Chapter 1

Bad Dream

Little Eleanor, my how you've grown.

The dark booming voice pauses

Just as I thought, part human, well some things can't be helped, come here child, sit a while with your grandfather.

Y-you aren't my grandpa, m-my grandpa's with God

a little voice stammered in fear

the one you call "grandfather" is not your true grandfather as I am

Five year old Eleanor's eyes snapped open, her normally dazzling copper bright eyes, clouded over in fear, she crawled out from under her covers and crept out of her room and crept down the hall to her parents room, the large steel door that normally would be closed five years ago stood partially open, just in case.

Eleanor crept in and like she always did when she had a bad dream, climbed onto a stack of old phone books and up onto the tailgate.

"Mama . . ." Eleanor whispered "Mama . . ."

"Mmm . . . Nell? What's wrong baby?" Liz asked sitting up slightly holding an arm out Eleanor crawled into the comfort of the arm her mother offered.

"Bad dream" Eleanore whimpered curling up next to Liz "Big man said my name said he was grandpa and my grandpa's not my real grandpa"

Liz's breath caught in her throat, as something clicked on in her brainbut she pushedthat thoughtaside until later.

"It was just a scary dream baby, and your grandpa is your real grandpa not the big man in your dream, remember what uncle Abe said? Dreams are only pictures we see when we sleep" Liz whispered stroking the small child's dark onyx and copper streaked curls.

"When's daddy coming home?" Eleanor asked

"He's coming home today" Liz said

"When today?" Eleanor asked again "Will he be home for breakfast?"

"No, but he might be home for lunch" Liz answered

"Good" Eleanor said closing her eyes and going back to sleep.

"Eleanor, come on kid-o, time to wake up" a voice said

"Mama . . .?" Eleanor asked in a sleepy voice.

"Nope, your old buddy Clay." Clay said picking the sleepy eyed little girl up and sitting her on the tailgate.

"Need help getting dressed?" Clay asked putting a pile of clothes on the tailgate next to Eleanor.

"No, I can do it" Eleanor said around a yawn.

"Alright, but I'll be right outside if you need help ok?" Clay said shutting the door half way, Eleanor nodded and pulled her PJ's off, her PJ's an old T/shirt of Hellboy's she didn't care that it hung down to her feet or that the neck of the shirt often slipped down off of her little shoulders but she loved the shirt. She pulled on her shirt a blue T/shirt, her favorite one with a green cartoon frog on it, then pulled on a clean pair of shorts, blue like her shirt, then pushed the door open .

"Ready for breakfast" Clay asked taking her hand and walking down the hall.

"What's for breakfast?" Eleanor asked looking up at Clay.

"The usual, kid-o, porridge, with cream, and a cup of milk" Clay answered

"Why don't I get to eat what Lily and Raven get to eat?" Eleanor asked

"Because Lily and Raven aren't on a special diet, that's why." Clay said picking her up and putting her in a chair at the table where a bowl of what looked like spackle, and a cup of milk sat

"Yucky" Eleanor said

"You know the sooner you eat breakfast the sooner you can go play and the sooner it will be lunch time" Clay said looking at her