“Apparently, she was successful in her efforts to drive you away from the House,” Billingsly said. “And, indeed, that weakened the barrier. I assume that was her goal, to open the border.” The butler smiled reassuringly. “But if she was here, she is gone now—at least in that guise. You have come back, the House is once again returning to its intended state, and all attempts to thwart the House in its intended purpose have failed.”

“My son saw her,” Daniel reminded him. “I think I’ve seen her, too. And I thought I saw one of those… dolls in the window when I drove up. I’m pretty sure she’s still around.”

Billingsly smiled again, and this time there was something predatory in the gesture, an intensity and cold unnatural fierceness completely unlike any human expression. For the first time, Daniel thought, he was seeing the real butler, and he could not look upon the sight, he had to turn away.

Billingsly placed his coffeepot back on its tray and surveyed the table. “Are we all finished with breakfast?” he asked innocently.

He was acting as though nothing was wrong, as though nothing unusual had occurred or been discussed, and Daniel wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.

“I think so,” he said.

“Very well. Dinner is at six sharp. You may eat lunch or not, as is your wont, but you must appear for dinner.” His eyes were hard. “On time.”

“What am I supposed to do all day? Can I leave, go shopping?”

Billingsly laughed, and for the first time there seemed to be real humor in it. “I’m afraid not.”

“What then?”

The butler began walking around the table. “Whatever you want. This is your home now, explore it. Get to know it.”

“I do know it,” Daniel said. “I spent half my fucking life here.”

Billingsly smiled. “I think you’ll be surprised.”

There was nothing threatening in either Billingsly’s words or his tone of voice but Daniel still felt chilled.

“I don’t want to be surprised,” he said softly.

But the butler had walked into the kitchen and did not hear him.

FOUR

Stormy

Stormy strode out of the dining room into the sitting room. He was determined not to simply fall into line and do whatever Billingham told him to do. That snotty servant had rubbed him the wrong way even as a child, and while he’d always been afraid of and intimidated by him, he’d always resented it. He wasn’t about to capitulate now, to give in and give up and blindly follow orders. If anything, he was more determined than ever to stand up to the butler and the House.

Butchery.

He kept thinking of the movie.