The Celts believed that there is a material world that we live in, and a supernatural world occupied by strange creatures, gods, elves, and the spirits of the dead. Twice a year (end of February and end of October), the borders between these worlds become thin, and you can pass between the worlds.

The Celts thought that, on the night of October 31, supernatural creatures would pass through the veil between worlds and would walk our world.

Some people feared that ghosts and magical creatures might cause trouble. So the people dressed up in costumes. Some believed that the costumes would frighten away the creatures. Others believed that the magical creatures would be fooled into thinking that the costumed people were also magical – and leave them alone.

"I.. Like it?" Hay Lin hung her head, upside down, off the end of the bed. And smiled as Caleb stood before her. He looked like a tattooed version of Tarzan. "What? Rebel Tarzan?"

"What?" Hay rolled around and sat up as he stared blankly down at himself, and then frowned deeply. "I'm not a Tarzan. I'm a Várvaros. Wild, cunning, savage barbarians, who roam over the Metaworld.. They were in Meridian's shadows for six months last year!"

Hay Lin grinned at that; swinging her legs now in her sitting position and beaming at the way he bore his teeth as he told her enthusiastically. "Well here you're either Tarzan or a boy in a green skirt."

"Hay Lin! Skáse, as if you would know what a Várvaros was anyway. You cannot appreciate the authenticity of my costume!" Hay Lin pulled her fingers through her hair as Caleb frowned heavily; pouting, though he tried to hide it with his creased forehead and glaring green eyes. "And what are you?"

"I'm.. A WITCH!" Hay Lin stood proudly, in a homemade costume with great floaty lilac sleeves and a netted shawl which fell loosely over the crooks of her elbows; barely holding on. "I'm a special witch! My own brand of witchiness!"

Caleb sighed at that, and Hay Lin only grinned at his usual exasperation. And if he wanted to say anything about her personally-adulated eccentrics, he could just explain why he changed his mind about coming to the party. Hay Lin's inner sources guessed it might be something to thank Cornelia for - the blonde who'd been avoiding him.. He obviously missed her. "Bah, you should know better than to try to dress as a witch. And the closest witches are mostly blind now anyway, so they'd never dress gracefully - Phobos had those he could find in the Metaworld's eyes torn out, so that they couldn't 'foresee'."

Hay Lin might have scrunched her nose at that, had her smile not stretched from ear to ear, and she grinned at his noise of surprise as she squeezed him in a hug, "You think I'm graceful?"

"Uh.." Caleb scratched his head a little and Hay Lin laughed as he went a little red, ".. Is that all you got from that? I was insulting your costume Hay-"

"That's so sweet!"

...

"That's what you're wearing?" Will felt her cheeks flush as she scowled at Irma, who slapped her hand over her mouth for the unenthusiastic tone she'd used. "-Will, I- I mean.. No seriously, is that it?"

"Hey!" Will frowned, as Irma shifted in her own purple dress, because Will didn't feel much like dressing up. She didn't feel much like anything tonight, but getting into her bed and enjoying the sweet dreams that were so good she could almost feel Caleb's lips brush her own; almost, but not quite. But she realized now that she was never going to get away with what she'd worn; nothing differing from her usual wear, except that she'd ventured to a slightly better pair of jeans - these ones weren't torn to shreds at the bottom. "It's not like we're kids anymore.."

"Nor, Will Vandom, are we boys." Will frowned at that; because Irma had never seemed interested in whether or not she looked nice, and Will pulled her baggy coat tight to her body; shrinking away from the comment which was plain mean. "Usually, I love the whole hoyden look, but this is Halloween Will! And besides, Caleb's not a kid either, but even he is dressing up."

"He's coming?" Will cringed at how interested she sounded, but Irma only beckoned her in, and Will wasn't sure whether or not to follow the devilish smirk. "I only mean, because he didn't really seem to be interested, and I.. Oh, God.. Why do you own that?"

"Nicked it off of Hay Lin."