Prologue

The sun was setting over Normal Valley, dyeing the pale sky rich shades of orange and red and golden. It faded just behind the great castle, the one that was just a little ways away from the rest of the neat square houses. The mansion stood dark and ancient, full of secrets and out of place amongst the cheery brick houses with neatly kept lawns. No wonder the town's kids were so drawn to the mysterious house and that they spent hours poking around the place much to the displeasure of their parents.

They didn't care though, they wanted to lure out the infamous recluse it was rumored lived there. Maestro or The Maestro they believed he was called. Occasionally he did appear and put on little shows for the children, but if he didn't want to be found they could not find him.

And so it was that one of the local kids, a boy named Timothy Shellon wandered down the yard of the mansion and past the huge iron gates that swung open before him with a great creak.

The mansion seemed bigger than ever looming above him like some prehistoric creature. 'I'm not scared' Timothy thought defiantly, walking slowly up to the ragged stone staircase that led to the front door. Was it just him or did the air get colder with every step he took closer to the great double doors?

Timothy pressed his face against a window that was covered in grime, making it nearly impossible to see inside of the dim house.

He thought he could just make out a winding staircase and that was all. Suddenly a flurry of movement caught his attention, something flashed by the foot of the stairs. Something blue.

Startled Timothy gasped and staggered backwards, he felt as if people were crowding all around him, pushing and shoving. Touching his face, his clothes, his hair with icy fingers.

"Get off! Get off of me, Get away!" he screamed into empty air, pushing back. Through the silence came a swell of voices whispering all around him- " Stop this…Leave him….Maestro…He won't be pleased…" then everything stopped.

The voices died away and so did the prodding of invisible hands. The house no longer seemed vacant; more like unseen residents were watching him. Timothy backed off the porch, staring about him wildly, nothing.

The boy's earlier panic was replaced by anger, what kind of trick was that! Timothy kneeled down and picked up a good sized rock from the ground, his skinny arm flailing as he tossed it at the house. The rock smashed into the solid wooden door with a resounding boom that echoed all around.

Timothy smiled and leaned down to pick up another rock "I'm not scared of you!" he yelled "You ghosts or whatever you are. And I'm not scared of this dusty old house either."

The second rock went straight through a window. Glass shattered and rained down, some pieces catching the fading sunlight and glittering brightly. The boy smiled as he beheld his work, satisfied.

"You know that's not very nice."

A voice, spoken quietly came from just behind him. Timothy flinched, but he didn't turn around because he wasn't afraid. Nope.

"Oh yeah? Well who are you to think that I care?"

At first there was a silence as if the person was pondering this. "Did I say that you cared? even though you should for destroying someone's property."

Timothy smirked "Look at this house. It's a rotting piece of crap filled with dust and termites, it's already been destroyed."

At this he went to scoop up another rock but something grabbed his shoulder before he could, it gripped him so hard he winced and knew that he would bruise. "Let go of me!" a tremor crept into his tone, trying to put up a tough front he added "Right now or…or-"

A roll of metallic laughter shrieked into his ear. "Or what? Empty threats, little Timothy. Who are you to think that I care?" a darker tone had crept into the voice as it mocked him.

A chill ran down his spine as the voice spoke his name, the boy squirmed trying to break away from the iron grip. More laughter.

"I think they'll like you, Timothy. For your sake they'd better." Timothy was wrenched around to face the owner of the voice, and his eyes widened in pure terror.

He opened his mouth as if to scream, but before he could make the sound it died on his lips.

Twilight fell over Normal Valley.