"Why did I ever let you talk me into this?" Jennifer muttered. "This is insane...we are in the middle of nowhere, stranded in a foreign country with a car that doesn't run."
"I'm sorry, okay," Kerstin said. "Look, this isn't any fun for me either."
Jennifer scanned the landscape looking for any sign of human presence. Instead she noticed huge dark clouds on the horizon. "Great and now it is going to storm."
"There has to be someplace around here we can get help," Kerstin said climbing a rise and looking around. "There," she pointed. "A huge old manor house...and the lights are on."
Jennifer climbed up next to her and looked in the direction she was pointing. "Well, we better get walking then. That storm is moving in fast and that is at least a mile walk."
The storm caught them just as they reached the gates. A torrential downpour that had them soaked to the bone in no time at all. Jennifer reached up and knocked on the heavy wood door doubtful that anyone would hear them. Seconds later the door opened.
A kind faced old woman stood in the entryway and immediately welcomed them in. "You poor dears, what are you doing out here in such evil weather? Come in and warm yourselves in front of the fire."
Jennifer glanced at Kerstin and shrugged and together they followed the woman into the luxurious stateroom where a roaring fire burned in the massive stone fireplace.
"Sit please...warm yourselves while I get you something to eat."
"Thank you, but we..." Jennifer began, but she was already gone. Jennifer held her hands out to the flames rubbing them together. "This place is intense...like something out of a movie."
Kerstin nodded looking up at the old portrait above the fireplace. Her heart stopped for a full second as she found herself staring at the man in the painting. "Jennifer, look..."
Jennifer looked up at the painting. "The man was incredibly handsome, beautiful even. Was he the owner of this home?"
"Here you go," the woman said when she returned with bowls of soup and cups of hot tea. "Eat, then you must go...before nightfall."
"Go?" Jennifer asked. "But we can't...our car is broke down."
The woman looked alarmed. "Oh, but you must...you must go before the sun sets."
"Why?" Kerstin asked curiously.
"My masters will return at sunset. You must go."
"Do you have a telephone or a car?" Jennifer asked.
"No," she replied her anxiety growing.
"Then how do you expect us to go?"
The woman wrung her hands glancing nervously at the painting then out the window at the horizon. "It is nearly dark. God, forgive me...I tried to warn you."
"Warn us of what?" Jennifer asked.
"Helga...leave us," said a male voice from the top of the staircase. "Your foolish ramblings are frightening our lovely young guests."
Jennifer nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of footsteps coming down the stone steps. Kerstin moved closer to her grabbing her arm. Helga nodded and after one last regretful look at them she hurried out of the room.
"Welcome," he said as he descended and as he moved into the firelight, Jennifer and Kerstin gasped in unison. He was the man in the portrait...his long, dark hair straight and flowing around his face, piercing blue eyes and chiseled cheekbones. His lips formed into a smile so genuine that it instantly eased the tension in the air.
"You must forgive Helga, she has a vivid imagination," he said as he took a step closer.
Jennifer looked into his eyes and found that she could not look away. "I'm Jennifer," she said, "This is my best friend Kerstin...our car broke down."
"You are Americans," he said.
"Yes," Kerstin whispered.
"I am Christopher...and my brother, Erik, will be down shortly. Welcome to our home and please stay the night."
"Thank you," Jennifer smiled still unable to look away from him. She felt his presence to the core of her being. Images flashed through her mind of him touching her...kissing her. Hearing Kerstin gasp, Jennifer was pulled back to reality. "Oh my God," she uttered under her breath.
"Erik, we have guests," Christopher said as his brother came into the room and stood next to him.
"How interesting," he said his gaze riveted on Kerstin.
"They will be spending the night," Christopher said, his tone sounded strange as he looked at his brother. Then looking at his beautiful guests, he smiled again, "In the morning Helga will take you to town in my car."
"Yes...we cannot have these lovely young ladies wandering around alone and helpless in the darkness," Erik smiled slowly.
"Helga," Christopher called out and the woman appeared.
"Yes, master," she said her head lowered as if afraid to look into his eyes.
"Prepare two rooms, our guests will spend the night."
"Yes, master," she said hurrying upstairs to do as she was told.
"Would you like a tour of the house?" Christopher asked Jennifer, holding his hand out to her. She nodded taking it.
Kerstin was too caught up in Erik to notice her friend leave with Christopher. Erik leaned close to her; his eyes seemed to take on a life of their own drawing her in.