Prompt #2: In the decaying mansion on the outskirts of town, whispers of a forbidden ritual to summon an eldritch being echo through the walls. As guests unwittingly become pawns in a sinister game, the house reveals its true nature- the conduit to a planet that devours its inhabitants. Amidst the chaos an old photograph mysteriously alters, rewriting history and intertwining past sins with present horrors.

The Game

The invitation came by way of courier just after four o’clock on a Thursday afternoon. Violetta Larouche was the first to see it upon the silver tray by the door and she rushed to her sister’s room to share it with her. Violetta was, by nature, the rowdier of the two, though they were twins in everything but personality. Vanessa was the quiet, studious sister and thus Violetta found her in the window seat, a book upon her lap, staring out at the incessant rain of the English autumn. They tore open the elegant envelope together, gasping at the fine parchment of the invitation that lay within. Only the most elegant of the ton received such an invite, and it was for certain a first in the Larouche household. Their parents were nouveau riche, their father daring to earn his fortune rather than inherit it. Still, they were welcomed in the best salons in London simply because their father denied them nothing and it was evident in everything about the Larouche sisters. They were, in whispers throughout society, the “catches of the century” for any young men who might wish to marry into a family of great means.

This particular invitation was one coveted by all who moved in the higher circles of society in London. El Aldisen, the Baron of Coventry, held exactly one soiree per year, and he invited exactly ten of the society’s best to attend. The Larouche sisters knew of the grand ball, of course, for it was the talk of the town these days, with the night of the party approaching. There was much speculation as to who would make the list this year and it seemed that the Larouche sisters found themselves among the “best”.

Violetta launched into an immediate diatribe about what they should wear and how their hair should be done, but Vanessa stared into the rain thoughtfully. She usually followed her sister wherever she went and was satisfied with standing in her shadow as she flitted about and charmed everyone they met. This party, however, was one that Vanessa wanted to attend. Rumors flew, you see, that El Aldisen’s soiree was more than dancing and champagne. Talk of rituals and seances made their way to Vanessa and she as very interested to see what actually went on inside his mansion every autumn on the night of equinox.

“We shall be the talk of the town!” Violetta declared, her smile wide as she threw herself beside her sister on the windowseat. “You are excited, Ness, aren’t you?”

“Of course.” Vanessa closed her book and smiled at her sister. “I’m very excited.”

**

The night of the party was unseasonably warm, though, in true English fashion it was still raining. Violetta and Vanessa descended from their father’s carriage with their skirts raised to avoid the mud, and followed the elegant footman to the door. They doffed their cloaks and straightened their hair before being escorted into the grand ballroom of the mansion. It was an elaborately decorated hall, filled with candles and glittering strands of glass beads strung between chandeliers. Four other couples milled about, and all eyes turned toward them as they descended the stairs into the room. Violetta was swathed in her customary crimson, drawing eyes to her pale porcelain skin and chestnut hair piled high to show off the line of her neck. Vanessa was more demure in forest green velvet, lace at her neck and on the cuffs. Still, they made a striking pair, and they were soon swarmed by the others.

They knew most of those present; Angelica Whitehead and her husband Sir Maximus Whitehead, Barnabus Southeby, Elaine Montrose daughter of Colonel Thaddeus Montrose, Ms. Jane Talbott and her fiancee Lyle Darling, and Dame Lydia Coleridge. The only person that Vanessa did not recognize was a thin man in a dark suit. He was introduced as Pietro Valescu, nephew of Count Valescu of Romania. They chattered inanely for a bit until a gong sounded and a figure in a fine silk evening suit appeared at the top of the stairs. El Aldisen, their host.

“Welcome! My honored guests, I am so grateful to you for attending my soiree. Please! Join me in the library for a libation and a confession. I have not summoned you here tonight for a party, you see, but for … a ritual!”

There was much murmuring and the rush of bodies toward the library as El Aldisen strode in that direction, and Violetta grabbed Vanessa’s arm with a fierce grip. Her eyes were alight with glee. “You were right, Ness!” She tried to hide her smile. “You really are a genius!”

“Remain calm,” Vanessa reminded her quietly. “We must see how this plays out before we make any moves.”

“Agreed.”

They were the last to enter the library, finding seats on a small settee near the fire. El Aldisen stood in front of them, a glass of bourbon in his hand.

“Tonight we shall attempt to do what many would deem impossible,” he said with a grandiose sweep of his empty hand. “Tonight, we shall attempt to call a God into our presence.”

The crowd before him began whispering, none of them certain that this wasn’t some elaborate hoax designed to amuse a bored aristocrat. He quieted them with a nod.

“Do not worry,” he soothed. “It’s all simply… a game.”

“A game?” Dame Lydia demanded. She was in her late forties, widowed twice and far too old to show deference to aristocrats anymore. “Why all the mystery for a game?”

“My dear Lydia,” Aldisen murmured, sipping his bourbon. “This shall be unlike any game you’ve played before. Pietro, come!”

The nephew of the count stepped forward, a deck of elaborately gilted cards in his hands. He spread them, smiling. “All you must do,” he said in his heavily accented English, “is choose a card. Each card corresponds to a room in the house. Find your room, follow the instructions therein, and all shall be as it should.”

“Pick a card, find a room and follow the instructions,” Lyle Darling said with a grin. “That sounds so easy that even Max can do it.”

Max Whitehead scowled but they all chuckled at the barb.

“Very well, then, you have your rules. Let the game begin.” Aldisen grinned. “Pietro shall pair with Ms Lydia as she has no partner. Thus there are five pairs. Five rooms you must find. Good luck.” He turned and left the room. Vanessa had to admit that the man did possess a flair for the dramatic.

“Ladies.” Pietro bowed before them, the cards outstretched. “Please choose.”

Violetta looked at Vanessa, and she nodded. Violetta chose a card and showed it to the group. “The crypt.”

“Oh, that sounds terrifying!” Jane Talbott said with a shudder. She moved closer to her fiancee. “I’m so glad we didn’t choose that one.”

“We shall be fine, I think,” Vanessa said with a slight smile. Besides, this wasn’t their first time in a crypt, though these people wouldn’t know that.

The others chose their cards. Angelica and Maximus got the greenhouse. Barnabas and Elaine the tea room. Jane and Lyle got the blue dining room. Lydia and Pietro showed the final card. The wine cellar.

“Find your assigned rooms and carry out the instructions therein,” Pietro said as he offered his arm to Lydia. “After which, we shall return here to see the result.”

“How very mysterious!” Lydia murmured. “And this is supposed to bring a god here, into our presence?”

“If we are successful,” Pietro confirmed.

As they left, Vanessa turned to Violetta and took the card from her hand. “Clever little game, isn’t it?”

“Perhaps.” Violetta tucked the card into her velvet handbag. “Curious that the crypt card came to us, don’t you think?”

“Not curious at all.” Vanessa took her sister’s hand.

“You think he’ll attempt to stop us once it becomes clear why we’re here?” Violetta wondered as they left the library and headed toward the main portion of the house.

“I couldn’t expect otherwise.” Vanessa took a photograph from her own bag, showing it to her sister. “After all, we’ve been here before, haven’t we?”

END PART I

Stay tuned for PART II