Mists, first chapters. 
Here's the prologue and the first two chapters of Mists. Foreword
He stood there, face that broke the silence ringing
monotone of the rain pounding the tile, in a dripping ice cream with a sky of dark clouds pregnant with punishing the earth and mixed with bitter tears.
The horror of a grotesquely twisted bodies lying in a pool of blood. A body was slender and graceful in life. But the ignominious death had him making outrageous mass, the remains of a body revolted.
He dropped the letter the victim wrote before jumping into the void for fatally crashing into the ground. It was said that was impossible to live, their hopes were broken, that the man she had married and was breathing with child.
The paper flew and alighted on the puddle of blood was pouring from his head open. Soaked in red and the letters were diluted incessant rain disappeared, faded faded as the laughter of the girl who now lay dead.
But his eyes had read and could never forget the words written. Never forget nor the cause of this misfortune: Clifford Ellis, Duke of Ormond.
And before the body that cared and loved, which would have given up their last breath, the silent witness of the tragedy raised his eyes to the dark sky and vowed revenge.
"Yes," he said aloud, broken by tears. The Duke of Ormond pay. I will devote my life to it if necessary.
Chapter 1
Duchy of Ormond. England
The fog seeped through the walls like a hand
wet and left ready to catch it. wind howled outside
and she covered her ears to hear.
shivered with fear, stared at the logs
the fireplace, crackling fire languages \u200b\u200b
monopolized her attention.
Mariam, Duchess of Ormond, the pupils were dilated
to divert your attention to the corner of the room where sometimes appeared to him that ghostly silhouette. Where to hear the grim whisper of a voice that seemed to come from the beyond. Now the silence around her, but she knew she would find her. She and the child she was carrying.
Outside the castle, the whistling wind that raged in bursts, as an omen, indicating that night seemed to be serving his term. He stifled a sob and covered to the chin with a blanket, but could not avert his gaze from the corner erratic. Waited and prayed with all the faith he could muster for the ghost would not return to leave her alone. His teeth chattered and was unable to control his tremors.
The icy breath punished walls suddenly stopped and a curtain of water began to beat the imposing castle. Stupidly, Mariam said that perhaps the spectrum does not go with a very unfortunate time, and the fool thought she was in a fit of hysterical laughter.
It was only a few months had been installed in Hallcombe House and since then his life had changed. The gray walls, the endless corridors, the lower galleries, including the great hall where they held hearings and court of justice in ancient times, we were gloomy and cold. Just hated to see the castle. As hated the man that her mother forced her to marry.
The climate of this part of England did not help. Neither
steep and rough terrain of the mountains of Cumberland.
was used to pasture his beloved Wales, where he lived, but had to leave their home and friends. Loved everything. It was still very young, he was only seventeen, and with that marriage evaporated dreams of freedom. Now was the wife of Clifford Ellis, Duke of Ormond. And expecting a child.
He was alone and afraid I was not well known. He was very tall and she barely reached his shoulder, his complexion and gray eyes hard and made her feel insignificant. Immediately he knew he congeniarían. And they did. So he turned his affection servant of weak character, like herself, with whom she felt comfortable.
At first, Mariam had tried to put distance between the two, but found it impossible. He carried on his shoulders with a famous name with a title that allowed him to make mistakes. A choked her reputation. But the boy ended up having a confidant and secrets friction became subtle. They were soul mates and although they ended their social separated by a sincere affection that unite them were forbidden.
The rain lashed furiously Mariam glass and let out a moan that became a scream when the window was flung open, stick the wall and throwing cold water burst inside, turning off lights candle chandelier I had left it switched to instill value. He jumped out of bed, and locked the window again. The rain soaked her nightgown and went to bed shivering. The shadows had deepened, but did not dare to move, paralyzed by fear. And his thoughts turned to the man she was now married.
Clifford had been treated well. With exquisite correction. He was a stranger whom everyone respected. She had behaved with so gentlemanly and always hung on someone-he-never attend each and every one of your needs.
Mariam assumed from the beginning it was only the vessel where it would create an heir. That was its purpose and no other. But the baby did not belong in a marriage that had brought more than a mere commercial transaction for the duke. Fortunately, he had seen little since the wedding, because the ducal obligations and commitments to the Crown occupied all the time. And she found herself displaced, relegated to an object and missing her old life.
Her father pampered from birth. Let out a deep sigh at the memory as he told stories till sleep overcame and procuring the every whim. His sudden death changed everything. His mother was a cold and calculating, and Duke's proposal meant to her an asset with which to achieve, finally, the social position he had always wanted and did not find her husband's life. Marry her to one of the richest men in England earned him a personal triumph.
Mariam could not deny that her husband, Clifford Ellis, treated everyone fairly. The servants and tenants were pleased with their enforcement. But she was not comfortable. The Duke of intimidated.
The rain seemed to subside and Mariam leaned on the cushions wondering if it would be wiser to go to the room of her husband. Should have been honest with him after the third occurrence. Surely, Ellis had put to flight spectrum. No doubt I would have. It was a valiant man who had faced even the forces of hell.
Now, however, seemed childish wake at midnight to warn of his visions. What would, except that they were paranoid fantasies? How could she explain that she was terrified by a shadow who visited from the world of the dead? And although he was convinced that night should be feared most, whether it was possible, the paralyzed his own doubts.
heard what seemed like a tearing of clothes. As if spiders. Peered into the darkness, but saw nothing. Tried to relax by telling herself that it was all his imagination and that the pregnancy was too tense.
- Mariam ...!
He took the fold of the sheet up to her mouth, horrified.
was there again! He bristled the hair on the neck and
sank into the cushions, eyes wide open.
"Leave me alone," pleaded trembling.
A waterfall and neutral laughter broke the silence accompanied
a drag chain. Another whisper. And again
thick and broken voice that crazy.
- Time, Mariam ...!
threw the blankets aside and ran to the door. He could not stay there. The fear of drowning, heart pounded rang in the ears, shaking like a leaf. Slipped, fell painfully to his knees and looked back. I did not see anyone, but I knew it was there, stalking, chasing, threatening. He sat heavily because the swelling of her belly and her legs swollen the hindered. He had to escape because the spectrum would end her and her son. And he loved to be that was brewing. Needed to be strong for him.
With a desperate push open the door and stepped into the gallery followed by the sound of the strings that are sliding across the floor to the rhythm of footsteps, and went on a mad race. I wanted to scream, but she could not panic knot encircled his throat prevented it.
picked up the hem of her nightgown and ran like a madwoman to the rooms of her husband, on the other side of the aisle. He cursed the fact that they were so far removed from theirs because now more than ever needed their help and protection. But being chased hell that seemed to be everywhere and I ran in front, cutting the road. Mariam turned back and fled in the opposite direction, moving away from the premises of the duke.
terrified, his eyes sticking out of their sockets, was moving over the cold tiles as fast as he could, trying to keep track of when they followed his steps. And in his unconsciousness, it was moving toward the south tower.
Her bare feet trod the first step of the narrow stairs to the tower stood, lost stability and fell forward, hitting the belly. He drowned in pain but he forced himself to rise and half crawled, climbed the ladder, caught already hysterical sobs. Her long hair covered his face, stumbled again, dropped again ...
spectrum followed. Followed. And alternately laughed and called it. Mariam
managed to reach final. Just thought of escape. But the footsteps of that infernal essence earned steps up behind her. The clink of the chains was going crazy. When you reach the door was always closed recalled and terror paralyzed her. Mad, pushed with all his forces, and for some reason, the wood failure. By its own momentum, fell flat.
rain beat her mercilessly. Crawling, tearing the thin fabric of her nightgown, turned away as he could. The deafening thunder and the blinding lightning. Frantic, back on itself, without getting up, found the ghost while the rain fell on it. In his madness, came the edge of the tower.
Panting, a prisoner of delirium, mute with terror, he leaned against the wall. His icy fingers grabbed the slippery stone and covered with lichens and got his feet on the second attempt. Then again heard a sound that seemed to come from a tomb. He turned, his eyes wide with fear, shaken by the wailing and shivering. There was
.
The thing is silhouetted in the dark.
A shapeless mass and frightening. Where should the head just had a hood empty. And in it ...
Mariam The piercing cry of mingled with the roar of thunder, suffocating.
eyes, if they were eyes, looked like only two bright spots that haunted and fierce.
- Mariam ...!
Duchess of Ormond She let out a scream again and stepped back, gesturing with his hands to ward off the hellish vision that he was approaching.
- Nooooo!
His legs ran into something, lost stability and body tilted dangerously. His feet slipped and fell into the moat of the castle. As he fell into darkness, he repeated that denial to the irrefutable, that despairing cry, hoarse and painful, heartbreaking.
Some months later ... Clifford
awoke suddenly altered and covered with sweat. His eyes moved from one place to another looking stand at the sea of \u200b\u200bdarkness that surrounded him.
took a few seconds to realize that he had been a nightmare. One more. Despite the time did not go away, repeated over and over again, harassing insistently.
- What happens? Asked a sleepy voice at her side.
blinked, completely disoriented and joined to light a candle. A woman held the other side your bed. Stunned, he wondered why he was there, until he remembered. He threw aside the blankets and stood up. He rubbed his eyelids. A sharp pain in her eye sockets announced the impertinence of a migraine. She let out a curse and a couple of candles lit more. In the darkness located his robe crumpled on the floor and covered him
. He stared at his partner and she gave a wan smile.
- What are you doing here?
tone abruptly roused harsh and completely. If he had any hope of intimacy with him later, it disappeared immediately. Out of bed, gathered her clothes and as he was, even without dressing, with an apology on his lips, walked to the exit. Cliff
stroked the hair stirred irritants pushing back strands that fell on his face. The sound of the closing door burst like a thunderclap in his brain and other wine was rude to her lips. Dropped full length on the messy bed that still smelled of sex.
remained well for long, as dazed, lost in the roof surface. A shudder shook him, agonizing final link in your sleep. His late wife screamed and screamed, ran and ran, and stumbled ... Fell into the void ... The images of death, crippling and gaunt, haunted him since that night with the black flapping of a bird of prey. And the frustration returned to him with every nightmare, in waves, dreadful and oppressive, leaving him battered and broken. For in every dream, he tried to reach it, to avoid the inevitable, to save it. And it felt so useless in the hallucination as it had been in reality. Had not arrived on time and she rushed into the void from the top of the tower.
revived with a jolt the sharp impact of your body to hit the ground.
leaned back in his head and stretched the power to reach the jug of wine she had left beside the bed the night before. He drank greedily and liquid fell like a punch in the stomach, but he did regain his sanity and curb their cries. He got up and walked to the window, settling on the stone seat. The sun was beginning to dawn on the horizon and he wondered again what was the point in his life.
never considered her marriage to Mariam as more than a deal. And in it, neither won anything and they lost a lot. Her life and he ... He cursed the moment of weakness than a pretty face won the battle to his original determination not to marry. It was his lust that Mariam was killed. Not to marry, to have lived up to his oath of celibacy, she continued to live happily in Wales and he would not have become a taciturn, sour and sullen, tormented by a dramatic event that never stopped pursuing him. Mariam had been a weak woman, always fearful and poorly resolved to fulfill the role that was required. His death was heavy as a slab. And his
mortification because she was older, in his delirium, he had finished what he wanted most: an heir. Only the seeds of doubt subsiding their pain. The servant that would bring him that took his life by hanging of a beam in the kitchen, giving rise to a rumor that spread like wildfire. Are you sure the child was his Mariam brewing? Strokes
devastated undermined his soul and his pride.
could not help but feel anger every time I thought about it.
Because it was aware that Oswald Train, the servant who always behaved as the lapdog of his late wife, could have fathered the offspring that would become his heir. But you never know the truth and that angered him. Could no longer take his mind off the nagging doubt that she, the woman who gave her surname, which became his duchess, he would become a cuckold. Sentenced
out if he consented to go through the altar! Thing he wanted in the world was getting married again, ever trust a woman. To hell Ormond, their heritage and their offspring damn!
First her mother and then Mariam had failed miserably. And the betrayal of both are entrenched in his soul, festering with each passing day. As a child, he asked a million times if your mother would have left because of him, something he had done. I always had the feeling that the frequent arguments with her father were not only a reflection of their hatred toward him, and marked that part of his childhood. Now when you think your confidence restored, rose again the suspicion of premeditated deception of Mariam. So the resentment towards the fair sex had stuck to him since the night she died, as a scourge that could not, or wanted, free. Best wary of them to appear again before all the taint of an unhappy.
Unfortunately, the Crown did not feel the same. And what was worse, not his grandmother ordered. It was the most stubborn woman of Creation and seemed to have conspired with Satan to drive him crazy. He had just turned thirty-one years, was no longer a teenager and was able to choose a wife for himself, have loved her. But did not want. However, both her grandmother and for the State that was irrelevant.
For all furnaces of hell! Barely a few months Mariam's death when he was beset by various candidates for the position of Duchess of Ormond. And no way to escape was so ruthless harassment. So he decided to finally pursue the task of finding a wife. For the same reason had been drunk the night before and carried the woman to his bed.
No doubt he was losing the papers. But that was, remarriage, or finishing at the feet of the horses of social patterns. I had no choice but to give up, marry, would have an heir, and that hell will take everyone!
He approached the bed and pulled the cord to call the servants. No waiting for his valet peep through the door.
"Good morning, my lord," he greeted. Have you slept well?
"Perfectly. As if I had been kicked all night.
"If I may say so, sir, are the consequences of drinking.
"I wish to continue drunk. I prepare the bath, please. And get me something for the headache.
His valet nodded and left and he returned to the thread of his thoughts.
hated London. It was just a city where the aristocracy are prostituted in the corridors of power and pageantry of the holidays. Critters dressed in silk and powdered faces, insensitive to the disadvantaged and concerned only for their own aggrandizement. He was never comfortable with them. In that his father had left. In addition, his detachment was known among high society. Yes, your fortune cross the immediate entry to any event. And no parent who would dream to have him as son. At the end of the day, what mattered little man his reputation as accessible to marry the girl? He had nurtured an image indifference and did not intend to modify. It was the shield that protected them from annoying invitations.
Then came his servants, and began to greet him after the bath.
Chapter 2
London was meeting the expectations of Lea, but from time to time scruple assailed her for having deceived his family. Running away from home as it did only could lead to dire consequences if they did know. Discard
uncomfortable guilt and resentment focused on her surroundings. Had gone to that party to have fun and that he intended to do. He looked askance in the window and wrinkled her nose. The dress borrowed from her friend was awful. And pink. He did not like that color, but there was another to serve him and Tina had insisted that suited him very well. It was not true, like a soda and infant doll. Bothered him convey that image. If he had not torn his costume party in the rush ...
- What do you think, Eleanor?
turned to his friend and forced a smile. Tina ... Clementina, the name that she hated and never used, stood at his side. Daughter of the Earl of Bermont, met at school and became inseparable.
now living apart, but their friendship remained immovable, although very different. Leah was a stubborn Scottish's ideas. Equally appreciated go to a party to hunt the mountain wrapped in a tartan and a dagger in his belt. Tina, on the contrary, it was like a butterfly, always immaculate, right, without ever skipping the rules. Perhaps their differences were what kept them together.
"In the couple will choose for the next dance," said Lea. And how awful it is this dress.
"The dress is nothing dreadful, darling, only you feel so. Look at young people who do not stop looking at you. Judging by the number of requests dance they've done, I feel great. I think what you give away. Now seriously, what were you thinking? Read
surrendered. Tina seemed sometimes a little naive, but I had the scent of a hound.
"I can not hide anything, right? I thought of my father. And my brothers.
"Look you are spoilers.
"You forget that there are tonight.
"If I had known you were going to commit the folly to introduce in London without saying anything at home, I would have bitten his tongue and I would not have caught up to the holidays.
"Thank you you would not, Tina. Edinburgh I was bored and could not resist spending a few days with you. Not to blame for my craziness.
"But the food.
"Thank God. "He winked.
"Just hope you do not discover the deception. Amanda
-cover me, I wrote before coming. You know it's an old family friend and certainly is as crazy as me. I said I was going to Aberdeen, so nobody has to know I'm not there. Tina
wrinkled his nose comically, not finish them all along. -Any
day you'll look for a big problem. Read
nodded and sighed. I knew, yes. But he could not stand the boredom and need to escape occasionally from the monotony of your home. And more importantly, the overwhelming protection of his father, Neal McKenna, and his three brothers.
The musicians returned after a short break and a new compass invited couples to fill the dance floor. Immediately, both girls were surrounded by men. Tina pulled the elbow of his friend in a silent message of affection and dismissing with a smile who invited her, took the arm of a fan Read abandoning theirs.
Read agreed to dance with a young sexy and melancholy. But as soon took to the steps regretted it.
He did his best to follow in the footsteps of his awkward partner while thinking back to lash her escape. If discovered would be stuck in a mess.
None of his family shared his love of London. Suspicious of the British that they had been persecuted for centuries and had suffered one of his brothers. So, scams always planned to visit Tina and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the capital.
Now, what the concern was a possible punishment. Those who had earned until then spent a few days locked in the tower without being able to go riding with his brothers. However, on that occasion, his arrest could last a decade. Or two. That if you did not kill his father after returning to cry for the millionth time I was sick of his schemes.
His dance partner stumbled, stepped on and stopped dancing. Lea looked somewhat uncomfortable. He did not conceal an expression of displeasure, and she followed the invisible line of his eyes while rumors spread throughout the room.
- By God! "Murmured her companion. Never thought I had the courage to stand here today.
- What happens?
-Ormond, "he said in explanation.
- Who?
The adonis dull pointed chin.
"You have to be very valuable and very little shame to come to the party. After what happened ...
- Succeeded? Who?
The young man grabbed her by the elbow and led her off the track.
"Sorry, Miss McKenna, I must go. Read
was stunned to see away to that idiot.
Guests whispering in groups and they kept casting glances toward the entrance of the room. Tiptoe he clinched his best to try to figure out what she had caused such a stir. An individual, with the host, seemed to capture everyone's attention. Someone put him ahead and he lost it. Gently patted the shoulder of the gentleman and said,
- Would you mind stepping aside?
The man who had just arrived was tall, broad shoulders and dark hair. What was so special, apart from a good size, he asked Leah. Why all seemed so affected?
"It's incredible Tina said he heard at his side.
- Who is it?
-Ormond. Read
waited more information. But do not get it. It was as if that name, period, clarifies everything.
- Who the hell is this guy Ormond, may I ask?
- Watch your vocabulary, Eleanor!
"Come, come, come," the hurried. My dance partner is gone as if he had seen a ghost, others can not hide his discomfort, and you did not clarify anything.
Tina took her to the room where refreshments were served. "It's
Clifford Ellis, the Duke of Ormond.
"I've never heard of him.
"Because not long ago come to visit. Not a day. It is a strange and uncouth individual who stays away from the aristocracy. Lives in isolation in Hallcombe House.
"That name does ring a bell.
"Everybody knows the Castle of Mists.
"Well ... "Read craned toward the newcomer. Well, since there does not seem so strange, "murmured looking at her elegant figure.
"They say he killed his pregnant wife. Read
paid full attention to her friend, now
certainly intrigued.
- Are you kidding?
-No. "She blushed a little as if it were a secret. Well, everyone says that killed her. Anyway, had no merit. Plunged from a tower of the castle at night. There were no witnesses.
Read The shaped eyebrows arched.
"If there were no witnesses, as you say, then they are only
gossip.
"It's a horrible man.
- Why?
"Because ... because ... He stressed the blush on the beautiful face of Tina. Does not hide what he thinks. He says that we are parasites.
"That also says my father. I've heard a thousand times that people should do something productive instead of living on income and hopping between ballrooms or gentlemen's clubs. And I would not say that my father is a horrible man. Stubborn, yes. Recalcitrant, possibly. But never horrible.
"You did your lawyer vein of lost causes. Have you ever put in place the rest of us?
28
"It irritated her friend Ellis is a guy ... intriguing, dark. Even rumored to have powers.
- Powers?
"You know what I mean ... Occult powers.
- What nonsense! People have too much imagination-Central New full attention to the newcomer. He would have liked him to be back to see her face. All I see is an amazing body. I can not imagine talking to spirits.
"Besides, has slept with half the women in London.
- What power! Read teased. Immediately became serious with the sulky gesture of her friend. The Libertines do not scare me, Tina. In any case, I disagree.
- You're impossible! I suppose it's your Scottish blood. But, for once in your life, you should keep in mind what I say, dear. Ormond is dangerous. Sometimes I wonder what women see in him. It is so menacing ... Tina
left with a flurry of skirts, shaking her fan with speed, as a shield against bad omens. Y Read
proposed a closer look at Satan. A demon with an excellent appearance, in black, very contrapié of fashion colors. A halo emanating intriguing that excited his curiosity. Yes, why not say it ... It was somewhat puzzling. He wondered if his face would honor your body. And Tina did not understand what women see in that guy? Surely he was losing sight. He approached his best dodging guests. Fantasized about what they submit, but the host gave a sigh of peace concealed when the subject is dismissed with a slight bow and headed for the exit.
Read only able to see a few wisps of dark hair falling on a dark face. But just at that moment, before crossing the threshold, Ellis turned to the present, as if they will challenge. And something stirred in Read to a steely eyes, suspicious and intelligent. And one point threatening. Devil eyes. But, yes, an angel of evil excitingly attractive.
Then, Ellis noticed her.
Lea was stopped when faced while in the distance. Those eyes were burning and uncomfortable uneasiness bucked up his spine.
But the spell is broken: a lady came to Ormond and laid his hand on his arm. Ellis appeared to lose interest and exchanged a few words with it. Read arose in a sudden and stupid animosity toward women, which increased to briefly pull himself up to whisper in his ear, lifting off murmurs. Ormond
shrugged one shoulder, his arm cupped hand of the lady, retraced his steps to the host and looked to Lea. The Count of Westtin peered around, looked directly and whispered something to the duke. He nodded, turned slightly to see it again as it did before, and she came the feeling that he was stripping in public. A slight blush covered her cheeks, though he had never
been prone to signs of shyness. But, despite the itching, stood firm, without diverting your attention from him. It was proposed to treat with the same audacity and did so. The extremely uncomfortable being the center of attention, but drew strength from weakness and raised his chin.
He looked like a wolf among sheep. Or worse, he said Lea. A fallen angel among devout believers. Was it his imagination or the Duke made a slight nod? Read
not react when he was gone, but when Tina arm hung.
- you looked! Oh, God, I have watched, Eleanor!
"I get hurt.
- Tell me you do not know him!
"Of course I do not know, Tina. What makes you so nervous?
- Oh, Lord ...!
"By the way, who was she?
- What woman?
"The one who has been talking with him.
Hossman -Amelia. She is the widow of an Austrian aristocrat, but has never again used the title since her husband died. Surely it is the only friend of Ormond and rumors that had a romance. She seems to be enough crazy enough to insist on re-conquer. Read
traced to the lady, who was lost from among the dancers who held back the track. The demon had gone and returned to the activity deadly, he said.
During the rest of the evening there was another topic of conversation other than the short and disturbing visit, and Lea heard many wild stories that ended up getting fed up and decided to leave the party.
As the carriage returned to the home of Bermont
rattled through the dark streets of London, could not stop thinking about Ellis. Was it really a murderer?, He wondered. Read would not let anyone influence easily by malicious comments. To make value judgments always trying to find the two parties. However, something told him that was farther away from Ormond, better for your peace of mind.
