Three women come out, and one is dressed like a witch, another like a princess, and one like a genie, but one is missing. The fourth woman is still in her dressing room. Going to the door, "Alright Eva, come out of there," the witch says knocking on the door.

"Is it really necessary for me to wear theses stupid pigtails?" Eva asks only to hear the witch say, "Come out of there Eva, or I'll huff, and I'll puff..."

"And I'll be forced to kick your teeth in. Now get away from the damn door Tamaca," Eva says, staring at her slightly child-like appearance in the mirror.

Tamaca looks back at the other women. "Eva, nasty words only give way to nasty thoughts." Knocking slightly harder.

Finally, the door opens and a young woman with long black hair; no more than twenty-two dressed like little red riding hood steps out. She has a timeless look about her

"I decided," she says, putting her hands on her hips. "If I'm going to be little red riding hood, I'm going to be a hot little red riding hood. The pigtails stay out, and my hair stays down."

The Princess said, "You know Tammy; she does look good with her hair down."

"I know she does, but..."

"Give it up Tamaca," she said. "Even her royal majesty here thinks I look good with my hair down. Deal with it."

Eva picks up her basket and pays for the costume and walks out the door.

"I really, really don't like that woman," Tamaca says.

The princess smiles. "I like her."

"You would," she adds heading to pay. 

Eva steps out on to the main street and it seems the whole town is out having a good time. When a little girl dressed in a devil mask walks up tugging on her dress.

"Well hi," Eva says.

The little girl looks up. "You are summoned."

Says Eva, "By whom?"

"Her Majesty Bourne,' says the little girl.

"Where?" Eva looks around searching for a direction.

"There." The little girl points to a place at the end of the street. "Past the mountains that burn."

Eva sees the name mountains that burn and nods. "When is the meet?"

"Now, and the meeting is secret."

"I understand," Eva says sending the girl on her way.

"Happy Halloween," says the girl as she walks away.

"Happy Halloween," Eva waves good-bye.

A moment later the Tamaca and the rest of the girls come out. Eva seems lost in a fog when she hears Tamaca's pricing voice.

"Eva," she says. "I just thought you wouldn't want to bring too much attention to yourself tonight that's all."

"Tamaca tonight is about letting go and doing whatever makes you feel good. So why don't you just relax and let me have some fun, Eva says. "And why in god's name am I carrying this basket? I know it's a prop, but come on."

Rolling her eyes. "Because little red riding hood has a basket," the genie speaks for the first time.

Her voice shocks the whole troop.

They all say, "It speaks."

The genie frowns. "What pose that mean?" she asks.

They all look at each other. Being brave Tamaca steps forward.

"It's just we never hear you speak and when you do, it's just these odd sounds accompanied with these awkward shrugs."

"Well I can speak," she says. "I just don't have anything to say and now I do."

Not knowing where to go next Eva changes the subject.

"Isn't the cape enough?" she asks, swaying it back and forth.

"No, you have to have the basket," the genie says. "I mean, you can't live without the basket. Little red riding hood can live without the pigtails but not the basket."

"Fine," Eva gives in. "I'll keep this stupid basket; can we please get to the party?"

Tamaca points to the path leading into the woods across the street. "There, where you see those two jack-o-lanterns."

This is her moment she thinks and wastes no time.

"Hey," she says. Why don't' you guys go ahead and I'll meet you there? I want to get some chocolate."

"No Eve," Tamaca says messing up her name. "You can get candy at the party."

Her controlling tone has always bothered her, but tonight it was damn right irritating.

Eva blows, "Tammy you know the only thing they will have there is booze among other things. I won't belong. I'll be there before you know it."

"Fine," she says. "Come on girls enforcers are soft in the head anyway."

"Eva," she says correcting her.

Tamaca pretends not to hear her as she walks across the street. The genie smiles sadly. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be and stop apologizing for her," Eva says smiling, "I'll be right after you."

The genie joins Tamaca and the princess. Eva watches them disappear into the woods. Then she heads to the Mountains that burn.

The shop is dark and has gold wrapping on the windows. An old woman with a dog sits out in front. With one look she knows she's no beggar.

She steps to her. "I come seeking assistance," she says.

The woman looks up catching her gaze. "Are you expected? she asks, looking odd and strange.

"Yes," she says, looking a dark as she does sweet.

The woman stares at her looking her up and down. Searching for something.

Until finally saying, "Seal."

The woman pulls out a black tablet and Eva places her wrist on top. The screen lights up gold and a glowing seal appears on the inner side of Eva's wrist. Within a moment her seal makes contact with the screen and everything you ever wanted to know about her pops up.

The woman scrolls through the information.

"Eva Whitmore. Enforcer, hunter class and it seem you are stationed in Dallas, Texas," The woman says looking up. "How is Texas?" she asked.

Shaking her head and shrugging. "It's Texas."

The woman laughs. "Yes indeed, somethings never change."

The woman presses a button and the screen goes black. She looks at Eva again.

"Are you well?" In a more serious tone.

She knows what the woman is asking. She wanted to know if she had been followed or she suspected she might have been followed.

In a confident voice, Eva says, "I'm very well."

"Any concerns?" She asked, trying to sniff out a lie.

"Of course not," she says, in the same tone.

The woman takes one final look at her. "You may pass."

The woman steps aside and Eva goes in. The crowd is left behind as she closes the door behind her.

Walking through a back door leads her down a long flight of stairs leading to a blue door. Without hesitation, she opens it revealing a huge billiard room. At the end of the room was a large round table. Several people were sitting around it and they look at her. Saturn stands leaning over the table with her back to her. When she catches their gaze she turns.

She sighs in relief. "Miss Whitmore." She says. "It's about time you showed up."

Closing the door Eva walked over to the table. The two women greet each other with a hug and a smile.

"Well Saturn," she says. "I ran into a snag on the way. Then there's Tamaca."

Saturn nodded her head as a little sadness came to her eyes.

"It's a shame you two never really hit it off."

"She's controlling." Eva takes a chair to sit.

Saturn looks off for a moment. "Yeah, I know," she says, reluctantly. "I thank you for suffering her. I take it as a personal favor."

The idea of Saturn owing her appeals to her.

"Oh really," she says. "You should know Miss Bourne I'm very good at collecting on favors owed."

Saturn smiled and giggled a bit.

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you." With the friendly moment past. "Now on to the business. Julia wants a debrief."

Annoyed at the very idea of the name, Eva rolled her eyes as she crossed her legs.

"That's why I was summoned?" Annoyed at the thought. "I could have done this back in Dallas."

Saturn sighed hating to do Julia's dirty work.

"Things are a little complicated for her in Dallas."

"What's going on?" She asks. "Wait a minute, forget I said anything."

She thought about where that question will lead. "I really could care less," she says.

Saturn takes a breath as she folds her arms.

"I know the feeling Eva," she says. "I had planes as well. I was supposed to be at the snowball."

"The what?" Confused.

The look on Eva's face brings her back down to earth. Reminding her that not everyone is in the know for events at the school. She can barely keep up sometimes.

"My sister's school is having their annual snow ball...ball." Her thoughts become mushy and Saturn finds it hard to get it straight.

"God they need a better name," she says, realizing what a terrible idea it was to name it that. "The point is Eva, we all have to do things we don't wanna do sometimes."

Saturn's mind wasn't always on duty and this was slightly one of those times. She shakes her head dismissing the whole snowball thing.

She leans forward slightly. "Am I here to fix her problems, again?"

"No, not this time," she says. "You're here to give an idea of the depth of her problems."

Eva turns her head not convinced.

"Listen," Saturn says, reaching out and touching Eva's knee. "I know she is a life-sucking bitch from which there is no escape."

Eva adds, "To say the least."

"But," she continues. "This time it is worth your while, trust remember."

Her words get Eva's attention on a deep level. Eva shakes her head and smiles.

"The king doesn't trust her." Finally, she gives in to the will of her friend.

"Does Andre Stone trust anyone?" Saturn asks.

Eva smiles. "He likes me," she says. "He prefers me to the Destined Orderly already there. He thinks he's incompetent and these days I find it very hard to disagree."

Eva's history with those in power has always affected her.

Raising her eyebrows. "He's that bad? She asks.

"He's worse," Eva says, spilling the beans. "Plus he can't seem to keep his hands to himself. I swear he won't have hands if he makes another move on me."

Giggling a bit Saturn pats her Eva's knee. "Well that's the last thing we want to happen," she says. "When governing anything it is important to have the respect and trust of the monarch in power. You can agree on that right?"

Saturn smiles trying to reach a common level.

"I guess," Eva says, trying to figure out Saturn's game.

With a huge smile, Saturn says, "Then great we're back in agreement".

Eva shakes her head still on the same page. "Yea me."

"Yea you indeed," says Saturn, hinting around something.

Reaching the end of the game Eva sighs. "Saturn what are you talking about," she asks.

"Eva you are smart, loyal, and I am so happy Julia has decided to do this," Saturn says clapping her hands for a moment.

"Decided what?" Eva asks.

Saturn says nothing just smiles.

Quickly reaching the end of her rope. "Spit it out," Eva says.

Rolling her eyes. "God you're impatient," she says.

"Bag," she says to one of the girls at the table.

She gets up and pulls out many bags of designer quality. Unable to find the right bag. "Which bag?" she asks.

"Prada," Saturn says, rolling her eyes. "Blue orchard. I swear good help is so hard to find in this bum-fuck town."

Saturn words are clear to hear and Eva cringes.

"She doesn't mean it," she says, trying to smooth things over. "She just hates small towns".

"I do not," Saturn protests. "I hate small-minded people in small towns"

The girl finds the paper in the bag Saturn said. "Here it is," says the girl.

She hands it to Saturn with great relief but Saturn says nothing to her.

She glances over the paper. "Eva Whitmore you are her by the Designated Orderly for the city of Dallas, Texas."

She hands the paper signed and delivered. Eva still can't believe even though it's in her hands.

"Just like that?" she asks.

Saturn smiles adding, "Just like that."

The promotion slowly takes over and it begins to sink in.

"What are my orders?" she asks.

"Someone is selling Necrotin there," Saturn says, knowing Eva can handle it. "Julia needs to know who's buying it and who's supplying it. You ready sister?"

Eva goes silent for a moment. She looks at the paper and then back at Saturn. A confident smile.

"I'm ready."

Saturn claps her hands so excited for Eva.

"The first lesson," she says. "Keeping up appearances."

It was no small feat for Eva to figure out what she meant by that.

"The party." Eva reluctantly says.

"I'm afraid so," said Saturn. "No one must know of this meeting not even Tamaca."

Eva rolls her eyes. Saturn can feel her disdain for the woman's very name.

"She's not so bad when you get to know her."

"But do I really, want to know her?" Eva asks in a detached tone.

The two women have always shared everything but on the subject of Tamaca. They couldn't be more apart.

"I am not touching that with a ten-foot pole." Saturn waves her hand in the air refusing to play mediator.

They both stand up and hug one final time.

"Trust," Saturn says.

Said Eva, "Trust. Holding on a little tighter and longer.

Their bond was like sisters. Apart from Saturn's real one. Eva was as close to a sister as she ever had. They had been through it all together and parting put a little sadness in her heart always and this time would be no different. They finally break and Eva leaves refusing to look back. Every step up the stairs back into the storefront felt heavier. Every step was taking her away from the only woman she ever trusted. Still, she did get a promotion and that comforted her and brought her joy. She wondered what the party would bring. If she would indeed have a good time.