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Nicholas was in a quandary, but a thought occurred to him, don't appear to be so eager, Old Boy, you've all the time in the world.
"Why, Elizabeth, you are the picture of loveliness. Alexandria was the perfect prescription for you. You are blooming like a desert flower, just positively radiating beauty. Wouldn't you agree with me, Maggie?" the suave, silken-voiced warlock asked the woman who would have been his bride.
Maggie smiled, and nodded, when she noticed that Mrs. Stoddard was positively beaming, and hanging onto every word that Nicholas was saying.
"Why thank you, Nicholas. Come and let me pour you a drink," the sophisticated woman replied.
Maggie felt clumsy and out of place with Nicholas and Mrs. Stoddard, she had never felt that way around Nicholas before. It was as if they shared a secret that only the very rich and powerful, and, yes, famous, shared. Interlopers, such as herself were not allowed in. Barnabas sometimes, had made her feel that way, she knew it wasn't intentional, but it was his breeding, something he wasn't even aware of. Maggie did not like this feeling, and wanted to escape, run and hide. She chided herself for being silly. You're not a child anymore, she scolded herself, as she heard Mrs. Stoddard asking her a question about the next day. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you, "Maggie replied, feeling ashamed for her thoughts when she looked at Mrs. Stoddard, and knew that nothing but kindness and concern was what the woman felt for Maggie, maybe even some form of affection.
"I asked you, if you shouldn't be running on to bed. You do have an early day tomorrow. Cassandra and Roger will be flying in from London, and, I believe, they may have had to stop in Paris, but Cassandra, Roxanne, and probably Julia will need your services. So, it's probably a good idea for you to get sufficient rest." Elizabeth said in the cultured tones of the upper class.
"Yes, as usual you are right, Mrs. Stoddard.
"Good night, Mr. Blair," Maggie said as he rose from the sofa. taking her hand, and looking directly into her eyes. It was then that she felt a shock go through her entire being, and it was desire that pervaded her. She still wanted him, and wanted him badly. She saw it his knowledge of that mirrored in his eyes. He knew it. Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment, as she stuttered a good night, and left the room quickly. She heard his laughter in the foyer, hot crimson tears of shame fell down her cheeks. She ran up the stairs, and into her room. Finally, she was able to go to bed, and fell into a restless sleep. Her dreams were of Nicholas Blair.
"Roxanne," Quentin whispered looking at the beautiful, and quite voluptuous, Mrs. Barnabas Collins, pregnancy agreed with her Quentin thought as he walked over to her softly. He was still stinging from Julia's unwarranted rebuff. He'd just about had all he could take from this nightmare that Laura had created -- why blame Laura, it was Barnabas. He could never leave anything alone when he should. He had dared to threaten him. Called him a betrayer, my God, Barnabas had betrayed his children, his family, his wife, and the only loyal friend he had had, and that was his wife, and now his cousin was becoming a burden to his own marriage and children. Looking at Roxanne, he was glad Julia had taught him a way to block his thought, so she couldn't read his every thought. These were private and angry thoughts, he didn't mean them. Barnabas was his friend, his cousin, and he loved him, and would always help him when he needed it.
"Roxanne, what is it?" Quentin asked as he walked to her door.
"I'm sorry. I heard the door slam, and I heard Julia yelling at you. I didn't mean for this to happen," Roxanne said softly.
"I know. It's not your fault," Quentin said bringing her into his embrace. He felt Roxanne clinging to him, and his own desire begin to overtake him. He wanted her, and he wanted her badly. He pushed her in the doorway, and into the room. When the door was closed, neither one of them saw Julia retreating back into her room.
"Laura, can you hear me?" Barnabas sobbed into his pillow. He would let no one know of his feelings. They would eventually think him normal, then he would repay Quentin and Roxanne for their betrayal. Especially Quentin. Roxanne, he would dispose of immediately. She would go back to England with her child as soon as it was born. She would never take Jamie from him though. Jamie was the product of his and Laura's love.
The voodoo and magic he had learned in the Caribbean would serve him well now. Getting a kleenex, and wiping himself, he took a deep breath, and stood very erect in the dark, sparse room, and began his incantation.
The Old House was full of strife, secrets, and dread this night. But for Quentin, his torture hadn't started. Ready to lay in the arms of his cousin's wife, he heard a voice calling his name, seductively, sensuously. He threw Roxanne from him, and stood up, as if listening. "Quentin, what's wrong?" Roxanne asked him.
"This is what's wrong," Quentin answered her. "We can't do this. You love Barnabas, and I love Julia." Quentin told her softly.
Roxanne walked over to Quentin and put her arms around him, showing no shame at her nakedness, she did not try to cover herself, as Quentin had already pulled his pants on.
"Quentin, I need you. Don't leave me like this. I can't take any more rejection," Roxanne was pleading by now.
Quentin pushed her away, and walked out of the room. He walked down to the drawing room, and lit a candle, wondered why Barnabas refused electricity, and immediately pushed that thought away. Running his hand through his unruly hair, couldn't believe what he had almost done. He loved Julia. Why was she behaving this way to him. They had never had problems of this sort. Maybe she was confusing him with Barnabas. Always Barnabas. That was it. It was Barnabas she really loved and wanted, had always wanted. Now, he was tucked safely away at Wyndcliff and Julia could be with him alone night and day if she wanted. His rage was starting to boil as he stood looking at the portrait of his cousin.
Well, he was Julia's husband, and had a say so in her life now, and as far as he was concerned Barnabas was not going to be a part of his wife's life, doctor or otherwise. They were going to leave this house tonight, and go back to The Abbey where they belonged. Roxanne could deal with Willie AND Barnabas.
Determination was on the face of Quentin Collins, when he walked up the stairs to retrieve his wife. "Quentin." He heard the voice again.
"Barnabas, is that you?" Quentin asked, feeling foolish, knowing full well that Barnabas was at Wyndcliff, and no longer a vampire, so quite incapable of supernatural devices, so shaking off what he thought he heard, he took another step, when he heard the voice again.
"Quentin, go to my portrait," Barnabas said.
Quentin, feeling he had no choice, obeyed the voice, and walked to the portrait, and looked at the eyes.
"Remember, Quentin, in Alexandria when I showed you a tiny portion of my powers as a vampire, how frightened you were, because you had no control over your desires." the voice said low and seductive.
"Yes, I remember, Barnabas. Why are you bringing that up now? You aren't a vampire anymore. You can't control me like that again, Barnabas, and I don't know why you would," Quentin said, fear invading his being.
"Quentin, it was only your dreams that were touched, now it will be your waking hours that you will crave my touch, and no one else's." Barnabas said, as his voice faded. Quentin heard the laughter very faint, but it was there.
"Cousin Grant, are you all right?" Willie asked.
Quentin jumped, and stared at Willie like he didn't know him, "oh, yes, Cousin Chris, I'm just fine," Quentin said sarcastically.
"Grant, you know I don't like to be called Chris, could you call me Shane, like you always did before." Willie said.
Quentin just stared at him, wondering before what.
Maggie watched from her bedroom doorway as Mrs. Stoddard and Nicholas Blair walked down the hallway, he had his arm around her, and they were whispering in lovers' tones, and they entered Mrs. Stoddard's bedroom, and the door closed, and Maggie heard the lock. She stood at her door, if anyone saw her, they would have seen the look of pure hatred that was meant for Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, because Maggie Evans had decided that she wanted Nicholas Blair back.
For an unknown amount of time, Maggie listened at the door to the sounds of Nicholas and Mrs. Stoddard's lovemaking. Maggie felt a jealousy and rage build up in her that she had not felt before. As the cries of ecstasy grew louder and louder, Maggie quickly left Collinwood to attempt to collect her thoughts.
Roxanne lay in the darkness staring out into space contemplating the night's events. She had almost slept with her husband's cousin and best friend. Her husband was locked up against his will in a mental institution suffering from the aftereffects of his encounters with Laura. And above it all she felt alone and lonely.
Roxanne cried silent tears for a while wondering if life would ever be like she had dreamed it to be, even if it were for just one night. She wanted Barnabas back in the Old House making passionate love to her over and over until they passed out from sheer pleasure and exhaustion. She wanted to make Barnabas forget the pain of his past and look forward to the joys of the future.
"Oh Barnabas, I wish you could be free of this. I wish for all of us to be together again," cried Roxanne to the darkness as she gave in to her sorrows and cried herself to sleep. Unnoticed by Roxanne, however, the crescent moon pendant began to glow, then briefly flash before the room was once again filled only with the sounds of Roxanne's gut wrenching sobs.
Back at Wyndcliffe, Barnabas was preparing for bed, confident that his plan to make Quentin pay for his betrayal was working. He only hoped that he could convince Julia and her psychiatrists that he wasn't insane so he could get back home as soon as possible to personally supervise his triumph. Walking over to the barred window, he gazed out at the countryside bathed in the light of the nearly full moon. Barnabas reflected upon the last time that he and Laura had been together, taking a moonlit stroll. Lost in thought, Barnabas continued to stare heedless of the soft glow that had briefly engulfed his body before he went to bed that night.
"Oh, Barnabas, you didn't have to go through so much trouble! This is too much!"
"Nothing is too much for you, my love. Now come out here and let me see it on you."
A door opened and in stepped Roxanne in a sexy new nightgown, much to Barnabas' delight. "What do you think?" she asked hesitantly.
"Oh, Roxanne, you look absolutely beautiful in that," Barnabas said rising to kiss her. "But that isn't the only surprise I have in store for you tonight."
"Really?"
"Yes, my love. I am going to make up for all the nights I was away from you starting right now," said Barnabas as he picked up his wife and kissed her passionately as he headed for their bedroom.
"NO!" said Barnabas as he awoke from his dream. "I shouldn't be thinking of Roxanne that way. It is Laura that I loved. Not Roxanne. Roxanne is a nuisance that shall be dealt with when I get home. And yet, I dreamed about her so vividly. Could I love her too? No. That's impossible. I just need to calm down. Then my thoughts will return to where they should be."
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your school of thought) for Barnabas, he spent the remainder of the night dreaming about how much he loved Roxanne and not Laura.
Maggie wandered alone along the path leading from Collinwood back to the Old House. Realizing what she was doing, she veered off and headed instead toward Widow's Hill. She felt an overwhelming depression seize her; how could she possibly compete with the rich and powerful Elizabeth Stoddard for Nicholas? She was no one-just a governess and nothing special. She could hear the roar of the surf now and could feel the salty spray in her face. She found herself standing at the edge, looking down, wondering what it would feel like to just close her eyes and step out into space,floating on the air. She imagined that that was exactly what she was going to do.
She felt herself being jerked back roughly. "Hey, be careful there! You'll go straight over!" She looked into the eyes of Willie Loomis, who was obviously very concerned about her well being. Odd, she thought. I was just kissing him a few hours ago and probably would have let him go further if not for...if not for...she felt confused and puzzled. Just what had happend to her and Willie? "Hey, are you all right?"
"Willie?" Maggie asked in a dazed voice.
"Willie! Gee, you are confused, aren't you? What are you doing out here so late and in the dark? Don't you realize that you almost went over that cliff?"
"I-I must be dreaming or something. Didn't you fall down the stairs?"
"Me, fall? I'm getting more and more worried about you-you better let me take you to the Old House. My cousin's just come back, you see, and he's married to a doctor now."
"Your cousin?"
"Grant-do you know Grant Douglas?"
"No-I-I'm afraid I don't. Is he new in town?"
"I think he's been here a year at the very least. I'm new-I just got here to visit him. He and his wife are going to help me, you see." The person who looked like Willie but claimed to be someone else began to whisper. "I'm cursed, you see. That's why I was out walking. Sometimes I don't sleep too well-especially when I know there's a full moon coming."
Maggie was completely confused now. "A full moon?"
"Yes, tomorrow night. But let's get Grant's wife to look at you now. You know, it's really kind of funny-I only met her tonight, and I don't think he even told me her name. I can't remember it, anyway."
Maggie began to remember some of what had happened after Willie fell. "You believe you are Christian Shane Douglas?" She pulled back a little.
He gripped her elbow more tightly so that she wouldn't get away. "I know who I am. I go by Shane. What's your name?" Frightened, Maggie just looked at him a moment before finally replying faintly, "Maggie Evans."
"Come on, please don't be afraid of me-I just want to help you, Maggie. Let me take you back to Grant and his wife." This time, Maggie allowed herself to be led away from Widow's Hill and back to the Old House.
Quentin was back upstairs, knocking at the door Julia had locked on him. He could hear Roxanne softly weeping but put the sound out of his mind. "Julia!" he called, trying to be loud enough to rouse his wife but soft enough not to disturb Roxanne or alert her to the fact that he was in the hall. He rattled the doorknob. Finally, Julia opened the door a crack and looked out with furious resentment in her eyes. "Please let me in!"
"You have a lot of nerve asking to come in here now!" Julia hissed at him. "Go back and resume your affair with Roxanne! How dare you come back here!"
Quentin lost his temper and pushed the door back. Julia wasn't strong enough to hold him off, so she tried to turn and run. He grabbed her by the arms and kicked the door shut with his foot. "Listen to me-would you listen to me? I have something I have to tell you!" She stomped on his foot, hard, and he let go of her. "Ow! Dammit, Julia!" he howled, hopping on one foot. She ran across the room until she was safely out of his reach and then picked up her hairbrush and held it up menacingly. He hopped over to the bed and sat down, glaring at her. "You can put that down, my dear, I'm not going to touch you. I just wanted to talk to you."
"I think I can guess what it is!" Julia cried angrily, her eyes filling with tears of betrayal. "I should have known better than to think you could be faithful to me, Quentin!" "I haven't been unfaithful!" he protested. She rolled her eyes at him. "Oh, please! I saw where you went! I know what you did!"
"Oh? You can see through walls like Superman, can you? I admit I went into the bedroom with Roxanne, but I swear to you that I stopped. I stopped, Julia, do you hear me? I didn't do it with her because I love you! And I was on my way back to take you to the Abbey with me-"
Julia lowered the brush a little but still looked very doubtful. "If you're lying to me, Quentin-" she began in a threatening voice.
"I'm not lying! I swear it, Julia! I love you, only you-and the kids! Please!" He looked at her pleadingly, his remarkably blue eyes soulful and sad. Julia set the brush down and came to sit beside him. "I'm sorry I stomped on your foot," she said softly. She started to kiss him, but he turned his head a little. "What is this?" she snapped, growing angry again. He sighed. "Barnabas is at it again."
"What are you talking about?"
He looked at her again, and now there was a little fear and self-revulsion in his eyes. "Julia, I love you-only you-but I don't want you. The only person I want right now is Barnabas."
"Barnabas!" Julia's voice scaled up high.
"Ssh, sssh, would you? I know it's crazy, but he's doing it to me again-to get revenge on me. He told me so-you've got to help me, Julia. When I think about being with you, I- well, all of a sudden it's not you I'm kissing anymore. It's not your hands I feel on my body anymore." He covered his face. Julia's mouth set in a firm line. "Please-please help me, Julia!"
"Don't worry-I'll go to see Barnabas in the morning," Julia decided, thinking: how dare he do this to us!
"Grant! Grant!" Shane/Willie shouted from below.
Julia and Quentin both started. "He's going to wake Roxanne," Julia grumbled. "Let's go and quiet him down. Damn Nicholas Blair! And damn Barnabas, too!" They both went downstairs and found Shane/Willie helping Maggie to a chair. "What's going on?" Julia asked.
"Gee, I'm sorry I forgot your name already," Shane began, embarrassed. "You see, I found her wandering around Widow's Hill..."
"Maggie! What on earth!" Julia exclaimed, going to Maggie's side.
Maggie still looked lost and confused. "Julia..." she began. Then she looked up and saw Quentin standing there, looking bedraggled and forlorn. "Quentin!"
"Who is Quentin?" Shane asked.
"I am," Quentin answered.
Shane shook his head. "Stop kidding around, Grant!" "I'm not kidding," Quentin insisted. "Grant Douglas is just my alias."
"Alias? No! An alias is a made up name! And we grew up together, don't you remember? You were always getting me in dutch, thinking up these wild ideas and pranks-and I always got into trouble because I was older and supposed to 'know better'. Grant, don't do this to me-I can't stand your teasing now. Not now!" Shane's voice had become steadily louder until he was shouting.
"All right, all right, I'm sorry!" Quentin soothed him, attempting to shut him up. "Look- please calm down. There's other people still sleeping here."
"Grant-you will help me, won't you? You and your wife? You know what's going to happen tomorrow!"
Quentin's mouth opened but he didn't say anything. He didn't want to upset Shane again. "It's the full moon," Maggie whispered, trying to be helpful. Quentin's eyes grew big and round and he stared first at Shane, then at Julia. Shane's eyes followed Quentin's and now he, too, looked at Julia with mute appeal.
"God give me strength," Julia muttered. She looked at Shane and said earnestly, "I will do everything in my power to help you-but you must sit down and be quiet." Shane immediately dropped to the floor and sat cross-legged in the middle of the room. Julia turned back to Maggie. "What were you doing at Widow's Hill, Maggie?"
"I don't know," Maggie said softly. "I just felt so overwhelming sad. Oh!" She began to itch at her hand. "It's burning me!"
"What is?" Julia asked.
Maggie got up abruptly and brushed by Julia. She walked straight over to Quentin and kissed him on the lips. Startled, he began to back away, but she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him back, pressing her lips against his again, insistently and demandingly. Her tongue tickled his lip and then slid inside his mouth.
"Oh, Grant! This is not such a good idea, cuz!" Shane warned from the floor.
Julia stood up, her face blanched with fury. Without another word, she stalked up the stairs back to her room, slamming and locking the door.
Quentin himself had begun to feel an itching, burning sensation on his hand. He wasn't trying to fight Maggie off anymore; however, much to his confusion, as he felt himself responding with increasing desire he also discovered to his horror that he was thinking of Barnabas. This is how it would feel to be with Barnabas...He pulled away abruptly with a cry of despair and lurched out the door.
His "cousin" Shane was immediately up on his feet and after him, closely followed by Maggie. I'm gonna protect him like I always did, Shane thought with determination, just like when we was kids. As for Maggie, she was still under the spell of the pitchfork and determined to have her needs met. Julia stepped into the locked room that had been assigned to Barnabas. He was standing at the barred window, looking outside, his hands behind his back. He turned when she came into the room and smiled when he saw her, looking genuinely pleased. "Julia!" His smile of pleasure changed to a frown on concern. "Julia! You're not well! What is it?"
"Why don't you tell me?" Julia snapped.
"Why-I am feeling much better," he answered guilessly. "But I don't understand-you look very pale and tired. Are you quite all right?"
"I think you know the answer to that!" Now he looked hurt. "I am sorry for all the trouble I've caused. I was obsessed-I admit it. I behaved cruelly and abominably toward you all. I am ashamed of myself and I deeply regret the harm and pain I've caused you."
Julia's eyes narrowed a little with shock and disbelief. "Are you saying that you are not angry with us for causing you to lose Laura?" "Oh, Julia, I realize that you all were acting to protect me from that destructive obsession I had with Laura. Everything that you and Quentin and Roxanne and Cassandra did was out of love for me. Of course I understand that. I can never forgive myself for the way I repaid you all-with threats and cruelty!" His eyes had filled with deep pain and regret. He looked at the floor, as if he was unable to meet her eyes.
"Barnabas, Quentin says you've put another spell on him. He is obsessed with you."
"My God! How can that be?" Barnabas seemed genuinely shocked.
"It is strange," Julia admitted. "Last night he was with-" She broke off suddenly, unable to bring herself to tell him about Roxanne. "He was with Maggie. She had the pitchfork on her hand." Suddenly, Julia felt a yearning need to unburden herself to her old friend. Barnabas reacted strongly to the news. "Willie isn't himself, either." Barnabas looked positively horrifed. "What is going on! Is my Roxanne all right?"
"She seems to be," Julia said tiredly. Suddenly she remembered something. "Nicholas Blair was at the Old House when we all arrived home. Since then, nothing has been right!"
"Obviously, then, he is the cause of everything that has happened!" Barnabas exclaimed. "Julia! You must let me help you! You must get me out of here so that I can help you put things right!"
All her doubt vanished and she began to cry with relief. "Oh, Barnabas! I have missed you so!"
"Julia!" he exclaimed. He held his arms out to her and she ran to him, gratefully returning his strong embrace. "You will always be my dearest friend, Julia-always. I will help you-I promise." As Julia buried her face into Barnabas' shoulder and wept with relief, she completely missed the look of evil triumph in his eyes and the cold smile that spread across his face.
'All is going according to plan,' thought Barnabas as Julia continued to cry on his shoulder. "Is there anything I can do to help you?"
"No. You've already done a lot to help by just listening. But Roxanne, she needs you and so does Jamie. You have improved enough to come home, Barnabas, but you still need to continue your therapy. That was one of the reasons I came to see you today."
"Thank you, Julia. You don't know what you've done for me by letting me come home."
Back at Collinwood, Quentin Collins was trying to evade his two pursuers, namely Maggie and Shane/Willie. Recalling a childhood memory about the secret passages of Collinwood, Quentin raced inside the Great House and into a passage that led from the upper rooms to the Drawing Room. Shane and Maggie, ignorant of that particular feature of Collinwood, searched in vain, unable to find any clue as to Quentin's whereabouts.
A short time later, as quickly as it appeared, the pitchfork disappeared from Maggie and Quentin. Maggie's needs, however, still raged as strongly as ever and with Quentin gone and Nicholas busy, Maggie decided a new game was needed. She was still sure that Shane was really Willie, but for some reason he couldn't/wouldn't acknowledge it. Somehow she had to loosen him up in order to get some answers. This would prove to be a little challenging since Shane was a lot more tight lipped than Willie ever was when she spoke to him. Therefore, it was time to use her secret weapon procured from a spy mission into the secret files of Dr. Julia Hoffman-Collins.
"Shane, I think Grant has left. Why don't we go down to the drawing room and wait."
"Well, the full moon is tonight. I can't stay too long. I gotta go and chain myself up in the basement so I don't hurt anyone."
"Well, you can have one drink with me can't you? It's still several hours before dark. Please?" said Maggie striving for schoolgirl innocence, and willing Shane not to see her ulterior motives.
Shane looked uneasily at his watch before replying, "Alright, but just one. I don't want to loose track of the time."
Once in the drawing room, Maggie seated Shane on the sofa (with his back turned to the bar) and began to fix the drinks. After she had poured one, Maggie reached into her pocket and pulled out the instrument of her retrieving the truth, a small vial filled with a drug called rohypnol in it and added it to Shane's brandy. According to Julia's medical journals, Rohypnol mixed with alcohol made almost any victim susceptible to any suggestion given without the victim having any memory of what they did.
"Here you are, Shane," said Maggie as she handed Shane the drugged liquid.
"Thank you."
"Tell me more about Shane Douglas. Are you a writer like Grant?"
"Well there isn't much to tell about me. Mostly I try to keep Grant out of trouble and get blamed for his mistakes. He's a little over a year younger than me, so I guess I think of him as the little brother I never had.
"When I'm not bailing out Grant, I am a horror writer. It's sort of therapeutic for me. I don't know what I'd think if I didn't tell my story in some way, even if people think its fiction. I also help out Grant with his historical research. He's really into Victorian era and turn-of-the-century stuff. I still remember the obsession he once had with an artist named Charles Tate for a long time. I never knew why. That's one of the few things that Grant never shared with me."
"How did you come to be cursed?"
"Well my grandfather got into a fight with an old gypsy so she cursed him and every firstborn son of each generation."
"Is there no hope for you?"
"Yeah, there's hope. Grant 'n I have been lookin' all over for cures. But that's about enough about me. Tell me about Maggie Evans."
"Well, for starters, my life isn't nearly as interesting as yours. I am currently David's tutor and Mrs. Stoddard's companion and currently enjoying the worst social life in Collinsport," answered Maggie with more venom than she had intended.
"I can't believe that! A pretty girl like you? How can that be?" asked Shane with wonder.
"It's true. Every guy has either dumped me, gone insane, or just rejected me!" cried Maggie as Shane brought her into his embrace.
After a few minutes, Maggie seemed to gather herself a little and suggested that Shane take her down to the Collinsport Inn coffee shop and buy her an ice cream cone. One of the things that Maggie always loved to watch with Willie was the very distinctive way he ate ice cream, especially when there were chocolate chip cookies around. Casey, the waitress who was hired after Maggie quit to work at Collinwood, once commented that Willie eating ice cream reminded her of her little brothers when they were growing up. It had to be done the exact same way each time, or else it was wrong. No one dared to interfere when Willie had one of his homemade concoctions. Even Barnabas backed off after Willie gave him a very dirty look at one time.
At the coffee shop, Maggie told Casey to fix "the usual" and sat Shane down at a booth. A few moments later, the two ice cream dishes arrived at the table.
"How are you enjoying your ice cream, Shane?" asked Maggie.
"It's great. You know, when I was a kid, I used ta eat my ice cream with cookies all in it just like this. My mom thought I was weird of doin' it but I did it anyways and eventually she gave up on me," said Shane as he began to carefully arrange his cookies and ice cream. "But that's not surprisin'. When I became friends with good old Jason McGuire, she gave up on me completely."
Maggie sat there stunned. Shane really was Willie! Somehow, the ice cream and the rohypnol allowed Willie to come back again. Maggie knew from her experiences with Julia as her psychiatrist, that keeping the patient talking was the key to keeping progress up. Maggie's musings were interrupted by two very familiar voices entering the coffee shop.
"Oh Nicholas, really you're spoiling me!"
"I could never spoil you my dear. I only give you what you truly deserve in life." Maggie looked on in horror as Nicholas Blair and Elizabeth Stoddard walked into the coffee shop.
Home
Entering the double doors of the Old House, Barnabas had expected Willie to be waiting for him, not his *wife* and his and Laura's child, Jamie. Biting back the rage at seeing Roxanne in his home, what would at one time been his and Josette's home, he smiled and embraced his his pensive wife.
He could feel her already protruding stomach with the child she was carrying, his child.
"Roxanne, you look well," Barnabas whispered softly in her ear. In fact, she was positively glowing. The long midnight blue maternity dress she was wearing made her skin appear pure porcelain. Roxanne was indeed a beautiful woman, Barnabas thought, but the rage, hatred and bitterness he felt for her would only allow him to glimpse the beauty of his wife.
"Barnabas, it is so good to have you home," Roxanne returned his greeting.
Barnabas could feel her fear in the stiffness of his embrace. Good, he thought. Best to not let her forget it.
"Roxanne, are my rooms prepared? I feel weary from the journey," Barnabas asked his wife gently.
"Roxanne, how are you doing?" asked Dr. Hoffman in very cold professional tones.
"I'm fine," Dr. Hoffman replied Roxanne quickly.
"Barnabas, come on, and let me get you settled," Roxanne said to her husband.
"Daddy!" Jamie said running to his father.
Barnabas caught the handsome lad in his arms, and embraced him as if he wouldn't let go. No one noticed the tears in the corner of his eyes.
"Are you going to stay, Daddy?"
"Yes, son, I am home for good," replied Barnabas.
"Jamie, why don't you go in the kitchen, and see if Willie will give you a cookie," said Roxanne.
"Willie gone," the toddler replied.
"Oh, goodness, what am I thinking," Roxanne said.
"Roxanne, you take Barnabas to his rooms, and I'll find Jamie a cookie," Dr. Hoffman said.
"Julia, you will see me before you go back to The Abbey, won't you" Barnabas asked.
"Yes, of course, Barnabas. You go get settled, you look weary, and I'll be up in a minute." Julia responded.
"Roxanne," Barnabas said upon entering the room, "are you in Josette's room?"
"Yes, I am, Barnabas," Roxanne said her voice trembling. Somehow she knew that Barnabas knew of her lewd and disgraceful behavior towards Quentin that night that Julia and Quentin had had that horrible fight. Things had never returned to normal between any of the couples since.
"Roxanne, would you like to go back to the house in England until your child is born? I know this place holds some unpleasant memories for you, or maybe not so unpleasant, but uncomfortable ones for others," Barnabas asked his wife gently.
Roxanne was stunned. If she didn't know better she would think that the monster in Europe had come home to the Old House. She heard the hardness and hate for her in his voice, although looking at him, he was nothing but kindness and concern.
"Don't you mean our child, Barnabas?" Roxanne asked.
"Oh, of course, that's what I meant. Now, please don't get upset, honey. I'm still not myself." Barnabas said.
"Oh, I know. I'm just emotional, because of my condition," Roxanne replies, lower lip trembling.
Barnabas walked over to her, and drew her into his arms, and held her into him in a tight embrace. Stroking her hair gently, he whispered soothing words, caressing words to her, until she stopped sobbing.
Desire for him coursed through her body, how could she have ever behaved so wantonly towards Quentin with his own wife in the house, when she was married to the only man she had ever loved, now maybe he would return her love.
Barnabas could tell by the responses of Roxanne that she wanted him, but he felt nothing for her, just cold hatred. As far as their child, the only child he would have ever claim as his own was Jamie, his and Laura's child. He would love Laura until the day he died a normal and natural death. Then his torment would end. The only thing that kept him living was Jamie, and one other thing, the revenge on the ones that had taken Laura from him.
The knocking on the door caused them to break their embrace, and Barnabas was glad, because now he would draw Dr. Julia Hoffman into her destruction. Any happiness that she assumed that was hers, would never belong to her again.
Barnabas smiled a cruel evil smile as Julia entered the doorway...
Maggie was enraged at seeing Nicholas and Elizabeth enter the coffee shop, and they appeared so intimate. Maggie hated to admit it, but they were a strikingly handsome couple.
Maggie knew that Willie was not Willie anymore when he enjoyed the treat, but needed to get back to Collinwood and find Grant.
"Shane, what's so important about finding Grant?" Maggie asked.
By then Shane had rushed out of the coffee shop in a hurry. Maggie's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice...
"Maggie?" Maggie felt a sudden chill run through her as she looked guiltily at the ragged man who stood before her. He looked exhausted and ill.
"Joe?" she whispered.
Nicholas looked over at them, smiled charmingly at Maggie, and then turned his attention back to Elizabeth. Maggie was stunned; she'd thought Joe was still at Windcliff. "Yes, it's me--do I look so different?"
"Well, I--" Maggie began, stuttering, trying not to hurt Joe's feelings. Of course he looked different--he looked like a ragamuffin, one of the homeless Vietnam veterans who were beginning to show up in more frequent numbers in the big cities. "It's just that I didn't expect to see you--"
"I know." Joe smiled a little grimly. "I've been in a half way house down in Bangor. I had a job, but I kind of lost my temper and had a disagreement with the boss--well, I hit him. I didn't want them to send me back, and so I thumbed my way back here. I thought Chris might still be in town, but he and Amy are gone..." His voice trailed off. When he spoke again, it was a little reproachfully. "You never came to see me, Maggie."
Maggie was filled with guilt and pity. "I know. I'm sorry, Joe."
"I mean, I knew it was over between us--but I thought we could be friends..."
"Of course we're friends," Maggie interrupted, miserable now. "I'm so sorry! I never meant to hurt you, Joe. Do you have a place to stay?" He shrugged. Maggie threw a quick glance over her shoulder at Nicholas and Elizabeth. The hell with Nicholas, she thought. She stood up. "Why don't you come with me to Collinwood. You look like you could use a good meal and a shower, too."
"Collinwood?" Joe echoed blankly.
"Yes--there's been a lot of changes here, too. I'm the governess now."
"I always knew you were smarter than you gave yourself credit for, Maggie," Joe said humbly. "Are you sure no one will mind? Maybe we better ask Mrs. Stoddard..."
"Yes, of course," Maggie answered, feeling resentful at having to approach her employer. However, she arranged her features pleasantly and went to the table where Nicholas and Elizabeth were sitting to ask if it would be all right to bring Joe to Collinwood.
"But of course, Maggie," Elizabeth replied pleasantly and with some compassion. "Poor Joe! He doesn't look well. He needs to be fattened up!"
"Yes, he does," Nicholas agreed smoothly, a gleam in his eye.
"Well, thank you, Mrs. Stoddard," Maggie said, backing away. She turned to tell Joe that he was welcome to come to Collinwood with her. He was staring beyond her, though, with wide frightened eyes. He was staring at the back of Nicholas' head.
"My dear Julia!" Barnabas exclaimed, drawing his old friend into the bedroom with his friendliest smile.
"Barnabas," Julia greeted him, with a hesitant smile. She felt lost and thrown off balance. She hadn't felt this way in a long time, not since those confusing days when she'd hovered between love, hatred, and jealousy for Barnabas. Now she felt as if her heart was breaking. Her marriage seemed to be crumbling into dust as her errant husband pursued first Roxanne and then Maggie--faithless and feckless fool, she thought bitterly. She wondered what would become of the children, only just beginning to recover from the emotional wounds of coming from broken, abusive homes.
"Please come in. We need to talk. First, though, I wonder if you would mind examining Roxanne for me?" Barnabas asked softly, taking her by the arm.
"I don't mind," Julia answered. "Is something wrong?"
"Well, as I told you," Barnabas whispered smoothly, "I believe that Nicholas Blair is the cause of all our troubles here. I believe he's placed a spell on Roxanne, and I am very worried about her. If she is physically all right, I would really like to send her back to England-- to keep her safe." He led further into the room. Roxanne stood at the window with her back to them, staring moodily at the lawn outside. Barnabas half turned and gave Julia a significant look, as if to say: You see?
"Roxanne," Julia greeted, and the younger woman started. She looked at Julia, blushed furiously and then looked away guiltily.
"My love, I would like Julia to examine you to make sure that everything is well. I will give you some privacy."
Roxanne got up without question. She, too, felt completely off-balance. "Very well, my dear," she responded, not knowing that Barnabas flinched inwardly and writhed with anger at the endearment.
"Julia, did you leave Jamie in the kitchen?" Barnabas asked.
"Well, no, Willie just came by looking for Quentin. He took Jamie along with him to see Jon and Donna."
"I see." Barnabas' features remained composed but he was extremely angry. "Well, then, I shall go for a walk for a few minutes then."
"I thought you were tired?" Roxanne asked faintly.
"I am, my love, but you know how a good walk always refreshes me," Barnabas responded with his most charming smile. "Now, you cooperate with Julia and I'll return shortly." He gave Julia a significant look and left.
Julia felt confused. From her many years of friendship with Barnabas, she knew what he wanted: Roxanne was to go to England and that was that. Besides, Julia thought to herself, that would effectively remove her from Quentin's sight. She sighed. As if that would help save the marriage, she thought despairingly. There's Maggie, too...and yet, Barnabas was her friend. If for nothing else, she would do as he wanted to help him save his own marriage.
Maggie brought Joe into Collinwood, speaking to him in low, reassuring tones. On the drive here, she'd tried to get him to tell her what was frightening him so. He insisted that he couldn't remember, but it had something to do with that dark haired man and a house by the sea. Maggie almost reminded him that Nicholas had once rented the house by the sea but then decided against it. Something obviously disturbed Joe about the memory, and she didn't want to worsen matters by saying something that would inadvertently trigger something traumatic to resurface in his mind.
They heard voices speaking from the drawing room. Maggie recognized Roger's and Cassandra's voices. So, they were finally home! "Let's go say hello, Joe, and then I'll ask Mrs. Johnson to fix you something to eat," Maggie suggested gently, taking Joe by the hand. She led him to the door of the drawing room, where the tanned and happy couple turned toward them. There was a faint look of dismay in Cassandra's eyes. Maggie didn't have time to wonder about that, though, because Joe groaned and fainted, falling to the floor in a heavy heap. His head made a dull smacking sound as it hit the ground.
"My God!" Roger cried, rushing forward to bend over Joe's still form. Maggie knelt beside her former fiancé, distraught. Roger felt for Joe's pulse. Finding it, he looked at Maggie. "Where did he come from? Wasn't he at Windcliff?"
"He was," Maggie answered tearfully. "He was released..."
"Roger, perhaps you could bring him in here," Cassandra suggested.
"Good idea," Roger agreed. He managed to get under Joe's shoulders and, with Maggie and Cassandra each taking a leg, they managed to get the unconscious young man onto the sofa in the drawing room. "I should call Julia."
"Yes--he may have a concussion," Cassandra agreed. As Roger left to use the phone in the foyer, Cassandra suggested, "Maggie, why don't you get some blankets? He might go into shock and we'll need them." Maggie rushed from the room, and Cassandra knelt down beside Joe. She had to act quickly. Placing her fingers lightly on his forehead, she whispered into his ear: "Hear me, Joe Haskell. When you open your eyes again, you'll look at me and you won't feel any fear at all. You will not remember me or she who victimized you at the House by the Sea. You will see only Roger's wife, Cassandra."
Roger came into the room. "I just spoke to Quentin. It seems Julia is not there. Shall I call another doctor?"
Cassandra removed her hand and answered, "It might be a good idea, Roger. He seems feverish." She stood up. Joe moaned and began to stir. He moved restlessly on the sofa and then opened his eyes, looking around in confusion. Maggie came in just then with a blanket.
"Haskell," Roger asked, "how are you feeling?"
Joe looked blank for a moment. "Mr. Collins?" he asked hesitantly. He looked directly at Cassandra and then at Maggie. "What happened to me?"
"You fainted, man! How are you?"
"A little woozy, I guess, but I think I'm all right."
"When was the last time you ate, Joe?" Maggie asked.
After a moment, Joe answered, "Sometime yesterday morning, I think."
"Well, it's no wonder you fainted then!" Cassandra exclaimed. Joe looked at her again, and Cassandra was relieved to see her spell had worked. He no longer remembered her. "You feel a bit feverish, too, Mr. Haskell, but more than anything else, I think you need something to eat."
"I'll ask Mrs. Johnson to prepare something," Roger offered, leaving Cassandra and Maggie alone with Joe.
"I--I just met him in town," Maggie explained, feeling nervous. For some reason, Mrs. Collins had always unnerved her. "He came into the coffee shop--I was just there with Willie, and then Mr. Blair and Mrs. Stoddard came in and Willie left, and then--" Maggie realized she was dithering but couldn't seem to stop herself.
Cassandra's eyes flashed with anger that Maggie didn't see. "Mr. Blair and Mrs. Stoddard!" she interrupted, sounding shocked.
"Yes," Maggie answered miserably, her head still down. "They've become quite--close."
Cassandra's eyes widened further as she realized the implication of Maggie's words. This wasn't supposed to happen, she thought furiously. What happened to my spell? He was to fall in love with Maggie and out of favor with Diabolos! That Nicholas was now involving himself with Elizabeth could only mean trouble-- for her and Roger, that is. She didn't care about anyone else, but she did care about her marriage and her children, who were now safely upstairs with their nanny. "Well, Maggie," she said softly, hiding the menace in her voice, "you must tell me all about it."
The children tried not to giggle as they hid from their "Cousin Shane" in the library. They knew that he would not have an easy time finding them because they were little and could squeeze their little bodies into tight spaces. Donna noted that Daddy was ineffectively hiding behind a lamp. "He'll see you, Daddy!" she hissed warningly. Her father put his finger to his lips and grinned at her.
"Ready or not, here I come!" Shane called out. Immediately he cried out, "Aha! There you are, Grant!"
"Got me," Quentin readily admitted.
"You're 'it!'" Shane declared, and three little heads popped up. "Oh, I never would have found you!" The little ones giggled gleefully. At that point, someone pounded at the door. "You know, Grant, it's at times like these that you really out to dig into your advance and find the funds to get yourself a gentleman's gentleman," Shane advised, trying to be helpful. "Look, you get the door and I'll play with the kids."
The children were all wildly enthusiastic about that idea, so Quentin went to answer the door, wondering who it could be. It had been a very difficult two days for him--the misunderstanding and fight with Julia, Barnabas' spell, Maggie's pursuit, and now Willie's bizarre behavior which he was just humoring for the moment. What now? He opened the door and was dismayed and frightened to see his cousin standing there, smiling at him. "Hello, Quentin!" Barnabas exclaimed. "How are you?" When Quentin just stood staring at him, Barnabas went on mildly, "Aren't you going to invite me in?"
"Ah--yes," Quentin stepped back and reluctantly let Barnabas into the house. "I thought you were still at--"
"Windcliff? I was, but Julia had me released when she saw I'd recovered."
"You have?"
"Yes--and I want to apologize to you most sincerely for the abusive way I've behaved toward you since--well, since Alexandria."
"It's all right," Quentin said, trying to keep his teeth from chattering. He could hear and understand what Barnabas was saying to him, and so he could not understand what was happening to him. He wanted Barnabas to come to him, pull him into an embrace, caress him...
"Quentin, are you feeling all right?" Barnabas asked, concerned.
Quentin tried to pull himself together, looking away, feeling ashamed and guilty. "Yes, yes," he muttered.
"Are you quite sure? I understand that Jamie is here, and I can take him home if you're not well--"
"No, no!" Quentin protested. "He's fine, Barnabas, he's playing with Jon and Donna and--" He broke off and Barnabas leaned toward him and very gently stroked his cheek. He felt suddenly dizzy, as if he couldn't breathe.
"That's better now, isn't it, Quentin?" Barnabas said soothingly. "Come, let's sit down and you can tell me all about it." He took Quentin's hand gently and led him into the sitting room as if he was a child. They sat on the sofa together, and Barnabas pulled Quentin's head onto his shoulder, gently caressing his face. "Poor Quentin, you've been so terribly confused, haven't you?"
In spite of the gentle, soothing words, Quentin could hear a hint of menace. Barnabas fingers' were lightly stroking his face, outlining his ear and his brow. The sensation made him shiver with pleasure; he could feel himself becoming aroused. It was not just desire for Barnabas that was causing it--there was also the knowledge that there was violence poised in those fingertips. The anticipation was maddening. "This is more than comforting to you, isn't it?" Barnabas whispered into his ear. "You're enjoying the feel of my touch upon you. You'd like me to go further, wouldn't you?" His cousin's fingers were now rubbing the back of his neck and had begun to stray below his shirt collar. "Would you like to feel my hands on your back, massaging you, relaxing your aching muscles? Are you wondering what it would feel like for me to kiss you?"
"Yes," Quentin replied immediately, in a soft, hypnotic tone. Part of him recoiled with horror.
Abruptly, Barnabas pulled away and got to his feet. "You dare!" he roared in fury. He struck Quentin with his open hand hard enough to knock him to the floor. Quentin was too stunned, ashamed, and horrified at himself to try and defend himself even when he saw that Barnabas intended to kick him. He shut his eyes tightly, waiting, and heard Barnabas' surprised yelp. Opening his eyes, he was astounded to see that Shane was standing over Barnabas, who was now prone on the floor, too.
"Don't you hit my cousin again, see?" Shane growled menacingly. "I dunno who the hell you think you are comin here and treatin Grant this way!'
"Willie, you ass!" Barnabas roared angrily, struggling to get to his feet. "He is not your cousin at all, you idiot! Besides, ask him what he tried to do--"
"No!" Quentin protested, finally finding his voice. It wasn't true! He hadn't done anything! It was--as he looked into Barnabas' eyes, he realized suddenly that his cousin had them all fooled--Julia, included. He was a madman on the loose. But you won't say a word, dear cousin, he heard Barnabas' voice in his mind. You want my touch too much to give me away.
The three children were suddenly there. "Daddy, daddy!" Jamie cried, running to his father. Jonathan sucked his fingers, staring at his adopted father. It was something he did to soothe himself when he was upset.
"What's wrong?" Donna asked hesitantly. It was obvious that she was frightened, too.
Nuttin, honey," Shane said to the little girl. "We was just having a game of freeze tag, your daddy, me and Jamie's daddy. Ain't that right?"
"Of course," Barnabas agreed smoothly. "What else would we be doing?" He cuddled his little son to him and ruffled his blonde hair..
Julia was just coming to the bottom of the steps at the Old House when the door opened and Barnabas swept in, carrying his son in his arms. "Oh, good, Barnabas," Julia said. Barnabas thought contemptuously that she seemed pathetically grateful to see him. "I've examined Roxanne, and she seems to be all right physically. However, we did discuss the complications that deep stress could put on her pregnancy. She's agreed to go back to London until after you child is born."
Barnabas looked relieved. "Good news! Then we can fight Nicholas Blair freely--I won't have to worry about Roxanne. It will be like old times, Julia, you and I."
"Quentin--" Julia began hesitantly.
"Quentin is unstable, unreliable and unfaithful, isn't he, my dear old friend," Barnabas said in a soft low voice. "You deserved better, my poor Julia."
Julia felt as if she'd been hit in the stomach. For just a moment, she thought she'd detected cold hatred in Barnabas' eyes and in his tone. How could he say that? She opened her mouth to speak and then realized that Barnabas was looking at her with compassionate and sympathetic concern. His brown eyes were filled with pain because of her suffering. My God, she thought, am I losing my mind? "B- Barnabas," she stuttered, trying to regain control of herself, "I-I can call the airline and use my discount through Windcliff to book a flight for Roxanne and Jamie--"
"Not Jamie!" Barnabas broke in.
Julia was shocked. "But--"
"Jamie stays with me!" Barnabas declared firmly.
From the top of the stairs, Roxanne announced: "Then so do I!" Julia spun around to look at her. At that moment, Roxanne looked down and made eye-contact with Julia. The two women stared at each other mutely. Neither saw the look of bitter hatred cross Barnabas' features.
Alliances
"I will not leave here without my son!" announced Roxanne as she descended from the top of the stairs. This was the last straw for her. It was one thing for Barnabas to act cold and indifferent towards her while he recovered, but to have such behavior encouraged by his psychiatrist was unforgivable. "I can't believe that you would even entertain such an idea!"
"Roxanne, dear, I was only thinking of you. I didn't want to put you through the ordeal of dealing with Nicholas Blair in your condition," Barnabas replied calmly.
"And I suppose that you want to put Jamie through the ordeal of Nicholas?"
"No, Roxanne," said Barnabas. "I guess I wasn't thinking clearly."
"And you were going along with him, Julia. Why?" spat Roxanne.
"Roxanne, I wasn't trying to separate you from anyone. I was only thinking of what was best for you and your child. That's all."
Roxanne wasn't fooled by Julia's kind words for a moment. She sensed the jealousy and bitterness behind Julia's sympathetic exterior and what Julia's true goal had been: removing Roxanne from the Old House. Roxanne sympathized with Julia's marital problems, but she was not further jeopardizing her own marriage to please Julia. Barnabas meant too much to her for that. "Just so that you both have it straight. I'll go to England if I have to, but I am not leaving without Jamie, and I won't leave until I feel it's necessary!" said Roxanne as she walked out the door.
Roxanne wandered out into the woods to think. She had to come up with some way to get her husband back and it now seemed obvious that Julia Hoffman-Collins was not the person to turn to for help. It seemed that Julia too had been caught in the madness that now infected the family. Roxanne knew that she had to find another person to help her get her Barnabas back. But whom could she trust? A slow smile spread across her face as the answer came to her.
Nicholas Blair left the bedroom he shared with Elizabeth Collins Stoddard in a very good mood. Everything was going according to his plans. Elizabeth would be pregnant soon if she wasn't already, and there was so much of a circus going on at The Abbey and the Old House that it would take months for them residents to straighten it all out. The only thing that concerned Nicholas was the return of his sister Cassandra from England. He had hoped she would stay away until his plans were further along, but that couldn't be helped. Cassandra could become a very formidable enemy if she felt her family was threatened by the powers of darkness. The only way to make sure that she was occupied with something else that would keep her from discovering his true plans until it was too late. For that, he needed to go to Hell and speak with his Master, Diabolos.
Cassandra Collins was seated in the gazebo on the Collins estate. She had to leave the house for a while to think in the gazebo's relative privacy away from her "brother" Nicholas. Nicholas' presence represented a threat to her husband and children and she had to figure out a way to get Nicholas back into Hell and away from Collinsport forever. Cassandra knew that somehow she had to find a way to get Diabolos to think that Nicholas had betrayed him again. With all the chaos on the Great Estate of Collinwood, that would be a very difficult task.
Cassandra's musings were interrupted by the approach of a person upon the path towards her. "Roxanne, is that you?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," sobbed Roxanne. " I didn't mean to disturb you. I just had to get away from the Old House for awhile."
"What is it? Did you and Barnabas have a fight?"
"No, not really," Roxanne cried. "It's just that he and Julia had the insane idea of sending me off to England without Jamie for my safety. They feel that I'll be safer from your brother there. I was just shocked that they would think such a thing. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things about your brother, but I'm just fed up with it all." Roxanne knew she had to be in the submissive role if she were to gain Cassandra's help. And what better way to appear submissive than to play the role of the crying upset wife.
Cassandra, sensing an opportunity to gain an unlikely ally, decided to ignore Roxanne's last remark and replied, "You know that Barnabas is still recovering from his experiences with Laura. He is bound to still have some hidden resentments towards you." "But that's just it. He doesn't hate Julia. If anything, it seems as thought she is trying to use his mental state to get back at me."
"How do you know that?"
" She thinks I don't know, but I did get that impression from her today at the Old House. She thinks I am responsible for some of her problems with Quentin."
"I see," Cassandra replied. She knew the manipulation of Roxanne had to be handled carefully for her plan to work. "There is one thing that Julia was right about, though."
"What's that?"
"Nicholas is dangerous. I don't know what he wants, but I do know that it isn't good for any of us, especially the children."
"So you think I should leave here to protect Jamie and my child?"
"No. I believe that you would be most effective here," Cassandra said.
Roxanne stared in confusion as she asked, "How? What can I do against your brother?"
"Alone, neither one of us is capable of destroying Nicholas. Together as a team we can. I believe I can teach you how to use your power better. However, Nicholas must not know of our allegiance, or he will try to destroy us. Outside this gazebo, we are casual acquaintances whose children play together. The only reason I am doing this is to preserve my marriage and keep my children away from Diabolos. Is that understood?"
"That's perfectly fine with me. I'm sick of being run over by everyone around here. I want my husband back, and if Nicholas must die for that to happen, then so be it," said Roxanne as she extended her hand out to Cassandra.
"Good, because I am going to ask you to do something that you might not like. I want you to go to Nicholas and ask him for help with your husband."
"Nicholas, I am glad that for once you decided to report to me as you should. What is the progress of the plan?" asked the hooded figure known as Diabolos.
"So far, everything is working as it should. The mouse Willie Loomis is still possessed by one of his characters. He and Joe Haskell are keeping Maggie Evans busy."
"Remember what happened the last time when you thought Maggie was busy? She helped to destroy the plan with the Leviathans."
"Master, I assure you that she is taken care of," assured Nicholas.
"And what of Julia Collins? She cannot be allowed to find out anything of significance either."
"Although I still think it was beneath me to do so, I planted the messages in her subconscious."
"Did she respond as we predicted?"
"She distrusts her own husband and is helping to prevent Barnabas Collins from recovering from his ordeal with the Phoenix. If anything, he seems to have gotten worse instead of better. His wife is too busy being heartbroken to pay any attention to me. There's only one problem, though. Cassandra has reappeared. I need more power to deal with her."
Diabolos stared at Nicholas carefully before responding. He needed to make absolutely certain that his servant was telling him the full truth. Finding no hint of deception, Diabolos responded, "Alright, Nicholas, just what do you have in mind for Cassandra?"
Plans In Motion
Watching Roxanne in the gazebo talking intimately with Cassandra, Barnabas smiled, as if he knew that Roxanne would run to Cassandra, whining and simpering about how terrible her husband treated her. Nicholas Blair would keep Cassandra occupied for now, and Barnabas knew from past history that Cassandra would do nothing more than use Roxanne for her own purposes, and that was Roger and their children. Smiling genuinely, at the thought of his ex-wife and his cousin living in marital bliss, he felt envy shoot through him, as the picture of Roger and Cassandra gazing into one another's eyes lovingly, finding it hard to keep their hands off one another, envy was soon replaced with rage. He would deal with Cassandra, for taking Laura from him. He didn't care what he would have to do or who got hurt in the process, the happiness and oy that he had experienced for a moment in time, would not be Casandra's to flaunt in front of him. Dear God, why had he ever married Roxanne. He just wanted her out of his house, out of his life, and he wisheed more than anything in the world that he would never have to hear her refer to his and Laura's son, as "her's." In a rage, he had lost control, and attacked and raped her, and now she was going to have his child.
Hearing the last of Roxanne and Cassandra's little plan, he found himself quite amused at the idea of them trying to fool Nicholas, and on and on the plots and plans would go, and yet no matter what any of them said or did or tried all he ever thought about was Laura. He could see her face when he closed his eyes, see her beautiful smile, remember her touch as she clung to him crying out his name, professing her love for him over and over again. Everywhere he could see her, hear her musical laughter. He had never loved anyone like he loved Laura, not even his dear Josette. All he had now was Jamie, and the very idea that Roxanne thought of him s hers caused the deadly quiet anger to rise near the surface. He needed Jamie with him, and he needed someone he could trust to help take care of him. The idea that Roxanne would share in the care and raising of Jamie made Barnabas laugh. A woman who went to any lengths just to achieve what she wanted, would never take care of his and Laura's child. Did she honestly believe that going to Angelique, whose master resided in Hell would be allowed near his child. An idea was forming as his thoughts were swirling about him like a cyclone, he needed to hire a nanny for his beloved son.
It was starting to rain as he neared the big double doors of Collinwood, knocking on the door, he composed himself, readying to talk with Roger.
"Ah, Mr. Barnabas, you better get in here, and out of that rain, it looks like it will be a downpour in another minute," Mrs. Johnson said happy to see Barnabas.
"Good evening, Mrs. Johnson. Is Roger in?" Barnabas asked in a friendly tone.
"Yes, he's in the study, going over some correspondence." Mrs. Johnson replied.
"Would you please tell him I'm here, and I would like to talk to him alone if possible," Barnabas said.
"Barnabas, come on in. What a pleasure to see you. We don't see nearly enough of you these days," Roger greeted his cousin in a friendly tone.
One subject that Roger and Barnabas avoided was Laura. Barnabas was never sure how much Roger knew about his feelings for Laura, but Barnabas was very sure about Roger's feelings for his beloved. So, he never approached the subject.
After the amenities were out of the way, and Barnabas accepted a Scotch and water, he presented his idea to Roger very smoothly, and all husbandly concern for Roxanne.
Nicholas Blair had one concern right now, and that was Cassandra. He would deal with her, and deal with her very soon. Knowing exactly what he was going to do, he started to laugh, but was cut off when Maggie Evans entered his room without knocking. He was not pleased at this moment to see her, but without thinking he took her in his arms, and held her in a tight embrace. The love he felt for her welled up, and could not be denied.
At that moment there was a knock at the door, and Nicholas disengaged a very reluctant Maggie from his embrace, and went to answer the door.
"Mr. Blair, I am sorry to disturb you, but -- oh, there you are, Ms. Evans. Mr. Collins is looking for you," Mrs. Johnson said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Johnson.
I will talk to you later then, Nicholas." Maggie said walking out of the room.
"Barnabas, how nice to see you," Maggie said entering Roger's study.
Rising, Barnabas greeted Maggie affectionately, for he was genuinely fond of her, and happy to see her.
"Mr. Collins, you wanted to see me?" Maggie asked.
"Yes, Maggie, I did." Roger said.
Nicholas had finished his incantation for Cassandra, and couldn't help smiling. He hated doing this to Roger, but he had had enough of her interference in his plans. Plus, he owed her. Pulling on his dinner jacket, thinking how lovely Maggie had looke, but he couldn't think about her right now, he was off to find the soon to be Mrs. Nicholas Blair. Elizabeth was waiting for him, he sensed it.
Cassandra was strolling along the cliffs thinking about Roxanne and Barnabas, when she was startled by a noise, and then a voice that she recognized, and it struck fear in her.
"Angelique, I know who you are, and I know what you are," the maddened form of Joe Haskell said to her.
Cassandra froze as Joe advanced towards her, she didn't know how to respond. So, he had recognized her.
"I'm going to destroy you. You killed my cousin Tom, and then you threw me aside after ruining everything for me with your unholy, and inhuman lusts. You wanted Barnabas. Do you still want him?" Joe was taunting her now. He could see fear in her eyes, and it slightly confused him.
"Cassandra, are you all right?" a deep voice said from the darkness.
"Oh, Barnabas, yes, of course. I think Mr. Haskell is out and about a little too soon, don't you?" Cassandra asked rather quickly.
"Joe, what are you doing out here?" Barnabas asked the younger man very gently.
"Barnabas -- I don't know. I heard her calling me." Joe managed to say.
"Heard who, Joe?" Barnabas asked patiently.
"I don't know. I don't know why I'm here. I -- I -- I'm sorry, Mrs. Collins. I didn't hurt you, did I," a shamed Joe Haskell asked.
"Oh, no. Mr. Haskell, you just startled me, that's all." Cassandra said.
"Why don't you go back to Collinwood, Cassandra, and I'll take Joe by the Abbey, and have Julia take care of Joe." Barnabas said.
"Thank you, Barnabas, I will," Cassandra said, very grateful for Barnabas' intereference. She was still shaken that he had remembered her. She didn't want to think about that right now.
Walking beside the young troubled man, Barnabas thought he heard him mumble something, and asked Joe if he said something.
"You should be careful of that woman, Barnabas. She's evil," Joe said to Barnabas. By now he had stopped and was looking Barnabas straight in the eyes.
If Barnabas had been anyone else, he would have thought the wild-eyed look that now graced Joe's countennance belonged to an insane man, but he knew better.
"Joe, I'm not sure what you're talking about, but listen to me. Cassandra is not the woman you're thinking about. She's happily married to Roger, they have twins, and are a very happy family. I want you to remember that, Joe." Barnabas told him.
They said no more to one another, and continued on to the Abbey. Barnabas was filled with anticipation at the reaction that his presence would bring to Mr. and Mrs. Quentin Collins.
It seemed their butler or maid or housekeeper couldn't be found, so Quentin told Donna and Jon not to cheat at the game of Candyland they were playing, and went to answer the door.
"Barnabas," Quentin whispered as desire coursed through his body.
"Quentin, who's at the door?" Julia asked walking down the stairs.
"Good evening, Julia," Barnabas said in a low and seductive tone.
"Oh, Barnabas, how nice to see you," Julia said, as desire burned through her.
This did not go unnoticed by a very jealous Quentin Collins. First thing in the morning he was going to call his lawyers in New York, and use whatever was at his disposal to ruin Julia. His loving wife throwing herself at Barnabas in his own home, and their children in the next room. No, Julia was not going to come between him and Barnabas, and she was not going to have the children. By the time he was through with her she wouldn't have a medical license. He would instruct his lawyers to use everything at his disposal, and he would not hesitate to use the powerful Collins name.
"Quentin, are you all right?" Barnabas asked him, breaking him out of his reverie. Barnabas had seen the mad fire burning in Quentin's eyes as he had walked in, and Barnabas had smiled a very evil smile before announcing his arrival.
Walking in the great house of Collinwood, Cassandra breathed a sigh of relief, as she saw her husband walking out of is study, and went to greet him.
Roger saw Cassandra, and couldn't wait to greet her. She had made him happier than he had ever thought anyone had a right. Approaching her, a buzzing began in his head, and looking at Cassandra he knew it was her evil hideous presence that was causing the hum. He was able with clarity to see her, and what she had done before to him and his family, and somehow Joe and Barnabas had been very hurt by her. He couldn't bear to look at her. He wanted her out of the house, and he wanted her out right now.
Walking down the stairs, Elizabeth and Nicholas were talking very intimately until she saw Cassandra, and a buzzing started in her head, and she knew who Cassandra was, could remember being buried alive, and what it felt like to be entombed in a coffin ...
"Oh, no! I know who you are," Elizabeth cried, looking at Cassandra.
Looking away from her, Elizabeth's mind felt fuzzy. Nicholas was smiling. He knew Roger and Elizabeth, or any Collins with the exception of, maybe two very different Collinses, would be affected by the sight of Cassandra. They would think they knew why, or wouldn't care, they would just want her away from them. No matter what.
Maggie had packed up, and was preparing to move to the Old House to care for Jamie, and they would see if tutoring David also would work. Roger had agreed. Barnabas had been very persuasive about David. Maggie didn't understand why it seemed so important to Barnabas to include David, but she had shrugged if off. Roger had had to leave the room for a moment, and Barnabas had whispered to Maggie, that Roxanne would be going to England, and she would be alone with him. Would she like that? A thrill of desire coursed along her very being, and when he had promised her Josette's Room, she felt an intimacy with him that she did not understand. I've been in this house too long was her answer. The more she thought about it, the more she thought it was a figament of her imagination.
"Quentin, are you all right?" the carresing voice of Barnabas reached his ears.
Quentin took a deep breath, and turned to face his cousin. All resolve to be strong and resist Barnabas melted when he looked in Barnabas' eyes. Barnabas was pushing him to the edge, Quentin realized, but somehow he didn't care. He needed him.
Their eyes were locked, when he heard Julia calling for Barnabas. Barnabas saw the look of rage and jealousy on Quentin's face at the sound of his wife's voice.
"Julia, I'm in the study with Quentin." Barnabas said.
"Barnabas, we need to take Joe to the hospital," Julia said, noticing the desire on her husband's face, knowing that desire was for Barnabas, angered her, not because she was jealous of her husband, but because she had dared to hope and dream again of a future that had her and Barnabas and all their children in it.
She didn't believe what she heard Barnabas reply to her.
Would you mind repeating that for me, Barnabas?" Julia said in disbelief seeing the smile on Quentin's face, wanted to throttle him.
"Julia, I said I am going to stay here and visit with Quentin. You are a doctor, call an ambulance or have one of your cars brought around, and take Joe to the hospital where he belongs. It is starting to rain again, so you had better hurry. I would not recommend leaving Joe here in his condition. You do have your children to think about. Now, run along and take care of your patient. I will keep your *husband* company." Barnabas said in a lover's voice that only included Quentin.
Julia was enraged. How dare Barnabas talk to her like that? He preferred Quentin to her, well, she would have to fix that situation. She wanted to be with Barnabas badly enough to get rid of Quentin. For some reason that brought back the image of her old friend Dave Woodard.
Tangled Webs of Deceit
After a very reluctant, infuriated Julia left for the hospital with Joe in tow, Barnabas turned back to Quentin with a smile. "Well, it's been a while since we've been able to have a talk together, Quentin."
"You mean since yesterday?" Quentin responded sarcastically. He knew where his strong desire for Barnabas was coming from and he didn't like it one little bit. He was also torn because his body was responding as if it had a will of its own, yearning for his cousin's touch. "I think we'd better have more than a 'talk', Cousin Barnabas."
Barnabas' eyes shot up. "Really? And just what do you mean by that?" They were sitting on the sofa again, and Barnabas moved closer.
Very funny, Quentin thought bitterly. "You know," he said, and very deliberately put his hand on Barnabas' knee.
"Why, what on earth are you doing?" Barnabas's voice was deadly quiet.
"I'm doing what you want me to do," Quentin responded softly, his voice just as deadly.
Barnabas grabbed Quentin's hand roughly and removed it. "What are you implying?" He snapped. His features softened then, and his firm grip relaxed. Gently, he clasped Quentin's hand in both of his, the fingers of one hand tickling and stroking the palm of Quentin's hand. "I know you like it when Julia does that, don't you?" He asked snidely. "Does Julia know you like this?" He brought Quentin's hand up to his mouth, gently nibbling at his knuckles.
Quentin pulled his hand away as if it was on fire. With every ounce of will power he had, he got to his feet and barked, "Get out!"
Barnabas looked surprised. "Excuse me? Are you quite sure that's what you want?"
"Out!" Quentin yelled.
Barnabas stood up slowly, looking amused. Mockingly, he reached out and caressed his cousin's face. "Are you quite sure?"
Quentin wanted very badly to take that hand and kiss the palm of it. Instead, he pushed the hand off. Now Barnabas looked angry and took a step toward him. "Don't!" Quentin warned. "Don't touch me, Barnabas! I'm warning you!"
Barnabas laughed, an ugly chilling sound. "You're warning me, are you? Quentin, I could knock you to the floor right now and you would ask for more. You crave my touch-why fight it?"
"Because you're insane and you're doing it only to torment me," Quentin responded. "The only reason I don't try to kill you now is because of the close friendship we had and because I still love you."
"Yes, Quentin, I know you do." Barnabas moved suddenly, grabbing Quentin by his shirtfront and jerking him close. "I will overlook your display of rude behavior this time, dear cousin, but I tell you that I do not take kindly to threats. If I were you, I would think twice before issuing any more warnings to me. Do I make myself clear?"
Quentin could see the implied threat of violence in Barnabas' eyes and knew that this was no bluff. It was a challenge as well as a warning. Under any other circumstances, Quentin would have begun swinging and throwing punches. Now he fought the desire to throw his arms around his cousin and kiss him. Barnabas, reading the struggling conflicting emotions in Quentin's eyes, laughed at him. Releasing him, he said in a silky, insulting tone, "Perhaps at our next visit, you'll get your fondest wish." He turned and walked out of the Abbey. Fuming with rage, Quentin slammed his fist into the wall and was dismayed when it went through the plasterboard.
Damn! He thought, shaking his hand and blowing on his sore knuckles ruefully. Julia would have plenty to say about this-Julia! She had some nerve accusing him of adultery when she'd probably already committed the very same act with Barnabas. Barnabas was just toying with him, Quentin knew that. He knew that Barnabas had no intention of doing anything more than torment him with desires that filled him with shame. It was the cruelest thing he could think of, Quentin thought bitterly, because as he fought his desire for Barnabas he also had to fight the growing doubts about his own sexual identity. After all, how could Barnabas control him this easily if there wasn't already some feeling-He pushed the unwanted thoughts away and concentrated on Julia.
"Daddy?" Donna asked doubtfully. He spun around. He'd forgotten all about the children and felt very guilty about it.
"Who won the game, sweetie?" he asked, picking her up.
"Jon did. I let him."
"That was nice of you," Quentin shifted her to his hip and walked toward the next room. He didn't want Donna to see the hole in the wall. He could hear Shane's voice talking to Jon and, for the first time, was delighted to have his "cousin" in the house. He came into the room and Shane looked up. He'd begun another game of Candyland with Jon. "Hey, Shane."
"Grant! I'm so glad to see you. I wanted to talk to you about tonight, y'see…"
"Yes, I know. We have a lot of planning to do," Quentin lied easily. "Look, would you take the kids over to the Old House to visit Roxanne and Jamie? Just tell her I need her to keep the kids occupied while we figure out what we're going to do."
"Where's Julia?" Shane asked.
"Oh, she had to take a friend to the hospital-don't worry. She'll be back soon enough. Just ask Roxanne if it's okay if she keeps Jon and Donna for an hour or so."
"Sure, Grant." Shane agreed. Jon took Shane's hand without question, but Donna cast another troubled look at her father before going off with Shane.
Maggie had just finished packing her bags to move to the Old House, her face flushed with the anticipation of seeing Barnabas again. She shook her head, confused. Barnabas? It wasn't Barnabas she wanted to see, he was married to Roxanne! That's why she was going there-to help care for Jamie. What had she been thinking of? It was Willie she wanted to see-or so she thought until she heard Elizabeth's shriek. "Oh, no! I know who you are!" She wondered what on earth was happening, and then she heard Nicholas' soothing voice. Nicholas! He said he loved her-but what was he doing with Elizabeth?
She saw Cassandra come down the hall toward her, running, her face as white as a sheet. "Mrs. Collins!" she exclaimed, concerned, and Cassandra slowed a little. Maggie heard a buzzing sound; it sounded like a mosquito's whine. When she looked at Mrs. Collins again, she saw a woman with blonde hair in a long flowing blue gown. She had unnaturally sharp teeth, and she was sinking them into Joe Haskell's neck. "My God! My God!" she screamed, terrified. She ran back into her room and slammed the door, bolting it behind her. What am I going to do? She thought, panicking. It was then that she remembered the secret panel in the room. It led to the outside of the house. She could get away to the Old House! She could run to Barnabas!
Cassandra was horrified. She realized that Nicholas must have conjured a horrible spell to neutralize her-the worst possible one he could think of. Everyone was remembering just who and what she was! She thought rapidly. She had to think of a way to counteract the spell. She had no idea whether she could depend on Barnabas in his maddened state, but she was sure she could rely on Roxanne or Quentin for help. She decided she would first go to Roxanne. She passed Maggie's room and entered the West Wing. She would make her way through the labyrinth of hallways here and exit to the outside of the house. From there, she would go to the Old House.
Nicholas, who could see that Maggie and Cassandra were headed out on a collision course, grinned with glee at the trouble his "sister" was in. Elizabeth was reclining on her bed, trembling with fear. Nicholas held her hand and patted it gently, soothing her. Roger was there too, numb with disbelief. "I cannot imagine how I was so taken in," he said, distraught. "How could I have married that creature?"
"It's just fortunate that we've uncovered her spells now, before she could harm David or the twins," Nicholas murmured. "I knew that my sister dabbled in the black arts, but I had no idea the extent of her expertise!"
"Are you quite all right, Liz?" Roger asked, concerned.
"I'm feeling queasy, Roger, but I'll be all right."
"I'm going to leave you in Nicholas' capable hands-I need to check on the children!"
Nicholas shut the door behind Roger, grinning with demonic delight. When he turned to take Elizabeth's hand, he was serious again. "Elizabeth, this queasiness of yours worries me. Perhaps we'd better have a doctor look you over."
"No, I'm sure it's just the shock…"
"But, my dear, we have been together several times and unless you have been using some method of birth control…"
"Oh, Nicholas! It can't be! I assure you I am not pregnant!" Elizabeth began to sit up. She even began to laugh. "I have a grown daughter! I have grandchildren!"
"But, my dear, unless your menses have stopped entirely I must tell you that it is possible!"
Elizabeth began to scoff again but frowned instead. "Oh, dear," she murmured, thinking and obviously calculating in her head. She looked at Nicholas and blushed. "Nicholas, what shall we do?"
"See a doctor first," Nicholas said, taking her hand again and bringing it to his lips. "See a minister next."
"Say, Grant, what the hell is this anyways?" Shane asked in a whining voice. "What're we doing this for?"
"Trust me!" Quentin snapped. "Now listen to me, our fingertips have to touch at all times-no matter what happens, do you understand?"
"Yeah-but what're we doing?"
"We're trying to figure out how to keep you from turning into a werewolf tonight, you moron!"
Shane looked hurt. "That ain't nice, Grant. Why do you always call me names?"
"I'm sorry," Quentin apologized impatiently. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah, yeah," muttered Shane.
Quentin began an incantation, calling up someone from Julia's past that she had wronged. He asked for that person, whoever it should be, to speak to him. Shane immediately began to moan, his head rolling from side to side. He sat up suddenly, looking directly at Quentin. "Who are you?" Quentin asked.
"Dave Woodard," Shane replied. "Why did you call me?"
"I want to help you find peace-and justice," Quentin answered.
"Peace-and justice," Shane sighed wistfully. "If only that could be!"
"I'll help you, I swear it. Who are you, Dave Woodard? How are you involved with Dr. Julia Hoffman?" Quentin sat back and listened, incredulously at first and then with a growing sense of triumph, as Dave Woodard told his story, recounting how he'd been murdered by Julia and Barnabas.
Roxanne was miserable. She'd just felt the baby's fluttery movement in her abdomen, and Barnabas was not here to share her joy. The first time she'd been pregnant, carrying Jamie, she hadn't realized what the baby's movements felt like. Now she recognized the fact that she wasn't having gas-the bubbly feeling she was experiencing was the first detectable movements of her baby. She put on a false happy face for the sake of the small children playing in the garden-Jamie, Jon, and Donna. She loved them all-Jamie most of all because he was Barnabas' son. Hers, too-of her body, but not of her blood. Still, he was her son.
She wondered if Barnabas would ever regain his sanity so that they could be a happy family. It could be, if only-if only she could get to Nicholas somehow as Cassandra had suggested. She would convince him to help her. A crashing sound in the underbrush of the nearby woods attracted her attention. She stood up, puzzled. Suddenly, Cassandra ran from the woods and across the lawn toward her. "Roxanne!" she called.
"What's the matter?" Roxanne asked, alarmed, for it was obvious that something was very wrong.
"No! Stay away from her! She'll hurt you!" Maggie shrieked, running in the opposite direction toward Roxanne. Roxanne stopped, thoroughly confused. Maggie gave her a slight shove and went for Cassandra, trying to claw at her. "Don't you dare hurt her, you witch!"
Cassandra put her hands up to defend herself, tearing at Maggie's blouse. Half of it came away in her hand. "Maggie Evans, you will stop your attack immediately," Cassandra said with great emotion. Maggie didn't slow down. She slapped Cassandra's face, and the witch's face turned nearly purple with rage.
"Cassandra, let me take care of her!" Roxanne cried out, afraid of what Cassandra might do. "Let me take her inside-you wait here!"
"All right," Cassandra agreed, seething. What she really wanted to do was turn Maggie into a loathsome spider and step on her.
Roxanne grabbed Maggie by the shoulders and guided her into the Old House. "No! You don't understand!" Maggie was protesting. "I'm just trying to protect you-that's all!" She turned violently and ran out the door and down the steps toward Cassandra. The two women grappled at each other ineffectually for a few moments before Roxanne was able to get between them and separate them again. "She's an unnatural, evil creature!" Maggie shrieked.
Cassandra put her hand onto Maggie's face. "Maggie Evans, feel the power of my touch. You believe that you know who I am, but you do not. When I take my hand away, you will remember only Cassandra, Roger's wife, David's step- mother." She exercised all the self-control she could muster and took her hand away without doing anything further to Maggie or to her mind. "Open your eyes, Maggie Evans."
Maggie opened her eyes, looking about in a dazed way. She looked at Cassandra and immediately shrieked: "Witch! Witch!"
Roxanne grabbed her by the arm and pulled her toward the Old House again. "Maggie, we'd better get inside-NOW!"
Willie or Shane came into the clearing now. Maggie saw him and called to him, "Willie! Help!"
Loping over, Shane looked at Roxanne and said, "Whatsamatter, Roxanne? What's wrong with her?"
"She's a little upset," Roxanne answered grimly. "Can you help me get her into the house?"
"Willie, the witch! You know what she's done to Barnabas!" Maggie cried out.
Cassandra bumped into Shane as she backed up rapidly. "Is Quentin at the Abbey?" she asked frantically.
"Yeah-he sent me here to get the kids. He said he hadda call his lawyer- something about taking care of Julia. Gee, he's a nice guy, isn't he?" Shane answered. "Then we got to hide me because tonight I'm gonna change into a…"
"You must help Roxanne restrain Maggie first," Cassandra interrupted in a kindly tone she didn't feel. "She's delusional." She turned and made her way quickly to the path, intending on seeking help from Quentin. Roxanne had her hands full right now.
Quentin sat in the rocker of the drawing room, gently rocking himself and smiling. He'd turned on his stereo. Music always soothed him when he felt he was about to lose control of the circumstances in his life. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, listening to Charlie Parker. Jazz or blues always helped him relax. The door flew open. "Quentin!" Cassandra called. She sounded hysterical.
He came to his feet abruptly, angry. What the hell did she want? He needed to be able to think, to plot how to use his knowledge about Dave Woodard against both Julia and Barnabas. He met Cassandra in the foyer; she threw herself into his arms, sobbing. For God's sake! He thought irritably. "What is it?" he asked impatiently.
Cassandra didn't seem to hear. Weeping, she told Quentin what had happened- that Nicholas had cast a spell causing everyone in the family to remember who she was. Damn Nicholas! Quentin thought bitterly, more because of the inconvenience to his plans than because of any compassion he might have felt for Cassandra. Suddenly, he remembered something and he smiled a little. "Ssh, ssh," he soothed. "I'll help you, Cassandra."
"Oh, Quentin, thank you," Cassandra sniffled. "I knew I could depend upon you!"
"Well, hell, you've been helpful to me so many times," he answered somewhat ironically. Before Cassandra could wonder about that statement, he went on quickly: "Look, I need you to help me, Cassandra. Then I'll help you."
Now she looked at him, her blue eyes still luminous with tears but filling with suspicious doubt. "What help do you need, Quentin?"
"I need you to teach me how to cast a love spell."
"A love spell!" She exclaimed, stepping back. Now her suspicions were aroused.
He took her by the hands. He felt something in her palms. Puzzled, he opened her hands and extracted a piece of fabric and a button. "What's this?"
"Part of Maggie's blouse-and I suppose that is either Maggie's button or maybe Roxanne's."
"Were you all in a cat fight?" Quentin asked, smiling with genuine amusement.
"Never mind!" Cassandra exclaimed irritably. "What do you need a love spell for?"
"Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies," Quentin answered. "Look, do you want my help or not?"
"All right!" Cassandra exclaimed, exasperated. "First of all, you'll need something that belongs to the two people you intend to cast the spell on."
"Or three people," Quentin said with an air of innocence.
"Quentin!" Cassandra fluttered her eyelashes. Now she was intrigued. "I simply have to know now! Besides, you want to make sure the spell works, don't you?"
Quentin considered. "All right. You help me and then I'll help you."
"Agreed. Now-which people are to be the victims-er, the beneficiaries of this spell?"
Trying very hard to control herself and not laugh, Cassandra carefully formed the clay doll. She looked at Quentin. "Have you got something belonging to Barnabas, too?"
"This. Willie-ah, Shane had it." Quentin handed over the keys to the basement of the Old House. Cassandra grimaced. Well, it was better than nothing, she supposed. She began her incantation, declaring that this doll was Barnabas Collins. Next she picked up an old scarab of Laura's. She didn't ask where Quentin had gotten it from-it might have been one Laura'd had recently or it might have been the one from 1897. It didn't matter. "You are so deeply in love with Laura Collins still. Being with her again consumes your thoughts and your dreams." Now she took the cloth from Maggie's blouse and wrapped them around the button and the blouse. "You want to be with her so much, Barnabas Collins, that when you are with your wife Roxanne, you will see only Laura. When you are with Maggie Evans, you will see only Laura. And you will want Laura very badly, to hold her and to love her." She ended the spell and sighed, satisfied.
Quentin burst out laughing. Cassandra's eyebrows arched up in amusement. "What is so funny, Quentin?"
"I was just thinking-what if they all happen to be in the same room together?"
The lilting sound of Cassandra's laughter joined Quentin's. As all the tantalizing possibilities of that potentially explosive event surfaced in their minds, they did not bother to consider the feelings of Roxanne and Maggie. Cassandra's only concern was in fulfilling her end of the bargain and then getting Quentin to help her. The thought did occur to Quentin momentarily, but he thought the spell would only serve to help both Roxanne and Maggie. He rationalized to himself that Roxanne would benefit by getting the love of her husband back and that Maggie would benefit from being away from Nicholas Blair's attention. Now that he believed he had effectively dealt with Julia and Barnabas, he turned his attention to Cassandra and how he might help her-as minimally as possible, of course. He wanted to save his energy for his coming battle with Barnabas and Julia.
Roxanne guided Maggie into Josette's room and managed to give her a mild sedative in an attempt to calm her down. The impressions Roxanne got from Maggie and Cassandra indicated to her that someone was deliberately trying to do something to undermine Cassandra's plans at Collinwood. This was exactly what Roxanne did not need right now.
Fortunately for Maggie, the agitation and aggression she had displayed only moments before seemed to fade as fast as it had initially appeared. Roxanne decided to risk asking a few questions to get a confirmation of her suspicions.
"Maggie, do you know why you said all of those things a few minutes ago when you saw Cassandra?"
Maggie shook her head slowly, replying "I really don't know. I just got near her and all of a sudden all of these memories just started appearing to me. Things that I used to know, but somehow I forgot. It was just like a floodgate opened and I just couldn't control it. I don't know why it happened but it did. And what I said was true. I know she's a witch. She is out to destroy us all if she can. We have to stop her!"
"Maggie, you're tired and you've been through a lot today. I want you to rest for a while and let me worry about the witch."
"We can't rest! Don't you see! That's what she wants! That way she can get us all!"
Sensing that the subtle approach wasn't going to work, Roxanne placed her arms on Maggie's shoulders pushing her down onto Josette's bed and planted the psychic command of "sleep" into Maggie. Within a few minutes, Maggie had drifted off to sleep.
Roxanne went down into the drawing room of the Old House to read her calendar to plan for the events of the upcoming week. Hopefully, she hadn't planned anything that required a lot of her attention. She was still trying to figure out a way to return Barnabas to his right mind so they could all be together as a family. Now she had the added responsibility of trying to play peacemaker between Maggie and Cassandra should they see one another. That was the one problem that was easy to solve. Maggie had agreed that it would be in her best interests to stay at the Old House until "the witch was destroyed." Now she just had to plan for the bigger problem Barnabas represented. Roxanne's hopes for a quiet week to think were dashed as she read the calendar entry for that upcoming Tuesday. Willie's grandmother, Siobhan Hollingshead was coming to visit from Lost City, West Virginia. The woman had written to Willie several months before and planned the visit. Mrs. Hollingshead hadn't seen her grandson in several years and Roxanne doubted that any excuse that they could come up with would stop her from coming. Roxanne frowned at the thought of having to somehow try to get Shane to playact the role of Willie to please Mrs. Hollingshead.
Roxanne's thoughts were interrupted as Barnabas walked into the front door. She saw the look of contempt on his face and fervently hoped that somehow she could get him to release the tenacious hold he had on his grief for Laura.
Barnabas had come back to the Old House with the intention of picking up Jamie and taking him into town to watch some Disney movies that were being shown at the Collinsport Movie Theater. However, what he saw when he looked into the drawing room caused all of his plans to change. He couldn't believe it. His beloved Laura was standing in the drawing room starting at him uncertainly.
"Beloved, is that you? Have you really come back to me?" asked Barnabas as he stepped closer to Roxanne.
Stunned by Barnabas' declaration and the way he was staring at her, Roxanne took a moment to gather her thoughts before replying, "Yes, darling. Is everything alright?"
"Oh, how I've missed you!" exclaimed Barnabas as he gathered the still stunned Roxanne into his arms.
Roxanne's eyes widened as the reason for Barnabas' change in behavior began to dawn on her. For once, his sudden change in behavior was undoubtedly in her favor. This was the first time that he didn't seem to want to kill her or ship her off to some other part of the world. She felt the thoughts and emotions coming from her husband and all of them pointed to two undeniable facts: Barnabas thought she was his beloved Laura and someone else was responsible for this sudden change in Barnabas. That someone else was likely Cassandra, but Roxanne couldn't shake the feeling that someone else was also involved.
Roxanne decided to play along to test the waters of her new "relationship" with her husband. After all, it wasn't often that she had the opportunity to be with Barnabas and she wasn't going to let it get away from her. "Barnabas," she whispered into his ear, "let's go upstairs."
Simultaneously at the Bangor bus station, a woman in her early 60s was waiting patiently for her bus to arrive. It was her first trip in a long time and she was looking forward to a long overdue vacation. She only hoped her hosts wouldn't be too upset at her arriving a little earlier than expected.
A bus pulled into the station and a moment later a bus station employee approached her saying, "This is the bus to Collinsport, ma'am. Just give the driver your ticket while I put your baggage underneath and you'll be all set for your trip."
"Thank you sir. You don't know how much I am looking forward to seeing my grandson," replied the woman with a broad smile.
A while later, Maggie awoke from her sedative induced sleep. She knew that Roxanne would probably keep her promise to keep the witch away, but she wouldn't destroy her. Maggie knew that she would have to destroy the witch, but for that she needed an ally. Maggie's mind raced. Who could be her ally? Nicholas was "busy" with Elizabeth, and Quentin, Julia, Roxanne and Barnabas were too entangled with their own affairs to offer much help to her. Shane didn't appreciate the complexity of the situation, but Willie did. Peaking out into the hallway, Maggie saw no one and decided to sneak out of the house and find Shane. It was time for Willie to return!
Dreams, Spells, Lies
After Barnabas and Roxanne went upstairs, and reconciled, although Barnabas thought it was Laura, Barnabas was happy, and Roxanne was happy, and they fell asleep in each others arms.
"DAAAAAAaaaadddy!" Jamie was screaming with terror. Barnabas hearing Jamie's screams through a fog of sleep, when he heard the last one, he was fully awake, and hurrying out of bed, found his slacks, pulling them, ran out of the bedroom, following Jamie's terrified screams. They weren't coming from his room, they were coming from the attic. "Oh my god!" Barnabas said out loud. Running up the steep stairway that led to the attic, Barnabas pushed the door opened, and ran to grab the terrified baby. Quieting him a little, Jamie kept crying,
"Jamie scared, Daddy," through sobs, his little chest heaving." "Jamie, what do you have in your hand? Jamie, open your hand and let Daddy look," Barnabas said gently.
"No, Daddy, hurt you. Bad." Jamie said the sobs beginning again.
Barnabas' heart was pounding harder than before, if it were possible, when he opened Jamie's tightly closed fist, he saw it. A piece of the portrait of Quentin!
Jamie was hitting him with his baby fists, "No, Daddy, bad. Jamie scared. Piccer bad." Jamie was hysterical by now.
Barnabas still holding Jamie stood up, and walked over to the little alcove where the portrait was, and with trepidation saw that the portrait was not there. The cover had been pulled off by Jamie, and the portrait pulled down, where Jamie had gotten an empty box to reach it. How did Jamie get in here. This door was locked,. While searching for the rest of portrait, he was thinking of the people who knew about the portrait, and where it was kept. The two names he came up with were Willie and Julia. Willie would have no reason to destroy the portrait, but Julia was another story entirely. Finally he got Jamie to calm down some, so he could get him to tell him where the portrait was, which was not easy, because he kept gettin hysterical, but Barnabas finally got Jamie to cooperate.
Jamie walked over to an old chest with the top opened, Jamie pointed inside, and scattered all over were small ripped pieces of Quentin's portrait. Shock and horror shot through Barnabas as if he had been impaled by a sword. The pain started in his chest like a vice squeezing unrelentingly, holding his son as if paralyzed, not moving, unbelieving, yet knowing it was true.
Jamie's renewed crying, and clutching him around the neck shook him out of his disbelief, and running down the stairs to the bedroom as fast as he could, he ran in, not looking at Roxanne, put Jamie on the bed, Roxanne awake by now, was comforting him. Barnabas dressed, and ran out of the door without a word to Roxanne.
Thunder rumbled, lightning streaked across the sky as if an angry Zeus were throwing the lightning bolts, while the torrential rain falling made it hard him to see, it felt like a a thousand little daggers were stabbing him. The wind was howling at a hurricane force, and he could hear the angry sea, roaring as if trying to avenge its lost son.
Barnabas, trying to hurry, felt as if he were weighted down, and couldn't move, but he would force himself to keep moving. He had to get to the Abbey, and hope against hope that Quentin would be all right.
Not bothering to knock, Barnabas ran in the unlocked house, and saw a light burning in Quentin's study, and entering the room, his worst fear was confirmed. He was too late. Quentin was dying and there was nothing anyone could do, not even him this time. Running over to Quentin, who was lying on the floor, clutching at his chest, hoping it could take the weight of death off, and help him breathe. Too weak to do anything but moan, the severity of the unearthly pain had not lessened. Barnabas gathered the younger man in his arms, and looking at him felt the sobs rising in his throat, and holding him, rocking him back and forth telling him, "I'm so sorry, Quentin. I didn't mean to hurt you."
"Barnabas?" Quentin said questioningly in a voice that was barely a whisper.
"Quentin, I'm here." Barnabas said, as Quentin closed his eyes one last time. Barnabas, clutched at Quentin, shaking him, crying, "wake up. Wake up, Quentin. You're not dead, you can't be. WAKE UP! Sobbing, Barnabas was pleading with Quentin, wake up ,wake up. Wake up. You can't die, Quentin. Please wake up. Barnabas began pounding him on the chest, "wake up, damn you."
Barnabas jerked himself awake, lying in his bed, as the foggy clouds of sleep moved from his mind, his heart pounding, realized it had been a dream. A very bad dream. Barnabas remained still, looking over at his beloved. No, this was all wrong, he thought with clarity. Laura is dead. Getting out of bed, quietly, he dressed, and left the house. Walking to the mausoleum, he stopped at the grave of Josette, and thought "I should be buried alongside you, my darling." Not realizing he had voiced this thought aloud, he jumped at the sound of another voice. He was not alone.
Recognizing the voice, he looked up and saw his cousin, Roger.
"Roger, what are you doing out here so early?" Barnabas asked quietly.
"You know, Barnabas, I could ask you the same thing." Roger replied gently, noticing how wan his cousin looked.
"Barnabas, you don't look well, Is everything all right?" Roger asked, his voice full of concern.
"I could say the same for you, Roger. I've seen you look better," Barnabas replied looking at his cousin, noting the bags under his eyes, the bloodshot eyes, and unhealthy pallor of his skin, that came from drinking too much, worrying, and not taking care of yourself.
"I'm having trouble sleeping," Roger said.
"Oh. Something I can help you with?" Barnabas asked, the picture of concern. Barnabas was distressed to see his cousin in such a state. He had never seen Roger like this, and he had been through quite a bit with Roger, but he had always maintained the ability to explain the unexplainable away with logic, his sense of humor, and positive outlook on life. He genuinely loved this cousin who had accepted him so quickly, and made him feel a part of the family when he had first arrived, now it concerned him that he was this upset.
"Oh, it's Cassandra, Barnabas. I know she's done something terrible and evil to our family in the past. Sometimes I think I know what it is, but I forget it just as quickly as it comes. But, Barnabas, I know she can't be evil, and if she ever were, I know she's not that way now. She couldn't be. I've never been so happy and at peace in my entire life up to now, as I was when Cassandra and I renewed our wedding vows. Barnabas, I can't explain it to you it was paradise on earth. We have the twins, and David. They miss her, Barnabas. AndI love her, and need her. I want her back, Roger said with a catch in his voice.
"Roger, why don't you ask her to come back to Collinwood," Barnabas asked, a little confounded.
"Oh, it's not that simple, Elizabeth gets hysterical at the very mention of her name.
Did you know she and Blair are getting married? I like Nicholas well enough, but I never thought of him and my sister marrying. She's also, and I'm sure you'll be as thoroughly shocked as I am, going to have a baby." Roger said in an almost whisper.
Barnabas was now truly distressed. Speechless, he found he couldn't speak, he just stood there staring at Roger, his face had taken on an incredulous look as Roger kept talking.
"I knew you'd be shocked. We haven't seen you for awhile, so you didn't know everything that was going on. I knew you knew about me and Cassandra, because of her close friendship with Roxanne and yourself.
Oh, and another thing, this business with Quentin and Julia is most unattractive
Quentin has contacted his lawyers in New York to set the wheels in motion, divorcing Julia, and getting custody of their children. He's claiming she's an unfit mother, and has been unfaithful. According to the buzz at the Club, he's naming you, Barnabas as the party she was unfaithful with at the same time the kids were in the house. He's also getting a pretty good case to present to the medical board to have her license to practice medicine permanently revoked. It's utter nonsense, all of it. What is happening to all of us, Barnabas?"
Barnabas was so shocked by these latest revelations he couldn't answer Roger's question.
"Barnabas, I've drifted off into other subjects, and you never answered me. Why are you out here so early?" What is wrong?" Roger pressed.
"Nothing, Roger. I woke up early, and decided to take an early morning walk before anyone else go up." Barnabas answered him rather weakly.
"It's Laura, isn't it?" Roger asked firmly.
"No, of course not. What would make you ask such a thing, Roger. You know I'm married to Roxanne," Barnabas answered in an unconvincing voice.
"Yes, it is. Barnabas, I was married to Laura. I knew her a lot longer than you did. I know the spell she could cast over someone she decided she wanted at the moment. I also know she tried to kill David, but by that time, I no longer loved her, if anything, the very sight of her sickened me. She was evil, Barnabas. I'm not saying this to upset you, Barnabas, but trust me, it is the truth. She would have tried to destroy your son if she were still here. Barnabas, it took me a long time to truly stop loving Laura, and push everyone and everything away from me, including my own son. I wished I had the years back that I neglected him, because I still loved and missed his mother, but I can't. I suggest you let Laura go, Barnabas, if not for your sake, do it for Jamie's.
Barnabas, I've said too much. Now, why don't you come back to Collinwood with me, and let's have some of Mrs. Johnson's famous burnt toast." Roger said smiling.
A smile spread over Barnabas' face, as he put his arm around Roger's shoulder, and said "that sounds like an excellent idea."
Walking back to the Old House, Barnabas begaan to formulate a plan. Without hesitation he changed directions, and headed to The Abbey. He needed to see Quentin. Quentin was the only person who could help, and the only person who would understand the need and urgency of what he was going to do.
Roger had interrupted him earlier, and he hadn't been able to do what he was going to do. Too late now, but there was something he could do, it would be temporary, just long enough to help him. The dream had started to fade with the revelations of this morning's visit with Roger.
Knowing that Jon and Donna were at Collinwood, their new nanny had brought them while he was having coffee with Roger. and Julia was gone for the time being, Quentin would be alone.
Roger had informed him that Quentin would not allow Julia to take the children, telling her if she even tried he would have her arrested for dessertion. Quentin had hired a nanny for them, a wonderful influence, if you can tell by the children. She helps with Teddy and Cassy, now that Cassandra is not here, and Maggie is with you. Barnabas thought the girl looked like Buffy Harrington in parallel time, but had not said anything. His thoughts were interrupted as he approached The Abbey. It really was an incredible place. It was indeed a showplace.
Walking to the front doors, he knocked, and Quentin opened the door, and saw who it was, and started to close it. He never had a chance. Barnabas grabbed Quentin by the throat, and shoved him backwards, upon entering the house. Quentin couldn't breathe, much less fight back. Barnabas was too strong, and he was just not in any condition to fight.
Barnabas noted that Quentin's eyes were bloodshot, his hair mussed and wild, his shirt was unbuttoned to the waist, barely tucked inside his pants, his entire appearance was disshevled. He saw the desire for him burning in Quentin's eyes. With the paralyzing grip he had on his younger cousin, and his weakened condition from alcohol, Barnabas was able to easily force Quentin to look him directly in the eyes, and not move, while he chanted a spell that was weak by nature, but would do for now.
He, of course, had not recanted or revoked the spell he had on Quentin, it was still there, just quiet for now. He had intended on doing that early this morning, but Roger had interrupted him. He needed the quiet of the mausoleum, and the purity and cleanness of dawn to even begin to revoke that spell. It was a very powerful one, and took time to remove, if you could. Now, as the dream was fading from his memory, and the old feelings of hate were slowly ebbing their way back into this soul, he wasn't so sure he wanted to remove the spell. Barnabas knew if he thought these thoughts one more second the very sight of Quentin was going to anger and enrage him, so he started telling Quentin what needed to be done.
Sitting at the breakfast alcove, that allowed you to look through the screens, and see the wooden porch with its wooden banisters, and steps leading to the stone path through the woods, and to the ocean. The view was breathtaking. Roses were running, and winding wildly over the porch railings, along with some wildflowers, vines and trees. The majestic trees shading, but allowing enough sun to shine through so that there was a golden hue surrounding The Abbey all the way to the ocean.
Barnabas told Quentin about NIcholas Blair and Elizabeth, and the baby, and their marriage plans. Quentin knew that something was going on between Elizabeth and Nicholas, but didn't pay too much attention, he was too involved in his own affairs. Plus, he was grateful Blair was leaving Maggie alone.
"Elizabeth is not going to marry Blair," Barnabas said firmly.
"Barnabas, how can you stop her? If she's made up her mind, and they're intimate, Barnabas. You can't come between a relationship that has gone that far. And now there's a baby"-- Quentin said, sort of babbling on until Barnabas interrupted him, causing Quentin to jump.
"QUENTIN! WILL YOU BE QUIET!
Are you listening to yourself? Do you think I'm just going to sit idly by, and let Elizabeth turn Collinwood, the Collins fortune, and David's birthright over to Blair?
My Uncle Jeremiah designed and built Collinwood. It took a lot of work, patience, and endurance. It was a labor of love for him, a dream of his brought into reality. I was there, Quentin, from the first brick to the last shingle. I was there alongside my father, and uncle, helping build the fortune that allows Elizabeth to live in the lifestyle she enjoys, and richly deserves. My mother died in that house, Quentin. You were born in that house. Jamison was born at Collinwood, your own children were born there. There has been happiness along with tragedy over the almost two centuries since Collinwood was built. It is your heritage, your children's, and it belongs to David, and I will burn it to the ground, and buy every share of Collins stock in every company they own, before I let Blair get his goddamn hands on anything that belongs to a Collins.
Elizabeth is pregnant by Blair. And that is most unfortunate. Blair is not only a warlock, he is confidante to Diablos--, "Barnabas was saying when Quentin interrupted finishing Barnabas' sentence sarcastically.
--"Last known address, Hell."
"So, what do you want me to do, Barnabas?" Quentin asked, all business now.
"I have planned to take a trip for a month or so to Europe, maybe Greece, and back to the Estate in England for a couple of weeks. I'm taking Jamie, and Maggie to look after him. Roger has put one of the Collins Company jets and crew at my disposal for as long as I will need them. I want you to get Elizabeth to the plane alone, when it's ready to leave. She has to get away from Blair. So long as she's around him, she's totally in his power with no will of her own.
Barnabas thinking how much Elizabeth looked like his mother said strongly to Quentin, I will not ever let Blair or anyone use their trickery and sorcery, and evil black arts to gain control over Elizabeth again. She's been through to much already. She deserves so much more than what's happening to her now, being used as the devil's pawn. And it sickens me to think, I didn't even notice. Quentin, you and I should have known better than to leave Elizabeth at Collinwood with Blair unprotected. Look what Cassandra did to her" -- Barnabas way saying when Quentin interrupted him again.
"You are right, Barnabas. Do you think getting her away will help" Quentin asked, thinking back to when he was growing up, and the resemblance between his sister Judith, and Elizabeth was uncanny. Quentin could feel the tears, and felt his throat closing, threatening to weep, as he thought of Judith, and now Elizabeth. Barnabas was right. If anyone were responsible to look out or Elizabeth, it would be him and Barnabas. They had done a poor poor job, and she would end up being the one to suffer again. Shaking himself out of the maudlin reverie he was threatening to drown in, he heard Barnabas answering his question.
"Yes, I believe there is a way. And, of course, the baby will have to be dealth with when its born if Elizabeth manages to carry it full term. I don't even want to think about that right now.' Barnabas said, thinking they needed Julia here -- and immediately squashed that thought. He would find another doctor in Europe. Julia was not the only doctor who had a very bizzare practice. Dr. Lang had been proof of that.
Talking a few more minutes to Quentin, finalizing the plan on how Quentin was going to get Elizabeth away from Blair and to the plane without either of them guessing what was going on. Barnabas said his goodbyes to Quentin, assured that he would carry out his part, he was closing the door, cane in hand, ready to go to the Old House so Maggie could prepare her and Jamie for the extended travel ahead.
"Barnabas!" Quentin said in a decidedly strong tone of voice.
Barnabas whirled around, and said very decisely, "Yes, Quentin."
"How does Roxanne feel about all this? And what about the baby? When's it due?"
"Quentin, I would think you have enough of your own domestic affairs to concern yourself with, without giving one second's thought to mine." Barnabas said in a tone that brooked no further conversation.
"Good day, Barnabas." Quentin said rather curtly.
Feeling a twinge of guilt for the manner in which he had spoken to Quentin, due to the fading remnants that were left of the nightmare he had about Quentin. His pain returned, and he smiled a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. Knowing that Quentin had a subconscious desire for him, and not knowing what it was made him feel a little better. The little incantation he used this morning would be gone when the plane took off with Jamie, Maggie, Elizabeth and himself. Thinkng that if it weren't for Quentin, Julia, Roxanne, and Cassandra, none of this would probably be happening. He would have been with Laura, at peace, happy, and he would have been paying attention to what had been happening at Collinwood, and this travesty between Elizabeth and Blair would have never gotten to this. Barnabas grimaced thinking about it.
The hatred, rage, and anger was back. The three emotions and feelings were familiar, and comfortable. Somehow they were soothing. His grief for Laura was as fresh today as it was the moment they murdered her. He was not out of control. He was very much in control, a deadly quiet control.
Coming to the steps of the Old House, he peered up at the majestic building, and thought how much he hated to leave it, but he couldn't bear to be here anymore. His revenge was in motion. Most of it he didn't have to do a thing, it was all a chain reaction. Now, they who murdered Laura, would lose the one they most loved, and know his pain. It made him feel better to know they suffered, just as he was suffering.
He saw the doors open, saw Maggie or assumed it was Maggie grab ahold of a fleeing Jamie. Catching him, she looked up, and saw Barnabas, smiled and waved with her free hand, holding Jamie with the other.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Jamie was saying excitedly seeing his Daddy.
Barnabas was about to wave at Jamie as his eyes widened in disbelief, and wonderment, "Laura!" he exclaimed.
Attack Counterattack
Maggie frowned, puzzled, as Barnabas walked toward her, looking as if he couldn't have been happier to see anyone else in his whole life. "My darling! If only you knew how lovely you looking, standing there, holding our little boy!" Barnabas exclaimed. He began to take her into his arms to give her a warm kiss of greeting.
Maggie's eyes widened in alarm--had Barnabas lost his mind? Just then Willie came in from the drawing room, cup still in hand. He, too, wondered why Barnabas was about to plant a passionate kiss on Maggie. He cleared his throat. "Ahhhh, Barnabas?"
Barnabas stopped, turning. He smiled. "Why, hello Willie! I haven't seen you in such a long time!"
Willie frowned, shuffling his feet. There were a lot of weird things going on around here. At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Barnabas looked at Willie expectantly. Willie moved to open the door. "Oh, hello, David."
"Hi, Willie, Aunt Elizabeth told me to come over here and let you know that your grandmother is at the train station."
"My grandmother!" Willie exclaimed, surprised. Grandma wasn't due in until tomorrow. "She's up here--now?"
"Yes, she took the bus up to Bangor and then took the train from there. Are you going to pick her up? Aunt Elizabeth said if you couldn't do it, we should call Uncle Roger."
"Willie!" Maggie called out in a strangled voice. Willie looked over his shoulder and saw that Barnabas looked as if he was biting her neck. It couldn't be! No--he was just nuzzling and kissing her. Willie's mouth fell open with surprise. How could he do that, with Roxanne around here somewhere and pregnant too? Had Barnabas lost his mind again? "Willie, would you take me into town with you?"
Barnabas let her go, looking hurt and surprised. He took Jamie from her. "Laura, are you angry with me?" he asked.
"Daddy's silly!" Jamie crowed.
"Laura?" Maggie echoed. She realized suddenly that Barnabas had become delusional again. She had to get away--find Julia, tell her that Barnabas was imagining things again! "Oh, no," she said now to Barnabas in a reassuring tone. "I'm not angry at all. It's just that I need some things, you see, and Willie kindly offered to drive me..."
"Yeah, and we've got to get going now, because my grandma is here already. I've gotta go get her," Willie put in.
"I see," Barnabas said, arching his eyebrows suspiciously. Maggie managed to get around him and scooted out the door. Looking thoroughly confused, Willie turned to follow. A frown began to furrow Barnabas' brow.
"Cousin Barnabas!" David exclaimed angrily.
Barnabas didn't appear to hear him. Jamie shouted into his ear, "Wake up, Daddy!" "I am not deaf, son," Barnabas chided gently. He felt as though a gauzy curtain had descended on him.
"Cousin Barnabas!" David called again, insistently.
"Yes, David?" Barnabas finally heard the boy and looked at him, wondering why he looked so upset.
"Cousin Barnabas, that was Maggie--not my mother. My mother is dead!" David exclaimed, in a grieved voice. Barnabas frowned again, looking very confused. Exasperated, David demanded in an injured tone: "You called Maggie by my mother's name. You were kissing her. Why were you doing that?"
My God, he's right! Barnabas thought, horrified. "I don't know," he answered honestly. "I'm sorry, David. I don't understand what just happened, but I assure you it was not intended to hurt you."
Now David was concerned at the way his cousin's expression was changing. First he looked dazed, confused, horrified, and now he was beginning to look furious. "Are you all right, Cousin Barnabas? Should I call Dr. Hoffman?"
"No, thank you, David. I am quite all right. You needn't trouble yourself."
"Are you sure?"
"Quite sure. I will drive to see Dr. Hoffman myself. Tell me, David, is the new babysitter still at Collinwood?"
"Oh--Buffy? Yes, she's there. Father asked if she wouldn't mind watching the twins today. He wanted me to be able to play on my own."
"And so you should, David. I wonder--would you mind taking Jamie over to play with the twins?"
"Stay with Daddy," Jamie objected.
"Just for a little while, son," Barnabas assured his little boy. "Wouldn't you like to play with Cassy and Teddy awhile? Daddy will bring you something special--I promise."
"Sure, come on, Jamie," David invited, to be helpful. "You can play hidenseek with everyone. Jon and Donna are there, and Buffy has a little boy, too."
"Okay," Jamie agreed, taking David's hand. The two boys left the house.
Damn you, Quentin, Barnabas thought furiously. Don't think that I don't realize that it was you who did this to me. You will regret this, I swear it. Yes, he would make Quentin sorry he dared something so amateurish, Barnabas thought, a cold smile of relish crossing his face. Unfortunately, he'd have to figure out what kind of spell Quentin cast to be able to remove it. It would also have to wait until they'd gotten Elizabeth safely out of Nicholas' hands.
Yes, Elizabeth, he thought. I never should have allowed things to progress as far as they did, and I blame myself for the position that you are in now. I will make it up to you, I swear it. His only consolation right now was that his beloved cousin had no idea how the evil Nicholas Blair was using her.
He sensed he had to get away with Maggie because she was in danger, too. Now, where had she gone? Ah, yes! To town--to pick up up Willie's grandmother. He had no idea that Willie had any living relatives at all, and he really didn't care. Once the grandmother was settled in the house--he assumed Willie was bringing her to the Old House--he would find some pretext to bring Maggie to the jet Roger arranged for him. Quentin would have Elizabeth waiting for him; he had no doubt about that. Barnabas smiled again. Yes, Quentin, I will settle with you--as soon as you have done as you've promised and delivered Elizabeth safely to the plane.
"Thank you, Willie!" Maggie exclaimed with relief, slumping in the passenger seat next to Willie as they drove into town.
Willie looked over at her nervously. "Geez, Maggie, what in the hell is going on around here with everyone?"
"I don't know," Maggie said fretfully. "I was wondering the same thing myself. That horrible witch is back, and everyone is behaving so strangely--"
"You ain't kidding!" Willie paused, then frowned. "What witch?"
"Willie, even you--you're under a spell, too."
"Me?" Willie scoffed incredulously, glancing at her again. He saw she was serious. "Whaa-- at?"
"Willie, for the last several days, you thought you were someone named Shane Douglas."
"Shane Douglas! Who the hell is that?"
Maggie shook her head. "Grant Douglas' cousin."
Willie shook his head as if to clear it. "What! That's Quentin's writing name!"
"I know, but--but that's who you said you were. And I was able to bring you back by giving you some rohypnol."
"Roh--what?"
"It's something I got from Dr. Hoffman's bag. I looked it up in a book and when you mix it with alcohol, the person who drinks it becomes susceptible to suggestions, but you became yourself again."
"Oh, geez, what am I gonna tell my grandma about this?"
"I don't think you should tell her anything, do you?" Maggie asked.
"You don't know my grandma, Maggie! She knows things, she does!" Willie sputtered. Maggie only looked at him. "You'll see," he warned darkly. They were coming to the train station now. "There she is!" There was an undertone of little-boy excitement to his voice now. He parked the car and jumped out, running toward the bench where the white-haired lady sat placidly waiting. "Grandma!"
Maggie got out and saw the sweet, serene face light up with a smile. Her eyes glowed like two candles set in the windows to welcome visitors to the house. She opened her arms and threw them about her grandson, who picked her up and whirled her around in a circle. "Oh, Billy-bear! Put me down!" she cried. "You crazy child!"
Billy-bear? Maggie thought, amazed. She remembered how mean Willie had been when he first came to Collinsport. Billy-bear?
Willie set her down, laughing, and took a step back, grabbing her hands. "Grandma! I'm so glad to see you--you have no idea!"
Siobhan Hollingshead gripped her grandson's hands tighter, looking into his eyes. "Honey, what on earth? What's going on at your house?" Willie half turned to look at Maggie, stunned. He gave her a "See what I mean?" look. Maggie was astonished and she flushed as the older woman turned her bright eyes on her. "It touches everyone, doesn't it, honey?" she said.
Roger was sitting in the garden, watching Buffy play with the children. They were having a game of hide and seek, and he was impressed with how "easy" it was to find her and how "hard" a time she had finding the children. She was very easy going with the children, he thought. When Julia had first told him that she had a babysitter named Martha Harrington, he imagined a middle-aged dour woman. Martha liked to be called Buffy, and she seemed so carefree. She'd told Roger a thing or two, though, and he knew she wasn't having such an easy time of it. Her husband had left her with their little son, Ricky, who was in Jon's class. Ricky apparently was something of a handful. Thinking of Buffy's husband made Roger think of his own wife. He wondered where she'd gone. Quentin sat down next to him, and Roger started. "I didn't hear you coming!" he exclaimed.
"You were busy," Quentin answered, "and I was trying to be quiet. Where is Elizabeth?"
"In the library," Roger answered.
"And Nicholas?"
"I've sent him on the wild goose chase as you've suggested. He is meeting with the mayor and the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce." Roger smiled. "I must admit that was a brilliant idea Barnabas had. Nicholas leapt at the chance to become the Director of Public Relations and Marketing." He frowned. "I don't want this arrangement to be permanent--"
"It won't be," Quentin assured him. "Think of him as a temporary employee--like Jason McGuire was."
Roger nodded. He looked troubled again. "I had a long talk with Barnabas, you know."
"Did you?" Quentin asked cautiously. He didn't really want to get into an argument with Roger, but thinking about Barnabas was causing his insides to churn. He was so confused. He wanted Barnabas very badly, wanted his cousin's caresses, hugs, and kisses--and yet, he hated Barnabas for casting this spell. He knew that Barnabas had been dallying with Julia and had probably gone further with her. Julia had been unfaithful, he knew it was true, and it maddened him. It made him furious to think that Barnabas would betray him. All he'd ever wanted was a close friend--someone he could look up to and respect. He wanted a big brother--not a cold, rejecting one like Edward had been, but one who would treat him decently and as a friend. That was the way he used to feel about Barnabas; he'd felt accepted and loved. But now--
"We are, both of us, concerned and appalled by all that's happened here. I am so sorry for all the trouble that's occurring between you and Julia, Quentin, and so is Barnabas. I hope there is some way to rectify all this."
"Really? That's what Barnabas said? That he's sorry?" Quentin asked coldly. I'll just be he's sorry, he thought. He saw the confused, hurt look in Roger's eyes and regretted the heavy sarcasm in his voice. He said, more gently, "Roger, I assure you that I am sorry about all this too. We're all working to making things right." It was a lie, but it would have to do for now. "I have to go--I've got to get Elizabeth out of here."
Elizabeth was pleased to see her cousin. She believed that her fiancé had arranged a surprise trip for her to Europe but that Quentin just couldn't keep a secret when he called to arrange to drive her to the airport. She assured him she wouldn't tell anyone that he'd given away the secret and that she would be ready to go. On the way to the airport, she chatted merrily away with Quentin, and he was grieved that it had been so long since she'd been so animated. They'd neglected her as many older relatives were neglected and forgotten by their families.
The plane was there, as Barnabas had said it would be. Quentin took Elizabeth's bags out of the trunk, intending to carry them onto the plane. He wanted one more look at his cousin, not sure if he wanted to kick him or kiss him.
"No, dear, I can handle these," Elizabeth objected, taking the bags from Quentin. He began to object. Elizabeth set one bag down and put her hand over Quentin's lips to shush him. "Please--let me be the one to surprise Nicholas."
"All right," Quentin said softly. He kissed her cheek, wishing her well. It was better this way--Barnabas would take care of her and there would be no ugly scenes. He watched as Elizabeth easily mounted the steps into the plane. She was bringing only two small suitcases. Little did she know what an extended trip she was taking. Well, Quentin reflected, the family was rich--what did it matter? He watched as the door to the plane closed; watched as it began to taxi down the runway. He wished he'd gotten a chance to see Barnabas one more time...
"Quentin! What are you doing? Where is Elizabeth?" Quentin nearly jumped out of his skin. He turned to face Barnabas, whose features were contracted in a very angry scowl. Shocked, Quentin was unable to speak. Barnabas grabbed him and shook him furiously. "Quentin! Where is she?"
Still unable to speak, Quentin pointed toward the plane. Barnabas let go, shocked himself, and started to walk out on to the runway. "My God, my God," he muttered, stunned. Suddenly enraged he turned on Quentin and hit him in the face. "You fool!" he shouted. "You let Blair take her away!"
"My dear," Nicholas said smoothly, offering Elizabeth a glass of iced mineral water. He had a scotch and soda for himself.
"This was such a dear, sweet idea of yours," Elizabeth sighed. "It's so romantic--but what will the family think?"
"My darling, they will think that we've become as two young lovers--and they will rejoice for us." Nicholas pearl white teeth gleamed as he gave her his most charming, loving smile. Yes, he thought, they'll have no other choice. He clinked glasses with hers and then raised his glass at the window in a mock toast to those that were left behind.
Granny
"How the Hell was I supposed to know that Blair was on the plane!" demanded a stunned Quentin. "I thought that he was meeting with the mayor this afternoon!"
"Well he is on that plane now! And now we have absolutely no idea just where they are going."
"How did you find out that Blair was here? I don't think he would have just let that information slip out."
"The mayor called to confirm a rescheduling of their meeting for next week."
"What about the flight plan? He couldn't have taken off without one. We'll just use that to find out where they went."
"Wrong! This is Nicholas Blair we're dealing with here. The flight plan doesn't exist anymore. It could be weeks before we hear from them and then it will be too late. Elizabeth will be fully in the clutches of that demon by then."
Meanwhile on the plane a very pleased Nicholas Blair turned from the window to face his fiancée. "Elizabeth, dear, this morning I arranged for us to have ourselves an extended leave of absence from Collinwood."
"Really? How?" asked a curious Elizabeth.
"I called in some favors from some of my business partners. Charles Otto, who worked with me in my casino dealings, has recently opened up a new hotel casino called "Sin City" in Las Vegas. He has invited us there to enjoy his hospitality. While we are there, we can also be married."
"Married?! But what about the family? I had hoped that we would get married in Collinsport with the family present."
"Elizabeth, darling, I know how much you wanted to have the big wedding with the family, but don't you think it will be better this way? I don't want our moment of happiness to be ruined by some of the unpleasantness that is going on at Collinwood. Besides, once I told Charles of our plans to get married, he insisted upon hosting the ceremony. Charles is counting on us to get married in his hotel. I'd hate to disappoint him."
"Well…"
"Besides, I haven't told you where we're going after we leave Las Vegas."
Back at the Old House, Roxanne awaited the return of Willie and Maggie with Willie's grandmother, Mrs. Hollingshead. She used this moment alone to investigate a hunch she had from her encounter with Maggie that morning. Maggie's thoughts had revealed to her that she had used a drug from the medical bag of Julia Hoffman to reverse the effects of Nicholas' spell on her. With Maggie and Willie gone, Roxanne used the opportunity to go into Maggie's room and look for the drug. It took longer than she had expected to find the bottle containing the rohypnol and remove a few pills from it. Maggie had hidden them quite well in a hidden crevice under the area rug in the room. Making a note to look for more rohypnol the next time she visited The Abbey, Roxanne quickly left the room.
No sooner than she had hidden her own supply of rohypnol, Roxanne heard the telltale slam of the front door. Quickly, she retrieved Jamie from his room and headed downstairs to greet the new visitor to the Old House.
"This is a really nice house, Billy-bear. You've done well for yourself. Now all we need to do is rid this place of the evil so you can have some peace around here," said Siobhan Hollingshead as she gave an appraising look to the drawing room. Pointing to Sam Evan's portrait of Barnabas, she commented "Is he the man you work for?"
"Yeah, that's Mr. Collins. He went out this morning, but he should be back later this afternoon."
"Hello. You must be Mrs. Hollingshead," said Roxanne as she entered the room with Jamie.
"Yes, and you must be the Roxanne that my grandson and Miss Evans here have been telling me about," replied Mrs. Hollingshead before turning her attention to Jamie. "And what's your name, young man?" she asked as she handed a cookie to the child.
"Jamie," replied the boy as he happily accepted the cookie.
"Well, I'm sure you'll want to freshen up after your trip. If you'll follow me, I'll show you where you can place all your things," said Roxanne.
"You don't have to do that. I can do that," Willie replied as he guided his grandmother upstairs.
Back at the main house, Roger Collins was becoming a little impatient at the lack of information he was receiving about his sister Elizabeth and the plan that had been devised to get her away from the influence of Nicholas Blair. Deciding to do a little investigating on his own, he picked up the twins and the three of them headed out the door to the Old House.
Roxanne answered the door and was a little surprised at her guest. "Roger. Come in. We haven't seen you around here in a long time. To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"Well, the twins wanted to see Jamie and Willie and I realized just how long it had been since I had been down here so here we are."
"It's good to see you. Barnabas isn't here, though. He went out earlier but he should be back soon if you want to wait for him. While you're here though, you can meet our new houseguest."
"You have a house guest?" asked Roger.
"Yes. Willie's grandmother, Siobhan Hollingshead is visiting here from West Virginia. She will be staying with us for a while," Roxanne replied.
"Did I hear someone mention my name?" asked Siobhan as she entered the room.
"Mrs. Hollingshead, this is Roger Collins," began Roxanne, "And this is Cassie and Teddy."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Collins," Siobhan replied as she shook Roger's hand. "But please, both of you call me Siobhan. You make me feel like an old woman with all this 'Mrs. Hollingshead' business."
"Only if you call me Roger, Siobhan. You know, you remind me of someone I once knew a long time ago."
"I bet it was an beloved nanny of yours who died long ago."
Roger and Roxanne both looked stunned at that comment. Roger somehow managed to compose himself enough to ask, "Just how did you know that? Have you been here before?"
"No, but the way you were acting told me that. I have a gift for reading people. It's quite helpful sometimes to know just what someone is thinking when you meet them."
"Well, you are absolutely right. I was thinking of Mrs. Bell. She was our nanny until she died in a car accident when I was eleven. Elizabeth and I were both devastated by the news. She was like a second mother to us after our own mother died."
"I'm glad I could bring a happy memory to you today. You and your children need some happiness. You have all been through a lot lately. Why don't you leave the kids here tonight and you and your wife take that that evening to yourselves that you've been planning."
"I couldn't do that. You are a guest here who is on vacation. I couldn't give you the responsibility of looking after two year old twins."
"Nonsense," said Siobhan as she gently took the hands of Cassie and Teddy away from Roger. "You are going to march out this door and go home and take your wife to the best restaurant in town and have a good time. I know there has been evil here, but for now it is gone. Take advantage of it to heal now because it won't be gone long."
"But…"
"No buts!" said Siobhan as she pushed Roger out the door. "And don't come back until you've had a good time."
Outside Roger thought to himself, 'Now I understand all those looks my father used to get after speaking to Mrs. Bell. And why she never lost an argument with him. Maybe there's hope for us here after all…'
Fathers, Sons, and Las Vegas
Barnabas was unhappy with the events that had taken place at the airstrip. Leaning over to the visibly distraught Quentin, he whispered something into his ear. Roger had watched, helpless as the whole terrifying scene had unfolded. He watched Nicholas Blair and his sister Elizabeth boarded the plane, and it had taken off before he could do anything to stop it. Barnabas and Quentin were walking towards the waiting limo. Quentin taking his cell phone out, began to make a call as Barnabas conferred with the chauffeur. Roger began to walk towards the car, and his two "distant" cousins.
"Roger!" Barnabas exclaimed.
"Barnabas," Roger said while nodding to Quentin.
"Well, as you can see that certainly didn't work out, " Barnabas said tiredly, while the chauffeur opened the door and patiently waited for him to enter the car before closing the door.
"Well, Barnabas, I have checked with air control, and ascertained that the jet carrying my errant sister, and Nicholas Blair are indeed Vegas bound. Now, you'll notice the jet pulling up, getting ready to stop is a Collins jet. It has full crew, and is ready for take off at your request, Barnabas. The jet will carry you and Quentin to Vegas, and you may proceed with your plan.
"Elizabeth must be stopped before it's too late. The whole idea is shocking. Imagine a woman Elizabeth's age, and social status, eloping to Las Vegas with someone she barely knows. I had thought Nicholas more level-headed than to run off to Vegas with a woman who has apparently taken leave of her senses, just run off on a whim! Shocking!" Roger was barely able to disguise the disgust in his voice.
"Barnabas, Buffy said Jonathan would be ready within the hour," Quentin said relief flooding his voice as he noted Roger still there.
"Good! Roger has offered as jet and crew. And as you can see it's ready and waiting. Fortunately, Roger was here, and saw what happened, and immediately decided to have the jet waiting for our departure if needed. We cannot allow Elizabeth to marry that man.
Quentin, did Buffy send someone to the Old House to have Jamie and Maggie ready to travel?" Barnabas asked.
"Yes, it's all taken care of." Quentin said matter of factly, wondering if it were going to go as smoothly as Barnabas was making it out to be. For some reason he did not want to go back to the Old House. Quentin smiled inwardly when he thought about Roxanne looking like Laura, and then Maggie looking like Laura, but only to Barnabas. He did not feel sorry for Barnabas, he felt it little of what he deserved. Glaring at Barnabas, he did not feel the burning desire he had felt for him before, he really wanted to kill him, No time for that, Barnabas was right about Collinwood, and the Collins Estate, it could not be handed over to Blair. They needed to pull together in this.
Roger had listened to the exchange between Barnabas and Quentin about their sons, and it seemed as if they were readying to take them on the trip. Good idea, Roger thought. Maggie, of course, was the logical choice of caretaker, because Buffy would be taking care of Donna. Julia no longer spent much time at The Abbey. Julia was rumored to be spending most of her time with Cassandra at the house that Burke had wanted to buy for Vicki. For some reason Elizabeth had allowed her to stay in the house as long as she needed to, the lawyers had made the arrangements very easy to conclude.
"Barnabas, do you think Maggie would mind one more child?" Roger asked almost timidly.
Barnabas stared at Roger in disbelief, and Quentin jerked around and looked at Roger with the same look of disbelief as Barnabas.
Removing his dark glasses, Barnabas looking at Roger asked him, "who are you talking about, Roger?"
"Well, I have come to the conclusion that I am not letting the two of you out of my sight. And that means just what it intended to mean, I am going to Las Vegas with you and Quentin. I have got to assure myself that everything will be done to stop Elizabeth from the catastrophe she's embarking upon. Don't be offended, it's just that I know Elizabeth much better than the two of you. And besides it might be kind of fun to go to Sin City, just the three of us, and our sons." Roger said jokingly.
At that comment, both Barnabas and Quentin glared at Roger.
"You can't be serious, Roger," Quentin said a little dumbfounded by this turn of events.
"Of course, I'm serious, Quentin. I am coming along, and I want to bring my son Teddy." Roger stated matter of factly.
"What about David?" Barnabas and Quentin choroused in unison.
"Well, David is a little too old for Jamie and Jonathan, and much too young for Las Vegas. If you understand what I mean by that? Anyway, he's been spending time with Julia, and for some reason he's spending time with Cassandra, and doesn't seem to mind," Roger said hurt marring his aristocratic features at the thought of his estranged wife.
Barnabas and Quentin decided simutaneously that Roger needed to go with them. He had been through enough because of them. It occurred to them both that Nicholas' powers must be weakened somewhat for David to want to be around Cassandra, and Roger not to mind. Maybe this Vegas business with Elizabeth was consuming more power than he had thought. Maybe the power drain had come from the surprise Blair had felt when he knew that Barnabas and Quentin were once again allies to fight anyone who would hurt their family. An outsider, Quentin thought amused, but they could kill each other all they wanted.
Roger handed the phone back to Quentin, and said Teddy would be packed and eager to go within an hour. They would pick up Teddy, Jamie, and Jonathan along with Maggie at Collinwood.
Maggie was nervous. She was excited at the thought of going to Las Vegas with Barnabas, and a deeper darker excitement begin to burn like an ember that had lay dying, but was now beginning to simmer and flare to life. Nicholas Blair, she would see him, and be with him. She knew it. Nothing would stop her. And she would be willing to be his bride in any way he wanted just to be with him. To have his touch, to see the love that burnt in his eyes just for her sent a shock through her groin.
"See, Daddy?" Jamie asked for what seemed to be the 100th time in the last five minutes..
"Yes, Jamie, you are going to see your daddy," Maggie replied smiling at the happy child, as the car pulled up at Collinwood.
So, she had three charges instead of one. Oh well, she would be able to get hotel help in Las Vegas she assumed.
They had entered the jet, the three fathers and their sons, looking very happy. Jonathan was chatting a hundred miles a minute to his father, and Quentin looked very intrigued at the boy's conversation. Teddy had Roger tight around the neck, and Jamie had Barnabas' hand, looking up at his father, his smile never leaving his face.
Once they were airborne the children and adults were tired, and drifted off. Quentin hadn't felt so at ease in months, and he found he was very tired, and very content that his son Jonathan was with him. He missed Julia and Donna, but would think about that later. At that thought, he felt compelled to look at Barnabas, and saw Barnabas was staring at him, as if straight into his soul. Quentin looked at him, nonplussed for a minute, but just to battle weary to feel any kind of fear, lust or otherwise about Barnabas. Roger had watched the exchange, and it occurred to him that something tragic had happened between the two cousins. They had always been closer than brothers, but not anymore. The thought made Roger sad, and he wanted to cry, but held it back. So much loss, Roger thought, as he held his son closer to him. Jamie naturally had rested on Barnabas' lap, and went to sleep head against chest. Barnabas liked watching Jamie sleep, just as he had liked to watch Laura sleep. Thinking of Laura made him hurt more than he thought possible, but he survived it just to hurt again. It would sear through his insides like a fire that couldn't be quenched, just burning with pain relentlessly. He had not looked at Maggie, he did not want to make that mistake again of thinking Maggie was Laura. Laura was with her god Amen Re, her people, the Phoenix, the chosen of Amen Re. He had been fortunate to have had her grace his life. They would have been together forever if not for his well-meaning family and friends. They thought her fire didn't burn in his blood anymore, but there was a small burning ember threatening to flare, he had kept it quenched for the time being.
Looking at Roger, thinking he had loved her, had a child by her, but did not feel the way that he, Barnabas had. Then he looked deep into the sad eyes of Quentin, and thought the same thing, Quentin had loved Laura, and Quentin's brother Edward had loved, married, and had a child by her. His Uncle Jeremiah had married Laura, but had not loved her the same as the others for some reason. There had been a child that had died in a fire. Jeremiah would not talk about her anymore after that fire.
Dirk had been sorely used by Laura, and after Barnabas had taken Dirk from her Dirk had become insane after coming across, and living as a rogue vampire. Barnabas had not cared enough about Dirk to take him under his wing and teach him how to survive, it would not have mattered anyway, Dirk was obsessed with Laura. He had actually thought Barnabas had the power to bring her back, and insisted that he bring her back or he would kill Rachel, and Rachel had died.
Barnabas knew that he and Dirk were not the same, but he knew that Dirk had truly loved Laura. That Dirk had become a vampire, he did not know if Dirk and Laura had been together after Dirk's becoming a vampire -- he was going nowhere with this, except that two men who were or were not vampires, had become vampires, and then were not were insanely in love with a supernatural creature they could truly never possess. There was a key in this somewhere, but right now sleep was overtaking him, as the ember burned brightly for Laura.
"Where is Jamie?" Roxanne asked, panicking. She'd arrived home to find the house empty; Willie and his grandmother were out. They'd left a note explaining they were going out sightseeing, but they'd made no mention of taking Jamie. Willie might be on the irresponsible side, but not Siobhan. No, Siobhan had been nothing but wonderful since her arrival. The retired midwife had been full of concern and advice for Roxanne, who looked exhausted. She'd gone to the Abbey, and there she found Buffy in the yard, watching her son play with Donna. Buffy jigged little Cassie up and down on her knee.
"Didn't Mr. Collins tell you?" Buffy asked, looking alarmed. "I coulda sworn he told Maggie you'd know..."
Oh, damn Barnabas! Roxanne thought, not for the first time. "That I would know what, Buffy?" she asked calmly.
"He and his cousins left for Las Vegas, and they took three of the kids with them," Buffy explained rapidly. She watched Roxanne's reaction.
Men! They were always lying, she thought bitterly. "To Las Vegas?" Roxanne repeated incredulously. Either she was mad or the whole world had gone crazy. "Are you telling me that Barnabas took Jamie to Las Vegas?"
Buffy nodded. "And Mr. Collins took Jonathan, and Mr. Collins took Teddy."
"You mean Quentin and Roger?" Roxanne covered her face with her hands. When was this lunacy going to end? She had the little bottle of rohypnol she'd filched from Maggie in her purse. It had been her intent to try it with Barnabas and see if she could reduce the mad obsession he had for Laura. She decided to go to Seacliff in search of Cassandra and Julia. "I'm sorry, Buffy, but would you mind watching the girls a while longer?"
"Not at all--it keeps my kid occupied," Buffy said amiably. "Lord knows, he's surely a handful!"
Roxanne squeezed her hand gratefully. "Thanks!"
Roxanne was grateful to find Cassandra at Sea Cliff. "Where is Julia?"
Cassandra sighed, pushing her hands through her thick blonde hair. "She's meeting with her attorney, plotting some nonsense against Quentin." Her eyes filled with tears. "Nicholas' spell against me seems to be weakening, thank God. David was here for a while, but I haven't seen Roger or my babies..."
"I know you don't want to get involved anymore than you have to," Roxanne broke in, "but I think you'd agree that this has gone on long enough. We need to stop it."
"Something's happened again," Cassandra guessed, her features becoming tense with dismay.
"Barnabas, Quentin, and Roger have taken the baby boys and flown to Las Vegas."
"Whaat!" Cassandra shrieked. "Las Vegas!"
"That was my reaction, too," Roxanne said dryly. She took out the bottle of rohypnol and showed it to Cassandra. "I got this from Maggie. She used it on Willie when he was under the delusion that he was Shane Douglas. Originally, I intended to use it on Barnabas."
"Why? What does it do?"
"Well," Roxanne paused, thinking of a way to explain, rolling the small vial between her hands, "it is sort of a hypnotic drug, I guess. When you mix it with alcohol, the person who ingests it becomes very susceptible to suggestion. That's how Maggie was able to get through to Willie and make him believe that he wasn't Shane. I do know that Willie's reverted once, so I don't think it's permanent-but it's a good start."
Cassandra eyed the vial with interest. "My, how fascinating," she said. Roxanne could imagine the little wheels turning in the witch's head, wondering how she herself might be able to use rohypnol to her advantage. Cassandra's blue eyes met Roxanne's determined ones. "I see you have a plan. What is it you want to do?"
"We give it to Julia instead. Julia is a doctor-she's the only one who truly understands this drug. If Julia could go to Las Vegas with enough of this rohypnol to treat Barnabas, Quentin, and Roger, we may bring some sanity back to our households."
"May I?" Cassandra took the bottle from Roxanne. She closed her eyes, concentrating. "Yes-it will do. At least until we can get them all back here." Roxanne sighed with relief. The door opened, and Julia walked in. "Well," she said coldly, glaring at Roxanne. "And what are you doing here?"
"We have to talk, Julia-please," Roxanne said.
"I have nothing to say to you!" Julia's eyes were hard and cold. It was obvious she blamed Roxanne in part for her estrangement from Quentin. Cassandra had moved away to the makeshift liquor cabinet she and Julia set up when they began their uneasy living arrangement together.
She poured out three glasses of sherry and commented calmly: "I don't imagine it would hurt to listen to what she has to say. Then she can go." She turned toward Julia and held out a glass, her eyes wide with innocence and a guileless smile upon her face.
Julia went on the next available flight to Las Vegas with a large amount of rohypnol on her person. She was very nervous about carrying it; it was not approved by the FDA and, in fact, was considered an illegal drug because of its powerful effect on the person taking it. She sighed, reflecting on the last several weeks. Was Barnabas responsible for all of this madness? Was it possible he was such a powerful sorcerer? Or was it Nicholas? She set her mouth in a grim line, considering what she'd need to do once she arrived in Las Vegas.
By casting a spell, Cassandra had determined that Nicholas and Elizabeth were at the Sands. She drew her breath in sharply. "It's too late--they are already married!"
"And what about Barnabas, Quentin, and Roger? Have they gone to the Sands?"
Cassandra smiled. "Barnabas is very clever and powerful--I am only beginning to realize the extent of his power. He has deduced that this is where they are. They are on their way there."
I'm going to call a cab, Julia thought. I'll go to the Sands first.
All three of the boys were squalling as the party arrived at the Sands to check in. Maggie felt haggard and harassed, plainly no longer enjoying the trip. The little boys were in various states of hunger and boredom, and their fathers were more interested in getting themselves checked in than in quieting the boys. Just like men, Maggie thought spitefully. She wondered if Willie would be like that--or Nicholas. She decided not. Willie was too much of an aw-shucks-let-me-help kind of guy and Nicholas, well, she just had a feeling a child would not squall around Nicholas. She watched the men consulting at the check in desk. Presently, Roger strolled off and Quentin and Barnabas joined her. "Hey, Jon, what're you hollering about?" Quentin asked.
"I'm hungry, daddy!" the little boy yelled.
"Okay, okay, ssssh, we're going up to our room and then we'll go get hamburgers or something, all right?" Quentin straightened up in time to notice that Barnabas took Jamie into his arms, averting his eyes from Maggie. Quite deliberately, Quentin put his arm around Maggie's shoulder and said, "Don't you think we should thank Maggie for her patience with our kids?"
"Thank you," Barnabas muttered, keeping his head averted.
"Daddy, I wanna hotdog!" Jamie whined.
"Soon, son," Barnabas soothed.
"Maggie, I think Barnabas needs some help," Quentin said snidely. Maggie looked at him, wondering if he'd lost his mind.
"Stop it now, Quentin," Barnabas snapped harshly. Before things could escalate any further, a porter came to take their bags upstairs. They'd booked a suite of rooms that opened into a common living area.
As they went up in the elevator, Maggie asked: "Where did Roger go?"
"It seems that we checked into the right hotel," Barnabas answered, still looking away from Maggie. "He's gone to the gaming room to see if he can find Nicholas and Elizabeth. He'll come and let us know if he finds them in the casino."
Once they were settled into the suite, Maggie called room service and ordered meals for everyone. It was easier to eat in the suite than to drag the cranky boys back downstairs. Roger came back looking grim. "They've gone on a tour of the desert. We'll have to just wait until they get back."
The three men helped themselves to drinks to help them relax. "Well, since there's nothing to be done until later, why don't I take these young men in for a nap? I think they could use one," Maggie said. "So could we all," Roger declared. He carried Teddy into one of the bedrooms. Maggie held onto the hands of Jonathan and Jamie, leading them into the room. They'd all fit on the extra large bed, she was sure. They were restless, however, and began wrestling each other. Resigned, Maggie decided to lie down with them. Roger came back into the living area to find Barnabas and Quentin glaring at each other. He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I don't mean to be intrusive," he said, "but exactly what has come between you two?"
"Why nothing," Quentin answered innocently. He got up and stretched.
"I'm tired. You were right, Roger. I think I could use a nap." "Pleasant dreams," Barnabas said, his voice taking on a menacing tone.
Quentin stiffened and looked at him suspiciously. "I thought we had an agreement."
"As did I," Barnabas agreed. "I began to wonder in the lobby, however."
"Just a little joke."
"Indeed. And I was just jesting, too."
Quentin stalked off to his room. Roger was puzzled. "I don't understand, Barnabas. Obviously, something is still wrong."
"Please don't let it trouble you," Barnabas urged. "We all need to rest if we are to think clearly against Nicholas Blair."
"Yes," Roger agreed. "Well, I suppose I will lie down for a little while, too." He shook his head, disturbed by what was going on between his two cousins. They were here to save Elizabeth from Nicholas; he wished that Barnabas and Quentin would remember that and stop sparring with each other.
He wished he knew what to do to help; after Barnabas had confided in him, he'd thought long and hard about it. He wished he was a wiser man, but he had to admit he wasn't very good at solving problems-especially when they involved emotions.
As Barnabas continued his ruminations about Laura and the strange obsession he continued to feel pulling at him, Quentin paced his room grimly. He didn't want to lie down and rest now. He didn't trust Barnabas anymore, in spite of the truce his cousin had proposed. He was very concerned about Elizabeth; she'd been nothing but kind to him since his arrival back in Collinsport. Nicholas Blair was a dangerous entity, and he wished he knew what it was Blair wanted with her. He had to help Roger-but did that mean Barnabas had to come? In his fatigue, Quentin imagined himself to be more alert and capable and powerful than he actually was. Surely he and Roger could find Elizabeth.
I'll think of a way to get Maggie and Barnabas together, Quentin decided. The spell Cassandra helped him cast was still in effect; he knew that was why Barnabas refused to look at Maggie. Once they're together, I'll get Roger out of here and we'll go and get Elizabeth…
He heard knocking at the suite door. Who could that be? He wondered. He opened the door to his bedroom cautiously and looked around.
Everyone else had retreated to their own rooms-the suite had four bedrooms-and there was no one in the living area. He crossed to the door and opened it, stunned to find Julia standing there. His first reaction was to take her in his arms; he'd truly missed her. He hadn't seen her since she'd left the Abbey, packing her things and leaving while the children were still in school. It was a good thing, too, considering the hurtful accusations they'd shouted at each other. As he remembered the insults Julia had hurled at him, his initial reaction faded and he felt his resentment burning. "What are you doing here?" he demanded roughly.
To his astonishment, Julia put her hand on his arm. "Quentin, I am so sorry about everything. You have no idea how much I've missed you."
He was tempted to laugh at her and mock her-then she'd see how it felt to be reviled unjustly. He couldn't bring himself to do it. Her green eyes pleaded with him, and to his amazement he saw love there too. "Julia," he said thickly, opening his arms. She moved into his embrace, and they held each other tightly.
"Forgive me, Quentin, I don't know why I let things get so out of control the way I did," Julia was saying in his ear. "I never should have doubted you with Roxanne. I must have been insane. I was not myself."
"No," Quentin began. He almost said, "Neither was I", but then he began to wonder if this was a trick on Julia's part to get to Barnabas.
Julia, feeling Quentin stiffen in her arms had a suspicion what thoughts might be crossing her mind. Patting his back gently, she suggested, "A drink would be nice. This is Las Vegas-I'm assuming we have a wet bar here?"
"Supplied with every type of liquor you might imagine," Quentin agreed stepping back. She studied him closely. He noticed, but smiled as he led her into the room. Was she really here to see him? It seemed that way, yet she could be clever liar. He forgot that she'd never lied to him, basing his suspicions on the stories she'd told him about her early days with Barnabas.
"What can I get you?"
"Oh, a seven and seven would be nice," Julia said. "Get yourself a drink, too, Quentin."
He laughed. "You don't have to ask me twice, dear Julia." He mixed her drink carefully and then poured himself his usual brandy. He brought the drinks over to the sofa. Julia was already seated and waiting for him. "My dear." He held her glass out to her. Their fingers met briefly and then the glass seemed to slip through her fingers, falling to the floor with a thud. Fortunately, the glass didn't break, but the drink went everywhere. Quentin looked at her irritably.
"I'm sorry!" Julia exclaimed. "I'm so nervous!" She was reaching into her bag for tissues to blot up the spilled liquor.
"Julia, for God's sake, that's what the maids are for!" Quentin said impatiently. "Don't worry about it. I'll make you another." He set his brandy down and went back to the bar. As soon as his back was turned, Julia had her vial out and was dropping rohypnol into Quentin's brandy. She sat back, taking slow deep breaths and tried to relax. This time, when Quentin returned he made sure the glass was safely in Julia's hand. He sat down beside her, picking up his brandy. Gulping his drink a little too quickly, he asked, "So you came all this way to apologize to me?" Julia smiled, watching Quentin drain the last of his brandy.
"Why don't you get the bottle and have another drink? It seems you could use it," she suggested sweetly, knowing he wouldn't object. She managed to get another couple of drops into his glass. She waited for him to return with the bottle before speaking. She knew she had to proceed slowly and carefully, allowing the drug to take effect. She was going to remind him that they loved each other and that it had been Barnabas who'd planted the seeds of jealous suspicion in their heads.
After a third brandy, Quentin finally "got" it. He wasn't even angry. The brandy was having a relaxing effect on him; Julia suggested that he understand that Barnabas acted out of grief and temporary madness and not real spite. Quentin looked at her, his eyes watering with alcoholic sentimentality. "Poor Barnabas," he said. "We took away his true love."
"Well, she was a definite danger and a threat to him. She would have destroyed him and their child-don't forget that. And he does have Roxanne," Julia pointed out.
Quentin smiled at her. "And I have you. Come here." He held his arms out for her. She moved a little closer and was surprised when he half lifted, half dragged her onto his lap. "It's been too long," he whispered, kissing her. His arms were around her, pulling her close. It felt wonderful, but it was terribly indiscreet. They had things to do…she had to treat Barnabas with the rohypnol…as she felt Quentin's hand slide up her blouse, she thought they really needed to move to the bedroom…
"Oh!" Maggie exclaimed, and both Quentin and Julia jumped. Julia reddened with embarrassment and even Quentin had the good grace to look abashed. "I'm sorry-I didn't know anyone was out here! Oh, dear, I've spoiled it!"
"No, no, no!" Quentin objected. "You didn't spoil anything, Maggie." His words slurred a little, and he moved his hand from under Julia's blouse to the back of her neck, massaging it lightly.
At that moment, Barnabas opened his door. "I heard voices, Quentin-you and Julia…" He stopped speaking abruptly, his eyes meeting Maggie's. His face became pale with shock. "Laura!"
"Oh, no, Barnabas," Maggie protested. Here we go again, she thought. Julia looked at Quentin. "Laura?" she whispered into his ear, confused. "He thinks she's Laura?"
"We have to stop them, Julia!" Quentin exclaimed, his eyes filling up maudlin brandy tears again. "This is all my fault! I did this to him-and it was cruel to make him think that Maggie was his true love! I'm a real sorry son-of-a-bitch!"
"Oh, dear!" Julia exclaimed. She got up quickly, leaving her remorseful husband on the couch. Barnabas had taken Maggie into his arms, obviously intending to kiss her. "Barnabas!" she interrupted, and he looked around at her in irritation. "We must have a drink to celebrate-all of us are together again!"
"I don't really want a drink…" Barnabas began.
Maggie interrupted, looking at Julia with gratitude: "Oh, I'd love a drink!"
"Very well, my dear," Barnabas said reluctantly. He and Maggie sat down beside Quentin. He looked over at his cousin, puzzled by the look of drunken compassion on Quentin's face. "What is the matter with you?" he demanded.
"How much have you had to drink? You know we must find Elizabeth!"
"I'll be all right, Barnabas," Quentin cut in, to stop the scolding. "It's you I'm worried about, old man!" And he put his hand on Barnabas' knee, patting it comfortingly.
Barnabas' eyes widened with shock. He grabbed Quentin's hand and pushed it away, beginning to look very angry. "I assure you I am quite all right and there is no need to worry about me!" He glared at Quentin very sternly, intending to intimidate him into ceasing this untoward behavior. He was sure Quentin was baiting him. To his consternation, he saw that Quentin didn't look offended or frightened. He was looking at Barnabas with pity, which was very confusing.
"It's all right," Quentin said softly. "I understand. I'm not angry."
Barnabas bit back a furious retort. He would deal with Quentin later. How did he dare-in front of Laura! He barely noticed when Julia returned with drinks for Laura and himself. He could hear Julia and Laura talking. Barely listening, he sipped at his drink. After a few moments, his mind cleared and he sat bolt upright. He'd been trifled with! He looked to his side and saw only Maggie, talking about the trip. There were other things that he saw, too: the spell driving Quentin and Julia apart had been broken--temporarily. He could look at Maggie now and not be tormented with the sight of his lost love's face. Julia's words were beginning to sink in now: Nicholas Blair, danger, and the children. What had he been thinking?
"Do you suppose Roger would object?" Maggie asked.
"I don't think so-it seems hardly reasonable to drag small children through a casino," Julia answered.
"I can't imagine what I was thinking," Barnabas finally managed to say. "Of course we must send the children back-they are not safe here."
"Hello," Roger called in greeting from the door. "I heard voices. Julia!"
He seemed genuinely delighted to see her and happier still to see her sitting so closely to Quentin, his hand clasped in hers. Julia gave Quentin's hand a pat and a squeeze and stood up. "Come and have a drink, Roger," she said brightly.
Julia and Maggie were on their way back to the airport, three dazed little boys in tow. They'd been having a pleasant conversation when Julia suddenly stiffened and gasped. "Julia?" Maggie asked, her face showing concern. "What's wrong?"
"Well, I was so busy trying to get rid of everyone's delusions that I totally forgot to give Roger a very important piece of information!"
"What?"
"That Cassandra feels that Nicholas and Elizabeth are already married." Julia was busy thinking and didn't notice the cold, hard expression that came over Maggie's features. Julia snapped her fingers. "I'll call from the room from the airport!" she decided. Unfortunately, though, the phone rang and rang. Julia still hadn't reached Roger by the time their flight was called.
Barnabas was deep in thought as he went down in the elevator with his two cousins. Quentin and Julia's parting had been sickeningly sentimental, kissing each other shamelessly and talking about how much they looked forward to seeing each other again. Barnabas almost laughed when Roger whispered into his ear: "For heavens' sake, it was bad enough when they were at each other's throats-this is downright sappy!"
Now, however, he was considering permanently removing the spells he'd cast in anger against Quentin and Julia. Oh, Julia and Roxanne might believe that they'd "cured" everyone with that ridiculous rohypnol stuff but it was really just a temporary cure. He would have to be the one to remove the curses. Looking at Quentin and Roger, he sensed their concern for Elizabeth but detected that they were at peace inside. They were no longer in turmoil about their wives, and Barnabas was honest enough to acknowledge that he was jealous about that-he had no feelings for Roxanne. Barnabas was smart enough to figure out he'd been drugged when he began to feel the effects of Julia's words on his single-minded obsession. He didn't know if he could ever be cured of that; he didn't know where it came from or what would happen to him from here. He did realize with a sudden clarity that he'd been unfair and unjust to his family, punishing them for trying to help him. Yes, he decided, he would remove all the spells once and for all as soon as he was able. Now, they had to intercept Elizabeth.
Julia had called from the lobby as she and Maggie were leaving with the boys. She'd spotted Elizabeth and Nicholas in the casino. Hopefully they'd still be there. Stiffly, he followed Roger and Quentin toward the gaming room. He looked around distastefully. He'd never approved of gambling. "I don't see them," Roger said, disappointed. "Quentin, why don't you check the roulette table. I'll check the blackjack and other gaming tables. Barnabas, why don't you look at the one-armed bandits?"
"I beg your pardon? The what?"
"Oh, dear, I quite forgot that in England they wouldn't necessarily have them. The slot machines."
"I see, very well." Barnabas thought he could figure out what slot machines were and thought that 'one-armed bandits' was probably an understatement. He could see immediately that Nicholas and Elizabeth were not there. He watched briefly as people stuck coins into the machines, pulling down on what he supposed was the "arm". What a ridiculous way to throw away money, he thought. He caught up with his cousins at the roulette wheel.
"Not here," Quentin said with a longing look at the wheel.
"Perhaps they've gone to the show," Roger suggested.
"Why don't we go and see?" Barnabas said, eager to get out of this noisy, smoky place.
The room was almost completely darkened as they entered. Someone came to greet them, and Roger asked to be seated. He asked if a couple had come in matching Nicholas and Elizabeth's description. "It's possible, but there's so many here tonight," the man said, leading them to a table. "I can check around for you."
"Thank you," Roger said graciously. They ordered a round of drinks.
"What is that man doing?" Barnabas asked, looking toward the stage. It was disgraceful! There was a man dressed in a tuxedo with a cigarette in one hand, a glass of amber in the other. He was staggering toward the piano player.
Roger chuckled. "That's Dean Martin. That's just part of his act."
Barnabas noted that people were laughing at the man and his pathetic attempts to put a sentence together. However, he then went on to sing a love song about moons and pizza pies and amore. The man can sing, Barnabas thought. Quite well, in fact. Why does he need to make a fool of himself when he can sing so well? A waiter returned with their drinks. Looking around, Quentin froze. He could see Elizabeth's patrician profile-she was seated at a table near the stage. Nicholas was beside her, although Quentin couldn't see his face. He turned and signaled to his cousins and then pointed. Roger got up abruptly and moved across the floor. "Roger, wait!" Barnabas hissed to try and stop his cousin but it was too late. He and Quentin looked at each other. "We don't have a plan!"
"Well, we'll have to punt, then," Quentin answered shortly and got up to follow Roger.
Punt! Another damn word Willie forgot to teach me, Barnabas thought irritably. He didn't have time to wonder what it meant; he was right on Quentin's heels, wondering what Roger was up to. He could see already that Roger had taken a seat at the table and that he, Elizabeth, and Nicholas were engaged in a whispered but heated exchange. Quentin hoped Roger wouldn't say something to infuriate his sister before he and Barnabas got to the table. As they began to take their seats, though, he realized with a sinking feeling it was already too late.
Nicholas looked amused, using one hand to smooth his moustache. The other was draped around Elizabeth's shoulder. She was furious. "How dare you, Roger! And how dare you follow me on my honeymoon as if I was a little child!"
"She's married!" Roger's voice was a mixture of anger and despair as he looked up at his cousins. He was glaring furiously at Nicholas, and Barnabas was suddenly glad that dueling was still illegal.
"Yes, we are married! You have marred what was to be a lovely honeymoon!" Elizabeth's face was white with rage, and her blue eyes were cold and hard. "I have had enough of your inexcusably rude attitude toward Nicholas and your insufferable patronizing attitude toward me, Roger! I want you to go back to Collinsport, pack your things and get out of Collinwood!"
"Liz!" Roger exclaimed, shocked.
"Now, Elizabeth, my dear, you mustn't upset yourself," Nicholas soothed. "Remember, your condition…"
"Just what are you up to now, Mr. Blair?" Roger asked nastily.
"Enough!" Elizabeth's voice rose, and she stood up.
The man on stage staggered toward their table, stopping at the edge. "Scuse me, lady, I didn't realize I was off-key."
Elizabeth blanched. Dean Martin thought she meant he should stop singing. "Oh!" she cried, running right toward a small flight of steps that she hoped was an exit. Nicholas got up and went after her.
"Lover's quarrel," Roger explained, red-faced. He shrugged and went after his sister and new brother-in-law. The audience laughed, obviously thinking this was part of the act. Barnabas got up walked swiftly in the direction the others had gone.
Quentin hoped to get away unnoticed, but as he got up, the man on stage called out: "Hey, old buddy! I haven't see you in a coon's age-are you the cause of that lover's quarrel, you sly dog, you?" Mortified, Barnabas turned around and realized that this drunken man knew Quentin and was actually conversing with him!
Quentin shrugged and said in an abashed tone, "Well, a leopard can't change its spots, you know." He saw Barnabas glaring daggers and him and indicating that he should follow now! "See ya, old buddy!"
"Hey-here's one to patch up that quarrel!" The band began to play another song-Barnabas heard the first line of the song as they ascended the stairs: "Everybody loves somebody sometime…" He sighed deeply, thinking again of his lost love. He shook his head-where had the others gone?
Quentin caught up with Barnabas. There was a door at the top of the steps, and they entered a hallway. "I think this goes backstage," Quentin guessed. They could hear the strains of someone crooning a saloon song Quentin knew well: "One More For the Road." The hall led to backstage, as Quentin had guessed, and they passed the crooning man: a short, black man with closely cropped hair. Quentin's eyes nearly popped, and he wanted to say hello and tell Mr. Davis how much he enjoyed his singing, but Barnabas was still on the move.
They could see Roger standing in the shadows, watching in fury as Nicholas and Elizabeth shook hands with yet another famous singer. "It's a real pleasure to meet you, Mr. Blair. Why don't you give me a call when you get back east and we can discuss this campaign of yours some more? I know a lot of contacts that owe me-they'd be glad to support you."
"Oh, isn't that wonderful, darling!" Elizabeth crowed, nearly melting as Old Blue Eyes turned toward her and smiled.
"Well, we won't keep you-I know you'll be going on soon, and we hope to be able to see your entire show tomorrow night," Nicholas said in a smooth, oily voice.
"Let me take you to the back door." The three turned toward the cousins and froze. "Who the hell let you back here?" The singer looked toward Nicholas. "Are these the guys that're tailing you?"
"Yes, I'm afraid they are," Nicholas replied grimly.
"Well, we'll take care of this!" the singer exclaimed. Before Roger, Quentin, or Barnabas could utter a word of protest, the singer called out several names. Four rather large men appeared suddenly. They were obviously "friends" of the singer's and most definitely not of the cousins. "Get them the hell out of here!" The four men moved menacingly toward the cousins as Nicholas pretended to tip his hat and grinned. He took Elizabeth by the elbow and allowed the singer to escort them away. Elizabeth never looked back once.
"Oh, Lord," Roger groaned.
"Circle the wagons, gentlemen," Quentin advised as the four mean looking giants continued their approach. Barnabas wondered what on earth Quentin was talking about now and wondered how they would extricate themselves from this mess. He began to concentrate…
Unexpected Help
"Quentin! There you are!" shouted a voice from behind the three men. "I've been looking for you. Why didn't you tell me you were coming back here?"
The bodyguards stared at each other in confusion. "You know these people, Mr. Martin?" the lead one asked.
"Of course I know them. Quentin and I go waaaaay back. We used to get into all sorts of scrapes back in Atlantic City."
"So, you see, we're not harassing anyone. We're guests of Mr. Martin," Barnabas quickly chimed in.
"Well, since you're with Mr. Martin, I guess you're alright. Just don't start anything. Come on boys, we got work to do elsewhere," said the lead bodyguard as he and his companions turned to leave.
Roger, Barnabas and Quentin all breathed a collective sigh of relief after the bodyguards left. That had been a little too close for comfort.
"So, Quentin, are you going to introduce me to your friends?" Dean asked with a smile on his face.
"Um, Dean, these are my cousins, Barnabas Collins and Roger Collins," said Quentin as he indicated each man. "I have to thank you for helping us out of a jam back there."
"No problem. I still owed you one from the Derby. What did you get into this time?"
"My sister, Elizabeth just eloped with a charlatin named Nicholas Blair. We were trying to stop her from making a big mistake," Roger added. "Unfortunately, we didn't know just how well connected Nicholas was."
"I met Nicholas and your sister the other day over at Sin City. He seems to be quite a character. For whatever reason, Frank took a great liking to him."
Roger dryly responded,"Many people have been taking a 'liking' to Nicholas lately, unfortunately."
"Well, it's too late to do much about that today. Frank probabily has taken them to his private suite for the night. We won't be able to see them until tomorrow. So, in the meantime, lets go out and watch the rest of Sammy's set and when that's over, we'll ask his advice. He's good at coming up with plans."
The unlikely quartet then moved to a spot backstage to watch the remainder of Sammy Davis, Jr's set, arriving just in time to see "Mr. Bojangles." Barnabas wondered if the song was based on a real person as he watched all the intricate dance steps Sammy performed.
Fourty-five minutes and a few drinks later, Dean, Sammy, Roger, Barnabas and Quentin had come up with a plan. Dean told them it would be useless to try to reason with Frank because he was quite stubborn when he made up his mind. Therefore, someone would have to discretely set up a scenario which would discredit Nicholas in Frank and his friends' eyes. That, however, was easier said than done. Therefore, the focus shifted to Elizabeth. If they could convince Elizabeth to leave Nicholas for some reason, it would kill or severely weaken his political aspects. Voters would say Nicholas didn't have the character required to hold public office.
"I know for a fact that tommorrow, Frank is going down to the Tuscany Valley to a party. We were invited as well. You can come with us," Dean said confidently.
"Won't that make things worse?" asked Roger.
"No. Not if you do things right. All you have to do is arrive before Frank and if anyone asks, you are with us. "
"The main thing to remember is that you are there, but you aren't. You have to keep a low profile or it will all blow sky high. Trust me on that one," added Sammy.
"I agree that this would work, but how would we go about doing this once we get back home? We have no eyes at Collinwood anymore. As you recall, Liz just threw me out," a grim Roger asked.
"You, Cassandra and the children will come and live with me at the Old House. From what you told me earlier, Mrs. Hollingshead could look after the twins. They had taken a great liking to her. Besides, you need to be close by whenever we can get Elizabeth to come back to her senses."
"And if she doesn't?" asked Quentin
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that. The possibilities are too frightening." said Barnabas with a grim look on his face.
"I can't believe Roger had the nerve to pull a stunt like that!" fumed Elizabeth as she sat on the bed she shared with Nicholas."
"Think nothing of it, darling. If I know Roger, he will come crawling back to you when we get home begging your forgiveness. He knows he shouldn't have done what he did. Besides, I think he owes us one for not saying anything throughout all of the conflicts he and Cassandra have been having lately.
"I was going to wait until tomorrow to tell you this, but after the events of this evening, I think I will tell you this now."
"What is it, Nicholas?"
"Well, Frank is flying out to the Tuscany Valley tomorrow for a dinner party with some of his Hollywood friends and he has invited us to join him."
"The Tuscany Valley? But I have nothing--"
Nicholas gently cut her off by reaching under the bed and removing two large boxes. "--to wear? A beauty such as yourself could wear anything and be the envy of all the ladies in the room. However, to please you, I have taken the liberty of purchasing an outfit for the occasion," he said as he removed an expensive looking evening gown from the first box. "I had it delivered while we were enjoying the show.
"But that is tomorrow. Tonight, however, I have this for you to wear," continued Nicholas as he removed a silk nightgown from the second box.
Elizabeth looked at Nicholas and smiled. "Whatever did I do to deserve to get you?"
"It is I who should be asking that question, my dear, not you."
"Then you may tell Frank that it will be our pleasure to join him at his party. Perhaps we can still savage part of our honeymoon after all."
Nicholas smiled. Everything was working according to plan.
"Dean! Sammy! Welcome! I'm so glad you could make it. You didn't tell me you were bringing guests," remarked Angela Channing as she inspected the newcomers to her party.
"These are our friends Quentin, Roger and Barnabas Collins," said Dean as he indicated each man. "We ran into them last night at the Sands and asked them to come along with us."
"Well, friends of Dean's are friends of mine," said Angela enthusiastically. "Welcome to Falcon Crest. I'm Angela Channing, and this is my lawyer, Phillip Erikson," said Angela as she indicated the man who had just joined her.
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Channing, Mr. Erikson."
"Angela, please."
"Only if you call me Roger"
Barnabas thought to himself 'Roger can really turn on the charm when it becomes necessary. I think this might even work.'
"Alright, Roger. Now I must ask you, just where have I heard the name 'Collins' before?"
"I believe you are thinking of Collins Enterprises out on the East Coast. They specialize in seafood products."
"You are correct, Mr. Erikson. I run the cannery and Barnabas oversees the shipbuilding area."
"Are you thinking of expanding out here on the West Coast?" asked an slightly suspicious and hopeful Angela. A business partnership with a family such as the Collinses who were well known for making sound business decisions could be very profitable to her--but only if she could make sure they were on her side. It could even help her come up with a means of quickly acquiring cash to keep the annoyance known as Richard in his place with the riff raff of the area.
"Not now, unless we see a really good opportunity arise. We're just out here on vacation," Roger replied.
"Well, come inside and meet the other guests. I hope we have an opportunity to talk later. I think there might be an 'opportunity' that you might be interested in. Oh, Dean, Sammy Frank and his friends aren't here yet. He called to tell you they will be here a little later on this evening. I think it was an unexpected meeting with an old friend of his."
After the Collins trio and their friends had moved out of earshot, Angela whispered to Phillip "Go see what you can dig up on the Collinses. Make sure you find out what they're doing out here and how they know Dean and Sammy."
Roger, Quentin and Barnabas all exchanged knowing glances as they entered the party. The 'old friend' was undoubtedly Nicholas Blair. They decided to take full advantage of the slight advantage they had and make their move.
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Fiery Forbidden Love