CHAPTER 169

Beth laughed. "It's Halloween, and we actually have trick-or-treaters! Do you want to pass out candy?"

Dana shook her head. "No, thanks. Have you ever had a freshly made sopapilla? 'Cause kids smell like those to me. I'm good up here, thanks."

"Suit yourself." She went down the stairs to see Quetzalli handing out candy to a group of kids all dressed as Power Rangers. A couple of them jumped when they got zapped, but nobody complained. Down by the sidewalk, a small crowd of parents had formed as another group of kids got ready to head up the walk.

"This...is unusually busy, isn't it?" Yuki asked.

"Yeah, it is, but if we're the house with a dragon out front, people will drive across town to come see it." Beth watched Quetzalli close the door, then took the candy bucket from her. "Good god, how much did you give those kids?"

"Just a handful of candy for each of them," Quetzalli said.

Yuki laughed. "If you give me some cash, I'll head out to get some more."

"I..." Beth was tempted to tell her no, but if anyone could handle a trip outside, it was Yuki. "If you think you're up to it, then—"

"Tink go too!" The goblin was hopping from foot to foot. "See decorations, make tricks, steal candy!"

Remembering Mike's comment, she knelt so that she was eye level with the goblin.

"Mike said you could go out if you wore underwear."

Tink's face fell for a moment, but then her expression was replaced with one of determination. "Tink make big sacrifice for Halloween," she declared, then ran up the stairs. When she returned, it was obvious that she had put on a pair of Mike's boxers backward, allowing her tail to poke out of the fly. They were baggy and looked like shorts on her, but if it meant she was decent, then it would be fine.

"Tink ready!" she declared, then opened the closet and pulled out her club. "Smash pumpkins, maybe!"

"Are you just trying to get out of the house to make trouble?" Beth asked.

Tink looked her directly in the eye and nodded her head slowly. "Yes."

"Don't worry, I'll try to keep her from doing anything too inappropriate." Yuki took Tink's hand and then opened the door just as a trio of ghosts were pushing the bell. "Excuse us," she told them and squeezed between them.

"Your kid's costume is so cute," one of the ghosts declared.

"Tink is not a fu—" Tink was cut off when Yuki clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her the rest of the way down the walk. Once Beth handed out some candy to the ghosts, she wondered how Yuki was going to get to the store without a car, but figured it was best if she didn't know.

"Bold move, for sure and for certain, lass," Sulyvahn declared as he came up the stairs, the ghosts walking around him. "Letting a trickster and a goblin out on Samhain."

"A trickster?" It suddenly occurred to her that Yuki was, in fact, a fox demon known for trickery. "Ah shit."

Suly laughed. "I'm sure it will be fine, lass. I bet they just have a harmless bit o' fun, being as it's been such a busy time and all." He leaned against the door frame. "And look at yerself, would ye now? Ye be lookin' mighty fine as a creature of the night."

"Thank you," she replied.

Sulyvahn followed her inside and sat down on the couch next to Quetzalli. Sofia wandered in from the dining room with a disappointed look on her face.

"Well, I would like to thank everyone for leaving me to clean up." She dried her hands on a small towel she held. "Wait, where is everybody?"

"Sent Yuki out for candy, and she took Tink with her." The bell rang and Beth picked up the chalice.

"Hold on a second." Sofia crossed the room and crouched to look through the peephole. She opened the door and stepped through the door to tower over the cluster of children who stared up at her.

"Whoa," came from a young man in a Scream mask.

"Indeed." Sofia turned to take the chalice from Beth and then handed out candy. "You all look amazing. Listen to your parents, and look both ways before crossing the street."

The kids thanked her and then ran down the walk. She closed the door and handed the chalice to Beth. "I haven't seen a proper child in decades," she stated, her eye suddenly misty. "I'm headed back to the Library tonight. You know where to find me."

With that, she walked into the office and activated the magic book, and vanished.

Puzzled over Sofia's reaction, she sat down next to Suly. "Are all those spirit lights in the yard something to be worried about?"

"Nay. They be spirits that've moved on, just comn' back for a wee visit. They be peaceful." Suly curled his fingers around a lock of Beth's hair. "If not a tad bit mischievous."

She smiled and had put her hand on his thigh when she heard Quetzalli groan. Remembering that the dragon was with them, she leaned forward to see that she was gazing at something in her hand with contempt.

"What's wrong?" Beth asked.

"This...this chocolate tastes terrible! And I fear I have been pranked, for some fiend has put coconut inside of it." Quetzalli threw the half-eaten Mounds bar onto the coffee table, where it slid across and onto the floor. A rat that was passing through scurried over to pick it up, then ran off with it.

Over the next hour, Beth answered the door for the children who rang the bell. The traffic was heavy and she was almost out of candy when Yuki appeared with a couple of large bags tucked under her arms.