Erin came early to the Octagon House and Matthew noticed her car and he came out to greet her. He put his hand on the back of his head and scratched. "Er- I think you are a little early?" Matt was still wearing his casual clothes.
Before Erin could even answer, Ania came running down and was pulling her along. "She's ours." She smiled wickedly.
When he followed them upstairs with his eyes, he met Emmeline who was waving, "Erin came a month or so ago and asked if we would help her with her hair and make-up." Emmeline smiled and then turned and followed the two girls into the room and shutting the door behind them.
Emmeline first asked Erin to put on a chemise and the stockings before they would begin with the hair and make-up. Erin watched as Emmeline was doing the majority of the work and Ania was going in between and retrieving anything that she may need. As Erin watched her own reflection she realized she was beginning to change, it was like she was going back in time! She squealed in delight and Emmeline had to make sure that nothing was the matter before she would continue. After the hair and make-up, Emmeline helped Erin into her corset. She used the bed post to steady herself, but it was not like the movies and Emmeline wasn't going for an unconscious woman would be unable to breathe. Next came the dress and Ania and Emmeline helped Erin step into the dress buttoning up the entire thing! No zippers! This time when she looked at her reflection in the mirror she gasped. Erin touched the mirror to make sure she wasn't seeing things. She looked beautiful, but very different.
Erin turned and looked at Emmeline, "Thank you so much, Thank you!! This is absolutely perfect!"
"What about me." Called Ania.
"Thank you too, thank you both."
***
"What the?" He said to himself. Matthew could only shrug his shoulders and continue with this day he helped with chores for a bit before heading upstairs to get ready for prom, him getting ready wouldn't take nearly as long as Erin. At least that he was thinking because of the time she came over. She had yet to leave the spare room!
In the armoire towards the back there was a sharp black suit, with white vest and shirt. The jacket had tails as expected for a dance of this caliber. His pocket handkerchief was red indicating the color of Erin's dress. Emmeline also made him an ascot in the same color. He brought his hand and touched the fabric it was a beautiful shade of red. He looked at himself in the mirror. This suit had been the previous owners, but the suit oddly fit perfect with no alterations needed by Emmeline. The only thing she created was the red kerchief and ascot.
Matthew looked at the wall clock. He was a little nervous there would be so many people coming to the house. They had all begged to take pictures at the Octagon House, well the girls wanted it, saying it would be such a nice back drop for their prom pictures. Their dates obliged. Not only his friends, their dates, but their families too would be at the Octagon House. The group would be leaving from the Octagon House to head to prom. When did it all become so complicated? He knew the answer when he decided he wanted to go to school with other live human children. He let out a sigh and there was a knock at the door. When he realized it was Gregory he sat up. "Come in."
Gregory opened the door and smiled, "Looking sharp. I wished your parents could be here to see you now. I understand that this is a huge coming of age ceremony?"
"Thank you papa. Me too. I'm not sure? But all the junior and seniors are going, its more of like a big ball."
"Well, I wanted to have a chat with you before anyone ends up coming. You better treat that girl with the respect that she deserves."
"Papa, I know!" Gregory glared at the boy. "Sorry for interrupting you, but I promise I have always been respectful.
"Ania won't be going with you to this dance as from what I understand you will have plenty of chaperones. Do we need to have the birds and the bees talk?" Gregory asked. His voice and face serious.
Matthew blushed and groaned and shook his head, "No thank you papa. None of that stuff will be happening. I still have to finish college."
Gregory smiled, pleased with his answer. After a bit they both headed down to the main hall, expecting Erin to be exiting her room soon. When the door began to open to the spare bedroom; Matt's heart began to beat madly. Erin looked absolutely gorgeous, she was wearing a beautiful off the shoulders red bustle gown. Matt had to take several deep breaths before he could think again!
"You look stunning Erin." He went up and kissed her hand.
Erin blushed and watched as he put a corsage on her wrist. "You look lovely too, Matthew." He looked like a model out of a 1880s french fashion magazine. HOT!!
Slowly their friends and their dates started to arrive along with the parents. The people were looking all around the house and estate and couldn't believe they were actually here. The couples and their families began to take pictures.
Emmeline and Ania did the best they could to host the group. Gregory spoke to the parents. Matt's own ghost family didn't take pictures of the moment, they couldn't find film for their camera so they relied on the Dawsons and their pictures.
Emmeline had found that she was glad to be busy playing hostess because every time she saw the couple she felt a pang in her heart. But when she was busy, it was easy to ignore the feeling.
After a while the kids started to joke that their faces hurt from all the smiling as the limousine was coming down the drive. They would be leaving soon, thought Matt and when he glanced over at the ghosts they seemed to be ready for all of the living people to leave. He was thankful they did this for him.
***
Emmeline watched Matthew leave. He left with his girlfriend Erin, and their friends. As she watched the limousine turn out of the circle drive and head to the gates she could feel her heart breaking. Her hands formed fists at her side, wishing she wasn't feeling this tidal wave of emotions.
She wanted to scream and cry and pull her hair out. She wanted to chase after him and tell him to stop. Emmeline knew this was the beginning of the end. He was a man, he would make his way in the world. His world would get bigger, while hers would remain the same small bubble.
Emmeline wanted to call out to him, to call him back. That she didn't want him leaving with that girl. But it wasn't fair. He was alive, Erin was alive, and she was dead. He needed to be with his own kind.
Emmeline called out in pain.
BA-DUM
BA-DUM
Emmeline clutched at her heart, She was sure of it, how could she forget the feeling of a beating heart. She waited to hear it again, to feel it again.
BA-DUM
Her heartbeat was irregular at first and then it sped up. This couldn't be possible could it?
BA-DUM, BA-DUM, BA-DUM and as her heartbeat fell into a regular rhythm Emmeline fell to the floor, unconscious.
***
Somewhere on the other side of the world, an overweight man sat in a chair fooling around on his phone, when he heard something unfamiliar, silence, the pendulum was no longer swinging. He walked over to the map and the still pendulum. He smiled to himself, "I found you."