Music of Souls

"I think not. Sam the Sham is one thing, but I wouldn't disrespect Frank that way. We'll leave the singing to you."

At midnight, Jackson stood at the top of the stairs and whistled loudly, commanding attention. "I would like to thank you all for attending our gala this evening. Let me remind you, the easel set up by the door has a pledge sheet on it. Please give generously to the American Red Cross. We need to replace the blood we spilled here tonight... I would like to ask everyone to raise their glass in a toast to my sister and her new husband, Sarah and Connor; a pair who complement each other perfectly. Sarah, I truly believe Connor is the Yang to your Yin. I wish you all the happiness you so deserve." He lifted his glass. "To Sarah and Connor, a match made in heaven." The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Connor tilted his glass to Jackson in a thank you, his other arm draped around his blubbering bride.

The party broke up around 1:30. Consuelo and her family were the last to leave after offering to help clean up.

The foursome sat rehashing the highlights of the evening. Elisabeth stood. "I'm going to get some of that pate, anybody want anything?"

"No."

They heard the front door open. "Someone must have forgotten something." They waited. "Hello?" Nothing. Jackson headed to the foyer, then stopped abruptly. In walked Victor with Cassandra Davis close behind.

"Hello, Jackson… Sarah… and what have we here, a human pet? My party invitation must have been lost in the mail." Jackson immediately shielded Connor, who was understandably bewildered. Sarah's fear rooted her.

Jackson grabbed Connor's shoulders, held his eyes and ordered, "Get Elisabeth and lock yourselves in the holding room, now." Connor obeyed, and as Victor made a move toward him, Jackson blocked him, allowing the human to scurry to safety.

Victor drawled, "Hmm, seems your pet is important to you… I believe you both know the lovely Cassandra." He turned and kissed her passionately. Jackson frantically searched his mind for ways to lure him away from here. He and Sarah could hold their own, but Elisabeth would be vulnerable, and Victor could kill Connor without blinking.

Elisabeth strolled in from the kitchen, seemingly oblivious to situation. Jackson turned to her, panicked. How can she still be up here? She grabbed his hands and squeezed so hard he almost fell to his knees. "What the hell?"

Her face assumed an expression that he had never witnessed. Her eyes pierced through him, black as coal; all traces of warmth extinguished. She looked nothing like herself, almost primal. She growled in a deep, menacing voice. "Relax, I've got this." She then turned and sauntered towards Victor, not a hint of fear in her carriage "Hello, Victor"