Chapter One
Yohwen sat in her quarters and stared into the mirror as her assistant and best friend prepared her hair for the first day of the celebrations. “Uh, are you getting a little too much height there? I don’t want them to see me from space.”
“This is the current fashion, and you are walking the most prestigious path on Wedderal. Nothing but the best for you today, Yoh.” Niisa chuckled and teased her hair even more.
“How many Haunts were beaten out for this position?” She bit her lip and stared into her own amber eyes.
“Thirty-two applied for this spot, but you were the one who was chosen. You are the Master Haunt this year and that is something to be proud of. I never would have dreamed that you would have come this far.”
Yohwen smiled. “Me neither. Having this gift or curse is hard enough, but going through life without you would have been the truly difficult part.”
“Then, shut up and let me finish your makeup. It’s almost nightfall, and you need to get into position.” Niisa completed her hair and touched up her makeup with deft moves.
Every Haunt had an assistant to lead them to their path and to help them get home again. Niisa changed things up by being Yohwen’s agent and her hair and makeup artist.
Yoh was pretty sure that her pristine and stylish appearance was what had landed her this year’s designation as Master Haunt.
“Okay, you are as pretty as I can make you. Get up, and let’s have a look at you.” Niisa removed the white sheet that she had been using to protect Yoh’s clothing, and she flapped her hands for a good look.
Yohwen got to her feet, and the corseted jacket kept her back straight while the long, lacy skirt gave her a minimal silhouette. “Well?”
“You look good, Yoh. I would be proud to call you my sister if I liked my sister.” Niisa winked. She gestured for her to turn.
Yohwen pivoted on her toes and then settled back on her heels.
Niisa tugged on the back of the jacket to smooth the line. “There. Perfect. Now, let’s go before they come to get you. It would lack dignity.”
Yohwen wrinkled her nose, and they started on their way. “I have never been much for dignity.”
“I know. That is why I offered to be your assistant.” Niisa took up a low murmur as they passed other visitors to the first party of the holiday.
Two guards allowed her to enter the staging area, and Niisa followed, whispering, “There is the crowd. There are the dignitaries. Looks like a good gathering.”
Yohwen heard her dimly, her senses were tuning to the graves surrounding her and the minds that were coming from the stars to visit their resting places.
The gong shimmered in the silence, and the viewers on the podium three hundred yards to her left tensed in anticipation. They were aliens here for the holiday, and they were expecting a show. It was Yohwen’s job to bring the dead to life to celebrate the beginning of the festival, and after today, the other Haunts would be doing the same thing around the globe.
She stood on the first stone, and Niisa quickly removed Yohwen’s shoes before stepping aside. The path was laid out ahead of her, and it snaked through the family sites chosen by lottery.
The gong rang again, and the speaker called for silence and for the families of the dearly departed to prepare.
Yohwen kept her features calm, and she had to admit that the makeup helped. The heavy mask on her face kept her lips from curving in a smile as the light dimmed and the energy changed.
“Thank you, Master Haunt, for bringing us this day.” The announcer inclined her head toward Yohwen, and it was show time.
The final gong rang, and Yohwen started to walk. The first step on the smooth sand tingled through her and she made herself a conduit between the energy of the dead and their living relations. As she slowly paced, paused and paced again, she kept herself focused on letting the dead speak and move through her. The moment she drew even with the
Yohwen sat in her quarters and stared into the mirror as her assistant and best friend prepared her hair for the first day of the celebrations. “Uh, are you getting a little too much height there? I don’t want them to see me from space.”
“This is the current fashion, and you are walking the most prestigious path on Wedderal. Nothing but the best for you today, Yoh.” Niisa chuckled and teased her hair even more.
“How many Haunts were beaten out for this position?” She bit her lip and stared into her own amber eyes.
“Thirty-two applied for this spot, but you were the one who was chosen. You are the Master Haunt this year and that is something to be proud of. I never would have dreamed that you would have come this far.”
Yohwen smiled. “Me neither. Having this gift or curse is hard enough, but going through life without you would have been the truly difficult part.”
“Then, shut up and let me finish your makeup. It’s almost nightfall, and you need to get into position.” Niisa completed her hair and touched up her makeup with deft moves.
Every Haunt had an assistant to lead them to their path and to help them get home again. Niisa changed things up by being Yohwen’s agent and her hair and makeup artist.
Yoh was pretty sure that her pristine and stylish appearance was what had landed her this year’s designation as Master Haunt.
“Okay, you are as pretty as I can make you. Get up, and let’s have a look at you.” Niisa removed the white sheet that she had been using to protect Yoh’s clothing, and she flapped her hands for a good look.
Yohwen got to her feet, and the corseted jacket kept her back straight while the long, lacy skirt gave her a minimal silhouette. “Well?”
“You look good, Yoh. I would be proud to call you my sister if I liked my sister.” Niisa winked. She gestured for her to turn.
Yohwen pivoted on her toes and then settled back on her heels.
Niisa tugged on the back of the jacket to smooth the line. “There. Perfect. Now, let’s go before they come to get you. It would lack dignity.”
Yohwen wrinkled her nose, and they started on their way. “I have never been much for dignity.”
“I know. That is why I offered to be your assistant.” Niisa took up a low murmur as they passed other visitors to the first party of the holiday.
Two guards allowed her to enter the staging area, and Niisa followed, whispering, “There is the crowd. There are the dignitaries. Looks like a good gathering.”
Yohwen heard her dimly, her senses were tuning to the graves surrounding her and the minds that were coming from the stars to visit their resting places.
The gong shimmered in the silence, and the viewers on the podium three hundred yards to her left tensed in anticipation. They were aliens here for the holiday, and they were expecting a show. It was Yohwen’s job to bring the dead to life to celebrate the beginning of the festival, and after today, the other Haunts would be doing the same thing around the globe.
She stood on the first stone, and Niisa quickly removed Yohwen’s shoes before stepping aside. The path was laid out ahead of her, and it snaked through the family sites chosen by lottery.
The gong rang again, and the speaker called for silence and for the families of the dearly departed to prepare.
Yohwen kept her features calm, and she had to admit that the makeup helped. The heavy mask on her face kept her lips from curving in a smile as the light dimmed and the energy changed.
“Thank you, Master Haunt, for bringing us this day.” The announcer inclined her head toward Yohwen, and it was show time.
The final gong rang, and Yohwen started to walk. The first step on the smooth sand tingled through her and she made herself a conduit between the energy of the dead and their living relations. As she slowly paced, paused and paced again, she kept herself focused on letting the dead speak and move through her. The moment she drew even with the
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