The Blood Moon Ball

This story was written by Coral the Rain-seawing and BarnCatAndMe                                                             
For Brightslate's partner writing contest.
 
==Description==
Every few years, a ball is held under the light of a blood moon. A ball for mystical beings to meet and interact with each other under the cover of peace. Jayden and her sister Ann are two werewolves, just trying to enjoy a party. But when Jayden is witness to a grisly murder, it's up to the two sisters to solve the crime, before the ball ends... And the killer escapes.
 
==Prologue: Invitation==
Jayden was drawing in her room, having a normal day, when her sister Ann burst into the room.
 
“Jayden!” Ann said enthusiastically.
 
“Yes?” Jayden responded. 
 
Ann comes over to sit next to Jayden, “You trust me?”
 
“Yes…? What are you doing Ann?” Jayden asks.
 
“Well, the blood moon is coming up, and that means a ball and a chance to hang out and meet people!” Ann said.
 
“I-I don’t know Ann…” Jayden said softly.
 
“Oh, come on Jay! We’ll get to meet other werewolves, and maybe some other creatures too!” Ann kept trying.
 
“Has any attempt for us to socialize done well?” Jayden asks.
 
“Uhh, there was that time when we went to the fair with some of our friends?” Ann said
 
“You mean the one where the ferris wheel broke down with us at the top?” Jayden said.
 
“Maybe, but honestly? I think we have a real chance this time!” Ann smiles, “So? What’d you say?”
 
“Mmm I still don’t know?” Jayden said.
 
“Mom would have wanted you to make some friends, I think she'd be on board with this.” Ann promises.
 
“For one party?”
 
“One party,”
 
“...Alright.” Jayden sighed, Ann gave her a big hug.
 
“Your the best, Jay.”
==The arrival==
Jayden studied the mirror mumbling to herself.
"you can to this.."
She rushed outside into taxi where Ann grinned at her. "I'm really glad you decided to come Jay."
She shrugged. And mumbled more towards herself than Ann, "I-I mean it's not like it'll be the death of me. How bad can one event get..?"
Ann laughed and looked at the driver "oh right, uh we're going to hollow mountain." 
Jay nodded and looked at her sister "I'm going to take a nap on the way there if that's alright."
Ann's grin faltered "Oh..okay."
A hour or so later, they arrived at the mountain. It was a quiet place, with lots of mist and ancient but chilling vibes coming from it. 
Jay tilted her head "uh..are we in the right place.."
Ann frowned "Well the map says-"
"you indeead are the right place, fortunately ." A male Fae walked up to them and grinned. 
"you're the first ones to arrive! welcome to Hollow mountain."
he looked around through the foggy clearing.
"It does look a bit unwelcoming out here..I'll get the staff to touch it up."
Ann nodded and shook his hand 
"I'm Ann, and this is my sister Jay."
He continued to grinned "Pleasure; My name is (I don't know what his name should be oof-)"
Jay mumbled a short greeting, and then focused on her feet, refusing to make eye contact
"Lets head inside shall we?"
=== -The Guests- ===
Ann really was glad that Jayden had come with her. Sure, a party was fun no matter what, but it was even better with Jayden.  Ann led her sister over to the food first,  where she spied a familiar face, “Cassi?” Ann called to a round faced lamia, who waved.Cassi slithered over to the sisters. “Hey Ann!” her and Ann hug. Cassie turns to Jayden, “And you must be the famous Jayden, I’ve heard so many stories about you two.”
Jayden shrunk back an inch from Cassie’s intensity. “I-I’ve heard about you too, C-Cassi.”
Cassi moves quickly to hug Jayden, Ann stepped casually in front of her. 
“Have you been here long, Cassi?” Ann asked.
“About ten minutes I guess.” Cassi shrugged. “Ella’s going to be here soon.”
“”Tell her I said hi?” Ann said.
“Sure, see you around Ann, nice to meet you Jayden!” Cassi slithered off.
“Annbanan!” A young werewolf barreled into Ann.
“Ugh, I told you already David, that nickname sucks!” Ann said, laughing.
David backs up, scoffing. “Alright.” He spies Jayden, “Hey, who’s the new kid?”
Ann beamed proudly, “My lovely sister Jayden!”
David winked at Jayden and she shrunk back a bit.
“Ah relax Jayden, I don't bite”
“David! Leave her be.”
“But she’s new! I haven’t even got a chance to know the famous Jayden!” David protested.
Jayden moved away from David, obviously uncomfortable.
“Back off David. You might be my friend, but she’s my sister.”
“Fine.” David skulks off.
A lady fae flies over to the sisters, “Hello! Is there anything you need?”
Ann looks to Jayden, “Maybe some water please?” Ann asked.
The lady smiled, “Sure thing!” and just like that, each girl found a glass in their hands.
“Woah.” Ann and Jayden said in amazement.
“My pleasure, this ball  is getting dull, honestly? It could use something big to kick it up a notch.” The fae continues.
Jayden and Ann exchange a confused look.
“I’ll be seeing you girls around!” The fae waved cheerfully as she flew away.
The sisters whispered for a moment about that conversation -If you could call it that- before resuming their aimless wandering.
It was about an hour later, when Ann noticed a Feline-esque woman waving at her, Ann didn't recognize the woman so she turned to ask Jayden if she knew her…
But Jayden wasn’t there.
“What the- Jayden?!” Ann called, but the noise of the dance swept her voice away. Ann glanced desperately across the ballroom, but no sign of her sister. 
Ann noticed a hallway across the room, and she went to investigate. I noticed this earlier, I was going to go down it, but I didn’t, because I wasn’t sure how Jayden would feel about it. Could she have gone here to escape the noise? 
Ann scanned the room again, no sign of Jayden, the halls it was then.
Ann was just stepping into the hallway when she heard a piercing shriek bounce through the hall.
No, it can’t be- I can’t- No NO NO- 
Ann broke into a heavy run, as the echoing scream ceased completely.
=== the murder ===
Jayden ran into her sister. Ann studied her 
"Did you hear that? What was-"
Jayden's face was flushed and she looked nervous.
Ann frowned. "Jay? are you okay..?"
She shook her head and led her around the corner. 
The fae lady was on the hallway floor. She was bleeding heavily and her eyes looked blank. Jay shook a little. 
Ann looked at the lady with a pale face.
"who- how-"
she turned and screamed for the other guests. 
In the crowd there was many shrieks and gasps. the fae man turned the opposite and looked at the crowd and then the lady. He tensed up. 
"what happened here..?"
He looked up at the sisters and his eyes rested on Jayden. "Did you see anything?"
she looked at him and and then at Ann. "I- I uh-"
Ann shouldered her and stepped forward. "She didn't see what happened. She was with me."
He nodded and turned to the guests. "Someone call the police please. Lets head back into the other room everyone." 
there was some more murmurs before they turned and retreated to the room.
Ann squinted at the Fae. Why doesn't he seem bothered at all? He seems...Defensive
Jayden grabbed Ann's arm. 
"Why'd you lie..? I wasn't with you I-"
Ann shook her head, quickly switching her mind back to what was happening. "I don't want you to be a suspect, Jay. Plus you would tell me if you saw who did it right..? because it obviously wasn't you. You're to nervous!"
Jay tensed and looked at the ground, nodding. "Y-yeah of course I would."
Ann hugged her. "Everything's going to be alright. I promise!" 
Ann followed the others. Jay took a step to follow her before hearing a voice behind her. 
It was Jones. "Hey. The police want a word with you." 
Category:Literature
Category:Original Stories
Category:Fiction
Category:Original Stories (Unfinished)