Zena looked over the decorations in the ballroom from the upper gallery where the family portraits were displayed. There were a few tables with punch bowls and finger food displayed on them, with room for guest to stand at the railing and watch the dance floor below. She doubted she would be dancing at all. Her rib started acting up again a couple days after the crash. It was enough to be able to watch from up here.

"This is so creepy," Lacey said.

"It's supposed to be. I love that we rigged the skeletons so I can lower them in between dancers. And your Dad springing for the live band is really cool." Percy rubbed his hands together as he played with the control panel he rigged. "I can sit here right beside you, Zee. The Addam's family costumes are a genius idea for us."

"All I have left is the catering check. We can all stay here after the party. There are more than enough rooms in our wing. Mama Rosa made her red velvet cupcakes and iced them with the best sour cherry butter cream." Zena turned to lead them down the stairs to the front foyer. "She also made what she calls eyeball fruit salad. Watermelon balls, peeled grapes, pitted cherries, and cantaloupe balls set in jelly. It's pretty gross looking. She's been the best about planning this."

"It's great that the cops and FBI are getting into the spirit. All of them are wearing costumes too." Terry said. "I wonder if people will figure out our costumes?"

"They're perfect for you two. Othello and Desdemona and in their costumes from their love scenes. I hope you have fun dancing." Zena said. "I doubt our classmates will see anything except a set of renaissance lovers."

"You'll be dancing soon again. I don't even feel any pain from you anymore." Lacey said.

"Isn't it crazy, we've been feeling each other's injuries since we were old enough to say where we hurt," Zena said.

"We're learning a few things about being twins. I'm so glad we ran into each other."

Lacey hugged her before turning to the other side of the foyer and going up the stairs to the west wing. Sara followed her, carrying the box with her medusa head in it. The rest of her costume was a simple green body suit.

Zena followed them, with the boys right on her heels. Percy still took the stairs two steps behind her when they were going up. He was so protective of her, and since the crash he'd stuck to her like glue in school. Her costume was simple but getting her hair right was going to take some time. Morticia's black wig was tricky considering her own was blonde. She wondered if she had time to dye it black instead.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Lacey pulled the sheer drapes in her window aside, looking out over the darkened town. It seemed so peaceful looking down from the mansion on the hill. Streetlights twinkled and the crescent moon reflected in the river beside the beach. How could it look so innocent? Halloween was in three days and the party of the decade was about to start. She could see cars winding up the hill from town as guests began arriving.

Agent Carmangy was acting as butler. He'd picked up on the Addam's family theme and dressed as Lurch. Two female police officers were part of the catering team, delivering finger food and supervising the punch bowl to ensure it didn't get spiked. She could hear excited chatter through the open window as one car after another disgorged teenagers.

At least there would be no doubt as to who was who anymore. She helped her twin do a quick dye job and turn her blonde hair raven black. As soon as it was dry, they straightened it until it hung in a blue highlighted veil down to the middle of Zee's back, blending into the black sheath she wore perfectly. They did her make up and decided the Goth look was pretty spectacular.

She heard the knock at her door and said, "Come in."

Terry stood there in a long Victorian night shirt. Her own silky night gown hung from her shoulders, modestly hiding her femininity until she moved or the breeze wafting in through the window plastered it against her body. It was surprisingly easy to move in, unlike Zee's dress. But then again Zee only had to sit by the buffet table and rule over the activities.

Percy's Gomez costume worked well with his dark hair and his false mustache was perfect. He was in charge of the special effects, including a fog machine and of course the skeletons they had worked so hard to place on hooks and pulleys earlier in the day.

Sara promised to run interference with the catering staff, and Mama Rosa reigned in the kitchen. Sara's quiet respect for the older woman made her the perfect person to take care of keeping food and drink coming as needed. Mama Rosa was dressed as a Spanish matron, complete with a lacy white mantilla. She shook her head when she saw Lacey's silky nightgown costume when the group modeled for her yesterday.

"Are you ready to go down?" Terry asked. "By the way, you're stunning. What did you do with your hair?"

"Zee's hair color, the stuff she usually uses. We did mine when we dyed hers black. A bit of work with a curling iron, and voila." She twirled in front of him.

"It looks amazing, but I like your sun streaks better." Terry reached out to wind one of her curls around his finger.

"Well you're the perfect Moor. Did you and Percy figure out where the breakers are so we can flicker the lights?"

"Percy set up a box and a few wires, so he can work it from where he and Zee are sitting. He's playing devoted Gomez to her Morticia, so he won't leave her side except to bring her food and drink."

"So, we're ready." Lacey said. "I guess it's time to meet the guests and get the dance going."

Terry stopped her before she could reach for the door. He pulled her into his arms for a quick kiss before letting her grab the doorknob. "I can't believe you're my girl, Lace."

"I can't believe my best friend forever is my man either. Let's have some fun tonight."

"Where's Sara?"

"Under the Medusa costume. I saw her earlier. Didn't you see her bringing the mask and headgear up?"

"Too busy watching you." Terry admitted.

A small bubble of pleasure ran through her with his words. It sent

a thrill through her and her heart melted every time she realized how much he paid attention to everything she did.

"Just keep your eyes open tonight. I keep feeling like something is going down. I know Anya is in jail again, but I heard her mother got out on bail this afternoon. It took her a long time to get the money together."

"I'm glad you took my advice and got that recording of her with Molly and Lizzy. Zee's pics sealed the deal and you got her out of your hair at school."

"But you can make a bet she's one pissed off bitch now. I wish her mother was still stuck in there."

"Me too. Forget about her. Let's go have a good time." Terry said and pulled her in for another mind blowing kiss.

"You got it." Lacey rubbed her lips together savoring the sweet tingle. Tonight, was theirs.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Morticia and Gomez sat at the head of the buffet table. Standing guard over the punch bowl as Medusa, Sara and an elegant Spanish Senora refilled it for the umpteenth time. No one recognized Mama Rosa under her pristine white mantilla. The band was playing pop hits, and the throbbing bass vibrated through her feet as she danced with Terry.

Lacey looked into his eyes, as tendrils of fog writhed around her feet obscuring the hardwood parquet floor. He craned his neck to glance at his watch and whispered, "Time for the next skeleton drop. I wonder how many screams we'll get."

Lacey giggled. "I'm surprised no one caught on to the timing. Percy is doing a great job of keeping it random. I like that you have an earpiece so he can talk to you though."

"Agent Carmangy has been a gem. Do you see how Lurch is taking to being a waiter? I can hear him too, and the others who are watching to make sure nothing goes wrong. He's made sure all of us can keep in touch with each other. All I have to do is push the button under this dress they call a nightshirt." Terry slipped his hand through a slit in his white linen garment. "It's stuck right here on my chest."

She could see where his finger was tapping. The lights flickered eerily as a skeleton dropped between her and the next couple. The girl's shoulder jerked as a bony finger slid down her arm and her head swiveled to find the source of the sensation.

Lacey hid her face against Terry's impressive pecs to stop her laughter when she saw Sally's huge eyes and heard her stifled scream.

Sally tapped her back as both couples stopped for a moment to watch the chaos as skeletons dipped and rattled across the ballroom. "You and Zena sure went all out. This is the best ever party."

"Stop by and tell Morticia," Lacey said.

"Why?"

"That's Zee under the black hair and makeup."

"Great costume."

"I know, she looks like the perfect Goth girl. And Percy did the special effects. He's Gomez."

"Figures. It's a great choice too." Sally turned to her date, and they danced away to the driving beat of Monster Mash.

The lights flickered and went out. The band's amplifiers quit, and screams filled the air.

Lacey stumbled when someone pushed her, falling backward, as her costume slithered up over her head. She started to slide backward across the floor, bumping through bodies falling all around her. The last thing she noticed was a faint sweet aroma as she yanked the material off her face, pulling the collar away from her throat.

Her throat was raw from screaming and then her head bounced before hitting something as her vision faded to grey.