Dakota saw Mike again. He invited her and her guest to a party the next night. She freaked out, but he told her it was a masquerade for Halloween. She nodded and headed off with Jeff to feed. They found their prey shortly after and feed. Dakota made a mess of herself because she was still weak from the staking. She had some blood running down her chin and did not know it was there. Jeff stalked over and licked it. In mid-lick, Dakota lifted his head and stared into his eyes. After a moment of motionless silence, Jeff was upon her, kissing away all her fears and pain. Dakota forgot all about her pain and the dizziness from the blood. She was content in Jeff’s arms. She stumbled backwards and leaned on a wall behind her, her mouth never losing contact with Jeff’s. Dakota pulled her head back. Jeff looked at her questioningly. Dakota put a finger to her lips and Jeff knew what it was. There was somebody in the alley. Dakota pulled her lips back as she recognized the fowl stench of alcohol. "Jared," she breathed. At this name, Jeff grabbed a knife out of his pocket. He flipped out the blade as Jared stepped into the light. "So, I see the whore is decent enough to seduce people out of the view of others. She has stepped up." Jeff looked at the man with hate in his eyes. "What kind of man are you that you have to attack women? From behind at that? Have you no soul?" Jeff hissed. Jared took a step closer not seeing the blade in Jeff’s hands. Jared shoved Jeff, but Jeff did not budge. Dakota stepped out from behind him and Jared raised his hand to attack her. Dakota stood ready to receive the blow. The moment Jared raised his hand, Jeff flipped him to the ground and held the knife to his throat. "Never hit a lady bastard. For hurting my Dakota you have stirred a wrath of that in imaginable. You have signed your ticket to hell via the blood express. Not only will I hunt you, but four others as well. Watch your step. He’s something to remember us by," Jeff calmly remarked slashing his face. He picked up Dakota and ran for his bike. The two raced home.

It was near dawn when Dakota fell asleep. Jeff was breathing silently in his room down the hall thinking about what Jared had against Dakota. When he next awoke, Dakota was sitting in the chair downstairs. He sat up on the steps watching her. "Sire, may I please have the permission to go to a party?" she asked with almost no audibility to her voice. "Whose, when and where?" he asked her. "My friend Mike’s, on the 31, and at the fire house," she responded in the same tone. "Is he to be trusted? Does he know what you have become? Will there be other people there that I should be worried about?" "Sire, he knows what I am, but that doesn’t matter. It is a masquerade party so I will be protected. Besides, I wouldn’t think of going if I would be alone. The boys are going to go with me...I already asked Mike. The only problem is, he’s a hunter and there will be other hunters there. He knows about us and would not let anything happen. He protected me from Jared many times...he’s like my brother. I would trust him with my life if I still had one," she said a little louder. Gangrel shook his head. "If I don’t let you go, you would be mad at me. If I let you go, I would not be a good sire in my sire’s eyes. BOYS! COME DOWN HERE A MINUTE!" he shouted. Dakota shrank into the couch. The boys came out of their places to stand in the living room. Jeff still sat on the stairs watching Dakota. "Are you doing anything on the 31 of this month?" Gangrel asked them. They all shook their heads no. Gangrel finished, "Well you are now. You are accompanying Dakota to her friend’s party. It is a masquerade, so I suggest you find a costume. If anything happens to my progeny, I will hold you responsible." The boys nodded and left to get their jackets. Dakota jumped out of her chair. "Thank you sire," she said hugging him. "Anything for you my child." Dakota ran to grab a jacket. "Come on Jeff. We’re going to get costumes." Dakota walked up the stairs and grabbed Jeff’s hand. He smiled and she dragged him out of the door. Jeff started up his bike and Dakota sat behind him. Matt, Edge and Christian got on their bikes and the five of them headed into town to go to the costume store.

They spent two hours looking for a costume. Dakota thought that they should go dressed as a group, because prizes would be awarded for best group and best single costume. Edge grabbed a long black cloak and a pointed black hat. Christian grabbed a jester costume. Matt reached for a crown and a robe. Jeff was looking for a prince’s costume. Dakota hopped off to the women’s section and found a long blue dress that looked like one from medieval times. She also found a pointed, cone shaped hat with scarves hanging from it. She took them into a dressing room. On the side of her was Jeff, then Matt, Edge and finally Christian. They stepped out and looked each other over. Edge was a wizard, Matt was a king, Christian was a jester, Jeff a prince, and Dakota a princess. She didn’t like the theme so they picked another one. Dakota fetched a white dress, wings, and a halo. She stepped out of the dressing room to face the boys. "An angel has fallen from heaven for me. You certainly fit the part dear," Jeff remarked. Dakota smiled and thought for a moment. "What will you guys be that would match this?" The boys did not know. "Let’s just do King Arthur’s court," Dakota remarked. She found their old costumes and they purchased them. They went across the street and got some pizza. Edge suggested that they see a movie. Dakota picked a comedy and for once the boys did not object. When the movie was over, it was nearing dusk. "Since we’re already out, let’s just stay out and go clubbing," Matt suggested. The group agreed and headed for the bikes to go to the club on the other side of town.

Once inside the club, Dakota seemed energized. She noticed some of her friends from her mortal life and pointed them out to the boys. Jeff pointed at her dark-haired friend. "Who is that?" he asked. "That’s Dorra." "Well, she’s pretty hot," Jeff remarked. Dakota looked away, hurt. Jeff noticed his mistake and tried to fix it. "But she’s not as hot as you are. You see, there’s a difference," he said, pulling her into his grip, "she may be pretty, but you are a full blown hottie. If she were as hot as you are, I would be kissing her right now and not you." She looked up at him, his green eyes piercing her crystal blue stare. He kissed her quickly and then ran out on to the dance floor. She followed him. "Children," Matt remarked to nobody in particular. "Yeah. We used to be that age. At least they know what they want," Christian chimed in. Edge added, "It’s cute though. They’ll eventually fall in love with one another, blinded by nothing but each other. Then they’ll have all of eternity to spend with each other." "You forget though, that will only happen if they are meant to be together by Gangrel. You know what he’s like about these things. If they aren’t meant to be, then they’ll never be together. And they don’t have the option of suicide like Romeo and Juliet. They’re stuck where they are." Matt gazed off at his brother and Dakota who were swing dancing. Soon, the entire club had stopped dancing and watched them.

To Dakota and Jeff, the music seemed to go on forever. They enjoyed each other, and when the music ended, they bowed and walked over to the trio they had left behind. "Having fun children?" Christian asked. "You’re only two years older so don’t ‘children’ us," Dakota and Jeff said together. Dakota looked across the room to see her friends waving at her. Dakota dismissed herself and walked over to them, leaving the boys alone. Soon, Dakota returned bringing her four friends with her. "Dorra, Kerri, Jenny, Kayla, I’d like you to meet Edge, Christian, Jeff and Matt." The group exchanged greetings and soon the nine were dancing. By midnight, Dakota was starting to feel the Hunger gnawing at her stomach and gave Edge a look that informed him of this. They made an excuse to go sit down. Dakota’s friends were leaving. She looked for somebody to feed on and spotted a man sitting in the corner. Matt, Edge, and Christian each found somebody. Jeff would share with Dakota. They followed their respective "donors" out and proceeded to feed. Dakota hunted the man down, but once again Jeff had to tear the neck. He drank first and Dakota finished again. She hid the body and stood next to Jeff. He looked into her eyes and her into his. "Do you think that Gangrel meant us to be together?" Jeff asked her. "I don’t know. I hope so," she replied. She smiled and he smiled back. She began walking towards the bike. "Are you going to finish what you started?" Jeff called after her. She turned and looked at him. She pointed at him and called him over seductively. "I am a vampire of my word," she told him. He looked at her and she smiled. She ran to the bike and found Edge and the others. She hopped on the back of Matt’s bike. "Come on Matt, make Jeff chase us. Let’s play cat and mouse," she asked him. "With pleasure my lady," Matt replied, revving his engine and speeding towards home. Jeff followed and Edge and Christina shook their heads. They headed straight home while Jeff, Matt and Dakota played their game.