"Come on! There's got to be something good in here!" Ashley was in the house's attic digging through various trunks and boxes. Ancient clothes scattered the entire floor as a result of Ashley's frantic search. A bat burst up the attic hatch and changed into Count Fangula to find the mess.

"What is going on here?!" Fangula demanded in anger. Ashley directed her attention to the Count. "Chill Fang, I'm just trying to find a costume for a party I'm going with the girls tonight!"

"Look at this mess!" Fangula hissed through his fangs. "The Vampire Empire Ball is being held here and I have to keep things orderly here!"

"The what?" Ashley asked in confusion.

Fangula shook his head and then explained. "The Vampire Empire Ball is where many vampires attend to socialize, mingle, and be free as a bat! It's the most unholy event of the century! And now I have been chosen to host this century's event! This is my chance to prove myself worthy of being a true vampire!"

Ashley was even more confused. "Aren't you already a vampire?"

"Well of course I'm a vampire! It's just that...I'm well...

"What?"

Fangula sighed. "The truth is, I'm a terrible vampire. I'm always the bat of every joke! I haven't even claimed a victim in who knows how long?!"

"But what about the time you bit Damien?" Ashley asked, but Fangula shot her a look. "He was only a light snack, not a victim! Besides, that was weeks ago!"

"Then why can't you go out an claim some victims?"

"I can't! That'll only bring problems! Snacking on other people will draw attention, people will figure it out eventually, and then it's out with the torches and pitchforks!"

Fangula sat down on a trunk depressed. Ashley came to his side and asked. "But don't vampires need blood to survive?"

"Of course we do!" he answered, looking at Ashley. "Sometimes we use blood substitutes. Like Blood Lite, Blood sausages, Blood pudding; all made to simulate the hemoglobin blood that gives a vampire their existence." Ashley was blown away. She never knew Fangula had it this tough. He was always a real vampire to her anyway.

"But you know..." Fangula said, he slowly turned to Ashley, his eyes wide with a certain thirst. "Even with a substitute, I'm always glad to sink my teeth into the REAL thing!"

Fear and survival instincts kicking in, Ashley rushed to the corner of the room. "Forget it!" Ashley barked at the vampire.

"Aw, come on! Just a bite?" Fangula begged. "I just want some real, warm, fresh blood!"

"NO WAY! I want to keep all my blood!" Ashley said scared.

"I didn't say ALL of it" Fangula huffed. "Just a sip!"

Ashley blinked, she began to calm down a bit. "Just...one sip?

"Just one!" Fangula said. "And that's it!" Ashley observed Fagula's carefully. The bloodthirsty look in eyes were replaced with a serious, more honest look. And besides, if he wanted to make Ashley his victim he would have done it the night they met. After a moment of silence, Ashley let out a sigh.

"All right."

"Really?!" Fangula smiled.

"BUT!" Ashley said."Just ONE sip only! AND! You have to help me find a costume!"

"Deal!" the count licked his lips in anticipation as Ashley rubbed her neck. "This isn't going to hurt is it?" she groaned.

"Just a pinch!" the vampire replied. "Like a shot!"

That did not make Ashley feel any better. She wanted to scream so bad, she wanted to run as fast as she could. She was scared. But she also trusted Fangula. She pulled down the collar of her t-shirt and tilted her head so Fangula can have better access to the vein. The vampire approached and leaned in Ashley until he was an inch apart from her neck.

Ashley took a deep, shaky breath. "Alright. Drink up."

Fangula leaned in closer. "Ashley..." He sighed.

"Yes?" Ashley nervously asked.

"Thank you." Fangula whispered softly.

Before Ashley could blink, Fangula used his hand to support Ashley's head and pressed his face into her neck. He then dug his fangs into her neck and bit down, puncturing the skin and drawing out blood. Ashley gritted in pain, but she had to endure, a deal's a deal. What seemed like the longest seconds of her life, Count Fangula finally pulled away.

"Oh man..." Ashley grimaced as she felt the wound. She felt no bite marks and the wound was healing and it wasn't bleeding anymore.

"Oh Ashley!" Fangula beamed. "Thank you!" He licked his lips. "So delicious!"

"Uh-huh..." Ashley mumbled. She felt lightheaded from the vein drain. She staggered to keep her balance. Luckily, Fangula held her up before she could fall over. He set Ashley down on the trunk. "You okay?"

Ashley shook her head as she woke up from her daze. "Yeah... that was a rush..."

"Don't worry. The first nibble's always like that." Then Fangula helped Ashley back up. "There's something I want to show you!" He took Ashley by the hand and led her to his room. Fangula went to the small platform under his coffin and opened a secret drawer in the platform. He dug through and pulled out a package wrapped in black paper and tied with a red ribbon. Ashley raised an eyebrow as Fangula handed her the package.

"What is it?"

Fangula smiled. "I'd promised you a costume for a sip and here you are!"

Ashley didn't know what to say. "Uh, thanks Fang." She went to her room to change.


Meanwhile in the basement, Mums, Frankenbeans, Wolfie, and Little Ghoul were playing poker until an angry Fangula stormed in. "What are you guys doing?! You're supposed to help out with the party!"

Then Flabber came down as well. "Yeah guys! I'm in charge of making all the food!" But before anyone responded, a voice said:

"Hey guys! What's going on?" Everybody looked up the stairs and couldn't believe their eyes as Ashley walked down the stairs. Ashley was wearing a red strapless dress with a mermaid skirt that complimented her perfect hourglass shape. She wore a black caplet with a high neck collar and long black gloves. She had her wavy hair pulled up in a high ponytail with a black bow. All topped off with hot red lipstick.

Flabber looked around to see everyone was too busy gawking at Ashley, so he answered for her. "Well, you see Ashley, the monsters aren't helping us set up for the party!"

"What?! Why not?" asked Ashley.

Little Ghoul was the first to speak. "Because VAMPIRES are coming!" she snapped. "And they don't appreciate seeing ANY other monsters but themselves!"

Flabber cleared his throat. "You see Ashley, vampires are a very aristocratic breed of monster. They take great pride in their kind than any other-"

"That's right!" Mums interrupted. "And those snobs will treat us like sludge, so we're going to hide out down here until the whole thing blows over!" He pointed at Fangula. "So you can count us out, Count!" Fangula clenched his teeth in frustration. Before this broke out into a brawl, Ashley spoke up.

"Alright fine! You you guys won't help then me and Flabber will!"

Ashley marched back upstairs but Fangula said, "But Ashley! What about that costume party?"

"Yeah!" Flabber said. "You've been talking about it for weeks!"

But Ashley stood at the top of the stairs unfazed. "Come on Fang, you're much more important to me than a costume party!" And with that, Ashley left the basement as Flabber followed. He turned to Fangula just standing there. "Hey Fang, aren't you coming?"

"Huh? Oh! Yeah sure, coming!" Fangula followed Flabber up the stairs. But as he did he thought to himself,

'More important to me? What did she mean by that?'


At the Charterville Community center, Dawn and Hillary were at the costume party. They were dressed as cheerleaders, but they had no spirit in them at all. They sat down at a table and slumped in their chairs.

"I can't believe Ashley called saying she can't make it!" Dawn said.

"Come to think of it, she keeps saying she's been busy for a while." Hillary pointed out. "Ever since that night with Damien, she hasn't been herself lately. Plus I heard she's been hanging around the old Hillhurst house a lot!"

And all of a sudden, someone came up to Dawn and Hillary's table and smacked his hands against the table. Dawn jumped and Hillary almost fell out of her chair!

"Did you say Hillhurst?" the boy asked. He was a teenager, perhaps early 20's. He was scrawny and had no muscle definition. With short, blonde hair in a bowl cut and round glasses. He wore what looked like a safari outfit. A beige jacket, matching cargo shorts, brown hiking boots, and instead of a pitch helmet, he wore a stereotype Sherlock Holmes detective hat. Around his neck he wore a garland of garlic and had on a bandolier of wooden stakes. The girls stared at the boy for a full minute until Dawn answered.

"Uh, yeah?"

The boy clutched the tablecloth. "Hillhurst! Of course! So I'm at the wrong party after all!" Dawn and Hillary looked at each other then looked at the boy.

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

The body straightened himself and offered his hand. "Forgive me, I would tell you but I must remain an enigma." After a reluctant handshake, the girls wanted to know more. "Well, I don't mean to be rude ladies, but I have a job to do!" And the boy left, just like that, leaving two confused cheerleaders behind.

"Well I think that was pretty rude..." Hillary said.

Dawn nodded "Totally. But he was kind of cute."