Several people asked for another chapter for my Halloween story. So. . .here it is!

Read and ENJOY! And don't forget – I NEED FEEDBACK!

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CHAPTER TWO

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Annabelle came down the elegant staircase, one hand securely on the bannister, the other hand holding her train, so as not to trip. Udo was in the entry hall, fussing over last-minute details. When she got to the bottom step, she paused. "Well, Udo. . .what do you think?!" She made a 'ta da' gesture with her hands, and struck a pose.

Annabelle was thrilled with her costume! She looked like an 1890's Gibson Girl, and that was EXACTLY the look she wanted! She was resplendent in rich red velvet. The neckline of the gown was wide and set off the shoulder; the bodice was form-fitting, with a very narrow waist. The skirt was slim in the front, and fuller in the back, ending in a short train. Black lace evening slippers and red opera-length gloves completed the ensemble. The ruby and diamond tiara glittered in the candlelight; heart-shaped rubies and diamonds circled her throat and nestled in her ears. She carried a scepter, decorated with sparkly red hearts.

Udo turned, and smiled when he saw Annabelle. "Ah! A very splendid Queen of Hearts, indeed! I shall endeavor to serve you faithfully, so that I may remain in possession of my head?!"

Annabelle giggled, and clapped her hands. "Ha! I love it when people play along!"

Udo touched the receiver in his ear, then looked up at Annabelle. "Your first guest has arrived, Your Majesty!"

Annabelle took a breath, then nervously touched the magnificent ruby necklace at her neck. Smiling, she waved her scepter toward the door. "Well, then. . .let the games begin, Udo!"

"Very good, Your Majesty!" Udo clicked his heels together, and turned to open the door.

Annabelle chuckled. Whatever Boris was paying Udo, he deserved a raise!

Udo opened the door. . .and in walked Annie Oakley, complete with toy six-shooters and a toy rifle!

"Oh, Monique. . .you look amazing!"

"Thank you! And so do you!"

"Oh, thank you. But, this dress is so bloody tight, if I sneeze, my bosoms are going to pop right out?!"

"Well, I think you look fabulous! And. . .the bling?!" Monique gestured at Annabelle's tiara and necklace. "That's just beyond fabulous!"

"Thank you, Annie Oakley! You are a loyal subject!" Annabelle waved her scepter, and tapped Monique on the shoulder. "If I were a REAL queen, I would knight you!"

Monique dropped a slight curtsy. "I am not worthy, Your Majesty! I am but a humble cowgirl from the Wild West!" Monique dissolved into giggles, and Annabelle followed suit.

"Ha! A humble cowgirl, who, if memory serves, could shoot a dime tossed in the air! Quite an impressive feat! But I'm curious, Monique; what made you pick Annie Oakley?!"

"Oh, my parents took me to see 'Annie Get Your Gun' on stage when I was a little girl, and I LOVED it! I've been a fan ever since!"

Udo walked over to the foot of the staircase, where Annabelle and Monique had been talking. "Excuse me, Your Majesty; Ms. Casey and Ms. Katdare are on their way up the drive."

"Thank you, Udo. Will you please escort Annie Oakley to the ballroom?"

Udo gave Annabelle a deferential bow. "Of course, Your Majesty!"

Annabelle turned her attention back to Monique. "There's a fully stocked bar, with a VERY cute bartender, and enough food to feed a third-world country! And Divya and Jill will be here momentarily!"

Monique turned to follow Udo, then turned back to Annabelle. "Oh! I almost forgot! I brought something for you and Boris!"

"Monique, I TOLD you. . .?!"

Monique, smiling, cut her off. "Oh, I know, but I was bringing this regardless!" Monique pulled a book out of her bag, and handed it to Annabelle. "It's a mock-up of Emma's book!"

"Oh, Monique. . .this is bloody fabulous!" Annabelle took the book from Monique, turned it over to read the back of the dust jacket, then gently touched the picture of the giant dinosaur skeleton on the front cover. "Emma looks great! Boris will be thrilled; thank you so very much!"

"You're quite welcome! They won't go to print until after the auction, so. . .it's all up to Boris!"

"Well, Boris is very good at rescuing damsels in distress, so, I think Emma will get her happy ending!"

Monique looked around the grand entrance hall, and, stepping closer to Annabelle, spoke in a conspiratorial whisper. "Speaking of Boris, were you able to change his mind about coming to the party?"

Annabelle sighed, and shook her head. "No. . .I was not! And, believe me, I used every arrow in my quiver of persuasion! He MIGHT join us for dessert; that's the best I could do!"

Suddenly, Monique's stomach growled. "Oh, dear; I've been so busy with Emma, I think I forgot to eat today?! And I'm starving!"

Annabelle caught Udo's eye; he stepped forward and took the book from her, then he turned, and gestured to Monique. "Fräulein, would you follow me, please?"

Udo led Monique to the ballroom, and then returned to the entry hall to open the door for Jill, a fierce Wonder Woman, and Divya, an exotic Cleopatra.

"Ta da! Look what I found!" Jill had a bottle in her hand, and she raised it triumphantly into the air.

"Ohhhhh. . .the cake-flavored vodka! Huzzah! Now we can try the pineapple-upside-down cake in a glass! Thank you, Jill!"

"And I brought flowers!" Divya was carrying a beautiful ceramic pot, glazed a brilliant crimson red, and filled with bright purple asters. "I thought these would look stunning out on your deck! I know it's late in the season for the asters, but, of course, you can plant something wonderful in the pot next spring!"

"Thank you, Divya; they're beautiful! Thank you BOTH!"

Udo stepped forward to take the vodka and the flowers, while the three women ooohed and aahed over each other's costumes. Jill finally had the chance to look around the entry hall. "Wow, that's a LOT of pumpkins!"

Annabelle glanced back over her shoulder at the decorations, and, nodding, chuckled. "It is indeed! It's a plethora of pumpkins. It's Pumpkin-palooza!" There were pumpkins EVERYWHERE! There were big pumpkins, small pumpkins, orange pumpkins, green pumpkins, yellow pumpkins, white pumpkins, black pumpkins, purple pumpkins, gold pumpkins, silver pumpkins, pumpkins with glitter, pumpkins with sequins, pumpkins with crystals. . .even pumpkins with polka dots! And tucked in between the pumpkins were carved jack-o-lanterns, glowing and flickering.

"Annabelle, I know you love to decorate. Did you do all of this?!"

Annabelle shook her head, and put her hand on Jill's arm. "Oh, heavens, NO!" She looked around to see where Udo was, and lowered her voice, speaking to Jill like a conspirator. "I hired an event planner! She did it all. . .and I think it's FABULOUS!"

Jill looked skeptical. "An event planner?"

"Yes!"

"For a party with six people?!"

"Yes!"

"Okay, Annabelle, I'm going to ask you why, and your answer can't be 'yes'!"

Annabelle responded with a throaty chuckle. "I hired an event planner because Boris was just being such a wanker about this party! He wanted me to have the party here, but then he grumbled about EVERYTHING I wanted to do! So, I hired the event planner. . .and I'm sending all the bills to Boris!"

"Speaking of Boris. . .did he buy you that necklace?"

"Jill?!" Divya tried to hush her.

Smiling, Annabelle gently touched the ruby and diamond necklace, glittering in the light of the crystal chandelier, and shook her head. "Nooooo. . .it's on loan from the 'Kuester von Jurgens-Ratenicz Family and Friends Gem Collection'! I have to return it at midnight, or I turn into one of these pumpkins!"

"So. . .is it real?!"

"You don't want to know!"

"Okay, that's a 'yes'. How much did that bad boy cost?!"

"Ohhh, you REALLY don't want to know!"

Udo approached the three women. "Mrs. Lawson will be arriving shortly, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Udo."

Jill linked arms with Divya. "Come on, Divya, let's go get a drink and flirt with the bartender." Jill started pulling Divya toward the ballroom.

"Jill. . .he's young! Be gentle!"

"What's his name?"

"Siegfried!"

"We're coming for you, Siggie!"

Annabelle shook her head and chuckled as she watched Jill and Divya head off to the ballroom, and then turned as Udo opened the door to admit Paige, dressed in a dazzling flapper costume.

"Oh, Annabelle. . .you're the Queen of Hearts! How perfect!" Grinning, Paige handed a gift bag, decorated with orange and black ribbons, and lots and lots of glitter, to Annabelle. "Here, Your Majesty. . .open this!"

Annabelle gingerly took the bag from Paige, shook it cautiously, and tried to peek inside. "Paige. . .what is this?!" She sounded skeptical.

Still grinning, Paige chuckled softly. "Nothing bad, I promise!"

"Are you sure?! If something scary jumps out at me. . .it's off with your head!"

"Oh, Annabelle – I mean Your Majesty – nothing scary is going to jump out! It's just something I made for you!"

"Wicked!" Grinning, she reached into the froth of tissue paper that filled the glittery bag, and pulled her present out. "Oh, Paige. . .I LOVE it!"

It was a black wooden block, rectangular in shape. A pinup girl, dressed in a very provocative witch's costume, sat on a giant jack-o-lantern, a full moon glowing in the background. The title proclaimed her 'The Queen of Halloween!'

Chuckling, Annabelle gave Paige a big hug. "I can't help but notice. . .the witch has red hair and green eyes!"

"Well, you were my muse!"

"I can't believe you painted this just for me!"

"Oh, it was fun! I've been so busy lately, working with Russell, and finding art for other people, that I haven't had time to work on any of my own art projects! I ran across some vintage Halloween pinups, and I just knew I had to do one for you! I know how much you love vintage prints."

"I do, and I will treasure this! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Annabelle gave Paige another hug, then stood back to look at Paige's costume. "And speaking of vintage. . .your costume is absolutely fabulous! You are the perfect Daisy Buchanan!"

"Oh, thank you!" Paige did a little twirl, the fringe on her dress shimmering as she turned. "I would SO have been a flapper back in the twenties!" Paige glanced around the entry hall. "I don't see Boris."

Annabelle heaved a sigh, and shook her head. "No. . .and, right now, he's persona non grata!"

"That's too bad. Evan was hoping for a Gatsby party, I mean, we were, I mean, I was. . . ." Paige's voice trailed off. "Um. . .Shadow Pond would be perfect for a Gatsby party!"

Annabelle gave Paige a long, speculative look. "Paige. . .is Evan sitting out in the courtyard, dressed up like Jay Gatsby?!"

"No!" Annabelle arched an eyebrow. . .and Paige hung her head. "Yes."

Annabelle tapped the palm of her hand with her scepter, trying not to laugh. "Call Evan. Tell him he can come!"

"Really?!"

"If Evan doesn't mind being the only man. . .why not?!"

"I think he'll be okay with that! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Tell Evan to call Hank. He doesn't have to come in costume; he can just come for dinner. Bloody hell. . .why don't you call Russell? At this point. . .the more, the merrier!"

Paige pulled out her cell phone and bolted across the entry hall, heading out the door to look for Evan. "Babe. . . where are you?! Annabelle said you can come!"

As Paige scurried out the door, she passed Jess on the way in. "Am I late?"

"No! No! You're fine! Paige is going out to look for Evan; I decided to invite him to the festivities. Tonight, Evan's just one of the girls!"

"Really?!"

"Well. . .Evan does love a costume party!"

"Ha! Who doesn't?!"

"So. . .let me look at you! Blimey. . .I just don't know who you're supposed to be?! Hmmm. . .Marie Antoinette?! No, no. . .that's not right. Oh. . .Joan of Arc?! No. . .not Joan of Arc. Maybe. . .Eleanor Roosevelt?! Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Could it be?! I'm going to go out on a limb here, and take a WILD guess; are you. . .could you possibly be. . .Amelia Earhart?!"

"Ha ha, Annabelle! If the book thing doesn't work out for you. . .you could try stand-up comedy! And, yes, Amelia Earhart is my go-to Halloween costume! I would have flown my plane here, but that would have made it too easy! Besides. . .Shadow Pond doesn't have a landing strip?!"

"Yes. . .I hate it when that happens!"

"Hmpf?! Be nice to me, Annabelle. . .or I won't give you your present!"

"Jess, you didn't have to bring me anything!"

"Oh, I know, but I found this when I went into Manhattan last week for a doctor's appointment, and I couldn't resist! It's the perfect gift. . .for the queen – and her billionaire consort – who have everything!" Jess handed Annabelle a gift bag decorated with a grinning jack-o-lantern.

"Well. . .now my curiosity is piqued?!" Annabelle reached into the bag. . .and pulled out a box filled with brightly colored dominoes – orange, yellow, green, black, red, and blue. "Kate Spade dominoes?! I LOVE them!"

"I know you and Boris love to play games; maybe these will bring you luck!"

"Well, we shall see! But, thank you so much! I really do love them; I can't wait to challenge Boris!"

At that moment, the front door opened, and Paige walked back in, with Evan in tow; they made a beeline for Annabelle and Jess. Udo stepped forward and took the dominoes, and Evan wrapped Annabelle in an enthusiastic bearhug, nearly knocking her tiara off.

"Oh my God, Annabelle, I love you so much right now! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Paige tugged at Evan's sleeve. "Babe, you're smothering her! It's bad form to kill the hostess!"

"Oh, sorry!" Evan stepped back, and wrapped his arm around Paige's waist. "I'm just excited; I don't get to wear this outfit very often!"

Annabelle straightened her tiara. "You do make a handsome Gatsby, Evan!"

"Thanks!" Evan did a little spin to show off his costume. Suddenly, he turned to Paige. "Hey. . .maybe we'll win a prize for our costumes!"

Annabelle shook her head. "Oh, Evan, I'm sorry. . .I don't think we have prizes for costumes?!"

Evan looked crestfallen. Paige linked arms with Evan and Jess. "Come on, let's go get a drink, and check out everyone else's costumes!" With that, they headed for the ballroom.

"Udo, we're ready to start. Hank and Mr. Berger may show up later in the evening; if they do, please show them in."

"Very good, your majesty!"

With that, Annabelle gathered up her train and walked into the ballroom.

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The bartender handed Annabelle a drink. She took a sip, and then turned to face her guests. When she had their full attention, she raised her glass, and spoke.

"Tis now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world."

With that, she took a sip of her drink, and her guests all clinked glasses and drank.

"Welcome to Shadow Pond, and thank you all for coming!"

"Thank you for having us!"

Annabelle chuckled, and nodded at Evan. Bless his heart!

"Ladies – and gentleman – we have gathered here tonight to celebrate All Hallow's Eve. And the first activity of the evening will both amuse you and amaze you!" Annabelle held up some papers; there was some sort of list printed on each of the papers. "My friends. . .behold! The All Hallow's Eve Scavenger Hunt!"

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And, again. . .what do we think?! Comments?! Criticisms?! Questions?! Suggestions?!

AND – Where do I go next?!