Dressed as Count Dracula, Alex stepped up to the front door, drew in a deep breath to calm his nerves, and rang the bell. Cindy Lou Beckam was going to be the one and the anticipation was nearly killing him. Of all the girls in Roddem High, she was the only one he thought worthy. It didn’t hurt that she was new to the school and didn’t have a single friend. It made it so much easier to talk to her to win her over. He imagined it wasn't easy coming to a new school let alone in your final year. And being shy certainly didn’t help her to make new friends.

Cindy Lou Beckam. She was perfect. With her sweet angelic face, long blonde hair, big blue eyes, and a body that cried out to be touched. And, she was a virgin. It almost seemed like she’d been handed to him when he’d needed someone so badly.

His pulse began to hammer as the doorknob turned and the door swung open. The instant he caught sight of her, his throat went dry. Dressed in a flowing white gown, fluffy white wings at her back and a gold, sparkling halo on her head, she was every bit the angel she dressed as. She couldn’t have picked a better costume.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"You look good as Dracula."

She smiled at him, and his heart began to pound wildly. "Thanks. You look incredible as an angel."

Again, she smiled and sent his pulse soaring. "Aw, thanks. I have to admit, I’m a little nervous going to this party tonight."

"There’s really no need to be nervous. You’re going to have a blast." He held his hand out to her, and when she took it, he thought about what was in store for them both.

"I’ve never had alcohol before," she informed him, stepping out into the warm night, shutting the door behind her.

"You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to." Leading her to his beat-up Accord, he held the passenger door for her. He closed his eyes and drew in her perfume. He didn’t know what it was but it sure smelled pretty. Rounding the car, he climbed behind the wheel and inserted the keys into the ignition. "This is going to be so much fun. I’m glad you agreed to be my date."

"No one’s ever asked me to a Halloween party before."

"Seriously? Wow. Well, I’m glad I’m your first." In so many ways.

"My parents are very strict. I had to sneak my costume into the house when they weren’t home. I was so nervous today and I thought they would never leave for church."

He put the car in drive "Church, on Halloween? "

"They go ever year to pray for the souls that are misguided by this Pagan holiday."

He glanced her way, saw how stiffly she sat in her seat. "I don’t know how you do it, living like that. I think it would drive me nuts."

"It’s all I’ve ever known," she stated softly, smoothing her gown. "I have to be home by ten, before they get home from church."

"Sure, no problem." He took the corner, headed down the street. "It must have been hard growing up that way and seeing all of the other kids going out, dressed in costumes, and getting candy."

"I often wished I could be them for even one day."

She sounded so sad. "I bet. Well, tonight you can make up for all those years you weren’t allowed to have fun." He pulled up to the curb, squeezed between two parked cars, and turned the engine off. "And here we are."

"Wow, it looks busy."

"I think Seth said he expected fifty people." He leaned over, planted a kiss on her cheek. When she dipped her head down shyly, he smiled. She was so cute.

"That’s a lot of people. I don’t know if I can do this."

He took her hand in his, turned her to face him and smiled. "I promise I won’t let you out of my sight." This time he kissed her lips and though she felt stiff, he enjoyed the embrace nonetheless. "Ready?"

"No." She giggled.

He kissed her again then slid from the vehicle. Taking a few deep breaths as he walked around the car, he opened her door and held out his hand. She hesitated a moment before taking it.

"Trust me, this will be great." Linking his fingers with hers, he closed the car door then led her up the walk to the house. He was so nervous, so excited he thought he might burst. Not bothering to ring the bell, he opened the door, and the noise rushed at them like a blast of wind.

The loud drumbeat of ACDC’s "Back in Black" was just what he needed to calm his nerves. The place was packed. People dressed in various costumes, some masked, some not, from devils to witches and everything in between.

It looked like everyone was here.

"Wow!"

He clasped her hand a little tighter as he led her through the crowd. Spotting his best friend across the room, while making his way forward "Davy, how’s it hanging, man?"

Dressed in a Grim Reaper costume, Davy waved a hand at his knees. "Down to my knees. So this is Cindy Lou."

Alex felt her tense and wrapped his arm around her waist. "One and only."

"Pleased to meet you." He held his black-gloved hand out to her.

Cautiously, she took his hand and nodded. "Nice to meet you."

"Sweet. Well, help yourself to whatever. There’s plenty of it to go around."

"His parents allow this?" she asked as Alex led her through the room, saying hi to everyone they passed by.

"They always go on vacation at the end of October. They won’t be back until mid November. This looks good." Scooping a plastic cup from the table, Alex grabbed the ladle in the huge vat filled with some sort of orange liquid and filled the glass. He handed it to Cindy with a smile. "Try it."

Hesitantly, she took the cup and lifted it to her lips. She took a sip, her eyes watered and she began to cough. "Wow!"

"I know. Davy knows how to mix his liquor." He poured himself a glass, then taking her free hand in his, led her through the house.

"I’m not sure I belong here."

"Nonsense. Hey, Tina. You’ll love her, she’s a riot," Alex explained as he led Cindy through the crowd to Tina, who was sitting on the sofa, dressed in a French maid's costume and looking damn sexy. "I want you to meet someone special. Tina, this is Cindy Lou."

Getting to her feet, Tina flashed a killer smile, her red lips plump and glossy. "Cindy Lou. You’re all I hear about from this guy." Tina slapped a hand on Alex’s chest. "Nice to meet you finally."

"Um…nice to meet you too. I…uh, like your costume."

Why, this old thing." Tina ruffled her frilly skirt which barely reached mid calf. "Yours is cool. I like the fluffy wings."

"Thanks." Cindy sipped from her cup, glancing around the room. "I can’t believe how many people are here."

"I know. Crazy, huh? Davy knows how to give a party. "

"That he does," Alex agreed. "Well, I want to show Cindy Lou around. Catch you later, Tina."

"You know it. Nice to meet you."

They wandered through the crowd with Alex waving and saying hi to those around him.

"That skirt was awfully short."

"If she wore anything longer I’d worry the world was coming to an end. You’re not drinking your drink?" He placed his hand beneath the cup and urged it to her lips. She took a sip, her eyes watered.

"I don’t recognize anyone here, well, the ones without masks at least."

"Davy knows a lot of people outside the school. Hey, there’s Davy’s big brother. You have to meet him. He’s the coolest person in the world." Alex tugged her through the crowd. "Steve, this is Cindy Lou."

Dressed as the Devil complete with pitchfork, Steve, ran his gaze over Cindy Lou, smirking. "Well, I guess you’re not a figment of Alex’s overactive imagination after all. Nice to finally meet you, Cindy."

"Nice to meet you too," she stammered, then took a sip from her cup.

"We should probably get into a fight or something?

Cindy’s eyes shot wide. "What? No, no I don’t want to fight with you. Why would I—"

"Relax." Steve touched her arm, smiled. "I only meant you being an angel, me the Devil. Good and evil…"

"Oh," She laughed. "Right." She blew out a long breath, drank from her cup. "Um…I’m not feeling so good, Alex. I think I need to go home."

He wrapped his arm around her waist, held her tight to his side. "The night is still young. I’ll find a bed for you to lie down in." He winked at Steve, ushering Cindy forward. "Davy’s room is in

the basement. I think that would be the best place to rest. Quiet," he explained when she gave him a look.

"Oh…okay." She stumbled a little as she took the first step.

"Careful now." He set his cup on the steps, took hers and placed it beside his. He couldn’t believe how easy this was going to be.

"I really think it would be best if you took me home." Her words slurred as she swayed down the steps.

"All you need is a little rest and you’ll be good to go. Here we go."

"It’s so dark."

"Yeah, I don’t know where the light switch is." But he did know where Davy’s room was by heart. Leading her forward, he pushed the bedroom door open, ushered her to the bed. He set her down, then leaned in and kissed her lips. "You lay down and I’ll be right back. "

"I don’t want to be alone."

He kissed her again, smiled. "I’ll be right back. I just want to let Davy know where I am. I’ll be right back," he reassured her before hurrying from the room. He took the stairs by twos, grabbing their drink cups on the way up. He found Davy in the kitchen flirting with a blonde in a skin-tight leather dress and legs that seemed to go on forever. "She’s in your room," he whispered as he leaned in to Davy’s ear.

"Perfect. I’ll go let the others know. Go change into your robe and then bring her to us."

"This is incredible! I can’t believe it’s finally happening!" Full of excitement, Davy ran up the stairs to the room Davy had designated for their robes. He pulled off his costume, and completely naked, slipped the black robe over his head. He drew in a few deep breaths before racing back downstairs. The main floor was completely empty and it made his pulse soar. Everyone was ready. It was up to him now.

Hurrying to Davy’s bedroom, he flicked on the bedroom light, only to find the room empty. He heard something behind him, and turning, saw only a glimpse of black before the pain exploded in his head.

Alex woke to the soft sounds of chanting and the feel of cold steel beneath his naked body. Opening his eyes, blinking through the blur, he saw a mass of black all around him. "Wha…what’s going on?"

"Oh come on, Alex, you know perfectly well what’s going on."

Cindy Lou stepped into his vision, not as the angel he’d seen her as moments earlier, but this time, dressed in a blood-red robe. She smiled down at him, and he felt a cold chill slide over him.

"Tonight is the night we make a pact with Satan and call him to join us."

Alex tried to move, but found his arms and legs tied down by a hard rope that scraped his naked body as he struggled. "But…I’m not supposed to be here like this." She was supposed to be in his place. That was the deal he’d made with Davy, priest of their coven. In order for Alex to be accepted into the circle of black magic, he had to provide a sacrifice. It had all been planned weeks ago. Alex had even written up his pact with Satan. Cindy Lou was a virgin, the perfect sacrifice to use to call his lord and master, to initiate his position in the coven. Then why was he the one tied to the slab?

"Yeah, about that." She leaned over him so closely he felt her hot breath on his face when she spoke. "Davy, my lover and trusted partner, contacted me several months ago to say he had the perfect sacrifice. A virgin who was willing to join the group, who was willing to do anything to be accepted. How could I resist?"

"But…you’re the virgin."

She laughed as she straightened. "Oh sweetie, I haven’t been a virgin for too many years to count. You are my first, though, in one way. You’re the first of five sacrifices I need to call upon my master." She pulled a lighter from her robe. "Boys, line him with the candles."

"No, no, Davy. Stop. This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. I’m supposed to be the one performing the ritual to call Satan. I’m supposed to be initiated tonight," he pleaded while one by one, the people he trusted set black candles all around his body.

"Sorry, Alex, but this is how it’s supposed to go. Do you seriously think I would have a nobody, a rookie, call upon our master?" Davy laughed as he placed a candle at Alex’s head.

He’d been duped, played a fool, lied to by his closest friends. "I’ll scream!"

"No one will hear you down here. You know that, Alex. That’s why we set it up in my cellar." Davy patted his head. "But if it makes you feel better, go ahead and scream.

Flicking the lighter, Cindy Lou began chanting as she lit each candle.

"Please, I beg you. Don’t do this."

"No, no, please, stop." He winced when the blade came down over his chest, then screamed as the pentagram was cut into his skin. "Please, please stop," he begged as he bled, the pain nearly causing him to black out.

"No, no, please, please don’t do this."

His screams echoed in the dark room when the knife plunged deep into his heart.