Hexed and Bitten

Chapter 4

“Trick or treat!” Vivianne burst into the shop wearing a gold bikini top and a long white skirt with two slits in the front, her pink hair pulled into two space buns. Grinning from ear to ear she held her arms out as if to say what do yeah think.

“Let me guess you’re a space princess?” She knew the name of the character Vivianne was dressed as, but although Vivianne seemed obsessed with the series of movies she never could remember the character's name which led to her calling the character the space princess.

“You got it babe,” She winked, skipping over and leaning on the counter. Her hazel eyes darted up and down her brows pinching together as if she was truly stumped. “And you are…. A witch?”

“Bingo!”

“Fits with this place,” She nodded in appreciation. “Ari the witch, I like it,” Reaching over to the complimentary suckers Amelia always put out for customers she ripped the wrapped off popping it into her mouth. “So…”

“So?”

“Are you sticking with this costume for tonight or are you going to wear something a little more… sexy?”

“I have another costume don’t worry,”

“Oh thank goodness cause babe I love you but this is at most cute in a PG rated way and Jerry’s halloween parties are rated R if you get my drift,” Vivianne grinned a twinkle of mischief in her eyes.

“Don’t worry Viv, my costume for tonight will meet your standards.”

“Okay well I’ve got to run and since you're amazing and letting me have this most important day off I will see you tonight when I come back to pick you up for the party,” Bowing dramatically she swiped another sucker. “Ta ta my beloved for I shall see thy morrow,” she said with a dramatic accent.

“Ta ta,” Arabella chuckled, wiggling her fingers at her.

Grinning Vivianne blew her a kiss before darting back out of the shop leaving Arabella to the soft halloween appropriate music and her thoughts. Most days the shop was fairly busy with tourists coming in and out eager to experience the paranormal that is Salem, Massachusetts, but none of it compared to October 31st.

From open to close the shop was filled to capacity with eager tourists wanting everything they could get their hands on. It didn’t hurt either that she had an in with the tourist guide of A Witches Hand, an interactive tour that conveniently made a stop at her shop for souvenirs. It was days like this she loved, being busy keeping her wandering thoughts from the past.

“Twick or tweat,”

“Oh wow look at you,” Arabella crouched down in front of the young girl, her bowl of candy tucked in her arms. “I love your costume. Let me guess, are you a witch?”

“Mama!” The young girl tugged on her mothers dress, her eyes wide with amazement. “Mama! She guessed wight,”

“She did pumpkin,” The older woman smiled down lovingly at the little girl.

“Awe you a witch too?” The young girl looked eagerly at her.

“Why yes I am. I am Arabella of the Blackwater coven,” She dramatically exclaimed, making the girl jump up and down excitedly.

She might go by Ari these days, but she couldn’t help but revert back to who she truly was even just for one night and Halloween was always the perfect night for it.

“Mama! She’s a witch too mama!” She shouted her pointed hat falling off in her excitement.

Blonde hair spilled out past her shoulders. Amelia’s eyes widened her balance, wavering in her crouched position. The little girl with her long blonde hair and pale complexion, that smile and bright eyes hit her like a freight train. Little sprite. A familiar female voice whispered in the wind.

Glancing up she looked closer at the mother, the setting sun flashed into her eyes and for the briefest of moments she saw Mary. Blinking the sun away she looked at the woman again, but gone was her sister's violet eyes and infectious smile. Clearing her throat she looked back at the happy little girl in front of her.

“Okay well since you are a fellow witch like myself I think you deserve some candy don’t you think so?”

“Yes!”

“Margo,” Her mother scolded gently.

“Sowwy mama. Yes pwes.”

Grinning, Amelia held the bowl out “Go for it little witch take whatever you want,” The little girl squealed, jumping excitedly as she dove her little hands into the bowl of candy.

Bowls empty Amelia cleaned up heading back into the shop to lock up for the night. She might have a complicated history with October 31st, but Halloween had grown on her. It had become one of her favourite holidays. She loved seeing the children dress up as their favourite characters, and monsters. She loved handing out candy and getting to feel normal for a brief moment. Amelia didn’t get a lot of mundane moments so the ones even as brief as one night were cherished the most.

The twinkle of the chimes rang behind her signalling someone entering the shop. “Sorry we’re closed, but we will be back open Monday at 8am,” She turned to address whoever had not read the big closed sign on the door to find no one. “Hello?” Moving to the entrance she opened the door scanning the empty street. Eyebrows pinched in confusion she went back inside, locking the door behind her.

Her eyes scanned outside as if someone would step out of the shadows. That niggling feeling curled in her stomach, that nagging that something was coming. Shaking the unease off she set the alarm, turning the lights off and heading to the back where her private entrance went up to her loft.

She didn’t have a lot of time before Vivianne would be here and she still needed to get changed into her costume for the party. Arabella wasn’t overly fond of Jerry or his parties, but Vivianne seemed to like the big meat head, and she was overdue for a night of fun. Most times she passed on going out, it was easier to stay in. She wasn’t worried about losing control or anything like that, she wasn’t some fledgling, but lately she found it all exhausting. Watching humans so unaware and blissfully ignorant to the darkness lurking around them.

They were lucky to be free of such burdens. Arabella never had that, and she knew it was futile holding a grudge over it, but sometimes it was just easier to hide away. To be a hermit only allowing work and Jinx in her life. Even spending time with David was a double edged sword, she could never truly let him in, never truly be with him. She didn’t know what this thing was with him, but it could never be anything serious. It didn’t matter, none of it did, they would all be dead, their bones would turn to dust and Arabella would still be here unchanged, doomed to live eternity alone. Shaking her spiraling thoughts away she focused on getting herself ready. A quick shower later she was blow drying and pinning her hair up into a cute up do letting a few strands fall free framing her face. Unlike her usual sparse makeup tonight she leaned into her costume going with dark smoky eyes, mascara, and blood red lipstick. Stepping in front of her mirror she looked over her outfit. She looked like sin brought to life in her gothic deep wine red ensemble crafted from layers of delicate lace and structured satin. The top featured a tight corseted style bodice with intricate lace up detailing down the front and long dramatic bell slides that flared from her wrists The short tiered skirt cascaded asynchronously higher in the front showing off her lace trimmed thigh high stockings and flowed lower in the back creating a dark romantic silhouette that moved gracefully as she moved.

Walking out into the living room she slipped her feet into her heels “Okay Jinx,” his head perked up those green eyes turning from the television to glance at her. “Don’t wait up for me bud.” Blowing her furry friend a kiss she exited the loft.

The party was already in full swing when they pulled up. Like every party Jerry McConnell had valet was ready to assist with parking. On the outside of his oversized mansion everything looked respectable, but she knew on the inside was a different story.

Stepping across that threshold was like crossing into another world. He had money, lots of it. He came from a family of wealth and never understood the word no. It didn’t exist in his world, these parties were a perfect example of that. This was to be a night of debauchery.

Arabella steeled her nerves following Vivianne into the belly of the beast. The inside was just as pretentious as the outside. She couldn’t see what Vivianne saw in Jerry. He was all surface, she didn’t think he knew how to be honest or real. All he knew how to do was party and sleep around. He couldn’t have been anything more than a good time, and even that Arabella wasn’t confident in that. He seemed like the type only concerned with his own pleasure.

“Jerry!” Vivianne sprang forward jumping up into his arms, her lips crashing against his, the two of them lost in their own ecstasy.

Watching Jerry practically eating Vivianne’s face had her moving as far away from their disgusting display towards the dance floor.

The music thrummed in her bones, it beckoned those to the dance floor, to join the thrall of bodies movies as one. Drunk partiers lost to the luring of the beat, no longer aware or caring about the world and people around them as they lost all inhibitions giving into those dark desires.

How easy would it be to give in, to get lost in a crowd. How easy it would be to sink her fangs in unsuspecting humans. This was an easy hunting ground and yet that nagging feeling had returned. As much as getting lost in the ecstasy of feeding off drunk humans would be bliss, Arabella wouldn’t give into her baser instincts. No she wasn’t a beast or fledgling still trying to learn how to control her hunger.

Hands slowly slid around her waist, a strong chest pressing flush with her back. She knew who he was before he even uttered a word, his familiar scent wrapping around her like a comforting blanket.

“You look beautiful,” He whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

“I don’t think I had beautiful in mind when I got dressed for tonight.”