Christmas Evil

Dinner is served!-2

She grabbed Simon by the hand.

“Come on,” she coaxed, “Time you met some of the brood.”

Sarah led Simon around the room, stopping at various individuals or groups and introducing Simon as “Serena’s new beau”.

Everyone seemed delighted to meet him, and most gave him admiring glances - some to the extent that he began to feel a little awkward.

Simon noticed that everyone else at the party seemed to be dressed in period costumes. Though not overly flamboyant, there definitely seemed to be a 17th century theme underlying their dress.

He observed that many of the costumes must have been rented at short notice, as they were badly creased, and in some cases positively covered in dust and even mud.

Simon felt out of place in his suit, but then he noticed that Sarah hadn’t succumbed to the dress code either. That at least was some comfort.

At the far end of the room Simon noticed a red velvet drape, covering what appeared to be - by the shape of it - an easel with another large painting mounted on it. A thick gold rope was attached to the top of the drape, which then snaked around a pulley suspended from one of the beams above.

“What’s that?” asked Simon, pointing.

“Oh, that’s Serena’s surprise Christmas present for the family,” replied Sarah.

“Another painting?”

“Possibly, you never know with my cousin. Last year she commissioned a mahogany musical box with life-size carved hounds, chasing an ornamental fox. She’s very creative.”

Sarah touched his elbow “Come on, let’s get you a drink. You’ll need fortifying before assisting my cousin with her grand entrance.”

Sarah led him to the refreshment tables.

“I’ll be back in a minute, help yourself.”

Before him lay trays of cold meats, mini-mountains of glazed fruits, assorted bread rolls and sticks, bowls of oranges and grapes, cheeses of all varieties, and several large silver tureens, all of which contained what Simon presumed was punch.

Though by now he was very hungry, Simon noticed that none of the food seemed to have been touched yet. He wondered if perhaps it had only just been laid out, or maybe it was some family tradition not to eat anything until the hostess had made her entrance.

Simon decided that caution would be the better part of valour. Everyone seemed to have helped themselves to a drink, so he followed suit.

The punch was a deep red. It smelled to him of herbs, with a hint of cloves.

He half-filled one of the silver cups which had been placed around each tureen, and took a tentative sip.

Simon managed stop himself from gagging. The taste was not like anything he had previously experienced. It had a tinny, almost metallic flavour, and though he detected a hint of fruit and what he surmised might be wine, it wasn’t strong enough to mask the overall vileness of the liquid.

Simon shot a glance around to ensure no-one had noticed his reaction. The last thing he wanted was to give offence.

Everyone else in the room seemed to be enjoying their drinks. Simon mused that it must be a family delicacy which took time for the pallet to adapt to.

When Sarah re-appeared he casually put his cup down, and walked over to meet her.

“Come on,” she smiled. “Her ladyship awaits your pleasure.”

She took him by the arm, and led him to the bottom of the grand staircase in the passage.

The stairs swept up and curved to the left, blocking Simon’s view of what lay above.

Sarah left him at the bottom.

“Up you go,” she said, “Serena will meet you at the top.”

Simon kept a hand on the ornate banister as he climbed the staircase. As he neared the bend, he caught sight of Serena.

He stopped dead in his tracks.

Serena stood beckoning him from the top of the stairs.

Though the upstairs landing was poorly lit by only a few sporadic wall lights, spaced too far apart in his opinion to be of any useful purpose, he could still make out that beneath her gold satin dressing gown, Serena was n***d.

Awakened from his trance, Simon took the last few steps.

Serena grabbed his tie and drew him towards her.

They kissed, passionately.

Her lips were cold to the touch, but Simon soon realised the entire floor had a chill in the air

Without speaking, Serena led him to a room off the corridor. It was even darker inside than out on the landing, with the only illumination coming from the faint glow from the moon outside as it shafted through the heavy curtains. In the shadows Simon could see that the room was sparsely furnished, but his eyes lit up when he saw the huge four-poster bed, which dominated the middle of it.

Simon shivered. The room was freezing, but he didn’t care. He was still in disbelief concerning his present circumstances.

Serena released her gown, letting it flow down her back and onto the floor.

She stood there for a moment, her n***d form bathed in the half-light.

Her sudden unveiling took Simon by surprise. He took a sharp intake of breath. Even in the poor light he could appreciate her perfect silhouette.

Serena looked up at him. “Do you like?”

Simon nodded. “Oh yes, I like!”

Serena circled a strand of her hair with her finger, all the time gazing straight at Simon.

Finally, she said. “Disrobe for me.”

Simon had never quite heard the request put that way before, but he understood the meaning.

Eagerly he began tearing at his ensemble, discarding each piece carelessly as if it were made of rags, instead of costing him more than a month’s salary.

Finally, he stood before her, bare.

Through the darkness, Simon could just about make out Serena’s piercing blue eyes. The look from them seemed approving.

She moved closer.

Simon closed his eyes in anticipation.

Suddenly he felt her cold hands on his skin, forcing him to squirm involuntarily.

“Is everything alright?” she whispered.

“A little chilly in here,” Simon replied, watching the air leave his mouth in a gentle white cloud of mist.

“Yes, sorry about that,” said Serena. “These old places are a nightmare to heat.”

She slid her hands down his now n***d torso. “But I’m sure we can find some way to keep ourselves warm………later”

“Later?” Asked Simon, unable to keep the disappointment from his voice.

“Mmnnn, first you need to help me with my dress.” She motioned to a chair behind her, where Simon could just about make out some fabric draped over one of the arms.

“Also,” she continued. “I’ve managed to set aside a little something for you.”

Serena walked over to the bed and pointed to a shirt and a pair of trousers, which Simon hadn’t noticed before, lying on one side.

Bending down, Serena picked up a long pair of boots. “These will look very sexy on you,” she said, dangling them from their laces.

Simon frowned. “I didn’t realise it was a costume party.”

“Just a bit of fun…for me…please?”

Simon smiled. He hoped this would end up being worth the effort. He surmised it would, based on Serena’s intimacy with him so far.

“Any chance of some more light in here?” He asked, glancing around for anything which might resemble a switch.

Serena laughed.

“No, it’s far more fun this way…Helps to build the anticipation… And you know what they say about anticipation?”

They both changed.

Simon helped Serena by lacing up the straps at the back of her dress. It was a beautiful linen gown, with sequins and a lace finishing, in a deep blue which Simon thought would match her eyes perfectly. Her look was completed with a pair of dark blue velvet shoes, complete with buckles and bows.

Serena had tucked her hair up high on her head, revealing her long, white, slim neck.

Simon thought she looked breath-taking.

He had changed into a pair of brown leather trousers, fastened at the waist with crossover styled boot laces.

The shirt Serena had put out for him felt more like a blouse with its puffed-out sleeves and gaping neckline.

His long brown leather boots finished off his look.

Serena led him back out on to the dimly lit landing.

They began to descend the stairs side by side.

Serena linked her arm with his.

By the time they had reached the bend, Simon could see that the other revellers had formed a gauntlet on either side of the hallway.

Once they were in sight everyone began clapping, as if to herald their arrival.

It all seemed a little formal, not to say odd, to Simon. But he decided he had better go with the flow. He certainly did not want to do anything which might upset Serena, or ruin his chances for later.

They descended slowly, taking each step with a few seconds pause, allowing their audience to fully appreciate their majesty.

As they walked through the corridor of bodies, the clapping continued. Some hand patted Simon’s shoulders as he passed, as if in recognition of his new status as Selena’s chosen boyfriend.

A few of the ladies attempted slight curtseys as they passed. Some of the men bowed.

Serena seemed to take it all in her stride, as if their homage was expected.

Simon, for his part, tried his best not to laugh at their shenanigans.

Finally, they arrived at the hall again.

The last of the attendees continued the line, which stretched until about half way into the room.

As Simon and Serena continued down the lines, those whom they had already passed gathered behind them and followed them in, still clapping.

They made their way towards the velvet draped easel where Sarah stood, clapping them in.

Simon was bemused that she had not changed into any kind of period costume, and surmised that for whatever reason she must have refused to take part in this segment of Serena’s game.

As they reached her, Serena un-linked her arm from Simon and the two women hugged.

The applause from behind grew instantly louder, this time accompanied by cheers and whoops as well.

Simon joined in, so as not to appear, out of place.

After a moment, Serena turned to face her audience.

The noise died down.

Simon stood to one side so as not to block anyone’s view.

“My darling relatives,” Serena began. The acoustics made her voice appear so loud to Simon that it seemed to fill the entire room.

He took another step further back. He was suddenly afraid that it might look to the others as if he was trying to bask in Serena’s glow.

“Welcome to my annual Christmas affair.”

There were more cheers, and clapping.

When they died down, she continued. “As you know, at these little gatherings I like to give you all something special. Something which I know you will all appreciate.”

There was a light ripple of applause.

“For far too long now, you have all had to make do with scant offerings of waste from a society which shuns you, and reviles your very presence.”

Murmurs echoed throughout the small crowd.

“We are all victims of folklore and fable, re-animated by modern technology for the amusement of the delinquent masses.”

The cheers grew.

“When all we ask is to be allowed to live in peace, and to have our way of life respected.”

A loud cheer went up.

“We must be allowed to survive…”

Cheers!

“To live……”

Cheers!

“To love……”

Cheers!

“To breed……”

Cheers, and laughter!

“And……,” she turned to Simon. “…To feed.”

Cheers and applause!

Simon too began to cheer and clap. He felt he should; though he was not sure what Serena was alluding to, he didn’t want to appear dim.

He surmised that her family - for whatever reason - had been the past victims of some kind of slight. Perhaps from this town, or maybe from wherever they moved here from. Either way, he wanted to keep the atmosphere light and keep on the right side of Serena, so he could take full advantage of her mood later in the evening.