Music of Souls

"Uh… I think I have something tomorrow, I'll have to check."

"Okay, let me give you my cell number. Call and we'll set something up. Elisabeth, Sarah needs to see you, excuse us." Jackson grumbled as he led her away. "Pretty piss poor vampire if you ask me."

"Maybe you should take off that wolf costume and show him how it's done." She stopped and sniffed the air, then gaped at his glass. "Are you drinking real blood?"

He flashed a conspiratorial grin. "Yeah, it looks just like that punch. I figured you and Sarah would be the only ones to notice."

Elisabeth narrowed her eyes. "You better stay away from Sarah, she'll kill you."

Jackson noticed a woman dressed as Marie Antoinette, staring at him. A hand held mask covered her face. He returned her gaze, hoping she would back off, but she continued to blatantly stare, then finally dropped the mask. It was Claudia. He quickly turned away. "Shit!"

"What's the matter?"

"The woman from the diner is here."

"Oh."

"I'll be right back."

Elisabeth held his arm. "What are you going to do?"

"What I should have done the day I fed on her."

As Jackson approached, Claudia held her mask back to her face. "Hello, Claudia."

"Jackson."

He pulled the mask down, and locked eyes with her. "You don't know me. We have just now met for the first time… I'm glad you are enjoying the party. So nice to meet you, Claudia. If you will excuse me, I'm needed in the kitchen." As he turned away, he noted Elisabeth watching, and gave her an exaggerated wink. She shook her head, laughing.

Jackson spoke to the vocalist, then stood at the edge of the dance floor and motioned for Elisabeth to join him. The band broke into "Hey There Little Red Riding Hood". He twirled her around the floor singing the entire song to her, complete with howls.

She seemed more than amused. "You sure know how to impress a girl."

He pulled her close, murmuring into her hair, "Just so you know, I plan to take those ankle socks off with my teeth later." He caught her sharp intake of breath and gave her a rakish smile as she blushed. When the song ended, she started to pull away, but he pressed against her. "We're not done yet, Red." The band played "Fly Me to The Moon".

"There you go again, sleazy to romantic in a heartbeat."

"It's what you do to me, Legs."

Elisabeth's sigh of contentment rippled across the nape of his neck. "Aren't you going to sing this one to me?"