*Gwen

The house was not what she had expected.

She'd been hoping for something more "lost cottage in the middle of the woods". Instead, the house was nestled deep in a well-to-do neighborhood, set among old trees at the end of a three-hundred-yard drive, and dramatically witchy in appearance—it was perfectly charming. There were steep gables at the corners, several turrets, white curtains, a wrap-around porch with a swing, and what might be a glass greenhouse in the back. It stood at three stories tall in most places, but, according to the card she had briefly seen, had both a basement and an attic which were off limits for some reason.

Too bad. Attics usually made the best rooms. That said, she'd sleep in the hallway so long as she could wash the remnants of the dead bog hag off her body and out of her hair. Shivering in pleasured anticipation, she knocked firmly on the door.

Behind her, Corman shuffled up to her shoulder. He smothered a cough in his hand. She'd almost forgotten about him in her excitement of getting a shower.

What if there was a no human policy at the house? Then again, she wouldn't be the first witch to travel with a minion or human familiar.

She lifted her hand to knock again when the door swung open. An extremely tall, slender, dark brown skinned witch wearing an evening dress and pale blond wig draped herself on the doorframe, her mouth in a wide, welcoming smile.

"Welcome, night travelers," she said, her voice an octave lower than Gwen would have thought it to be.

Cross-dresser? No, trans. Gwen detected a distinctly feminine aura about the witch.

"I saw a card advertising your address. It came to me through the wheel, but I didn't keep it. How much for a few nights?" Gwen asked.

"In silver or compensation?"

"Glad you ask. I just so happen to have a very nice bone freezing amulet, freshly acquired, if you are interested." She searched in her pocket for the warlock's necklace.

"I do not work in charms or enchanted accessories, and I never go on the offense. Only defense."

"The best defense is an aggressive offense. Believe me. Not two nights ago, I had a intruder in my camper van, and now look me. Homeless. If only I had been less trusting in the sisterhood of witches..."

"You poor thing," the witch said. She stroked Gwen's cheek, her three-inch long nails grazing her skin. "Where are my manners? My name is Nova, and you must come inside to haggle. Come, come." She beckoned. "Oh, no, not the male human. He can't possibly come in here."

That was one question answered. Gwen put a hand on Corman's arm. "Tough luck for you. You can sleep on the porch, though, I'm sure. I'll bring you a blanket."

"I'm not sleeping outside," he argued.

"What you do outside is your choice. I don't tell you how to conduct your affairs."

He huffed, incredulous. "It's the middle of the night. We just drove for nearly five hours on your bike. I'm freezing. I'm exhausted. You blew up my house fighting those warlock guys who took me hostage, after they summoned you, which they were able to do because you put a swirly mark on my butt cheek that was driving me crazy for two days. I have no home, no job, and nowhere safe to sleep because of you."

"Interesting," Nova whispered.

Gwen chuckled, uncomfortable "It seems worse when you say it like that."

"Indeed, that sounds awful," Nova said. "But I'm afraid it's a question of safety."

Corman rolled his shoulders back and stepped forward. "I am going inside."

The owner moved to block him. Nervously glancing over her shoulder to the interior, she said, "No. I really, really cannot let you come inside."

"Why not? Because I'm a guy?"

"As if I would discriminate like that! But actually, yes, that is the problem. Don't you have family or friends who can take you in?"

"My family are religious fanatics who tried to brainwash me into adhering to their cult, and my only friends are strictly online. I don't even know their real names. So no. This witch," he motioned at Gwen, "is currently my only hope of not sleeping on the ground outside."

"If—" Nova said, raising an eyebrow, "if I allow you in, you must swear obedience."

He grimaced, turned sideways, and edged past her. Gwen shrugged following him. "He's not really my minion. There's been a bit of a mix-up, but he's basically a good guy."

"His sense of fashion is appalling, though. I'll have to ask him to find something else to wear." Nova shook her head at Corman, who was studying the living room. Gwen would not have imagined it possible to fit so many plants in that space. Nova crinkled her nose at Gwen. "And I must say, my dear, you could use some work, too, starting with a bath."

"That is exactly what I was thinking. Where is the bathroom?"

"First things first." Nova snapped her fingers urgently at Corman. "Don't stand there! The orchids don't like being inspected. Stand over there." Nova pointed a finger tipped with a three-inch nail. "No. Not there. In the middle of the room, where I'm pointing. Move! Now!"

Frowning, he left the spot near the wide bay window which was full of flowering orchids to walk to the center of the room. The way was partially blocked with towers of old books, free standing plants, side-tables with more books and plants, and an antique-looking sofa.

"Is here all right?" he asked.

"Mmmh," Nova hummed. She strolled to the other side of the sofa. Her foot jutted out at an odd angle, partially covering a vent in the wooden floor.

Gwen squinted. Did something in the vent wiggle? Like plant roots?

"If you stay, you must pay, of course. Silver?" she asked him.

"I have twelve dollars."

"Dollars?" Nova scoffed.

Crossing his arms, he took up a wider stance in the middle of the room. "Yes, dollars, as in legal tender. Or, if you are up for bargaining, I can update your computer, install an add-blocker, revamp your wifi, or—" His voice broke off when Nova dashed around him to stand in front of the sofa.

Something long and thin on the floor behind him moved underneath the sofa and among the antique furniture and lush, indoor plants. Gwen was sure of it.

Nova inhaled, drawing her shoulders up like a diva about to launch into a tragic love song. "My dear human man, why am I arguing with you about prices and currency? Welcome to The Haven, the home for witches without a coven. You are my first guests." Her arms opened wide in greeting.

"Did we just decide on twelve dollars or the update?"

Another black vine-thing snaked from the vent under the sofa, moving towards Corman. Gwen stepped sideways to check behind herself, but the space was clear. Whatever it was, it was interested in Corman. The human. The male.

Was it wrong of her to envision all her obligations to him vanishing if the creature in Nova's living room ate Corman before the morning light?

Shizz-cicles. That was at least semi-wrong. Besides, as much as she hated to admit it, she liked him too much to let him be eaten by whatever monster was lurking in the vents.

Nova dragged Corman from the middle of the room back to the entry-way and hall that led to a large, wooden staircase. There were more doors visible on the second floor, as well as past the stairs, deeper in the house.

"You must come with me to the kitchen," Nova said, beckoning for Gwen to come, too. Half-way there, she changed her mind. "No, no. You must go immediately to your bedroom on the third floor. After your long drive, I can't imagine how exhausted you must be."

"Actually, the kitchen sounded nice. I'm starving. Do you have some Ramen noodles or burgers I could cook up? Or maybe both. And some peanut butter. And a frozen pizza?"

"Starving? Ha! Aren't we all?" She laughed as though it was the funniest things she'd ever heard. Turning to Gwen she asked, "Don't you feed your human? And what should I call you?"

"Corman, Gwen," answered Gwen, pointing first at him and then at herself.

Nova was steering them up the stairs now. Glancing over the rail, Gwen got a better look at one of the dark vines. It was rough, but not scaled, and flexible in a snake or tentacle way. The tip, however, was multi-clawed, almost like a hand.

Like a very long, nasty arm, reaching around corners for its prey. How many of those arms did this thing have and how far could they reach?

Nova was at her side suddenly, surprising her. Gwen stopped herself from hitting her with a sigil at the same time she remembered she had no power left. Nova's long fingers curled in her hair as she leaned in to whisper, "That's Lily, my roommate who lives in the basement. Take care your human does not see her or get caught by her. The last human male did not fare well."

"What happened to him?"

"It was quite unpleasant." Nova beckoned for her to follow.

Gwen took a last look at the first floor. That explained why the basement was off limits.

What kind of safe house, which was called The Haven, had monsters in the basement, and if that was where it lived, why was the attic off-limits, as well?

"So do know how to order pizza to be delivered to the house? I've never had such a delight," Nova said, hooking her arm in Corman's. "We must explore this possibility further, my dear Corman."

"There's really nothing to explore, I just make a phone call, but not with my phone."

"You will need me to buy a phone first? In order to buy the pizza?"

They reached the third floor. It was musty and dark here. There were scattered stains on the very old, frayed carpet. The only light was from the second floor hall.

Nova gestured to the first room, addressing them both. "You may sleep in there."

"We aren't sleeping together," Gwen said.

"Right," Corman said. "We're not a couple or anything."

"Then you will, of course, have to pay double," Nova said.

"Twenty-four dollars it is," Gwen said quickly. "Where's the bathroom and is there shampoo and soap?"

"Last door to the left. There should be some left over from the last owners."

"Great." Gwen headed straight for the last door to the left.

"So, no pizza?" Corman asked. His expression contorted in pain. "How about noodles?"

"There is wine and crackers, but I'm afraid you really cannot go to the kitchen right now. In fact, you can't go anywhere. I'll bring some up. In the meantime, close your air vents and make sure your windows and door are locked."

Gwen poked her head in the bathroom. It obviously hadn't been touched in years. Cobwebs haunted the corners and dust covered every surface, including the faded bottles of shower gel and shampoo on the edge of the bathtub. "Out of curiosity, when were the last owners living here?"

"They were living here about five years ago. Then they were dead here until four months ago when I bought the place. It's a real fixer-upper, my real-estate agent explained. See you in a bit with the wine and crackers." Nova glided to the staircase and disappeared.

Corman stood rooted to the spot in the hallways, fisting her nightshirt he wore in a wad at the level of his heart.

A wave of pity for him swept her. No. Not pity. A wave of wanting to cuddle with him swept over her. She gritted her teeth. She did not cuddle.  Ever. "The good news is, if the owners died here, then chances are good they left clothes in some of the closets. See you tomorrow."