Doctor Delphine Cormier was a genius. This is an undeniable truth. And every bit of intelligence she had was evenly matched by her beauty. Long lithe limbs, big green eyes flecked with rich warm brown, soft waves of golden hair, she was gorgeous. No one who saw her could honestly say otherwise.

Aldous Leekie was her father's colleague. Saying he was merely aware of Delphine's beauty would be an understatement. He craved her, desired her, wanted her to be the perfect trophy on his arm. He was never aggressive with her, never made overt passes at her, but she could always feel his lecherous gaze burning into her, could feel his hand trace lightly down her back as they worked side by side.

Delphine never encouraged this attention, but she never stopped him either. She feared that he would become angry and resign from her father's company, the DYAD Institute of Science and Magic, taking his sizable investment with him. The company could survive without Aldous, but not without his money.

So, she reluctantly worked alongside him, using her scientific mind to develop vaccinations and cures for all manner of diseases. She had no real knowledge of magic, beyond knowing what it could and could not do; she was no sorcerer.

At the beginning of the work day, just as she subtly stepped away from Aldous's hand on her shoulder, her father, Doctor Etienne Cormier, entered the lab. He blustered about, gathering various medical supplies.

"Father, what's going on?"

He stopped flitting about. "I received a phone call. One of the Niehaus sisters is in need of a medical consultation. They've asked me to go in exchange for a rather sizeable donation to DYAD, on top of their regular annual support."

"The Niehaus sisters called? No one's heard from them in 8 years. They basically disappeared after their parents died," Aldous said, sounding thoroughly shocked.

"I was just as surprised as you are. But, that donation could go a very long way, so off I go," Etienne said as he left the lab.

Several hours passed without any contact from her father. It was nearing the time that most employees would be leaving for the day. Delphine was worried; her father's health was not the best. What if he had had an episode?

She tried calling his cell phone, several times, with no answer. After the fourth attempted call, she made a decision.

"Aldous, do we have an address on file for the Niehaus sisters? I'm worried that my father hasn't been in contact," she said across the lab table.

"You don't need an address. It's that large, old castle back in the woods."

"Merci. I'm going to make a trip out there," she rose from the table and collected her things.

A little over an hour later, Delphine drove through the open gates of the Niehaus estate, and parked next to her father's car.

She climbed the stairs, anxiety making her legs tremble, and slammed the huge brass knocker against the door.

She waited as she heard footsteps approach the door. It swung open to reveal an older woman with ruddy chestnut hair.

"Ummm, bonjour-"

"You're here for your father, aren'tcha, love?" the woman interrupted, with a heavy Irish accent. At Delphine's nod.

"You'd better follow me, then."