Cassy mingled with the people at the party as best she could. It was hard though because most of these people were her evil step-mothers and Joel's friends. She knew a few, like Alanna her best friend and a few of Brayden's friends, but other than that she felt out of place. With a small sigh, she headed for the garden in an attempt to get away from everyone, when a tall figure blocked her path. Lifting her head, Cassy frowned seeing Sterling Morgan. At that very same moment, the DJ began to play music. With a small groan, Cassy tried to pass the man without saying a word, but his tall, built frame blocked her path.

"It's good to see you again, Miss Lambert." Sterling grinned, a knowing glint in his eye.

"Quit the formalities Morgan. What the hell are you doing here?" Cassandra asked the man irritation lingering in her voice.

"I come in peace Cassy. Besides, I was invited by your dear brother." Sterling motioned to Joel who had four girls drooling all over him. "You remember he and I are friends, right?" The man stepped back looking her up and down, his expression shifted to one she didn't much like. "You're costume fits you Cassy. The hard-ass leather biker babe." Sterling nodded, his eyes lingering on her figure and then added with a smirk, "You can ride my bike anytime."

Catching the hidden meaning behind that statement, Cassy groaned and tried to push past Sterling when her step-mother showed up making it impossible to get through the doorway. "How kind of you to be late to your own brother's birthday, Cassandra. Oh Mr. Morgan. It's a pleasure to see you again. I do hope you're enjoying the party."

"Oh yes Mrs. Lambert. Truly wonderful. In fact, I was just about to ask the lovely Cassy here to dance with me." Sterling suggested while offering his arm to the young woman.

Feigning interest, Cassy looked around and spotted Brayden talking to someone she couldn't see. Who was Brayden talking too? He didn't like these stupid parties any more than she did. She then heard Sterling's comment about dancing. There was no chance in hell she was going to dance with him!

Opening her mouth to protest her step-mother intervened. "Of course, she'll dance with you, Sterling." The woman dressed as a colorful witch grabbed her gloved hand and placed it on Sterling's arm. She then leaned in close to Cassy. "You will dance with him. That will be your punishment for being late... until I think of something else that is more suitable."

A frown tilted the corners of Cassy's mouth and she looked at the man dressed in a very formal vampire costume. "I guess I'm to dance with you then." Cassy grumbled her voice low and cold. So much for no chance in hell, the woman thought with a deep frown.

Sterling's smile held a sense of triumph as he led her to the dance floor. "I guess you are."

They stopped on the edge of the polished wooden floor and noticed how packed it was. Eagerly seeking a way out of this new predicament, Cassy shrugged. "Well it seems we can't dance, so... another time perhaps..." And tried to walk away.

The gothic looking man grabbed her and pulled her back, which in turn caused her to slam against his chest. "We can dance; we'll just dance... close together." He then dragged her onto the dance floor and wrapped his arms around her waist holding her far too close for comfort.

"Morgan, I swear... at times like these.... I wish you'd just drop dead." The biker clad woman hissed. The song then changed to a soft and slow melody and Cassy cursed her luck.

"Such harsh words from such a lovely lady." The Vampire then leaned in close to her and whispered, "Maybe I should just suck your blood." He leaned in even closer and before Cassy knew what he was doing his lips were on her neck, pressing tightly against her flesh, suckling. The fool was acting like a real vampire, attempting to suck her blood, or in this case giving her hickey.

Growing angry, she pushed him away from her causing him to bump into some other couple who grew outraged and shoved him back. While Sterling was angrily dealing with the people he had upset, Cassy slipped silently away to the nearest restroom. Seeing her reflection in the mirror, she frowned and noticed the beginnings of a soft reddish-brown hue. "Curse him!" She growled rubbing at it hoping it would go away. "He would act like a damn teen and try and give me a stupid hickey." The woman grumbled, annoyed that the small mark wasn't going away.

"Maybe some makeup..." Cassy muttered in frustration. Now if only she could make it back up to her room without being seen. Exiting the restroom, Cassy quietly snuck towards the stairs before her step-mother stepped in her way.

"Cassandra, where's your date?"

"My date?" She asked confused while silently cursing the woman's interception. What the hell was she talking about? She never had a date, nor did she ever want one. "I don't have a date."

"Mr. Morgan is your date Cassandra. You will be with him for the rest of the night. Maybe that will show you that I don't accept you being late to your own brother's birthday." The woman said haughtily.

Cass frowned, "But I can't stand the Morgan's..." She grumbled and then realized what she had said and in front of whom she had said it.

The look on her step-mothers face was truly evil. Her thin eyebrow was arched, and one corner of her mouth lifted up in a malicious smirk. "Well, I guess your punishment should suffice then. Enjoy Mr. Morgan's company Cassandra. I know he enjoys yours, I can tell by his little mark." The witch pointed at Cassy's neck, a look of smugness crossing her face. "Maybe one day you'll be Cassandra Morgan and you'll finally be out of my hair."

"I'll never marry a Morgan! I'd rather die." Cass told the woman defiantly.

The woman's face darkened immensely, and she looked like she wanted to hit Cassy. Reining in her anger, she straightened stiffly and glared at Cassy. "We'll see who you marry, Cassandra." And with that the woman walked off.

Cassy sighed once she was gone. She didn't like what the woman had said. It almost sounded like a threat to her. Shaking her head, she saw that her way to the stairs was free. Once again, she headed toward the stairs.

"There you are!" Sterling Morgan called out to her. "Mrs. Lambert told me I'd find you here."

The biker woman groaned and tried to pretend she didn't hear him. She didn't get very far before the man grabbed her wrist. Morgan was beginning to get a little too possessive over her and she didn't like it one bit. He turned her towards him and noticed the little mark on her neck.

"Quite lovely isn't it? After all, I gave it to you." He said before caressing her neck where the small hickey was. "I'll have to give you a bigger one next time."

"There won't be a next time." Cassy growled and pulled away from him.

"Mrs. Lambert said you were my date, Cassy. Now if you're my date, don't pull away from me."

"You're right." The blonde woman said an idea lighting her eyes." She said I was a Morgan's date... maybe I can find Devon. I'm sure he'll be better, than you." With that, Cassy hurried away.

Sterling just glared after her.

Reaching the garden, Cassy sighed and walked along the path until she reached the gazebo. Sitting down on the bench, she frowned and looked down at the red and pink roses. They had been her mother's favorite, or so she had been told. She sat there for some time thinking of the mother she never knew and the father she missed dearly. Lights hung above from the gazebo's roof casting a soft light on the area. The sound of trickling from the small creak that ran through the flowers and plants of the garden, exiting out to pond that surrounded half of the gazebo. Few people were outside at the park like exterior of their house. To the far left a gate led to the large Olympic size pool the Lambert's often swam in, no matter the weather

Just then she heard footsteps and frowned. "I won't dance with you. You can beg, plead, and do whatever the hell you want, but I refuse to dance with you." Cassy said assuming that it was Sterling.

"Well if you feel so strongly, perhaps I should dance alone." Said an unfamiliar voice.

Turning, she blinked seeing a man in a Phantom of the Opera costume. Half his face was concealed, and the other half was in shadow. She wished she could see his face. Who was this man? "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else."

"Well, does that mean you'll dance with me?" He asked.

"Um..." She was at a loss for words for once in her life. Normally she was the mysterious one, but this man seemed to be an enigma. Oddly enough, she found herself drawn to him because of it.

When she didn't answer, he shrugged, "I guess not. It's better that way anyway. I'll more than likely step on your toes...." He paused and then flashed a smile. "I don't really dance."

This seemed to clear Cassy's mind and she shook her head, "Don't dance or can't?" She asked with an arched eyebrow. "Anyone can dance... if they really want to. As long as they have a desire to dance."

The Phantom man shrugged. "And do you have a desire?"

"I can dance if that's what you're asking. I took years of dance. Ballroom, swing, salsa, ballet, jazz, and tap." Cassy explained and then stood up. "Dancing was fun, even if I was forced to do it."

"No one should be forced to do anything." Said the mysterious man.

Cassy shrugged. "That should be a law or something, but it isn't. The laws now days are corrupt, and they only really apply to those who are poor. Any rich person can get out of jail if they have enough money to pay the bill, even for murder. It's like that old game... Monopoly. If a rich man or woman has a get out of jail free card, they very well can."

The Phantom man stared at her without saying a word. She seemed to be lost in thought and he didn't want to interrupt. After a few moments she shook her head once again and looked at him. He smiled at her and offered his arm to her. "Well then, after all that, I think you convinced me to want to dance with you, no matter if I can or can't. May I?" He asked.

Cassy blinked in surprise. He was a gentleman that was for sure. The only gentleman she knew of was Brayden, but he was her brother. He treated her like a princess though and she loved him for it.

"Alright. Just no stepping on my toes, I rather like these boots." Cassy said with a smirk.

"I can't promise that, but I can try." Said the stranger as he led her back inside.