The Director first saw him in the studio. He must have been one of the extras, in fact, she might have completely overlooked him if she hadn't needed a last-minute fill in for the host of her usual Horror program and she hadn't heard him speak a whisper through the trees that gave her delightful chill. Also, his appearance was unnerving, he was so skinny, his bones poked out of his skin in places, his hair was silver and there was something unsettling about his eyes. "You, fill in for the grotesque ghoul," she said sharply practically dragging him in front of the camera.

He seemed nervous at first and the Director thought she was going to have to do several takes but to her surprise, the boy smiled mysteriously and delivered his lines with an edge of playful menace and a hint of sexuality. She couldn't take her eyes off him, there was a strange kind of allure, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. "Cut, okay kid, dial it back our audience is mostly men," she advised "But otherwise that was tubular," she admitted. "You do any acting?" she asked

"Most of my life," the boy said in an odd tone. Maybe he was trying to make a joke but she couldn't tell.......................

"How would you like being the host?" she asked after they were done.

"I couldn't do that to the grotesque ghoul." The boy shook his head.

"I was thinking more two hosts," the Director stated.

"Ciar! Mrs. Grimm, I'm terribly sorry my nephew is a bit of a handful." Billy Kranston, one of the screenwriters, stammered.

"This is your relative?" the Director asked. "Can you get me his parents on the line?"

"He wasn't causing any trouble," Billy blanched.

"No, I want to offer him a job," she responded.

"Sorry, his mother she... doesn't like him in front of the camera," Billy said.

"Let me talk to her." the Director insisted, she was pretty sure she could persuade the mother. What woman wouldn't want her son to be a star?

"You don't know his mom, I better get my nephew home." Billy started to steer Ciar away, he looked back at the director.

"Goodbye, it was nice meeting you". he said softly..........................................................................

The Director turned to her secretary. "Could you do me a favor and look up Billy Kranston's sister?" she asked.

"He doesn't have any siblings." The Director thanks her and left anger building in her. He lied! Then confusion filled why did he lie? Who was that boy really?.........................................................................................................................

She stood outside the door to Billy's one-room apartment she was about to knock when she heard yelling.

The Director knocked on the door firmly, something was definitely going on.

She waited a minute and then the door creaked open to reveal Ciar the zombie t-shirt he wore was hanging off one of his bony shoulders, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth then vanished as quickly as it came. "Mr. Kranston, I know you're in there are you going to continue to behave in an unprofessional manner or confront me like a man?" the Director demanded.

"Ciar, invite her inside." The silver-haired boy inclined his head and motioned her into the small apartment. The Director sat on the couch trying not to focus on how little room there was between her and the walls.

"Ciar is not your nephew why did you lie to me Mr. Kranston?" she demanded.

"Told you she'd find out," Ciar said in a sing-song voice sitting down beside her the tv was set to low volume in the background.

"Well, I guess the jig is up as they say." Billy Kranston locked the door behind him. "Can you remove your glamour stuff it itches," he added.

Ciar went up to him and appeared to be blowing on Billy a shimmer of something fell to the ground to reveal a grotesque blob with pointy teeth. The Director should of been terrified she should've run for the door her survival instincts screamed at her to do this but instead. She moved closer ignoring common sense

"There, really is a shadow world," the Director breathed.

"And we need creative minds like yours to breathe life into it," Ciar said he stood up and twirled around her with childish enthusiasm.

"They don't appreciate you, giving you specials instead of movies." There was a flash of annoyance in his eyes. "Horror finally has a secure footing in the industry but they've gotten lazy, I want you to help me shake things up." Ciar extended his bony hand.................................

"So you're telling me you're a magical Fairy Muse who has influence over the arts and you want to teach me everything you know and work with me on a big-budget horror movie?" she asked sitting down on the couch. Ciar nodded. "How do I know you're worth it?" The director asked.

Ciar pulled a long list out from his pocket and handed it to her. "Here's a reference," he said.

"That's it?" The Director was baffled.

"It's all I need," Ciar said a matter of factly .............................................................................................

"Hi, this is Madam Grimm, I'm the Director of Flicks from the Swamp. Someone named Ciar is offering me his services."

The response was instant, "Oh Ciar is great, granted I haven't made the deal but he's done some side stuff for me and we have a mutually beneficial relationship," said someone with an Italian accent over the phone.

"Could I get a side job thing, instead?" the Director asked him.

"Why don't you talk to his clients as they say?" the man responded.

"He hasn't given me a list," the Director said with a touch of annoyance.

"No problem your first reference will be here at 12:00 sharp on Monday," the man said. "Goodbye Mrs. Grimm." Then he hung up............................................................

"He's like a magical fairy godfather only instead of a fancy dress and slippers of glass you get your novel on the bestseller list practically overnight. Forget the bloody prince, i've got royalties," the English women sitting across from the Director said.

"Ciar is like an agent, critique partner, creative writing class, and co-writer wrapped into one very bony package. Whatever he can't do he knows someone who knows someone." the other woman explained.

"Does he know anything about film?" the Director asked.

"If it's Horror he knows his stuff," the woman reassured her. "I was skeptical at first. Making deals with magical beings seems like a barmy idea, but it's done wonders for my career."

"Well, I must admit the secrecy surrounding the whole thing is rather exciting," the Director admitted unleashing some of her giddiness. " I know the whole time there's this secret world that few know about. It's like an exclusive club."

The British woman grinned at her. "I'm supposed to tell you when your next reference arrives," she added glancing at her watch.

The Director saw references all that week at different times. There was never a pattern from all different parts of the world each leaving quickly all of them saying when the next one would arrive, each of them had nothing but praise for Ciar's services. She was starting to actually consider the idea as her nine o clock entered the room "I don't think Ciar is for everyone."

The Director straightened up, "Are you displeased with his work?" she asked.

"He's fine as a co-creator" the man admitted.

"I work with lots of people I don't like." the Director stated.

"It's part of the business side of things," the man agreed he looked like he wanted to say more but fell awkwardly silent.........

"Well you have very good references," the Director said. "So what's your price?" she asked him.

"I get to draw on your creative energies, it's my fuel," Ciar explained.

"I didn't even know I had those," the Director responded.

"After a while, you won't even notice," Ciar promised.

"So do I sign in blood?" she joked.

Ciar pulled up the back of his shirt. "Sign here." His body shimmered and suddenly the Director saw transparent images of skulls and coffins dancing behind him and weaving themselves into his hair. The color of his magic was as black as his clothing.

The creature known as Billy placed a pen in her hand.

"I'm not sure your skin is exactly binding." She laughed.

"It's better than your silly little papers," Ciar retorted. The Director sighed and wrote her name on his back his skin shimmered again and Ciar reeled back with a sharp cry his shirt fell back down.

"Ciar!" she grabbed him in concern.

"Fine...it means it worked," the Faerie boy replied brushing her off.

She marveled at his true form his skin paler, his body was more skeletal, his teeth way too white and perfect. A weird mix of the grotesque and human she found her gaze drawn to him even more. She traced her hand over his pronounced cheekbone, his shimmering skin, his bony shoulders his body felt stiff under her touch but far warmer than she expected his cheeks were flushed. "So this means you'll be my horror host?" she asked him.

"You'll be too busy with your own projects to worry about that." Ciar's laugh was a dry rasp.

"Well I'd love to start right now, but it is getting late. First thing tomorrow?" she asked.

"Sure, goodnight." Ciar's tone was polite but to her surprise, he pulled her into a hug. He released her just as quickly a nervousness in his eyes.

She smiled at him in reassurance. "See you tomorrow my Dark Muse," she said.

"Here, Billy can walk you to your car," Ciar said.

"Allow me." Billy made himself look human and opened the door gallantly and let her through. Once the two of them were outside and walking away from the house the creature turned to her." So you're aware of the actual cost?" the creature asked her.

"I was informed about the feeding," the Director remarked.

"What did they tell you?" he asked.

"That Ciar was delightful to work with," she remarked.

Billy laughed a bitter ugly sound. "Ciar is delightful or at least that's what you'll tell your replacement," Billy adds a matter of factly his eyes turning to slits. He reaches out a clawed hand and opens the car door for her.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Ciar's affection is like a sunny day before an endless hail storm..." Billy paused."I'd kill to feel the sun on my face again," he stated a matter of factly. The Director felt her blood freeze. "But then I'd have to compete with your memory," he said as if this was a great bother. "Good night, Madam Grimm." He slammed the car door shut with a chilling finality.

The End