Scary House
Adelaide, a petite, raven-haired, fair-skinned twelve-year-old threw open the door and hugged me. “Come in, Vera!”
I smiled, hugged my bestie, and let her shut the rickety, blood-peeling door behind me. In contrast, the house was more welcoming, or at least more laughable, than the eeriness outdoors. The entryway was lit with a golden glow from a crystal chandelier that was missing a few of its pieces and hung from a chain. Stairs led from either direction, winding up to the second floor with puke-orange shag carpeting. I looked past the stairs to the living room where a fire blazed in a yellow-tiled fireplace. It seemed to cast dancing shadows across the 1970’s throwback furniture.
I followed Adelaide up the stairs to the first bedroom on the left. The door had once been painted cream and black, but was peeling in patterns like batwings. I shook my head. I was imagining things. It was a Halloween sleepover, and I was letting my overactive, creative mind get the best of me. I set up my sleeping bag and pillow next to Adelaide’s monster-themed pink and black bed.
We changed into our costumes. I put on my mom-sewn “My Little Pony” Rarity-turned-human costume. Adelaide grinned and complimented it as she put on her horned-crazy-furry monster costume. Her older sister, Amellie, knocked on the door. She was wearing a steampunk costume complete with a fake bronze-cyborg-type arm and purple-hued goggles.
“You two ready for dinner then the party?” She asked.
We eyed each other, giggled, and nodded.
Amellie smiled and headed down the stairs.
Adelaide ran downstairs for a minute when her daddy called to her.
I followed slowly.
“Of course not, Daddy,” I heard her say. “Vera’s my best friend. You best behave, too!”
Her dad laughed. “I promise,” he said.
“As do I,” her mother said, a bit slowly.
I frowned, brushed it off, and moved around the corner.
Adelaide’s father smiled at me.
“Hi,” I said, smiling back.
Adelaide’s father and mother both looked like Adelaide had been a carbon-copy of them. They all had hair as black as coal, fair skin, petite-ish frames, and pale grey-blue eyes that seemed to glow with that other-worldly sense you only hear in stories or see on movies.
Her mom ushered us to the kitchen and fixed us beef tacos with extra cheese with gooey ghostly gourmet chocolate cupcakes for dessert. Amellie took us to the local rec center for the tweeny-teeny Halloweeny ball. The three of us got a total sugar-high and bounced all the way home, giggling, around eight.
“Don’t go around the house without me after midnight,” Adelaide whispered to me as we headed toward her bedroom to change into our pajamas.
I eyed her, but nodded. “You’re house is kinda scary anyway,” I said with a giggle. “I don’t think I’d like to go around it by myself.”
She giggled. “I know.”
Amellie and Adelaide’s mom, Astrid, both checked in on us after an hour.
Amellie handed me a locket. “Wear it all night. Whatever you do, don’t take it off until daybreak.”
I put it on, completely weirded. I mean, I knew Adelaide’s family went all out for Halloween. But, this was ridiculous!
Adelaide and I took one last trip to the bathroom before settling in to her room to watch scary movies. Adelaide settled on her bed wearing her black and red goth-like pj’s. I settled next to her wearing my Hello Kitty garb. Amellie entered with candied popcorn balls and taffy wearing brown pj bottoms and a blue shirt with gears across it. It was then I noticed Amellie had red hair, green eyes, and freckled, darker skin. I smiled at her and accepted my popcorn ball.
The movie was over. We were all giggling. Amellie made “boo” noises at us to make us laugh before she headed out the door and across the hall to her bedroom. The look she gave her sister seemed like a warning. Adelaide shook her head and giggled.
I smiled at Amellie and waved as she closed her door.
Adelaide sat on her bed, feet tucked beneath the covers. I sat snuggled inside my sleeping bag, hugging my pillow.
“I’m not sleepy,” Adelaide said.
“Me, either,” I said, looking up at her. “What do we do, then?”
Adelaide shrugged. Her eyes seemed to glow in the moonlight spilling from her window. “We could watch another movie?”
I shrugged, not really wanting to watch another scary movie. I looked at the clock. It was 11:02.
Adelaide’s dad, Alistair, peeked in at us. “Goodnight, ladies,” he said with a goofy smile.
“Goodnight, Mr. Albu,” I said, smiling back.
“Night, Daddy,” Adelaide said.
Adelaide flopped back on her bed and sighed.
I heard Amellie and Mr. Albu talking in the hallway, but pretended to be interested in my overnight bag’s contents.
“You know what will happen if you try it again,” Amellie said.
“Indeed, keeper, Amellie,” Mr. Albu said, his voice was raspy, death-like.
“Remind your wife,” Amellie whispered, slightly menacing.
I pulled out a card game and held it up in the moonlight.
Adelaide smiled at me and moved to sit on the floor with me.
We played the silly card game until Mrs. Albu knocked on the door and told us it was lights out time.
Adelaide and I turned out the lights, so only the moonlight was dancing through the window and across the bedpost and the floor. Adelaide settled in her bed and snuggled beneath the covers. I watched the moon.
Amellie peeked in at us and smiled at me, mouthing “goodnight” as she shut the door.
I watched the moon, as the clouds parted and revealed its full glory.
The clock on the wall turned to midnight.
I swallowed as a neighborhood dog howled.
I looked toward Adelaide’s bed, but she wasn’t there. I stood suddenly and looked around the room. Had I fallen asleep watching the moon? Had she gone to the bathroom, and I didn’t realize it? I shook my head and continued my search, in the closet, under the bed, even in her old toy chest. Nothing. Adelaide had disappeared! I looked to the door, hoping Amellie would come in. Nothing happened.
Turning slowly, I noticed a reflection in the mirror that wasn’t mine. It looked like Adelaide. The ghostly reflection waved to me and smiled. I heard Adelaide’s laugh as the girl in the mirror giggled. I gasped and turned around. No one was there. I moved toward the door, feeling for the knob.
“Don’t go,” Adelaide’s voice whispered, ethereal.
“You’re a ghost?!” I wanted to freak out and scream, but could barely get out the words on a whisper.
Adelaide’s reflection nodded. “I was hoping you’d go to sleep first. I’m only a ghost when I sleep.”
“How?” I asked, looking at her reflection.
She shrugged and moved to play with my hair. In the mirror, I could see her hands working my crazy frizz into braids. When I looked out of the corner of my eye, there was nothing, but my hair was moving anyway. I concentrated on the mirror.
“Your parents?” I asked.
“They’re not ghosts,” she whispered. “They’re also not really my parents.”
I wasn’t sure if I should be relieved at that or utterly afraid.
“Don’t wander the house without me,” she said.
I nodded and turned to watch her reflection in the mirror. “What about Amellie?”
“Amellie is our keeper,” Adelaide said.
“What’s that?”
“She keeps us out of trouble and helps us appear as a family.” She finished with one braid and started on the other side.
“You’re obviously a friendly ghost, though,” I said.
“To most people,” she said with a grin. “You’re my bestie!”
I had to grin back. “I’m besties with a ghostie.”
We giggled.
Amellie peeked in and eyed my moving hair. “You know about Addy, huh?”
I nodded. “Adelaide the friendly ghost,” I said with a smile.
Amellie smiled. “Just watch over her, Addy,” she said, looking behind me where I could see Adelaide in the mirror. It was as though she could actually see her.
“Of course,” Adelaide said. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”
Amellie grinned. “If you need me, I’m in my bedroom, now.”
We nodded and watched her go.
“I need t go to the bathroom,” I whispered.
Adelaide giggled. “I’ll haunt the bathtub while you do.”
I chuckled. “Somehow, that’s oddly comforting.”
She laughed and opened the door for me.
It was weird having a ghost for a BFFEAE. But, I didn’t mind one bit.
We went into the bathroom. I took care of my needs and washed my hands. Adelaide opened the door to find her mother in the hall. She closed the door again.
“What’s wrong?” I whispered.
“Mother’s in the hallway,” she whispered back. “She can’t see you.”
I nodded, knowing this was of the utmost urgency.
Adelaide became somewhat visible and locked the door.
Somehow, I could sense Mrs. Albu turn toward the bathroom door and glare. I shivered.
Adelaide looked at me. “Oh em gee!”
I looked at her. “What?”
“You can sense her?” She asked, looking at me again.
I nodded. “She’s standing outside the door, glaring at it.”
“Can you tell what she is?” Adelaide asked, looking at me again.
I thought a moment and gulped. “Is she…is she a vampire of some sort?”
Adelaide nodded slowly. “She’s what we call a night-bringer vampire.”
I looked at the misted form of my friend questioningly.
“It just means she can go out in the sunlight without vaporizing,” my misty friend furnished.
I nodded. “She’s moving down the hall.”
Adelaide nodded. “We can make it to Amellie’s room.”
“Is Amellie more than a keeper?” I asked as we moved a short way down the hall to Amellie’s room.
Adelaide nodded, opening the door.
“I’m more than human, aren’t I?” I asked as we moved inside.
Amellie looked up at us and nodded to me.
I heard a screech as Astrid zoomed down the hall at us, fangs bared. I held up a hand and screamed…well, it was more like a squeak of fear.
Amellie laughed behind me.
Astrid stood frozen in the hallway, shrinking from me and eyeing Amellie. “You didn’t tell us she was one of your kind.”
Amellie shook her head. “She’s not. She’s a different kind, and you know it.”
Astrid shrieked, her skin was almost white, now. Her eyes were red and filled with fire. Her fangs, what can I say about those hideous things?!
I looked her in the eye and said, “Leave.”
Astrid shriveled up and “left.”
I shivered. “What just happened?” I turned to Amellie.
“You sent her to the monster realm,” Amellie said, a little too matter-of-factly for my liking.
“Oookay,” I said, shaking my head at her.
Adelaide laughed. “Just tell her,” she said to Amellie.
“I’m a monster keeper. You’re a monster hunter,” Amellie said.
I raised a curious brow at her.
She chuckled.
I turned to the open door. “A zombie’s coming?”
“That would be Mr. Albu,” Amellie said.
“He’s…a…zombie?” I asked, looking from Amellie to the door.
Amellie nodded.
“Like, the walking undead who eat brains?”
Adelaide nodded.
I turned and watched him turn to us. His skin was green-ish and dying. He had no real eyes, just sockets where eyes should be. And his teeth were yellowed, what ones were actually there. I grimaced.
“He’s relatively harmless by day,” Amellie said.
He groaned slightly.
I motioned him away.
He looked at me, turned slowly, dropped his jaw (literally), picked it up, and put it on as he walked back towards his room.
“So…um…what does all this mean?” I asked Amellie and Adelaide.
“It means, in all likelihood, your parents are monster keepers or monster hunters,” Amellie said.
“Is Amellie your real name?” I asked. “And is Adelaide your real name?”
“My real name is Katie,” Adelaide said. “But, that was eons ago. I like the name Adelaide, though. It’s sweet, like an old song.”
I smiled.
Amellie turned to me. “Amellie is the title given to a master keeper. My name is Brynn.”
I smiled at her, too. “You’re not really a cyborg or something, right?”
She laughed. “No. I’m a faerie of sorts.”
“A fairy?” I asked. “Like with wings and magic dust?”
She laughed. “No. A faerie. A keeper of non-mortal souls. Monster keepers usually are faeries.”
I turned to the hallway. “This was the oddest sleepover ever,” I said.
The other two laughed.
“So, do I ask my parents about the whole monster hunting thing?” I asked.
“No,” Amellie Brynn said. “That could turn into a disaster.”
I nodded. “So, what now?”
Amellie smiled at me. “Monster hunters and keepers usually team up.”
“Seriously?!” I was too excited for words.
The two girls laughed.
“What’s a monster hunter’s title?”
“Your monster world name is now Morius Vera,” Amellie said.
“Morius,” I said with a smile. “Am I human?”
Amellie shook her head. “You’re a pixwaith.”
“A what?”
“A cross between a pixie and a creature called an umbwaith. I could sense it from the start.”
“What’s an umbwaith?”
“A wizard-like being. I think one of your parents must be an umbwaith and the other a pixie. No way of telling who’s who, though. Not unless you want to sense them and have to move out.”
I shook my head a bit too emphatically.
The two girls laughed again.
“Hmm…”
“What is it?” Amellie asked.
“There’s at least one werewolf in the basement,” I said.
Amellie grabbed a steampunk-looking rifle and motioned me out into the hallway. “Let’s go trap a werewolf.”
I grinned.
Adelaide grinned back at me and watched us head down the hallway, floating happily up and down.
I fingered the locket and smiled, knowing what it meant: Amellie had known all along what I was.
An eerie howl came from the basement, but, somehow, the house wasn’t so scary anymore.
Amellie opened the door and flicked on a light.
Four pairs of eyes gleamed back at us.
I smiled and turned to them as they readied to pounce.
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