Halloween Ball

Samhain, or All Hallows' Eve and even All Saints Eve.... It mattered not which you knew it by for they where all the same, colloquially known as Halloween! Ca'guuror DelaSangre stared at his old home, decrepit and over run by his beloved nature since his last visit many are ago before his ascension. He smiled, and clamped his hands loudly. The plants instantly retreated, pulling away from the stone castle built in to the side of the mountain. The stones quickly reassembled themselves and the molding pile of wood beside him rebuilt itself in to the two story barn that had always been a safe haven for animals of all species, a virtual garden of Eden where lions could lay with lambs literally to heal and recoperate. He strode through the front wrought iron gate in to the outer courtyard where various trees of different kinds grew. Apples, oranges, and several other species as well as none fruit bearing kinds. All where heavily laden with fruit despite it not being even close to their time of season. He pushed the enormous double oak font doors open, each over nine feet tall and weighing at least a ton each as both where living wood, just like everything else in the magnificent home. Striding in to the reception room he looked around at the two curving staircases leadin upstairs to the living area where his own bedroom and four extras where made up and ready for use though he saw no need for any rasin they would be for what he planned unless the mortals imbibed to much alcohol. To his left was a corridor leading to his large kitchen, equipped wih pots and pans he no longer had real use for and a pantry with food teeming from fruits and nuts (big dried and fresh) to twinkies and cakes. His fridge would be filled with every imaginable kind of beverage, including chilled blood for the more nocturnal patrons to come. Further down was his three story library filled with thousands of books. On his right was another corridor leading to a large open room that would be used for dancing. A spiral staircase in the center of the wall opposite the door lead downwards. Frowning, the god of nature snapped his fingers and sealed of that area. It was not for these people to find out what was upon those two floors below their feet.

Looking around himself, Cag smiled. Vines began to creep forth through out his home, a glistening sheen of bloody red that seemed to pulse as if they where enormous veins throbbing with a heartbeat. They slowly wrapped around all the objects, giving the entire house a feeling of being inside an enormous living beast. Smoke, such as a fog machine would dispense oozed from dry vine, drifting slowly to the floor and creating a fog upon the floor and poured out the for the front doors out in to the front courtyard. Smiling, he enjoyed the effect and walked back out in to the courtyard. Animals began to pour in as he summoned them, and to each and everyone for the next six days and nights he gave the ability to speak a message. That who so every they happened uponed was summoned to the house of Ca'guuror Delasangre for a ball to celebrate Samhain and All Hollows Eve. In conjugation wih this ability, whoever accepted this gift would be instantly transported to his wrought iron gates. With this he sent his darling off upon foot and wing, land and air and water to summon any and all willing to come and frollick in his Eden.

[Adelaide Bernadette]

The message was simple, whether she wished to come or not.

Should I...? Thoughts of trouble overwhelmed her, but she only wished for a good wholesome time. She needed this time for fun, and it was time people saw her for who she really was; a beauty behind the beast that held within herself. It was time to uncover the mask.

Feet padded against the floor boards as she ran throughout the home, searching for something wonderful to wear. She wished not to go over the top, but still stand out to where maybe, someone, anyone, would notice her. She wished only to be accepted, and possibly loved if it ever came to that.

Why kid yourself? No one could love someone as different as you.

Her eyes shifted to the floor, for her thoughts overclouded her judgement. Sighing, she shook them away and pulled open the double door closet. A large walk in closet welcomed her. A smile drifted its way across her lips as she reached in and shoved clothing to the side, in search for the perfect piece.

The home she stood in once held so much power, so much wonder for it belonged to her beloved father at some point before his death. Yes, vines and creatures loomed within these desolate hallways now, but it would always be considered her home in some way or another. Her bright eyes shined while she shifted through the clothing, taking affect she had finally got to her mother's old dresses. Each were in amazing condition, for her father had taken great care in each, wrapping them so tight they couldn't wither and die before him like her mother did.

Slowly, her delicate fingers shifted through the plastic wrappings until she came upon the dress she so desired. It was the one dress her father had first seen her mother in that caused him to become so captivated with her in every which way. A ghost-like smile cast its way over her lips as she pulled it from the old closet and brushed the dust from the wrapping before uncovering it completely.

It slid over her tattooed and pierced body with ease, snuggly holding her in all of the right places. It allowed one to see for a short person as herself, she had curves and was showing them off since she never could any other time.

Black high heels slid over her nylon covered feet and the clicking against the floor could be heard as she made her way towards the large mirror before her. If she knew any better, her own mother was standing before her instead of Adelaide herself.

Now the task of getting her hair and make up to work with her. She never did have much luck on it, but she could only hope it wouldn't be too disastrous. Slowly, her fingers did the work while her icey white eyes looked about.

She watched as her blue hair was slowly curled, letting some strands dangle out and curve around her face making it look oh so delicate to the touch. Her blue hair slowly changed into one of a blonde color, for she wished to have her mother's hair color for this festive time. Smiling, she could feel her mother's presence for Adelaide could have never caused her hair to look that good without some form of help.

Now, onwards to the make up. She kept it simple, letting her natural glow shine through and putting on a soft shade of lipstick. Puckering her lips, Adelaide smiled at herself into the mirror. Reaching up, she created a smokey effect over her eyes, knowing it would make her stand out just a little bit more. The dress hugged her perfectly, for she nodded with acceptance.

Making her way over to the bed, Adelaide reached down and grabbed a mask, one that almost represented a mascaraed ball type of mask. It shined, for the white background upon it gave away the black stripes over it. Slowly, she slipped it on and grinned. If anyone truly knew her, they would instead see her mother.

Which, in her eyes, was a huge compliment. Her mother was absolutely gorgeous in every way possible.

Looking over herself, Adelaide could see how the mermaid white colored dress hugged her hips, while the black zig-zag like patterned stripes covered the dress slightly. A bright pink banner-like piece was tied around her waist, hugging her tightly. Nodding with happiness, she walked out of the home and was transported outside of a gate to which belonged to a beautiful home. She looked about it, taking notice of all the vines around it.

Vines....tubes... A shudder made its way over her skin, before she shook her head and cleared her thoughts.

No, be strong. Nothing will hurt you. Nothing.

It was time to have some fun; no time to worry over silly things such as troubles.

[Stilia Medusa]

Stilia was walking along l’Avenue des Champs-Elysees, in the beautiful city of lights, in Paris, France on non other than Halloween night. She did not have her backpack on her back, a rare occurrence, because she knew the busy tourist street had many pickpockets. Instead she only carried the essentials. Weapons, and a small but empty bag just in case.

Stilia did not look like the average tourist. There was no excitedness coming from her, she lacked a camera to blind everyone with a million pictures, and she strolled along. She looked at the beautiful street with interest, yes, but even the French considered it lovely. As long as she didn’t speak, revealing her English tongue, people thought she was just someone who lived there. She walked past expensive shops and boutiques, the smells of café, fresh bread, sticky cheese, perfume, and the sweat of the crowds of people filled it all. The Arc de Triomphe stood solemnly across an eight-lane round-about, and it was funny to see some tourists trying to get across, not realizing there is a much safer underground tunnel to the Arc rather than potential death in the very busy street.

Stilia stopped outside one shop, where they had all sorts of gorgeous dresses, but the girl had never been materialistic. She always economized her money. After looking through the window of the shop long enough for the owner to come out and chase her away for not buying anything. Probably afraid she was some trickster about to throw eggs for some Hallow's Eve fun. She left the shop and headed to a nearby café. She sat at one of the outdoor tables, and ordered a café express, which was ridiculously expensive. But, she wished to sit as she had been on her feet all day, and even the washrooms required money here in Paris. There was no way they would let her sit without ordering something.

She picked up a napkin to set beside herself, when, oddly enough, an envelope fell out. Stilia was very curious. Casting a glance around to see if anyone noticed, she opened the envelope, pulling out a letter. And, her biggest surprise yet, it had her name written on it. She read over the letter, and almost laughed when she saw the signature of one of her few friends, Ca’guuror Delasangre. Now how in the world had he known exactly where she would be, as well as when? Her friend certainly did have a few tricks up his sleeve, as she had seen before. In fact, it was thanks to him that Stilia didn’t need to have to worry about money, despite lacking it until she finally left her nest into the world just over a year ago. He had miraculously turned plain old metal into gold, and it had been worth quite a pretty penny.

She had spent much time with him hunting down dangerous creatures as well. He was one of the few people she trusted- relatively enough, at least. It was a costume party, and yet the one thing he didn’t seem to include was an address. Of course she would go, but she had no idea where—

Suddenly, she was no longer at a café table in Paris, but in front of an iron gate. She looked around in surprise, and shook her head with a small grin on her face. Of course. He had somehow brought her here. But she wasn’t in a costume, and the invitation had specified… Suddenly, after looking to make sure no one was around, Stilia stripped down to nothing but her top.

Stilia took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She felt her skin itch and tickle, changing. Soon scales grew along her legs as they merged together and grew. Her hair elongated and began to stick up, taking life- literally- as they became snakes. Her eyes became the usual striking green, and her face shifted into it’s normal form. Ca’guuror would be happy to see her in her true form. Picking up her clothes, she put it in the small bag that had replaced the usual one that sat lonely and hidden in a hotel room back in France.

Slithering forward, she let her hands trail on the gorgeous old bars of the iron gate. She admired the home that stood before her, and went towards the door. Balling her hand into a fist, she knocked.

Tiberius was hanging from the eaves of a building. He was dressed in his usual garb of his ninja outfit, mask upon his face and black cloths tigr against his body revealing his musculature. A bee kept buzzing about his face, very unusual for this time if year and cold misty weather. He growled, trying to swat the insect away before a tiny voice sounded in his ear.

"How rude trying to kill the bringer of such wonderful news. You are invited to te home of Ca'guuror DelaSangre for a Shamhain ball. Do you accept?" Tiberius stared at the bee. A talking bee, how strange and unusual this night has turned out to. Do you know bay other tricks. Finally he decided respond to the bee and looked at it.

"Sure, why not it wil..." Before he had even finished the sentence he was no longer hanging from the eaves of a building but was standing outside a cast iron gate. Past them a man stood alone, waiting for them to arrive. Tiberius glanced around and behind his mask his jaw dropped as saw a face he never thought he would again. Adelaide was dressed magnificently and he couldn't help but to allow his eyes to roam her magnificent physical structure and curves revealed perfectly in that dress. He walked slowly towards her, whispering. "Adelaide, is that you in there? You look absolutely astounding dear." He took her hand gently and kisses the back of it.

[Adelaide Bernadette]

She had taken notice of the woman near, knocking gently. Smiling, she nodded with respect, for she could not help but admire her handiwork. It really was magnificent at what she truly became. Why would she ever hide that from anyone? For it was beautiful in every possible way.

Before she was able to raise her own hand to knock, a stranger---or what she assumed was at first--- spoke and grabbed her hand to kiss it. Looking in surprise, she noticed the male she had met before.

"Oh goodness, I met you before yet your name slips my mind..." She bit her bottom lip apologetically, hoping he would inform her once again, if he ever did, of the name he had. His compliment helped boost her, for she didn't feel that wonderful. Smiling, she giggled. For someone that had treated her so...distastefully from before, he sure was appreciative of how she looked now.

And, thank you. For the compliment I mean." She shyly blushed before looking away to take notice of the gate creaking before her.

[Kyrian Tidus]

The male stretched in his seat on the tree's branch and yawned, exposing his white fangs to the moonlight. For a man like him, who knew vampires and had hunted, and killed, a few... He found his costume to be quite hilarious. He knew that a few of his vampire accomplices, and any that he happened to meet, would find his appearance to be quite distasteful and might even call him rude; but it was a running gag with his friend Jason, a Dhampir himself, from back in high school. One Halloween, Kyrian had decided that he would dress up as a vampire for the two's annual scaring of little kids. Being half-human, Jason saw the humor in Kyrian putting on a Victorian three-piece and wearing a set of 'realistic vampire fangs.'

So far, the elemental had scared the crap out of three groups of elementary schoolers, four early middle-school groups (either sixth or seventh grade), and a small pack of high school beasts. But now there was a lull in between the time when the younger kids came out with each other, and oft with their parents, and the time of the night when the high schoolers who saw Halloween as a holiday meant for committing minor acts of crime came out. It was a boring, yet anxious time as Kyrian waited for the new wave to roll in, like waiting for a new batch of cookies to come out of the oven.

It was at this time that the raven appeared. It simply landed on the branch a few feet down from Kyrian and stared at him before looking down to the empty streets. The lights in the houses were beginning to turn off, so it wouldn't be long now before the troublemakers made their appearance. Kyrian looked back up to see that the bird was still there. It was strange for birds, such skittish creatures, to just stand in one spot for so long; especially when there was a human constantly moving not that far away. After a few minutes of staring at each other, man to beast, Kyrian finally spoke in order to break the awkward silence. "Well, aren't you going to say anything?"

Imagine his surprise when the bird opened its beak, and instead of a squawk, it spoke in English. Although the voice did have a gravely, slightly high-pitched tone (Is that what a raven would sound like if it had a human voice?), it was still speaking in sentences as if there were nothing more natural than a speaking bird. "Elemental, you have been cordially invited to attend a ball in honor of Samhain at the residence of Lord Ca'guuror DelaSangre. What is your response?"

The darkness elemental thought it over... Try to scare some teenage punks, or accept a party invitation from a talking bird? Always one for adventure, it was an easy choice for the male as he looked at the bird, still a little shocked by its speaking. "Well, aren't you going to say anything?" the bird asked in a mocking tone. Seriously, a talking bird was cool, but a talking bird with an attitude was just plain annoying. However, Kyrian wasn't one to have his feathers ruffled, especially not by some bird who was promoted from squawking. "I'll gladly accept the offer, asshole bird."

Suddenly Kyrian could feel himself being pulled as though gravity had suddenly increased a thousandfold in the space all around him. Then nothingness. And, finally, the sudden pushing as though a great force had just shoved him out of a tiny hole. Being accustomed to teleporting, Kyrian barely registered the feeling, more curious about where he had been deposited. He stood at the wrought-iron gate to an elaborate dwelling and its lands. Building a castle in the mountains was a bit of an egotistical move that only someone who simply wanted to show off would ever do... But it did look grand. The way the place seemed be a part of the mountain, and the nature that grew all around in manner that was part-tamed and part-wild gave off the sense of a haven for nature.

Standing at the closed doors to the castle was a giant snake, no... The upper body was that of a woman, yet the lower half was the body of a giant snake. And the woman's hair seemed to be composed of live snakes as well. The male then looked to see two other beings: a beautiful, blond, human-looking woman, and a... Ninja? It seemed so odd to see two human-looking people when there was a gorgon right next to them... Oh well, time to see what was going on. Hopefully those doors the gorgon was knocking on would open and they'd be able to go inside to the party soon.

Ca'guuror watched as people began to arrive, smiling as each appeared before his gate and nodded. He walked past them all and grabbed his doors, throwing them open to them all and turned to face them. He spoke, magnifying his voice so all could him him even if they had been far away in the woods. He gazed upon them all, smiling fondly. "Welcome one and all to the all Hallow's Eve Ball!! Inside you will have the time of your life like only a god can supply you. Anything and everything imaginable can be found inside. Enter, and be entertained!" He threw his arms out and smoke billowed from the doors. Around the door way, a thick green vine grew suddenly and pumpkins grew from the stems around the door way hanging there. Each pumpkin quickly took upon the likeness of everybody's face who would enter with in and participate in this magnificent ball.

Lowering his arms, Cag walked directly to one of the party goers. He stepped directly up to the gorgoness known as Stilia and offered his arm to the female. He beamed at her and nodded. "I am exceptionally glad you came, old friend. It has been a while has it not?" He chuckled and leaned close, giving her a peck on her cheek and then petted a few of her writhing snake hairs tenderly just behind their heads. "They are looking very lively and healthy are they not?"

[Stilia Medusa]

Ca’guuror strode past Stilia and threw the doors wide open for all to enter. Not many people were there, which only made the room look even bigger. Stilia looked around from outside, slightly in awe. The room inside pulsed with red, and Stilia paid attention to Cag’uuror’s words, but did not truly watch him, her green eyes wandering across the various things within the room. Smoke poured from out of the open doorway, and pumpkins grew from vines over the doorwat. These magical fruit, which had grown like nothing, also grew into very strange shapes; that of the faces of the guests. It was kind of creepy, to be honest, but also neat and unique. Wonderful for such a holiday. She looked at her own ‘pumpkin face’, which possessed the traits of her true face, instead of one of the false faces she tended to wear like masks while roaming the world. It was like observing an odd mirror, which sucked away her true colours and replaced it all with orange.

As Ca’guuror finished speaking, her eyes returned to him, as he walked over to her. He offered his arm to her and she gently placed her hand on it, giving him a small but genuine smile, which was a rare thing on her part. She nodded in return to his words. “It has been much too long, old friend. How have you been? Enjoying the life of godhood? You still must tell me all about what happened, as well as all else that occurred in our time apart.”

Well, she had to admit to herself, befriending this… God was quite a wise choice. She did not know how, but her friend hadn’t been so when they had first met. It had actually come as quite a surprise to her. She remembered back when she had first met him, he had given her gold and then dragged her along to go aid a creature in distress, having been a lover of nature even back then. It had seemed foolish at the time, her motive being her curiosity in the leviathan creature, but she had gone along with it. Now look what it had brought her! A powerful friend, one of the very few people she would trust completely. One of her wisest investments within her short life.

He leant forward, giving her a friendly kiss upon her cheek and playing with her hair. She nodded once more to his words. “I suppose they are. They get angry often though, for whenever I change forms. They don’t really like it.” The snakes hissed and coiled around her head, as if agreeing to her words and warning her to do it less.