The Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion
By: MadameGracey

Introduction:

I guess I should start with myself. My name is Rosalie; I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1988. I am twenty-one years old. My parents are divorced they separated when I was only twelve.
I have long dark hair, green eyes. I suppose my life is relatively pleasant. Every summer I go to my grandmother’s house in New Orleans. She lives out in the country, but I always liked to call it the “Marsh lands” when I was younger. I always considered it a magical place because of the many ponds and huge willow trees. It’s beautiful there, but now that I’m older it gets gloomy.
Now my grandmother has very interesting friends with a very unusual house. A cemetery sits in their backyard. This house is Called Gracey manor, or as many call it the haunted mansion. My experience there is what I’m about to share with you. You dear reader is the first to brave my story.

There’s no turning back now.

CHAPTER 1
The Meeting

“Grandma you don’t have to take me to New Orleans, I’m Twenty-one years old, I am perfectly capable of driving there myself”
I looked at my grandmother; wrinkles outlined her face giving her a warm and aged look. Every summer she took me to her house in new Orleans. When I was little I Saw the bayou as magical. Now I thought it was Creepy and dark.

“ My dear, I though I would save you some money, after all gas is very expensive and you lost your job” my grandma said sweetly. I used to work at a local theater as a chorus girl but was fired; I guess I was not good enough. “Besides” my grandmother continued walking toward me and smiling warmly “This year we are going to stay at my old family friends home” she chuckled.

“Who, what family friend?” I asked now suddenly curious. “ The Graceys” she paused and looked to study my reaction. I shrugged “never heard of them, are they celebrities or something?” I said laughing at my grandmothers Seriousness at the situation. “No” my grandmother said coldly. “The Gracey’s or should I say Mr. George Gracey has invited us to stay as long as desired at there estate a few hours away from our home, I agreed thinking it would me a fun change”
I grabbed the car keys “ok, then we will go to the gracey’s Let’s go.”

I walked out the door my grandmother following me, Her stubby feet shuffling under the pavement of my driveway. “The graceys’ own an old southern mansion close to my home, it’s so beautiful you’ll love it dear” my grandmother said getting in her red Volkswagen.” Dear, would you please give me my car keys” I slowly handed her car keys.

She smiled and took them. “Everything packed,” she said as she started the cars engine. “ Yes” I replied buckling in. “ wonderful! Were off” she said that like she was going to Disneyland. I turned and looked out my window. I watched my apartment complex fade into nothing. This past year I have felt like something in my life was missing, maybe now I will find it

-

The drive to New Orleans was about three hours. I slept through the whole drive. I awoke to my grandmother shaking me violently. “Rosalie, wake up Hun, were here!” I slowly opened my eyes. I lost my breath as I looked out the window.
There stood an old white mansion, with four large pillars at the front. There were red rose bushes all around the exterior. There was a green house the right side of the mansion; it was connected to the mansion. I fell in love with the mansion immediately.

“It’s beautiful” I exhaled. My grandmother chuckled “ I told you so” she said. A man emerged from the mansion. He was tall skinny and wore a very wide eerie grin on his face. He wore a purple vest, white shirt and lavender tie.

He approached me and looked me top to bottom. A toothy grin appeared on his face. “Miss Rosalie I presume?” he asked elegantly. “ Yes, I am she” I responded a bit frightened by the skeleton like man. “My name is Maynard” he continued, bowing “ I am ever so delighted you made it here safely, my master will be thrilled” he laughed, his laugh sent chills up and down my spine.

Maynard turned to my grandmother “ Madame your, granddaughter is even more beautiful than you told me” he said. “My master will be absolutely smitten when he sees her” He looked at me and laughed again. I really did not like his laugh it was just plain scary.

Maynard pointed one of his bony fingers to the mansion. “ Shall we?” he asked and motioned for me to follow him. As we walked up the steps Maynard talked. “ I am the caretaker of this estate, I have worked here since I was nineteen, that shows how old I am” he laughed, I felt the urge to cover my ears but I resisted. I wish he would stop laughing.

We reached the door Maynard opened it slowly. I was instantly stuck with cold air. Even the cold could not take away from the mansions’ beauty. A grand staircase stood in the center of the main entrance. There were candelabras everywhere. The windows were covered with white lace curtains with red over layering. I found myself standing in the dead center of the room

-

“ Oh Rosalie child, I left my medication at my house. It’s only a few hours away and I must run to get it” my grandmother said to me. “Oh, ok grandma I will go with yo..” I was cut off suddenly “That will not be necessary” said a commanding voice. The voice sent chills through my whole body. “Maynard may go with your grandmother to get the medication”

I slowly turned to face the voice. A man stood at the top of the staircase. He was dressed in almost the same attire as Maynard but had a red vest and tie instead. I stood there gaping at him. He had boyish good looks. He also had dark hair with very alluring piercing blue eyes. I just stared at him he was like a dream.

I stood there just staring, absorbing him in, every detail of him. Maynard cleared his throat, as he did he broke me from my trance. “Madame, I Present master Gracey” he said, Gracey ascended down the staircase. I watched him as he walked being absorbed right back into my trance. Gracey stopped in front of me; he never for one instant broke eye contact.

“ Miss Rosalie I presume?” he said, his voice had an angelic like quality but had such command and strength behind it. “Yes” I responded awestruck. He bowed again, smiling at me. I blushed; I felt my face heating up. “ I am so glad you have decided to join me” he said, his blue eyes burned into me.
He flashed a smile; I felt my legs grow weak. I must have lost balance because I felt a falling sensation then I was in his arms. His lips were inches from mine. “Are you all right?” he asked with urgency in his voice. I struggled to find words, “yes, I’m fine” I breathed. He helped me to my feet slowly.

“ Oh, don’t you two look wonders together” my grandmother said from the entrance of the mansion. I felt myself blush and heat rushed through me. “Come Madame I will escort you to your home” Maynard said to my grandmother. “All right, be good Rosalie I will be back very soon” My grandmother and Maynard left shutting the massive door behind them
Gracey laughed, my heart started to pound.

“May I” Gracey paused turning to me. “Escort you to dinner?” he finished. “Yes!” I answered a little to excitedly. He chuckled and offered his arm. I slowly took it, as soon as I touched him; I felt heat rushing through my entire body.
Yet something in the back of my mind sensed an ominous feeling of despair. There was a tragic history here. But all my thoughts disappeared when Gracey sat me at my table. All I could do was gaze at him I was hopeless.