Lydia Hunter's Story

The manor was lit up with lights of all colors and music played loudly in the ballroom. The whole family was on the first floor, dressed up in their gowns and tuxedos. Many of the guests had already arrived, and some still staggered in. The party was lively and festive, just like any other of their parties. Tall men flanked the front door, watching to make sure that only invited guests entered. Servants ran through through the crowds, serving drinks and food. Little Conner plug his ears and walked around the ballroom, knowing he was not allowed anywhere else in the house. He was upset with the fact that he had to be in the room, but he promised his mother that this year, for the the 300th anniversary. Conner watched as a servant with a tray of drink towards him and as the man passed him, the little boy reached up and grabbed a drink without the man noticing.

He looked at the cup and then up at the other guests. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves. He saw his mother fluttering around, meeting the guests and welcoming back past guests. His father was busy drinking with his old pals. Conner looked around to notice that there were ghosts here too. He could tell the difference between the ghosts and the living because the dead tended to be slightly transparent. Conner stood on the edge of the room, hoping one would come talk to him, since he was a bit lonely, but he knew the ghosts did whatever they wanted. He looked back down at the drink, thinking about drinking it. Last time he had some, he had turned into a whole other person... but he was bored right now and he needed something to get rid of that feeling.

Lydia sighed and finished her second flute of champagne. She flipped back her light blonde hair, loose curls brushing the middle of her back when she did so. Her aunt had already complained once tonight about her not conversing or even showing an inkling of kindness to the guests. In fact, for the ones that were already present, most of them told the older woman that Lydia seemed...cold. Lydia nearly scoffed at that, frowning back the small amount of hurt that came with such thoughts. She wasn't cold at all. It wasn't her fault that she didn't want to be here.

Lydia brushed a gentle hand over her gown, feeling the cool satiny material slide against her warm skin. To be completely honest, she had planned to wear a random dress and flats. But, naturally, her family was beyond livid and her aunt went into a tirade until Lydia succumbed. That in itself was a surprise because Lydia never backed down in an argument and would sceam her point across if necessary. But that's just how she felt about this party and every other party; she didn't care. She didn't care that people had fun. She didn't care that apparently, she was one of the most gorgeous women tonight. None of that mattered.

"Another," she called for the server and he took her empty flute. She grabbed a new one. As she took a dainty sip, she glanced at the front door to see an entirely new group of young people. Glancing at her aunt who gave her a pointed look, Lydia walked towards the entrance and smiled at the guests as genuinely as she could, dimples forming in her cheeks. "Welcome to Hunter Mansion. Please, come. Enjoy yourselves." She gave the group a wink, glancing at the girl who wore a red gown as well before walking back to the rest of the guests. She even managed to earn an approving smile from her aunt. Now, if only this night could by a little faster.

Angie glanced around the room, surveying the coming and goings of guest and ghosts alike. The corner in which she stood smelled profusely of smoke thanks to her unwelcome friend, Charlie. Even now the apparition had ghostly cigarette perched on his lips. She never had very much to say and she supposed that was why Charlie preferred her company to that of the child medium, Conner.

To Charlie, she was his calm in the storm. Sure he enjoyed partying and flirting, even if nobody could see him, but when he got tired of listening to the other ghost's chatters and moans, he always sought out Angie for some peace. He liked to think of himself as her guardian ghost. He protected her from the more malicious spirits, even if she never realized or acknowledged it. He even tried on more than one occasion to stop living men from approaching her. As a matter of fact, he thwarted at least five men from approaching her at this party alone. She was making it rather difficult with the dress that she was wearing. Even Charlie had a hard time keeping his eyes off of her.

If Angie had any say in what she would wear, it would definitely not be this. In fact, if she ever had any say at all about her life, she wouldn't even be here. She would be in her room, watching the new Game of Thrones episode that she was currently recording.

As Angie scanned the room, she looked to Conner, the boy with the same gift she possessed. A ghost she had seen around often was pestering him, probably for the same reason he had tried to pester her before Charlie told him to "Buzz off, square." Conner was impressionable sometimes, but he was a good kid, no matter how creepy he looked. The ghost, Duncan she thought, seemed to finally reel the boy into helping him. As the child and apparition were having their silent conversations, her aunt Gabrielle was talking to a tall man with blond hair. The man had obvious twitches, at least to her, and it didn't take her very long to deduce that he was a junkie. After the man left to find the nearest bathroom, a girl around her age approached her aunt, introducing herself and being altogether peppy and brown-nosing. Angie turned to Charlie and mimicked vomiting to which Charlie gave a chuckle in reply. She saw her cousin Lydia and waved at her, more out of politeness than an actual call for her attention.

Angie caught her mother's eyes from across the room. Margaret Hunter had always hoped Angie would bloom into a Hunter woman to be proud of. To her dismay, Angie was as different from her family as anyone could be. Margaret gave her a look that said "Socialize-Or-Else" Angie, fearing punishment, went to the nearest guest she could find. Imagine her displeasure to find it was the junkie from before, stoned, having gotten his fix.

"Hello sir, my name is Angelina Hunter. We Hunter's are so pleased that you could make it to our party." she said to the man, offering a supremely fake smile. At that moment a waiter stopped by, champagne on his platter. Angie grabbed one from the tray and handed it to the man. "Here you go." Under her breath she whispered to him, "You might want to wipe your nose, you have residue." She gave another fake smile and went on to the next guest, Charlie following close behind her.

Lydia was dancing. Yes, Lydia - the person who claimed that she hasn't wanted to be here - was dancing. She had not planned it nor was she not enjoying herself. Contraire to popular belief, Lydia loved to dance. Perhaps it was a love of the spontaneous dance or maybe even being less formal, but she loved it nonetheless. And it was a sight to her enjoying herself! Long blonde curls whirled around her as her partner - a soon-to-be business partner of her father's - twirled her. A genuine smile appeared on her face, the barest hint of dimples forming in her high cheeks. She laughed charmingly, no doubt dispelling the rumor that she was unfeeling.

"Alright, Mr. Hastings," she said breathlessly. "I think that's enough dancing for this girl. But I promise - I'll save you the last dance. Pinky promise." The older man kissed her knuckles gently before laughing heartily. It was sad, in a way, that she had only danced with him to save face for her father - to be warm and friendly to appease a man that could actually take a lot of her father's money. She had actually enjoyed herself. Lydia sighed and grabbed a glass of water from a nearby tray. She took a sip, icy blue eyes scanning the crowd for more family and any other familiar faces. Her gaze fell upon her aunt and her son, Conner. In all honesty, the boy shouldn't have had to come. This wasn't a scene for her little cousin; he wasn't good with groups of people. Her eyes then caught sight of her cousin Angie, who waved. Lydia wiggled her fingers in response. Sighing again, she approached a servant carrying a tray of spinach parmeasean crostini. Lydia smiled cordially before getting one on a napkin.

Now, for the rest of the night to go by.

Duncan was lost in his thoughts as she talked about the girl. Conner almost wanted to punch the guy, but held back considering he couldn't touch him unless he wanted to be touched. Ghosts were weird creatures. "So will you help me find her?" The guy asked him, and Conner nodded. "Sure. As long as you don't get lost in your thoughts again like that."

Conner heard his mother sigh as the girl left and moved to put him down. She crouched doe to look at her son at eye level and said to him, "I need you to be kind to the guests, baby. It's just for today. I only ask of this only today, okay sweetie?" Conner nodded, his face softening as his mother spoke. He loved his mothers, and when she confronted him about his behavior, he was upset to have disappointed her. "Sorry mother." She sighed gently, kissed his forehead and tussled his hair as she stood and walked off.

Conner turned around to face Duncan again. "I know her, actually." He turned around and walked off. "I don't really know where she is though-" He stopped to look at Lydia, who stood close to him, looking around. She seemed a little troubled. "Hold on." He said to Duncan. Conner stepped to her and tugged on her dress. "Lydia... are you okay?"

The boy nodded. "Sure," he said. "As long as you don't get lost in your thoughts again like that." Duncan couldn't help the huge grin that spread across his face.

"I've been dead for almost two hundred years," he replied, still smiling. "I'm lost in more than just my thoughts." The brown-nosing woman sashayed off to the dance floor, and Conner's mother set him down with a sigh. She gently chided him, and he apologized. When she walked away, Conner turned back to face Duncan.

"I know her, actually," the boy stated. He spun around and started walking, forcing Duncan to follow him.

"Really? It's been so long since I've seen her," Duncan said.

"I don't really know where she is though-" Conner cut off suddenly, staring at a blonde woman.

"Wait, but you know her," Duncan insisted. "I could see her again? Finally?"

"Hold on," the boy told him. He crossed his arms and sighed, tapping his foot impatiently. He'd been waiting for almost two hundred years, but all of a sudden it felt like if he waited any longer, he would burst. He didn't want to be still, so he fiddled with the buttons on his waistcoat while Conner talked to his cousin.

Lydia blinked in surprise when she heard Conner calling her. She had been in her own world, lost in a sea of boredom, irritation and a strong desire to leave and not give a damn about appearances. She think she saw one of the older ladies turn their noses up at her for her attitude. If Lydia had a penny for every time she thought about how much she'd give a damn, she'd be living off of her own fortune and not the family's. She glanced down at him and painted a brilliant smile on her face.

"Yeah, kiddo. Just...not...in a party mood," she admitted and ruffled his hair affectionately. "I hope you're having a little fun. I know that big parties like this aren't always the best setting for kids." A frown formed on Lydia's face as she raised her gaze to see her father descending one of the staircases, swamped by two of those whores of his. She gave him a frosty smile before returning to Conner. "Look, tell Auntie I'm going outside. I'm taking a breather, alright?" Lydia kissed his forehead gently before walking away.

Lydia headed out one of the doors slyly, going past Angie on her way out. She didn't really care at this point who saw her. She walked down the hallway, some paranoid part of her glancing around her in fear. After a few moments, she reached one of the balconies and stepped out onto it, taking in a big gulp of cool night air.

Lydia turned to look down on Conner and said, "Yeah, kiddo. Just...not...in a party mood," she admitted and ruffled his hair affectionately. "I hope you're having a little fun. I know that big parties like this aren't always the best setting for kids." A sudden frown appeared on her face as she noticed her father come down the stairs with two women. Conner looked at her father, his uncle and the only member of the family that he had beef with, with great dislike. Almost like heat vision burning through his uncle's chest, the man looked at Conner briefly, only to ignore the kid. Conner was pulled out of focus when his cousin spoke again."Look, tell Auntie I'm going outside. I'm taking a breather, alright?" Conner nodded as Lydia kissed his forehead gently and walked away.

Conner sighed as he turned to look at Duncan. "Well then. Where have you not looked around the house?" Conner asked him as he lead the way out of the crowd. His mother might be upset when she realized her son was not at the party, but Conner was itching to leave the place. He craved some where quiet and less crowded. And people were staring at him as he talked to Duncan. They couldn't see or hear the guy so it made Conner look like he was talking to an imaginary friends at age 12.

Duncan watched the exchange with very little interest and much impatience. After so long of not seeing Annabelle, he had finally been given a glimmer of hope to meet with her again. He scowled and tapped his foot. The woman, Lydia, Conner had called her, kissed the boy's forehead and left the two alone. Not that she knew there were two people there.

Conner sighed, turning toward Duncan. "Well then," he said, starting to weave through the crowd. "Where have you not looked around the house?"

Duncan was taken aback. That was a question. Despite being a guest at a few of the parties and the chosen suitor of a very popular Hunter girl, he was far from an expert on the mansion. "I don't know," he admitted. "Every time I look, I get lost." He gave a sheepish chuckle. "Being dead really doesn't help your focus." Once again, his aforementioned focus was pulled elsewhere. "You know, people are looking at you strangely."