Excerpt of House of Midnight Fantasies by Kristi Gold

Maison de Minuit. The House of Midnight.

The name alone seemed ominous, but the forbidding Louisiana plantation symbolized Selene Albright Winston's first serious step toward freedom.

Gathering her courage, Selene left her sedan, apprehension shadowing every step while she walked the flag-stone path that led to the lengthy porch. Not even the whisper of a wind ruffled the leaves and only the occasional sound of a cicada disturbed the eerie silence. Ancient gnarled-finger oaks, dripping with Spanish moss, covered the lawns like sinister sentries warding off intruders. The tall grass held a cast of brown and a spattering of milk-weeds, and no flowers adorned the overgrown beds lined with withering hedges.

She stopped a few feet from the porch to study the house that seemed as if it had been abandoned, too. In many ways it had, at least superficially. The Greek Revival mansion's pale yellow facade showed definite signs of aging, and so did the shutters, trim and the six massive columns supporting the structure — all oddly painted as black as the entry sign. She hoped the interior had fared better than the exterior, otherwise not even the most curious person would dare step foot in this place. In fact, turning around and heading for safety was Selene's initial instinct. Not this time. Safety also came with a price.

When she ascended the first wooden stair leading to the entry, it groaned as if it might buckle. Yet the abrupt assault on her psyche proved to be much more disturbing.

Eyes. Ice blue eyes. Intense eyes.

Selene closed her mind as well as her own eyes against the image until it disappeared. But when she scaled the second step, the vision came back, stealing her breath and her confidence. She refused to let this happen. Refused to invite this into her world, not when she had tried so hard for years to keep it reined in.

She drew in a deep breath and raised the invisible mental shield she'd developed for self-protection, relieved to discover it didn't fail her when she took the third and final step onto the porch.

After only a slight hesitation, she rapped on the peeling black door then smoothed a hand down her tailored sleeveless red dress. Though the fabric was lightweight, she felt as if she were wearing a winter parka. She'd pulled her hair back into a band low at her nape, yet that, too, provided little relief from the relentless June heat. Of course, a solid case of nerves contributed to her discomfort, and so did the fact that no one answered her summons.

She knocked one more time, both relieved and anxious when she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. She had no idea who might be on the other side of the door. No idea if she would find friend or foe — or maybe even the owner of the disturbing eyes.

The door finally opened to a woman with keen dark eyes who appeared to be in her sixties, her black-and-silver hair styled in a short, severe cut. She wore a loose-fitting pale green shift and a guarded expression, but she didn't appear to be at all threatening. "May I help you?" she asked in a soft voice that contrasted with her sharp features.

"Are you Ms. Lanoux?" Selene asked.

"Yes, and you are?"

At least Selene was in the right place, even if the woman didn't seem to have a clue as to why she was there. "Selene Winston. I'm here about the restoration."

The woman's hand fluttered to her hair. "I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow."

When they'd spoken last Friday, Selene could have sworn they'd agreed she would interview for the job on Monday. Maybe she should return to the local inn where she'd been residing for the past ten days since her spontaneous escape from Georgia. Maybe she should consider this misunderstanding as a Do Not Enter sign. "If it's not a good time, I can come back tomorrow."

"I wouldn't hear of it," she said as she stepped aside and gestured Selene forward. "Welcome to Maison de Minuit... It's Mrs. Winston, isn't it?"

"Winston's my married name, but I'm divorced." Selene internally flinched over the bitterness that resonated in her tone. "Actually, I'd rather you call me Selene."

The woman thankfully maintained a pleasant demeanor. "And you may call me Ella. Now let's get you out of the heat."

When Selene stepped inside the wide foyer, she immediately noticed two things — the house wasn't much cooler than the porch outside, and the light was all but filtered out by heavy shutters covering the windows. A gloomy atmosphere encompassed the area, along with the scent of aged wood and musty air.

She followed Ella down the vestibule where they paused at a small parlor that proved to be as dark as the entrance, any natural light blocked by thick blue drapes. The Federal-style antiques set about the room were most likely original furnishings, and worth a fortune, Selene decided. Nothing she hadn't seen — or owned — in her former life.A life she had gladly left behind. Still, she'd always had an affinity for all things historical, and the pieces were definitely worth investigating.

"This is only one of the common areas," Ella said. "And like the rest of the house, it needs refurbishing." She fanned her face in a rapid succession of waves. "Inside and out. You would have to obtain estimates on a new cooling system and most likely a new roof, which means you'll have to find a suitable contractor."

"Wait a minute," Selene said as soon as the woman's words registered. "I had no idea the job would be quite this extensive."

"My dear, you can hire anyone you'd like," Ella said.

"Unless you have a problem supervising workers."

In reality, no, Selene didn't. She'd managed a household staff for years. Besides, she had nowhere else to be. No place to go aside from her former home, and that wasn't an option. "I can handle it, as long as I have a substantial budget to follow."

"Money is no object."

Obviously Ella Lanoux had sufficient wealth even though she wasn't at all like the well-heeled matrons Selene had known most of her life, including her own mother. Although Selene wasn't exactly comfortable with the magnitude of the restoration, she had to remember why she'd come here — to seek employment. To be her own person, make her own money. To start over.

Ella brushed her damp bangs from her forehead, then motioned Selene forward. "Follow me and we'll continue the tour." She strode down the foyer, stopped at a set of double doors and faced Selene again. "This is by far the most impressive part of the house."

With dramatic flair, Ella threw open the doors to reveal a massive circular room covered in what appeared to be original wood-plank floors. In the center of that room, a freestanding, wide red-carpeted staircase spiraled to the second floor. Selene's gaze tracked to the ceiling that showcased gold-winged cherubs flitting about a large expanse of cloud-bedecked blue sky, a chandelier dripping with crystals serving as the focal point. She'd seen this type of room before, but only in photographs that couldn't compare to witnessing the real thing with her own eyes. "This is absolutely breathtaking."

Ella smiled proudly. "It had that effect on me the first time I saw it." She pointed across the way. "The kitchen and dining room are through there. We can see those later. I'll show you the second floor now."

As she followed Ella up the stairway, her hand firmly gripping the white iron railing, Selene felt as if she were climbing toward heaven. A tranquil piece of paradise among the darkness.

When they reached the landing, Ella stopped and nodded to her left. "That corridor leads to the front of the house where you'll find two rooms. One was formerly a nursery, the other's been converted into a private office."

Heavy emphasis on private, Selene noted. She motioned to her right. "And down that way?"

"The rest of the second-floor bedrooms, including where you'll be staying if we come to an agreement."

"I would be expected to live on-site?"

"Room and board would be included while you're here."

Selene supposed it would make things more convenient. She wouldn't have to drive the ten miles or so into town, or find a suitable place to live. If she decided to accept the job. A decision not to be taken lightly, Selene thought as she trailed behind Ella, who made an immediate right into a narrow paneled hallway illuminated by the occasional dimly lit lamp mounted to the wall.

They'd only walked a few feet when Selene's attention landed straight ahead on a bronze life-size statue looming at the end of the corridor. A demonic creature complete with horns, pointy teeth and claws with a terrified, scantily clad woman in its grasp. The menacing figure definitely contrasted with the angels keeping watch over the rotunda downstairs. A classic illustration of good versus evil. Heaven opposed to hell.

Selene suddenly found herself in the grip of another vision. Unlike her first images on the entry steps, this came to her as if she were watching somewhere on the sidelines, as it always had in the past. The image of a hand sliding down her bare arm. A very large, very male hand that continued down her back, formed to her waist, drifted to her bottom, before she blinked and forced the image away. She had no idea where the vision had originated since there seemed to be no one around. And she found that more than a little troublesome.

She hadn't realized she'd come to a complete stop until Ella turned and favored her with another smile. "It's rather grotesque, isn't it? I call him Giles, after the former owner. The crazy man loved that thing, but then he was always known for being eccentric."

Eccentric wouldn't be the term Selene used to describe the former owner. Scary would be more like it. She couldn't imagine wanting the "thing" around every morning, or at bedtime. "I'm surprised he didn't take it with him." She was sorry he hadn't.

Ella laughed. "Unfortunately, it was too big to fit in his coffin."

Selene internally cringed. Was that the source of her vision — the mental musings of a ghost? That had never happened to her before. Normally she channeled the thoughts of living, breathing humans, at her own peril at certain points in her life. "I'm sorry to hear he passed away."

"Don't be," Ella said. "He was almost ninety and quite frankly, I thought he was too cantankerous to die. In fact, he had a mistress forty years his junior. She's the one who did him in."

"She killed him?" Selene couldn't disguise her distress. Ella shook her head and laughed again. "Not intentionally. Let's just say the Morrell men have virility down to a fine art. Unfortunately, Giles didn't know his limitations."

"Well, at least he left this world a happy man." Now for the question foremost on Selene's mind. "Did he pass away in this house?"

"No. He died in France." Selene's frame relaxed from relief until Ella added, "But unfortunately, this place has a reputation for tragedy."

Great. Just what Selene wanted to hear — the mansion could be home to restless spirits intent on haunting her brain. But only if she let that happen, which she wouldn't, if she could prevent it.

They continued on for a few steps until Ella stopped at a closed door. "Your quarters would be in here." She pointed toward the end of the hallway where the demon held court. "That guest room over there is closed for the time being. The current owner keeps it locked and prefers it not be disturbed."

Selene gaped for a few moments. "I thought you were the owner."

Ella frowned. "Oh, dear, I'm sorry if I gave you that impression. Adrien Morrell, Giles's grandson, inherited the plantation. I'm his assistant." Her frown melted into a cynical smile. "And his maid and cook. I also advise him from time to time, whether he asks for my advice or not."

Selene was beginning to suspect she had a lot to learn, and worried some of it might not be pleasant at all. "Does Mr. Morrell live here?" she asked.

"That's his room." Ella indicated a closed door nearby.

"It's the master suite and adjacent to your room, but I promise he won't bother you."