I looked out my window as I pulled my riding boots on. It had been an hour since I reported my father missing and I still hadn't seen anyone come from the village, let alone a police officer. Well that just proves it, I thought angrily, they're the most backward people on the face of this planet if they won't take this seriously just because they think I'm strange.

Tying up my laces I stood up and ran downstairs. I grabbed a backpack from the closet and filled it with food and medical supplies. I pulled out my riding helmet and jammed it on my head; it wouldn't help Papa if I fell off my horse and knocked myself out. Calming myself down I walked quickly out to the stables. One good thing about having to move to this small village was that I was able to have my own horse. My black mare, Chiara, snorted and stamped as I entered the stables, picking up on my tense feelings.

"Shh, it's alright girl," I said stroking her nose; I wasn't sure who I was trying to convince. I saddled her up and led her out into the yard. I mounted and dug my heels in to move her forward.

"Let's go find Papa," I whispered, urging the horse to go faster.

I wasn't planning on leaving the path. I knew that whatever Papa did, he wouldn't take the chance of getting lost by taking a shortcut. But as the morning turned into afternoon and I'd been along the entire path and back and still hadn't found any sign of Papa I started getting worried all over again. Throwing caution to the wind I rode off on a side path in the hope that he might have gotten lost in the darkness and taken a wrong turn. Following the path along the trees got wilder, gnarled and twisted as they strove towards what little light penetrated this deep part of the forest.

I slowed Chiara down a little to avoid the fallen branches and potholes in the path. The further along I went the less light reached the forest floor, making it seem as though it was late night and putting me more and more on edge. Every twig that snapped made me jump, even though part of my mind told me that I was being ridiculous, I couldn't help but think of the stories I had heard in the village about dangerous creatures who lived in this deep part of the forest.

The forest was the focus of most of the urban legends in the village, most people knew a couple of stories that centred on the forest and its dangers and although I knew most of it was probably to keep the little children from venturing too far into the forest I couldn't help but think, as I heard a far off howl, that there might have been some truth to them. Another howl sounded, a lot closer this time, and spooked Chiara. I only had time to grab the reins tighter before she reared and bolted. I pulled the reins but to no avail, Chiara was too scared to pay my orders any heed. All I could do was hold on and hope that she didn't fall into a hole.

Finally Chiara calmed down enough for me to control her. I slowed her to a stop and looked around but I couldn't see the path anywhere.

"Where have you taken us Chiara?" I asked, vainly trying to look through the trees. I looked at my watch and cursed. The darkness of the forest had veiled the real oncoming of night and it was now 6:30pm.

"Come on," I said, flicking the reins and urging Chiara into a walk. A whole day of searching had produced nothing as much as I was worried about Papa I didn't particularly want to be wandering around the forest at night. I randomly picked a direction; with no sun to follow I could only guess at the direction of the village and to be honest I just wanted to get out of the trees and away from whatever was howling.

We wandered for a couple of hours trying to find either the path or the edge of the forest. I was about to give up and sleep under the trees when I came across a slightly overgrown path. Hoping it led back to the main path I followed it and eventually came to a large, very solid gate. I couldn't see where the wall that it was built into ended and I was too tired to go back along the path so I dismounted and gave the gate a shove. Very slowly it gave and I could see that beyond the gate was a rather well tended garden.

"Oh great," I muttered. There was quite obviously someone who lived here; the path was too overgrown to have been used regularly. I pushed the gate a little wider so that Chiara could get through then shut it again; at least in here we would be safe from whatever wild animals inhabited this part of the forest.

Taking Chiara's reins in my hands I led her down the path, the gardens on either side taking my breath away. At first I was simply amazed that there was a recognisable garden in the middle of the forest but as I followed the path, I saw plants flourishing that I knew should not, and could not, even grow in the soil around here. Finally I turned a corner and the house came into view. Well I say house but really it was more of a mansion. It was a huge, imposing stone building that unlike the garden, looked as though it hadn't seen a maintenance worker in years. There were cobwebs everywhere, like someone had taken a reel of extra fine cotton and strewn it about. The paint on the shutters and window boxes was peeling and the downpipe was falling away from the wall but it looked a lot more inviting than sleeping outside in the cold. I led Chiara around the back, hoping to find something to tie her up with and was rewarded with a stable.

"Well isn't this nice?" I said with a smile as I led her into one of the stalls. I took her saddle and bridle off and placed them on the hooks on the walls. I thought about cleaning the tack with the cleaning gear I found beside the feed box but decided against it, as I still needed to find the owner of this place and make sure it was alright to stay for the night.

I left Chiara in the stable and went back to the front door. All the windows were obviously shut up for the night so I didn't know if anyone was even up. Shrugging I knocked on the door; if worst came to worst I could sleep in the stable and talk to someone in the morning, surely whoever lived here wouldn't mind if I just slept in the stable. I listened at the door for footsteps and as I leant against it, it swung open.

"Hello?" I called into the darkness but no one answered. I hesitated for a moment before stepping inside.

"Bonjour mademoiselle," came a voice from behind the door. Startled I swung around but no one was there. The door seemed to shut of its own accord, be it from the wind or some unseen force and at the other end of the entrance hall a torch lit itself. I must be seeing things, I thought to myself as I peered at the now brightly burning torch.

"Judging by the late hour at which mademoiselle calls one must assume that she is lost," came the voice again, this time somewhere in front of me, "It is not safe to be wandering the forest at this time of night so if mademoiselle does not object I am sure the master would not mind extending his hospitality for this one night."

"I… well… I… yes, um… thankyou." I felt extremely silly talking to thin air but as hard as I looked around I could not for the life of me see where the voice was coming from.

"Very well, if mademoiselle would like to follow me I will show you to your room." I stared blankly for a moment.

"Um, I don't mean to be rude but… how? I can't see you."

"Oh, of course," a man materialised out of thin air about two metres away from me. I jumped, not expecting a ghost or apparition or whatever this guy was to appear so suddenly, "Is that better mademoiselle?"

"Ah, yes well I can see you now."

"Tres bien, now if you will follow me, I am sure you are very tired." The man turned and walked down a corridor leading off the entrance hall. I followed him closely, scared that he would disappear on me again. Every now and again he would disappear and reappear a few metres ahead of me. Finally he stopped outside a door and said,

"You can sleep here for the night. If you require anything simply ring the bell."

"Thankyou," was all I had time to say before he disappeared again.

"Sweet dreams mademoiselle," came his voice from in front of me. Shaking my head I opened the door and walked into the bedroom.

On the bed I found a nightdress lain out, which I gratefully changed into before climbing into the comfortable bed and snuggling down under the covers. I didn't even have time to register what the room looked like before my eyes refused to remain open and I fell into a deep sleep

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A/N - wellI hope you all enjoyed that... I liked writing it coz it meant that I didn't have to listen to my cousins and their screaming matches (well I had something to take my mind off it). I'm almost finished the next one (shakes head in wonder... I'm actually ahead of myself?) and the beast finally makes his appearance, it took me ages to figure out what to do with him but inspiration came thanks to my sister (who knew her annoying tv shows could be so useful). anyway that's all I'll say for now... I've gotta leave some surprises hehe. the next couple of chapters will probably be pretty slow in coming since I'm starting my last year of high school tomorrow but the summer hols should provide plenty of spare time. well i should sleep. Please review... my inbox is starting to feel unloved :'-(.

ta, Charlie