Brushing a stray lock of ash blonde hair from her luminous blue eyes, Dawn Swenson stamped and sealed the last of twenty envelopes containing invitations to her Halloween party and sat back with a sigh. She would have much preferred e-mailing or texting her invitees, but Mother had insisted that she send invitations. That is what proper young ladies did when they were giving a party.
Mother had become so formal and stuffy since Father was making all that money in the commodities market. Dawn didn't quite understand what he did at his computer for hours on end, but when they had moved to this big house and she could have anything she asked for, it was wonderful and at the same time rather boring. Maybe her party would enliven things a bit.
Riffling through the envelopes for a final check before mailing them, she saw one name that made her feel warm inside; Willow MacDougall. Willow was a transfer from a university in the Midwest and had already caused a stir on the normally tranquil campus of Featherstone College. Tall and well proportioned, her tanned skin, flaming red tresses and penchant for wearing provocative clothing were as a flame to the student moths that flocked to her.
Willow's expressive green eyes seemed to look into your very soul and she appeared to be interested in whatever anyone said to her no matter how trivial. When she spoke, the melodic contralto issuing from between her full, red lips and shining white teeth made men's hearts race and women shiver like puppies having their ears scratched, Everyone she met was captivated and all felt as if they belonged to her alone.
Inexplicably, all requests for dates to have dinner or go to a movie were politely and firmly refused causing the person making them feel almost apologetic for asking. In class, the professors idolized her as a perfect student who was quick with an answer and turned her papers in on time.
She was neither aloof towards, nor dismissive of, her entourage on campus, yet when the day was over she simply melted away into the gathering dusk. Her parents, who were seen occasionally, had purchased an unassuming two story brick house on the edge of town; conducting all their business by e-mail, texting and fax through an intermediary. It was quite odd to say the least.
Of all the persons she'd invited, Dawn wanted Willow to attend most of all. The pretty, mysterious girl intrigued her so and she wondered if she would, in fact, appear.
***
Dawn parked her yellow Camaro in the student lot, shouldered her laptop carryall and set out for her first class. She heard before she saw the gaggle of Willow's acolytes talking all at once. The red haired beauty strolled along the sidewalk as if she was alone instead of in a crowd of fawning women. From time to time she would reply to one of them, seemingly keeping track of the many items under discussion swirling around her.
As the group approached, Dawn stepped off the sidewalk to let them pass. Willow stopped and looked at her as green eyes met blue and Dawn suddenly felt as if she had known the girl forever. They stared at one another for several seconds, the crowd of young women falling silent, and then Willow said "Hello Dawn, nice to meet you," and offered her hand to shake.
"Uh ... Hi Willow ... nice to meet you too," Dawn replied. When their hands met, Willows was soft and warm as it clasped Dawn's, sending a thrill through the pretty girl. They stood transfixed for what seemed to be an age, locked in place by the contact of their eyes and hands until Willow softly released her grip and said "I received your party invitation this morning, Dawn. It is awfully sweet of you to invite me. I would love to come."
Dawn was stunned. "Ahh ... That's great, Willow. I'm looking forward to seeing you there. It's going to be fun."
"I'm sure it will be," she replied in her soft contralto, "Bye, Dawn."
Then she was gone, her followers trailing in her wake and conversing in hushed tones about what they had witnessed. A bemused Dawn remained standing on the grass, palm tingling from Willow's touch. Her day passed quickly, the thought ever present in her mind 'Willow's coming to my party. She's coming to my party; my party, mine'.
***
Halloween night arrived clear and cool; the evening breeze rustling the ghosts, skeletons, witches and orange and black crepe paper that festooned the living room. At first, Dawn had intended to keep things simple, a few decorations, punch and cookies, speakers plugged into her mp3 player for music, but her mother had thought otherwise.
When her guests arrived, they were met by a cackling trio of witches and a black cat with glowing eyes on the lawn. A four piece band was situated in one corner of the cavernous living room and tables of catered foodstuffs and sweet treats lined one wall.
Dawn was radiant as she greeted her guests dressed as an angel complete with wings and a halo. She had wanted the costume the moment she had seen it in the party supply store and when she tried on the flowing white robe it fit perfectly. The wings were mounted on a harness concealed under the robe, while the halo was a battery powered LED. Her teased and curled blonde hair spilling over the robe's collar completed the illusion perfectly.
One by one, Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Mummy, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, a French maid, a southern belle, ghouls, ghosts, witches and others joined the party. Dawn saw that one person was conspicuously absent; Willow. 'I guess she decided not to come after all' she thought sadly.
After everyone had sampled the drinks and snacks, the band struck up their version of a popular tune and everyone began to dance. Dawn danced and chatted with her guests, but she was sad that Willow hadn't come. What was it about that girl, anyway? They had just met and yet she felt she'd known her forever. Moreover, she was attracted to her and she'd never thought about girls that way before. Maybe it was her mysterious attitude that was intriguing. No matter, she was going to have fun anyway.
Then the front door opened and a sultry voice said "I'm sorry I'm so late, but I was detained." Willow stood in the doorway, the breeze ruffling her flowing red hair and the room fell silent. It was as if the Devil himself had joined the party. She was dressed in a crimson leotard with sharp black horns on her forehead and a barbed tail swaying behind her. Her hands and feet ended in ebony claws and the lovely smile on her crimson face was both welcoming and sensual. She saw Dawn and strode over to her, the other guests moving aside as they stared and whispered among themselves.
"I'm so sorry I'm late Dawn," Willow said, her voice sending a thrill along the pretty girl's spine. "I didn't want to miss your party."
"I'm so glad you could come, Willow," Dawn replied, tentatively reaching for the girl's clawed hand that was offered to her. She clasped it and it was if the claws weren't there, only the girl's warm palm. They smiled as green and blue eyes met and held and Dawn felt herself getting wet. She was barefoot and naked under the robe as she knew her costume would be uncomfortably warm for dancing. Until that moment she hadn't considered her nudity, but under Willow's piercing gaze she felt vulnerable and aroused.
Willow's costume left nothing to the imagination. It fit her as a second skin, her firm breasts with stiff nipples riding high on her chest and a prominent cleft in the bump of her labia between her shapely thighs. The horns, claws and tail seemed real, especially the tail, which twitched as if a part of her. Dawn saw that Willow's eyes alternated from deep green to smoky red, with obsidian pupils that glittered in the lights. She felt no fear, only a growing desire to hug the girl.
"W ... would you like something to drink?" Dawn said shakily, breaking the spell.
"Yes, I would like that," Willow purred. They walked to the serving table and, as if a switch was thrown, the party continued. Dawn felt as if she and Willow were encased in some invisible bubble as the noise of the party was dim in her ears and no one took any further interest in them.
"I'm so glad you could come," Dawn said happily, sipping her cup of rum punch. "I was ... detained," Willow replied. "My parents had urgent business elsewhere and I needed to see them off."
"An important business meeting, no doubt," Dawn said, nodding. "Father is always busy with his work and Mother has her many activities. I spend much of my time alone."
"Yes, business," Willow said with a melodic laugh that made Dawn's heart beat faster. They chatted for several minutes, and then Willow said "Would you like to dance?" Dawn nodded and Willow took her hand and led her to the dance floor. She hadn't danced with a girl before, yet it seemed so right with Willow. As they swirled about the floor, the other dancers were swept away to let them pass.
No one seemed the least bit interested that the women were dancing together, much less that their hostess' partner was the most popular girl on campus. After several numbers, the band took a break and the guests began talking among themselves.
"You're a wonderful dancer," Dawn said to Willow as they walked hand in hand to get a drink, "I could hardly keep up with you."
"You did quite well," Willow replied, giving Dawn's hand a squeeze, "Most guys won't ask me to dance a second time, I think I wear them out," and she laughed again and Dawn laughed with her.
When the clock in the hall struck twelve, everyone raised their glasses to toast the witching hour. Dawn and Willow stood together with their arms around the others waist, then turned their heads and kissed. Dawn had never kissed a girl before, but Willow's lips were warm and soft and her tongue flicked against Dawn's before they parted.
Her head was spinning; what was happening to her, she had never felt this way about a person of her own sex, yet Willow was captivating and her eyes spoke of pleasures untold that were hers for the asking. The remainder of the party was a whirlwind of dancing, plying each other with little treats and laughing at silly things the other guests were doing. No one appeared to mind that the pretty girls kept to themselves. They were there, yet not there, as if they were ghosts at a masked ball in a gloomy old castle.
At two in the morning the party ended. The band packing up their instruments and the guests leaving, thanking their hostess for a wonderful time, wishing each other a happy Halloween and patting the cat goodbye until Dawn and Willow were left standing and waving in the doorway.
"I had such a wonderful time tonight," Dawn said, resting her head on Willow's shoulder, "I'm so glad you came."
"So am I," Willow replied, running her claws through Dawn's blonde hair.
