@cro_bo thanks for the tag.

There was no club that night. There was a house, purple lights, fog curling underfoot… and costumes that weren’t as innocent as they looked.

The Kitchen

Nana-Cha arrived the way she always does: making sure everyone noticed. A rhinestone devil perched on the kitchen island, pitchfork in hand, looking for someone to tease. She found Vesper. She tilted her chin up with the tip of the pitchfork.

“And what are you supposed to be? Going to a funeral?”

Vesper stopped the pitchfork with two gloved fingers. She didn’t smile.

“A countess. Countesses don’t play with plastic devils.”

Nana-Cha didn’t let go of the pitchfork. Neither did Vesper.

The Couch

Crimson Static didn’t play that night, but they still claimed the stage: the living room couch. Shade in the center, boots on the table, her face painted like a skull beneath her hat. Ivory on the armrest, wings spread, one arm draped over Shade’s shoulders, marking territory. Ling-Xiu curled up on the other side, lifting her talisman just enough to watch anyone who came near.

No one sat with them. No one dared.

The Test

Until one of them tried. A tall vampire, black cape, far too much confidence. Ivory crossed her arms.

“You’ve got two minutes.”

From the couch, Shade sized him up too, with half a smile. By the window, Ling-Xiu gazed out at the night, cup in hand, far from the noise. Or so it seemed.

The Hallway

Officer Luna had shown up in her usual uniform and a pair of wolf ears. It’s just a costume, she kept telling herself. But as the night went on, her shirt tore a little more, and the tail got harder to hide.

Mika found her in the hallway. She rested one hand against the wall, right beside her head.

“Isn’t the officer going to arrest anyone tonight?”

Luna pressed her cup against her chest. She couldn’t find an answer.

Shift Change

The bathroom door opened. Naomi stepped out first, adjusting her golden headdress with no hurry at all, her lipstick barely smudged. Behind her, a pharaoh grinned like he’d just won a kingdom.

As she passed Mika, Naomi gave her a knowing look. Mika returned it. Nothing needed to be said.

The Bathroom

Mika took hold of Luna’s loose necktie and walked backward, leading her inside.

Luna glanced toward the hallway just once, making sure no one was watching.

She didn’t resist.

The door closed.

The Mirror

Later, Ivory leaned over the sink, touching up her lips. She smiled at her reflection. She knew exactly who was standing at the door.

The vampire had passed the test.

The Bedroom

Naomi wasn’t finished with her pharaoh. Against the wall of the upstairs bedroom, she moved slowly to a song only the two of them could hear. One hand behind his neck, and the calm smile of someone who never loses control.

The Bed

Cherry had come as Red Riding Hood, afraid of the wolf. She never imagined finding something stranger: a bride made of wires and stitches, looking at her like a puzzle to be solved.

Nyx cupped her face with her robotic hand. The purple glow lit up her cheeks.

The basket fell to the floor. Candy rolled across the rug.

Cherry closed her eyes.

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