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  She barely recognized herself as she stared in dumbfounded silence.

  "There," Kathleen announced. "That should do it."

  Sera turned to look at her. The long black wig hung down to Kathleen's waist and swished as she moved. Kathleen’s Elvira dress was cut daringly low to enhance her large breasts. He eyes were outlined in black, and she had painted a spider and a web on her right cheek. Her lips had been painted black, and she had placed long, black fingernails on. She looked utterly amazing and very sexy.

  "You look fantastic," Sera said.

  "Thank you," she replied, sweeping back her long black hair. "You look beautiful."

  "Thanks, you ready to go?"

  "Yeah, let's get Danielle."

  Sera opened the door, and Kathleen swept past her, swishing her hair as she went. They moved down the hall, dodging the bats, spider webs, and witches hung from the ceiling. Kathleen knocked on Danielle's door and pushed it open. An eerie howl greeted them, and a skeleton laughed as its glowing green eyes lit.

  "Hey guys," Danielle greeted as she shoved a pile of clothes on the floor.

  Danielle had managed to get one of the few single rooms in the dorm. In her first three years, she hated her roommates. This year she'd decided she would rather be alone. She was much happier with the arrangement.

  "You look so cute!" Kathleen gushed.

  Danielle cast them a flashing grin as she tossed back her long brown hair. She’d dressed in a fitted gray leotard. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail, and gray ears were placed securely on her head. Whiskers decorated her face, and she had painted the tip of her slender nose black.

  "You two look amazing."

  "But of course," Kathleen cried as she spun in a circle.

  "I'm ready." Danielle grabbed her small gray purse. "I hope this party is good."

  "So do I." Kathleen bounced over to Sera as she opened the door. "The school party last year sucked! So, this one had better be good."

  "It's a frat house," Sera said smiling. "Drinking, dancing, and passing out like always, only in disguise this time."

  Kathleen laughed and skipped down the hall. "Like we won't know who it is through a mask!" she called, punching the button for the elevator. They stepped into it as Kathleen pushed the button for the first floor. "I can't wait to bob for apples in Budweiser, the Coors caramel apples, and beer bottle bats!"

  They laughed as the doors opened and they stepped into the lobby. A handful of people were gathered, costumes on, waiting to go to parties. Streamers flowed from the ceiling to the floor, and decorations covered the walls in preparation for the trick-or-treaters tomorrow night. The three of them crossed the hall and exited through the thick wood doors. The crisp air and the smell of dead leaves instantly filled Sera's nostrils. Students strolled along the sidewalks, almost all of them wearing costumes, as they made their way toward whatever party they were invited to or bar they were spending the night at.

  "Got your invite?" Danielle asked.

  "I can't believe they sent out invitations," Kathleen said, pulling hers from between her breasts. "When did they get class, Sera?"

  "Liam said they were doing something different this year, and they didn't have enough room for a lot of people. There will be no underclassmen unless they're in the frat or a girlfriend."

  "There are still about a thousand people in the upper-class." Kathleen pulled her dress down to expose more of her ample chest.

  "They only sent out a hundred invitations."

  "There are more people than that on the dance floor most nights," Danielle muttered.

  "They're opening it up for the kid's tomorrow night," Sera said. "Everyone is invited afterwards."

  At the frat house, they discovered a line winding all the way down to the sidewalk. "What is this?" Kathleen demanded.

  "They're having a haunted house," a girl in an elf suit replied. "They're taking us in ten at a time."

  "Yeah, but once you go in, you don't come out," a boy dressed as Robin Hood added with a sinister laugh.

  "Oh cut it out, John," the girl replied, slapping him on the arm.

  "Cool." Kathleen's eyes sparkled mischievously. "This should be fun!"

  Sera stared up at the house. Jack-o-lanterns sat in all the windows on the lower floor, and candles flickered inside the pumpkins. In the attic, the lights were on, and a few people were moving across the windows. Sera realized they were the ones who had already gone through and had now begun the party. The line inched forward as they moved toward the doorway.

  Halloween music poured out as the door opened to let in groups of people. No one appeared in the doorway, and no lights lit the foyer. Sera tried to peer inside, but it was impossible to see anything in the darkness. She glanced back through the line, her eyes landing on an Egyptian princess in a body-hugging gold dress. All her exposed skin was painted gold, except for her face, which was exquisitely layered with makeup. Her brilliant red hair flowed around her shoulders, and a gold tiara topped her head.

  Sera felt a wave of annoyance as she stared at Michelle, who was flirting with a man dressed as a musketeer. He touched her shoulder, but Michelle slapped his hand away as she snapped at him not to mess up her makeup.

  "How did that bitch get an invitation?" Kathleen demanded, hands on her hips.

  "Kathleen," Sera warned.

  "No way, Sera, that was the best thing about tonight!"

  "She comes to all the parties here; I'm sure she's made more than a few friends. Just ignore her."

  "You know I can't. She gives you dirty looks at all the parties, and she still won't lay off Liam. All she does is talk about what a jerk he is, but you know she's just waiting to make a move on him."

  Sera felt extremely uncomfortable as she glanced back at Michelle. She was amazingly beautiful, and tonight it showed. She knew Liam couldn't stand her, but she had to be tough for a man to refuse, and Kathleen was right, Michelle did want Liam.

  Finally making it to the front of the line, they found a man dressed as a troll who took their invitations. The door swung open, and Sera found herself faced with complete blackness. "Welcome to the House of Hell," a voice from behind the door said. "Enter at your own risk."

  Sera walked into the foyer, followed by nine other people. The door closed behind them, and a small light came on to illuminate the floor around them. "Awesome," Kathleen whispered in her ear.

  "This is ridiculous," a disdainful voice said from behind her. "How old are we?"

  Sera bristled at Michelle's condescending tone and tried to push away her disappointment at having to go through with her. "Oh no," Danielle whispered.

  A man stepped out of the shadows, startling them all, and causing Sera to take a step back. He wore a vampire costume and was covered with so much makeup Sera couldn't tell who he was. "I see you were brave enough to enter. I must warn you that not all of you will make it through alive. If you wish to leave now, please, be my guest." Sera bit back a smile as she recognized Jack's voice. She never expected to see him so dressed up for Halloween, and she found it charming.

  "How corny," Michelle sneered.

  "I see we have a disbeliever," Jack continued. "They are usually the ones who don't make it. Now, follow me to your death."

  He walked away from them and toward the kitchen. They followed him down the dimly lit hall, past the swinging doors. "Welcome," he announced. "To the kitchen of death."

  They stepped into an elaborately decorated death scene. On the kitchen table lay a torso with blood dripping from its neck and stumpy legs. A man stood by the sink holding a bloody knife; blood covered his white apron. "Have you brought me presents?" he asked, lowering the knife.

  "Yes, master," Jack answered.

  "You have done well. Come forward my children, and see what I have for you."

  Sera cocked an eyebrow at Jack as he grinned down at her, his hazel eyes twinkling merrily. "Cute costume," she whispered.

  "And you're looking lovely tonight," he said low. "Now move befor
e I have to drink your blood."

  Sera laughed as she moved forward, a little thrill of excitement flowed through her. She loved haunted houses. "Come." The man with the knife gestured them closer to the sink. They crowded around the sink to stare down at a bloody, decapitated head. "This was my brother. He stole my girlfriend; now I need a new one. What about you, sweetie?" he asked Kathleen.

  "I love a man who knows how to protect himself," Kathleen replied laughingly.

  "Oh, baby!"

  They all jumped as the head in the sink uttered the words and opened its eyes to look at them. A few of the girls screamed and jumped back, and then everybody began to laugh nervously. "I need a girlfriend too," the head cried.

  A shrill scream filled the air as a figure dressed in white came rushing at them. Sera yelped and stumbled into Danielle. "They're mine!" she shouted as she charged at them. "You can't have them!"

  One of the men broke out laughing, and the terror fled Sera's body. "Come now!" Jack cried. "We must leave this room if we are to survive."

  "This is awesome!" Kathleen enthused.

  They moved through a pitch-black hall, bouncing against the walls as they felt their way along. Spider webs brushed annoyingly against her face, sending chills down her spine. The walls suddenly turned to mush, and Sera jerked her hand away as gunk enveloped her fingers.

  "Ugh," Danielle cried. "What is this?"

  "Brains," Jack replied. "Of those who didn't make it through."

  "Well, it better not stain!" Michelle yelled from the back.

  "Bitch," Jack muttered.

  "You can say that again," Kathleen announced.

  Jack laughed as Sera grinned. Suddenly, she bumped into something solid. "Sorry," she apologized when she realized it was a body.

  Light suddenly flooded the room. Sera yelled and jumped backward. The body was hanging from the ceiling staring down at her. "Help me," it cried as it grabbed at her.

  "Shit!" she cried, her hand flying to her chest as Michelle laughed shrilly.

  "Scared?" she taunted.

  "Help me," it called again as she brushed past it and back into the shadows.

  "We are about to enter the basement of torture," Jack announced.

  A light flickered on. Sera eyed the rickety stairs before her, wondering if they would support her weight and the others. She swallowed as she followed Jack down the stairwell. An eerie feeling began to envelop her as the stairs rocked a little but held firm beneath them. The group followed behind her until they were all standing at the bottom. The only source of light was the bulb from above, and it was impossible to see anything beyond the ten-foot beam.

  The light went out, and darkness descended. A chill went through Sera as Kathleen grabbed her arm. "I don't like this," Kathleen whispered.

  Sera had to admit she didn't like it either. She wondered where Liam was in this blackness and wished he were with her. Something brushed against her arm, and she stifled the scream rising in her throat. Kathleen suddenly gripped her arm with enough force to leave a bruise.

  "What the hell?" someone asked from the back.

  "Something touched me!"

  A large, hairy hand grabbed Sera's arm, and she screamed when a few other people did. A dim light suddenly came on. There was absolutely nothing around them. No hint of movement, and no place for anyone to hide. A shiver racked through her as she bit down on her bottom lip.

  "Can we go to the party now?" a girl in the back asked nervously.

  "Only the survivors will party," Jack taunted. "The dead will be dinner."

  "Great," Kathleen mumbled, releasing Sera's arm.

  They followed Jack into a dimly lit side room. In the middle of the room stood a man in surgical scrubs. A woman was lying on a medical table with blood pooling around her. The doctor looked up and pulled his mask down as he smiled at them. His teeth were gaping holes.

  "Oh, more victims. I need practice!"

  The young woman sat up. Blood flowed from her mouth, and her teeth hung grotesquely out. "Help," she begged. "Make him stop!"

  The dentist came closer to them, a set of pliers in his hand. "I need more teeth for my collection!"

  He held up a jar full of white teeth and waved it in front of them. "What about you?" he asked a girl dressed as red riding hood.

  "How about you, goldie?" he asked Michelle. She laughed at him as he stopped in front of her. "Yes, you'll do," he grinned.

  The lights went out and screams issued from everywhere. When the lights came back on, Michelle was pressed against the back wall, the dentist standing before her, laughing. "Let's go," Jack said, unable to keep the laughter from his voice.

  The lights went back out, and Sera started to move forward cautiously. The wall suddenly gave out, and her hand fumbled into nothingness. Someone grabbed hold of it, pulling her to the side. She opened her mouth to scream when a hand wrapped around it, effectively cutting her off. Her heart hammered, and her chest heaved as she thrashed in the powerful grip.

  "Shh, it's me," Liam whispered in her ear.

  She slumped against him in relief as the panic fled. She turned toward him, but she couldn't see anything in the dark. "You scared me!" she cried.

  There was a clicking sound, and then a small light illuminated the alcove they were standing in. He lifted the tiny flashlight to look down at her. Sera smiled as she saw the Dracula costume he wore. The white shirt hugged his solid chest and broad shoulders. The black pants fit snugly against his solid thighs. The large bulge in his pants was obvious, and she had to tear her gaze away from it as heat washed over her face. Her gaze shot back to his twinkling green eyes as he smiled knowingly at her and propped his hand on the wall beside her head. His face was painted white, and blood dripped from the corners of his mouth, but all the makeup in the world couldn't cover his elegant good looks or his overpowering sensuality.

  "You look beautiful," he whispered.

  "I bet you say that to all your victims." She teased as she pressed her body against his.

  "Only the ones I want to eat," he replied.

  "Are you a tour guide?"

  "I'm done with the tours; now, I'm hungry."

  "I'm sweet," she whispered huskily.

  "I know you are."

  She fell into his warm embrace as his hands began to wander over her body and he kissed her leisurely. She tingled and burned wherever he touched as his hands ran up and down her back. She was just beginning to lose herself when the noise of the next group coming through woke her from her Liam induced haze.

  She laughed and pulled away from him. Screams echoed through the air, and people began to laugh. He cradled the back of her head and kissed her again, his tongue delving into her mouth deeply as he gently pushed her against the wall. His hands skimmed down to cup her breast. A gasp of pleasure escaped her, and her hands dug into his back.

  He lowered her dress to free one of her lace-covered breasts. He cupped it in his hand, his thumb rubbing tantalizingly against her nipple. His lips left hers as he bent to take the nipple into his mouth. His tongue caressed and teased it through the thin lace of her bra before nipping it softly. She wound her fingers into his hair as she arched against him; shivers of pleasure racked through her and caused her knees to go weak.

  Screams filled the air again as the next group came through. Liam was slightly breathless as he pulled away. "We better go," he whispered. "Or we'll never leave."

  She managed a small nod as disappointment coursed through her. She could have spent the entire night there, but she knew it was impossible. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her racing heart. He smiled as he wiped her cheek. "Makeup," he explained.

  She adjusted her dress and stepped back to watch as he fixed his cape. She gazed at his powerful physique admiringly, unable to keep her gaze from the bulge in his pants that was even more noticeable than before. She finished straightening her dress to keep her mind distracted from the excitement coursing through her veins. Liam stepped forward and took hold of her
arm.

  She followed him through the passageways and back to the stairs she descended earlier. A group was coming down now. He turned off the flashlight as he pulled her beneath the stairs. A few guys stood there, smiling at the two of them as they waited to scare the unsuspecting people on the stairs.

  "Tsk tsk tsk," Mike admonished and wagged a hairy finger in her face.

  "Shut up, Mike," she whispered, laughing as she shoved his finger away.

  He grinned at her and looked up as the group reached the bottom of the stairs. "Got you earlier," Mike whispered in her ear before he slipped his mask back on.

  She shoved him playfully as the lights went out. Then they were pushing past. Liam took hold of her arm as the group began to yell and curse. "Don't touch me!" someone yelled. Someone else screamed, and the lights came back on as the group left.

  Sera glanced around at the group surrounding her again. "See you guys upstairs," a Frankenstein monster said.

  "No more detours!" Mike called after them as they made their way up the stairs.

  She followed Liam through a few more passageways before she found herself at the back stairway. She had come to know the frat house well, but she was disoriented by the maze they’d erected. They hurried up the stairs and into the attic. People were spread out across the room. Music played, but not at the level it usually did. Drinks were passed around as people laughed and talked happily. They all sparkled in an amazing assortment of costumes, and glitter. Decorations hung across the room, and the faint sounds of Halloween music drifted up from the haunted house below.

  Sera spotted Michelle as she floated past in a wave of gold. Kathleen came bounding up to her, a large smile on her face. "Did you have fun?" she asked, slyly glancing at Liam.

  He flashed a dazzling grin. "Always tactful," he laughed.

  "That's why you love me!" she cried. "That was a great haunted house. You would have loved it, Sera," she added mischievously. "Poor Michelle fell on the floor trying to get away from the headless horseman!"

  Sera laughed and almost wished she’d seen it. "I'm going to get a drink," Liam said.

  "All right."

  He disappeared into the crowd, and she followed Kathleen over to where Danielle sat.