"Ugh…why are you so happy? It's disgusting…"

"Lark, come on the air is crisp and clean, the pumpkins are screaming to be carved, there are costumes that need to be bought," Aiyanna nudged.

Lark rolled her eyes and went back to sulking on her bed, "I can't believe mom's making me take the brats around…ugh I'm flipping 17 that's way past the trick'or'treating age. Seriously? I mean really, I ju –"

THUMP

"Thanks…thanks for that…really. I was just begging to be smacked upside the head with a pillow," Lark stuck her tongue out.

Aiyanna stuck hers out in response and replied, "Better smacked than smothered…which I'm close to doing. Geez, don't you remember how much fun we used to have trick'or'treating? Besides, it's not like we're actually doing it ourselves."

"Then why do we have to dress up?"

"It's. Hall-o-ween. Smart one," Aiyanna said sarcastically.

"Yeah, yeah."

Alec chuckled up in the attic as he observed the tête-à-tête between the two girls. He enjoyed watching the burdens lift from Aiyanna's shoulders as the date of October 31st drew ever closer. However, as Aiyanna seemed to feel better, Alec couldn't help but feel worse. A few days after Halloween was to be the talent contest, and he knew there was no other way to stall…pretty soon Lark would be one of them and they would be on a plan back to Volterra; and he still couldn't think of any plausible reason to give Jane so that Aiyanna could go with them. Well, there was one, but he wasn't going to let that happen. Jane had already made several derogatory comments about Aiyanna making a perfect pet seeing as she was "so easy to torture." Alec would never allow Aiyanna to get hurt if he could help it…so here he was between a rock and a hard place.

"Finally! The night we've," Lark cleared her throat and Aiyanna continued "I'VE been waiting for!"

"Meh, you go ahead, I'm going to practice."

"Lark…you're fine. If you practice anymore you're going to lose your voice, and then where will you be?"

"Miming on a street corner."

"Very funny. Let's get ready!"

Alec watched the girls as with feigned indifference as they ran around grabbing things then headed out the door. A few minutes later the two came back, Lark groaning once again. "Flashlights, why do we need flashlights? It's not even dark yet."

"It's a safety precaution. Now come on let's find them and go, the kids are getting restless."

Lark paused and looked at her friend with an eyebrow raised, "You are far too excited about this."

"Halloween is magic for me. Honestly when else do I look this good," Aiyanna joked.

Alec looked over at Jane, she was looking outside – probably scouting for some food, and so he took the opportunity to check down on the girls. He had to fight off a laugh as he saw Lark in her costume. She had a bright red wig on with a sea green top and glittery pants of the same color. His laughter quickly caught in his throat though as Aiyanna captured his eye. That new lust that had become increasingly familiar the past few weeks took him over like never before. She was dressed in a tight red dress that went to her ankles, but had a split that went past her mid thigh. A black silk-like cape was draped around her shoulders and her hair was down. Even as he saw them discover the flashlights and leave, he stared at the spot where she had been standing. Before he could stop himself he said to Jane, "Come on…let's go trick'or'treating."