Chapter 1

"I'm so excited for tonight's Halloween party!" Mason exclaimed as we strolled to our next class.

 "This is actually my first party ever," I confessed.

 "Are you serious?" He gasped.

 "Yeah, parties aren't really my thing."

 "Oh my god, you're going to have an amazing time, especially since you're going to be with me! Don't worry, it'll be fun," he reassured me.

 "Yeah, I sure hope so." We entered our second-period class and took our seats.

 "So, any plans yet on what you're going as?" Mason asked.

 "I don't know yet. I have a few costume ideas in mind. I was planning to go after school to buy one. Do you want to come with me?"

 "I can't, I have to watch my little sister for a few hours until my mom gets home."

 "Okay, no problem. I can go alone. Just be ready by 7 so you can come pick me up" I opened my notebook.

 "Of course, I'll be ready."

 The teacher walked into the class. "Good morning, everyone."

 "Good morning, Mrs. Bradshaw," the class replied.

 "Open your books to page 105. We're going to continue from yesterday's lesson." I opened my book to page 105 and turned my head to look out the window. Across the street, I spotted a tall figure staring up at me.

 "Mason!" I turned to him. "Look out the window." We both turned, but there was nobody there.

 "What am I looking at?"

 "Um, nothing."

 "Okay?" Mason chuckled and looked back at his notebook.

 I guess it was just my imagination.

 I refocused my attention on the teacher.

 *******************************

 After school, I made my way to the costume store. As I entered, I began to browse the aisles, searching for the perfect costume. I picked up a slutty bunny outfit and held it up to my body.

 "This one's cute, but let me keep looking." I hung it back up and continued my search. The store had so many amazing costumes, making it difficult to choose.

 I spotted a zombie cheerleader costume and picked it up, holding it against my body as I looked in the mirror.

 "This one looks good too." As I glanced at my reflection, I noticed someone outside the window staring at me. I turned around, but they had vanished.

 "Everything okay, ma'am?" the woman behind the counter asked.

 "Uh, yes." I walked up to the counter and set the zombie costume down.

 "That'll be $30."

 I took out my cash and placed it on the counter. She handed me my bag. "Thanks." I left the store and headed home.

 Twenty minutes later, I arrived home to find my mom and dad sitting in the living room, watching a movie.

 "Hey sweetie," my mom greeted me.

 "Hey, Mom."

 "Let me see your costume." She smiled.

 I pulled it out of the bag and showed her. "Zombie cheerleader."

 "I love it."

 "Let's go over the rules for tonight." My dad stood up and approached me. "No drinking, no kissing any boys, no staying out past 12, no talking to any boys—"

 "Peter, she's going to her first party ever, and she's 17, almost 18 in a week. Leave her alone," my mom interrupted.

 "Baby, she's still young, and there are a lot of crazy people out there."

 "I can take care of myself. I have magic for a reason."

 "Well, you can't always rely on magic to save you. There are a lot of bad things that could go wrong with magic."

 "Well, I'm very careful when it comes to it. Don't worry about me, Dad. I'm old enough to take care of myself." I kissed him on the cheek.

 "Okay, fine. Well, I hope you have fun tonight, but you still have to be back by 12."

 "What about one?" I smiled.

 "Fine."

 "Thanks, Dad. I love you!" I ran upstairs to my room and shut the door. I pulled my costume out of the package and tried it on. It looked amazing. All I had left to do was the makeup, and I would be ready.

 I couldn't wait for this party.

 *******************************

 Hours later, I had just finished doing my makeup for the costume, and now I was waiting for Mason to come and pick me up.

 "You look so cute," my mom complimented as I walked down the stairs.

 "It's not supposed to look cute, but thanks." I laughed.

 There was a knock on the door. "That's Mason." I walked over and opened it.

 "A police officer, huh?" I checked out Mason's costume.

 "Yeah, I love it. Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper." He smiled at them.

 "Hello, Mason. I hope you both have fun tonight," my mom replied.

 "We will. We have to go, or we're going to be late."

 "Alright, bye, Mom and Dad." I kissed them both and ran out of the house. We got into his car, and he drove off.

 "I love your costume and the makeup," Mason complimented.

 "Thanks."

 "You should have gone as a witch, so you could do some spells and everyone would think it's just a part of the costume."

 "Nobody from our school is that stupid." I laughed. "And I can't risk exposing myself to everyone."

 "Yeah, but it would have been cool. I still can hardly believe you're a witch. Like, I'm best friends with a witch!"

 I smiled. "I'm just glad I can trust you and you haven't told my secret to anyone."

 "Of course, you can trust me. We've been friends since first grade, and it's always going to be like that."

We arrived at the mansion 30 minutes later, the music thumped loudly. We exited the car and walked inside the mansion. The house was packed with people in a variety of costumes. There were creepy clowns, sexy nurses, gory zombies, etc.

Wow, this place is insane!" I could barely hear myself over the loud music.

"Right?" Mason yelled. "Let's grab some drinks first," He suggested, steering me towards the kitchen. We squeezed through the crowd, dodging bodies and spilled drinks along the way.

I poured myself vodka with cranberry juice while he grabbed a beer.

"You guys made it!" Cristal, Mason's crush walked over to us with a smile.

"Yeah, we were just grabbing ourselves a drink," I replied.

"You guys should come dance with me and a couple of friends."

"I'm gonna finish my drink first, but Mason would love to." I smiled.

"Wha-" Mason paused when he noticed what I did "Um, yeah, sure."

Cristal led Mason onto the dancefloor, leaving me alone in the kitchen. I took a sip of my drink and scanned the room, looking for a familiar face. Across the room, I saw this tall guy dressed as a vampire. He was standing in a corner by himself, His eyes were stuck on me.

I raised an eyebrow and smirked. It seemed like I had caught his attention. Who was this mysterious vampire? I finished my drink in one gulp and decided to approach him, but when I looked back he was gone.

"What the-"

"Ava!" Mason grabbed me "Come and dance with us!"

"Yeah, sure."

He grabbed my hand and led me towards Cristal and her friends and we began to dance with them.

As we danced, I couldn't help but steal glances around the room, searching for that guy. Is he watching me from afar?

As the night went on, the music grew louder and the crowd grew wilder. The club became a swirling mass of bodies, dancing and moving to the beat. Cristal, Mason, and I found ourselves in the middle of the dancefloor, surrounded by strangers, lost in the rhythm. Mason twirled Cristal and she laughed, her voice rising above the thumping music. I couldn't hear anything else she said, but her laughter was contagious. I couldn't help but let out a giggle myself.

Suddenly, the music shifted, transitioning into something slower, more sensual. The lights dimmed, casting a soft glow on the dancefloor. Couples began to sway together, bodies pressed close. I looked over at Cristal and Mason, their bodies moving in perfect sync. They seemed to be in their own world, lost in the intimate connection of the dance. I felt a pang of envy, wishing for someone to share that kind of closeness with. My eyes wandered again, and there he was, the vampire, leaning against the kitchen counter, watching me with intense eyes. I couldn't help but feel a magnetic pull towards him, curiosity mixed with attraction.

He slowly walked towards me as I just stood there waiting for him to approach "May I have this dance?" He held his hand out.

"Uh, sure." I grabbed his hand.

A shiver ran down my spine as he pulled me closer. The warmth of his body radiated against mine, and I couldn't help but feel a tingling sensation shoot through me. The music swirled around us as we moved together, our bodies becoming one with the rhythm. His touch was electrifying, sending jolts of pleasure through my veins. The vampire's hands roamed my body, tracing every curve, igniting a fire within me. 

The vampire leaned in close, his lips grazing my ear "I'm Damien."

"I'm Ava."

"Ava is such a beautiful name." Damien's voice dripped with seduction as he spoke. I could feel his breath tickling my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Thanks. So if you're not from school then where are you from?"

"I'll save that for the next time we meet." He let go of me and took a step back, leaving me slightly disappointed. "Until then, Ava." He winked, turning on his heel and disappearing into the crowd, just as mysteriously as he had appeared.

My heart raced as I watched Damien disappear into the crowd, leaving me breathless and wanting more. I stood there for a moment, the echo of his touch still lingering on my skin.

"Ava, are you okay?" Mason asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I joined Mason again and began dancing.