Her name was Merin. Merin Lynch. She believed she bought the house for two reasons. One being the great stresses she was being put under. Two was that she needed a place to “hide” from her family and the house seemed to call out to her. It was almost as if the house were seeking her out and, at long last, had finally found her. She was very pleased with it.
   She remembered the perplexed look on the face of the real estate agent when she inquired about the house. She had been thumbing through leaflets as he described several other homes to her. The majority were indeed beautiful and lavish but they were equally lavish in price. Merin tried to convey to him as subtlety as she could that they were a little beyond her price range, but he ignored her and continued on endlessly until she decided to speak up about the house.
   Merin didn’t want to seem crass, but she just couldn’t resist asking about it when she saw the price.
   “How about this house?” she asked cutting him off in mid-sentence.
   “Which house is that ?”
   “This one. The Sedwick estate.”
   “Oh…well, I’m afraid that one really would be an unwise choice. Now here is the Marshall House, an absolutely marvelous choice. It has six bedrooms, four and a half ba--”
   “No. I want ta hear about this house. It seems ta be exactly to me liking and it fits me budget rather well.”
   “I really must insist that you not inquire about that house, the agent said. “Really, it needs a lot of work done, and there are other reasons as well.”
   “Oh? Such as what? What could possibly be sa wrong with the house that oi can’t even inquire about it?”
   “Well, ma’am I don’t want to insult your--”
   “Please insalt me.”
   “Well…there have been rumors of strange happenings in connection to that house. People say the house is full of ghosts and demons.”
   “Oh, really? Why should anyone be sayan’ such things? They’re probably just scared old women and children with wild imaginations.”
   He looked all around the room nervously then back at her. He leaned forward a bit and whispered, “No, no! See now I could get into a lot of trouble over saying this, but I know for a fact that the last owner was carried out of there with his throat torn open. The police say a pack of wild dogs were found nearby, and they suspect the dogs killed the poor man, but many bystanders say there was very little blood on the scene and the coroner seemed very perplexed about something that had to do with the body.” 
   “So what air ya sayin‘, that a vampire or some other kind of figment sprang from the shadows and tore oot this man’s throat?”
   “Well, no of course not,” he said looking indignant, “But I, myself, believe the tales about the ghosts. I have been witness to many strange goings-on  in that house. I’ve seen things move by themselves and heard noises that shouldn’t have been and, most frightening of all, I’ve felt the touch of something that wasn’t there. Trust me, you don’t want that house.”
   “Well, Mr. Harding, Oi don’t scare easily and Oi don’t mind specters. Oi certainly don’t believe in vampires or werewolves, and Oi don’t believe rumors. Oi would like ta see the house, although Oi believe Oi’ve already made up me mind about it.”
   The agent shrugged his shoulders in defeat, and Merin believed he knew she wouldn’t back down. He made an appointment to show her the house a week later.
   Merin met him at the house precisely on time. She had an affinity for being punctual. Mr. Harding showed her in the front door and reluctantly followed. She toured each room, inspecting them diligently, as he described focal points and the providence of the house.
   It seemed the house was indeed rich in ghostly lore. Merin had witnessed no strange or unusual happenings that morning, and she was simply enchanted by the house. She had decided to purchase it and moved in immediately. Harding didn’t argue either. In fact, the price was lowered and the executor of the estate even paid the settlement fees! Mr. Harding explained that the family wished only to be rid of the wretched house. This was to her express gratitude.
   Within the month she had fixed all the problems of the house, which turned out to be minor and cosmetic, and moved in. All the while, Merin’s previous problems seemed to be pursuing her. Even as she fled into her new sanctuary, her brothers and sisters continually hounded her to return to the city with them. They insisted that she shouldn’t be alone, especially after what happened at the altar. But Merin fended them off as best she could. Her youngest sister even offered to stay with her, but she declined, as gently as she could. Nevertheless, being the person her sister was , she became offended and stormed out. It was then, when Merin went to bed that night, that she began to have a very peculiar dream.
   The first night she couldn’t recall what had happened. Merin awoke propped up on a mound of pillows with a book beside her. She assumed she had been reading the book and fell asleep that way, but she didn’t remember getting a book to read before she went to bed. Shrugging  it off, thinking it unimportant, she went about her business for the day.
   The day wore on uneventfully, to Merin’s eternal gratitude, and she sat outside in the afternoon. It was a beautiful day, and it seemed it would be one of the last as a slight chill crept into the air. The chill didn’t bother Merin, though, and she savored the bright sunlight. It was the end of summer, and soon the sun would bring little warmth. She was about to go inside when a shadow cast over her. She was quite startled, to say the least, and even more surprised to see who it was that cast the shadow.
   “Hello, Merin.”
   “Allen!?! What air yoo doing here?”
   “I came to…to apologize and to ask for a second chance. I know I don’t deserve it after jilting you like I did. I feel really bad about it, but I’ve come to realize that I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
   Merin eyed him suspiciously. She wanted nothing more than to strangle him where he stood. Instead she gathered up all her will and spoke as harshly as she could to him.
   “Get the hell oot of here! Oi want ya off me property an’ gone. Oi don’t care what ya have ta say, and Oi don’t want ta hear it. And…Oi don’t love ya anymore.”
   Merin immediately saw that her words stung him. He hadn’t expected this kind of reaction. Good. He opened his mouth to say something, thought better of it and closed it again. He stood there staring at her flustered face and came to realize that, she knew as well as he, her words were hollow and empty. But Merin was determined to make him feel what she had felt, so she repeated herself using an even icier tone to her voice.
   “Oi said, Oi don’t want ta hear yoo, let alone see ya and Oi don’t love ya anymore either. Now leave.”
   “I’m sorry. Perhaps I can come back when you’re calmer and we can talk?”
   “No!” she said as she turned on her heel to leave. Allen grabbed her, quick as a cobra, and before she knew his intentions he kissed her passionately. He released her immediately after and looked at Merin softly.
   “Merin, I have never felt this way about anyone. I realized after I left you it was wrong and that I needed you. I see you need more time to heal. I will return to you when you’re calmer.” he left without a backward glance, walking tall and confident. Two traits she had fallen in love with him for. All she could do was to stand there staring after him until he disappeared. She retreated into the house and thought about what had just transpired. Merin tried to comprehend the sensation of feeling thrilled and disturbed at the same time.
   The next morning she awoke and immediately had the feeling of déjà vu. She was in the exact same position as she had been yesterday morning. Merin had the distinct impression she was waking up from a dream. But she couldn’t recall the dream’s contents. She had a vague feeling she was speaking with someone, but she didn’t know with whom or what they were speaking about. Merin dismissed the feeling as part of last night’s dream, and she began her morning rituals.
   The next few days became the most bizarre of Merin’s life. Allen kept his word and stayed away. Though, she kept having the feeling someone was watching her throughout the day. Several times she caught herself looking over her shoulder, trying to catch some shadow she had seen out of the corner of her eye. Each time, there remained nothing to see. As she became used to the sensation she ignored it and thought it only the poltergeists that she had been told lived there. As Merin had told the real-estate agent, she wasn’t afraid of these restless spirits. In fact, she was quite comfortable to share her home with them. In a sense, she supposed, they made her feel not quite so lonely.
   Time passed by and soon the house was completely in order and, by this time, Merin was quite used to the strange happenings that occasionally occurred. Books out of place, papers moved along with furniture, and other odd things that would mysteriously happen. The only thing that bothered her was the peculiar dream she was still having. She noticed it didn’t occur too often when she had guests. Although, it did seem to occur more when Allen visited.
   Yes, she finally allowed herself to be wooed by him after she had, indeed, calmed down and gathered her thoughts. He stayed away for more than a month, but she often saw him in town. Sometimes he would look at her and smile. Other times he would just wave, but he never approached her. Instead, he waited for her to approach him, which she did one Saturday afternoon. Merin decided he deserved a chance to explain himself.
   They ate a late lunch at a local restaurant. He gave her a long, involved speech about why he had done what he did and how sorry he really was. Merin could tell he had grown up and his apology was sincere. She was still wary and, even though she was still in love with him, she realized she needed to be careful. Merin’s family thoroughly disapproved of the whole affair and was still urging her to move back to the city with them.
   As the weeks passed, Allen brought her fresh flowers and her favorite chocolates. At first, he came by rather scarcely, and then nearly everyday. Merin was impressed by the way he was trying to make up for his mistakes. Things began to be the way they were when she first met him. Her brothers, on the other hand, were quite suspicious. Each week they took turns with her sisters staying with her. (Yes, they managed to get away with that too.) They claimed they only wanted to make sure she was able to handle her business affairs, but she knew better. Although they had given up their attempts to make her leave, Merin knew they didn’t like Allen coming around. She wouldn’t have had them at all but she needed her brother’s help and expertise concerning the copper ore mines her father had left her.
   When she finally asked Allen to stay in one of her guest rooms instead of that stuffy, little hotel room he was renting, a strange thing occurred. Merin finally bore witness to one of the elusive specters that haunted her house! It happened when she got Allen settled into a room in the west wing of the house. Two of her brothers and one of her sisters were already at the house when they arrived. They ate a lovely dinner that she and her sister prepared without incident.
   Later, they all retired to the study and talked about many things. Merin’s brothers assured her that her copper mines were doing very well. Poor Allen, on the other hand, had had a bad time with his stocks as they had taken a dangerous drop and he was suffering heavy losses. All the more reason he should stay here with us, she thought to herself.
   It was late when they all retired to their rooms for the evening. Merin got a chill that ran up and down her spine as she entered her bedroom. She could tell some poltergeist had been in there recently, as her desk had been rolled up and papers were scattered about. She set about cleaning it up and, as she was rolling down the top, she had the irresistible feeling she was being watched. Merin turned around quickly, only to discover she was alone. She still felt as if someone were with her as she stepped behind her dressing screen.
   “Now see here! Oi won’t have any of this peeping Tom business. No mattah if ya be a specter or flesh and blood, ya have respect for a lady or ya can be gone from me house,” she stated firmly to the air.
   At once the feeling dissipated and she began dressing for bed. The feeling was still gone when Merin turned out the light. She fell asleep immediately. When she awoke early in the morning she saw, kneeling before her bedside, a handsome young man.
   His hair was slightly long and bound with a piece of leather. It was black like Allen’s, but had a bluish sheen in the light. His eyes were green. Greener than the emeralds that were mounted in her favorite heirloom necklace she was so fond of wearing. So deep and mesmerizing were they that she could have stared at them forever. His nose was straight and narrow and his mouth was just right for his face, neither too large nor too small. It set off his face perfectly. As she came out of unconsciousness, it seemed he was speaking to her. She couldn’t tell. She only knew that he was disappearing before her, as if he never had been. Merin wouldn’t forget his beautiful face that easy.
   She wasn’t frightened as she climbed out of bed to look and see if Allen was nearby and playing tricks. She found nothing , of course. She climbed back into bed with an excited sensation in her stomach. She didn’t wake until the church bells rang at eight that morning.
   Weeks passed and Merin began feeling weak and irritable. Her family, along with Allen, complained constantly that there was something wrong with her. They said she was rather pale and disagreeable. They said she stayed in her rooms too much and never came out like she used to. Merin became fed up with the lot of them. Deep down she knew they were only trying to help, but from somewhere within her sparked an anger. An anger that steadily grew until she could no longer contain it.
   It was then Merin sent everyone away. They resisted, of course, especially Allen, but what could they do? It was her house, after all. Her sister left in tears and her brothers in anger. Allen tried to stay anyway, and Merin politely told him either he left or she’d have the police forcibly remove him. He left without saying a word. His face was a mask, but she could see the pain beneath.  Strangely, Merin felt nothing whatsoever and there was nothing she felt she could do. It was as if someone else controlled her. It won’t be the last I’ll see of him, she thought as she closed the thick, oversized oak door.
   The time had grown late and Merin and was tired. She had been recording her recent events in her diary for hours. Perhaps, she thought to herself, if Oi’ve the strength Oi’ll continue tomorrow. And with that thought in mind, she climbed into bed and slipped into blissful unconsciousness. The vampire stood still as a statue in the shadows. He dimmed himself so that she couldn’t see him. He watched as she blew on the ink to dry. He watched her put away her journal and creep into bed. He was happy now, as there was no one to interfere between she and him and his nightly visits. With a smile on his face he silently moved out of the shadows to claim his prize and thought, tonight. Yes, tonight she shall be mine for eternity.