Chapter III:

I remember the night my family died.

It was snowing that night. I think there was a party going on. Yes, yes there was. Christmas in fact. I was older enough to stay up for a change. Fifteen, maybe. Nathanial and my sister were still in bed at the time. Mother and father always held the best parties in the land. She wore her long green dress she adored to much. Everyone was masks that night. I sat off to one corner with my drink in hand.

This party bored me. There weren’t many people I knew. Most of them were friends of my parents or just trying to get closer to their social circle. All adult things didn’t interest me at the time. Was that all they did all day? Talking about wealth, what they did on holiday, local gossip, and who was marrying who. I didn’t care about this. Maybe I should’ve gone to bed.

But that’s when I saw her.

Luna.

She looked as bored as I was. She stood out from the crowd in her glittery black dress. The lights from the Christmas tree and above made her skin so pale. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She looked up at me. Or at least I thought she did. Her eyes had not life to them. The way she moved reminded me of a doll on strings. Her feet never seemed to touch the ground.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. Who was this girl? I had never seen her around before.

I set down my drink and tried to follow her. Her long hair flowed as she walked. Nobody around her seemed to notice. I just had to find out about her. I could’ve sworn that she smiled at me.

I trailed her out to the garden outside. She didn’t leave any footprints in the snow. I did my best to keep up with her. Who was this girl? What was she doing at the party? At the time, I didn’t know why she drew my attention to her. This wasn’t going to be the first time I would see her.

Suddenly, this girl stopped in the snow. I about toppled over with my hand out. She didn’t turn around. I think she said something to me.

“What did you say?” I asked. There was no response. She didn’t even look up at me. What was with this girl? I heard her speak again. I remembered feeling like I was getting angry.

“Look! Are you making fun of me?!” I shouted at her. She doesn’t answer me.

Was she… singing?

I strained my ears for a listen. This girl was singing.

“Hello?” I asked. “Hello?” I waved at her back. This girl still wouldn’t turn around and look at me. I did remember what she was singing.

“Ladybird, ladybird. Fly away home. You house is on fire and your children all gone. All except one. And that’s little Ann. And she has crept under the warming pan.”

She slowly turned as she sang the last part. My heart thudded against my chest. I gulped heavily. Why was I so afraid all of a sudden?

A scream in the distance drew my attention back to the manor. My eyes widened as I saw the manor in flames. I ran back to the building.