Mae's POV

LET ME TELL YOU, FINDING a costume on Halloween is hard. Most of the good ones are already gone. However, I finally found one that would work. You can't go to the Pumpkin Ball without a costume. It was one of the rules.

My costume was a sleeveless red and black dress. I wore black boots underneath, my silver knife carefully hidden in them. A gun loaded with silver bullets was hidden on my leg as well. Better safe than dead. To complete my outfit I put on a silver cat ears and a strap on tail. Queen of the Cats. Yep, that was a real thing, not just something I made up to wear a pretty dress. Hehe.

By dark I was ready to go. Dex was nowhere to be seen so my Dad just drove me to the party. When I walked in I quickly headed over to where I saw Skyler standing. Trying hard to ignore the stares I was getting. I never thought of myself as pretty before, but it seemed others did.

"Oh my God, Mae! You look amazing!" Skyler said, happily. She was wearing a vampire costume, fake fangs and all. 

"Thanks! You do too." I replied. 

"Hey guys!" Izzy said, walking over to us. She was wearing a 1800's dress, that was very white. Her orange hair was dyed black, and she had a thin line of fake blood running down her cheek. I think she was going for a ghost, and she hit right on the mark.

"Izzy!" Skyler and I said in unison. 

"You guys look great. Totally spooky! So who's heart are we going to break first?" Izzy asked. Skyler and her started talking about boys and I zoned out. I started scanning the growing crowd for any sign of the werecats. Hopefully they wouldn't show. I wasn't sure though. It was only 9:30 and this thing normally went till dawn. I guessed I'd have to prepare for a long night.

.  .  .

I stood by the snack table genitally sipping a Dr Pepper. It was my fourth one of the night. It was almost midnight now and the party had really started. Music was blasting my ears and everyone was dancing around like they were trying to step on ants. Every once in awhile a slow song would come on but this was the opposite. 

I scanned the nearby trees looking for a sign that the werecats were here. I didn't see anything, again. I took a big gulp of my Pepper and I checked my phone to see what time it was. 12:01. I shook my head and finished my Pepper. When the song ended, a slow song came on. Most of the crowd deserted the dance floor.

A few couples remained dancing slowly. I smiled, slightly wishing I was among them. I then felt a tap on my shoulder and a guy I didn't recognize grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor. I didn't protest though, because I was so tired. He was dressed as a werewolf and was fairly cute, with his dirty blond hair and hazel eyes, another reason I didn't protest. We danced and I just moved to the beat. I loved to dance! And this guy made it even easier.

Finally the song ended and he walked me back towards the snack table. When we stopped, I finally worked up the nerve to talk to him.

"Umm, I'm sorry but who are you?" I asked him.

"Xander." He said, after a long pause. Then he asked, "Who might you be?"

"Mae." I said, I extended my hand and he shook it. I smiled. "So, Xander. What compelled you to dance with me. If you say dare I'm gonna punch you." 

"Don't worry Mae. It wasn't a dare. Well not really." he said, and I raised an eyebrow skeptically. "I was dared to dance with the prettiest girl here."

"Well there's got to be plenty of other girls here prettier than me." I said.

"Nope. You're the belle of the ball." 

"Sure." 

"No, it's true."

"Fine, tell me what that expression means."

"What?"

"Belle of the ball." I said, like I was talking to a toddler, "What does it mean?" 

"If I tell you will you go on a date with me?" He asked, slyly. I rolled my eyes but he was dead serious.

"Fine, you got a deal." I said. We shook on it and he pulled out his phone. My jaw dropped in shock. "That's cheating!" I wined, but he didn't listen.

"Belle of the ball." He said. Then he quoted, "The woman who is the most beautiful or attractive at a dance or similar function. Source wiktionary.org."  

"That was totally unfair." I complained.

"How about the Mountain Top on Friday?" he asked.

"Sure." I said, then I noticed something in the brush. "Gotta run. See you then." I said before sprinting off in that direction. 

When I finally got there I saw it. There was a clump of fur hanging caught on the brush. I was trained to see even the slightest things. Now I knew the cats were here. I examined the fur and noticed it was brown, and it matched my hair color. Neither June nor Kayla had brown fur... Then I heard it. The screams.

I looked over my shoulder to see two medium sized werecats. Most likely the two who attacked the man this morning, but they weren't June and Kayla, I realized. One was brown, and it was the one that left the fur, the other was silver. I ran towards them, but my dress slowed me down. 

"Damn dress." I muttered under my breath. I tore off the bottom half of it and left it on the ground. I was wearing leggings, because I expected I'd need to do that. I then sprinted towards the cats. 

I rammed the silver one in the side, throwing it off balance. It got up quickly and pounced at me. Typical cat. I stepped aside with ease and threw my silver knife into its shoulder. It hissed in pain. I took my knife out, but before I could strike again, it scratched at me then ran off into the woods. 

The brown one had yet to move. It was bigger than the silver one and it's ears flattened as it's minion had ran off. It hissed at me, a low and deep sound and I braced myself, ready for it's pounce. Only it never came. Two more cats came running into the scene. A tabby and a white one. 

I was a little shocked because I'd never seen any tabbies before. Most of the time cats are the same color as their hair when in human form. Blonds are silver or cream, occasionally white, Burnetts are brown, Red-heads are a orange-red color, and black haired people are normally black furred cats. See the pattern? 

I was mostly agitated, though. I sighed, not wanting to fight all three at once. I then saw something different though. The tabby hissed at the brown cat, but the cat didn't do a thing. The tabby then pounced on the brown one, but it was prepared. 

The brown one was momentarily pinned then he went limp. The tabby thought was victorious before being kicked straight in the gut. He went flying off. The white one didn't pounce but rather looked him straight in the eyes. They seemed to be talking, or communicating in low hisses and grunts.

The brown one swiped a paw at the white one. Blood was dripping of it's face. Then it was gone. It healed itself instantly and she gave what looked like a smile. It's eyes went from a bright blue to a deep red instantly and the brown one's eyes went wide with fear. I could tell that the white cat was an Alpha, or something even more powerful...

The brown cat gave one a short bow before running off into the woods. The white cat's eyes returned to blue and it looked after the other cat sadly, almost. The werecat then looked at the gathering crowd of humans and turned to the woods and left. We were all silent until a voice spoke.

"Let's give a round of applause for the special effects show!" They said. The crowd clapped, a little shocked. I looked for the source of the voice. It was Xander.

*  *  *

Dex's POV

I was with Charlotte when we shifted. I had a bunch of questions that needed answers, now. I only hoped she would have them.

"So Charlotte, what the heck happened to us last night?" I asked, a bit harshly.

"The same thing that happened to me every full moon night before you showed up." She said sadly. "I've killed so many people, without being able to control it. I thought it was fine, you were here so I thought you helped me keep my cool."

"Keep your cool?" I asked, curious of what it meant.

"Whenever we get really mad or scared or have any strong negative feeling, during the full moon then we turn into monsters. Or if we touch Moon Shade. I changes us, and makes our negative emotions super strong. That's all I know."

"I suppose that's helpful, but how are we supposed to keep our cool?" I asked. Charlotte just shrugged. I sighed. This whole being a werecat and not killing people thing was going to be harder than I thought.

"I do have one idea though." Charlotte said.

"What?" I asked hopefully.

"Race you to the stump!" She said, and started sprinting. I shook my head and followed her.

.  .  . 

It was about thirty minutes until midnight now and Charlotte and I had been running most of that time. Currently we were at a stream and we were both panting, out of breath. We started lapping water when I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder.

I looked down and saw a silver tipped arrow, in my skin. It wasn't very deep but it still had a familiar scent on it... Oh crap. Moon Shade. Soon Charlotte had one in her hind leg and the fight started.

You are mine now. Said a familiar voice.

Who are you? Why are you doing this to me? I asked it.

Me? Well I'm your inner cat. I'm here to help you become the best cat you can be. 

By murdering innocents? 

Nobody is innocent. Now shut up and behave.

I suddenly lost control of my body as the cat took over. I knew my eyes were in slits and as I watched I saw Charlotte's eyes like that too. We got up in unison. 

"Hello Vanessa." The cat said to Charlotte. Or rather Charlotte's cat. 

"Hello Nick." She said to him. Then she bowed her head low with respect. It took all of my willpower not to like it.

"Ready to go?" He asked her. She just nodded and sprinted off. Nick followed her, but soon took the lead. 

After a while I was completely lost. I had never been to this part of the forest before. Mainly because humans normally held parties near here... Speaking of which I just remember that the Pumpkin Ball was tonight. I suddenly had a feeling of what they were going to do.

As we peaked through the brush I could see a lot of people dancing to a slow song. I didn't recognize most of them I wasn't really the social person, Mae was. There was one face I did recognize. Mae's. She was dancing to someone I'd never seen before.

Who's that? Nick asked me.

Nobody. I told him.

I am you Dexter. I can tell you're lying. Is it you girlfriend?

No.

Then your sister?

I thought I was supposed to be quiet.

Your sister then. Well I'll rip her boyfriend to shreds for you. Then I might consider letting her live through the night. Or I could change her. How would you like that huh?

You're going to get us killed.

That's unlikely Dexter, that's unlikely.

Without another word to me he refocused his attention on the ball. The song had ended and Mae was talking to the guy. I watched her do so. Then she looked straight at me. I felt a surge of panic and I guess Nick did to. He hurried away, quickly.

Then on the other side of the ball he positioned himself. I sat there for a moment, then he did the unthinkable. He jumped out into the clearing. Some girl screamed when she saw me. Or Nick. Or whatever. Charlotte/Vanessa followed. 

I saw Mae spot us and come over to us. She ripped of her dress in the process. I guess she knew we were coming before I even did. I watched her ram Charlotte. I wanted to go help but Nick refused to move. 

Charlotte got back up fairly quickly and pounced. I was screaming not to do that in my mind but it was too late. Mae took out a silver knife and stabbed Charlotte's front leg. She whimpered in pain and ran off. I felt Nick become annoyed. 

He hissed at Mae as I begged him not to hurt her. Or pounce. That would definitely get us killed. He readied himself to attack when two more shapes appeared from the brush. I knew thew were Dillan and Red. What a worse time to see them.

"Hello there." Nick said to them.

"Dexter. Stop what you're doing. You're going to get us all killed." Dillan said.

"I don't take orders from you, and my name isn't Dexter." Nick hisses to them, "It's Nick. I run this show now."

"Don't force us to hurt you." Dillan said to Nick.

"Ahh, don't force me to hurt you. Besides, let's not be foe. We are all brothers and sisters of the cat. Let us ban together and slaughter these weak humans."

"Never." Dillan said.

"Then I'll have to kill you." Nick replied.

"Not if I kill you first." Dillan said. Then he pounced. 

All my survival tools immediately kicked in. Nick was using it. He went limp long enough for Dillan to think he'd won then kicked him in the gut. Dillan went flying off of me. Then Red approached me with sorrow in her eyes.

"Dexter I hope you can still hear me. I want you to know that I'm on your side. No matter what this monster may tell you, or how much pain you go through tonight. I hope we can still save you." Red said to me. If I was in control I'd probably say something sarcastic in reply.

Nick laughed at her. He swiped a paw across her muzzle. I hoped she was alright, but she was. The scrapes healed almost instantly. Nick was taken aback. Red's eyes turned from a aqua blue to a deep red.

"Nickolas, you have no idea what forces you are dealing with! I'm Maybeline Rose of The Sunrise Pride! Princess of the werecats! Even with the power in your blood you are nothing compared to me! I possess a power so strong you would die if I used the slightest bit of it on you!" she said, with power dripping from her voice.

I felt Nick's fear. He was scared of Red. Or Maybeline, or whatever. He quickly pulled himself together though. He bowed quickly.

"Whatever you wish my princess." He hissed then ran off into the forest.

-=+=-

AN:

Hey guys! I'm happy to present the newest and longest chapter of my story. I hope you liked Red this chapter, because I sure do! Anyways, I hoped you enjoyed. As always please vote and comment! BYE!!!!!!