by LJ Swallow
The other girl, black hair, dressed in a vampire costume even more revealing than Vee's, runs her tongue across her red top lip and reveals sharp teeth. My senses hit alert. Are they real or false?
“This is Ewan,” purrs Elyssia. “He's a Horseman.”
The girl tips her head. “But he looks like Frankenstein.”
Elyssia laughs. “A real Horseman. You must've heard of them. Ewan's Pestilence.”
“Elyssia,” I growl at her loud announcement.
“And he rides a motorbike,” she continues. “I keep asking if I can ride Ewan's bike but mum, as usual, says no. Did you bring your bike tonight? Mum isn't around; we could do anything we wanted.”
Elyssia twirls her ponytail and whispers something to her friend. I cringe as they giggle. What is in that green drink? I cross my arms and take a good look around the room. Half-empty tall bottles are set next to a cake stand displaying orange iced cupcakes topped with tiny witches’ hats.
I peer into the bowl filled with the green drink and floating eyeballs in ice cubes and catch the strong alcohol smell.
“I hope you're keeping this punch away from the little kids,” I say.
“Of course! I was forced to hang around here, instead of going to a decent party, so I invited a few friends to join me. This is Paige.”
Paige lifts her hand in greeting.
A few friends?
“They're outside, and we're keeping away from kids. So everything's cool,” Elyssia replies and swigs her punch.
“Keep them away from that,” I retort and point at the bowl.
“We're taking this bowl out there anyway,” replies Paige and cradles it in her arms. “Grab some cups, Lys.”
Elyssia's expression changes as Vee walks into the room after me. Elyssia's mother doesn't like Vee for many reasons, and I've yet to see Elyssia and Vee together socially for longer than a few minutes.
“Elyssia,” she says in surprise.
“Hi, Verity.”
One reason Portia dislikes Vee is right in front of me.
The girl is powerful and sexy as hell.
For Halloween, Vee replaced her usual casual dress with a revealing costume, and my resolve to keep my distance from her melts as quickly as the ice cubes in the drink Elyssia holds.
Her slender thighs are naked above the knee socks, and I take a trip into my memories of the time she wrapped those legs around me.
How can Vee be oblivious to what she does to us? I resolve not to look anywhere but her face for the rest of the evening.
Yeah, good luck with that.
Elyssia straightens further as Xander joins us. “You look cute, Xan,” she says.
He tips his head. “Who's your friend? I haven't seen her before.”
“Paige.”
“Is she a vampire?” He looks at me. “Ewan?”
“I haven't asked her yet.”
“Well, obviously she is—look at her costume,” replies Elyssia
“No. Look at her teeth.”
“Cosmetic.” Paige taps on them and she and Elyssia collapse into another fit of drunken giggles.
For fuck's sake.
Xander steps forward and frowns down at Paige. “How many of you are there?” He grips her arm and she yelps, attempting to pull it away.
“Xander, they're friends of mine from Salizar House,” exclaims Elyssia.
Salizar House? We never have issues with that clan; they keep their Younglings under control, and in return, we leave them alone in their tightly controlled world. They're blended in society and live amongst humans, but hidden, unlike the fae who embrace their human surroundings. Occasionally Elders join human circles, as centuries of boredom overtake and lead to desire to try new thrills. But a vampire and fae princess? Uh. Nope. Not on my watch; Portia would lose her shit. She thinks their base creatures who don’t belong in her world – and certainly not with her daughter.
“Does your mother know?” I ask.
“Mother can think what she likes. I'm almost twenty; I live my own life.”
Apart from she doesn't and never can; Elyssia's from a royal fae bloodline. She's inherited her mother's attitude which leads to issues between the pair. We need to talk to Paige's House and make them aware they have members involved with a rebellious fae princess.
“There are two of us,” replies Paige, “and we're not here for trouble. We're curious—we've never been to a Halloween party at a fae house before.”
“It's a kids party,” retorts Xander. “Hardly interesting. I want to meet the other one.”
Vee whispers she'd rather not be around if this blows up and leaves to rejoin Heath and Joss. I follow Xander through the door to the paved garden area where two people in costumes sit around a stone table. Again, both dressed as the pop culture vampires you'd find on TV and in movies.
The girl in the black wig shivers in her tiny dress, but the guy doesn't. Spot the human.
“Who are you?” asks Xander.
“I'm Kane, and she's Dawn,” says the guy in a smooth voice; the kind that flows like honey and caught him the girl.
“I'd like you to come inside,” says Xander. “where we can keep an eye on you.”
The tall guy, with pale blond hair and a face painted with dark eye make-up and red lips, laughs at us. “We're comfortable here, thanks.”
Xander straightens. “I don't think Dawn is. She's cold.”
“I'm okay,” pipes up the girl.
Kane slings an arm across her shoulders, not that this would give her much warmth. The dewy eyed look she gives him sets alarm bells ringing.
“I'm in charge tonight. Inside,” growls Xander.
Kane stands. “Says who?”
“I'm supervising the party for Portia.”
“Then go play with the little kiddies,” he replies.
The two guys stand off against each other, and I step forward. “Okay. Listen. If you want to hang around, come inside.”
“We'll be leaving soon anyway,” replies Elyssia from behind me.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“Trick or treating,” replies the girl at the table and giggles.
So much bloody giggling.
The vamp whispers something in her ear, and I exchange looks with Xander.
“Aren't you too old to trick or treat?” I ask Kane. “By decades? Maybe centuries?”
“Ten years.”
Crap. Worse. The recently turned Younglings are the ones who can cause problems. “Who's your sire?” I ask.
“Edwin Henley.”
I blow air into my cheeks. That's one good sign; Edwin never allows his progeny to step out of line.
“I don't bite,” Kane says with a sly smile. “I have my donor.”
“How do we know you're not looking for more?” asks Xander. “Some of you have larger appetites than others.”
“What donor?” asks the girl. “What does he mean?”
Shit. The human is unaware she's cosying up with a vampire. Xander drops his diplomacy attempt—I wondered how long he'd take.
“Inside,” he growls at Kane. “I don't trust you.”
The guy sneers and stands, bumping into Xander as he passes by into the house. “Your costume's all wrong,” he says in a low voice. “I know who you are.”
I brace myself for Xander's response, but he merely stares after the group.
If Portia knew Elyssia invited vampires into her house, there'd be hell to pay.
4
VEE
I've never spent much time around kids, in my real life or my imaginary life. I'm uncomfortable with them, as are Joss and Heath. Children at the party repeatedly accost poor Heath to stroke his fur and run away shrieking when he growls at them. Is his growl playful or annoyed? I haven't decided. Joss's realistic costume keeps them away from him. If I were a kid, I doubt I'd want to go near a tall, muscular guy whose skin peels to reveal black and bloody flesh beneath.
Kailey approaches us. Blue food dye smears her mouth,
and when she grins her tongue matches. Brightly coloured food and sweets cover the carpet around us; some trampled underfoot.
Kailey holds out a hand. “I have an eyeball! Look!” She closes her eye and pushes a large, squishy object in against her eyelid.
I laugh as she attempts to hold it in place. “That's not very pretty for a fairy,” I reply.
Kailey smirks and pushes the eye into her mouth instead. “Yummy!” Red food colouring squirts along her chin.
I don't think Heath could back any further into the wall than he is now. I wish I could see his face. Joss's face isn't much clearer, but he breaks into a bemused smile at her actions.
Kailey tugs my hand. “Play a game! You promised”
“Um.”
“Yes, Vee. Play a game,” says Joss. “What are you playing, Kailey?”
“Musical Monsters! Then we're going Trick or Treating!”
Joss blinks rapidly. “You have to stay in the house, Kailey.”
Her mouth purses and a frown appears; a look she no doubt inherited from her sister. “But I want to go trick or treating!”
I gesture at the bowls filled with the sugar-high inducing sweets on the table nearby. “But you have a house filled with treats! And look, all your friends are here.”
“Jamie's mum said she'd take us. We'll be okay.”
“Shit,” mutters Heath and I stomp on his foot.
“Don't swear.”
“She can't leave the house,” he whispers. “We promised Portia.”
“Maybe the mum asked Portia's permission?” I suggest.
Joss makes a 'pfft sound'. “Don't let Kailey out of your sight.”
I squeeze my eyes closed for a moment and sigh. “Okay, Kailey. Show me how to play musical monsters.”
HEATH
I'm sweating in this heated house and bloody furry outfit. I pull off my werewolf mask and watch Vee walk across the room with Kailey gripping her hand. Damn that girl's sexy in her costume. Hell, we all appreciate Vee's ass on a regular basis, but this dress shows off her body in a way that leaves almost zero to the imagination. Sometimes I wonder if Vee was created for us, and not us for her.
Hell, if she heard me say that I'd get a smack in the mouth.
No. I've figured out the answer is probably both.
“Hold in those animal urges,” says Joss with a laugh.
I run a hand through my damp hair to push it away from my face. “Oh, come on. You know you're having the same thoughts, Joss.”
Joss's eyes glint in the light. “Best hope she doesn't kill anyone tonight. A supercharged, horny Vee dressed like that would probably have us all at her feet.” He arches a brow. “Or anywhere she wants.”
“Shush!” I hiss. Two overly interested school mums are too close for comfort, and I swear are edging closer to us. That's all I need—married women ten years older than I look hitting on me.
Why the hell aren't there any men here? I wince at another girl screeching in excitement. Oh yeah, that's why.
Music blares into the room, and a rendition of “Monster Mash” blares from nearby speakers, joined with singing voices.
“Vee's always hot for you, and not only when she's in rampant sex drive mode.” Joss peels at some latex falling from his face. “Lucky, lucky guy.”
“I don't understand how you can share a bed with Vee and not do anything.”
Joss shrugs. “Don't you think things are even sweeter if you need to wait for them? Vee's coming to terms with how she feels about us all. She's confused by what drives her when she loses control.”
“I guess.”
“So I'm not confusing Vee further. She can't have the same type of relationship with all of us; we're all different guys. I like that she's comfortable with me and we can fool around. Me and Vee? We tune into each other on a deeper level.”
“Uh huh.” I give him a knowing smile. “A deeper level? Don't make yourself sound like you have noble intentions.”
“I never said that.”
Joss is right. I love that my bond with Vee exists on a different level to the other guys. Ours comes from a closer connection to the human world, Vee's past and my spending more time amongst humans than the other guys. But I'm worried because I offer her something she doesn't want—reminders she's human.
“We all love her in our own ways, some of us just won't admit it yet.” He looks past me. “Ah! Xander. Speak of the devil. Well, the Phantom.”
Xander ignores Joss and stands in front of us. “There are vamps in the house.”
“What the hell?” I ask.
The music stops, and the room falls silent for the first time since we arrived—no kids voices at all. I glance over in alarm. Several stand in awkward poses, unmoving and Vee in the middle, frozen. A spell? The song starts again and the group begin moving. Oh. The Musical Monsters game?
“Elyssia brought two vamp friends. I swear that girl deliberately does things to piss her mother off,” says Ewan as he joins us.
“Does she not learn?” I say and sigh. “People use and trick her. For a nineteen-year-old, she's pretty damn immature.”
Ewan laughs. “Are you a teen expert?”
“No, but—”
“Nineteen,” puts in Joss. “A kid. A spoiled, sheltered one. This girl is the embodiment of 'princess'. She'll learn.”
“She's strong though,” says Xander. “I can sense that. Nobody's going to fuck with her.”
A woman standing nearby throws Xander a filthy look, and he apologises.
“I think the vamps are harmless,” puts in Ewan. “They're here to amuse themselves at the Halloween spectacle.”
“They’re vamps! I want them out of the house. Aren't we supposed to be guardians tonight?” Xander pauses and looks around. “Where's Vee?”
I point to the corner where she sways from side to side sharing a smile with the mini-Dracula and devil-horned child hanging onto her hands. Xander's mouth falls open. His face may be obscured beneath a mask, but he can't hide his surprise.
Another woman nearby dances too and she passes Vee a drink. The pair smile and raise their plastic glasses in a toast before sipping.
Ewan laughs. “Elyssia was drinking that punch, and it smelt bloody strong.” Vee drains the cup. “We might have a drunk Vee on our hands later.”
Xander's expression changes. “Oh, great.”
“Hey, at least she's with Kailey,” I reply. “Ewan, where are the drinks? I could do with one too.”
Xander's half-faced expression darkens. “Oh. So I'll deal with the fucking vamps then?”
5
XANDER
I stand on the porch and stare into the bizarre otherworld around. Fake crime scenes, gravestones litter the usually neat and tidy neighbourhood, and hordes of kids traipse along the street. Younger ones, with parents, stuff their faces with sweets between houses as their parents approach the doors with them. Older kids force their parents to walk behind at a respectable and less embarrassing distance.
Two boys on bikes wearing masks and with black capes flowing behind them ride back and forth across the road, weaving between groups and laughing as they narrowly miss people. A father breaks away from the happy scene and shouts at the boys. They ride away, to the end of the close, calling taunts to the man.
Looks like it's not all fun and games.
I've never watched the Halloween spectacle before, always too busy working. The night brings challenges for the Four every year as opportunistic demons mingle amongst the human world. The human superstition about the dead rising and the veil between this world and the next thinning, doesn't wash with me. These demons already exist. I'm aware of the Pagan roots, but we've no interest in their religion. They have their rituals and beliefs as do all the others.
Powerful witches live amongst us, but we've never had to deal with them or their secretive existence. I can't remember the last time I encountered a witch. Besides, if we struck an alliance with them, Portia would lose her shit. The fae and witches d
etest each other thanks to their history from centuries ago. The fae blame witches for ruining their old realm beyond the portals. They accuse witches of stealing secret fae magic, and the witches blame the fae for siphoning their power from captured witches. I'm clueless to the difference, but at least none of that's on my radar.
The fae decimated the witch population; the remaining witches destroyed the fae world. All crossed over, and most witches here are powerless beyond simple spells. Some remain trapped on the other side of the portals.
Or that's what I heard. As long as the witches stay there, I don't give a crap. And I'm not fraternising with witches and causing more problems with our shaky fae alliance.
My head fucking spins at the amount we have to deal with sometimes.
A mother and two young kids, ghouls in white sheets, walk along Portia's path towards us.
“Trick or treat!” Their voices chime as they hold out plastic bat shaped bags.
“Not me,” I reply and point at the door. “I don't have anything for you.”
The woman stares at my grumpiness. Hell, I don't care. Making a loud tutting sound, she reaches out to ring the doorbell. As the door opens, there is a creaking designed to sound like a haunted house. The kids shriek in delight.
I cannot deal with this ridiculous shit.
I step into the shadows and cross my arms. We told Elyssia's vampire friends to leave, and I volunteered to stand outside to ensure they do. I didn't need asking twice to escape the hell inside that house.
Somebody inside the house hands out treats. The kids examine their treasure in their buckets as they stumble away, while their mother thanks whoever answered the door. One almost trips over his own feet, and she steadies him. In response, he holds out a lollipop for her to unwrap.
I shake my head.
Trick or treating? More like legalised mugging.
A familiar voice echoes in the house, close to the door. “Goodbye, Pony Boys! Enjoy your party!”
I close my eyes and take a calming breath at Elyssia's voice. I know when demons attacked her, she suffered, and I'm aware I shouldn't underestimate Elyssia's power, but hell, she pisses me off.
