The ancient J’Amel Cemetery became a strangely vibrant necropolis, a place where death mingled with life and the glittering socialites of young J’Amel competed to throw the most decadent parties. The tombs became private rooms, bands of musicians played on the roofs of mausoleums, and the most devout came painted in dye that glowed in the dark, infused with pulped and boiled jellyfish from the deepest parts of the sea. Over it all stood Father Ash, gaunt in his head-to-toe grey paint and stark white mask, the host of the living who wished to mingle with the dead, elected each year from the ranks of the Charonic Bacchanal Society. Displease Father Ash and he would send an oscario after you, which is like summoning a demon to do one’s dirty work.Not much displeased Father Ash, except to see the living not taking proper advantage of life.Lucia had always avoided the cemetery during Bacchanal, afraid that if she ventured too close she would be pulled in, unable to make herself return to the boring rhythms of normal life.
