“Is that Madeline?” questioned a cheerfully familiar voice from behind her.

Madeline turned around to find a rather dashing looking Caslon accompanied by a beautiful woman who shared many of his modelesque features. Tall and carrying herself proudly, her long brown hair was styled so it curled softly at the ends, and her skin was tanned and flawless. Her eyes, the same color as her brother’s, were seriously and wise, and her make-up appeared to have been professionally done. However, Madeline was a bit surprised by their matching ears. Unlike the twins, whose ears were of a single color, Caslon and his sister’s ears were multi-colored. The hair inside the front of the ears was a dark ivory, but the backs were black with a thick, horizontal ivory stripe.

So much for her horny rabbit theory.

The twins suddenly sat up straight. They knew Caslon and his sibling.

“I’m so glad you came!” he beamed, clearly elated Madeline was attending. “Let me introduce my lovely sister, Tiff.”

Madeline stood immediately and offered Tiff her hand. For a moment, Tiff assessed her with disdain, to the point where Madeline assumed her greeting was going to be refused.

“Tiff...” Caslon scolded, looking down at her disapprovingly.

Reluctantly, Tiff shook Madeline’s hand.

“You’ll have to forgive her. She doesn’t trust you. She thinks you aren’t worth Levi’s time,” Caslon explained regretfully.

Tiff glared as she released her hand, leaving Madeline to wonder why. Caslon mentioned weeks ago that Tiff wouldn’t like her. Was she an ex-girlfriend of Levi’s? Even if that were true, Madeline was not involved with Levi. And she was human, which in her own mind would have made her even less of a threat. She knew little of Tiff, but she didn’t seem the type who’d feel challenged by someone like Madeline.

“But she just doesn’t know you yet,” Caslon continued, trying to patch up the uncomfortable atmosphere. “Oh! What do you think of my ears!”

Caslon grinned widely and lowered his head down for Madeline to see. He was so excited to show them to her.

“Go ahead, you know you want to,” he whispered temptingly as he wiggled them at her.

Madeline stopped herself. As much as she would love to touch them, she didn’t even move her hand an inch. It felt like it would be extremely ill-manner to do that in public.

“Maybe some other time,” she forced a smile.

“Ooo,” Caslon purred. “That sounds like something I can take you up on later.”

Tiff smacked her brother bluntly on the head and then dragged him away toward the dance floor.

“You seem to know a lot more people than the rest of us,” Scott said as Caslon and Tiff walked away. The twins nodded in agreement.

“A few,” Madeline smiled innocently as she sat back down.

“Can I get you a drink?” Scott offered.

“Yes, thank you.”

At the bar that stretched along the right side of the room, Maseo and Levi stood observing.

“Looks like she’s enjoying herself,” Maseo said to Levi while sipping a martini glass half full of a thick crimson liquid. “A proper lady.”

“She hasn’t started drinking yet,” Levi gave a throaty chuckle, recalling her past misbehaviour as the bartender set down two napkins behind him, placing a white russian on one, and a glass of sake on the other. As Levi turned around to grab the drinks, his friend’s words stopped him.

“You might as well leave that white russian right here,” Maseo snickered, pointing out Levi’s bad timing. “Looks like her friend has beat you to it.”

From a distance, Levi watched Madeline’s delightful expression as she spoke with the trying-too-hard-to-be-fashionable young vampire. The smug guest had ordered her favorite drink and was flirting up. He could tell Scott was attracted to her because even vampires put out desire, as unappetizing as it was.

“Who is that kid?” Levi asked Maseo.

“Not really sure,” Maseo answered with a shrug. “His sire’s name isn’t familiar, and his clan isn’t any allied or at odds with mine. European. I can find out more if you’re interested.”

“Don’t bother,” Levi said firmly. “All I needed to know was that he’s no one important.”

Taking his drink from the bar but leaving Madeline’s, Levi headed toward the sponsor area. Sitting in the open seat on the other side of her, he propped his polished black dress shoes up on the cocktail table and took a sip of his sake.

Madeline took note of the twins’ response. They had shown proper respect to Caslon and his sister, but they appeared terrified of Levi. It became obvious they weren’t expecting him to slum it with the sponsors.

“Good evening Mr. Leviticus, sir,” Kane said with a shake to his voice.

“It is an honor to meet you,” Keith added.

Levi raised his glass as if to toast them.

“Boys,” he acknowledged.

“Scott, this is Leviticus,” Madeline introduced, still taken aback by the reactions of the twins. “My mentor.”

“I sort of gathered that,” Scott replied to her while studying Levi, unimpressed. “Nice to meet you.”

“Having fun?” Levi asked Madeline.

“Yes, thank you,” she replied politely. “Did you see Caslon? He’s here with his sister.”

“Yep, although I haven’t talked to him yet. I’ve been hanging out with Maseo at the bar.”

Madeline remembered her disastrous night. She definitely owed Maseo an apology. One of her goals this evening was also to show Maseo she was more mature and in control than she had previously led on.

“You know Maseo?” Scott asked, his interest suddenly peaked.

“Yeah, why?” Levi asked casually, taking another sip of sake. He was interested how Scott knew about him when Maseo himself had no idea who Scott was affiliated with.

“No reason, just that I’ve been told he’s a model example of what my kind should strive to be. Having a good rotation of donors, knowing when to blend in and when to move on. Stuff like that.”

“The most important thing you could learn from him, I would think, would be control,” Levi corrected.

“Sure,” Scott agreed as if he was just appeasing Levi, much how an self-assured adolescent would agree to an adult just to get them to stop talking. “Hey, Madeline? Do you want to leave the kiddie table with me and go dance? I promise you’ll have a good time.”

“Okay,” Madeline smiled enthusiastically as she set her drink down on the table and stood up. “Be back in a bit, Levi.”

As they walked away hand in hand, Levi’s left ear twitched. He glanced towards the bar, locking eyes with Maseo who was now approaching. The Asian vampire grinned as he joined Levi, sitting in the seat once occupied by Madeline. By the way Levi’s eyes were tracking the couple, no doubt listening in on every word with his excellent hearing, Maseo could tell he was fuming underneath his perfect exterior.

“That kid has some gigantic balls,” Maseo commented, observing the pair as they got into position on the dance floor. “Or he has no idea who you are.”

“For Madeline’s sake, I am assuming the latter,” Levi deadpanned. “Because if I assume the former, the rest of his night would be very uncomfortable.”

On the dance floor, the atmosphere was poppy and upbeat with bright and colorful lighting, a sharp contrast to last time she was here. Madeline was also surprised to see everyone on the dance floor actually smiling too, no seductive or haughty looks. If she ignored the various ears and occasional tails she saw every once and a while, it had all the makings of what she would consider a fantastic night out. As she danced, she stole glances at the other guests partaking of the music. She could see Tiff and Caslon dancing across from each other as they talked, clearing catching up. She wasn’t sure how long Tiff was away, but Caslon treated her like he hadn’t seen her in awhile, meaning her primary residence wasn’t here. Off to their left, a girl with the most beautiful golden-blond, glitter covered curls caught Madeline’s eye. Her perfect ringlets dazzled with every bounce of movement she made, painted in shimmering pastels by the overhead swirling lights. Enchantingly beautiful, her ruby red lips smiled incurably at her dance partner, which Madeline recognized as the DJ she saw the last time she was here. Ditching the street clothes, he looked just as perfectly comfortable in a classic tuxedo, which complimented the girl’s long sleeved, body hugging, red velvet dress. They reminded her of an iconic prom couple, all glow and joy, with eyes only for each other. Their affection for one another was permeable, and Madeline couldn’t help but smile as she watched them.

“So are you from here?” Scott asked above the music, trying to draw Madeline’s blue eyes back on him.

“In a roundabout way, yes,” Madeline answered. “I’m from the Northwest. And you? You don’t look like you’re a local.”

“How can you tell?” Scott smile inquisitively.

“Well for one, that suit is pretty flashy for around here,” she began, her comment coming across kindly, rather than degradingly. “And your hair is too trendy. You don’t have an East coast accent, so I am guessing you are from somewhere down South. California perhaps?”

“What a little detective you are,” Scott complimented. “You are correct. Rolling Hills, to be more exact.”

“Is that where your sire is from as well?”

“Oh no, no, no,” Scott laughed, shaking his head as if the very idea was preposterous. “He is from overseas. Europe to be more specific. You’re probably wondering how that happened. Well, we first met at a party much like this...”

Suddenly, an arm slipped gently around her waist, pulling her slowly away from her dancing partner. She spun quickly, fists clenched tightly at her sides and ready to give whomever touched her an earful.

It was Levi.

“Pardon me,” he blushed dramatically, “But I need to introduce you to a few people. Do you mind?”

Her anger now completely defused, Madeline took a deep breath and smiled.

“Sure,” she agreed, but not without first excusing herself from Scott. “Save me a dance for later?”

He crossed his arms and nodded, openly displeased with what just happened.

Levi offered his arm and pulled her in close, making sure Scott noticed the lack of personal space between them.

“Nice reflexes, by the way,” he praised in a whisper. “Much better than letting yourself be taken advantage off when someone invades your space like that.”

“Thanks?”

He led her back over to the bar, where Maseo stood chatting with a tall gentleman who was dressed more like a bartender than a guest. His long red hair was a bit lighter than her own, gathered at the nape of his neck in a black satin bow. Both men turned to greet Madeline and Levi as they approached.

“Ah, my dear Madeline,” Maseo smiled warmly, putting her at ease despite the fact she had been tense all evening about apologizing to him regarding her past foolishness. “You look absolutely stunning.”

“Thank you,” she smiled shyly. There was something in the way he talked that made her feel that he really meant what he said, and that it wasn’t an empty compliment. “About the other night, I really…”

“Shhh, don’t be silly. It’s not the first time, nor I hope the last, that a beautiful lady will be tipsy in my presence. Think nothing of it.” He then extended his hand out in introduction to the man on his right. “This, my dear, is my very old and trusted friend, Terrant Delacroix.”

The pillar of a man placed one hand to his chest as if making a pledge of the heart, and the other he extended out to Madeline in a greeting. As she placed her hand in his, he brought it up to his tepid lips, bowing politely. Considering how he was introduced by Maseo, the firmness and lukewarm temperature of his skin, Madeline concluded he was probably another vampire. He looked much older than Maseo, likely in his mid-thirties, and his bronze eyes exemplified tenacious wisdom.

“It is a pleasure,” he smiled earnestly as he released her hand and straightened his posture. “How are you liking the party?”

“It’s definitely different than most I’ve been to,” Madeline replied honestly.

“A wise choice of words. Most of us here are good people, so do feel safe enough to enjoy yourself. There are eyes on you, yes, curious because you are human. But there are also protective eyes on you,” Terrant winked, implicating himself and the others around him.

“Except for those eyes,” Levi pointed out the approaching couple that Madeline was admiring earlier. “They only watch out for each other.”

“What did I tell you about your half-truths, Levi?” the girl with the china doll like complexion scolded.

“That they make me sexy?”

The girl’s date was obviously not amused with Levi’s toying words.

“No, I said that they can sometimes be confusing to people.”

“But isn’t that the whole point?”

The girl and her date glared at Levi in unison.

“And this is Gwen and Michael,” Terrant interjected.

“I remember you were DJing last time I was here,” Madeline said to Michael taking his outstretched hand and shaking it. “I liked your selections.”

Michael pressed his lips together firmly, beamed a smile of gratitude, but said not a word.

“We are the current house band,” Gwen enlightened. “Maseo, Terrant, Michael, and myself. Maybe later when things loosen up, we’ll play.”

Michael’s eyes brightened, and he looked at Maseo and Terrant expectantly.

Maseo tilted his head to the side, and scanned the crowd as if taking a head count.

“There are a few guests that would need to leave first,” he answered Michael’s unvoiced plea. “But after that, I’m up for some mischief.”

“Yes!” Gwen smiled, clapping her hands together in excitement, her sparkling curls bouncing in joy.

Madeline turned to look at Levi, lost in the event unfolding before her, and watched as a slow and devilish grin spread from one corner of his mouth to the other. Even his eyes twinkled with wicked delight. He was undoubtedly excited about the promise of mischief.

“Well then, you know the drill,” Terrant said, shooing both Gwen and Michael back in the direction of the dance floor. He noticed Madeline was still confused and nodded for Levi to take her away.

Laying his arm on her shoulder, Levi directed her away from the bar and over to where the food was being served.

“So what just happened there?” she asked in a low voice as Levi handed her a plate. “I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t get any of that last bit.”

“You weren't supposed to,” Levi responded as he sniffed at the hors-d'oeuvres table, looking for something to eat that satisfied his disconcerting palette. “As fun as this party is, it is stuffy. In a couple of hours, that will change.”

“As in spiking-the-punch?” Madeline asking, slowing starting to realize what they were talking about.

“Spiking the what?” Levi asked.

“It’s a human term. At boring social functions, someone would pour alcohol in a communal…”

“Haha, I was only joking” Levi interrupted. “I know what that means.”