In Aeternum (Actively Updating and Editing)

V: Fireplaces (10/25)

Woohoo, long a$$ hiatus from this story. But it's spooky time again and I'm back, baby!

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"Elsssyyyyyy..." Hannah whined, looking over at the quiet woman who was working on her creative writing assignment.

It was a Friday after school, how was she so focused?

"Hmmm?" Elysia asked gently.

"You didn't answer me. I asked you if you wanted to come to a Masquerade Ball with me on Halloween."

"Oh, well yes. Is it someplace strange?"

Hannah furrowed her brow, confused, "Well yeah. How did you know?"

Elysia's laugh filled the air gently, "A Masquerade is only good if it's someplace strange."

"I mean, it's very strange. Like, almost like a whole other world, strange."

Elysia could feel the blood in her body freeze.

Oh fuck.

She glanced up at the calendar on the wall and did the mental math.

'Oh no. It's that year. How can I say no to this quickly?' she thought to herself, 'But... She probably already told them about me. But do they know it's me? Like, me?'

"Did you already tell the hosts that you'd be bringing a guest?"

Hannah's face lit up, "YEP!"

'Well. I guess a hundred years is long enough. I didn't think I'd make it this far. I could at least show up to wish him well.'

"Sure, I'll go!" Elysia settled into her resolve, "What is the theme? Victorian?"

"Yes! I don't have a dress yet, but I thought I'd buy one of those cheap ones at the Halloween Superstore."

Elysia dropped her pencil, gasping in indignation, "Absolutely NOT."

"What?"

"You look like you'd fit in one of my old gowns. Come on, we're going to my place."

"Uh... What?"

"You, me, now. My house. Let's go."

~ Hannah POV ~

The ride to her house was beautiful. The leaves were falling all around us and the crisp autumn air met my face. I loved Fall! All the pumpkins and candy, the leaves and candles! It was the best time of year. As we turned down Spellcroft, I counted the houses to find which one was hers. When it came down to it, my mouth dropped. Of course, the girl with the Victorian name had a Victorian Manor!

We rolled our bikes across the grass and over the low stone wall, up to the front door.

"Just leave your bike off to the side, it should be safe here."

I nodded, and dropped it off to the side beside hers, "How many rooms does this have?"

She thought for a moment as she slid her key into the door, "Five bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, study, living room, foyer, I think that's it. Oh! And a garden with a greenhouse, and a ballroom out back!"

I followed her inside to a beautiful foyer with a fireplace and stairs that I assumed led to the second floor.

The floor was beautiful hardwood, and down the hall, I could see the kitchen.