All Hallow's Eve Part I : The Tome

Marjorie was sorting books just like she did every day about this time after her morning break.

She'd been a librarian now for 35 years and if anyone was ever the definition of Librarian it was Marjorie. She was exacting, everything in her life was ordered; from her clothes in her closet to her food in the pantry, someone even joked once that she probably used the Dewey Decimal system to organize her underwear drawer, Marjorie did not laugh, she wasn't a person given to light humor and the truth was she actually used an adaptation for that particular part of her wardrobe. She was what you might describe as a borderline OCD personality and order and consistency was her currency in life.

Her need for rigidity and absolute order left no room for any deviation and was one of the major reasons why her husband had left her 10 years ago and, why honestly she didn't miss him, she'd thought when they met it was love, but she knew pretty quickly now that it had just been a brief moment in time, a passing fire and that ember had quickly died out and they'd had a largely loveless mechanical marriage, in fact she had been mostly relieved when he left, it meant there was no one disrupting her order at home, now the only disorder in her life was at the library and she could cope with that, it was her job.

Of course there were always times when even the library started to test her patience and the month of October was one of them, she was always supposed to do some sort of Halloween promotion to encourage younger people to make use of their resources and borrow some of their books, the reading she could get behind, she'd already selected several classic works a week as her "top" picks for the whole month but she was expected to decorate and invite some of the Underclassmen from the local college to help drum up interest in their facilities. She resented having to deface her pristine, precious, perfect library and then kowtow to some shallow stupid kids to curry favor with the donors but the library needed the money, without the donors Marjory shuddered to think what might happen, times were tough, money was low and she'd already had to let go her two assistant librarians.

Whilst Marjorie was lost in thought about the Halloween problem she failed to notice someone walking up behind her. 

"Excuse me Marjorie" 

Marjorie jumped caught out by surprise from her moment's thought, but even worse she hated informality, but it was Andrew the lonely little undersized 18 year old Freshman kid who hung out at the library

"Andrew how many times have I told you? It's Ms Scully, informality is not acceptable here in the library" she was a little rougher on him than usual owing to her sudden shock

"Sorry Ms Scully I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help you?"

No there was nothing Andrew could do usefully but Marjory knew what his real motivation was, she knew he was being bullied by some of the more popular kids and that e saw the library as a sanctuary and Ms Scully as the sanctuary keeper, she couldn't turn him away. 

"Here Andrew you can stack these returns on the shelves, you remember the system right?"

"Yes Ms Scully, you can rely on me I won't let you down"

He was a good kid thought Marjory but he was so pathetic, he needed to be more assertive and more precise, he reminded her of a younger version of her insipid ex husband, but she knew that wasn't his fault

Andrew wandered into the stacks like he was on a mission whilst Marjory set off in the opposite direction. 

An hour later Marjory had returned to the front counter and was checking out some books for a patron

"I hope you enjoy your selections Mr Wills, remember they're due back in one month, if you need extra time this time bring them in and I'll extend the loan period"

"Of course, thank you again and have a great day"

"You too"

She smiled whilst inside knowing she'd just wasted her breath as usual, he was a serial overdue borrower and never returned books on time worse than that she knew he dog-eared his pages and she wasn't sure he had even read half the books he borrowed, she wished she could limit him to one book at a time but she had to follow library policy.

"Ms Scully" Andrew scurried back to the desk excitedly "Ms Scully I've finished and I found something"

She rolled her eyes, good now when he leaves I can retrace his steps and fix all the mistakes, she looked up and smiled  

"Thank you Andrew, now, what was it that you found?"

"This, book, it was on the shelf in the self help section, but it didn't have a code on it and it looks like it's written in a foreign language so I couldn't make out the title or author, I got a sense you'd know where it belonged"

She inwardly sighed, someone had probably just thrown it back after deciding they didn't want to borrow it, why were people so inconsiderate, she sighed and looked down at the book, now it was her problem, why was everything always her problem

A momentary confusion hit her, this wasn't one of her books was it? It may sound strange but these books were her friends, she knew almost all of them by sight and she would definitely have remembered one that looked as distinct as this one.....wouldn't she? Yes there's no way she'd forget a book as distinctive as this one, it had a lock and was bound in a heavy dark leather, but something seemed familiar about it, it was covered in what she would have guessed were runes, she felt a surge of need to explore the book more when she became overwhelmed with a sudden dizziness

"Mistress you were gone for such a long time this time"

"What Andrew?

"I didn't say anything Ms Scully"

"It's rude to make fun of me Andrew Paulson"

"I missed you"

The dizziness hit her again Marjory was shaken and felt weak for a second, she clutched at the counter as she felt an energy radiate from from the book and her knees weakened, Andrew reached out and grabbed her to stop her from toppling over. 

"Don't touch me you worthless worm!" Marjory snapped

What had she said, the words had erupted out of her, she would never talk to a patron like that, even one as miserably useless as Andrew 

"I'm so sorry Ms Scully, I thought you were going to fall over, I didn't mean anything, I just...."

"I'm sorry Andrew I just had a moment, I didn't mean to lash out like that sweetheart, I think I'm going to close the library early today and rest, it's only an hour until closing, why don't you come back tomorrow and I'll let you help me decorate for All Hallow's Eve"

"Okay, I...I'll ll see you tomorrow" Andrew paused at the door and turned "are you sure you're okay Ms Scully"

"Yes I'm already feeling much better Andrew, thank you for your concern, I just need some time alone and something to eat" she ushered Andrew out of the door "I look forward to seeing you in the morning"

She closed the door and began locking it before he could respond

Andrew walked away disturbed at the events that had unfolded but happy his place of sanctuary would be waiting for him in the morning and that he got to decorate for Halloween, he was excited, he never got to celebrate i

Halloween normally as his family was devoutly Christian and believed it was the work of Satan. 

At the same time Ms Scully smiled to herself contentedly as she went to investigate her new book some more.

Marjorie picked up the book from the counter carefully and carried it back to her private office, she had no intention of going home yet she had to investigate this tome further. Walking into the office she set the book down on her desk and got a cup of tea as she prepared for a long evening's work. 

Marjorie opened the front cover and looked at the ancient pages with their indecipherable language, she thought she heard the sound of wind but that wasn't possible she was in a room deep in the library, goosebumps rose up all on her body and a shiver ran down her spine, she buttoned up her cardigan. 

"Finally alone together with my Mistress"

Marjorie jumped to her feet

"Who is that" she spoke in her harshest libertarian tone "you know you're not allowed to be in the library after closing"

"I've always been here and you closed early tonight, why was that my Mistress"

"I wasn't feeling well not that it's any of your business, now show yourself or I'm calling the police"

"You used to be a much better liar and you will be again, and you wouldn't want to see me yet I promise you Mistress"

"It is Ms Scully and I've had quite enough of you" she picked up her phone "I gave you a chance now I'm calling the..." she paused as she realized the line was dead ".. cops" she bit her lip. 

She was in the library with some crazy person who must have cut the phone lines.

"Do you want to know a little secret?"

"No, I want you to leave me alone and get out of my library"

"Hahaha" the voice laughed maniacally "...oh Marjory you still haven't guessed, how naiive you always are"

Marjory was feeling in her purse for her cellphone when she felt the cold metal of the 9mm handgun she'd bought for protection when her husband had left, she'd never had cause to use it before but tonight she was glad she had it.  She gripped the gun and scanned the room looking this maniac

"Andrew didn't hear me did he?"

She didn't respond, she was waiting for the person who owned this voice to show themselves, she got up and quietly started to stalk the room

"Only you can hear me Mistress"

She was going to find this person and call the cops, then a realization hit her, oh my God she was having a nervous breakdown

"Very good, but no you are not going insane Mistress you are in fact quite sane, although as you awaken others may try to paint you as such"

Marjory turned the corner and saw a figure looking at her, they were holding something,  she knew it, this mad person was going to kill her. She squeezed off 3 shots into the mirror at the end of the corridor before she realized her mistake.

"Oh my God I am going crazy, the police will be here soon now" she started to cry silently, tears rolling down her face 

"ENOUGH, no more games now Mistress" the voice was much more severe "and God had nothing to do with this, if he exists he's an absentee landlord at best" the voice calmed, "very good shooting though, that would have been three in the head had that mirror been a person, you still have your instincts I see"

Who am I, I've only shot at the range and was terrible, when I catch a spider I take it outside but now I tried to kill someone, I'm going crazy. 

Marjory didn't know what to do so she locked her office doors confident that she was the only person in the room and sat down at her desk awaiting for the police to arrive responding to the gunfire, someone must have heard this was a residential area. 

"Are you satisfied we're alone now?" Marjory shook her head in resignation "this is our book, shall we read it together Mistress?"

Defeated Marjory started to turn the pages

"We wrote this together many moons ago when we were first awakened"

A black smoke started to rise around her

"You were a young lady in love, with the wrong man, you didn't know it but he cheated on you, ON YOU!  You found out after he had taken your heart, stolen any wealth, defiled you, and left you for his bitch. You were heartbroken, you couldn't think of anything else for days, weeks, months and then your sorrow started to twist and blacken into a need for revenge and so you started to plot and scheme"

Marjory felt an anger rising in her, an empathy for this poor jilted lover and the pain and anger she must have felt, she saw her ex husband with his new wife, smiling and happy, she felt disgust for him and an urge to have revenge upon him. As her anger grew she started to see the images of the story playing in her mind like the most wonderful movie. 

"Once you made our mind up to seek revenge you spent all of your time and remaining money looking for the ideal path, after many moons you found a sorceress who promised you power in exchange for service, she could not be the vessel to carry out the deed but you could if we'd grant her the boon of your service, you accepted without hesitation not knowing the truth of what would happen. On the night when Demons walk amongst men she performed the ritual and placed a summoning spell upon you"

Marjory's skin grew cold and goosebumps raised on her flesh.

"Under the moon the sorceress cast the spell and a shadow fell upon you, it formed into a snake writhing around you, you were terrified but knew you could bare this in exchange for your desires. The black snake caressed your body teasing you in ways your traitorous lover never could, after a long time the snake's head found your sex and started to taste your wetness"

It reared up suddenly and started malevolently at the sorceress 

"WHAT IS THIS FILTH SORCERESS, DO YOU MEAN TO TRICK ME?"

"No Balzemuth it is as promised"

"YOU LIE SHE HAS LAIN WITH A MAN"

"I did not know, I promise, I will find another"

"IT IS TOO LATE I HAVE BEEN SUMMONED AND I DEMAND A YOUNG VIRGIN, YOU HAVE NEVER GIVEN IN TO THE SINS OF THE FLESH HAVE YOU?"

"No Balzemuth, but I'm an old woman"

"I JUST NEED YOUR PURITY I DON'T NEED ONLY YOU"

The forest burst with light, wind and power, the sorceress screamed and in a blink had disappeared. We felt weird something new was inside us, we were two where one had lain, Balzemuth had merged our essences, we lay still entwined with the Demon as he started to lick us and writhe inside us, filling us in an unholy way, taking our new virginity, we were born anew screaming in the fire of a powerful orgasm.

"WITH YOUR SACRIFICES YOU ARE NOW MY SERVANTS NOW, YOU MAY HAVE YOUR REVENGE ON THAT WORM"

"We did not wait to take our revenge. The very next evening, a country away, a ravenous Wolf descended on your traitorous ex lover and cornered him and his new wife in the forest out for an evening walk, the Wolf backed them up against a tree and it attacked him ripping his organ from him, he would never need it again. As he lay on the floor his life's blood ebbing from him the Wolf set upon his defenseless bride ripping her throat out and then mutilating the lifeless body in an orgy of bloodlust, making the corpse unrecognizable as once female let alone human, the traitor took his last breath as he saw the Wolf raise up on to two legs and turn back into his spurned lover, we left but not before turning once more to look upon the carnage we'd wrought and giggled with a satisfied smirk on our face, you shouldn't have betrayed me lover, I own your souls now, he gurgled his last as he drowned in his own blood crying"

Marjory felt horror and a nagging sense of satisfaction at this gory story, she was growing tired despite her terror at the disembodied voice and the trauma of her visions she felt her eyelids starting to droop.

The smoke swirled around her as her eyes closed, she fell into a fitful sleep at her desk as the smoke began to shroud her body then disappear inside her. 

Inside her head the voice spoke

"Tonight we dream as one again Mistress, we are Belladonna"