As Martha Leigh (that would be me, looking AMAZINGLY like Catherine Zeta Jones in Victorian costume) approached Mellyn, the sprawling mansion of her new employer, Connan TreMellyn, (that would be my escort, looking AMAZINGLY like Colin Firth) an odd chill of apprehension overcame her. Soon whispers of past tragedy and present danger began to insinuate themselves into Martha's life. Powerless against her growing desire for Connan, she is drawn deeper into family secrets.
Mistress of Mellyn Victoria Holt. The first gothic romance I ever read.

Only six days to dig myself out of this foul-smelling grave and saw through the rusting chain that is wrapped around this weighty rock and attached to my fleshless leg.
What was it I did so foul in my Earthly-life that my family chose to treat me thus?
Could it have been my loathsome habit of feasting on tender virgin-flesh? I hope, anyanka, you have a goodly supply laid in of this increasingly rare delicacy.
And tell me, My Dear, will your daughters be joining us at the party?

Have ordered extra supplies of virgin flesh and blood as I am expecting a good turnout of creatures of the night.

No 1 daughter aka CloudyDays reads nothing but vampire novels these days - Darren Shan, Stephenie Meyer, Anne Rice - and is lacing her black corset and filing her teeth in readiness for our gathering as we speak. I am curious to see whether she will choose Louis or Lestat for her companion (Lestat is apparently much more interesting in the novels, but the movie-Louis has the advantage of wearing the body of Brad Pitt...)

No 2 daughter aka MaybeLater is not so ghoulish and may have to be chained up in the dungeons to make her attend...

lkasjdfcnmaw. xzcvlnmlk[psdfuowelrkjsdfg.

lkdvkjbcv,bnpyoiuer. fkjvc,mnerpsdpowelrtiyntyundver.

(Since Yog-Sototh can't speak English, this is the gibberish that he produces. He's basically saying that it should be a heck of a good party. Bring earmuffs.)

Ah yes!! A party!! I'll check the sundial and the calendar ...

Been brewing up a storm in the kitchen -- blasted cats have been playing with the contents of some of the more interesting bottles .... the eye-of-newts are rolling about the floors again. Plus there is a suspicious growling under the fridge again ......the house brownies must be scared to clean under there .....sigh.

And the broom has been on strike ..... something about benefits ......

Still -- I'll open the cupboard and see what I can stir up ......perhaps a cauldron of Bloody Good Martinis??

Here is a link that might be useful: Practical Magic Kitchen

More news from my family: Bonnie the lurcher dog is growing two additional heads and will be Cerberus on the day, helping with the gatecrashers. She hopes that the newspaper boy will turn up.

Piper the greyhound will be masquerading as a bearskin rug, tripping up the unwary.

All Hallow's Eve, when the walls between worlds become thin and porous and the dead communicate with the living.....

Anyanka, regrettably, I will not be able to attend. I have friends arriving from Hamburg Germany that day. I shall be thinking of you all, cavorting about in winsome costumes, flirting with Dracula, et al. I will be off-line, entertaining my friends, but we shall drink a toast to the RP gang. Hope Dido has defanged and declawed her dragon....;-)

VA Woodnymph

Ah, perhaps I can still squeeze into the gauzy, flowing draperies that I wore the last time I was supposed to be the sacrificial virgin. Just don't ask what happened that caused them to decide to use someone else. Lemme tell you folks, some of them Old People had a lot going for them!!!

What a shame, Woodnymph - although in this virtual world you can still participate in the activities with a time delay if you wish. Friends from Hamburg - I was born and raised there, still have family there now.

I'll be there. You might mistake me for a typical goth chick, but you will know be by the ankh hanging on the chain around my neck. My wardrobe spans the ages; I think I'll come Victorian for the occasion. My escort will be my brother, Dream.

Halloween is here at last, dear friends and victims!

Welcome to the Villa Diodati, which is now situated in the Carpathian mountains and transformed into a castle complete with moat and drawbridge. - Careful, don't slip; there are giant pike down there, unless the Creature of the Black Lagoon has eaten them all. - Let me introduce my husband, Dr Jekyll, before he hurries upstairs to get changed for the ball.

Would you like a tour of my humble abode before joining the festivities? Follow me across the cobbled stones of the courtyard, slippery with moss, and into the entrance hall; let my faithful servant Igor take your cloak and hat (you will not be needing them again). Ah, you've noticed the large stain on the marble floor - many a maid has scrubbed away at that cursed spot, yet it returns each night.

The majestically sweeping marble staircase leads to the first floor, where there will be enough bedrooms to accomodate everyone tonight - and for every night to come... [insane Vincent Price-style laughter echoes through the hall] Four-posters in every room, of course; chains provided on request. Beyond the first floor, the staircase is less majestic and more creaky; it leads to my husbands' laboratory which I would advise you to avoid. Unless you need recharging - for which purpose a convenient thunderstorm rages tonight.

In the corner over there - behind the suit of armour, which will come alive at midnight, just to the left of the portrait with the strangely piercing eyes - a small winding stone staircase leads to the dungeons, as you may have guessed from the muffled moans and screams.

Now follow me through this large creaking door into the library, complete with cobwebs and candelabras. The cat isn't real, but the moose's head on the wall speaks if sufficiently provoked. Over there, the red salon - do you like the decor? The entire castle has been furnished according to Gorey & Addams, my favourite interior designers. Follow the strains of Katchaturian's Masquerade to find the ballroom, and feel free to pass on musical requests to our little orchestra - just don't get too close to the harpsichord if you value your fingers.

To your left is the projection room. Currently showing is my all-time Halloween favourite, Nightmare before Christmas. Let me know if you need something scarier put on. Better still, give the movie you have brought to CloudyDays, my daughter, who is in charge of movies. If you leave it up to her, it'll be non-stop Tim Burton.

Through here, the dining hall, with a buffet laid out underneath the veiled mirrors. My caterers, Messrs Burke & Hare, have done their utmost to provide for every whim and fancy. I am sure you will find your favourite dish and drink if you search long enough. Alternatively, ask Renfield, the butler. Unfortunately the new kitchen boy, Steerpike, is a bit of a prankster and has placed the peeled grapes next to the sheep's eyeballs; I'm also not convinced...

Welcome, Death and Dream of the Endless. How fitting that you should be our first guests.

Never did I think it would take me so long to journey from my time-worn crypt to this sumptuous castle.
But the journey. My dear, I had no idea that the flying restrictions and the security checks would be so tight. I shall never fly by plane again and the Customs officials . . . so very rude.
If you find yourself in the 'Nothing to Declare' queue when you next visit Heathrow don't be surprised to be greeted by a toad.
Thank badness I still have a full skull of teeth as I had to chew my ankle off to rid myself of the chains by which I was held in my coffin.

Anyanka I do love your decor. Those live spiders just lend such an air of sophistication to the whole assemble. I agree that cobwebs are so last year.
And what is that divine smell? Oh, something your chef vomited-up earlier? Do let it breathe a little longer before you serve it; at room temperature, of course.
I wont take my cloak off if you don't mind. My old bones do feel the chill of these Autumn nights, especially as I no-longer have the scroffulous covering of skin since I started a new line in handbags . . . proving very popular with the 'out' set, I can tell you.
I'll just rattle about until the other guests arrive. Do you suppose the orchestra could play Danse Macabre for me? It brings back such miserable memories.

"Mr. TreMellyn, I'm not sure I'm fit for this company-my plain muslin gown isn't nearly fancy enough-and I'm used to me mum's plain cooking-the food looks too fancy for me-and Mr. TreMellyn, why are your eyes glowing that strange way? Why is your expression so distant and tragic? I really should get back up to the nursery, sir, the children will be wondering where I am-a waltz? I shouldn't-it isn't seemly for the governess to dance with the master...but the music is so sad and haunting-I can't seem to refuse...

Welcome, welcome!

The sun is setting now and No 2 daughter has gone trick-or-treating. I do hope she calls on that nice Mr and Mrs Vlad next door (well, Mr and Mrs'es to be precise, and also more next crag than next door, actually).

It is time for me to go and change into my customary costume for this scariest of nights - yes, you've guessed it. The fluffy bunny suit.

Right here I am, black corset and pointy shoes on. I'd like to introduce you to a dear friend of mine; Lestat de Lioncourt, IÂd be a little careful with what you think while you are around him, his little Âdark gift can be a somewhat annoying on occasion.
I myself will be entering as Alice Cullen, who can not only see the future and has a thirst for blood, but who is also an eternal teenager, I know I see you quiver in your boots and other such foot ware.

IÂm so very sorry that I was not able to make an appearance earlier in the festivities but I was simply having some fun with my dear sister, donÂt worry she is still in one piece (of sorts).

The festivities all seem to be in place and I do hope you donÂt lose (any part of) yourselves to early on in this fine dark evening.

How lovely everything is Anya! I do remember when that spot appeared. Nasty business that. I've visited your dungeons regularly over the years and feel quite at home here.

Alice, how nice to see you! I do tend to follow you around a bit, don't I?

Martha, I like your muslin gown. See, I dressed Victorian. too. So much fun for dancing. Alice, may I borrow Lestat for the Katchaturian Waltz?

Thank you, Miss...me mum made it for me right before I left to work for Mr. TreMellyn.
Oh-thank you, but I never drink spirits-oh all right, if it's just like cider-I am a bit thirsty-
take the air? On the roof? what a lovely idea-but I feel a bit dizzy to climb all those stairs-

Silly me, worrying about my darling daughter staying out so late trick-or-treating, when she was safely chained up in the dungeon all along.

Has anyone seen our friend Martha lately? Death of the Endless, surely you know where she has got to...

Ah, there is my husband. He's been hyding in his laboratory for too long. Excuse me while I avoid him.

Sorry I couldn't make the festivities. I am abit under the weather. Blame my students - we had a very scary Monday, taking them all to the zoo, then on Tuesday, going trick or treating around school. I tell you, my heart just couldn't handle the three foot high Elmos, tigers, witches and such. Much scarier then the adult kind.

anyanka, you should write a sequel to the Addams Family!

Oh, speaking of, I had planned to come as a psychotic killer. In the words of Wednesday 'They look like everyone else'

Like it, Cindy! In this virtual world, let's just say that you did come; we just didn't talk about it till now ;-)

P.S. There are days when it feels as if we are the Addams Family...

(gasp! cough! wheeze!)
"I'm so sorry to be dripping on your lovely floor-but your crazy housekeeper just tried to drown me! (shiver shake shiver)
Told me she'd find a place where I could rest until the dizziness wore off-next thing I know, she'd locked us in the cellar and kept bleating about the evils men do.

did you know your moat overflows into the windows? Good thing me mum used to toss us all in the channel for morning exercise before school. Helped me keep my girlish figure. I could keep me head above water and float out through the grate-
You'll need to be advertising for a new housekeeper, though. Sorry about that.
(gasp!) Could I borrow a robe? I hadn't realized how transparent wet muslin is! Why Mr. TreMellyn-your stare is so bold..."

So sorry, my dear - I thought I'd sacked that ghastly Mrs Danvers years ago... The moat is meant to overflow into the windows, by the way. It is a Feature. At least that's what the builders told me.