Chapter 6
Cider
After assuring Anna that they weren't going to eat her, the witches put both skeletons to work. They rummaged through the store and the house looking for something that would fit the dirty young skeleton.
Anna didn't know where she was supposed to look, so resigned herself to leaning awkwardly on the counter with the cash register. She was mostly silent, resisting the three monsters' attempts to hold a conversation with her.
"Come with me dear," Helgamine said. She took the teen's boney hand without warning and pulled her behind the curtain. "We'll find you something. For now at least. Don't worry, skelly. We'll get Harlequin to fix up something just for you as soon as possible!"
Anna complied, still fearful of her new surroundings.
She glanced back to where Jack was speaking with the little witch. Just as she turned her head to watch where she was going, a doorframe appeared.
Anna clacked her skull against it before she could duck.
"OW!"
"Watch your skull there, sweetie," Helgamine cackled a moment too late.
Anna scowled as they entered a small kitchen with a set of stairs on the left and a hallway going into the rest of the house across from them.
"Sit," Helga ordered, making Anna cringe at the clipped tone. The witch pointed to a chair that was much too small for Anna. Not checking if Anna listened, the witch went to the counter by the sink and brought back a black pitcher. She set it on the table and poured a mug. She looked up and eyed Anna who was staring at the chair.
"Sit on the table if you must, but at least put your feet up. You look about ready to fall over, skelly!"
This time Anna sat.
Helga handed her the mug.
"What is it?" Anna asked. She stared at the liquid suspiciously with one squinted eye.
"Ooh! More than two words. I believe we're making some progress here, dearie," the witch laughed, "It's just rotted apple cider, sweetie."
There was a crash from the store behind the curtain, followed by vague cursing and a questioning tone from Jack. High-pitched cackles stifled it.
Helga rolled her eyes and sharply set her own mug down. She went back to the store to see what broke, leaving Anna alone.
Anna took the opportunity to study where she was.
It certainly didn't look like a common kitchen. Every straight line Anna could see was purposely slanted to give an off balanced feel to the room, and the color scheme had muted grays of various tints. The thick table she gingerly sat on (while avoiding all the weird things scattered about) was very well used with decades old stains and marks from its use as a cutting surface.
A large cauldron sat on the floor at one end. It was big enough for Anna to curl up inside without any problem if she wanted to. A step stool sat beside it.
Bundles of dried plants hung by the windows and dozens of jars with strange labels lined the shelves. There were likely more things in the closed cabinets.
There was a huge refrigerator looking thing in one corner made of aged wood with a large lock on the massive door.
Anna looked up sharply.
"Well, that was a waste of time," Zeldabourne complained as the two witches and skeleton man came into the kitchen.
Anna shrunk back from them a bit and stared, still put off by their appearances.
"I don't suppose Sally would oppose to letting her borrow something?" Helgamine suggested.
Jack laughed happily, "Why didn't I think of that?! Will you be alright, Anna? I have to go home for a moment."
Anna tilted her head, wondering why Jack was asking her if it was okay to leave. "Sure. I guess."
"Excellent." Then he was gone, the curtain waving behind him and the little bell signaling the opening and closing of the shop door.
Anna tried to stand but winced and groaned.
"Oh. A little unsteady there, dear?" Zeldabourne asked, "Here. Finish the cider, and I'll show you your room." The short witch picked up the mug, ignoring the glare her sister gave her as she slipped something in and handed it to the skeleton girl.
"I feel like I've been asleep for ages," Anna muttered, taking a sip. She didn't want to go back to sleep. It was…dark.
The drink was tangy, and a little bitter but she liked it.
"I'm sure you won't have any problems," Zelda assured.
"I'll take that," Helga tersely said as Anna set the mug down.
Anna hesitantly followed the shorter witch up the creaky stairs, trying to look around curiously.
Helgamine stayed downstairs, slightly jumping when Jack popped in a few minutes later, a bundle of cream colored fabric in his hand. He looked at Helga questioningly.
"Upstairs," she said just as Zelda peeked down the stairs, her eyes zoning in on the nightdress.
"Give it here, please," she said, and Jack complied before she was even finished. She darted back up the stairs.
Jack sat down and waited with the other witch.
"Cider, Jack?" Helgamine said, offering the skeleton the jug and another cup. "Zel didn't put any nightshade in this one."
"Please," the Pumpkin King said. He crossed his legs to make himself fit better in one of the small chairs the witches had in their kitchen.
"She seems rather skittish to be a Halloween Spirit," Helgamine casually mentioned while staring into her mug of cider.
Jack coughed as he took a sip and looked at the witch sideways. "She's not the worst new arrival I've seen. She'll be okay. As I recall, you were rather nervous when I found you. Took my head off!"
"Hmmph. I don't remember." She didn't, but the idea of her attacking her king made her stare more intently at her drink in embarrassment.
Jack shrugged as Zeldabourne came down the stairs. Almost no one ever remembered when they first came to Halloween.
He stood up to greet the shorter witch.
"I take it she's sleeping now?"
"Out like a light Jack," Zelda nodded, waving around a corked bottle in front of her. "Poor girl's as jumpy as the Mayor."
"Was it necessary to give her a sleeping spell?" Helga said, crossing her arms.
"I would rather her properly rested and calmed before meeting everyone else," Jack explained.
"Well, she'll be asleep for exactly," Zelda strained to glance at a clock on the wall, "Ten hours."
"Splendid. That should be plenty of time to plan a proper welcome for tonight!"
The witches looked at each other.
"Uh, Jack?"
"Everyone's still sleeping off last night."
"Is it wise to throw another party?"
"While I agree the sooner the better for a new arrival, I don't remember the last time someone came immediately after Halloween. Everyone's tired."
Jack grinned, "It doesn't need to be a big ordeal. We'll keep it to introductions and such. Something simple."
As if anything Jack planned could be "simple."
Jack clapped his hands together, "Now, before I leave. First impressions?"
"She's…young," Helgamine said, glancing toward the stairs. "She seems to do certain things by nature. She managed to avoid all the creaky steps upstairs without even trying. Appears to be a habit. She has potential."
Zelda chuckled, "She was frustrated trying to put on Sally's night dress. Make sure you thank Sally for letting the girl borrow it. If she weren't so drained, she would have had much more patience than now. Besides that, I think she'll fit in quite nicely."
"Of course I'll thank Sally," Jack assured. "Anna will need clothing of her own soon. A job I'm sure Harlequin will jump at."
"That's what I said. Well, we'll take care of her until someone else can give her lodging," Helgamine said with a stifled yawn.
"Thank you."
"Anything for you, Jack," both witches said at the same time before glaring at each other.
The skeleton man chuckled. His eyes darted up the stairs again to where the guest room was, thankful that the witches couldn't see the concern in his eyes—a positive aspect of not having any.
"We'll be at the Welcoming, of course."
"Then I'll see you for preparation this afternoon! Horrid nightmares," Jack said with a polite nod as he left.
The witches waved goodbye.
They waited a moment, aware that Jack could still be listening without either of them knowing.
After a minute of silence, they shared a look.
"He's still dreamy…" Zeldabourne sighed. "He just makes my flesh crawl."
Helga rolled her eyes. "Let it go, Zeldabourne…" she said warningly.
"I knooow."
"Are you as curious as I am, sister?" Helgamine muttered tiredly.
"About why our king didn't even mention how he plans to mentor our new arrival?" Zelda answered.
"Exactly."
"I wonder if the girl knows how important he is."
"I doubt it," Helga chuckled.
"She'll know soon enough."
"It's a little odd. I would think Jack would be bounding off the walls in excitement because of a skeleton newcomer! He so loves teaching the young ones. An apprentice is perfect for him."
Zelda scoffed, "Well I'm not the ruler of Halloween, so I say we trust Jack and get some sleep before my feet fall off."
"First your teeth, now your feet?" Helga jabbed with a sly smirk.
The shorter witch sneered at her as she left to her room, grabbing her broom as she went. "You are so lucky I was in a forgiving mood that day."
Several hours later while Anna continued to sleep off the potion, the town was once again bustling with activity.
"Town Meeting! Welcome Party for the New Arrival!" came the muffled shout of the Mayor outside as he drove around town announcing the news and waking everyone up.
Sally hadn't slept as much as she planned to. She was too excited about the new arrival.
Perhaps "excited" isn't quite the right word. More like "anxious."
She only caught a glance, but she was almost certain the skeleton was the same girl from her vision. It was sad, knowing that at that moment in the Real World the boy from her vision was devastated and all alone while the girl was with them.
She knew it was silly to be so heartbroken about it. She didn't even know them!
Although, she supposed she was going to get to know the girl very well. It was a little premature, but Sally was hoping to be friends with her eventually. Maybe after she's not running away from them.
She wondered if it would be a good idea to tell the girl about the vision. Not for a while, she reasoned.
A crash made her head snap up.
She smoothed her dress and pulled on her last shoe before peeking out her door.
"Jack?"
She jerked back suddenly to avoid being run over by her lover.
"Oh, sorry Sally!" Jack said catching her arm to make sure she didn't fall.
"Need another of my nightgowns?" she said with a playful smile, reminding Jack of how he burst into her room without warning, saying he needed a dress or nightgown, and ran out after she pointed to one on her chair before she could ask him for his reasons.
She was left blinking in confusion while staring at the empty chair, wondering if she imagined that and if Jack needed the nightgown for himself…
Jack rubbed the back of his skull in embarrassment. "I should have knocked."
Sally giggled, "Oh, Jack. At least I was decent."
Jack looked more embarrassed and froze in pleasant surprise as Sally kissed him.
"Hmm. Was that for anything in particular?" He asked with a smile.
Sally shrugged, "For being a good King and caring for your citizens. I'm assuming you took my clothes for the girl. If not, we need to have a different conversation." She gave him a mock stern look.
Jack snorted. "Nothing else would have fit her, besides my clothing. And I don't think she would appreciate the complexities of pants if she could barely walk without falling."
Sally burst out laughing at the image of someone as noodle-legged yet graceful looking as Jack struggling with putting on pants.
"Oh dear. I really shouldn't laugh," she snickered guiltily, leaning on Jack. "I feel sorry for her."
"Hopefully she has a sense of humor. Until we know, I suggest we avoid mentioning 'pants' around her."
The couple was silent for a moment before they lost their composure and broke down into giggles again like hyper children.
Jack most certainly had a sweet tooth, but perhaps he could have been a little more mindful of just how many candies the monster children offered him. And how many he shared with Sally.
"Don't do this to me!" Sally complained, smacking Jack on the shoulder. "I can't think of anything else now!"
"What? Pants?"
"Jack!"
"Sorry," Jack cackled, proving he was anything but.
Sally ebbed her giggles. "What were you doing a minute ago? I heard something break."
"I may or may not have knocked over my lamp looking for something in my study," Jack admitted.
"What?"
"…Nothing important," Jack lied, "I was looking for another crystal vial. I gave the newcomer one. And I'm afraid she might have lost it. She wasn't exactly concentrating on what she might have been holding in her hands."
"It may be by the fountain still," Sally suggested, "I saw you use it there."
Jack shrugged, his stick figure shoulders popping up weirdly. "No matter. I can buy another one."
"Well I hope you're done looking for now because I hear the Mayor calling," Sally said tilting her head toward the window. "Don't we have a last-minute party to plan?"
Jack's eyes widened in realization, "We're late! Every second counts!"
He spun on his heel and darted his gangly frame down the stairs.
Sally sighed and ran after him with a fond grin on her stitched face.
Zero looked up from his bed by the fireplace in the sitting room at the sound of the front door opening and slamming shut twice.
He whined and tucked his head into his blanket more, gnawing on one of Jack's ribs which he stole when his Master dozed off in his study after madly searching for a book. The skeleton wouldn't notice for a couple of hours hopefully.
It was the day after Halloween for Jack's sake! Surely everybody could wait a few more hours before rushing about, even with a new arrival in town.
The ghost opened his eyes, and his nose glowed brighter as a thought occurred to him. If the new monster were a skeleton, maybe she would like to play fetch with him like Jack did!
"Town meeting!" the Mayor shouted into his microphone at the top of his lungs while the town bell, a different one from the Requiem Bell, sounded off throughout the town.
Various citizens glared at him as they left their homes toward Town Hall, some dragging whining children behind them, others nursing hangovers from too much whiskey and ale from the previous night.
"I swear if this isn't about the new arrival, I'm breaking the Mayor's neck permanently." Glen, the werewolf, snarled as he followed the Grim Reaper through the door.
"That's my job. And would that really do anything?" the Hanging Tree pointed out as he yawned and settled into his usual spot behind the back row.
"It'd give me satisfaction."
"You two have had a mutual dislike for ages. I doubt attacking the Mayor because you drank too much last night would help."
The Hanged Men nodded in agreement, as best they could with nooses around their necks, as the Witches followed behind the crowd having left the skeleton at their house.
Surprisingly, Jack came in as the last one in the Hall, Sally by his side. That was bizarre. He was usually the first one inside and already backstage ready for the meeting.
"Horrid afternoon everyone," Jack cheerily said as he jumped up and casually walked across the pews, stepping over other monsters, before hopping on the stage.
Sally stayed in the back, finding a seat in the Hanging Tree's branches offered to her.
"Jack seems a little off," one of the Hanged Men rasped. "I thought he was already backstage."
Sally shrugged, glancing back at the door as the last ones inside closed it behind them.
"He was busy looking for something in his study. Made a racket too," she whispered distractedly.
"Did you get a look at the new arrival?" the Hanging Tree asked.
Sally forced a smile, "I haven't spoken to her yet, but I got a glance. She looks wonderfully scary. Poor girl seemed rather frightened, though."
"I hope everyone had pleasant nightmares," Jack said, drawing their attention. "And I'd like to congratulate everyone on an excellently horrid job once again with our holiday last night!"
Eyes lit up as the King spoke and applause rang out.
Jack glanced to the side of the stage where the Mayor stood proudly to hide his unease, rather than his usual spot in the rafters controlling the light.
The mummy child, the frequent helper to the Mayor, was handling it well on his own.
"I'm sure all of you are aware of why we've called a meeting," Jack said with a happy grin. He threw his arms wide open. "We have a new citizen!"
A cheer erupted from the crowd along with hoots, howls, and other noises.
Some creatures frowned and shuddered, thinking of the last newcomers.
Lock, Shock, and Barrel.
They were special because they all arrived at the same time and stuck together like glue without memories of their past lives. They were inseparable for so long, and it took a lot of coaxing for them to split up long enough for lessons with their mentors.
It didn't last long, though. They were difficult to deal with, and well…a prank went very wrong.
Hopefully, this girl skeleton was more pleasant than those three.
Jack laughed, "All right everyone. If you please. Now as most of you know, she's a skeleton like myself." Jack bowed a slightly. "And we have a Welcoming to plan for tonight!"
"Where is she now Jack?" the Corpse Father asked.
"Sleeping. She won't be joining us until later this evening. Even then, I must ask that everyone be cautious. She seems unaccustomed to fear."
The citizens looked confused. What did he mean by that? Everyone knew fear, monsters, and humans.
Jack quickly explained, "The fear I sensed from her was uncontrolled and unfamiliar to her. She obviously didn't know how to handle it."
"I sensed it too," Zelda piped up, "Her fear felt like that of a toddler at first. Rather threw me off."
Helga nodded in agreement.
"I agree," the Gatekeeper said from the back, "I brought her into town, and her emotions reminded me of Tearaway trying to ride down Spiral Hill on his unicycle while drunk."
The Clown with a Tear-away Face guffawed and honked his horn. "Ha ha! That was one time forty years ago!"
"You ran me over and broke my wing!"
"Regardless." Jack chuckled with everyone else while bringing the discussion back under control. "I want the very best first impressions and singing from everyone. We should endeavor to let Annalise Grisholme know that we welcome her into our Halloween Town family with open coffins!"
The citizens cheered again before getting to work setting up. They moved like clockwork, everyone exactly knowing what they needed to do.
"How long do we have Jack?" the Mayor asked.
"A little under five hours, Mayor."
"What?!" the Mayor's head switched around, "Okay, everyone let's pick up the pace and keep it there. Five hours! Only five hours!"
Jack grinned while he started walking around in the other direction to make sure things were in place.
Author's Note: Ugh. This took so long! I had to revise like seven different times. Good news is that I have the next chapter written up too. It just needs to be revised and proofread. Apologies if there were any mistakes. I'm half asleep while writing this. If there are any mistakes all probably catch and correct them by next update. And yes, I'm aware my chapters are getting shorter. Some will be longer than others depending on how much I think I can fit in as a reasonable amount of words. There's a few super long chapter's coming up soon. REVIEW PLEASE! I LOVE REVIEWS! I see people following and favoriting this story and that's awesome, but I want to know why you like it (or hate it). REVIEW!