Chapter 19

The Castle was ablaze with light, the epitome of Victorian Halloween Elegance, with a modern twist. The entire castle looked as if lit up with candles and gas lamps…but it was all electric lighting made to look like flickering flames. I loved it. The melding of old and new blended seamlessly.

Christien drove us up the long twisting driveway and stopped at the valet gate. Fancy. Barbara had gone all out. I was giddy with excitement.

A fancy man in tuxedo tails and an elegant mask opened my door and helped me from the car. He presented me to Christien and bowed as he backed away. I felt like royalty.

The path was lit with pumpkins and lanterns and the wraparound porch was filled with Victorian-styled Halloween elegance. The bistro tables all held centerpieces of skulls and ravens, very Edgar Allen Poe. Costumed partygoers milled about drinking, laughing, and smoking on the porch. Each costume was more beautiful than the last, my eyes and senses were in happy overload and we had not even entered the Castle yet.

As we reached the entrance another man in a tuxedo opened the door for us. My eyes tried to take in everything at once as I walked in. The entrance was filled with fog and the flickering of candlelight. Spooky music played softly. A sign pointed to the dining area for refreshments and to the ballroom for dancing. Another sign listed where the fortune teller could be found and where and when the séance would be held.

Victorian Halloween fun at its best, no Victorian Halloween event was complete without a fortune teller and medium.

Sparkling spiderwebs and glittering gauze accented the décor. The chandeliers sported assorted Halloween finery and the normal art and photos that filled the walls had been replaced with darkly beautiful images and Victorian-inspired silhouettes.

“It’s beautiful, Christien. What do you think? Is it authentically Victorian?”

He looked around. “As close as you can get in this modern age. I think Barbara took some of the best ideas and designs and improved on them. I approve,” he smiled and brought my hand to his lips. His lips gently brushed my flesh, sending ripples of excitement through me. Eleven years together and he still made my heart race and my blood turn to liquid fire. “Anything that makes you happy gets the stamp of approval from me.”

“So glad to hear that,” Barbara quipped as she met us at the entrance to the ballroom. “I am thrilled that you guys love it. I’ve worked so hard, and I think it’s a success. We sold out of tickets and the Castle is completely booked. I hope you guys don’t mind, I ended up putting you in the guest house out back. Everyone wanted to be in the main house for the hauntings.”

“Barbara, my lady, you look absolutely stunning tonight. And please do not fret. I’m sure we’ll enjoy the guest house quite a bit.” Christien winked at her, and charming as always took Barbara’s hand and brushed it with his lips. I watched her shiver in delight.

She blushed and giggled and she ushered us into the ballroom. He was right, she did look stunning. Actually, I think breathtaking was a better description. Her blond hair was swept into a gorgeous updo with romantic tendrils of curls framing her face and drawing attention to her long slim neck. A cameo pendant hung amidst her ample cleavage, made more ample than usual by the corset she wore. Her gown glimmered with blue-black shine, a metallic fabric that changed color with the light and made her blue eyes shimmer with mischievousness. Trimmed with black lace that matched her black lace mask, she was the picture of Gothic Halloween perfection.

“Barbara, it’s so good to see you again. You look breathtaking tonight. Exquisitely beautiful.”

She beamed with delight at my words. “Thank you, Liz. I’m so excited. This party is the culmination of all I’ve worked so hard for. I do hope you enjoy yourselves tonight. Please join the party and enjoy. Dancing has begun, and food will be on the buffet soon. Right now we just have drinks and appetizers in the dining room. At 7 pm an Edgar Allen Poe look-alike will be doing a reading of The Raven, The Telltale Heart, and Annabel Lee in the library. The haunted tour starts at 8 pm, not that you guys need that. You had a backstage pass before we even opened. The séance is at 9 pm, and the fortune teller will be taking clients all evening-every twenty minutes. LizBeth, I hired the medium and fortune teller from recommendations made by your assistant Carrie. I wanted the real deal, not charlatans.”

“Then I am sure they are perfect. Carrie’s database of Others working professionally for humans is very exclusive. She would not recommend anyone she had not personally vetted.” Carrie had a side business that I supported wholeheartedly. She referred Others for professional services humans needed- ghost hunting like myself, as well as those who worked as psychics, mediums, fortune tellers, healers, exorcists, banishers, spell casters, and the like. She also connected vampires, succubi, and incubi to willing donors. It made things much easier than hunting for prey and hoping no one got hurt. This service made sure everyone got what they needed and was satisfied in the end. It was quite brilliant.

My desire was getting the best of me; I couldn’t wait another moment. “So where’s Mary?”

Barbara laughed. “Oh you know her, she’s being the belle of the ball and enjoying the spotlight. I’m sure she’s fed her hunger enough already to last for months. The lust in the air tonight is so thick even I can feel it. And between her and ghostly girls…they are fanning the flames of desire into a whirlwind that will surely become a storm of carnal decadence before the night is over. At least that’s what I am hoping for. That’s why everyone has paid good money to be here tonight.”

“The Castle is already alive with sexual activity,” Christien murmured. “I can hear the moans of pleasure and smell the scent of sex.”

“Oh yes, dark corners are filled with naughty couples making out. Several rooms already have small orgies taking place with a combination of partygoers and sexy specters, and I spotted one couple in the hallway partaking in a very public display of oral affection.” Barbara laughed again. “I have been groped by so many hands tonight I’ve lost count. But I am not complaining. I love every second of it.”

“As long as everything is consensual and everyone is happy then there is nothing at all to worry about,” I replied. I was more than ready to partake in a little groping myself, hopefully with Mary. I glanced at Christien, he was staring longingly into the ballroom. I wondered if he spotted Mary or was just aching to join the fun.

I stood on my tippy toes to whisper in his ear, “See something you like?” I purred.

He turned to me and smiled, “Oui, ma chérie.”

“Then, by all means, let’s join the fun.”

“After you, my lady.” He bowed towards the open doorway.

I turned to Barbara and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Make sure you take time to enjoy yourself tonight, you’ve earned it.”

Her eyes twinkled as she hugged me hard, pressing our breasts together. She kissed me on the lips and gently pushed her tongue into my mouth. I hungrily kissed her back. She pulled away with a naughty grin. “Sorry, I’ve wanted to do that since the moment we met.”

Breathlessly I replied, “No apologies necessary. I quite enjoyed it.”

“Good.” She winked at me. “I hope that heightens your appetite for tonight.”

Oh yeah, my appetite was in overdrive. I was ravenous.

I grabbed Christien’s hand. “Come on, darling, it’s time to get our freak on.”

He laughed as we entered the ballroom.

I spotted Mary on the other side of the room and became giddy with excitement.

I had a feeling this was going to be better than Halloween in New Orleans.

The End.