Feast of Fools

"So let me get this straight," I sighed, "You're father has come for some stupid book?"

"It's not just a stupid book, it's the stupid book," Amelie paused, "and it's not stupid. Have you called my driver?"

"Yeah, he'll be here in a few."

Amelie gave me an exasperated look. "A few what?"

"Minutes."

"Okay." Amelie leaned back against the wall.

A few days later, I got a letter sent to my house.

You have been summoned to attend the masked ball and arrival of Elder Bishop on Saturday, the Thirteenth of October at the Elders Council Hall at the hour of midnight.

Oh yeah. Amelie had mentioned that stupid thing. Her dad was holding it.

It appears I'm going with some dude named Vincent. Ooo, sounds mysterious. I wonder what I should go as, considering it's a masked ball. I've always wanted to be a fairy for Halloween, but never had the guts. Maybe I should be a cat. Nah. Vampire? Hmmm…

Pop in some fake fangs, white face make up…

Nah. That'd be way too corny.

Clown? No. Bat? No. Lady Gaga? Scary, but no.

How about just a princess? Sounds good.

The night of the ball thing, Vincent picked me up in one of the supplied vampire cars. He had come as…

"The devil. Really?"

Vincent just glared at me. "One of my friends suggested it. Get in."

The ball started off normally enough, they called our names, I walking in wearing his long silver gown and a small tiara. I looked around the room and saw Oliver dressed as a scare-crow. Well, it kind of suits him. No heart, and he's pretty scary.

His date was dressed as my favorite character in the Nightmare Before Christmas movie. Let's just call her Sally for now.

Oliver nodded to Vincent to come over. Yay! I get to meet Sally.

I looked around on the way over and found Myrnin and his new assistant Claire Danvers sitting at a table chatting it up. Myrnin, being the insane person he is, was dressed as Pierrot and Claire was Harlequin. "Oh Myrnin," I breathed, "You crazy little-"

"Hey." I looked over to see that Sally was talking to me. "Hiya," I replied awkwardly.

"I'm Eve," she said.

"Maya."

"You get dragged here too?"

"Yup. By my boss."

Eve laughed. "You're boss? Who's that?"

"Amelie. I'm her intern," I raised my arm to show her my bracelet. "Wait, so you're an intern?"

"Yup. Un-paid, too."

Eve raised an eye brow. "Sounds pretty boring."

"Not as much as you would think," I breathed.

"Nope," Eve tutted, "It's pretty boring. I mean, if an author were to write an entire series of books based completely on this town starting when Claire came here, she could probably leave you out."

Pause.

"Thanks," I replied with a sarcastic smile, "That makes me feel awesome."

"Sorry, sorry," Eve said quickly, "I'm just kind of annoyed because I have to spend the night with this clown."

Oliver obviously heard and shoved Eve. "I'm a scare crow."

"Uh huh," Eve said with a roll of her eyes.

Later in the night, Bishop, who looked older than my grandpa, started calling people up and asking for their loyalty. Talk about ego. But then it hit me that…

"He's trying to take over the town…" I breathed, sitting at a table with Vincent.

"Yeah. Where have you been the past-" Vincent was interrupted by Myrnin's yelling.

Whoa, I didn't know he knew that many swear words… When he finished, he did a twirl and a bow. Then he whipped out a knife, cut Bishop, and ran out of the room laughing like a maniac. When I looked to Amelie, she gave me that follow him look from across the room and I got up. "I gotta go," I said quickly. Vincent sent a glare my way. "You have to stay," he growled.

"Bye!" I yelped as pandemonium broke out. I picked up my dress and ran out the same way Myrnin did. I looked around the hall and found nothing. Then I heard a door open. I ran to the sound and saw Myrnin get into a car. He bent down. I ran over and knocked on the window. His curly brown head popped up.

He was defensive at first, but his expression softened into a smile. "Hello," he said through the tinted glass. "What are you doing?"

"I think that Bishop is responsible for my illness! I needed a blood sample to be sure," Myrnin held up the knife that was stained with blood, "Want a ride?"

I rolled my eyes. "Amelie told me to follow you, so I guess so."

I walked over and got in the passenger side. Myrnin had bent down again, but he sat up when I got in. The car started.

"Did you just hot wire this car?" I gasped.

"Yep! Hold on." Myrnin backed out of the lot and onto the ghost streets. He floored it and the car sped down the road.

"Do you know how to drive?" I snapped.

"I know how to do a French braid, I know how to ride a horse, but I don't really know how to drive, no."

I gave him a weird look. "French braid?"

Myrnin narrowed his eyes. "Tell, and I ask Amelie for you to be my next assistant."

I shut up.