My Daily Picspiration piece. A place where writers post a story fortnightly based on a photo prompt. You can visit http://picspiration.blogspot.co.uk and read and comment on this and other stories as well as leaving your comment here. Enjoy. xx
An Uninvited Guest
Lorna’s Halloween party was ready. She was ready and
with broom in hand, she walked down the cobwebbed stairs to greet her guests.
“You look very bewitching,” Mason said, exposing his
fangs.
“Not so bad yourself, even if modern.” She untied
his tie, letting it hang loose before unbuttoning a button or two, ruffling his
black hair. “Much better.” A kiss left him with crimson smudged lips giving him
that just fed look as he greeted the guests.
The weather was kind for October, unusually mild and
dry and the moon came out to play in all her glory as the clouds shied away,
knowing they were uninvited. Candles flickered, bringing to life carved pumpkins
dotted around the garden as the party spilled out from the house.
A rousing cheer stopped all conversation and Lorna
looked over to the apple bobbing where Mason stood, his black hair dripping, with
a shiny red apple locked in his mouth.
“He’s such a good sport,” Tracey cooed, “a few more
beers are well and truly needed before Dan even thinks about it.”
“Mason’s a show off,” Lorna joked.
“Totally agree,” said a woman’s voice who had sidled
up next to Lorna unnoticed. Lorna and
Tracey looked at her. She was
captivating. Her long, flowing raven coloured hair framed a pale face where
eyes as black as coal sparked like diamonds. She licked her ruby lips, before
looking at the two women. “I work with Mason,” she said with a smile bearing
the whitest teeth before wandering off to mingle.
Both Lorna and Tracey followed her with their eyes,
watching how she entered conversions with ease. “Who the hell was that?” Tracey
asked.
“I have absolutely no idea.” Lorna couldn’t take her
eyes off the woman as she sauntered from group to group; she seemed to know
everyone and going by the response, they knew her. Funny how Mason hadn't said
he had a new colleague at the office; something he usually never failed to
mention. She coiled around the men in their little group, laughing as Mason
cracked yet another punch line. Envy rose in Lorna. She wanted to go over,
stamp her scent all over Mason but her pride stopped her being so foolish. It
was a party. People flirted. A bit rude flirting with the host right in front
of the hostess but flirting was harmless as far as Mason was concerned.
“Who’s the girl?” Lorna finally managed to ask Dan
as he helped himself to cold chicken. He shrugged. “You don’t know her?”
“Nope, never seen her before. Thought she was one of
your friends.”
“Why do you say that?”
“She said.” He finished the drumstick, picking up
another with his zombie made up hand. “Great spread. Better than braaaains,” he
laughed as he dragged himself away.
“Looks like you've seen a ghost,” Mason said, taking
Lorna in his arms when he finally decide to spend time with her, “although I
suspect Dan was telling another awful zombie joke.”
“Do you know that woman, the one standing with
Tracey and Dan.”
“No, she said she works with you.”
Lorna shook her head. “No one knows who she is. She
makes me uncomfortable. Can you ask her to leave?” From Mason’s expression,
Lorna could tell he was about to protest. It was nearing midnight and the party
would soon be over save for a few close friends. The woman approached. Lorna
wanted to avoid her stare but couldn’t and felt her black eyes penetrate deep
within her. She seemed to glide effortlessly, her long, black cloak wrapped
around her.
“Great party,” she purred. “I love Halloween. It’s
usually my busiest night of the year.”
“Really? Are you in the trade?” Mason asked innocently.
“Yes. But I've been suspended from the Council of
Witches.” Mason laughed. His laugh was contagious, filled with warmth but Lorna
clutched him tight, her face as straight as a poker, hard as stone.
“Who are you?” Lorna finally asked; her voice strong
belying a fear creeping through her bones.
“Clarissa is my name. I am a witch of course.” By
now a small group of people had gathered around to hear. Some laughed at her
response, others stared, the same feeling as Lorna deep within them. “You know
this is true Lorna; which is why you fear me. I can smell your fear. A witch
can smell a human’s fear just as she can smell the lust in a man.” She looked
directly at Mason. “Those who mock me will want proof.”
“Yeah,” Dan shouted drunkenly along with a few
others.
“Very well.”
“No, just leave,” cried Lorna, panic rising in her
voice, “just leave.” But Clarissa closed her eyes, raising her arms to the full
moon. Her sleeves fell, revealing transparent white skin as she chanted words
with no meaning, words with no sense. With one hand, she reached out, touching
Mason’s bare chest. He didn’t flinch, didn’t hear Lorna’s pleas to move away,
didn’t feel Clarissa’s nails dig into his flesh, didn’t hear the terrified gasp
from Lorna. His eyes closed.
Clarissa opened her eyes, wide sparkling, filled
with mischief. She let her grasp go and trickles of blood ran down Mason’s
chest. He couldn’t move despite Lorna’s touch, trying to pull him away.
“Mason?” Lorna shook him. His eyes opened. Lorna let
out a shrill cry as black eyes of a stranger stared back; his beautiful green
eyes and their memories gone. The blood on his chest started to run back into
his body and the nail marks healed. He grinned. Fangs glinted against thin
bluish lips, his tanned glow gone. But white wasn’t a word Lorna would use. Her
fear was replaced by awe as the beauty of Mason’s skin captivated her; smooth,
lucent, soft to the touch, cold. “Mason?” she whispered. He looked down into
Lorna’s wide eyes, tracing her features, down to her neck where he could see
her pulse beating a rhythmic, inviting tune.
“Leave her, for now, she won’t be going anywhere.”
Mason obeyed Clarissa despite the hunger and desire overwhelming him. “There is
more for you to hunt.” A thin smile formed as Mason eyed the guests, hearing
every beat of every heart. Screaming filled the night as they ran like ants
scurrying out of the rain. “It’s Halloween! Let the fun begin!” Clarissa sang
as Mason quenched his thirst in a frenzied blur as Lorna could only watch in a
terror filled trance.
