Enjoy my annual Halloween story!
Happy Friday the 13th and Happy Halloween!
In Pennsylvania, things were quiet and cozy at the Scare B&B. A little while ago, the Hauntley's biggest secret was revealed to the world: that they were a family of monsters and the Scare B&B was a real haunted house! At first, the townspeople were terrified and the Hauntleys were forced to move back to Transylvania. But thanks to Vampirina showing the humans how special and magical the monster world was, they became less afraid and the Hauntleys moved back to the open arms of their human town.
It was a calm evening, but behind the spooky walls of the Hauntley home, was Miranda, laying on the living room couch, deep in thought.
"Hey, Miranda." Vampirina greeted as she walked into the living room. "I heard you hung out with Nan and Grandpop in Transylvania yesterday!"
"Yeah, sure did." Miranda said. "We had a picnic in the Enchanted Forest and played fright tag in the graveyard, which Grandpop always beats me at." Miranda rolled her eyes. "I just don't get it, Vee. I'm totally cool with monsters. Nanpire can't even make me squeal. But Grandpop makes me scream every time he gets the jump on me! I mean, how does he do it?!"
The young vampire shrugged. "He said it's a gift."
"I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm happy to spend time with them. But don't you think that it's a bit...strange that they're spending so much time with me?" Miranda wondered out loud.
Vampirina smiled. "They're probably just happy that they have a new granddaughter in the family."
Miranda agreed with the vampire. That had to be the case. Ever since her aunt Tessa, who adopted Miranda as her own daughter and married Remy Bones, the Hauntley family's skeleton chef, the Hauntleys had treated Miranda and Tessa like part of their monster family. Tessa and Remy had been traveling the world while Miranda helped the Hauntleys run the Scare B&B. Meeting and hosting for all kinds of ghosts, ghouls and monsters was just as thrilling as a trip around the world.
The Hauntleys were the best thing to happen to Miranda. No bones about it, as Chef Remy would say. But now, Miranda was feeling a little anxious with all this constant attention. Just then, Grandpop the Great appeared in a puff of red smoke and loomed over Miranda! "Boooooo! he wailed.
"AAAAAAHHH!" screamed Miranda as she fell off the couch and landed on the floor. "Owww!" Miranda rubbed her sore hip.
Nanpire poofed in and helped Miranda up. "Oh, Miranda! Are you alright, my sweet viper?"
"I'm fine, Nan." Miranda answered. "So, what's up? Did Wolfie chew up your magic purse again?"
Nanpire shook her head. "No, my shriek. We decided to do something extra special for you!"
Miranda felt nervous, but she knew her grandparents meant well. So, she decided not to protest. "Uh, what did you have in mind?"
The elderly vampires smiled. "The Midnight Blessing!"
Miranda looked perplexed. As did Vampirina.
"Uh, what exactly is the Midnight Blessing?" asked the human.
"Yeah, I'd like to know too." said Vampirina.
"It's a rite of passage that every Hauntley family member takes." Nanpire explained. "It's a huge celebration with many monster traditions to follow. Afterward, there will be a big party!"
"Rite of passage? Big party?" Miranda tried to process this new information. 'So...it's like a monster version of a quinceañera or a bat mitzvah, right?' she thought. "Okay, I'm in."
"Wonderful!" said Grandpop. "We'll handle all the arragements!"
"You're going to love it, my shriek." Nanpire reached out and pinched Miranda's cheek. She and Grandpop laughed with ghoulish joy, Miranda was growing a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.
A few weeks later, it was the night of the Midnight Blessing. The ceremony was taking place at Spookelton Castle. In one of the castle's many macabre rooms, Vampirina, Nanpire and Oxana were helping Miranda get fitted into her ceremonial gown. She wore a strapless black glitter tulle ball gown embellished with red spider web pattern. Her brown hair was in a classy updo and adorned with a red jeweled bat tiara.
"And now, for the finishing touch!" Nanpire waved her hands in the air and POOF! A black, flowing vampire cape was draped over Miranda's shoulders.
Oh, Miranda! You look so frightful!" said a beaming Oxana. "Nan and I will be at the chapel." She gave Miranda a kiss on he cheek. "Ghoul luck!" The vampires rushed out, leaving Miranda and Vampirina alone in the room.
"You really look amazing, Miranda!" said Vampirina.
"Um, thanks." Miranda said as she stared at her reflection. The human was truly amazed by how much she looked like a real vampire. She wasn't used to wearing fancy, stuffy clothes. But she tolerated it. "So, you never heard anything about this Midnight Blessing?"
The young vampire shook her head. "Never! I asked Mama and Papa about it, but they said it's a normal thing and it'll be my turn to do the blessing when the time is right. But something about all this seems...off."
"Yeah, I feel he same way." Miranda agreed.
Suddenly, the door swung open and a frightful, elderly stranger stood in the doorway. She was tall and gangly, her skin pale and blue as a vampire's. Her hair was ghost white and in the shape of a giant round bun. Her eyes were black as her tight, form-fitting dress with a hobble skirt. Vampirina and Miranda felt an unnatural chill as the woman glided toward the human. "Are you Miranda?" she asked, her voice was cold as a tombstone in winter.
"Y-Yes..." Miranda spoke softly.
"I am Lady Morbid, priestess for the Midnight Blessing." said the woman. "I simply came to wish you good luck tonight. Especially the final act of the blessing, where you will drink the Potion of Eternal Promise." She narrowed her eyes, staring right into Miranda's soul. "It's the blood of an actual vampire, mixed with the ink of a dragon's eye, and the tongue of a witch's cat."
Miranda gulped.
"It may be the last thing you ever consume, but I wish you luck, nonetheless." And with that, Lady Morbid glided herself out of the room and the door slammed itself shut.
The girls were stunned with temporary silence.
"Okay, that was weird, even for me." Vampirina admitted. "I don't think that lady likes you."
"Same here. But I win't let her scare me." Miranda said confidently.
"But-"
"Vee, your family said that this is a big deal and I can't let them down."
"But what if something batty happens?!" asked the worried vampire. "What if-"
"Vee!" Miranda exclaimed. "I'm just as nervous as you are. And I sooo don't trust that Morbid Lady. But I know your family would never do anything to hurt me. But if something happens, we'll deal with it. So, let's be on guard, but not worry ourselves to death."
Vampirina sighed. "Alright."
The Moonlight Blessing took place in the castle's chapel. The Hauntleys family and their monster friends all sat while Miranda stood at the altar with Lady Morbid. A pipe organ stared bellowing a spooky melody by itself, starting the ceremony.
"Greetings to all ghosts, ghouls and monsters of all kind. Today, we invoke this fright of passage to Miranda, who has been accepted by the Hauntley family." She opened a scroll and began reading it. "Miranda, please begin with your most horrifying, blood-curdling scream."
Miranda faced the audience and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and concenrated for a moment. Then she opened her mouth,
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Everyone was stunned by Miranda's scream. It was so hair-raising and textbook perfect. But Lady Morbid was hardly fazed. "Moving on. Miranda, please use your wand to cast a spooktacular spell."
Miranda took out her homemade wand that the Hauntleys taught her to make. She pointed it to the ground and waved her wand in a circular motion. "Breath of dragon, tongue of frog. Swirling mist, become monster fog!"
A cloud of grey smoke billowed from the floor and transformed into a large cloud monster with glowing green eyes! The creature let out a mighty roar as the crowd cheered. Miranda flicked her wand and the monster disappeared with a poof.
"And now, for the final test." Lady Morbid walked over to a podium with somehing hidden under a black cloth. She pulled back the cloth to reveal a large glass beaker filled with a red liquid that was glowing and bubbling. "The Potion of Eternal Promise." With a wave of her hands, the beaker was levitating. It's contents were poured into a black goblet and floated itself to Miranda. "Miranda, do you swear loyalty to the Hauntleys? Do you swear to be a friend and ally to all monsterkind? Do you-
"WAIT!"
Before Miranda knew it, Vampirina rushed to the altar and grabbed the goblet. "I can't let you do this!"
"Vee! What are you doing?!" said Miranda.
"Miranda! You can't drink this stuff! Lady Morbid told you what was in it! No human could stomach something so...monstrous!" She was about to throw the goblet, but Miranda grabbed the vampire's arm and took the goblet back.
"Vee, if this stuff was really poisonous or bad for me in any way, would your family actually let me drink it?" Miranda questioned.
Vampirina blinked. She never thought of that. Oxana approached her daughter. "It's true, bat-kins. We love Miranda and none of us would do anything to hurt her."
"And I love the Hauntleys." said Miranda. "And I love everything about monsters! So... " She raised the goblet. "I'm drinking this potion!" And the human downed the potion until there was none left. Suddenly, a shocked look came upon Miranda's face. Vampirina began to panic.
"This isn't a potion!" Miranda exclaimed. "It's strawberry soda!"
Vampirina was shocked. "WHAT?!"
Someone started clapping their hands. The girls turned and saw that it was Lady Morbid clapping. And smiling! "Well done, Miranda! You passed my test!"
"Test?!" Miranda's head was spinning. What was going on here?!
"Miranda, Vee, Lady Morbid is more than just a priestess." said Nanpire. "She's also my sister."
"WHAT?!" Miranda and Vee shouted.
Nanpire nodded. "That's right. You see, my sissy has a rare condition where she must take twenty year enchanted coffin naps to keep herself healthy. Once awake, she stays awake for another twenty years. After that, she takes another twenty year nap and so on and so on."
"Whoa, twenty years?" Miranda breathed. She looked at the smiling Lady Morbid. "That...must be hard.
Lady Morbid just shrugged. "It's okay, kid. No one likes being sick. But as long as you got your faith, good doctors, and a family that cares, it's manageable. And you can call me Aunt Nellie. Sorry I put you through all that. When I heard we had humans in the family by the time I woke up, I wanted to test your loyalty. And you and Tessa passed with flying colors!"
"Aunt Tessa did this too?!" Miranda said, surprised.
"Yep, but when she did it, Remy actually knocked the soda out of her hands! He was a mess!" Nellie chuckled and smiled. "It really warms my black heart to see how much humans have changed. And it's clear how much our family loves you and Tessa." Nellie gave Miranda a warm hug. "You're a real good kid, Miranda. Don't ever change."
Miranda smiled as she hugged her great aunt. "I promise I won't."