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For his confrontation with Constantine.
You mean yoga and Zen stuff?
Something like that.
You know what this means.
Jacob looked at her warily. No, what does it mean?
Leaning in close to him, she whispered, It means Damien is humming in his
Hummer. She dissolved into silent laughter.
At first, Jacob looked at her like she was out of her mind. Finally, a small grin
appeared on his face and he shook his head. When she caught his eye, the grin
blossomed into a full-fledged but reluctant smile. That is the worst attempt at a joke I
have ever heard, he said.
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Ann Hinnenkamp
Oh come on. You thought it was funny. You laughed.
I most certainly did not laugh.
Yes you did so laugh. I heard you.
I did not.
Did so.
Did
Children, Damien said, from behind them, may I remind you of the gravity of
the situation? I am trying to prepare. Try to harness your nervous energy for when you
will need it.
Sorry, Eleanor said, properly chastised. When she heard the humming begin
again she turned to Jacob and mouthed, Did so.
Jacob smiled without hesitation this time. Eleanor returned his smile and when she
did, Jacob s smile gentled. It was the kind of smile a man gives a woman when he s
found something he likes about her. Eleanor loved that smile.
Jacob focused his attention back on the road. Eleanor watched his lovely smile fade
away. Another period of silence followed. They were off the main highway now, using
back roads. She hadn t seen a house or farm in a long time.
A sharp gasp came from the backseat, making Eleanor jump.
He is near, Damien said.
Yes, Jacob said, we re almost there.
Now, Eleanor, Damien said, remember what I told you. Stay close to Jacob and
do what he asks of you. If Alice is reluctant to leave with you, Jacob has something to
help. And please, no matter what you see or think you see, try not to draw attention to
yourself.
Jacob pulled the Hummer onto a smaller road. Eleanor glimpsed lights ahead. Her
heart sped up.
Damien continued talking in a no-nonsense tone. Do not let anyone else but Jacob
or me get too close to you. Do not touch anything except the furniture. Do not pick up
anything, and above all, bring nothing away with you.
A sharp turn brought the house into view. It was huge. How would they find Alice
in that labyrinth?
Damien put out his hand to her. Safe travels, Eleanor.
She took his hand awkwardly. Ah, sure. I mean, safe travels to you too. His hand
was electric, charged somehow. Her fingers tingled long after he d let go.
Jacob pulled the Hummer into the circle drive in front of the house. He put it in
park and reached around to Damien. Safe travels, my friend, he said. The two men
clasped hands in a vice-like grip.
Safe travels, Jacob, Damien replied. It was quiet in the Hummer while they stared
at each other. Eleanor got the impression there was more going on than hand-shaking.
48
Dyad Dreams
Damien leaned forward and touched his forehead to Jacob s. They whispered
something in unison, like a prayer. Just when she thought it was getting too weird, they
broke apart.
Jacob turned off the engine. Let s get this over with, he said.
Eleanor reached for her door handle, but Jacob stopped her with his voice. Wait
for me to open the door for you. They are watching us. The sooner they see you are
mine, the better.
I m yours? Eleanor bristled. What kind of macho crap is that?
Damien sighed and said, Eleanor, do not start this way. Remember what I told
you. You will want Jacob close to you soon enough.
As soon as he opened the car door, she could sense something had changed in
Jacob. Gone was the man who had smiled so warmly at her. His face was grim, his body
alert, like a cat ready to pounce. He put his arm around her waist and opened the back
door for Damien.
Damien s countenance had also changed. He exited the car with a fluid power
Eleanor had not previously noticed. As he walked to the door, he appeared to float.
When she moved to join him, Jacob held her back. Damien stopped a few feet from the
door. Jacob, with his arm around Eleanor, reached around Damien and pressed the bell.
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Ann Hinnenkamp
Chapter Seven
The door opened before the ring died away. Eleanor gasped before she could stop
herself. A nightmare stood in front of them.
It was a man, or something that used to be a man. He stood, dressed in a tux two
sizes too big, stooped over like a victim of osteoporosis run amuck. What neck he had
was hidden in the stoop. Suspicious dark eyes peered up at them through bushy
eyebrows.
His face was the real nightmare. It had fallen in on itself. The skin sagged over
razor-sharp cheekbones with hollow jowls that wobbled below his chin as he moved.
His skin was severely wrinkled with lines going every which way. Not based on facial
expressions, like crow s-feet and frowns, but like a sheet of waxed paper crumpled into
a ball and flattened out. The suspicious eyes brightened when he saw Damien.
Christopher, it that you? he rasped out. Have you come at last?
Jacob stepped in front of the man. This is Damien Stewart, he said. He was
invited.
The old man s face lost its animation. Very well, please come in.
Jacob stood back, allowing Damien to lead the way. As Eleanor approached the
door, cold air rushed over her. If felt like the library the first time she d entered it.
The old man led them through a small entryway to a set of double doors. Swinging
them open, he revealed a remarkable room.
The ceiling was as high as the house itself, three stories or more. There was a wide-
open space that could have been used as a ballroom, with two staircases coming down
on opposite sides of the room. Above, the staircases were connected by a balcony. On
the main level, beneath the balcony, were floor-to-ceiling windows through which
Eleanor could see the moon shining off the lake.
Small groups of people were scattered across the room and on both staircases. They
turned in unison to stare at the newcomers.
What Eleanor saw in the women s faces was understandable. One look at her
companions and the ladies became quite animated. Some looked surprised, others
amazed, still others had looks of pure lust. Postures improved, breasts lifted and hair
started flipping. She could tell by their expressions not one of them doubted the party
had gotten a whole lot more interesting.
This way, the old man said. He ushered them across the room and up the left
staircase.
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Dyad Dreams
Eleanor caught snippets of conversation as she passed. Have you ever seen
anything like them? Absolutely fuckable. And from a man, I don t care how good
it s supposed to be, I m not waiting much longer.
At the top of the stairs, Damien stopped.
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