Their heads snapped up at the unfamiliar feminine voice. Three women stood across from them, just within the doorframe to the kitchen. All three were beautiful ladies, wearing high-slit dresses in varying colors. They wore ankle boots and striped tights, like witches. One was red-headed – like Mandy, but in a brighter hue – with her hair in a sophisticated up-do, one had black hair in a side braid, and the last was blonde with curls. She had a large smile on her face; the other two warily observed them.

Mandy scrambled up off of Jeffrey. "I'm sorry; we didn't mean to barge in on you."

"You're early!" the blonde said.

"Early for what?" Jeffrey asked.

"The party, silly! Duh!"

The red-head grabbed the blonde's arm. "Candice... I don't think they're..."

She looked at her then turned back to them. "Ohhh; you're human!"

"We're human?" Mandy repeated dumbly. "What do you mean? Aren't you too?"

"No; we're witches," the red-head said then flicked her wrist; the front door slammed shut behind them. All three of them jumped at the noise; Mandy and Brit moved in to Jeffrey, sensing danger. "They have to go."

"Hold on, Vera; why can't they stay?" Candice flew out to them – she literally floated around them. "I mean, they're already dressed for the party. Look at these costumes!"

"You're... You're levitating," Jeffrey said.

Candice's curls bounced as she nodded.

"Candice, you know why they can't stay," the red-head began.

"They won't tell anyone about us!" She looked at them. "Will you?"

They frantically shook their heads.

"I know they won't when they're dead," the black-head stated.

She looked at that witch. "Josephine! Don't scare them like that!"

"She has a point, Candice," Vera said. "We can't run the risk of them telling other humans about us."

"Oh, come on! I've always wanted to show a human what I really am; I think it'll be fun!"

Vera and Josephine looked at each other.

"Well, if we have to, we can get Lucien to wipe their memory..." Vera faced them again. "Alright; they can stay."

"But no running off and screaming, or we will kill you," Josephine warned.

They disappeared back into the kitchen; the blonde witch looked at them. "You guys can call me Candi. Those two are my lovely sisters: Vera and Josie." One of them called for her. "I'll be right back." Candi flew into the kitchen out of sight.

"Are you guys pulling my leg?" Mandy asked.

"N–no," Brit said shakily.

"How is she flying?" Jeffrey asked.

"They said we can't scream and run away... so, how about we just calmly and silently leave? We can start running when we're a block away," Brit suggested.

"Don't leave yet!" Candice called before she floated back into the living room. "I haven't learned your names!"

Their backs banged into the door behind them when they hurriedly backed up, trying to put as much space between them and what trailed Candi: skeletons. Five human bodies – nothing but bones – walked in, holding brooms and feather dusters. They didn't move toward the friends in a menacing way – it was hard to tell where they looked because of the hollow eye sockets; they just stood behind the witch.

"Oh, don't mind them; they're just the help," she said when she noticed what their eyes were frozen on. Candi glanced back at the skeletons. "Clean up the place then we can start decorating." The skeletons shuffled off, two starting to sweep and the others dusting.

She looked back at them. "So, who's the lovely vampire?"

Mandy introduced herself; Jeffrey was the 'handsome zombie' and Brit the 'beautiful skeleton'. She said Lucien and his daughters would like Mandy, but the girls would probably have a comment about her dress. The way she said it had her blood running cold: it sounded like they were vampires – real vampires.

Josephine called Candi again; after telling them that they could help the skeletons if they wanted – they wouldn't bite – she floated off to the kitchen again, muttering about her always needing help with spells.

The friends watched the skeletons make quick work of their cleaning. Mandy began, "Someone must've slipped us something at Victor's party, right? Like, roofies, or Xanax."

One skeleton took off its head and threw it up into the chimney to inspect the insides. "PCP; definitely PCP," Jeffrey said.

It popped its head back onto its body, satisfied with whatever it saw. "Either that, or we're dead," Brit said.

As soon as all the cobwebs and dust was swept away, Candice came back in with her arms full of a large box. Smaller boxes floated behind her.

"Come on, you three! We need to decorate quick; everyone will soon get here!"

She sat the box down on an end table in the middle of the room and the other boxes floated to other parts of the room. The skeletons got to work digging into the boxes and pulling out numerous candles, reflective pumpkin streamers, purple, orange, and black streamers, and other normal party decorations. After more encouragement, the friends cautiously approached to help.

Mandy helped a skeleton place the unlit candles along the fireplace mantel and on tabletops; Brit arranged the small party decorations and placed the jack-o-lanterns around the room; Jeffrey strung the party streamer and other higher things. After magically installing a disco ball, colorful lights that would light the room, a DJ stand and speakers, Candi also hung paper bats from the ceiling. When Mandy finished with the candles, she waved her hand and all the wicks caught fire.

She bounced in joy as she looked around. "This looks so good! I'm so glad they let me be in charge of decorating this year! Thanks so much for your help, guys!"

"Umm, Candi...?" Mandy began; the witch looked at her. "What about the music and the lights; won't that draw attention?"

"Don't worry about that; Vera has it covered. She casts spells around the house that eliminates noise or lights; this abandoned house looks like it always has on the outside. She also sets barriers that'll turn humans away if they get too close – you came in before she could cast them. We have a Halloween party here every year, and you humans don't know it."

Josephine came walking in with a tray of triangle-shaped sandwiches and a dish of some dip with chips. "You three like caterpillar sandwiches and toad dung dip, right? I'll have Bloody Marys coming in soon, if you like extra bloody."

Mandy looked down at the food in horror; Jeffrey whispered 'Oh my God' and Brit gagged.

Candice turned on her sister. "Josie, that's not funny; you know humans don't eat like we do!"

The black-haired witch put the tray down and headed back for the kitchen. "I'm joking. I'll fix some candy corn popcorn, Chex-mix, and punch for you to snack on."

The closet door under the stairs suddenly began to tremble and shake. It sounded like something big and heavy banged against the door, trying to get in.

Candice lit up. "Oh, they're here! They're here!"

The three friends once again crowded back against the door; Mandy and Brit clinging to Jeffrey and he held them. They couldn't take their eyes off of the door, terrified of what was coming through.

With a loud bang, the door flew open.