Darcy by Day, Halloween Demon

1. Chapter 1

Vanth

Yuri finished tying the cravat around my throat, and I immediately wanted it off. “Why do I let you talk me into these things?”

He grinned up at me. “That’s easy. Despite the fact that you’re a demon, your best friend is a human and you’ll do anything to make me happy.”

I huffed in annoyance because he was right. “I need to learn to set healthy boundaries."

He snorted. “Honey, you wouldn't know a boundary if one lassoed you around those pretty silver horns.”

“You think my horns are pretty?” I asked, as I tilted my head and fluttered my eyelashes at him.

He rolled his eyes. “You know you’re hot, Vanth. And this outfit is making you even hotter. You’re the sexiest Mr. Darcy ever and you don’t even to scowl.”

I raised a skeptical eyebrow at him. In response he turned me around to face the mirror. This was my first look at myself since he’d started putting me in this outfit.

He was right, I looked good!

The Austin-era tight pants showed off my muscled legs while the high-waisted coat and fancy cravat gave me a distinguished air that no one who knew me would believe.

It was too bad most humans couldn’t see my true form because the black brocade of the coat paired well with my silver horns, raven black hair, and dark blue skin.

“Boots!” I demanded, trying for a British accent. “Get me my boots!”

“Yes, sir,” Yuri responded with a perfect Bridgerton accent. As he should, the guy was desperate to get into period acting. He’d even sewed the outfits we were wearing.

I tugged at the jacket a little and turned to see myself better as he rummaged around in a huge, battered moving box marked Knee-high Boots.

“Just so you know,” he said, voice a little muffled as he searched. “I’ve given myself the title of duke and you’re only a nobleman.”

“What are we doing again?” I asked, running my fingers through my hair and trying to get it to lay nicely instead of sticking up around my horns.

I should get Yuri to cut it again. Originally I thought I’d grow it out like Yuri’s, but I was getting annoyed at the medium length that refused to do anything civilized.

“It’s a Jane Austin themed afternoon tea,” he explained.

That didn’t sound too bad; I liked tea. “Will there be real food there or only little tasteless sandwiches?"

“You really don’t pay attention to anything I say, do you?” He emerged from the box holding up a pair of shiny, tall black boots. “These should fit!”

“I pay attention,” I grumbled and took the boots from him. “Just, you know, remind me.”

“It doesn’t matter if there are little sandwiches or not,” Yuri said, leaning against a nearby table as I squeezed my feet into the boots.

“You will be charming and wonderful and if anyone at all talks to you, you will find a way to point out how talented your best friend Yuri is. I’m going to be eating ramen for months because the tickets were so damn expensive, but this could be my big break.

The guy at the gym said his therapist knows the PA for the woman directing the next Pride and Prejudice movie.

I need to be in that movie! It’s my dream come true. ”

After much effort I got both boots pulled on. Straightening up, I patted his shoulder and said, “I wish I could magic you into a role, but that’s beyond my power. I promise to charm the hell out of everyone there and make sure they realize you’re the best they could possibly hire.”

Yuri’s lips curved up into a smile. “I know you will, Vanth. You really are my best friend.”

“Ever since you were ten and accidentally fell into my realm,” I agreed. “Now let's get you into that movie!”

The afternoon tea was being held at the Huntington Gardens.

I was able to portal us there so neither of us had to sit in uncomfortable LA traffic.

We walked around a cluster of trees to a crowd of people who could've easily stepped right off the set of Bridgerton.

I thought Yuri was going overboard with our costumes, but he got them perfect. We blended right in.

“You head that way,” he said, pointing to a large gathering of people near some long tables. “I’m going this way. We can meet back up in an hour to compare notes.”

“Sure,” I agreed.

To my disappointment, the cluster of people Yuri sent me to weren’t next to the food table.

They were standing a little distance in front of it holding drinks they never sipped.

I decided I couldn’t possibly be charming on an empty stomach and went around them to all the delicious looking food that wasn’t being touched.

I joyfully discovered that there were no tasteless sandwiches. There were tiny quiches, macaroons in various flavors, and all kinds of bite-sized delights.

I was so busy grazing that I didn’t notice her until she reached for the same sweet on the top layer of a three-tiered tray. Our fingers met over a petit four.

Yes I know what a petit four is. I was alive when they first became popular in Paris.

I looked up from the tray to lay my eyes on the most gorgeous bosom I’d ever seen. The outfit the woman was wearing was at least a size too small and her generous breasts were trying hard to pop out. It probably wasn’t comfortable, but damn it was enticing!

My eyes traveled up, noting her creamy skin, just a hint of a tattoo the dress didn’t quite cover on her shoulder, and finally her pretty round face with sparkling hazel eyes and a spattering of freckles across the bridge of a pert nose.

Her chestnut hair was piled high on her head, showing off ears with multiple silver earrings dangling and chiming every time she moved.

Her hair was probably supposed to be an elegant coiffure, but whatever had been used to secure it wasn’t holding up well against her riot of curls. The curls were escaping in droves and framing her sweet face perfectly.

Then my gaze focused on her plump, kissable lips.

Plump kissable lips that were currently frowning at me.

I needed those lips to smile at me this instant.

“I believe this is yours, Juliet,” I said, picking up the entire three-tiered tray and holding it out to her. She took it without moving her gaze from mine.

“My name isn’t Juliet.”

I pretended to be confused. “It isn’t? I could’ve sworn you were Juliet because you are the sun, risen to nearly blind me with your radiant beauty."

Her mouth dropped open for a second, then she laughed.

“‘But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun,’” she said, quoting Romeo and Juliet flawlessly. “You’re good.”

“You’re better,” I answered with genuine admiration. “I didn’t think you’d get the reference. I expected to extend our conversation by getting to explain all the ways you were like Juliet before I revealed the play.”

She tilted her head, still smiling. “Does that work?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “You’ll have to tell me.”

I pulled off the top hat Yuri had shoved on my head and squished between my horns. I was sad she couldn’t see the real me, only the natural glamor that made me look human. I’ve been told my silver horns are dazzling in the sunlight.

I bowed low. “I know we haven’t formally been introduced, but I most humbly beg you to do away with those rituals for this meeting. My name is Vanth.”

“Please don’t do the fancy stuff,” she begged as I straightened up.

“No?” Now it was my turn to be a little confused.

“No.” She set the tray down and tugged a little at the overly tight bodice of her dress. “I’m not here because I want to be. My friend is obsessed with all things Jane Austin, so I agreed to come. I didn't know I’d be wearing a costume though.”

“Then we were destined to meet,” I said. “Because I got bamboozled into coming here by a friend too. He’s the one over there in the green coat.”

She looked over then nodded her head. “He’s talking to my friend. She’s the one wearing the peach.”

Yuri and the friend made a nice-looking couple. The way Yuri was angling his body and nodding rapidly at whatever the woman was saying told me he was interested.

My concern for my soft-hearted friend took precedence over the lovely, chestnut-haired beauty standing next to me.

“Is your friend single?” I asked.

“Really?” Her voice was dripping with contempt. “I know she’s small and blond but come on.”

It took me a moment to realize why she was upset, mostly because I couldn’t understand how anyone would find someone more attractive than her.

“I’m not interested in her,” I declared quickly.

“But I can tell my friend Yuri is, and he tends to fall deeply, irrevocably in love at the same speed I could eat an entire plate of those little cakes. If she’s not single, I need to go over there and break them up now before he starts planning the wedding. ”

She chuckled. “Oh, well, Nan isn’t single, exactly."

I raised an eyebrow. “Don’t overwhelm me with details.”

“Nan is with a guy, but they’re poly and looking to add another person or two to their relationship. But they’re both romantic so they want someone who wants real connection, not someone looking for only sexy fun time.”

“Then that’s perfect because Yuri is pan and desperately wants to love everyone,” I said.

“Then the three of them might be a perfect match,” she said, looking enthusiastic. “You’re sweet, wanting to protect your friend.”

I shrugged. “Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?”

A phone chimed and she fumbled with the tiny, round, poofy bag hanging from her wrist. It was a fight but she got the phone out of it and then scowled darkly at what she read on the screen.

“Bad news?” I asked, hoping I could fix what was making her unhappy.

“Can you believe that it’s Halloween tonight and no one is throwing a party?

I’ve checked with all the places that had amazing events last year and none are doing anything.

I have the perfect costume and nowhere to wear it.

” She pushed her phone back into the little bag hard enough to tear a seam.

“Dang it, now Nan’s going to be annoyed with me. ”

“I can fix the party but not the purse,” I said. “I’m throwing a Halloween party tonight. You’re invited, so is Nan, and whoever else you want to bring.”

Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “You’re willing to invite a bunch of strangers to your party?”

“No, I want to invite you to my party,” I explained. “The other people can come so you don’t feel uncomfortable.”

“As many as I want?” she questioned, still looking dubious.

“Absolutely,” I said. “Let’s exchange numbers so I can send you the details.”

Her expression relaxed a little, even going so far as to give a small tentative smile. “This is a real Halloween party, right? I’m not going to show up with a bunch of friends to find that all you did was toss some bags of chips on a table and dim the lights.”

“I can promise you this will be the most realistic Halloween party you’ve ever been to.”

“It better be,” she warned, then held out her hand. “I’m Eden.”

“It’s so very nice to meet you Eden,” I said, taking her hand in mine. I could feel a spark as our skin met, making both of us jerk a little.

“That was weird,” she laughed, but didn’t let go of my hand.

“You have no idea,” I murmured, hoping the spark meant what I thought it did.

With my free hand I pretended to pull my phone out of my pocket when really, I was summoning it from where I’d left it at Yuri’s apartment.

I took a quick picture of Eden, then opened my contacts.

“If you give me your number, I’ll promise a night you’ll never forget. ”

“I’ve heard of people doing crazy things to meet women, but this is certifiable,” Yuri declared as he helped me out of the outfit. It was so much harder to get the tight jacket off than it had been to put it on.

“Less criticizing and more tugging,” I demanded. “Nan and her partner will be coming too, so you should want me to put on the most impressive Halloween party anyone has ever been to.”

“Where exactly are we going to hold this party?” Yuri asked after he freed me from the coat.

“Here,” I said.

His mouth dropped open. “Excuse me? Here!”

He swept an arm out to draw my attention to the clothing racks on wheels and plastic storage boxes stacked to the ceiling that took up most of the studio apartment. “You barely fit in here, how are we going to get dozens of people inside? I have lube, but not that much.”

I barked out a laugh and he glared at me. “It’s not funny Vanth. Everyone will upset when they show up to this.”

“Ah, see, there’s a trick to it,” I said, giving him my best charming grin. “I’m going to put a portal spell on your door. When they step through, they’ll be transported to my house.”

“In the demon realm?” he screeched, tossing his hands up in the air and sending the coat flying. “You can’t do that to a bunch of innocent people!"

I sniffed at him, a little stung. “It’s called the Midnight Realm, and there’s nothing wrong with it.”

“Except there are monsters all over the place, like that big scaly thing that tried to eat me when I was ten!”

“The harnar only wanted to lick you; he was trying to be friendly,” I reminded him. “And I can spell the doors so no one leaves my home. It’s the perfect place. A giant gothic castle with real ghosts.”

“Are you going to make Sanlum and Grumlum perform for your guests?" Yuri asked. “Because that seems rude.”

“Only if they want to,” I answered. “It’s not like I can make them do anything. Besides, they’ll probably enjoy it. I’ve been spending a lot of time in the human world and they’re lonely.”

Yuri shook his head. “This is such a bad idea.”

“No,” I disagreed, picking him up and twirling him around, knocking over a few boxes in the process. “This is going to be perfect!”