Why, that murdering WITCH!!! If she weren't already dead I'd turn her into a frog and serve her up on a platter. I was so upset about what I learned happened to my descendants that I needed a long soak in the hot tub.
The fairy at the beach directed me to the library to learn about the town's famed Matchmaker murders and curse of Evelyn Alistair. Before the building had been renovated it had once been the town's police department. Around the time the killings took place a magic mirror had mysteriously shown up in the building and outed Evelyn Alistair as a murderer. If I asked the mirror it about the murders it would not only tell me about what took place but show me.
Once at the library I learned the mirror was kept under lock and key in a small room. It took some convincing to get the key to the door. When I asked for it I was met with a curt response from the old librarian.
"No. That mirror is not for the viewing pleasure of tourists. This is a library not a tourist trap."
Apparently the murders were a well known story among the supernatural fans. Herds of them flocked to the island in hopes of snapping pictures of ghosts at the old Alistair estate and talking to the magic mirror.
After I explained that I was not a tourist but a distant relative of the Matchmakers and I would be moving into their house her attitude changed. She apologized for being rude and showed me to the mirror room.
Once I was alone with the mirror a face appeared.
"You wish to know of the fiendish exploits of Evelyn Alistair?"
"Show me," I said. The mirror began its narration and I settled into the rooms only chair to watch the events of the past play over the mirror's surface.
The Alistairs were one of Cornucopia's oldest and wealthiest families, until Barnabas Alistair took over has head of the estate. His weakness for gambling, women, and alcohol had thoroughly cleaned out the Alistair family coffers by the time of his death. Upon their return from boarding school in France Evelyn and Georgia were quite surprised to learn that they were broke at their father's will reading. The inheritances set aside for them at birth had been spent long ago and the Alistair estate that had been in the family for over ten generations had been put up as collateral in a bad bet and would be sold to pay Barnabas's outstanding debts.
After everything was said and done all the Alistair sisters were left with was the accounting firm's commitment to keeping the financial records of clients and former clients confidential. It allowed the sisters to save face in the community when they moved into a small house at the edge of town.
* * *
"That miserable old bastard!" Evelyn was in vile mood after her father's funeral. She had barely resisted the urge to spit on his casket as it was lowered into the ground. The tears she shed bitterly during the service had been for the loss of the nice little sum of money she'd made from blackmailing her professor at boarding school. He'd paid her price without much fuss because he didn't want his father-in-law, the dean to find out about their little affair. That was nearly gone since she'd been forced to buy the flowery little flop at the edge of town.
To add insult to injury she had to take her idiot sister in as well. It would have been too hard to keep up the "too many sad memories in the old house" front in town if she put Georgia out on the street. The girl had the mind of a peanut and spent money like it grew on trees.
Georgia had nearly had a break down when Evelyn explained the concept of bills to her. They were piling up quickly since both sisters believed working for anyone was beneath them as Alistairs.
"Then what are we going to do for money since daddy spent it all?" Georgia asked when Evelyn had to deny her request for shopping money for the hundredth time.
Evelyn had been thinking the same thing for a while when she heard Cornucopia's most eligible bachelors, Damian and Darien were attending the Matchmakers' parties. Evelyn couldn't understand why the brother's needed their help. The Ambrose family had been very charitable since coming into their wealth and were well liked in the community. Women would surely be throwing themselves at the twins feet for a chance at them. In her opinion using the Matchmakers was superfluous.
The Matchmakers had a long family history of questionable morals. They threw lavish parties everyday, as if expecting the gods themselves to show up and were outrageous flirts who some said could see right into another's heart. People often went to them for help finding their true loves. The Harmony sisters Adora and Airlia were the current Matchmakers and could setup lasting relationships in a days time.
"The gossip around town is that the Ambrose brothers are new money," Evelyn explained to Georgia.
"Their parents were adventures who discovered a tomb in Egypt piled to the ceiling in gold and jewels. They died six months ago of a mummy's curse and the brothers have just finished touring all the museums that held memorials and dedications in honor of them."
Georgia stifled a yawn and wished Evelyn would just get to the point. She normally hated when her older sister rambled on master minding elaborate plots for money. They were Alistairs after all, they didn't need to run money cons but Evelyn seemed to live for them. Since daddy spent all the money that rightfully belonged to them Georgia had no choice but to sit and listen. Evelyn may have had venom in her veins but for now she was her only meal ticket.
"If we can get close to them we'll be back to living in the lap of luxury in no time." Evelyn looked at her sister waiting for a response. She could see the wheels in the dimwit's head struggling to turn. The plan wasn't a complicated one, in fact it was one women had been using since the dawn of time. Georgia didn't even have to act out of character. Had it not been for the fact that she was born rich she would have been a natural gold digger.
"But if they are going to the Matchmakers' parties doesn't that mean they're looking for the type of woman that will have and raise squalling little brats?" Georgia asked. If Evelyn thought she could talk her into birthing brats to make her plan work she had another thing coming. They hated children and neither of them had any aspirations on having them, let alone raising any.
Evelyn smiled coolly at her sister pleased she could have a coherent thought. That smile and the blankness in Evelyn's eyes sent chills down Georgia's spine. "We will be wealthy widows long before that little issue has a chance to come up dear sister," Evelyn replied merrily.
It didn't take long for Evelyn to find out the Ambrose brother's schedules, likes, and dislikes. After "accidentally" bumping into Damien in town Evelyn spent an afternoon talking to him about their shared love of swimming. When they parted that evening Damien was totally charmed by her.
The plan to woo the Ambrose brothers was going so well that Evelyn treated herself to a well deserved day at the spa. Instead of going to the party at the Matchmakers tonight Damien had asked her to go on a date with him. By the end of the night Evelyn convinced Damien to bring his brother Darien on their next outing. She was absolutely positive he would get along famously with her younger sister.
After nearly a year Evelyn found herself so enchanted by the charismatic Damien she was beginning to reconsider disposing of him once her financial future was secure. Damien wanted to travel and a career in politics. For him children were a far off thought which suited Evelyn's needs just fine. Traveling to exotic lands and the power and prestige being the wife of a rich politician would bring were right up her alley.
It was a different story entirely for Georgia. Darien was fast approaching the top of his business career and couldn't wait to have a son or daughter to teach the ropes of the family business to. After four months of his incessant chatter about children and family she turned to drinking. Georgia found it nearly impossible to feign interest and stay sane without the help of alcohol.
On another boring walk through the park Darien was going on about the meals his mother used to make when he and his brother were young. You would have never guessed he was swimming in cash with the dates he took her on. It was always picnics in the park or walks on the beach with him.
"Yeah, slinging slop at bawling brats sounds wonderful," Georgia mumbled to herself. Unfortunately she wasn't as steady as she thought she was after the three gin and tonics she downed before the date.
"Georgina I didn't want to say anything because I know you and your sister have had a hard time dealing with your father's passing but your behavior of late has been out of sorts," Darien said taken aback by her comment. It was not something he expected to hear from the woman he thought he was beginning to fall for. "I think we need some time apart until you feel yourself again."
Evelyn was less than pleased when she returned home from her afternoon with Damien. She had hoped to play a game of "checkers" with him but Darien came home early and ruined those plans.
"Georgia you idiot!" Evelyn yelled as she stormed into the house. "What did you think you were doing going out drunk with Darien?"
"Trying to keep from losing my mind!" Georgia yelled back. She couldn't believe Evelyn was jumping down her throat. "This stupid plot of yours has only gotten us chump change so far and I'm..."
"How dare you," Evelyn seethed. "You would be out on the street if it weren't for me! Tomorrow you will apologize to Darien and tell him whatever he needs to hear to forgive you. If you ruin this for me Georgia I will end you."
Georgia got to her feet not bothering to hide the hate she felt for her sister. "If I go down Evelyn I'm taking you with me. Remember our mothers were sisters, you're not the only one with gifts."
The next morning Georgia met with Darien to smooth things out between them. She had a few mimosas despite what Evelyn had told her about drinking. After yesterday she needed a little pick me up to be able to come up with a believable story for Darien and deal with his sappy family talk afterwards.
In the end she told him she was feeling lost due to her father's death and not having a true place to call home. Her childhood home held too many sad memories and the house Evelyn bought was just that, Evelyn's house.
When Darien offered to build a home they could call their own and raise a family in Georgia lost her temper.
"Ugh! Would you stop with the family talk for five seconds? Why are you so focused on me having your brats? Alistair women don't sully themselves with childbirth. You're filthy rich for goodness' sake. You could entertain yourself the help and any children from that can be shipped off to boarding school. If that was good enough for my father it should be good enough for the likes of you too."
Oh no, oh no, oh no, Georgia thought to herself. What had she just done? No doubt Darien was going to tattle to his twin who would mention it to Evelyn over one of their fancy dinners. Evelyn was going to have the mother of all fits. She needed to think, Evelyn couldn't really turn on her own sister could she?
Oh a drink would be nice right now, just a drink or two to calm her nerves. This was really all Evelyn's fault to begin with. She should have been the one with Damien not Evelyn. It was her brilliant idea to marry the brothers, kill them, and take their money. Evelyn should have gone after Darien, he was dying to get married and she'd kill to be rich again. The two would have been perfect together. It wasn't Georgia's fault she'd gone for the brunette instead of the blond. And if Evelyn still wanted to blame her, she already had her backup plan in place.
"I'm terribly sorry I'm late Evelyn," Damien apologized leaving his car running on the street. "I can't stay long. I came in person to tell you I have to cancel our plans for tonight. Darien broke things off with Georgia this morning and is a wreck over it. I'm going to take him away for a few days. I hope you understand."
"Oh dear, the poor thing," Evelyn gushed. "Of course I understand. I should get home right away to check on Georgia."
Georgia that drunken fool! What the hell had she done to go and get herself dumped by that ninny Darien? He was so primed for marriage that the two of them could have been wed months ago. All Georgia had to do was step up her act a little more and half their fortune could have already been in the bag. The idiot was probably already half gone in another bottle of gin trying to come up with an excuse that put the blame off her. Evelyn's blood was still on simmer from Georgia's subtle threat the day before. She warned Georgia what would happen if she messed things up, now it was time to take out the trash.
Late the next morning Evelyn came through the door whistling a happy tune with skip in her step. She poured herself a cup of tea and joined Georgia at the table. From the glassy look in her eyes the cup of coffee she was drinking had a hefty dose of Irish in it.
Georgia eyed her sister carefully. Since she didn't come raging into the house she must not have heard the news yet. "Just getting home?"
"Yes," Evelyn purred. "I finally got that game of "checkers" with Damien. We stayed up all night playing." She chuckled pleased to see Georgia's shoulders relax. The fool thought she was clear of the mess she made of things yesterday. "How did things go with Darien?"
Georgia's stomach knotted as Evelyn stared at her. The humor that had sparkled in her eyes a moment ago was a distant memory. She gulped the rest of her coffee letting the warmth of the whiskey sooth her aching stomach. "I apologized to him like you said to," she said quickly. "Tell me all about..."
"I know everything Georgia," Evelyn said calmly making Georgia's heart race. The ice in Evelyn's voice sent goosebumps racing across her skin. "Did you think I wouldn't find out Georgia? I warned you what would happen if you messed up again." Georgia stared in shock as she finally realized what was happening as a sick sweat coated her brow.
Her stomach twisted painfully when she stumbled to her feet. Pain lanced through her as she shoved away from the table before collapsing to the ground. The last few agonizing minutes of her life were spent looking up at Evelyn who watched her calmly as she died.
* * *
Evelyn wasn't surprised when Darien went back to attending the Matchmakers' parties after the trip with his brother. She had quietly spread around town that Georgia devastated by the break up had gone to China to find her inner peace.
A few eyebrows were raised when he started courting Adora. It was always risky becoming romantically involved with one of their ilk. The Matchmakers and their brood could either be devoted partners for life or go through lovers like a plow in the field.
What was surprising was Damien's sudden distance. Any time she tried contacting Damien his secretary always told her he was out or in a meeting. Evelyn knew he and Darien were in the middle of taking over some of the businesses in town but as far as she knew those transitions were going smoothly.
After over a month had passed with no word from him she was forced to confront him while he was leaving a fundraiser event for his upcoming campaign.
"Damien you've been so busy its been nearly impossible to get a hold of you." Evelyn put on her most seductive smile and reached for his hand. She was shocked when he stepped out of reach.
"Yes, Miss Alistair I am now quite well aware of how much you'd like to get a hold of me," Damien said stiffly. Evelyn went cold at his sudden formality.
"Damien I...I don't understand. Why are you..."
"Darien took over the old accounting firm Evelyn," Damien whispered cutting her off. "When he found out you and your sister were lying about your financial standing he hired a private detective. The detective was very thorough Evelyn and brought back copies of some very disturbing letters to a professor at your boarding school."
Tears sprang to her eyes as Damien shook his head sadly at her. "The money never mattered to me Evelyn but the other...," Damien sighed dejectedly. "Goodbye Miss Alistair."
Evelyn angrily dried her eyes as Damien's car pulled away. She had sold the diamond earrings left to her by the old French maid that may have been her birth mother. The money made from the sale was meant to have gone toward a day at the spa and a dress that would have had Damien on one knee before her. Instead it looked like she was going to be buying a ticket to France. There was a loose end there that needed to be snipped.
During the weeks Evelyn was away in France Damien began courting Airlia, the other Harmony sister.
Evelyn was not happy to hear the news when she returned from France. She was even less pleased when she learned there was soon to be a quiet double wedding by the beach. The fact that the Harmony sisters were able to accomplish what had taken her and Georgia nearly a year to work up to in a manner of weeks sent her head spinning.
Forgetting herself she confronted Damien in the park, sparking a very loud and emotional argument with him. In the end Evelyn was publicly disgraced and the gossips in town had a field day.
He had made her look like a fool today and now she was the laughing stock of the entire town, brooded Evelyn as she stood in front of the fireplace. The Alistair's fall from grace was now common knowledge since the estate was sold at auction. People who had once respected her snickered behind her back as she walked by. The Ambrose brothers had made her look like a fool and they would pay dearly for it. The whole miserable little island would pay. They would all regret making a fool out of Evelyn Alistair.
The next day Evelyn held her head high as she shopped in the grocery store. She ignored the whispers as she walked by and even smiled at the cashier when he said he could no longer extend her store credit as someone muffled a giggle behind her. Evelyn paid in cash and gloried in the fact that soon she would be the only one laughing. In a few days when the pretty stone she acquired from a gypsy in France was ready she would use it to make them all pay. For now she had to hurry and bake her cakes, they had to be ready for the upcoming weddings.
It was child's play switching out the cakes since there would be no guests wandering about. The simple private wedding by the beach just had to be Darien's idea. Evelyn watched from a distance as the couples exchanged corny vows of love and rings. She thought the Harmony girls would have insisted on something with a little more flash considering the parties they threw.
In the end their simple ways worked in her favor and had been their undoing. "I guess its true what they say," Evelyn gloated over the bodies of the newlyweds. "Money really can't buy class."
Evelyn cackled madly to herself, she had successfully dealt with the Ambrose men and their brides next would be the town that laughed openly at her. The poison brews she had going in the tubs at the estate were almost ready for the town's water main and the philosopher's stone would be fully charged and ready to trap their worthless souls by the full moon. Every thing was going according to plan, soon she'd sail off the soon to be ghost filled island a rich woman and live the life she deserved.
* * *
How?!? How could her perfect plan have gone so far off track? Evelyn ground her teeth in frustration as she cut the last line. How had they known what she was up to?
"Evelyn Alistair this is the police, we have the house surrounded," the bullhorn bellowed. "You are under arrest for murder. Surrender yourself peacefully or we will use force. This is your final warning."
It didn't matter now how they found out, she wouldn't be taken alive. They thought they could come after her for giving those do gooder Ambrose brothers and floozy Matchmakers what they deserved, well they had another thing coming. Evelyn knew the cops had a soft spot for the Matchmakers, over half the force had met their spouses through them. It was why no one could ever call in a noise complaint against them when they threw those absurd parties.
Well there wasn't going to be a happily ever after any more with the Matchmakers gone. With the curse she cast the cops and gawkers out there would be doomed to watch as their precious little families fell apart from beyond the grave. Anyone with their blood in their veins would be doomed to failed relationships and broken families. There'd be a hundred babies born to one woman before the philosopher's stone released them. Evelyn had laughed long and hard that an impossible feat and her worst nightmare would trap their miserable souls for all time.
There was a crash in the distance as the police busted down doors and tossed flash bombs in. They realized too late that Evelyn had cut the gas lines as the sparks ignited the fumes.
The explosion that went off engulfed the house and surrounding area in flames, killing Evelyn, the police officers, and bystanders.
Before their souls could be claimed by the Grim Reaper they were hungrily gobbled up by Evelyn's evil philosopher's stone. To this day they remained trapped by it forced to watch their bereft descendants fail again and again at love and happiness under Evelyn Alistair's curse.
Interesting back story!
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing about the back story is it all came about because I was playing around with the clothes that came with the SN expansion trying to figure out which sim I would play in Moonlight Falls.
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