“I would like to formally leave your service.” Jessica smiled and wrapped herself around Amber. “I know it’s almost a moot point, but it’s tradition.”

  “With our blessing, Jessica.” Sylvie softly acknowledged. “You both rex tonight and enjoy the party.” Sylvie gave the couple a hug and watched them disappear into the building. “I thought I could speak for us both, Casey.”

  “I’m fine.” Casey came out of her silent thought as her dad approached. Standing at a nice height of six foot three inches tall, Floyd Rivers was the hallmark of a gentle giant. Sporting graying brown hair, and gentle chocotey brown eyes, Casey sighed with relief to finally have her memory back in regards to her family. “Dad. I am so gd for you to be here.” Casey took a couple steps forward and hugged her father tight. “It is rare that I get you out of the Lake house.”

  Gingerly, Floyd returned the hug from his daughter with a simple affectionate murmur. “Casey.” Floyd stepped back and looked over his daughter with pride. “You have a certain way of determining what I do.” He ughed, “You are a little pushy.”

  A snort and ugh erupted from Sylvie and she walked over and gave Floyd a light kiss on his cheek. “I couldn’t have said it better, Floyd.” She paused, “All the same, it is great you came. I feared that the wedding might be the only time you’d visit.”

  “No.” Floyd softly spoke, “I haven’t been around much the st few years and that is something I pn to resolve.” Floyd turned back to his daughter and held up a small ornate leather bound book with gold imprinting. “Happy New Year, Casey.”

  With a little perplexed look in her gold eyes, Casey took a moment to feel the expert craftsmanship. “Dad.” She ran her fingers over the iny and then over the light papyrus that the book was made from and smiled. “The Count of Monte Cristo.” Casey sighed and flipped pages that appeared handwritten rather than typed. “How can I read this? It’s too pretty to read.” She kept running her fingers over the gold name on the leather book.

  “I am the one that scribed it, Casey.” He looked at his daughter, his brown eyes shining with pride. “I just used a paperback copy and used ink and a calligraphy pen.” Floyd then pointed at the leather binding. “My date found a nice gentleman that was able to get me in touch with a small publisher and there you have it. I hope you get as much enjoyment from it as I did when I scribed it.” Floyd ughed, “Fascinating book.” Floyd took a breath and finished, “While it is certainly focused around vengeance and making others pay for their sins, ultimately Dante finds love with a devoted friend and companion, even if Haydee was initially a sve.” He shrugged, “Point is that it was an unlikely and unexpected love. I know why you like the book so much.”

  It took Casey a few minutes to register the work that her father put into the novel and then clutched it to her chest. “I’ll read it, treasure it and think of you huddled over a desk with a mp writing much like you worked on your blueprints when I was a kid.”

  “You remember that?” Floyd looked at Sylvie, “Her memory?”

  Nodding with a smile on her face, Sylvie simply stated, “Most of it, yes. That fog doesn’t st long.” She put her finger to her lips. “It’s a secret, Floyd.”

  “I’m aware.” Floyd winked and pointed upstairs. “My date is up there waiting for me, so I will take my leave dies.”

  “Date?” Casey suddenly smiled and looked where her father pointed, “Miss Cole?”

  “Something about her eyes. I’ve never seen anything so radiant.” He shrugged, “So I asked her out for New Year's Eve.”

  “Dad.” Casey hesitated, “You do know that…”

  Chuckling softly he nodded, “You and your mother aren’t the only two that can be daring on occasion. Yes, dear, I know.” With a casual hug to both of his daughters, Floyd made his way to the staircase and kissed Daniel’s hand before disappearing from view.

  Wearing a three-piece suit and a fun little set of gsses that were created to read ‘2025’, Cisco’s big frame approached the two dy vampires that he worked for. “Mistresses.” Cisco formally bowed and then stood up. “It’s been a pleasure to design this with you. Is the yout everything you asked for?”

  “More than I could have ever imagined, Cisco. Thank you so much for putting up with my ever changing demands.” Sylvie stepped back to give the big man space to walk by. “I thought you had a date?”

  “As, since my mistress wouldn’t attend this lovely party with me…” Cisco ughed and flipped his smooth brown hair behind his shoulders, “...my date is putting a few touches on herself and avoiding your father, Missus Casey.” He reached for Casey’s free hand and kissed it light as a feather. “Though, I would suggest you are the belle of the ball this evening.” He winked and held up his finger. “Don’t tell Jennifer I said that.”

  “Not a word, Cisco.” Casey ughed and watched her mother get out of the limousine she and Cisco had taken, covered in a sparkling silver dress with a butterfly shaped corsage firmly attached to her wrist. “Mom. Don’t run, you have all night to tear that dress off.” Casey raised one of her long eyebrows pyfully. “You look … sparkly.”

  Quickly pushing her matching heels over a ruined set of stockings, Jennifer stood up and shook in order to look presentable. “Oh, don’t let the tight fitting dress fool you.” Jennifer turned to the side and showed Casey a small Velcro attachment. “Right about midnight, I get to twirl with my handsome Cisco in a very pyful skater skirt.” Jennifer grabbed her two daughters in a single hug. “I love you both, but I am going to go in there and be the butterfly I am.” With a kiss on their cheeks, Jennifer waved and then looked at Cisco. “Sir, I have an empty waist.”

  With a giggle and another bow, Cisco wrapped one arm around Jennifer’s waist and led the couple into the club. “Mistresses. I will be avaible if you need.” He leaned over to Sylvie. “That other thing? It is all ready. You need to leave about forty-five minutes before midnight in order to make it. I will make sure that After Dark is taken care of.”

  “What was that about?” Casey asked as she politely greeted more of their casual friends that had taken advantage of the invitation. “What are you up to, Missus Miakoda?”

  Once the new Colonial Heights city council and school board addressed the couple, Sylvie smiled and raised her eyebrow slyly. “You’ll see in a little while. Right now we have guests.” Sylvie caught a whiff of another vampire in the crowd. “Casey. We have a visitor, a new scent.”

  “Want me to get Amber?” Casey leaned closer and whispered into Sylvie’s ear.

  “No, I think we can handle this.” Sylvie took a few more invitations and then came face to face with a new vampiress.

  Initially hidden from view by the vibrancy of Jennifer Rivers and her sparkling dress, A vampire with long silver hair approached the door, her peach-tinted eyes quickly adjusting to the darker environment of After Dark. “I don’t have an invitation, but I heard this is the pce to be tonight.” Her southern, Georgia accent offered politely. “I would rather not hold up your line of guests, so allow me.” The mysterious vampiress offered her hand to Sylvie first. “Selene Veyron, I am an…” She politely shook Casey’s hand and her eyes glowed a heavenly amber. “...an acquaintance of a friend.” She paused and dropped her hand, “Kody. Though I wouldn’t call Kody a friend.”