Page 7 of Rescued By the Vexed Vampire

Bethany

The Halloween party was in full swing by the time I arrived, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement as I stepped through the ornate iron gates of the old Victorian mansion. The entire place was draped in fog, the dim glow of jack-o’-lanterns flickering eerily along the winding pathway leading to the front door. I was already feeling alive—well, maybe too alive, considering I was dressed as an angel. I had the wings, even if they were fake for the time being at least, and the halo, even if it was slightly crooked. What could I say? Perfection continued to evade me.

I adjusted the feathered wings on my back, which were a little too big for me and kept brushing up against people as I walked. But tonight, none of that mattered. Tonight, I waspart of something larger, something festive, something spooky and magical. The excitement in the air was contagious, and the partygoers were all dressed to the nines in their costumes.

It was like stepping into another world. Fake torches lined the walls, casting flickering shadows that made the whole place look like a haunted castle. Skeletons leered from the corners, spiders hung from cobwebs that were so well-placed it made me wonder if they were fake at all, and eerie portraits seemed to follow me with their eyes as I moved. Whoever had decorated this place had gone all out, and the effect was breathtaking. Almost...too real.

“Bethany!” Noah’s voice cut through the foggy air, and I spotted him standing by the candy table, waving me over with one of his glittering, fake-nailed hands.

I couldn’t help but grin when I saw him. Noah had really outdone himself tonight. He was in full drag, his alter ego, Miss Scrumptious, making a grand appearance in a hot pink sequin-covered gown that sparkled under the dim lights. His makeup was flawless, his wig styled to perfection, and his presence commanded attention as he twirled for the guests. The best part was the energy he exuded—like he was born for this kind of party.

I hurried over to join him at the candy display, which I had helped design with his and Alice’s encouragement. I beamed with pride as I looked at our handiwork. The table was a dazzling spectacle, filled with every kind of sweet imaginable. We had towering jars of candy corn, caramel-dipped apples with chocolate drizzle, and perfectly frosted cookies shaped like ghosts and witches. But the pièce de résistance was Noah’s secret addition—his own handcrafted chocolates and sugar sculptures, hidden among the corporate-approved sweets. Eachone was a miniature masterpiece, glistening under the party lights, and I couldn’t believe how lucky we were to have him.

“I see you’ve smuggled in your creations,” I teased, nudging him lightly.

Noah winked. “You know me. I couldn’t resist showing off a little. Corporate recipes be damned.”

He tossed his head back, letting out a theatrical laugh as his partner, Gary, arrived at the table, dressed as Sherlock Holmes. Gary was a small, bald man, but his energy was boundless. He sidled up to Noah, wrapping an arm around him, and together, they made quite the pair.

Gary gave me a playful grin. “You look amazing, Bethany! If I didn’t know better, I’d say you really were an angel.”

I laughed, giving a twirl so my wings flared out behind me. “Thanks! I feel pretty angelic tonight, except for this thing.” I tugged at the crooked halo on my head, trying to straighten it to no avail. “It’s got a mind of its own.”

Noah shook his head, smiling fondly at me. “Leave it. It adds character. Besides, no one’s looking at your halo—they’re too busy admiring your candy table, girl.”

I glanced down, unsure whether he meant the actual candy table or my very prominent cleavage—a little too prominent for my liking as I discovered only after I’d donned the costume an hour before the party was scheduled to start. However, it had been too late to exchange it for a different size so instead I threw on a pearl choker, hoping it would draw people’s gazes upward, and prayed that my girls would stay put.

“I’m just glad it turned out so well,” I said, stepping back to admire the display one more time. “But Alice should get the credit, too. She worked so hard on the setup.”

“She’s the unsung hero of the shop,” Noah agreed. “Too bad she couldn’t make it tonight. But mom duty calls, and those kids of hers need her more than we do. Maybe you could help me convince her though to let me give her a makeover. Can’t you just see her as a strawberry blonde?”

“Well,” I said, grabbing one of the candy apples, “here’s to, wherever she is.”

Noah raised his bubbling drink in salute, and I clinked my apple against his glass before taking a big, satisfying bite. The combination of caramel and chocolate melted in my mouth, and I nearly swooned.

“Bethany,” Gary said, pulling me from my candy-induced bliss. “You should go mingle. We can man the table. It’s not every day we get a party like this. Maybe you’ll meet someone special.”

I rolled my eyes but smiled. “Maybe. Or maybe I’ll just eat all the snacks and enjoy the decorations.”

Gary chuckled and gave Noah a playful nudge. “She’s playing it cool, but I have a feeling something exciting is going to happen tonight. Mark my words.”

With that, Noah and Gary turned to pass out more treats, leaving me to wander the party on my own. I drifted through the crowd, feeling lighter than I had in months. The music was infectious, a mix of eerie, haunting melodies and upbeat tunes that made my feet itch to move. I danced for a while, twirling under the dim lights, my wings brushing against other dancers, but I didn’t care. I felt...free.

The mansion was huge, and the further I wandered, the more elaborate the decorations became. The severed hand on the dining table caught my eye—until it twitched, crawling afew inches before settling back into place. I blinked, shaking my head. “Just a really good prop,” I whispered to myself.

The portraits on the walls seemed to follow me with their eyes, which was definitely unnerving, but the atmosphere was so perfect that I couldn’t help but appreciate the effort. Whoever had designed this haunted house knew what they were doing. As I passed a statue of a ghoul holding a bloody knife, I shivered. It almost seemed to breathe.

Get a grip, Bethany, I told myself, wiping my slightly damp palms on my dress. This place was just playing tricks on me, that was all. I kept telling myself that as I grabbed another drink from the bar, this one swirling with smoke and glowing an unnatural shade of green.

As I sipped, I wandered back to the candy table to see how Noah and Gary were doing, only to find Noah had brought out the pièce de résistance—chocolate brownies. He winked at me as I approached, cutting me a generous slice.

“You deserve this,” he said with a grin. “For all your hard work.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” I said, taking the brownie and savoring the first bite. Rich, decadent, and oh so satisfying.

With the taste of chocolate still lingering on my tongue, I spun back out onto the dance floor, joining the crowd. For a moment, everything felt perfect—like I was floating on a cloud. The combination of music, dancing, and just enough alcohol had me buzzing with energy. I felt...alive…Happy.

That’s when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to find a man in a mask standing behind me, his eyes shadowed beneath a sleek black disguise. He didn’t say a word, just smiled and pulled me into the rhythm of the dance.

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