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“I dare you.”
Those were the words that Abigail Bellweather could never resist. Those were the words that got them into this situation to begin with.
A dark, looming castle stood on the hill overlooking the deep woods of Salem. The only light came from two massive glass windows flanking either side of the giant wooden front door. The sun had just dipped below the horizon, leaving nothing but darkness and an unnatural chill to the air. Something felt off about this place and Abigail couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was. She’d insisted around the campfire earlier that she wasn’t scared of anything ‘haunted’, simply because she didn’t believe that anything or anywhere could actually be haunted. She believed in ghosts. Hell, she’d talked to Charvel this time last year and though it had been a bit disconcerting, she wasn’t scared. But to think a ghost could, or would even want to, haunt something was beyond her.
So here she was, putting her money where her mouth was. She turned her head and looked at Scylla standing next to her, also surveying the dark and quiet castle. After agreeing with Abigail that there was no such thing as hauntings, Raelle had dared both Scylla and Abigail to spend an evening in this castle that supposedly was haunted. The owner of the castle, Vander Greyfin, was a close family friend of Quinn and Raelle made a quick call to arrange for Abigail and Scylla to stay for a night. She’d been to the castle once before as a child, when Quinn and Willa had made a trip to Salem together during the week before Samhain. She’d remembered the inside being beautiful and not nearly as daunting as the outside looked. But she kept that fact to herself, ready to sit back and enjoy the show tonight as Abigail and Scylla looked increasingly uncomfortable at the idea of being in this castle alone all night.
This could be good.
Raelle hoisted a tent and sleeping bag from the back of the truck they’d borrowed to drive up here for the night. She smiled at Scylla and Abigail while throwing the sleeping bag over her shoulder.
“Remember,” Raelle said, “No work!”
Tally grabbed a sleeping bag as well and grinned. “Have fun!”
With a wave to Abigail and Scylla, they walked away from the house and into the large clearing in front of the house, just shy of the tree line, ready to set up camp and watch.
Abigail rolled her eyes and with a huff stomped towards the front door with Scylla close behind.
“As if we’d need to use work for anything.”
She raised her hand to knock on the door, but was surprised when the heavy door creaked open slowly.
“Uhhhh…hello?” Abigail leaned forward and peeked into the dimly lit foyer, expecting to see whoever had opened the door. When she realized no one was there, she let out a small, incredulous laugh.
“Ha ha, very funny, we’re coming in!” She stepped into the entryway, her and Scylla’s soft footfalls against the cold stone floor were the only sounds to be heard.
“Was someone supposed to be here with us tonight? Didn’t Raelle say Greyfin was away on business?” Scylla closed the door behind them and it closed with a heavy thud that echoed through the enormous room.
Abigail appraised the giant, open foyer as she walked around slowly, taking in the heavy ornate rugs beneath their feet, the lit chandelier above casting soft light down on the red and gold fibers.
“Yeah, I think we have the place all to ourselves.” Abigail spun in a slow circle to take in the beautiful, but creepily quiet surroundings, Scylla doing the same.
“This is gorgeous,” Scylla sighed and smiled softly. “And we were dared to stay here overnight?” She shook her head and grinned at Abigail.
“I think we got the better end of the deal. Tally and Raelle are camping out there in the cold and we get all night to explore this place.”
Abigail nodded smugly and walked with Scylla towards the sitting room off to the left of the entrance, shaking off the silly feeling of unease at the door opening on it’s own. She was convinced that it could be explained away easily. This place was super old and surely wasn’t in perfect condition.
They entered the sitting room and Scylla immediately went to the fireplace that took up most of the wall. It was lit, which she found strange, but wasn’t too overly concerned. She chalked it up to their host preparing the house for them and reminded herself to thank him when they got to meet him in the morning. Her fingers danced over the intricate designs carved into the smooth stone as she admired the work and skill that had to have gone into making such a beautiful piece. She noticed a heavy wooden easel in the corner of the room and walked over to take a look at an unfinished piece that was on display.
Abigail made herself right at home and flopped down onto a plush, green velvet couch. She laid her arm across her forehead and spoke dramatically.
“Hey Necro, paint me like one of your French girls.”
Scylla turned and quirked an eyebrow at Abigail before shaking her head with a soft laugh.
“Keep your clothes on, High Atlantic, the only woman I ever want to see naked is-”
A loud thud sounded from above, startling them both. Two pairs of eyes shot to the ceiling and Abigail immediately jumped from the couch and stood at attention when the undeniable sound of footsteps followed.
She glanced at Scylla quickly, pointing silently at the ceiling above. Scylla raised an eyebrow at Abigail and shook her head.
“Maybe we aren’t alone?” Scylla suggested, not appearing to be bothered by the possibility that they weren’t the only ones in the house. “Should we go check it out?”
Abigail rubbed her hands together, trying to stave off the cold that was suddenly starting to surround them, despite the warm fire. She nodded slowly and straightened, refusing to show the slightest bit of hesitancy. She’d fought the Camarilla and won. She could fight a ghost.
With a huff she rolled her eyes at herself and started to head towards the huge, imperial staircase. She looked from the left to the right side of the stairs and then to Scylla next to her. “Left or right?”
Scylla shot her an incredulous look.
“Does it matter, just pick one and let’s go.”
Abigail squared her shoulders and started up the left side of the staircase, Scylla close behind. When they reached the top of the stairs, they were met with two long and dark hallways on either side of them. The footsteps they’d heard had come from the left so they started down the hall slowly, neither wanting to admit they were a little on edge.
The hallway was dark, lit only by a few sconces flickering orange light onto the long hallway runners. The rug dampened their footfalls and made it even more strange that they’d heard the footsteps so clearly.
Abigail cleared her throat and slowed her pace as they neared an open doorway, nervous for what they may find inside the room. They crept past the doorway slowly, both peering into the darkness of the room and were both relieved to find it empty of anything but some heavy furniture. They passed several more closed rooms before reaching a smaller room and peeked in to see a tiny bathroom that was also empty. Up ahead was a large, daunting knight’s suit of armor backed up against the dark walls, parked between two lit sconces. Scylla admired it’s size from afar and was interested in seeing it up close. History fascinated her and this castle was ripe with it.
As they neared the end of the hallway, a knocking noise suddenly came from the last door on the left. Abigail stopped in her tracks inches from the suit of armor, Scylla bumping into her from behind.
The amusement was evident in Scylla’s voice as she spoke. “Scared, Abigail? Afraid a ghost is gonna getcha?” Scylla reached out and pinched Abigail’s side in jest.
Abigail swatted Scylla’s hand away and smirked, trying her best to keep up the nonchalant attitude despite the knocking continuing up ahead.
“I ain’t ‘fraid of no ghost,” she sang and burst into a little dance that belied the tension she was actually feeling.
“Killing it with the movie references tonight, huh High Atlan-”
Without any warning, the giant axe in the suit of armor’s hand swung down and landed with a loud clang against the stone of the hallway. As Scylla and Abigail both screamed to the top of their lungs, the sound of knocking up ahead suddenly started up again, rapping a feverish rhythm against the heavy wooden door. They both started backing up slowly as their eyes stayed fixed on the suit of armor.
The helmet of the armor suddenly turned sharply to look straight at the women, the screeching sound of metal on metal intensifying their terror. They both froze in horror and disbelief at what they were seeing as the armor suddenly came to life, a full on knight suddenly turning and stepping towards them as it picked up the axe from the floor. Abigail turned on her heels and practically climbed over Scylla to take off back down the forever long hallway. Scylla wasted no time in following suit, trying desperately to keep up with the much longer strides that Abigail’s long legs afforded her. As the sound of metallic footsteps grew impossibly closer, she cursed her short stature more than she ever had in her life.
As the knight caught up to them, Abigail suddenly ducked into the tiny bathroom and waited for Scylla to breach the threshold before slamming the door shut and locking it. Abigail immediately threw open the tiny laundry closet and tossed towels to the floor as she searched desperately for something to defend them with.
She groaned in frustration and held up the only thing she could find…a bright blue fly swatter. It would have to do.
She closed the closet and scrambled up onto the closed lid of the toilet and pressed herself against the wall, trying to get as much space between her and that thing as she could. Staring at the door in horror while trying to catch her breath, she raised the fly swatter up into the air, wielding it like a sword. Scylla stood below her, the height difference now more ridiculous than ever.
“Alright, He-Man, get the hell down off the toilet and let’s get out of here.”
“I’m sorry?” Abigail ground out, “Was it just me imagining a giant, armed knight chasing us down that hallway or are you delusional?”
Metallic fists started banging on the door of the bathroom and Abigail let out a quick scream of surprise, Scylla’s head whipping around to look at the door.
“We clearly can’t just walk out of here with that thing out there.” Abigail waved the fly swatter at the door.
“Oh? Why not? I feel much better about our odds knowing you can shoo away any bugs that try to stand in our way.” Scylla indicated the fly swatter with raised eyebrows and Abigail frowned.
“Alright, smart ass, I don’t see you finding anything to fight with.”
“I don’t need to find anything, I’m a witch…” she tapped her throat with an index finger as the banging on the door continued.
Abigail shook her head. “They said no work, remember? I’m not letting them win this dare.”
“Abigail, are you serious right now? It’s a stupid dare. Windstrike that thing out of the way and let’s be done with this.”
“No. A dare is a dare.” The words of Charvel echoed in her head, spoken to her as she’d snuck into her mother’s home office to steal some Witch’s Tears at the age of thirteen for a party Charvel was throwing. As the youngest in her family she’d grown up being dared to do things, and she’d always set out to prove that she could conquer any dare that had ever been placed upon her. She’d never lost a dare and she wouldn’t start now.
“No work.” She repeated earnestly and Scylla sighed in resignation. Something in Abigail’s voice told her that this was more important to Abigail than just a silly dare.
“So what now then?” Scylla gestured towards the door and waved up and down. “What do we do about that?”
Suddenly the insistent pounding on the door went quiet. Both women stared at the door in surprise and neither dared to breathe, afraid to upset the sudden silence.
The sound of retreating footsteps clanging against the stone floor immediately calmed some of the tension in the room.
“What now?” Abigail whispered.
“We leave. It sounds like it walked away.”
Scylla knelt on the floor and peeked under the door, confirming that she couldn’t see anything standing in their way.
Abigail took a deep breath and stepped down off the toilet. She walked past Scylla and turned the doorknob painfully slow. She sucked in a steadying breath and peered around the doorframe, taking a fast peek into the hallway.
It was empty.
They wasted no time in flying out of the bathroom, blindingly bright lights suddenly flickering on in the hallway. And off. And back on again, faster and faster, creating a disorienting strobing effect. They ran down the remaining length of hallway, neither daring to glance behind them for fear of what they’d see. They didn’t need to. They could hear the metal footsteps again.
********
Raelle and Tally sat around a brilliantly blazing campfire, their feet propped up on the rolled up sleeping bags that they'd yet to lay out. The tent lay untouched on the dried grass as well. Raelle knew this would be a quick trip.
She'd gotten cozy by the fire and now she and Tally were sitting back eating their spaghetti that they had nabbed from the Dumb Supper earlier this evening. When the topic of haunted houses came up before the supper and Abigail had insisted there was no such thing, Raelle formed an idea and had made this trip happen on short notice.
Now they had the perfect seat for a breathtaking view of the castle in front of them, dark and strong against the night sky. Since her wife and her best friend disappeared into the castle together earlier this evening, the only light had come from some flickering candles. But suddenly, the giant windows were lit up in brilliant white light. She sat up straight and smacked Tally on the arm excitedly.
"Tal, look."
They watched, both with amused grins on their faces, as the lights flickered on and off in rapid succession.
"I give it five minutes." Raelle glanced down at her watch. 10:32.
She spun some pasta around on her fork and ate it just as the front door to the castle flew open, unceremoniously slamming against the stone walls.
Tally and Raelle's mouths both dropped open simultaneously, pasta spilling back onto Raelle's plate as they watched Abigail flying towards them like a bat out of hell. Scylla was trailing behind but trying her damndest to keep up. Behind them was a surprisingly fast moving… Raelle squinted… was that a suit of armor?
She burst into laughter as she realized what had happened, her giggles overtaking her entire body as the terror on Abigail's usually fierce face came into view.
"Raelle!! Tally! Run! Get out! Get in the truck!!!" Abigail was yelling as she got closer and closer, closing the distance between them and the castle.
Raelle didn't move, she only doubled over in laughter, Tally joining her as Abigail finally caught up to them.
"What are you laughing at?! Move your ass, Shitbird!! It's coming for us!"
She was out of breath as Scylla finally reached them, waving her arms frantically.
"Raelle! Let's go!" Scylla ran over and grabbed Raelle's arm, trying to pull her to her feet. She stopped when she realized Raelle was breathless from laughter, tears streaming down her face.
"You're fine, you're fine," Raelle gasped out between fits of laughter.
"It's just-" before she could explain, the knight reached their campsite and came to a grinding halt.
Tally's mouth hung open at the unusual sight and she covered her mouth, trying unsuccessfully to stifle her laughter.
Scylla stood up and faced the knight, getting in position for a windstrike. That got Raelle moving finally. She stood up fast and stood in front of Scylla.
"Scyl, no!" She pushed Scylla's arms down gently and turned to face the knight.
Without a word, the knight reached up and removed their helmet. Standing there proud and grinning like a fool, was Byron.
"Byron?!" Abigail huffed out and screwed up her face. She turned on Raelle and stared her down, knowing immediately that they'd been set up.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
Raelle burst into another fit of laughter and put her hand on Abigail's shoulder.
"I had to, Abs. I'm so sorry." Her giggles continued as Scylla sat down heavily on Raelle's sleeping bag.
"You're wrong for that, Rae." Scylla waved a hand at Bryon and focused on regaining control of her breathing and heart rate.
"We thought we were goners."
It was then that Tally noticed the fly swatter still in Abigail's hand.
"Uhhh…" she motioned at it and grinned. "Do we even want to know?"
Abigail looked at the thing and threw it on the ground with a roll of her eyes.
"She was gonna save us with that since she refused to do any work." Scylla shook her head, finally calming back down. "Headstrong to a fault, as always."
"Ah, there's the Abigail Bellweather we know and love." Raelle quipped and wrapped her arms around Abigail, standing on her toes to kiss her temple.
"Sorry, Abs. But you had it coming."
Abigail sighed and narrowed her eyes at Byron.
"How did you get involved with this anyways?"
Byron grinned as Tally stood and started helping him remove the clunky armor.
"Vander is my uncle. I practically grew up in this place."
"Figures you and your spooky ass would be connected to this creepy castle." Abigail sat down and grabbed Raelle's discarded plate of spaghetti.
Bryon grinned and took a stiff bow before helping Tally hoist the chest plate off of his body. Once he had the armor all removed, he sat down by the fire with a satisfied sigh.
Everyone settled in and sat around the fire, all sporting matching amused grins.
The group suddenly burst into giggles together at the ridiculousness of the night. Raelle reached into a cooler and started passing around drinks as they settled down.
"I didn't lose the dare though." Abigail stated confidently as she opened her drink and took a long swig.
"You sure didn't, Abs." Raelle gave her a congratulatory pat on the back. "You sure didn't."