By Lantern Light

“Frank!” Fatima exclaimed, running into the house with her bags full of candles and lanterns, stopping in front of the Bearly that was eating his normal round of dango, stopping to stare at his owner as she stood in front of him wiggling happily.
“It’s All Sinner’s Day!” She bounced up and down then rocked back and forth, as Frank stared at her before tilting his head.
Fatima giggled before sitting on the couch and removing a candle, holding it up to the imp.
“Well, I’ve never heard of it until now but Demitri explained it to me this morning! You see, every October Burrowgatory sets up lots of candles to welcome the demons and make it look even more hellish down here! They also wear these things called costumes.” She explained, tail practically wagging behind her now.
“Do you know what that means?!” She squealed then sprang from the couch spinning around.
Frank shook his head as he munched on another stick of dango.
“It means… I get to see Master Evanadeel again!” Fatima squealed then jumped up and down, placing her hands on her cheeks as her cheeks warmed, her tail wagged, and she wiggled.
“Oh my Murmur oh my Murmur, oh my Murmur!” She was now stomping her hooves on the ground in excitement as Frank continued to stare.
He had no idea what his owner was talking about or who this Evanadeel person was but he did like seeing his owner happy, so he gave a few happy growls in response to show that he was listening.

Fatima giggled again then sat on the couch, gently picking Frank up and setting him on her lap so she could pet his head.
“Ahh, I can’t wait for you to meet him. He’s so wonderful. The best Master ever. I think you’ll like him.” She nods firmly then looks around the living room.
“I don’t know if he’ll be staying with us though. My bed’s too small for him. I heard that there’s this hotel set up for demons who wanna visit but I don’t know if that’s true. I haven’t seen many demons down here. Maybe he can shrink his height? I remember he was way taller than I am.” She says, sighing wistfully, gently rubbing Frank’s ears.
Frank softly huffed and leaned into the ear rubs.
“But before all of that, he needs to find where I live first. Do you think he knows already? I wonder if he’s been watching me this whole time. I wonder how long he’s gonna even stay for.” Fatima sighed and gazed out of the nearby window and up at the crystals.
“Do you wanna help me set up the lanterns? I’m not sure if the crystals are gonna be dimmed or not or if they can be dimmed for this but just in case we’re gonna need some lights.”
Frank nodded as he finished off the last of the dango he was eating.
“Great! We’ll start with the ones that need to put some around the house.”
Frank wiggled off of Fatima’s lap then waddled his way over to the bags, trying to peek inside as Fatima started to remove them.

Fatima hummed softly as Frank sat on her shoulder while she set up the lantern in the living room.
The lantern was made out of iron and there was glass around it with a single candle inside.
“It’s a pretty plain lantern but I saved the best one for outside. That way Master Evan can find us! Since, I think that everybody is gonna have the same lanterns outside.” She explained, using a lighter to light the candle
“Hmm, if we put one in the kitchen do we light the candles now or only when we need to use it?” Fatima tilted her head in thought.
Frank also tilted his head in thought, his large white eyes blinking slowly a few times.
“Maybe I should put a candle in the kitchen instead of a lantern. What do you think, Frank?”
Frank nodded a few times, as Fatima made her way towards the kitchen, placing a candle and a lighter on the counter.

After setting up the kitchen, Fatima and Frank moved towards the washroom and bedroom.
“Definitely gonna need lanterns in here. We don’t want the water to douse the candles or to get burned, now do we?” Fatima reached up and petted Frank’s head, before placing some lanterns on the counter in the washroom, then placing two on the end tables near the bed, then promptly moving the end tables a bit away from the bed.
“Just in case Master Evan can actually fit in the bed.” She laughed nervously and her cheeks flushed.
“Speaking of Evan, if he does stay here I might have to move your bed…”
Frank stared at Fatima in the most judgemental way an Imp could at that statement.
“It’s not because you did anything bad I promise! It’s more of a precaution.” She gently picked him off her shoulder and held him out in front of her face.
“You see Frank, Master Evan is kind of… uhm…” Her eyes shifted from side to side before returning her gaze to her Imp.
“He’s a lust demon you see and I know you like to get your sleep. You are a little prince after all and princes need their beauty-rest.” She nods firmly then gently boops his snoot, making the Bearly sneeze then shake his head.

Fatima’s next stop was her collection room.
“Hmmm, maybe I could set up your bed in here! There’s lots of room and it’s far enough away from the bedroom. I just have to figure out where to put the lantern…” She scans the room with her brown eyes, tail swaying from side to side.
“Oh I know! I can put it on this shelf! You’ll just have to remind me to light it before I go to bed every night so you can see. Oh and in case you wanna come and snuggle while he’s here, I’ll set a few lanterns down that lead to the bedroom so you can see. Just don’t let him squish you if you decide to try.” She said, gently petting the Bearly’s head again.
“Now the last place we have to put a lantern is outside and then we’ll be done! Then, we can walk around Burrowgatory and look at all the candles they set up while taking a trip to the store. I need to buy some things for Evan's visit.”

Entering the living room, Fatima grabbed the last lantern and held it up smiling.
This lantern looked the same as every other lantern she had purchased save the designs on the glass.
They were simple swirls with dots above them.
“The store I got this from said these are decorative lanterns. The designs are kind of transparent for the light to shine through and it casts fancy shadows. It’s simple but, I think it’s different enough, don’t you?” She asked, placing the candle inside then heading outside.
“We’re gonna keep this lantern lit until Evan shows up. Since, I’m not sure there’s a way to contact him from here.”
After lighting the lantern, Frank helped Fatima place it upon the hook near the door, by standing on her shoulders and leaning forward, trying to help her lift it with his little paws.
“Make sure you don’t fall.” Fatima says, smiling softly as she watches Frank waddle his way onto her arm carefully.
“There. I think we got it. Good job, Frank.” She steps back and stares at the lantern, picking Frank up and cradling him in her arms.
“I hope this actually works. Otherwise I’ll just have to stand out here every day and wait for him to show up.”
Frank gently patted Fatima’s arm then gently bumped his head against it.
Fatima chuckled. “I’m guessing you wanna wait for him with me then?”
Frank nodded then bumped his head against her arm again.
“Thanks Frank. You’re the best.” She lifted the Bearly to her cheek and nuzzled him.