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A quick head's up this chapter makes a lot of references to 'Something Wicked', but you don't need to know what happened in the previous story to follow along.

Chapter 4: From The Other Side

A faint glimmer of light sparked in an alleyway, almost unnoticeable in the changing light of the evening. A tall figure stepped out of the alley and pulled back the hood of a long cloak revealing a dusky complexion with faint creases around the eyes, framed by platinum hair that turned to shades of purple in varying lengths. Fuchsia lips curled into a smile as olive-green eyes darted from left to right, as people passed by laden with bags barely acknowledging her.

She strode towards the store to her right, a large sign reading 'Enchanted' above the door. She paused and gazed at the window, which was filled with thick cobwebs strung across the width, in one corner stood a stack of pumpkins with gruesome faces carved into them in the other was a witch's broom while shadowy silhouettes appeared to be shifting between the webs.

"Hmmm…"

She reached for the door but it swung open revealing a group of girls walking out with large bags, one of them carrying a large pointed hat in her hand. "Wow, cool robe," said the one in the lead. "Yeah, you are definitely going to be a hit at your gig," said the second.

"Why thank you, I made it myself," she replied with a deep, smoky tone, tilting her head slightly before stepping aside and allowing them to pass. She stepped inside and was immediately accosted by the sound of feet scurrying across wooden floors, clicks of metal, and the gradual rise and fall of chatter and calls across the room. Her eyes darted around, searching through the swarm of people surrounding racks, tables, and display cases, taking in the garlands of autumn leaves strung across the ceiling and statuettes of cats, bats, and pumpkins scattered around the room.

She clocked a redhead wearing a headband of wolf ears holding out a flowing white dress in one hand and a pair of red pants in the other as she spoke to a couple. A hand reached out from under the cloak, fuchsia and black painted nails reached for a silver clasp shaped like a spider, revealing a ring wrapped around a finger in a web-like pattern with a large amethyst stone set in a silver spider-shaped frame. She pulled off the cloak and draped it over her arm as she stepped further inside, heels clicking against the floor. As she passed, eyes once focused on purchases drifted toward her, taking in dark form-fitting pants and a dark halter under a flowy blouse with layers of plum and sea green, falling off the shoulders and draping into a corset belt with a swirling symbol woven into the stitching, while the sleeves clung to her skin, extending right up to the back of her hands.

Her eyes found a blonde wearing a headband with cat ears tying a mask around a young woman's eyes and gently arranging her hair around her face as she looked into a mirror. She smiled fondly and wandered over to a table where an older man was fidgeting with a cowboy hat. She pulled a top hat off the rack and strolled over to him whipping the hat out of his hand and shoving the top hat at him. "This one is a much better fit for you." She smiled, flipping the hat in her hand to the side as the man nodded and placed it on his head. "Perfect," she whispered and walked away, weaving through the crowd, picking up trinkets and handing them to customers as she passed.

A young brunette wearing a headband with bat ears walked out of the changing room with a customer, holding a costume for her. "Let me ring this up and then you're all set. It's going to…"

She drifted off as her eyes fell on a woman holding out a bottle of perfume to a customer.

"Excuse me. I'll meet you at the counter. Feel free to look around in the meantime."

She ambled through the crowd of patrons over to the table as a voice floated to her "...trust me, one whiff of this and no one will be able to take their eyes off you. Just what you want with that outfit."

She reached out and grabbed the bottle before the customer could take it. "I'm sorry that's not for sale. It's just part of the decor. But we go have some seasonal scents on that counter."

She turned around but only saw a flash of purple disappearing between costume racks and quickly excused herself to scurry after. She caught up to her beside the rack of necklaces as she was directing a young girl to an amethyst pendant.

"Excuse me, what're you… Aunt Tamara?!" she exclaimed, when the woman turned around, olive eyes glinting in the light.

"My Alexandra."

"What…What did you do to your hair?"

"Like my new look? I thought I could do with a change."

Forgetting the customers surrounding them she threw herself at the elder woman hugging her. She pulled back and her eyes widened when she realized she was still holding a costume. "Eek… wait right here, I'll be back." She ran off toward the counter but stopped and turned back calling out, "Stop pushing things."

Tamara smiled at the customer who had just accepted her bag and turned to leave as Alexandra called out, "Happy Halloween".

She draped her cloak over the counter and leaned against it. The brunette closed the register and turned to her, hazel eyes alight. "What are you doing here?"

"Can't an old witch visit her favourite niece?"

"What would Arianana and Ava say?"

"What they don't know certainly can't hurt them now, can it?"

Alexandra pulled the cloak over the counter and stuffed it out of sight before coming around and hugging her again. "It's so great to see you. And I do love the new look. But seriously, what are you doing here?"

"I heard about what happened to you last year from the Court Witch and was eager to see you in person. All of you. Your mother of course sends her wishes but you know how busy she gets this time of year. So here I am."

"Hey Alex, do you know where we put the extra fan… Tamara?"

"Vesper my darling, how are you?"

The redhead ran up and hugged her. "What are you doing here? How are you here?" she asked. "Are you allowed to be here?"

Tamara laughs and takes their hands in hers. "It's a special time of year my darlings."

Vesper looked around and her voice dropped to a whisper. "It's not Halloween yet."

Tamara frowned and brought one hand up to cradle Alexandra's cheek. "What have your mothers been teaching you," she said with a scoff before leaning forward. "If you know where to look, there are crevices in the veil that open up a little earlier. All you have to do is slip through and voila!"

Alex and Vesper shared a look, eyes wide as their breath caught in their throats. "Stop worrying girls. It's perfectly fine, happens every year, as long as I don't use my powers, I'm not breaking any rules."

Alex slapped a hand over her mouth and looked around, but no one seemed to be paying any attention to them. She sighed. "You can't say things like that here."

"Oh hush, they all think it's an act anyway. Now don't let me keep you, go sell your wares, we'll chat later. I'll even help."

"You don't need to…"

Before Alex could finish her statement she waltzed off and began talking to customers.

"It's going to be a long couple of hours."

"You said it. Though you have to admit, it is a little cool that she's here. What trouble could she possibly get up to without her… tools?"

"The possibilities scare me."

Vesper flipped the sign on the door to 'Closed' and locked the door before turning out the light. She turned around and looked around the room once before walking into the adjacent room, pulling her headband off her head. "I think that's the first time we've closed this early on the 30th," she said as she walked over to a circular table and plopped down into a chair diagonally opposite Tamara.

"Well we did have a little Halloween magic on our side this year," said Lyra who was seated next to Tamara holding onto her hands. "I still can't believe you're here."

"I hope there wasn't any magic involved," Alex said sternly as she placed a tea tray on the table.

Tamara's gaze turned stern as it fell on her. "Dearest niece, I hope you don't take me for an amateur. This is not the first time I have traversed this realm before Hallow's Eve, nor am I the only one. It seems I need to have a word with your mothers, being unprepared and poorly informed is no way to live in this world. Not just anyone can pass through the veil before the anointed day. Those of us who know of the crevices and are able to pass through know the rules and the consequences of breaking them. And it is a special year, I wouldn't be surprised if others were making use of this opportunity."

Vesper paused in reaching for her cup. "A special year? The blood moon isn't till next year."

Tamara's lips curved into a wily smile as she reached for a cup, she tapped her nails against it, then leaned forward and whispered "That's what makes this one extra special." She pulled back and took a sip, closing her eyes and savouring the brew. When she opened them, three pairs of eyes, filled with concern blinked back at her, cups remaining untouched.

She gently shook her head and placed her own on the table. "Girls, you must stop with the worrying, it really is no good for your skin. Besides, there is nothing for you to worry about, this is as humans like to say, not new information."

"Then why is this year so special?"

"Preparations of course. Certain… ingredients must be sought out and primed so that they are ready for picking as the celebration draws near. And that's part of the reason I'm here, to help you prepare, if you insist on performing the ceremony here, you need to be ready."

"That's the reason you're here?" Alex asked as she sat down.

"Alex!"

"So suspicious little one. Yes, it is part of the reason and as I said before I wanted to check on my girls. Also…," she took a moment to look around the shop and curled her fingers around gesturing to the decor. "I do find the way humans celebrate Hallow's Eve fascinating."

Lyra almost spat her tea out and coughed as she placed the cup back on the table and grabbed a napkin. "You mean that they're primed for pranking, right?"

Tamara threw her head back and laughed. "Oh it's all in good fun and it is tradition. But no, humans are surprisingly resilient and the extent they go to, to explain what they don't understand is marvellous, exhausting, but marvellous. Besides the pranking was always Tayrn's thing. Hmmm… we might actually run into my sister tomorrow."

Alex turned to Vesper and saw a look of disbelief mirrored back at her, "Since when are you such a fan of humans?" she asked warily.

Olive eyes softened and Tamara placed her hands on the table, inviting the girls to take them so that they were all joining hands. "The way I hear it, it was humans that saved my beloved niece and her friends. I owe them a debt and they have proved to be more than hapless victims. They certainly have potential and are perhaps a promising wager."

Vesper looked over at Alex who was shaking her head. The brunette pulled her hands free and hugged her aunt. "You are the strangest person I know but I love you." She pulled back and looked her in the eye. "I hope I don't need to remind you not to gamble, you do remember what happened last time? Mum's not going to take too kindly to bailing you out again."

Tamara laughs, "You've been living with humans for a while now but you are still so much like your mother. All Hallow's Eve is sacred, yes, but it is also a time for fun. You need to let loose a little bit and enjoy it. Now show me what you've been up to."

As the sky darkened, Tamara helped the girls pack things away and get settled for the night. And as the midnight hour drew nearer, she retrieved her cloak and slipped it on before stepping up to the window as she waited for the girls to finish their preparations. She heard the shuffling of feet and the creaking of wood pouring out of the next room but her eyes were fixed on the sky.

Somewhere behind her a clock chimed and her eyes sparkled as she watched the gentle shimmer of the veil falling away. Her eyes brightened as her ring thrummed with a gentle glow, and she smiled. "So it begins." She turned on her heel and marched back inside, cloak flying behind her.

Thanks for reading.

Till next time...