When The Little Witch Goes Trick & Treating

Before her lay a circle of power, and inside stood a powerful demon. Its muscles were bulging, its wings were spread majestically, and its horns curled aggressively. It glared at the witch just outside the circle, just outside its influence. “What would you have of me, woman, so that I may yet again be free?”

She smirked. “I only ask of thee three things. Do them, and do them well, and ye shall be free to do as ye wilt.” She handed him a contract. “Interested?”

The demon grabbed the contract and looked it over. “Protect your daughter, walk around disguised, and get as much candy as possible as per the rules of Halloween. Have fun. In exchange, I get several lesser artifacts.” He sighed. “There are worse gigs, I suppose.” He rolled up the contract. “Sign off on it and we’re good.” He handed the contract back.

She unrolled it and signed, then rolled it back up. With a wave of her hand, she dispersed the circle and handed the rolled-up parchment to the demon. “Enjoy yourself.”

He relaxed. “I shall.” He was surrounded in a reddish glow and his form shrunk down. He glared at her. “Cute enough for you?”

She smiled. “It will do.”

They left the chamber together.

* * * * *

A twelve-year-old girl dressed as a witch walked down the street. Her blond fell in a braid down one shoulder and she wore a black domino mask. She carried two plastic pumpkins and a fairy wand. “So you’re my babysitter for tonight?”

A ten-year-old boy with red skin, horns, leathery wings and black shorts held his hand out. “Yep. Just call me ‘Praesul’ if you need a name.” He smiled: Thus had the second rule been followed.

She smiled. “Cool.” She handed him a plastic pumpkin. “Let’s go!”

The two left the house and entered the dusk outside. There were plenty of children in the suburb, running up and down the sidewalks from house to house. Within minutes, they were going from house to house themselves: She was giggling while he brought up the rear, trying to look as tough as a ten-year-old in black underwear could be.

* * * * *

They walked up the walkway of a relatively boring house: The owners had spread webs everywhere but had given up on decorating. Even their candy delivery reeked of fatigue: They had left a bowl of candy behind with the usual “Take only two” sign. At least there was a pumpkin on the sign. However, the bowl was still half-full, so it looked like none of the jerks had come here yet.

Praesul looked at Wendy. “This is too boring.” He grinned lasciviously. “Is it okay if I make it a little more exciting?”

She smiled. “Sure.”

Praesul made the sign of horns and his voice became deeper and gravelly. “Should anyone take more than two from now until midnight, the candy from this bowl shall become roaches when the taker tries to eat it." He lowered his hand. “Okay, grab your candy now.” Thus had the fourth rule been followed. His eyes sparkled. “But only a piece or two.”

She giggled and took two pieces. He took four and she glared at him. His eyes went wide as a kitten’s “I like it crunchy.”

She smiled. The two walked on.

* * * * *

A few houses later, they went up the walkway to yet another house. There were the prerequisite webs, but also a scarecrow in a rocker with glowing eyes, pumpkins with scraggly teeth, and scary music emanating from somewhere in the yard. They knocked on the door.

It opened and an old woman in a witch’s costume appeared. They smiled. “Trick or treat!”

“Such a cute little demon and witch!” She put two huge candy bars into their pumpkins, then closed the door.

They looked at each other and smiled. They walked away. As they did so, they saw a group of teenagers stop outside the house. One pulled out an egg container and opened it. The teenagers began reaching for the eggs. Praesul clapped his hands horizontally, his left hand rising to meet his right.

The eggs were crushed in the container, exploding into goop. The teenagers were shocked and covered in eggs.

Little Wendy glared at him. He shrugged. “Houses that give out full-size candy bars get my protection.” She smiled. They walked on.

* * * * *

Three older kids blocked their way. The largest had covered himself in green paint and went shirtless, ostensibly to show off his muscles. The second was in a costume of blue spandex and a gold cape, also to show off his muscle. The smallest was dressed like a punk, including a purple mohawk and a dog collar. The punk took a step forward. “Give us your candy and you can pass.”

Wendy was starting to shake. Praesul took a step forward and flexed his muscles. The muscles of a ten-year-old boy. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

The littlest punk looked at the two bigger kids surrounding him. They all sneered. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

Praseul sighed. He brought his left hand down, going from flat to a fist. The pants of the three bullies followed, plastering themselves to the ground. The two larger bullies wore boxers; the punk wore tightie-whities. They went from sneer to shock as the breeze hit them. Wendy smiled.

Praesul’s voice went low and gravelly. “Your pants will be stuck here unmovable until ten people have seen you perform ‘I’m A Little Teapot.’ I curse you with the necessary knowledge.” He relaxed and exhaled a little puff of black smoke.

The boys struggled to move their feet, panicking. They soon stopped. The punk glared at the demon boy. “This isn’t fair! We just wanted your candy!”

Praesul smiled. “Well, you’re not getting it.”

The punk fell to his knees. “You can’t leave us like this! What will we do?”

Praesul smiled. “I’d suggest calling as many people to you so you only have to perform it once.” The punk glared at him. The demon boy turned to Wendy. “You okay?”

Wendy nodded. “Yes, thank you. Monday at school will be fun.” Thus had the first rule been followed. They walked on.

* * * * *

For the next two hours they walked the houses of the suburb. By the time they were finished, every house with a light on had been visited, the treats harvested. Their pumpkins were overflowing by the time Wendy was returned to her home. Thus had the third rule been followed.

Wendy drug herself up her walkway and barely returned her mother’s hug. Praesul looked up, quizzically, to the mother; the mother nodded. Praesul nodded. A puff of smoke surrounded him; when it cleared he was gone.

His plastic pumpkin fell to the ground, empty.