AN: Since the prologue didn't give you much in terms of reading content, I decided to go ahead and post this now. I'll try and figure out a good posting schedule soon. I have three more weeks of school and then it's winter break and I will have tons of down time. Please let me know what you think of this tale. I've never written anything like this before. Love you all!

ONE: Proof

"I'm telling you, it's true."

Marie rolled her eyes.

"Sure it is, Jessica."

"For years you've been trying to get me to admit to this and when I finally do, you don't believe me?"

I saw her hesitate and took my chance.

"I can prove it."

Marie turned to face me.

"How?"

I fingered the chain around my neck, the pendant on it safely hidden beneath my blouse. There was no backing out now.

"Do you trust me?"

"Normally..."

"Just meet me at the Opera House tonight."

"Why?"

"Do you trust me?" I repeated.

Marie bit her lip, then nodded.

"This had better be worth it."

I nodded my head as she walked away.

I sat in my room, in the Opera House, writing in my journal while playing with my necklace some more. As I finished a sentence, my candle blew out and a chill came into the room. I heard the familiar click of the door locking.

"Hello," I said, relighting my candle.

"You invited somebody over."

"You know, traditionally people greet each other before engaging in conversation."

"Is she a threat?"

I sighed, giving up trying to get a hello out of the man behind me and addressing his concerns instead.

"Marie is not a threat. She's my friend and you will treat her as such."

The masked man scowled at me as I stood to face him, setting my journal down on the nightstand as I did so.

"Fine. But I'm keeping my eye on you."

"Aren't you always?"

Scowling once more, he turned and exited through the mirror. Rolling my eyes, I went into the next room to prepare the couch for either Marie or I to sleep on that night.

Marie and I made our way down to the fourth cellar.

"There's only one bed which you can take if you'd like. I'll just stay on the couch in the sitting room."

"No, you take the bed. I'll sleep on the floor beside you."

"Are you sure?" I inquired.

Marie nodded, looking around the cellar.

"Okay. Just to be safe, if you hear music tonight, wake me up immediately. That's him trying to lure you down to his home."

"Music?"

"Just make sure to wake me up, alright?"

"Won't it wake you?"

"Not unless it's flute. He usually plays violin."

Marie nodded to indicate she understood and I relaxed.

"Can we cover the mirror tonight?"

I glanced at my floor length mirror propped against one wall.

"Of course we can."

Marie swallowed and looked at me.

"I'm going to head back up. Coming?" she asked.

"No, I'll move the stuff from the couch in here so you can use it tonight," I answered.

She nodded again and headed out and up. Once I had moved the make-shift bed to the floor in my room, I headed over and pressed a spot on the wall. A doorway to a secret passage opened next to the spot I had pressed. I needed to speak to the Vampire one last time before tonight.