Thanks for the reviews: phantomdo, slpytlak, LilAriezAngel, giggleaid, mysterygal02, Karen Kano, strange organized chaos, BlueMyst19.

A quick note from the author: The masquerade is looming closer. Can't wait, can you? (grins)

Chapter 6: Invitation

Sam sighed, dropping onto her bed with the phone to her ear. "Tuck', I'm really worried about him. I know I haven't known him as long as you have, but I know him enough to know that he's sadder than usual."

"Well, unless you want to kill both him and Jazz, you have to keep quiet," Tucker said over the line.

"I know. It's just…" She sighed and glanced at the dress she was going to have to wear to her masquerade on Friday. "Hey, Tuck', this is totally off subject, but I have to tell you something."

"Shoot."

She sighed again. "My parents are holding a masquerade on Friday…for me."

"For you? Wait, you're that Manson? That explains Leo!"

"Huh?"

"Danny told me that Leo was going to 'steal your heart' so he had twice the fortune."

"Steal my heart?" Sam scoffed. "Well, it's already taken."

"He wouldn't happen to have blue eyes and black hair, would he?"

She sighed. "No, actually he has green eyes."

Danny walked into the house, handing the mail to Vlad and receiving his list of chores in its place. He suppressed a sigh then decided to start with the fire places.

"Oh, look, Leo. We've gotten an invitation to the Manson's masquerade!" Vlad said. "Think of it, Leo. A chance for you to steal dear Samantha's heart."

Danny looked up. Samantha? He was talking about Sam. She never told me she belonged to that Manson family.

"What are you looking at, Dannyrella?" Leo sneered. "Afraid I'm going to steal your girlfriend from you?"

Danny looked down, his eyes flashing green. "She's not my girlfriend," he muttered under his breath. But I wish she was...

"Imagine it, Leo. After you marry that odd girl, you'll have twice as much money to inherit!"

Danny made a face. It was just like Vlad to care only about money.

"Jazmine, darling, we've been invited to the masquerade," Vlad announced.

"I don't think I'll go," Jazz said. "Masks just aren't my thing." She looked at her little brother. "Maybe Danny would like to go."

"No!" Both Vlad and Danny said. They glanced at each other before quickly looking away. "I'm sure Danny would like to stay here and finish his chores," Vlad said smoothly.

"Of course, sir. I would much rather clean the house than go to that party," Danny said quickly, forcing a smile.

Jazz watched her brother as Vlad and Leo left to buy their costumes. His shoulders had drooped, and he was dejectedly shoveling out the ashes and throwing them away. "You want to go to that party."

"Oh, sure, I'd love to," Danny muttered angrily, stabbing at the ashes with the shovel. "That way I can actually break a couple of ribs next time Vlad beats me."

Jazz moved to help him clean out the fireplace. "Danny, you've got to go! I know you like Sam." He gave her a pained look. "The chores will be done, but you have to promise me you'll go."

He sighed, looking down at the fireplace. "I can't," he said softly.

"Danny—"

"I just can't, Jazz!" He stood and walked away.

Sam sighed as she stared at herself in the mirror. Her mother had insisted she try the dress on, and she had reluctantly agreed. The bodice was a lilac color like her eyes with black lacing in the back. The sleeves were made of a sheer polyester, lilac material, billowing out as they reached her wrists, and the skirt reached past the floor. She wore lilac eels to match with glitter on the straps and heel. She sighed and hugged herself, feeling extremely self-conscious in all the color.

Her mother had given her silver jewelry to accent the lilac outfit. She only wished a handsome young man with messy black or white hair and sparkling blue or green eyes would be there to save her from all the other morons that would want to dance with her. She glanced at her fairy mask.

"I wish Danny could make it to my party tonight," she whispered.

"So you have wished it, so shall it be," a ghost outside Sam's window whispered.

Danny walked down the stairs with a heavy heart. Sam's party was going to be in four hours, and he really wanted to go. The only problem was he had no costume, and he had to get his chores done. He stopped short as he walked into the kitchen, blinking. Jazz was standing near the table grinning.

"I guess your chores aren't an issue now, little brother."

A/N: It's getting better, isn't it?