Marked by Shadows: MM Paranormal Romance Mystery (A Simply Crafty Paranormal Mystery Book 2)

by Lissa Kasey

  She smiled at him and patted his hand, then handed him his pizza. “I think you’re going to love Iron Cosplay. It’s all about thinking on your feet.”

  “Well, ma’am,” Alex said, his southern drawl sounding really heavy in that moment, “As an ex-military man, one of the things I do best is think fast on my feet.”

  I got my pizza and headed back to the table, Alex in tow, the group chatter rising up around us. Everyone was starting to sit and eat, and talk about the upcoming cosplay. Everyone except Melissa.

  “Anyone seen Melissa?” I asked. “She okay?”

  “Haven’t seen her all afternoon,” Nicole said.

  “Police came by earlier,” Julie added. “She went with them.”

  “Did they find Byrony?” Alex asked.

  “I’ve not heard any updates,” Freya said.

  “The police didn’t say anything when they were here,” Julie added. “They just took Melissa with them. I wonder if they think she did something.”

  “Melissa would never hurt Byrony. Didn’t they find Joe already?” Nicole asked.

  “Let’s not dissolve into that mess again,” Freya interrupted. “We’ll find out more when we find out more. For now, let’s focus on food and the evening cosplay.”

  There was a grumble of agreement.

  “Let me run over the rules for all of you while you eat,” Freya said taking her place at the head of the table. Alex nudged me and pointed in the direction of the doorway to the craft room, was the cat back? I couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Maybe last night had been a fluke.

  “Is the cat there?” I whispered.

  “Yes, but she’s a normal looking cat right now.”

  I sucked in a relieved breath and focused on Freya and the rules for the upcoming event.

  Chapter 21

  “Everyone will be broken up into pairs,” Freya began. “To create an even number, I’ll be joining in.”

  “I apologize ahead of time to whomever I’m paired with,” Alex said. “My sewing skills are minimal so far.”

  “But his imagination and enthusiasm is unlimited,” I added, patting his hand.

  “The objective is to create not one, but two identifiable costumes,” Freya continued. “Fully wearable. Judgement will be made on a list of criteria, including workmanship, design, innovation, originality, accuracy, and overall balance.” She passed out copies of a piece of paper which had a list and boxes to check with a one through ten option. “We are peer judged as always. Meaning once the time is up, everyone gets a little runway show and gives score. Ten points to the best in each category. Then we’ll add everything up to designate prizes.”

  “Are we winning as a group then?” Jonah wanted to know. “How does that go for prizes?”

  “Yes, wins are considered group wins. First place gets first choice from the table, and down the list. Hopefully no one will fight over anything in particular. There are a lot of great items on the table,” Freya said.

  There was a murmur of agreement.

  “What’s our timeline?” I asked.

  “We begin at seven,” Freya glanced up at the clock. It was twenty ‘til. “Then we have until ten to complete our projects. I will allow for an extra ten minutes to put them on and ready for the presentation, that includes adding makeup or hairstyling.”

  “Not much time for hairstyling,” Nicole said.

  “Or makeup,” Julie agreed.

  Freya nodded, “All part of the planning. As always, think ahead, plan, converse, and prepare. We all know that final stop in time comes faster than any of us realize.”

  “No kidding,” Chad agreed.

  “Costumes should also be solid enough to wear tomorrow,” MaryAnn added. “The company offering up the fabric and a lot of the prizes wants us to do a little walk through show tomorrow afternoon. It’s nothing but a runway type thing in which they will briefly talk about the fabrics used, but keep in mind they do want to see them.”

  “So we’ll be wearing these in public tomorrow?” Alex asked, his eyes going huge.

  “Yes, but only for a few minutes. They have a changing area in the back of their booth so you won’t have to spend the whole day in costume,” MaryAnn answered.

  “This is so cool,” Nicole said.

  “One of our best contests ever,” Julie added.

  “I have so many ideas,” Jonah said.

  Freya got up and went into the kitchen returning with an empty mug and a sheet of paper. “Let’s draw our partners then. Alex, since you’re the newest to the group, how about you go first?”

  “Oh boy, talk about Johnny on the spot.” He wiped his hands off on a napkin and waited for her to fill the cup with slips of paper and hold it out. He shuffled around for a bit before choosing, then opened it and read it, “Jonah.”

  “Damn!” Jonah said. “I get the hot boy. I can work with that.”

  Alex’s cheeks turned pink.

  Freya held out the cup for me. “Nicole,” I said after pulling my paper.

  She smiled at me. Julie got Chad. And MaryAnn got Freya. That pair would be hard to beat.

  “Everyone finish eating. The fabric is stacked on the table in the craft room and we’ll start exactly at seven, so no talking about costume ideas until then,” Freya said returning to her chair with a huge smile on her face.

  “Good, I need more pizza,” Chad said getting up to rush back to the kitchen.

  “Me too,” Alex added. His plate and the heaping mess of meat he’d put on it was gone. I was still working on mine. “You need anything?” He asked.

  “Another bottle of water please?” I pointed to the dredges left in the one I had.

  “Sure thing.” He vanished back into the kitchen and I went back to eating and staring at the opposite doorway looking for shadows. If the cat was there, I couldn’t see it. Maybe the whole seeing thing had been because I’d been overstressed or special circumstances.

  Alex returned a few minutes later with another pizza, this one covered in more plant things than meat, peppers, olives, mushrooms, pineapple, tomato chunks and even large fresh basil leaves. He handed me a bottle of water. “Okay?”

  “Yeah,” I said, finishing up my pizza.

  “So simple is key you say?” Alex said. “I can’t imagine winning against a group like you. Everyone has been doing this for years.”

  “I’m a bit out of practice.”

  “You still make costumes all the time,” Alex said. “Just finished a few for me.”

  “It’s a little different under pressure.”

  “No kidding!” Alex agreed. “Look at those prizes. I’ve never seen such great stuff for a small group like this.”

  “Sounds like a lot of it came from donations from the company MaryAnn is working with now. Maybe I need some sweet deals like that.”

  “If you can find some quilt companies to do the same. Unless you plan on branching out to apparel fabric in the shop. Not sure where you’d put it.” Alex looked thoughtful. “Most of what you carry now are those folded bundles.”

  “Fat quarter or half-yard bundles,” I said.

  “Right, more terminology, anyway, can apparel fabric be done that way?”

  “In a bundle? Maybe specific to a pattern. Give people the yardage and accessories to make something. I don’t know if it’s ever been done as most people order the knock-off stuff from China that falls apart after one use.” Maybe something basic like the cape. Could that be cost effective if I got a deal on the fabric?

  “You’re thinking,” Alex grinned.

  “You inspire me,” I admitted.

  “Inspired enough to win?”

  “Maybe.”

  “What would you pick if you won?” He asked.

  “I’m hoping for the computer software bundle,” I told him looking at the table. The design software Freya had showed me was added as a pair to the MacBook. I didn’t need the MacBook and that would be one of the first things to be chosen, but I really wanted that software.
Glancing at the specs of the software and I knew I’d need the computer to make it work as my machine was too old. Which was likely why it was set as a bundle.

  “I thought you’d want the sewing machine,” Alex said. “Since it’s fancy and super expensive.”

  “It’s great,” I agreed. “And I’ve always wanted an embroidery machine for some of the projects I work on, but we just got the machine I’ll probably use the most. The Tula machine is more a dream toy than a useful thing to me. In reality I don’t need any of it. I do okay. I could buy any of that.”

  “But that’s not the point of the contest, right? The cool stuff is to motivate us to do our best and win.”

  Maybe. “What would you pick if you won?”

  “The books probably, or the fabric and patterns. Though having my own computer would be nice. I wonder if that machine is too fancy for Chad’s non-profit to use? The kids he taught would get a kick out of that right? Even if it stitches cats or bunnies or something.”

  “Oh,” I looked at him with wide eyes. “That would be way cool. Can you imagine those kids he’s teaching? Have them make something and finish it off with a cool embroidered dragon or something?”

  “Man that would have been sweet when I was a kid.” Alex said. “Maybe make some gnomes for Lukas. Weird how he’s into gnomes and I like dragons. Gnomes are so… weird.”

  “There’s a story behind the gnomes,” I said.

  “Yeah?”

  I glanced up at the clock. “No time for it right now. Less than two minutes before we start.” I got up and cleaned up my plate and cup.

  “Crap.” Alex shoved the last of his pizza in his mouth and got up too, balling up his napkin. He chewed fast and swallowed as we took our stuff to the kitchen. “I need to wash my hands. Any last words of wisdom to share?”

  “Look at the pile of fabric and the first thing that pops into your mind for characters discuss that with your partner. Might be a color or a specific pattern, whatever inspires you and jumps to your attention. The two of you may branch out with ideas but it’s a fast place to start, and gut instinct usually helps. And remember: simple. If you pick a simple costume, putting it together goes fast and you can spend more time on embellishments, hair, makeup, and accessories,” I offered. “It’s the little details that often win this thing.”

  Alex nodded, his eyes scrunched in thought. We both took turns using the small downstairs half bath to wash our hands and then joined the group waiting outside the closed double doors of the craft room. I couldn’t help but feel a bit of anxiety in my gut, so much like excitement that they echoed each other. So close it was almost impossible to tell them apart. I’d have preferred to work with Alex, but maybe it would have hindered me too as my plans for him were never simple.

  Nicole would be easy to work with. She was smart and resourceful. The fact that she was a petite blonde helped keep our options open.

  Freya stood next to the door. “I’m going to open the door, and everyone pick a corner for their group. You’ll have ten minutes to discuss with your partner before the rush for fabric. Then it’s off to the tables. Everyone ready?”

  There was a murmur of agreement. I caught Nicole’s eye and she nodded, moving closer. Jonah pulled Alex away. I had to fight down the urge to grab Alex back, more as my safety blanket than worry Jonah would seduce him. Alex was tuned into me, so he threw me a warm smile and mouthed, “Good luck!”

  Then the doors opened.

  It was a bit of shock of color and fabric. Instead of it being stacked on the cutting table it was on a cart, bright colors, some incredible designs of varied widths, and what I could tell even from a distance was textures. Knits to cottons to leather-looking polyester. It was the fire red that caught my eye first even as I moved around the room, meeting with Nicole and finding a spot. If Alex and I hadn’t spent the trip to the convention the first day discussing anime he’d seen, I might not have been drawn to it. But the fire made me think of Inuyasha. Alex said it had been one of his favorites growing up, especially when Kagomi shouted “Sit, boy!” at him. Which I pointed out wasn’t quite the same in the non-dubbed version, but he didn’t care.

  Nicole turned to me. “Ideas?”

  “Inuyasha and Kagomi,” I blurted, but tried to keep my voice down.

  Nicole glanced back at the fabrics. “All the colors are there, but it’s missing a bit of ‘Wow’ factor.”

  “I was thinking of the ‘Sit, boy!’ thing. So like dog ears and rolling circle over the head.” A single pose could make an outfit. Have one pose mastered, the outfit detailed to fit that snapshot, and you were golden.

  “Oh,” Nicole’s mouth echoed the big O as the idea came together in her head too. “Okay, so we’ll need red, white, and green. I can whip out that school girl outfit in less than an hour. Do you want to be Inuyasha or Kagomi?”

  “Inuyasha,” I said, still not feeling any desire to do the dress thing. Especially not a school girl one. I really hoped Tim and the videos hadn’t ruined that for me forever.

  “Let me pull up some pictures,” Nicole said.

  “Okay, one representative from each group will race to the cart and get what they need in fabric. Thread, beads, buttons, zippers, and other basic supplies are on the box on the table and open to everyone at all times. But get the bolts you need. Once I say ready, set, go,” Freya said.

  “Can we trade fabrics if we need to?” Chad asked. “Since they are full bolts instead of pieces?”

  “Yes. Anything you’re done with put back in the cart and it’s free game.”

  “Sweet,” Jonah said. He looked at Alex. “You want to go or me?”

  “You,” Alex said. “You know more about the texture stuff than me.”

  Jonah nodded and took a stance like he was ready to run a marathon.

  “You or me?” I asked Nicole.

  “You can go. You know what we need.”

  And I did. Those of us from the group lined up near the table, ready to move. Focused on what we needed and waiting for that starting mark.

  “Everyone on your mark. Get ready,” said Freya, apparently MaryAnn was choosing for them. “Go.”

  Everything else faded in that moment other than the fabric and the plans I had. The red was perfect, a linen which would help with the drape, though a little thin, the white was thinner than I expected. I grabbed the green and some muslin to help with the weight of the white and rushed back to Nicole. I held out my finds. “The white is thin,” I remarked.

  “We can make it work.”

  Nicole and I worked side by side. Measuring, cutting, and ironing pieces to ready them for stitching. Thankfully Freya had brought in a few extra sewing machines, so there was one for each group. I had no idea what I would have done if I’d been forced to hand sew everything.

  I glanced up once or twice to find Alex and Jonah huddled together in their area. Alex seemed to be working hard to do what Jonah directed him. The two of them had a heap of green, brown, and orange fabric. I wondered what they’d thought of, but had enough to do that I had to focus on.

  Nicole wasn’t kidding about putting together the school girl outfit. White skirt with green embellishment, white top with green sailor collar, and even the small red accents taken from leftovers of my fabric. Her ease at creating the pleats had me gaping at her for a minute. It was a bit like magic. No pins or struggling to hold the fabric for the skirt in place, she put it under the machine and folded in the pleats as she sewed.

  “Wow,” I told her as I fished the drawstring through the pants I’d finished.

  “What’s wow?” She asked.

  “No pins,” I waved at her.

  “I’ve made thousands of school girl skirts,” Nicole said. “I was worried you’d pick something we had to use lycra or spandex for. I hate both of those fabrics with a passion. Those need pins.”

  I laughed, understanding exactly where she was coming from. “They make great body suits and leggings.”

  “And wobble all over
while you stitch,” she grumbled turning out her corners and pressing her seams together. “Don’t forget we’ll need time for accessories.”

  “I’m on it.” I pointed to a batch of wood beads I’d found. She grinned at me and we continued to work, a rush of mad costume-making science.

  Nicole held up her finds from the wig trunk with a long black wig and a snow white one. “I need to do some styling,” she said. “Do you have the ears ready for yours?”

  I held them up, hoping the white with pink insides stood out enough against the fall of the snowy hair. I also had the headband which would give the little swirly thing often depicted as dizzy in anime.

  “Need to finish stringing the necklace,” I told her.

  She held her hand out for it. “Go change. I’ll need to fix your hair. Mine is easier.” She glanced at the clock. How had it gotten so close to ten?

  “Holy crap! I didn’t realize we were that short on time.”

  “Go change,” she waved at me. I grabbed up the heap of fabric that made up my costume and rushed off to the bathroom. Couldn’t wear my normal clothes under this, even with the billow of the fabric. Too many lines would interrupt the drape. The red had enough stability to it, but the white underlaying was thin and showed too much.

  It took me an extra minute or two to get the ties all in place and adjust it based on the mirror. But it was only one of those waist-high mirrors, so hard to see everything. I raced back to Nicole. She looked me over and nodded. “Shoes off, he’s barefoot most of the time.”

  “Oh,” I said. “Right.” I kicked off my shoes and added them to the pile while she went to change. Nicole reappeared in the schoolgirl outfit and helped me adjust the wig until it stayed, then she clipped the dog ears on, and took a few minutes fiddling with the headband with the spinning thing. If I were more tech-savvy, I might have been able to make it actually spin, however, the best we could do was make it pop up when I pulled a little string. The entire contraption needed to be strung through my costume.

  “Ten minutes until stopping point on the costumes,” Freya called out. “We’ll have an extra ten for hair and makeup, but sewing will have to stop. If you have anything that needs stitching, finish it now.”