Masquerade

It is common for a young lady who is celebrating her eighteenth birthday to be properly introduced into society. She is to be given a series of balls; the first ball is to be a small, precious coming of age party; the second is a larger, small town ball of which is usually given by the town that she hails from; and lastly, the ever welcomed masquerade ball. It is thrown on Los Dias de Muertos, and it is given by the prince himself.

Ladies, under any other circumstances, would not be given permission to go out on Los Dias de Muertos. On the two particular days known as Los Dias de Muertos, also known as The Day of The Dead, the worlds are said to cross between our world and the world of creatures of the night. I've studied both worlds extensively, and I have prayed for my eighteenth year to come, but unfortunately for me my birthday comes on October 7th, and that means that I have only three weeks to have my three balls. My mother has been planning my coming of age ever since she heard the words 'It's a girl', and she has also been trying to keep my older brother and two younger sisters from absolutely ruining my chances of finding a proper man to marry.

I should begin by speaking of the horrid impositions that the rumors that I have spoken of remark upon. On Los Dias de Muertos the King of Grantsville throws a ball for all the young ladies who turn eighteen on or before November 1-2. At the stroke of midnight on October 31, when the day officially changes to El día de los Santos (The Day of the Saints), the worlds are said to collide with one another causing the creatures from Shadow to be able to interact with the humans. They come on these specific nights to capture a human in the fight to become king. The best chance the creatures have are to try to seduce a human before midnight on November 2, El día de las Alma (The Day of Souls); usually the pursuer is male, and the first to bring a willing human into their realm is crowned King of Shadow until another can manage to bring home a new human subject. The stupid, idiotic humans who choose to willingly go with the creatures are said to be tortured beyond belief. I have heard that the last thing the humans hear, are their own screams.

Like every other girl turning eighteen this year, I am not concerned with the rumors. I am only concerned with how well my birthday might go. I have been imagining the day for years. I always overlook the first two balls, but the third is the one that closes in on me. Oh the dreams that I have conjured for the night are amazing, and this is how it all goes…