble steps in front of the old church and she was on her way down. They were both lost in thought and didn't see each other coming until the next thing he knew Jonathan was grabbing her up in his arms to keep them both from falling head over heels down the hard marble steps. When their eyes met for the first time he felt a tingle run down his spine. She quickly pulled away and begged his pardon. He tried to say something but found himself quite tongue-tied. She excused herself and briskly walked away and still he just stood there watching her stride away from him. At the moment, he knew he would have to find out more about this enchanting young woman.

And he did, it did not take long for someone of his status to find out all he needed to know about his future wife to be. Her name was Miriam Natias and she came from a well to do upper-middle class family. Her father, Edward T. Natias was a moderately successful and well-respected businessman from the east end as well as a town council man. Her mother, Ellenore was a elegant women with strong ties to the church and preformed with the Rivendal Women's Choir and had acted in many critically acclaimed plays and musicals. Thankfully, Miriam had been watching her mother rehearse with the church choir on the day they met.

He had to have her so he arranged another 'chance' meeting but this time he would be prepared. Dressed in his favorite suit, the black one that always seemed to win favor over the ladies. His most romantic book of poetry in hand he set out to 'bump' into her again. By now he knew her routine pretty well and every Saturday morning without fail she goes and watches her mother rehearse with the R.W.C. it started around 9:00 and ended at 11:30 he got there at 8:45 his anticipation of seeing her and this time actually talking with this women that had consumed his life for the last three weeks made his heart pound and his palms sweet.

He sat toward the back of the church so that he could see her easily once she arrived. He read over some of the poems from the book he brought trying his best to memorize a few of his favorites. The choir came out and began their rehearsal his head snapped up from his reading and glanced around the church, There were about a dozen or so parishioners dotted about the room some listening others quietly singing along with the choir. Alter boys hurried about the room doing their various chores but there was no sign of Miriam! His heart sank were could she be? He began to get up to leave when he saw her walk in through the large double doors at the back of the church. The bright morning sunlight shown from behind her silhouetting her body, his heart skipped a beat and his breath caught in his throat. For a moment she looked like an angel, her long brown hair flowed down around her shoulders, her dress flapped in the gentle breeze and along with the sunlight provided a tantalizing glimpse of her 'forbidden' fruits.

He quickly sat back down hoping that she had not seen him staring at her like a lovesick schoolboy. Luckily she was so worried about being late that she was oblivious of anything else she strode past where he sat with nary a glance. He sat there watching her for two hours mindful of her every move, her every smile gave wings to his heart and he realized that without a word passing between them he had somehow fallen in love with her. When the rehearsal was over he set his plan in motion, he had to time it perfectly along with his book of poems he had brought along many papers and a few other small books, he filled his arms with the books and papers as she began to make her way toward where he had been sitting. He did his best to act as if he had not seen her coming when he stepped out right in front of her and although they barely bumped each other he let all the books and papers fall everywhere. "Oh my" Miriam couldn't help but giggle at the sight he looked up at her pretending to be flustered but at the sound of her joyful light-hearted laughter he could not help but laugh at himself. both of them laughing they simultaneously bent to pick up the mess of papers when they softly bumped heads causing Jonathan to fall back over the arm of the bench and on to his bottom sending the papers he had picked up to go flying all about again. At this, they both laughed even harder tears rolled down their faces. As they struggled to pick up the rest of the papers, "ACHM" the choir leader cleared his throat and shook his head in disapproval of their antics. They quieted down to a soft giggle and quickly headed out of the church.

"I'm Miriam" she said once they were safely away from the watchful eyes of the alderman. She held out her hand, taking her hand in his bowing deeply he kissed it and said "Jonathan...Jonathan Lafey at your service." She smiled at him and in that moment, their hearts were one...

"Oh Jonathan," her voice brought him back to the present with a start. "This is Miriam our time is out remember the stairs, it's the only way" Jonathan could not believe was this really his wife or just a trick? He had no choice but to play along, so he said, "Abigail, nothing I can do but give in, Abigail" He knew that this was his only chance he had to hope that Miriam was really inside fighting for control. Then in that evil demonic voice Miriam said, "Jonathan, I agree... Yes I do" "I am alive inside Your Wife, Miriam's dead, I am her head... soon I'll be free!!!"

So there they stood at the top of the stairs gazing down the steep narrow stairs below. Miriam in the mood and Jonathan was scared! Gazing into the dark, Jonathan saw the star and for just a second he turned his back and she was there like a ghost She pushed him hard and clean to the bottom of the stairs. "Now we're finally alone, Miriam! Abigail is here to stay" The voice of Abigail said from inside of Miriam.

Now the birth of Abigail would soon be realized it would be the second coming of a devil in disguise! It was a hot and moonless night it truly was darker than ever before... Deep inside of her now possessed body, The soul of Miriam was crying out in pain Remembering that awful day arrival in the rain and again she screamed inside herself but Abigail could no longer hear her, for as her rebirth grew near she began to lose control over Miriam. So much so that for the first time since her arrival Miriam felt like herself again. A glimmer of hope shown on her confused face, 'Maybe I've won!' she thought to herself. 'Lord please deliver me from this hellish nightmare!'

Unbeknownst to Miriam her fate was already sealed! The only reason she gained control of herself was because Abigail had drawn in her consciousness to prepare for her rebirth. She stumbled down a few of the dark stairs before the first of the labour pains hit her. It was mild at first just a tightening in her stomach accompanied by a dull ache in her groin. She stopped for only a moment to catch her breath and then carefully continued down the stairs she had to see if Jonathan was alright when she stopped again to catch her breath she could have sworn she heard a low moan come up from the darkness below.

Despite her need to hurry she had to stop and sit for just a moment the pain was back and she felt she couldnt take another step, her legs shook and with every step she feared that she would lose her footing and follow he husband tumbulling down these horrid steps. Oh Jonathan how could it have come to this? How could their love bring about such a dire end? No dont even think it! She thought to herself, he just had to be alright he's probably hit he's head and well soon awaken and take her from this place. Back to the home they should have never left! Lord knows she had not wanted to leave, oh how they went round and round about it when they first heard the news that they had inharited his grandfathers mansion and that he actually expected her to pick up and move away from her family and her life and go off to some god forsaken place like this.

That man can be as stubburn as a mule, she thought to herself, the last year of their engagment things had not been that good between them. She was surprised that she had married him at all...no she wasnt, as angry as she had been with him she could not lie to herself. Things had not always this way she remembered back to thier first kiss she had never acted so impulsivly but after that silly boy went through so much trouble to 'accidently' run into her and made such a scene, did he really think i didnt know how he had been asking about her all around town? That she wouldnt remember him from their first encounter? Those ruggedly handsome features his proud broad shoulders how could she have forgotten him? after thier first meeting she had hoped he would call on her and when she seen him standing there staring at her in the church it was all she could do to act like a lady and cooly walk past him, he was the man after all and he would have to make the first move as much as she longed to know him she would not be that kind of women, her aunt was like that and she was known as the town harlot!

but finaly he had made his move and the next thing she knew she was in his arms under the willow tree in the park behind the church. She knew that she shouldnt be there, that she should make him court her properly before ever letting him touch her like this but there was something about this man that made her feel like it was...destiny that they be together as if some force had been bringing them together. All she knew then was that it felt right, so she kissed him. all she knew was his name and that he made her laugh and for now that was more then enough. That very day as they walked hand in hand talking about everything and nothing the way only young lovers can do she fell hopelessly in love with him...

The pain brought her out of her thoughts, it was worst this time much more intense then before and she knew that if she did not hurry done the stairs she would be in big trouble! when the contraction stopped she quikly made her way down the rest of the stair but just as she reached the bottom steps the pain returned but this time it was excuriating! Agony ripped through her body and she fell to the ground in a heap next to Jonathan. The pain was so bad that she couldnt even scream out all thoughts abandoned her except one she must reach Jonathan! with the last of her strengh she reached a shaky hand out to her husbands lifeless body. "oh Joanathan" she managed to whisper to him.

The pain of labour was so strong that Miriam died her final seeing was a pair of yellow eyes!

Riding from beyond, The Seven Horsemen would arrive before the dawn; they were servants of the count, when Abigail was born the first time. Through the Darkness the Horsemen raced toward the mansion, they heard the call of their master and they knew the time had come. 'I warned them, why would they not listen to me?' O'Brian thought to himself, 'Maybe I should have told him the truth that he was my son, then he just might have listened...' still he could not help but wonder would he have believed me even then? Jonathan had the same stubburn streak his mother had that was one of the things he loved about her...One of the many things he loved about her...

His mind wandered back to a better day. His time with Julie LaFey was short but she had loved him like no other. She bore him his son and he loved her for that more then anything. If only things could have went differently...if only.

The hooves pounding the ground matched the pounding of his heart. He feared the worst for his son and Miriam and now with his master sending for them it could only mean one thing, Abigail has been reborn! The count had told him that someday Abigail would return. He knew that the count would want them to kill her, but the Count did not know his secret. The count would be furious if he knew the truth...if he knew what he had planned. O'brian knew he would not live to see the light of morn'.

They drew in reins as they approached the gates of the mansion. Once they were within a few feet of the old iron gate, it slowly creaked open and O'brian knew that it was the unseen hands of the Count. He could feel his presence all around him and it sent chills running down his spine. Even after all his years of service he had not gotten use to his unearthly presence. Once through the gates the count appeared before them in all his dark glory. "Ahh my loyal Horsemen you are here just in time. It was as I foretold, Abigail has been conceived and has once again brought evil to this place!" In all the years he had worked for Lefay, this was the first time that he ever heard fear in the Count’s voice. The Count continued, "You will find her in the sarcophagus, but beware it is a gruesome sight. Baby Abigail has been eating...oh I cannot tell you!" O'Brian could only imagine what the count had meant. "You must take her and bring her to the chapel in the forest." The Count continued his voice growing more powerful then O'brian had ever heard before, "So go now...The ceremony and the coffin's waiting!!!"

The Horsemen quickly made their way through the mansion their black cloaks flapping out behind them as their long and confident strides wisked them like ghostly shadows to and then down the slippery stairs, at the bottom of which O'Brian's worst fears where realized! There, in the shadows at the foot of the stairs, the lifeless form of his son Jonathan. Although he had not been able to be apart of his sons life, he had always loved him and not a day went by that he did not think of him. He swallowed hard and slowly stepped forward. He told his men, "I'll check on this one, the rest of you spread out and find that baby." He crouched down to check for any sign of life and when he rolled him over the light of the torch shined upon his face. He looked so much like his mother...in that moment his mind went back to the day Julie gave birth to him. She was a strong woman and although he knew she was in great pain, she did not cry out. "It wont be long now my dear, your doing just wonderful," he encouraged her. Then another contraction ripped through her body, she clamped down hard on his hand with a strength he had not imagined his wife could manage. She gritted her teeth and pushed one final and powerful push. Then he was there. She had given him his son...if only things had been different.

The Shouts from his men snapped him back to reality, "She's here sir." His lieutenant ran up to him and said, "Saints preserve us but lord did we find her!" He was clearly shaken and O'Brian could not understand why, "Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Man she's just a baby! What could be so bad that you would be shaking like a women?" "But..but sir you don't understand...you'll have to see for yourself." He spun around to do just that. When two more of his men came from the room where Abigail was they were holding their mouths and were turning greener by the second. One of his men crossed himself and said, "You have never seen the likes of this!"

Now he was really curious, he pushed passed his men and into the room where Abigail lay eating Miriam's intestines and internal organs! She truly was a demon child. Maybe he was wrong, and for the first time he questioned his plan. He shook his head. No, he told himself, I will do what is right but first he had to get her away from the mansion and the Counts control. He called to his men, "Come we must bind the child and take her to the forest."

Sometime later in the Horsemen's chapel, the seven horsemen were gathered around a small coffin that had been placed on the altar. In each of their hands was a silver spike and on each of their faces was a mask of foreboding and fear. Inside the coffin sat an innocent looking baby, her tiny hands now unbound. She looked like an angel. At the head of the coffin was Father O'Neil. He was the Order’s clergy and he had just begun the ceremony.

"We are gathered here tonight
to lay to rest Abigail LaFey,
whom we now know was first born dead on
The 7th Day of July, 1777.
Abigail must be nailed to her coffin
with Seven Silver Spikes,
One through each arm, hand and knee,
and let the last of the seven be drawn through her mouth
so that she may never rise and cause evil again!

Who will be the first?"

"I, O'Brian of the Black Horsemen,
forbid this sacrilege
You all know that this Demon Child has
Abigail's spirit inside
But what you don't know is that she is
the reincarnation of my stillborn half-sister
Her spirit is not Evil, nor is it Good
All it wants, is to make things right again
So spare this life, through which revenge can be mine
And Abigail can find her final peace"

"I, O'Brian, have spoken"

"Let it be done"

The years they passed away into the shadows of memory and Abigail grew into a beautiful young woman. Her life living with O'Brian and the horsemen was good and filled with many adventures...but that is a story for another time...As for now, its been years since the coffin of nails and Abigail has just turned 18, standing in the pouring rain she remembered the day before, it was her birthday and she knew...No, she felt it in her soul that it was time to go. The horsemen had treated her well and she had even grown to love "Daddy" O'Brian as if he was her real father. Still she knew and had know for many years that there was something in her life that was left...unfinished.

She was sitting alone in her room thinking that everyone had forgotten her but hadn’t she mentioned it dozens of times when she was getting her lessons from Father O'Neil or Brother Thomas? Just the other day she remembered talking to her "Daddy" about how excited she was that she could finally go out and see the world. And not just into town were she went with Father O'Neil to get food stock and supplies for the brotherhood each and every week. No, she has bigger dreams then that she was going to see the world...but that would be after...after what? She did not know. She just knew that all her answers lay within the old mansion, she asked him about it yesterday when he finally came into her room later that night and said, "Abigail my dear, dear girl you are the daughter of my heart and I must say that I am so proud of the women you have become." The tears streamed down his face as he spoke, "As happy as I am that you are now a women and can enjoy all that life has to offer you but I am deeply saddened by your choice to leave the protection of the order and set out on your own...is there no talking you out of it?", he asked her pleadingly with the desperation that seemed more then just a father having to let go of his only daughter it was as if he knew something bad was going to happen to her...

She stood up quickly and with her hands on her hips and her lips pursed, she stared at him in that way that she always did when he was scolding her for breaking one of their many rules as she so often did. "I am no longer that little girl you can keep under your wing forever!" she said a bit harsher then she had meant to, she didn’t want to hurt him but she knew she had a destiny to fulfill and it wouldn’t happen living her life in this old chapel. So she asked him, "Why am I so drawn to the old mansion?" He looked puzzled so she went on, "You know the one down in the valley were the crossroads meet below...when I was out exploring by the hill I thought I seen something...", O'Brian looked at her disapprovingly he crossed his arms and glared at her, Hey, don’t look at me like that, I know I'm not supposed to play there but what are you going to do now?" she said teasing him, "Send me to my room?" she giggled and then put a scowl on her face mimicking his serious look. At this, they both broke out laughing and hugged each other.

I am sorry my dear, I know that you’re not a child anymore and I should not treat you as such. Its just that...well...its just so hard for me to let you go you know how I worry about you." he paused to look at her, brushing the hair from her eyes he kissed her on the forehead and said, "I want you to know that even though I am worried about you I still support your discussion," He reached into his pocket and drew out a small time worn box he paused and looked at the box in his hand with a far away look in his eyes. He seemed to be struggling with the discussion on what he should do. 'How can I tell her'? he thought to himself, 'But then again how can I not tell her'? It was for him to keep this secret from her any longer but how would she take it. Would she hate him for not telling her sooner? he knew that he was like a father to her and if she knew he was her half-brother all along how would she feel about him then? Never mind her knowing the truth about her death and rebirth and what she had done to her mother...could her mind handle such a revelation? He decided he could not tell her the whole truth of the matter so he began by giving her the package.

"This was your mothers". he told her, "She was wearing it when she...passed away...I..." he trailed off, Abigail slowly reached out a hand a look of wonder on her face. Tears ran down her cheeks as she took it in her hand. "Wha..what is it?" she asked him, "Go ahead and open it I think you'll be pleased". He smiled warmly at her and she controlled the trembling in her hands long enough to carefully open it.

"Its beautiful!" She held up her hand admiring a beautiful gold ring that still shined with an eerie glow. It held a large diamond in the center of a circle of blood red rubies. Abigail had never seen such an amazing thing in her life. It made her feel so close to her mother, the mother she never knew. "Thank you so much!" she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tightly, "You know no matter how far I go away from home you'll always be...my daddy." with that he could no longer hold back his emotions and together they wept. They wept for their love, for their pain, for their future. "Now off to bed with you you'll have a long day tomorrow" He kissed her on the forehead, said goodnight and closed the door behind him.

But that was yesterday, today she was a woman in every single way. Abigail was walking in the forest where The Darkness, it seems to be alive. It was hours ago that she left her home the chapel in which Black Horsemen saved her life. And now in the darkest night, a storm was born and Abigail, she did not know she was its prey!

In the storm itself a monster came alive chasing Abigail through the forest, lightning from the sky crashed all around her. Each flash turning the night sky to day casting eerie, unearthly shadows crossed the landscape. Then her face turned white never did she see the Eye that cried. Raindrops on her head, weeping for the dead, rain...turning red

"Oh no! Let me go back to my home!" She cried to the night, "Oh no! Oh!" For years after the town folks talked about this storm the old men would say, "God he looked away the night the storm it came" flash floods killed hundreds of poor souls in three counties. Down here in the valley the waters were raising threaten to wash out all of the roads leading to the mansion so Abigail braved the woods that were on some what higher ground. The crossroads were completely washed out so she skirted around the edges, which wasn’t so bad. She made her way up the hill the mansion was in her sights.

The rain was pulling on her hair when she seen it looming in the distance, lurking in the dark when lightning struck again the mansion showed itself in silhouette. She approached the rusty iron gates when suddenly she seen a haunting sights a mummified little baby girl with a lantern in her hand. Seeing the Little One, knowing that she was a ghost! The raindrops passed right through her and in the light of the stormy night the rain was turning red, weeping for the dead! The errie glow from the Little ones lantern lit up the dark just enough for her to make out a name on the gate. It said...
~Count de La Fey~

Abigail raised a hand and carefully touched the big iron ring, she gave a gentle push on the old gate and for a moment, she thought that it would open but the gates were locked from the inside Abigail was sure to die if she could not figure out some way to get inside. She knew it was too high to climb over and in the pouring rain the bars would be far to wet to grasp onto for long. As old and time worn as this gate was it was still a formidable obstacle.

Another explosion of lightening cracked above her head and in the fading flash of light she could see the little one begin to rise in the air, she floated there for a moment and Abigail could see something familiar in her eyes 'What was that?' she thought to herself, 'Something in its eyes..."How...how do I know thee little spirit? How come you to this place?" She asked it but The Little One said nothing as she slowly floated through her body and then through the gates. "Wait!" she cried out frantic that she would be left alone with no choice but to turn back, "Don’t leave...me..." she trailed off and slumped to the ground the exhaustion from all that she had been through that night became to much for her and she drifted into a trance like state her eyes slide shut yet still she seen visions twisting swirling before her eyes...

There was her mother drifting like a ghost in front of her as always in her dreams the face of her mother is shrouded in a death cowl. She could never make out her features because of course she had never seen the face of her mother, but on this wicked night in this unholy place she could almost see her mother’s eye as the feature seemed to clear and sharpen into focus. Then suddenly the face turned dark and an evil glare came from her mother’s eyes. Then the face and form began to shift and change becoming stooped and gnarled a flash of light and she seen it was no longer her mother but a man, an evil old man with hate in his eyes and a cane in his hand. He turned to her raised his cane in her direction and suddenly everything exploded in a blast of noise and light!

Abigail still in shock, awoken by the sound as the lightning was striking the trees all around and she realized she had been having visions again. She reached up for the iron ring once again to pull herself up when she heard a loud click and the gates, they opened wide. Beyond the gate was a sprawling courtyard so overgrown and unkempt that it hardly looked like a yard at all but more like a forest the many ancient trees and hedges loomed all around and a couple of them were split and smoldering from the lightning strikes.

A broad cracked pathway led up to the main entrance. The mansion was huge and sprawling and the shadows cast by the flashing light seemed to be alive... Abigail could feel the eyes of the old place peer out every window and you could feel the weight of the years pull on your soul if you stared too long into the darkness.

Abigail saw the glowing light coming from The Little One as she went down the path and up the stairs to the old oak door, she ran after Little One with all her might but Little One had gone, gone to the beyond just moments before she hit the door!

Abigail came to an abrupt stop before she herself ran face first into the aged, weatherworn door. For a moment she stood there trembling, more from fear then the cold wind that ripped and her hair and up her now tattered dress. But underneath it all she left something strange a mixed feeling of de ja vue, eager anticipation and a twinkling of evil deep down in the dark places of her soul that she never even knew existed. She raised her hand to knock why not she thought what else can I do? The rain ran down her shacking arm as her fingers touched the overly large gargoyle head that served as the knocker, a brass skull hung from a chain that was clenched in the gargoyles teeth. When her hand grasped the skull suddenly the door was open,

"Where have you been my dear? I’m Brandon Henry and I serve the master here."

Abigail stood there slack jawed, staring in amazement at the tall, ancient looking man with the shaven head. He had an almost joyful look on his face and Abigail could tell that it was not an expression that often graced the face of this one. No the deep lines in his face told a different story indeed Abigail thought, one of years of servitude and toil. Her hand was still in the air as if the great knocker were still there, Brandon took her hand in one of his white gloved hands and led her inside as she past the threshold she fit a deep chill run down her body and it took all her will not to faint. It was as if Brandon could tell what she was feeling and he gripped her hand firmly and took her arm by the hand and just above the elbow. His strength was not befit his old body for as tall as he was his frame was like a reed like a scarecrow she thought with a slight smile or she thought darkly, the smile slipped from her face as quickly as it came, the grim reaper! "You must come with me," he said, "The master awaits."

What!? She thought, how could he have known she was coming? Did he have me confused for another, expected lady caller? Yes that must be it, Abigail told herself trying to sooth her fears but in the back of her mind questions lingered...what self respecting lady would come to this place... and at this ungodly hour... in this hellish pour no less? What of the roads? were they not washed out... how would anyone whom was not on a quest such as hers ever find it necessary to travel so far from town on foot through the woods? She knew what the answer to all those questions and all the doubts were yet she could not bring herself to believe that this was somehow pre ordained. That somehow they had known she was seeking the truth and if so did she still even want to know? She thought all this and more as her mind raced to think of her next move not sure what else to do she followed saying nothing but she did pull her arm away after a few steps, she rubbed her arm vigorously attempting to rub the bone-chilling cold of his touch from her skin. She fell in step behind him and they walked on through a maze of gloomy hallways stretched with what looked like a hundred years of dusty old cobwebs. At least she was safe from the storm she sighed and followed him to the end of the long hall. With each step the hall grew colder and she caught the first hint of something foul in the air.

Finally, they reached the door at the end of the hall and went into a room that was like a shrine. Curtains of black were inside the room shutting out the light. The darkness was broken only by the occasional black candle mounted here and there on the walls and tables and the fire that burned real slow, crackling and snapping as dark hideous smoke curled out from brick fireplace like ethereal serpents, long and thin like Brandon Henry's cold, gloved hands.

Her eyes darted about the room desperately trying to take in all of the strange yet familiar surroundings. In each corner there were fancy intricately carved cabinets made of glass in one there was trays and tarnished gold racks filled with jewelry of all shapes and size hundreds of gold and silver necklaces, long chains with shining gemstones in beautiful setting. Another glass cabinet held dresses and fine ladies wear, long gloves the type worn up to the elbow by the courtly ladies she had seen shopping in town when she would press her face against the big storefront windows of the finest shops in town and of course the lady in her dreams had she not worn such things that little voice in the back of her head asked her. When she turned around all these questions left her mind she was stunned by the many faces looking at her. The face that was so familiar the same face in portraits on the walls, 18 in all, was the same face from her last vision she could see that now but what could it all mean she always thought that the women was her mother does that means that.....

Then something caught her attention that she couldn’t quite make out until she took a few steps closer to the last of the cabinets as she drew nearer the scent of old perfume grew stronger, but just before she could get close enough to see what was inside the smallest of the cabinets she heard a small sound like the turning of a wheel... From deep within the shadows, she heard a whisper "Oh Miriam, why did you have to go and die?"

Abigail realized she was not alone; there was someone else in here too. "Come closer dear", said the shadow in the wheelchair "Stand by the fireplace, so I can better see your face" Abigail controlled her emotions and stepped back toward the fireplace. "Just a little closer dear" Begged the shadow, so Abigail leaned her face toward the firelight and when the light shown just right the shadow could not believe, the likeness in her face it looked as if his Miriam had come back from the grave! The Counts cold black heart pounded in his chest for the first time in 18 years that he has felt anything other then dark black hatred.

"I am Count de La Fey, and you are?" He said as he wheeled half way out of the shadows.

"Abigail" she whispered and shivered to the bone, she knew this man from her visions...She slowly began to understand...

"Can I?" he said, "Can I, can I call you Miriam"? He gave her a lecherous grin.

Abigail was shocked there could be no doubt "Miriam or Abigail is fine You can even call me Lucy for it is just a name" She said spitefully the wheels started turning in her head and revenge was on her mind.

He struggled out of the wheelchair, ever since his fall down those slippery stairs so many years ago now he could only walk by a cane. 'What a shame' Abigail thought coldly to herself.

"Don’t move!" He shouted, "Stay where you are," and then he was right behind her touching her long black hair, he let out a low moan that made Abigail’s stomach turn. She wilted at his touch and she wished her deepest wish that she was back home with the brotherhood. Never should she have come to this place.

He was breathing much harder now Abigail could feel his foul breath on the back of her neck as he whispered to her, "Oh Miriam you’ve come back to me... together forever... forever." Then he grabbed her head and twisted his fingers through her hair. In pain she screamed as he yanked out a lock of that beautiful hair, "oh dear oh dear oh dear."

With the lock of her hair clenched tightly in his hand he quickly struggled across the floor to a smaller cabinet behind glass doors it said "To My beloved Dear" Jonathan fumbled in his small vest pocket and withdrew a small key. His hands were trembling now so badly that he almost dropped the key, "Blast this old body!" he mumbled to himself. Finally he managed to steady his hand enough to insert the key into the small little keyhole at the base of the cabinet. With a click and the creaking of hinges, that were long overdue for a good oiling, the door was open. It was then he started to compare, and then she could see what was inside it was long, black, lifeless hair.

Jonathan held up the two women’s hair to the firelight, they felt the same, Jonathan thought to himself. Then he held Abigail’s hair up to his nose breathing deeply and then he did the same with Miriam’s, nodding and mumbling something she could not quite make out Abigail knew this man was truly insane! Somehow, all the years of sorrow and pain had driven him over the edge. She looked at him now with a mix of hatred and pity 'he actually had a life once' she thought, 'before whatever happened to him all those years ago.' Jonathan had turned to her and she seen him taking one last look before carefully putting the old hair back in its place this time adding Abigail’s own hair alongside of it as he whispered just loud enough for Abigail to make out what he said "Oh yes...yes indeed my dear, they look exactly the same... In his twisted mind, she was back, but why? He needed time to ready himself for now he knew what must be done.

"I must retire my dear in order to prepare," he said seeming to focus once again on her like a man coming out of a fog, "You should do the same, tomorrow an heir"

Abigail stared at him not quiet sure what he meant...'tomorrow an heir'? The words ran through her mind and chilled her to the bone. Surely, he did not mean...Moments later before she could finish her thought Brandon Henry stepped through the door behind her, before she knew what was happening he had took her by the arm and taken her from the room, swept her down the hall up a winding flight of stairs to what was to be her quarters.

The room, like the master of the house and the house itself was only a shadow of its former self. The once lavish decor was now covered with dusty cobwebs accumulated from years of neglect. One solitary black candle set atop the stand next to a four posted canopy bed casting out a dim flickering light that did little to break the cold grip of darkness that held this room…this house...and now she fears...her very soul.

She turned to ask Brandon Henry if he knew what Jonathan had planned but when she did, she found that he was already gone, her unspoken question being answered only by the click of the door as it softly closed behind him. She was left alone to ponder the dwindling hours and the fading light...

Abigail was drifting off to sleep all of what she had seen today was so hard for her to believe. Then the screams of a child in pain, creeping deep into her brain. She hears a child crying for her mommy.

Abigail was quickly on her feet and out of her room. Looking up and down the hall everything was in a haze. "Mommy...Mommy" Abigail, following the sound she ran down the stairs and into the dark, and there she was the child floating in the air it was clearly a ghost, the ghost from the gate in the storm.

"L-l-little girl" Abigail said her voice trembling slightly, "Tell me who you are?"

The unearthly mist twisted around the child and "I am your spirit twin from years ago" The ghost seemed to glow brighter and said in a haunting voice, "I’m Little One".

"I’m Little One" The words drifted to her bringing back memories of Abigail when turning six. She remembered sneaking out of bed, like she always did. Late at night hiding in the dark, listening to the men tell their stories from way back then. She remembered the first time she heard the name of Jonathan as the brothers told the story if only she had heard everything but she had been delayed sneaking out of bed when brother O'Brian stopped by her room. Her back to the door she pretended to be asleep. She wondered, as the light from the open door cast brightly acrossed her shoulder casting his shadow on the wall next to her bed, what he was doing? It almost sounded like he was sobbing!

Finally, he left! The door slowly eased shut the light against the wall winking out. She was up in a flash making her way quietly down the now darkened hallways. Her heart pounded in her chest the way it always did when she snuck out of bed, she knew that the brothers would not be happy with her, if they knew what she had been up to.

She could see the light from the fire in the main hall where the brothers always gathered for their stories. Brother O'Brian had rejoined the group now and took up the story where Brother Francis left off. Abigail heard his strong commanding voice as she crouched down in her hiding nook.

"...I returned to the mansion with a few of the brothers and to my surprise I found Jonathan moaning in pain and calling out for help from the bottom of the stairs. I had thought he was dead when I first saw and had no time to check before the Count ordered us back to the chapel. But now apon further inspection it was clear that he had broken his leg badly and had many cuts and bruises..." He paused a far away look in his eyes, "The worst pain he suffered was the loss of his beloved wife...You could tell by the look on his eyes that he would never be the same. That day Jonathan went....Mad" The young brothers, who had not yet joined the order or were too young to remember that fateful night stared in awe as O'Brian continued his story, "I dressed his wounds the best that I could and tried to ease his suffering but there was little reasoning with him. He blamed the Count for all that had happened and in his madness he even blamed all of us!" The hurt was plain to see on O'Brians face as he went on, "Even though we tried to warn them away, we told them both exactly what would happen if they accepted thier inheritance 18 would become 9...." he paused to heighten the dramatic effect, "AND IT DID!" he boomed throwing his arms up in the air. The brothers all jumped at this and a couple even let out a yelp. O'Brian couldnt help but smile he always loved telling this story to the young brothers for the first time. He would be ashamed to admit it but he did enjoy putting alittle fear into them.

The brothers looked about at each other and realized that they were acting like frightened schoolboys. O'Brian continued and all the brothers heads swiveled back toward him as if in time with each other. "Even though we were there to save his life he still cursed at us between his moans of pain."

"Then it came time to take care of Miriam and I must say that I have never seen such a terrible sight...Oh I cannot tell you..." He shuddered visible from the memory and slowly continued, "I carefully wrapped her once beautiful now torn and bloody body in blankets and had the brothers dig a hole in the floor of the celler room near to where she died. After placing the body carefully in the makeshift grave we filled it in with blessed earth taken from hollowed grounds to do our best to give her a good christian burial Father O'Neil even did a small service to consincrate her immortal soul. Then we had no choice but to mason over it to blend in with the rest of the floor, there could be no markings to bear witness to her resting place but I knew that the constables would not believe what had happened there and I knew that poor Jonathan couldn’t handle the questions and inquiries that having his suddenly departed wife buried in his family plot would arise. The weeks and months passed and strange occurrences began to happen throughout the mansion. Locked doors would open by themselves picture frames would suddenly fall off the wall." The young brothers looked at each other skeptically.

"One day Jonathan put aside his hatred for the brotherhood and came to me for help, he said that he couldn’t stand being alone in the mansion any longer. He said that he had seen ghostly apparitions of a small child floating down the hall, crying out in the night for her mommy. It seemed she would never rest until she found her mother. I could tell that his already fractured mind was being pushed to its limit so I had Father O'Neil bless the place and he tried his very best to rid the old mansion of its ghosts. Strangely enough it seemed to work at least partly, we never heard from the spirit of Count De LaFey again." All the brothers looked at each other, respect and reverence in their eyes. "But the little one," he continued, "that is what we began to call the little spirit, she was still there. I tell you I was at the limit of my wits and did not know what else to do so I arranged for a man servant to come and take care of him, to help keep him company on those dark and lonely nights when the restless spirits roamed the house."

O’Brian took a large drink from his flagon and took a seat next to the fire, the flames played a crossed the deep time worn lines in his face giving him an evil look that the brothers had never seen before. "As time passed Jonathan learned to live with it and with Brandon's help he lived out the rest of his years in relative peace..." O’Brian knew there was more, oh so much more but that was not for the young brother to know. One of them asked, "Sir, I was wondering?" He asked nervously, "Is that it then? Um, what I mean to say is...has he passed on then?"

"No, no he has not yet passed beyond the veil. He still lives, have you heard of the old mansion down passed where the crossroads meet below, The one that the town folk swear is haunted?" O’Brian asked. A few of the young brothers nodded their heads. Well they are right it is haunted by the little one and by the living shadow of the man that once was...Jonathan LeFay!"

Abigail sat bolt upright in her bed, she had been dreaming it all! The dream and the memories dance together in her mind while she slept but she now knew that it was all true! It had all come back to her and now she knew that she had to stay! To save the Little One and to break the chain!

"Wake up Abigail," It was midday and Henry was at her door, "The Count will not rise ‘til the afternoon, and lunch was for two." He said through the door, as Abigail got up from the bed and slipped into her robe. She greeted him with the warmest smile she could muster and said that she would be delighted to join him. Trying not to betray her true feelings, she causally said that she had some questions for him anyway and they could talk over lunch.

Lunch was waiting in the kitchen at the small table were Henry eat his meals. Lunch was meager and consisted of little more then left over roast beef made into sandwiches and fried potatoes but Abigail was ravenous and she eat quickly as they talked about Miriam and then Abigail said, "What about Little One?"

Henry froze "Oh, you mean our ghost?" he said matter-of-factly then he paused as if wondering if he should continue and then decided that it couldn't hurt to tell her about Little One. "Downstairs on the lowest floor that’s where you will find The Door, beyond which there are slippery stairs leading down to the crypt..." Brandon trailed off pausing to eat a few bites in silence and then continued, "Little One sleeps there during the day but at night she’ll rise," Searching for her Mom he thought to himself, he was going to tell her more but then thought better of it maybe it was the curious look in Abigail's eyes or just the fact that she had asked about it in the first place and that she knew the ghosts 'name'.

He finished his meal and began to clean up the mess. He thought that he should give her a little warning, put a bit of a scare in her to keep her from investigating further. He said with as much dreadful menace as he could put into his voice, "Now you listen to me my dear don’t you ever go there at night, or during the day for that matter it’s a sinister place! There’s so much pain, so much death, so much...nothingness" There he thought to himself smugly that should keep her from meddling where she does not belong.

When nighttime came on the second day and dinner was done, the headache that Jonathan had since he had awoken was finally gone. Jonathan when about preparing for his lust filled fantasy, then he had Brandon fetch 'Miriam' to his chambers. His body was tingling with excitement at the thought of what was to come.

When Abigail entered the room, it took his breath away. She was a vision of beauty dressed in one of Miriam's well-preserved gowns and some of her finest jewels.

He stepped toward her and said, "Miriam please take my hand". Then his mood really changed, "Time is right to produce an heir". Playing along with his eerie game Abigail reached out slowly taking his aged decrypt hand, as she did a horrible chill ran through her as she felt her skin literally crawl!

Without a doubt she was scared, her skin went as cold as her thoughts as they did their best to recoil from what was happening...

She really was not sure what he had planned for her. The brothers never spoke of what went on between a man and a woman. Of course she was still a virgin for some reason that she herself could not understand she had no interest in boys. She never dreamed of marriage or a valiant prince to come and sweep her off her feet or any of that fairy tale stuff that the brothers read to her before bed. She had never known of or seen any of those things to in the world she lived in, the real world was full of pain! Like the pain and horror that filled her nightmares the ones, she never talked about... not silly little nightmares of falling from a great height or being chased by a monster with long nails and sharp fangs, no that was nothing compared to her nightly haunting! She dreamed things she couldn’t understand, things she could not believe! Dreams of coffins and long silver spikes! Visions of herself as a baby...and her mother...and of blood, blood Everywhere! Between the nightmares and having to grow up without ever knowing her mother and father and never being, able to play with children of her own age made the relatively happy and peaceful life a living Hell! She never felt she could talk to her adopted fathers about it that if she did it would only bring heartache for those she loved and she would never want to do that!

Although she knew it to be wrong, terribly wrong but for some reason she felt compelled to follow him up the stairs, up the long winding stairs to a room where love they would share, to a room that smelled as if Miriam was still in there!

What was to come, should have never been done!

Jonathan was a hideous sight! As he slipped off his robe she seen his winked old body in all of its disgusting and decrepit glory. Suddenly she felt sick and it took all her will power not to throw up and run screaming from the room but something held her fast but she knew that she would have to endure whatever was to come but that didn’t mean she would have to look at him for of that she could stand no more, so she quickly killed the candlelight. Jonathan took this as a sign of her eagerness and this drove him even more. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close to him and passionately kissed her so consumed by his lust that he never bothered to realize that she never returned his kiss but did he even care? Abigail doubted it she doubted that he has cared much for anything for a long, long time now...She did her best to not feel the pain by blocking her mind from his awful thing! However, no matter how hard she tried to block it out...to distance her mind from it was useless! His rough and probing hands clumsily fondled her unmentionables. He touched her in places that no one but herself had ever touched before! She would have never of imaged such things as this and she felt more and more dirty, more and more sick with every touch!

He pushed her to the bed a glazed look in his eyes, "Oh Miriam, I have waited so long...you know I've missed you so." Abigail didn’t know what to say so she said nothing. She wondered did this old fool really think she was his late wife? She never thought anyone could be so twisted...so sick!

She tried thinking of poor Little One and as she did she felt as if their minds touched for a moment suddenly there were visions in her mind as his moaning became nothing but falling on slippery stairs, she seen him falling and crying, crawling and dying at the end of the stairs! This made her feel happy...as happy as one can be while being forced to submit to this monsters lust. But then the vision changed the image of Jonathan crawled backwards a crossed the floor then rose back up tumbling in an impossible way backwards UP the stairs! When the image cleared she seen what looked like herself but older and wearing an old-fashioned nightdress. Then she seen a huge hulk of a man behind the women at the top of the stairs it was the man from the painting in the great hall of the mansion, he grabbed the women and shock her then violently pushed her down the stairs and she tumbled the same way that Jonathan had, landing broken and crumpled at the foot of the stairs! The vision ended in a swirling of mist through which she could just make out the shape of a winged necklace swinging back and forth on its chain it looked like an...eye of all things a winged eye! What could it all mean she thought why had Little One shown me this haunting vision? Then she snapped back to her conscience mind she realized to her horror that he had penetrated her and was thrusting violently in and out of her! Abigail opened her eyes and looked at him for the first time since she put out the lights, and her eyes turned black in disgust hating him more with every thrust!!! She prayed that it would not last long and for once, her prayers were answered...

And then it was over before it began. Thank God he was done! Oh, what a man she thought scornfully to herself, What a pathetic man!

Jonathan reached over to touch her but she flinched away getting to her feet she quickly gathered her things and departed the room without a word passing between them. Jonathan didn’t care all he could think about was how he would have her again and again his perverted mind dreaming of all the ways he would have her little did he know that this was the only time he would call her...Mine!

The moon is outside but it cannot get in through the heavy black curtains that shrouded the mansion in darkness. Almost dead from his nightly sin Jonathan is deep asleep, dreaming perverted dreams of the damned. Abigail is sitting on the edge of her bed her hair still slightly damp from the long bath she had taken to try and wash his filth from her she had scrubbed her skin raw in many places but she didn’t feel the pain and though her loins burned from the bitter intrusion and her soul ached from the loss of her innocents, her virginity to this foul creature still she would weep no more she had cried her fill and now her mind had hardened thinking only of the Little One and of their Revenge of course that would be sweet. She realized that this would be a perfect time to visit the keep she had to see things...she had to know...

So it’s down the hallway to the lair, down, down the slippery stairs slipping through the house like a ghost Abigail finds herself in the crypt, a lantern in her hand. Finally she would know the secret of the crypt! She brushes aside the many years of dust laden cobwebs holding the lantern high above her head and sweeping it back and forth to see as much of the room as she could. She wasn’t exactly scared but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was not alone and that she was being watched!

In the back of the crypt, there was a small anti-chamber with an even smaller coffin that was obviously made for a child inside. She knew that this was it; this was where the Little One was laid to rest. She reached out her shaking hand and bushed away the dust the best she could from the lid of the coffin that was when she first felt and then seen a horrifying sight it was a name cut deep in the lid with a knife and the name was ~Abigail~ she shook herself and slowly opened the lid. With a loud creak and the smell of sick it opened, she sat the lantern down on a small shelf close to the coffin that cast the light down just right so that Abigail could easily see the mummified infant lying on its side it was the little one she instantly felt the connection to her and she felt the heavy weight of the years of torment being forced to haunt this horrible and evil place for so many years! All the thoughts and emotions built up by this child flooded Abigail's mind and in the same manner that she had shown her the other visions more apparitions appeared before her minds eye, visions of all that the little one had seen over more then a hundred years of hauntings and...something more...even stranger visions of things that could not have happened in this place. People that wore strange clothing and places that she had never dreamed existed! Visions of bloody priest and burning crosses, suddenly there’s a woman strapped to a slab with a huge pendulum swinging back and forth above her its razor sharp edge threatening to bite into her flesh growing closer with every swing! Then suddenly there is fire! Fire everywhere all around her flames reaching higher and higher through which she could see angry faces with burning torches throwing stones at her and cursing her name...Then she realized that it was she that was burning and although she could feel no pain she felt the terror and agony that whomever had experienced this hell felt!

The smoke cleared and the feeling of terror was gone all felt peaceful as the face of a little girl came into focus then the world spins around and stops and she sees the face of another innocent little girl, they think their having fun playing in what looks like a sandbox but in the middle of the 'sand' is a burned and blackened pole. The world spins around again and then the face of the first little girl gets bigger and bigger filling the entire view. Closer and closer until she can only see her eye. Just one huge eye squinting and blinking staring straight 'into' her...

Then the vision faded in the same way they did before with the same strange winged necklace swinging through the mist. With her mind now clear, she reached out carefully and rolled the mummy onto its back. Then to her surprise, she seen a silvery necklace around the mummy’s neck it was exactly as it was in her visions it had wings and was sharpened round the edge! Now she slowly began to realize what was happening and where those strange visions were coming from. 'It was this necklace', she thought, somehow it...it was...Alive! It must have been showing her everything that it's 'Eye' had seen...but before she could take much time to figure it all out there was a hand on her shoulder she stiffened and her hand clasped tightly to the necklace that was still around the little one's neck.

"What are you doing here?"

Abigail pulled hard on the Necklace and the little mummy’s head was separated clean from its tiny neck! She grasped it wrapping her fingers between the wings and used the sharpened edge like a knife then thrust it up, up, up into his throat!!! Twisting and turning it as Brandon’s blood splashed over her face and hands! The taste of blood on her lips and the pent up aggression of all the years, all the pain drove her into a blood lust and she could not stop! As the blood flowed freely from his throat and mouth she barely heard his gurgled pleas, the only thought in her mind was how strange it was that in the dimly lit cellar the blood was black and not red...

The next thing she knew Brandon Henry was lying on his back in a blackened pool on the ground. His eyes starring into eternity frozen wide in terror, she knew he had seen the other side and the Hell that awaited him. There is an eerie glow in the crypt down below the mummified infant although still on its side its little head had now rolled over to the opposite side of the coffin. She looked at her hand that still grasped the necklace, she was hold it so tightly that it had cut deep into her flesh but she felt no pain it was at this moment that Abigail had finally gone truly insane. She looked from her hand to the baby and back again then finally, she waved goodbye to the little one and said in a crazy voice, "Gotta go, gotta run! I’ll be back for you Little One!" and she took the lantern and skipped out of the crypt and up the slippery stairs.

After Abigail was gone, the mummified body began to glow as Little One slowly rose up from the body. She could not believe what had happen everything had been so strange since Abigail’s arrival. Little One had spent so many years searching for her Mom that when she met Abigail that faithful day in the rain she thought that maybe she had found her but now she realized who she was! It was all coming back to her the moment that horrible necklace was taken off her body, she could finally think straight again! She knew now that Count De Lafey had placed it there to control her spirit and to keep her from seeking revenge against him for all that he had done! Now she was free from its hold and she was no longer a passive little baby doomed to float around the mansion for all eternity, now through Abigail she could find the perfect way to repay the Count for all he had done and get that bastard Jonathan as well�?

Suddenly Little One felt something that she had not felt before, a strange power that was so strong that in glowed through the stonewall behind her coffin. She struggled to control her fear...the first fear she had felt since awaking in this hellish place. 'How could she have not felt this presents before'? She thought to herself, it must have been that damned necklace! Was it meant to keep her from it? She could only wonder but she had to know what IT was she drifted towards the wall feeling the power grow and grow as she drew nearer. It was a spectral energy much like her own but oh so much stronger! She could feel so many different emotions flowing from it, hatred and pain, love and lose, it made her want to weep, laugh and kill all at the same time.

She summoned all her strength and willed herself to move forward she reached the wall and slowly started to pass through it on the other side she found, leaning against the wall of the small dark room, some type of wooden sarcophagus around the top had been peeled away and Little One could see the face of a mummy grotesquely dried and shriveled, the empty sockets of his eyes where sown shut and about its head he wore a crown of thorns that cut deep jagged wounds in the dried flesh. She could see an unholy aura around it from the moment she had entered the room...but now up close she could truly feel the emotions flowing from it so dark, so twisted with madness from the many unimaginably long lonely years of isolation down here in the crypt. Slowly as if brought on by her presents so near to it, a glow came from behind the sealed eyelids very faint at first and then growing ever so slightly brighter and brighter. A humming sound emanated from it, the pitch and tempo seemed to change in time with the fluctuating light. At this Little One began to laugh then cry then laugh again, the sounds mingled and echoed through the chamber in a cacophony of madness.

Many floors above Abigail was still in bed, outside the storm was gone, but dark clouds still hung around the mansion it was indeed the perfect setting for things to come, it was late afternoon and Abigail was still deep asleep, her visit to the crypt had taken its toll on her body as well as her mind. As if from a far off distance she heard someone calling Henry’s name but she was dreaming haunted dreams of breaking glass, glass cutting into flesh and of rain turning red, blood running for the dead! All this twisting and swirling in her mind the way only dreams can do but again she heard a name, it was louder this time, but the same.

It shocked her out of her dream and she jumped to her feet! Throwing on her robe she was out the door in a flash and racing toward Jonathans room when she heard him call out yet again, “Brandon...Brandon Henry where the devil are you!?�?Abigail smiled slyly to herself at that and thought how poor Brandon Henry would not be answering your calls any time soon....or Ever Again for that matter, you old fool!

When she bust through the door to Jonathans room she found him fighting his way out of bed she did her best to calm her breathing and control her features so that he would get no hint that anything was amiss. Jonathan looked up at her and said "Where is Brandon Henry and why is he late?"

Abigail obsessed with her revenge she truly felt her old spirit was back she knew she would have her revenge but not exactly, how she would have it. Then she remember her dream of broken glass 'Use it in your scheme, the broken glass' said an evil little voice in her head. 'Yes, yes' she thought to herself, 'broken glass crushed into sugar glace!' She laughed and laughed, Abigail was having fun now. Diner was ready now to go help Jonathan dress for diner he wanted to wear his Funeral suit, it put him in the right mood he had told her. He thought he looked quite dashing Abigail though he looked like an old fool in a monkey suit. She repressed a laugh at that thought and told him that he looked manly and told him what a romantic dinner it would be like taking a lamb to slaughter she thought as she pushed his chair from the dressing room up to the table.

Dinner was enjoyed by candlelight and the food looked wonderful to both Jonathan and Abigail but for far different reasons. Jonathan was in love, But Abigail would soon feed his love away!

She sat down at the table with him and said "Dinner is served"

Jonathan gazed lovingly at Abigail. The candles on the table between them dimly lighted the room and in the dark, she was even more beautiful and white, Abigail was glowing like a diamond in the night. Jonathan continued to gaze at her, consuming her with his eyes. Abigail was frustrated, why won’t the old fool just eat dammit?!

Finally, he began to eat but to Abigail’s further frustration, he only picked at it using his fork to move bits of food around his plate. She gave him a mock little pout and stuck out her lower lip the way she would when Father O'Brian wouldn’t let her have an extra piece of the gooseberry pie after dinner or wouldn’t let her run and play outside because it was to late an hour for a respectable little lady to be running about outside. She would always get her way with this little ploy and she knew now would be no exception.

"Does the food not look appealing to you my dear?" She pouted, "And after I worked all day on it slaving over the hot stove for hours...." She trailed off turning her eyes from him and adding just a touch more anger to her expression.

Jonathan was pleased by her little game and he would play along of course anything for his dearest "I love you Miriam" He softly whispered and began to eat with gusto but after a few bites and a few moments passed the loving smile slide from his face replaced by a mixed look of confusion and pain.

"Oh my God! My stomach" His fork dropped from his hand with a loud clang against the side of his fine china plate. He grasped his stomach with his hands and the pain seemed to easy up. "That hurts! There it is again! Oh what pain!" He exclaimed almost screaming now. "It’s like someone’s cutting me with a knife! This is more than pain!"

"Ah ha ha" Jonathan’s cries were drowned out by the sudden outburst of laughter and Abigail said, "I put broken glass in your dinner dear it’s only getting worse from here!" The evil look that came a crossed her face was chilling. Suddenly she took on a whimsical air about her, she said in a sing-song voice, "Time has come to say hello to fear my dear, No more hiding from the sun, count the minutes as they run," she giggled and said, "Run away with life itself!"

"What’s wrong with you Miriam? I’m hurting, please help me!" he begged her to no avail he just could not put it all together in his mind that it was Abigail that had done this to him.

"Ah ha ha ha" She laughed again, "NO NO, you’re gonna die!"

"This is so much more than pain" His screams fell on deaf ears.

"Feel the Devil’s rain" She continued her evil little poem, "No more hiding from the sun, count the minutes as they run, run away with life itself"

"I can’t believe you’re doing this to me!" It finally got through Jonathan’s pain clouded mind how could his Miriam do this to him? "My God! I’m bleeding through my mouth! What was that? Oh No"

"What you did to my mother, trying to kill me inside of her all those years ago. You old fool!" She looked on him with pure hatred spiting venom with every word. "Yes, Miriam she died alright, but I’m still alive! What you never knew was that I was the sister of your father’s in another life!" Even in all this pain Jonathan looked shocked and confused. "That’s right," Abigail said, "The father you never knew, who saved me years ago. Now I’m looking at his son. A man and his wheelchair, living in the past with no room for life, only the dark." She said with contempt.

"I was so close to the end! I will never forget the coffin and nails..." She trailed off horrified by the sudden vivid memory of that horrible time. "But little Abigail is back again so young and beautiful And all I see when I’m looking at you is an old rotting husk where Evil always lived and ruled! You almost killed me and now you must pay!"

She slowly moved toward him moving around the table running her finger along the top of the table as she did a half-cocked smile on her lips. Abigail was really having fun now. "Do you even know who the Hell it is you are keeping in the crypt?" she asked him coldly as she suddenly reached forward and grabbed the cane from where it rested next to his chair, "Well do you?" She asked again straightening up and holding the cane before her like a sword, waving it back in forth-in front of his face.

Fear and twisted hate, then the feeling of being betrayed overwhelmed him!

"That child is part of ME"

He knew that he had to get up and out of the wheelchair but without his cane, Oh he knew he didn’t stand a chance! Abigail took a quick step forward and gently placed the tip of the cane on his chest then she pushed him hard back into his chair. Oh, she was ready for attack and her face took on an even dark look of hatred. She raised up the cane and made a quick blow to his wrist, then with both hands wrapped tightly around the handle of the cane Abigail quickly stepped around the wheelchair as she brought it down hard four or five across his back with the last one hitting him on the neck with a sickening crack.

Sweet dripping down her face and neck, her breathing labored and quick she now used the cane to support her tired body. She walked around the wheelchair to examine her handy work. Abigail could not believe her eyes..."I can’t believe you’re still alive!" she wiped a shaky hand a crossed her sweet soaked forehead, "My God", she screamed, "I’ll teach you how to die!"

She stormed from the room her hatred had truly driven her to madness. She went to the place she knew Brandon kept the torches in the little room not far from the kitchen pantry. She also knew the old fool kept a bottle of whiskey hidden inside one of the horses feedbags she grabbed both and ran back to the nearly unconscious Jonathan slumped in his wheelchair.

"This should light up your worthless little life," She said as she broke the end of the old whiskey against the edge of the table. "Open up your eyes" She demanded and began pouring the whiskey all over Jonathans head and shoulders then she lit the torch!

His eyes were burning pain from the whiskey running down into his face then she touched the torch to his liquor soaked clothing and he started to burn!

Oh, how she wanted to hear him scream Abigail felt she was in a dream she moved a bit closer. She was completely out of control now laughing at his every scream this was no more the clean revenge it should have been!

Abigail was feeling like the ruler of Hell she raised her arms above her head chanting things that can never be known. The joy of causing pain was like ecstasy. The wheelchair was really on fire and through the flames, Abigail looked like Satan himself. The flames flickering ever closer to the Abigail’s whiskey soaked dress.

In the middle of dying, Jonathan’s charred and blackened body was Falling down...