Entry 10 - The Carnival at the Grinning Moon

That night, strange dreams plagued my sleep. Dreams of something in the forest around the Grinning Moon, stalking the property's edge but never quite able to set foot inside. It was like I was the creature. My breath was hot and loud; my chest heaved with each move. Branches cracked beneath my mighty claws, and one of my hands ran nails against a nearby tree trunk.

It was the same scraping sound I’d heard the night we’d found the truck in the alley. The shape in the darkness that had climbed up the buildings. That realization jolted me awake, and I shot up in bed, heart thundering. A cough racked my entire body, and I held a hand to my mouth, only to be greeted by a splatter of black and scarlet on my fingers when I pulled it away.

Stumbling, I made my way to the restroom and ran my hands under the faucet, ignoring the low wail that came with the water. I took another of my pills, swallowing it dry and staring at myself in the mirror.

These sorts of things weren’t uncommon occurrences for me because of my condition. I put a hand to my heart, clenching my shirt in a tight fist. The last week had been relatively symptom-free, for which I was happy. I hoped this wasn’t the start of them becoming more aggressive.

I spent the rest of the night watching the television and listening to the news, unable to return to my slumber after such a violent interruption. Reporters rattled on about all the things in Nultock that were going on, what with the mists set to appear later in the day.

“Please note that the northern edge of the city will be entirely closed off due to the advancing behemoth.” A female voice said, “Those of you who are residents in the area have been given an evacuation order if you are in the beast’s path, but experts state it shouldn’t deviate from its normal route.”

All the announcements and warnings were just background noise at this point. Anyone who understood Nultock knew that this was just the way things were, and outside of a few extremist groups, most accepted it–myself included.

Rubbing my eyes, I checked the time. More time had passed than I’d realized, and my shift was in an hour. So I gave up on sleep and decided I might as well get ready for the day. I saw little reason to keep Lulin waiting. If anything, it was probably prudent to be a little early. So I changed into my uniform, picking out a new waistcoat that was just barely different from the one I normally wore. Once I’d finished sliding my white gloves on, I checked myself in the mirror. Besides the bags under my eyes, I looked good as new.

I stepped out into the hallway, adjusting one of my gloves and looking around. I didn’t bother to lock the door yet.

The hall was dim save for the lights resting beside Nyx's and my doors. That was strange, as normally it was fairly well lit. And after the dream I had last night, any oddity put me on edge. I wanted to knock on Nyx’s door. But for some reason, the other side of the hall felt miles away.

Shrugging off the feeling, I stepped away from my door.

A soft click from off to my left froze me in my tracks. I turned my head.

Silhouetted against the elevator was a feminine frame. The figure didn’t move. It didn’t make a sound. My first thought was that it was a ghost or spirit from the Grinning Moon. So I tried to ignore it. I turned back toward Nyx’s room.

And that’s when it struck.

The air shifted beside me. I had but a half second to react, raising my hands. A red, glowing glint blurred before me, and something heavy wrapped around my neck. I was thrown backward, toward my room. My back slammed against the door with a heavy thud, and the knob rattled to my left from the impact. The key to my room, which I’d been holding a moment before, hit the ground somewhere down the hall.

A low, predatory whisper caressed my ear. “I want your blood.

Fingers. It was fingers that had wrapped around my neck. A slender, seemingly delicate hand that had far more force behind it than it should. I lowered my gaze to see exactly what had me pinned against the wall, one hand around my neck and the other pinning my right hand against the wall.

Lulin Rayland held me there, her teeth bared and her eyes glowing a beautifully vibrant crimson. My eyes narrowed, and eventually they fell on something I hadn’t noticed the first couple of times we’d spoken–or maybe they hadn’t been there and had suddenly changed; I couldn’t tell you. Her canines. They were far, far longer than any human's. Both were sharp to an almost needle-like point. Just looking at them, I knew they wouldn’t struggle to pierce my skin.

Despite the situation I was in, a single word came to mind when my gaze returned to her eyes. “Pretty.”

She reeled back for a moment, her fangs retracting and her smile returning somewhat to normal. “I beg your pardon? That’s not how I expect my food to react.”

“Vampire?” I managed between deep breaths, her fingers still tight around my neck.

Her grin was enough of an answer. “Stating the obvious, mayfly?”

Now that I’d had a second to recover, my mind was reeling. I didn’t have any questions or time to think. My left hand was free. And the doorknob was near my left hand. I hadn’t locked my door. Which meant…

I turned the knob and fell back into my room. Lulin let out a startled screech, her hand colliding with an invisible barrier as it nearly passed through the threshold. She lost her balance, falling after me. Her face smashed inelegantly into the same translucent wall, and the vampiress dropped to her knees with a soft “Humph!”

Once I’d promptly fallen on my ass in the safety of my room, I shook my head and groaned. She wasn’t in a much better state, rubbing her face with a frown.

“You can’t enter someone’s home without permission.” I swallowed, standing back up and adjusting my bow tie.

“You already let us in at the lobby, idiot. There’s something else about this room.” She stood, folding her arms and looking me up and down. I didn’t like the way she scanned me. I felt like I was a rabbit being eyed by a bird of prey, and at any moment, she would swoop toward me with her fangs extended. Under one arm, she held her parasol, which she now pulled out and tapped against the wall beside my door. “Well, you might be an idiot. But you’re not completely stupid, apparently.”

I glared at her from inside my room.

“Can I come in?” She asked, almost playfully.

“Fuck you.”

“You can’t talk to your guests like that.” Lulin frowned, exaggerating her facial features.

I tapped my wrist. “I’m not on the clock yet; I can say whatever I want to you.”

“Watch your tone. Do you know who I am?”

“Apparently, the grown woman I’m tasked with babysitting today.” I muttered, “And you tried to drink my blood. You realize we have IV bags in storage, right? If you were starving, you just had to ask.”

Lulin regarded me for a moment. “It’s not exactly the same.”

“Well, you’re not draining me, thank you very much.” I warned, “Unless you want me to like slit my wrists and drip blood into your mouth.”

She looked intoxicated by that idea. Her gaze went foggy and her tongue ran along her lips. I recoiled, as any sane individual would. “I wasn’t serious, you actual animal.”

Her expression soured. “It’s not like I can feed on you, anyway. I just wanted to let you know who’s in charge here.”

“Yeah. Me. You’re in my hotel.” I replied. “Senior Groundskeeper, remember?”

“Nyx wouldn’t like it if I fed on you either,” Lulin muttered, ignoring my reply. “Shame. Whatever. Are we going?”

“I’m not even stamped in for the day yet; you’ll have to wait.” My response was curt. “As a professional courtesy, I will pretend this didn’t happen.”

The door to Nyx’s room opened, and Nyx exited the room. Her eyes fell on Lulin, and she let out a distasteful sigh. “I knew there was something off about you, this is extremely poor etiquette. Typical vampire, I suppose. All the trappings of aristocracy, but when it comes down to it you’re still just predators.”

“I wear on one finger a ring worth more than the entirety of anything either of you own, and my family has been climbing the vampiric social ladder for decades. Don’t speak to me of aristocracy, you know nothing of it.” Lulin folded her arms, glaring at Nyx. “We literally employed you. You should be thanking us.”

That was news to me. But before I could start questioning the comment, Nyx stepped through the threshold to my room. Lulin looked dumbfounded, watching as Nyx affectionately adjusted my collar and checked me over. “Are you alright, Jhin?”

I nodded, too keenly aware of Lulin’s piercing gaze.

Nyx glanced over her shoulder at the vampire. “Don’t look so surprised. I’m not cold to those who deserve warmth.”

“I’m more surprised that he’s so calm,” Lulin remarked.

“This is pretty common at the Grinning Moon.” I admitted, “You’d have to do a lot more than slam me against my door to scare me. Just the other day, I got dragged halfway down the hall by one of our poltergeists.”

Lulin’s eyes glinted. “That’s not what I meant.”

Nyx interjected, “We should get a move on, yes? The Witch’s Carnival should have opened by now, and I want to experience all of it.”

To my surprise, Lulin agreed, “I’ve heard stories of this carnival. It better live up to the hype.”

“It will,” I assured her, walking past Nyx and exiting my room. “Come, this way.”

I escorted her and Nyx to the elevator, doing my best to keep my professional demeanor despite what had just happened. As we descended in the elevator, I noticed Nyx wasn’t wearing her usual hat. Instead, a lavender witch hat with a large bow sat atop her head, the tip resting at a downward angle.

“Getting into the spirit of things?” I asked, putting emphasis on the word spirit.

Nyx groaned, but she smiled. “That’s horrible. But yes, it’s a nice hat.”

Lulin folded her arms, clearly unimpressed. The doors dinged open and we walked into the lobby together. Mivara was still on the desk from that morning, impatiently waiting for Mando to relieve her. She was drumming her fingers loudly on the desk, grumbling to herself.

“Can you do me a favor and hand me the stamps and the stamp book?” I asked her.

She reached for it, giving the three of us a raised eyebrow. “Are you already heading down to the carnival?”

“We are.” I agreed, stamping in for the day. “That way we have all day to get to everything.”

“That’s not a bad idea.” Mivara admitted, “I’d be going myself if Mando wasn’t running late.”

“We’ll see you there later,” I promised her.

Lulin tapped her foot impatiently behind me. Mivara gave me a look that clearly said, “I’m so sorry.” I gave her a pained smile that Lulin couldn’t see.

Then, I whirled around and clasped my hands behind my back. “Shall we?”

Nyx gave Mivara a little wave. “See you at the carnival.”

Mivara grinned, “Don’t have too much fun before I get there, eh?”

I was glad Mivara wasn’t peeved about the booklet being taken from her. To be honest, I was a little worried she’d be mad at Nyx for confiscating it. But neither of them appeared particularly worried or bothered by the situation, which was a relief. While Mivara could be annoying at times, I didn’t want her and Nyx to be on bad terms. And honestly, the only reason Nyx took the book was because she was concerned for Mivara’s safety. I hoped Mivara understood that.

We exited the Grinning Moon. Before stepping out into direct sunlight, Lulin opened her parasol and held it over her head.

“Right, now those umbrellas make more sense.” I realized, “You’re a vampire; you can’t step in sunlight.”

“Wrong,” Lulin said curtly, “I can. It’s just unpleasant. Vampirism comes in a spectrum. You should educate yourself on it before assuming things.”

I threw my hands up in surrender, glancing at Nyx helplessly.

Today, the parking lot was noticeably fuller. Banners and signs advertising the Witch’s Carnival pointed to the forest on the opposite side of the lot. One of them read, “Come party the mists away! Join the Witch’s Carnival!” Another said, “Magic and Fireworks will light up the sky!” More ominously, a third at the edge of the trees read, “Make sure to follow the banners – you don’t want to be caught among the trees alone!” Beside this sign sat an enormous banner with two symbols. The witch hat I’d seen on the caravan coming to set up the carnival, and a downward-facing crescent with a pair of horns coming out the top of it.

“So, senior groundskeeper.” Lulin began, obviously looking to test my patience. “What can you tell me about the Witch’s Carnival?”

We were about halfway across the parking lot now, weaving between the various cars and trucks. I kept my hands clasped behind my back, and I tried to answer as professionally as possible. “The Witch’s Carnival is run by the Hallow Coven of witches. I don’t know too much about the coven itself, only that it originates far from here. As for the carnival, we at the Grinning Moon help with operations, including providing parking, land and staff lodging.”

I paused at the treeline. A small, dirt path led from the parking lot deeper into the forest. The trees hugged the path on either side, branches entwining overhead. Even in the middle of the day, the canopy was so thick that the woods were dark enough it was difficult to see beyond the nearest trees. Thankfully, large braziers full of multicolored flames illuminated the way. Before we stepped onto the path, I turned toward my companions, raising a gloved hand. “The witches use this time to reconvene with nature spirits and dryads whom they’ve formed pacts with, as well as celebrating the achievements of the deceased. They’ll hold burial rites for those not properly buried via funerals for the unburied. A ritual to shore up the defenses of the Grinning Moon. You’ll get to see these rituals later this evening.”

“Very professional.” Lulin applauded sarcastically, stepping past me and onto the path.

I waited for her to take a few steps forward before I sighed. I could tell that acting as her personal servant during her stay was going to be exhausting, especially if this was how it felt after only a few minutes of being with her.

Nyx put a hand on my shoulder. “You do look very professional when you talk like that.”

“Do I?” I stood a little straighter, dusting off my waistcoat. “I’m trying, at least.”

“You’re doing wonderfully.” She reassured me.

Lulin stopped, snapping her fingers. “Don’t keep me waiting, groundskeeper.”

She pointed to her side, casting a glance over her shoulder. I realized she was essentially ordering me to her side. For a moment, I didn’t move, trying to hide the twitch in my eye. Unfortunately, my face moved involuntarily, and Lulin smirked.

I sighed and walked up to her. This was my job. Dealing with rich jerks was part of it. I just needed to grin and bear it.

“Apologies for the delay; let us be off.” I took the lead, giving Lulin the rundown I’d given many guests asking about the carnival before: “The woodlands around the Grinning Moon are full of mystical energies and strange beings. It’s why we caution guests not to wander around too much at night. The hotel building where guests stay has many additional protections on it not afforded to the surrounding region. The witches help keep these defenses active and renew them once a year, adding extra power to the magic barriers around the building.”

Lulin, to my surprise, asked a question. “Are there also protections around the entire property?”

“They’re lighter, but they do exist.” I explained, “Mostly just standard defenses against evil spirits and bad luck. We’ll actually be making some of the stick and twine charms at the festival today that the witches use.”

“Stick and twine!” Lulin laughed. “How pedestrian.”

It didn’t take us long to reach the entrance to the carnival. The path widened, leading through a set of tents and a staging area where a few men and women milled about. A sign reading “Admission” hung on a post beside a larger, purple tent off to the left. Hunting platforms rested on the surrounding trees, many of them occupied by the coven’s security detail–men and women wearing full-body ghillie suits. Most of them were so still they would be unnoticeable among the trees, especially at night. But a couple adjusted positions from tree to tree, balancing across thin wooden boards that had been set up for the occasion.

Beyond this was the entrance to the Witch’s Carnival itself. A wooden gate sat ajar with towers resting on either side. On each tower hung ornate banners with the same emblems as the signs in the parking lot. Over the top of the gate were cloth streamers colored purple, black and orange. An enormous witch hat shadowed these streamers, a face stitched into the side and numerous ornaments dangling from the wide brim.

“Welcome, one and all, to the Witch’s Carnival!” The witch hat’s stitched mouth moved, calling out to nobody in particular. We weren’t the only ones coming into the carnival. A few other paths that went to the main road intersected here, and various individuals in costumes or robes were trickling in through the front gate. It was just busy enough for there to be an atmosphere of celebration, but just empty enough that it didn’t feel stifling. A small band of women was playing music on harps and violins near the gate, greeting passerby's while they played.

Lulin halted, eyes on the giant, talking witch hat. “Well, you don’t see that every day.”

“If it wasn’t obvious, they’re a big fan of their hats.” I said, “Come, let’s speak to the girl at the admission booth.”

The three of us walked to the large tent on the left, where a few witches were sitting together. I recognized one of them as Willow, the witch who’d stopped me on the road a couple of days ago. She pushed her hat up to get a better view of us, giving me a smile. “Ah, Jhin! And how are you this fine day?”

I gave a polite bow. “Well enough, miss. Are we good to enter?”

“Of course, of course. Give me your arm.” She reached toward me. “Let’s get you three your wristbands so security doesn’t throw you out.”

Nyx held out her arm. “You look lovely this year, Willow.”

“And you’re as enchantingly beautiful as ever.” The witch responded kindly, “It’s good to see the two of you together. And who is this lovely young lady? I love the bow.”

Lulin flicked the large bow in her hair that held her braid with a hand, giving a small grin and raising her chin, “Of course you do. Everyone loves the bow.” She reminded me almost of a satisfied cat when she made that face. For a split second, she almost passed for a completely normal woman. Maybe she wasn’t so bad.

That thought, of course, was immediately dashed when her eyes fell on the paper wristband she was wearing and she noted, “This is tacky as hell, though.”

“Well, if you want in, you need it.” I replied, looking at Willow apologetically, “Thank you again. Oh, I wanted to ask – is Ziggy in town yet?”

“Ziggy Bones?” Willow asked.

I nodded.

“He’s already all set up.” She motioned toward the gate. “The hat shop is near the center of the carnival.”

“Glad to hear it,” I said, turning back toward Lulin. “Are you ready?”

“You’re the one dawdling.”

I ignored the rudeness of her reply and instead offered Nyx my hand politely, speaking as one would to an important guest. This was in part to spite Lulin after her behavior in a way that wouldn’t get me in actual trouble. Nyx seemed to catch on immediately, and I saw her lips curl in a small smirk.

As properly as possible, I kept my back straight and kept my gloved hand exposed. “If it would please you, I will escort you through the gate.”

Nyx took my hand gently, glancing at Lulin. “You should try to be a little more polite. He’s on duty, so he won’t say it to you, but there’s no reason for hostility unless you’re trying to make a problem. And we wouldn’t want a problem, would we?”

The two women glared at one another. I could practically see a roaring fire raging between them, the flames of discontent licking their narrowed gaze as they exchanged nonverbal blows. I understood Nyx’s trepidation. I also knew that all I could currently do was try to keep Lulin happy.

So, I cleared my throat, “Please, this way.”

Willow, who had been watching the exchange with a look of amusement plastered on her face, called out in a sing-song tone, “Have fun, you three.”

Our trio walked toward the entrance to the carnival, and the hat sitting over the gate noticed our approach and responded. “Welcome, welcome! Love the getup, miss spirit! You look like one of the coven!”

I glanced at Nyx with a grin. “The hat was a good choice.”

“I think so, too.” She floated a little off the ground, raising her head toward the talking hat. “Thank you!”

Lulin followed her gaze. “So is this the whole gimmick of the place?”

“Gimmick is underselling it.” I said to her as we walked through the gates, “It also works as a security feature. When there’s danger, the hat at the gate can physically see and call things out. One year, someone let a frilled rattler loose in the woods as a prank. I’d like you to know that frilled rattlers grow to the size of a horse and have a penchant for hunting large game. In this case, humans. So the hat called out a warning, and security dealt with it with no big fuss. The whole carnival is a well-oiled machine meant to keep guests safe and the money flowing.”

I paused, releasing Nyx’s hand and feeling to make sure I had my wallet on me. Thankfully, I did, so I finally took a moment to take in the carnival proper.

The dirt path continued through the celebratory space, with trees looming overhead on all sides. Between the trees stood carnival games and stands of all sorts. Some sold food and others advertised charms and toys. Multiple wooden structures contained different attractions and facilities like restrooms. All of them were painted to match the purple, black and orange theme of the carnival. Off to the left, there was a small clearing surrounded by rope that a dozen people were crowded around. I couldn’t see what was in the clearing from where we stood, but it caught my interest. Around these different structures and attractions were witch hats of varying sizes, colors, and shapes, and another staple of the carnival, carved plumpkins and jack-o'-lanterns.

Now, I’m sure everyone knows what a pumpkin is. A plumpkin is very similar, only they grow to much larger sizes, and some are in more unique shapes. I’m not sure where they originate from, but during this time of the year they show up everywhere. People love the way they taste, they love the way they look, and like a pumpkin, they’re often used as a calling card for the Day of the Dead. Off to the right was a sign advertising a plumpkin carving competition.

Alongside the witch hats and jack-o'-lanterns, hundreds, no, thousands of wooden ornaments hung from the trees overhead. They were made of twine and sticks, and each was shaped a little differently. They were made to look like specific runes or creatures from different stories told around this time of the year. Massive dream catchers covered in feathers and crystals caught what sunlight filtered through the treetops. Cloth banners and streamers hung everywhere. Overhead, witch hats hovered in midair, lazily drifting alongside candles that floated in small bronze cups, lighting the otherwise dim forest.

The pleasant aroma of cooking food, from pies to various meats, filled the air, alongside the unmistakable scent of gunpowder. Incense had been lit freely in front of almost every stall. It created a strange concoction of smells that were both inviting yet somewhat mysterious.

Music played loudly from different rune-covered speakers throughout the space. Most of the music was, admittedly, a little odd. Low strings and light, tingling tunes. A loud organ boomed from somewhere in the back of the carnival.

It was an impressive display, especially considering how quickly the coven set up the event.

I turned toward Lulin, extending my hands in either direction. “Welcome to the Witch’s Carnival, Miss Rayland.”

Lulin had paused to examine her surroundings, her red eyes glinting in the light. She spun, slowly nodding to herself, “Well, it’s no ball. But it’s definitely interesting. Although the forest is such a dirty place to hold this sort of thing.”

“I think it’s part of the charm.” I said, spinning around, “So, where to first?”

“Well, I know nothing about this place.” Lulin came to stand beside me. “So I think the help should lead the way.”

I raised a brow. “You do know I’m a person, right. You can just use my name.”

“You’re my servant, and it’s important you remember that.” She waved a hand, adjusting the parasol she held with the other. “Now, show me the best spots in the carnival. I want to get a proper gauge of this place.”

While her tone was grating, I knew there was no reason to argue. So I motioned for her to follow me, “Let’s head on over to Ziggy’s place, then. I’m not sure if you’re one for hats, but it’s tradition to get some sort of outfit for the carnival. Keep close.”

Nyx hovered alongside me, spinning in the air as we walked. “I always do love the carnival. It feels like going back a couple hundred odd years.”

Lulin agreed, “It’s certainly got an older feel to it. I’ll be honest, though, I’m surprised this is what you do on your time away from work.”

“Well, I personally believe even the dead need a break from time to time, but I’m sure there are plenty who would disagree.” Nyx landed in front of me, walking backwards. “But don’t be coy, Lulin. You know there’s more to this place than meets the eye. Otherwise I doubt your family would be staying here.”

“The Grinning Moon is simply the most...interesting hotel in the area.” Lulin replied, “My mother and the rest of her family are staying at some huge building near Pictogram Plaza. Tulpa Palace or something along those lines? But I wanted to stay here once I heard about it from a local.”

“And what’s so interesting about our hotel, exactly?” Nyx narrowed her gaze, focusing on Lulin.

Lulin laughed, “That’s not for you to know. If it’s any consolation, it isn’t about you. I was surprised to see you in that meeting with the rest of the staff. You don’t work here, do you?”

“My relationship with the Grinning Moon is complicated. For your purposes, I work here. But I’m high enough on the totem pole I don’t have to put up with your horrid attitude.”

Lulin glanced at me, ignoring her comment. “How much further, mayfly?”

I’d just been listening in on the conversation since I didn’t have much input to add. Obviously, the two had some history I was unaware of, which lately had been the case with a lot of people coming through the Grinning Moon. But Nyx got out a lot more than I did, so it wasn’t entirely surprising. And while it raised questions, I was smart enough to know now was not the time to be asking them.

“Right up ahead.” I beckoned onward with a hand.

Just in front of us sat Ziggy Bones’s shop. A huge, purple and white tent with an open front. On the opposite side of the tent, against the fabric wall, was a small stage with a band playing lively music. The interior of the tent was lined with wooden racks, all of which contained different types of hats and clothing accessories. A big sign read, “Ziggy’s Bone Zone,” with a drawing of a skeletal pelvis wearing a gambler hat, earning a disgusted stare from Lulin.

“Trust me.” I said, “He’s a good guy, and the prices are great. Maybe you’ll even find something you like.”

A second after we stepped inside the tent, a loud voice with a southern drawl greeted us, “Look what the chupacabra dragged in! Finally payin’ your buddy Ziggy a visit?”

I turned, a grin immediately split my features.

Ziggy Bones stood a few feet from us, one hand on his hat and the other resting at his belt. Now, I have no idea if Bones is actually Ziggy’s last name or just a moniker he liked to use, because Ziggy is literally a skeleton. No flesh, no eyes, no muscle. Ziggy is an animated corpse without the bits that make a body actually work. How does he talk and move around? No clue; I’d always thought it’d be insensitive to ask.

Anyways, he stood there in a half-open dusty coat and a gambler hat just like the one on his shop’s logo, his ribcage bare for the world to see. Ziggy’s skull had a few symbols painted in red and black on it, but the most prominent was an old rune from a group called the rinju. It was supposed to represent one’s self-worth and spirit and consisted of a circle with an arrow pointed upward inside. The tail end of the arrow hung below the circle. His jaw clacked when he spoke, displaying a few gold teeth here and there. Twine was wrapped around his body in various spots, and twig charms dangled from them like they were jewelry. Spurred boots jingled with each step the skeleton took, and he extended a hand, his bony fingers spreading.

“Bones.” I greeted him, taking his hand. The two of us shared a half-embrace, clapping one another on the back (which felt strange to do to a skeleton, to be perfectly honest) and exchanging laughter.

“Damn right it’s Bones. How you hanging, Jhinbo?” He twirled his hat on a finger. “Ah, you got some pretty company today! Good to see your little haunt is still hanging around.”

Nyx folded her arms. “You haven’t changed.”

“Well, it can be damn hard to teach an old dog new tricks.” Ziggy put his hat back on, bowing in Lulin’s direction. “And who’s this beauty?”

Lulin folded her arms and regarded him somewhat coldly. “Lulin Rayland.”

“Rayland!” Ziggy practically shrieked. He grabbed me and pulled the two of us down, as though to speak in confidence, “That them corporate aristocrats who murdered those negative reviewers?”

“You sound like Billy.” I noted, “But yes.”

“What the hell you doing with one of them, Jhinbo!” Ziggy shook me. “You’re gonna wind up dead!”

“She’s a guest at the Grinning Moon.”

Ziggy facepalmed. “Of course she is. Well, best stay on her good side then, right?”

Lulin leaned in from behind us, her teeth bared, “I can hear you, you know.”

“Eek!” Ziggy leapt back away from her, one of his hands flying off from the sudden movement. He swore and got on his hands and knees, checking beneath the various clothes racks for it. “Damn limbs. Got a mind of their own, I tell you.”

Lulin closed her parasol now that we were in the cover of a tent, examining the clothes Ziggy was selling. While she looked, Ziggy’s discarded skeletal hand crawled out from under a nearby rack, using its fingers to crawl along the ground. She glanced down at it and kicked it away.

As the hand flew overhead, I asked Ziggy, “How has business been?”

“Oh, good. Always is during this time of the year.” He hurried to catch his stray hand before it hit the ground. Ziggy pointed at me with it, and the amputated hand also pointed at me with a finger. “You never answered my question: how are you holding up?”

I glanced at Lulin, lowering my voice and using a thumb to point at her, “Stuck stealing with a stiff.”

“I heard that,” Lulin said dryly.

Nyx leaned forward in the air, resting her chin on her hands. “We come to the carnival on opening day every year, but Jhin’s on the clock today, so he’s escorting Lulin around.”

“Apparently, I’m to be her personal servant until she checks out.” I sighed, glancing at Lulin. “When are you checking out, anyway?”

“My reservation goes until the end of the mists right now.” Lulin picked out a coat and scoffed, “I might make it longer. I have to say, Bones, your clothing isn’t quite my cup of tea.”

Ziggy shrugged, “Well, it’s meant to be a bit more budget-friendly than what you’re used to. That coat you’re wearing is from your company, isn’t it?”

“We only recently started making clothing.” Lulin didn’t seem particularly interested in the conversation, but she humored him with an answer. “This coat is probably worth more than three or four racks of your stuff.”

“Not gonna lie, Miss, most folk can’t afford that.” Ziggy said, “I work for the common folk, like my cattle ranchin’ daddy before me.”

I pointed at him accusatorily. “I thought you said your dad was a musician.”

“He was!” Ziggy pointed toward the band playing a lively tune on the small stage in the back of the tent. “All the songs I have played here are his!”

Lulin moved to a table where hats were set atop wooden mannequin heads. I could tell she was obviously unimpressed, but Ziggy was rubbing his hands together like he was watching something good. He elbowed me in a low voice, “This one’s a tough customer. Give me some time to butter her up.”

Then, he walked over and started talking enthusiastically about each of the hats in detail, much to Lulin’s chagrin. I managed a laugh. Lulin’s exasperation foiled by Ziggy’s excited rambling was quite an amusing dichotomy. She kept rolling her eyes and trying to shoo him away, but Ziggy was persistent. A perpetual gnat flitting about and practically demanding a purchase with a slew of buzzwords and vivid descriptions of what each hat felt like to wear.

“Well, that’s a sight you don’t see every day,” Nyx said, standing beside me.

“A skeleton badgering a vampire into buying a hat?” I gave her an amused smirk. “Today’s going to be fun after all.”

Nyx laughed, her ethereal voice gently echoing through the tent. “You’re certainly making the best of being stuck with that miserable woman.”

She stopped after a few seconds, frowning slightly. “She tried to drink your blood, didn’t she?”

“I’m not sure.” I admitted, “It seemed like she just wanted to scare me more than anything.”

“The Raylands are all like that. Vi at least seems pleasant on the outside, but the reality is they’re all an extremely cutthroat bunch.” Nyx started to absentmindedly go over a few nearby dresses, murmuring, “My last job was for them. That’s why she recognized me.”

I sighed, “I’d put that together already, but I didn’t want to pry. Did you know they were vampires?”

“No, they did quite the job of hiding that.” Nyx said, “We met in public over lunch. It was like any other business meeting. But even then, I felt there was something off about them. Now I know why. They’re powerful, Jhin. I can see it on them. Which makes it all the more amusing how relaxed you are around her.”

“Well, I can’t exactly see what you can.” I admitted, “She said she won’t hurt me. I’m banking on that.”

“You’re too trusting.” Nyx murmured, “I’m grateful for that, but I do worry that someone who wants to hurt you will one day take advantage of that.”

I shrugged, “I’m just doing my job.”

“Yes, yes, I know.” Nyx’s gaze returned distrustfully to the vampiress in front of us. “But if she tries anything, you let me know.”

“I will.”

Lulin returned with a bag, rubbing her eyes with a hand and muttering to herself.

“You bought something?” I asked almost incredulously, “Ziggy really can sell something to anyone.”

Ziggy gave a thumbs-up from behind her, the light catching one of his golden teeth.

“Sometimes you have to throw some money at the rabble to make them shut up.” Lulin sighed, lifting the bag and placing her parasol over one shoulder. “Come now, groundskeeper. I’d like to see the brownie races your friend just told me about.”

“Not a bad idea.” I said, “Where are they at this year, Ziggy?”

Ziggy pointed to himself, “I can take you there if you want, Jhinbo. Got plenty of days of carnival to sell my stock after all. And I’d love to get a chance to catch up. My daddy always said you gotta make time for yourself between working tables at the diner.”

“I thought your dad was a cattle rancher.” Lulin stared.

“He was!”

She stared at Ziggy as he closed up the tent flaps, motioning for us to exit. I led the way outside, adjusting my waistcoat before wheeling around to wait for my companions. Once Lulin and Nyx were out, Ziggy called out to the band playing in the tent that they could take a break before clasping his hands together excitedly, “Now then, over this way. If we’re fast, we can probably catch the next race.”

He walked us down the path back to where I’d seen the small clearing with the ropes surrounding it.

A set of trumpets were braying, and the crowd had nearly tripled in size from last time we’d been there. We found a space to get a good view of the area beyond the ropes, and I then realized why everyone was gathered around.

The clearing was a pit of sand that had been set up to be a racetrack. It was maybe twenty feet across, with a start line on the opposite side of the pit from where we stood. Grouping up at the start line were dozens of small figures. And when I say small, I mean Dolly-sized, probably even smaller. The largest of them only stood at four or five inches. They were humanoid, with thin body builds and tawny or brown skin depending on the individual. Each of them was servicing a strange tank-like vehicle made of whirring gears and bronze pieces. The tanks were box-shaped with pipes spouting smoke into the air. A swiveling turret sat atop each one, although I noticed a few had two or even three. They all flew different colored flags, and the front of the vehicles had faces similar to grinning jack-o’-lanterns.

Lining the race track on either side were small bleachers full of these same people.

“That’s a lot of brownies.” I stared.

Ziggy nudged me. “This one’s a new thing just for this year; no clue if they’ll be coming back. Pretty hard to get in contact with the Nultock brownies since they try to stay so out of the way of most folk.”

“Place your bets, everyone!” A voice boomed from a speaker, “Speak to the race director to add your money to the prize pool! Pick a flag, any flag! Or if you don’t want to move, raise your hand and get our attention! We’ll send someone over!”

Nyx leaned over the rope, pointing to a board on the opposite side of the track. “I assume that’s where the best are placed. Are you going to place one, Jhin?”

“Me?” I raised a brow. “I don’t make that kind of money, please. There are like fourteen of those cars; there’s no way I guess the right one.”

Lulin rested her parasol against her shoulder, watching the ongoing event with interest. “This is interesting, at least.”

“You like racing?” I asked.

“I’ve seen chariots, horses, carts, unicorns, whales and more all racing at unique events.” Lulin replied, “I’ve never seen brownies race before. I don’t think I’ve ever even met a brownie before. And I know a lot of people.”

I rubbed the back of my head. “That didn’t answer my question.”

“We all get our kicks some way. I have a little too much fun gambling, admittedly. Speaking of.” She withdrew a stack of gray bills – paper money from the Nultock bank – and raised a hand and her voice. “Two thousand on green.”

A bunch of the men and women around her started to cheer, encouraging her to up the stakes. The voice boomed its approval, “Get that beautiful woman on the goddamn list!”

The crowd parted, and a wooden platform on wheels darted toward Lulin. Similar to the small tanks, it was made of bronze and wood. It honestly looked like a small table was wheeling its way toward us. Atop the platform sat a plump brownie atop a cushy, red chair. Around him worked a dozen of his countrymen, working the platform with various dials and levers to keep it moving. Money was stacked around him with different markers for the various racers.

Lulin put the money on the platform, flicking a hand through her hair and winking at a couple of staring men.

Immediately, a few more onlookers joined in on the betting.

“Well, shit!” Ziggy hollered from beside me. “Let me in on this; might as well.”

The crowd surged, emboldened by Lulin’s brazen bet. I guess physically seeing just how much money was being placed on the race made trying your luck much more tantalizing. For her part, once she’d put her money down, she stepped back and watched with her arms folded, an amused smirk on her face. Ziggy shook my shoulder hard before joining, pulling a wad of bills out.

While the onlookers placed their bets, I gently put a hand on Nyx. “I’m going to pick up something to eat while the race gets set up. Do you want something?”

She thought for a moment. “Want to share one of the meat cups? We always get them every year.”

“Of course.” I said, glancing at Lulin, “I’ll pick her one up, too.”

“I can’t say she’ll thank you, but it’s a sweet thought.” Nyx teasingly pinched my cheek with her fingers, and I swiped her halfheartedly away with an embarrassed smile.

The meat cups Nyx was talking about were available all over the carnival alongside tons of other foods. Cotton candy, soups, stews, burgers, pretty much anything you can think of on a stick, the Witch’s Carnival had it all. But our favorite food item was the Soulsing Cups. The dish was a cup with a small amount of sauce in the bottom, which the leg of a bird called a soulsinger was directly placed into. It was similar to chicken, but the whole gimmick was that it came in a silver mug you could carry with you throughout the fair–sauce and all. You could buy them in different flavors or with two legs to share, and they always included some extra pieces of meat in the bottom.

I found one of the nearby stalls and ordered three of them with two legs each, planning to give one cup to Ziggy and the third to Lulin. When I saw the price, I grimaced but tried to ignore it. It was the carnival; it didn’t hurt to let loose a little.

When I returned to the others, the race was starting. The announcer was calling out racers' names and discussing the specifics of the vehicles, bragging about their complexity and praising the brownie’s ingenuity. Apparently, there had been set rules regarding how the vehicles had to be constructed, and they were made especially for the carnival.

“Here,” I told Nyx, handing her the cup we’d share.

She took it gratefully. “Thank you, Jhin.”

I tapped Ziggy’s shoulder and offered him a mug. He took it gleefully. “Ah, roasted soulsing! Good choice, Jhinbo. Thank you kindly.”

He immediately set to gnawing on the leg. I chuckled and then tried to get Lulin’s attention with a hand.

She turned toward me a nanosecond before my hand made contact with her shoulder, her mouth opening and loaded with some berating remark. Then she saw what I was holding. To my surprise, her look of anger turned to one of mild bemusement. There was even what looked to be a real smile, shockingly. “What is that?”

“Soulsing Cups.” I held up the mug, showing her the logo of an ornate bird wearing a witch hat. “They’re a staple here at the fair.”

“Who the hell puts a chicken leg in a mug?” Lulin seemed completely baffled. “Is this what you commoners eat nowadays?”

“It’s more of a gimmick for the carnival.” I held it out to her. “Go on, you’ll like it. I just got the regular version but there are other flavors, too.”

Lulin’s crimson gaze went from me to the cup several times. “You bought that for me?”

“Are vampires stupid or something?” I asked humorously, waving the mug in her direction. “Here, let me hold onto your stuff so you can eat.”

“I’d prefer to stay under the parasol,” Lulin said, looking up. “I think it’s shady enough I won’t get a burn, but regardless…”

“I’ll take your items for the time being.”

She looked like she wanted to, but she hesitated. I didn’t necessarily blame her. If I were to just take the parasol and run off, it wouldn’t be a comfortable return trip back to the Grinning Moon for the vampire. But that would be needlessly cruel, and while the thought crossed my mind, I’d never do that sort of thing to someone.

“Miss Rayland.” I reminded her, speaking genuinely, “I’m on duty. Your items are safe in my hands.”

Lulin nodded and handed me her items, exchanging them for the mug. I held the parasol over her head but kept a respectful distance from her, then used my other hand to hold the bag containing whatever she’d bought from Ziggy. She picked up the soulsing leg curiously, her red eyes taking in every centimeter of the food. I glanced up at the parasol to make sure it was positioned properly overhead, and when I looked back down, she’d taken a bite from the chicken.

“Well?” I asked.

“It’s good.” She admitted, “It’s really good.”

“Told you you’d like it,” I said

Lulin started to talk, but Ziggy leaned in between us. “Everyone loves soulsing legs! Shame they go right through me. No stomach!”

At this, he took a big bite from the leg he carried, and I physically watched the chewed meat fall through his ribcage before hitting the grass beneath him. Lulin let out a disgusted “Yuck.”

“You know I’m beginning to wonder why I spend money buying food for you.” I sighed.

“That’s because you’re a stand-up guy, Jhinbo!” He laughed, teeth chattering with each guffaw. “Oh, they’re about to start!”

He and Lulin turned back toward the racetrack. I turned my head to look at Nyx. She’d been watching the exchange, holding the cup I’d bought for us in both hands with a small smile plastered on her face. I shrugged helplessly, motioning toward the parasol with my head and lifting the bag I carried slightly. She snickered and floated a little closer, also watching the track.

A loud boom made me flinch and my attention was pulled to the race. Someone had shot a single firework into the air, and it was crackling overhead. All at once, the various tanks sitting at the start line took off. The crowd roared, cheering and shouting at the top of their lungs for whatever machine they placed their bet on.

I wasn’t initially super intrigued by the race, but that opinion changed when the guns started firing.

“Watch your feet, folks!” The same announcer boomed, “We aren’t responsible for any bruised toes!”

The tanks charged onward, turrets swiveling and guns firing. Smoke curled from their barrels, sending thin black lines trailing behind them. From where we stood, it was a little hard to see what was going on at first. One tank rammed the vehicle currently in the lead, and they both started sliding off to the side, careening into a set of rocks. The brownies onboard let out small shrieks and yells, spouting words that didn’t sound very kind in a language I couldn’t understand.

When the tanks were on our side of the track, it was far more obvious just how intense the fighting was. Pieces of bronze and wood flew off in every direction. Small balls of metal flew between onlookers' feet, and one man wearing sandals off to my left winced with a grunt as one turret accidentally shot his toe.

There were no holds barred. The brownies rammed one another, trying everything they could to stop their opponents. One tank activated a flamethrower and started hosing anything that got close. That is, until a completely separate tank decided to careen at full speed into its side, pushing both vehicles off-course.

By the time the first lap was complete, about half the tanks were completely totaled. This didn’t stop the crews from getting involved further, though. They did everything they could to stop the tanks still working. I saw one intentionally push the debris from his wrecked vehicle in front of the functioning racers just as they turned the bend. When the vehicle in the lead ran through the debris, an enormous explosion (or at least enormous compared to the brownies size; in reality it was barely a foot across) blew dust and smoke into the air, blasting the treads of the victim’s tank clear off.

It was extremely neat to see. Watching the race made me sort of understand the allure of those diorama cities some people set up now. Having a bird's-eye view of a bunch of little vehicles interacting like this was super interesting, and it was obvious the brownies were proficient in their craft.

When the race was over, only three tanks remained. The tank with the green flag, the tank with a purple flag, and the tank with a blue flag. All three looked to be neck and neck until the tank with the green flag swiveled its gun to fire on blue. Its shot was true, and the blue tank’s treads were torn asunder, causing it to flip over and slam into the purple racer. Both vehicles were rendered completely inoperable, and their crews exited through hatches in the top, shouting at the green tank angrily.

The green tank, for its part, continued merrily toward the finish line. When it finished, another firework rocket flew high into the air, fired from the platform where the race director had been watching. Trumpets sang, and the announcer practically screamed, “And that’s it! Team Green wins the race!”

A mixture of cheers and groans sounded from the crowd, no doubt men and women who’d bet a little more than they should have and either just won it all or lost it all.

“Well, I suppose I better go claim my prize.” Lulin said, having finished her food during the race and handing me the empty mug, “Toss this for me, would you?”

“Of course.” I returned her items to her. “We’ll wait for you.”

“I knew I should have gone green!” Ziggy lamented, “I bet everything I made today on that.”

“Well, you only really used my money, then,” Lulin remarked, resting her parasol against her shoulder and walking over to the platform to claim her prize.

Ziggy grumbled, “Well, she’s not wrong.”

I laughed, looking over at Nyx. “What do you think?”

She offered me our mug. “I think you need to eat.”

Nyx had already started nibbling on one of the legs, so I took the other and bit into it. The meat was savory with a sweet undertone, and there was just enough sauce on it that it wasn’t a mess, but the flavor was still there.

“They really do make good food here,” I said between mouthfuls.

Lulin returned, the stack of money she’d originally turned in far thicker than it had been before. She stared at the cup I was still holding. “I told you to throw it out.”

I took another bite of my bird before returning it to the mug with Nyx’s, holding the mug back out to her. “You should keep it. It’s like a souvenir. The cups change every year; I have a bunch of them in my kitchen because we come here so often.”

“Why do I care about some cheap carnival cup?” Lulin raised a brow.

I shrugged, “Hey, if you don’t want it, I’ll keep it. They’re fun to reminisce on sometimes.”

Lulin thought for a moment. “Well, if you don’t mind holding onto it for me, I suppose I can keep it.”

“I’ll do one better.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, wrapping the cup and placing it in the bag she was already holding. “That way the sauce won’t get everywhere. Just make sure to clean it out before you try to use it for a drink.”

“Look at you being useful.” Lulin applauded with a small nod.

“That’s my job.” I didn’t let the comment offend me. Instead, I motioned toward the space around us. “Where would you like to go next, Miss Rayland?”

We spent the next few hours wandering the carnival, stopping at dozens of stalls.

At one point, the four of us walked up to a game that I was actually quite familiar with. Not to pat myself on the back, but I’m honestly really good at it.

To set the stage, the stall was painted purple and black. A wooden counter separated players from the rest of the game, and a large, spinning wheel rested facing anyone walking by. Prizes were listed on the wheel, which was sliced into twenty or so sections of different rewards. Most of the spots were marked as losses. Only about a quarter gave a reward, usually a piece of candy. However, if you managed to hit a small red mark on one of the thinnest slices, you got a big prize. Of course, like all carnival games, it was never as simple as it looked.

This year, the big prize was an ornate dreamcatcher with glass chimes hanging from it, boasting spiritual protection and good luck on a sign beside it. Something was certainly different about it compared to most of the dreamcatchers hanging around the carnival, though. The wires were made of a thin, almost translucent material that looked almost silk-like, and the exterior circle looked like thicker versions of the same stuff.

Lulin looked up at the dreamcatcher immediately.

“See something you like?” I asked.

“That dreamcatcher may have some actual power to it,” Lulin said, pointing up at the chimes. “Look at the runes on the glass.”

At first, I didn’t see them. But after letting my gaze settle, I realized there were almost microscopic glowing sigils carved into the chimes.

Ziggy tried to speak, but before the skeleton could get a word out, the man running the stall stepped forward. “Looking to play? You could get candies or maybe even that beautiful dreamcatcher you see up there!”

“Who made that?” Lulin asked, pointing up.

“One of the local dryads!” The man said proudly, “It’s supposed to help with your love life, give you good dreams, help you sleep, and improve your luck.”

Lulin folded her arms, glancing at Nyx. “Well, I don’t need any of those. But I think I can win it. Have you played this before?”

“I think so.” Nyx leaned forward. “Or at least something similar. But I’ve never won the big prize since the darts feel a little weird to use.”

Chortling, the stall owner gave a somewhat sly grin but said nothing.

“Watch and learn, then.” Lulin handed over money to the man. “I’ll win that dreamcatcher.”

The idea of watching a vampire play darts amused me, so I watched with interest. She handed over her parasol and bag to me, and the man handed her three of the darts. While I didn’t fancy the idea of carrying the dreamcatcher around all day on her behalf, I doubted she’d be able to

Nyx noted, “Trust me, Lulin, it’s not as easy as you think.”

Lulin rolled an eye. Without much thought, she tossed a dart toward the wheel.

It fell almost straight to the ground, completely missing.

The vampiress paused, narrowing her gaze.

“I warned you.” Nyx laughed, kicking her feet back and crossing one leg over the other in midair. “They’re weighted.”

Lulin tried again. This time, the dart slammed into the wheel so hard the whole thing shook. No, not into the wheel. Through it. A hole now rotated on one of the winning slices, just shy of the big prize’s spot.

“Whoa!” The stall owner leaped to the side. “What’s the big idea! It has to stick into the wheel. Not go through it! Chill, lady!”

Nyx still looked noticeably amused, and Lulin glared daggers in her direction. More carefully now, her scarlet gaze focusing, she tracked the wheel like a predator. For a moment, I thought she actually might have a chance at hitting the target. The look on her face was deathly serious.

When she threw the dart, it flew straight. And that made me wince, because I knew the dart wouldn’t stick.

The dart bounced harmlessly off the target.

“What is this scam?” Lulin demanded. “Are they not sharp?”

“Oh, they’re plenty sharp, miss.” The man running the stall assured her, “You just have to throw them right.”

Ziggy finally interjected, “I know someone who can win this game, but they never throw the darts straight.”

Nyx giggled.

“You do it if it’s so easy.” Lulin said to her, “I’ll even pay.”

“I mean, I can’t promise I’ll win the dreamcatcher.” Nyx shrugged, “But I’m all for a little friendly competition.”

There didn’t seem to be a single thing friendly about it as the two women changed positions, postures rigid. I handed Lulin back her items, so I could hold the mug Nyx and I were eating out of. When I took a bite out of one drumstick, I realized I actually wasn’t sure whose was whose and I might have just eaten some of Nyx’s. So I just sort of stood there dumbly, looking at the pair of legs before Nyx took up the same position Lulin had been throwing from.

A dart hit the wheel. Nyx winked at Lulin over her shoulder, then tossed a second dart – hitting right around where the first landed. Unlike Lulin, each of her darts traveled in a gentle arc. She didn’t seem particularly worried about winning the big prize, though, as her first two simply hit the candy sections of the wheel.

Lulin was silently fuming the entire time, arms folded and a scowl plastered on her face.

I cleared my throat. “It is just a game.”

“Shut up.” She muttered.

Nyx’s third dart struck, this one aimed at the grand prize. But no luck. Regardless, she looked pleased with herself, twirling around with her hair billowing in the air behind her and smiling. “See?”

“Yeah, okay.” Lulin admitted, “You win this one.”

“Congratulations!” The stall owner boomed, pulling out a bucket of candy, “Take your picks! We have all the Nultock favorites. Boo-bars, Ecto Bits, maybe some Sour Bats?”

Nyx plucked a few candies from the bucket before turning to me, raising a brow. “Is there a reason you’re holding the soulsing leg like that?”

I realized I was still holding the leg I’d bitten into and said, “Uh, I think I might have taken a bite out of yours without realizing.”

“So?”

“I mean, as long as you don’t care,” I said, somewhat relieved.

I set it back inside the mug, but before I could ask where we wanted to go next, Ziggy raised a bony finger. “Shouldn’t you let Jhin play? He won the grand prize of a game just like this one last year.”

Lulin raised a brow, turning towards me. “Oh?”

Nyx nodded, floating over to me. “Do you want to play?”

“Oh no, these games are literally designed to make you fail,” I said. “I’m good. There’s no guarantee I can replicate it.

“Come on, Jhinbo!” Ziggy shook my shoulder. “Don’t be so modest, show the ladies what you can do! Remember last year? The giant chocolate eye?”

“Which melted into a puddle because we left it outside.” I reminded him. “And then one of the witch’s dogs ate it and started puking everywhere.”

“Don’t you wanna show off for the lady folk?” He nudged me. “Come on!”

I rubbed my eyes with a hand, trying not to let his prodding embarrass me.

“I’ll pay for another set,” Lulin said, much to my surprise. “Let him try.”

Nyx took our mug from me and stepped aside. I moved to the counter, picking up the three darts I’d been given and turning them over in my hand. Each one felt a little different, but one thing was the same. The tip was slanted to only really pierce when thrown at an angle. It was a small, barely noticeable detail. But when you held the tip of the dart to your eyes, you could see that it wasn’t quite horizontal. All three were similarly designed.

I threw the first one more as a test than anything. The dart arced gently toward the spinning wheel, slow enough one could track it with the eyes but fast enough the impact should have stuck to the wheel. It hit one of the losing slices, earning a snort from Lulin. But it stuck, embedded into the wheel at an upward angle. The stall owner leaned in, obviously interested.

“Alright,” I said to myself, letting the wheel slowly turn. When the large prize was nearest to the top, I arced the dart.

It hit just off to the left, wiggling from the impact.

“Well, I’ll be.” The guy running the stall whistled.

“Told you.” Ziggy said proudly, folding his arms, “You got it on the third one for sure.”

I was certain I could do it now. The wheel turned, and the small red dot slowly crept back to the top. It was still going to be hard, but I could definitely hit it. When I tossed the dart, it sailed elegantly toward its destination, arcing like a deer hopping through a field.

With a twang, the dart found its mark, smacking the red circle near directly in the center.

“Jhin!” Nyx hugged me excitedly from behind. “You did it!”

Ziggy whooped, “That’s right, Jhinbo!”

“Hexes, I don’t normally get a winner on day one!” The stall owner looked up at the dreamcatcher. “I’ll have to get something else! Congratulations. I should expect nothing less from the staff of the Grinning Moon.”

I shrugged awkwardly, looking over my shoulder at Nyx. “It was nothing. Not exactly a super applicable skill in most situations.”

“Still, impressive. You outdid a vampire and a spirit.” Even Lulin sounded impressed.

“Can we come pick up the prize later?” I asked, looking up at the dreamcatcher. The thing was easily three feet across, and I really didn’t want to have to carry it all day.

Thankfully, the stall owner was nice about it: “Of course, you won it fair and square! Just don’t go telling anyone about the darts, you hear? I saw the way you looked at them.”

“Your secret’s safe with me. One professional to another.”

“So what other games are there?” Lulin asked, “I’d like to put Nyx in her place on something that isn’t so pedestrian.”

Nyx laughed. “Are you serious? Do you think you’re better than me or something just because I worked for you?”

“I try not to take the opinions of the help into consideration.” Lulin waved her comment away.

“You say that, but you’re fuming about losing the wheel game,” Nyx mused.

Ziggy and I exchanged glances.

The next couple of hours were a slew of carnival games Lulin kept picking for her and Nyx to play. Every time we would walk up to a stall, Lulin would go first, and then she would demand Nyx try to outperform her. Sometimes, Nyx would win, but Lulin also won quite a few as well. Both women were extremely competitive, far more so than I expected. By the time the sun was starting to set, the pair were versing one another in apotheosis at a wooden table. Ziggy was watching their match with interest, a hand on his bony chin. For my part, I stood to the side, holding everyone’s personal items save for Lulin’s parasol. At one point, I walked away to grab a drink, and as I got my mug, a familiar voice asked, “What in the world is going on?”

Mivara was standing beside me now, her arms folded. She held the small chest mimic from the front desk, and Dolly sat on her shoulder with a booklet of sticky notes.

“Oh, you’re already off?” I asked, “I didn’t realize it was that late already.”

“Your shift technically ended half an hour ago.” She replied. “Are they friends now or something?”

I shrugged. “They’ve been competing pretty much all day. Lulin made some comment about being able to upstage Nyx and kept buying her plays to prove she was better than her. I’d say Nyx did better a little more than half the time, but I’m biased.”

Dolly wrote, “If they’re competing, what are they competing for?”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” I muttered, folding my arms. “But this beats having Lulin barking orders at me every two seconds, so let them have at it. Besides, they seem to be enjoying themselves.”

Both Lulin and Nyx glanced over at Mivara and me before returning to their game. I had the strange feeling they were talking about us, but I shrugged it off.

“So.” I motioned toward Mivara. “You brought the mimic?”

“Yeah, Mando didn’t want to deal with it while he was covering the desk, so I offered. It’s not terribly behaved so long as you keep it fed.” Mivara held the mimic up to me. “I decided to name him Munchy.”

It was a ludicrous name for a mimic, but I didn’t argue. “Well, so long as it behaves.”

“I’m just glad Dolly and I got here in time for the plumpkin carving, eh?” Mivara grinned. “Want to get started?”

“Sure. They’re still finishing up their game.” I agreed.

We picked out a table near where Lulin and Nyx were sitting, and Mivara picked out some plumpkins from a stall for us. By now, night was really starting to settle in. Any time now, the mists would start to seep in through the trees. But that thought was far away.

Plumpkin carving was a yearly staple at the carnival. There was even a competition where a set of judges would go over all the jack-o’-lanterns and rate them. Whoever did the best job would win candies or some sort of prize. I always enjoyed carving plumpkins. A few years back, I even won the competition, but I hadn’t really entered since then.

Mivara, Dolly and I started carving some of the plumpkins together.

“Are you going to submit yours to the competition?” I asked Mivara as she worked to cut the top off hers.

She shrugged, “Maybe, although I think it’s a little unfair for us to since we do this every year. Probably better to let a kid win, eh?”

“True,” I agreed.

“Although if you submit yours, you’re going to win for sure.” Mivara noted, “You’re probably the best person I know when it comes to plumpkin carving.”

“That’s just because I like doing art stuff.”

“Girly hobbies, as Billy would say.” She teased.

I rolled my eyes.

Dolly was sitting on top of the tiny chest mimic, watching us work. Mivara carved a fairly simple face into hers after removing all the plumpkin's innards, spinning it on the table to show Dolly. The Doll wrote, “You should do the Grinning Moon’s logo, Jhin.”

The plumpkin I’d been given was almost emptied, and my gloved hands were covered in orange goop. I looked from his posted note to his silvery face. “I could probably manage that. It’s not a super complicated logo.”

“I wish you had your camera.” Mivara complained, “I’d love to get some pictures.”

I debated for a moment. “I can’t leave since I’m watching all of Lulin’s stuff, but if you want to go grab my camera from the hotel, you’re more than welcome.”

“You’d trust me with your key?” She sounded surprised.

“I trust you to know that if you touch anything you shouldn’t, I’ll make sure Nyx haunts you.” I chuckled, fishing my room key out of my pocket and nodding. “Go on, grab it. We’ll wait here for you. It’s not a long trip, anyway.”

She gave me a thumbs-up and took the key. “I’ll be back quick, then.”

Once she’d left and I finished gutting my plumpkin, I set to carving the Grinning Moon’s logo into the front. Munchy decided this was the time to start causing problems. While Dolly was riding on top of him, the mimic scuttled over to where I’d laid out some of the plumpkin’s guts. Growling, the mimic opened its mouth and started scooping large globs of the goop into its mouth.

Dolly tried to stop the mimic, but it had no interest in halting. I watched as it started bucking and hopping about like a bull, tongue lolling. Dolly hung on for dear life, smacking the top of the mimic repeatedly.

Their scuffle only broke my concentration for a few moments. I swiped the plumpkin guts onto the ground before setting to work on my carving, copying the Grinning Moon’s logo from memory. My knife worked slowly, trying to perfect every curve of the moon’s smile.

“Having fun?” Lulin asked, coming up to stand beside me. In one hand, she held a glass full of a thick, red liquid. I stared at it, and she swirled the contents within. “Vampiric Wine. I’m surprised they serve it here.”

The thought made me woozy. For a moment, my head spun. Connecting the red liquid in the cup at all with blood almost triggered my hemophobia, let alone the fact that she was actively drinking it in front of me. I choked down my disgust and tried to move on. “I’m sure you’re not the only vampire to pass through the carnival. I thought you two were playing your board game, still.”

“Ziggy knocked it over by accident,” Lulin grumbled.

I glanced over my shoulder to where Ziggy was on his hands and knees, desperately looking for all the little pieces of the game in the grass and dirt. I chuckled and returned to carving, carefully running my knife across the plumpkin’s surface.

Nyx hovered to my left, lacing her fingers together and resting her chin on her hands as she floated by me. “That’s really good, Jhin.”

“You want to try?” I asked her, “We can get more plumpkins.”

“I’m content watching.” She smiled, hovering closer.

“What about you?” I glanced at Lulin.

Lulin scoffed, “And get covered in that orange stuff like you? No thanks.”

“Fair enough, it’s not a clean process,” I admitted.

Mivara returned a bit later with my camera bag, and we took some pictures together as a group, including of the different plumpkins we’d carved. Ziggy did one covered in bats to try to impress Lulin, but the vampiress was having none of it. I patted his shoulder. “Probably not the girl to try that on.”

Ziggy raised his hands wistfully. “I’ve lost my touch with the ladies, Jhinbo. I’m doomed.”

Nyx and Mivara both politely tried to tell him that it was in part because he came across like a used car salesman, which sent the skeleton into a spiraling fit of whining complaints. I wanted to reassure him that Lulin was just difficult, but then I realized she’d wandered a few tables away.

Curious, I set down my knife and joined her. She was looking down at a number of wooden charms like the ones hanging from or nailed to the trees across the carnival. Each had sticks crossing at various angles to make certain runic shapes.

“How quaint,” Lulin said as I approached.

“You’re probably used to stuff more fancy than this,” I said, picking up one of the charms and adding a twig to it.

She picked up one of them, examining it closely. “They’re not the worst. The material is just crude, and I don’t think they really have any power.”

“Well yeah, these are just made by random people like me,” I said, quickly tying one together beside her. Once it was finished, I held it up to her face. “See? It’s mostly just for fun. But the dryads, wickens, witches and what have you do make real charms that have some actual power behind them.”

She looked at the charm I’d made. To my surprise, she smiled. “I don’t hate how willing you are to please.”

“Was that an actual compliment?”

“Don’t get used to it,” Lulin ordered. “But yes. You did well today. I assume your shift is probably over by now?”

“It was over a while ago.” I said, handing her her bag, “I just told you I’d keep an eye on your stuff, so I did.”

She took the bag gratefully. “Huh. You’re a committed one, aren’t you?”

“And you’re not so bad when you’re not acting like a snob.” I replied, then after a moment’s hesitation, “Or trying to drink my blood.”

Lulin smirked, hoisting her bag and turning away from me. “Go enjoy the rest of your night, little mayfly. I’ll have need of you tomorrow.”

“What about the dreamcatcher? You paid for me to play to win it.”

“Keep it. Consider it a gift.” Lulin walked away, heading in the direction of the Grinning Moon.

I watched her go, still not quite sure what to make of the woman. She was definitely dangerous and thought herself a peg above those around her, but there were a few times that day when she seemed almost like a normal woman. Vexatious vampire or no, she was still a person.

Nyx’s voice made me jump. “Is she out of your hair?”

Once I’d recovered from being startled, much to Nyx’s amusement, I nodded. “Yeah, I think she’s heading back to the Grinning Moon.”

“Good. Why don’t we make our way to the bonfire? I heard there are free marshmallows and hot chocolate.” Nyx’s feet touched the ground and she waited for my answer.

“Why not?” I called out to the others, “We’re going to go watch the ritual. You guys want to come?”

Mivara shook her head, coming over and handing me my camera bag. “We’re going to carve some more plumpkins.”

Ziggy looked like he was going to follow us, but Mivara shot him a look, and he seemed to reconsider. “Er, yeah! I’m going to carve more plumpkins here. Have fun though, Jhinbo! Make sure to stop by again before the carnival closes.”

Dolly wrote, “Have fun.”

I nodded, and Nyx and I turned away from them. She was still carrying the mug from earlier, although by now we’d thrown out the contents. I took it from her, examining the logo on the side and saying, “Well, today wasn’t so bad, all things considered.”

“Mivara took some fun pictures,” Nyx said affectionately, reaching into my bag and pulling out a photograph of all of us standing around the plumpkins we’d carved.

“Another one for the wall.”

“I think so, too.” Nyx put it back in my bag and took my hand nonchalantly. “So, what do you think?”

“Of what?”

She motioned back in the direction Lulin had walked with her head.

“Well, she’s a pain in the ass.” I admitted, “But she could be worse.”

We finally reached the bonfire pit, a massive stone dip in the ground that was nearly twenty feet across. Logs thick as a man stood in the center, creating a cone of wood with the point facing up. It was currently ablaze; I could feel the heat even a few feet beyond the threshold of the pit. As Nyx promised, they were offering hot chocolate and marshmallows on sticks. The two of us cooked our marshmallows over the fire before taking a seat on the ground a little ways back to keep a good view of it.

Once we were settled, I asked, “What do you think?”

“I think it’s suspicious the Raylands showed up at the Grinning Moon right during all this briefcase and ice cream truck business.” Nyx replied, “And I don’t particularly trust or like her. She’s a pompous brat.”

“You seemed to enjoy playing those games with her.”

She pondered for a moment. “Yeah, I suppose I did. She’s very competitive.”

“So are you.” I teased playfully.

Nyx pulled her hand from mine, scowling and folding her arms. “I couldn’t very well let her upstage me in front of you.”

I looked at her incredulously before bursting into laughter. She huffed, turning her gaze away and closing her eyes indignantly. “Oh yes, make fun of me. See how well that goes for you.”

My laughter died, and I gave her a genuine smile. “Oh, I will. I’m the only person who can get away with that after all.”

“Don’t abuse that privilege.” She opened an eye, her lips turning up in a small smile.

“I’ll try not to, even if it’s tempting.”

While we’d been having this conversation, a gentle fog had started to creep across the carnival. It wasn’t super thick yet, but it was there. Wisps of white and gray hugged the trees and crawled over the ground. It moved as though with purpose, probing and searching for empty space to occupy. I straightened, the change finally settling in and the realization hitting me. “The mists.”

She agreed, “It looks like they’re finally here.”

It was then that a cry from the bonfire drew our attention. A woman with a thin, slender frame was skipping around the fire pit, her long black hair trailing behind her. She wore a dress covered in vines and leaves, and small berries were interlaced with her hair. In some places, her skin took on a wood-like texture and pattern, especially on her arms and legs. She called out in a language I didn’t know, and another female voice responded almost directly beside us from a tree.

Half a second later, another woman appeared – physically stepping out of the very same tree. She passed by us, giving me a big smile and skipping by. Like the other woman, she was thin and beautiful, her youthful features catching in the firelight.

Dryads.

More and more of the women appeared from the trees, joining the first at the bonfire. Slowly, witches and wickens started to trickle in. I even saw Willow Hallow, who noticed us and curtsied. The women of the Hallow Coven threw different incense and materials into the fire, chanting and dancing joyously. I’m sure to outsiders it would have looked a little strange, but to me, it was strangely comforting. As the ritual continued, some of the nearby twig charms in the trees started to glow a bright blue, like they were responding to the ongoing ceremony.

I had no idea how any of this stuff worked, but the spectacle of it was enough to make me feel a little more at ease. If it weren’t for the Grinning Moon’s defenses, this place would have been almost impossible to run. So for that, I was extremely grateful to the women before me.

On the other side of the campfire, I noticed a familiar figure–Detective Brand. He was watching the ritual, his smoking pipe in his mouth and his back against a tree. A woman stood beside him, pressed close against his side. She wore a wide-brimmed witch hat, so I couldn’t make out any of her features, but I pointed at them. “Nyx, look.”

“Brand?” Nyx didn’t look at the man. “I saw him earlier. He’s been watching us almost all day.”

“Oh.”

“The witches seem to like him.” She said, “Which, to be honest, is a little strange.”

“Why’s that?”

“Jhin, you seem to forget that while Nultock is a city of monsters and magical mists, there are plenty of people who try to stay away from actual supernatural entities and individuals like witches and myself.” Nyx glanced at me. “Surely, you see the looks we get when we go out together because I’m a spirit.”

I shrugged, “I do, but I don’t get why. The only thing I don’t love is magic healing, and that’s just more because I don’t want to get turned into a walking tumor by accident.”

My response made her laugh, “A walking tumor?”

“I read on the news that some wicken healer accidentally healed a guy too much and he went all bubbly!”

Nyx cackled at my description, “All bubbly?”

“It was horrible!”

“I’m sure it was, but that’s one hell of a way to describe growing tumors.” Nyx sounded amused. “Whatever the case, generally you’re not immediately terrified of something otherworldly if it doesn’t display some form of ill intent.”

I shrugged, “You all should get to be treated like people, too. Maybe that’s why Mando thinks I’m such a good fit for the Grinning Moon.”

“And I appreciate that about you. But most police forces or investigative groups would probably caution against being around witches or spirits constantly.” She looked back at Brand. “Which begs the question as to why and how Brand is so friendly with them, as I’m sure his superiors wouldn’t approve. Last time we met, he had a witch with him, too.”

There were a few moments of silence.

“We know a lot of weird people.” I finally said.

Nyx laughed, brushing the hair out of her eyes and scooting to sit closer to me. “That we do, Jhin. But that’s life at the Grinning Moon.”

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