Cindy was already home. He could see her moving about the house through the windows. She was still dressed in her office clothes. Her costume remained a mystery; she refused to tell him what it was. She wanted to surprise him.
This Halloween was one of many firsts. It was the first Halloween in their new home, the first Halloween for Alicia and Kevin together. They were going to have fun. All of their group was invited for a night of food, music, and scaring children.
Kylie and Nate sat on the front porch. The two had spent time at their home over the past few days, with Kylie actually staying the night. Alex and Cindy both liked their company, although Nate could be talkative during a movie or TV show. Alex would hold Cindy's hand while the four of them spread out across the living room. Only in the Teague home could two ghosts spend time with two people who were alive, and have it almost be normal.
"Hey, guys," Alex said, waving as he walked the sidewalk. "What's going on?"
The two were having a private conversation, with Kylie laughing quietly. She had her bad moments. Alex awakened one night to hear her bawling in the living room, still stressed over her own death. As much as he knew about the spirit world, he didn't know what to say to ease her pain. Perhaps there was nothing to say.
In that regard, Nate was a blessing.
The younger ghost, as energetic and annoying as he could be, had a gift for making others around him laugh. That included Kylie. The pair seemed to actually like each other, and Alex saw the friendship forming.
Kylie adjusted her glasses and waved shyly. "Hi, Alex."
"Yo," Nate said. "Is it just me, or are kids trick-or-treating earlier each year?"
"My sister and I went right after school when we were kids," Alex said. "It was great."
"You excited about the party?" Kylie asked.
"It's not really a party. Just a few people coming over. My sister and her boyfriend. Hopefully my friend Victoria can stop by."
Nate nodded at Kylie. "What do you want to get into tonight? We can catch a bus downtown. Or maybe head to D.C. You ever see the Washington Zoo at night? It's freaking crazy. This one time, I jumped in the lion's den, and—"
Kylie held up a hand before Nate gained momentum on a ten minute one-sided conversation.
"Downtown is fine. Maybe I won't fall out of the bus halfway on the trip this time."
"You're not staying here?" Alex asked.
Kylie and Nate glanced at each other.
"We can?" Kylie said.
"Sure. Why couldn't you?"
"Because, like, we're ghosts," Nate said. "Won't we put like a negative vibe on things? Dead people hanging out? It's hard to fondle the ladies with that going on."
Alex couldn't help but laugh. "Well, I'm pretty sure the only woman I'll be fondling is Cindy. And everyone coming tonight is okay with ghosts. Believe me, you won't shock anyone."
"I don't know," Kylie said. "I'm not really good with parties." She regarded her clothes. They were the same as when she'd first met Alex. "It's not like I can put on a costume."
"Classic rookie mistake." Nate dismissed her with a wave of his hand. His teenage arrogance was both amusing and irritating. "You can change clothes anytime you want."
Kylie folded her arms. "Okay, then, Mr. Expert. You want to explain?"
"It's all up here," he said, tapping his head. "You only think you can't change clothes. You just have to want it to happen. Watch."
He held out his arms, and his alien shirt changed from gray to white. The sleeves shrunk, stopping at the elbows, turning into a short-sleeved shirt.
"See? An idiot could do it."
Kylie shot him a look, and he quickly backtracked.
"I didn't mean…I'm not saying…."
"It's just practice, Kylie," Alex offered. "The only problem is you'll need another set of eyes, or really good self confidence. You won't be able to see your reflection in a mirror."
She lowered her eyes. "I'm not a big fan of mirrors."
"Yeah, welcome to the club."
"I'll help," Nate said, looking her up and down. "Maybe some jean shorts. It's not like we feel cold. Or maybe some of those yoga pants that have taken off lately. Nice and tight."
Kylie laughed. "You'll be dead a second time before you catch me in those things."
Nate was ready to plead his case when Cindy opened the front door. Alex nearly leaned in for his customary hug until he saw the look on her face.
Cindy stepped onto the porch, directly on top of Kylie. Kylie scooted away, frowning while Nate laughed.
"Alex, we've got problems."
"What's going on?"
"The sensor isn't working."
It took a moment to realize what she was talking about. His eyes shot open when it hit him.
"The lights sensor?" He looked at the yard. "Our coffins aren't going to light up?"
"It's plugged in now, and it didn't light up when you came up the sidewalk."
"Ah, shit," Alex complained. That was one of their cooler Halloween effects. "Give Kevin a call. Tell him to get his ass over here."
"I tried. He's not answering his phone."
"How about—"
"I already tried," she said, referring to Alicia. "She's not answering either."
Alex frowned, which prompted Cindy to smile and laugh. Kylie and Nate glanced between them in confusion. The witch and Alex's sister were probably engaged in a pre-Halloween romantic encounter. The last time the two of them were together and neither one of them answered the phone, Alicia provided Cindy with graphic details of how a simple shopping trip at a clothing store turned into something more. Cindy, in turn, shared those graphic details with Alex. They haunted his dreams occasionally.
"Well, how about that magic rock of his? He'll answer that, right?"
"Babe, he said only to use that in emergencies." Cindy held up a finger before he could protest. "This isn't an emergency."
Alex put his hands on his hips, disappointed, as he stared at the coffins in the yard. Hopefully Kevin and Alicia would arrive early, and he could fix the lights. A smile took hold as another thought crossed his mind.
"There are other ways to scare little kids."
"Hey," she said, pointing at him. "You are not showing them your eyes and wings." She turned to head back inside. "I'll order some pizzas in about an hour."
Alex nearly followed her, but stopped to look down at Kylie and Nate. He'd made a habit of trying to keep as many secrets as he could from anyone he worked for. It wasn't necessary for everyone that paid him to know all about him. But Kylie and Nate were rare exceptions.
"So, are you guys staying tonight?"
They glanced at each other. Their discussion consisted of no words, Kylie adjusting her glasses, and Nate shrugging.
"Sure," he said. "If you don't mind us hanging out."
"Not at all. I'll introduce you to everyone when they get here. But, I have to warn you," he said, kneeling. "Tonight, you're going to meet a witch, a vampire, and some kind of half-demon-thing."
"Duh," Nate said. "It's Halloween."
"No. I mean for real."
He left them with that, with their mouths hanging open. Nate called after him.
"Whoa, wait. So you…you're the demon-thing, because of the wings, right?"
"Alex has wings?" Kylie asked.
"Dude!" Nate said. "You didn't tell her about the wings?"
Alex closed the door behind him and joined Cindy in the kitchen. She was preparing buckets of candy and a cooler full of drinks. Music was already playing in the living room. He crept behind her and surprised her with a hug around the waist. She squealed and leaned her head back as he kissed her neck.
"Hey, now," she said. "Be careful, or we might be getting the party started early."
"Oh, no. Just terrible." He took a step back as Cindy gave him a mock-angry glare before filling the cooler with ice. "So, what's your costume?"
"You've only asked me fifty times. And each time I've told you. Wait and see."
>
"That reminds me. I'd better change myself."
"Help me clean up a little first."
An hour passed. Alex and Cindy picked up the living room and swept the kitchen. Nate and Kylie sat on the couch and looked through a magazine, or at least as much looking as they could do without turning pages. He was trying to offer ideas and advice for a costume, although she wasn't very receptive. Alex smiled slightly as he eyed the pair. Nate's manic energy certainly had a unique blend with Kylie's shy, low-key attitude.
Alex tried to fight off panic as the sun slowly set. He plugged the coffin lights directly into the socket, which lit them up, but it wasn't the effect he was looking for. He stood on the porch, shaking his head as he looked at the glow. A mother and two children were across the street, moving from house to house. Halloween had officially begun.
Hope for the lights briefly returned as he crossed the living room, and the phone rang.
"Is that them?" he asked.
Cindy nodded as she answered her phone. "It's Leese."
"Tell her to get over here, and bring her boyfriend. She's not as important. Just get Kevin here. I'll be in the bedroom putting my costume on."
Cindy covered the phone. "She said go to Hell."
Alex laughed and muttered to himself.
"That's my sis. Telling a guy that can see ghosts and demons to go to Hell."
It only took a few minutes to change. Alex's costume was simple, but effective. He stripped to his underwear and grabbed the clothes he'd set aside a few days before. His jeans were nearly ruined, with enough holes to draw a whistle or two from Cindy. His shirt was a mash-up of several he'd ruined over the past few months, held together by safety pins.
Standing in front of the dresser mirror, he added the final touch to his costume. His wings sprang into being, nearly touching the walls. He folded them behind him and let out a smile. He looked like a monster that just crawled out of the grave.
Kylie let out an audible gasp when he walked down the hall. Nate laughed and flashed a thumbs-up. Cindy's back was turned, as she was bent over the cooler, retrieving a soda.
"Well?" Alex said, making his eyes glow red. He struck a sinister pose, stretching his wings several times. "What do you think?"
Cindy turned and shook her head. "You are not handing out candy looking like that."
"Are Alicia and Kevin on the way?"
There was a quick flash of light through the living room, answering Alex's question. Kylie and Nate jumped to their feet as they searched around them. Alex tried to calm them down with a gesture.
The portal formed on the wall near the front door, where it always did when Kevin and Alicia dropped by. Nate leaned over from where he stood, to peer into the portal. Kylie walked backwards, through anything that was in her way. She didn't stop until half her body dipped into the exterior wall.
Alex and Cindy expected to see Kevin or Alicia step into their living room, but instead a speedy, black ball of fur sprinted through. Alex barely made out the four limbs and green eyes during the occasional half-second the creature stopped. It paused for a moment, eying up Cindy, before it ran again.
Finally, a leg poked through the portal as the black ball ran upstairs.
"You just couldn't leave the cat at home," Alex joked.
Kevin laughed as he held Alicia's hand, guiding her through the portal.
"Hey, it's Halloween. You can't have a true Halloween without a black cat. Oscar! Get down here and be social."
Oscar spied the room from the top of the stairs. Twice he stared at Kylie.
"That cat's staring at me!"
Alex crossed the room as Kevin reached behind him. He slid his hand across the portal, closing it. Alex had seen the sight many times, had even used a few portals himself. He wasn't sure he'd ever get used to it, or the sense of awe it brought. Kevin controlled the forces of magic. From what Victoria told him, no supernatural creature could touch him, not even one with demonic powers.
"Cats can sometimes do that," Alex explained. "They're not always wild and crazy for no reason."
He placed a hand on Kevin and Alicia to introduce them to his guests. Nate couldn't close his mouth, and Kylie waved shyly from across the room. Kevin and Alicia smiled and waved back, just at ease with the supernatural world as Alex and Cindy. Normal took on a new meaning when they all were together.
Kevin dressed as he always did when traveling. He wore his long coat, a gift from Victoria. In its countless pouches were various magical potions and ingredients. Kevin could throw together a potion at a moment's notice. Why he would need to was a mystery to Alex. Having his magic nearby simply made the witch more comfortable.
Alicia looked great, as always, although without costume. She had the habit of always picking the wrong guy, the one that broke her heart. Until Kevin. Alex had reservations when she first began dating the witch. Alicia had enough supernatural beings in her life, and he just wanted normal things for her. But he'd never seen her so happy until she started dating Kevin. She cared for him, and Victoria trusted him. That was good enough for Alex.
Alicia shook her head at her brother.
"Wow. Some costume."
Alex struck a pose once again and wrapped his wings around him, like a cloak.
"Jealous?"
"You look like you just took a bunch of your junk clothes and threw them together."
He frowned, as that wasn't far from the truth.
"Hey, at least I have a costume. What are you supposed to be?"
She held up a shopping bag. "It's right here. Cindy, let's go back and change."
Many things happened at once. The living women disappeared into the bedroom. The pizza arrived, as well as a horde of trick-or-treaters. Alex had to juggle handing out candy while accepting their dinner. An adorable girl, dressed as a princess, offered a wave of her wand for food. He politely declined.
Kevin shrugged out of his coat and took a slice of pizza. They didn't know what Alicia and Cindy were doing in the bedroom. Only the occasional laugh escaped.
"Leese won't tell me what her costume is," Kevin said.
"Same here. Women just love their secrets."
Kevin laughed. "Yeah. So says the guy with wings, and the guy with magic."
Alex's memory triggered as he wolfed down a slice of pepperoni pizza.
"Hey, the lights outside aren't working right."
Kevin nodded and slipped back into his coat. He grabbed a soda and opened the front door.
"I'll take a look. Holler for me when the fashion show starts. And watch Oscar."
Alex looked to the stairs.
"Actually, I think he's watching us."
Kevin pointed to his cat. "Be good. Oh, Alex, don't listen to Leese. The costume is nice. You look pretty freaking scary. I wish I had wings."
He stepped outside. The only sounds in the house were the muffled voices of Cindy and Alicia from the bedroom. Glancing at his guests, Kylie had slowly worked her way back to the couch. Nate was sitting with his elbows resting on his knees, shaking his head in disbelief. He looked at Kylie as she sat next to him.
"The dude that just walked through the wall with his girlfriend told Alex he wished he had wings."
Kylie laughed. "Well, we're ghosts. I guess all this weird stuff shouldn't bother us."
"I've been dead three years. I thought I'd seen it all."
Alex sat on the couch. They moved aside to give him space. Nate was a little too close for Kylie's comfort. She pressed into the cushions.
"I've been seeing ghosts since I was in high school. You'd think you'd be used to it, but not always."
"Like a ghost tracking you down at work?" Kylie said, smiling.
Alex returned her smile. "Yeah. Just like that."
The bedroom door opened. Cindy led the way down the hall. Alex smiled at the sight of his wife.
She was dressed as a ninja. Although, he was certain her interpretation was different than the typical time-honored tradition. Her pants hugged her leg
s snuggly, with red ribbon laced around her thighs. Her low-cut top exposed her midriff. She wore sleeves that covered her forearms, also with red ribbon. A black mask was wrapped around her face, revealing only her eyes.
She was definitely the sexiest ninja he'd ever seen.
"You said I was a ninja assassin," Cindy said, her voice muffled due to the mask. "I thought I should look like it."
Alicia stepped out from behind her sister-in-law.
"And here's me. What do you think?"
He shook his head. It should have been obvious.
"You give me a hard time about what I'm wearing, and you dressed up as a witch. Real original. Especially since I just sent the real witch out to fix the lights."
"Hey, at least this is an actual costume, and not just something I pulled out of the trash."
Alicia's costume was edgier than Cindy's, showing off her legs. Her belt had a metal clasp, and the pointy hat was a nice touch. Her black slippers looked uncomfortable, and it would only be a matter of time before she went barefoot. It was a cute costume, easily capable of making Kevin stutter a few times. But she looked about as much a witch as Alex did a millionaire. Such was the nature of Halloween after candy was no longer in the equation.
Given how good Cindy looked, he didn't mind at all.
Nate, still on the couch, agreed.
"My eyes are confused. They're not sure what they're supposed to look at first."
Kylie scowled. "Nice, Nate. You're lucky they can't hear you. You're also lucky I don't slap you."
He shrugged and threw his hands up. "Hey! I'm complimenting them. They look good. Alex, look, I'm sorry. I don't mean to drool over your wife and sister—"
"Then don't!" Kylie said.
Cindy and Alicia watched Alex as he watched the ghosts fight. He thought it was playful at first, but realized Kylie truly was angry. His face told the story, and Cindy didn't even have to ask.
"They're fighting."
"Yes. Yes they are."
Kevin opened the door and rejoined them in the living room.
Demons LLC (Damned and Cursed Book 7) Page 12
