"Hey, we decided to go dancing. You guys want to come?" Raven asked, stacking the dirty plates on top of each other. The others were cleaning up the table as well.

"Sure. Why not?" Tony replied.

Isabella debated. If she stayed behind it would give her the opportunity to snoop through Antonio's room. Of course, there was always tomorrow, she thought, thinking of dancing, the crowds of people.

Clubs were more her territory. Prime hunting ground. She could barely tolerate the bagged blood. Live , warm blood was what a vampire really needed. Craved. She didn't know how Tony survived drinking bagged blood all the time though he did say that he did often still drink live blood when he felt he needed to.

"That would be lovely," she said with a smile.

They finished cleaning up the dinner dishes and changed clothes and all met up at the garage.

Tony pulled out his large black SUV and they all climbed in. Isabella climbed in the front seat next to Tony. She pulled down at the short black dress she wore.

"You're trying too hard," Tony told her in Italian.

"What do you mean?" she asked him back in Italian.

"To be American. Not all American girls dress in skimpy outfits."

"I know," she said, tugging on the black leather jacket she brought along.

"Just be yourself."

"I am myself."

"You didn't wear clothes like that in Italy."

"George and Ray weren't in Italy," she told him with a smile. Tony laughed.

"I did wear clothes like this. Just not around you," Isabella told him.

"Hunting clothes?" Tony asked, growing serious.

Isabella nodded.

"Hey, no speaking in Italian up there! No fair to the rest of us," George called. He'd heard her say his name and he didn't like that Tony had laughed after it.

"Why don't you learn Italian and then you'll know what we're saying," Tony told him,  looking back at him in the rear view mirror.

He saw Emily and Jake cuddling up. That was still taking some time getting used to. He was over her, but the jealously was still there.

Emily had told him long ago about her visiting Jake all of her life via astral projection. Jake had seen her but his family hadn't. They thought she was just his imaginary friend.

Emily had always loved Jake and would love no one else the same. That hadn't prevented them from dating or loving each other during the time that Jake wasn't yet in California. But it wasn't the kind of love that either of them had wanted or had needed.

If he was honest, she'd just helped him find himself again. He'd been lost for so many years that he'd barely recognized himself. He was slowly getting back to some version of himself. He looked away from them.

He wasn't sure about Raven either. He had always been attracted to her. She was more like him than Emily. Raven had a wild side that complimented his. He hadn't gotten together with Raven because of his infatuation with Emily. She was like the bright sunshine. But he didn't get burned at her touch. Emily had filled him with love and compassion when he needed it the most. He was at a low point in his life when he met her and she along with Raven pulled him out of it.

Raven had given him every implication lately that she was interested back. But she kept telling him that she doesn't want a relationship now. He could deal with that. For now.

******************************

They entered the club that they occasionally went to. Tony went more often though, not that the others knew. They didn't know a lot of things Tony did at night.

And they didn't know that other vampires often frequented this establishment. There was no getting around that. Vampires often frequented clubs, and givers usually went, as well, and knew how to find them to give them what they needed.

The more bad vampires would take out unknowing victims and take what they needed without consent. Even though this was not a club that the more rough vampires frequented, Tony still always kept his eyes on the others.

They checked their coats and moved in. "Isabella," Tony said loudly.

She turned to him. He pulled her close to him. He spoke loudly in Italian in her ear over the club music "Keep a look out for vampires and watch out for the kids."

She nodded and squeezed his arm. "They'll be fine," she said sensing his concern.

"George, dance with me," Isabella yelled, grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the dance floor.

Tony shook his head as he watched them go.

"She'll be fine. She's with George," Ray told him,patting his back and followed them onto the dance floor and looked around for someone to dance with. Jake, Emily and Raven also moved towards the dance floor.

Tony headed for the bar. Vampires often hung around there looking for the most vulnerable. "Hello, Ramona," he said, spotting one already.

The beautiful blonde in a skimpy red dress turned. She smiled. "Antonio, it's so good to see you, darling," she said, hopping gracefully off the stool and kissed him on either cheek.

"You're as beautiful, as ever," Tony twirled her around, admiring her curves.

"Thank you, darling. Sorry, but the pickings are slim right now. Why are you here so early?"

"Watching my kids. And you?"

Tony had told Ramona about his friends previously. He knew she would learn about them anyway. And by trusting her with the information himself, Ramona would respect his protection of them.

Tony considered Ramona a "good vampire". While she still fed off humans, they were all willing and she never killed. Well, not for the past few hundred years.

But Ramona would never intervene if another vampire was about to kill a human. She was too cowardly for that. Ramona protected her own interests and would never go against a more powerful vampire. She was well liked in the community because of it, so she was a good friend to have.

Ramona had her own influence with those that liked her. And she was a good resource of information when one needed it. She knew most of what all the vampires were doing and she'd keep secrets if it benefited her to do so. Likewise, she was equally easy to trade your secrets if it benefited her, so you had to be careful about what you shared.

"Oh, I'm just bored. I suppose I'll be bored for a few more hours unless you care to entertain me," She flirtatiously took a sip of wine from the glass on the bar.

***************************

"Raven!" Raven heard a voice call from the crowd.

She turned around and looked at the many faces around her.

"Raven," she heard it again, a deep sexy male voice next to her ear. She jumped as she could feel warm breath against her neck. She turned towards it.

"Sorry to scare you," he said loudly.

Raven smiled. It was the guy that came to see Isabella. "Trey."

"You remembered," he said with a smile. "I'm flattered."

Raven blushed,"How did you know my name?" she called to him.

"I make a point in knowing the name of the prettiest girl in town," He said huskily into her ear.

She smiled, "How sweet," she said simply, trying to conceal her overwhelming attraction to him.

"Would you dance with me?"

"Yes! Uh, sure," Raven replied taking the hand he offered.

****************************

"You're a good dancer," Isabella told George.

"What?" George yelled.

Isabella laughed. She moved in closer to him. "You're a good dancer," she called into his ear.

"Thanks, you too," George yelled back with a smile.

She pulled in closer as the music slowed into a slow dance. Isabella could feel George becoming uncomfortable. She took his hands and put his arms around her waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his.

"Relax," she told him in his ear.

"It's hard to when you're next to me." George said softly in her ear, breathing her in, enjoying the feel of her body against his.

"May I cut in?" a voice said next to them.

George felt Isabella's body stiffen. They stopped dancing and turned to see a guy with long, dark brown, hair pulled back in a ponytail, and very dark eyes. He wore a black silk shirt and black pants.

"May I cut in?" he asked again, eying Isabella.

George looked at Isabella for an answer.

She nodded. "It's okay, George. I know him. One dance and I'll meet you by the bar."

"Alright," George said, eying the guy suspiciously.

"Max," she said annoyed, watching George leave.

Max wrapped an arm around her waist. "Isabella."

"Why are you here?" she asked him in Italian.

"I can't have a dance with my favorite girl?!"

"You traveled all the way from Italy to dance with me?" Isabella laughed.

"Is that hard to believe?"

"I have a hard time believing anything you say lately," she told him angrily.

"Oh come, come. You still don't think I had anything to do with trying to hurt the twins, do you?" he asked insulted.

"It's hard to think that you didn't."

He pushed her and Isabella stumbled backwards. "Just who do you think you are? Where is your loyalty? Haven't I done everything for you?" he demanded angrily.

She glanced around and he pulled her back in a dance, remembering they were in public.

Isabella took a deep breath. "Yes, you've done everything for me and more, Max. It's not that I'm not grateful..."

"But you believe the lies of that coward," he said angrily.

"I don't think they're lies. At least, I think that he does believe what he is saying." Isabella pulled away, growing fearful as she felt his anger rise.

"Antonio," Max hissed, "is a liar and a coward! Always has been and always will be. Don't get trapped in his deception."

"Leave my friends alone, Max," she said firmly.

He laughed. "Your friends," he spat out. "Maybe you need to re-examine who your friends are, Isabella," he said and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

Isabella spotted another familiar face and cursed. She made her way towards him.

"Can I cut in?" she said firmly to Raven.

"Sure," Raven said seeing nothing but pure anger on Isabella's face.

Raven backed away. Trey grinned and took Isabella by the waist.

"I'll find you in a few minutes," he called to Raven.

She nodded and walked away.

******************************

Raven found George looking pathetic, drinking a soda in the corner of the bar, while Tony talked to a beautiful blonde in red on the other end.

She walked towards George, straightening her shoulders to the jealously that was rising up at Tony's attention on the girl.

"What's with you?" she asked, sitting down next to George.

"Water," she called to the bartender. The bartender rolled his eyes to another non-alcoholic drink. Those were not how he made his tips.

"Nothing," George muttered.

"Isabella is dancing with Trey," she said with a slight smile.

"The guy that came over this afternoon?" he asked frowning. That wasn't the guy who'd interrupted his dance.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Some other guy cut in with us a few minutes ago."

"There are a lot of them. And she is quite a looker," Raven said with a compassionate pat on his back.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Hey, stand up for yourself! Go cut in with them."

"I don't stand a chance with that guy."

"Don't be so hard on yourself. You're a good looking guy."

George smiled. "Thanks, Rave. But you said so yourself that he was gorgeous. And gorgeous wins out good looking every time."

"Well, she didn't look so happy to see Mr.Gorgeous. She looks happier seeing you," Raven told him, putting her arm around his shoulders.

******************************

"Why are you here, Trey? And for God's sake why'd you bring Max?" Isabella demanded.

"I didn't bring him, he just showed up. As he always does," Trey answered. "And I figured since I was here, I might get to know some of the locals," he said with a smile.

"He's not here, is he?"

Trey shrugged, "I haven't seen him. I don't know. Maybe, since Max is here," Trey answered.

"Just go home. And take them with you!"

"Why should I? You're here," he answered, pulling a strand of hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear.

"I came here to get away from the three of you," she snapped, pushing his hand away.

"No. You came here to do a job," he growled, grabbing her wrist.

"If I was left alone maybe I could do it!" she yelled, pulling her arm away.

"You could have stayed at the house tonight, Isabella. But you didn't. They are all here. You would have had plenty of time to get the items and get out. But you chose not to," he told her with a disappointed scowl.

"I don't know where they are!" she told him firmly. "I wouldn't know where to start looking."

"Well find out! And find out quick. Tear the house apart if you need to, but you find the items and then come home. I don't need to have you sitting around that house getting your head filled with lies."

"What makes you think they are lies?"

"God!" He yelled, pulling back from her. "Do we seriously have to go through this again?!" he snarled, throwing one arm in the air.

He brought her back into a dance as they got stares around them. "Antonio is a liar and a coward," he lowered his voice,
"Nothing more nothing less. Don't have fairy tale dreams of having him play grandfather to you because it's not going to happen! Just get the job done and come back home!" he told her annoyed.

"Has Max tried to hurt Antonio's friends?" Isabella demanded.

"Why would he want to do that?" Trey asked, his face turning from anger and annoyance to confusion at the change in conversation.

"They've been tormented over the years by black fog. Their family and friends have died. It's easily conjured up. It wouldn't be difficult for Max to do."

"What would be the point? They haven't done anything to him."

"Not yet anyway."

"Would they?"

"If Max did something to them or Antonio, yes they would."

"Again, why would he?" Trey asked with a sigh.

"To get to Antonio."

Trey laughed. "You think Antonio would care if a little black fog was after his roommates?" Trey asked.

"Yes, he would," Isabella replied seriously.

Trey blew out a breath. He didn't want to keep having the same conversation that always went nowhere.

"Max would have told me if he'd done so. And he hasn't. I don't know what kind of trouble Antonio's friends are into, but you better get out of it quick. You don't need anyone dealing with black magic paying you any attention," Trey said, pulling her closer in their dance.

"Would you ask him, please?" Isabella asked in his ear.

"What for?"

"He's giving me mixed signals. One minute he is admitting to it, the next he swears he didn't. I don't know if he's lying or not. You know how he gets."

"If he said he didn't then he didn't."

"You take his word?"

"Yes."

"I'm not sure if I believe him."

Trey sighed. "You never do. Look, I'll see what I can find out. And if it is him, I'll ask him to lay off. That's what you want, right? To leave your new friends alone?"

"Yes."

"I can't stop him with Antonio. That's their business."

"You don't care if Max tries to hurt him?"

"How can you ask that after what he did?!" Trey yelled.

"Maybe he didn't do what Max said he did!" Isabella raising her voice as well.

"Enough! I won't have this conversation with you again!" he said angrily. "Don't push me, Isabella."

Isabella looked away. "I need to get back to my friends."

"I don't like you having them as friends," Trey said annoyed.

"Tough! I don't like yours so much either!" she snapped back.

Trey laughed at her reply. He kissed the top of her head.

"However, there is one that I do like..." he said with a grin, pulling her back into their dance.

******************************

"What's wrong?" Jake asked Emily.

"I don't know I keep getting these feelings," she said, rubbing her arms.

"Not good ones, huh?"

"No, not at all good. Almost evil," she said as a guy dressed in black brushed past her. She shivered.

"Let's get out of here then," Jake said, taking her arm.

"Maybe we should stay then."

"Emily, if something is evil here then we should leave."

"What about all these people?"

"What about them?"

Emily sighed. He didn't understand her need to protect. "What if they get hurt?"

"What if we get hurt?"

"Stop thinking of yourself, Jake! There are so many innocent people here," Emily told him, looking around.

"Let's check in on the others. See what they think."

"Alright," she answered.

They found Ray pretty quickly, dancing with a pretty brunette. They dragged him away under his protest.

******************************

"Sorry to keep you," Isabella told George, coming up behind him at the bar.

"No problem," George answered with a smile.

"Where's Trey?" Raven asked curiously.

"Looking for you."

"I better go find him then," Raven said with a smile.

"Raven," Isabella stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

Raven turned back towards her. "Yes?"

"He's okay to dance with, but not anything else."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't trust him."

"I can handle myself, don't worry," Raven answered, walking away.

"What's his deal?" George asked.

"Deal?" Isabella asked confused.

"Um, like why should she look out for him?"

"He's not as nice as he looks," Isabella said, looking out across the crowd.

"Should I be worried?"

"I told him to behave. So, I think not."

"Yeah...okay...that should do it, right?" George said skeptically."What about this other guy that cut into our dance?"

"I don't want to talk about him. Please. Let's dance," Isabella said, pulling his arm.

"Sure," George smiled.

******************************

"Raven, can I speak with you a moment?" Jake said, tapping Raven on the shoulder.

She was dancing with a guy dressed in black with black curly hair. Emily had identified him as the guy who stopped by to see Isabella earlier that day.

"Excuse me, Trey," Raven said to him. Trey nodded and stepped back.

"I have some bad vibes about this guy, this place," Emily said into her ear.

"I'm just dancing with him for Pete's sake."

"Would you listen to her, Rave? Just because you think some guy is cute doesn't mean he's not a bad weed," Jake told her.

"You need to back off, Jake. You're taking this big brother thing a little too seriously," Raven said crossing her arms over her chest.

"Raven, I'd like everyone to leave now. I can't explain it, but there's a lot of bad vibes in this room," Emily told her.

"Are you serious?!" Raven asked annoyed.

"Excuse me, is there a problem?" Trey asked, stepping towards the group.

"It's ok, Trey. My friend here isn't feeling too well, so we're discussing going home," Raven told him.

"I could take you home if you'd like to stay," Trey told Raven, touching her lightly on the arm.

"She's coming with us," Jake told him, pulling Raven towards him by the arm.

"Would you just lay off?!" Raven exclaimed, pulling her arm away angrily.

"It's okay. Your brother doesn't trust me. Why don't you give me your number and I'll call you tomorrow."

Raven glared at Jake. "Certainly," She said, turning towards him with a defiant smile.

Trey reached in his pocket and flipped open his cell phone. Raven told him the number and he programmed it into his phone.

"How'd you know I was her brother?" Jake demanded.

"You weren't speaking that quietly, you know," Trey told him, shutting his phone.

"Goodnight, Raven." He took her hand and kissed it. He winked at Emily and walked away.

"Are you both happy?"

"He's bad news, Rave," Jake told her gently

"Come on, let's go," Emily took her by the arm and watched Trey disappear into the crowd.

"Hey, guys," Ray said finding George and Isabella dancing.

"Hey, Ray. We haven't seen you all night," George said.

"I've been dancing with the beautiful ladies," Ray answered, grabbed Isabella, spun her around, and dipped her.

Isabella laughed. "Thank you, Ray," Isabella said, blushing at his comment.

"Hey, we're leaving," Jake said coming up to them.

"Already?!" George asked.

"Emily's getting bad vibes in here and wants to go," Jake told them.

"Oh. Okay," George said disappointed.

They found Tony still in the bar with the blonde and pulled him away as well. They gathered their jackets from the coat check and left the club.

******************************

"Thank goodness, I thought they'd never leave," Max told Ramona. "Thanks for keeping him busy," he said, kissing her cheek softly.

"No problem, darling. I just can't believe Antonio would do something as horrible as you say!" she said, shaking her head.

"Well, he did. I know he's one of us, but even so..." Max trailed off.

"Anytime, darling, anytime," she said sympathetically, patting his hand in understanding.