Remind me why I'm here," Laurel said as she lugged one of the bags of equipment into the old house.

"Because you are our early alert system. If I can't see the ghosts, you need to tell us they are there. Jade can't tell," Luna replied.

"Yeah, so quit your bitching and get your ass moving," Jade said as she brought up the rear.

As they set the bags in the huge foyer, their eyes drifted around, then up the once grand staircases. At the top, between the two staircases was a large painting of the original owner. Though he had a receding hairline, he had long black hair that spilled over his shoulders, which were covered by his red suit jacket. His eyebrows pointed upward on the outsides of his eyes, and his grin was most devious.

"I found my place to start," Jade said.

"I may piss my pants if I come across him. He looks evil," Laurel said.

"Apparently he was. He had a tendency to drive men mad, then force them to battle each other, bare fisted. A few died. There was a story a few years ago that another group came to find his ghost, but never came out," Luna said.

"Then, remind me why the hell we are here," Jade said.

"To prove that they were just chicken shit, and ran out. I don't believe that a ghost can kidnap or kill the living."

"I hate you sometimes," Jade mumbled.

"Shut up and set up the camera. We have work to do," Luna said. "The sooner we find him, the sooner we leave."

"I need to find a new circle to hang with," Jade mumbled.

Once the monitoring system was set, they separated to put the cameras in place, before the sun went down. As she went up the stairs, Jade stared at the painting again. The eyes of the ominous man seemed to have followed her up the stairs. She wanted to reach out and touch the painting, knowing it would hold a bit of the subject's spirit. As her hand neared it Laurel yelled, "don't you touch it yet! Wait until we get these cameras set. I don't want to spend another night here."

"Yes, Ms. Scaredy Cat," she replied sarcastically. "And will you be needing adult diapers before the night is over?"

"Oh, grow up for a little while."

"Aw, come on... You know you love me."

Laurel just shook her head as she looked up at the picture and shivered. She didn't need to touch the painting to feel the evil that rolled off it. It reminded her of Hill House. She had gone there as a lark one night and nearly went insane from the evil that was there. That was the night she met her sister in Spirit Sensing. She shook her head and got back to setting up the camera.

Once all the cameras were set up, the three women all sat down on the floor and looked up at the man in the Painting. "I don't know about you but I’m all for leaving this place as soon as fucking possible," Laurel said her fingers twisting a charm that her grandmother had given her. It had been given to her by her fiancé before he left to go find work. When he never returned Grandmother Bella married and then died but never forgot her one true love.

"What makes you think we want to stay here too," Jade asked.

"You were the one who wanted to touch that," Luna said pointing up to the guy in red.

"He intrigues me, What can I say?" Jade smirked as they stood up. "So where do we start first"

"Well you know me, southern girl at heart, I’m hitting the Stables," Laurel said while looking at Luna.

"Gym’s for me. And what about you Jade?"

"Probably the kitchen, that’s where most of the activity is. How about this we all do our on vigils then we meet back in here at daybreak?" She questioned. Laurel and Luna nodded and they all headed their separate ways.

Laurel entered the stables and felt at home, she had extended her senses out into the surrounding area but only felt peace and harmony here. It was when she stepped into one horse stall that the hate and evil started to surround her. She closed her eyes and saw scenes in her head. A man and a woman were making love in the hay. He pulled away and she saw her grandmother. The next scene was of the man in the red jacket a whip in his hand as he whipped the man from the previous picture. The final scene was of her grandmother being held back by a tall man with long straight hair as a gun was fired and the first man falling towards the floor a rope around his neck.

"Are you okay," a masculine voice asked causing her to jump and her eyes flying open.

"Yes," she said and spun around. "Who are you? We were told that the property was deserted," she asked suspiciously

"Michael," he replied, "My family has always worked here. Who are you?"

"Laurel Register. My friends and I are here investigating the stories of paranormal activity"

"Well there’s no ghosts in the stable," he smiled and led her out. "I’ll be here if you need help," he said then watched as she walked away. He turned back to the stable and looked up. "My Belle," he whispered before fading from site.

The dark haired young woman watched Laurel disappearing from sight a shiver of apprehension raced down her spine. Despite what she would have had the other two think she wasn’t as confident or unaffected as she appeared on the surface. This house radiated negativity the way most places gave off the feeling of home.

In her life she had seen many things that would have sent others running to a shrink. When she was young, her parents had passed off her gift as a very vivid imagination as she grew older they couldn’t deny her talents. It had led to some awkward moments when she would get hold of an item and see things she shouldn’t know about.

Strange hazel eyes stared up at that portrait her uneasiness increasing. Laurel and Jade didn’t know the full story and Luna thought if they knew all of it they wouldn’t have agreed to come. She so desperately wanted to come and investigate the goings on here at this house both for professional and personal reasons.

She had known members, through various e-mails and occasional phone calls, of the previous paranormal investigators. It had come as something of a shock to find that the group had never posted their findings. After numerous phone calls and e-mails she discovered that apparently no one within the small community had been able to track them down. It had led to the now fabled myth that not only was the house haunted but was also inhabited by something far more sinister than poltergeists.

From a professional standpoint she wanted to prove disprove that theory. She knew that there were those that would say that her and her friends were nothing more than charlatans trying to bilk people out of their hard-earned money. If they were able to prove that there was nothing to the story then perhaps she could find out what had really happened to the previous team.

"A penny for your thoughts," Jade said jerking the dark haired young woman out of her reverie.

"Just a penny," Luna asked arching a perfectly plucked brow. "What kind of woman do you think I am?"

"The kind that apparently wanted to bring us here then stalls when it comes time to do some individual investigation," the other woman returned.

Luna rolled her blue green hazel eyes. "I’m not stalling…I’m making sure that I don’t see anything before I make my rounds," she huffed crossing her arms over her chest.

"Well," Jade demanded.

The young woman shook her head. "Nothing, but keep your guard up. This place is giving me a major case of the wiggins…and considering what we’ve seen that should tell you something."

"It does and I will," the other woman assured her friend. "But for now you need to do a quick tour. Just general impressions we’ll all meet back here," she glanced down at her watch. "In about an hour. Hit any supposed hot spots."

"This isn’t my first dance hun, I know what to do." Luna held a small digital recorder up. "I’ll make sure to take ‘notes’ as I go through the house. Her strange hazel eyes flicked up to the portrait one last time. "Whatever’s happening here, we’ll get to the bottom of it."

She wandered through the foyer by passing the staircase and veering towards the right. If she was correct it should lead her deeper into the house and give her some idea about the layout of the house. It would prove useful when trying to monitor hot spots that might not have made it to other reports. Silently Luna prayed that they had not bitten off more than they could chew.

Chapter 4 - Jade

Jade watched Luna leave the room, then turned back to the portrait. "Alright you son of a bitch. Show me your life." The house seemed to moan in response. "I said show me, not tell me."

She shook her head as she headed towards the kitchen; the heat sensor in hand. According to what Luna had told her, there were reports of noises like scratching on the walls. She was staring at the heat sensor as she walked through the doorway. When she noticed the "hot-spot" she said, "oh shit."

The "hot-spot" shifted on the screen, as if turning toward her. "Sorry, babe. Am I in your way?"

She looked up at the nearly seven foot tall man and sighed. "No. I thought you were a ghost, though. And the name is Jade, not babe."

He gave her a sideways grin. "I do apologize. My name is K... Uh, Kade."

She raised her brow at him, wondering what he had to hide. "Yeah. Well, Kade, I need to get back to work, so if you don't mind..."

"I wouldn't be much of a gentleman if I left you alone to face the horrors of this house."

"Well, luckily, I'm not alone. And how do you know about this house?"

"I help take care of the place."

"Really? How long have you been here?"

"Going on four years."

"So you were here when the last team came in?"

His smile faded, and his eyes turned to the dusty floor. "Yeah. It's terrible what happened to them. Just going missing like that. Still haven't found them."

"So, they were here, and never left?"

"No, they didn't. The police came and picked up their truck and equipment, and searched the house, but no luck."

"Well, if you're going to stick around while I work, don't freak out if I act a little weird."

"You got it."

She turned in a circle, as she watched the heat sensor. She noticed another "hot-spot" beyond the pantry door. She walked over, and touched the doorknob to open the pantry. Scores of men passed through her vision. The flash of one seemed familiar. Then, her vision focused on another. He was tall and muscular with long blonde hair and pale blue eyes. He seemed to focus his attention back on her as his ghostly southern voice said, "you better get out of here, darlin'. This ain't a place for ladies." A maniacal laugh escaped his lips.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Someone you don't want to meet." He sneered before disappearing from her vision.

Her eyes fluttered open, as she was hit with a bout of vertigo. Kade caught her as she was about to fall. "Whoa, Jade... Let's get you to the living room."

He carried her to the living room. He held her on his hip as if she were a child as he uncovered one of the red velvet couches. He laid her on the couch, then brushed the hair from her face. "I'll make sure nothing happens to you, Jade," came his whispered vow. "I will be with you every step tonight. If you can't see me, and need help, just say my name." He framed the right side of her cheek with his large hand. He leaned over, and softly pressed his lips to her's. His cold lips roused her. "You know who I really am," he whispered before fading away.

As Jade came to full awareness Laurel entered the room. "Are you ok?" she asked.

"Yeah. I fainted in the kitchen. I..." She looked around. "I guess Kade brought me in here."

"Kade? Who the hell is Kade?"

"One of the groundskeepers, I guess." But in her mind, she saw the man in leather pants, his bare chest and face covered in blood. "Kevin," she whispered.

"Who's Kevin?" Laurel asked.

"I dunno. We need to get back to work. Maybe we'll find out as we go along."

Laurel looked at Jade as she thought about her own expierence in the house. This time she felt his presence in the back of her mind, "James" she whispered to herself. She shook her head as the presence left then another more sinister one took its place. "Jade use the thermal on me" she whispered feeling cold all of a sudden.

"Fuck Me" she heard jade

"Fuck me Sidways" was her response upon seeing the thermal. Her body was normal a hue of reds and golds but this time it was blue and purple meaning it was like she was dead. "Thats not good" she said as she felt teh spirt leave her as though chased by something.

"What's going on in this house and grounds.

"What ever it is Laurel, its starting to freak me out"

"Being to the freak out stage and passed it a long time ago" Laurel whispered as she helped Jade Stand up. Her fingers went to the pendant again this time feeling a warm feeling, as though she was protected by somebody who loved her. Jade looked at her shaking her from her feeling. "Laurel, Laurel, Look i know this place is almost home to you considing your link to the grounds.

"how do you know that"

"I read your file, I saw t hat your grandmother was due to marry the youngest son but when he was murdered on the grounds she married somebody else. You look just like your grandmother Belle, one of the spirits may think you are her so please Be careful"

"I will Jade I promise" She said softly, the feeling of not safe returned as she heard a deep voice chuckle in her head. "Oh pretty one, Micheal will never know you're touch...." his laugh echoed through out her head scaring hre almost to death as she jumped. "Lets find luna and finish this investagation then get the fucking hell outta Dodge"

Chapter Six

“That’s it,” Luna exclaimed throwing her hands in the air.  Spinning around she tried to figure out how she had managed to get so hopelessly lost.  She consulted the note pad she held in one hand as she hit rewind on the digital recorder with the other.

According to the drawing she should have been standing in the formal parlor.  Glancing at the rough-hewn walls she felt it was safe to say this wasn’t it.  There wasn’t much to the room just a stone dais opposite the doors with low stone benches behind a crudely constructed stone barricade.  Judging from the feel of the room she would guess that is was the final arena instead of the training or sparring room she had been searching for.

Luna hit the stop button then pressed play immediately afterwards.  Holding the speaker near her ear she adjusted the volume to a comfortable level.  Her own voice said, “This house has been rumored to have trapped spirits from as far back, it’s believed, as the house’s construction in the late 1700’s.”  It had been recorded just before she had stepped through the double doors.

Dead air filled the space briefly before muffled whispers erupted into the silence.  Luna looked around the room warily.  While logically she knew that any soul wandering within these walls couldn’t harm her that didn’t stop the shudder of fear from racing down her spine.

Taking a deep breath she walked further into the room the recorder dangling loosely from her fingers.  The doors slammed shut behind her whirling around she stared at them dumbly for a moment before her training and self-preservation kicked in.  She fumbled for the button that would make the recorder jump to open space finally finding it she hit record.  Trying to swallow the lump that had lodged itself into her throat she staggered back a couple of steps.  Turning back to face the room she steeled herself for what was to come.  “Show me,” she commanded in a voice that was much more confident than she felt.

Nothing in her life could have prepared her for the sheer brutality that played out before her eyes.  Images filled her senses in a kaleidoscope of misery and treachery.  She could hear the cries of the dead and dying as well as smell the coppery tang of freshly spilled blood.  Countless faces danced in front of her eyes their eyes bright with the shine of madness.  The visions slowed until she was left staring at what she guessed to be the most recent battle.

Two men stood in the center of that cleared space circling each other looking for that spot that would give them the upper hand.  There wasn’t much difference in height but one clearly had at least fifty pounds on the other.  Both men had shaved heads but that’s about where the similarities ended.  Hatred was a palpable presence between the two men giving the match an edge of insanity.

One was obviously of mixed heritage though just by looking at him you couldn’t tell what they were.  He had an animalistic quality about him that was amplified in this situation.  When he spoke his voice was so deep that it sounded like it should hurt.  There was a cut above the corner of his eye that had to be obscuring his vision but he seemed not to notice it.

The other, slightly taller, man stood back his face a mask of superiority as he spit out obscenities.  His arrogance knew no bounds as he constantly taunted the smaller man landing punishing blows.  His blue eyes held a hint of lunacy even as they shone with intelligence.  It made him dangerous because one could never tell what he was thinking.

The two men were engaged in a fatal ballet that would only end with the death of one of them.  Each was determined to be the one to walk away from this battle alive.  They seemed so evenly matched that it seemed as if it would go on for eternity.  Out of nowhere the smaller man kicked out at the other and it was the opening he had been waiting so patiently for.  He seized the opportunity delivering a sickening blow to the other man’s shoulder.  The sound of bones breaking was enough to turn Luna’s stomach.

At that moment the young woman wanted nothing more than to make it stop.  She couldn’t watch any more of this and leave with her sanity intact.  Then as if sensing her presence finally the smaller man lifted his head.  His chocolate eyes bored into hers and she could see some of the humanity bleed back into those dark depths.

“Finish it,” said a cold voice.

Luna looked up to see the living embodiment of the portrait standing on that stone dais.  Ebony hair hung over his shoulders a maniacal glee dancing in his eyes.  Malevolence radiated off of him in waves so solid they slid over the young woman like a physical presence.  She felt as if she would need to shower after the touch of something so purely evil.

While the young woman had been preoccupied she missed the fact that the taller man held his victim in a death grip.  The delight on the other man’s face was sickening in the extreme.  He was jubilant about the kill it showed in the way he preened under that vile man’s direction.  Dark eyes stared at her his hopelessness was plain for anyone to see.  It tugged at her heart and she knew that she couldn’t bear to witness his death.

For the first time she could ever remember she tried to change something that she knew she had no power over.  “No!” she screamed.  Tears beginning to blind her vision as she searched in vain for a way to stop what she knew was inevitable. 

“No?  What do you mean no,” that despicable man demanded.  “Who do you think you are to come into my home and disturb things that have always been?”  The menacing figure lifted his hands towards the young woman fingers curling.  Power rushed at the raven haired young woman invading her body.  It was as if he was trying to crush the life from her.

Real fear shot through Luna now as her lungs felt as if they were being slowly compressed.  She had only meant to stop the vision not to become a part of it.  Everything she had known about the supernatural was thrown off kilter.  There should have been no way for her to interact with the apparition or for any manifestations to touch her.  In all her research she had never come across a phenomenon that would explain what was happening.

The edges of her vision began to grow grey and she knew that she was losing consciousness.  Even as she fought against it she knew that it was a losing battle but the fighter in her refused to die like that.  Distantly she heard a commotion but it seemed so far removed from her that it lacked substantive meaning.  The next thing she knew was pain exploding in her head.

When her eyes cleared enough to see a pair of dark eyes were staring at her from inches away.  Somehow some way the smaller man had managed to get away from his would be killer.  She was grateful even though a part of her knew he would pay dearly for his actions.  She lifted a hand weakly cupping his cheek.   His flesh was warm and solid under her touch.  It stirred up a strange mix of inexplicable emotions.  “I’m sorry,” she whispered not quite sure what she was apologizing for but doing it anyway. 

He was jerked away from her by an unseen but not unfelt source.  Scared and not just a little confused she looked up to see his fingers gripping the doorframe his dark eyes boring into her strange hazel gaze.  “Get out of here,” he told her.  “Get out and don’t look back.”

Luna wanted to argue but some sense of self preservation kept the words locked behind her lip.  Slowly she shook her head telling him that she couldn’t do that.  His eyes seemed to show resignation as he nodded stiffly.  Without another word he was sucked back into that hellish room the doors slamming shut ominously behind him.

She knew that she had to get up to move away from this place this horrific evil yet her limbs refused to cooperate.  Her stomach rolled uncomfortably and she knew without a doubt that she was going to be sick.  Weakly she clawed her way to her knees her sight swimming with the effort to stay conscious.  She could feel warm liquid slide down her neck and knew she was bleeding.  The question was, how bad?  Fighting to get to her feet she stumbled down the darkened hallway her hand on the wall to keep her upright.  Hopefully she was making her way towards her friends rather than into another confrontation with that awful presence she wasn’t  sure she would survive the next exchange.

Chapter Seven

As Jade went down the darkened corridors, searching what was the men's quarters, she slid her hands along the walls. She could almost see the men still walking the halls. All races and body types, some scarred, bruised or bloodied from recent battles. Then, through the mass of ghostly figures, she saw one standing at the end staring at her.

"Kevin?"

"You see them, don't you?" She gave him a nod. "They carry on as if they are still alive. They are trapped here, forced to relive the torture, the pain, their deaths over and over again."

"And you?"

"I'm not one of their combatants. I am an investigator, much like you. James had his henchman, Abyss, lock me away."

"But, a ghost can't touch you, or harm you."

"That's what I thought, too."

Just then, an arm reached out, and pulled her into a room. The man spun her to face him. The man looked much too beautiful to be a part of the brutality of the mansion. He had long blonde hair, soft kissable lips, and blue eyes that bore into the soul.

"Why have you come here?" he nearly growled.

Just then, they heard the call of a bird. Their heads jerked in the direction of the noise. A large black bird sat on the railing on the next floor.

The anger grew on the man's face. "YOU!"

The bird dove down and flew to them. Jade was startled as the raven came to rest on her shoulder.

The man released Jade, and let out a humorless laugh. "You think you can protect them alone? One of these days, I'm going to ring your neck and roast you for dinner."

"Let her go, Lance."

"You going to make me, fleshy?" he sneered at Kevin. He took a handful of her hair. "I'm going to show her what we do to women around here."

The raven pecked at Lance's hand, until he let go. Soon after, he began to fade with a final warning. "I'll get her. Then, I'll show her what pain is."

As soon as he was gone, she turned to Kevin. "It's alright, Raven. I will protect her."

It took her a moment to realize he was talking to the bird. It flew back to its perch on the railing. Then, before her eyes, the bird shifted to a large man with long blonde dreadlocks. As she stared in disbelief, she said, "this entire house is totally fucked up!"

"There's no need to fear Raven. He is one of few with a conscience."

She looked back up at the man in the kilt. "I owe you a debt of gratitude, Raven."

The man just looked at her. Kevin chuckled. "He's not much for talking anymore. When he does, he's upset."

"The man that was just here... What is his story?"

Kevin sighed. "Lance was one of Mitchell's fighters. He came in on his own. Apparently, he had no where else to go, so this was his home till his dying day. He doesn't want..."

"Doesn't want what?"

"Doesn't want the spell broken."

"What spell?"

Raven's voice echoed through the room. "The cruelty of man is never ending, until the love of a woman tames him. Quoth the Raven, nevermore."