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“Okay,” Lukas announced, clasping his hands together. “We have about two hours to stop at the house to get ready for the town’s Halloween festivities. Naturally, since this is just a Wayhaven thing, you guys don’t have to be there.” With his last sentence he gestured at Unit Bravo before continuing. “You’re welcome to come since the whole town is invited, but you’re free to stay home or do whatever you guys usually do to celebrate Halloween.”
“Are you guys going to dress up?” Felix asked him excitedly.
“Since I’m technically on duty, so for me it's required,” Lukas crossed his arms over his chest. “Something about making the station look more like a part of the community. As if we aren't already.”
Areylia giggled from behind him. “You say that like you didn’t spend several hours this week making sure your costume was perfect.”
“I didn’t spend half as much time as you did,” he retorted.
“Oh, I know, but I actually got a group of 12 teenage girls to do a group costume, and managed to coordinate it, so all the hours I put in meant something.”
“You’re doing a group costume with some teenagers?” Nat asked, curious.
“Ohh yeah. I actually mentor a group of jr. high and high school girls in my free time, and since I’m not working, I decided to take them out so their parents don’t have to worry about them. They’re a bit too old for trick or treating anyway.”
“Come on Areylia, How can you say that?” Felix asked in mock outrage. “You don’t get too old for trick or treating.”
“Despite their arguing. Riley spent more time on her costume than either of them.” Cat interrupted.
“Cat!” Riley protested, uncharacteristically whiney.
“What? It’s true,” Cat defended.
“Wait, Riley’s dressing up?” Felix asked, even more interested than before. “What are you dressing up as.”
“It's a surprise,” Riley answered glaring at Cat, daring her to say a word.
“Even we don’t know what it is,” Lukas agreed, rolling his eyes.
“I do,” Cat piped up, earning her another glare from Riley. “But she had to tell me, so I could help her make it. Since I'm the only one that can sew.”
“You can sew an entire costume?” Nat asked, looking impressed.
“Yeah. I make mine every year, and this year both of these two wanted my help. I worried I wasn’t going to be able to finish for a while, but I managed to finish it all.”
“That’s pretty cool,” Nat told her.
“Well we need to get going,” Lukas announced. “So we can finish getting changed before the event tonight.”
“We can meet you at your house in an hour, and all head over together,” Nat suggested, moving her gaze from Lukas to Adam as she finished her statement.
“That sounds good to me,” Lukas agreed.
“Very well.” Adam’s answer was short and clipped, making it fairly obvious he didn’t want to go at all.
About an Hour Later
Lukas was adjusting his glasses in the mirror and buttoning up his jacket when he heard a knock at the door. He pushed his hair back before opening the door and finding Unit Bravo standing outside. He gestured for them to come inside.
“The girls are still getting ready, but we still have about 15 minutes until we have to leave.”
“Who exactly are you supposed to be anyway?” Mason asked while taking out a cigarette.
“If you light that in the house Cat is going to be so mad at you.” Mason rolled his eyes, but put the unlit cigarette back in his pocket. “And I am Dr. Jones, world-renowned archaeologist, discoverer of ancient treasures, teacher, and fighter of Nazis.”
“You look like a dork,” Mason commented.
“I think you look very nice,” Nat insists, walking over to smooth out a wrinkle on his tweed suit jacket.
“Is it the costume you like, Natkins, or the man wearing it?” Felix asked, grinning.
Lukas winked at her. “Why can’t it be both?”
“Am I missing something?” A voice called from the hall. Everyone turned to see Areylia walking in. “Felix looks very pleased with himself, and Adam is cringing so bad. Given the smirk Lukas is wearing, I’m assuming that Felix was picking on the happy couple again.”
“Expecting applause or something?” Mason asked her.
Areylia smoothed out the pure, unblemished white fabric, and pushed a thin lock of dark hair out of her face. She was wearing a sleeveless, floor-length white dress which was the first time Unit Bravo had ever seen her wear a dress. She had paired the dress with a thick gold necklace, and matching gold spiral bracelets on her upper arms. Her dark brown hair was fancily braided with strands of silver woven through it, and a clip of a crescent moon in it. She also had an old-fashioned bow slung over her shoulder.
“I would say that a bow might be more appropriate. I do have a tendency to curse those who fail to demonstrate proper respect,” Areylia answered, winking at Mason.
“Are you some kind of royalty?” Felix asked.
She twirled around, showing off her dress. Adam found himself closely watching the movement and the way the fabric hung off her body. Areylia felt a slight increase to her heartbeat and some heat rise to her face when he caught a glimpse of him staring at her.
“Goddess,” Areylia corrected. “Greek goddess to be precise, but I’ll let you guess which one.”
“Artemis,” Nat guessed without even taking a second to think about it.
“It’s a good thing there is at least one person of culture here,” Areylia agreed.
“Hey, Areylia?” The woman turned to see Cat calling her from, her arms holding up her hair. “Could you pin this up for me? Also, is the historical accuracy there? I tried copying the dress design based on a description in the book, but I'm not quite sure I got it all right.”
“I think you look perfect, but I wasn’t alive during regency times. What do you think, Nat?”
“Did you make that yourself?” Nat asked, looking over Cat’s dress. Like Areylia, her dress was also floor length, but Cat’s dress had some sleeve on the shoulder, and had some color to it. She had a sash wrapped around her shoulders and gloves covering her arms up to elbows.
“I did. I messed up some of the stitching, but it was around the back of the neckline, so my scarf covers it up, and I doubt anyone will notice.”
“That is certainly more historically accurate than many other attempts I have seen,” Nat praised. “And I think you look beautiful.”
“Thanks. Now we’re just waiting for Riley, but I think it’ll be worth the wait,” Cat remarked, as she moved to stand next to Mason almost instinctively.
“What book are you supposed to be from?” Mason whispered when she got close enough. “And why did you pick something that made you wear more clothes than usual?”
Lukas growled, and Nat placed a hand on his chest to silence him. Cat ignored their reactions, and just looked up at Mason. “I’m from Sense and Sensibility, the Jane Austin novel, and I’m not sure I understand your other question. It's cold outside, why would I wear less clothes?”
“Because…”
“Mason,” Adam cut him off with a warning tone, and the vampire rolled his eyes, but didn’t finish whatever remark he was about to make.
“Hey, Riley!” Lukas called. “What’s the hold up?”
“Oh, Calm down!” She yelled back. “I’m coming.”
Almost as soon as she answered, the door to her room opened, and Riley stepped out. She walked very slowly towards the living room, and once she got close enough it was apparent that she was moving so slow because she wasn’t wearing her glasses. Almost all of Riley’s arms and legs were bare as she was wearing a sleeveless green dress that was jaggedly cut about halfway down her thighs, and a close inspection revealed the dark lines of a leaf pattern in the fabric. She wore flat green slippers made of the same fabric on her feet with a large cotton ball in the center of each foot. Her blond hair was tied into a perfect tight bun except for a swath of hair falling over her left eye. She wore no makeup, but her face was covered in silver glitter.
What was really interesting was the wings she was wearing on her back. They were still shimmery, but they actually fluttered, and there was golden glitter falling off the back of them. Riley reached up to rubb at one of her eyes, making it obvious that the wings were moving independently of her arms.
“I think I got glitter in my eye,” She complained upon realizing everyone was staring at her.
“How did you do the wing thing?” Felix asked, rushing forward.
“Ohh, That’s the part I spent most of my time on, but I’m pretty pleased with them. I’m just starting to wish I’d worn something warmer,” She admitted, rubbing her hands up her arms.
“You can just stay next to me,” Felix suggested, leaning in. “I’ll keep you warm.”
“You might end up covered in glitter if you get too close,” she warned, moving her gaze to the floor.
“That sounds awesome!” He proclaimed, wrapping an arm around her. “Now let’s get to this party. I want to have some fun, and get some candy!”
“We’re going to a town event, not trick-or-treating,” Riley reminded, but allowed him to pull her out the door, giving everyone else no choice but to follow.