Haunted Grey House
"Mom! Where did you say you hid the skeleton decorations you wanted? I swear, they're not here!" Brandon had wedged himself far into the corner closet, rumbling through a sea of unlabeled boxes that seemed to hold everything from old clothes and linens to costumes and knickknacks to plates and candles, but nothing resembling themed decorations.
"They might be behind a few boxes farther toward the back. I'll be there in just one minute." Cassie called. The entryway and foyer were lined with yellow and orange leaves, illuminated by the candles Cassie had placed in groups atop the cubbies. Cassie had just finished placing decorations around the center cornucopia adorned with wheat, apples, pumpkins and red roses that would host the candy for the younger visitors that night.
Having tied off the final twine cloth, Cassie made her way to the front door just as the doorbell echoed throughout Grey House, followed immediately by an incessant knocking. Cassie sighed sweetly and answered the door with a knowing smile. "Hello, Martha."
"Cassie! Good, I see you're finally getting around to the decorations. I just wanted to make sure as I hadn't seen any being put up yet and you know that Grey House…"
"Is the Haunted House everyone looks forward to." Cassie smiled. "I assure you, Martha, the people of Middleton won't be disappointed."
"Very well, then. I'm just doing my rounds to ensure that Middleton is on track to have an absolutely perfect Halloween!"
"Grace! Could you please help me with…Oh!" Lori had just gone flying when the chair she been attempting to hang lights on tipped over; but, Grace had impeccably been there to catch her from having too bad a fall. "Good catch, thank you!"
Cassie looked back, somewhere between amused and exasperated, to be sure everything was okay. Yes, the decorations were running late, but it was no matter. She knew that Martha would not be disappointed and this time with her family, hectic though it always was, was what Cassie truly cherished.
She turned back to Martha. "Well, looks like I'm need with the troops. Is there anything else I can do for you Martha?"
"Oh, you know there isn't," Martha waved cheerfully goodbye.
Back inside, Grace smiled and offered to Lori, "You should be more careful. Maybe I can help."
"I don't know. I don't want you to fall like I did. Maybe we should get Brandon."
"Brandon is currently…" a voice grumbled out followed by an "OOf!" Two heavy, white, emaciated forms seemed to topple out of nowhere from behind another box. "Found the damned skeletons!"
"You all need to relax before you hurt yourselves. It's just a few Halloween decorations," Abigail called calmly while seeming to admire her reflection in the hall.
"You could help," Lori replied indignantly as Grace helped her back to her feet.
"I am helping. Cassie, I think this mirror needs a little more help with decorations and lights."
"Don't worry. I got this, Lori," Grace called. She carefully stepped up onto the stool that Lori held onto. Grace reached up and touched the lights for no longer than two seconds before they shone out to illuminate the entire hall in a crimson light.
Lori let out a bewildered laugh. "How did you do that? It was all I could do to get them to shine at all."
Grace smiled, "I don't know. I just tweaked the position a little bit."
"Sometimes all you need is a little help in the right hands," Cassie smiled, ignoring the raised eyebrow Abigail shot her. She turned to her son, who looked like he was trying dance with the skeletons. "Brandon, why don't let me get the skeletons and you go bring those cobwebs and decorations to Abigail."
"What cobwebs and decorations?" Brandon asked exasperated.
Cassie nodded to a box on his left covered in cobwebs and filled grey mats, crows and auburn decorations.
"Ok. That was not there a minute ago."
"No, no, no," Abigail called as Brandon started to brush off the cobwebs. "I want the cobwebs, too."
"But these are real…You know what. Okay." Brandon put his hands up before bringing the box over.
"Thank you, Brandon," Abigail smiled. She draped the delicate cobwebs and let them seem to come from the start of a crack in the bottom of the aging mirror. She pulled out a crow with one red eye and one black that she set on the post at the bottom of the stairwell.
Two more hours later, the decorations were all set to be in order. At least, for now. Everyone was gathered around the twine covered oak table in the kitchen, rich with the smell of apples, rosemary and cinnamon. They were enjoying the soothing warmth of Cassie's cinnamon laced hot cocoa she had just handed out.
"Here's to a job well done." Cassie toasted.
"It looks pretty good," Grace acknowledged. "But why do I feel like something's missing?"
Cassie simply smiled, "Well, there's always a little feel of magic in the air that doesn't happen until Halloween night. But, the real magic of Grey House comes from the people inside that call it home."
"It's perfect," Abigail affirmed.
"Though maybe let's not what so long next year," Brandon requested.
There was a collective laugh. "I'll drink to that," Lori agreed and raised her glass to meet everyone else.
Cassie awoke at the stroke of midnight announcing All Hallow's eve, quietly getting out of bed. Cassie loved Halloween. People who didn't know better liked to say that Halloween was the Devil's holiday and full of demons and that even Cassie herself was a witch. Now, there was no denying that Halloween held an air of the supernatural and was the one time of the year that Cassie allowed herself to use that energy to connect with a special power. But, it was never dark and all in the spirit of create something truly magical that Middleton and those around her would revel in and cherish.
Cassie walked downstairs quietly with an old leather book she'd pulled from deep inside her dresser. The house was tranquil with no lights except the moon shining through the windows of Grey House, but there was a distinct and familiar energy in the air.
She was not surprised to meet Abigail deeper inside the house, who was running her hand over the cobwebs adorning the mirrors and hallways. Abigail smiled and beckoned Cassie into the kitchen. The kitchen table now had three candles that flickered light erratically over the old leather book Cassie set down. Cassie opened the book to a well marked page and looked at Abigail as she took her hand.
Upon this witching hour's full moon's light
Let all be safe, but enjoy a good fright
Blood and shadows that will come and go
Once they pass the eye of the blackened crow
Let this be fun for all but those that would be foe
By the light of the moon this All Hallow's Eve
Let this be the haunted spell we weave.
The candles blew out and Cassie whispered excitedly, "Happy Halloween, Abigail."
"Happy Halloween, sis."
Cassie gave a quick glance around the immediate hallways, satisfied. Cassie started to go upstairs when she saw Abigail move toward the deeper rooms of Grey House.
"Abigail," she warned, "Nothing else."
Abigail bit her tongue in the dark, "Just one room. I'll make sure no kids are allowed into it."
"Abigail." Cassie insisted harshly.
"Fine, fine. You're never any fun, you know that."
"And you know perfectly well why," Cassie answered as her sister followed her back upstairs.