The room was decorated in a deliciously macabre manner. Gen was extremely pleased to see her brief had been met as she gave her approval and circled the room. Curtains were black, the floor wooden, the music calm and depressing. Lighting was dim and spooky and the centrepiece of a champagne fountain poured with bubbly delight. To one end of the room appeared to be a shrine to the lost reporter. Flowers and candles covered the table with magazines featuring some of her articles in stands.

One may have presumed the room had been set up as a very bizarre wake after a funeral. It would have been if Lil Snigger had actually existed. As it was, this was an excuse to host one of Witch Weekly’s regular parties, an excuse to drink and socialise and make sure that they remained relevant and popular. Things had gone somewhat sour in the past couple of weeks and Gen was using this as a pick me up for both her staff and any well-connected fans that might like to show up.

By 8 o’clock, the room was filling up with familiar faces, most dressed simply for a party. All Witch Weekly staff were dressed, as instructed, in ornate black clothing. Witch Weekly’s editor wore a floor length black dress with her hair smoothed and neat to fall over her shoulder. Atop her head was a black veil with a thin netting that covered her eyes. In her hand? A glass of champagne from the fountain.

Queen G’s speech/address was due shortly after 8, but for now, she mingled happily. A loud laugh filled the room around her.
“Of course, she didn’t come to her own farewell, sweetie, it would hardly be a party, then would it?”