When the Blood sisters walked into the ballroom, they were quickly aware all eyes were on them.

Charlotte,  in particular, reveled in it. Her head held high, her eyes glistening through her black cat mask. Stark black hair matched it perfectly, she had teased it up in such a way that it looked like large cat ears with ringlets of hair that fell down over her shoulders. Bright green eyes stared out into the crowd, as though beckoning them to her. 

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Isabel’s matching green eyes were less inviting, but she too held a secret enjoyment of the townspeople's curiosity about them. Her mask for the Ball was a black crow, with a short beak. Isabel’s hair was long and so blonde it was practically white. Tonight it was in a beautiful braid that fell over her shoulder, long black feathers weaved into it delicately.

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Willow looked to both of her sisters, admiring their mysterious beauty, excited for the night to come. Her thumb gently licked the hilt of her own secret. Tonight, I find him, she thought, scanning the room slowly. As the triplets made their way down into the dance floor, her long brown hair gilded behind her. Free of any decoration. She wasn’t going to allow any elaborate fussiness to get in the way of her thrills tonight.  It was the same with her dress, simple, easy to move in. Black, just like her sisters, though theirs were much more intricate and frilly. It simply wasn’t Willow’s taste.

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“Do you think he’s here tonight?” Isabel’s eyes lit up.

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“I am certain of it.” Willow said with a grin.

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“Can I dance with him?” Charlotte asked with a giggle.

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“If he asks you, dear sister, then of course!” Willow’s excitement for the night’s events put her in good spirits. Usually she was much more gloomy, but the idea of finding him again made her heart race. 

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“How long has it been, Willow?” Isabel asked.

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“Oh, at least ten years!” Willow had told her sisters about their encounter more than a hundred times. When she had heard their father discussing a new hire from the city, a Mr. Casper Redding, she knew in her heart it was him. 

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Willow begged her father to throw an All Hallows Eve Masquerade Ball. Their father, Richard Blood, had the town in the palm of his hand. The Blood family had built Groton. And aside from their unusual last name, they all had a way about them that people found either enchanting or terrifying. The sisters loved both. 

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They stood as wallflowers watching the laughing faces of couples intertwined as they twirled to the rhythm of the violin playing.

In the corner, she saw a flash of a smile she recognized, taking the hand of a young girl and bowing before he took her onto the dancefloor and took the lead as they twirled in unison with the others around them.

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“There,” Willow nodded towards the dance floor and her sisters eagerly looked out, “Dirty blonde hair, black suit, simple red mask.”

Scoffing, Charlotte added, “And with Marie Abbot of all people, what a twat.” 

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“Trying to seduce her, no doubt,” said Willow.

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“She is easily persuaded.” Isabel chimed in. “Remember two summer ago John Wilcons convinced her that she would grow a beard if she ate meat?”

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“She only ate salads for months.” Charlotte giggled. 

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Willow only smiled, her eyes fixated on the man with the red mask. 

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Charlotte and Isabel were asked to dance by various men, and so they did. Willow was asked as well, but she politely declined; her target was set and so she watched and waited. He had caught her eye a few times and while he danced with other girls, he would look over at her and so she knew it would only be a matter of time before he approached her. 

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She sat like a black widow in her web, waiting for the fly to entangle itself. 

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While she patiently waited, she watched her sisters laugh and dance together. They were the most mesmerizing creatures in the room. The three of them were glowing tonight and Willow was basking in it. 

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Sipping her drink, she noticed dirty blonde hair and a red mask making its way through the sea of dancers towards her. 

“Casper Redding,” He took her hand in his and kissed it ever so gently. “Would you like to dance with me?” 

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Her heart was beating so fast she was sure he could hear it. “Yes, of course.” She smiled at him, letting him lead her to the dance floor. 

“Your eyes caught me,” Casper’s voice was deep, “Not to mention your very intimidating choice of mask.” He laughed.

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“Oh? Do wolves frighten you?” She let him pull her in closer and they moved along gracefully with the music. She was noting how much taller he was than her. He towered over her, at least a foot and a half taller. 6’1’’ at the very least. His hands were strong, but soft. His grip was light, as though he knew he was handling a dangerous animal.  

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“No, they entice me.” 

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“So, does that mean I entice you?” She smirked.

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“Very much so.” 

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Willow’s stomach filled with flutters, she smirked at him before looking away as he spun them. She caught sight of Isabel and winked at her. 

“Would you care to join me in the courtyard for a walk?” He whispered into her ear.

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“So sudden? We’ve only just met.” She murmured.

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“Have we? I dare say we’ve met before.” His eyes locked onto hers and his smile widened, flashing her his fangs. 

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“You remember me?” It was a question she didn’t mean to ask aloud, but there it was.

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“Bright green eyes, wild frizzy brown hair, the smell of danger all around you. You’re much taller now, but yes, I do remember you. I imagine you remember me as well?”  

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She gulped, not anticipating that he would recognize her. She remembered him, of course. How could one simply forget a man covered in blood after feeding on their best friend’s sister. She remembered asking him why, and him telling her his deepest secret. “I must,” he had said, “to stay immortal, I must feed.” Willow had been so very young at the time, but she understood the idea enough to become obsessed with it. When she asked him to make her immortal, he denied her. “You’re far too young now, perhaps if we ever meet again when you’re older.” she smiled to herself at the memory.

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“I do indeed remember you.” she replied, and as they danced, she knew tonight she would become immortal.

 

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​

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Arm in arm, they walked out of the mansion. The inky black sky engulfed them. He led her to an oak bench, neatly tucked under an old willow tree. How fitting, she thought.

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Crickets chirped as the music from the mansion softly played in the distance. They sat down on the bench and looked out into the lake in front of them. It was a magical scene, a perfect location. Frogs and an owl called out into the night in warning, but Willow ignored them.

Casper opened his mouth to speak, but Willow pushed herself up against him, kissing him deeply. He didn’t resist, he let her lips lock onto his and pushed his tongue into her mouth, she could taste him and it made her shudder. His fingers crawled up into her hair and pulled her in deeper. She found herself straddling him, grinding herself up onto him in lust and excitement. She licked his bottom lip and bit down, hard. He growled, but didn’t back away. 

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A familiar touch grazed her back and she broke away from his lips. Her sisters were standing one at each side of her. Together they smiled. 

Casper looked confused, and then smirked, “I didn’t realize your sisters wanted to join.” 

 

Charlotte giggled, leaning in closer, “We always share.” 

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And with that, Willow’s fingers traced down her thigh and clutched the hilt of the knife at her side and before Casper could protest, she sliced his throat. Blood poured out and he coughed, spraying Willow in the face. Then she took the knife, raised it high above her head and smashed it down into his chest cavity. She knew it would be hard to pierce through, but the strength from her sisters helped. They each placed a hand on her back, giving her their energy. 

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With their strength combined she was able to guide the knife downward. Blood spilled down his sides and Willow could hear droplets hitting the ground. She tossed the knife aside and used her fingers to pry open his chest, breaking ribs and finally, grabbing hold of his heart. 

Casper wasn’t quite dead, his heart was still beating as his body tried to regenerate, but as her fingers closed and she ripped his heart out of his chest, he took his last labored breath.

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The sisters stared at the heart, something they had dreamed of sharing for years. Immortality. Willow gave Isabel Casper’s heart and hastily took off her dress and linens. Once naked, she took his heart back into her hands and waited for her sisters to declothe. 

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Together, they walked into the lake and bathed in the moonlight, taking turns biting into the heart, softly chanting their incantation and asking Selena, the moon goddess, to grant them immortality with each bite. 

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Willow had dreamed of this night for years, and now, finally, it had come true.