SPENCER'S POV
I picked up Megan from her place. She was dressed in a wolf costume, a fluffy tail wagging behind her. At the Continental hotel, the party was in full swing. A rubber skeleton dropped from the ceiling, and I flinched.
Megan laughed, looping her arm through mine. "Dracula is scared of a little plastic?"
"I'd rather drink poison than be caught dead with that thing," I shot back.
Allen, who also happened to be Megan's brother, bounded over. "Mr. Dracula! You want my blood?"
"I'd rather drink poison," I repeated, and Megan fake-pouted.
"Ouch, not cool." Allen grinned. "I have a surprise for you." He called out, "Spain!"
My jaw dropped. My older brother, Spain, descended the stairs, a wide smile on his face.
"Bro! When did you get back?" I pulled him into a bear hug.
"Yesterday. Thought I'd give you a Halloween surprise." He clapped me on the back. "How's the Postlethwaith corporation?"
"As good as when Dad was alive," I said, the mention of our father casting a brief shadow.
"Gather round, everyone!" Allen shouted, passing out glasses of champagne. "Let's make a toast!"
People shouted all around me. "Toast to my underwear!" "Toast to my beauty!"
Then, a cold, clear voice cut through the noise right behind me. "Toast to my death."
I spun around. No one was there.
"Toast to my hair!" I said, ridiculously, trying to cover my confusion. Megan gave me a weird look.
"Toast to everyone at this party"Megan added and we all cheered.
After the toast, I needed a stronger drink. I leaned against the bar, holding a glass of whiskey. Annoyed from the weird voice, I turned around sharply—and my lips collided with someone else's.
They were cold. Shockingly cold.
I suddenly felt disoriented.
I jumped back. "Geez! What are you doing, standing right behind someone?"
Instead of apologizing, I got captivated. She was beautiful, with intense eyes and dark hair in two braids. But she was dressed in a full, serious military uniform.
"Is this supposed to be a costume?" I asked, my arrogance returning. "Funny. Go find yourself a military base, not a Halloween party." I emphasized the word Halloween.
She didn't answer. Just stared right through me and walked to the other end of the bar.
Fuming from the snub, I turned to the bartender. "Hey, you see that? Who wears a military uniform on Halloween?" I laughed, trying to get him on my side.
He chuckled nervously.
Feeling encouraged, I puffed out my chest and did a mock salute. "I'm a criminal! Take me to prison!"
The bartender burst out laughing. Then, his laughter turned into a choked gurgle. His eyes widened, a thin trail of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he slumped over the counter.
Dead.
My heart stopped. I looked for the military girl. She was gone. Vanished.
A woman walked up to the bar, leaned over, and screamed.
That was my cue to leave. I got out of there, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs.
I drove in silence, my mind racing. Cameras… they'll think I did it. But how? Why?
I looked in the rearview mirror to check the road and my blood ran cold.
She was there. In my back seat. The military girl. Licking a ice cream cone she definitely didn't have before, staring right at me.
Then she grinned.