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Inside the Carmine mansion, gentle flames cast shadowed shapes along the walls and floors, thick, sticky webs of spiders’ silk covered the banisters of a large grand staircase and hung from a crystalized chandelier, and glowing red eyes of bats peered eerily from the dark corners of the room.
“Ugh, Mama Rosie, I can’t reach this. Will you help me please?”
“Of course, my darlin’” Strong, slender hands cupped the underside of a young girl’s arms and lifted. “Alley-oop.”
Odette was raised off the ground with ease and she affixed a head made of worn burlap cloth and stuffed with straw atop the body of a previously headless scarecrow, a terrifying expression drawn on its face in black paint. The blond girl was lowered and she took a step back to look at her masterpiece— a dirty set of overalls atop a red and white checkered button a shirt, a torn woven hat atop its head that lolled to the side without support and giving the creation the image that it was leaning forward menacingly, and straw peeking out from various opening of the overly stuff outfit.
“Wow, poppet. Ya really out did yourself.” Rosie praised, softly running a hand over the girl’s head affectionately, fighting a laugh at the gaudy ink black bob Odette wore to hide her blond hair.
Odette blushed. “Thanks, Mom. We all did a pretty good job”
They turned to survey the rest of the grand foyer of their home. Jack-O-Lanterns were carefully positioned around the room, their carved faces ranging from cheery to goofy to sinister as they glowed from the candles placed within. A wide punch bowl full of pink liquid sat at one end of a long table ladened with appropriately themed snacks, sweet treats, and of course a cauldron of wrapped store-bought candy. There were also mini games set up around the perimeter of the room, leaving an open area to allow for any dancing to the spooky music flowing from hidden speakers.
A doorbell rang and from up the stairs, Clara called out. “I’ll get it!”, already sprinting down the stairs, taking two at a time. A long, lavender dress with bell shaped sleeves covered her slim frame and bellowed behind her as she ran. But, what was most striking about the girl’s outfit was the long stringy gray wig covering her cream curls, a flat purple cap atop her head with similarly long gray mustache and beard affixed to the lower part of her face. Odette and Rosie watched her rush past them.
“What in hell is she wearing?”, Rosie snorted. The girl’s had refused to regale her of the origin of their outfits, citing they weren’t quite complete despite having been dressed for nearly half an hour.
Odette just giggled with the cannibal queen, laughing at the sight of her sister running while dressed as an elderly man. However, she knew she looked just as silly with a flowing black robe that reached her ankles over black pants, a black wing cut to her shoulders, and makeup even whiter than her skin that made her look sickly and gaunt with a few well placed brushes of a gray powder. A few black powdered lines on her forehead and near her mouth to form deep jowls gave the impression she was an unhappy man of an advanced age.
The two demons watched Clara return with another young woman…or well a young woman who was equally dressed to be anything but young. The sinner was a young girl with bunny-like features, long bunny ears that reached the small of her back, with a light pink fuzz that covered the entirety of her body. Tonight, the usual pleated skirts she wore when working as Carmilla’s personal assistant were replaced with a deep emerald gown in a similar style of Clara and Odette’s. She wore a light brown wig, the hair piled high into a small bun with her ears pulled through the hair to hang by her sides. Half-moon shaped glasses sat on her small snout and she gripped a brown stick in one hand.
“Bea! Happy Halloween!” Rosie exclaimed, moving towards the sinner to pull her into a hug. “Oh, I’m so glad ya could make it. Ya looked fantastic, honey, even though I have no idea what you’re supposed to be.”
Bea beamed up at the cannibal. “I’m dressed as Minerva McGonagall.” At Rosie’s puzzled look she tried again, “You know…from Harry Potter?”
“Uh”, Clara chuckled from beside her. “We’re still working on updating Mama Rosie on some of the more modern movies.” Clara looked to her step-mother. “We’re all characters from the Harry Potter series. You remember that book about a magical school Odette was telling you about not too long ago?”
As Rosie looked between them, she now noticed the “stick” each held in their hands were actually wands and she smacked a hand to her forehead. “Oh yeah, right! The one about the boy with the scar. That young man could not catch a break, I tell ya. So, who are you two?”
“I'm Severus Snape!”, Odette said proudly.
“Yeah, she’s the mopey old man who bullied children”, Bea piped up.
“He’s just misunderstood!” cried Odette, indignantly.
“Yeah, Yeah.” Clara waved away her sister's dramatics before her voice turned hoarse. “I'm Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts” she croaked in her best impression of a wise old man before the strain was too much and began to cough.
The four burst into giggles, Clara still coughing in an attempt to clear her throat. Then, the doorbell sounded for a second time.
“You dears, stay here and catch up. I’ll get the door.” Rosie said, already strutting out of the room to the front door. A quick peep at the security system and she hastily opened it. “Zestial, Happy Halloween! Come in” Rosie greeted with an enthused grin.
Zestial brushed past the other overlord to enter the home. His hollowed words echoed as she spoke. “Lady Rosie, thee doth light all of Hell with thine exquisiteness. Pray tell, of what origin is thine fair lady masquerading this fine Hallow’s Eve”
A dark blush rose to porcelain cheeks and Rosie smoothed her hands down the front of her outfit. The cannibal queen wore an elegant gown, its top a sleeveless fitted corset that pushed her full breast together just enough to uphold her modesty, yet still be incredibly seductive. The tight fabric was dark burgundy and shimmered in the light, teasing the eye with hints of indigo or scarlet depending on the angle. Silver beads like tiny diamonds were sewn along the bones of the garment so four pillars glittered beautifully from the top of the corset to its bottom. It led to a full skirt of the same deep shade, its shape rounded like a bell, flowing from a cinched waist so its edges brushed along the floor to hide black slippers from view. Rosie wore black silky gloves that reached her biceps and a thin black circlet dotted with more silver beads wrapped around the front of her head, the chains disappearing into a halo of soft, cream curls behind her ears where small onyx earrings in the shape of dew drops hung.
“Oh, stop it, Zesty. Ya makin’ me blush.” She giggled. “I’m dressed as a queen.”
“Ah, a befitting visage for one of thine stature indeed.” He rumbled, amused by the deepening dark blush further creeping up his friend’s face. “Where art thine holding tonight’s merriment?”
Rosie perked up. “In the foyer. Come on, I’m sure the girls are wondering where we are.” And she led them back to the group of young sinners.
Upon their entry, Clara and Odette immediately admonished their god uncle for his lack of imagination when it came to a costume. The ancient overlord was essentially dressed in his usual garb: a bespoke suit with spider motifs and his tall gentlemen’s hat. After being thoroughly chastised by the girls, he claimed that he was dressed as the Count Dracula, pointing to the dribble of all-too-real blood running from one corner of his mouth. This only served to garner more irate complaints from the girls about the lack of effort with Zestial trying to placate them by manifesting various gifts in his palms. Bea and Rosie merely laughed at the loving display between the centuries old demon and his spoiled nieces.
A few minutes later, the girls were seated on the floor, chatting about any and everything that occured in the few hours they hadn’t messaged one another. Clara suddenly looked around and then to Rosie who was talking to Zestial. “Hey, Mom.” She called, easily gaining both overlord’s attention. “Where’s Mamá? It's been like forever.”
“Hmm. That's a good question, darlin’. She said she’d be right behind me, so let’s give her a few minutes, yeah?” Rosie suggested.
“Methinks we shall hath no want for the continuance of time.” He whispered, gazing at the top of the stairs.
Everyone followed his line of sight.
“Wow”, Rosie breathed.
Carmilla stood tall and proud, allowing the others to marvel at her costume, the orange glow of candlelight illuminating her like a spotlight. The weapons dealer wore black riding boots, silver gems matching Rosie’s sewn in the outside seam of the pants, starting at her waist and down into the tall black riding boots fitted over them. Her snowy tresses were braided into a thick braid and resting atop her head was a small dark crown that matched the circlet Rosie wore, more silver shining brightly against the black. Carmilla was beautiful of course, but the real awe came from the nearly white breastplate and pauldrons affixed to each shoulder that shone like real metal. It was incredibly detailed with faux bolts that appeared to hold the armor together and little indents in the shape of roses were patterned into the material. There was even a longsword attached to her hip, one hand gripping the pommel.
“To behold a creature as heavenly as Carmilla is a wonder, is it not?” Zestial whispered to a stupefied Rosie who could only nod slowly, smiling at the sheer love and adoration he saw for his greatest comrade reflected in her hollow eyes. He nudged Rosie with a skinny elbow. “Do not tarry, Lady Rosie. Thy valiant king doth await her enchanting queen.”
Rosie swallowed as she ascended the stairs to her wife. Carmilla would never fail to render her speechless…would never fail to remind Rosie just why and how she had fallen in love with this magnificent woman before her. Her beauty, her grace, and the abundant love she had for their children and Rosie was a constant inspiration for the cannibal to be the very best woman she could be for her beautiful little family. She stopped in front of Carmilla and could easily see the love she felt in her inky heart reflected in the crimson orbs watching her.
“You look radiant, mi rosa. Absolutely beautiful”, the matriarch said, reaching out to take a small, gloved hand in her own.
“Me?” Rosie giggled, disbelievingly. “You’re literally shining, Milla.” She pressed a palm to the breastplate. It was cool to the touch, and harder than she expected yet still somewhat malleable. “Where did you get your costume?”
Carmilla cocked her head. “I made it.”
Dark sockets widened. “Ya made it? By hand? When?”
Carmilla laughed at the wonder in her beloved’s questions. “Yes, I did. In my forge, of course. It isn’t angelic steel, mind you. But, rather a light, inexpensive metal that was perfect for such a small project.”
Rosie reverently ran her fingers over the design intricately pressed into the metal, their tips tracing the indents. She smiled. Her wife was always one to above and beyond but this was something else entirely. To painstakingly imprint this floral design by hand would have taken many hours of dedicated work atop of her already heavy daily workload. And the fact that it was beautiful roses, the cannibal queen's namesake, that were spread across the breastplate made Rosie’s heart ready to burst and tears pricked the corner of her eyes.
“You’re amazin’, ya know that?” whispered Rosie, the overwhelming love she felt in this moment with her love in front of her and her family behind made the words catch a bit in her throat.
Carmilla merely smiled and leaned closer to press a chaste kiss to Rosie’s lips and briefly squeezed the cannibal’s hand affectionately. “As are you, hermosa. Let us rejoin the others.” And she called down the stairs to other demons as she descended with her queen, “ ¡Feliz Noche de Brujas , everyone!” A chorus of joyous celebration greeted her in response.
“ ¡Feliz Noche de Brujas! ”, the twins called back to their mother.
“Happy Halloween!” Bea exclaimed brightly, lifting up a small glass of punch.
“Happy All Hallow’s Eve”, Zestial rattled.
And the rest of the night passed in elated celebration as the found family laughed with one another, playing games, dancing to music, and creating happy memories that will last for the rest of their immortal existence.