“You belong to this world now, whether you like it or not,” Fe said to the whole group. “October was born here, so it only makes sense she’d return one day. We just didn’t expect her to bring a posse along with her.”
She looked at me, her expression incredibly sad all of a sudden. “Pumpkin, your father was the very last necromancer known around here. The last of the Grimm necromancers. We’re the Hallowell witches, your mother made three. Your parents married, hoping to one day produce another necromancer to carry on the line of power.”
My eyes filled with tears. All this new information about my straight-laced parents was enough to make my head spin. My mother…was a witch? It was laughable. Last time I checked, witches didn’t wear khaki slacks and Crocs.
“Fair warning, you’re very powerful, if tonight’s events have anything to say about it. You need to step carefully in this dimension, because it mirrors the mortal world exactly. It might look like home, but creatures beyond your wildest imagination live here as equals.” Fe’s warning vibrated through my bones, leaving a chill behind.
“The clowns?” Jason asked, his voice raspy and unsure. Again, it was jarring to see this big, tough dude so afraid.
Fe nodded, slurping her tea again. “They won't harm you unless provoked. Usually. They just like to have a bit of fun with the newbies sometimes. You might have noticed how quiet it is around here tonight. Halloween is the one night of the year when creatures can cross to the mortal world, so we’re a little empty until the witching hour strikes. You all need to learn how to navigate this place, or it’ll gobble you up in no time.”
“So…what you’re saying is we’re in another world right now? Are we not on Earth?” Maddie asked with wide eyes. To my own ears, it sounded like nonsense, but we couldn’t argue what we were seeing with our own eyes.
“Another dimension,” Pip corrected, holding up a finger like a school teacher. “It’s still the same physical space, only a different dimensional plane.”
Maddie still looked confused, so I asked, “Does it always look like Halloween just threw up on the entire town?”
Both aunties laughed, and Fe said, “Halloween is a mortal celebration. Sometimes, creatures slip dimensions on accident and find themselves stranded in that world. The mortals call them demons and monsters, and decided to make a holiday about it. It’s a good laugh in this dimension, but I dare say our culture was capitalized on quite a bit. ”
She suddenly turned her attention to Jason as he started to open his mouth. “Just be thankful October brought you all back. Not to mention whole instead of in pieces.” Jason shut his mouth fast, but still glared at me with his thick arms crossed over his chest as he reclined in his chair.
“You still haven’t told me why I’m turning into a vampire,” said Norman. He was stroking the head of the little bat sitting on his shoulder almost absentmindedly.
“One thing you need to understand is that each and every one of you died tonight,” Fe deadpanned, letting it all sink in for a moment. “You died, and October’s powers kicked in to save her life, and in turn, yours. But when she brought you back, she used the life force of the world she was born in. You belong here now, and you’ll never be mortal again. In a sense, you are tied to October.”
It was silent for a moment before Michael asked, “So we’re all going to turn into vamps?” He fingered his newly silver hair with worry clear in his voice.
The aunties laughed again, more like a cackle. “Oh, great pumpkin, no.” We all breathed a sigh of relief, but it might have been too soon because she added, “There’s no telling what you might turn out to be. We’ll just have to wait and find out. It’s only a matter of time before your true, lovely creature shines through.”
The guys took turns glaring at me, while Maddie just stared off into space. All of this was my fault. I’d turned them into monsters…
“And my spider?” I asked.
“Arachnid!” Jessica shouted, scrambling out of my hair.
“Sorry,” I muttered, looking back to the aunties. “Why do I have a witch’s familiar if I’m a necromancer like my dad?” I was confused. Was it because my mom was a witch?
“All powerful creatures have familiars, pumpkin,” Pip said with a small smile. “Sometimes, a body contains too much magic and needs a source to hold some of it. Yours is a spider, and it looks like Norman here might have found his own little batty buddy, Billie.” She gestured to the bat as she frowned into her tea cup. It was almost empty.
Norman’s eyes went wide as the bat continued to nuzzle his neck. I fought a smile, because now wasn’t the time. But it was really damn cute watching him fight the urge to snuggle back.
“So we might all get one?” Maddie asked. I could see the wheels turning in her brain already. Maddie was a sucker for cute animals. With her luck, she’d end up with a freaking panda.
Pip shook her head. “Not necessarily. For example, Fe and I do not possess a familiar because our power as sisters is balanced.” Her eyes flickered to mine sadly. My mother had been the third, and now she was gone.
We went quiet, everyone pondering their own individual situations. I could see everyone struggling with what to do and how to react to the news that we could never go home again.
“I have just the solution,” Pip announced, clapping her hands together. “The six of you were just starting university, so we’ll sign you up for some courses here at Midnight U, that way you can acclimate to this
