The streets were packed. The noise nearly deafening, all of New Orleans it seemed was alive with the fun and excitement of Mardi Gras and this was Shrove Tuesday, the best night.
“This is the biggest parade,” Scott said. “Look!”
Dany looked incredulous. “It’s fabulous!”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Carole Gill was selected by North West Playwrights of England for further development. It was an invaluable experience but Carole found she prefers to write fiction. She loves to scare herself and others with her horror fiction and is widely published in horror and sci-fi anthologies. Currently, Masters of Horror Anthology One, Masters of Horror Damned If You Don’t, Sonar’s Ladies and Gentlemen of Horror 2010, SNM’s Bonded By Blood3 Languish In Lament, Sonar’s Whitechapel 13, Anthology, Rymfire’s Undead Tales, Zombie Winter, Angelic Press’ Demonic Toys, Netbound’s Spirits of the Night and Enter at Your Own Risk, Dark Gothic Fiction. Sci Fi Almanac 2009 and 2010 and Science Fiction Freedom Magazine, issues 1-4, Sci Fi Talk’s Tales of Time and Space. Although she loves writing sci-fi her true love is dark gothic horror. Her gothic horror novel, The House on Blackstone Moor, published in 2010 by Vamplit is her first novel. The sequel, Unholy Testament will be published by Vamplit later this year.
THE HOUSE ON BLACKSTONE MOOR
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They all were–these themed floats. Some were inspired by fairy tales or magic, some by history. Whatever theme they had each was filled with the most fabulously costumed people throwing necklaces and coins at the crowd.
A great cry would go up as people rushed forward to catch the gifts.
Some were lucky. Not Scott or Dany though. They hadn’t caught anything. That was why Scott was determined they would.
It was their first time away as a couple and if Dany wanted a necklace or some coins as a souvenir Scott was going to see she had them.
Once again, the crowd heaved forward, with Scot trying so hard–even clapping to catch someone’s attention. Sadly, he didn’t catch a thing.
“Next time,” he promised.
He was right because when the next float came by he actually did manage to catch a necklace.
He was so excited he hadn’t noticed the float really. He only looked at it when Dany continued to stare at it. “Do you see that one?”
It was frightening looking. Clearly the theme was Death. One of the riders was waving at them and yelling something that neither Scott nor Dany could make out.
It was then that Dany looked down at the necklace. The necklace was weird looking. There were tiny skulls on it.
Dany shuddered and tossed it away.
She was studying his face, “You‘re not mad are you?”
“No, you’re entitled to keep what you like and get rid of what you don’t like. Come on,” he urged. “Let’s go for a drink before we go back.”
Go back as in a night of love making with the French doors open and the damp, sweet Louisiana air blowing over their naked bodies.
“I hope the revelers won’t keep us up.”
He shook his head. “Look, everyone’s going.”
It was true. It was as though someone had turned off a light.
Once the parade was over the streets began to empty. Yes, there was the odd drunk or loud kid raising a ruckus but for the most part it was pretty obvious that the parade had indeed passed by.
They decided to sit in a little bar and sip New Orleans’ Hurricanes.
“It’s like heaven, isn’t it?”
“I‘d love to live here someday.”
“So would I.”
They finished their drinks and started walking back to their hotel. They were staying on Royal Street in a sweet little bed and breakfast. Okay it was super expensive but it was furnished beautifully, real period stuff or so it seemed.
They returned to their hotel quite late.
It wasn’t until they stepped inside that they noticed the change. It was darker for one thing.
“Hello? We can hardly see here, can someone please put the lights back on?!”
Dany was from New York and she wasn’t shy about speaking up but Scott was from a small town in New England and he was. He tried to shush her which only annoyed her.
They were arguing when they heard a scream. It was the worst God awful scream either of them had ever heard.
Dany got frantic and rushed every which way. “Get me outta here. I gotta get out of here!”
Scott didn’t know what to do so he reached for his phone even though he knew he wouldn’t get a signal.
He started to say something but Dany shushed him. “Listen, do you hear it? The music?”
It was hauntingly beautiful music and it was coming from somewhere close by.
“What is that? It sounds like a…”
“Harpsichord.”
Now they both looked frightened. He started to laugh “Look, there’s a perfectly good explanation for this, right?”
No not right because the music suddenly stopped and a woman appeared.
“Are you lost?” she asked.
“We must be could you just show us the way out, please?”
The hall was darkened but they could just make out the woman was masked. It wasn’t until she removed it and lit a candle that they could see how beautiful she was. Yet, there was something strange about her features–her eyes in particular.
“Won’t you join me in a toast?” she asked.
The glass seemed to come out of nowhere. She stepped forward with it. “Do taste it, it will make things easier for you!”
But they didn’t want to taste it for it reeked of something metallic, something like the smell of blood mixed with some kind of poison.
When they realized someone else had come into the hall, they spun around. Their eyes fell upon a masculine figure standing in the shadows.
“Come, Leonard, we have guests.”
Her husband began to step forward. “How lovely to have new ones, these we will savour!”
His wife nodded. “But they are afraid. Do not be, for we are Madame and Monsieur LaLaurie and we will show you worlds you have only dreamt of!”
It was Scott who suddenly knew. “You’re them! You murdered and tortured scores of people! But it can’t be! You’re..!”
“Dead? Death is relative. You will find that out for yourself,” Madame said as she held up a necklace. “This is the necklace I threw to you. The one you didn’t want. You may have it back now.”
They would have screamed but she stopped them.
“Oh no, no mon petites, there is no use screaming, no one will hear you here in the House of the Dead.”
Possibly not, but they screamed anyway.
Epilogue:
The LaLauries were wealthy socialites, the toast of 19th Century New Orleans Society.
When a fire broke out in their mansion it was discovered they had been killing and torturing countless slaves.
During the confusion and excitement of that night, they escaped in their carriage.
They were never brought to justice for it was believed they had escaped the hangman and fled to France.
Their mansion is reputed to be very, very haunted!
© Copyright 2012 Carole Gill
1023 words
