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You warn him ahead of time that it is only a silly attraction. A haunted house that a local company puts on in the month of October of each year. You tell him that it is meant to be fun- a harmless haunted house with nothing more than some dusty velvet curtains, flickering lights and a few cheap jump scares. “Not real.” You promise, though you are pretty much aware he already knows that. Still, he insists on accompanying you and you really didn’t mind that at all.
Standing in line in the cool nighttime air, Secondo wraps his arms around you enveloping you in the warmth of his trench coat and body heat. Muffled shrieks and screams are drifting from inside, making the excitement palpable. His hand is cool and firm on the small of your back as he pulls away and leads you towards the sagging archway of skulls at the entrance. Inside the air is damp and musty with fog machine mist, while the cheap velvet walls and ceilings are covered in spiderwebs that are getting caught in your hair. The entirety of the attraction is just barely lit with flickering lights, making the shadows of the props seem alive. Further ahead a scream is echoing, most likely a part of the attraction- but it still makes you jump.
Secondo chuckles low, a sound as smooth as incense smoke itself. “Bellezza, these walls have nothing to show but plastic and masks.” Leaning in close to your ear, he whispers softly “I have walked in crypts where the air itself was rotting. This?” He motions over his head theatrically “This is child’s play.” Lacing his fingers between yours, his rings lay cold against your skin. Leading you further along, he moves through the narrow halls and spaces as if he owns the darkness itself. The smile on his face is sharp, daring.
Still, when a masked figure lunges from the shadows- pale faced, dripping with blood, and shrieking at you- his arm sweeps around you in a single movement as if it is second nature. Pulling you inside of his trench coat and up against his chest more firmly this time, he scowls as if daring the creature to make a step closer. Only when it slinks back into the shadows does his grip loosen. A hand still lingering on your waist.
The deeper you go, the darker the narrow corridors become. Rattling coffins and chains, glowing eyes and snarls- with each sudden jolt of surprise- his thumb gently circles your palm, calming you down immensely. It feels less like protection and more like possession but somehow, that feels much safer. With a smirk on his lips he leans close again, a low indulgent whisper leaving his lips tinged with the thrill of this game he is playing.
“They think THIS is terror, Cara? They have never seen me preach.” You can’t help but giggle.
When you pass through the final velvet curtain and back out into the brisk October air, you find yourself still gathered up into his arms, fingers entwined. The breeze ruffles your hair and sends a chill through your body. Seemingly, he feels no real rush to let you go, his hand lifting to brush a stray hair away from your cheek. The sharp smile he once had is fading into something softer, almost tender considering the amusement still dancing in his eyes.
“You see, carissimia?” Satisfaction now permeating his voice. “Tonight, the shadows cannot touch you while I am here. The only spirit permitted to haunt you, is me.”