Halloween Sunset, Let the Party Begin by Sally Cronin

Bethany looked around her cosy cottage and smiled with satisfaction. The lanterns around the walls glowed eerily;candlelight flickering through fangs and gaping wounds in the flesh of the pumpkins. The table was laid with fresh baked treats; the result of many hours toiling over her wood stove. A large pot now bubbled away on top of the said appliance. A wonderful aroma of rosemary and thyme filled the air with an enticing promise of tender meat and dumplings.

Of course you could not have a Halloween party without lots of sweet pastries and candies, and these too added atmospheric colour to the festive table. Blood red velvet cupcakes competed with the dark chocolate of the Devil cake, and green whipped cream  glistened in a skull shaped bowl.

Her friends would be arriving shortly; making their way carefully along the path in…