The Trial of Morrigan Crow; Morrigan Crow's Revenge

Chapter 15 - The Black Parade

Morrigan quickly cut off Jupiter's rant, "No, no Jupiter...I wanted to go for the golden target, Fen just respected my decision."

Both Jupiter and Fen looked surprise as Fen was already ready to listen to Jupiter's rant. Jupiter frowned, knowing that wasn't true, but before he was going to say anything, he spotted Inspector Flintlock in the corner of his eyes.

"You got lucky here Miss Crow, but I'll let you know that I have eyes are everywhere. I'll be watching you—both of you. Very closely."

Autumn of One

"I need a queen, please."

"What for?"

"Just do. Hand it over."

Heaving a great, put-upon sigh, Hawthorne shuffled through the pack of cards until he found the queen of diamonds. "I don't think you're doing this right."

After their Chase Trial success, Hawthorne hitting an orange target while riding a cheetah ("Not a cheetah, a camel!" Hawthorne insisted), Jupiter had promised that Morrigan and her friend could have a sleepover at the Deucalion on Hallowmas night—so long as they swore to ignore bedtime, eat lots of sweets, and get up to no good. True to their word, they'd already demolished handfuls of candy and were now teaching themselves to play poker in the Music Salon while they waited for Fen, who was taking them out to the Black Parade at midnight.

In honor of Hallowmas, the salon was lit entirely by candles and jack-o'-lanterns. Frank the vampire dwarf was singing an obnoxious song about beheading his fearsome enemies and drinking their blood. The guests clapped along, enchanted by the idea of the little man beheading anybody at all, fearsome or otherwise.

Morrigan arranged her cards in a fan on the table. "Poker!"

Hawthorne examined them. "That's not poker."

"Yes it is, look: The Queen of Diamonds was out in the park one day, walking her dog, Jack of Diamonds. She met the King of Hearts and they fell in love. They were married six (of hearts) weeks later and had three (of diamonds) children and lived happily ever after." She grinned triumphantly. "Poker."

Hawthorne groaned and slapped down his cards. "That is poker. You win again." He pushed the large pile of Hallowmas sweets over to her side of the table.

"Thank you, thank you, friends," the vampire dwarf was saying loudly. "And now, on this Hallowmas night, the night when we feel closest to those we have lost—in honor of my dear departed mother, I shall sing for you her favorite song." His audience cooed sympathetically. Frank motioned to the pianist. "Wilbur, if you please—'My Sweetheart Is a Garroter' in D minor."

"Where's Fen?" asked Hawthorne, shuffling the cards listlessly. "It's almost ten thirty! If we don't leave soon, all the best spots will be taken."

"My sweetheart is a garroter, my sweetheart loves to strangle. Her hands are wrapped around my throat, but my heart is in a tangle..."

Hawthorne had talked of nothing but the Black Parade since autumn began, and as Jupiter was marching with the rest of the Wundrous Society, he'd persuaded Fenestra to accompany Morrigan and Hawthorne in his place. Fen had agreed under extreme protest, and only after she'd extracted a promise from Jupiter that if they misbehaved, she could put itching powder in Morrigan's bedsheets every night for a month.

"Fenestra does things on Fenestra time," said Morrigan, biting into a sour skeleton.

"She grips me with her burly arms and the stars begin to shine. My scrawny neck is hers alone, her violent heart is mine!"