'Letters to a Stranger' by Republic-Of-Heaven.

Summary: Manfred Bloor sits in his study writing letters to a nobody. They contain his thoughts on people and aspects of his life, and his very deepest emotions.

A quick note from me: Alright, this story is set some time after Charlie Bone and the Wilderness Wolf. There's nothing much more to say, so voila…


She was called Emilia Moon back then. Such a pretty name, and yet she did not seem to want it.

She was not the first I had hypnotised, but the first to be put into what I call a sleep.

I remember the exhilaration, that time eight years ago that she first fell under my 'influence'. It is such a wonderful feeling, seeing the look on someone's face as they succumb to your power.

I was almost glad when great-grandpa informed me that she needed another dose of my endowment as she was beginning to resurface.

That time was easy. The Moons brought her to an empty classroom one Saturday afternoon. She did not resist, merely standing there in front of me, yet there was a little too much life in her eyes for my comfort.

"I don't understand, Manfred. What's happening?" she said in her cold expressionless voice.

"It's nothing," I murmured as her face once more took on that familiar dreamy look that all the pupils of the Academy knew so well.

The final time I had to do it was different. I did not know it then, but it was the last time I would have power over her before that wretched Bone ruined everything.

She was far more violent that time, shouting at me in confusion. Then suddenly, without warning, she went limp.

"What name were you given at birth?" I asked cautiously. I knew she could never find out on her own, but her strange behaviour worried me.

"I said, what name were you given?" She just looked at the floor, not saying a word.

I decided it was time to hypnotise her. With my hands I turned her head to face mine.

She started screaming. Louder and louder.

My father's voice broke through, accompanied by a fierce pounding on the closed door.

"Manfred! What in heaven's name are you doing? You're supposed to be hypnotising the brat, not terrorising her." He did not say any more and I assumed he had gone away.

The girl would not stop screaming. I had no idea what was wrong with her, but the incessant noise angered me. I smacked her across the face once, twice. The shrieking stopped and she broke into sobs. I turned my eyes on her and all was well. She was dutiful little Emilia once more.

Yet now, however, she has become one of them, one of Bone's cronies. They seem more like his minions than his friends, following him about like dogs.

I catch Emma looking at me sometimes, and the expression on her face is hard to read. Often it shows hatred, but also a kind of pity. I expect she feels jealous of my new ability to summon fire. After all, both my endowment s have been far greater than hers ever will be.

Yours sincerely,

M. L. Bloor.


Yet another note from me: Like it so far? Why not review? hint, hint Next chapter – Manfred thinks of his father.

ROH