The lair went all out on the decorations. It’s covered in spooky cobwebs, their wisps fluttering in the breeze. It’s not immediately apparent whether the spiders in them are the fake plastic rings they usually come with, or actually real…but they seem to move when you blink.

The lair is lit by candlelight, the flames warm and flickering. About half of them shine out of the carved faces of Jack’o’Lanterns. It’s very festive, and warm, a cozy light that nonetheless casts ominous shadows. Everything is bathed in the candlelight, and everything drowns in darkness. The perfect atmosphere.

There’s gravestones scattered outside, and bubbling cauldrons perfuming the lair. Skeletal hands grasp out of the earth and extend from the walls, brushing against dragons as they make their way through the lair. The rustle of bat wings can be heard overhead. Witches cackle beneath their hats, and white fangs glint in dastardly smiles. Outside, you can hear the howling of the wolves. It all combines into the perfect theme music.

And of course, there’s the refreshments.

Mummy fingers and cauldron cakes, spooky crispy rice treats and ghostly bananas. The table of finger foods is pushed up against one wall of the lair, and everything on it fits the Halloween theme.

Including the juice.

It’s the one refreshment that hasn’t been touched. Dragons come up to it, and look at it curiously. Some have even reached for the ladle. But inside its container, red eyeballs float to the surface. They spin and swirl, blinking with interest at the watching dragons. Those eyes track them as they retreat slowly from the juice, laughing nervously about the host’s trick.

Those eyes look around the room again.

Their host really went all out on decorations.

That’s why they hired the juice.

She settles back into her bowl contentedly, eyes sinking back to the bottom as she waits for the next guest to sneak a peek.