Chapter 18

Once we were all dressed and presentable, we went downstairs to find Barbara.

I wasn’t sure how she was going to handle finding out an immortal succubus/witch lived in the attic of her home and was controlling all the ghosts. Sure Barbara was pretty open-minded about ghosts but succubi and witches are a whole different story.

We brought some of Mary’s photo albums downstairs with us to prove Mary’s identity.

As luck would have it, Barbara was in the naughty room hanging several photos and shadow boxes full of more Victorian-era sexual aides. She turned when she heard us walk in.

She gasped and dropped the hammer. “Mary Radcliff.”

Mary looked surprised but quickly hid it behind a seductive smile. She sauntered over to Barbara. “Pleased to finally meet you, Barbara my dear.” She grabbed Barbara’s hand like a gentleman and kissed her delicately across the top.

Barbara looked like she would swoon at any moment, Christien moved to her side. I guess to catch her in case she did faint.

“How do you know she is Mary Radcliff? I thought you had not found any photos of her,” He asked.

Barbara picked up the framed photo on the table next to her and handed it to Christien. He looked at it and then handed it to me. It was Mary, in her full succubus glory. She was naked and seductively sprawled out on what looked to be the same elegant old sofa sitting in this very room. A nude man knelt between her legs while naked young women surrounded them.

I handed the photo to Mary. “Wherever did you find this?” she asked with a purr in her voice. “I thought I was careful to box up any photos of myself and take them upstairs.”

“I found it last night, in a closet sticking out of a loose floorboard. Either it fell into the crack and almost disappeared under the floor or someone stuck it there on purpose trying to hide it. Your name was written on the back along with the date. August 1899.” Barbara looked starstruck as she stared at Mary. You would think she had just met her favorite celebrity.

“But why assume I am Mary and not just a descendent that looks very much like her?” Mary still held Barbara’s hand, caressing it seductively with her fingertips.

“Your energy, it screams sex. I could feel it as soon as you entered the room. What are you? Not human, but you are no ghost either. The ghosts are all filmy apparitions, even during sex they are not wholly corporeal. But you are solid and in the flesh. Very voluptuous flesh.” Barbara sighed as she looked Mary up and down.

Perhaps we should have skipped getting dressed. Barbara looked as though she was ready to tear Mary’s clothes off and do her right in front of us. I had no idea she went both ways. Of course, I had no idea I went both ways either until Mary enticed me.

Mary answered, “To keep it simple I am a succubus and a witch. I feed off sexual energy and the ghosts help me gather that energy.”

“But you must also control and power the ghosts?”

Barbara was a lot smarter about this supernatural stuff than I expected. I should have known though, someone who is proud to proclaim themselves as a spectrophiliac surely dabbles in other supernatural studies.

Mary smiled. “I do. It is a symbiotic relationship. They feed me, I feed them, the power goes round and round and we all survive happily here in this house and on the surrounding land. As long as we have humans to feed from.”

Now it was Barbara’s turn to smile, “So you have no problem with me turning this castle into a Bed and Breakfast for ghost-loving guests.”

“Not one bit, you’ll be providing the spirits and me with a smorgasbord of energy. But just to be clear, you are fine with the fact that I live here, have always lived here and that I am not human?” Mary asked Barbara inquisitively. It was probably hard for her to adjust to humans being so open about 'Others.' She came from a time when they killed witches or anyone different.

“Of course, it’s so wonderful. I have so many questions…I am such a history nerd…this is going to be amazing having someone to ask that actually lived through the Victorian era. Plus you and the ghosts are going to make this the destination for spectrophiliacs everywhere- and for all those curious about spooky sex and amorous apparitions.” She laughed a joyous sound that made me smile.

“Wonderful, I will make sure the spirits now know they are more than welcome to come and play with the visitors.”

I had a question for Mary. “Why haven’t I been able to see the ghosts? With my powers, I always see them, even when they don’t expect me to.”

“Sorry, my dear. That was my fault. I had the entire castle and surrounding area under a spell so nosy ghost seekers wouldn’t see the spirits and try to banish them. The last thing I need is an exorcism ripping my ghosts away. I can fight the ritual, but it takes so much energy. I wanted to avoid that. For years I have been running on fumes with that old lady being the only full-time resident.”

“How have you fed with no one sexually active living here?”

“I am not stuck here, so I can leave and feed. Or bring people back here to feed on, but it made us all weak not having constant energy flowing into the land and the house. I had to power all of us on just what I could acquire elsewhere. If I could lure someone back here that helped, the ghosts and I could all feed. The ghosts would also go out occasionally to the cemetery and seduce the caretakers, groundskeepers, and visitors. But the sexual energy of those visiting a cemetery is not hot and full of desire.”

Suddenly, Barbara hugged Mary. “You don’t have to worry about that anymore. I already have a waiting list of people who want to stay here- and they are all full of desire.”

“I can’t wait,” Mary replied with a hungry grin.

“Can you and the ghosts help me get this place ready to open? The sooner it happens the sooner you will have a continuous source of sexual energy.”

Mary’s eyes lit up. “I can put everything to play so this Castle will be ready for guests within two weeks.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Barbara squealed and jumped up and down with delight. We all laughed at her enthusiasm.

***

True to Mary’s word the Castle Inn was open for guests within two weeks. Just in time for autumn festivities. People are always more interested in ghosts and haunted houses around Halloween. The Castle was always packed to the limit, even the guest house outside the castle was rented out every night.

Christien and I checked in every couple of weeks to make sure that things were running smoothly.

In mid-October, Mary invited us to a Halloween Masquerade Ball.

“Liz, it’s going to be so grand. It will be the first time I get to use the ballroom for what it was truly meant for. Please tell me you and Christien will come. It will truly be a Ghostly Gala- dress to impress, masks required.”

How could I say no? The last Halloween Ball I attended had been in New Orleans. It was time to dust off my mask and pull my ball gown out of storage.

“We wouldn’t miss it, Barbara.”

“Awesome, I’ll save you a room. I can’t wait to see you again. See you on Halloween Eve, the party is on October 30 and will go into Halloween. Oh, when that big grandfather clock strikes midnight…LizBeth…I am so excited.”

“Oh, Barbara. I’m excited too. We’ll be there.”

I hung up and told Christien about the Halloween party.

“That should be interesting,” he said with a hint of sarcasm.

“What do you mean? It will be fun.”

“Do you remember the power of the ghosts in New Orleans on Halloween? The ghosts at the Castle Inn are stronger. I imagine a night they can take on flesh…it is going to be one wild event.”

“Oh…I didn’t even think of that. Well, now we definitely can’t miss it,” I laughed.

“You just wish to see Mary again,” he sniffed as if hurt.

I knew he was just joking. I knew he would be happy to see her again too. The thought of the three of us together again… “I do wish to see Mary, I’d also like to see Barbara. Plus you know I love Halloween. We haven’t dressed up for Halloween since we left New Orleans. It’s time we dusted off our masks.”

He leaned over and kissed me. “Ma chérie, whatever you wish, it is yours.”