"I've never been to a Halloween party before, Alex," Rhusalka mused aloud as she brushed out her long blond hair. "It's going to be so much fun! And I've never been to Esperanza before either. Have you?"
"Been to a Halloween party, or been to Esperanza?" Alex questioned as he walked past her into the bedroom.
"Both."
"Yes I've been to a Halloween party," he replied with a grin as he watched her reflection in the mirror. She looked so beautiful. She'd decided to take the familiar route for her costume--although she would most likely be showing her real tail later. She had picked out a lovely blue halter and a long skirt that flounced at the bottom. "No, I haven't been to Esperanza. They say it's quite unusual."
"Then I'll fit right in." Frowning she turned to look at him. "How do I look, really? Am I as fat as I feel? Maybe I should wear a burlap sack instead."
Sighing, Alex went to comfort his wife. At three months pregnant she actually looked about six and a half. She was definitely showing, and he thought her expanding belly was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen.
"You look lovely, sweetheart," he assured her as he pulled her against him. "You are not fat. You are pregnant. And this costume is perfect for you."
"Really?" she sniffed as she turned in his embrace to look again at her reflection. Tiny pearls and ribbons were braided into her golden waves, and around her neck she wore a pearl necklace.
"Really," he whispered, starting to nibble the back of her neck.
She giggled as the nibbles became ticklish. "Oh Alex, I only wish you had a costume to wear."
"What can I say, love?" he shrugged. "I just couldn't find anything."
Secretly he was glad. He had never been one who enjoyed playing dress up, especially in front of lots of people.
Kissing her soundly he said, "It's a bit cool out. Let me get your wrap and my coat."
Turning back to the mirror, she could see his reflection. Thus she saw his strange expression when he opened the closet door.
"What is it?" she called over her shoulder.
"Um, I'm not sure," he replied hesitantly.
Thoroughly intrigued as to what could possibly be in their closet, Rhusalka hurried to her husband's side. Hanging in the closet with their clothes, she saw a long, red, ermine-trimmed robe. Draped over the hanger was what suspiciously looked like a king's silver crown.
"Well where did that come from?" she asked curiously.
"I don't know, it wasn't there before," he replied dumbfounded.
"Look at this," Rhusalka said as she spied a small piece of parchment pinned to the robe. "What does it say?"
Peering at the note he read, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18."
Studying Alex's expression carefully she ventured, "What does that mean?"
Alex's shoulders slumped and he let out a humorless laugh. "Unbelievable. The costume, the note--they refer to King Lear."
"King Lear?" she questioned.
"One of William Shakespeare's most prideful kings," he smiled wryly. "Obviously someone is trying to tell me something."
"I don't understand," Rhusalka said impatiently. "Who is this Lear person and why would he need to tell you anything?"
Letting out a deep breath he took the robe and crown from the closet and laid it across the bed. Then he took Rhusalka by the hand and sat down beside her.
"Before I came here," he began ruefully, "I was rather cocky."
"Cocky?"
"Arrogant. Prideful. Whatever you want to call it," he smirked. "I did very well in Medical School without really trying. Things seemed to come easily, and I guess I was a bit...full of myself."
"Oh," she said softly. "That doesn't sound like you at all Alex. I never would've thought that about you."
He smiled. "The note mentioned pride coming before a fall. Well, I fell. Hard. Something happened and I was thrown back to square one. I had to do it all over again, and this time, I had to work for it."
"And you succeeded," she smiled, cupping his face with her hand. It was moments like these when she was so proud of him!
"Yes," he admitted. "And the success was all the sweeter for having worked for it. I'm glad I learned my lesson. Lear wasn't so lucky."
"What happened to him?" she asked, motioning toward the royal robe.
"Oh he went mad, had his eyes gouged out and finally died a horrible death," he grinned.
"How horrid!" she exclaimed jumping up from the bed.
Alex laughed at the look of disgust on her pretty face. But he also realized there were many things from his past that he hadn't told her about. And he wanted her to know everything. Resolving that they should talk later tonight, he said, "Well, at least I have a costume to wear to the party. Hopefully the significance won't be as obvious to everyone else who sees me."
***
"I've never seen anyone look so good in a sheet," Jacinda mused aloud as she watched Adam's reflection in the mirror.
"It's not a sheet," he protested indignantly, "it's a toga."
She grinned but didn't say anything as she continued to brush out her hair. He'd been pretty adamant about what he wanted to wear to the Esperanza Halloween party. No mysterious vampire or lustful highwayman for him--he'd chosen to go as Socrates.
From the pictures she'd seen of the elderly scholar, Adam looked nothing like him. But he had insisted and who was she to tell him otherwise? He really *did* look good in that toga.
"I have to say, Gabrielle would be proud," Adam said, referring to Jacinda's costume. Her chosen outfit consisted of the short brown leather skirt and forest green suede halter that she'd acquired during her brief stay with the Amazons. Knee-high boots and leather hair ties completed the ensemble.
"Yeah, you're just glad I decided on this and not the Adam and Eve thing," she laughed as he came to stand behind her.
Kissing her bare shoulder he said, "I will do many things for you, love. Wearing a fig leaf is not one of them...at least not in public."
"So you'll wear it for me later then?" she asked arching an eyebrow.
"Perhaps," he intoned. "If I'm properly motivated."
"Oh believe me, you will be," she grinned as she playfully swatted his bum. "You ready?"
"I'm always ready," he smirked.
"To go to the party," she clarified with a long-suffering sigh.
"Oh that, sure," he replied gleefully. "Just let me get one more thing."
Jacinda threw a cape around her shoulders as Adam went to the closet. When he withdrew a silver goblet she exclaimed, "Where did you get that?"
"Just a little something that managed to come to Edan with me," he explained as he ran a finger reverently around the rim. "I've always been a bit of a packrat."
"It looks old," she said as she studied the cup in his hand. "Where did you get it?"
Adam said nothing, only held the goblet in both hands as if in a gesture of offering. Suddenly it all came together.
"Adam, you carried the cup to Socrates?" she asked amazed. He never ceased to surprise her!
He nodded gravely. "It was one of the most difficult things I've ever done."
He looked up at her and continued, "I was a servant of the jailer at that time. All Rome was talking about the infamous Socrates. Either he was the greatest scholar and philosopher they had ever seen, or he was the most dangerous corrupter of youth since anyone could remember."
"Did you know him well?" she asked coming around the sit on the side of the bed.
"I'd heard him speak on several occasions. The ideas he had--they were so new," he said shaking his head. "And that's why he frightened a lot of people."
"So they had to get rid of him," she sighed.
"When I was summoned to bring the cup," he said hesitantly, "I silently pled with him to run. With Crito and Apollodorus' help he certainly could have overpowered one jailer and his unprotesting servant."
Adam paced a bit, still looking at the cup in his hands. Then he looked at her. "His bloody honor got in the way though. Running would have made him a coward. Sounds like a stubborn Scot I know."
"And you've kept it all these years," she said, motioning to the goblet.
"I needed to be reminded of it," he replied matter-of- factly. "Reminded of what happens when the world becomes too close-minded."
Jacinda smiled and went to him, putting her arms around his neck. "I think he would be honored by what you're doing tonight."
After thinking it over for a few moments, he brightened. "Yeah, I think you're right. Socrates liked a good party as well as the next fellow."
"Let's go then, my reverend scholar," she said, tugging at his hand. "Did I ever tell you how much wisdom turns me on?"
Kissing her he replied, "Then you're in for real treat tonight, my love."
