It was a cold and rainy night, colder than usual for this time of year. It was the summer of 1845, the year that Jonathan inherited the old mansion. I remember it well it was a dark time for poor Jonathan. However, the worst was still to come...

The trees howled passed the old coach as it raced the wind through the pouring rain, like the Devil himself was on their trail. The driver, though stout of heart was chilled to the bone not by the wind or rain but by the ever-present evil that has felled these woods now for longer then any 'living' soul remembers.

Though many rumors had been spread about the spirits that haunt this land No one really knows what happened here....... until now!

The rain seemed to let up as they reached the valley were the crossroads meet below, The place they say that all Darkness seems to grow. The clouds parted just enough to see the moon full in the night sky. Few dare come to this place and fewer still to the Mansion itself, They say its laid empty now since the old master of the house passed away so many years ago.

The coach stopped suddenly and Jonathan yelled to the driver, "I say old man what's the hold up?" The driver just stared ahead as if he had not heard a word. "Bloody hell!" Jonathan exclaimed, "What's all this about?" from his window he could see Seven horsemen in the night blocking the road. Inside the coach, Miriam Natias and Jonathan LaFey could see the magic in their eyes. "Oh my Lord!" Miriam cried, "Oh Jonathan what do they want with us?"

Jonathan could only guess at what these dark riders had in mind for them, "Highwaymen I'd wager, out to empty our wallets no doubt!" He told her but in his heart... His very soul he knew this to be a lie. He could feel destiny's hand at work and it gripped at his heart.

A horseman came forth from the dark; O'Brian was his name,
the leader of the seven horsemen.

"We know you've come to inherit what's yours...The Mansion. Take our advice and go back on this night, if you refuse 18 will become 9..." Jonathan laughed and said, "Get out of my way" he scoffed "I don't believe a word you say!"

The seven horsemen disappeared into the night and said "Someday You'll need our help my friend." He put on a good show for Miriam but it was clear that poor Jonathan was scared. It kept going through his mind '18 is actually 9'. What could it mean? Why had they come here to warn him?

"Drive on man, Drive on!" he yelled to the coachman but he didn't need to be told twice, with a crack of his whip, they were off. The mansion was not far now and the coachman wanted nothing more than to leave this cursed place far behind him and never return...

Riding up the alley in the rain no lights to show the way, the rain had again let loose and Miriam shivered, "Oh Jonathan how could this ever be our home?" Jonathan took his wife's hand in his and looked deeply into her eyes, "There, there dear none of that. Those foolish riders speak in riddles! They're a superstitious lot, Believing in oldwives tales made up to scare little children from playing in these woods. I'll not be kept from my inheritance by mere ghost stories!" his bold words helped to calm his wife However, he wished he could feel as confident as he sounded...

Through the darkness, they could only see a giant shadow, which was to be their home. The coachman pulled in the reins as they drew near their destination, the mansion stood before them a strange feeling was in the air. Moreover, they could feel the evil flow from within. The three of them Miriam, Jonathan and the driver were transfixed By the dark majesty of the place. The mansion was huge and sprawling with over 40 rooms (that were known) Eyes seemed to peer out every window and you could feel the weight of the years pull on your soul if you stared too long into the darkness. the pale moonlight cast shadows at the gate, that seemed to be alive! Dancing like Demons about a cauldron casting their evil spell on any who would dare pass through the gate!

The horses sensed the evil as well and they tried to bolt, it took everything the driver had to rein them in and get them to slowly pass through the gates and into the main courtyard. The courtyard had been unkempt for far to long, The overgrowth had completely taken over the yard and threatened to consume the mansion in its knotted and twisted grip! The coach pulled to a stop in front of the main entryway, the driver looked about nervously as if he expecting ghostly servants to come out and check their baggage and greet the LaFey's to their new home...but the only sounds were that of the wind howling through the eves and that of his heart beating from his chest! He quickly dismounted from his seat high above his passengers, and began unloading the many bags and cases that Miriam insisted on bringing "If I must go to live in that dreadful place," she had told Jonathan before they left on their journey, "Then I'm bringing all the comforts of home with me." Little did she know that all the possessions in the world could not make this house a home!

By the time the old coachman had unloaded their belongings Jonathan had grown impatient and threw open the door of the coach. "It's about time you finished with that! My god man my wife will catch her death out here!" He yelled glaring at the driver, "Now off with you!" He waved off the driver and turned toward his wife, "Come my dear, we've waited far too long to start our new life together. Lets go inside......"