“Hurry up Isabelle!” I hear Sammy call from downstairs. I tug on one of many small braids on the left side of my head.
My face is streaked with black paint across the bridge of my nose and on my chin. Wild turkey feathers peak out from the braided side of my head as the rest of my hair dangles free and slightly teased. A black and silver replica broadsword is strapped across my back and dangles past my wait (I’m hoping it won’t bother me too much, but it is bigger than I thought it would be). Around my shoulders hangs a long black cloak that I sewed a faux fur mantel to and my feet are comfortable in my favorite pair of leather moccasins.
I do one last jump and costume check to make sure nothing is going to fly off or come undone before the sounds of the front door opening and people chatting downstairs fills my ears.
“Isabelle!” Eve calls impatiently and I take off down the hall, fueled by excitement (and a few pieces of candy I had already snuck from the dish downstairs).
“Hold on! I’m coming!” One hand holds down my costume as the other reaches for my bag. I round the corner and crest the top of the stairs catching my first glimpse of everyone before my boot catches on a step and I find myself toppling head first down the carpeted stairs like a falling tree. I roll to a stop mid stairs and peer through a tangle of teased dark brown.
“Whoa.” Sammy says from the door.
“Are you all right? “Eve asks as I slowly begin to fix everything.
I roll over and sigh as I adjust the sword that is now digging into my back.
Stuck that landing.
“I’m good.” I cough out.
“Geez Izzy the night hasn’t even stated and you’re already getting hurt.” Sammy chuckles.
I’m glad he was having a good time.
“Boy you came running down those stairs like the house was on fire.” Julian says as he looks down at me.
I finish fixing everything and collecting what little dignity I had left before realizing that Julian was here.
In my house.
Next to Eve.
I jump to my feet and wipe away the embarrassment as I reach for the bowl of candy on the entry and make a move for the door. Eve and Julian are dressed up as Vampires (big surprise there) Fangs and all, and I smile impressed with the details in both their costumes. Of course Eve didn’t really have to try that hard because she IS a vampire, (at least in theory).
I give Julian the stink eye as I walk past him.
Another reason Eve’s a vampire:
7. She Dresses as a Vampire during Halloween. Duh.
If that didn’t raise alarms with her real looking fangs sticking out then I don’t know what would.
Sammy stands next to Julian, dapper as ever with a top hat and velvet ring leader coat that shimmered in the light. Gold embroidered buttons and clast run up his chest and white gloves fit snuggly over his hands. Sammy tips his hat and runs a hand through his sandy brown hair before winking and holding out his arm as if to escort me out.
“You look really good.” I say to him as he grins from ear to ear. You can totally tell he is in his element. I guess we all are tonight, some more then others.
I send a sidelong glance at Eve and Samuel nudges my rib cage, as if he could read my mind.
“You look…fierce.” He says, sending me a look that says ‘behave’.
I glare back at him, noticing a lack of presence from Bryce.
“Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could be your costume for a night. I would be some badass barbarian.” I flex, my thin arms falling short of the reality I was trying to paint. “What if Eve was a real Vampire?”
I shoot her a look to see if I’m hitting a nerve but she only smiles, keeping a good distance between her and Julian as they stand just inside the threshold to my house.
Eve only smiles.
“You and your imagination.” She jokes, waving a hand in the air as Julian laughs nervously next to her. Something seemed off between the two but I just Couldn’t put my finger on it.
“You and your secrets.” I want to fire back, but instead I turn to the driveway and make for the front sidewalk. “What are we waiting for? let’s go before all the good candy is gone!” I say jumping up and down. My mouth water as I imagine all the sweets, scares, and best of all the costume contest at the end.
“We are waiting for Garret.” Samuel says as Julian watches me continue to jump up and down. I stop mid jump though as I remember that Garret is also supposed to be joining out little group.
“Is she always this hyper?” Julian asks Eve.
“Just wait till she has a few pieces of candy.” Eve says with a smile. She’s playing with her hair again and I sigh. I am happy for Eve and all but her sudden courage and flirtatiousness is so out of character. It seemed like she went from introvert to extrovert overnight.
I look out the open door and see a gleam of metal hobbling down my walkway. Clack, click, clunk. Garret comes walking up to the front steps and I stare. All four of us do.
“What computer store did you rob?” I ask looking at his blinking chest piece and matching gun thingy that looks more like a large chunk of lit up metal then an actual laser gun. Either way he still looked like a roman centurion took a wrong turn and ended up lost in a computer store, granted a very impressive and detailed one.
“I am Maximus Mark III.” Garret grins from ear to ear, holding his chin up high and hitting his chest with his fist. It makes a hollow thunk and I stifle a giggle.
“Well you showed up just in time.” Sammy say’s stepping outside into the front porch with Garret.
I follow them out to the car and stew the whole way over to the school ‘Scare Fest’. I watch as Eve sits and chats with Julian quietly in the back.
I contemplate confronting Eve in the car where we sat.
On one hand I could totally call her out on it, but what if I was wrong? Or worse what if I was right? Did I really want to know the truth? Let’s say that she turns out to be a vampire after all, then what? Do I have to watch my neck every second? How will it affect our friendship?
It’s not like you two have been really close lately.
I lean my head against the window and sigh.
All these questions and thought are racing through my mind when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
I pick it up and notice the message if from an unfamiliar number. The same unfamiliar number from before.
Try using a mirror
Shiver run up my spine and I send a reply.
Who is this?
My phone is silent the rest of the car ride over.
I read the text over and an idea begins to form inside of my head.
Why didn’t I think of this before? Using a mirror on Eve would be the perfect test.
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