Lorne sighed as he put the CD into the karaoke machine. He looked up at Andrew, his expression sombre. "This is one of the CDs Salome gave me. She said it would help me attract a better clientele."

Andrew nodded. "I know." He looked down, a sad smile on his face. "She played it a lot at home."

"Past tense," Lorne said warningly.

"Right." Andrew nodded. "She does play it a lot at home. I've had it in my head a lot lately."

Lorne sighed. "Well, my mind's already formulating a few pieces of advice."

Andrew went to the microphone. "Okay...."

Lorne nodded and pressed the button. As the heavy music began to play, Andrew moved along with it, trying to get into it. He bowed his head and began to sing. "Don't fret precious I'm here. Step away from the window and go back to sleep..."

He looked to Lorne. His normal happy face was etched with worry and pain. "Lay your head down child... I won't let the boogeymen come... Count their bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums..."

Andrew's eyes slid shut. "Pay no mind to the rabble. Pay no mind to the rabble. Head down, go to sleep... To the rhythm of the war drums."

He opened his eyes when the door opened. He stared at Connor as he stood in the door. His voice grew stronger. "Pay no mind what other voices say... They don't care about you, like I do... Safe from pain, and truth, and choice, and other poison devils..."

****

"See, they don't give a fuck about you, like I do... Just stay with me..."

Andrew looked over Jamie, concern marring his features. "Jay, what's going on?"

"We're..." Jamie rasped. "We're thirsty."

"Jamie," Andrew said firmly, grabbing Jamie by the chin and forcing him to look into his eyes. "You have to talk to me."

"We're thirsty!" Jamie shouted. He shoved Andrew away. "We need water!"

Andrew fell to the ground and Jamie stalked passed him. Andrew struggled to get up, watching as Jamie continued down the street to the convenience store.

Jamie looked into the window. He then pushed a customer out of the way so he could get through the door. He stalked up to the refrigerator, grabbing a bottle of water. He opened it and began to drink it down greedily.

Andrew was quickly behind Jamie. He was gasping for breath. "Jay..."

Jamie whirled around. His skin was beginning to develop small cracks in it. "Leave us alone."

Andrew looked over Jamie as he finished off the last of the water in the bottle. He threw the bottle away and went for another. "There's something wrong with you."

"There is!" Jamie rasped. "We don't have enough to drink!"

"We have lots of water at home," Andrew said quickly. He grabbed a few of the bottles from the refrigerator. "And here, we have some for the car ride. Come on Jamie..."

Jamie grabbed for one of the bottles Andrew dangled in front of him. "We'll go," he said simply.

"Good boy," Andrew said quietly, leading Jamie towards the door by dangling the bottle of water.

"You have to pay for that!" The very angry looking college student behind the register snapped.

Andrew pulled a few wadded up bills out of his pocket, throwing them at the counter. "There," he said distractedly. "Keep the change."

Turning when he got to the door, Andrew strode to his car. "Why is it never quiet?"

****

Mandy weaved her way through the crowd of partygoers. She carried a basket in her arms. Discreetly, she tucked the stake she had hidden under the stuffed black dog she had in the basket as she smiled at a boy in a striped convict suit with 24601 emblazoned on his chest. He looked her over. "Mand, you look hot."

Mandy giggled. "Merci, Monsieur Valjean."

He cocked his head. "Alice Little?"

Mandy frowned deeply. "I'm Dorothy Gale." She curtsied. "From Kansas."

He eyed her footwear. "But your shoes..."

"They're silver in the book," Mandy admonished him. She rolled her eyes. "Honestly..."

A boy in round glasses with a lightning bolt shaped mark on his forehead grabbed Mandy and swung her around. "Ah, Mandy... If I only had the nerve."

Mandy giggled. "A great part of courage is the courage of having done the thing before." She gave the boy a sexy smile. "So you should at least do it once, John?"

John kept dancing Mandy through the ground. "So how is your play going, brave girl?"

"Very well," Mandy said with a nod. "They're off script already."

"Oh?" John arched a brow. "You found an Ophelia?"

Mandy let him dip her. "I did indeed."

John brought Mandy back up, pulling her close. "A cute ingenue from the theatre department?"

Mandy shook her head. "An Anthro Chick with the uncanny ability to spit out the most complicated phrases imaginable but is unable to understand that when you score in hockey, they're called points, but not sharps."

John laughed. "Interesting choice there."

"Well--"

There was a blinding flash. Someone let out an ear-piercing scream. Mandy tore herself away from John, whirling around. She looked around panicked, trying to discover where the disturbance was. Dozens of people were stampeding, trying to get away. Mandy became dizzy watching the panic.

She focused on the sight of red. A woman dressed as Helen of Troy ran past her. Her face was spattered with blood. Some of it was her own, coming from a gash in her forehead.

Mandy grabbed the woman by the shoulders "What happened?"

"I--" The girl was sobbing. "It's... I don't know what it is. It's.... Oh my God..."

Mandy nodded. "All right. Get out of here. John!" She turned to her dance partner. "Make sure everyone gets out."

John looked terrified. "What?"

"Get everyone out," Mandy said firmly. "Make sure they stay calm. You got that? I need your help."

Mandy reached into her basket. She pulled out the collapsible crossbow and let the basket drop. She went running in the opposite direction of those fleeing. "Everyone stay calm!" She shouted. "Everyone..."

Mandy trailed off as she set eyes on the monster. It was at least nine feet tall with a mouthful of three-inch teeth. Its arms were nearly as long as its whole body. Its sharp horns were covered in blood.

Taking a deep breath, Mandy tried to avoid looking at the dead bodies at the demon's feet. She instead stared into the demon's beady, black eyes. "I think I'm in trouble," she said softly.

"Mandy!" John yelled at her as he herded out partygoers. "Come on! We have to get out of here!"

Mandy shook her head. "I can't do that." She stared up at the beast. "Not yet."

"Why not?" John demanded. "What are you doing?"

Mandy kept a resolute face on her face. She raised up her crossbow. "My job."

****

Connor bounded down the stairs, buttoning up his black shirt. He then ran a hand through his long hair, trying to get it out of his face.

His smile grew as he reached the bottom of the stairs. He took in the sight of the bare purple back and volumous purple hair. She was bent over as she put her shoes on.

He slipped up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist. "Hey." He buried his face in her hair. "Did you convince Lorne to let you out early?"

She stood up and turned around. Oni looked at Connor in shock."

Connor immediately let her go, jumping back. "Oh!" His face went red. "Oh God.... Oh wow... I..."

Oni looked down. Connor could now see her black hair peeking out from beneath her wig and some patches where the makeup hadn't quite covered her skin.

Connor swallowed hard. "Erm... Sorry?"

Oni smiled. "I suppose this is a good indication that my ruse is successful... And that your relationship with Salome is on the mend."

"We have a date tonight." Connor's face was turning even redder. "Why are you dressed up like Salome?"

Oni frowned in confusion. "I was led to believe that every October 31st people masqueraded as demons and asked for confections in exchange for practical jokes."

Connor nodded slowly. "Well... Yeah... I suppose..." He looked Oni over. "You look..." He furrowed his brow. "Does Salome know about this?"

Oni shook her head. "Do you suppose she will show as much surprise as you did?" Oni looked over Connor. "Are you dressed as your father for Halloween?"

Connor looked down at himself. "Maybe all black was a mistake." He shook his head. "It's not a costume. It's just my clothes."

"Oh." Oni nodded. "Well, if you were to add a long black coat, you could say you are dressed up as..."

"Did Mandy put you up to that?" Connor asked rather tersely.

Oni shook her head. "No. But Mr. Wells suggested to Mandy and myself during training this morning that we should convince you to dress as your father."

Connor sighed. "I'll get him for that later. You heading out?"

"Yes." Oni walked to the door. "I was just about to go to Caritas. I'm afraid I've missed the initial show, but Lorne has said he is doing special things all night. Would you like to accompany me so you can lavish your affection upon the correct female?"

Connor's blush deepened. "Yeah. Okay. Maybe I can convince Lorne to let her out early." He opened the door and gestured to Oni to leave. "After you."

Before Oni could leave, Andrew hurried in, helping Jamie along. "I need help!" Andrew shouted, panic lacing his voice.

Connor was in shock as he followed Andrew into the living room. He watched wide-eyed as Andrew helped Jamie down onto the couch. Jamie was gulping down water.

"What's going on?" Connor demanded.

"I don't know," Andrew stood up straight. There was fear in his eyes. "There was a flash... We were knocked down. Then Jamie started to act weird."

"Weird how?" Oni asked, kneeling before Jamie and looking him over. Cracks were spreading across Jamie's pale face.

Jamie tossed aside his empty water bottle. "We're thirsty," he croaked.

Connor went very still. The blood drained from his face and his eyes grew wide. "....What?"

"We're thirsty!" Jamie spat angrily. "More water!"

Connor shook his head. "It's not possible..."

Jamie looked up at Connor, finally meeting his eyes. "No..." He shook his head, becoming frantic. "No... It's... You... Not... It can't be..."

"You know who I am," Connor growled.

Jamie nodded. "The bringer of torment... agony... death..."

"Damn right," Connor hissed. He cocked his head. "I'm surprised you remember. How long has it been?"

"You left over a thousand years ago," Jamie rasped. "But we remember. We always remember. We have feared your return."

"I didn't return," Connor snapped. "You came here." With a snarl, he grabbed Jamie by the hair, forcing him to his feet. "How did you get here? Through the same cracks?"

"What are you doing?" Andrew asked, panicked. He tried to grab Connor. "You're going to hurt Jamie!"

"This isn't Jamie," Connor growled. "Why did you come here?" Connor yelled at Jamie. "Are you here for me?"

"We felt the pull," Jamie hissed out. "We all felt the pull.... We were called here...."

"What is going on, Connor?" Oni asked, her voice filled with fear.

Connor's face remained grim as he pushed Jamie back down onto the couch. "He's been possessed by a Sluk."

"What's a Sluk?" Andrew asked.

"Parasite." Connor knelt in front of Jamie. "Spends about ninety-five percent creating droughts. The other five percent of the time, they possess more intelligent creatures and absorb all of the moisture from their bodies."

"And that is what has happened to James?" Oni said shakily. "What are we to do?"

"I've dealt with Sluks before," Connor said evenly, almost eerily calm. "I can take care of this.

Connor reached into the back of his jeans and drew out his knife. He kept his expression cold as he brutally shoved the blade deep into Jamie's gut.

"Connor!" Andrew shrieked.

Connor remained cold as he listened to Jamie yell in pain, his voice underscored by the squeals of the Sluk inside him. Connor pulled the knife out and slipped his fingers inside of the wound, He pulled them out carefully, the squirming Sluk now in his hand.

Groaning, Jamie doubled over in pain. Connor ignored his friend's cries, rising to his feet. He strode purposefully into the kitchen, the wriggling creature still in his tightly clenched grip. Connor turned on the stove and dropped the Sluk into the flames. It shrieked as the fire enveloped it.

"Oh my God..." Andrew was next to Jamie, trying to stem the flow of blood. "Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God..."

Connor calmed walked back into the living room. "Andrew, take Jamie to the hospital."

"You stabbed Jamie," Andrew said, utterly shocked.

"I saved his life," Connor replied simply. There was an edge of danger to his voice. "Now take him to the hospital. Tell them he was mugged."

Andrew looked up at Connor, a mixture of horror and revulsion of his face. "Connor, you stabbed Jamie!"

"I didn't hit anything vital!" Connor snapped fiercely. "But you need to get him to a doctor now or he will bleed to death. Get moving now." He then thought of something and ran back into the kitchen. He returned and threw a lighter to Andrew. "If you see any more of sluks, scare them off with the lighter. Fire is one of the only things that can kill them." He pointed to Oni. "Go with him. The sluks probably won't go to the hospital. Too brightly lit. While you're there, get on the phone with the Council."

Andrew caught the lighter and tucked it into his pocket. He carefully helped Jamie up. "How did you know about these things?"

The fierce expression on Connor's face faded. He now looked scared and mournful. "They're from home."

****

Mandy jumped up onto the refreshment table to get herself at the same level as the huge demon. "Everyone out!" She snapped at the few partygoers who were too terrified to move. "Now!"

With a sweep of her leg, Mandy kicked the punch bowl. Red liquid sloshed onto the floor as the bowl flew through the air. It smashed against the demon's shoulder.

The demon swung its arm, annoyed by the hit, but generally unphased. Mandy raised her crossbow, shooting three arrows in quick succession. Her accuracy was good and they all hit the demon in the chest. But the demon's mottle grey hide was thick and the arrows barely penetrated.

Angered, the demon swung at Mandy. She tried to dodge, but she misjudged how long its arms were and was hit in the side. She lost her balance, hitting the ground hard. She groaned as she tried to get back up. Her blue and white pinafore was stained with mix of punch and blood. Mandy crawled across the floor, over the body of one of the partygoers the demon had attacked. She took a deep breath. "All right... Stay calm... You can do this... You can do this..."

Mandy spotted an armoured young man huddled in the corner. She made her way to him. "I told you to get out," she said roughly. She then eyed the sword at his belt. "That real, Lancelot?"

Lancelot didn't respond.

"Lancelot!" Mandy slapped him hard. "I need you here with me. Is that real?"

"The-- The--" He had trouble speaking. "It's not sharpened. Display only..."

"Then I'll put some muscle behind it." Mandy snatched the sword away from him. "I'm going to cause a distraction and I want you to run." She gave him another, gentler slap. "You got that? Run , as fast as you can."

Mandy turned her attention back to the demon, rising to her feet. The demon had just tossed over the refreshment table.

"Go," Mandy said fiercely, her fingers tightening around the hilt of the sword. "Now!"

Lancelot went running and Mandy charged at the demon. She hacked away at the demon, making small dents in its flesh. Several of them began to bleed a sickening black substance.

"You don't get it!" Mandy snarled angrily. "You don't get to win! You're the bad guy and I'm the--"

The demon swung its arm and hit Mandy square in the chest. She was sent flying backwards, breaking through the glass window in the front. She hit the lawn, groaning in pain. "--Vampire Slayer," she finished weakly.

Mandy pulled herself up, crawling through the shattered glass. She looked back briefly. The demon had stalked to the hole in the window, making its way out.

Mandy sighed. "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

****

Clem was on stage, microphone in hand. He was dressed in a Dodgers outfit. "Roll on thunder, shine on lightning... The days are long and the nights are frightenin'... Nothing matters anyway..."

He held the microphone out to the audience. It was packed with demons and college students who all yelled, "And that's the hell of it!"

"You did a great show, Lorne," Sophie said, leaning over the bar. She was dressed in a nurse's uniform. "You, Chico and Salome really worked hard."

Lorne, who was dressed as a Transylvanian in a black tailcoat, smiled at Sophie. "Didn't Chico just look darling in that corset?" There was a teasing tone in his voice.

"You're not funny," Chico grumbled. He was now dressed in his normal clothes, but his face was still covered in smeared make up. "I have done many humiliating things in my life and this..."

"You looked good," Sophie insisted. She looked around. "What happened to Salome? I wanted to tell her how good she was."

"She went to change," Lorne explained. "She should be--"

Salome stepped out of the back. There were catcalls as she sauntered out. She was dressed in a tight, shimmering white dress. The skirt was high on the thigh, exposing her shapely legs. Her hair was curled and flowing free over her shoulders.

"Have mercy!"' Lorne exclaimed, looking her over. "You look like you're ready to raise some hell!"

Salome smirked, sliding onto a barstool. "That's not what I'm trying to raise."

"You're a saucy little minx," Lorne leaned over the bar. "So why do we warrant a sexy little dress?"

"Actually..." Salome blushed fuchsia. "It's not for here." She bit her lip, an excited twitter in her voice. "He asked me out, Lorne. Out on a date. He was sweet and... Oh, Lorne."

"Connor asked you out?" Lorne repeated.

Salome nodded.

"So what the hell are you doing here, Sugarplum?" Lorne asked gently.

Salome laughed softly, almost disbelieving. "The party, of course. You've been planning this for weeks."

Lorne reached out, taking Salome's hand. "You're fired."

Salome blinked, taken aback. "Excuse me?"

Lorne pat Salome's hand. "You and Connor have been mooning over each other for weeks. If you're moving towards a reconciliation, you shouldn't be anywhere near here. I won't have someone who doesn't know how to prioritize working for me."

Salome looked down. "So you're saying I shouldn't have even come in today?"

"Sweetie," Lorne looked her over. "I'm saying that sexy little number shoulder be balled at the foot of your bed by now."

Salome smiled brightly. "So I can go?"

Lorne nodded. "Taillights, Sweetie. Now."

"Why does she get to go early?" Chico protested. "We're five deep in here and I had to wear platform heels."

Lorne turned to Chico. "I owe Connor's father."

"I should report you to the Better Business Bureau," Chico muttered.

Lorne sighed. "Put it into perspective, Chico... While Salome's saving the world, you're having Fear Factor marathons.... I also pay you more."

Salome paused in the doorway, turning back. "You pay Chico more?"

"Priorities!" Lorne snapped, pointing to the door. "Go!"

****

Salome strode out of the club. Her heels clicked against the pavement. She had a broad smile on her face.

Suddenly, she faltered, pressing a hand to her belly. She blinked, looking dizzy.

"Are you all right?"

Salome looked up to the source of the questioning voice. Regina, dressed as a princess, approached her slowly.

"Hey..." Salome forced a smile. "I'm fine. I've just felt a little dizzy tonight. It comes and goes really quickly." She straightened up. "But I'm fine."

She then winced. "Except for these shoes." She looked down at her feet. "They're absolute murder."

Regina looked over Salome. "But they make your legs look fantastic." She smiled. "What's with the dressy dress?"

"I have a date tonight." Salome beamed at Regina. "You really think I look good?"

"You're completely dishy," Regina replied. She then frowned slightly. "You have a date? Really? Why didn't you tell me you and Connor had broken up?"

Salome laughed. "Oh... We haven't. It's a date with Connor. He asked me out. I think we're getting close to working things out."

Regina's look changed. She now looked fierce. "Really..."

Salome didn't notice, completely distracted. "It was really sweet. He was--"

Salome didn't even see Regina's fists before it had slammed into her face.

ACT THREE