It's time, it's time! Halloween time, of course!

October. Cooling air, colorful leaves blowing across the ground, and the sound of bare branches scratching against windows in the night…

I love this time of year. So here we go, Halloween! Twilight and all its characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. I like to play in the world she's created.

The world of Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer. I like to play in it.

COSTUMES

Chapter 3 – The Party

"I think the boys have a full evening lined up," Dr. Cullen said, "and I suspect it doesn't involve us."

They left, the doctor handing his lady into the Bentley.

Angela sighed. "So romantic, so gallant."

"Kind of weird, leaving us like this," Bella said.

"He's just open-minded," Jessica said, "Let's go in."

The front door was still open, but the hallway behind it was dark, with only a few flickers of light.

"Should we walk in?" Bella whispered. Angela shrugged and Jessica reached for the door. Bella knocked on the door frame.

A moan came from inside, followed by a creepy noise, like a creaking door swinging open.

Bella shivered. "That's our cue," Jessica said, walking in.

The hallway was lit by white candles set on skulls, lining the walls about shoulder height.

"Wow, the Cullens go all out," Angela whispered to Bella.

One of the skulls moved. "Good evening ladies," it said.

There was a movement, and someone turned around. It was Emmett, in a black outfit with a skull mask on the back of his head. He laughed, a bellowing laugh, removing the candle and mask.

"Evening. You look lovely," he said to Jessica. He bent to kiss her hand and never gave it back. Jessica's eyes glazed as she stared into Emmett's eyes.

A door to the left slowly opened. A tall figure appeared in the door. Bella's heart beat faster. Jasper?

"Ladies," came a soft voice.

No accent. A soft voice, but Edward's, not Jasper's. Edward was wearing a medieval sorcerer's outfit, with a long red robe. The sleeves were full, and both the sleeves and front had a brocade border, laced with swirling pattern in gold and black.

Angela stepped forward, grabbing Bella's hand tightly in hers and pulling her into the room. As they left the hallway, Bella watched as Emmett pulled Angela closer, much closer. He bent over her, then Edward slid the door shut, blocking her view of the hallway.

This new room had a medieval theme. There were suits of armor, rich tapestries on the wall, and the centerpieces was a round table with a checkerboard layout. Bouquets of brilliant tulips were at each corner of the game board.

"Nice," Bella blurted out.

"I love it," said Angela.

"I'm glad you approve," Edward purred, never taking his eyes from Angela. He pushed a champagne flute into her hand. It bubbled but she didn't drink from it. She just stared at Edward and giggled.

"Do you play chess?" asked Edward, gesturing to the sofa. Angela sat down and Edward seated himself next to her in an impossibly graceful gesture.

They look great together, Bella thought. But where was Jasper?

Bella glanced around, feeling like a third wheel as both her friends had paired off. Suddenly she felt hands on her waist. He was behind her. An intoxicating scent flooded her, drenching her from head to toe. She closed her eyes, relishing the sensation. She felt the hands pull her close and rock her back and forth, as if they were dancing.

She didn't want to open her eyes.

Bella felt herself being lead. "You can open them, angel," the voice she was waiting for whispered.

She opened her eyes and there was Jasper, lit by moonlight from a window behind him. He wore a military uniform. She was too dazed to figure out what it was.

"I like your…onesie," she said. She shook her head. "I mean, uniform."

He laughed and stepped back, gesturing down his side. "Full dress, with sword," he said. He looked dashing. The uniform had a gray vest with yellow trim and gold buttons, blue slacks, and a red sash around the waist.

"And you," he said. "A student?" He took her hand in his gloved hand and twirled her around. The hand, though gentle, felt bony, hard, under the glove.

"Hogwarts," she replied, feeling giddy and dizzy.

"Ah," he said, "I might have guessed," pulling her close.

Bella touched the red sash on his waist then pulled her hand away. He put her hand back on his waist, pulling her closer and leaning forward to sniff her hair.

"You smell divine," he whispered. "You have no idea."

"So do you," she replied.

She leaned against him, heart pounding. His cologne was something heady and intoxicating. He pulled back and looked down at her, and she felt herself growing weak as she looked up into his eyes.

"Dance with me?" he asked, leaning back and pushing a button on something barely visible against the wall behind him.

A song came on. Something slow and soft. "I was a quick wet boy..." it started, and then Bella couldn't focus any longer.

"I don't dance," she said.

"No?" he asked.

"I can't. I fall over my feet...or yours…"

"Just follow me," Jasper replied.

She closed her eyes and let him lead. It was easy this way. She felt herself beginning to trust and let go. The song ended and she opened her eyes. He was staring down at her, dipping his face toward her.

Bella went on her tiptoes, reaching for and finding his lips. When they touched, she was surprised. They looked so plump and soft, but they were hard as stone? She didn't care. She melted hers around his and lingered for a second, matching his movements.

She pulled back to get a breath.

His eyes glittered above hers. "Questions?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I don't care," she said, and found it to be true. It had been like kissing a statue, but she had never wanted the moment to end. The sweet scent swirling around them and the closeness to him overrode any nervousness about his skin. She reached up and traced her finger along his cheek, back to his ear. Stony as well.

Bella smiled at him.

"You're not even curious?" Jasper asked, taking her hand and placing it on his shoulder.

"Only if you want to tell me," she said.

"I do, of course, but I don't want you to be afraid."

"I won't," she replied.

"I believe you," he said, inhaling deeply. "You have no idea how long I've waited for you."

"Tell me," she said. "Because I've waited for you just as long."

"Perhaps not as long as I have," Jasper replied, leading her up a candlelit set of stairs. She heard a shriek from downstairs. She pulled away, looking over the bannister.

"Angela!?" she called down.

"That was Jessica," Jasper said. "She'll be all right. Sometimes my brother Emmet doesn't know his own strength, but he treasures your friend."

There was a crash from one of the rooms, the sound of glass breaking. She turned from him to run back down the stairs to help her friend. "Jessica?" she called out, frightened.

Jasper grabbed her hand. "Emmett, bring her to the door. Let Bella see that she's OK."

There was silence. "That'll have to be later," Emmett called up.

"Damn it," Jasper swore.

Bella stared at him, worried.

"All right, we'll go see her," Jasper said, looking grim. Then his face and voice softened. "She will be OK, I promise."

Jasper swung Bella into his arms and sped down the stairs. To Bella, it seemed as if she had hardly blinked and they were in front of a door in the hall.

Jasper knocked then slid it open.

Jessica was laying on a sofa, and Emmet was seated on the floor, holding her hand. Jessica was twisting her head back and forth, moaning, "No, it hurts." There was blood on the side of her face. A broken lamp lay on the floor next to the sofa.

"She knocked over the lamp when I was putting her on the sofa," Emmett said.

"We better call a doctor," Bella said. "Can we reach your father?"

"Come upstairs and sit with me," Jasper said. "I'll explain everything."

His voice was so hypnotic, that her fears for Jessica were overridden. Wait, where was Angela?

"Angela?" she called out.

"Edward took Angela for a walk in the moonlight," Jasper said. "He told me he wanted to show her the stream behind the house."

Bella felt dizzy and shook her head. She should be worried about Jessica, and maybe Angela, but nothing seemed to matter right now. Dazed, she let Jasper lift her again.

They were upstairs and in a room in seconds. Jasper set her down on a love seat and sat next to her, putting his arm around her and pulling her closer with her scarf.

"Once, long ago, there was a young Major in the Civil War. He was headed to Galveston one night when he met three women on a road…"

He leaned in closer, stroking her hair away from her neck as he spoke. She bent her head to one side as he leaned closer, nuzzling her neck.

"Won't your parents be back soon?" she finally squeaked out. "Your father can look at Jessica."

Jasper leaned back and laughed. "You're very strong," he said. "Jessica will be OK in three days, I suspect. Father has his hands full with his own lovely lady. This town has been very good for us."

Then he leaned in again, and Bella felt a soft kiss, despite the cold of his lips. She closed her eyes, and they were still closed when the kiss turned into a bite…

THE END

Happy Halloween!

xxx

Thanks for reading. Happy Halloween!

Please leave a review. Reviews make my pumpkin smile. Hope you have tons of trick-or-treaters or a great party, however it is you may celebrate. (I've been binge-watching horror movies for several days.)