Chapter 198 - The House Warming Party

Mary clapped in excitement in the carriage. Across from her was the insincere smiling Dante and the scowling Mathias. Sitting next to her was William who had an indifferent look on his face. Mary giggled, "I am so excited to see Seri's new place. I bet it's going to beautiful and wonderful. It will be perfectly splendid, I am sure of it."

William sighed, "It will probably be boring like her room has always been."

Dante couldn't help but agree, "She does seem to like the color gray a little too much."

Mary fidgeted in excitement, "We are getting close, aren't we?"

Mathias didn't speak, but looked out the window. His body immediately froze. Dante looked at his frightened expression, "What is it?"

They all leaned forward quickly to see what he was looking at so closely. When they realized just where Seri decided to live, they froze immediately. When she had mentioned she purchased a mansion on a hill, they didn't think she meant it literally.

Her mansion was in the middle of a dreary forest outside of town. Although it was still close to the red light district, the mansion itself was very isolated. It rested on top of a hill overlooking the entire town. This mansion had been abandoned for many years. The reason behind this was simple.

It had a terrifying history.

It was said that the first owner of the mansion believed they could reach immortality by drinking the blood of pure maidens. Hundreds of commoners were killed because the person who owned this mansion was a duke. As such, the duke was able to get away with killing commoners. However, when he decided to drink the blood of the princess, he was sentenced to death.

They say his ghost still roamed the halls. If one would encounter it, he would suck their blood until they died from blood loss.

After that, another influential family moved in. The two nobles had many children. One night, the mother suddenly grabbed an axe and chopped off every person's head who was there at the time. She started with the younger children and even killed all of the servants. Then she drank poison and fell asleep forever next to their corpses.

It is said that you can still hear the children laugh as they play down the long corridors.

After this, many high ranking nobles moved in the the mansion. However, each one died horrifically or was murdered. Thus, many locals believed the mansion to be cursed. After that, no one dared to occupy the mansion.

That was, until Seri had the brilliant idea to purchase it.

They pulled up to the house and got out of the carriage. Everyone except Dante looked at the building with a frightened expression. Another carriage pulled up and Artie got off followed by Lucius, and Millie. Artie gulped, "Please tell me we went to the wrong address..."

A crow cawed on a tree branch next to them making everyone jump. The crow seemed to be staring them down ready to pounce and peck out their eyeballs.

"It's the right place." Millie giggled and started skipping towards the door. When she noticed the others not following, she turned to them with a chilling smile. "Well hurry up. Seri's parents and Lona are already inside waiting."

The group walked inside reluctantly.

_________

"Welcome to my home!" I announced with outstretched arms, "Millie's siblings have prepared delicious snacks for us. I really hope you enjoy them."

I smacked the concrete walls, "Isn't it incredible?! I got a really good deal buying this estate!"

William gulped as he looked around the eerie room with fear, "I wonder why..."

Artie shook slightly, "D-Don't you know what mansion this is?!"

I nodded, "Yes. It's my mansion."

"NO! It's the haunted mansion of the Imperial city!!! There is a reason it's been abandoned for so many years!!!" Artie shouted wanting to cry. Lucius was also frightened, so he inched even closer to Artie until he was practically in his arms.

I rolled my eyes, "It's not scary. I've already spent several nights here with a few servants. Nothing unexplainable has happened to any of us."

Lucius looked at me while trying to hide his fear, "So... No feelings of murder?"

I shook my head, "None that haven't already been present."

Artie looked at me closely, "No ghosts?"

"None." I sighed as I looked at their frightened faces. The only two who looked completely calm were Millie and Dante. That was probably because they were far scarier than any ghost. I flipped my hair, "Do you really believe in superstitions? How childish."

Lucius spoke in a proud voice, "I'm not superstitious!"

I smiled slyly, "I'm glad to hear it."

Oliver hopped towards us from another corridor, "Sister! Sister!"

I turned to him with a smile, "What is it Oliver?"

Oliver handed me an antique toy, "The other little boy here gave me this toy! Isn't it cool?"

I took it from him with my eyebrows pinched together in confusion. "What little boy, Oliver? There are no other little boys here."

Oliver stuck out his lip, "Yes there was! Look! He's standing right there!"

Oliver pointed to a spot and we all looked over frozen in fear. Lucius and Artie gulped simultaneously and held each other closely. William had an indifferent look, but one could tell he was shaking. Mathias looked at the spot stiff and unmoving. Mary whimpered and grabbed onto William in a panic, "Seri? What is he talking about?"

Just then, childish echoes reverberated off of the walls in the hallway.

Mathias quickly fainted. William, Mary, Artie, and Lucius screamed and darted away from the hallway leaving behind Oliver, Dante, Millie, and me. I chuckled and bent down to Oliver to give him a high-five, "Good job Oliver."

Oliver grinned, "Seri. Your friends are stupid. I can't believe they fell for that."

I chuckled, "Yeah, make sure you tell them that too."

Oliver gave a firm nod, "Of course I will. Stupid people must be told they are stupid or else they will never learn."

I rubbed the top of his head, "Good boy."

Dante and Millie looked at us in disbelief. Joel skipped out of the hallway, "Hello~"

I smiled as I watched Joel walk out of the hallway, "Nice one Joel. That childish laugh was really convincing."

He looked at me with a confused smile, "Childish laugh? What do you mean?"

"Didn't you just... Laugh like a child to scare them?"

Joel shook his head, "I don't know what you mean. I just came out of a room to find you all here."

"..."

Without any further explanation, Joel scurried off to go find his pregnant wife. I quickly pushed the others away while ignoring the questionable event that had just occurred. I stopped one servant, "Could you go find the ones who ran off? This place is so big, I would hate for them to get lost." I paused and looked at the fainted Mathias, "And if someone could drag Mathias somewhere, that would be great."

The servant bowed, "Right away my lady."

I smiled at Dante and Millie as I picked up Oliver, "Would you two like a tour?"

Dante spoke, "I would like to see where our room is."

My face twitched, "Our room?"

Millie interrupted, "No! Show me to the room where I will be permanently staying."

I looked at her in disbelief, "Permanently? What are you talking about?!"

She giggled, "Well I'm going to be living here with you from now on."

"What?! Why would you live with me?!"

"Well if I don't live with you, where else could I stay?" She giggled and covered her mouth elegantly, "Do you think that I would live underground in my trophy room?"

"..."

That's exactly what I thought.

Dante glared at Millie, "If she is staying then I am moving in immediately."

I shook my head quickly, "No. No one is moving in."

Millie spoke calmly, "Seri. What if someone tries to break in and kidnap you again?"

Dante leaned close to me, "What if someone tries to kill you again?"

Under the sudden barrage of what ifs from Millie and Dante, I groaned. "Fine, Fine! You both can stay here. I don't care anymore."

Oliver looked up at me while I held him in my arms. He answered innocently, "Sister. You are a pushover when it comes to these two."

I squeezed his cheeks, "Hush. I'm also a pushover when it comes to you as well." He giggled in my arms.

I proceeded to show the two smug bastards around my new mansion. It was definitely a bit older and because of that it had a spooky presence, but I thought it was perfect. What made it so great was that the price was so cheap! I couldn't believe how much money I saved!!! Not to mention it is connected to the underground tunnels.

Nevermind the ghost stories. Even if they were real, it's not like I'm afraid of ghosts or anything. Hell. I'm technically dead myself! Why do I need to fear dead people?

After I finished the tour, and Dante and Millie picked out their own rooms, I escorted them back to the dining room where dinner was almost ready. The servants had collected everyone and escorted them back to the dining room. They looked pale as the ghost I so claimed had scared them. My father death glared Dante from the other side of the table. Luckily my father had no idea that I had just gained a new roommate. If he knew, then maybe the mansion would have another ghost story added to it.

William tsked as the servants brought out the food, "I can't believe you played a prank on us."

I took a bite and spoke with my mouth full, "Really? I thought you would be used to it by now."

William glared at me, "I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to Oliver."

Oliver sat next to my mother and looked up with an innocent expression, "It's not my fault you're stupid and fell for it."

"Oliver!" My mother threw him a glare. He only shrugged and continued to eat his meal.

William sighed, "I think he has been influenced by Seri too much..."

My mother apologized quickly, "Please forgive him, Prince William. It's my fault for not properly teaching him manners."

Oliver smiled, "Sister teaches me manners."

My mother frowned at him, "Which is exactly the problem."

William looked at me, "Why would you even buy this mansion? It is incredibly creepy."

Mary nodded quickly with tears in her eyes, "Yes! It is really scary!! I get goosebumps from just being here..."

I rolled my eyes, "It's not creepy. I actually find it quite soothing. You two are just babies who believe in superstitions."

A painting suddenly fell off the wall on it's own and crashed on the floor. We all froze in our seats. Then, everyone turned to glare at me.

I held up my hands to proclaim my innocence, "That time it wasn't me."

Mathias fainted, landing face first on his plate.

Mary started crying, "Why would you live here?! It's so terrifying!!!"

Everyone started fidgeting and shouting from fear. I rubbed my forehead as I tried to ignore their panic and complaints.

Lona cleared her throat, "Um. Seri?"

I looked at Lona and rolled my eyes, "Relax. There's no such things as ghosts."

"It's not that." She replied calmly.

"What is it then?"

"My water just broke."

"..."