"I can't believe you finally got your invites.  Time just flies in this town."

Ms. Gretchen leans over the counter, watching as you and Ailisa browse the various trinkets in her antique store.  It's hard to judge age in a town where the majority of the population is under thirty, but you suspect Ms. Gretchen has seen at least three generations attend the annual Harvest Ball.

"What about you, Ms. Gretchen?  Surely they've asked you to be part of the herd."  Ailisa glances over at the elderly shopkeep, while she twists and turns in front of a dusty mirror, assessing how a bejeweled necklace catches the light upon her chest.

"They've offered, but there's no one to take the shop yet."  Ms. Gretchen sighs and glances out the window. Many of the younger members of town are hurrying home to get dressed for their big night at the ball while older folks watch on with a yearning look in their eye.  "Word is Danica is on her last child and won't be a breeder come the spring.  She loves this town too much to go to the herd right away, so I'm hoping she'll take the store from me and I can finally move on."

"Micah, I think I'm going to go with this," states Ailisa with a start, finally catching that necessary glimmer from a rather large chunk of red quartz dangling from a golden chain.  "It will match my dress perfectly!"

Ailisa follows the theory that the more red the better when it comes to catching a vampire's eye.  She spent the entirety of her working years out in the field during the day and then wiping down tables at the tavern at night, so she could afford the lushest red gown the dress shop had to offer.  It was worth every penny as far as Ailisa is concerned, and you have to admit, the way it hugged her curves and cascaded over her hips, it certainly looked like she'd been doused in a vat of blood.

"It will be just the right accent, Ailisa.  You're sure to catch the finest vamp at the ball."  You give her a smile before returning to the few things you were still sorting through to add to your own outfit.  You hadn't been quite as ardent as Ailisa when it came to raising funds for the ball.  You did your required shift at the farm and then worked at the grocer for a bit of side money.  It afforded you a fine purple costume of lace and satin, but it didn't sport the lusty red that Ailisa's exuded.  She isn't the only one who believes heavily in that color theory and the prices at the stores around town show it.

"Well, it better land me someone," she groans.  "I'm done with this town.  I'm tired of reading letters from my siblings about all the grand places they've been and all the wondrous people they've met.  This town is just a stop on my way to life and I'm not missing the next train out of here."

"I don't know, part of me will miss this town once I leave," says Ms. Gretchen as she rings up Ailisa's necklace.

"No, you won't," replies Ailisa with a smile.  "You won't miss anything once you're a drone."

"Yes, I suppose so," says the shopkeeper with a little laugh that doesn't reach her eyes.  "I suppose it will be a very quick goodbye."

"They always are," answers your friend.

After the necklace is paid for, Ms. Gretchen looks over to your corner of the room.  "Have you found anything yet, dear?"

"You really should pick something," added Ailisa.  "You'll need time to get dressed before the ball."

What you really hear is that she wants to get home so she can finish preparing.

"Yes, sorry," you say, grabbing a delicate silver pin, encrusted with beads.  "I'll take this."

You walk over to the counter and hand it to Ms. Gretchen, who is quick to wrap up your purchase.

"I guess this is the final goodbye then.  I know the both of you will not be returning from the ball.  You two are some of the prime picks of your generation."  Ms. Gretchen sighs with longing before Ailisa grabs the old woman's hand.

"You'll be joining us soon.  There is no better way to end a long and productive career such as yours than to become a loyal and devoted servant to immortality."  Ailisa pats the shopkeeper's hand as Ms. Gretchen's eyes start to tear up.

"Thank you, Ailisa.  You're a good one.  That vamp will be lucky to have you."  Ailisa blushes a red not far from the color of her dress before saying her goodbyes and walking with you out the door.

"All right, no more of this.  I'm going home and putting together my final touches, and then life begins."  She throws on a wide smile and, though you can see your friend is hurting beneath her enthusiasm, you won't let her know it.

"Right, I'll see you tonight.  Those vamps won't know what hit them."  With that Ailisa giggles with honest excitement before dashing back to her house.  As for you, your family home lies on the other side of town, not far from the edge of the woods.  Ailisa is the last of her family, her mom retired from being a breeder after Ailisa's birth.  Like everyone else in town, Ailisa has half brothers and sisters running around, but all her full-blooded ones have long since moved on.  If she is selected tonight, her house will be given to a new bloodline.

Just like Ailisa, you are the last of your line.  However, your older sister, Gianette, still lives in town and you wonder how well she'll handle living in the big house on her own now that she is to be a breeder.  You've sensed some tension emanating from her ever since she returned to town a few months ago.  You can't tell if it's because she resents you for starting a new life with your own vamp so soon after her vamp died during in-fighting or because she's not ready to start her new job as a breeder.  Either way, you aren't sure how to do your goodbye without regret.

Needing some time to think, you take the long way home, weaving your way through the alleys.  It's then that you spy a hooded figure skulking in the shadows.

"Ferris?" you call to the dark.

You know your friend too well to not recognize him even when he's trying his best to hide.  He jumps at your voice and slams against a wall in reaction to the surprise.

"Micah, don't sneak up on me like that."  With his hand to his heart, he pulls himself away from the shady embrace of the wall and into the dim light of the alley.  "You know how important tonight is."

"So, you're going through with it?"

Unlike Ailisa, Ferris didn't grow up sharing the belief that life started once a vampire claims you with his or her mask at the ball.  He instead nurtures the new notion that lives matter from birth and that raising children to become feeders for vampires is a form of oppression.  Needless to say, he isn't well liked in town, but you two were classmates during your schooling years and his skill in magic has always captivated you.

"Of course, the vamps are fools for scheduling the Harvest Ball on All Hallow's Eve.  Not only are they putting themselves in our territory, but they're doing so on a day of power for mages.  With the veil of the spirit world lowering, we can call upon their strength to heighten our abilities."  Ferris' hands wring together with a mixture of agitation and excitement.  He looks somewhere past you as he talks, perhaps envisioning what untold power he may claim tonight, before his attention returns to you.  "You've been practicing, haven't you?"

You've never had quite the gift Ferris has with magic, but you have enough aptitude to do a few spells and wards.  You have the basics down thanks to his training and, as such, Ferris has been pursuing you to join his little coven to help overthrow the vamps this very night.

You simply nod, but before you can say more, you hear someone coming out of their shop to dispose of trash in the alley.

"Remember, nightfall in the tavern cellar," he whispers in an eager rasp before slipping back into the shadows and scurrying away.

You sigh and decide that it is time to get home.  Thanks to Ferris, you have too much weight on your shoulders during what should be the greatest night of your life.  You try not to think too much about it as you head straight for your house.

Once you climb your doorstep, you take a deep breath and prepare yourself to face your sister one last time.

You reach for the knob, but it disappears as the door swings open.

"Micah," says Gianette with some surprise.  "I thought you might still be out shopping with Ailisa."

"Oh, no.  She needs all the time she can to get ready."  You smile at your sister, but are unable to maintain your gaze.  Instead, you look to the brick of the stairs, admiring the cracks in the mortar.

"Well, this is goodbye then," she says, biting her lip and bouncing on the balls of her feet.  "I'm sorry."  She brushes past you and you take a moment to gather yourself before spinning around.

"Wait, where are you going?"  She's already halfway down your walk and your question barely slows down her pace.

"The woods by the old mill.  A werewolf pack is there, but they'll migrate soon.  I'm leaving with them."

You feel the wind knocked out of your lungs and you take a seat on the step as you register what your sister just said.  Thankfully, the weight of her words also seemed to hit Gianette because she stops and turns around.  She even takes a few steps towards you before continuing.

"The vamps won't chase me if I'm with them.  I can have a life there.  I can be free.  You should think about it."

She looks at you for a moment before nodding with resolution.  She then turns and runs down the walk and out to the woods.

Taking it all in, you finally stand up and head inside.  You trudge up your steps and pull open your wardrobe.  Before you is the fine satin outfit you bought for the elegant Harvest Ball.  With it is a life of glamour, intrigue, and romance.  However, not far from it, hangs the robe Ferris gave you.  Embroidered in the midnight blue fabric are ancient runes that look only to be beautiful, chaotic patterns to the untrained eye.  Should you don this, you'd pursue a different path of rebellion, new beginnings, and magic.  But, one last outfit catches your eye — your work clothes, rugged and durable.  They would make a trek through the fields and up to the old mill easier.  There you can find your sister and pursue a completely different life of family, wanderlust, and adventure.

You didn't think choosing what to wear tonight would be so hard.

What will you choose?

- The Satin Outfit: go to ch 2

- The Runic Robe: go to ch 3

- The Work Clothes: go to ch 4