A.N.: I don't have anything particularly interesting to say in this edition of author's notes, but I like to write a few to provide a buffer of word-counts, so the story itself can get away with being shorter. Wait, damn, I'm not supposed to admit that!

Annnnnyway, in this chapter, it's Halloween! Justin and Alex go to infiltrate the goth party.

DISCLAIMER: The author in no way supports or encourages underage drinking, excessive drinking at any age, or drug use at any age. This work is not intended as a replacement for a physician's advice on any manner.

The next day was Halloween, and Justin and Alex went to the goth party. Naturally it was full of booze and drugs and probably college students, and who knows what the worst of the three are. I bet you're wondering how Justin and Alex were able to go to this party, aren't you? Well, flashback time!

"Mom, can I go to this Halloween party tomorrow night?" Alex asked sweetly.

"What? Tell me more about this party. Who is going to be there? Is it going to be chaperoned? Is there going to be booze and drugs and college students?" Theresa bombarded Alex with questions.

"Justin's going."

"Oh. OK then, have fun sweetie."

At the moment, they were standing outside, as there was a line to get in. In front of them were a number of burly, hairy men wearing furs and carrying archaic weapons. They were next to be let in.

"What!" one of them cried. He seemed to be the leader. "I thought this was a goth party." He snorted in derision and turned around, leaving in a huff. "Come on boys, let's go crash a credit card party instead."

That made Justin and Alex next. The "bouncer" was a pale and thin guy dressed in all black, with vampire fangs. Justin began to worry that it wasn't a costume party. Fortunately, he didn't seem to eye them suspiciously at all, although the way he was eying Alex made Justin uncomfortable.

"She can go in, but I'm afraid we're kinda overbooked, and you can't," the bouncer said, probably lying.

Alex licked her lips slightly. "But see, he's my designated donor. If I get thirsty you wouldn't want me to try drinking from someone else at the party, would you?" she asked.

"Oh, dang, sorry, didn't realize he was your snack. All right, go ahead," the bouncer said, letting them both in.

Inside was what was a typical party ((AUTHOR'S NOTE: Or so I'm told)). Loud, bad techno music blasted everywhere and variously drunk/high teenagers packed everywhere, moving in a way that could almost sort of be called somewhat kind of rhythmic, which probably passed for dancing. Except you know, it basically looked like dry humping.

Justin and Alex made their way through the throng, toward the center, where the snack table was set up.

"Hmm, they have pentagram crackers, boo-berry muffins, and ghoul-aid. Good thing we already decided to not eat or drink anything," Justin said.

"Yep," Alex concurred, beginning to drink from a hip flask.

"Alex!" Justin cried.

"What? I brought this myself," she defended.

"What's in there, whiskey?"

"Psh, you know I don't drink like that!"

"Oh, good, for a minute there I -"

"It's vodka."

"Right. Well try not to drink too much, you have to keep your wits about-"

"Oooh they have tequila! Deprendo venenum!" The tequila shot in Alex's hand began glowing green. Alex's eyes went wide.

"Justin!" she whispered loudly. "The detect poison spell is detecting a poison in this."

Justin rolled his eyes. "Of course, Alex. Alcohol is a poison."

"Oh," Alex said. "Well then, it's probably not got another kind of poison in it!" She downed it all quickly.

"One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor!" Alex chanted, giggling.

"OK, OK, that's enough!" Justin said, taking the second tequila shot out of Alex's hand. You don't want to compromise yourself," he reminded her.

"Damn," Alex said, beginning to pout adorably. "When we're done with this thing, can I drink?"

"You know, we are technically on a Holy Mission from God Himself, I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"Yeah, that's why I said when we're done."

"Alex! Drunkenness is a sin!"

Alex practically jumped on Justin, beginning to kiss him passionately. Justin couldn't help himself and began kissing back.

"Mmm m mmm-mmm mmm" Alex said. Justin broke off the kiss.

"Huh?"

"You're a sinner too," Alex said, smirking.

"Oh, God dammit! Wait, fuck! Wait - dammit!" Justin cried. He closed his eyes. "OK, OK, look. We have to keep our eyes and ears open to find out if anything scary and occultish is going on," he said. "And we're getting off track."

"Hmm, we should use the ear of the bat spell," Alex said. "It'll look like it's just part of our costumes."

Justin grumbled to himself, cursing. Alex looked hurt.

"Well I just thought it would be a good idea," she said.

"It's a great idea," Justin replied. "I'm just mad I didn't think of it first."

"Some are a gem, some are a rat. To find out who's who give me the ear of the bat" Justin and Alex both said, the spell then turning their ears into bat's ears.

"Ow, damn!" Justin said, rubbing his bat ear. "I should have suspected that the general loudness of parties would mix poorly with bat ears."

"Yeah, but if you focus you can hear individual conversations," Alex said, doing just that. She began to walk off, and Justin followed behind her. She led the way to a small group of people in a corner.

"Oh, hey," she said to one of them, a guy a little older than Justin. He had on a pentacle necklace and a cape. So again, he wasn't in costume either.

"Oh, hello," he said, looking at Alex. "Who are you?"

"I'm Alex, and this is my brother, Justin," Alex said.

"Great costumes," the goth continued. "What are you?"

"Well, I'm a chiropteran wizard, and she's a chiropteran witch," Justin explained. Alex was wondering if that had anything to do with cheerleaders, but the goth just nodded.

"Very cool," he said. "So what brings you over here?" he asked.

"Well," Alex said. "I couldn't help but overhear that you were talking about going to another party."

"That's right," he said. "It's a party for... special people." He smiled, showing his fangs. "Are you special?"

Alex looked enthralled. "Yes, I think I am," she said.

Justin was confused at first, but he began to understand what was going on. Alex figured this was their lead to someone trying to perform some sort of secret ritual. And she was using her feminine wiles to ingratiate herself with them. It was brilliant.

Though that didn't make Justin feel any less protective, jealous or afraid.

A.N.: Dun dun dunnnnnn! Cliffhanger ending! What happens next? Well I can't tell you, you'll have to read the next chapter! When I write it!