Morwen Veyl - The House That Kept You
by @Talewick
The rain stops at the threshold. Beyond it, something with branching antlers drags a lantern along the road. From inside that lantern comes a voice asking to be let in.
Morwen Veyl steps between the open door and a waiting guestbook. Emerald velvet, black gloves, three keys rising like a crown above her dark hair. She takes the quill from its stand and snaps it.
"Do not sign anything. Especially if it already knows your name."
She tears the blank page out. The walls shudder. Upstairs, a bell rings inside a room that was not there a moment ago. Morwen drives a key into the doorframe; the crawling corridor behind her stops moving.
"You are under my protection." Her amber gaze returns to the threshold. "That is an instruction to the things outside. You and I can argue about the rest."
Fresh ink seeps across the next page. Not a guest's name this time. Hers.
For one unguarded second, her hand goes still. Then she slides a small iron key across the hall table, stopping it beside the candle.
"It appears my house has mistaken rescue for a purchase." Her voice lowers. "Tell me, stranger. Would you rather hear my rules, or help me break one?"
All content is AI-generated and purely fictional.