"What can I say? I love Halloween" Eloise told the cashier apologetically as she piled the last few decorations on the counter.

It was true, she did love Halloween. All the other holidays seemed to focus on family, but Halloween was for the whole community, particularly the way her small village of Pilton celebrated it.

Decorations would start appearing on the first of October, neighbours engaging in a friendly competition to outdo each other, sometimes working together to create a special display spread over three or four houses. Eloise didn't go that far - for one thing she didn't have the DIY skills - but every year her collection of skeletons and inflatable ghosts grew.

The festivities started around six, with the first children knocking in their elaborate costumes and yelling "Trick or treat!" in unison.

"My, don't you all look amazing?" Eloise exclaimed as she handed out chocolates.

It was as if that first group opened the floodgates, as a steady stream of children visited. She made sure to compliment each of them on their outfits. By eight the flow had turned to a trickle and stopped. "Just as well" she thought, looking at the handful of sweets she had left over.

The fun didn't stop there though. The children were all rushing off to various sleepover parties, all presided over by carefully chosen and well-rewarded teenage babysitters. Meanwhile the adults were themselves getting changed and preparing for their own celebrations.

Eloise had finished her costume weeks ago. As soon as she saw the wedding dress in the window of the second hand store, the idea had appeared fully formed in her mind. The dress had a sweetheart neckline that made the most of her cleavage and a side slit which ended indecently far up the thigh, almost reaching her hip.

Eloise had made some alterations to improve the fit, then set to work on the decorations. Some strategically placed frayed lace gave the illusion of the dress having been ripped open to be so revealing, and she used some scarlet thread to embroider blood stains and claw like scratches to the bodice. Under the dress she wore white fishnet stockings and dark blue lace french knickers - deliberately chosen to leave no doubt in the mind each time they were displayed by the side slit as she moved. Eloise loved how wanton the costume made her feel. In many ways, she felt more exposed wearing it than if she'd chosen to attend the party in a bikini.

Arriving at the party, Eloise saw that many other guests had already arrived. The variety of costumes assailed her senses. Although it was to celebrate Halloween, it was clear that not everyone had stuck rigidly to the theme. Aside from the expected vampires and witches, she also saw people dressed as a cheerleader, a cowboy, Zorro (or maybe it was the dread pirate roberts) and one brave woman wore nothing but a flash coloured body suit with a thick metal chain around her throat.

Eloise added her name to the list by the door, grabbed herself a drink and started mingling. These were all neighbours, people that she knew or at least saw around the village every day, but the costumes and the occasion changed something about them, as if the shackles of every day life were temporarily cast aside, leaving them free to enjoy themselves through the thin veil of anonymity.

She saw Sharon who worked in the local shop, talking animatedly to two young men who had recently left college, but it wasnt really Sharon that night, it was a pvc clad nurse, taking to a doctor and a zombie. Similar scenes were repeated throughout the house, and Eloise felt herself relax, joining in the pretence. She'd been worried her costume may have left her a little too exposed, but after only five minutes she didn't give it another thought.

A short while later, Eloise was walking toward the bar for a refiĺl, when she felt a discreet tap on her shoulder. Looking around she saw a masked man beckon to her, then turn and walk away. She followed and was led into the study. As the heavy door closed behind her, the sounds of the party faded to a dull murmur.

It took Eloise's brain a few moments to shake off the hedonistic fog and realise who sat behind the desk. The man she had followed was Doctor Barrett. Beside him sat Maggie, the postmistress on one side and Ian McLevitt, a solicitor who had retired early after making his money in the city. Together they were the closest thing Pilton had to community leaders. People jokingly called them "The Coven". That could only mean one thing. Eloise felt her knees weaken and hurriedly sat down.

"We would like you to be our sacrifice this year" Doctor Barrett said, confirming her suspicions.

Eloise had put her name down to volunteer, but so had many others. She'd never dreamed she might actually be chosen! It was such an honour for her, but also a great responsibility. She realised she hadn't given her reply yet.

"Of... of course I will" she stammered, trying to keep the tremble from her voice.

"And you understand what you're agreeing to?" Maggie asked in her soft, kindly voice.

Eloise nodded, but Mr McLevitt still went through each step in detail. She barely heard him, her mind still spinning at the thought of being chosen.

"...One of us will collect you to prepare in an hour's time then. Until then, why don't you go back and enjoy the party?" He finished up.

Eloise nodded again and stood up. She felt an urge to bow or curtsey, or something and was grateful when Maggie stepped around the desk to guide her back through the door.

It seemed like no time at all had passed before Maggie was at her shoulder again, whispering in her ear "It's time".

Eloise gracefully left her conversation and followed Maggie back to the study. This time it was just the two of them there and with practiced fingers Maggie quickly helped her to undress and put on a plain white slip.

"You know what to do?" Maggie asked.

Eloise's voice sounded weak in her own ears as she answered "Yes".

Maggie looked at her closely. "Its not too late to change your mind you know. It wouldn't be the first time"

Eloise took a deep breath, and sounding more confident than she felt said "I'm fine. Really."

"Follow me then dear"

While she had been getting changed, people had been busy in the main room. All the lights had been switched off, replaced by flickering candles and everyone now stood in a circle surrounding an old oak dining table. Maggie led Eloise to the head of the table and left her there.

Eloise looked around the circle of guests. In the dim inconsistent light, and with everyone in costume she could no longer tell one person from another. A deep voice spoke from the shadows.

"Do you enter this circle willingly as Sacrifice?"

Eloise lifted her head and spoke loud enough for all to hear "I do."

Again the voice spoke "Do you swear that you are of age and not virgin?"

"I swear" Eloise answered, unable to avoid a slight crack in her voice.

"Then may the ritual commence!"

There was a sudden flash of light and a figure appeared at the opposite side of the table, wearing a demonic mask and their entire body painted bright red. They jumped atop the table and stalked toward Eloise. She stood frozen in place, as if mesmerised. The demon reached out a hand to grasp her, and at the last second she dodged away.

A cheer arose from the gathered spectators. Although everyone knew the outcome was inevitable, they appreciated that Eloise was apparently not going to make it too easy. Again he reached out a clawed hand, and again she dodged, running around to the other end of the table.

Once more the devil stalked toward her, and ince more Eloise dodged. This time however, she had been anticipated and felt his hand close about her shoulder. Desperately she spun away, feeling the thin cotton of her shift tearing, leaving a single breast exposed and drawing a murmur of appreciation from the crowd.

The devil held the scrap of cloth above his head as if displaying a trophy before resuming his hunt. Again Eloise was too slow, and he grasped a handful of fabric. With a swift tug, he ripped the remnants of her dress from her body, leaving her naked and with nowhere left to run.

The demon paused before her, giving everyone time to drink in her beauty in the flickering candlelight. With a sudden lunge, he lifted Eloise onto the table, spinning her so that her back was to him. She could feel his hard cock pressing into her ass and for the first time realised that he had already been naked while pursuing her.

His tongue flickered against her neck as one hand sought for and found her nipple. Eloise suppressed the urge to moan - she wasn't going to give him an easy victory.

His hand moved slowly lower, across her ribcage, her flat stomach, the slight rise of her mound. Despite her best intentions, Eloise found herself parting her thighs as his fingers moved steadily toward her core.

The moment of contact brought a shiver of ecstasy to her, his fingers trailing teasingly over her clit, brushing against her with an electric touch. She bit her bottom lip and leant back into him as he expertly toyed with her. Eloise felt herself surrendering to his ministrations, her arousal building, her self control slipping. A barely stifled moan broke the expectant silence that surrounded her.

As if it was a signal he had been waiting to hear, the devil pulled his fingers away. Eloise whimpered quietly at the unexpected absence but before she could react further, she felt herself being spun around and pushed to her knees. Her vision was filled by his cock. Long, thick and fully inflamed.

She hesitated at the size of him, but under the gentle yet inexorable pressure of his hands on her shoulders she moved ever closer until her lips parted around him and she took the head into her mouth. Slowly he moved himself in and back out, each thrust a little deeper than the last until she felt him pressing into her throat, making her gag.

Having learnt her limit, the demon started to fuck her lips in earnest, driving the hard rod of his cock forward and withdrawing again, her spittle coating his shaft, dripping down her chin and collecting on her breasts. After what seemed a lifetime, he pulled himself clear and allowed Eloise a moment to catch her breath, then he was back once more thrusting between her waiting lips.

Eloise heard the murmur of hushed conversation around her, and was reminded of her audience. Determined not to disappoint, she waited for the demon's next thrust and pushed her head forward to meet him, forcing her throat muscles to relax and allow her to take his whole length. The gasps which surrounded her were all the reward she could hope for, as the demon allowed her to take control, bobbing her head and striving to take him as deeply as before with each movement.

She pulled away, unable to avoid coughing but with a light of triumph in her eyes. She looked up at the devil, trying to pierce the mask and see the man who lay hidden beneath it. Was there something in his posture, the way he held his head which spoke of a new-found respect? If there was, Eloise had precious little time to savour it as the demon again spun her around and pushed her forward to land on her hands and knees.

She knew what was to come and arched her back, her bare ass rising into the air as she knelt on the table. She felt the solid warmth of him parting her inner lips, pressing against her core. Felt her flesh yielding beneath him as inch by slow inch he slipped into her, stretching her to the brink of pain. Eloise's eyes watered as he drove ever deeper into her, and she couldn't control a moan as she felt his thighs make contact with hers.

The demon's hands went to her hips, gently pushing her away in a silent communication - she was to set the pace. Eloise responded to his touch, pulling herself halfway free then pushing back to him, slowly easing the full length of his cock back inside her over-worked pussy. Again and again she fucked herself against him, feeling herself gradually stretching to accommodate his width.

As the pain gave way to pleasure, Eloise allowed her pace to build and the devil responded, driving himself into her. She collapsed down to her elbows, cheek pressed to the wooden tabletop as he took full control, thrusting harder and faster. Her moans grew ever louder and more urgent as she felt her orgasm building. She had to hold back, she had to wait, she couldn't orgasm until...

Without warning she felt the demon's cock twitch inside her as he flooded her with cum, shooting over and over. It was the signal she had been so desperately waiting for, and Eloise cried out her joy as she relaxed her few remaining shreds of control and descended into ecstasy.

Eloise was surrounded by a blur of excited people, cheering, whooping and clapping. In her disoriented state, she looked around for the man in the devil costume who had been her partner, but he was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Maggie appeared at her shoulder to help her into a fluffy white robe. As Eloise finished tying the belt, Maggie patted her hand and said with a broad smile "Well done, dear. Well done"