The setting for the feast of St Valentine was a manor house in Derbyshire called Grimslow Manor. Those invited were greeted by a Mr Batty, and his wife. They immediately explained that the intended host, Mr Guy Simmons, was not present and had left no message as to when, if ever, he intended to attend this gathering. They explained that Grimslow Manor was purchased by Guy Simmons on a whim and he had very rarely stayed there himself. After apologising for a seemingly wasted journey, Mr Batty suggested that all the guests should go to their rooms where they could freshen up after the journey and then assemble in the Drawing Room. Once gathered together the usual introductions were made and a little was learned of the backgrounds of those present. Mr Batty himself was a self made man and inventor of Batty's Spinning Top, which, as he enthusiastically informed everyone throughout the weekend, was a groundbreaking advancement in the wool spinning world. The others present were Miss Claudia Simmons, sister of the absent host, and her companion Mr Basil Smythe; Harold Carter, a journalist working for a small newspaper; Captain Jack Savage of the Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Detachment; Lord Christian Dexter, an aristocrat with an arrogant disposition and his servant. a man by the name of William Rails. Also attending were a fashion designer, Miss Molly Jackson; Mr George Tyler-Smith, a wannabe film producer; Captain David Reynolds accompanied by his wife Mrs Laura Reynolds; Jonathan Wells, a freelance journalist and struggling author; Mr D'arcy Souster an academic (and as future events were to reveal, a poor shot), and lastly Mr William Cole-Evans.

With the exception of Miss Simmons, none of those present appeared to be closely acquainted with Guy Simmons, having only met him briefly at various social events, and therefore all claimed to be surprised by this unusual and vague invitation. Even his sister rarely saw him and he had not been in contact with her for quite a while. The only obvious thing the guests had in common was an interest in the occult.

After a short time, as everyone began to get to know each other, Harold Carter produced a briefcase that he had found in the house. Could this contain clues to the whereabouts of the elusive Guy Simmons? With scant concern for the privacy of the owner, the case was opened and several documents found inside. Most appeared to have been written by someone called Boris whom Claudia Simmons said would be her uncle, a man whom her family frowned upon and whom she had therefore never met. The documents consisted mainly of letters to Guy Simmons from Boris referring to their travels in eastern Europe and Russia on a search for their ancestral heritage. In them he claimed that the Simmons were descended from Russian aristocracy. His notes gave details of one of their forefathers who, upon enlisting the aid of a demon called an 'Abor', which displayed similar qualities to that of the vampire legends prevalent throughout that part of the world, had conquered his way to becoming Tsar. The story, with its references to Slav folklore, was told with conviction as though Boris considered it factual rather than a legend and he expressed a belief that the former glory of their family could be regained by the same methods employed by his ancestor.

Many of the notes appeared to be in code which some of the party then attempted to try and decipher with mixed success. Other items found in the house included a set of small candles made, so the clues informed the party, of human fat. Then, proceedings were interrupted by a sudden power cut, an event, Mr Batty told the party, which was common in such an isolated area. Lanterns and candles were produced and the search for more clues continued.

From reading the various documents and letters it appeared that Guy Simmons had holed up in the house and buried charms as a means of protection from the creatures described in his uncle's letters. He had even obtained the ingredients to a potion claiming to offer protection. Eventually, even though it was the intention of all to glean further information and to break the codes that remained, it was decided that they should retire for the night and start afresh in the morning. Everyone went to their rooms hopeful of a good nights sleep. Unfortunately, this was not to be.

They were woken in the dead of night by a mysterious and terrifying sound followed by shouting and the sound of someone running amok. As the party stumbled from their rooms it became apparent that the source of the racket was Basil Smythe who proceeded to roam about the house screaming almost incoherently, that 'It' was in the house, and that 'It' was trying to take 'Her' away. All attempts to calm him failed until he eventually collapsed and was carried back to his room.

The next day everyone rose and, while they ate breakfast, began to discuss the events of the previous evening. Belatedly, Basil Smythe joined them reporting that Claudia Simmons was unwell. George Tyler-Smith, revealing that medical qualifications were also on his long list of skills, offered to attend her. He reported back that the unconscious and very pale Miss Simmons appeared to have lost large quantities of blood although there was no sign of a wound which would have caused this. The only thing out of place were two very small holes in her neck by her jugular vein, but for the blood loss to have come from there would mean that her bed would be drenched, which it was not. Unfortunately little could be done. Moves to attempt a blood transplant came too late and Miss Simmons passed away. These events set a black mood to the weekend; could the mysterious Boris have been speaking the truth about his families history, was the 'Abor' now in Britain and what dangers faced the people present in the house?

Several now suggested that it might be wise to make use of the potion given that all of the ingredients had been found. The various liquids were mixed and those wishing to, applied the potion to their wrists in the form of a cross before they moved outside to retrieve the protective charms Guy Simmons had laid around the house. Following a rough map the first piece was found which was of a feline like creature without a head. Then, while the various hunts for more information and charms was taking place, George Tyler-Smith spotted Basil Smythe hiding some of the clues in his jacket. After a short discussion, Captain Reynolds politely confronted him about his suspicious behaviour requesting that he return anything taken. At this point Smythe produced a gun (which all present found a very persuasive argument for him taking what he wished). After much hesitation the others who, with the exception of William Cole-Evans, were at this point unarmed, attempted to overpower him. During the struggle Basil Smythe was shot twice (once through the neck) and stabbed. Despite this he fought those attempting to pin him down and escaped totally unhindered by his wounds. He continued to harass the others throughout the day appearing here and there about the house and in the grounds but no weapons appeared to harm him. The party decided that Basil Smythe may have been Boris Simmons. The answer to his invincibility seemed to lie in a riddle on one of the clues referring to a ring..

With threats referring to Lord Dexter turning up written on the back of various clues and maps, and some amongst the party reporting personal items going astray, the view was that not all the guests were who they claimed to be. This atmosphere of paranoia led to snap judgements being made against innocent parties. Harold Carter accused D'arcy Souster of being the thief while Prof. Souster was using the toilet and in no position to properly defend himself from the groundless charge. (Later Molly Jackson confessed to the crime, something to do with having an affair with George Tyler-Smith, blackmail and greed, but such sub-plots were lost amongst the more urgent matters at hand).

The ongoing hunt for clues and protective charms led to a hike up a nearby mountain called 'Ringing Roger', an arduous enough journey made worse by the small armoury most decided to take along, and a reluctance by a few, who will remain nameless, to cross a small trickle of a stream. As evening drew in some of the party were searching a nearby  wood when a fire fight broke out with Basil 'Boris' Smythe who was accompanied by masked thugs, during which Captain Savage was wounded, serving to hinder any attempts to find out how the party might protect itself from the evil forces at play. Eventually two of the thugs were killed and the others ran out of ammunition. They withdrew into the gathering night. The gallant few who had ventured up into the wood searched until they could no longer see in the descending darkness. Worrying about what was going on with the other party members left behind at the Manor, they had to leave the wood without finding the charm.

Back at the house, as darkness arrived most of the other charms were located, consisting of faceless dog and feline type creatures, but despite good work on the part of Mrs Laura Reynolds in cracking the codes, important facts still evaded the group. Details of the whereabouts of a spear required to kill the demon and its preparation still lay hidden behind a code, the key to which was missing, possibly amongst the items stolen by Basil Smythe. Needing sustenance, the party sat down to a meal during which Lord Dexter confessed that the threats that had been found written could refer to an 'incident` in which he was accused of rape. The charges were dropped, but who present could be threatening him? Then, as everyone was enjoying their meal another power cut struck, leaving the room in darkness save for two candles on the table. Seconds after this, and with scant regard for proper etiquette the door was kicked open and Basil Smythe fired into the dinning room. William Cole-Evans was killed instantly while Jonathan Wells was left with a chest injury (though this failed to affect his appetite). Panicking in the darkness with brandished guns and inadequate lanterns, the party learned that Basil Smythe and his masked henchmen had laid siege to The Manor. With time running out, the party squirmed about desperately for solutions to their predicament.

Groups of armed men patrolled the Manor and there were occasional exchanges of fire with Basil Smythe's  henchmen shooting out of the darkness. The ladies and academics stayed in the locked drawing room working on the codes with some of the younger men in the party standing guard. Finally, it was suggested that as Basil Smythe was at least stunned by heavy gun fire, if he were to be put out of action long enough he could be relieved of the ring he wore and then hopefully killed.  Suddenly and unexpectedly, Basil Smythe was located upstairs and after a brilliantly conceived and executed manoeuvre Basil/Boris was brought down and the missing part of the code key and map were retrieved. To no one's surprise the sinister Lord Dexter attempted to steal the ring and when caught in the act ran away, foretelling doom for the others. (He was later found with his throat slit and we were to learn that the author of the threats, D'arcy Souster, had taken advantage of Dexter's separation from the party to settle an old score).

With the ring now in the group's possession it was used to heal the still ailing Jonathan Wells. As some hope of victory for the party began to rise, a huge dog-like beast lumbered into the drawing room and was met by a hail of gunfire. This having no effect everyone decided to run instead leaving William Rails to be disembowelled. With people dropping almost by the minute the plan to defeat this evil took shape. Professor Souster advised that the party should 'play it by ear', but then the last clues were deciphered and the spear finally located in a tumble-down house above the precipice of the nearby river. As some of the party scrabbled in the darkness there was gunfire and screams from the lane behind. Mrs Laura Reynolds had been lost to a creature in the semblance of the late Claudia Simmons.

Once back at the manor house, despite many false starts at 'preparing' the spear for its intended use, including clues that the demon's symbol was a dog  leading to everyone making a mad dash for a picture of 'Rocket' the dog hanging in the hall way and mistaking the liver of one of their fallen comrades as a 'deposit' left by the dog creature which could be smeared on the spear head,  sense finally prevailed and a magic liquid was discovered hidden inside one of the dog shaped protective charms. Finally, with most of the requisite items gathered, the ceremony to defeat the evil forces was put into play. The candles made from human fat were arranged in a circle with an opening and lit. Then with some brave members of the party offering themselves as bait, the first of the beasts, in the body of the departed Claudia Simmons, was drawn in and the circle closed, so completing the trap. With care taken to avoid its gaze, the beast was killed and its heart removed. The dog creature remained, but, calling it by its name, this too was drawn in. Again, once trapped and stabbed with the spear, its heart was removed and victory seemed assured.

Suddenly, shots ran out and several people fell; the masked thugs still roamed the house. In the fight against them many lost their lives, including Capt. Savage who fell victim to friendly fire when D'arcy Souster not satisfied with narrowly missing him first time round fired again completing the job. This time, despite a hard struggle, the good guys were victorious...just.