Cupidity (Sequel to Cupid's Daughter)

Chapter 3~ The Girl from that Article Thingo

"It'll be fun, darling." Noah promised me solemnly as I stood outside the house where the tours took place, clinging onto the stair handrail for dear life.

"Darling?" I questioned, raising one eyebrow.

Noah shrugged, his award winning smile making an appearance. "I thought I'd try something new. Not me?"

I shook my head vigorously. Babe, darling, sugarbuns, bumblebum or any other variation of pet names were definitely not my thing. Noah was constantly trying to find a pet name that I didn't despise. The best was Issybob. The worst was Lovehandles.

So far, the only one I'd learnt to tolerate was Little Cupid.

Noah laced his fingers through mine and pulled me into his chest, his fingers making trails along my back. "You know," he whispered softly, "I won't let any monsters eat you."

I smiled into his cotton shirt. "Liar. You'd push me straight into it's mouth to protect your pretty little face."

Noah rolled his eyes and his grin widened, making my legs turn to jelly. "Don't be stupid! I'd douse you with salt, pepper and herbs first."

I pulled away to search his eyes for any sign that I was going to be able to get out of this. There wasn't one. So instead, I sighed deeply to let him know that I'd given in-- as I always ended up doing-- and let me pull me through the creepy wrought-iron fence and up to the house.

On the yard a few metres to our left was a sign that read 'GHOST AND VAMPIRE TOURS. ENTER HERE TO BE SPOOKED OUT OF YOUR SOCKS.'

"Is it a requirement to wear socks? I'm not wearing socks, guess we have to go home." I reasoned, but Noah's hands wrapped around my shoulders like a vice, keeping me rooted to my place.

"Nice try, Lovehandles."

Noah pushed the huge, creepy wooden doors open to reveal a large entranceway lit by chandeliers and candles stuck to little dints in the walls. Behind a tall oak desk sat an elderly man with a hunch back, his nose buried deep in a book.

The wind outside blew the doors closed behind us with a slam that echoed through the whole mansion, and the receptionist glanced up at us.

"Ooh! Why hello there young ones! What can I do for you today?" He queried in a raspy voice that was filled with excitement. The man pushed his spectacles a little further up his nose with his index finger and then beckoned us over. Noah strode towards him with all the confidence in the world, and I hovered behind a little.

"Hi, we're here for the seven pm ghost and vampire tour?" Noah informed the receptionist, and the man nodded at us, writing something down in one of the books in front of him. He handed is each a little red ticket and told us to sit down with the others as the tour guide would be here soon.

It was only then that I noticed there were a few other people here; three gangly-looking teenaged boys, a middle-aged man and who I assumed was his wife. Before we could even sit down, the doors beside us burst open and a man popped out sporting an outfit comprised of entirely fluorescent pieces. I sensed Noah trying to hold in his laughter, but a tiny sound escaped his lips and the fluoro man's head snapped towards us.

"Something funny?" He asked in a thick Jersey accent. "You laughing at my hair?" He asked, pointing towards his balding head.