“Nothing, I was just—” I step around the corner to greet my friend and am stunned. How the heck could this have happened? “Who are you supposed to be?” I blurt out.
“No fucking way. This is so perfect,” Ari sings.
Sam follows me and immediately starts laughing. It’s a deep, throaty laugh coming from his belly, and all I can do is join him. My best friend is standing across from me in exactly the same costume. We are both Moira Rose.
“I didn’t know, you didn’t tell me,” I mumble between wheezes.
“Hey, I was just getting this from the car . . .” Howie announces, waltzing in with big bushy eyebrows and dressed in a suit that couldn’t be a more perfect match to Sam’s.
“Bro, you look great,” Sam quips, walking over to Howie to give him one of those handshake hugs that men do. I can’t help but roll my eyes.
“What happened to ‘no one else will be dressed like us’?” Howie asks Ariella, pinning her down with a stare.
“I mean, I didn’t expect them to copy us, but it’s kind of funny. I’m actually really happy about this development. It’ll be a great conversation starter at the party,” Ari justifies.
“Come on, Sam made hooch. We are going to need it to help explain our matching outfits,” I say, motioning for the three of them to follow me into the kitchen. I grab four glasses from thecupboard and fill them up, passing them out so we each have one.
“To a witchy night and no one getting cursed,” Ari toasts, raising her glass as I glare at her. She just had to throw that reminder in there. I can’t seem to escape it for more than three minutes at a time. My heart races. I desperately hope I’m getting rid of a curse tonight and not adding a new one.
After two drinks each and lots of laughter, the hooch is gone and we are ready to head out the door. I walk into my bedroom to grab the flyer for Irina’s shop and tuck it into my purse. I wish I could avoid this, but reality is a bitch. It’s now or never. Howie startles me as I turn to make my way back into the hall.
“Hey, sorry. Uh, did you see the flyer?” he asks.
“This one?” I pull it out of my purse and unfold it, handing it over to him. At the same time, he pulls one out of his pocket.
“Yeah, looks like we both found one. Are you going to go see her?” Howie asks.
“Yes, but I don’t think Sam wants me to. He doesn’t think I need to change anything.” I give Howie a look that I hope conveys my feelings on the situation.
“Ari and I will go with you. Sam will be okay. When we see the shop, you can just explain it to him, and if he’s worried, he won’t need to be because I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
I start toward the bedroom door but stop. “Wait. Why do you want to go?” I eye him suspiciously. I won’t let him get cursed by her. I refuse to allow this to happen to anyone else.
“I’m not . . . Jesus, the look on your face. I’m not asking her to help me with anything. Ari and I just don’t want you to go alone,” Howie declares.
“Okay, no, you’re right. Thanks for offering to go with me.” I smile softly at him. Howard is a good friend, maybe one of the best I’ve ever had. I am so thankful I met him and that I can trust him and Ari with this.
I nod my agreement slowly then walk past him, joining Sam and Ariella by the front door. We head out, a pit of dread filling my stomach as I flip off the lights and lock the door behind me. I know in my soul that tonight is going to change everything. I want this thing gone, but I’m afraid that it’ll cost me Sam, that it’ll cost me everything.
The four of us crunch leaves with each step we take toward Mage Hollow. I’ve avoided smashing them for the entire time I’ve lived here, but something about today feels like I have permission to break things. The irony isn’t lost on me.
“You okay?” Sam asks as he threads his fingers through mine.
“Yeah, I’m good. You?” I don’t look at him as I ask.
“You’re going to be shocked by the number of people. It’s double the amount that come for Hollow Hearts.” Sam is digging, desperate to make a conversation, and I wonder if he can tell my mood has shifted. He can’t see my arm, but does he know I’m feeling pensive anyway?
We round the corner into Mage, and I notice instantly that he wasn’t kidding. There are swarms of people in costumes trailing up and down the street, weaving in and out of shops. There must be thousands of ghosts, goblins, and witches all ready to celebrate the holiday. The energy is magnetic, but how many of these unsuspecting strangers will wake up tomorrow with a curse they didn’t know they were asking for? I guess that’s not fair—I did know, but I didn’t know all it would entail.
We move among the people, careful not to lose anyone in our group as we work to enter Union Tavern. The plan was always to grab some food before enjoying the real party, but the odds of getting a table look slim to none based on the number of people standing in the entryway.
“Howard, can you pull some strings, or is this a lost cause?” Ari asks, batting her ridiculously long fake eyelashes at him.
“Probably not. My uncle wasn’t thrilled that I wanted the night off. I doubt he’s going to do me any favors,” Howie retorts, looking at his shoes in what I suspect is guilt.
“I have some food at Eerie. I thought maybe this would happen so I grabbed some subs and threw them in the fridge just in case.” Sam motions for us to follow him back out into the masses.
We weave through the crowd once more, taking triple the normal amount of time to walk the block to his business. Sam’s hand never leaves mine and it brings me a sense of calm. A peace in my soul that I know he doesn’t want anything to happen to me. I feel nauseous. The guilt at what I know I’m going to do eats at me.
