Collection of Halloween Stories

The Bloody Mary Curse

The sound of horse hooves echoed, breaking the evening silence. A sixteen-year-old girl lined up with other female servants to welcome their mistress's return. They slightly bent their knees, touching their black skirts with white aprons while greeting, "Welcome, Lady Elanor."

A sweet scent pierced the air as their mistress walked past them, but the girl remained bowed, following her training. However, a pair of brown shoes suddenly stopped in front of her before a deep voice startled her.

"What is your name?"

"M-me, sir?" The girl raised her head to find a luxuriously dressed man observing her.

"With whom else would I be speaking?"

Mary's gaze stopped on the face of a twenty-five-year-old man crowned with a white wig. A firm jaw, a prominent nose, and a sharp eagle-like gaze. Her breath caught for a moment. He was incredibly handsome.

A mischievous gleam suddenly appeared in the man's brown eyes. He smiled crookedly before asking again, "Do you not have a name that you can answer my question?"

A rosy hue crept onto the girl's cheeks. She bowed and replied, "I-I'm sorry, my name is Mary."

"Mary, a beautiful name."

"Stevan! What are you doing there?!" Lady Elanor's voice interrupted their conversation.

The man turned and retorted, "In a moment, My Dear."

He then chuckled and bid farewell. "Until we meet again, Mary."

Mary's heart raced as she watched the retreating pair of shoes. However, she kept bowing until the head maid ordered them to stand straight.

*****

"Mary, remember, avoid Lord Stevan. He is Lady Elanor's lover, and you will get into trouble if My Lady finds out he's interested in you."

Mary bit her lip anxiously, recalling the warning from Mrs. Agnes, the head maid. The girl had tried to avoid rooms where her master's lover might be. However, now, here they were, alone in the locked library.

"I finally found you." Stevan's words made Mary's heart race, not out of fear but something else, something unfamiliar and hard to define.

"I thought you were avoiding me on purpose."

Stevan approached, and Mary involuntarily lowered her gaze, avoiding eye contact. "D-Do you, sir? Do you need something from me? I-I should clean the bookshelves, or My Lady will be angry."

Stevan chuckled softly. He stopped facing Mary and lifted her chin with his finger. "Your Lady is out riding, and she won't know if you take a little break."

Mary's breath caught as the man caressed her lips. Stevan whispered huskily, "You're so beautiful. You'd be even more beautiful in a lovely dress rather than this maid's attire."

A sense of panic gripped Mary's heart as Stevan tried to kiss her. She turned her face away. "M-My Lord, please don't. M-My Lady will be angry."

"She won't know," whispered Stevan.

Stevan attempted to kiss her again. However, Mary turned away once more. "My Lord, don't. I-I'll get into trouble."

But he paid no heed to Mary's words. He restrained her trembling hands before saying, "Believe me, I will reward you later."

"Please, no, My Lord."

Mary struggled as Stevan dragged her to the couch. She cried out as he pushed her down, ending up on top of her.