Famous Ghost Stories From The Brilliant Blue

[gimmeeyeballs]

For Fun, have some ghost stories from Catrina's setting :3 There will be a lot of caution warnings on there stories, please check them first before reading if you're sensitive to certain subjects.

The Legend of Eeljaw (CW for attempted colonization, invasion, genocide, child harm, and body horror): https://gimmeeyeballs.dreamwidth.org/2561.html?thread=3329#cmt3329

Marleen of the Swamp (CW for stalking, anger issues, and drowning): https://gimmeeyeballs.dreamwidth.org/2561.html?thread=3585#cmt3585

Snicker Teeth get Snacker Crunch (CW for death of an elderly person, harm of an elderly person, and eyeball eating): https://gimmeeyeballs.dreamwidth.org/2561.html?thread=3841#cmt3841

Be Back Before the Night Eyes Closes (CW for bullying (body shaming), child death, and eyeball eating): https://gimmeeyeballs.dreamwidth.org/2561.html?thread=4353#cmt4353

Moose Butler (CW for child death, abuse of staff, infant perils, and mentions of eyeball cuisine): https://gimmeeyeballs.dreamwidth.org/2561.html?thread=4609#cmt4609

Whispers in the Water (CW for natural disaster, drowning, and body horror): https://gimmeeyeballs.dreamwidth.org/2561.html?thread=4865#cmt4865

The Lunar Robe (CW for immolation): https://gimmeeyeballs.dreamwidth.org/2561.html?thread=5121#cmt5121

Old Man Gomez (CW for child peril, missing child, and Gomez being a nightmare creature): https://gimmeeyeballs.dreamwidth.org/2561.html?thread=5377#cmt5377

The Basement Hound (CW for animal death, gore, body horror, and PTA Karen): https://gimmeeyeballs.dreamwidth.org/2561.html?thread=5889#cmt5889

Green, Yellow, Orange, Red (CW for attempted child murder and death): https://gimmeeyeballs.dreamwidth.org/2561.html?thread=6145#cmt6145

Whatever You Do, Don't Look in the Mirror: https://gimmeeyeballs.dreamwidth.org/2561.html?thread=6401#cmt6401

Blood Reader (CW for gore, body horror, child endangerment, threats of killing a child, and death by violence): https://gimmeeyeballs.dreamwidth.org/2561.html?thread=6657#cmt6657

It Comes by Night (CW for death): https://gimmeeyeballs.dreamwidth.org/2561.html?thread=7169#cmt7169

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The Legend of Eeljaw

[calisugarfiend]

Long ago, back when the capital was new, our river was invaded by Claridonis, a kingdom far from ours. Wanting the wealth of our land and river, the invaders were relentless in pursuit, but we were just as relentless in defending ourselves. One figure that reigns infamous in our history and tales, was the ruthless, greed-filled captain of the invading armada, Eeljaw.

Eeljaw was not a good looking elf, with an underbite like an eel’s and a small nubbled nose, looking like it was retreating back into his skull. Running his ships like they were cold and unfeeling machines, Eeljaw would launch raids upon the floating cities along the river. Most were able to repel the attacks while unfortunately some were set ablaze from the firearms. Eeljaw grew arrogant and his ego was inflated when he made the mistake of coming to the one floating village, the village of Ventana Del Alma. Now, the village of Ventana Del Alma might have not been much back in the days, but, they had some resources, resources that most would not dare to interact with.

The head of the Ventana Del Alma Resistance was Andres Calavera who had the idea to contact the Borogoves. You see, the Borogoves are a neighboring race of plants in our land that produce a deadly strong acid to dissolve their meals to eat. Rarely do we interact with them as they live in their own tight knit family groups that roam during the voids of night and can be hostile if customs are not met up.

What deal was struck that fateful night was lost to the panels of history, but somehow, Andres made the bargaining deal with the Borogoves for their acid. The fools from Claridonis had no idea what awaited them that fateful night where the Night Eyes were wide opened to witness it all. The streets and water roads were bare when Eeljaw and his crew came ashore, torches lit as they plundered till their heart's content. Up above from their rooftops was the resistance with barrels of acid looming over the plundering fools below them.

The screams and rattles of death from the plundering invaders started as echoes from the distances from where Eeljaw was as he was midway stuffing his pockets with his ill gotten gains. His yellowed eyes looked up to the sight of acid being poured upon his crew, the streets being stained with their frothing pink sludge. Turning to flee to the ship, abandoning his own men, Eeljaw did not take the basic care to watch where he was going when the acid splashed upon his face.

Eeljaw’s features were melting like when an artist splash acetone upon an oil paint, stumbling backwards in pain and landing into the water road. The water was a reddish hue from where Eeljaw fell, his mortal remains kept within the clutches of the brilliant blue. Everyone rejoiced upon the news of the vile captain’s demise as Claridonis retreated in their failed endeavors to colonize our homes.


However, though many dismiss it as a boogeyman tale of sorts to scare young nymphs to stay in their nursery pools at bedtime, others say that Eeljaw is still among us. Roaming the water roads beneath the Brilliant Blue when the Night Eyes are closed shut tight, the disfigured ghost of Eeljaw searches in vain for the one who splashed the acid upon his face, stealing something from their victim if he grabs someone. Be cautious when walking the pathways and bridges. Take care to not look too deeply into the waters below, and most importantly, be alert if someone asks, ‘Do I look handsome to you?’ For Eeljaw will pull you under the water to join him in his damnation for all the crimes committed against us. To escape such a fate, should you find yourself out on an Eyeless Night, throw a starbug pebble or two in the opposite direction, for the glittering of the stones will surely distract the vile captain’s ghost to make a run for the safety of your very soul.

Juan had gone to jump at the nymphs who were listening to the story, making them scream out of shock and fear as their grandfather chuckled. It was an overnight for the three young nymphs named Aura, Zora, and Flora at their grandparents house as their parents went on a conference meeting in regards to their jobs. Their cousin, Juan, who was older than the girls was staying over while his own parents did some renovations at their house.

“I think it's about time that you girls head onto bed for the night. Juan, you should head for bed too.” The grandfather said softly as he patted Juan on the top of his head as he went to stand up.

“I’m not sleepy yet, I wanna stay up with you and Grandma.” Aura whimpered as she looked up at her grandfather with watery eyes.

“Stop being such a needy hatchling Aura, besides the Night Eyes are closed. You don’t want Eeljaw to pop out now do yah?” Zora sneered as she went to poke at her sister, getting annoyed with the tears.

“Now, now, Zora, let's not be mean, Aura can’t help it just yet with her emotions. I’ll tell you one more story before bed, alright?” The grandfather gently chided as he picked up Aura who nodded yes to that as the other children were gathered for bedtime.

The night was calm as their grandfather told a sweet tale of a queen cast into rags to learn humility and kindness towards others before he bid them all a goodnight as the lights went out. Aura had just about settled in for the night, closing her eyes when Aura felt a sharp tug on her hair. Zora stood right next to Aura at her bed, having pulled the young nymph’s hair to get attention.

“That hurt Zora, stop it!” Aura protested as she scooted away from her sister.

“Come on Aura, don’t you want to have fun? It's a sleepover! We’re supposed to be awake all night.” Zora stated as Flora got up annoyed at her loud mouthed sister.

“Zora, will you shut up? Besides, Aura would only get Grandma and Grandpa’s attention if we tried to sneak out with Juan. It’d be better if we left her here.” Flora said with anger at Zora, Aura looked at her sisters in confusion.

“But the Night Eyes are closed, Grandpa said that Eeljaw will be out and what about the Eyed? It's scary outside.” Aura tried to reason, but alas her words did not stick to the older sisters who merely disregarded that notion.

“Next you’re gonna say that the Night Cape will pop out and gobble us all too, right?” Juan said as he leaned against the doorway peering into the room.

Flora and Zora perked up when they saw their oldest cousin at the door as they went up to him to head out for their little bit of fun outside on an Eyeless Night.

“Well Aura, looks like being a big hatchling earned you a lame night being indoors alone. You should go back into the nursery pool.” Zora said as she followed Juan and Flora out.

“I’m coming too, I’m old enough to come along.” Aura said as she quickly pocketed some starbug pebbles just in case Eeljaw showed up, having had enough of her older sisters and went to follow.

“Seriously, Eeljaw is just a story to scare nymphs like you into staying inside at night.” Flora huffed, rolling her eyes at Aura after spotting the starbug pebbles who in turn scrunched up her, ready to say something.

“Be quiet guys, otherwise Grandpa and Grandma are going to hear us.” Juan hissed out a whisper to silence his younger cousins.

The nymphs were silent after that, moving in the shadows of the house softly like cats on the prowl. With some quiet manipulation of the door locks, Juan got the door opened and ushered his younger cousins outside into the Eyeless Night. Juan turned on the flashlight as they went onto the paved trails by the river road for some night time fun. Aura clung to Flora’s hand as they went along the paved trail, wondering where they were going. Juan was just grinning away as he went to whistle a tune, before hearing a whistle being returned. The group paused for a moment upon hearing that as Juan shined the flashlight over to where they heard the whistle. There was no one there that they could see, but the whistling continued.

“Great, I’m guessing one of the neighbors got themselves a parrot or something.” Juan reasoned as to not scare the younger nymphs as he motioned for them to continue on.

Aura clung tightly to the reassuring hand of her sister as they walked along, Zora being the absolute gremlin of a child continued to torment her baby sister with her own whistles.

“Stop it Zora, you’re not being funny at all.” Flora snapped right at Zora who went silent as her older sister was pretty scared about this too like Aura.

“Juan, this isn’t fun anymore, we should head back.” Flora said to Juan as she got both of her younger sisters at hand, hoping Juan will be willing to listen.

Juan stopped for a moment to think over this carefully as he turned to face his younger cousins, “When you’re right Flora, you’re right. Come on, we’ll head back for Grandpa and Grandma’s..”

“NO!” Zora screamed as she stomped her feet at that, letting go of Flora's hand as she ran past Juan to continue their night time adventure, causing Aura to be near tears when she saw that as Flora looked ready to chase down Zora herself.

“Zora you get back here right now! You don’t even have a source of light idiot!” Juan yelled out as he gave chase after the little turd of a cousin.

Zora did not want to listen, she wanted to show off how brave she was and not a little hatchling like her baby sister and so continued to run away from the safety of the group. Jaun motioned for Flora and Aura to follow along, he wasn’t about to get into further trouble all because Zora was a spoiled rotten brat. Flora nodded as she held Aura’s hand firmly to reassure some sense of safety for both sisters, Aura with her face wet from crying out of fear. The inky dark waters of the river road were splashing up against the paved trails as fear ran through Juan’s own mind. Fear and anger is a horrifyingly magical combination to have happened to someone so young as Juan as he gritted his teeth, wishing Zora would’ve grown up ages ago.

“Grandpa is going to skin us, come on Flora, Aura, we need to grab Zora before she does something even more stupid.” Juan said, his blood running thick with anger.

“I’m going to kill Zora if I find her.” Flora said, her need for sleep was setting in as the more irritable Flora became.

“She has no light...what if Zora ran off the trail and into the river road…” Aura whimpered when Juan said that fear aloud as the whistling returned.

“Zora if that is you trying to be cute, you’re going to be in huge trouble you little brat! Get over here right now!” Juan was done messing around as he started making some steps forward with the flashlight.

“Seriously, come out or I’m telling Grandpa!” Flora threatened as she held Aura closely for comfort and a sense of security.

Nothing, not even a peep from Zora in the inkwell darkness of the night as the whistling continued. Juan used himself as a barrier between him and his younger cousins. There was a slight rustling from the unseen hedge to their right as Juan prepared to use the flashlight as a club if needed to defend himself and the younger nymphs. The flashlight almost struck Zora in her head when she jumped out of the hedge and started laughing at them.

“You’re all a bunch of scared hatchlings! You should’ve seen your faces!” Zora cackled, pointing at her siblings and cousins as something started to rise from the waters.

There were some words boiling to come out of Juan’s mouth as something grabbed Zora from behind and around her neck as she dangled in the air. The screams from Zora slowly faded into squeaks and then to nothing despite how hard the young nymph tried to say any words as Juan slowly raised his flashlight. The smell of rotting cloth and flesh was strong as the light slowly followed up the figure that held their bratty Zora hostage. Standing at the horrifying height of six feet was a man, though his face hadn't been illuminated just yet as he croaked out, dusty and aged like an old dock by the river.

“Do I look handsome to you?”

The young nymphs turned into fearful tints of pastels upon hearing the question as the flashlight hit the man’s face. Digested streams of tissue, an eye melting like butter on toast and warped bone shone brightly as the disfigured soup-like face of Eeljaw stared at them with resentment for what had happened to his face. The feeling of the cold rounds of stones in the pocket of Aura lit something in her memory as she went to shove her tiny fist into her pocket.

“I said, do I look handsome to you!?” Eeljaw barked as globs of tissue splattered on the pavement as the young nymphs backed away from the deformed specter.

“Look! Money! Go get it!” Aura yelled as she threw the starbug pebbles right at Eeljaw’s face, hitting him and slipping down to the ground.

It got Eeljaw’s attention as he dropped little Zora, Juan grabbing her up immediately and going to run with the other two cousins back to their grandparents’ house. Faster and faster the group of young nymphs went before they heard the screeching yowls of Eeljaw as he came to chase after them. Flora dug into her own pockets to throw some starbug pebbles to buy them some more time as the glittering stones hit the age old monstrosity. The flashlight caught the silhouette of their grandparents’ home only a few feet away as the nymphs sprinted towards the safety line of their home, the hot swamp-like breath of Eeljaw drizzling down their backs as he gained pursuit.

They shoved the door open, rushing inside and attempted to shut the door behind them when the gangly arm of Eeljaw jammed its way from shutting. The arm thrashed around to grab one of the scared and frightened nymphs to drag into the Brilliant Blue with him as Juan slammed the flashlight repeatedly against the monstrous elf. The rushing footsteps of their grandfather could be heard from the commotion from the doorway of their home.

“You get away from my grandchildren!” Their grandfather roared as he got out a silver blade from his pocket, stabbing it into the wood of the door.

Eeljaw let loose a loud screeching howl of agony upon the door being stabbed with the knife, the arm withdrew as the grandfather shut the door and locked it, keeping the knife embedded into the door. It was silent for another ten more minutes before any movement was heard as the grandfather looked over his grandchildren thoroughly for any visible injuries now that the spectral terror of the past was driven away from their home. There was more fear in the old man rather than anger as each child was cleared from injury before finally reaching Zora as he went to carefully look over the child.

“What were you doing out there on an Eyeless night like that? Did that thing hurt you in any way?” The grandfather asked Zora, who opened her mouth but no sound could come out, tears bubbling up her eyes as she desperately wanted to speak.

“Oh no..no no no..Zora, honey, did Eeljaw touch you!?” The grandfather, now in a panic, looked at his granddaughter for any marks.

It was then when he noticed around her neck where the hand of Eeljaw had wrapped itself around, a white band-like marking was left there on young Zora’s flesh.

The grandfather just pulled Zora into a tight hug as he went, “I’m so sorry Zora, but, Eeljaw stole your voice and left that mark as a reminder of your encounter with him. There is nothing I can do now to give your voice back.”

Marlene of the Swamp

[calisugarfiend]

There once was a maiden, fair and true with the colors of the rare scarlet jewel flower who took pleasure in her time to spend in the swamplands outside of town. She was, simply put, highly popular with the eligible young suitors in the area. The maiden paid no mind to the suitors as she much preferred to spend time to herself and the swamps she loved above all else. While most of the suitors accepted that the maiden’s heart belonged to the swamps, one suitor couldn’t accept such a notion. Stubborn, prideful, possessive, and selfish, the suitor continued the pursuit of the maiden, each time failing. The suitor’s vision slowly but steadily grew red in anger with each soft but firm rejection by the maiden.

“Surely I can impress this maiden, I’m full of wit and charm, my family is rich beyond compare, surely she would have to fall for me soon.” The suitor slowly thought to himself.

Like a seed, planted deep within the heart of the suitor, a plan came to grow, starting from the heart and blooming in the mind. He would follow the maiden fair into the swamp that she frequented and corner her into courting with him. Surely such a cunning plan won’t fail. Sunset was breaking upon the Brilliant Blue as the maiden readied her visit to the swamps she held so dear, not knowing she was being watched from afar. Eyes of anger and want, glimmering like diamond dust in an obsidian sea of malice, the suitor sat in his boat.

“Surely if I follow, surely if I was in that wretched swamp she holds so dear, I’ll be able to persuade my maiden into seeing things my way. There are no doors to be closed in my face this time around.” The suitor with a grin breaking upon his face as the maiden makes her journey to the swamps.

Following in silences, the suitor followed the maiden to the swamps, each wave and wakes kept as placid as can be. The swamp, peeking to view like a head poking from beneath a blanket, the suitor falters a bit.

“Surely this must be a joke, why this swamp? Why the swamp of Marleen?” The suitor asked himself, remembering the stories told about this hallowed land.

Marleen was once an elf who lived amongst their town long ago. She too, was a maiden who simply loved her hobby beyond all else. Marleen was also wealthy beyond comparison for she came from a family of aristocrats and royalty long since removed. She was a dazzling option for a lot of suitors at the time, but likewise would turn down all that pursued. However, one day Marleen found someone who caught her fancy, a common tax advisor that she grew to adore. The lover and Marleen had decided to one day meet up in the swamp for an evening together to watch the fireflies dance amongst the flowering scarlet jewel flowers that dot along that wetlands. Marleen arrived at the promised place and sat upon a moss covered stump, awaiting for her lover to arrive. Minutes turned into hours as the Night Eyes began to rise to view a disheartened Marleen upon being left alone not knowing where her lover was. A crack of twigs startled Marleen into standing, fearing something was there with her. She wasn’t watching her step as Marleen plunged into the quicksand. Marleen cried for help as she struggled to stay afloat as the lover came to watch Marleen be submerged into the swamp. They say her ghost roams the swamp, vengeful and wrathful, acting like a siren to those lonely singles to a fate worse than death.

“Nonsense, there’s no such thing as Marleen.” The suitor muttered as he anchored ashore the swamp.

“Even if she’s real, I’m not going to be lured by a ghost of some long dead dame. Besides, I’m pursuing a far better game than a waterlogged hag.” The suitor quickly added to himself as he departed the boat.

Steadily, the suitor goes to gain his bearings upon a stew like ground. Like a cat stalking a mouse, the suitor kept a slow but steady pace behind the maiden fair, not knowing what was lurking not too far from her steps. The heart beating quicker as if it were to escape, wanting no part of this plot, the suitor pauses as it becomes abundantly clear, the maiden has disappeared from sight. Fury, worming like weeds, over took the suitor’s heart as he took out his anger upon the wetland grounds in kicks and stomps. Blinded with the red flickering away in the suitor’s eyes, had the raging fury been quelled, the suitor would’ve noticed the swampland foliage slithering towards him. The suitor stomped and screeched at his soiled plans, kicking a tree that was close by nearly toppling it over from the force alone.

“How could she escape me like this! HOW!? HOW!? HOW!?” He yowled into the swamp as if someone would answer his tantrum.

The red in his eyes, fading to pink before blossoming into the green surrounding of panic as the suitor is hoisted up and above from the ankles as he gets pulled closer to the whip-like tendrils of the willows.

“Put me down! I demand you put me down right now! Do you know who I am!? Put me down or my family will come after you!” The suitor yelled, flailing in the air like a leaf barely hanging onto a tree to the wind.

“Oh, I don’t think I will.” said a voice, low, calm, and slithering like worms.

The suitor pauses as he eyes lay upon a elf of auburn hair and emerald green eyes piercing like a knife into the root riddled heart of the suitor.

It took a moment or two before the suitor shook off the initial shock, “You let me down right this instant! Don’t you know who I am!?”

The elf grins, a grin that begins to stretch farther and farther until it reached to the ears, her teeth a maul of death, croaks out in a taunting tone, “Why no, no I don’t, but, I do feel that you may not know me very well in turn.”

The wriggling of fear took the eyes of the suitor as he muttered, “You’re Marleen...I’m not interested in you, you only go after singles that want you! I love someone else!”

Marleen, gliding closer to the dangling suitor, the ice and snow wavering in the smoothly calm tone, “Love? You dare call what you’re doing to this girl, ‘love’? The girl clearly has no interest in you. You’re selfish, possessive, and full of wrath, no wonder she kept turning you away. I lure folks who stalk, I lure monsters like the one that led to my own death, I lure people like you.”

The vines and roots slithered tighter around the suitor, burrowing into his flesh like needles, screaming away as it slowly fades into groans then to nothing. The vines slowly take over the form of the suitor like the weeds he let fester in his heart.

Laughter erupted from the ghostly specter that was Marleen, her agape showing her many teeth to taunt becoming the last thing the suitor would ever see, “Normally I would’ve rend your flesh to pieces and devoured your heart, but that would be all too kind towards someone like you. Instead you shall remain frozen forever as a tree in my swamp and trapped in agony for as long the tree lives!”


The Night Eyes glisten gently upon the swampland as the maiden makes her way back to the boat before pausing in her track. An odd sight caught that maiden’s attention, getting out the sketch book to record such a curious thing.

“How odd, you don’t see young trees in such a shape like that.” The maiden said as she finished sketching the bizarre tree, its shape vaguely like an ahuizotl in mid scream.

Having done what she came to do, the maiden gently boarded her boat, the suitor’s boat having drifted away a few hours ago. Setting sail for home, the tree in the swamp groaning gently like a rattle, the suitor still alive, forever encased in the tree he had become to replace the one destroyed by rage. No one really knew or cared about what ever happened to the despicable suitor at first. It wasn’t till years later after the Maiden’s research was published when the tree became public knowledge. The Bachelor Tree, as it came to be called, quickly became a popular place for young nymphs to test their courage. On silent, windless nights when the Night Eyes shine bright above the swamp, it has been said the groaning sounds can be heard from inside the tree, the suitor still alive as his body feeds the plant life around him.

Snicker Teeth Get Snacker Crunch

[calisugarfiend]

It had been a long boat ride for young Rosita as she held her mother’s hand and their suitcase in the other. Her mother had told Rosita that they would be staying with her grandparents for a while and it’d be like a huge sleepover of sorts. At least that is what Rosita pictured in her mind when they left the ship into the docks of the floating city.

“Mom, are we going to see the storytellers in the town square with Grandma and Grandpa?” Rosita asked excitedly as every visit with them had always been full of excitement and fun things to do.

This time though, Rosita’s mother gave her young daughter a look with pink tinted whites of her eyes as a tear trickled down, “Oh Rosita, I told you before, it won’t be like how it normally is when we go visit your Grandpa and Grandma. Grandpa is very ill and cannot go out like he normally would, that’s why Grandma has us over.”

Rosita remembered that was part of the conversation as she asked, “But I thought Grandpa would be better by the time we came?” Her mother thought for a moment on how to tell the young nymph when her grandmother arrived to pick them up. Rosita’s young eyes lit up with joy upon seeing the old lady as she ran up to give a hug.

Rosita’s grandmother smiled with a warmth of sunbathed sunflowers as she scooped up her granddaughter for a hug, “Oh Rosita, look how big you’ve grown.” Grandma said with a lyrically silken soft voice as she held Rosita close. Little antennas perked, Rosita peered over her grandmother's shoulders as she looked around.

“Grandma, where’s Grandpa? He’s always with you when you come to pick us up.

A sad look washed over her grandmother’s face as she looked over to Rosita’s mother, “You haven’t told her yet, have you?” Eyes were averted a bit at the question as Rosita’s mother spoke, “I was about to, just, I didn’t know how to explain that Dad...her grandfather..”

“Is going to pass away soon.” The grandmother finished as Rosita looked confused upon hearing that term.

There was a tinge of pain in the mother’s eyes as the words were brought up, “Rosita, dearheart, you know how at the playground we all take turns to enjoy the slides or swingset?”

Rosita nods as that’s something she can understand as her mother continued, “Well...life is sort of like that, when your turn ends at the playground, we always go home, right? Passing away means that your grandfather's turn is almost over and has to go with Bedona soon.”

“But he’ll be back soon right? I see other kids return to the playground all the time.” Rosita felt like her world was crumbling apart like dried out clay in the sun. Both her mother and grandmother exchanged looks before the mother continued, “Sometimes, but not in the same body they had before. Other times they decided to stay with Bedona and become the Sighted who protect us from harmful things. Life and Death is a cycle that’ll always continue, sort’ve like the Brilliant Blue River we call home.”

Everything was spinning around in Rosita’s mind like an out of control carousel, spinning faster and faster before everything burst into streams of salt water rushing freely down her cheeks. The hugs came immediately the moment the tears arrived with soft loving words to console the young nymph after her first introduction into death that was coming up soon for her grandfather. Everything seemed to speed on by for Rosita as it only seemed a second ago that she was at the dock and was now at her grandparents’ home. The home was large and sprawling for it had once been a grand hotel back when Rosita’s grandparents were young, having raised her mother there since she herself was a hatchling before retiring and turning the hotel fully into their family home.

Entering inside of the household had always been something Rosita enjoyed the most as it had always felt like she was entering the magical palace that the queen in a fairytale lived in. It was swirled pink, purple, blue, and aqua mosaic pebbles dotted the floors that sparkled different colors in the sun as it led up to the marble dolphin fountain.



Getting their luggage into the cubby and having it pulled up to the next floor where they’ll be staying, Rosita’s grandmother turned to face her and the nymph’s mother, “You had such a long journey today, let's get you set up at the parlor for dinner time. There’s some things I need to go over with your mother about.”

She motioned for her daughter and granddaughter to follow along to the parlor for dinner time as that got Rosita to perk up a bit. Meals with grandma had always been the best parts of the visits as she made delicious meals like spice rice wrapped in candied eel strips and red braised eyeball sliders. Rosita sat up at her seat waiting for dinner as her mother placed the napkin on Rosita’s lap before she ate as her grandmother rolled in their dinner hidden under a silver and gold adorned dome. Surprise grew on Rosita’s face as she looked at the set up as the dome isn’t normally brought out unless it was a holiday.

Grandma chuckled softly as she saw Rosita’s expression, “I figured you’d like this set up and it’s something my own grandmother used to make when life events came up.”

Gingerly, the grandmother lifted the dome as a rush of steam spilled out, revealing an odd purplish-blue curled up thing that had a dull shine in the light. Rosita’s mother gasped in surprise as the dish was placed onto their plates with a side of melted lemon butter, “Mom you shouldn’t have, those rollies are such an expensive dish!”

Laughing away from the response as she sat down, grandma poured herself a glass of squid ink rum, “I know, but it was the lightest meat I could find that wouldn’t be too filling.” Rosita was not focused on the conversation as she poked at this odd hard shelled dish with a fork, trying to figure out how to eat this thing.

Before her mother could respond, grandma turned her attention back to Rosita, “Oh no, dearheart, here, this is how we break open a rollie.” Her mother tore off a segment of the bug and peeled the greenish film-like skin to reveal the yellow meat inside. It stunk of cloves in an over ripened orange as Rosita wrinkled her nose at such a meal.

“Rosita, I promise, it tastes better than it smells.” Her mother said in hopes of encouraging the young nymph to eat.

After some convincing, Rosita placed the sulfur yellow meat into her mouth and began to chew. In Rosita’s mouth it felt like she was chewing on a piece of rubber soaked in motor oil as it slithered down her throat. It was immediately followed up with chugging down the water set aside for the young nymph desperate to rid her mouth of that awful taste.

Her mother couldn’t help but chuckle a bit as she turned her attention to the grandmother as she spoke calmly to her daughter on certain matters, “There is something important I need to say in regards to your father’s last wishes. Before he slipped into his coma, your father had told me that should he die, he wanted you and Rosita to be the ones to eat his eyes upon death. That’s why I've made the Rollie Roasts so neither of your stomachs are too full for when the time comes. ”

The mother stood straight up in shock, “Mom you cannot be serious! Rosita is way too young to bear such a huge responsibility at all! I would’ve thought for sure Dad would've wanted just you and me to eat his eyes. Even though Dad loved Rosita as much as he did, he would have never placed such a task on a young nymph.”

Rosita looked confused at the unfolding conversation when her name got brought up as grandma placed her glass down, “You know our customs and our rituals well my dearest daughter, if the dying requested the two people they want most to eat their eyes after death, it must be followed through.”

Rosita, having pushed the foul yellowed disaster dish away, tugged on her mother’s sleeve, “Mom...why is Grandma wanting me to eat Grandpa’s eye?”

There was a silence for a moment before the mother answered softly, “Well....when we die, our souls get stuck in our eyes and they need to be set free so they can move on. Normally, your grandmother and I would’ve been named as the Eye eaters for this occasion, but, Rosita, your grandfather wants you to have that honor.”

Rosita felt like she got hit with a nail riddled brick upon hearing that, First being told her grandpa was dying, then the disgusting rollie dinner, and now this? Pushing away from the table, Rosita being overwhelmed with emotions too big for her own small body just couldn’t take it any longer. The young nymph ran from the table and straight for the elevator, slamming the button to head up to their floor that was normally where her grandparents’ room is. Rosita stood there waiting for the door to open as her mother and grandmother caught up.

“Rosita, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry that this was sprung on you all too soon like that.” Grandma apologized as the mother scooped up the small nymph to calm her down.

“So I don’t have to eat Grandpa’s eye?” Rosita sniffled in her mother’s arm as the elevator door opened up. Grandma paused at that, taking some time to think of something to say as her daughter spoke, “I’m afraid you can't, dearheart. If you’ve been named, then you have to go through with the ritual.”

There was a bit of a debate between grandma and her mother as Rosita curled up as they all went into the elevator to head up. The ride up was uncomfortably quiet amongst the three as the normally soft ring of the bell felt louder than normal as it arrived at the floor. The first one to break the silence was Rosita’s grandmother as she got the door opened up to where her grandfather laid resting, “There are some rules now in regards with your grandfather such as not eating too many snacks around him. Having a full stomach when the ritual comes up is not a good sign, so we need to make sure that you have room and not be a snicker teeth.”

It had always been her grandmother’s favorite word to describe someone who likes to snack a lot and has been as far as Rosita could remember. The door creaked open to the room as Rosita’s mother carried her in as grandma followed behind, the rattling wheezing sound filling the room.

The grandfather laid in his bed, pastel was his skin like melted candle wax as he wheezed in his sleep as his family came to see him.

“The healer said he may pass either tonight or tomorrow, so it’ll have to be a camp out in Grandpa’s room.” Grandma explained as she went to change grandpa’s cloth over his eyes to keep him cool. Placing her young daughter down, Rosita’s mother looked of disbelief as she spoke, “But I thought you were still sleeping together in the same room?”

There was a pause once again as grandma looked over, “I have a lot of things to take care of in regards to your Father such as getting the lobby ready for his viewing and flowers being delivered. I would appreciate it if you and Rosita would stay with him during the night while I get things squared away.”

Before any other word could be gotten in, grandma left as quickly as possible, leaving Rosita and her mother alone in the room with the dying old ahuizotl. Knowing that there was no arguing with the old woman, Rosita’s mother went to the door, “I’ll be right back with our bags Rosita, be good and don’t climb into bed with Grandpa, you could hurt him.”

Watching her mother leave and closing the door, Rosita held her stomach as it grumbled. That rubbery yellowed monstrosity called dinner that was barely touched earlier had come back to Rosita in the form of a growling stomach. Now, Rosita was a crafty young nymph as she got up to look at the bookshelf knowing that her grandpa would hide nice treats that he’d bring out whenever they visited. It took a bit of rummaging, but her effort was rewarded with a jar full of sweet newt eyes as Rosita opened it eagerly and got a handful to stuff into her mouth.

“Remember what we said about snacking so close to Grandpa? Your grandmother has been worried about that.” Rosita’s mother said softly as Rosita rolled a newt’s eyes in her mouth.

Her mother placed their bags down carefully as she closed the door behind. “But Mom,” Rosita began, crunching away as she spoke, “I was hungry and I’m not gonna to eat that gross rollies Grandma made!”

Rosita’s mother sighs as she takes the jar of newt eyes away and to a higher shelf, “That’s because your grandfather wants us to have room in our stomachs for when he passes on. It's a great honor to be selected to eat his eyes.”

Rosita huffs as she turns her nose up at that. No one had asked Rosita if she wanted to do this, clearly Rosita was wronged in this deal. “Grandpa wouldn’t have let me go hungry..” Rosita mumbled as she crossed her arms.

“Rosita, you know better than to behave like that.” Rosita’s mother gently scolded as she went to get a glass. This whole trip had been a disaster since arriving off the boat and Rosita just wanted things to be as they always were, fun. It had built up throughout the whole ordeal as Rosita clutched her little fists and began to stomp her feet in protest.


“What if I don’t want to? You can’t force me to eat Grandpa’s eye.” Rosita whined as her hands clenched into fists and stomped her right foot as if it’d prove a point. The mother just shakes her head as she fills the glass full of water for the dying old ahuizotl in the bed, “Rosita, you’re being awfully mean to your grandfather, and in his final hours especially. We eat the eyes so your grandfather can become a Sighted, don’t you want that for him?”

Rosita opens her mouth to say something when she gets hushed into silence as Rosita’s grandmother enters the room, “If you don’t eat your Grandpa’s eye, he’ll become an Eyed instead.”

Rosita tilts her head a bit at this, “What's an Eyed?”

Her mother looked up in annoyance at the grandmother, “Mom, no, Rosita is way too young to hear something as awful as the Eyed.”

The grandma just shook her head in disagreement as she pulled the chair out from the closet, “Nonsense, You were about the same age as Rosita is now when you first got told the story by me. It is absolutely the right time for her to know about them.” The grandmother motioned for Rosita to come over and she obeyed her grandma as she always would.

The grandmother went to get seated and offered her lap for Rosita to sit on, Rosita’s mother looking worried. “An Eyed, you see, are monsters that were once people like us. They lived, they laughed, they enjoyed a life like we all do before we pass on. Upon their death, the eyes are removed to be eaten so their souls can become the Sighted.”

Rosita’s antennae pointed and glued to the silken voice of her grandmother’s story as the tale goes on, “However, if naughty little Snicker Teeth don’t eat the eye, the soul turns into an Eyed. They haunt those who don’t eat their eyes upon death so they in turn can snacker crunch on your eyes….BOO!”

Rosita jumps out of shock from the sudden loud sound as the grandmother chuckles as Rosita’s mother carefully picks up her child, “Thanks Mom, Rosita is going to have nightmares now.”

Snicker Teeth Get Snacker Crunch Pt. 2

[calisugarfiend]

The grandmother just nods slowly as she gets up, “Well my dear, sometimes you need a little bit of fear to get them to do as they’re told sometimes.” Craning her head ever so slowly to look back at Rosita before heading out, “Don’t be a Snicker teeth, or you’ll be a snacker crunch in return.”

Rosita shivered from that story as her mother wrapped the young nymph up in a hug to comfort her, “Rosita, you know your grandfather would never harm you in any possible way. He loves you so much and your grandma can get a bit carried with her stories, especially when she has a lot of things on her mind.”

Rosita’s mother explained in a calm and loving manner as she rocked Rosita in her arms. “But..I never saw Grandma be scary like that before..” Rosita said as she sniffled a bit as the Night Eyes started to come up onto the horizon outside the little wood carved window.

With care, Rosita’s mother sat her down before pulling out a book and a little pink pony sleeping bag, “How about this, I’ll read you your favorite story for bed tonight curled up cozy in your fluffy sleeping bag. I think that’ll be a nice way to end the night.”

Rosita perked up at the offer as she went to get into her little pink pony sleeping bag for her bedtime story as her mother opened up the book to tell the young nymphs a story of a brave little wood duck who managed to beat off a fox from hunting their flock. When the story had ended, the mother gave Rosita a soft kiss to her forehead and wished her child a good night.

Bedtime came around for Rosita, still awake in her little pink pony sleeping bag, her eyes fixed upon the ceiling as the story repeated itself inside of Rosita’s mind. Even though her mother said that grandpa would never hurt her, however, grandma would never lie like that, right? Thoughts of her grandpa, a man who gave treats and gifts, could he truly eat her eyes while alive if she didn’t eat his?

“He would never do that...right..?” Rosita whispers to herself as she tosses and turns in the tiny cocoon of pink ponies.

Her little eyes glisten in the dark as the glow of the night eyes land on the form of her grandpa in his bed, his breath rattling in his sleep. Rosita couldn’t help but wince, this was spooky, all too spooky for her as she rolled her sleeping bag closer to her mother’s. The clock’s ticking and tocking, reverberated like raindrops in a puddle as the night passes by slowly. Rosita barely got any sleep as the golden hue of morning filled the room, her grandfather no longer making that wheezing rattling breath. His chest no longer raising and his eyes staring upwards into eternity. Rosita’s grandfather had passed away during the night, peacefully and no longer in pain as he was before.

It was cold in the room when Rosita’s mother prepared the spoons, as if the room knew that the warmth and joy the old man brought was no longer here. Rosita looked at her grandfather carefully, his features looking rubbery and pale like freshly dripped wax from a candle.

“Mommy, why does Grandpa look like one of Grandma’s wax dolls?” Rosita asked as she got handed a spoon.

“Well dearheart, when someone dies, their body returns to being the wax that the gods once sculpted to make us.” Her mother said soothingly, holding back tears.

The spoon went in as smoothly as Rosita’s mother gently removed the first eye, taking care to show Rosita how it is done. The eyes popped out smoothly as the spoon got them up tenderly as Rosita’s Mother got them into a glass full of sparkling ginger ale, her grandpa’s favorite drink. Her mother handed Rosita the glass as carefully as one can at her age as they gave a toast as they performed the ritual. As the grandfather’s eyes were devoured by his daughter and granddaughter, his body was wrapped in the embroidered family funeral shawl and eyes covered in the gilded eye wrap before his journey into the next life. Grandma and Rosita’s mother had set up her grandpa’s waxen body in a wicker basket in the lobby with woven flowers for viewing as they awaited for the family to arrive.

The downpour of family started to pick up throughout the day as Rosita sat at the table where her mother and grandmother grieved, drawing away with her little assorted crayons out on display. Rosita felt a bit safer, knowing that she ate her grandfather’s eye and won’t come to eat her eyes. Rosita drew and doodled away as more family members arrived upon hearing the news. The day continued on its pathway towards night like how the cycle of life is, family members filing in for the night to prepare for the funeral.

“You did a great job today dearheart, I’m so proud of you.” Her mother said lovingly as she tucked Rosita into her sleeping bag for the night.

“Do you think Grandpa is happy I did so too?” Rosita asked with sleepy eyes wanting to close as her mother nodded,

“Yes, I believe he would be proud of you doing something so grown up. I love you Rosita and have a good night.”

Rosita curled up in her little sleeping bag, feeling far better than she did the night before as her mother went to bed close by. The cusps of sleep were about to take her when….

“….Sniiiiicker Teeeeth...Geeet….Snnnaaaacker Cruuuuuunch….”

Rosita bolted upright in her little sleeping bag, looking out at the door. That sound it sounded like her grandpa’s breathing as a shadow passed right by her door. Rosita sat frozen in fear of the ghastly sight, “But..but...I ate Grandpa’s eye...I ate his eye….” Rosita whimpered as a scream erupted in the household.

It was a horrifying scream that woke her mother up from her slumber as she grabbed up Rosita in a protective posture. The screaming continued as screeches of “How could you?! HOW COULD YOU LIE LIKE THAT!?” sang in the halls of the household. The screaming died into sobs as Rosita’s mother got up.

“Rosita, stay put until I come back, alright? I need to find out what happened.” Rosita gave a traumatized nod as her mother got out of the room to investigate. The sounds of rushing footsteps echoed in the hallway before the shouts of calling the doctor soon reverberated in tune.

In the corner of the room, as Rosita’s eyes began to adjust, was a shadowy figure with bright burning eyes as it waved gently to Rosita, saying with a gentle voice before disappearing, “Goodbye Rosita, Grandpa loves you always.”

Rosita sat still for a moment before getting up a bit of courage, got out of bed as she walked to the door and opened it up. Rosita’s little eyes laid upon family members huddled close by her grandmother, her hands covering over where her eyes once were.

“Mom, what happened? WHAT HAPPENED?” Rosita’s mother asked urgently as the grandmother gasped and groaned,

“...I’m so sorry.....I lied...Rosita was never meant to eat her Grandfather’s eye...it was supposed to be me…”

Be Back Before the Night Eyes Close

[calisugarfiend]

Carlo was packing his backpack to the ripping point of overstuffed. Tonight was a big night for the Night Eyes were supposed to blink and that was something he must see to believe. His parents had decided to have a nice evening with one another and had allowed Carlo to have a sleepover with his best friend Conner’s place to enjoy the lunar event. Doing a quick check over the snacks that were packed for the occasion, Carlo swung the backpack onto his back to make the long track out for a night of fun. Strolling out the front door, Carlo’s neighbor, Pablo, a gentle soul with the softest eyes, waved over to Carlo. Pablo was the local historian in their area who had always been a blast to have as a guest speaker for Carlo’s school and when his class visited the local library.

“Hey Carlo, excited for tonight?” Pablo asked joyfully as Carlo walked right on over, “Oh definitely, I’m thrilled to see this event live. I’m heading over to Connor’s place to set up camp in their backyard.”

Pablo nodded, his smile as warm as a mulled mug of hot cider before his tone turned serious, “Just be sure to be back inside the tent before the Night Eyes close completely.”

Carlo craned his head to the side, his antenna lopping over in confusion, “Oh? How come?” Pablo lowers his voice a bit so only Carlo can hear, “That’s because when they close during the blink, the veil between our world and the next becomes thin, very thin. It's not uncommon for monsters to snatch someone away during such an event.”

Carlo looked speechless at Pablo, never once taking him for the superstitious type. “Oh, thank you for the warning Pablo, I’ll be sure to tell Conner the same thing when I see them.”

Pablo’s hand patted Carlo’s shoulder heartily, “Alright, stay safe, eat good food, and have fun. I’ll see you tomorrow Carlo.”

Carlo nodded, smiled, and away he went on his happy way to see his friend Connor for the camp out. The warning mulled in Carlo’s mind for a while as he carried on. There have always been warnings about being out at night when there are eyeless nights, but this was a new one to Carlo.

“Come on Carlo, it's not like Eeljaw or Moose Butler is gonna jump out the moment the eyes blink tonight.” Carlos reassured himself as the long track became shorter throughout the trip.

It was that sort of deal when one would tell themselves that nothing is going to hurt them, however, still had that small voice in the back of one’s mind that would whisper that cautious tone of it could happen. ‘All stories have a bit of truth to them after all and this was one of them, especially if it came from someone respectable as Pablo.’ That small voice in the back of Carlo’s mind warned as the destination was in view. The pace picked up as Carlo broke out into a huge smile as his thoughts filled with ideas of bonfires and the comforting smell of burnt caramel-like scent of marshmallows roasting.

The pavement rings with the sweet song of the pitter pats of footfall as Carlo reaches the home of his best friend, Connor. His hand clenched in that cat paw like fist rapped against the wood of the door as Conner opened the door as another person was right next to them. Carlo’s smile faltered a bit when he saw who was there with Connor.

“Hey Connor, I got the snacks...oh no...why is Mark here..”

Now Mark was this rotten person inside and out whose family had been close to Connor’s family for as long as anyone has known. Carlo and Mark had always been hostile towards one another, more often mark provoking Carlo whenever he was around.

“I’m sorry Carlo.” Connor said sheepishly, “My Moms made me invite Mark over.”

Mark just rolled his eyes at this as he snarks, “Are you going to hand the snacks over or what, Doughboy?” Doughboy, it stung inside of his skull, was a nickname Carlo absolutely despised. Carlo was always on the heavier side while Mark kept relatively thin despite the constant snacking.

“Could you please stop calling me DoughBoy, we’re not in kindergarten.” Carlo asked, gritting his teeth from saying the dreaded nickname. “Whatever, come on Connor, let's set up the tent.” Mark scoffed as he grabbed Connor’s arm, pulling them off to the backyard to set up the tent. Carlo was stewing in anger as he followed along, snacks and comics still safely stored away in his backpack.

Connor moved out of the way, lightly shoving Mark aside so Carlo could come inside of the house. The only way to get into the backyard for this household was going through the glass door in the kitchen. There was an uncomfortable silence between the three as they went through the house, only being broken by one of Conner’s mothers as she handed Conner the wrapped up tent, “Sorry for the wait honey, but here’s the tent. It took quite a bit to find in that garage of ours.”

Connor held the bundle as Carlo knew what that meant, he would have to build a tent with that jerk Mark. Mark just gave Carlo this sneering look as his smile twisted a bit into this taunting snarl. He knew trouble was going to break and mark would be the cause of it as they went outside to build the tent. Through the sneers, snarks, bickering, and occasional hand slapping, the tent was set up for the three young nymphs. The tent was warm and had the lingering smell of mildew from the years of being used for the family trips to the lake.

“It smells like dead fish, why did I even bother coming here?” Mark sneered as he rolled out his sleeping bag, Carlo and Connor looking less than amused with this party crashing whiner.

Carlo and Connor go to roll their sleeping bags a bit farther from where Mark’s is least they poke the lion some more. The sun was riding down the Brilliant Blue, trailing its cascade of colors to usher in the arrival of the Night Eyes rising up above. It was a stunning sight to behold for the three nymphs as they crack right into their snacks in anticipation of the blinking Night Eyes.

Flashlights were brought out as Conner got the campfire up outside of the tent to read a bit to enjoy the snacks with hopes of roasting marshmallows with. It was during when Carlo was reading a comic about The Eyed coming in droves attacking the lost village of Estelle Lune, the nagging thought returned about Pablo’s warning about the blinking eyes.

Waiting a bit as Mark was filling his cheeks full of sweetened eyes, Carlo looked over to Connor, “Hey, so we should probably head into the tent soon once the eyes close completely. My neighbor warned me about it earlier and figured it’d be nice to humor him.”

Connor, having finished swallowing a piece of the snack cakes, spoke, “My Moms said the same thing too, I’m going to have to anyway as they both might not allow me to do a campout like this again.”

Things felt like it was going to be a no argument sort of deal, but with Mark, whose antenna perked right up as his eyes glinted a tinge of rebellion, “You’re a bunch of hatchlings in a nursery pool if you two believe in that. I’ll prove it to you both how stupid you’re all being about the blinking.”

It was very on point with Mark to pull something like this to annoy everyone, especially to get at Carlo whenever he said or did something. Carlo and Connor decided to remain silent as Mark made that statement, deciding if they got lucky, monsters would take Mark away. The Night Eyes’ lids grew heavier and heavier as the night waned on, Carlo and Connor decided to head back inside of their tent to watch from inside, Mark still staying outside to prove a point.

The sky was becoming dark like spilt ink as small slivers of the night eyes could only be seen as Conner gave in from the silences to say something as Mark just sat outside to prove a point. “Come on Mark, my Moms are going to be mad if you don’t come in.”

Connor pleaded as they watched the eyes get closer to closing. Mark scoffed as he sat right on his spot, refusing to budget and stuffing his mouth with more sweetened eyeballs, their juices dripping down from his jaws.

“Just forget him Connor, Mark is just a huge jerk and isn’t worth the anxiety. I’m sure it’ll mean your Moms will simply just stop inviting him over.” Carlo reassured Connor as he patted their back gently.

“Whatever, you and the Doughboy can stay in your fish scented tent. I’m gonna be enjoying this amazing blink all by myself and you losers will miss it all.” Mark snipped at the two other nymphs.

Carlo’s eyes glimmered with resentment before composing himself once again and sharing his snacks with Connor. To make Conner feel a bit better, Carlo got up the lantern in the tent to glow as he held up a comic to Conner, “Here, it's the latest of the Grim Teller series. I figured something nice and scary would be fun for this event.”

Conner smiles softly as they get presented with the comic as they fish out something from their pack and hand it to Carlos. It was one of Carlo’s favorite treats, cinnamon fudge balls and he was overjoyed that Conner got that for him. “I hid them from Mark since well we all know how much of a jerk he is.” Conner explained as they enjoyed the tent together.

It was only a matter of minutes till the sky above soon became as dark as obsidian, everything becoming blanketed in the pure darkness. The Eyes were shut closed becoming an Eyeless Night as a reddish tinge seemed to shade the lids of the Night Eyes. Mark just sat there by the bonfire with a smug look flickering on his face by the embers of the flames when suddenly the flames died, plunging the outside into pure darkness. Carlo and Connor were unable to see anything as screams erupted from where they had last seen Mark in. Carlos immediately went to shut the tent flap, preventing whatever it is outside from trying to get inside of the tent.

Connor went to get up to see if they could still save Mark before Carlo had to hold up a hand to stop them, “No, stay inside...there is absolutely nothing we can do for Mark now.”

Connor, slowly nodding as the situation dawns on them slowly that Mark had doomed himself. The lantern in the tent, the very thing to give them sight, was also one to give the two nymphs frights as silhouettes of deformed skeletal beings with teeth as sharp as Carlo's own wit danced on the protective fabric sheltering them from harm. The hands of the monsters pressed against the tent, trying to figure out how to enter inside to get at whatever delicious little morsels were inside.

“What are we going to do Carlo, those things outside are trying to get inside..” Conner whimpered out of fear as they clutched their best friend closely. Carlo held Conner to him in turn as the things outside started to snicker and cackle as they scraped against the tent’s fabric.

“Oh please, do invite us in~ We just want to have fun too, just ask your friend outside, he’s having such a good screaming time with us.” The first thing said in a creaking voice as its hand pressed against the tent.

“Such a shame to miss out on this too, such a shame.” The other thing at the back of the tent whispered softly as it shook. Something caught Carlo’s attention as he noticed something, the things cannot come inside, not without being invited inside.

“Conner, whatever you do, do not open the tent to run, those things can’t come in.” Carlos whispered as Conner’s eyes widened, “You mean like vampires?”

The only thing Carlo could do was nod his head in response as the things continued their attempts to smoke them out or at least let them inside the tent. “Hey Doughboy! You better let us in yah oversized hatchling! You’re missing out on this awesome party!”

The two nymphs froze as they heard a voice that sounded like Mark, but something was off about it like it had static to it like an out of focus radio. “Big scaredy hatchlings should go stay in the nursery pools! Your moms are never gonna let you have another camp out again if you don’t come outside.” The not Mark said, the voice deepening as it went.

High pitched laughter erupted outside as the tent shook harder and harder, the things boney finger tips poking through the fabric that seemed to direct themselves to the nymphs inside as chants of “Hatchlings! Doughboy! Let us in! LET US IN!” echoed in a taunting vortex.

The things were determined as can be to provoke a reaction that would grant them entrance into the tent, but the two nymphs held silently firm. The scratching and howls grew desperate against the tent as they slowly died down, the skeletal silhouettes seemingly being pulled back down into the ground of the backyard. Carlo and Conner held each other tightly as everything went deadly silent, no more screams, no more not Mark tauntings, or scraping against the door. Nothing and that is what alarmed the two nymphs, there were no sounds anymore, not even from the real Mark.

“Carlo, should we head out of the tent?” Conner spoke, breaking the silence as Carlo thought carefully before he responded carefully, “Yeah..I think we should be good to exit now.”

The first to pull the zipper was Carlo as its crinkling like hiss was deafeningly loud as the entry way was opened. Connor holds the lantern up as they head outside with Carlos to see if Mark is alright.

The light of the Night Eyes were once again open, the colors and land reappearing from the inky abyss. Carlo and Connor stayed close together outside of the tent with the lantern’s milk soft lighting pointed at where Mark had been moments before. The ground sparkled like rubies splashed along the emerald blades of grass, in the center of it all was the pearly white skeletal remains of Mark, teeth marks piercing the porcelain exterior.

“Oh Gods, Carlo what are we going to do? Mark, he’s dead and my Moms are going to be mad if they see this.” Conner stammered out as they looked away from the horrid sight. Carlo couldn’t though, he stared as the bones of Mark were slowly pulled down into the ground itself by writhing eel like vines.

Mark had disappeared into the Floating Island’s soil as Carlo stood there in shock, not understanding what this could mean as Conner’s mothers came outside to check on the two nymphs. Conner and Carlos stammered away trying to explain what happened to the two very confused mothers.

The one mother held her hand up gently to get their attention and hushed them calmly as the words that would horrify the nymphs came out, “It must have been a frightening time out there, scary things do come out when the Eyes are close, but Conner, Carlo, who is this Mark you’re talking about? We never heard about this nymph before.”

Moose Butler

[calisugarfiend]

“Dear, our home is so dusty and when was the last time we had the toilets scrumbed?” whined Lord Darius Nightpelt as he looked aghast upon his own manor after returning from a tour.

His wife, the Lady Andromeda Nightpelt scoffs as she turns a page in her book, taking care of letting the page turn as loud as possible, “I told you to hire a cleaning staff, I am not a maid to order clean.”

Darius looked dumbfounded at such disrespect from his own wife as he huffed away, “I am the head of this family and my word is law.” Andromeda glowered her eyes at Darius as he closed his mouth, “And I’m the brain of said head, I get to make the orders to do what I say. Hire a maid.”

The relationship between the Lord and Lady Nightpelt was as turbulent as the Brilliant Blue in the rainy season for a few years. Scathing words and hurtful gestures were hurtled towards one another, leaving both and those between with injuries on the inside no one could visibly see. Darius, with his ego battered, relented one day over breakfast to do something about the cleaning for when the tour season came up. The major problem, in the mind of Darius, was the money. Darius loved the glistening golds and shimmering gems that ran through his fingers like gentle streams of rain. He could not, would not, part with such a thing that brought him so much joy. A solution started to form in his mind, an awful solution.

In his spare time when not on tour or bickering with the wife, Darius was very skilled with the art of construct building, something he prides himself in. Into the attic of the manor Darius went, pulling materials he would need to build a construct to do all the cleaning and not have to pay a coin for it.

“Surely Andromeda will stop riding my back like the harpy she is once she has someone else to boss around.” Darius mused to himself as he placed the finishing touch to his masterpiece.

The construct stood high and proud, its head a glaring taxidermy moose head with greening glass eyes. Darius was overjoyed with being so clever as he animated the construct to show to his family.

“Ladies, Gentlemen, and Fair Persons, I present to you our newest one man cleaning staff, Moose Butler!” Darius chimed in full showman bravado, forcing the grin to be as tight as possible as Andromeda looked unimpressed.

“This is going to backfire spectacularly.” Andromeda warned as the Moose Butler growled.

“Don’t be silly dear, Moose Butler loves to work and clean, isn’t that right?” Darius quipped as he elbowed the monstrous construct into nodding yes. The rest of the Nightpelts loved that they had something new to boss around to do their menial tasks.

“Moose Butler, clean the bathroom!”

“Moose Butler, shine my shoes!”

“Moose Butler, wax the floors and shine the house.”

The commands became daily if not around the clock for Moose Butler when the Nightpelt family was home. The Moose Butler found things much more peaceful when the family was out on tour when the season came. The only person that never ordered the Moose Butler around was Andromeda, who kept a guarded and hostile silence around the taxidermy disaster. They made the construct live in a closet while they were entertaining guests or if they had to go in for the night. Never any thanks or even tips, Moose Butler toiled away as a slave for the ungrateful nobility, its mind growing full with hatred and resentment for its maker. There were times when The Moose Butler did try to run away from their place of employment and torment, but only to be pulled back in by Authority or Lord Darius himself. Being caught trying to escape inflicted the worst sort of punishments towards the Butler, lashings and being hanged by the antlers over viewing the mansion’s living room where the Two Nightpelt nymph would throw their darts at. There was nothing the construct could do, they were trapped within this mansion doomed to slave away to these ungrateful spoiled lot.

The years piled on, each demand and berating tone, the silent hostility from the Lady of the Nightpelt household, had started to take a toll on the Moose Butler’s mind. The cracks were deepening and the breakage beyond repair, The Moose Butler started to plot revenge.

It didn’t have to wait too long for such an opportunity to arise when the Nightpelts had their third child, a hatchling as gold as the sun with a cascade of colors of the sunrise and sunset dotted this new family member. This nymph was the apple of the parents' eyes, hypnotized to the hatchling’s gentle swimming inside the safety of the nursery pool. All was joy, all was great, no fights, no bickering, a peace that was new for the household. The other two nymphs were less than pleased with this sudden new nymph in the mansion. A bitterness with a twist of sour had grown in the two Nightpelt nymphs towards their new sibling. The older nymphs would hide the food flakes for the hatchling in hopes it would starve but failed. Other times they would attempt to pull the hatchling out of its pool in hopes it’d dry out, but were caught and scolded for it. Their sour, bitter souls would take this frustration out on Moose Butler, often tripping the poor construct on purpose or making huge messes to inflict on Moose Butler to clean up after.


“I say we pour ink into the nursery pool.” One nymph suggested as she threw a dart over her brother, narrowly missing his antenna.

“Too gentle, I say we find a snake to place into the pool, get rid of the brat all together.” The other nymph said as he flopped onto his bed annoyed at the sudden unwanted nymph in their lives.

“Don’t be stupid, where would we find a snake anyways? How about we grab that lightning ball from the treasury and drop it into the pool, it’ll fry that hatchling good.” The sister said grinning antenna to antenna.

The brother grinning as well, “That’s not a bad idea at all...MOOSE BUTLER CLEAN MY ROOM!”

With that, the nymphs planned their awful scheme to get rid of the hatchling of sunshine. They waited till the night of a grand ball that their parents simply had to attend for appearances sake, leaving the monstrous nymphs in the care of the horrifying moose construct.

Moose Butler took a breath to prepare themselves for the nightmare that was taking care of the two spoiled rotten nymphs as it said in a weary and gruff voice, “Do not cause trouble or harass the hatchling in the nursery pool. Dinner will be ready in a moment, so if you will, please come down to the dining hall, I shall fetch your meals to be served at once.

The two Nightpelt nymphs scoffed at this as they turned up their snotty snouts upwards and trotted off to the dining hall. Oh dinner time will be one that Moose Butler will never forget, they’ll make sure of that one the two nymphs plotted together. The two rotten nymphs sat at the table in the grand dining hall of the household as Moose Butler pushed the food trolley along into the hall. Delicious steamed dragon eye dumplings drizzled with sherry cream sauce and roasted jungle fowls with apricot glaze were served to the nymphs as the beautiful aroma filled the air.

It had been one of the best dishes that Moose Butler had done and was particularly proud of as they watched, waiting to see if the nymphs appreciated the hard work that was put in. Instead of gratitude and thankfulness, Moose Butler only had a face full of dumplings thrown in their face as the Nightpelt nymphs stood on the table, throwing the food all over the place. The dining hall was ruined by the monstrous nymphs, laughing and jeering, leaving the hall behind to a devastated Moose Butler as they shouted, “Moose Butler, go clean up the dining hall!”

Something snapped inside the Butler as they starred in the dining hall for a moment before with a rage, storming out of the hall and off somewhere in the mansion with something in their mind.

With the Butler distracted, the hideous little disgraces raced towards the treasure room, cracking open the door and crashing the place looking for the lightning ball. Jewelry, orbs, statues, anything really were tossed around carelessly as the nymphs found what they had wanted. The Pale purple glass orb tingled a bit in the hand as the first nymph held it, the lightning ball was in their grasp and their dark deed could take place that very night. They were about to turn back when they ran into a thick figure. Looking up above was an annoyed Moose Butler, glowering at the spoiled rotten brats as they hid the orb right behind.

“I do believe it is growing late young Sir and Madame, I would recommend heading for bed right now.” The Moose Butler hid the growl that was growing inside of them as the spoiled nymphs shuffled off to bed with jeering laughs, though one thought he had seen the Butler pocket something but not sure what.

Into bed the horrible siblings went, curling up and pretending to be soundly asleep. Playing their cards right and being as patient as possible, the two nymphs waited till it was silent to set their plan in action. Quiet as cats, the brother and sister slipped right out of their rooms, lightning ball in hand, and towards the nursery pool where the hatchling swam peacefully unaware of the approaching danger.

The two awful siblings peered into the nursery with contempt in their jaded eyes as they crept right inside. The hatching was swimming and splashing about when the little one saw the older siblings approach with clenched teeth, a sneering grin forming on their disgusting faces. As they were about to activate the orb and throw it into the nursery pool when they got hoisted into the air by the scruffs of their pajamas.

The orb fell from their sticky little hands, shattering on the pastel floor, their eyes moving up towards who was holding them. It was Moose Butler full of rage, as they held the nymphs where they were, letting them squirm for a change.

“What are you doing!? You’ll be hung from the ceiling when my Father hears about this!” The brother snarled at the Butler who had a face of indifference to the threat this time around.

The Butler was silent for a moment before they started laughing, harder and harder before it became all too unsettling.

“Why are you laughing, you stupid construct!? If you don’t put us down right now we’ll have you disassembled!” The sister shrieked trying to get some kicks in at the Butler.

The Moose Butler ceased their laughter as they glowered at the two little monsters in its hands, “Oh, but I won’t. I was originally planning on just leaving here without a fuss, but, I fear for you two there was a change in plans. I have two pieces of garbage that I simply must take care of before I depart.”

The nymphs froze in horror at the sentence as Moose Butler went in for the kill.

The night was long and joyous for the parents as they arrived home from the ball, thinking nothing was amiss. Into their lavish home they went to the dining hall they saw was covered in filth and food all over the place.

“I thought Moose Butler would’ve cleaned it up by now.” Lady Andromeda said to her husband who was stunned by the lack of cleaning.

“I’ll hang them by the antlers once I find that Butler.” Lord Darius Promised his wife, taking her gently by the arm to head upstairs and going straight to the nursery tank to check on their newborn.

They passed by the ruined treasure room that was a mess with things tossed about, the parents growing worried by the minute as they reached the nursery. The sight that greeted them was of unfathomable dread and horror as upon the floor, torn to shreds was the brother and sister. The ruby fluids staining the pristine pastel room with bits of fragments scattered on the floor as if something shattered. The sole surviving nymph was the new hatchling, unharmed and alive. An investigation was held for the murder of the two rotten nymphs whose lives were cut short beyond their time. The two things that became deathly clear within the moment of investigation was that the Moose Butler was gone and so was an item that allowed entry into mirrors.

No one ever saw the Moose Butler again, no matter how hard the authorities tried. For you see, once someone has entered into the mirror realm, it's impossible to track because you have endless mirrors that stream as far as time. Darius lived the rest of his life in regret and horror for having built such a monster that would kill his two oldest nymphs. Darius and Andromeda took great care in making sure their surviving nymph grew up to understand that there are some things that you shouldn’t take short cuts with and to be respectful of cleaning staff.

To this very day, even after many centuries have passed, it has become a well established value installed into all members of the Nightpelt household to be respectful of cleaning staff and be kinder towards constructs of taxidermy parts. It's said that if you stand in front of the mirror in a dark bathroom, if you utter Moose Butler three times, the Moose Butler stained in gore and carnage will appear before the summoner, dragging them into the mirror to suffer horrors beyond imagination. Do you want to try? I dare you to try it out, the night eyes are closed and all sorts of things are waiting to be called upon.

Whispers in the Water

[calisugarfiend]

The soft pitter paddle of the rain danced along the water roads as June looked on in annoyance.

“It's the Rainy Season again, I hate the Rainy Season. We always have to box every stupid thing and break our backs while carrying it up.” June whined as he heard his fathers getting the boxes out of storage.

“Well June Bug,” His Pop started as he helped with carefully loading the porcelain away, “I know it's not a lot of fun, but it is pretty important to get our belongings safe from rain damage. I promise once your father and I are done getting things upstairs, we’ll make eel stew to enjoy and tell stories together.”

Pop looked over to June’s Dad who nodded in agreement as he loaded the books into the box. June belly flopped on the couch, sighing heavily at this, “But it's so boring, we’re stuck inside all the time till the stupid rain goes away. I hate it so much.”


“Be careful what you say there June, you never know who might be listening.” June’s Dad spoke up as he finished loading the books into the box. “The Rainy Season is important for the fish to come up stream as well as the giant eels.” June’s Pop added in as he started getting the first load of boxes up into the attic space.

June just rolled his eyes as it's the same thing he’s always heard, but something was new. “Dad, what do you mean by ‘someone might be listening’?” June asked, looking over from his loafing position, curious about this little bit of info. June’s Dad smiles as Pop just shakes his head at this, “Well, have you ever heard of Alejandro Del Rio?” June’s attention was now fully geared towards this new story as June’s Dad Continues.

“Long ago when the Brilliant Blue was wild and the floating cities were being made, there was a fisherman by the name of Alejandro Del Rio.” June’s Dad began packing away the non-perishable food upstairs.

“Alejandro was a very proud, very stubborn man who always aimed high and solely fished for the biggest of games. It was no lie or boast when they said Alejandro was the best fisherman in town.” The clatter of the hot plates echoed as June’s Dad started to place them in, “With pride comes a very strong sense of self, a very dangerous kind to be for sure. Alejandro was no different from the many who fell for the allure of such an emotional high. It was the Rainy Season, just like this when a massive river eel snaked along the currents of the rushing waters. Its hind shined like fresh spilled oil and eyes as deep as the voids of night with teeth as yellow as Night Eyes.”

June was enthralled with the story as he goes to help his Dads with bringing the essential items upstairs, listening deeply to the story like a soft rhythm lulling him along. “This eel had caused a lot of damage to the water roads and side pavements with its wriggling about. People were scared as they had never seen such a monster like this before, but, Alejandro, oh, Alejandro just saw this as his magnum opus of his fishing career.”

June’s Dad pauses for a moment as he looks over to his Husband, “Oh Hun, could you get the portable fridge up here next? I need to get the stew going.” June perked his antenna up, “So what happened to Alejandro? What did he do about the eel?”

June’s Dad chuckles as he hands a cutting board to June, “Oh? How about this, I’ll continue the story while we make the stew, how about? You can chop the vegetables.” With a sigh of defeat for wanting to hear how the story goes, June takes up cutting the vegetables as his father starts up the story once more.

“The morning came, the rain was coming down like a ribbon, violently tossing and twisting in the wind when Alejandro prepared to set sail to hunt this eel. The water was turbulent, crashing roughly against the tiny boat, it didn’t deter Alejandro on his quest. Most would’ve turned away, stayed above the water level, but Alejandro had something set in his mind and it wouldn't leave.”

June stayed tuned to this as he carefully chopped the savory roots, perhaps, maybe this Rainy Season won’t be as bad. “Alejandro continued to paddle through the rocky current, the rain hitting him like little pebbles. ‘No rain will keep me from my prize, that eel’s pelt will hang proudly in my home for all to see.’ Alejandro mused to himself, grinning a grin that would make any sane person ill. It was then that Alejandro’s Antennas picked up on a sound, a soft, low voice whispering as smoothly as the wind.”

“Wait, there were voices in the river?” June asked, stopping mid chopping, his father nodding, placing the spices and herbs into the stock.

“Correct, they were the softest, little voices imaginable, as delicate as mists whispering through Alejandro’s antenna. ‘Help me’ they whispered, ‘It burns’ they whispered, ‘I want to live’ they whispered, a chorus of pleas that shook Alejandro to his very marrow. Alejandro whipped his head around in panic, trying to find the source of the haunting whispered pleas. It took a moment or two before looking into the waters below. Glistening like oil, rainbow hues shifting in the raindrops was the monstrous eel that Alejandro had wanted. In haste, Alejandro scrambled for his spear and as he was about to plunge it into the monster, his eyes caught something no eyes should ever see. Writhing and squirming, the outline of people were pressing up from inside the eel as though covered in a blanket, mouths moving as they whispered.”

His father paused for a moment to get the fresh eel meat out for slicing, “Perhaps I should stop here, you might be too young to hear the rest.”

June shook his head upon hearing that, “What was the eel? Was it eating people? I want to know.” Chuckling, the father continued, “A little bit of a yes and a little bit of a no. For you see, the eel was no ordinary eel, it was a spirit of people drowned in the river who were never found. Their souls fusing to one another in agony and beckoning to those foolish enough to be on the river when the Rainy Season starts. Alejandro stood in silence, his mind like a rapid current, sorting through all he knew for Alejandro stood before the very omen of his doom. Most men would fall to their knees, resigned to their fate, but not Alejandro. No, if he was going to perish, he was going out in a fight to remember.”

The savory roots were done being chopped as June helped get them into the boiling pot of stock, “So Alejandro went up against a river spirit?” June’s Dad nodded as the June’s Pop finished getting all their belongings upstairs, “He truly did, Alejandro was after all a very prideful man, he wasn’t about to have his death be of little interest, now would he? The spear gripped tightly in his fist, Alejandro with a shout to wake the gods struck the beast below the waters. It writhed, tossing and turning, taking Alejandro for a ride. His grip was strong as Alejandro rode along, up in the air and into the water, cutting deeper into the screeching monster. ‘Not so easy am I? I won’t die without a fight!’ Alejandro bellowed as he plunged the spear deeper into its leathery hide.”

The fragrance of the stew wafted in the air as the sound of the rain grew to a chorus of pittering splashes, a prologue for the watery ribbon dance to come for the following season.

“So what happened to Alejandro?” June asked as he got comfortable with his blanket. June’s Dad smiles as he sits closer to his husband, “Well, the spear went deeper into the core of the eel, spraying its tar-like sludge before twisting and flinging Alejandro into the bubbling waters. The weeks went by as the rains slowed down, Alejandro and the eel being nowhere in sight for the span of time. A search team was formed, seeking to locate Alejandro, be it dead or alive. The search was long and winding like the river snaking along the land, the water murky from the settlement. Soon, though, the blossoms of their efforts and perseverance came to bear its fruits for they found Alejandro and the eel.”

“Was Alejandro alright? Did he slay the river spirit?” June looked at his fathers with wide eyes, wanting to hear how it ended. His Fathers looked to one another before June’s Dad spoke, “Alejandro went the way he lived, in pride. Alejandro’s skin was wax-like and pale, his torso sticking out of the maul of the eel as though a mockery made towards Merfolk. For you see, the eel tried to devour Alejandro in the waters, but the stubborn pride that resided inside of him was too much for the beast to handle. It choked to death on Alejandro’s pride.”

June’s eyes resembled the river pounding with rain as the drops came rushing down his cheeks, “That’s a horrible ending, why did Alejandro have to die?” June protested upon hearing how they found Alejandro.

“No, it's not the end, not just yet anyways.” His Dad began, “Like how trees die, life continues on them. Alejandro is still here amongst us, though in a different form.”

“Alejandro’s spirit roams the water roads when the Rainy Season comes, listening in on all who chatter and speak. He leaves fresh fish or eels upon the doorstep of those who tell his story. However, if the spirit leaves an eel’s tooth upon one's doorstep, it's a warning that the house is doomed to be destroyed in the storms.” June’s Dad takes a sip of warmed mango cider as he ends the story, June’s eyes having cleared from the salty tears from before, smiling at the thought of Alejandro becoming a benevolent spirit that protects and warns those of storms.

The stew steamed as it's pulled from its heater and opened to serve by the bowlful over the fluffed up rice as the family ate together as the rain turned to a tempest. The clouds swirled in reds, greens, and purples, blinding the Night Eyes’ view of the river below as the rains fell harder into the bubbling waters. The night went on uneventfully for the peaceful household, sleeping through the raging ribbons of rain on the village in its pathway. The morning came in muted light, grayish in hue carpeting the room. June was the first to get up to look outside in vain hope that the sun would be visible. Before him, the row of homes were damaged, torn, or swept away from the raging ribbons from the night before.

“Dad! Pop! Our neighbors! Their homes have been destroyed!” June yelled out in horror of the disaster unfolding. June’s eyes were fixed upon the window staring out as the pounding of footsteps grew, June’s eyes caught something shining on the window still. There was a neat pile, carefully placed and cleaned pile of freshly caught fish and eels.

The Lunar Robe

[calisugarfiend]

The lanterns glowed in a kaleidoscope of colors as the streets buzzed to life with fanciful costumes and fragrances of delicacies cooking wavering in the air. The Night Eyes wide open and glistening upon the joyous sight below its ever watching gaze. The voids of the night were alive with music and celebration, but, high above in a penthouse of white, glowering from her ivory tower was Cornelia. Cornelia hated the festival ever since she was young, having to wear gaudily colored outfits and the noisy cheers of the peasants before her. Truly a sore within the callous eyes of Cornelia. Her maids and servants quacked as their Mistress stormed into the closet of immense size to find something to spoil all the fun. If Cornelia wasn’t having a good time, no one will too was what ran through that rotten woman’s heart and mind. It was very needless to say that no one liked or even cared about Miss Cornelia for she would demand attention on everything, including other people’s birthday celebrations.

“Those peasants with their obnoxious noise and ugly colored costumes are a thorn to my side! How dare they celebrate some rocks in the sky instead of something truly gorgeous, ME!” Cornelia would huff to herself as she rips her closet apart for something to show those fools below her mighty penthouse castle.

Cornelia wanted to ruin the holiday for all as they’ve done to her, clearly it was their fault inside her shallow mind. She ripped and tore, shredded and screeched at the maids to do better than what they were doing. No rest was had in the penthouse of Cornelia as all had scrambled to do as they were ordered. One maid, fed up with this tirade, suited up and went to town. Surely there would be something to silence the diva and her tantrum. The Maid wasn’t paid enough to deal with being around such a stuffy and spoiled lady like Cornelia as the tantrum could be heard well outside of the penthouse with people staring wondering what sort of person this lady was. Embarrassment painted the cheeks of the maid as he went into town to find the thing to silence the tantrum throwing adult.

The town was bustling with life as the maid went on his quest to buy a costume to settle the unholy terror and entered a boutique, small and quiet.

“May the Night Eyes shine brightly this year for you good sir, how may we help you on this fine day?” The little shopkeeper asked as she pulled herself from behind the counter. Old and frail, as if a gust of wind would reduce her to dust, the little old Shopkeeper made her way to the Maid with a worn smile.

“Why yes, I hope it's alright to ask, but my Mistress has been such a mess. We need a robe as white as the moons to silence her tantrum. Do you by any chance have one?” The Maid asked with a bit of embarrassment to his tone.

“White on a night like this? I take it your mistress thinks very highly of herself. Perhaps I can be of help right here, come with me, I know of one to use.” The Shopkeeper motioned for the Maid to follow to the back room, dark and cold.

It was a long pathway towards the back as the Maid did follow, artifacts and costumes lining the halls of the area, feeling like the building was bigger inside than it was outside. “This robe was made by the weavers and seamstress of Joya De La Corona Del Rio for the Royal Coronation of our current Queen. We were so lucky to have won it in an auction and the fabric was woven from the finest of Jumping Gem silks.” The Shopkeeper explained as she got a key out from her pocket and unlocked the back door containing the Pristine White Robe.

In the back, glowing bright, was a robe of pure white. Its hems were scalloped delicately with pearlescent moons embroidered delicately in its silken surface and artistically sewn pearls like falling lunar flowers. The robe was a gorgeous sight to behold for such a small place as this as the Maid looks in awe.

“It's absolutely stunning, are you sure you want to part with such a piece for a spoiled brat like my Mistress?” The Maid inquired, looking almost guilty to sentence such a fine robe as this to an awful person.

The shopkeeper with her worn smile with a sparkle of knowledge spoke, “Why not my dear, I feel as though your Mistress earned such a robe as this. Bring it to her and let her go out into the moonlight. She will surely glow.”

The Maid with a nod purchased the robe without a fuss and back into the night he went, returning to the penthouse of dread. There the Maid presented the robe of lunar glow and flair to Cornelia who smirked, “Finally about time someone got me what I wanted. Now to town I go to show them all who is truly the guest of honor.”

Without thanks or gratitude, Cornelia ripped the robe out of the Maid’s hand and ran off to her room to put it on. The Maid just shocked his head as he wandered off, “I hope the moons burn her up.”

The other maids and staff were aghast as Cornelia came out in the glowing white robes to show it off. To make matters worse was the fact she had the gull to wear a lunar mask as if to mock the deities of the Night Eyes so.

“Mistress please reconsider this transgression before it's too late, the Gods of the Night Eyes will be angered if they see you dressed as such.” One of the Servants pleaded to no avail as Cornelia just handed the concerned employee a pink slip and promptly kicked them out.

There was no going back with Cornelia as she got what she wanted, bashing her doorway open and strutting out to be the main attraction. The only one not scared for Cornelia’s wellbeing was the Maid who had bought the robe as he watched the foolish rich woman walk out in a robe of taboo on a celebration for the Lunar gods. Outside did the party reign with joy before all gasped in shock and horror upon spotting the glow of white.

The gasps were hushed and eyes were glued on Cornelia as she waltzed right on through with her robe aglow. Cornelia smirked to herself, feeling so clever to spoil everyone's revelry and joy, how brilliantly this plan had unfolded for her. As instructed by the Maid, Cornelia made her way to the center where the Night Eyes shone so fair and bright. Cornelia grinned as she reached the destination, stood right in center with a pose, grinning antenna to antenna for proving all she was number one. As soon as she reached where the Night Eyes shone the brightest, Miss Cornelia felt a drop of sweat dripping down her cheek and neck.

The blisters started to boil underneath the delicate robe as Cornelia gasped out, “It burns! Someone please get it off!”

Some tried to help but the heat from the robe prevented anyone from doing so as Cornelia struggled in the burning glow. The screams of pain started to die down as the sickly sweet smoke bloomed from where once stood Cornelia, now a charcoal heap and around her ashen remains, the lunar robe glowed so fair and bright without stains. It's said to this very day the Eyed of Cornelia was cursed to appear each time the Lunar Festival comes out, recreating her own demise for all to see for eternity.

Old Man Gomez

[calisugarfiend]

There once was an old man by the name of Gomez who was beloved by the villagers of Vista Crescendo. Gomez was always a whimsical if not an odd little old man who would wear round, pink sunglasses at all times of the day, including the night. There has not ever been a time when anyone has ever seen Gomez without the sunglasses on or even what color his eyes were. The old man would often waddle about the village with his dragon headed cane, always with this odd but cheery humming tune he would make as he went about his daily errands. Old man Gomez was always there as far as anyone has remembered, rumored even to have been there during the days of the village’s early foundation. Just silly rumors spread about by the nymphs who lived there, nothing harmful or mean spirited. They often enjoyed the old man and his stories he would perform during certain festivals or holidays. The center pieces of them all were always the life like puppets Gomez would bring out to perform the stories that were told. No one was ever sure how they were made or how they were able to glide on their own like they did. The puppets brought a lot of joy to the villagers though as did Gomez himself, so that was simply that.

It was during one of the more blistering days in the later months of summer when a series of violent burglaries began taking place. Homes would be busted in during the night, the owners beaten and gagged as their belongings were either stolen or destroyed. The villagers were in a state of shock and fear, but more so for the safety of old man Gomez, afterall, he was a very harmless if not a bit odd old man that was very well loved. However, despite the best pleas from caring neighbors, old man Gomez would politely decline the offers.

“Oh how kind of you to think of me, however, I have a lot to do around the house for the next festival. Perhaps afterwards, I’ll go for that sleep over.” or “Oh my, look at the time, I have to feed and care for my chickens in the back. Sorry about all this.” is what Old Man Gomez would respond whenever the offer to let him stay over one of the neighbor’s homes was brought up.

The blistering hot days grew cooler as the levels of violence increased with each and every break ins. Gomez, however, didn’t seem to pay much mind to the increased violence in his home village or getting any sort of protection for his property. However, as suddenly as they had begun, the burglaries had simply stopped all together.

No one could help but notice that the day the burglaries stopped was on the exact same day that some folks had spotted old man Gomez purchasing and repairing his very much busted door.

“Oh no, I’m alright, I gave those hooligans a good fright is all.” Gomez would answer in that soft sweet voice befitting a gentle librarian when asked by concerned neighbors.

Everyone wasn’t sure how Gomez had managed to defend himself effectively against the burglaries, but most had decided to be grateful that he was alright in the end. Some didn’t notice at first as the days went by, but Gomez seemed to gotten a bit younger each day when he would exit his own home to run errands. At first, it was small things like being a bit more energetic or having a bit of a bounce to his step. However, as time progressed, his wrinkles were fading away, he was getting taller, getting a bit slimmer and didn’t hubble anymore when walking. It was almost as if the old man everyone knew was replaced by someone younger.

“Must have been that new tea recipe I found, it really does bring a spring back to my bounce that is for sure.” Gomez would answer when asked about his sudden youth.

It didn’t take long till the younger nymphs would start using Gomez and his sudden youth as a way to scare one another. It didn’t take too long till a group of nymphs had dared the youngest in their group, a nymph named Ivy, to go inside old man Gomez’s house while he was away. Now, Ivy was small, even for their age group and could easily slip into any crevice that made itself available to them. With hesitation, Ivy crept towards the sunny yellow house and managed to slip inside through a slightly cracked opened window to the cellar. The nymphs waited outside for Ivy to return, giggling to themselves having sent the runt of their friend group into the household of a beloved village figure. Surely nothing bad could happen, afterall, old man Gomez did adore the nymphs dearly and was like a second grandparent figure for a lot of them. Surely, Ivy would be alright even if they did get caught by the not so old man. The minutes turned into an hour, no sight of Ivy when the tip tap waltz-like steps of Gomez could be heard. He had returned home a bit earlier than normal and Ivy had not exited the household yet.

The nymphs scattered as Gomez drew nearer to home, forgetting about little Ivy in their split decision moment.The audible opening and closing of the door sent shivers down the spines of the young nymphs as they looked on at the house from their hiding places. Meanwhile, Ivy was still in the cellar, having spotted some old toys in there that they’ve never seen before. Some of them were things that Ivy had only seen in photos of their parents back when they were Ivy’s Age. Some of the toys were slowly becoming old wax ones that something Ivy’s grandmother would collect before stumbling on something even older that normally would’ve been found at the museum. Ivy held the ancient wooden duck toy in their hands as they looked over it. Old wooden toys like this used to be made back when there used to be tree cities in the rainforest five thousand years ago.

“How did he get something like that?” Ivy wondered aloud to themselves as they handled the toy with care. It was delicately carved and stained to resemble a wood duck from a fairytale long ago. It was clearly well cared for despite its old age, though, from the string in the back, it may have pulled something along with it that was lost. Ivy decided to move on from the cellar to the upstairs, wooden duck in arms as a companion.

Ivy had reached the start of the stairs up when they heard the door knob be jiggled and opened. Ivy, in a panic, went to hide in the dark nook of the cellar stairs as Gomez headed down, humming that sweet but haunting tune as he went towards the toy collection. Ivy held their breath along with the duck very close as they listened closely to the shuffling and rummaging of Gomez in his toy collection. The hums turn into huffs, huffs turn into grunts, and the grunts become irritated growls before the sounds of a panicked search begin.

“Where is my little wood duck?!” He growled under his breath, the whimsical softness dissolved into a sound like a storm beginning to brew.

Ivy had never seen the old man ever get this angry before. ‘Maybe the sudden youth triggered something within Gomez?’ Ivy thought as they stayed in the shadows.

Gomez pauses as he looks at the glass window panel opened ever so slightly, squinting his eyes from the light. Ivy held back a gasp as they saw Gomez’s eyes for the first time. They were as grey as a storm in the sea as it seemed to flicker with lightning as he rushed towards the stairs, “Thieves...thieves have stolen my duck…” Gomez growled under his breath threateningly as he left the basement and out of the house.

Ivy stood in the darkness for a minute or two before gathering the courage to head upstairs to explore the house a bit, the duck still in their arms. Ivy squinted their eyes as they entered the upstairs as it was bright purples, oranges, reds, and yellows that decorated the walls and furniture.

“The old man must be color blind…” Ivy whispered to the wooden duck as they looked about the living room.

The air was thick with the fragrance of patchouli, dripping like a syrup with how heavy it was. Holding back a cough, Ivy started to look and touch the book self with aging books before a click sound after picking up an old globe. With a creak, the library opened a passage to a room. With curiosity for one of Ivy’s age, they went in without a second thought. Inside the hidden room was a room of many shelves and chests lined with the puppets Gomez had for his performances. Ivy was in awe as they toured the room without much thought before their little eyes spied something oddly familiar. Upon one shelf was a set of puppets that looked like some strangers that had arrived in town during the summer. They were dressed head to toe in black and the faces had the frozen appearance of fear present. Ivy backed away a bit as they remembered something, the day that the burglaries ended was around the same time when the strangers left. Surely, surely old man Gomez wasn’t behind something as awful.

Ivy as they backed away from the ghastly site, bump their back into something small and flat as it fell down from the shelf. Looking down there laid a box of ebony slightly opened with an odd dark manta ray like puppet poking out, but before Ivy could get a chance to look came the growls and huffs of the old man returning from his outdoor hunt. Ivy scrambled to hide upon hearing Gomez stomp towards the now opened puppet room. They hid inside a chest full of old elf men puppets as Gomez entered the room, his sunglasses off with eyes starting to light up an eerie glow like lightning, prowling the room.

“I know you’re in here, somewhere little thief. I would’ve let you go with a reprimand, but I fear you’ve seen some things that I rather have not seen..” Gomez said with malice dripping as he gazed carefully at the room. Ivy held their breath as Gomez prowled closer.

Old Man Gomez Pt. 2

[calisugarfiend]

“That duck you stole was based on a fairytale I loved as a child long ago that my mother told. You may have heard the more ‘modern’ telling of the Wood Duck that is gabbed about in festivals, but you my friend, seem to have entered its original darker telling.” Gomez hummed the last part in a song-like tone that was now sickening to hear as Ivy felt as frozen as the puppets in the room.

“There once was a wood duck that thought highly of themselves, yes?” Gomez began as he tapped his shoes before sprinting towards a shelf to get a sound.

Disappointed in the lack of a scream, Gomez continued, “Now this Little Wood Duck wanted to prove themselves as brave and cunning to their other duck friends you see? Sort’ve like you right now.” Gomez growled that last part, picking up the fallen Ebony Box. “So foolishly, the little wood duck walked itself down the deep dark forest, towards the den of a fox that delighted in the flesh of young ducks.”

Ivy was choking back the tears and fear as they listened as Gomez told this story. It wasn’t like the one he used to tell them at festivals where the little wood duck was brave and cunning, not the foolish and arrogant one that they were hearing.

“Into the dark cave where the sun seems to shy away from as our little wood duck went, thinking they could best the fox in their own cave. Little realizing the fox was there, watching and following the little wood duck in the shadows.” Gomez hissed softly as he went to open the chests slowly one by one. Gomez stops at the very last chest as a grin spreads along his face, reaching down to the chest to open it, “And you know what happened to that foolish little wood duck? That fox pounced on the duck, pinning them down flashing their fangs as they said….’I FOUND YOU!’” Gomez flung the chest wide open as he peered down inside.

Ivy held their breath buried under the puppets as Gomez growled, turning away from the chest, “Fudgienuckles, the little brat must have left the room..” Gomez muttered under his breath as he left the puppet room and closed the door behind.

Ivy waited till the sounds of Gomez faded into silence before climbing out with the wooden duck in their arms still, clutching it for comfort. Ivy’s thoughts were racing, wondering what had happened to the old man to make him become such a monster. A decision had to be made and Ivy decided they needed to warn the village about the not so kind Gomez. Especially with whatever had happened to the burglars could happen to the rest of them. Taking in a breath, Ivy went to pick out one of the burglar puppets on the stand to take. Ivy pauses for a moment as they hold the puppet in the free hand as something about it is off in a way as if the puppet aged a little somehow.

“Is the old man turning people into puppets to steal their youth…?” Ivy thought aloud as fear gripped their stomach upon that realization.

“That’s why Gomez wasn’t afraid of the violent thieves..” Ivy went into a mild sort of panic realizing that was the intention the old man had for them. Realizing that time was not going to play very nice, Ivy turned to the entry to leave the sickly scented household.

They didn’t have much time though as Ivy heard the dread sounds of Gomez’s sinisterly rhythmic footfalls pitter and patter down the stairs after searching the upstairs. Thinking quickly, Ivy stuffed the puppet into their school bag as well as the duck, making their way to a box to hide in. The creaking of the hidden door echoed in the room when Gomez entered with a look of annoyance and a rather large suitcase in his hand. Ivy watched carefully from their hiding place as Gomez laid the suitcase down carefully with a soft thud and popped it open.

“I need to get everything packed before the mob comes….Go on tour….it was a mistake to ever move here in the first place and live here as long as I did...all they do is grow old and die...I’m better off alone..” Gomez grumbled under his breath as he carefully laid his puppets into the suitcase, handling them as if his life depended on it. There was a pause when Gomez got to that ebony box, “And you, oh you, this is all your fault too if you hadn’t gone after my family...at least you’re suffering in that box…”

Gomez almost slammed that box before regaining his composure to set the ebony wood box carefully. “I wish I didn’t need you around...but you are useful in quick pinches..” Ivy felt cold as wax, staying still, listening to the ravings of the mad Gomez frantically packing to avoid being served justice.

Peering carefully from the box of safety and very ancient puppets, Ivy looked over to where the door is open and back to Gomez who was busy getting things packed. With a deep breath, Ivy quietly exited the safety of the box and as quietly as possible, made a dash to freedom. Gomez was stunned at the sudden escaping of the tiny nymph as Ivy left the house of horrors and ran right towards home. It didn’t take long for word to spread around the village along with the evidence presented, a mob had formed and headed right towards Gomez’s house for some answers. All were in for a surprise when they found the house deserted and emptied as if it were never lived in. All stripped and bare to the very blank wood walls no longer bright with colors or the heavily lingering scent of patchouli or pungent punch of sandalwood. It was clear as day that Gomez had fled his home, but to where no one seemed to know as the party split into groups to search the village for the youth stealing old man. The day was fading as the Night Eyes ate the Golden Eye of Morning to bring about the end of the day, fruitless in their search for old man Gomez. It felt like a stone was placed inside of Ivy’s stomach knowing that the awful storyteller was still loose and hiding somewhere to strike.

The mob dissolved after a search through the village, coming to the conclusion that Gomez had left the village by boat it would seem. Ivy went home with their parents that night to decompress from that ordeal they went through, feeding the nymph their favorite dinner with dessert, favorite stories being told to calm the young nymph down and soon it was time for bed. All warm, all safe and sound in their room, swaddled in blankets, Ivy clutched the wooden duck as they were about to sleep.

“I..” Ivy bolted their head as the voice hissed softly in the room, realizing all too late that Gomez had been hiding in their home the entire time when the search was going on. Suddenly pinned down by huge force, Ivy gasped from shock when Gomez emerged from the shadows as he grinned that awful smile as the words spilled out, “found you..” With that, his eyes began to sizzle and flash a bright silvery glow like lightning as it washed over Ivy.

In the morning, when Ivy’s parents went up to wake their nymph up for school, they found the bed empty with no Ivy or the wooden duck. Gomez had gotten his revenge that night and his precious wooden duck back, setting sail for a new place to continue his hunt for eternal youth and life.

The Basement Hound

[calisugarfiend]

The crunching of the rock laid pavement echoed as Migel went towards school with his best friend Marina, chatting away about the upcoming book fair that was being set up in the school’s gym. It was easily one of the biggest events at their school that most if not all looked forward each year. Each year the book fair would have a theme to it, always a mystery what it’ll be until opening day.

“So, what do you think this year’s theme will be for the book fair?” Migel asked as the school came into view as Marina paused to think a bit.

“I’m sort’ve hoping it’d be zombie themed, but I know that won’t happen. Stupid PTA.” Marina said straightforwardly, silently cursing the PTA for banning zombie based media from the school grounds.

The zombie ban came to be after a school fundraising zombie march event was torn apart by the more stuffier parents and their deep wallets being dangled at the school. This angered a majority of the student population, but not much could be done about it since the PTA ran the school with a fist as cold and hard as river stones. It was growing to become a form of power play amongst students with parents on the board lately to bribe others into doing things for them in exchange of manipulating their parents to make some changes.

“Yeah, I mean the PTA really needs to lighten up a bit, zombies are a completely harmless deal.” Miguel said in agreement as they reached school. The School was a unique building on Estrella Del Rio for it was an import building from foreign land known for its unique cream colored bricks that seem to have a glow of its own at night.

“Well, ready for a day at the jail block?” Marina joked as she playfully elbowed Miguel’s upper arm, causing him to sigh a bit. “Yeah, hopefully it’ll be a quiet day without..” Miguel began before being cut off by a shrill and annoying voice only befitting a Gerbil on helium. “Hey Losers!” Said the ear bleeding voice that would normally drive one into a blood rage upon hearing as the two friends look behind themselves.

There stood the single most annoying creature in existence, Eustace Riverun. Eustace was a very short nymph in his age group, having all the charms of garbage baking in the sun. There wasn’t much to do about the social plague of a nymph since his family was a major name in town having donated gold to public areas in the floating city of Estrella Del Rio, they were in a sense considered a form of local nobility. Do not cross a Riverun if you want to continue living peacefully in the city was a mentality ingrained for many generations and Miguel’s family knew that all too well. The urge to punch the local nuisance was strong in Miguel watching the dumpster eating grin continue to grow on Eustace’s face.

“What do you want now, Eustace?” Miguel asked as though he was made to do a less than favorable chore. Eustace the Nuisance grins that uneven sharp toothed grin as he began his spiel. “Aww c’mon Gilly, don’t be like that!” Eustace snickered through his smug little teeth. Miguel rolled his eyes a bit at that one, he had always hated being called Gilly and Eustace knew that all too well.

“Whatever, just get to the point, Eustace.” Marina interjected before Miguel decided to say something he’d likely get in trouble for. Eustace just has that wormish sort of smug look on his face, the words wriggling out much like a worm.

“My Mom just got elected as the head for the PTA and I want to have some fun with that. I couldn’t help but hear that you guys want the zombies back.” Eustace said in this grossly sing-song like tone.

The zombie part though, brought Miguel and Marina to listen very carefully to what Eustace is bringing up. “If you go into the basement tonight and stay there overnight, I’ll get my Mom to lift the zombie ban.” Eustace grinned as he looked at Miguel and Marina waiting for a response.

Marina looked perplexed at such a simple task while Miguel, having been there longer, had turned to full pastels upon hearing it. ‘What is Eustace thinking?! Oh right, he has no thoughts or a soul for that matter..’ Miguel thought, the fear blossoming in his stomach, opening his mouth.

Miguel was about to say something when Marina jumped in with, “You’re on, one night in the basement and we get our zombies back.” Eustace snickered as he shook hands with Marina before scurrying right into the school, laughing away as he did.

“Mari, why did you just agree to that deal?” Miguel asked in a panicked tone. Marina gave a curious look as if she hadn’t expected that response, “I mean it's just a basement, we should be fine and we’d get the zombies back.”

Miguel shook his head as he went to enter the school, “Seriously, you never heard the story?” Marina’s eyes lit up a bit upon hearing that, “Oh man, for real? There’s a story about that basement? I just thought we had a boring ol’ school.”

Miguel paused as they entered the school as he thought very carefully before telling Marina, “Look, your family just moved here about five years ago, so they may have not known this story unlike my folks and unfortunately Eustace’s folks who have been here for a very long time.” Miguel began as he looked for a spot to sit at to wait for the bell to ring as Marina went to listen. “This story was told to me by my granddad back when he was my age when it all began. He’s still shaken up by the murders that happened in the basement and the disappearances that kept on happening to those who go into the basement at night.”

“Long ago, there was this human school guard that had a dog with him that would patrol the school after closing up for the day. My granddad would tell me that he was sort’ve an odd guy, only preferring his dog and principal for company back when he was going to the school. During that time though, the school was experiencing financial trouble and a lot of things had to be cut back on to save what money was left in the school. Then one morning, the guard didn’t show up along with his dog. At first everyone thought it may have been a sick day for the guard, but then the days turned into weeks. Some started saying that the guard was responsible for stealing the school’s money and made a run for it. However, that rumor was ended as the money was still going missing and no one had an idea of what could be doing this. It wasn’t long before this odd almost whining like sound started coming from the basement.” Miguel paused to get a drink from his water bottle.

“Then what happened? You can’t just stop the story like that!” Marina was getting annoyed as Miguel placed his drink away for safekeeping.

“Alright, I just needed to get some water in.” Deep down in Marina's mind, she had a feeling it was a bit exaggerated as she knew Miguel’s grandfather could stretch the truth a bit to make stories more thrilling than they really were.

“The principal at the time had issued this rule that no one, not even the teachers, could go into the basement to see what the whining sound was. It carried on for weeks on end, each time someone would bring this up to the principal, he would dismiss it saying the school has to wait to call in a repairman. The whining continued until it suddenly stopped right on the same day as the principal disappearing. A substitute principal had to be called in to run the school till the missing one could be located. It was about three days after the disappearance when a new teacher noticed an odor coming out from the basement and decided to investigate. Down in the basement laid the remains of the guard, the dog, and the torn apart remains of the principal. A massive investigation took place upon the discovery and some things were revealed. Apparently the guard and the principal were both involved with the embezzlement of the school and were going to split the cash. However, judging from the first two remains, the principal decided to get rid of the guard so all that money would be his. However, the scariest part was that the dog, who had died three days before the Principal’s death, had his blood on its mouth and claws. Even though the bodies are long gone, the dog still remains in the basement, always hungry and prowling. That’s why we don’t go in there.” Miguel went to get his bag after finishing the story upon hearing the bell as Marina went to gently grab his shoulder. Unfortunately for Miguel that very day, he had not scared Marina into using common sense, but rather, gave her fuel to pursue this horror show fully. It was the look alone on Marina that gave it all away to Miguel.

“Okay now you just made this school cooler than it was before and interesting! We gotta go into that basement tonight, I want to see a hungry dog ghost.” Marina grinned as Miguel just sighs.

“I should’ve known telling you that story would be like adding gasoline to a dumpster fire.” Miguel had resigned himself for a night of terror in the basement with his insane thrill seeking friend.

The school day went by without incident till the final bell rang out dismissing classes for the day. Going through with the plan, Miguel and Marina had called their parents telling them they’d be staying a bit after school to study before going over to a sleepover. With the story bought, the two friends prepared for their overnight stay in a supposedly haunted basement. They waited till things were less crowded as they slipped into the old basement without anyone noticing a thing.

“This is such a bad idea….what if the PTA parents spot us down here? They have a meeting tonight.” Miguel said looking at the oddly rotted looking basement, wrinkling his nose a bit at the pungent used toilet like smell.

“Eh, it only means Eustace will get in trouble too with his Mom if we are caught. Besides, it's an adventure, let's just enjoy it.” Marina reasoned as she went to sit down on the clearly stained ground and readied herself for a sleepover.

The hours went by and as the two friends were getting ready to sleep, they heard something at the door leading to the basement. Startled, Marina grabbed Miguel, dragging him to the termite eaten broom closet to hide in. Both nymphs stayed quiet as they watched the basement get illuminated with light as a middle aged woman in a khaki colored business suit clopped her way down in leopard print pumps.

“Wait….isn’t that Mrs. Riverun?” Miguel whispered to Marina who simply nodded in response.

Mrs. Riverun clicked her long red acrylic nails on the pole of the shovel in hand, her eyes scanning the area to start digging at. The clop-clop-clopping of the leopard print shoes rang out as Mrs. Riverun made her way to a spot near the boiler and started to dig with the shovel in her talon-like hands. A shovel full of dirt, broken concrete, and clay started to make a small mound on the ground before a ‘clang’ sounded. Dropping to her knees, Mrs. Riverun started to pull out a metal box, her acrylic nails scraping against the surface. Mrs. Riverun jangled that box a bit to get it to open, but was rusted shut, causing her to throw the box around like a ragdoll in a tantrum. The metal box sailed in the air for a bit before hitting the broom closet hard, causing the already decrepit door to fall off.

Marina and Miguel spilled out onto the floor when that door fell off and right in front of a very irate Mrs. Riverun, a snarl-like expression unfolding upon her face.

“Get me my metal box NOW you future hamburger flippers!” Mrs. Riverun screeched, snapping her fingers and clacking her nails as she went.

Miguel, already terrified of the clearly unhinged lady before him, scrambled to get that box for Mrs. Riverun and shove it towards her. Marina, however, had her eyes glued on something else as Mrs. Riverun collected the rusty metal box with a huff.

“Okay..you got your box...can my friend and I please go?” Miguel asked as politely as possible to the frightful Mrs. Riverun as she snarled.

“Why would I let you two delinquents go without retribution!? I am the GODDESS of this miserable school PTA, my word is law and you better believe that I’ll get you both expelled! No schools in the other districts will ever consider taking either of you two in because you know why? I am THE Missus Octavia Edwina Riverun, I can do whatever I want!” Mrs. Riverun hollered and stomped as the two nymphs fell silent.

Marina and Miguel were no longer paying attention to the adult throwing a tantrum, they were now focused on the walls becoming an odd grayish pink fleshy, pulsating mesh of veins and stray hairs.

The rantings and threats made by Mrs. Riverun were all but ignored by the two friends as they watched the wall of flesh form an elongated face of fangs and drooling tongue as it breathed a sticky warm air. Mrs. Riverun pauses in her tirade upon feeling that sticky warm air hit the back of her messy hair bun before turning around and screeching. The maul of the beast opened wide before snapping down on Mrs. Riverun in one go, kicking and screeching with her leopard print pumps falling to the ground as well as the metal box. With a wet gulp, Mrs. Riverun disappeared into the flesh wall before Marina and Miguel as the vaguely dog-like horror vanished, the room returning to its original rundown state.

“....what do we do now….that thing ate Mrs. Riverun…” Miguel said as he dropped to the ground out of shock upon witnessing such an event.

Marina, on the other hand, casually went to pick up the rusty metal box without much thought and went to make her way up the stairs, “We leave, we’ve done our end on spending the night here, got a mystery box, and got rid of a witch. So I would call this a win-win situation.” Marina said nonchalantly as if this was a completely normal event. Miguel, not wanting to stay any longer in the basement of horror, went to follow Marina out of there to greet the day.

The weeks went by after Mrs. Riverun disappeared that fateful night, rumors being that she ran off with a noble from the capital and left her son, Eustace, behind to live with his grandparents. The school felt lighter than it did beforehand after the disappearance as the students and staff went about their preparations for the school’s book fair. Soon, the day of the book fair arrived as the students waited in the cafeteria. Marina was still figuring out how to pry the box open as Miguel just watched on in amusement.

“I don’t think that box was meant to be opened.” Miguel joked as he checked on how much pocket money he has for the fair. Marina grunts a bit before finally popping open the box, grinning right at Miguel, “See, it's opened now.”

Miguel perked an antenna at that as he went to look, “So what's in there?” He asked as he looked over Marina’s shoulder. Before them were gold coins, more than they could imagine.

Marina grinned, “Oh this is enough to bribe the school to lift that zombie ban.” Miguel was astonished, “That’s the missing money from the story…”

The doors to the cafeteria opened wide to let the students out to the book fair as Miguel and Marina gathered their things to head on into the fair. The two friends were all joyful and blissful with what they had found before turning to see the bookfair. Before them was this year’s theme: Dogs.

Green, Yellow, Orange, Red

[calisugarfiend]

Once, thousands of years ago, back when the sprawling floating cities were starting to be and when the tree top villages were still around. There was a mage who would travel by foot from village to village by the name of Greenglow who was known for their ability to read fortunes. Greenglow enjoyed a rather lavish lifestyle from the fortunes they read, oftentimes getting to their head. The upcoming village of Vista Rosa was coming into view of the traveling mage, eager to make another killing with the fortune. Greenglow rode in the basket as it was pulled upwards into the tree top village, grinning as they exited the basket to travel on the boardwalk trails to set up shop. They had rented a nice space in the village’s pavilion where they set up their stand in ornate golds and purples.

“Come one! Come all! For the Great Fortuneteller Greenglow has come!” Greenglow pitched as they awaited the crowd to come.

A line started to form for Greenglow as he got his fortunetelling business going. Everything was going well until a mother and her young son came up. The child, who had such odd colored eyes of stormy gray, looked at the fortuneteller and pointed, “Orange!”

Greenglow was taken aback by such an odd statement, “I beg your pardon young sir, but as you can see I am green, not orange.” The mother looking embarrassed goes to scoop up her young son, “I’m so sorry about that sir, my son, he’s been doing that a lot lately to people. Shouting things like red, green, yellow, or orange out of the blue like that. Everdawn, what do you say to the nice fortuneteller?”

Ever the better person, Greenglow chuckles as they motion for the mother and child to sit down for their fortune telling, “Children say the darndest things when they’re at that age. So, how may I help you today madame?”

The mother sat down with her small boy perched on her lap, “I came to see you for my son’s fortune. I don’t know if the yelling of random colors is a talent he’s developing or if it's just a phase. He’s already angered the neighbors when he called their son yellow the other day.”

Greenglow stroked their chin for a bit as they got out the book, “I can certainly give that a try. Though, I have never read a fortune on someone so young as your son here before.”

“Green!” The young boy said pointing at his mother, the mother chuckles, “Yes, green. Now Everdawn, the nice fortuneteller is going to read your fortune, okay?”

The boy nodded as he looked at Greenglow as they held the book for him to touch, “If you will young sir, I need you to touch this book and I’ll be able to read what the fates will bring to you.” The young boy regarded the book with curious eyes as the small boy slapped the book with his tiny hands.

Taking the book back carefully, Greenglow opens up the book as it begins to fill with words, rushing in like a river. This was always their favorite part of the job, watching someone’s life story be filled in and to see what's in store for them. Greenglow opened the book carefully to look into the child’s future. To their shock, it was still filling up page after page as Greenglow watched on, “Well, I can certainly say your young son madam will have a very long life that is for sure.”

The mother looked impressed by that read, “Now that is a good thing to hear, isn’t that right Everdawn?” The young boy responds by fidgeting a bit, wanting to move around. Greenglow chuckles a little at the squirminess of the young child as they attempt to make a read on the child’s fortune.

It wasn’t after a few pages into the book that Greenglow grew fearful. Never had they read someone quite like this child as the pages began to rewrite over the previous ones to fill in more on the child’s future. All they knew and understood at that moment was that the child before them would become a monster like no other and would certainly be there to stay.

“So...what is the future looking like for my son?” The mother asked calmly after a long pause of silence, snapping Greenglow from their train of thought as they closed the book.

“Why, your wonderful son will be a legend of sorts for his storytelling skills.” Greenglow said calmly as to not alarm the mother about what horrors her child will eventually bring.

Greenglow couldn’t bear to tell the mother about all the lives that’ll be stolen and the stories that’ll never be told because of her young child. The mother looked relieved, “So you mean to say that the color thing is all a phase?”

Greenglow cleared their throat a bit, “It is a talent, though what it means, I could not find out as his story is still going on. He’s certainly a unique young child you’ve got there.” That was the one part that was true that Greenglow had told, for the book was overlapping one after the another as if it would never end.

The mother paid the fortune teller as she thanked Greenglow for their time, “Thank you, I’ll have to figure out what it all means for my son, especially now that I understand it's a talent.”

Greenglow pulled a convincing smile as they accepted the payment, “It's no trouble at all madame, it was a pleasure to read the young one’s story.”

It was truly painful for Greenglow to lie about it being a pleasure. The things they read as well as the now ominous color shouting the child had played in their mind throughout the day before having to close up for that day. This would eat away at Greenglow’s mind as they laid in the inn’s room he had rented.

“I have no choice...that child must die now before millions are lost..” Greenglow said to themself, looking over what is on hand to do away with a rather dangerous child.

Fate or not, Greenglow with a conscience could not let future generations be threatened by such a horror and something had to be done now before it began. Poisoning wouldn’t do as they would get caught and neither would a straight up assault as it’d have the same result. No, this had to be made to look like a tragic accident was what concluded in the mind of Greenglow. To work Greenglow went when the twilight hours of dawn was upon them, sneaking out of the inn to have everything in motion the next day.

The day was normal for all as Greenglow sat by their booth for fortune telling when the same mother and child of ill omen arrived at the market to shop. Taking a chance, Greenglow stood and waved the mother over to their booth to set in motion the plan. Greenglow earlier in the day before anyone could spot them, had tampered with the wood around their rented space. The moment that child stepped on there, it would break away causing a plunge to the rainforest floor below. It would solve the threat and still look like a tragic unforeseen accident as the mother and child arrive.

Greenglow put on a smile as they got up from their spot as they walked over to them, “Fancy seeing you again.”

The mother chuckles softly as she holds her son’s hand carefully, “I forgot to do some grocery shopping the other day, so I had to make a quick trip out to get things for our little home.”

The ill omen of a child still unaware of what is coming was cheerily pointing at point shouting out, “Green! Orange! Yellow! Yellow! Orange! Green! Green!”

Greenglow continued to fake that smile as they motioned, “How about a free fortunetelling session since I couldn’t get to finding out what exactly your son’s talent is?” The mother considers for a moment before smiling, “That sounds lovely, what do we say Everdawn?”

The mother looked at her young son as he looked up at Greenglow, smiling as he pointed at them with a cheery voice a young child would make, “Red!”

The sound of the wood cracking beneath Greenglow’s feet can be heard as they look in shock as the ground beneath them falls away. The mother clutched her son tightly as she watched the fortune teller fall to their end. As Greenglow fell, the one thing that was confusing them finally became clear, the child was able to read lifespans. They smile briefly before making the connection to the earth below as they cease to move. Up above in the village, folks were panicking because they all just witnessed someone fall to their death.

“For a fortuneteller, how could they not foresee their own death?!” One passerby asked as they looked at the gaping hole.

“No one can foresee death.” The other one muttered, getting ready to leave.

The mother, still in shock having no clue that the hole was meant for them, cradled her child, “That poor fortuneteller ... .they didn’t deserve to die like that..”

Whatever You Do, Don't Look in the Mirror

[calisugarfiend]

Claribelle was excited as they looked out the window on the ship as it pulled into the docks of the capital. Their whole class had worked hard to save up for this end of the year trip and one of the places that Claribelle looked forward to the most was the tour of the famous Muerte family mansion. Necromancy had always been a subject that Claribelle enjoyed the most along with the fact the mansion was crawling with all sorts of bone clay familiars within the hallowed halls. It was very much a bucket list item for Claribelle as they followed out of the ship with their classmates and teachers to tour the capital.

It had a wonderful glow in the sunlight, iridescent colors reflecting off of the crystal white palace and roads that make up the floating crowned city. The streets were alive with the smells of cooking meals, of storytellers performing their best tales, and the sound of music weaving in the air like smoke. It was everything and more than Claribelle could have ever asked for in their young life as the city buzzed about in life. Claribelle’s classmates had migrated to the Nightpelt souvenir store, wanting to get their hands on the rainbow fish snowglobes they had available. Claribelle on the other hand, decided to wait on the rented carriage that the school got for the class to ride up into the Noble Quarters.

The tale of the storyteller close to Clairbelle gave them some amusement. The stout old storyteller had a long beard and dressed like a wizard with his eyes hidden behind pink tinted round glasses as he controlled the puppets on stage with ease.

“The clocksmith ran and ran till he was out of breath as he cried, ‘Whatever you do, Don’t look in the mirror!’” The storyteller narrated as the tiny puppet mimicked the motion for such a feat fluidly. It was an amusing thing to watch, a perfect way to wait on the classmates that was a certainty.

“The young tiny nymph looked up at the clocksmith with confusion, ‘But why? What happened up there in the old Muerte mansion?’ The clocksmith gestured wildly before the tiny nymph as he declared, “The old man of the mansion is a monster of some kind! He cannot be viewed in mirrors without flying into a rage!’” The storyteller continued as Claribelle’s classmates started to load up into the carriage.

“And it was getting right to the good part too.” Claribelle said they sat up and eager for the ride up, only catching a glimpse of the monster-like puppet gobble up the tiny nymph in an unceremonious manner as the carriage pulled away and off to the Noble Quarters.

The crystalline roads soon gave way to roads of beautiful mosaic murals as the buildings shimmered like diamonds in the sun up above as the carriage pulled to a stop at the second destination and the one Claribelle had been looking forward to the most. In its full splendor stood the Muerte mansion as a seemingly ancient butler stood there at the door awaiting for the students to line up for the tour. Claribelle regarded this building with awe as its delicately carved skeletal figures adorn the trimming of the mansion soften with age as the butler cleared his voice.

“Welcome to the esteemed Muerte family mansion young ones. I am the family butler, Alastair Voltimar and I will be giving you all the tour of the mansion. There are rules to be followed during this tour.” The butler, Alastair, said in a voice hollow and low that one would imagine the undead to speak with.

“Stay in the group at all times, the masters are at work and they do not like sudden guests. Do not touch the bone clay familiars, some of them like to bite and some like to steal entire fingers. Finally, do not remove the coverings on the mirrors in the hall, they are incredibly old and priceless so they need to remain covered during the day to avoid sun damage.” Alastair concluded with his rule listing as he turned his back to the group and motioned them to follow.

The contrast between the outside and the inside of the mansion couldn’t have been more wild as they entered inside. Where it was sparkling like a diamond outside, inside was darkly furnished in deep ruby reds and midnight blues with ornate golden accents befitting a highly regarded noble family. The walls of the mansion are lined with multiple tiny doors and stairs as small bone clay familiars scurry about, overlooking the group and away from their reach. Up above the ceiling was a mural of dancing skeletons and the living, the fragile balance between life and death forever entwined in a dance for all eternity.

Claribelle was in awe as her classmate, Miranda pounced onto their back in a playful fashion, “I figured you’d be soaking in all this stuff Clari.” Miranda said as she giggled as Claribelle just chuckled along, “I suppose so, this place has been a dream of mine to visit Mira.”

They both chuckled together a bit before noticing the thick black fabrics draping over various kinds of frames. Miranda quirked her head at that, “Okay no joking, they take their mirrors seriously. I would’ve thought they’d be keeping like the souls of dead royalty in them if it weren’t for them being fragile.”

Claribelle nods, “Yeah or that story I was hearing about in town about some old man monster.”

Both Miranda and Claribelle had a good laugh at that before being hushed by the butler, Alastair as he motions to the hall, “We will be commencing the tour in a minute, I will need your full attention so no one strays away from the group.”

Claribelle and Miranda filed into line with the rest of their classmates as the teachers took up the back of the line to prevent stray aways. Alastair the ever aging butler leads the school group down the darkened halls of the mansion, occasionally pointing out portraits and who they were. Alastair comes to a stop in front of a painting of an old man with a face in a perpetual scowl, his bone clay familiar in the shape of a centipede curled around his shoulder like a scarf. The one thing that stood out most to Claribelle were the eyes, they had a shine of red like freshly poured wine and there was an intensity to the stare.

“This is the current head of the Muerte household, Carlos Hannibal Muerte.” Alastair coldly stated as he stands right along the side of the painting.

“Master Carlos is by far our longest lived family head in an incredibly long time. There is a chance that he may drop in to say hello, but Master Carlos is an incredibly busy man.” The butler cleared his voice, his cough sounding like Alastair’s lungs are in fact dust covered.

Claribelle was having a hard time removing their eyes from that painting, only being snapped back into reality when the grandfather clock at the end of the hall chimed loudly. Alastair sharply turned his head towards the clock before looking back at the group, “We have many more places to see in the mansion before your time is up. If you will, follow me this way, we will have a tour of the mortuary.”

The butler gestured his hand in a curt fashion as he led the school group along the darkened halls, only lit by candlelight. Claribelle felt relief to be away from the portrait as the group moved onward towards the mortuary as the butler’s bones creaked and cracked all the way there. Some of the nymphs in the group giggled a bit at the odd butler as they reached the mortuary.

The air in the mortuary was sticky with the sickeningly sweet smell of funerary incense clung to the room as if refusing to go anywhere else. Crystal glass coffins adorn the room with plush purple velvet lining the bottoms of them while one of the members of the household folds the eye wraps into their cubbies. The embalming tables shined of silver in the sunlight having been cleaned for the next client to lay on as the butler looks at the group.

“You may move freely here, but do not touch or interact with the family at work as well as the tools.” The students dispersed upon hearing this as they went in their own small groups to look at the mortuary, Claribelle being the most excited for this part.

It was sort’ve like being brought before a candy shop of sorts for Claribelle as they looked at the embalming tables, wondering how many nobles and royalty had been laid on there before noticing something in the reflection. Where the butler stood, his reflection revealed a dusty desiccated corpse dressed nicely as it turned its head towards Claribelle.

“Is everything alright there young one?” Alastair asked dryly to match that mummified flesh he has. Claribelle looked up as they responded carefully as to not deal with a rampaging monster corpse, “I’m alright, just wondering how many nobles and royalty were laid on there is all.”

Alastair nodded curtly as he turned his attention away from Claribelle, “Right then, do not take too long with the tables, there are other things here like the scooping spoons and the glass coffins.” Claribelle could only nod as Alastair turned to leave the young nymph to their own business.

‘I thought it was illegal to employ the undead as servants?’ Claribelle thought to themself, walking over to the glass coffins to get their mind off of that little unsettling revelation.

Things were going well for the time being on the tour, they were even enjoyable despite the fact that the tour was being runned by an enchanted mummified corpse. It would've been alright, but unfortunately, as history has proven time and time again, people can do incredibly stupid things.

It was drawing close towards the end of the tour when two of the more rowdier nymphs in the back of the group started to push at one another. Claribelle just shook her head at the two morons in the back, not thinking much about it as the teachers were right there. However, we all know that can fall right through when the morons inadvertently pull down the velvet covering on one of the antique mirrors.

“Oh they’re gonna get it now.” Miranda snickered to Claribelle.

Claribelle was too stunned and horrified to respond as she witnessed the expression on Alastair’s face for the first time, fear. Alastair in a rush started carefully shoving the students aside to make his way to the mirror to get it covered at once. It was one of the teachers in the back that first screamed upon seeing the corpse in the mirror’s reflection as pandemonium swept throughout the group. The only one not in a freak out was Claribelle, mostly because they were too shocked to even give a proper response.

“Nymphs, adult supervisors, please remain calm, otherwise you will…” Alastair almost had the covering back onto the mirror when he was cut off by a tapping of a cane and a gruff ‘Ahem’.

The panicking crowd was silenced as an old man with a scowl on his face came slowly walking towards the group. Lord Carlos Muerte had arrived, the gleaming wine red eyes peered from the worn face as he stood there for full attention. Alastair had gotten the covering back up on the mirror as Lord Carlos spoke, “I do apologize for the fright my butler gave you all. We have a special spell we use to disguise their decomposing forms with how they looked when alive, only being dispelled by reflections to make things a bit more pleasant for visitors. We employ undead workers here in the mansion as a way to work back some unpaid dues owed to us.”

The students settled down upon hearing that as well as the teachers who went to apologize for the commotion made by the two rough housing nymphs. Claribelle stood there in silence as the group was escorted off of the property after concluding the tour and went on to the next destination.

Miranda was the one to snap Claribelle out of their state of shock, “Hey Clari, come on, the group is heading over to that theater.”

Miranda goes to pull Claribelle along as the red eyed old man intensely watches them leave his mansion. Claribelle did their best to remain calm as to not offend the aging noble in his household. Once away from the mansion and safely within the group, Miranda whispered into Claribelle’s antenna, “What happened there? You looked like a statue from how still you were.”

Claribelle thought for a moment on how to tell their friend about what was seen in the mirror before it was covered up. If it had not been the look of fear on Alastair’s face, Claribelle would have thought he was the danger warned about viewing into the mirror. Claribelle kept close to Miranda as they pulled her in a bit to tell about what was seen. “I saw a glimpse of something that I shouldn’t have seen...Carlos Muerte isn’t alive...he’s a Lich..”

Blood Reader

[calisugarfiend]

The song of the crickets and birds rang throughout the rainforest as a group of scouts made their track towards the ancient tree top village of Vista Rosa. It was a camping trip they were all waiting for along with visiting ancient ruins of the past. They weren’t interested in the historical facts, they were all more interested in the pranks that could be pulled in such creepy ruins on one another. Their scoutmaster, Tulio, had a stern look when he looked over the seven scouts before him.

“Now, I expect the best behavior from all of you when we go to visit the ruins. The wood there is incredibly old and is still undergoing restorations by the archeologists. So no running, no screaming, and above all else, don’t humiliate me in front of the archeologists.” The seven scouts put on their best convincing faces for Scoutmaster Tulio, assuring him that no mischief were to be had. Of course, promises tend to be broken and these scouts held the hammer to that one.

“I bet we’re gonna see the Blood Reader during the night!” Said Billy grinning like he had brought up the best possible scenario. Daffodil, one of the younger scouts in the group, looked confused as he asked, “What's the Blood Reader?”

Billy grinned as he opened his mouth to tell a story, but Tulio, having no patiences cleared his voice, “Billy, if you want to continue on with this trip, it would be wise for you to stop trying to scare the others with urban legends.”

Billy had shut his big mouth to appease the less than patient scoutmaster as they drew close to the basket lift for the ruins. The scouts were divided by two, one group getting the scoutmaster for the ride up to Vista Rosa. The basket looked new and freshly woven as the first group went on to be pulled up above the canopy, exiting into the boardwalks for the ruins. Tulio led the second group into the basket as soon as it was lowered down to them and kept an eye on the top three trouble makers, namely Billy. As soon as the basket arrived at the ruins, Scoutmaster Tulio did a quick head count of his gaggle of monsters before leading them to the information booth.

As the scoutmaster entered the information booth after giving a stern look at the scouts, the scouts began their chatter. Daffodil looked over at Billy now that the scoutmaster wasn’t here to spoil the fun, “Now that Tulio is gone, what's the Blood Reader?”

Billy grinned widely as if he was competing for the title freakiest smile master as he answered; “The Blood Reader is a ghost of a fortuneteller that fell through a hole a long time ago. Some say the Blood Reader was murdered by other envious fortunetellers of the time while others say the Blood Reader was the victim of their own trap when they attempted to murder a mother with her child.”

Billy begins using an over the top spooky story voice that would annoy anyone with a brain cell as he continued. “Whatever the case maybe, they say the Blood Reader comes out at night drenched in their own blood holding out a book. If the Blood Reader sees you, they’ll force you to touch the book before reading it. If the Blood Reader doesn’t like what they see, the person gets taken by the Reader to never be seen again.”

Daffodil began to regret ever asking Billy what the Blood Reader is as Billy laughs and pats the young nymph’s back, “Chill Dil, it's just a story and we all know stories aren’t real.”

Daffodil couldn’t help but laugh along uneasy as he was as Scoutmaster Tulio returned with wrist bands, a map, and the tour guide. The nymphs stared in horror at their tour guide as the scoutmaster carefully got their wristbands on. The tour guide was a lady getting on with her years riddled with scars and one clouded over eye that seemed to swirl like fine mica in oil.

“Now Scouts this is our wonderful tour guide, Mrs. Khellspree, who has given many tours before. Please give her the warm River Minnow Scout welcome.” The scouts grimaced as they did the embarrassing welcome, holding their hands up to their faces to mimic fish’s gills as they chanted ‘Bloop! Bloop!’ Mrs. Khellspree just growled low in response as she pointed to them to get in a single file line.

The scouts did as they were instructed, mainly because they didn’t want to test and see if Mrs. Khellspree had murdered someone before. Mrs. Khellspree turned sharply as she led the group of scouts and their scoutmaster towards the city square of the ruins, some of which was being given restoration and replacing the brittle wood.

The wood creaked and cracked under their weight, but it held on well as Mrs. Khellspree glared at the scouts as she croaked out her first words since being introduced. “Back in the day, the ancient residents of Vista Rosa would gather to shop or engage in trivial entertainment like fortunetelling.”

Mrs. Khellspree growled, lowering her head to meet the eyes of the scouts. With a carefully placed sharp turn of her hand, Mrs. Khellspree pointed out a patch of wood that was hammered with another piece of wood to cover up something. “Over there you will see where the cover repair the ancients tried to do after the boards underneath gave way. From what we could tell from studying the bottom, someone had carefully and deliberately damaged the wood so it would break away. Our current running theory is that this is where the ancient Fortuneteller, Greenglow, had met their end.”

Both Daffodil and Billy got extremely wide eyes upon hearing that Billy, having about as much common sense as a dust bunny, yelled, “The Blood Reader is real then!?”

All were silent, saved for Mrs. Khellspree who cracked a rotten toothed smile and cackled, “Oh, as if I hadn’t enough reason to doubt this current generation’s intelligence levels, I’m handed such a stupid question. No, there is no Blood Reader or that little old man who turns people into puppets to steal their youth.”

Mrs. Khellspree viciously mocked Billy who went silent from both shock and offense. Scoutmaster Tulio had turned a rather unique shade of red with a bluish tint from holding his breath wanting to disappear from this humiliation. The other scouts would’ve been laughing had it not been for fear of offending the already horrifying Mrs. Khellspree. Clearing her voice with a sickeningly wet-sounding cough, Mrs. Khellspree continued, “After that display of stupidity, I will continue this tour without interjections of fairytale figures involved. Now if you follow me, I will lead you to the tree top mausoleum where we’ve excavated mummies from the past.”

Not wanting to waste more time on trivialities, Mrs. Khellspree swiftly started walking towards the mummies exhibit, the scouts following along lest they provoke the already mad scoutmaster.

It was a struggle to keep up with the fast moving Mrs. Khellspree who wouldn’t stop for the nymphs to catch up or take a breather before arriving at the Excavation site at the mausoleum. At this point upon being able to stop, the nymphs started panting from exhaustion from walking for so long and so fast. They barely had enough time to rest up before Mrs. Khellspree gruffly growled for their attention to view the mummies. Scoutmaster Tulio seemed to be enjoying the misery his scouts were going through as they arrived at the first mummy on view. The mummy was laid out in an elaborate gilded wooden casket and dressed in a browned purple gown trimmed with faded frayed embroidery. Although the eye wrap was over the place where the mummy’s eyes would’ve been, the Scouts could tell that the eyes had been removed by hand. It was a fairly unique mummy though as the muzzle and chest area appeared to have been crushed in. Mrs. Khellspree started up and began to speak in that croaking voice again.

“Before you are the mummified remains of that fortuneteller, Greenglow. From what we can tell from their remains, it collaborates with the story of how they died by falling to their end. It is still unclear who murdered them or why, personally I think because Greenglow was a fraud and someone just simply got mad.” Mrs. Khellspree stated coldly with a bitterness to make a lemon sweet in comparison.

Billy grew to resent this tour guide as he looked at the mummy, a plan forming in his young mind on how to get back at Mrs. Khellspree as he elbowed Daffodil carefully to get his attention. “Dil, Dil, tonight when we get told to go to bed, let's lock Mrs. Khellspree in the Information booth.” Billy whispered into Daffodil’s antenna, Daffodil looking at Billy as if he had lost his mind.

“Are you insane Billy? Scoutmaster Tulio would toss us through the hole in the boardwalk if he found out we did that.” Daffodil replied quietly, hoping by fate no one heard them. Billy just grinned as he elbowed Daffodil again gently, “I doubt he would, besides, it's an information stand, how bad can it be to be locked in there overnight?” Daffodil dropped his antenna in resignation for doing something incredibly stupid tonight with Billy.

The guided tour went on with orders being barked, facts being told in a cold threatening fashion, and no breaks to drink, eat, or rest. By the end of the guided tour, all seven scouts were exhausted, feet blistered and joints sore. Some of them were about to collapse from being over worked so much when they got ordered to get into the rented campsite on the ruins grounds. Almost all of the scouts went straight to sleep immediately, however, only two remained awake. Billy was the first to get out of his cot before going over to where Daffodil laid waiting for Billy, knowing that sleep will not be happening this very night. Silently, Billy and Daffodil stepped lightly towards the information stand where the scoutmaster and the horrific tour guide were staying.

Billy was the first to peer into the window to make sure that the absolute disgrace of a tour guide was still inside when he overheard something between the scoutmaster and the tour guide. “Luann, you did a great job tiring out those horrible little monsters for me, they’ll be out of our hair while we get this heist going.” Scoutmaster Tulio said as he sipped a glass of Bourbon with candied eyeballs garnishing it.

Mrs. Khellspree just snorts as she takes a swift chug of whiskey straight from the bottle as she growls out, “Would’ve been easier if you didn’t bring your gremlins as a cover for this job.”

Scoutmaster Tulio shrugged as he crunched an eyeball from his drink, “No one would suspect a thief to be someone who works with nymphs. My cover is perfectly sound.”

Mrs. Khellspree is having none of it as she gets up from her spot to look at Tulio eye to eye as she snarls, “If one of those gremlins wakes up and spots us during this job, what do you think will happen?”

Tulio freezed up as the clouded eye of Mrs. Khellspree focused right on him before sputtering out a, “I-I-I don’t know..I didn’t think about that as clearly they’d be exhausted..”

“Of course you didn’t think about that moron, but fortunately for you, I did. If a kid is caught as a witness to this, I will dispose of them by any means necessary.” Mrs. Khellspree cuts off the stunned Tulio as she slams the bottle of whiskey down.

Billy nearly vomited upon hearing all of this as he went to get the door to the Information booth locked up as he grabbed Daffodil to get away. Young Daffodil looked confused as he asked, “Billy what's going on? Why are we running?”

Billy goes to stop for a short bit by the town square as he looks right at Daffodil, “The scoutmaster and the murderhobo are violent criminals...we need to wake everyone and get away from there at once..” Daffodil paled upon hearing this, “You’re pranking us, right? That cannot be real...that only happens in scary movies…”

Billy goes to open his mouth to say something but then hears the sounds of slamming coming from the Information stand. “Shoot, come on Dil, we need to hide like now.”

Billy dragged Daffodil deeper into the town square and went to hide under the reconstructed garden. The slamming grew louder and louder before a loud smash can be heard as Mrs. Khellspree broke down the door using Tulio as the battering ram before dropping him.

“I told you this would happen, now we have more work to do by hunting down a brat and not have as much time to steal artifacts.” Mrs. Khellspree growled at Tulio who was getting up from the ground after being used to break down a door.

“Okay, okay, fine but we better get a good cover story for why I’m down one scout to the parents after this.” Tulio conceded as he fished out a knife from his pocket and drew the blade open.

Daffodil held back his whimpers as Billy kept his hand over the younger nymph’s mouth. The two violent thieves went about looking for the young nymphs who locked them in and overheard their plans. It was a frightful situation, especially being far from home and their fellow scouts sleeping safely unaware of the situation they were all dragged along in. No one could help the two young nymphs now, there was nothing they could do but wait, wait for a violent end. Billy did what he could do to keep Daffodil calm, especially since he pulled the young nymph along for that stunt. Mrs. Khellspree and Tulio drew near in their hunt for the young nymphs drawing in closer and closer to where they hid. The hot breath of Mrs. Khellspree could be felt on their young faces as she got on her knees, her clouded over eye regarding them with less than savory intent. The shirts were grabbed by the collars as they both got lifted into the air by Mrs. Khellspree as Tulio prepared to exterminate the two small witnesses.

“Two, Tulio, we got two witnesses and this will make disposing of the bodies more difficult.” Mrs. Khellspree growled slowly at Tulio wielding the knife.

“I know, I know, I’m sorry Luann like I said for the twelfth time already! I’ll dispose of the bodies and cover it all up.” Tulio said in the most annoyed fashion in front of the muder happy Mrs. Khellspree.

Daffodil was openly weeping as Billy was kicking about in mid air trying to land a hit when a red glow became noticeable. It caused all four ahuizotls to freeze in their place as something red approached them slowly. At first the figure was nothing more than a red blob, but, as it drew closer, the figure became all too horrifying clear. Before stood a bloodied figure of an old ahuizotl with a smashed face, teeth jutting out from the the skin of their mouth and broken limbs twisting, bending in all the wrong ways holding out an ancient book towards the four. The Blood Reader had come and they stopped in front of the vicious thieves and terrified nymphs, holding the book before them.

“Fortunes...fortunes to be told, come, come, place your hand on the book and I’ll read you your future…” The Blood Reader said in a voice like reeds being blown by the wind.

For a moment, all was still, all silent before Mrs. Khellspree dropped the nymphs and kicked them towards the ghastly Blood Watcher, “You heard the ghoul, let it read for fortunes.”

Blood Reader Pt. 2

[calisugarfiend]

The two young nymphs stood before the bloodied specter in horror as it held the book out to them to touch. Billy pats Daffodil on the back as he gets up to touch the book, “It's going to be alright Dil, I promise.” The violent jerking broken limbs of the Blood Reader pulled the book up to read silently to themself before looking down to Billy as they rasp out, “You will have a good future, you may go.”

Billy looked to Daffodil to follow his lead, Daffodil nervously placed his own hand on the book as the Blood Reader tells the young nymph his fortune. “Good...Good...another good future ahead for you, you may go too.”

Daffodil looked relieved by that verdict as he ran over to Billy for comfort. It was now time for Mrs. Khellspree and Tulio to have their fortune read by the Blood Reader as they drew closer to them, “Come..Come..place your hand on the book and I’ll tell you your fortune...come..come here so I may read your future..”

The Blood Reader chanted at the two adults, holding the book out to them with broken fingers. Tulio, feeling the fear form in his girth turned to run from the Blood Reader. It was a fruitless effort as Tulio was soon grabbed by multiple blood soaked hands emerging from the boardwalk, pinning him down.

It didn’t take long for Tulio to realize that the bloodied hands were pulling his downed body along the boardwalk right towards the Blood Reader, the dread book awaiting for Tulio’s touch. The bloodied hands gripped Tulio’s hand roughly and forced it to touch the book, pressing hard as possible to give an excellent fortune telling. The Blood Reader stood silently as they read the book in their broken, deformed hands before slamming the book shut.

Silence, silence all round as the Blood Reader pointed their crumpled finger at Tulio as the verdict echoed from their smashed in maul, “You will have a bad future...a very...very...bad future ... .this will not do.”

The tattered blood soaked robes of the Blood Reader slowly opened up like entrance to The circus as monstrosities swarmed in an abyss of despair and anguish. The howls and wails vibrating from the robe to the wood below, beckoning to bring Tulio inside to the vortex of eternal pain. Tulio struggled to get away as the hands pulled him along into the robe, his pained screams reigned freely as Tulio entered inside and was silenced when the robe closed shut.

It was Mrs. Khellspree’s turn for her fortune to be told, her face unreadable as the Blood Reader approached her. “Nothing to fear...Nothing to fear...afterall in your own words...I’m not real...fairytale figures cannot harm you...yes?”

The Blood Reader mocked her as they held the book up to Mrs. Khellspree to touch. Mrs. Khellspree growled at the insult as she placed her hand on the book, “Tulio was a weak man! He would have never succeeded in life anyways! I’m far better than that moron!”

There was a gargling wet laughter coming from the Blood Reader as they pulled the book to read, “We shall see….we..shall...see…” The turning of the pages were long and drawn out, the sound of the pages as they flapped the only thing to hear before the deafening clap of the book closing.

The only thing now to be heard for the brief moment was the beating of Mrs. Khellspree’s rotten heart as the Blood Reader gave their verdict. “Your future looks awful...very bad indeed...but don’t worry you’ll be with your friend soon…” There was no time for a protest or a fight for Mrs. Khellspree as the robe opened up to that same nightmarescape that took Tulio earlier.

From the vortex of agony sprung the torn and mutilated body of Tulio, grabbing hold of Mrs. Khellspree, his left eyeball dangling from the socket as he laughed in a high pitched tone, “Glad you can come to the party Luann! We’ve all been waiting for you!”

Billy and Daffodil held each other both out of fear and comfort as the screams of anguish erupted from Mrs. Khellspree as she was being torn limb from limb entering the robe of no return, closing immediately the moment the vile tour guide had entered. The two young nymphs watched in silence as the Blood Reader, giving a nod to the two scouts before sinking through the boardwalk, disappearing into the night as if it were all just a bad dream.

“Billy….what do we do now…? Scoutmaster Tulio and Mrs. Khellspree are super dead…” Daffodil asked in worry knowing full well questions are going to be asked. Billy racked his mind on what to do, “Okay, we’ll be alright...we can just say that we were all asleep when they disappeared...that should work right? No one is going to believe us that a blood soaked ghost took them.”

Daffodil slowly got up to his feet with Billy as they both made their way back to their camp and went to bed.

It Comes by Night

[calisugarfiend]

Have you ever wondered why we all live on the floating villages in the great river instead of the old tree top villages in the rainforest anymore? It isn’t spoken much anymore as it is a common belief that speaking about this terror would reawaken it, however, I’m sure you all would love to hear about it now wouldn’t you? I’m sure whatever spread such terror in the night has long since disappeared from existence, so there should be no harm in telling you. Come now, gather round the fire, listen closely to the wind at night as it whispers its story from back when the Night Cape roamed the rainforest in the cover of darkness. Back when the tree tops were ours, when we lived with the Borogoves in peace, when it was common to hear the song of the forest in the morning to wake all up, there were two young sorcerers that hated each other to rot them both to the core. They were cousins and from the day they first apprenticed under the great mage Moonsaber, they fought over who was the best. There was Sunchase, who was known for his looks, vanity and inventing new charms whenever he saw fit. Then there was Stardream, who was silent, weary, and specialized in opening veils to things not of the living world should know.

At first, their fights were nothing serious, normally just a mild curse towards one another, but as we all know about fights, they can grow ugly over time. From mild curses to annoying hexes, it would soon become a full blown magical warfare, becoming more insidious as time went on.

“Just admit it cousin dear, I am the superior sorcerer in this family of ours!” Sunchase bragged towards his cousin Stardream one evening at the family dinner.

“Dream on you delusional, self inflated narcissist, I will always be the better one than you and the old master’s favorite apprentice.” Stardream scoffed, sipping her tea in disdain of having to share the same air as her cousin.

The family dinner was tense as their relatives looked at one another, not sure if it had been a wise decision to even have this dinner in the first place. As one of the members was about to dismiss the dinner, the matriarch stood up from the front of the table, hushing everyone including the feuding cousins.

“I did not invite you two to have a full on death match in my household.” The matriarch stated in a deadly calm voice that hid her fury well. The cousins went silent as they sat down at the table to not incur the wrath of the grand matron of the family.

After waiting for the full of attention of the family was achieved, the matriarch spoke softly as to keep calm and also instill fear into the two fighting idiots before her, “Onto business, the reason why I have brought all of you here tonight is my story is coming towards its ending and I need to set my affairs into place before I conclude.” This got the family members to mutter to one another about this news as the Matriarch once again had to clear her voice to get their full attention once again.

“Originally, I had wanted to bequeath my role as family head and household to someone who shared the same morals as I do. However, no one had proven to be a worthy heir to such a title and deed to the household. As such, I felt it would be fair to hold a competition of sorts as my last order before I leave.”

This got the cousins to stare down one another as a mighty title and property was open to anyone now. “It will be held within a fortnight from now. Prepare yourselves, do not annoy me with brown nosing and squabbling fights. My time is short and I have no patience to deal with it any longer.” With those words, the matriarch dismissed the family and headed back to her chambers to rest.

While the rest of the family went about their day, preparing for the competition as instructed by their family head, Sunchase and Stardream conspired against one another. Thoughts of ‘what if’ and dreams of power tainted their souls giving way to the ugliest schemes of getting rid of one another was twisting around like rotted vines. It was during a dinner with some friends that an awful plan was developed with the aid of friends for Sunchase.

Mead and spiced rubbed eels were had at the small party on the eve of the competition when a jaded lover of Stardream spoke up to Sunchase, “You know Sunchase, you’ve always been excellent with charms. Why is it that you haven’t done a charm that could tamper with another person’s spell to do something else?” The jaded one asked as Sunchase paused for a moment to consider this idea.

“You know what? That isn’t a half bad idea, I could tamper with Stardream’s portal spells that she does and have her land in lava instead.” Sunchase grinned viciously as he took a swig of the mead, tasting sweeter than it did before now that he has something to brew up. On the other end of things, Stardream was entertaining a guest at her home, plotting away on what to do about cousin dearest.

“I’ve done just about everything to that smug rat, I’ve turned him into a fly, I’ve teleported him into salt water, nothing seems to kill him at all.” Stardream lamented to her friend as she placed her spiced wine down.

The guest listening decided to give a suggestion of sorts, “I know that you find it a risk, but, perhaps you should summon a portal to bring forth a beast from the underworld to do away with your cousin?” Stardream, who would’ve normally dismissed such a plan as too far, grinned widely as she responded, “You know, that is not a bad idea whatsoever. I think I will take you up on this plan, I have a book on underworld beasts I can select for it.”

With that the two spent the night researching what beast would be best suited to get rid of Sunchase once and for all. The night was long and tedious for both parties as they rehearsed the offending spells towards one another. Neither had much rest or sleep during the night for greed and hatred fueled them through till the morning of the competition. Family members gathered at the forest floor below the tree top village as the matriarch took center attention to announce the rules.

“It is good to see you all here today for this competition of mine. The rules are simple, no teaming up, you must retrieve the flag in the forest and you will have twelve hours to return back here with the flag in order to win. You may use whatever means you have necessary to win this.” The matriarch stated clearly as she held the bell in her right hand high.

“On the sound of the bell, the competition will begin. One..two...three!” The matriarch rang the bell as the family ran into the forest.

The Forest was deep and dark as a night when the Night Eyes are closed, making travel difficult for many. The only ones able to navigate were Sunchase and Stardream using light spells to illuminate their way. Some members took the chance to tail the two feuding cousins while others had decided the competition wasn’t worth it and forfeited. Things would’ve been alright, but, as history goes, something went wrong when the two cousins collided by sheer chance.

“I should’ve known you would’ve followed me! You were never a very original sorceress.” Sunchase hissed as his eyes met with that of his cousin Stardream.

“Me follow you? How full of yourself do you have to be to believe I would follow a complete and total fool into a rainforest?” Stardream growled as she raised her hand for a spell cast.

People scattered like a fallen set of beads as the fight broke out between the two casters. There was only one intention set into the cousins’ minds and was plain to see in their eyes, one of them had to die.

“Why won’t you just die already!? All you’re good for is looks and even then you can’t hold down a betrothal!” Stardream taunted as she prepared to execute the plan she had concocted the night before.

Sunchase glared as he in turn prepared his planned counter spell, “Oh right, you’re one to talk! You’re such a mouse that no one ever really notices you at all until they’ve sat on yah!”

Their hatred consuming their reasoning, Sunchase and Stardream unleashed their terrible spells at one another. When the two spells collided with one another, it formed a small purple and black orb before exploding in smoke. It threw the two casters and family members too close for comfort flying into the rainforest trees as it emerged. The horrible thing was flat, fluttering like a cape caught in the wind with flesh as dark as an Eyeless night and smelled of decaying flowers. The cousins stood stunned and silent at what was brought forth as the monster disappeared into the forest.

“Look what you did now you idiot, you summoned a monster!” Sunchase jumped to accuse once the monster got away. Stardream glared at her cousin as she hissed, “If it weren’t for your counter spell, this wouldn’t have happened you good for nothing hack!”

The other family members turned to run away, both from the cousins and the horrible monster that was now loose in the rainforest. The cousins screamed at one another before devolving into a fist fight as the competition got called off when the matriarch sent the strongest members of the family to retrieve them. At first, no one thought the monster would be able to come above the forest floor to enter the tree top village. No one in the family, not even the cousins who caused it, said a word about this thing. It was unfortunately not going to be that way as other treetop villages started to communicate in a panic as reports of skeletal remains of victims still in their beds started to circulate. With the panic in full swing, fingers were being pointed at anyone that could be responsible.

“It was the Borogoves! They’ve turned their backs against us” Some of the small minded would scream while others blamed the royal household for letting such a tragedy happen in the first place. When the first riot broke out on town square with local law enforcement was when the matriarch had enough and forced the two cousins to confess their sin to everyone.

At first, no one wanted to believe that something otherworldly was brought here, but, when the first witness testimony came, the villages were out for the blood of the two cousins. The cousins were shunned and threatened by their community, their family disowned them for what their hatred brought. The monster reigned havoc at night, slowly people started calling it the Night Cape for how it looked and the time it came out. Spears could not pierce its hide, fire could not burn it, absolutely nothing could kill the Night Cape and was becoming horribly clear it was here to stay. Villages started strict curfews and locking everything at night became the norm for all feared to become the next prey. Sunchase and Stardream eventually were forced by the village leader to do something about the Night Cape as punishment for bringing it to their world in the first place.

“This is all your fault.” Stardream hissed into Sunchase’s antenna as she sat on the bench.

“Whatever, once we send this monster back to where it came from I cannot wait to get as far away from you as possible.” Sunchase growled as he closed the spell book he was studying.

“To where? Anywhere we go now you’ll be shunned just as much as I will be. Do you know why? It’s because you were a huge enough idiot to make a charm to alter my portal spell!” Stardream yelled at her cousin as she got up from her spot.

Sunchase slammed his book down, having had enough of his pride and ego being bruised with insults. He marched over to Stardream ready to pick a fight with her when Sunchase noticed something fluttering by the corner of his eye.

“Shut up Mausoleum breath, the Night Cape is here.” Sunchase whispered aggressively as Stardream went to look. There it was, the Night Cape, right there, fluttering around, trying to find a house it could slip into for feeding.

The two casters were silent as they went to trail the monster birthed by their hatred, the Night Cape seemingly unaware of being followed. Drawing closer and closer to the hungry monster, the feuding casters launched their attacks upon it. History would’ve been so different had the two cooperated and set aside their hatred for one another, but alas, things were not meant to be. The spells they fired either canceled one another out or missed completely as the casters fought with one another. The Night Cape kept a good slow pace as it waited for the two casters to exhaust their spells. The cousins soon forgot about their objective as they went to fight each other with their bare fists as the very thing brought by their own hatred covered them, consuming them both.

In the morning, the villagers gathered to view the latest victims of the Night Cape. The skeletons of Sunchase and Stardream with their hands at each other's throats as their last moments of life laid before the crowd. Their Eyed are said to roam still to this very day, fighting over who they would eat next in hopes of exiting their cursed existence to this very day in the ruins of the tree top villages.


“It’s such a shame too, they were both such great casters.” said the village head as the undertaker went about collecting the remains for the mausoleum.

The Night Cape would continue its reign of terror for the next seven hundred years until it suddenly disappeared one night five thousand years ago. To give the citizens of their kingdom safety as well as their own, the royal household commissioned the construction of the floating villages and cities as the Night Cape could never go near water. Our people moved en masse to the new villages on the river to avoid living in terror leaving a few behind with hopes of it becoming better. Even though it has been gone for so long, no one ever wanted to move back to the tree top villages for fear that the Night Cape was only resting, waiting to return one day to continue its carnage. Some say the Night Cape has taken a new form, biding its time for the right moment to let itself be known. Others say it walks among us here in the floating villages and cities, finding a way to overcome the water. The night grows cold now as the fire dwindles, the Night Eyes are shining bright, it's best that we all head on home for the night. Lock your doors and windows, for you never know what might be waiting for you in the dark.