Spellbound
BOSTON, 1887

Emily had long cherished the hope of meeting her mother's friend Amanda and of residing with the Parkers of Beacon Hill as "one of the family." But Emily's first impression of the balconied mansion with its fancy grillwork and leaded panes was fear. What secret lay beneath those dank stones? Then Emily learned that the Parkers had much to hide. A baby of uncertain parentage. A woman who always wore purple. A brooding son who insisted Emily wear the gowns and jewels of his dead wife. As Emily grew closer to the dread secret of Beacon Hill, the fabric of evil enclosed her like a shroud.

Amethyst and Evil

At first, Emily Hubbard was enchanted by the prospect of becoming a part of the respective, aristocratic family that lived in the fine old house on Beacon Hill.

She refused to believe that the thinly veiled hints and mysterious actions of Mrs. Parker and her brooding son, Gray, could have any sinister implications. Yet Gray's unexpected proposal of marriage after his previous melancholic disinterest was disturbing…as were the lavish gifts of lavender gowns and precious amethysts -- which at one time had belonged to Gray's late wife.

Emily's seemingly unfounded fear grew with each day -- and was suddenly kindled by her accidental discovery of the secret the Parkers would do anything to conceal. Now the very air of the old house was permeated with a cold, immobilizing terror.

Emily was no longer free to leave; the power of the Parkers' secret bound her to them and to their ancient house until the end.
