Chocolate Dipped Viennese Biscuits

I read or heard this story when I was probably about eight years old and so I don't remember it all that well. I'm pretty certain I didn't dream this up, but I've had no luck finding it, and none of the titles and outlines for the stories sound like the one I heard. It's been bugging me for years, so I hope you guys can help. ^^

I believe it concerned a group of travelers who happen upon a palace, and going inside discover that the place has been abandoned. Eventually they learn that the palace's population have all died and been taxidermied and posed around the premises. The one body I remember best was a beautiful woman in fine clothes with jewels for eyes. She was surrounded by four (?) taxidermied slaves carrying swords, who had been set up as a booby trap. I believe one of the party members got to close to them and ended up getting his head cut off. I think somehow the dead woman talks to the adventurers, though how this was accomplished I don't know. They ended up continue their exploration of the palace, but I don't remember anything more than this snippet.

Ideas?

Isaac and I had a good weekend. Friday was the Artwalk and since we hadn't been in quite awhile we stopped by. It was so so packed! I didn't find anything but a cute cake keychain. Everyone went to Roosevelt's where we were lucky enough to find a table. I had a cup of Woodchuck, the only beer I can stand. Later on we went over to Vanessa's and stayed till two in the morning.

On Saturday Isaac and I had pancakes. Him...pumpkins and I...pecan buttermilk. Then we went to the library and checked out books on how to survive an alien invasion, forgotten cocktails, crafting, typography, poetry, Japanese patterns, and a Kobe Abe novel. Success! I'm kind of surprised how many good books are local library buys. I hadn't gone in a very long time. Then he went off to close at work. I went to visit him for his lunch and stayed a couple of hours reading magazines and taking lame pictures on Photobooth. I love being around him while he works!

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A couple of days ago I found out I have surpassed my yearly goal of reading 52 books! 56 so far! I didn't think I was going to make it this year because of starting school but somehow I did. Does anyone still do this 52 books a year thing? How many have you read so far? Lately:

What I Was by Meg Rosoff - Most amazing, brilliant, beautiful, every single good word rolled into one imaginary non-existent word that doesn't exist but should so as to describe this lovely book.

Persepolis and Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi - Wonderful, can't believe I took so long to read them.

One Hundred and Forty Five Stories in a Small Box by Deb Olin Unferth, Sarah Manguso + Dave Eggers - A lot of hit or miss with me but I really didn't like Deb Olin Unferth's stories.

The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival: Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone by Dene Low - Childrens book I picked up because of the pretty illustration on the cover. It seemed like it would be a cute story but I found it disappointing.

Sometimes My Heart Pushes My Ribs by Ellen Kennedy - One of the most awful, poorly written, no-point books I've ever read. It's supposed to be a book of poems.

Lastly, check this book out. Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails: From the Alamagoozlum to the Zombie 100 Rediscovered Recipes and the Stories Behind Them. Recipes for vintage cocktails from the 1800s to the 1940s, super awesome! We, Isaac's friends and us, are planning a small cocktail party to make some of these. Can't wait!