The Hidden Sweetheart

Welcome to Moonstone Manor, home of the wealthiest family in all of America. Tonight there is a celebration before the youngest son, Damian Moonstone, goes away to a trade school for two years. If you would like to attend, it is a costume party. The theme is fantasy creatures. We will see you at six sharp. Don't forget your invitation when you arrive at the gate. The note made Sarah sigh softly, the last brother and most eligible bachelor would be leaving for trade school two days after tonight. Penny is almost certain to attend, so Sarah decides to text her and see if they can carpool to the event. Penny obviously says yes, and she also asks Sarah if they can wear a matching costume; vampires. Sarah giggles and tells Penny to come over right then, so Sarah can do their make-up. Penny said she is on her way. Not even ten minutes later, Sarah hears a knock on her door. "Penny! Are you ready to get started on the make-overs?" Sarah asked with a bottle of foundation in hand. Penny giggled. " Of course! Oh! I brought you something to wear. It's my old vampire costume. "I'd gotten too big for it and thought you might like it instead of throwing it away." She hands Sarah the black velvet dress with red roses on the bottom. "Thank you, Penny! I love it. Now let's get started. If we hurry we'll have enough time to get there five minutes before six," Sarah says cheerfully. The two girls go to work, getting ready for a costume party. Two days huh? That's when I leave too. I wonder what school Damian chose. Oh well. I can always ask when I see him at the party. Once the two girls were ready, they took a selfie together and posted it to their Snapgram story. 'Heading to the Moonstone Party!' was the caption, with both girls wearing red contacts, Penny in a black-haired wig, since Sarah already has black hair, and real-looking vampire fangs. They were ready. Penny got in the driver's seat and took her and Sarah to Moonstone Manor with five minutes to spare as Sarah had predicted. "Your predictions are scary good sometimes, Sarah," Penny said as she saw that they had exactly five minutes until the party started. Sarah smiled,"Not as scary as your cookies from fourth grade Penny." The two girls laugh and wait for the gate to open with the other party invitees. The five minutes felt like five hours, but eventually the gate to the manor opened and over the intercom you could hear Madam Moonstone saying,"Hello everyone and welcome to my son's twenty-first birthday party. Please have your invites in hand as you approach the door." The two girls got in line with Sarah in front of Penny. As they got closer to the door, you could see Damian's older brother Zander, checking to make sure everyone going inside had an invitation to the party. All three Moonstone brothers were in the latest Clawdia magazine for most eligible bachelor. Sarah still couldn't believe all three of them were single. They were all astoundingly handsome, and come from the wealthiest family in America right now. Sarah and Penny were lucky enough to live in the same city. Once Sarah got to the door, Zander held out his hand for her invitation. He was in a costume that took inspiration from the Phantom of the Opera, but it had a blue rose in the jacket pocket. He gave it to Sarah when he saw her, with a smile and wink right before she walked into the main corridor that leads to the party. "Sarah! Did Zander just give you that rose?" Penny squeals. Sarah sighs. She knew the moment Penny saw that exchange she would start trying to get her and Zander together, but Sarah isn't interested. So, Sarah hands the rose to Penny. "Here Penny, since we look exactly the same, you could have the rose and Zander will be clueless that I gave it to you, but in exchange you must not try to get me and Zander on a date. Deal?" Sarah asks her best friend. Penny just smiles and nods before she puts the blue rose in her hair. Once the two girls made it to the ballroom door, they saw a sign that said Damian would not reveal himself until the cutting of his birthday cake, but he was going to be in costume mingling with the party. Whoever spots him gets to go up to the cake cutting with Damian. The two girls laughed a little as they walked into the ballroom. Sarah was never one to chase after romance, but Penny began analyzing every guy at the party that even slightly resembled Damian. This was no simple task though, with all the costumes, it was hard to tell if the person they were looking at actually had those features. It could just be excellent make-up and a wig. Penny was frustrated when she saw all the people dressed as vampires too. Sarah just laughs, she kinda figured a lot of people went with the vampire theme, especially when she saw three other groups of vampires in line waiting with her and Penny. "UGHHH!! How are we going to find Damian especially if he went with a vampire costume like us, and almost everyone else at the party?" Penny said with frustration. "Beats me, but I'm not worried about finding the birthday prince. I just wanna have fun with my best friend and hang out." Sarah said smiling at Penny. Penny laughed and nodded. Sarah is not the big romance type, so it's not shocking that she doesn't want to find Damian. Plus, there are a lot of fun party games to play. Sarah spotted the apple bobbing tank and gently directed Penny to the tank. There's also dart throwing, air hockey, and a full buffet. Another really great party from the Moonstone family. On the way to the buffet, Sarah and Penny decide to split up. Penny is determined to find Damian, while Sarah is just hungry. On the way to the buffet Sarah can't help but overhear some hushed whispers, she was ignoring it until she heard the words 'girl' , 'blue rose', and 'perfect choice'. This is when she decides to listen more intensely. It seems that Zander and Damian of all people were talking in hushed tones to their mom, Ariel Moonstone. "She sounds perfect! Damian, you must find the girl Zander gave the blue rose to as soon as possible. She'll be perfect as your bride," Ariel said with a type of confidence and seriousness only a mother could use. Damian nods, but Zander taps his mother on the shoulder. "Mom, the girl that I gave the rose to had someone who looks exactly like her as the plus one. There is a small chance she gave the rose to her friend," Zander says solemnly, "But there's a way to tell the two girls apart. Brother, just look for a strong energy signature and you'll find this girl easily." Sarah is holding her breath the whole time she's listening in. A forced marriage with Damian?! And they know I have a strong aura? I have to get out of here NOW. Sarah sneaks by the Moonstones as quickly as she can and starts heading for the front door, only to find the eldest Moonstone brother, Ashten, leaning against the wall next to the front door. He was also in a vampire costume, with red eyes, and ash grey hair. He gave Sarah a sly smile as he approached her. "Leaving so soon little vampire? The cake hasn't even been cut yet, why would you want to leave before that?" Ashten asked Sarah.