Endymion glanced at his phone when it chimed. The screen revealed a new message from Victor. Just bringing the kids back to the apartment, no need to come by. Endymion sighed in relief, his costume was taking longer than he thought so the extra time would be useful.

 

He looked back in the mirror and wondered if he should have gotten more than six jars of Unicorn Snot. His hair had a nice shimmer but it wasn’t as pronounced on his face and chest.

 

The front door of the apartment opened. Shit. Hopefully that wasn’t Victor with the kids now. I’m not even ready yet! But it couldn’t be, he’d just texted. No way they were here already. Kaelin didn’t like to teleport unless it was an emergency since he always saw some… bird thing? Endymion never saw a thing.

 

“Endymion?” Macyn called.

​

“In here!” He pulled on his charcoal pants. Macyn seen him a lot of ways, but it didn’t mean he was going to purposely wear just his boxers when she was around.

 

Macyn walked into the bathroom, turning sidewise to allow the tiny black and red wings to pass through the threshold. The black leather demon “skin” dress clung to her. It ended just above her knee and left her back and arms bare. On her head was a pair of little black and red horns. She held the end of a long spade tipped tail to keep it from dragging on the floor.

 

“Aldis let you leave the palace like that?” Endymion raised a brow.

 

“I got dressed at Sara’s place. Your bathroom is a biohazard.”

 

“He’s going to kill you.” Endymion ignored the biohazard comment, he’d just cleaned last weekend. “Help me get my back?”

 

"I don’t want that stuff on me. Your feet are covered in it already.”

 

“Yeah. I got my lower half on my own, just can’t reach my back.” Endymion looked back in the mirror. “Do I need more on my face and chest you think?”

 

“Sure.” Macyn opened and closed drawers until she found a handful of sponges. “Turn around. We’re going to be late if you keep dragging your feet.”

 

“You can’t rush perfection.” Endymion turned to allow her access to his back. As she worked he applied more to his face and chest, luckily Unicorn Snot dried fast.

 

“Even with the sponge I’m getting it all over me.” Macyn complained. “Why did I agree to help you again?”

 

“Because you made me swear not to tell your brother you were going half dressed.”

 

“I never should have told you.” Macyn sighed. “Alright. Your back is done.”

 

“Thanks.” Endymion turned once more and tried to peer over his shoulder at his back.

 

“Do you have another mirror? It’s easier that way.” Macyn tossed the sponge into the trash and wiped her hand on an already glittering towel. She sighed. “This is going to be around your apartment for years.”

 

“The reviews say it’s easy to remove.”

 

She held up her glittering hands, a streak of it going up her left arm. “You can’t always trust the internet, Dimmy.”

 

“How do I look?” He held his arms out and grinned. “Wait, hold on.” He gave his best sullen brooding look.

 

“Very… Pablo Pisco... lost in a craft store.”

 

“But I’m Edward… you know from Twilight.” Endymion grabbed his phone. “Victor would get it.” He snapped a selfie and sent it. A moment later the guard replied, Change of plans, meet at the palace.

 

“He doesn’t get it.” Endymion pulled on black socks and the brown shoes.

 

Macyn walked out of the bathroom into the bedroom. “Why did you glitter your legs and feet if you were just covering them?”

 

He followed her, snapping the light off as he left, he could clean the rest up later. “You have to be the character, or else it ruins the whole vibe. Are you ready to go?”

 

“I’ve been ready since I got here.”

 

“Great.” Endymion grabbed his keys. “Let’s go!” He pulled open the front door.

 

“How about your shirt?” Macyn motioned to his bare chest.

 

“Edward doesn’t wear a shirt. Why would I?” Endymion held the door.

 

Macyn sighed and walked out into the hallway. “Aldis might have more to say about your outfit than mine.”

 

***

 

The palace was decorated over the top, as always. Aldis loved All Hallows Eve. The glittering blue and gold lights outside cast shadows everywhere. Pumpkins lined the stairs on either side.

 

“You carve the ghost?” Endymion trotted up the stairs.

 

Macyn moved to walk beside him. “That was Engla. I did the ghoul.”

 

“He’s adorable.” He teased.

 

“Aldis invited you and Kaelin but you said you guys were busy.”

 

“We were doing… homework,” Endymion offered.

 

Macyn laughed. Endymion pushed open the palace door this was one of the only times in the year the guards weren’t posted to do that for them. Though he knew they were near. “He used live spiders again?” Endymion motioned to the hanging webs around the entrance.

 

“Yup. Dad’s in the vacation house for the evening, so he couldn’t veto it.”

 

Endymion nodded as he stepped into the main ballroom. If outside was over the top, this was extreme, but with an elegance that Aldis always managed to put to his events. People milled around the room wearing costumes of varies levels of insanity. A handful of dragons near the food table wore long flowing capes with exaggerated white fangs. The side door was propped open. Endymion could smell the fire that burned in the courtyard beyond.

 

“I’m going to go before Aldis comes over. I don’t want to take away from your great look.” Macyn giggled. She hurried off toward a group of younger vampires, likely classmates from her school.

 

Endymion looked around before spotting Aldis and Ceryn in the corner by the speakers. Aldis and Ceryn were dressed in gaudy dresses with bright shiny crowns on their head. He rolled his eyes as he approached. “You are supposed to dress up as something you aren’t.”

 

“I’m not King ye- what are you wearing?” Aldis’ words shifted as he turned toward Endymion. Ceryn’s face lit up as she reached for her phone.

 

“The worst shoes in the history of mankind. They are rubbing against the socks which is rubbing against the glitter and it hurts my feet.” It didn’t help the shoes were half a size too small because the shop was out of his size.

 

“You have glitter on your feet?” Aldis glanced down as if expecting to see.

 

“It looks amazing.” Ceryn giggled as she snapped a photo. “Very sparkly vampirish. Where are the kids?”

 

“Victor is bringing them.” Endymion glanced around the room. He hadn’t spotted them yet, but he also didn’t know what they were coming as. He’d asked Kaelin about outfits for the kids but said Mary and Bill had got them things.

 

“Likely so you didn’t ruin his car.” Ceryn laughed. “Does Kaelin know what you’ve done?”

 

“I wanted it to be a surprise.”

 

“Well… I think you succeeded.” Aldis said.

 

“HE'S EDWARD!” a tiny voice shrieked from across the room. Endymion turned to spot Kiana racing toward him. On instinct, he kneeled and caught her as she leaped into his arms.

 

“Kiana!” He wrapped his arms around her, then glanced at her clothes, “What are you wearing?”

 

“Kaelin said we weren’t allowed to wear costumes.” She said seriously. “It’s no better than Black face.”

 

Endymion glanced at Kaelin who was covering his eyes, “Technically, Bill said that. I said it was inappropriate. How much glitter do you have on, anyway? It’s hurting my eyes!”

 

He got to his feet, keeping Kiana in his arms. “I only used three of the six jars of Unicorn Snot.” He nodded at Sam, “Hey, kiddo.”

 

 “If that a werewolf? I mean a real werewolf?” Sam ignored the greeting, his gaze on a large man near the punch bowl. Endymion wasn’t sure, he never was a good judge of other species.

 

“Yeah.” Aldis saved Endymion. “That’s one of Koen’s guards.”

 

Endymion couldn’t remember who Koen was besides one of the werewolves that ran around in the woods that covered Lluna.

 

“Do you think he’d shift and let me ride him?” Sam asked.

 

“No!” Kaelin replied before Aldis could. “You are absolutely not allowed to ask him that.”

 

Endymion wasn’t sure if the wolves would allow someone to ride them, many of them were large in that form. It likely wouldn’t be a huge deal to take someone Sam’s size for a ride.

 

“Butt nuggets.” Sam pouted, “When am I ever going to get another opportunity like this?”

 

“It’s alright, Sam.” Aldis patted his head. “Want to go grab something to eat instead?”

 

Endymion noticed that gleam in Aldis’ eyes. Maybe Sam wasn’t allowed to ask but Endymion knew Aldis had no problems doing so.

 

“Do they have liver? And offal? I heard werewolves eat liver and offal.” Sam asked.

 

“There is liver over there for sure.” Aldis took Sam’s hand and headed right for the punch bowl and the werewolf standing right beside it. Even if Sam couldn't ask, but Endymion knew that Aldis wouldn’t hesitate to on Sam’s behalf.

 

“I am not eating that. I’m a vegetablarian.” Kaina said.

 

“Vegetarian.” Kaelin ruffled her hair. “I’m sure they have lots of other choices, besides liver.” Kaelin leaned closer to Kiana. “I’m not eating liver either.”

 

“Of course not. You only eat Endymion now.” Kiana snickered.

 

Endymion grinned. He didn’t mind that Kaelin only ate him, though it was partly false, as Kaelin also had a bad habit of stealing his Life Enders.

 

“Stop telling all my secrets, you little pest.” Kaelin grinned.

 

“I’m not! I didn’t tell anyone about how you fell into the goat poop last month! I kept it a super duper secret, just like I promised,” Kiana stated proudly.

 

“Ok,” Ceryn laughed, “How about I take you to find something that isn’t liver.” She reached out to take Kiana from Endymion.

 

Kiana hesitated for a second before going over to her. “Promise that I won’t have to eat goat, either? They are so cute and fluffy and even when they poop, they look like they are smiling.”

 

“No goat. I saw a veggie pizza and a whole table full of nothing but desserts.” Ceryn said. “Let’s go check out that table first.”

 

Kaelin turned to glare at Endymion. “Costumes, Dimmy? Couldn’t give me a head’s up? Were you afraid we’d outshine you?” Kaelin reached out and ran a finger down Endymion’s bare chest then glanced at it.

 

“It’s Edward. You know, like from—” Endymion started.

 

“Twilight, yeah, I get it.” Kaelin interrupted. “If you’d warned me. I would have worn a baseball cap.”

 

“I asked if you guys needed outfits. You said Bill and Mary got stuff.” Endymion said. Though, now he wanted to see Kaelin in a baseball cap… maybe with some glitter too from a roll around with a sparkly vampire before the game.

 

“I mean, they did. Like… mourning outfits. For Sunday service kind of thing…” Kaelin ran his hand down the front of his suit.

 

“It’s Tuesday.” Endymion said. “Why would you go to Sunday service on Tuesday?” Humans still confused him even after all this time.

 

“You don’t, it’s just what it’s called. You know, go to church, light some candles, put flowers on the graves?”

 

“So… a funeral?” Endymion raised a brow. “Why do you attend funerals on All Hallows Eve? Don’t you dress up and dance around the fire? Call down the spirits?” It was more of a witch thing, the calling down the spirits part anyway, but the dressing up and large fire was part of the fun.

 

“Because it’s considered speciest to dress up like real supernatural creatures and run around making fun of them. Besides, most of humanity is trying to ward spirits away, not bring them close. Light candles to light their path to heaven, leave food and gifts to appease them. That kind of thing.” Kaelin explained.

 

“The spirits I’ve met don’t eat real food.”

 

“I think it’s more the thought that counts. But it’s not like the majority of humans can actually see spirits. I think most of us—them – us? Don’t really believe them anyway, but since we didn’t believe in vampires a decade ago either…” Kaelin nudged Endymion’s shoulder with his hand. “feel pretty real to me, though…”

 

Endymion snickered and tugged Kaelin under his arm. “It seems like a waste of food from a species that complains often about food shortages.”

 

“The thought of being eaten by an angry spirit is enough to out-weigh a bit of hunger pangs. Besides, it’s not like most of us weren’t used to being hungry anyway.” Kaelin’s stomach growled at the mention of food. Endymion wondered how long it’d been since he’d eaten last. Kaelin wouldn’t be able to drink blood here unless Endymion took him up to Aldis’ room and away from the guests, but real food would dull the craving. Maybe some liver, that was full of nutrients.

 

Kaelin wrapped his arm around Endymion’s waist and dipped his hand under the waistband just above his butt. “Endymion?”

 

“Mmhm?” Endymion hummed.

 

“How far down does this glitter go?”

 

“You have to stay in character.” Endymion explained for the second time tonight, “Edward glittered all over.”

 

***

 

Kaelin carried Sam into the apartment. From what Aldis said Sam enjoyed multiple werewolf rides, from a few different wolves who loved the idea of making a little boy’s night. Endymion carried in the sugar rushed Kiana. Victor had given her his large black cat ears, so fluffy they tickled his face as she bounced. Endymion imagined once she stopped moving though, she’d crash. Kaelin carried Sam into the bedroom and laid him into the kid’s bed.

 

Endymion set Kaina down just inside the room and tugged off her cat ears. “Go brush your teeth.” He told her placing the ears on the bedpost so she’d be able to find them in the morning.

 

Kiana opened her mouth to speak but a yawn came out first. “Can I stay up a little longer?”

 

“No,” Kaelin answered. “Go clean your teeth, sweetheart. I saw Ceryn sneaking you extra candy.”

 

Kiana's shoulders slumped but she went into the bathroom without further protest. Endymion kicked off his shoes and socks, happy to be free of them. His feet were killing him. He shoved them under the bed, hoping they’d disappear by morning. He didn’t think elves really stole shoes to fix but perhaps there was some other creature out there that would. He went to sit on his and Kaelin’s bed, too tired to find clean pajama bottoms to change into.

​

“Nuh huh! Nope. I am not waking up to glitter everywhere.” Kaelin said before Endymion could sit down. “You can hop your sparkly butt into the shower.”

​

“But I’m too tired, dad.” Endymion fake whined. Though he was indeed tired.

 

“You should have thought about that before you decided to glitter your ass crack. Kiana has to brush her teeth, you have to brush…” Kaelin waved his hand in a big circle in front of Endymion. “everything.”

 

“Fine.” Endymion sighed, “Want to come scrub my back?”

 

“Only because otherwise, I know you won’t bother.” Kaelin said. Endymion thought for sure that was a win, and worth the few extra minutes he’d had to stay awake.

 

Endymion smirked at him, but before they could do anything else Kiana came racing into the bedroom, her whole face and hands were covered in sparkly Unicorn Snot. “I think a unicorn sneezed in our bathroom! It’s amazing!”

​

Kaelin glared at Endymion the corner of his mouth twitching to fight back a smile. “Never mind. Looks like you have to give her a bath first, then you can shower. I think I’m going to bed.”

 

“Fine.” Endymion scooped up the giggling Kiana, “But I’m rubbing my not scrubbed back ALL over you once I get done.” He carried Kiana toward the bathroom.

 

“I’m going to make you eat whatever glitter ends up on me. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Kaelin climbed into the bed besides Sam. “Better yet, glitter monsters can sleep over there.”

 

“Ok.” Endymion nodded then stage whispered to Kiana, “I think glitter monsters should attack the boring people before we sleep.” He plotted against Kaelin and the unsuspecting Sam.

 

“I heard that.” Kaelin called back.

 

But Endymion just laughed with Kiana as he spun the water for the tub. He didn’t think Kaelin would mind. Besides, they had three whole jars left… it wouldn’t be the last time glitter monsters came to play.