"You, my dear werewolf, have struck upon a portion of my madness. Every year I lie about the theme when I am asked. This goes back to the first year when I shared my theme and all local houses took up the same one. So now I tell everyone different stories and see who has been talking to people."
Sara, the werewolf, looked embarrassed. She was the niece of the Sherriff and Tara had no doubt as to where her information had originated.
"Here, ladies and gents, are the costumes that you can choose from. You are welcome to keep the costume after the haunting is over."
Excited mutterings ran through the group and one bright star asked, “Can we choose after we get the tour? That way our costumes will better match the theme."
It was a brilliant smile that lit her face. She was always so happy when one person was thinking for the group. She couldn't watch them the whole time and one person who was on the ball would naturally herd the others.
"All right people, we are about to start the tour. You can all take recorders or notepads from that table on the left and follow me through the house. Five of you will be taking the tickets and conducting the tours one by one, the other four will take part in the actual haunting. Alexi and Michael are already taking part in the interior, so it will be up to the rest of you to figure out where and who you want to be."
"You aren't going to assign us?"
"Nope. You will enjoy it more if you have the choice. I have selected you all because you have the urge to be a little theatrical in you. The task of taking the tours around and introducing the people to the rooms one by one is a hard one. You need to keep enthusiasm and horror balanced. It is a hard job, but rewarding as the clients jump and shudder."
They smiled and, with a sharp nod and a
follow me
, they were on their way. She gave them the full monologue and the full experience with her mind flipping the switches and blowing the wind in the scenes one by one. Each one had ghostly fluttering of fabric and the icy caress of invisible fingers on the people who were listening to her every word.
Screams were heard from her audience when her invisible touches were felt and the occasional snarl emanated from the two elves as she let her caresses get slightly more frisky. In their troll costumes, the noises were incredibly to type.
She was having far too much fun, and before she knew it, it was over. “Ladies and gentlemen, please select your costumes for the event and then please return here tomorrow for dress rehearsal after four.” They were a little stunned, smiling and bemused as she let them go. Her mind locked all the doors leading to the tableaus so that they would not be tempted to explore while she pulled aside her elves.
"Guys, I want one of you to be in the Cinderella ballroom scene and one of you to be in the slipper scene. And I would like each of you to walk through walls as you do it. Is that possible?"
They looked at each other, as if silent communication was occurring, and nodded to her, “As our lady commands.” They moved as one and then Alexi winked, “When should I pick you up?"
Tara laughed. “I will see you in an hour. I warn you, there isn't much available in this area at night."
"I will make do, now pardon me as I get my Prince Charming costume.” He bowed and moved out into the room where the conglomeration of drama students and local fans of the haunted house were taking their pick of the vast array of costumes that she had available.
"So, Michael? What did you think?"
He stood pondering her for a long moment. “I think that a woman with so vast and vivid an imagination will be hard to please, but I will try my best."
"That is all that anyone can do. Now, as attractive as you are as a troll, could you go and pick out a ballroom costume? I want you to walk through the ballroom by coming out through the wall.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, but let her phantom hands wander over his body lightly. It was a tease, but she couldn't help herself. If her body couldn't do it, her mind would.
He jumped slightly, but merely gave her a look that promised revenge as he joined the others in the anteroom.
She had to get ready for her date.
Tara moved through her house, unlocking and relocking doors as she went. She was almost running when she moved into her private quarters. She was excited and couldn't help it. It was her first date in years, and despite her tendency to use her phantom limbs to grope men, she had limited experience one on one.
As she got ready, she couldn't help but wish that Caro was here helping her pick outfits and heckling her choices. But her best friend had started a new life without her and that was right and proper. If luck held, she would be joining her friend in a few weeks, and if not, her life would take another turn. Either way, change was in the wind.
She selected dark leggings, cork-soled sandals and a voluminous shirt with dagged sleeves. It wasn't exactly normal, but then neither was she. Tara realized as she approached the front door that they had not set a place to meet. Alexi could simply walk through the walls so she had no clue as to when he would show. Maybe he would give up on the whole thing? She wasn't much of a prize after her talent was taken out of the equation.
Just as she was wallowing in doubt, her doorbell rang. Her hero was at the door.
It was nine at night and she opened her door to greet the sun. She had simply dubbed him the sun and Michael the moon the instant that they first came into her line of sight. She was drawn to both the same way she was their celestial counterparts. But Alexi was truly beautiful. It made her feel like a brown robin in comparison, even though her hair was a brilliant scarlet for the Halloween season.
"For you, my lady.” Alexi extended his hand and within it, was an exquisite rose. Instead of the trite red, it was a gorgeous dark purple, the stem silver and the scent of a thousand years of romance in the petals.
She was entranced, “It's beautiful."
"It will never wither as my affection will never die."
A shy smile crept over her face, “And that is pretty, too.” She took the flower and breathed deeply of its intoxicating scent. Alexi was smiling at her bemusement so she finally came to herself and asked, “Where are we going?"
"I have an evening planned for us, please accompany me to my trusty steed.” He waved his arm toward her walkway and there was his car, gleaming silver and gold in the moonlight.
Tara took his arm and let him lead her to the vehicle, “What is your steed's name?"
"Sona. We have been together for four hundred years. She has never failed me."
"Are Sona and I going to have a problem?"
"No, I think she likes Michael's steed, Rybok.” He tucked her into the car and they were off. Two towns over, he brought her to an Italian bistro and they spent the night talking about their families and their plans for the future. Alexi was excited to be in the new world with the new magic taking hold. He had two brothers, which was unusual for elves, and one sister. His parents were still alive, but had chosen to remain in Underhill instead of making the crossing between worlds.
She responded that her closest family wasn't related at all, but was her friend Carolyn. Her father was still alive, but her mother had died when she was ten. She had two younger sisters who had followed her father halfway across the country so she was effectively alone and she had pursued the Haunted House as a way of dealing with her powers.
He found it fascinating and asked her questions about her creative process and the funding for the projects.
She told him about her artwork, the jewellery that she created and all of the other items that she made with her hands or mind depending on her mood.
Creative arts were very well received amongst the fey and he delighted in all of the details of the creative process that she would give him. It was too soon when the owner was shooing them out of the restaurant and sending them on their way.
Tara didn't know what the time was when they got home, but she did know that she wanted Alexi with everything in her. And she wasn't going to let herself have him.
When he pulled up at her door and the car turned off, she moved to leave the car as fast as she could, but his gentle hand drew her back. Their lips met in a searing kiss and she shook with longing as his hands slowly explored her body through her clothing. Her nipples were stroked, her breasts caressed and her waist held as the kiss went on and on. When his fingers began to delve beneath her waistband, the sensation was enough to draw her to her senses. “No. Not tonight."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't screw around on the first date and tomorrow I am going out with Michael. It wouldn't be fair to bond to you and then leave him with nothing."
"But it wouldn't be nothing, it would be amazing.” His hands stroked her arms, wrists, palms.
She drew in a shuddering breath. “I am sure it would be, good. But I am not going to jump into bed with the first elf I meet."
He pulled back slightly. “I can respect that. I don't like it, but I can respect it. Just a moment.” He walked around the car and opened her door. With a deft hand, he helped her from the car.
In silence they walked to her door. He took her key and opened the house. She refrained from telling him that she was able to open her door from a distance as the goodbye kiss that had her flatted up against the inside wall was a little distracting. She had her thighs wrapped around him as he rocked against her and as her body rode his. She gasped as she came. He groaned into her neck as he kept pressure against her and as they both gasped for air. She slowly let her legs assume a more natural position.
"That was not what I would qualify as a goodnight kiss."
"I think we just raised the bar for that one."
The modern euphemism coming out of the mouth of the guy who predated Queen Elizabeth I had her laughing like a loon. “Goodnight, Alexi. I will see you tomorrow at our rehearsal. Don't forget to dress up as Prince Charming.” She telekinetically shoved him out of her door and, with a gentle smile, closed the door in his face.
She smiled and leaned back against the door. It had been a good night. She was so relaxed that she didn't feel the hand on her ass through the door until it had gotten a firm grip. She yelped and moved away to the sound of laughter from her porch. Damn. That was right, he could walk through walls.
This was going to be tricky.
"Thank you all for coming back. Today will be the first full dress rehearsal. Have you chosen who will run the tours and who will participate in the tableaus?"
They separated into the two groups. Apparently they had made the decision when they were picking out their costumes. The rest of the training passed swiftly with her only concerns being the actors in the tableaus keeping their hands off her. She didn't just mean Alexi and Michael either. Richmond, one of the newbies, had made a grab so she gave him a phantom shove. He stumbled back, shocked, and muttered about real ghosts. She had to keep her smirk to herself.
Alexi and Michael were harder to dissuade. She didn't know if he and Alexi had shared notes, but Michael made his way past her over a dozen times, each one a caress on her breast, hip, thigh or hand. He was getting her a little frisky by the time that the first of the tour guides was ready to practice.
She went to her sanctum and settled in for the tours. Each guide went through precisely fifteen minutes apart. It gave her enough time to reset the tableaus and let her watch each tour on the hidden cameras she had stashed around her home.
She could have managed it all standing up, but the lay-z-boy just made it more comfortable. The Dr. Pepper and Ding Dongs were chilled and she started on them while the tour guides took turns taking the other guides through the house. By the time seven o'clock rolled around, they were all quite good and used to the effects generated by herself and the actors.
She came out of her tower and told them all that they were doing a fantastic job. They preened with her praise and went on their way. Well, all except for two. Michael and Alexi stayed around until she rounded on them. “Look, guys, you have been great today, but Michael and I have a date in an hour and we both need to get changed."
"Alexi has asked if he may accompany us on our date. I refused, but decided that you should have the final vote.” Michael looked a little irritated, but it wasn't the worst expression that she had seen on an elf. That honour went to Ranal, the fuzzy.
"Um, I would have to say no on this one. Alexi, you had your night last night and now it is Michael's turn to woo me. Be a good sport and I will see you tomorrow.” She crossed her arms and stood firm until he looked down on her from a very close proximity.
"I will see you tomorrow then, my lady. I wish you a pleasant evening. He has quite the night planned.” He leaned down and gave her a kiss to scorch her toes. One thing about guys who measured their lifespan in centuries, they knew how to kiss.
She staggered slightly when he released her and reached out to Michael for support. “Okay. See you tomorrow.” It was the only thing she could think of and she watched the sun swagger out the door while she clung to the moon. “Do they teach you guys how to kiss when you learn sword fighting?” She finally scraped her mind into a coherent mass. Michael was holding her gently, carefully, as if he were afraid to hold on to tightly.
"No. We pick it up as we go. Different partners require different approaches."
"Nice. Classy. So see you in an hour?"
"I will pick you up at nine. We will be outdoors so you should dress accordingly.” He gave her a light kiss on the forehead and a more lingering kiss on both cheeks, then took her mouth until she was clinging to his shoulders for stability. His body was smooth and hard under the costume, like limbs carved of warm wood. She hung on for dear life as his kiss took her blood higher and higher in her veins. When he finally pulled away from her, she was up on her tiptoes trying to get closer to him.