Harvest time is here, the one time a year when the power of the witches is strongest. The island visitor will become one of them during this year’s festivities, but the witches must be careful not to scare him away from their sweet retreat before they can make him a permanent fixture.

Gavin thought he had gotten away with murder when he faked his own death. But that was only the beginning of his troubles. There’s a pretty, young woman on the other side of the country waiting for him to open the bed and breakfast he bought a while ago. She knows what he’s done. She also knows that he’s alone and unhappy. That makes him perfect for ‘turning.’

***

The bookstores were filled with old books about vampires, witches, and other beings that inhabited the island. Gavin laughed when he saw the display, thinking the islanders had a wonderful sense of humor.

The first visitors came dressed for the Harvest in various costumes. Hats of dried fruits and pumpkins adorned their heads and their eyes were a bright red, almost glowing, and Gavin stifled a laugh as he welcomed them. He asked one couple where they had bought their costumes and joked along with them when they said they were not wearing costumes. “This is who we are, Sir,” one man said. Gavin smiled and then turned to the next couple. He didn’t see the look of hunger that was on the face of the man who had walked away. Gavin is a tasty morsel, the man was thinking.

The coffee was always ready in the sunroom, but Gavin had no idea when it was delivered or by whom. One morning the complimentary array was just being set up as he walked into the room.

“Hi, I’m Gavin.”

The woman turned and looked at him. Her eyes had the same red glow as those of the visitors to the island yesterday. “I’m Matilda, but folks around here call me Maddy. It’s good to finally meet you.”

Maddy had heard from the locals that Gavin looked like a supermodel, but that was an understatement. His body was perfect, not too thin, not too thick, and his face was also perfect, with patrician features, jet black hair, and the bluest eyes that Maddy had ever seen. Perhaps he would like to become one of us… for good, she thought. He would surely sire lots of beautiful witches.

She let out a laugh that sounded more like a cackle, and it took Gavin off guard.