Angel was pacing back and forth in his room, trying to get his mobile phone to pick up a signal.
"Unbelievable." He complained. "No wi-fi, no TV, no internet. Just what the hell do people do around here?"
He stalked into the bathroom but he didn't have much luck there either. So he just called his sister Molly to inform her that he was still alive, complained about the lack of modern technology at his location, and told her goodnight. When he hung up, he was startled to turn around and find Mr. Pentious standing right behind him.
"Jesus!" He exclaimed.
"Pardon the intrusion sir." The butler said. "But dinner has been served. I am to escort you to the dining room."
"Oh good." Angel said catching his breath. "Great. I'm starving."
He eagerly followed Mr. Pentious through the corridor and down the stairway.
"So Mr. P-" Angel started.
"Mr. Pentious if you don't mind."
"Right. Do you use moisturizer?" Angel asked, taking note of the man's extremely dry skin. "Because I have this amazing lotion that really does wonders for the complexion and it's cheap too."
"I suppose that would explain the smell permitting off of you."
"Excuse me?"
"I take it your lotion, like most is scented?"
"Yeah. Cotton candy actually. My sister's favorite."
"How charming." His voice was as dry as his skin.
"Yeah she's the best. Liked her better than my own parents. What about you? You got any family?"
He briefly went stiff for a moment and Angel swore he felt a chill go down to his spine.
"I had a son." He finally said. "Only a son, and I will speak no more of him."
"Oh sorry. I didn't mean to open any old wounds or anything. What about anyone else here? Do they have family?"
"The only family the master has is the mistress. The staff has none to speak of. We either came from broken homes or outlived our relatives."
"Ouch! That's gotta be hard on the holidays."
"Yes it does get quite bitter for us from time to time. The master especially. I insist you not speak to him on the subject of family."
"Uh...Sure. I understand."
Eventually they reached an impressive dining hall where a table set with candelabras, silver, and cloth napkins awaited them. A short but sweet looking red head had just finished setting the table when Angel and the other guests entered the hall. Roise was already sitting down but Alastor was pulling out a chair for Charlie, carefully pushing it back in when she sat down, much to her pleasure. Husk did the same with Vaggie and proceeded to serve drinks alongside the red head who was serving the courses.
For dinner it was gumbo, crawfish, cooked greens, and biscuits. A typical menu for when you dined in Louisiana and even if you found the house surroundings creepy, you couldn't deny that the food was absolutely delicious. Cooked to perfection, well seasoned, and bursting with flavor.
"This gumbo is wonderful." Charlie complimented you the red head. "Did you make this?"
"Yes." She answered.
"Well you're an excellent cook. Miss Uh?"
"Call me Niffty and thank you. But my gumbo is nowhere near as tasty as Alastor's jambalaya."
"Oh, you cook?" Charlie turned her attention to Alastor.
"A skill I inherited and learned from my dearly departed mother." He replied. "Niffty cooks most of our meals due to my busy schedule but once a week I prepare something myself."
"Alastor you must make something for our guests before they leave." Rosie insisted.
"Worry not, I will but there are so many other things that must be done first. Running a fishing business is a constant."
"You might get along well with my father." Charlie said. "He owns a manufacturing system for agriculture so he knows all about running a big business."
"I hope he still has time to enjoy the simpler things in life like I do."
"Sometimes. He'd be around if he could but work kept him away very often. That's one of the reasons why I never wanted to follow in his footsteps. I do want a good career but not one that'll keep me from my friends and my family. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't see Vaggie or Angel anymore."
Vaggie smiled.
"Friends are precious." Rosie said. "Finding a loyal friend is just as hard as finding a soulmate. That's why our staff is so dear to us."
"Your staff?" Angel said.
"Although they are in servitude to us." Alastor explained. "Husk, Niffty, Mr. Pentious, and Mimzy are true companions. Confidants. Family. There's no one else Rosie and I could trust more."
"Well I'm deeply hurt."
Heads turned to see a tall, thin, man with a charismatic face walk to the table as if he had choreographed it. At first glance, Charlie could have sworn that he was a salesman but Alastor's gaze signified that he knew him.
"After all we've been together longer than any of them."
"Oh how rude of me to forget." Alastor laughed. "Everyone this is Vox. He's my business partner and my oldest friend. We've known each other since we were boys."
"Who are your attractive visitors?" He asked.
"This is Miss Morningstar and her friends. She's Rosie's biggest fan and an aspiring novelist. Rosie thought that she would give her a little help with her writing."
"They sure are a good looking bunch. Any one of them single?"
"Now, now, Vox." Alastor warned still smiling. "Miss Morningstar is here for her profession. Wouldn't want you frightening her off with your womanizing ways."
Alastor appeared and sounded perfectly calm and collected but Charlie felt that he was almost threatening Vox.
"Alright so the author is off limits." Vox said before flashing a grin at Vaggie. "But how about you gorgeous?"
"I don't think so." She said almost disgusted.
"And you're not really my type." Angel said. "But you have nice hair and good fashion sense."
Alastor laughed at Angel's comment, feeling very amused.
"Shot down three times in one night." Vox said. "That's never happened before but I'll get over it. There are plenty of fish in the sea."
"Speaking of fish, how are things back at the docks?" Alastor asked.
"We're loaded in crustaceans. Shrimp, crabs, lobsters, let's hope most of our customers aren't allergic to shellfish."
"Anything else?"
"Not that I know of but I'll keep you updated."
"Won't you stay for dinner Vox?" Rosie offered.
"Have Mr. Pentious send it up to my room. I have too many documents I need to look over tonight. I will see you all tomorrow."
"Good evening Vox." Rosie dismissed.
"Good evening to you as well." He said to the hosts.
The rest of the meal was quiet. No one said a word while they ate but Alastor continued to stare at Charlie. Stare at her and smile at her. He barely ate a bite of his food. It was like he was transfixed by her. This went unnoticed by Charlie who was too wrapped up in the cuisine but Angel and Vaggie noticed it.
"Why does he keep looking at her like that?" Vaggie whispered to Angel. "It's rude and creepy."
"I don't know." He whispered back. "It kind of reminds me of when I used to look at-"
She glared at him.
"Nevermind. It's not that big a deal. Charlie has gotten make gazes before, she is a looker."
"I know and that's what worries me."
When dinner was finished Charlie felt very sleepy and had decided to go straight to bed. She once again thanked Niffty for the meal, bid goodnight to everyone in the dining hall, and then retired to her room. She opened up her suit case with the intention of changing into a simple T shirt and sweat shorts she had packed but thought that maybe those were not a choice of sleepwear when she felt a cold draft.
"I wish I had packed something warmer." She shivered.
On cue she heard the creaking of a door opening. At first she thought it was the door to the room but she quickly discovered that it was the door to the wood-carved wardrobe.
"Must be a screw loose." She thought.
"This place is old."
She moved to close the wardrobe but stopped when she became astonished at the array of Victorian gowns and dresses hanging inside. Each one was beautifully designed and made from either silk, satin, or lace. Now normally dresses weren't really Charlie's preferred choice of clothing but these old fashioned ones had a charm she couldn't resist.
"I wonder how I'd look in one of them. Probably ridiculous."
She caught sight of a pale blue, chiffon, nightgown that came with a matching chiffon and lace robe. It looked very pretty and very warm.
"I shouldn't."
And yet she still changed into the garment and posed in front of the mirror to see how she looked. It was a perfect fit and for a moment she had a strange sense of deja vu. But she quickly brushed it off, turned out the lights, and slid into bed. The mattress and pillows were so soft, like clouds from Heaven that she fell asleep almost instantly. She shivered one last time before succumbing to slumber and when she did a shadow crept into her room without making so much as one sound, proceeding to gently cover her with an extra blanket and cause her to feel as though she was wrapped in endless warmth.
"Charlotte." The shadow whispered forlornly, brushing a fallen lock of hair from her forehead. "You've come back to me."
She was too deep in a warm, comfortable sleep to hear the shadow's quiet voice like last time which meant the dark figure could marvel at her beauty for just a little while longer.
"Charlotte."
The shadow shed a tear. A tear of blood.