Hello everyone! Well this is my last chapter till december. I hope everyone is having a good year. Now on ward!
"Wow, so you're Jack-O-Lantern!" Jamie exclaimed, looking up at the spirit.
After the grand greeting, the Keepers had ushered everyone into the manor and lead the way to the living room. Dianna and Toothiana had gone to the kitchen to gather the food while everyone waited and watched the rest of " The Nightmare Before Christmas".
"That I am ,'Sort of ', the one and only." Jack grinned. " You look a lot younger than the one in story our teacher told us." Caleb said. "And dress fancier." Added Claude. "Well a man has to have his class." Jackson responded. The three boys continued to ask the reaper more questions while over next to them Bunny and Shiro were being questioned by Pippa.
"So you two are together? That's so cute, how long have you been a thing?" She asked. Bunny and Shiro looked to each other. "Oh, um..I think it was around the start of the month, so only a few weeks." Shiro answered, Yuki appeared and hopped onto his owner's lap.
"BUNNY!" Sophie shrieked, rushing over from Bunny to Shiro. "Careful, he's a baby." She advised, not handing Yuki over but allowing Sophie to pet him. On the other couch, Sandy and Vahness were talking with Cupcake and Monty. " So you really can't see." Monty asked, waving his hand. "No, I can tell you're waving your hand." Vahness stated, brushing her hair back.
"Then how do the two of you talk?" Cupcake questioned. "With bird tweets." A tweet came from the Greek woman's shoulder, Hermes poking his head out. Sandy gave a silent chuckle but created sand images of hands, one was writing on the back of the other.
"Alright, kids, time to eat." Dianna announced, pushing a cart full of food. There was everything from chips and dip to cakes and pastries, even a pizza and soup. "Don't feel eat too much or you'll have no room for candy." She advised, taking a seat next to Jackson. In no time the kids, mostly the boys, had their plates full of snacks.
" This taste so good!" Caleb said, trying some of the soup.
" It's a little spicey." His brother added.
" Well I'm glad you liked it." Dianna smiled. "Miss. Santos, your makeup is beautiful, are they tattoos?" Pippa spoke up. "Thank you and yes they originally are." She replied. "But there was an 'incident' last night and they've faded. So currently it's all makeup and paint."
Jamie swallowed his food and opened his mouth to talk. " Jack's told us of all the stuff you've done together. Is it true he lost control of an ATV and got chased by a moose?" The Keepers burst out laughing while Jack turned a shade of pink. " We-We told him he wasn't set to drive one. But did Jackie listen? No~" Jackson said.
"He he accelerated too fast and went flying up in the air." Shiro chuckled. " Hey I managed to do a sweet 360! Something the have been trying to do." The winter spirit interjected. "True but none of us have ever flown off our seats into a moose." Vahness stated.
Jack just stuck his tongue out and slumped him his seat, Toothiana giving him a comforting arm hug. It was quiet for a while, except for the movie, as everyone ate. " Um...Where's the bathroom?" Monty asked, raising his hand. "Down this hall and up the first all on your right. Do you need a guide?" Shiro asked.
" No, it's ok I can find it." Monty quickly said, heading out. "We need to go too!" The twins added, hurrying after their was a pause before anyone spoke. "They're planning to explore the house, aren't they?" Dianna voiced. "I expect so. Children always do what they shouldn't" Jackson stated, taking a bite out of a piece of bread. "Should I go keep an eye on them?" Toothiana volunteered.
" That won't be necessary. Their fear will send them running back." Vahness smirked.
Monty exited the restroom and was instantly snatched by his friends. "Hey! Guys we're going the wrong way." He stated, trying to get away. "We know." They stopped and let him go. "Come on, Monty, we may never get a chance to explore a place like this." Claude said. "Yeah, just think of everything they have. Like in..that room!" Caleb hurried over to a near by door.
Pushing it open, several lanterns ignited to bathe the room in an orangey yellow glow.
"Whoa…"
They entered, enthralled in what was around them. For a moment, the boys thought they'd walked into a mad scientist laboratory. Several jars containing little preserved creatures, there were some mounted on the walls, test tubes and beakers on the the desk, books scattered about, and a bubbling coming from a tank.
"What is all this place?" Caleb asked, moving to look at the jars. "Some experiment room?" His brother responded. "Claude! Come over here!" Claude went to his brother, who was staring at one of the jars. "Is..is this a fairy?"
"Guys we should really get out of here!"
" Yes, listen to the boy and get out." A smooth voice said, their tall,slender form materializing from the shadows.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"So in conclusion, that is the reason why you never ever do anything and two in the morning. It never ends well." Jackson retold. "Wow, Jack wasn't lying when he told us you guys are wild." Pippa said, taking a sip of water. "Aww, he flatters us too much." Vahness said. " I try my best."
"Jack's also told us you four are like monster police." Cupcake added on. " What is that like?" The Keepers paused for a moment trying to think of how to explain. "Well… I guess it could be call that, though I've always thought of it as being detectives." Dianna voiced out.
" I can see how it is. We only really get it when Jack-kun's death rate rises unexpectedly." Shiro said. "What we do is deal with creatures of legends, sometime urban, but it's all difficult to explain." She added, giving Yuki an ear scratch. " By 'urban' do mean like Urban L-"
Jamie was cut off by screams that came from down the hall. The screams got louder before Claude and Caleb came running back in, Monty trailing behind.
"THE BOGEYMAN! GUYS HE'S BACK! " Claude shouted, his brother nodding. "What?!" Jamie exclaimed, getting up. " We have to do something!" The brunette started rambling about what their "battle tactic" would be, while the Guardians and Keepers all exchanged a shared look.
"Are you kids sure you're not overreacting? We do have several jump scares around the house." Dianna questioned, nonchalantly leaning back in her seat. " He was there! And their was this mad-scientist room with jars." Caleb retold. "Those were unfinished decorations for tonight. I'll go lock it." Jackson said, getting up.
While Jackson left the room and Dianna tried to turn everyone's attention from the Bogeyman, Toothiana leaned in to whisper something to Jack. "Have you told them about...you know?" She asked. "No. How would I? " He responded. " After all that's happened, I don't think it would go well."
Next to them, Shiro wasn't eavesdropping as she watched Sophie play with a few easter eggs that Bunny had brought over. "She's very curious and every energetic." She commented, watching as the two year old chased the eggs around. "Well she is still an ankle biter." Bunny pointed out, lifting Sophie up when she came back.
"You seem quite experienced." Shiro smiled. "Just a little, Sheila. Still working on it." Sophie laughed as she was set down and chased an egg. "Well still better than us. We've never spent any time with kids younger than 16." The Japanese spirit stated. "So it's a little awkward right now."
The clock rang out, signaling the time, and catching everyone's attention. " I think it's time for all of us to go outside and enjoy the air." Dianna said, getting up. "Come along everyone, we have something fun to do out there."
The kids seemed to forget all about the Bogeyman and followed the Mistress of the Dead as she lead them down the hallway and out, the others close behind.
"Wow…!"
Outside, lanterns had been hung from the trees, more jack-o-lanterns lining the paths, and even little lights illuminating from inside the bushes so that the garden glowed. "This place looks more beautiful than last time." North commented. " Arigato, Nicolas-san. Aster and I worked on it." Shiro smiled before moving along with the group.
At Last, they arrived to a large tree beside the small pond, lanterns hanging from the branches, and large pumpkins and a few sugar skulls set on a blanket. Yuki bounced out of his mistress' arms and went to roll around on the grass, followed by Shiba and Sophie.
" It wouldn't be Halloween without making some Jack-o-Lanterns to take home now, would it?" Dianna smiled. "You kids are also free to make Calaveras as well." With excitement, the kids ran forward and picked out what they wanted to make.
"I'm making a skull!"
" But it's pumpkin time!"
"Why don't we make both?"
The Guardians too joined. North chose a skull and assisted the kids that had chosen pumpkins in cutting them open. Tooth and Jack had both chosen pumpkins, Bunny took up a skull, and Sandy a pumpkin. "I'm going to carve the scariest face ever!" Jamie declared. "No way man! I'll make the scariest!" Claude said. "I bet I can make one that can beat both your's " Cupcake added in. And so, the " who can carve the scariest pumpkin" match started between the three of them. From the manor, one story up, two pairs of eyes watched them.
"You really scared those three right, perhaps they're think twice before wandering through someone's house." Jackson commented. "Doubtful, perhaps you should've locked the door instead." Pitch respond, moving around to glance at all the jars. " Maybe, but they still would of wandered about. Kids need to learn not to stick their noses into places they shouldn't."
" And kids all seem to like you . If they only knew." Pitch scoffed as Jackson huffed. " Well, I am a bad influence. But enough about that, why don't you come join us?" The reaper suggested. " I'll have to decline for obvious reasons, plus I'm still recovering from that attack." Pitch explained. "Then you should be back in bed, Shiro and V are going to be angry if they find you out."
The Nightmare King just shrugged it off. " I think I can survive that." He said, but made his way out. Jackson returned his attention to the window, his face turning stern, and gears moving in his brain.
"Vahness, can you help me set up the altars. " Dianna called over to her friend. "I'm coming." The redhead replied. "Be back, Honey." She said, ruffling Sandy's hair. He watched her go before a snickering caught his ear. Jack had whispered something to Tooth, who passed it to Bunny while Jack then said something to North. So now they were all giving him smirks.
"You know, Sandy, you never did tell us how your date went." Toothiana stated. "They had a date! I wanna know!" Pippa spoke up, the boys made gagging noises. The little golden man just shook his head and pretended to zip his lips shut before returning to his pumpkin. "You're no fun!" Jack shouted.
Over by the the pond, Dianna and Vahness had set several candles about. Some lined the bank while others were in groups, accompanied by flowers, a few candies, and some incenses. " Everything looks good for tonight. I'm going to set the lanterns in the gazebo. Care to join?" Dianna asked.
"Thank you, but I need a moment." Vahness respond, setting some flowers around the altar she was at, this one being a little larger than the others. Monty got curious and walked over. " You alright? Should I get for you?" He asked, taking note of the Greek woman's sad expression.
"Oh no, it's quite alright. Are you kids enjoying yourselves?" She asked, trying to change the topic. " I guess we are, I know I am. So what are all these candles for?" The boy asked, fixing his glasses up and looking around. "Well Monty, tonight isn't only Halloween but the beginning for Day of the Dead." She explained.
Monty "Oh"ed, and pushed up his glasses again. "I've read about today in books. So, all these candles for people who you guys have known?" He asked. " Well, tomorrow is to remember kids that have passed before their time." Vahness explained. " As for knowing them all, with the exception of this one, yes we've met them all at some point."
" If you've never met this one, then why is there one for them?" Vahness just gave a small smile. " Because, they're special." She ended that by getting up and patting Monty on the head. Returning to where Sandy was, the little golden man looked up and took her hand while pulling her down.
"What is it?" Vahness questioned. Sandy didn't respond like normal, but instead moved his lady friend's hand on the pumpkin so she could feel the designs. "I feel...a rose...and a heart...and something swirly. It's very intricate. Beautiful." Sandy rubbed his neck. "I know you can't see it, but I'm happy you like it." He wrote on her hand. " Thank you."
Footsteps approached them and Jackson appeared, a large bucket with him. " My apologies for taking so long. But it would appear that it is almost time for you kids to head back." He explained, to receive "Awwww"s in disappointment. "I know, but I wanted to give you all these before hand."
Jackson pulled out several bags full of,what could only be, candy. "Awesome!" The kids exclaimed, Jamie and the twins hurting to get their bags. Just as expected, their bags had all sorts of treats. "Cool! With this much, plus our normal amount, we'll have candy fro months!" Jamie stated, Toothiana almost fainted.
"Bunny! Bunny!" Bunny and Shiro looked to the area where Sophie was playing with the eggs and Yuki, currently she was trying her hardest to catch the little rabbit. "Sophie-chan, please don't do that." Shiro called out. Yuki was bouncing all over the place, trying not to get caught. But Sophie had managed to corner him and the fluff ball felt he had no choice.
"Wahhh!"
Everyone turn to the little girl's scream, Jamie, Bunny, and Shiro hurrying forward. "Sophie are you ok?!" Jamie asked, trying to see if his little sister was hurt. "Go way!" She shouted shoving her brother away. "Come on Sophie, let me see your hand." Bunny said, trying to get the little girl to show her hand.
"NO!"
"What's wrong with my sister, Miss. Shiro?" Shiro walked over, Yuki snuggled in her arms. "Judging by how she's acting, Yuki bit her. His bite causes feelings of animosity, it's very potent." She explained. "I can't bring my sister back like this! What will Mom say! " Jamie panicked.
" Don't worry, I can get most of the effect out." Vahness said, making her way to the little girl. "Hermes, baby, can I get a feather from you and all the others?" Her bird twittered and flew off. "I know what you're trying to do but do you think it will work?" Shiro asked.
Vahness shrugged, causing some to facepalm. " The last few times didn't work because all those were adults, but I think for a two year old it should be more effective, just add some of your flower petals." She added on. "Now, Sophie, let me see your hand." Sophie pouted but didn't resist.
Feeling it, Vahness found the little bite marks and brought Sophie's hand to her lips. "What is she doing?" Cupcake asked, Pippa shrugged. Leaning in a little, Jamie could see a slight discoloring forming on Sophie's ditten hand. Slowly, the color appeared to be getting sucked up into the Valentine's day spirit.
"She's like a vampire." Caleb whispered to his brother.
"Uh, I got most of it." Vahness said, wiping her mouth. During the time, Hermes has return with a few feathers and Shiro had weaved the feathers and flowers together.
"Now Sophie," Shiro began. " You can't corner Yuki like that, he's only a baby." The little blonde girl looked down, pouting a little. "Sawee(Sorry)." She said as Shiro wrapped the feathers and flower threat around. "There, you should feel better after a while." The brunette assured.
"Is she really going to be ok?" Jamie asked. "She might be a little rebellious from now on but other than that she's fine." Vahness pointed out. "Hasn't this been a very eventful night?" Diana chuckled. "But it's time for Vahness and I to begin the ceremony. Would you kids like to see before Jackson takes you home?"
They all nodded excitedly. "Alright then, gather around the edge here. Stay right here." Dianna instructed. She turned and whispered something to Jackson before joining Vahness at the gazebo. From their point across, everyone else watched as the two women sat facing each other.
"Are you ready?" Dianna asked.
"As I'll ever be."
The two took each other's right hands,raised them up a little, and bowed their heads.
As Guardians of the Gate, we grant the spirits of the departed young to pass through the veil of life and death.
Unlike the last few times, the kids and Guardians could clearly see a glow come from the gazebo and torii gate as well as light coming from in between Dianna and Vahness' hands. "Why is everything glowing?" Pippa asked, looking up at the Torii gate. "It's the way we open a portal. The glowing light is a protection and guide." Jackson explained.
"It look so beautiful." Toothiana commented. "Indeed." Shiro replied, giving her baby a scratch behind the ears. "Alright, it's getting late, and time for you kids to get home." Jackson let out a loud whistle and Henry appeared a few seconds later with the carriage.
"Anyone else want to come along?" He asked, holding the door open for the kids to enter. "I'll come with." Jack offered. "Same here." Bunny spoke up, lifting Sophie up. "Alright then, Shiro, you've got the run of the house." Jackson bowed.
"Eye eye, captain."
Bounding up to the driver's seat, The Halloween spirit took the reins and disappeared into the mist.
"It was awesome to meet all of you! Think we could come visit some time?" Jamie asked. "We'll have to see." Jackson said. "Jamie come on we're heading to get more Cupcake's house, her parents are handing out giant chocolate bars!" Claude called out. "I'm coming! Well thank you anyway."
Jamie then turn to Jack and the two talked about something. A little but away, Bunny was talking with Sophie. "Now, Anklebiter, don't cause too much trouble. How's your hand?" He asked, looking over the little girl's hand. "Hurt. Bunny kiss better?" Sophie asked, holding her hand up. "Sure thing." He smiled.
" Hey, Jamie. I got somethin for ya." Jackson said, pulling out a large book. " Jackie's told us about how you've been working on a book on mythical creatures. I thought this could help." Jamie took the book and opened it. Page after page had pictures of different creatures and notes littered the pages.
"This is my own personal Creature Archive. You're free to take whatever notes you like from it, but I encourage you come up with your own. Keep it for as long as you can, I'll come and get it the next time I visit." Jackson smiled.
"Oh wow! Thanks!"
"JAMIE COME ON!"
"Fine! I'll see you then. Bye Jack..s. Come one Sophie." Going over and taking his sister's hand, the two hurried to catch up with the rest of the group. "You know Jackie, you know some odd kids." Jack raised an eyebrow. "This coming from you, makes them seem tame. But Yeah, I can't wait to see what they grow up to be. Especially Jamie, he really is working to make that book."
Jackson looked quickly to the side. "Yeah..Well, gentlemen. Let's head back. Shiro and I got some stuff planned for you guys while Dianna and V are holding the gate open." The three returned to the carriage but Jackson paused. He looked out in the direction of the town. 'Well kiddies, I'll see you all in time. ' The Reaper climbed up on his horse this time. "But first, I think we're gonna ride around town, hang on!"
Henry neighed, reared up on his hind legs, and charged forward. Yells of "Get off me!" and " Your tail is in my face!" coming from the carriage. Jamie and his friends were just coming from a house when they saw the horse and carriage coming their way. "Look out!" Monty shouted.
To their surprise, the horse and carriage fazed right through them. Jackson's laughter ringing as he passed.
"HAPPY HALLOWEEN!"
Well I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I won't be updating for a while but I'll still be working on this story. I got something interesting planed. Well anyway, hope everyone will have an AWESOME Halloween! Adieu my Lovelies~
