I stared up at the blank ceiling unhappily. My mother had unfortunately noticed my absence from our annual 'Spring Ball'. Not that it was my fault. But I couldn't tell her that. Which explains why I was lying on my huge, fluffy bed, scowling at the ceiling. My mother had thought that it would be nice for me to have a proper canopy bed when we moved to Carmel. I hadn't. I could never understand what possesses people to hang curtains around a bed. It looks way too complicated for my understanding.

She took a breath before carrying on through her 'Please try to be normal in front of such honourable guests, or you'll never get a husband speech'. I'd lost track of time since she began.

As soon as I'd stepped foot back inside the house she'd dragged me upstairs, but had returned to the ball with the promise of a long discussion, to keep up appearances. I couldn't really understand why she seemed so desperate to impress a bunch of people that she'll probably never see again. But it makes her happy, so I guess I could forgive her. Even if I did think her choice of friends was terrible. You're more likely to get a decent conversation out of an elephant, than to talk to Maria De Silva. And Felix Diego is a slime ball. I don't know what people see in him. All I see is an arrogant murderer. I've seen what he does to his slaves first hand, and I've seen what he's capable of.

"Suzie? Are you even listening to me?" my mother asked in an annoyed voice. I tilted my head sideways to look at her and gave her a sarcastic look.

"Of course I'm listening to you. I've been 'listening' to you for over an hour" I replied pointing at the crystal clock on my dressing table. My mother looked startled at that, and promptly stood up and dusted down her rose skirts primly.

"In that case it's getting late and I'd better be retiring to my bed chambers. You should too. Get some sleep." She kissed me lightly on my head before turning to the door. But just as she opened it she said over her shoulder,

"Mr Diego is coming tomorrow so you'd better put out your best dress." And with that she was gone. I was pretty sure my mouth had hit the floor as well.

I decided it was best to take her advice though, and I wasted no time in changing ready for bed. It wasn't really much of a difference. I wasn't like most of the other girls' in my mother's acquaintance. I tend to always wear a dress to bed. Tonight it was pale green. Just a plain one that flows onto the floor. It's just as comfortable as a night gown. But I prefer wearing a dress. That way if I get woken up in the night by some ghost that needs my help, I don't have to fret about offending them with my undergarments. It had taken me a long time to come up with that idea and it made me feel a lot more comfortable.

The only real difference was that I'd pulled out my braid, so my hair hung loose about my shoulders. The funny thing being that I actually think I look better like this. Less like a china doll. My hair has always looked better down anyway.

It was probably a good thing I was wearing a dress, as I discovered when I stepped back into my bedroom. Where I found myself facing a person I very much didn't wish to see. I thrust out my chin and squared my shoulders as I walked towards him. I was glad that I'd only hesitated for a moment. I hadn't yet shown him any weakness.

Again I got the impression that he was surprised at my appearance. The worse thing being that I actually cared about what he thought about me, for some strange reason.

Because you're weird, the little voice in my head answered. The other bad thing was the fact that I couldn't even intimidate him, because he was so much taller than me. I sighed giving up on my usual technique.

Instead I gave him a brilliant smile. The unexpected can sometimes be even more scary than the obvious.

"How are you?" I asked in a sickly sweet voice I only ever used when I get annoyed with someone. He didn't seem to notice however.

"I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about." He answered bleakly. I was rather taken aback by his tone. Why should he be worried about me?

"Ok." I said confusedly, pushing my hair away from my eyes impatiently. He didn't even know me. I had a feeling this guy had some serious mental health issues. Where did that just come from? I thought worriedly. I never talk or speak like that. My mother had always taught me not to speak ill of my neighbours.

"Look, it's nice that you're so concerned about my well-being. But may I ask you a question?" he actually looked rather surprised that I wanted to ask him anything. Not that it mattered. But there was something that I'd been meaning to ask him. Something that had been bugging me since I first met him.

"Who are you?" the question was simple, but it had been going through my mind for a while. I felt like I should know him, yet how could I if I couldn't even place his name?

I was shocked to see the hurt on his face though. He looked at me as if I'd struck him. Which was another thing I didn't understand. How could a man I barely knew make me lose all my calm with one look? It was completely amazing. And rather scary to.

"A concerned friend." He answered quietly.

Which of course was no help whatsoever. I rolled my eyes to show how much he was getting on my nerves.

"I mean your name." I said with a slight smile.

"My name? Well, you should know that by now don't you think querida?" and yet again the word completely threw me off balance. I just stared at him in disbelief.

"Who are you?" I whispered. This time with an entirely different meaning. But he just regarded me sadly and replied:

"You'll find out soon enough I think. I will leave you to rest for now, but you must believe me when I say you are in grave danger. If you don't leave before the next Shadowland Time Cycle then you won't be able to leave at all. You'll be stuck here forever. I won't let that happen." He gave me a small smile and stroked my cheek softly. I gulped.

"I'll come back tomorrow." He promised before dematerialising again. All I could do was stare at the spot where he'd been standing seconds before. I had no idea what he meant, and I decided not to worry. What's a Shadowland anyway?