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FlabberGasted - Part 1
🕑 Added 2020-09-19 06:14:44 +0000 UTC
The Manor house would have seemed more at home on a Louisiana plantation than outside a California suburb. The tall pillars out front and the garden full of viney plants seemed out of place under the hot coastal sun. Julia was a tall woman in her 30s with a plush frame that clashed with her cold demeanor. She led Cattherine through room after room giving the younger woman instructions.
“There’s food in the kitchen that you can help yourself to, and, if you’d like, you can have any of the wine from the bottom shelf in the cellar. All I ask is that you stay awake until morning and make sure that there aren’t any children trying to vandalize the property.”
Halloween had been effectively canceled, but apparently, Julia was still hesitant to leave the huge building unattended overnight.
Cat, meanwhile, was doing her best to pay attention to her host and patron rather than marvel at the mansion’s expanse and decor. Whatever she does for a living sure does pay off, she mused with green eyes darting from Julia to the sweeping staircase that dominated the entry foyer of the mansion. It was distracting, but also seemed to fit with Julia’s demeanor: Refined, perhaps a bit… condescending, just in its general presence but impressive in ways that made her hesitate and stare. It’d taken her until Julia’s third visit to the bookstore where Cat worked to not feel incredibly intimidated.
“Of course,” she said after the silence stretched a moment too long. Her eyes came back to Julia, her smile a bit nervous. “I already got a nap in earlier, and I live on caffeine and ice cream, so I’ll be set.”
“In that case, be sure to help yourself to some of the gelato in the freezer.” She pulled an evening coat over her shimmering black dress and checked her perfectly-styled blonde hair in the foyer mirror. “That should be everything. These functions always last longer than they need to, but I should be before sunrise. Just one last thing…” She paused at the door and turned to Cat with a mischievous smile. “I should warn you that the house is haunted. Nothing dangerous or malevolent, but don’t be surprised if something goes bump in the night.”
Cat was about to make a joke about having to resist the temptation, but she hitched at Julia’s comment. She shook her head, red hair brushing across her shoulders. It’s Halloween, she’s just getting into the spirit.
“Don’t call the Ghostbusters, got it,” she chuckled. Being in a spooky mansion was about as festive as she could get this year anyway, so she leaned into it. “Anywhere in particular I should steer clear of?”
“I really doubt that you’ll even meet her.” She checked her watch with an exasperated expression. “And, I’m already running late. Great.” She opened the door and stepped out. Her driver was waiting at the curb. “Take care of the house and have a happy Halloween!” The heavy black door of her car shut behind her and the town-car disappeared into the foggy night, leaving Cat and the mansion alone.
