A/N: What's this? What's this? AN UPDATE? Why, yes. Holy crap you guys I've been working full time while trying to learn how to code on the fast track and I want to die. Good thing I have fanfiction to keep me sane. Thank you for all of the wonderful reviews, it's always lovely to see. :3 Without further adieu,

City of Bones

Chapter 4: All Souls Night

It was the familiar smell of rich chocolate wrapped in buttery pastry that roused her. That, and the tickle of flower petals on her lips. She twitched her nose and rolled over. Another fell, landing on her nose and she wiped it away with a soft moan, not quite sure why whomever was dropping flowers on her wouldn't want her to enjoy the soft down bedding.

And then her eyes flew open. Elsa threw back the covers and jumped out of bed, her feet hitting the unicorn rug as she got up. She was standing in the center of the room Thiana and Merida had taken her to earlier, the one they said belonged to her. She was struck with the bitter sting of defeat, completely disappointed that this still wasn't a dream.

Elsa looked to the vanity where a pewter dish was stacked with a pyramid of fresh croissants. Each one was decorated with a unique chocolate flourish. The designs seemed to be related to Valhalla in some way, whether it was an intricate snowflake or the head of a wolf. She had just picked one up when she heard a voice behind her that was so startling she dropped her pastry.

"Morning, sleepy head." Elsa looked up to see none other than Jack sitting on one of the bed posts grinning like he had a delicious secret. In his hands he twirled a white rose that was missing half of its petals. "You look awful cute in that nightie."

Elsa looked down at herself for the first time since getting out of the bed. Sure enough, she was wearing a silky chemise the color of lavender buds. The lacy hem ended politely above the knee but was a touch too tight in the bosom. The robe she wore would have offered a shred of modesty had it not been a sheer white fabric. Grunting, she clutched it around herself anyway.

"Calm down," Jack said. "My sister probably put that on you."

Elsa glared at him. She wanted to flick him between his small eyes but he was too far away.

"With magic. Oh, stop. Look," Jack pointed to the croissants. "I wanted to give you these. As, like, a peace offering, you know?"

Her eyes traveled back to the croissants. She could still see the steam rising from them. The entire room smelled like heaven. "How do you know I even like croissants?"

Jack looked shocked suddenly. "You were going to go get some with your sister, right?"

Now it was Elsa's turn to be surprised. "You actually remember that?"

"Of course." Jack shrugged. "You remember things that matter. Anyway," he lept gracefully from the bed post and landed on the balls of his feet. "Eat them or don't, but I want to tell you that tonight is a really big event for us."

She glanced out the window. The moon was still full and round in the sky. She hadn't seen the sun since she came to Valhalla and it made her question if she ever would again. Elsa looked back at Jack. In light of this 'event' his true motives for the croissants might not have been as innocent as she first suspected.

"And what would that be?"

Jack grinned, showing so many teeth she was afraid he would bite. "It's All Soul's Night!"

"Okay?"

"It's the night when we can return to earth."

Elsa's heart skipped a beat. He said it so casually, as though it were church on a Sunday morning. Maybe for him the idea of going to earth was just a drop in the bucket but for Elsa this promise was akin to salvation. For the first time since she had punched him, Elsa reached out and willingly touched him, grasping his hand in her own. She could feel Jack flinch, probably afraid she was going to nail him again.

"You mean you let us go back?"

Her eyes were wide as she stared into his but what she saw was the breath slowly leaving his chest as his eyebrows furrowed. Gently, Jack placed his hand over her own but she was already pulling away.

"That wasn't an invitation for me, was it?" She said sourly.

"No, no, Elsa," Jack reached for her but just before he could touch her hair but recoiled when she glared at him out of the corner of her eye. He sighed. "Look, we both have to be there to open the gates. After that, you can come back to the castle if you want."

"Because that's just what I want to do." Elsa opened the wardrobe, rifling through the clothes to see if she could find something a little less provocative to wear.

"I wasn't going to take you back to earth because—"

"Big shocker!" Elsa said without bothering to look at him.

A cold gust of wind swept through the room, lifting Elsa's breath from her chest and and ripping the wardrobe doors from her hands so they shut with a loud bang. The pink sleeve of a wool sweater was stuck between the doors, sad and limp. Slowly, she turned to face Jack with a white face.

His thumbs were tucked into the pockets of his pants and his lips were turned down. Jack could hold her eyes with his own, wandering instead as if there were things he should tell her but lacked the strength to do so.

"I wasn't going to take you," he said. "Because I didn't think you were ready. It's not like you think it's going to be, trust me on this. It might be better if you stay behind for this one."

Elsa bit her lip. After kidnapping her, locking her in a tower, and then sneaking into her bedroom he wanted her to trust him. It was laughable, but she felt like crying. Leaning against the wardrobe, she sunk to her knees and closed her eyes.

"I thought I was going to get to go home." She whispered. "Even for a night."

Jack sighed. "What is it about me that you hate so much?"

Elsa almost said so many things, but stopped herself, opting for silence. It seemed to pay off because he pacing and running his mouth like a common fool.

"I mean, I'm trying. Really, I am. I don't know why you had to be the one because you're not like any other woman. You're opinionated, fierce," he touched his jaw. "And—and other things. I don't know why you don't like it here but I wish you would." He went to the window, leaning with both hands aginst the sill. He mumbled something about another way to do something, but she didn't really care what he had to say she didn't listen closely. Looking to her bridal finger, she began twirling the ring that he placed there. It was hard to think that this man was supposed to be her husband when she could barely stand to be in the same room as him.

Then, his voice broke the silence. "I'll take you to earth if that's what you really want."

"Really!?" Elsa scrambled to her feet.

"Really, really." Jack said. "But you'll have to stick close. It can be dangerous for humans."

She couldn't imagine why earth would be dangerous for humans. After all, that was where she had spent all of her life up until this point. She comes to Valhalla and suddenly the place she is from is a hazard? She was about to turn around and retort, but he was gone, one pastry missing from the top of the pyramid.

Standing in front of the mirror, Elsa felt anything but herself. The gossamer dress she wore was the color of a nightmare with silver accents the color or starlight across the the tight bodice. Thiana was, once again, curling her hair into an ornate updo using diamond hairpins while Merida was cursing her bad fortune to be pegged a handmaid. As she listened to them, Elsa smoothed her hands over the draped ruffles that bunched at her hip in a way that reminded her of a dark current of water. The fabric felt incredibly expensive.

Gently, Thiana tipped Elsa's head back and placed a mask over her face. The hard material felt cool against her skin. When Elsa opened her eyes, she saw the shape of a butterfly etched into the hard paper of the mask. Elegantly rounded triangles and ovals that were lined with gold to create a sort of symmetry across the wings of the mask that was stunning against her azure eyes. In the center of the mask's forehead a small horn made of pure pearl protruded, giving the faint illusion of a unicorn. She wondered if Jack had selected it for her; if he really was sarcastic enough to give her something that symbolized innocence and, above all, virginity.

"You look lovely," Thiana whispered as she stepped back to admire her work. Frowning, Elsa touched the diamond choker around her neck. Even through her black silk gloves it felt cold and hard. The woman looking back at her was the shadow of Elsa; a creature that had taken her face and tried on clothes too gaudy and hidden behind a pretty mask to hide the shame. Elsa bit her lip. She could feel the beat of her heart against her palm but she had never felt so dead.

"Thank you, Thiana," Elsa said. "But I think I can dress myself." Elsa took the tip of the finger of her right glove and slowly pulled it off, then the other. With the delicacy of a princess, she unclasped the choker and then removed the earrings, handing them back to a wide-eyed Thiana. From the corner of the mirror she could see Merida slowly sitting upright with her mouth open. Elsa knew she was eager to tell Jack of this discrepancy, so she figured she would give him something to fume about.

Elsa pulled the pins from her hair, letting it tumble freely around her shoulders. Removing the mask, she turned to Merida with a smile. "Bring me my old clothes."

It was hard not to stare when he wore black that much black. It made his eyes so incredibly blue and his hair look like unruly wisps of frost. She could see that the dress she was supposed to wear was a fine compliment to the black military uniform he wore, the pinches of starlight on her dress would have perfectly matched the silvery buttons on his vest and the cuff links at his wrists.

As he leaned against the courtyard banister he entertained a crystal chalice with wine the color of blood that was surely the cause for the pink on his cheeks. Tied to his belt with a black silk sash was the ornate masquerade face of a wolf whose golden features were painted against a silver the very color of the moon. At his side was the boy from their first meeting. Elsa couldn't recall his name but standing beside Jack with his hood pulled up he looked very much like a shadow. She noticed that he didn't seem to have a mask either and she briefly wondered why because everyone else seemed to have one.

Thiana at Elsa's right and Merida on the left, both of the girls wore long gowns in the same black Elsa's should have been. Thiana's was more substantial and had more silver accents than Merida's, who wore mostly gold to bring out the red in her hair. The mask in Thiana's hands was covered in silver-lined feathers that met at a beak just above her nose, resembling a sort of dark bird. Merida's mask was hanging loosely around her neck and Elsa could see from the many golden circles that it was the rounded face of a bear.

When Jack caught sight of them, he grinned and handed his chalice off to a servant. She was walking to meet his hand in her raggy jeans and hoodie that probably still faintly smelled of unicorn stable. But instead of chastising her as she had expected, he started to laugh. Having prepared to hold her head high at biting remarks, she hadn't anticipated this response and it completely deflated her, disarming her for when Jack's hand reached out and clasped her own.

"You look ravishing." As he spoke all she could do was stare at his black leather gloves, trying to remember all of the clever things she wanted to say. "You'll surely stand out in the crowd." He finished it with a wink. She wasn't sure if this was another hand of sarcasm or if he was genuinely pleased by her appearance. She didn't have time to respond as Merida was soon at her side, pulling her along.

"Ready, dear?" Merida clicked as she looped her arm in Elsa's. The latter suddenly felt very under dressed.

"I—I think so." Thiana and Merida lead the way to the carriage which was just as lavishly dressed as the handmaids. Streamers in the colors of the night had been hung from all four corners of the carriage and the spokes were a silver so reflective they looked like glass. Even the unicorns pulling the carriage—one black and one white—had accents of silver and gold woven into their braided manes.

Merida climbed atop with the coachman while Jack helped Elsa inside, followed by Thiana and tailed by the kid, whom Jack didn't bother to introduce because the idea that he would give Elsa fore knowledge of anything was apparently absurd.

As the carriage jolted to a start, Elsa leaned back in her seat and watched Jack, who had his hands folded neatly in his lap and his eyes closed. Elsa turned her attention to the window, noticing the landscape she had ridden across just recently as she tried to escape Jack. Quite frankly, as she tried to escape everyone in this place. Nothing was as it should be.

A quick ride across the bridge and the carriage lurched to a stop. The kid was the first one to jump out, opening the door with a deep bow for Jack and Elsa. She felt Jack's hand slip over her own and he held her hand tightly as she descended. The pathway to the stage was lined with villagers holding grinning Jack-O-Lanterns, each with a unique and macabre grin illuminated by the wisp of flame burning with no wick. At the end of the path was the stage that was all to familiar. The sight of it made Elsa's stomach churn. The last time she had been up there Jack had captured her fate with a piece of jewelry.

Jack gave her hand a soft pull, leading her down the walkway with Thiana in tow and the by behind her. As they passed, the spectators holding the pumpkins slowly went to their knees to show respect. The crowd beyond was cheering their names, Jack's especially. The admiration made her ears ring and her eyes burn, so she looked beyond the villagers to the dark houses, shops, and stalls.

The décor from the previous celebration had been replaced by the banners alternating in gold and silver with the emblem of Valhalla printed in clean black lines. Carved pumpkins sat in windowsill and under the eaves of front doors, their faces alight with the same enchanted flames as the others. While most of the vendors were closed, a few stalls remained open, their shelves filled with gleaming masquerades of animals from every corner of the planet. Garments in midnight tones were next to satin ribbons in luminescent hues of the same silver and gold that seemed to be everywhere this evening.

Elsa was beginning to feel very out of place in her plain clothes. So much so that when Jack lead her to the stage in front of of his kingdom, she seldom heard his words. Looking over the crowd, she noticed that almost everyone had politely removed their masks for Jack's speech. And, in the very back, there were two children who were completely ignoring everything else going on and playing with a spinning top on the old flat of a wooden crate. She wished she could be with them over there instead of sitting next to Jack like an accessory.

Then, quite suddenly, she felt Jack's hand tighten on her wrist. She tried to pull away out of instinct but he wouldn't let go. When she turned to him, he was grinning like it was a game. He moved quick, leaning in so that his cheek brushed hers as his lips came to her ear.

"It's time to open the gate." Jack spoke the words so softly Elsa almost didn't hear him. She felt dizzy from his proximity, but he fell to his knee, taking her left hand in his and gently kissing the engagement ring on Elsa's finger.

The sudden sensation was like fire on her skin. Yelping, she yanked her hand away from Jack. Behind them reality seemed to rip open and bend, revealing a swirling tunnel of blue and fuchsia pecked with familiar constellations and galaxies that orbited around on another. Elsa's legs felt weak and she wanted to sit with her head between her legs. She felt Jack touch the small of her back.

"Shall we?" Jack said as he gestured to the vortex. Behind them she could vaguely hear the din of the excited crowd. When she said nothing, Jack pulled his mask over his face and fastened it with the silk ties before taking Elsa's hand and leading her in.

The moment she placed her feet inside the tunnel she felt the terrifying sensation that there was nothing beneath her. She didn't scream, only drive her nails hard enough into Jack's arm to make him yip.

"Geez," he said. "Quite a grip. Look, you're safe." Jack pointed to the kid who was now somehow in front of them. "Hiro isn't scared."

"Someone named Hero isn't afraid. Not comforting."

"No, no," Jack said. "It's with an I. Look, you're fine. See," Jack let go and pushed away from her. She scrambled to grasp his sleeve again, but oddly, they were traveling at the same rate. Despite floating through the plane, she was perfectly in balance.

"It's always strange the first time." Jack said. "But you'll get the hang of it. We're almost there anyway."

"How do you—ah!" The sudden feeling of solid concrete under her shoes made Elsa stumble. She would have fallen if it weren't for Jack grabbing her by the arm and pulling her upright. When she spun around she was looking up at his wolf mask which was glowing in the light of the moon.

The light of the moon...

Elsa whipped around. Thiana and Merida were there and they were surrounded by children. But these were no ordinary children. These children wore plastic monster masks, pastel princess dresses, and the capes of superheroes. They traveled in packs or with parents and each had a neat little sack that crinkled with the sound of bunches of candy wrappers. Adults wearing pointed black hats and painted faces flung open their doors when little knuckles wrapped, the words "Trick-or-Treat!" filling the air with the faint scent of pumpkins.

Elsa was home. She was home and it was Halloween. Finding her feet, she ran. She could faintly hear Jack calling for her like a pet but she dismissed him. He had no power now. Elsa ran to the nearest group of adults, reaching for one of them.

"Excuse me, I need—"

"Dad, look!" Elsa looked just in time to see a young boy wearing an eye patch and a pirate hat burst through her as though she was nothing but fog.

A/N: I know it's not October... But you know what, sometimes you just want to write about Halloween right before the first day of spring. It happens. I took inspiration from several cultures such as Celtic and Italian to piece together what Valhalla considers All Souls Night, aka Halloween. Truthfully, this idea just hit me and I couldn't find another way to continue the story so really when the only way out is through... you get this chapter.