The Bloomer Legacy: 8.32 Bad Luck

The ceremony was short and sweet – both Peyton and Grady liked to get to the point. But the guests may have still been a little bit misty nonetheless. Hard to say whether it was due to the gorgeous surroundings, or the way the bride and groom were perfect for each other.

Pauline hugged her father afterwards. “That’s two out of three daughters married for you,” she beamed happily. “Hallie and our kids seem to be getting along great by the way, I saw them all playing by the maze earlier.”

“That’s good to hear,” Paolo said with a strange sadness in his voice. “She’ll need friends…”

“What do you mean, dad?”

“Hallie is a little miracle, that’s for sure,” Candy told Pauline as she sat down. “But look at us. Two out of three daughters married… But we’ll never will make it to Hallie’s wedding.”

“Candy, how can you say that!?”

“It’s true,” Paolo nodded. “We probably won’t even see her through to her teenage years.”

“I will not have you two speaking like that! I won’t hear it,” Pauline clenched her fists.

“Now then, let’s not forget why we’re all here,” Yenn reminded them all gently. “It’s a happy day today. And it’s not about any of us.”

“You’re right,” Pauline sighed. “I’m sorry.”

“Hey guys,” the bride greeted them with blissful ignorance. “What are you talking about?”

“We’re being old and boring,” Paolo told her brightly. “Now, shall we get this party started?”

“It’s about time!” Peyton nodded happily.

The newlyweds tossed out the portable DJ set and bar, reminding everyone once again that this was no typical princess wedding. All the guests, old, young, and young in spirit started dancing.

Seraphina didn’t approve. Her wedding here would be way classier!

“Hey, look at that!” her aunt Hallie pointed towards the piano.

“It’s flying!”

“Ugh, it’s those pesky ghosts, isn’t it?” Seraphina made a long face.

“Why do you hate ghosts so much?”

“The ruin the fairy tale!”

“Fairy tales can have ghosts in them! And there can be fairy tales about ghosts too,” Hallie objected. “You’d think with our family history you’d know that…”

“OUR family history?” Seraphina’s eyes narrowed. “You mean MY family! You’re not even a Bloomer! What do you know?”

“Are you always this mean?”

“Are you always this lame?”

Hallie gave up. “Let’s find the others…”

Vito watched the mist fill the labyrinth entrance. “Cool.”

“Vito!” Carly caught up to her brother, out of breath.

“Weren’t you listening to the ghosts? They sad it’s bad luck to go to the maze at night!” she scolded him.

“Lady Mimsy admitted she was lying,” Vito shrugged.

“I don’t think she ever did, it was just Hallie who said she was lying.” Carly corrected him. “And I’m pretty sure Hallie wasn’t there when they died, so how would she know!”

“You’re a scaredy cat…”

“I know, right?” A boy with angelic blonde hair emerged from the mist.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Louis, I was at the wedding… though you wouldn’t have seen me there, I guess. I was busy searching the attic.”

“You managed to get into the attic?” Vito was impressed.

“Are you some weird sort of a ghost too?” Carly’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“You really are a scaredy cat,” Louis laughed. “I’m no ghost! Ask your parents. My mom’s name is Starr and my dad’s name is Davion, I’m pretty sure your mom knows them!”

“Don’t mind her,” Vito told him. “Normally us Bloomers are pretty brave.”

“Prove it! I challenge you to go in the maze!”

“I don’t know about this, Vito,” Carly pleaded with her brother.

“We’ll do it!” Seraphina cried out.

“When did you get here?”

“Does it matter? Nobody mocks the Bloomer family… or puts them to shame,” she glared at her sister.

“Ok,” Carly sighed. “Let’s do this.”

“It’s not very nice how you’re treating them,” Hallie scolded Louis before going into the labyrinth. “It’s not their fault they don’t know the maze as well as we do, they’re not from here!”

“Nice shmice,” Louis dimissed her.

“Relax, it’s all just fun,” he said when the girl kept frowning. “They won’t get lost in the maze, we’re locals and we’re with them.”

“I guess…”

“Ok, let’s go in then.”

“To the left!”

“To the right”

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Hallie said nervously.

“Relax, I’m just messing with you. We’ve got this!”

“Quit following me, loser! Find your own way!” Seraphina growled.

“I’m just making sure you don’t get lost.”

“Whatever you need to tell yourself…”

“I wouldn’t go that way if I were you,” Louis told Vito nonchalantly. “Or do… and see what’s there for yourself.” He laughed.

Vito stood still for a moment. Maybe he should have listened to Carly…

“Seraphina!” He exclaimed. “How did you come from there? I was just about to go that way!”

“And I was just about to go your way… hm…”

“Guys, you’re ok!” Carly peeked in from another exit. “I thought I’ve lost everyone…”

“Just follow me you guys,” Hallie said with a sigh.

“But Louis said…”

“Louis has no clue where he’s going!”

“See, we made it! I told you it was a piece of cake,” Louis announced when the children finally reached the exit.

“Yeah, right?” Vito joined in. “You’re always so silly Carly! We had it all along!”

“You so didn’t! None of us did,” Carly shook her head. “Well, maybe apart from Hallie. We’re lucky she’s our aunt.”

“I only do what mom and dad say! I think our aunt is cool! I don’t deserve to be a Bloomer!” Seraphina imitated Carly’s voice.

“Hey, cut it out Sera,” Vito yelled at her. “That’s not teasing, that’s just being nasty!”

“Like I’ll let a baby lecture me!” Seraphina snapped back.

“Now, what do we have here?”

“Mom?”

Oddly, it was Louis who seemed the most panicked.

“Louis McGuire-Wood, are you meddling again?” Starr said to her son angrily “I haven’t seen you all day!”

“I was just playing… it’s them that got all intense…”

“We’ll talk about this at home! We’ll have plenty of time, since you’re grounded!”

“Mo-om!”

“Same goes for you guys,” Pauline told her children. “As for you Hallie, your mom and dad have been worried sick about you! Let’s see what they have to say…”

Pauline led Hallie away, while Starr dragged Louis the other direction.

“Ok then kids, let’s head home,” Leo told his son and daughters. “You don’t want to get in more trouble with mom then you already are, do you? I know I don’t!”

The siblings followed their father in defeat, catching a glimpse of the ghost lord passing by.

“I told you going to the maze at night was bad luck,” the ghost informed them.