When Leah woke up the next day, she could still feel Loretta's cold body in her hands and how the air between everyone seemed to crackle with tension from the night before.

It was very early in the morning, far too early for any sensible person to wake up, but nevertheless she refused to go to sleep again, worried that her dreams would be plagued by nightmares.

She put on her dressing gown and slowly walked down the stairs. She had debated searching for Loretta, just to check up on her, but had decided otherwise. The manor was dark and empty and held no trace of the night before - neither the revelries nor the tragedies. Shuddering inwardly at the eeriness of the place she opened the Manor doors.............only to run into someone else!

Cursing, she exclaimed,"Oh dear!! I am so so sorry sir! I didn't mean to-", she broke of as she beheld the man in front of her. He towered before her and had a rugged but handsome face. His deep blue eyes were like voids and she looked away, afraid that she might fall. They stood in silence, surveying each other, until the man said, "You have no need to apologize madam, it is I who ran into you. You must let me make it up to you, my name is Dorian. And who might you be?"

Leah stood with her mouth open. He had a silvery voice and spoke with earnest and grace, and yet there was something off about him. His manners did not match his appearance, he spoke like a gentleman but looked like anything but one.

Recovering herself, she said, "My name is Leah. I'm one of the guests of the Armeshire's"

"Ahhh, I see their at it again. Well I'd wish you luck but I know you won't need it " he said, winking

Momentarily confused and flustered, Leah said, "What do you mean?"

"They didn't tell you? No mind, you'll find out soon enough princess." At that he walked away, leaving her flustered and confused , standing in her nightgown at the doorway of the Armeshire Manor

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Breakfast was quiet, mainly due to Loretta and Elias' noticeable absence.

The food was fantastic no doubt, it was one of the best meals Leah had eaten in quite a long time. At least since her and her brother lost everything not long ago. Why else would they have agreed to the invitation of a man they had never met and come to a place they had never been.....

Things were bad back home, but after last night, Leah had a feeling that they wouldn't be much better here.

Nico came for breakfast after her and WOULD NOT STOP flirting with the other girl, Eliza. It was quite annoying to watch but slightly satisfactory to see her shoot him down every single time.

Suppressing a grin, she bit into her bacon, only halfway through when the Lord and Lady entered. They always made quite an entrance and as Leah had been observing, they hardly ever addressed each other directly, at least not in everyone else's presence.

Another thing she had noticed was that there was a whole lotta gold in the Manor. The water fountain's spouts were gilded with gold leaves and in her room almost every decoration piece was made of gold, real one that too.

Leah certainly hoped that her brother remembered the real reason was here, especially since their futures depended on it.

Clinking her glass with a spoon to gather everyones atention, Frances stood up and said,"After last nights events, my husband and I have come to realise that all of you may not be fit for all that we have in store for you. You may think that you are here to party but i can assure you that, that is not the case. You have been chosen as I told you earlier and before we tell you, we must know if you can handle it."

"Poison has been added to every single dish here. Now, don't panic. There is a cure right in front of your eyes but you must find it. If you do not, you may or may not make it out alive. But if you do, there are marvelous things in store for you, you only have to ask."

"But please, remember this is a choice. You can take the risk or let go of a once in a lifetime opportunity. Do we have any quitters here?", asked Percy.

When no one objected they nodded and they made to leave and Percy said, "Let the games begin, you have 24 hours."

And just before she left the room, Frances added, "And don't worry about Loretta. She's in safe hands and on her way back home now."

As soon as they were gone, everyone started talking and discussing, but Leah's mind was spinning, already planning her next steps.