I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror,Meredith Kinley,17 years old with a head of useless knowledge. I adored blue: my hair was dyed blue; mynail polish was blue; my clothes were mostly blue--the watery blue or skyblue or deep dense blue, blue, blue, blue, the color of life; the color oflove.I had a blue life. It couldn't be other color when one was leaving highschool. Everyday I dress myself in my blue shirts and went to school,feeling the uneasiness pierce deep into my heart. I loved my boyfriend Alex.I also loved my friends, Heather, Dan and Jenny. True love or truefriendship never dies, but who can make the promise that time does notconsume everything?I watched time fly. Everyday followed the same pattern -- no passion, nosurprise, not even the simplest feeling of what went behind. On a fineFriday afternoon, during physics, I looked out of the window. The sunshinesurprised me.I turned to look at Alex. He was occupied with notes taking. The side of hisface was brightened by the light. His eyes focused on his book. Hisattentive has always attracted me. At that moment, he appeared to bestunningly handsome. A smile stole over my lips.My eyes drew back to the board. Even the late afternoon lecture appeared tobe sweet. Our teacher was demonstrating the right-hand-rule. I placed myhead on the cold surface of my desk. The classroom was silent except for herlecture. After school I drove home with Alex. At that instant I thought if life couldremain this way, it would be so wonderful. We kissed goodbye, and I wentinto my house.Soon the night fell; I closed my window when I saw the dark rain cloudapproaching. Upstairs I went back to my room. The hall was dark and silent.The clocked tickled and tickled, reminding me of the time.I got into the bathroom. The blue reminded me of myself. It was time forbed.He came at midnight.The silent whisper came from somewhere, and it awakened me. I felt my bodylie in vain, so helplessly. Then the shadow appeared in my room. The thunderfilled in the space. And I thought I saw him smile.I have come to you. I thought I hear him saying.Slowly, he reached for me, embracing me in his arms. I wanted to say no, andgot out. But I could no nothing. His eyes were sparkling. The flame wentout.Behold the memories. The whisper came again.
　　"I am devil's princess." The woman smiled in the mirror. She dressed in redgown. Her black hair tangled down her charming shoulders.Her smile was vicious and beautiful. At the other side of the room, ahandsome prince stood by the door. He looked at his princess with asatisfactory expression.Out toward the town they went, left the dark castle behind. Devil and hismistress owned that castle. They possessed it, and seduced human being thereto deprive their souls. They were charming to men's eyes, with impeccablebeauty and mysterious indication of something dark and unknown. People wereseduced by the things they fear. That is always the rule.For years and years they lived in the castle, building their own world ofsin and deceits. No one had ever come forward to discover the evil beneathit.
　　"Why would you escape from me, for the unseen salvation?" the whisper becamefurious. Yet his embrace was still tender and warm.I couldn't say anything."Come to the realm of eternity with me, again." He said, "I love you, myprincess."His breath was cold and comforting. I lied helplessly in his arms. And thenI felt the piecing pain and let out a scream.Soon the overwhelming sensation and memories caught me. My mind went fast ina circle. There was something that hide deep in my head and today it cameforward to show me a part of me that I wasn't aware of."It is not death I bring you. It is not doomed either. It's just my love. Forgive my temporary absence. I shall take us away on the wings of angels.Believe me."When I awoke the morning sunshine filled my room. I lied on my bed. Thepicture hanging in the middle of the wall was on the ground now. After thestorm the world became clear and beautiful. There was a deadly trace of himin the room.The nightmare soon faded into nothing. I thought it was some dream I had,Ghosts swirling around my room, bringing the wind up the ceiling.I was afraid of the dream itself. It left more than mere impression on me.I thought I'd hide it from Alex. It gave me an unsafe feeling. When he drovedown to pick me up for school I just showed him the very same smile I'dpresent everyday before. I thought the silence of the world would drive mecrazy.During lunch I met Alex at the acting classroom. The room was empty exceptfor the book bags on the floor. Everything in the room startled me."Meredith, are you OK?" he looked at me, concerned."Well, Alex. I think something is up to me. And I am afraid." I looked awayand looked back at him. His clear eyes fixed upon me. Those eyes had made mefeel warm and safe, now they are vacant. I shuddered. did everything changeovernight?He put his hand over my shoulder: "what is it you are afraid of? Graduation?Don't be stressed out. Believe me, it's only the beginning of your life.Everything will work out.""No, no…" I shook my head; "it's just a weird feeling…that sometimes Ifeel so isolated form the world. And something is haunting me in mydreams…some memories that deceived me for the past years. It's some cravingfor partnership and love. It’s a lonely state. Alex?"He had been attentive; I liked him for that. He became perplexed. "Meredith, if you feel lonely, think of us. Dan, jenny and me…""No, no, it's not about it at all. It's not about you or anyone. Its onlyabout myself." I protested.I looked at him; the eyes gazed at me with such affection in them. But hewould never understood. He wasn't me. I was by myself at that moment in thisworld."Love forbade you to die." The night he whispered those words carelesslyinto my ears. His hands caressed my face. His eyes, oh the eyes thatglittered with affection, gazed at me with such love that captured me,surrounded me, and enthralled me."But who are you?" I lay beneath the dark blanket that truncated all lightsand hopes, asked as he drew kisses on my face."For centuries, I walked by. The sun could have burnt me to death. But mylove, my heart wouldn't let me go. If you decide to come back to Me." hisvoice sounded weary."I shall be a delicate drought of air and caress you."On the day of graduation I cried. Alex held me to him and we walked out ofthe crowd.

-- End of Chapter 1 --

　　The house was dark and eerie. I hurried down the basement and searchedthoroughly. In one of those dusty closet I found what I wanted, a framer. Onits back I could barely see the words written down: for the silent souls.
　　Devil’s princess, the doomed beauty and the symbol of temptation. Was it Icenturies before, under the perfect protection of this thing called evil,went through the dark forest by the devil’s side?
　　My fingers moved over the delicate surface of the framer. It was from mygrandfather. How did he ever possess this evidence of something that diedages ago?
　　Summer days were bright and warm. I stayed home for a while until I couldstand the whisper no more. Then I decided to go to my grandfather’s houseby the lake. My older sister Linda accompanied me.
　　The house resided just beside the lake. It was a gorgeous place for summervacation. I didn’t want to spend my time at work all summer. My friendscommented on that. I couldn’t care less.
　　We drove down the road to the nearest shop for supplies. The house washuge. The dusty furniture, old but gorgeous presented the long absence ofpeople. There were beautiful portraits hanging on the walls of almost everyroom. I could dwell before them for hours. And during evening, I would swimin the blue clear lake, letting the siren’s song stole my heart and drown.But I never got drown.
　　He stopped appearing for a while.
　　But my sisters said the house was haunted.
　　By ghosts? I asked.
　　No, she said, with a mysterious expression, by memories.
　　For almost two weeks I enjoyed the nature and the sheer happiness itbrought me. When I felt better, I was ready to go back to town. But he stillfound me!
　　During the dark hours, I fell asleep before the fireplace. Linda shut offthe lights. It was a quiet night. Only the singing of nightingales went intothe sweet dreams.
　　There was a wide space in my dreams. I was wearing an unbelievablymagnificent red dress. The taste of blood and evil remained in the air. Thesun shined on top of my head.
　　Then suddenly, the broke of glass penetrated through the stiff silence.
　　I turned around sharply, caught him walking out of the glass.
　　His eyes were deep. Soon he lulled me in. I gasped.
　　“Why do you want to run away?” he asked furiously.
　　Before I realized that it wasn’t a dream but as real as my everyday life,his eyes were filled with blood tears and he reached out his hands.
　　I remembered the piercing pain and the music inside the blood. And then theheart began its rhyme. It strove for life. And yet life ceased its power. Itstruggled and struggled. My arms couldn’t touch him. Then I saw thesneering expression on his face, yet sorrow stricken.
　　When I awoke in the morning, nothing seemed to have happened. I sat uponthe blanket before the cold fireplace, perplexed.
　　Knock on the front door.
　　I went up and got the door. To my surprise, Alex stood in front of me.
　　“I was worried about you so I just came down to visit.” The smile on hisface couldn’t hide away.
　　I led him in. of course I was happy to see him. But after the terribledream, or incident, that took place last night. I couldn’t bring myself toface him.
　　Sat before the sunlight caressing coffee table, I told him about my dreamsand doubts.
　　I didn’t expect him, a typical skeptic, to believe what I believe. I wastoo petrified to face all these myself.
　　“I felt the same thing, Meredith.” He said, “before I came to visit you,I heard about the unusualness of the house. Its haunted by memories.”
　　“Memories?”
　　“It's different. I didn’t want to believe this. But I could feel it. It'ssome power that wants me to sense the very existence. I know you don'tbelieve me. But it's exactly what I felt at this moment."
　　He paused.
　　We both heard the same thing.
　　The whisper came, echoed in the room. Like wind it stirred the deep fearinside us.
　　Alex turned pale.
　　"What is it." He asked me.
　　The wind began to swirl in the room. I had no clue how it got in. it wascold and the next second it turns warm.
　　We both gasped before everything returned to normal.
　　"What is it that is in this house?" he asked me furiously.
　　"Sounds like I know." I answered abruptly. We both returned to my room. Andlet him unpack the stuff.
　　"I feel that there is no need to be scared. But if you want to leave, I cancall a cab for you." I offered this advice.
　　"No," he answered, without stopping the unpacking process; "I will be fine.Lets find out whom he is that is haunting you and why the hell would he dothat."
　　I looked at him without speaking a word. These days he was drifting awayfrom me. I felt the terror that we will be torn apart someday, and thisforce is around me now.
　　We spend the day watching the ducks swim on the lake. Until dusk came, thenight fell. We three sat by the table, having dinner.
　　I sat silently. The house was far away from the community. And the nightwas dark, very dark. The light was dim. I went to bed early. The big,old-fashioned bed looked creepy. Soon I fell asleep.
　　I awoke by the sound of footsteps. In the room's dim light I saw him, inblack cloak, walked toward me. His eyes were blood-shot.
　　This was the first time I saw his face. The eyes had the color of the sky.His lips curled to make a perfect, but horrifying smile. He said somethingbut I couldn't hear them. Then the smile widens and I saw the fangs inside,blinking with blood!
　　I screamed.
　　The light was turned on. Alex hurried into my room. The summer breeze wasfreezing. The window clapped and creaked. I stared at Alex, petrified.
　　"Are you OK Meredith?" he looked at me, concerned.
　　"He is here." I gasped, "he is here he is here. God how did he do that. Heis not human! Ah!"
　　I screamed and screamed. Until I could stand no more. I collapsed and fellinto Alex's arms.
　　"Where is Linda." He asked.
　　We walked out of my room together. And Linda wasn't in her room. As thelighting and thunder struck me, the light in the house went out.
　　Alex and I were stunned. Both of us stood quietly, without taking a breath.The lighting startled me. Alex grabbed a flashlight and took my hand.
　　"Let's go find Linda." He said.
　　We searched the dusty hallways and mysterious rooms. We went downstairs tolook at kitchens. I could feel my heartbeat. The whisper dwelled in my head,kept disturbing my mind. I hated this feeling. I should have gone back homeby now.
　　We opened doors after doors. And only the basement was left. I didn't wantto go down. What in the world would Linda be down there doing something? Icouldn't think. But Alex showed his determination. He dragged me down there.And we faced a door to a room we never went in before. Something about thenature gave me the feeling that we should not go in the room. So I justpulled Alex upstairs.
　　"There is no way Linda would be in that room. Let's go check the bathroom."
　　He followed me silently.
　　We opened the bathroom door, and in the flash of light I saw Linda lying inthe bathtub. The bloody view of her face was right in front of me. I let outa scream and turned away.
　　She was killed!
　　Alex quickly pushed me out of the bathroom and shut the door after us. Hisexpression was grave. My mind refused to work. The bloody picture was stillin front of me. At that moment I thought I knew who killed her.
　　We went back to his room and waited for sunrise.
　　I didn't know when I feel asleep. Maybe I was too scared or tired. When Iawoke the sunshine filled the room with its tender touch. Alex sat next tome, thinking.
　　He saw me awake, and went down to take up some coffee and bread. We had oursimple breakfast.
　　"I think we should report to the police." He said.
　　"No." I shook my head; "I have a strong feeling that everything is in thatroom. And it's overwhelming. The police wouldn't help us. And what I fearthe most is that we can't really reach the outside."
　　"What do you mean. We have phone and cellular."
　　"Try, Alex. Try." I believed that my smile was bitter.
　　He picked up the phone and it wasn't working. The cellular was out ofservice. One word, we have been cut off with the outside.
　　"We can drive your car. And we can always walk."
　　"I don't even think that my car is still functioning. And I don't thinkwalking can get us out of here. You can't get out of somewhere it doesn'twant you to. Alex. I had this feeling all my life and its been proven. Youknow me well enough not to question. This time you just have to letsomething reveal themselves."
　　"That you are no ordinary person?" he asked, "I know you are different. Butthis time things have gone out of the line. Tell me this is not true thatyou were really the devil's princess."
　　"Do not lose your control. The fact that I am the devil's princess is notgoing to help us out of here. It's definitely not going to help you. Afterall, this thing is chasing after me. And I know damn well the rules of thisgame. The world never served me right. I know why I came here. The answer ismore complicated than you think!"
　　"Meredith, what did you hide from me. I thought we were both sincere."
　　"Alex, this is not about us! This is about me. And you were an accident.God you should have stayed home. And let me face this devil, or whoever heis, a vampire. I don't care. Why doesn't he follow anyone else? Why me?!"
　　While we were having this hot argument, the whisper came again.
　　Is swirled in the room, bringing up the wind. And it went by our hands andshoulders. I felt a cold hand catch my shoulder.
　　"Let's go." Alex said, then grabbed my hand, run toward the front door.
　　We hurried downstairs, running through the darkened hallway. The dim candlelight danced on the top of all shadows. The sitting room was quiet. Istopped at the end of stairway.
　　"What is it. Hurry!" Alex pulled me.
　　We ran toward the door, and pull it open. To our surprise, behind the door,there was a brick wall standing in front of us.
　　"What did I say?" I asked Alex as he backed up. "There was something inthis house."
　　We checked the windows. All of them were locked. We ran through the houseuntil we were exhausted. I collapsed on the ground.
　　At that time footsteps approached us from the back.
　　Alex turned sharply, and let out a low scream. And then he fell heavilydown. A man in black walked slowly, picked him up. And t hen I saw Alex'shead tipped to the side.
　　"No. No." I cried desperately, reached out my hands, trying to stopeverything. But nothing happened. Nothing stopped. The man released Alex'slifeless body and left the house. I reached his hands. They were now cold.
　　I didn't know how long I stayed there until the night fell. The whispercame. They drove me into deep sleep.
　　"For centuries I loved you, and you left all the memories behind. Themidnight memories and the slaughter were my final answers. My princess."
　　Whisper: "follow your own heart."
　　I walked down to the basement, stood before the forbidden door, which hideso many memories and secrets. Slowly I pushed the door open, stepped in.
　　All of a sudden, the door closed behind my back and locked. The lights inthe room turned on. And the statue in front of me moved, turned into a man.
　　"Midnight memories." He smiled.
　　Then he transformed into the cold marble statue again. The next second thestatue disappeared.
　　"This was where the devil and his princess resided for 98 years." The voicecame. "She left him for something called hope. Whoever knew what that was.
　　"You cannot escape, my princess. He is everywhere. He is after you. Youbelieved in things that weren't true for once. And you left the past behind.You thought you could lead life's way. But you weren't really yourself.There was one final question. Do you want to come with me?"
　　He stood in front of me. His cold, marble hands moved over my face. Thewords were such a painful burden. Tears rolled down my cheeks.
　　"Come back to the realm. For it lasts forever."
　　I couldn't think. I couldn't move. Alex and Linda were both killed. Andthis man who killed both my beloved ones wants me to follow him? I'd ratherdie!
　　His expression turned desperate. He shoved me against the wall.
　　"Who, do you think you are?" he shouted, "I gave you everything you everwanted! And what do you do in return. Just now you choose, death or liveforever."
　　My head hit the hard wall. The pain on the back of my head reminded me ofmy existence. I shook my head in vain. Slowly, he released me.
　　"Another century passed away and you still don't want to come with me.Another century died in vain. Who do you look for? What have you searchedfor? Answer me" blood tears came out of his eyes.
　　I was too weak to answer.
　　Then he left.
　　I woke up with another day. I knew that Alex and Linda would never comeback. How would I explain to everyone?
　　I dressed myself in a blue dress. The blue-colored jade necklace reflectedthe light in a gorgeous way. I picked up the diary that I found in thecloset, and walked down to the basement. I filled the old poll with water.And I sank myself in. maybe another century would pass and the truth shouldreveal itself.
　　I could not live alone with the midnight memories.
　　I simply could not. He was out there. And no day passed without hisexistence. Not a simple moment could pass without the memories. I chose tosurrender.
　　I thought I heard the cry of the heart. I thought I saw the end of time