Red Alert

Zuri had to keep her bearings in the middle of the now chaotic hall. The host stared at her from head to toe before looking towards someone.

Following her gaze, Zuri realized that the woman was looking at someone who appeared to be a butler before nodding slightly.

"Darling, you stand out too much with those clothes."

Zuri couldn't agree more. She appeared like a sore thumb in her tattered clothes and she needed to be discreet. It would be better if no one knew about her appearance at this party tonight, but what's done is done.

"Follow me."

Zuri had no choice but to trail after the host who helped get away from the group of women who appeared to be more than eager to make her acquaintance. Before she knew it, she was in another part of the house, right in front of a door.

The lady simply held the door open for her and motioned her to enter the room with a nod.

Unlike the rest of the manor, there were lamps that lit up this room. It was probably the brightest area in this place.

With careful steps, Zuri entered the room. The lady motioned her towards a chaise lounge. The seat was barely illuminated by the light on the side table next to it.

Not knowing what to do, Zuri followed her and took a seat while trying to hold herself back from studying the room in the open. When the host disappeared into a poorly lit area of the room, Zuri's curiosity got the best of her when she saw odd displays on the wall.

With one hand on the seat, she leaned forward to get a better look at the items hanging on the wall beside her. A harsh wind suddenly slammed the window pane on the other side of the room. The whistling sound echoed and sent a chill to Zuri's spine. The leather felt soft but cool to the touch.

The light from the lamp flickered, a part of the wall became visible. Zuri saw a large battle axe hanging beside another bladed weapon.

She looked around her but the lady has yet to reappear. Bringing the lamp, she walked closer to the wall. As she looked at the majestic display of bladed weapons, her heart fluttered and her lip involuntarily curled up in a smile.

Among all the items on display, she was most attracted to a small dagger. There was a certain energy about the weapon and her hands subconsciously reached out to touch the hilt.

Zuri felt a strong energy as she ran her finger on the carved serpents on the handle.

"You have good taste."

Zuri's hand left the dagger when she heard the lady's familiar voice beside her.

With gloved hands, the lady reached for the dagger and unsheathed it. The tip of the blade glinted in the lamplight as the lady held the dagger upright and moved it to the rhythm of the flickering light from the lamp.

Like a moth to the flame, Zuri reached for the blade. She eventually saw blood dancing along the ridges of the blade. It was so silent in the room that she could tell when a drop of blood landed on the hilt. Illuminated by the light, the intertwined serpents appeared to be dancing with each other.

"Marie."

Zuri snapped out of the trance when she heard the lady's commanding voice. She pulled her hand back and stared at her bleeding finger. She instinctively hid the injured finger inside the folds of her skirt, wiping off the blood in the process. Thankfully, the blood seems to have stopped in less than a minute.

When Zuri looked at the lady, she saw her nod and a female servant appeared from the shadows and took the dagger away.

Another female servant who carried a bunch of items appeared from behind the lady.

"Miss, please follow me."

Unsure of what just happened, Zuri walked faster to keep up with the servant.

Hearing the exchange, a cellar spider slipped through an open window and disappeared quickly.

*****

"Mister, the festivities have started. Everyone will be on holiday until daybreak."

"I received a request to extend the holiday until midnight tomorrow."

Fondling a cup in one hand, the man seems lost in thought while looking at the window on one side of the room. There was nothing but silence for a few seconds before the man waved his hand in dismissal.

Without missing a beat, the troll stamped "DENIED" on a piece of paper that disappeared out of thin air.

"Mister, should I send the barber into your room?"

The man's gaze shifted from the window to the green troll in front of him. As if sensing motion from the distance, he stared at the darkness outside, waiting for something.

With much effort, the troll's gaze focused on the window. No one spoke a word as if any sound will cause unimaginable damage.

The troll was about to ask something when a tiny shadow appeared on the open window.

"Nanzi"

At the man's word, the troll snapped in attention. With quick and soundless steps, the spider crawled towards the man's open palm. The eight-legged creature walked from his palm to his forearm, dropping the most important information in the process.

"A human in the manor."

The troll shivered when he heard what the man had to say. His voice was too calm and even betraying no emotion.

"Gogo, the barber."

At the command, the troll snapped back to his senses and made his way out of the door. But before he could relay the information to the barber, he heard the master speak to the cellar spider in a voice filled with mischief.

"Nanzi, we never get invited to the Halloween festivities. Why don't we grace the event, tonight?"

The master of the house never joined the festivities.

Not in the last 300 years.

And every Halloween, Mister needed a haircut.

This was highly irregular.

"Gogo, bring out my red suit."

At the mention of the red suit, the troll gave the master a bow before heading out of the room.

Even a lowly troll like him knew this was an emergency.

A human.

A holiday in hell.

The master in a red suit.

It will be chaotic tonight.