Felix nodded towards Savannah. “The magic of the house is quite simple, and incredibly complex at the same time. Once you enter the house, you can’t leave. You essentially became a part of the house when you crossed the threshold. That’s why it doesn’t feel strange to you. Your logic wants to fight it, to contradict what we’re telling you with reason and facts. But your heart and soul know better. They can feel the house in your veins, pulsing through your lifeblood.”

I watched her carefully as she examined her arms in silence, looking for the non-existent entrance the house had captured her through. I knew what Felix meant. You sensed it the moment the curse hit you. The feeling of no longer being alone in your thoughts. The sensation you were no longer an autonomous being.

She shook her head, more bits of hair flying loose from the messy bun. “So absolutely nothing can come in or out? What about mice? Bees? Flies?”

“Look around you, darling.” My heart contracted at the pet name Felix used so effortlessly, not that he could tell–or cared. “Do you see any creatures in here besides us?”

“No. But it still doesn’t make sense. Shouldn’t the house be filled with things that can’t leave? Or die?” Her forehead creased with the last word she spoke, and I longed to kiss her concern away.

This time, it was Theo’s turn to shrug. “It’s like they can all tell something’s off with the house. Not even my distillery in the basement attracts them. Spooky, when you think about it. That animals and insects can sense something wrong when all four of us couldn’t.”

“I loved the house the minute I saw it,” Savannah murmured, and I strained to hear her whisper. “The realtor tried to talk me out of it. The lawyer, too. But I thought this house was my dream come true. Everything I had ever wanted…”

We were all quiet now, processing her truth in our own ways. I was sure for all of us, one way or another, this house was supposed to be a sanctuary of sorts. A safe haven. “There was a beetle that got in, what was it…five years ago now?” I suggested with a smile, an attempt to change the mood.

Theo laughed. “Yes! We followed that fucking thing everywhere for days.”

Savannah giggled behind her hand. She was fucking gorgeous. “A beetle was your entertainment? You must be kidding me.”

“Listen,” I said. “We’re bored as hell here most of the time. So anything out of the ordinary, like you showing up, or a beetle finding its way in, is crazy exciting. That beetle was basically like our pet.”

“I can’t believe I’m being compared to a beetle.” She grinned. “Wait. Was? What happened to it?”

I chewed my lip. “Um. Well.”