Walter and John had been friends in school, spending summers together at John's family estate in the country. But as they grew older, they went their separate ways. Walter barely remembers John's sisters as more than 'a trio of dark-haired girls'. But when John frantically calls Walter and asks for his help dealing with an honest-to-God family curse, Walter meets Anne again, and sees something he didn't before. But before he can woo her, he has to save her from a force more ancient and evil than any of them can imagine.