49 Win Him Over

"About time you got here!" Gregory exclaimed, hearing the chitchat and the commotion outside the mansion. He stood up from the couch and dashed for the front door. "I was starting to think you somehow got lost though you were here earlier."

It wasn't fair. Sunset had just ended. Darkness covered the sky with the moon providing subtle light. The group initially arrived hours ago… but they went out again almost as soon as they came!

Not only that but they also dragged Amon out with them. Gregory pouted as he watched them walk inside. Everyone had worn costumes (and even masks!) to camouflage Amon's getup. How could they do this when they knew he couldn't join them in daylight?

"That would never happen," Nadia scoffed at Gregory's remark. She chose a leather onesie with black-framed eyeglasses and heels. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail. She grabbed the tip of her hair and fanned it on his face. "We have a great sense of direction."

The vampire recoiled from the gesture. It felt prickly on his skin. Then, he turned his attention to the traitor. Amon was supposed to prefer staying indoors but, instead, it took little effort for them to persuade him to join. It must have been the costumes. Their strategy to pose as cosplayers had reached deep into his soul. It made him almost impossible to refuse.

Gregory opened his mouth to start nagging at the Grim Reaper playfully.

But what he saw made him change his mind instantly.

He shifted his focus to Lilith and stuck out his thumb towards Amon. "What happened and why can I see a storm cloud above Amon's head?"

"Welcome back!" Ivar announced as he came out of another room.

"Ivar, thank you again for having us," Dharvey met him halfway. The hem of her black robe brushed against the floor. Her hair was pushed back by a headband with black thorns—a simple rendition of Maleficent's look.

She waved her hand towards everyone. "Better get used to this level of energy."

"Nonsense! It's my pleasure to have you all—is Amon alright?"

The comment caught everyone's attention and they all looked at the Grim Reaper. Amon remained oblivious to the sudden silence as he stood apart from the crowd. The black poet shirt softened his demeanor but the grim line of his lips overshadowed it. Lilith gripped the bell sleeves of her red medieval dress.

Maybe they went a little overboard…

***

A few hours earlier…

"Tell me why I agreed to this?" Amon watched as the blue sky and clouds grew bigger in his vision. The sun beamed at his eyes, almost challenging him to keep looking.

"All in the name of a blossoming friendship, of course," Lilith laughed. She raised her arms up and enjoyed the air caressing her skin. "Why? Are you scared?"

"Me? Afraid? I'm the one to fear."

"We'll just have to see about that…"

The front cart reached the top of the trail. Lilith held her breath, arms still up, as the roller coaster plunged down with alarming speed. Wind resistance slammed onto her face and flailed her arms backwards. Only one thing came to her mind. "Aaaaahhh…!"

The rest of the passengers had the same thoughts.

But they swore the loudest shriek came from one particular cart.

Lilith thanked the ride operator as they reached the exit path. She turned around, walking backwards. The widest smile stretched on her face. Her chest rumbled with the laughter she held back.

"You screamed so much. I think I lost half of my hearing."

"You were also screaming." Amon glowered.

Everyone also did the same. What was the big deal? That was normal while riding a roller coaster. He had seen it happen again and again while they waited in line.

"Yeah, but mine was from the adrenaline rush."

"So was mine."

"Sure, tell yourself that." Lilith snorted. She turned back around and spotted Nadia in the distance. The latter nudged her head to her left. Lilith followed its general direction and her face lit up. She grabbed Amon by the hand, breaking into a run.

"Come on! I know just where to go next!"

"Another roller coaster?" Amon guessed. He almost tripped from the sudden tug but regained his balance. Although Lilith was shorter than him, she moved quickly. Amon kept one hand on his mask to prevent it from falling off. It blocked a part of his eyesight.

"Nah, something even better."

"Oh?"

An old castle loomed before them. Artificial screams blasted from the speakers to attract customers of the amusement park. From ghosts to goblins to grim reapers, the faces of different horror creatures decorated the main entrance of the haunted house.

Amon wore a deadpan expression.

"You're hilarious."

"I know." Lilith beamed at her own brilliance.

Maybe Amon didn't appreciate her sense of humor but she was sure someone would. She elbowed him lightly, almost imagining the sour look on his face.

The Grim Reaper refused to go along with her teasing.

"What? Don't tell me you're—"

"There is absolutely no way I'd be scared by mere riff offs who don't even know what true terror is," Amon snapped in her direction, his nostrils flaring.

Why humans choose to use fear as a form of amusement was beyond his comprehension.

Lilith put her hands up in surrender. Then, she stepped behind him and started pushing him towards the entrance.

"Time to show these amateurs how it's done then. We won't catch up to Nadia and Aidan if we don't get moving."

A few meters away, the two unofficial chaperones watched the pair bicker. Amon spun on his heel, intending to leave, but Lilith clung to his arm. The Grim Reaper jumped in surprise. He attempted to pry his arm off until he noticed Lilith had trapped his arm against her chest. That was all Lilith needed to haul him inside.

Dharvey chuckled. "This is a sight I never thought I'd see."

She held a toy staff in front of her, resting her hands on the top end. Others in costumes flocked around the amusement park. They arrived at the human world at the right time. Not only could Lilith enjoy what it had to offer but also Amon could relax and finally spend time with her.

"Words fail me right now," Sicily uttered, her eyes wide. She held her masquerade mask on its stick. "But I should have known Lilith would win him over. That girl has a natural talent at making friends."

"Hm… I wonder if that really is the case."

Inside, Lilith used Amon as a shield. She crouched behind him but continued to push him forward. The Grim Reaper was anything but pleased. He spotted the places where jump scares likely occurred. Not even the element of surprise could break his guard down.

They stopped when they encountered a crossover path.

"Which way do we go?" Lilith asked, standing on her tiptoes to see past his shoulder. "Can you sense which one Nadia and Aidan took?"

"That one," Amon pointed to the right tunnel entrance.

He walked in its direction while moving to Lilith's left. She held onto his arm in case he'd escape and leave her alone. A tingly feeling touched the right side of her neck. She felt the hairs on her skin stand up. Luckily, that gave her a warning for the jump scare—

"Lilith, behind you!"

"What?!" She looked on reflex but frowned. "There's nothing there—AH!"

The Grim Reaper covered his mouth with the back of his hand, his shoulders shaking. He purposely avoided the jump scare from the right wall. Then, he tricked Lilith to prevent her from seeing it as well. The misdirection had given the staff the chance to sneak up in front of her instead.

"Amon!" Lilith slapped his arm but it wasn't enough. She started attacking his shoulders as well, hammering at them with her fists. "That wasn't funny! Not funny at all! How could you?!"

Not caring anymore, Amon let out a boisterous laugh. It echoed down the tunnel. He kept going and clutched his stomach. The sensation was new to him. He didn't know how to stop.

Lilith stopped hitting him. She stayed still, mesmerized by his laughter until he ran out of breath. It had a boyish charm that made Amon seem younger. A small smile appeared on her lips.

She just might be able to listen to this for a long period of time.