A Wiccan descendent of a notorious victim of the Salem witch trials, Tessa Ledger is obsessed with the Malleus Maleficarum and its claim that women are susceptible to the influence of the devil through their sexuality. Tessa seeks the services of 1Night Stand to tame her blazing carnal desires, and perform a little experiment on bewitching men. Her date is to take place in Salem…on the most supernatural night possible, where the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest and anything can happen. Samson Langley is a highly revered clergyman in a small town near Salem. Being a positive community leader and overcoming his ancestral legacy has been his lifelong purpose, but his natural urges plague him night and day. With a few qualms, he agrees to his mentor’s suggestion to exorcise his personal demons with a date arranged by Madame Evangeline of 1Night Stand. He doesn’t expect to find his own faith and integrity in question as he is faced with satisfaction, or damnation in the arms of a one-night stand.
“Thank you for joining us on this magical night.” A sultry voice drifted over the group as a tall woman made a dramatic entrance, flinging the sides of her deep purple velvet cape back over her shoulders. Straight strands of jet-black hair cascaded across her shoulders and down her chest. She wore a black lace, ribbed corset forced the protrusion of her pale breasts into exceptional and pronounced cleavage. Samson couldn’t help but sit back down with a fixed stare and gaping jaw. Tessa eased his hanging mouth closed with narrowed eyes and a sarcastic smirk.
“Down, boy.”
“Excuse me.” His cheeks grew hot when he caught her fierce glare and he hurried to put his arm around her.
“My name is Madame Raven, and I will be your host for the séance tonight. I am a psychic, clairvoyant, channel, and medium.” Madame primped up her corset and sat down with pronounced movements. Suspended over her brazenly exposed cleavage dangled an ornate pentagram on a silver chain, and on the swell of her right breast a colored triquatra tattoo. He’d only seen the design in books before—he’d have so much to share with Jacob after this extraordinary evening.
“Please join hands round the table.” Madame Raven talked the group through a brief meditation, not much different from a prayer he might offer during a sermon, getting them all into the haunted feel of the moment. In his prayers, he spoke to only one God, straightforward and not confusing, but this lady called on a variety of deities. What a fascinating experience, rather like a trip to a mission in a far off land!
“I feel we are blessed on this All Hallows Eve. Spirit is strong with us and eager to speak. Whatever happens, do not break this sacred circle. Remain holding hands until we close the circle at the end.”
