Disclaimer: I have to tell you again? What's wrong with you? Why must you torture me by making me say I don't own it again and again? It's painful enough not owning it in the first place! You evil, evil lawyers!
A/N: Yes, chapter two. I'm being very fast with this fic. I'm kind of neglecting my other fics by doing this but… I have so many ideas for this! So here it is:
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Chapter 2: One Last Chance
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Lillian had been quite rude when greeting Leota at dinner that night. She had merely nodded while glaring intensely. But then she might have been doing this for the fact that Leota had started glaring first. Gracey missed this exchange entirely, leaving him happily (and how he preferred it to be) thinking that Leota and Lillian were the best of friends.
Leota had met Gracey over 15 years ago. Lillian had met Gracey 15 months ago. Jealousy filled the air whenever these two women were in the same room together, let alone the same house. The reason jealousy emanated from Lillian is because Leota had a daughter who was 15 years old, lining up nicely with Leota and Gracey meeting. (Even though it was widely unknown who exactly Lenora's father was, for Leota had never revealed the name.) Leota was filled with jealousy because Lillian had become Gracey's wife after only a year of courtship, while Leota had never gotten to marry Gracey after 15 years. Gracey was oblivious to the torch that Leota held, so he never had the thought to court her.
What was worse was how Gracey sat at the head of the table and placed Lillian on his left while Leota was on his right. Their placement directly across from one another only increased the amount of glaring involved while sipping the soup. Sitting next to Leota was Lenora who was in a rapid conversation with Wolfgang, the person occupying her right. Lillian made light conversation with Tangerine on her left and Edward on the far left, across from Wolfgang.
"So, Lillian, how did you and George meet?" Leota looked up at the inquiry made by Tangerine. Lillian smiled loving to her husband.
"I was working in a circus as a tightrope walker. He came to me after my act and swept me off my feet." Sighs escaped both Lillian and Tangerine while Lenora had scrunched her nose in disgust.
"How sickly sweet." The repulsion in Lenora's voice escaped Lillian's radar entirely and she nodded.
"Yes, it is quite a romantic story." Tangerine didn't hesitate to ask Leota a question next.
"How did you and George meet, Leota?" Lillian flared her nostrils slightly, not wanting to be one-upped.
"Gracey had come for a séance out of curiosity and we tried to contact the dead. That particular séance was a failure due to the fact that we had unbelievers tainting the circle. Isn't that right Gracey?" A guilty smile showed on Gracey's face.
"Yes, I was indeed the unbeliever. I believe it is all rubbish and nonsense." The flared nostrils on Lillian's face were gone and a smirk had taken over. "But Leota was right with all of her other predictions!" The smirk had left Lillian's face and traveled to Leota's. Throughout the rest of the conversations that popped up at the table, that smirk jumped back and forth. Gracey still remained happily oblivious to the hatred flying through the air right in front of him.
Once the entire meal was complete, Gracey made an announcement. "I'd like everyone to please follow me for the tour of my new manor." The six other diners stood up, full to the brim and followed Gracey. He led them to one side of the gigantic ballroom that served as a dining room. At this end there was a grand pipe organ that took up almost the entire wall.
"Oh, what a magnificent organ, George! Can you play the organ Wolfgang?" Wolfgang nodded his head at the question coming from the wide eyed Tangerine.
"Yes, but I prefer the piano."
"This room would be perfect for your parties, Tangerine. When are you going to hold the next one?" A small squeal came from Tangerine. Lillian had finally confirmed that she could have a party.
"On Halloween! It will be a costume party. This means that I have to start planning!" Lenora jammed her fingers in her ears as Tangerine squealed once more. Leota was brimming with anger at the thought of a Halloween party. Halloween was when she got the most business with her famous séances. Gracey led them down the corridor into Wolfgang's room.
"Wolfgang, I have bought you that piano you so dearly wanted. Can you believe that it was once owned by Ludwig Von Baroketch? This is the piano he wrote his last piece on. Was never finished with the piece, might I add." All but Leota and Lenora stared in wonder. "It was Leota's idea to get it actually. She has been insisting that I get it for years now."
They now moved down the corridors again and made their way into the glass conservatory. Exotic plants filled every nook and cranny that was free. Everyone moved to examine the plants. Lenora twirled and spun around the floor at fast speeds. She plucked up the courage to make a suggestion.
"Master Gracey, the town's people would be very grateful to hold funerals in here. They'd be very elegant." She started humming the pirate tune once more. Gracey thought for a moment before nodding. She gave another suggestion. "I could coordinate them."
"I would think that death would scare a young girl like you." Leota glared at the remark Lillian had made. Lenora scoffed at the thought.
"Death will have a very prominent role in our lives. It's not scary." Tangerine gave a doubtful look to Lillian. They kept their opinions to themselves after that.
"Well if you don't mind Lenora, I don't see why not." Lenora smiled and continued twirling. It wasn't long until they made their way up the stairs and into a large circular room. "This, Leota, is your séance room. It was constructed just for that purpose."
"What?" This had come from a disbelieving Lillian. She continued in anger. "I can barely tolerate the funerals but séances! I draw the line here, George." Before Gracey could get in a word, Leota retorted.
"I am tired of your horrible treatment of my daughter and me! That river across the way will be your doom!"
"Oh, like I'm going to believe a word you say? You so called psychic and that rat of a daughter." Leota was ready to pounce but Edward had managed to hold her back. Lenora went to hit Lillian while yelling at her.
"Who are you calling a rat, you—" Lenora didn't get to finish her insults or her attack because George butted in just in time.
"This is my house, so there will be no more unneeded insults being thrown around! Everyone please retire to your rooms, while I escort Lenora to her room." No one dared argue with an angry Gracey. Leota swept out of the room while Lillian stormed out. Gracey took a hold of Lenora's arm and led her down to her room.
When they finally arrived there, Gracey sat her firmly down on her four-poster bed. Gracey stood staring at her. "Why were you going to hit my wife?"
Lenora stared at the ground. "Why do you care? She's a snot-nosed woman if you ask me. You didn't stop her or my mother!" Gracey sighed.
"I can't control your mother or my wife. You I can control. Now are you going to refrain from hitting her from now on?" Lenora nodded slightly.
"Bad things are going to happen. Mother saw them." Gracey scrunched his brows in confusion.
"What bad things?"
"Like how Lillian will meet her doom with the river. She wasn't lying. And Mr. Wolfgang is going to die. So will Ms. Tangerine and Mr. Edward. The people at the parties, the town's folk, my suitors. Me and my mother. Your next wife the one after that. They're all going to die."
"What are you going on about? No one's going to be dying anytime soon, Lenora." Tears started streaming down her face. She shook her head hard.
"You're going to die! If we don't leave we're all going to die! You are, I am, she is! You need to listen to me!" Lenora was getting hysterical. Gracey couldn't figure out how to calm her down. "We need to leave! Why don't you LISTEN TO ME!" Gracey stood swiftly and moved for the door. He left quickly. Once out in the hall he could hear her hysteria.
He made his way down the hall pondering what Lenora had said. "She was just hysterical. That girl has always been a bit on the off side." No, he wouldn't listen to the girl's warnings. By the time he arrived at his master bedroom and laid down next to his peaceful wife, he had decided the girl was only trying to leave. He had a feeling everyone in the house would be here for a long time.
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Word Count: 1,459
A/N: Why did I have Lenora tell him all of the death information? To give him one last chance to leave the house, which he decided to ignore. Please Review with your opinions. Thank you!