Chapter Three: Madame Leota and the Bride
Author's Note: I may have accidentally mixed a few things up, for that, I apologize.
It was a shock to see that their carriage the group was on glide up the stairs towards the second floor without bumping up and down as such, but the group didn't question after what they saw. Upon reaching the second floor, the upper part of the carriage then turned so they could look down a long, misty hallway . . . which appeared to be endless and had a floating candelabra!
"Hey, isn't that the same candelabra from downstairs?" Murray asked, squinting his eyes.
"Hard to tell, they seem to be everywhere." Peng replied.
The group's attention was caught by the sound of clinkering and clankering of metal, which came from a suit of a knight's armor . . . which was moving as if someone were wearing it.
"Um, good night, kind sir?" Sly greeted politely, though he didn't know why he said that.
As if it heard the raccoon, the suit of armor turned towards the group in the carriage, then gave them a polite bow.
"Guess chivalry isn't dead after all." Carmelita joked a bit.
It was then that the Ghost Host spoke back up.
"Ah, it's nice to see the folks enjoying themselves."
"Trying the best we can, Will." Penelope said; that was an understatement.
"In my home, each room has wall to wall creeps and hot and cold chills running . . . but it has taken time to give it that comfortable, unlived-in look."
As he always does, the Ghost Host gave out one of his sinister chuckles.
"Lucky us." Dimitri said, though he really didn't mean it.
As their carriage continued on, the group found themselves riding slowly past a conservatory that was filled with a verity of withered plants and flowers, but what really got their attention was that odd squeaking sound.
"You guys hear something?" Sly asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, I hear that too." Murray added
"Dimitri not liking the squeaking, no offense, mousey." Dimitri said in the third person.
"It's "Penelope", and none taken, I guess." Penelope corrected, but was quiet as she was beginning to shiver as the squeaking got louder.
It was then the sounds of fluttering wings caught their attention as a small raven (that had red glowing eyes) that took up on the mantle above a large wooden box . . .
"Let me out of here!"
That shocked the group as their attention switched from the small bird to the wooden box, only it wasn't a at all . . . IT WAS BLACK OAK COFFIN AND A SKELETAL HAND WAS TRYING TO PRY IT OPEN! In fact, the squeaking sound was from the coffin as whatever was inside was trying to get out! The group prayed that they wouldn't see what was inside of the coffin, one of them (unimportant who the hip-person was) was still wearing clean undies.
"You disturbed a guest! Caw! Caw! You'll be sorry for that! Caw! Caw!" The raven crowed, much to the surprise of most of the group, but anger to one . . .
"Oh, I'll show you "sorry", c'mere you rat with wings!" Carmelita snarled as she reached for the bird, who flew away in (ironic) fear, but was held back by her friends.
"Carm, let it go, we're not suppose to leave the carriage, remember?" Sly reminded, which succeeded (barely) in calming down the vixen.
Their moment was interrupted by the sound of the Ghost Host's voice.
"Whatever you do, don't betray your presence by screaming, just follow my voice and remain calm."
"Not a problem for most of us." Peng stated, under his breath.
"Big challenge for some." Bentley muttered.
"You all have very active imaginations, especially the raccoon . . . That's good . . ."
"Uh, thank you?" Sly thanked, not sure how to feel.
The carriage then rolled into what appeared to be the mansion's personal library, much to the amazement and joy of a certain turtle and mouse. Like the other places in the entire mansion, it was old and covered with commentary from the Ghost Host.
"Our library is well stocked with priceless first editions-"
This seemed to raise the group's attention ten fold . . .
"-Only ghost stories, of course."
This caused the group to grown in annoyance as their "gracious" host let out one of his sinister chuckles.
"And marble busts of the greatest ghost writers the literary world has ever known."
Upon seeing said busts, the group couldn't help but agree with the Ghost Host, for some of these busts depicted award/prize-winning writers that were once apart of the Swallow Falls Community; something that made Sly (who was a huge fan of some of the writers and their work) find himself entranced by their images. The others felt the same way as they looked at the busts, but only to make sure that nothing "unexpected" happens, like coming to life (if only they knew).
"They have all retired here to the Haunted Mansion, actually, we have 999 happy haunts here, but there's always room for one thousand . . . Any volunteers?"
To the group's chagrin and their leisurely discomfort, the Ghost Host let out another thunderous, sinister laugh. That's when a thought had come to Sly as he looked at Dimitri then to the ceiling.
"Say, Will, is it option to volunteer ourselves separately or volunteer someone from our group?" The raccoon asked, which the group (minus one) caught on.
"Depends, who did you have in mind?"
"Well . . ."
At that moment, all eyes were upon the purple marine iguana, who was starting to feel a sense of dread when it had suddenly occurred to him what the raccoon had meant.
"What, don't you be gawking your oculars at Dimitri!" The iguana said defensively.
Would it be bad and make them horrible people if they'd left him in here? No, as much as they really really wanted to since he was annoying and was difficult to understand most of the time, they couldn't just leave the poor sap in this decaying mansion. He, like most of the community, probably had a family that cared about him very much.
"Never mind, on with the tour, please." Peng said.
"As you wish."
The carriage made a turn to the left and the group found themselves riding through another corridor, which was decoured with demon-faced wallpaper adorned with daguerreotype of corpses and another large portrait of the Ghost Host, in his elderly appearance opposed to the youthful William.
"Love what they did with the wallpaper." Penelope commented quietly.
It was then that thirteen chimes caught the group's attention as they looked to see a large grandfather clock, but there's was something wrong (like mostly everything in this old mansion) with the face; the hands were rapidly moving in reverse! Thinking that things couldn't possibly get anymore wild was vastly out of the question for what was to happen next. The sight of a shadow above the clock had caught the attention of the group and looked up to see what it was, but wished they rethought about that decision. The shadow was of a monstrous claw that appeared to be right behind the group and was about to strike at them! The group huddled with each other and squeezed their eyes shut; didn't the Ghost Host say they wouldn't be harmed if they took a "tour" of the mansion, didn't he?! The group waited and waited for the claw to strike upon them, but after a few minuets . . . nothing. The group opened their eyes, sat back up, and looked around for the creature that attacked them, but there was nothing else in the corridor with them as the carriage proceeded its way.
"I'm going to need serious therapy after this." Bentley muttered, which sounded good to the group.
It was then that the carriage took them into a darkened room, which was filled with the sound of . . . instruments?
"We're about participate in a séance, Madame Leota is assembling all the spirits who have been just dying to meet you . . ."
As always, the Ghost Host gave out another sinister chuckle, which did not bode well for the seven youths.
"Lucky us." Carmelita said with a fake smile.
Their carriage then came to a complete stop as the group found themselves in what appeared to be a music room, but that's not what had their attention. No, their full attention was in the center of the room was a large, round table and on it was a fortune teller's crystal ball . . . which had a severed head in side of it! The head itself appeared to be a feline with long flowing hair and was glowing an unnatural green color, meaning that she was, for a fact, a ghost. So this was the fabled Madame Leota, odd, the group didn't consider to see just her head. Then again, what was to be expected in this "House of Horrors"? The surprise didn't stop there for the head inside the crystal ball blinked its eyes and began to speak.
"Serpents and spiders; tail of a rat; call in the spirits, wherever they're at!"
At Leota's command, the group began to hear a series of moans and groans.
"Rap on a table, it's time to respond; send us a message from somewhere beyond!"
At that moment a rap on the table was heard as well.
"Goblins and ghoulish from last Halloween, awaken the spirits with your tambourine!"
As said tambourine began to clatter, the mouse, panda, and iguana found themselves shivering with fright, but for some reason, the raccoon, turtle, hippo, and vixen found it oddly comforting at the sound of Halloween.
"Creepies and crawlies; toads in a pond; let there be music from regions beyond!"
Though the group had their own preferences on what kind of music they liked, they did not like the sound of the instruments playing themselves.
"Wizards and witches, wherever you dwell, give us a hint by ringing a bell!"
On that last command, a small bell began to chime away as the voice of the Ghost Host spoke back up.
"Come now, we must leave this cozy circle for . . ."
"What?" Murray, asked, not liking the way the Ghost Host stopped.
"Ssshhhh, listen . . ."
The group did just that and, almost instantly, began to hear the chimes of a pipe-organ; where'd that come from?
"The happy haunts have received your sympathetic vibrations and are beginning to materialize."
"They-they are?" Dimitri asked in a quivering voice.
"They're assembling for a swinging wake and they'll be expecting me."
"Wait, does that mean . . ?" Peng started to ask when he realized what was about to happen.
"I'll see you all a little later."
"Hold on, wait, don't-he's probably already gone." Sly said, but stopped when the Ghost Host's voice stopped.
"Some host he was." Carmelita said bitterly. "What do you think meant by "swinging wake" anyway?"
Before anything else could be said, the carriage began to move once again and took them across a balcony that overlooked a magnificent ballroom, which was apparently occupied. Ghosts; the ballroom was filled to the brim with real, spectral apparitions! Seated around a long was a few ghosts celebrating a birthday party, only when the birthday boy blew out the candles, the other attendants vanished with the flames. Above the birthday party, were two more ghosts that were seated on the chandelier and chugging down wine, which fazed right through them. More ghosts began to appear from a coffin in an old hearse from down the hall. Not only that, but there were ghosts waltzing on the dance floor and a ghost who was playing the pipe-organ the group heard before, which sprouted out little ghost heads. There were also two more portraits of Civil War soldiers, one Confederate and one Union, that came to life and shot at each other as if they were still at war. Needless to say in the least, it was actually more interesting than it was scary for the group: it was becoming more pleasant than horrifying.
"Going out on a limb and saying that is." Bentley deduced nostalgically.
It was then that the carriage began to glide up another flight of stairs and found themselves to be in the attic, which was irregularly shaped and looked as though it were still under renovations. Odd, was William trying to expand this room for old items, because it wasn't a bad idea since it was cluttered with various items. They all appeared to be a collection of gifts, personal items, mementoes, and wedding portraits of each member of the Gracey family. Some such portraits caught Peng's attention as he recognized the old woman, only younger in appearance in two of the portraits, from the stretching room in a bride's dress. Another thing that the panda noted from what he saw was that in each portrait, she was wearing a different set of diamond necklaces. He was brought out of his thoughts as he heard the sound of a sharp blade cutting through something. As the other looked to the other direction, Murray caught sight of a shadow, but he saw when he turned made his blood run as cold as ice.
"Anyone else hear that?" Penelope asked, quivering once more.
"Uh, guys . . ?" Murray asked, wide-eyed from what he was looking at.
Before Anyone could say anything else as they turned, they too became wide-eyed in complete fright as well. Right there, with a small hatchet in hand, was an elderly female wolf in a black dress and hair done up in a beehive, upon seeing her transparent face closely, the group recognized her as Constance Hatchaway (funny that was her last name). She was known as the "Black Widow Bride" as she would marry rich men, then murder them to inherit their fortune. Greed, no wonder it was one of the Seven Deadly Sins, eh? After murdering four men, she was finally caught after the death of her fifth husband who had built the mansion for the Gracey family, George Hightower. Seeing her up close with a demented smile was one thing to make a mirror crack, only she wasn't a normal female now; she was a ghost! It was at that moment that she lifted both of her arms, which meant one thing: SHE WAS GOING TO TAKE A SLASH AT THEM!
"Duck!" Carmelita shouted, which everyone complied.
After a swift sound of the hatchet slashing the air, the group slowly started to sit back up slowly and were glad to see they still had their heads on their shoulders . . . EXCEPT FOR BENTLEY!
"Oh no!" Sly exclaimed as he and everyone looked at the turtle's headless body in horror.
"I'm okay; I'm fine!" Bentley said when his head popped out of his shell, much to everyone's relief; guess there were advantages in being a turtle.
"Honestly, Constance, must you frighten these poor youths? We never have living visitors in this part of the mansion."
The group turned to locate the source of the new, more soothing, voice and were surprised and not shocked by what they saw. It was another ghost, who was also female, but this one was different as she wore a tattered-up bride's wedding dress and was holding up a bouquet of long dead flowers. Another thing to be noted by this figure was that her heart, which was seen through her transparent body and red in color, was rapidly beating. Though most of this disturbed the group highly and without question, they saw that she was a very beautiful wolf beneath her torn veil.
"Oh, come off it, Emily, I was only trying to be friendly." Constance defended mistily.
"Well, with best-buds like Miss Hatchet, who need's a someone to pick fights with?" Dimitri said sarcastically under his breath.
"That'll be enough of that, away with you, Constance." Emily commanded, which sounded more like a firm urge, huffing Constance away. "Such rude behavior; I hope she didn't frighten you."
"Who, us, no way, it'll take more than that to get to "The Murray"." Murray announced, trying to look tough.
"Hold on, you-you're Emily De Claire, the fiancée of William Gracey." Sly declared, surprising the ghost and his friend. "Wow, you're just as lovely now as you were alive."
"My, what a gentleman you are." Emily said with a kind smile, which made the guys melt and girls huff. "So, you are the ones that William has taken onto his tour, how was you're time here in our humble mansion?"
"Despite our "gracious" host leaving us to fend for ourselves, this place is actually quite the attraction." Penelope said admirably.
"I'm glad that you're all having some fun; makes me remember the fun times I had with the Graceys when I was alive. Now, even with all the happy haunts, it feels so lonely. I love William, I really do, but I wish that there would be more to what we have, like becoming a mother and father."
They way Emily spoke made the group felt heart-broken for the spirit of the Ghost Host's once bride-to-be, it would even make them cry if she wanted to. She and William must have really loved each other if she wish to have children with him. The group could feel for her since they each cared for their families and they meant everything to them. They all knew too well of the tale of Emily's story, which was the most tragic and quite the tear-jerker, and understood that it must've been torture for her to remember such events.
"I'm so sorry about that, you would have been a wonderful mother." Carmelita encouraged with a caring smile.
"Thank you, young miss, but that has all came and went, you need not worry about I." Emily replied with a voice that reminded the group of their own respective mothers. "So, how is it that such young gentlemen and women like yourselves find your way into the mansion?"
"We had no choice in the matter, it was either we stay outside and get drenched in the storm or find shelter here." Bentley clarified, adjusting his glasses.
"You mean the one that passed a few minuets ago?"
Wait . . . what did she just say?
"She's right, look." Peng said, pointing out a window which showed the now clear sky that was light up by the stars and a full moon.
"Guess that means we can finally go home." Murray said, beyond relieved.
"Oh, I do hope you're all not planning to leave too soon." Emily spoke up, catching the group's attention. "Not before you can see the swinging wake in the graveyard."
"G-g-graveyard?" Bentley sputtered, his natural green color paling.
"Of course not, in fact, we were just on our way there." Sly said politely, knowing that he and his friends had no control of their carriage. "Can you tell us how to get there?"
"Of course, you just go out this window and down the terrace; you'll be in the graveyard in no time." Emily said pointing out to said terrace.
"Thanks, I guess." Penelope thanked under her breath.
"Will you be attending this ghostly shindig?" Dimitri asked out of politeness.
"Sadly, no, I must stay here, but I do wish you all a good night." Emily replied and as soon as she saw the raccoon and vixen, as well as the turtle and mouse, holding hands, she couldn't help but smile. "And though William and I were unable to be with each other in love, I do hope that the two couple have a bright future."
This confused the group at first, until they realized which two couples the wolfess was talking about as Sly and Carmelita, as well as Bentley and Penelope, noticed they were holding hands. Both couples withdrew their hands, their faces madly blushing a bright-red color in embarrassment, though they were celebrating on the inside. It was then that they remembered that there were three others among the group, who were looking at the four with knowing smiles. This only caused the four to glare at the three with hard expressions that creeped them out, more than anything that was in the mansion.
"No. A. Word." Sly warned edgily.
"Out. Of." Carmelita continued.
"Any. Of." Penelope went on.
"You." Bentley finished.
"Got it?" All four demanded?
"Got it." The hippo, panda, and iguana said in quivering voices.
