Chapter one

A/N: Hello and welcome to another Darien and Serena fan fiction that will be added to the existing thousands. I don't know how bad this is going to be, but have a read. That's all I'm asking. :D

Chapter one: Music of the night

They were at it again.

Closing her eyes and using her hands to block out the noise, Serena Huntington sighed with irritation, the thin walls providing no blockage to the love sounds coming from the next room, the man giving a final, lusty cry. Grinding her teeth as she stared up at the ceiling, she counted to ten before sitting up in the lumpy bed. When no further sound could be heard she quickly reached out for her woolen dress, slipping it over her night gown as she padded over to the door, determined to speak her mind.

Unlocking it, she peered out into the poorly lit hallway, looking to the left and right. There were stories of predators that waited for unsuspecting women to leave their rooms. Squashing down the shiver of fear, she left her door slightly ajar as she marched to the room next to her. At the door, she raised a hand and knocked. Loudly.

Crossing her arms over her chest as she warded off the cold draft, she wriggled her toes while keeping an eye on her surroundings. When the door did not open, she knocked again, this time prolonging it. Uncaring whether it disturbed the other sleeping patrons, she glowered at the door.

"Come on damn it," she muttered under her breath as a gust of cold air brushed her neck, the door to her room slamming shut. Jumping with a start, she blinked her heart racing a thousand miles. Swallowing hard as she eyed the door to her room nervously, she closed her eyes, her mind in chaos. There were no such things as ghosts, she reminded herself firmly. But what if there were? Her mind whispered.

"Don't be silly," she told herself out loud. "There are no such things as…"

"Hello."

Stumbling back and screaming at the top of her lungs, she found herself face to face with a man, the door to his room ajar, his silky black robe flapping open.

Lunging forward and clamping a hand over her mouth, the man dragged her inside the room where he threw her from him, the door slamming shut. Fetching up against the wall Serena stared wide-eyed at the shadowed man who came towards her, his face impossible to see.

"Stay away from me," she got out in a nervous voice, her body trembling with every step. "Stay away or I swear I will scream."

"Scream and I will cut your bloody throat,"

Snapping her mouth shut while flattening herself against the wall, Serena held her breath as the man stopped in front of her, the musky scent of his skin making her nose wrinkle. Lashing out with a strong hand he grasped her jaw, squeezing her cheeks as he leaned very close, his breath on her face.

"What business do you have knocking on my door at this time of night?"

Struggling to pull her face out of his grip, Serena pushed at him, her hands meeting bare flesh. Eyes watering as the pressure on her jaw seemed to harden; the man released her without a word. Rubbing the soreness from her jaw, she moved along the wall to put some distance between them, his presence sending a chill down her spine.

"Well?" He demanded.

"I…I…"

"You what?"

Losing her earlier bravado, Serena did the only thing that came to mind. Run.

Pulling away from the wall as she darted around him, the man grabbed at her, missing by inches as she sprinted towards the door, glad her vision had adjusted to the dark. Flinging it open as she rushed out into the cold, she skidded to a halt in front of her own room, suddenly afraid to enter. Berating herself for being foolish, she opened the door. Slipping in quickly, she locked the door before racing towards the bed. Flinging the covers over her head, she lay shivering beneath it, the room colder than it was before.

A/N: Thank you for reading.