The narrator began the tale with vivid detail: "Later that day, Megan and Joseph performed Joseph's song at Bird Karaoke. Joseph played guitar and sang with Megan, who danced beside him." The small venue buzzed with anticipation, every seat filled and every eye fixed on the siblings as they took the stage. The lights came up, casting a gentle glow on Joseph's focused face and Megan's graceful movements. The song they chose was heartfelt, a melody Joseph had crafted over weeks, weaving together his hopes and disappointments into each chord. Megan's dance, expressive and fluid, perfectly captured the music's mood, matching Joseph's voice with every step. As the final verse approached, their chemistry was undeniable—Joseph's fingers pressing the guitar strings with precision, his voice rising with emotion. At the same time, Megan's feet glided across the floor, her arms painting the air with each lyric.
With the audience leaning in, the siblings walked toward each other, the spotlight uniting them at center stage. They sang the last verse together, voices blending harmoniously. Their eyes met, smiles breaking across their faces—an unspoken acknowledgment of shared triumph and relief that the moment had gone as planned. Facing the audience, they bowed deeply, gratitude pouring from every gesture. Applause erupted, filling the room with noise and energy, and for a split second, Megan and Joseph felt like stars.
The applause still echoed when the next performer, Angelica, took the stage. Joseph's eyes lit up pink—a detail that did not go unnoticed by Megan, who frowned slightly, sensing something odd about his reaction. Angelica, confident and poised, caught the DJ's attention with a quick gesture. The music started, and she began to sing. Her voice was clear and powerful, rising above the backing track with ease. Angelica's performance was captivating, drawing the crowd in with every note. She moved with natural grace, making sure every eye was on her, her delivery both authentic and mesmerizing.
When Angelica finished, the audience clapped enthusiastically. Then, as was tradition at Bird Karaoke, it was time to vote. Ron, the restaurant owner, distributed slips of paper and explained the voting process, encouraging everyone to choose the act that had moved them most. The votes got counted quickly and efficiently. Megan and Joseph received a respectable forty-one votes—a testament to their skill and connection—but Angelica's total was even higher: fifty-nine votes. Ron stepped onto the stage, holding a small trophy aloft, and announced, "Angelica's our winner!" The crowd cheered again, and Angelica beamed as she graciously accepted her prize.
While the applause continued, Megan slipped out of the room for a moment. She wrestled with disappointment and concern, troubled by Joseph's earlier reaction to Angelica's performance. Returning to the karaoke bar, she marched straight to Joseph, grabbed his hand, and pulled him toward the exit. "Time to go, Joseph," she said, her tone firm and decisive. Joseph, confused and a little dazed, let himself be led outside into the cool evening air.
Once outside, Megan stopped abruptly, turned to her brother, and slapped him across the cheek—a desperate act born out of worry. "Joseph, wake up! I never thought I'd do this, but I have no choice," she said, her voice trembling with urgency. Joseph blinked, stunned, rubbing his cheek. Megan didn't believe that he was entirely himself. She remembered stories of spells and enchantments, and feared that Angelica had somehow bewitched her brother. Without warning, Megan dragged Joseph to a nearby fountain in the center of town. Ignoring his protests, she pushed him into the water, splashing him from head to toe.
Drenched, Joseph sputtered, coughing and shaking off the shock of cold water. He looked up at Megan, bewildered. "Why'd you do that?" he asked, his voice still groggy. Megan explained, "You were in a trance—I had to wake you up." Joseph leaned against the fountain, the sun beginning to dry his clothes. He thought for a moment, then replied, "I wasn't in a trance, just dreaming. But thanks for waking me up. Let's go home now." Relieved but still uncertain, Megan accepted his explanation, and together they walked back home, the tension between them slowly fading as the evening wore on.
Back at home, the siblings retreated to their separate rooms, both feeling the sting of defeat. Joseph, especially, struggled with his emotions. He turned on his stereo, letting music fill the space, but found himself too dispirited to play his guitar or write a new song. Instead, he gazed out the window, watching rain streak down the glass, his mind replaying the events of the night. As he brooded, he noticed Angelica walking by on the sidewalk below. Flustered and unwilling to be seen, Joseph quickly closed his curtains, hiding from view. Angelica stopped for a moment, glancing up at his window. Seeing the curtains drawn, she shrugged and continued her way, assuming all was well with Joseph and Megan.
Downstairs, Megan tried to distract herself by watching the news. Joseph soon joined her, both seeking comfort in routine after a tumultuous evening. The newswoman appeared on screen, delivering an upbeat report: "Police scanned the city today—no signs of vampires detected. To celebrate, everyone watching is invited to a party at An Alright Fright Bite tomorrow." Both siblings met the announcement with mild surprise, having heard rumors of vampires but never expected such a public celebration of their absence. The newswoman continued, "In other news, Octavian Prime has opened a monster museum to convince everyone that monsters are real and claims to be a monster hunter seeking proof that they exist. Good luck with that, since monsters don't exist. See you at the party tomorrow!"
Megan switched off the TV, thoughtful. She turned to Joseph, who shrugged, neither of them sure what to make of the strange turn of events in their city. With nothing more to say, they retired to their rooms, hoping a night's sleep would help them process everything that had happened.
While Megan and Joseph settled in for the night, a parallel scene unfolded elsewhere. The city's vampires—Angelica among them—also watched the news, and Matt, the unofficial leader, called a meeting to discuss their strategy. "Angelica, get some sleep—we'll search for werewolves without you tonight because we need your brainpower tomorrow morning," Matt announced, his tone friendly but firm. Angelica, already weary from her performance at Bird Karaoke, questioned, "Just checking, how so? You'll be asleep tomorrow morning." Matt nodded, "Right. Maddy and Carolyn will start hunting for werewolves in the neighborhood, while we wrap up the meeting."
The group quickly organized its plan. Maddy and Carolyn, experts in stealth, transformed into bats and flew out the castle window, leaving Matthew, Angelica, Chris, and Raven to continue their discussion. Matt turned to Angelica, "You're the only one who can infiltrate that museum from the news and check it out—you have your tricks." Angelica agreed, her interest piqued by the possibility of discovering something new about monsters. Chris chimed in, "According to the news, Octavian still hasn't proven we exist." Raven, ever practical, added, "While you're at the museum, see if there's anything about vampires—like a cure for garlic or tools that can identify beings like us." Angelica nodded, her mind already racing with possibilities.
With their plans set, Angelica excused herself. "Go hunt werewolves with Maddy and Carolyn. I'm off to bed—or my coffin, to be precise," she said, her tone lighthearted. The narrator described how Matt, Raven, Angelica, and Chris transformed into bats and left through the castle window. Angelica flew home, gliding over the rooftops, and settled into her coffin for a long rest, while her vampire friends searched unsuccessfully for werewolves throughout Transylvania.
Despite covering large areas of the city and countryside, the vampires found no sign of werewolves. Flying high above Octavian's museum as bats to avoid detection, they scanned the grounds, searching for any clue or disturbance. Eventually, they split up to cover more ground. As the night wore on, their efforts proved fruitless. One by one, they landed separately, reverting to their original forms. Using walkie-talkies to stay in touch, Matthew commented, "Tonight's a bust for werewolves." Chris, ever tech-savvy, used his laptop to scan for signs of werewolf activity, but found nothing. "Not even beast mode can help. My tech picks up nothing," he reported. Carolyn added, "Sky patrol failed too. Let's call it a night."
Accepting defeat, the group dispersed. Matt shifted into a wolf and ran home, his powerful legs propelling him through the forest. Carolyn became an owl, soaring silently through the night sky. Chris changed into a rat, slipping into the sewers to avoid detection. Raven transformed into a fox, darting through alleyways, and Maddy took the form of a moth, fluttering quietly to her home. On his way back, Matthew resumed human form and stopped at the police station, leaving a note for Chief Jade as part of a plan to target Mayor Avery over her recent TV comments. He grinned mischievously, the thrill of his prank giving him new energy. Before long, he shifted back into a wolf and raced home, his laughter echoing through the deserted streets.