"I'm sorry Ferris, it's just nerves. I had thought I'd be at the ball tonight dancing with a vamp. I just haven't caught up with the change in plans." You take a deep breath and look at everyone. You show them a determined smile and you notice many shoulders drop the weight of worry from upon them. Then, you look back at Ferris. "Really, I'm with you. I've seen the pain this life has caused you, Kinley, and my sister. I won't be forced into it, not after all the hurt it has brought to those I care about."

Ferris takes a few deep breaths while you talk, relief surging through him with a shudder. "Good," he says before dropping his voice so only you can hear it. "I try my best to be strong for them, but like with everyone else, I've never taken on a horde of vampires before. I need your support."

You place a hand on his shoulder and look him square in the eye. "You have it."

With that, Ferris straightens up and pulls something out from his robe. "This is for you. It marks you as one of the coven." He holds up a necklace made of twine with a pendant of carved wood dangling from it. "Welcome sister." He places it over your neck before turning back to the others. "Let's move."

You don't have time to admire the delicate patterns in the wood. You join Ferris at the front of the group and the two of you head straight into the tight tunnel.

Every now and again you fear you won't even make it to the hall to die by the vampires' hands since you might just get stuck forever in the cramped tunnel. The coven, however, did a good job with their digging. You are able to stand the whole way, though with a slight hunch, and some sidestepping gets you through the tight spaces. You eventually reach a small chamber that allows the coven to gather just outside of the ash pit. Ferris leaves you there, but returns only a minute later.

"There's someone in the lounge," he hisses in a whisper just barely capable of reaching your ears.

"Is it a vamp or human?" asks one of the coven.

"Human," Ferris replies before turning to you. "It's Ailisa."

"Doesn't matter who it is," snapped another of the coven. "Let's take care of her and get on with the ritual before she rats us out." With that a few members pull out rather ominous items, including a blade, a nail, and a matchstick, but you throw your hands out to stop them before they are able to do whatever it is they hoped to conjure using those items.

"Wait, wait, you attack her and you alert the vamps anyway. Let me talk to her. She's my friend. I can get her away without any warnings being made."

Those that had pulled out weapons look to Ferris for an answer. The head mage, in turn, glances over at you for a moment of consideration before speaking.

"Go, Micah. Be quick."

You don't need him to tell you twice.

"Ailisa," you call from the ash pit as the others hang back out of sight. "Ailisa."

"Micah?" Ailisa, who had been sitting with her back to the fireplace, her eyes trained on the closed lounge door, rises up and looks around the room. "Where are you?"

"In the fireplace."

"In the what?" She turns at your answer and gazes at the fireplace with confusion marring her perfectly made up face. Then, she spots you peeking through the grate and her cheeks blush with surprise. "Micah, what are you doing?"

"I'm late."

"So, be late at the front entrance." Ailisa runs over and squats down, careful not to get her blood red dress tarnished in the ashes.

"Then all the vamps will know I couldn't be bothered to show up on time. No one will pick me."

"You expect someone to pick you covered in soot?" Your friend lets out a sigh as she shakes her head, but she still rises up to find the fire poker, which she uses to push the old logs away, allowing you to lift the grate with greater ease.

"I thought it might have been a little less dirty than it was." You manage to pull yourself up out of the fireplace with little help from Ailisa who instead keeps her distance from any potential contaminants that might ruin her dress. Then, with a few swipes of your hands, you dust off the majority of the dirt and ash, which blends into the midnight blue of your robe.

"How did you even know about that tunnel? And where is that lovely outfit you bought?" She pouts at your less than glamorous appearance and you wonder if she feels more sorry for you or the satin and lace still in your closet.

"Why would I wear it through an ash pit, it would just get ruined. This robe is nice and far sturdier."

She looks at you with a blank expression, offering you no words. So you simply continue.

"And while I was lamenting my situation with Jayden at the tavern, he told me they had an old tunnel down in the cellar that's been there longer than he's been tavernkeep. He told me it was supposed to end at the hall and well, here I am."

"Here you are..." mutters Ailisa. "What a mess."

"Ailisa," you sigh. You need her to move on. Time was wasting.

"Come here then, let me spiff you up." She dumps her bag out on the arm chair and begins to go to work, mopping up the grime you collected and straightening out your clothes.

"There, you're looking better already. I dare say, even presentable." Ailisa beams with pride over her accomplishment and hands you a little hand mirror in order to admire her work. You have to admit, you don't look half as bad as you thought you would. You really might catch a vamp's eye. Not that it matters, considering. "Now I want you to take my handkerchief. This was hasty work and I imagine there's still some soot hiding about you. Keep it on hand in case you find in need of further cleansing."

"Thank you," you say as you pocket the handkerchief. "Will you come out with me to the ball?" As you ask the question, you realize that you never asked why Ailisa was even in the lounge in the first place.

"Well," she begins, with slight hesitation, her long-lashed eyes glancing at the door, "I was told to wait here by a vamp. He promised me he was getting his mask in order to claim me." Then, she lets out a frustrated huff. "But, he hasn't returned and I'm sure he's keeping me in hiding in case he can't find someone better."

"Well, then let us find you someone better."

"I think that sounds wonderful." She smiles and you both head for the door. However, you take a moment to glance back at the fireplace. There, peeking through the grate, is Ferris. He gives you a nod, silently telling you to keep going.

Once in the hall, you wonder if the others will wait for you to find a reason to return to them or if they'll be proceeding with the ritual without you. Even as that hope enters your head, you know it to be wishful thinking. In fact, when you strain your ears, you think you can already pick up the murmur of a chant coming from the room.

You swallow a sigh, determined to do what you can for them and not give anything away to Ailisa. All you have to do is have a good time and do your best to blend in. It should be quite an enjoyable spectacle with all the dancing, food, and music. You think you might even make a little game out of trying to snag a vamp's interest before Ferris's justice is made. A bit morbid, you admit, but you need only think of Kinley being stolen away...

Then you see her. A young woman not aged since you last saw her before the ball three years prior. A young woman with the pale touch of a vampire upon her skin and the fanged teeth peeking from beneath her ruby lips. A young woman who ignited Ferris's need for vengeance.

You watch as Kinley rushes down the hall in the other direction of where you just left Ferris. In her hurry an elegant scarf falls from her shoulders and lies spread across the floor. A scarf you recognize to be a winter solstice gift from Ferris. In fact, you had gone to the store with him to buy it.

"Micah, are you coming?"

You didn't realize you had stopped dead in your tracks, but Ailisa's impatient voice pulls you back to your senses. She stands in the great wide arch which opens into the dance hall. There vampires twirl with humans and drones offer tasty treats to the delighted crowd. Musicians play a merry tune and laughter rings above the din. Yet, it can't call you away from the fact that Ferris is currently chanting a spell that will kill his beloved and he may never know it.

"Micah?" Now Ailisa looks worried and if you don't act fast, she may suspect something is amiss.

You have to tell her something and you have to save Kinley. But how? Perhaps if you snatch up the scarf and take it back to Ferris, you can show him that Kinley is here and he'll stop the ritual. However, that may take too much time. It may be best to deal with Kinley directly by chasing after her. Surely she remembers the childhood friend of her beloved, even if she's been turned into a vamp. Or you can snag one of the jack-o-lanterns sitting just inside the dance hall. They may be there for decoration, but they are perfect for conveying wards. Casting a protection spell on Kinley may be the quickest option for you.

What will you do?

- Return to Ferris: ch 20

- Chase after Kinley: ch 21

- Cast a protection spell: ch 22