Heya :D I have to admit it isn't easy writing in this 1819 manner but its kinda fun at the same time HAHA. It would be difficult to show everything from a person's point of view when there's so much going on but I doubt I'd be switching to a third person writing style cos it might break the flow of the story?
Review yeah :) I'd really appreciate them.

THE STRUGGLE

Caroline's Diary

4 November. The Salvatore Manor is an interesting place. I keep pretending to be a princess exploring my prince's palace, for this house certainly has the size of one! Elena and I have spent our afternoon expedition on the ground floor and have promised each other to resume our activities on the second storey tomorrow. I could live here forever! Maybe I would ask them to let me stay on, and I shall never have to return home!

At dinnertime, no one was around. Our food was warm, as if prepared not more than a minute ago. We quickly ran to the kitchen, nevertheless, it was the way we first saw it. We ate anyway, for we were running an appetite from all the exploring. I then had an idea, but chose not to tell Elena for I wanted to be the one to solve the mystery.

When we were done, I told Elena I would join her in her room later for I needed to use the washroom. I hid myself behind the side of the stairs to wait and see what would happen. I then saw a lady clad in servant clothes appear. She stacked the plates and utensils before wiping the table with her cloth. She did everything so silently, even as she made her way out of the dining room with all the plates. I followed her and saw that she entered one of the doors Elena and I had passed earlier in the day. I waited moments after she had closed the door and went forward. It was locked.

"What are you doing?"

I started and turned to see who the sudden voice belonged to. It was Lockwood. He repeated his question, his eyes remained narrowed. I put on my best smile and my sweetest tone, "Good evening, Lockwood. I was just exploring this place, as Lord Salvatore had requested."

"That door is locked." He stated stiffly.

"Quite apparently," I tilted my head, "Lockwood, why are there so many locked doors?"

"Because there are rooms you should not enter."

"Why are there rooms I should not enter?"

"Because there are things you should not be knowing."

I was quite amused at how he answered all my questions obediently and ventured further, "Why should I not know of such things?"

"Because you would not be able to understand."

"How do you know if I would or not be able to understand if I haven't known of such things yet?" I stepped closer, "And why would you not remove your black veil?"

Lockwood seemed to notice what I was trying to do, and gripped my shoulders, commanding, "Return to your room, little girl."

I lost my temper for my father used that very phrase when he despised me. "You do not tell me what to do! I am not a little girl, you evil coward! You always think you can order me around, but not anymore!" I cannot remember what else I had screamed for I had became too agitated.

"My apologies! But please, Miss Caroline, stop crying." Lockwood was taken aback and I realised that I was tearing. It happened every time I thought about my family. I picked myself up and took the handkerchief he handed me. "I'm sorry, Lockwood, it is not your fault."

"No, no, it is mine. Let me walk you back to your room."

He escorted me upstairs and requested my forgiveness.

"I am willing, but only if you would answer me honestly."

"Yes, I would."

"Are you a bandit?" I asked, referring to his veil.

My question set him off into a hearty laughter. He then very seriously replied, "No, I am not." And wished me a goodnight.

I desired to tell Elena of all this, however I found her asleep when I entered her room. Now as I write, sleep is upon my eyelids too. Goodnight.

Elena's Diary

5 November. Last night, I came into my room and waited for Caroline. I had already planned to put my apprehensions in my diary, for my uneasiness increased with the time spent in this manor. I could not stop thinking how bizarre the people living here were. We have already seen more than ten different people, yet I do not see the same people twice, with the exception of Anna, Lord Salvatore and Lockwood. And all of these people must have a secret dining area because no one eats with us! It is extremely rude of the hosts.

I had wanted to further elaborate my suspicions, unfortunately, before my pen could even touch paper, a drop of blood fell onto the page. A few more drops followed, causing a chill to run down my back. I dared myself to look up, and held back a scream. There was so much blood on the ceiling. It was as though someone had died on the floor above, and his blood was seeping through to my room. More and more blood trickled down unhurriedly, as if to test my reaction. The thick, crimson liquid was gathering into a pool on the floor. I did not know what I should have done, I was not even thinking. I ran to my bed and closed my eyes tightly, willing it to go away.

When I finally opened my eyes, the blood was gone. Bewildered, I went to the precise spot where all of it had been, but there was nothing. Even the ceiling looked usual. I hastened to my diary and checked the pages. There only stains were of ink, nothing resembling the deep maroon colour that was previously there. I chided myself for my irrational hallucinations, and was embarrassed to think if I had called for help when it was all my imagination.

After which, Caroline had not visited my room as she promised, I fell asleep. I woke up and at the exact moment, heard the clock struck two in the morning. I had no nightmares but my mind was overwhelmed with premonitions. I tried to return to sleep because it was rather creepy to be awake in the middle of the night when other than the moonlight shining through the window, I could only behold darkness.

I saw someone appearing at my bedside. I quickly shut my eyes and attempted to resume regular breathing. I felt the person coming close to me and his skin caressed my cheek. Scared as much as I was curious, I did not move and remained as natural as I could. Inquisition overbearing fear, I did not want the person to leave yet. The contact from my face was gone, so I peeked to see a little more.

The figure was that of a man. He was tall with shoulders of reasonable width. Suddenly I was frightened. I wondered what a man would be doing in my room so late at night. Though I could not see his eyes, I knew he was looking elsewhere for the silhouette showed his head tilting in another direction.

I quickly closed my eyes again, for he turned back towards me. I felt his fingers tracing my lips. Unconsciously, my body shook. The contact was once more lost and no one was there when I allowed myself to look.

Last night's events were so ridiculously strange that in the morning light, it seems to be but a fruitless dream. I hate these things occurring at night, when it is so very difficult to draw the line between reality and illusion. In spite of my complains, I must admit that my curiosity is greatly aroused. Especially when I saw that what that man had been looking at last night was the black rose.

I did not tell Caroline about it, for she would most plausibly mock me. When I asked her about her not coming to see me yesterday, she leaned in and whispered quite so ecstatically of her discovery. I was interested, and tried my best to show her I was, but the incidents of yesterday were a severe distraction.

Both of us continued to explore the floor above, but much to our disappointment, all the doors on the next few floors were locked. There was nothing to see. We finally found a door that had access, and it was the library. The library was huge. With great shelves made of thick, dark wood rising to nearly thrice the height of my room. The smell of sand and paper filled the air. I loved the smell and started looking through the books. Such a collection! The books covered a variety of subjects, geography, arithmetic, science, languages, travel journals, etc. The amount of knowledge to be acquired!

I was not even aware that Lord Salvatore and Lockwood had stepped into the room. We greeted one another and Lord Salvatore began inquiring about our stay. I responded rather earnestly that it was pleasant, for I feared to offend, and partially that I had hardly spoken to anyone else from the manor.

He gestured to the shelves of book and generously said, "You are welcomed to pick any book you like to read." He then looked at the one in my hands and commented, "I see you like literature."

"Yes, sir," I could not make of his expression yet continued, "It reveals the soul of humanity through raw emotions and observations. For example, we judge others by action, while ourselves by intention."

"Remarkable." He smiled, "Well. Nearly two days of your stay here and I have not been opportune to talk to you. Nonetheless, you do not seem to wish to speak with me as much as I do. No, do not look at me with such embarrassment, I know you have been busy adapting to this huge mansion. Take a walk with me, let me show you the garden."

At once I was sincerely delighted and turned to Caroline to see if she would want to join us. She was conversing with Lockwood as though they were old friends.

"Shall we not interrupt them?" Lord Salvatore suggested, leading me out of the room.

The garden was magnificent. My eyes have never beheld one as huge and splendid as this. The trees kept their leaves as snow has not descended and they were of various colours. Immediately my eyes were caught by the bright auburn tree that almost resembled a crazy, dancing flame in the wind. The shrubs seemed to huddle together in the cold as the path between them went on forever. The garden walls were erect above three metres, smooth and apple white with beautiful carvings along the top.

The cold was much stronger outside, but I was too engrossed in the natural loveliness around me.

"I forbid you from ever coming here alone." I heard Lord Salvatore sudden and stern commandment.

Seeing my shocked countenance, he broke out into a mischievous grin. "You would lose your way." He enlightened.

I could not help but to laugh for it was a silly way of warning. Still, I understood his notion. The garden was quite a maze!

"Sit." Lord Salvatore said, settling down at a bench beside the burning tree. I followed.

"How do you like my house? Your interest should have worn off by now, I'm afraid."

I admitted to it, and desired to present more of my queries to him, but he spoke again before I could.

"I apologise for my previous absences, I had many crucial matters to attend to. As of now, I am available to entertain."

Entertain? I thought. "Will you dance for me then?" I teased.

"I will dance with you." He replied, taking my request much seriously than I wanted. "But I'm sure you are exceptionally bad at it."

"I am not!" I said rather hotly, though it only made him laugh a lot more.

"Oh, it was in my mind to ask if you had any preferred food." He continued, when we were done bickering. Or when I was done bickering and he finally stopped laughing.

"I have none such, but Caroline loves corn soup."

"None?" His eyes widened adorably, "I've not yet come across a person with no favourites."

"I… I do love desserts."

"Of course!" Lord Salvatore cried triumphantly, "I would ask her to prepare some for you later today."

"Who?" I did not prevent myself from enquiring.

"Elena, do you know what my name is?" He suddenly asked.

I saw no relation whatever to what I had said but answered him anyway, for I realised that I only knew his surname, "Salvatore?"

His gaze suddenly became intense, with hints of a dark gold in his eyes. "My name is Stefan Salvatore. And it seems that you know nothing about me."

I thought him quite mad the moment those words left his mouth, and before I was conscious, I found myself saying, "You are in no case mistaken, Lord Stefan Salvatore, that my knowledge of you is limited, but surely your blame is not on me? I have only been here two days, and rarely with your company."

An expression crossed the path of his face and disappeared instantaneously, accurately resembling the first time I saw it when I had mentioned the black rose. I was unsure wherefore, but I felt as if there was something he wanted me to be aware of but could not bring himself to tell me. The black rose, whispered my mind.

For he said nothing, I tried to test my theory.

"Lord Salvatore, are there ghosts in your house?"

He gave me a look of surprise, and simply repeated, "Ghosts?"

"Yes. Your house is very old, is it not?"

"Why do you ask? Have you seen something disturbing?" Concern rose in his voice.

His reaction was different from what I had expected. No signs of guilty revelation at the memory of yesterday night nor any of fear for being discovered whatsoever. Genuine ignorance of this matter. I decided him not the man who appeared at my bedside in the form of shadows.

"None so far, just attempting to change the subject."

"But of course," He laughed, "I did not judge you the type to believe in superstitions."

"You are a man of science, I presume?"

"Occasionally." Said he, making no sense.

Despite deeming him a little queer, I sensed him a good man.

He gave me a blithe smile that complimented his beautiful features and took my hand, "It is getting colder, shall we return inside, Katherine?"