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[img]https://imgur.com/IYihMs5.png[/img]

[img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjg4LjdhYmJmZi5UR0Y1YkdFZ1NIbGhZMmx1ZEdoMWN3LjA/sabrina-destiny.regular.webp[/img][/center]

[color=gray][i]Halloween Festival, Outside of the Haunted House[/i][/color]
[sub][b]Mentions:[/b] [@Punished GN], [@AtomicEmperor], [@Fernstone][/sub]

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Layla nodded calmly at Mr. Devola. Of course she wouldn't say a word. She was the best secret keeper. She had kept her own curse a secret for so long, after all.

A secret that, uh, she was pretty sure Mr. Devola knew about now.

But it was [i]fine[/i]. She could [i]trust[/i] him.

A glint caught her eye. Layla looked into the crowd, feeling eyes. Different from the golden orbs she had seen for the briefest moment. No, these were more sinister. More… [i]familiar.[/i]

A body slipped to the side, and Layla caught a glimpse. Three glaring pairs of eyes, one masked, the rest glinting red. The Riil siblings, watching from afar. Their combined stare was cruel and hateful, creeping over Layla before settling on Edict.

Then, another body passed by, and they disappeared.

Layla had forgotten to breathe, and took a large suck of air. The fear of seeing them hit less, far less. The smile was still genuine and glowing on her face. Mr. Devola was right, this was much better.

But… What got them so worked up, though?

Layla turned her face to the approaching ladies. Britney looked like she had seen a ghost. What had happened? And… where were the drinks?

[quote=Britney][color=f4eb93]"But the whole scene was a big bag of [b][i]NOPE[/i][/b]."[/color][/quote]

Layla stared in confusion, before Linqian filled in.

[quote=Linqian][color=CD5C5C]”There was bird shit [i]everywhere[/i] and Stormy was tryna get into some sexy PRA maid’s pants. You’d have to kill me before I’d drink with them, fucking hell.[/color][/quote]

A giggle escaped Layla's lips. Wow, she was in a good mood. The scene as Linqian described it just sounded funny. It was just like Stormy to fraternize with the enemy. She wouldn't be surprised if he was selling out coven secrets to those blue-lined thugs.

[color=7ABBFF][b]“Well, uh. Sorry you didn't get the drinks you wanted.”[/b][/color] She said, an apologetic smile on her face as her eyes passed from Britney, to Sabrina and Linqian.

[color=7ABBFF][b]“We were just… waiting. No one like Vashti came by again so…”[/b][/color] Layla said, trying to hide her smirk.

[quote=Britney][color=f4eb93]"Haunted House? Maybe get the hell off this island because it's [i]clear[/i] Emily's goons are here, and lemme tell you something: that is [b][i]NOT[/i][/b] one tree I want to bark up."[/color][/quote]

Layla’s lips pursed in the appearance of pained knowing. She really felt too mellowed out to care too much about some idiots. But Britney was right.

Britney was [i]right[/i]. 

Wow, it felt weird, but so natural to acknowledge Britney’s [i]rightness[/i].

The 8th Coven wanted beef with them, maybe even tonight. And that, that really wasn't good. No. Britney was hot on their list too. Layla made a face that looked empathetic. Britney was in danger the longer she stayed here.

That was no good. They were [i]friends[/i].

[quote=Sabrina]"My house should be empty. My sisters are all out and are either out of town or won't be back until later."[/quote]

Layla shot up from the bench where her and Mr. Devola had been waiting, fist in the air. [color=7ABBFF][b]“Yeah, I wanna see Sabrina’s house!”[/b][/color]

She stared wistfully over the bustle of the festival, before glancing up at Mr. Devola.

[color=7ABBFF][b]“I wanted to see more, but…”[/b][/color]

Her eyes flicked to Britney. [color=7ABBFF][b]“You're right. It's actually too risky to be out right now, not with cops [i]and[/i] Emily, Vashti, blaaah, on the loose.”[/b][/color]

She shrugged, smiling. [color=7ABBFF][b]“Let's get out of here.”[/b][/color]

Layla paused, before pulling a bill out of her pocket, offering it to Linqian. [color=7ABBFF][b]“Here's my bid for the second one. Why not~?”[/b][/color]

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[h1]Isabella Blackthorn & The House of Cards[/h1][/center]

[color=gray][i]The Hearts Club Casino[/i][/color]
[sub][b]Mentions:[/b] [@Punished GN][/sub]

[hr]

While most of the young scene flocked to Cracker Island for the Halloween Festival, the downtown of St. Portwell held a different scene. Mainly the lit up Hearts Club Casino, and the costumed party-goers inside.

Sitting at one of the busy slot machines, a chubby man dressed as a masquerader, arm candy being his wife, thirty years his junior.

He pulled the handle again as his wife watched on with forced enthusiasm. [i]DING! DING! DING![/i] Casino coins started pouring out of the bottom of the machine as a golden 7-7-7 lit up his screen.

[b]“Whoooo, did'ja see that?”[/b] He screamed, shoving his wife out of the way as he started scooping up coins. Then he wiggled his fingers at her.

[b]“Bitch, go buy me another drink. I deserve it after this haul.”[/b]

The wife held a sigh, turned heel and melted into the growing crowd ogling his ringing slot machine.

Staff attendants and security started showing up on the scene, as one tapped the chubby man on his shoulder.

[b]“Huh? Put my drink on the table, leave me alone.”[/b]

[b]“Sir, we're here to cash you out.” [/b]The bodyguard, a built and tall man at over 6 feet, sunglasses over his eyes, stared down at the winner.

The chubby man seemed to sweat a bit, before puffing out his chest. [b]“Thought you'r my wife. You say cash?”[/b]

[b]“Yes, sir. If you'll follow-”[/b]

The chubby man snapped his fingers impatiently. [b]“Well hurry up, I ain't got all day.”[/b]

The bodyguard merely maintained a placid face, and gestured for the winner to follow. He was escorted up the second floor, then the third, where the offices were located. The bodyguard opened a door for him, and a lady dressed in black, brim of her hat over black, curled tresses, stood from her desk.

[b]“Mr. Arno? I'm Miss Blackthorn. Please have a seat.”[/b]

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The man sat, a gleeful and greedy grin on his face.[b] “So where's ma money?”[/b]

[b]“You'll get what's due to you. You're our winner, after all.”[/b] The woman said, writing a quick note on her pad before passing it to the bodyguard who walked in. The bodyguard nodded before taking his station at the closed door.

[b]“We take great pride in our patrons, Mr. Arno. Or should I say Bruno Arno.”[/b] Miss Blackthorn spoke, pulling up a file that had sat idly on her desk. She thumbed through it nonchalantly.

[b]“Consistent patronage since we’ve re-opened, and patronage in the old casino before, with over an estimated $500,000 spent in the casino total. Mainly slots, but a few tables too.”[/b]

The chubby man, Bruno, slapped his belly loudly, that selfish grin still on his face. [b]“What can I say, I'm a big-time spender!”[/b]

Miss Blackthorn merely tilted her head, an unamused look on her face as she flipped to the next place.[b] “Now, let's look at your wife, shall we? Or, your [i]fifth[/i] wife, to be exact.”[/b]

[b]“What's wrong with that? My wives had weak hearts, er'body knows that.”[/b] Bruno said out of the side of his mouth.

[b]“Mhmm.”[/b] Miss Blackthorn said, before she continued.[b] “Your first wife died of a heart attack. Your second one, suicide. The third, a car accident. And the fourth, bad medication.”[/b]

The man seemed to sweat a bit at this.[b] “You uh, seem to have done your research. Is this what you do with all winners?”[/b]

The woman gave Bruno a cold stare. [b]“No, Mr. Arno. Just you.”[/b]

It was then the door clicked open, and two more men entered the room. They were dressed slightly different, in dark suits with splashes of red, staring at Bruno like he was prey.

Miss Blackthorn leaned forward. [b]“What I've uncovered doesn't seem to add up, though, Mr. Arno. Maybe you can help me with this. You see, every time someone died, a huge life insurance would be paid out to the sole beneficiary - you. Money that would be gambled away here.”[/b]

She narrowed her eyes slyly as she watched the man tremble.

[b]“Tell me, Mr. Arno.” [/b]She leaned forward. [b]“What really happened to your wives?”

“Uh. I uh, I-... Uh-!”[/b]

Bruno lost it.[b] “You can't prove nothin’. The cases are closed, done and done!”[/b]

Miss Blackthorn glanced at her men with a single finger on her cheek - a sign. They moved in, looming over Bruno.

[b]“You seem to think I'm working with the law. Well. I am the law, but not in the way that you think.”[/b]

With that, Miss Blackthorn stood up and moved to the door. Just as she was about to leave, she turned back.

[b]“Enjoy yourself while you can, Mr. Arno. I hope everything you've done was worth it.”[/b]

As the door closed behind her, there was the frantic shuffling of a desperate man fighting the hands that pinned him down, beat him a few times, cuffed him, put a bag over his head, and dragged him away…