It was right to bring pictures of dead loved ones on Halloween since it's a day to celebrate the dead. Sometimes, they pray and then burn the pictures, other times, they just pray. Halloween was a sacred day in the Daxtan and all families, the rich, the middle class and the poor never skip this day as they believe it was sacred and holy.
This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of the year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrate Halloween, when it is believed that the ghosts of the dead return to earth.
Coincidentally, this was also the day when Raziel and her sisters were born. Reminiscing about the story of their birth, Raziel sighed. Her mother had told them the story when they were young
Little Raziel had asked her mother in her tiny voice.
"Mommy, please tell us a story. Maybe the story about how we were born."
"Yes mommy, tell us." Little May and Jaria had inquired in excited voices.
"Hmm, you girls really want to hear it?"
"Yes mommy," the three girls answered.
"Ok. I'll tell you all. First get under the covers and lay in your sleeping positions," Rachel requested and they quickly jumped into the queen sized bed and covered themselves with the duvet. They peered at their mother, their big round eyes blinked at her and she smiled, walking to the bed and sitting astride them.
It was a bit uncomfortable but she adjusted and found a good position.
"Okay girls, so I gave birth to you all on Halloween's day. I never knew I was going to give birth that day. It was early by a week," She started.
"So... I went to the party at the palace to celebrate Halloween since I was strong. Just as the party became amusing, that's when you three knew you wanted to make an appearance. The whole guests were shocked when I screamed and they called the doctor and took me to a room at the palace."
"Oh my. Mommy, that means we were born in the palace?" Using her hands to cover her tiny mouth in shock, little Raziel asked. She saw her mother nod her head in agreement and the three sisters smiled happily.
"Yes dearie. You girls were born in the palace. So, after some minutes, I gave birth to Jaria. She was the first to come out so she's the eldest," Rachel explained but stopped when she saw May shake her head in disagreement.
"That's not true mother. I'm the eldest, not Jaria. I'm even taller than them both. I'm sure I came out first," May disagreed. Her little face curved into a frown.
"No honey, I'm going to stop if you keep interrupting. Jaria came first. She was so tiny and when I looked at her, I saw your grandmother in her. After giving birth to Jaria, May came out after two minutes. It was as if she was dying to come out."
"Oh so I was the last to come out?" Little Raziel asked.
"Yes you were. Goodness, Raziel. You almost gave me a heart attack while giving birth to you. I swear, I almost gave up," Rachel complained.
"What?"
"Please tell us, mother. How did Raziel almost give you a heart attack?" Jaria asked.
"Raziel was so stubborn even in the tummy. She refused to come out for a good 30 minutes. I even begged her to come out. I screamed and screamed but she was so stubborn. The doctor said that the baby has a reason but I wonder what reason if not to punish me," their mother said and they all laughed.
"I was scared that Raziel won't have the same birthday as you both because Halloween was going to end soon and the next day was approaching but this stubborn firefly finally came out a minute before Halloween ended. Not only that, her cries were so loud that the whole palace heard it and wondered if I gave birth to a banshee and not a witch. I was lucky the vampires of Daxtan don't have problems with witches like the other countries, they would have thrown us out or drank our blood till death. See, I had to miss the Halloween party because of you girls," Rachel concluded.
"B...but I'm not stubborn. I'm a good girl," little Raziel muttered.
"Yes you are a good and bad girl. You never follow instructions." Rachel said,. playfully pinching her chubby cheeks.
"Raziel is always the stubborn girl, haha,"a high pitched laugh came from May.
**Flashback ends**
"Raziel, Raziel," Rani called, breaking her from her thoughts.
"Y..yes?" She answered, turning to face Rani who had a cheerful look on her face.
"What are you doing staring into space like that? The party is becoming interesting and the dance floor is getting filled up already. You should dance today," Rani informed in all smiles.
"I don't wanna dance."
"Don't tell me you're not enjoying the party,"
"I'm not. These parties are so boring. Too bad we're going to be here all night. I'm going to die of boredom. Thank goodness you're here," Raziel muttered.
"Me? I'm going to have fun today. It's my first time at a royal party and I'm going to make it memorable. You should enjoy it too."
A man walked up to the two conversing ladies and smiled at them. He was well dressed and handsome. His golden blonde hair shone brightly and his smile was wide and charming. He looked at Raziel, wanting to ask her for a dance, but when he saw the scary frown on her face, he quickly turned to the smiling lady and stretched his hands.
"Will you have this dance with me, milady?
He asked, giving her a charming smile that made Rani's cheeks shine brighter than the sun.