This is a short story about a man who learns that not all scary things are very creepy. It is a metaphor to see that the dark has light in them. No matter how dark it gets, there is always light in every corner. Enjoy and have fun! -Katherine Donovan
By the pricking of thumbs; Something strange this way comes...In the town known as Vondervotteimittis; A young man name Napoleon Simpson, the adoptive son of Adolphus Simpson who is now deceased. Napoleon is arranged to be married to Madame Eugenia Lalande's daughter, Stephanie. Napoleon is nervous at first but in order to obtain Adolphus's dowry; he must marry Stephanie, who has no money at all. Napoleon was unsure to meet Stephanie but he is escorted by Detective Auguste Dupin to the Lalande Manor. "You certainly are glad to be married to such a beautiful lady like Stephanie, now all you have to do is reel her in." "I already am, Detective Dupin. But really, sir, should Stephanie be looking for someone more rich than me? I mean, I never even met her or spoken to her." Napoleon said. "I'm sure you'll get along quite nicely with Miss Stephanie, I heard that she is a nice lady but I wouldn't know for her mother, Eugenia, is more of a snob." Dupin said. That wasn't helping much to Napoleon, he knew that he had to face his new bride soon. In the meantime; A beautiful lady was sitting by the window, she looked anxious. Surely this is Stephanie Lalande. The most beautiful woman than to the grotesque snob, Eugenia. Stephanie sighs as she turned to her servant, "What if Napoleon and I don't like each other? I mean, I never met him before." She said. "Hmph!" Madame Eugenia replied, "Like you would know whether or not he is good enough for you or not. You just don't know until now." Napoleon arrived at the mansion of Lalande and was welcomed in by one of the servants. Once in, he saw her, he saw a picture of Stephanie and was amored.
At once; Napoleon bowed before the madame, "My name is Napoleon Simpson, Madame Eugenia. I am here to meet your daughter, Stephanie." Madame Lalande looked at him suspiciously, "Napoleon Simpson?" She asked in a snooty voice tone. "Yes, madame." Napoleon replied politely. "Isn't your father, Adolphus? I have heard he taught you of arts, music, and the process of these creativity...designs, am I correct?" Madame Lalande asked. Napoloen couldn't contain his surprise, he was stunt that the madame knows about his foster guardian. "Yes, Madame Eugenia, he has." Napoleon answered. He did not noticed that someone was watching from above in the staircase, Stephanie was amazed to see that this young man was her soon to be fiancee that she was arranged to marry. She felt her heart skipped a beat. The madame held up her index finger, "Before I let you meet my daughter, I like you to show me a piece of your work." She said. Napoleon looked stunt, "Now, Madame Eugenia?" He asked. The madame smiled that didn't reached to her eyes, "Better now than tomorrow, my boy." She said. Napoleon sighed deeply but he did what she command. Napoleon was known to be an entertainer with creative skills as a musician and artist. He begin to create human-like dolls as he recorded a piece he wrote, The Imp of Perverse. He watched to see what Eugenia thinks, who seems fascinated by the story and the works of this performance. By the end; Eugenia applauded. Napoleon sighs of relief, Stephanie is grateful by her mother's clapping of approval. "Very well done, Mister Simpson." said Madame Eugenia. "Do you have another?"
"No, madame. I do not." Napoleon replied with honesty. "Well, think of something! If you wish to marry my Stephanie then prove it to me!" demanded Eugenia. Stephanie was worried, she wanted to be married to Napoleon only and to no one else but him! Later, Napoleon was trying to think of an idea to impress Madame Eugenia very much that he would meet his daughter, Stephanie. But he has nothing. While wondering; He didn't looked but he was walking straight into the street, Rue Morgue. Then, Napoleon stumbles upon a dark, dark woods. He entered the woods and hiked in there. He was a little frightened but he put his best foot forward. Into the woods, he saw a big house. It was a 13 story manor, Napoleon had never seen a house like this! He saw a cupboard in the kitchen but out came the wind. Napoleon jumped and ducked. It was getting creepier and creepier for Napoleon, he has no idea where he is. Just then, a voice within this house made him shivered. "Who will stay with me on this cold and lonely night? WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO?" Napoleon is terrified, "Um, I...I mean no harm." He said in a timid voice. But the voice sounded like it was getting closer, "Mi ti doughty walker...Leechee, kinchee, colly, molly, dingle dingle!" Napoleon called back, "Who are you? Where are you?" But then, the voice got even more closer. "Who's got my money, who has it? Whooooooooo?"" Napoleon was really scared, "Oh Lordy-Lord." he thought. But then he thought, "It doesn't know where I am." He was However, he heard the voice coming down the steps. "Wheeeeerrrrrreeee isssss myyyyyy toooooooeeeeeee." The voice groaned.
Napoleon backed away, but he thud against something and heard the voice in his ear, "Who is in my house?" He then turned around and saw a grotesque face with bulging eyes and messy hair. "YOOUUUUUUUUUUUU!" The monster cried. "AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Napoleon screamed, he fell to the ground. Napoleon curled up and was afraid to look up. A laugh snapped him out of his fear. He looked up to see a girl laughing as she took off her mask. "Did I scared you?" The girl asked with a grin on her face. Napoleon looked red faced at how scared he must've been, but he said: "No, not really." The girl smirked, "Uh huh." She said. She wasn't buying it. Napoleon stuttered, "I--Um, who are you?" The girl bowed to him, "I am Nesace. Welcome to the Al Aaraaf Mansion." "You live here?" Napoleon asked. "Of course, why? You think its haunted?" Nesace asked. She giggles and then she leads him by the hand and said, "C'mon. I'll show you around."And off they went on the tour. They went to the first room, where someone was sitting in the rocking chair. "Hello?" Napoleon asked. The figure turned around and walked over but as he got closer, Napoleon freaked out. The figure was a corpse of a man, he looked decay from head to toe. Napoleon was so scared that he went behind Nesace, who seemed unafraid by this thing. He leaned over at Napoleon with annoyance and suspicious on his face. Napoleon was afraid, he didn't want to be eaten by this zombie! Never. Ever.
"What's with you, Sir? You act like you never seen a corpse before! Who's a corpse?" The zombie asked. Before Napoleon could answer, Nesace steps in front and says, "You, Pierre Bon-Bon!" "Oh, I don't feel dead. I feel fine." said Pierre Bon Bon. "You're not fine, you look dead. Get back to where you belong." Nesace ordered. "I ain't going until I feel dead!" Bon Bon shouted. He went back to his rocking chair near the fireplace, his body went creaking and cracking. "He doesn't realize he was dead?" Napoleon asked nervously. Nesace shooked her head, "Uh uh." She said. They went away as Nesace showed him the next room, which is a quiet bedroom with a bed and a couch. As Napoleon stepped inside; A pale figure appeared with blood oozing from his fingers! Napoleon shrieked, he shivered as the pale figure waved its bloody fingers. "Bloody fingers! Blood fingers!" It cried but Nesace steps in front and said, "Allamistakeo, What did I tell you? I thought I told you not to do that. Cool it, dude. Clean up and get a bandage!" Nesace scolded. The white figure looked sheepish, "Sorry Nesace, I'm just fooling around, you know me." said Allamistakeo. "Fine! But if people saw your fingers like that, they won't be able to stay because of hemophobia." Nesace remarked. Allamistakeo grinned nervously, "Heh-heh. My bad!" He went away to the bathroom.
The phone begin to ring, Napoleon answered it: "Hello?" There was a voice that said something that made Napoleon's blood ice cold, "It is the Viper, I am coming up." "What?" Napoleon stuttered. He hangs up and hurries along with Nesace. "You scared yet?" Nesace asked with a grin on her face. "I think I had enough of this. I should be getting home soon." said Napoleon. "Oh, c'mon!" Nesace said, "I'm just getting started." They came across an empty chimney. Where legs suddenly appeared. Then, the rest of the body, and finally the arms and the head. The thing begin to spin around and around faster and faster. Then looked into Nesace's eyes, Napoleon looked scared. "What do you come for?" Nesace asked in a timid voice. The thing then said. "What do I come for? I come...For youuuuuu!" He tackled Nesace to the floor, Nesace screamed and then laughed happily, much to Napoleon's confusion. "Huh?" He said. "Hahaha! Hey, William Legrand." "Hello, Nesace. Sorry, the door was locked and I didn't know how to get in." said the thing, "I got lost until I came across an abadoned church and went in. But I found sheep, which I thought were ghosts but then their shepherd came and help get in through the chimney."
Some sort of white figure stood up, Napoleon fell to the ground as he looked up in horror to see the creature was white and his face looked like a skull, "Pardon me, sir, is something wrong?" It asked. Napoloeon was so frightened that he could hardly speak. "No, he's just startled by your appearance, Jupiter." Nesace explained for him. The creature nodded, bowing to him, "Sorry, I mean no harm." said Jupiter. Then he and William Legrand went away. Napoleon looked at Nesace grinned, "Next stop, shall we?" she asked. Napoleon sighed, "Lead the way." He said, reluctantly. They went to the next room where they saw a fire in the fire place and only a black cat was there. "Pluto!" Nesace said with a joyful squeal. "Pluto?" Napoleon asked. The cat looked up, and to Napoleon's horror, it talked: "I see you brought a sacrifice, shall me and my friends do it now?" The cat asked. Nesace shooked her finger at the cat. "No, Pluto. He's not a sacrifice. And I told you, wait until Martin comes." She said. The black cat slumped, "Fine." It said. Pluto slumped away, but Napoleon called out: "Yeah, when Martin comes. Tell him I couldn't wait." The cat glared at Napoleon, it hissed and went away. Napoleon and Nesace were walking down the hallway when there was the doorbell ringing. "It's the Viper!" Napoleon cried. Nesace looked startled but smiled and opened the door. There, stood a short man with overalls and a wiper with a hat on his head. "Valdemar, how are ya? Napoleon, this is Valdemar--The 'Viper'." introduced Nesace. "What?" Napoleon gaped. The small man grinned up at the disbelief Napoleon, "Yes, I am Valdemar the Viper. I have come to vash and vipe the vindows." Napoleon smacked his forehead and laughed.
"I feel stupid, maybe I'm losing it." He said. "Don't look so glum, let us all join together and help you with your feeble mind." replied Valdemar. And so, Napoleon was shown the many differences of what is spooky and beneath the spookiness that there is light. Now this young creator seemed to have his eyes opening. All together; Napoleon, Nesace, and the other residents of the house. It was quiet but not really spooky. "It's quite nice to be by the fire." Napoloen whispered. "Yes, very calming." Nesace agreed, softly. But Pierre was bored, so he said: "This is too boring and not really jolly you know! Let's dance!" Music came on. Bon Bon stretched and shook himself before taking a step or two and then begin to waltz. His bone moved and cracked, his yellow teeth snapping, and his skull bouncing around. Napoleon watched with impressiveness, "Nice. He's good." He remarked. "Oh, he is." agreed Nesace. "He could do this for hours." During the dance; One of Pierre's bones loosen and fell down. "Look at that!" Napoloeon said, he pointed to the bone. "Play faster!" Nesace cheered, she clapped as well as the other residents did so. Crickity crack, the bones went of Bon Bon. How he danced, and pranced, and skipped. Bones went drippity drap, down and back. Round and round dancing the dead man. And just like that, Pierre fell apart as his bones were in a pile as well as his head but the pieces were jiggling and jaggling still. "Ho, ho, ho! Ain't we having fun?" Pierre asked. Then, he tried to put himself back together again but failed! It was pretty funny, however Jupiter and William Legrand did a song play of "Ba Room"as they were playing two lifeless skeletons, O'Leary and O'Reilly, as they sang the song of the spooky song. Then, once it ends, they sang the song of The Hearse:
"Don't you ever laugh as the hearse goes by, For you may be the next one to die. They wrap you up in a big white sheet, From your head down to your feet. They put you in a big black box, And cover you up with dirt and rocks. All goes well for about a week, until your coffin begins to leak. The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, The worms play pinochle in your snout, They eat your eyes, they eat your nose, They eat the jelly between your toes. A big green worm with rolling eyes, Crawls in your stomach and out your eyes. Your stomach turns a slimy green, And pus pours out like whipping cream.You'll spread it on a slice of bread, And this is what you eat when you are dead!" It was a pretty repulsive song but Napoleon didn't care. His fears had been making him anew. He was having fun, dancing and clapping to the entertainment. He couldn't help himself, these creepy creatures weren't so scary after all...
"Napoleon!" A familiar voice called out. Napoleon turned, he knew that voice! Detective Dupin! What was he doing here? So Napoleon turned to Nesace and said, "'Scuse me for a moment." He dashed out as he greeted his friend, "Dupin! What are you doing here?" "Looking for you. You didn't come back for awhile and Eugenia was about to cancel the wedding. Where in the hell were you doing?" said Dupin. "Why, I was with my friend--I have found my inspiration. Is that a problem?" replied Napoleon. Then, the detective's face looked surprised, "Oh! You have?" He asked. In the meantime; Eugenia had invited guests to the wedding: There was her business partner Peter Proffit, Roderick Usher, Prince Prospero, Signora Psyche Zenobia and her pets name Diana and Pompey. Eugenia's lawyer, Cornelius Wyatt, during the time of the preparations for this wedding coming around tomorrow. Inspired by the events in the mansion; Napoleon begin to create his newest creation and he calls it: The Boy Who Found Al Aaraaf Mansion. He uses the Hearse Song at the end. He tells the story of how a boy was lost in the woods and found a creepy place but learns that it wasn't so scary and how a pixie had inspired him while
also his friend.
Nesace watched the show, she was happy to see Napoleon had did good on his project for the madame. Finally; The madame was impressed and Napoleon and Stephanie married to one another. They used the money for something important. To make a studio for those who wish to be whatever it is they want to be in creativity. And as for Nesace? She and the other 'creeps' would stay there in case Napoleon would come around again.
