Welcome to the second in the series of Fiery Forbidden Love stories. As in the original, this enstallment, affectionately titled Smouldering Flame is the result of the efforts of Ms Ann, Beverly LaCroix and Irishcoda. And like before, no monies are made from this story in any form, all familiar characters are property of Dan Curtis Productions, Inc.. Some material may be of adult nature and therefore unsuitable for younger audiences. Consider yourself warned.
Barnabas was a haunted man. He had the look of death. Quentin knew that Barnabas had not fed for two or three weeks. Barnabas had been that way for over a year. He refused all offers of effecting any type cure from Julia, and Cassandra had all but washed her hands of Barnabas and his unholy pining for Laura, for she knew that was what was wrong. He would wonder the cliffs of Widows Hill between the hours of dusk and dawn clutching the piece of paper with the words of the poem he had written as a boy to Laura Stockbridge Collins. He had taken on an apparitional appearance wondering and searching the night for his lost love.
Quentin had hoped that the marriage to Roxanne would have been enough, but he knew from his own experience with Laura that it would take more than the love of a mortal woman to rid one of the vestiges of that firebrand from one's veins. It was addictive. Even thinking about making love to Laura for a minute could snare him, and so he understood what Barnabas was going through. Barnabas was a vampire, he shouldn't be reacting so strongly though, Quentin thought to himself, a frown covering his handsome features. He had been a young man when Laura had seduced him into her bed. She had thought it fun to make love to her husband's brother when Edward was in the house. She loved the danger. It fueled her lust, bringing her to climax after climax. But unlike his cousin, by the time she had been forced into the heat of the pyre in Egypt, Quentin had learned to hate her, just like his brother Edward had. And apparently there was no love loss between her and Roger. Why couldn't Barnabas get over her?
Barnabas had sent Roxanne and his son to England to stay when it became evident that Barnabas was doing more harm with his coldness to Roxanne, and James than they were doing him good. Through agents, he had rented a large estate for them, and the connections of Grant Douglas and help of Cassandra, it was the Original Barnabas Collins Estate. Elizabeth, Julia, Cassandra, and the children had accompanied her, and were staying until Roxanne settled in.
Quentin missed his wife and children. He missed his Cousin Elizabeth more than he thought he would. Somehow her presence had become very important to him. Roger was no fun at all. David had been spending time with his father at the cannery. Quentin loved the new house he and Julia had built. It was located between Collinwood and The Old House, set back off the main walk between the two old houses. They had named it The Abbey, because it had the appearance of an abbey, and David had started calling it The Abbey, and the name had stuck.
"Quentin, what are you doing here?" His cousin asked him in a low resonant tone, that shook Quentin out of his thought.
"Well, Barnabas, I was looking for you. Roger wanted to know if you were free to attend a play in Bangor tomorrow evening," Quentin answered him.
"I don't think so, Quentin. I'll talk to him in awhile." Barnabas said.
"Barnabas, you really should go. Roger will be disappointed," Quentin said.
"Quentin, I want you to arrange passage to Alexandria Egypt for me," Barnabas said.quietly in a voice that brooked no argument.
Quentin was shocked into total silence.
Barnabas looked steadily into his cousin's eyes. Quentin began to feel as if he were under a hypnotic spell and shook himself. He looked away. "Why do you want to go there?" he asked.
"I think you know why," Barnabas answered calmly. "I intend to be with Laura again. The first step in accomplishing that was reverting to my former state."
"So that's why you haven't let Julia help you. I can't say that I don't understand the sexual attraction you have for Laura. I do. I don't understand why it's become such an obsession for you."
"I don't feel that I owe you any explanations, Quentin."
"I don't feel I ought to participate in your destruction. Book your own passage."
"But I want you to book passage for both of us. I need you to come with me." Stunned, Quentin looked at Barnabas only momentarily. Then he looked away again because he feared Barnabas' power when he was this intent on some purpose. "I need someone who is familiar with Ra and The Book of the Dead. You have been to Alexandria before as well. I will need protection."
"Take Willie. He's your watch dog."
"Look at me, Quentin." The voice was strong and irresistible. Reluctantly, Quentin turned his eyes to his cousin. " I have no desire to hurt you because I understand your intentions were well meant when you interfered between Laura and myself. However, the harm all of you have done to me and Laura must now be undone. You are going to help me, willingly or not. Is that understood?"
"I don't want to." It was very difficult to say, but somehow he managed it.
"If you don't help me, I will punish you. You think that you cannot be harmed because of your portrait, and you are right-I cannot kill you. I would not. But I can make you suffer, Quentin. I am desperate enough to do that. Now, look into my eyes and see the possibilities-see that you must do as I say."
Several images passed through Quentin's mind-he himself in pain, not dying, but in agony. Julia's face…pale, drained of blood. That, more than anything else, frightened him into instant obedience. He knew without a doubt that Barnabas was beyond the stage of reason and would harm Julia if he felt he had to. "Yes, all right!" he cried out, to stop the frightening images.
"You will get us to Alexandria, Quentin. You'll guard my coffin by day. There is someone there who can help us-help me find Laura again. You'll do it tomorrow, won't you?" Quentin nodded, and Barnabas went on, "Once Laura and I are together again, you will be free to go. You may go and join Julia and your children and return with them and Elizabeth to Collinwood."
"What will you do?" Quentin asked fearfully. An alliance between Barnabas and Laura? The potential there was frightening. "Are you going to follow Ra's wishes, then?"
"I will do whatever I need to do to have Laura," Barnabas said coldly. "And that means that we will eventually claim our child, James. That child carries my genes and Laura's, and he must be taught to harness and use his power."
"But Ra will demand that you sacrifice your son, Barnabas…" Quentin began, protesting.
"Be silent!" Barnabas hissed. "I don't want to listen to your lies! I do not know that to be a fact, and I will not listen to anything more you have to say. Meet me here at dusk tomorrow, and you had better have the news I want to hear. Is that understood?"
"Yes," Quentin whispered. With that, his cousin slowly dematerialized until there was only a slight lingering mist. He shuddered. He wanted desperately to call Julia in England and talk to her but he was dreadfully afraid. What if Barnabas found out? He had to do as Barnabas demanded, for the sake and safety of himself and his family…was there no one to turn to?
On the great estate in England, Julia restlessly gave up trying to sleep. She missed the warmth of Quentin's body next to hers dreadfully and looked forward to returning home as soon as possible. Roxanne seemed relatively happy--as much as could be expected, Julia reflected. Jamie seemed to be adjusting well to his new environment. It's time to go home, Julia thought. The children need stability, and so do I. They've been from home to home, then to The Abbey, and now to England. It's time to give them the settled home life they deserve.
Realizing that there would be no more sleep this night, she slipped out of bed, put on her robe and descended the great stairs to the drawing room. Surprised, she saw Cassandra seated before the dying embers in the fireplace from the cozy fire of the night before. Inexplicably, Julia heard Quentin's voice in her mind: Julia, I'm afraid... She stopped, stunned, feeling the hairs prickling on her arms and on the back of her neck. Cassandra turned and looked at her, a distraught look on her face. "It has begun again," she said.
"What's going on, Cassandra?"
"Someone is trying to revive the rein of terror we all experienced when Laura was here. Barnabas is in great danger."
"Who is trying to do this? Did Laura come back?" asked Julia.
"Laura is back in the world. She has been for a while. But she is not the source of the disturbance. Laura was cast out as a result of her actions concerning James and Barnabas. Someone far more powerful and terrifying is the source this time. I was meditating in front of the fire when I had a vision of Nicholas Blair. Diabolos has sent him back with another plan to create a new master race using Barnabas and Laura."
"What?!" Julia exclaimed. "Is that possible? I thought that Nicholas had been cast back into Hell for all time after his failure with Jeb Hawkes and Carolyn and the Leviathans."
"Diabolos is capable of many things, and despite his failures, Nicholas was his best servant. It is always possible for Nicholas to return, despite what he says. I feared something like this might happen when Barnabas began obsessing over Laura and his sudden reversion to his vampiric state. For whatever reasons, Laura has chosen to stay away when she reappeared on earth. The main thing we must do now is keep Barnabas at Collinwood. Nicholas will then be forced to bring Laura there and we can deal with them better at Collinwood than we could somewhere else."
"I'll call Collinwood and warn Quentin. We must return there at once."
"There is no need for that. I have already called Collinwood and talked to Quentin," said Roxanne as she entered the room. "Quentin tells me that Barnabas wishes to go to Alexandria, Egypt to try to find Laura and has forced him to help. However, it will be several days before they can leave. I will not stand by and watch as Diabolos tries to destroy my family. We have got to try to stop him somehow. We leave for Collinsport tomorrow morning."
"Are you sure this is wise? You would be better off here, away from Collinwood," asked Julia.
"Julia, if this is really Diabolos we are dealing with here, do you think it matters where I am? He would be able to try to corrupt me and take James from any place on earth. I am better off with all of you to help fight than staying all alone here. It wouldn't surprise me if Diabolos has something to do with the intensity of Barnabas' feelings towards Laura and his obsession over her."
"She's right, you know. That way if they were to see each other, they would go at it like rabbits, and the more likely that Laura would become pregnant," explained Cassandra.
"And an army of Phoenix-Collins hybrids could be an unstoppable force."
"Then it is settled. We leave for Collinsport in the morning. Now I suggest we tell Elizabeth what is going on and go pack. We have a long journey ahead of us," said Roxanne with determination in her eyes. Meanwhile, at the Collinsport Inn, a figure in a dark trenchcoat walked up to the reception desk and rang the bell. The attendant walked up to him and in a friendly voice asked, "May I help you sir?"
"Yes," the man replied. "I need a room here."
"All right sir, we do have some rooms available. What name are you registering under, sir?"
"The name is Nicholas Blair."
Roxanne had found peace and solitude in Southampton living on the beautiful estate that her husband had purchased for her and Jamie.
She loved walking about the places where she would imagine that Jane Austen had gotten her ideas for Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and the rest of the famous authoress' works, that she couldn't seem to get enough of.
She, Julia, and Cassandra had enjoyed taking the children to the magical New Forest where ponies ran wild, and they had felt as if they were living in a fairy tale.
Cassandra, Julia, and she would play games of make believe with their children in the gardens on the estate. Birds singing, flowers in bloom, the smell of salt in the air from the sea, their play could get quite creative. Sometimes, they would walk down the stone stairway leading to the private beach, and play in the waves with the children. Sometimes Elizabeth would join them, and sometimes she would go off on her own adventures, being very secretive about what she was doing.
After their excursions away from home, they would return to the estate that Roxanne had named Collins Castle, because it was not quite a castle, but neither was it a manor house, it was between.
Exploring the huge estate, Jonathan and Donna had found what they called their Secret Garden, and with the assistance of a couple of nannies and a nurse would entertain their cousins for hours, while Roxanne read, Cassandra painted, and Julia wrote in a neighboring garden. Elizabeth would be off on jaunts of her own, visiting the wealthy shipbuilding families that she had known and went to school at the boarding schools that the very rich attended. According to Julia and Cassandra, this was the first time either one of them had seen her so relaxed, especially after a weekend in Paris.
Roxanne did not want to leave this idyllic life, but knew she must to save her son. And he was her son, no one would ever take him from her. It was she who had felt his first movement in her womb, nursed him at her bosom, and when Barnabas had shed any pretense of caring for her or the baby, he had sent her here so he could pursue his interest of another without.
She missed his hands on her body, caressing her, and loving her. Of course, that had all stopped when Roxanne confronted him about not loving her or his son. He never denied it. And after her confrontation, and him admitting that he still wanted Laura, the very next day he started arrangements for her to leave the country. She didn't argue.
Listening to the waves pounding the rocks below, she walked out to the balcony of her bedroom, feeling the warm mist in the air, took a deep breath, and started to write down what to instruct the servants to pack for her to go home.
"Cassandra, where are Elizabeth and the children?" Roxanne asked after Cassandra joined her on the balcony.
"Touring an old abbey with the children. Better not say that to loud or Julia will hear, and get all the more homesick," Cassandra said.
"I'm not homesick, Cassandra," Julia said entering Roxanne's room with a drink in her hand.
"Oh, I know, you miss that gorgeous husband of yours," Roxanne said good-naturedly.
"I know how you feel, Julia. I miss Roger more than I thought possible for me after my history with Barnabas," Cassandra said with a sigh.
"I know exactly what you mean," Julia said smugly. "And just think, Roxanne, you got him." Cassandra said. Noticing the hurt look on Roxanne's face, she walked over to her friend, put her arm around her, and said, "Roxanne, I'm sorry. But Julia and I know the pain of loving Barnabas. We have been fortunate in learning to love again, and be loved in return."
"Mrs. Collins, there is a telephone call for you, " Mrs. Phllips the very able housekeeper of this enormous place interrupted at the proper interval. The three ladies simultaneously reached for the phone that Mrs. Phillips had in a silver tray, the long cord making it easy for them to access on the balcony.
Oh, Elizabeth thought how much she loved it here in Southampton, Hampshire. Viewing the Netley Abbey Ruins in its peaceful and beautiful setting. This old abbey had been founded in the 13th Century. Its destruction had left behind the fine east window. All so beautiful Elizabeth thought noticing that while still ivy-covered and quietly crumbling, the ruins had become a source of inspiration for 18th century writers and poets, such as Horace Walpole and Thomas Gray. They had come here in search of the romantic and the picturesque, and were not disappointed by these fine old ruins, and neither am I she thought happily watching the children skip amongst the ruins.
"Mrs. Quentin Collins," Mrs. Phillips clarified.
After Julia had hung up the phone, she looked at Cassandra and Roxanne, and told them that Barnabas and Quentin had used a family jet and would arrive here tonight. The three immediately began to plan. Elizabeth being apprised of their plans, after two of the servants had found her and the children at the old abbey, began to make phone calls to Paris, and made arrangements to take the children to France for a couple of days.
Roxanne was jittery. What if Barnabas made her tell him where Jamie was.
Cassandra assured her she would not leave her alone with him. She gave her a crucifix, which they had all decided to wear hidden out of view of Barnabas.
A flurry downstairs alerted them that Barnabas and Quentin had arrived. Quentin decided to leave the coffin on the plane, it was well disguised, because they would be leaving before sunrise. Quentin was as excited as a young boy with his first love, at the thought of seeing his wife and children. Learning from the housekeeper that the children had gone on holiday with Mrs. Stoddard, he was disappointed. He had wanted to see his children, and he could tell Barnabas was not pleased, but for the life of him he didn't know why. The only person that seemed to interest him in the least was Laura. It had been his suggestion after all to stop here and see his wife and children.
The housekeeper could not tell either of the gentlemen the locale, because no one had told her. After Barnabas assured himself with the use of his hypnotic powers that she was telling the truth, he set out to find Roxanne. She would have no choice, but to tell him. Entering the bedroom, he heard Roxanne's heartbeat quicken, because of his entry. She was afraid. He could smell her fear. He smiled an evil feral smile. She would have every reason to be afraid if she tried to withhold his and Laura's son from him. Thinking about Laura, his cruel features softened. Roxanne was dressed in a short silk underslip, she had been dressing for dinner. Roxanne stood in front of him with a smile on her beautiful face, and threw her arms around him, and seemed happy to see him. He took her arms from his neck and held her back, and studied her face, and seeing no guile there drew her into his arms, and caressed down the side of her face, playing his fingers down her neck, caressing her vein, where he had once taken her for his in another time. He would be able to read in her blood what he wanted to know. Holding her repulsed him, he wanted Laura, and no one else would do. Just thinking about her caused him to pull Roxanne into him, and he heard her gasp, and he felt her nipples harden against him. Deciding to play on her weaknesses, he stroked her back gently, feathering light kisses on her neck, and she wantonly turned her neck to him. He ignored her obvious display of, what to him was nothing more than vulgarity. That's the way he saw her, not the way she was. His mind was so jaded by the hot blood of the Phoenix that clung to his veins, another woman did not appeal to him in any way. He knew that Laura's blood was in him. He could tolerate this woman for one night. Then he felt the outline of the crucifix, and his rage was uncontrollable. Walking behind Roxanne, he caressed her neck, and took the crucifix in his hand, Roxanne watched in horror as it burned his hand, but it seemed to have no effect other than that on him. Throwing the crucifix, he slapped her, and called her nothing but an unwanted, and unneeded interloper.
"I do not want you now nor did I ever want you. I was tricked into marrying you, because of my son, mine and Laura's son. Not yours, you were nothing more than the vessel. Now, you betray with your wantoness, I will show you what happens to vulgar young harlots like you, my dear." Barnabas' tone was low and deadly. And he advanced upon her. She saw the insane look in his eyes, and witnessed the change come upon him. She heard the slip rip, and saw him throw it, and watched as he undressed, daring her to move, the whole time his eyes were gleaming red. Then he entered her roughly, like a rabid animal, and she felt his teeth sink in her veins. That was when she started to scream.
Quentin and Julia's reunion was just getting underway, when they heard a scream coming from the East Wing of the house where the master bedroom of the huge house was located. The scream was terrifying. Quentin and Julia grabbed their houserobes, and almost ran smack into Cassandra heading in the same direction. Julia and Cassandra looked at each other trying to disguise the fear that was coursing through them. Upon reaching the door to the bedroom, finding it was locked, Quentin grabbed the knob, and Cassandra pushed him out of the way, and reached her hand out, and let the power flow through it, and the door slowly and quietly opened.
The cold unnatural air in the room met them like an invisible force.
"Barnabas, nooo! " Quentin screamed at his cousin.
Barnabas turned and looked at them from atop a nude, bruised, and very bloody Roxanne. The three spectators gasped, as they looked at the fiendish wolf-like appearance of Barnabas' features. Blood was dripping freely from the fangs of the creature that faced them, and he was snarling like a rabid dog, then he turned back to Roxanne to finish what he had started. Julia and Cassandra noticed the crucifix lying on the floor by the bed, and saw Barnabas look at it, and he looked at them, and he resembled himself again, but not quite, the cold cruel look belonged to someone Quentin did not know. Cassandra and Julia knew it, but never like this. Without thinking, Julia reached in her robe, pulled out the vial of holy water that Elizabeth had purchased from the Abbey earlier as a tourist-type gift, and flung it at Barnabas, he screamed in terror as it burned him. He released Roxanne, and Quentin went to him, and told him they should go back to the plane, and go on to Alexandria.
"I want my son, Quentin," Barnabas said.
"Yes, Barnabas, and you will get him, but not like this," Quentin told him, leading him out of the room.
He mouthed to Julia he would call her as soon as possible.
Cassandra ran and got Julia her medical bag, and Julia began her examination. "Cassandra, he raped her over and over again. He took her blood, and found out that Elizabeth was in Paris," Julia was sobbing.
"Julia, quite down. Elizabeth is not in Paris. Only Elizabeth and I know where she is. I was afraid Barnabas would try something like this, and I didn't leave it to chance," Cassandra said while helping Julia to clean up the hurt Roxanne. Fortunately, Roxanne was not as hurt as she appeared to be. Roxanne told Julia and Cassandra thatt Barnabas was going to get Jamie. Cassandra told Roxanne what she had told Julia, and explained to her that she could not tell her where the children were, any of them.
"Julia, is Jamie still normal?" Roxanne managed to say between sobs.
"Yes, he is. He's very human," Julia told her friend.
"Oh how are we going to help Barnabas now?" Roxanne was sobbing. Julia and Cassandra could only look at each other in askance.
Roxanne could still feel Barnabas' touch, and she felt so ashamed, but she needed him and wanted him. "I still want him, Cassandra, Julia," Roxanne was sobbing uncontrollably, partially from anger at her body's betrayal, and also she was now under the sole will and control of her husband. He had taken her blood. He had told her it tasted foul, vile, only Laura would ever satisfy him, but she would do as she was told. Her will was his, and he laughed a low cruel laugh, the whole time pinning her down, holding back, so she could not reach climax. Making her beg him, he had been so cruel. It was a Barnabas she did not know.
The phone rang, and Julia answered it, and it was Barnabas wishing to speak to Cassandra.
"Cassandra, let me warn you. If you try and use your paltry powers against my plans to regain my son to be with his rightful parents. Do not forget the mother of my son is also the the mother of your stepson. I'm sure Roger would be very interested to know about his wife's first husband, Angelique." and saying that Barnabas hung up the phone.
Quentin watched Barnabas hang up the jet phone. He turned to look out the window so that he wouldn't have to look at his cousin. He felt fear and a deep revulsion he'd never felt toward him before. "Quentin," Barnabas said in a low, menacing tone.
"Don't," Quentin said softly. "You don't have to threaten me as you did Cassandra, and you don't have to brutalize me, Barnabas. I'm cooperating with you, aren't I? I don't have to like it, though."
He felt Barnabas' hand on his shoulder, and he flinched involuntarily, pulling away. "You are afraid of me, then?" He heard Barnabas ask, and there was some of the old pain and regret in his voice. Quentin turned to look, and for just a moment, he saw a flicker of the cousin he remembered and felt affection for. He almost responded, but the look in Barnabas' eyes became cold and ruthless again.
He turned away. "Damn right," he muttered. How the hell am I going to get out of this? He wondered. It would still be hours until they arrived in Alexandria; by then Barnabas would have to retreat to his coffin. Quentin still loved him and would never betray him by killing him; however, he did intend to call Julia or Cassandra and get some help.
Elizabeth sat on a settee in one of the sitting rooms of the abbey, reading aloud to Donna and Jonathan. It was The House at Pooh Corner, which had been a favorite of Carolyn's when she was a little girl. The sisters of the abbey helped by watching over the three babies, who were all asleep in a makeshift nursery. Without their assistance, Elizabeth surely wouldn't have been able to manage with so many young children. I'm just getting old, she thought. She'd been looking forward to returning to Collinwood. She missed it; missed Carolyn, and even missed quarreling with her brother Roger. She looked up as a young novitiate approached her. "Excuse me, Madame, but you have a visitor."
"Oh?" Elizabeth was surprised. "Dr. Collins? Mrs. Collins?"
"No, Madame, it is a man." She was even more surprised. "Where?"
"I asked him to wait there," the young woman asked, pointing outside to the garden. There was a statue of the Madonna, and nearby were several wicker chairs for meditation. Elizabeth could see a man standing with his back to her, dressed in a London Fog trenchcoat. "I will continue to read to the children for you."
"Thank you," Elizabeth said, getting up. "Excuse me, my dears," she said to the children and slowly approached the man. When she was close enough to be heard, she cleared her throat. He turned, and she gasped. It was Cassandra's brother, Nicholas!
"My dear Elizabeth," he said, smiling suavely at her. He took her two hands in his gloved ones and squeezed them lightly with affection. "I am so sorry to surprise you like this, but there really was no other choice under the circumstances." Elizabeth's mouth popped open a little in stunned surprise.
"I've come to help you," he went on.
This isn't part of the plan, Elizabeth thought, panicking a little. Nicholas looked deeply into her eyes; it was as if he could sense her fear, because he nodded his head and held up his hand as if to say, Let me explain. He led her to two of the chairs not far from the Madonna statue. "Let's talk," he said, not breaking eye contact with her for a minute. "Don't be afraid, Elizabeth. I know the whole story, and I'm here to help you." He encouraged her to sit and took the seat across from her, taking her hands again.
"How do you know what's happened? It all came about so quickly!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Ah, but you see, I'd arrived in Collinsport only last night. I was with Quentin when he called Julia. He told me everything, Elizabeth. He's very concerned about Barnabas-as we all are." Nicholas seemed intense and earnest as he continued to look into Elizabeth's eyes. "I know about the hold Laura continues to have over Barnabas. Elizabeth, I need to tell you something that is going to frighten you. I need you to trust me, though. I have a message from Cassandra."
At this, Elizabeth's expression cleared a little. Cassandra was the only one who knew where she'd really taken the children. Cassandra was afraid that Barnabas would somehow force the truth from Roxanne. "What is it?"
"The child is still in grave danger from his father," Nicholas began. "As you know, Barnabas and Quentin flew to London and from there went to the estate. Barnabas attacked his wife and got the information from her that the baby was in Paris."
"My God!" Elizabeth cried.
"Roxanne is all right," Nicholas said softly. " However, Barnabas and Quentin have landed in Paris."
"That is miles from here," Elizabeth said.
"That's true. However, what Cassandra forgot to take into consideration is the fact that Barnabas and Laura share a bond between themselves and the baby. Through that bond, he will be able to make his way here. He will find and take James if we don't act."
"What must we do?" Elizabeth wondered.
"Return to Collinsport at once with James," Nicholas stated emphatically.
"Now? What about the other children?"
"They will be safe until Cassandra and Julia can arrive to pick them up."
"Oh, but I don't think-" Elizabeth began, confused.
"If you are uncomfortable with that, Elizabeth-which I would understand perfectly well-then I would be quite willingly to go alone with James to Collinsport. You could stay here with the other children until their mothers come for them."
Do it, do it, it makes the most sense, Elizabeth heard in her head. She shook her head, feeling more confused than ever. Nicholas frowned a little.
"I-I think I should go with you," she finally said, trying to think clearly. Why do I feel so fuzzyheaded? She shut her eyes and concentrated, shutting Nicholas' eyes out of her head. He knows too much for it not to be true. The children are here in a Catholic abbey; they'll be safe here. No one is after Jon or Donna or the twins. It's Jamie who is in the most danger. But he isn't of Jamie's blood; I can't just let him go off with him. She opened her eyes and looked at Nicholas. "I will go with you."
She missed the mild look of annoyance that crossed Nicholas' face. He smiled broadly. "Splendid! To be honest, I was really worried about traveling alone with such a young child anyway. I don't mean to sound chauvinistic, but I really do believe that women deal with babies so much better than men do."
"One thing I don't understand," Elizabeth began. Nicholas looked her in the eye again, and she felt suddenly and uncomfortably warm. She almost had the feeling he was undressing her in her mind, and she blushed. Flustered, she almost forgot her question, but then managed to grasp it and ask it. "Why is Collinsport the safe place to go?"
"Because Barnabas is not there," Nicholas answered, arching his eyes as if in surprise. His expression seemed to say What other safe place would there be?
"We really shouldn't waste any more time, Elizabeth. He could be on his way here now."
"Perhaps we should call Cassandra," Elizabeth ventured.
"We'll do that once we're on board the jet," Nicholas assured her.
"And we need to talk to Mother Superior about taking care of the children…"
"Already covered," Nicholas said with a smile. "I think of everything, Elizabeth-especially in a crisis like this." They stood up, Nicholas putting his arm gently on the small of Elizabeth's back to propel her along. "Let's go pick up James and his things immediately, shall we?" He knew Elizabeth couldn't see his little grin of triumph.
In the bed where she was still recovering from her trauma, Roxanne sat up abruptly and screamed. Julia, who had been dozing in the chair next to her, was immediately at her side to comfort her. Roxanne pushed her away, staring wide-eyed in terror into the night. "Roxanne, Roxanne, it's all right. It's Julia, I'm here. You're all right," the doctor soothed her, believing that she was experiencing a flashback from her experience. Julia could hear the sound of hurrying footsteps. The door opened, and Cassandra stood in the doorway.
Roxanne turned to her and held her arms out in appeal. "My baby! He has my baby!" she screamed.
Cassandra's eyes became huge. "Barnabas? Impossible!"
"No! No! Not Barnabas!" Roxanne broke down and began to sob hysterically, unable to speak further.
Elizabeth preceded Nicholas onto the private jet, carrying the slumbering baby in her arms. Ever the perfect gentleman, he made sure they were both comfortably settled. He went to talk to the pilot. "I'd like to take off as soon as I've made this call and the runway is clear," she heard him say. He smiled at her. "I'll call Cassandra and let her know that we are safe."
Elizabeth nodded, and closed her eyes. She was thoroughly exhausted; it was well past midnight now. The baby was heavy in her arms and snored lightly.
"Yes, hello," she heard Nicholas saying into the phone. "All is well. The baby is safe. We are on our way home." He hung up and sat down next to Elizabeth. "Everything will be all right now, Elizabeth," he assured her. She kept her eyes closed, relaxing. "You sleep now. The baby is in safe hands." He grinned again.
The ringing phone had roused Quentin from his reverie. He heard Barnabas say with a delighted chuckle, "Good! I am delighted to hear it! We shall see you soon." He turned to look at his cousin replaced the phone in the receiver. "Ah, Quentin! Good! You are awake!" He smiled, a frightening, truly evil smile that made Quentin's blood run cold. "I have my son. You cannot stop us, and I warn you not to try again. No more stupid tricks, is that understood? You will be very sorry if you cross me." He paused. The smile went away to be replaced by the cold implacable expression. His eyes looked like two stones. "I know that you'd like to call Julia or Cassandra. Don't be a fool! "
Quentin swallowed hard, frightened, and looked back out the window again. From now on, he would have to mask all of his thoughts that had to do with Julia or his children or Cassandra or any of this…Evan Hanley had taught him a few techniques. He'd have to put them into use again. He never dreamed he'd have to defend himself against Barnabas, of all people. For the first time in many, many years, he found himself praying. Our Father who art in Heaven…It became almost like a mantra. He closed his eyes, shutting out the sound of Barnabas' evil amused chuckling.
"Roxanne! For Jamie's sake, please try to tell us who has him. It is the only way we can save him from all that is going on," implored Cassandra. Roxanne quickly took a pad of paper and scribbled down a name that no one wanted to see namely Nicholas Blair. Everyone was further surprised when Elizabeth also appeared on the paper. For her own sake, Roxanne was quickly sedated while the others tried to figure out just what to do while Cassandra called the convent to check on Jon and Donna. "How in the world did he get the baby away from the convent? There are too many people there watching over Jamie for Nicholas to make such a daring move."
"Julia, you forget that Nicholas has the powers of darkness working for him. He can easily convince people that he wasn't there if they are not prepared to face his attack. Nicholas probably hypnotized Elizabeth into helping him. By now Nicholas is probably half-way to Alexandra," explained Cassandra.
"Regardless, we must go there ourselves and try to stop this madness from continuing," said Julia.
"What about Roxanne? You know she cannot be trusted now. "
"I know. But I can't just leave her here. She would just follow us and inform Barnabas of our actions. But, if we take her with us, we can control what she knows and possibly use her to find Barnabas," stated Julia. "I hope you're right," said Cassandra as she looked upon Roxanne's sleeping form. "For all our sakes."
Roxanne had fallen into an uneasy sleep despite the sedative she had been given. Images of the past few hours flashed before her eyes causing both pain and pleasure within her. The images soon faded and were replaced by images of women she had not seen before. Both were dressed in ancient clothing she had only seen in history books. One was wearing a vulture headdress and a solar disk between a pair of horns. The other was dressed as a hunter and had a crescent moon insignia on her forehead. "Who are you?" Roxanne asked.
The woman with the headdress stated "I am Isis, daughter of Nut and Geb, granddaughter of Amen-Re."
The other said, "I am Selene."
Roxanne, who was totally confused, blurted out "What?"
"We are here to help you destroy the evil Re has unleashed upon yourself and your husband. Re has abilities that you have no way of being capable of effectively fighting in your current state. We know what has happened to you and why. Re has decided that if he cannot get Laura to come to Barnabas, he will bring Barnabas to Laura. There they intend to go through with the original plan of sacrificing James to Re along with Barnabas," said Isis.
"Re seeks to use James and Barnabas to destroy the harmony which exists in the world now. We cannot allow that to be so we have come to bestow upon you gifts which will help you to fully use your powers," continued Selene.
"Forgive me for not sounding grateful for whatever help you are going to give me, but why are you here and why are you so concerned about me?"
"Your skepticism is understandable for someone of your world. I love all creatures and do not like to see any of them in anguish. For many years I have loved the people of the Earth as my children. It disturbed me greatly how Re plots to destroy that love which you have for your husband and son."
"I, too was disturbed by Re's actions and wish to help. I shall watch over you during the night so that you will not face the evil creatures that Re will try to send after you. He knows Barnabas controls the beasts of the Earth at his whim. I also have control over the beasts of the Earth. Most fear me because of my position. The rest I shall kill if they dare to defy my wishes. I know you normally associate my sister Diana with such actions, but I am capable of those things as well. Your unborn child must be protected."
"My child?"
"Yes, you are pregnant Roxanne. You have a very important duty to fulfil in bringing this child into the world because this child will have abilities that are important in keeping the balance between good and evil. Your child and James are destined to keep the balance. This is what Re does not want. Do you understand?"
"Yes. I think I do," said Roxanne.
Isis then reached out and touched the center of Roxanne's forehead. A bright light flashed momentarily from the contact. "It is done. When the time comes, you will know what the gift is that I gave you. For now, it is best that you continue as you were. Farewell, noble Roxanne."
"Farewell, Roxanne. Remember, you have only to look to the moon to seek out my guidance," said Selene as she faded away. Roxanne slowly awakened to the sounds of Julia and Roxanne packing for the trip to Alexandria. She slowly got up and went outside as Julia and Cassandra were loading the last of the luggage into the cab that was to take them to the airport.
"Oh Roxanne, you're awake. Good. We're about ready to leave. We've already packed your belongings and some things for the children so we could leave as soon as possible. I was about to come up and awake you so we could leave. Is there anything you needed to bring with you before we go?" asked Julia.
"No. I'm fine. Let's leave now. The sooner we get to Alexandria, the sooner I can save my family."
The butler stepped outside of the huge estate house,, and was appalled to see Mrs. Roger Collins piling luggage into a vehicle, it was a cab. Appalling! These Americans, he thought to himself. Walking over to Mrs. Roger Collins, he cleared his throat to get her attention.
"Yes, Sanders, what is it?" Cassandra snapped.
"Madam, Mr. Collins is on the telephone." the butler replied very stiffly.
Walking into the foyer of the beautiful old house, if you could call it a house, Cassandra thought, she walked over to the small Louis XIV table, and picked up the antique shaped telephone, and greeted her husband.
"You're at Heathrow now, darling?" Cassandra asked.
"Yes, I am," Roger replied.
"Julia! Roxanne!" Cassandra cried.
"What is it" Julia asked.
"I have sent a car to meet Roger at the airport," Cassandra said.
"I'm not cancelling my trip to Alexandria. I've got to find my baby," Roxanne said.
"Listen to me, Roxanne, and listen well, we will get your baby. But you, Barnabas nor anyone else is going to be responsible for spoiling my marriage with Roger. I am truly happy for the first time in a very long time. Roger and the twins are my world. I will do everything I can to help you, but I will not jeapordize my own happiness for yours. Am I making myself clear?" Cassandra said, her large expressive eyes were glinting steel.
"Cassandra, we will wait until tomorrow morning, and then Roxanne and I are going to go home to Collinsport," Julia said.
"Julia, I am going to find my husband and my baby. I will never stop looking for them. You are all welcome to stay here for as long as you like, but I am leaving, and I am leaving now," Roxanne said softly. For she needed Barnabas. and she knew where he was, and she would never tell anyone where he was. The vestiages of the strange dream she had had were gone. She couldn't remember even having a dream.
Looking into the square on the outskirts of Alexandria, Nicholas Blair smiled to himself, as he thought about the dream that he had induced as a gift to the present Mrs. Barnabas Collins. From talking with.Barnabas, he had deduced she was a whimsical person, and easily persuaded. It had been easy. Laughing out loud now, he greeted the beautiful Elizabeth Stoddard, as they readied to go into Alexandria, and eat in this exotic land.
Roxanne had already left to pack her things.
Julia turned to Cassandra and said, "I think that under the circumstances, I'll go with Roxanne as far as the airport in Paris. I'm afraid Jon and Donna might be frightened being left alone, so I'll go to the abbey and pick up the children. What will you tell Roger about that?"
Thinking swiftly, Cassandra said, "If you are able to get out of here before Roger arrives, then I'll just tell him that you've all gone on a little holiday so that we might be alone." She smiled, a little craftily, Julia thought. Julia nodded and went off to put together a small overnight bag. When she knocked at Roxanne's door, there was no answer. She opened the door and looked. Roxanne was gone; the closet door stood open and all her things were gone. Julia was puzzled. "Julia!" Cassandra was calling to her. She turned and saw Roger's wife approaching with a perplexed expression on her face.
Roxanne is gone! Mrs. Phillips just saw her getting into a cab."
"How very odd," Julia said. "She left without saying a word? I don't understand."
"Nor do I," Cassandra agreed. "You must leave yourself if I am to convince Roger that you've all gone on a holiday." She put her hand on Julia's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, Julia. Nicholas is one to savor and labor long over his efforts. I need a little time to think of a plan. Nicholas is a formidable enemy and, as you know, I'm no longer in favor with Diabolos. It's got to be a plan that won't rouse Roger's suspicions."
"There may come a time where we'll need to take him into our confidence," Julia commented. "Just as we have Elizabeth."
"Yes, but that time is not tonight. I will talk to you soon, Julia."
Julia nodded and carrying her overnight bag with her, went downstairs to ask Mrs. Phillips to call her another cab. Why hadn't Roxanne waited? "What madness is going on now?" she wondered.
"Are you sure the children will be quite all right?" Elizabeth wondered as Nicholas took her by the arm.
"Absolutely, my dear Elizabeth," Nicholas assured her, his even white teeth seeming to sparkle as he gave her his most charming smile. "The lady I engaged to care for him while we're here is an old friend and has impeccable credentials!"
Elizabeth smiled back, thoroughly charmed. It didn't occur to her to wonder why she should trust this man so implicitly when she barely knew him. It didn't occur to her to wonder why she'd allowed him to bring her and young Jamie from France to Collinsport. They'd picked up David and had then gone on to Alexandria. She felt herself flush like a young girl under the intensity of Nicholas' gaze. He looked upon her as if she were the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. The desire in his eyes was both flattering and unsettling. "My dear, I absolutely had to be alone with you for just a little while," he was saying. "Let's enjoy this meal together before we are joined by your cousins this evening."
"My cousins?" she repeated.
"Yes, Barnabas and Quentin will be joining us this evening," Nicholas replied easily, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Barnabas. Something about Barnabas…Elizabeth thought hard, trying to remember. Everything seemed so fuzzy. They'd stopped walking and Nicholas turned to her, taking her into his arms. "For now, let me be the only thing on your mind," he said in a low, husky voice. He kissed her, and she felt as if she had been sipping a fine, aged wine -- several glasses. She felt a little dizzy now.
In the hotel room, young David Collins regarded his mother with confusion and fear. She held his young half brother in her arms, rocking Jamie gently and speaking soothingly to him. Laura looked up at David and smiled reassuringly at him. "You don't have to be afraid of me, David darling," she said. "I don't understand any of this," David whined, keeping his distance. He felt totally vulnerable. No one but Mrs. Johnson had been home when this strange Nicholas Blair and his Aunt Elizabeth had suddenly appeared at Collinwood, packed him up and brought him along on an airplane to this hot, dry, strange place. Oh, Mrs. Johnson had tried to protest but had been quickly put in her place by Aunt Elizabeth herself. "I saw you die, Mother. You burned in that shack."
Laura laughed liltingly. "But, darling, you can see for yourself that I am living and breathing, can't you?"
He nodded reluctantly, yet he still felt frightened of her. He remembered her intensity when she'd returned several years ago. She'd wanted him to go into the fire with her, but he still didn't understand why. Even though she frightened him, a part of him had always loved and missed her. Now he asked, "How did you live through it?"
"I was able to get up and go out the back door," she replied, shifting Jamie in her lap.
"Why did you run away then?"
"Your father and I weren't getting along, David-you know that. I also know he paid Victoria Winters well to turn you against me. I thought it would be better for me to go away for awhile."
"Vicki loved me!"
"Did she?" Laura asked, surprised, raising her eyebrows. "And, yet, she didn't hesitate to leave you, did she?" Hurt, David was unable to think of an answer to that. Laura saw that his feelings were hurt and she held out one hand to him. "Darling, I have never forgotten about you. Why would your Aunt Elizabeth bring you all the way here if not to see me?"
"But Father-"
Laura sighed. "I am sorry that your father didn't approve, but your Aunt Elizabeth thought it was important that we see each other, too. Please, David…"
Haltingly, he took a few tentative steps forward and reached out for her hand. She felt real. Her hand was a living hand, and she certainly looked and talked like his mother. He suddenly rushed forward, going onto her knees so that he could rest his head in her lap. He began to cry. "I missed you so much!"
"I know, my darling, I know," Laura soothed, stroking his hair with one hand while she held Jamie deftly with the other. "I missed you, too, but everything will be all right now."
In the heat of the late afternoon, Quentin threw himself across his bed, brooding. The air conditioning was turned up all the way to ensure that Barnabas rested in comfort in the next room, but he still felt very hot and uncomfortable. Barnabas' adjoining room was totally sealed to prevent any sunlight from entering; a coffin would have raised too much fuss in the hotel. Quentin loosened his collar, thinking, trying to come up with a way to extricate himself from this mess. He wasn't at all sure it was possible to save Barnabas anymore.
Inexplicably, he began to feel very sleepy. Maybe it was just as well that he get some rest. Soon it would be dusk and he had no idea what Barnabas would be up to once he rose again. Some dark ceremony, probably… as he drifted off to sleep, he thought he felt the bed sag as if someone were sitting down with him. He felt light hands on his shoulders, rubbing the tight muscles in his back and neck. Julia, he thought. It feels so good. I'm so tense, I don't know what to do. He felt himself relaxing under the ministrations of the hands.
The hands stopped massaging him for a moment; as he was about to protest, he felt lips lightly brush the back of his neck. The light, feathery kisses moved to the side of his throat; the hands had begun massaging his shoulders again. He began to feel himself swell as he became aroused, rolling onto his side to take Julia into his arms and kiss her. He suddenly became aware that he was dreaming; it was almost as if he had an out-of-body experience. The room seemed too dark for late afternoon-he couldn't see Julia clearly at all. Was it really her? It had to be-she was lightly brushing the side of his cheek and stroking his hair now. He felt the lips moving on his throat toward his mouth, the hands were on his chest now, thumbs on his nipples, rousing him further. Quentin, he heard in his mind. It was not Julia's voice. It was his cousin's. He bolted upright on the bed, his eyes wide and staring, gasping for breath. He was alone, but the room was dark. He felt a sudden chill and shivered with terror and shame. Barnabas stepped out of the dark corner of his room, a warm smile on his face. His eyes, though, were cold and mocking. "What is the matter, Quentin? Did you have a bad dream?" Barnabas walked toward the bed and sat down on it. He reached out and put his hand on Quentin's leg.
Quentin jumped as if he'd been burned and scuttled backward, pressing himself up against the headboard. "Don't touch me!"
"What in heaven's name is the matter with you?" Barnabas asked, sounding mildly irritable. Yet, Quentin had a feeling that he knew exactly what the matter was. He realized his shirt had been opened. Stunned and embarrassed, he began fumbling with the buttons. Barnabas chuckled. "You will do exactly what I want-you know that, don't you? I have no desire to hurt you, but I can make you listen to me."
"I know," Quentin muttered, feeling helpless. "You caused the dream, didn't you?"
"What dream?" Barnabas asked. Quentin looked at him dully. His cousin reminded him of a pet cat he'd had as a child, playing with a mouse. The cat had thrown the mouse up in the air several times until the rodent's spine was broken. When the mouse was unable to run away, the cat had batted it about the room. "Get up," Barnabas said, harshly now. "We have much to do tonight. Laura is here with my son. I can sense it, yet she doesn't have all her power yet."
"Where are we going?" Quentin asked, when he could find his voice.
"We are meeting Nicholas Blair. Perhaps I won't need your assistance in bringing Laura back to me after all. You may entertain Elizabeth."
"Elizabeth is here?"
"Yes." Barnabas turned and looked at Quentin again. He put his hand on Quentin's cheek and gently caressed it. "Dreams can be pleasant, isn't that so? They can also be horrible and frightening. But you know that, don't you? Get up. It's time to go. I am anxious to see Laura and I will be displeased with anyone or anything that delays my reunion with her."
Even with Barnabas' warning ringing in his ears, Quentin attempted to draw Elizabeth into conversation while his cousin and Nicholas conferred together like the two conspirators they were. Elizabeth, though, seemed to be in a drunken stupor. Quentin was dismayed, realizing she must be under some sort of spell-a love spell, he guessed, because of the mooncalf way she was staring at Nicholas. Julia, Julia, he thought, despairing.
Julia felt him call her. Now she was truly alarmed as she picked up the phone and called the Collins' home in London. Mrs. Phillips answered and apologetically told Julia that Mr. and Mrs. Collins were on their way out. "Please!" Julia interrupted urgently. "Please tell Mrs. Collins I must speak to her!"
After an interminable length of time, Cassandra spoke into the phone. She sounded a little irritated. "Yes, Julia?"
"Cassandra, I think you need to know this-listen, please. I've just called Collinwood and talked to Mrs. Johnson. Nicholas and Elizabeth arrived with Jamie, but then they took David away with them."
"What?" Although she sounded shocked, her voice was pitched low, as if she didn't want Roger to hear.
"They've gone to Alexandria-that's what Elizabeth told Mrs. Johnson."
"My God!" Cassandra said, her voice still soft. "And they took David, too?"
"It seems that it was fairly easy to accomplish that-no one was at home to protect him," Julia answered. She was very worried and torn. She'd felt Quentin calling to her and knew he was in trouble. "I want to go to Alexandria, Cassandra. I don't want to bring the children with me-it's not safe. I hate to leave them here. They're so little, and yet they're safer with the nuns."
"I agree. All right, Julia. Have you had any word from Roxanne?"
"None."
Cassandra bit her lip, thinking. "I am sure she went to Alexandria, too, Julia. I have to think of a reason for Roger and I to go there."
"Why not tell him the truth? Elizabeth knows."
"I'm not ready for that yet."
"All right. I have no idea yet where I'll be-I have no idea where they are…"
"Follow your heart, Julia. You'll find him. And I will be able to find you, don't worry." After Julia hung up, Cassandra stood for what seemed to be a long time, thinking.
Roger came to the doorway. "Cassandra? What is it, darling? Is something wrong?"
Cassandra took a deep breath and turned to face her husband.
Roxanne tapped her fingers nervously against the pane glass of the airplane window. She had never been so scared or frightened of anything in her life. She knew she probably would have lived a longer life had she stayed behind in England, but there was nothing she wouldn't do for Barnabas and Jamie. She only hoped that in time Barnabas would be able to get over his insane infatuation with Laura and move in with his life, even if it wasn't with her. Looking out of her window, Roxanne began to reflect upon her life during the past year. She had finally solved the mystery of the room only to be given a greater mystery in the person of Laura. When Laura was gone, things were somewhat back to normal around the Collins estate, but now with her return, everything that had been built over the past 200 years threatened to fall away as though it were nothing.
Laura's evil poisoned everything and everyone around her. Roger was lucky he could escape when he did. Barnabas was not so lucky. In Roxanne's eyes, Barnabas' actions were not entirely his fault. She knew the person he was before Laura came around and the person walking around Alexandria was not he. He was some sort of black parody of the real Barnabas created by Laura's psychic powers as a phoenix that was bent only to Laura's every whim. The thought of anyone using psychic means to completely alter someone's personality angered Roxanne. She thought back to the time when she was a little girl and her powers had just been discovered. Her mother told her then that with power came responsibility. No matter what she did, it was imperative that people are allowed to make their own decisions and she was never to brainwash someone for personal gains. The fact that Laura would employ such unethical means of obtaining her goals further angered Roxanne. A conversation with Laura would be needed to confirm her hypothesis. Roxanne knew that Barnabas would know that she was on her way there through their psychic link. She knew that psychic links between people were not one way streets and if one knew what one was doing, one could control as well as be controlled. Barnabas was going to get a taste of what it was like to be controlled for once and help her accomplish her means. Normally Roxanne frowned on such use of her powers but all was fair in love and war. She vowed to herself that as soon as she got to Alexandria she would give Laura one more chance to give up on her plans or else Roxanne wouldn't be responsible for what she did to Laura.
"Roger, darling, there is something I must tell you and I know you won't like it," began Cassandra.
"What's going on?" Roger asked with concern.
"Laura has returned."
"WHAT!! That's impossible! Laura died in a fire six years ago!"
"Yes, she did die then, but now she has returned."
"Returned! Oh my god, will it begin again? I must call Collinwood and warn-"
"It is too late for that Roger. Laura has David already. That was Julia on the phone just now. She said Mrs. Johnson told her that Nicholas and your sister came to Collinwood and took David away."
"Away? Away where?"
"I have reason to believe that they have gone to Alexandria, Egypt. Julia and Roxanne are investigating this as we speak. There, in Alexandria, Laura is to meet them and another she has in her power."
"Who?"
"Barnabas."
"Barnabas? This is preposterous. Barnabas arrived at Collinwood after Laura died. When did he know her?"
"Long before she met you. You see, she was married to Barnabas' uncle. Barnabas was only ten years old at the time. And as only a young boy could, he fell in love with her. Now, Laura is using those feelings to control Barnabas and use him for her purposes, which are to sacrifice Barnabas, David, Jamie and herself to Amen-Re to win his favor."
"That woman has Jamie too? Will she come after the twins as well."
"No. The twins are of no relation to her so they are safe. Laura is after Jamie because he is her son."
Roger was now completely bewildered. "How is that possible when Roxanne is the one who gave birth to him?"
"Roxanne was merely a surrogate mother. Laura first appeared over a year ago while I was still pregnant with the twins. She began an affair with Barnabas with the purpose of creating a child with great power to sacrifice to Re for his glory. Elizabeth, Julia, Quentin, Roxanne and I were able to stop her and just before she died, I helped Julia remove the embryo from Laura's womb and transplant it into Roxanne. We had hoped that would be the end of Laura for a long time."
"Why didn't anyone say anything about all of this to me?" asked Roger.
"We didn't want to hurt you, Roger. Laura was gone and everyone was happy again. We didn't have the heart to destroy that happiness for you, Roger," pleaded Cassandra.
Roger looked at Cassandra and saw the sincerity with which she spoke written plainly upon her features. He knew in that moment that he could forgive Cassandra and the others for trying to protect him, but Laura who acted out of greed and selfishness could not be forgiven. He looked at Cassandra carefully before asking, "Do you have any idea how to stop this madness?"
"I am not fully certain, but I believe that we must destroy Re somehow in order to have a chance to free everyone. However, there are three things I must tell you before we continue. First, Nicholas is a warlock working for Diabolos, whom you might know better as the Devil. He has hypnotized Elizabeth into helping him complete Laura's plan. Second, Laura has used her powers already to change Barnabas into a vampire. Until Laura's influence is removed, he will be a very dangerous adversary to deal with. Right now he has Quentin protecting him in Alexandria. Julia believes she can cure him so he will not need to be staked. Third is that I am a witch. But I am not working for Diabolos as Nicholas is. I used my powers to help Julia, Quentin and Roxanne fight Laura because I could not just stand by while my friends and family were sacrificed to that monster."
Roger sat down for a moment to absorb what Cassandra had told him. If anyone else had told him the same thing, he would have thought him or her mad. However, this was Cassandra and he trusted her implicitly. "All right, Cassandra, we leave for Alexandria at once and so help me, if David or anyone else has suffered in the least I will see her in Hell even if I have to drag her there myself!"
At the Hypostyle Hall of the temple of the god Amen-Re near the City of Memphis, a young blonde woman stood gazing at her god, and upon careful examination, it appeared that she was in deep conversation with the statue of her god. Of course, the outsider could never understand the ancient language of the gods, that she was speaking in very low, but her tone was pleading, and behind the big round sunglasses, tears were flowing.
Re, the sun-god of Heliopolis; head of the great ennead, supreme judge; often linked with other gods aspiring to universality. Amen-Re was seen as the father of the gods, it was from him that also known by three aspects, which correspond to the positions of the sun, Amen at dawn, Re in the evening, and Set at dusk. Amen, usually associated with the wind, or things hidden, Amen-Re was the king of the gods, and he was the god of Laura the Phoenix. Laura was remembering thinking, now quiet, as she stood gazing at the great step pyramid of King Hoser. She loved this hot torrid land, so close to her home. She missed the joy and the beauty of running with the children of the gods among the flowers and rainbow-colored birds. She was special though. She was a Phoenix. Not a goddess, but not a human, so she was condemned to live on Earth with the humans as one, and bear their children, and then sacrifice the children to Amen-Re, so she could play and run with the gods, and keep the flesh of her human form. It had become hard to let go of her human life the last time.
She had displeased Re before, but never to this extent. She had not meant to love Barnabas so much that she would let him go, and give up their child, but she did love him. It was that love that had revived her, and raised her up again as the mighty Phoenix. Now, she had her children with her, David and Jamie. She was genuinely delighted to see David.
She had spent time telling David in factual detail about the great god Amen-Re. David had acted as though he understood, she had known he had listened as a child in a schoolroom, not really comprehending why she was telling him. But she had let it go, and let him think she was teaching him about the region they were visiting. She had come out to these pyramids to beg Re to release her from him, so she could be with Barnabas Collins, and be a mother to their child.
Knowing what Barnabas was excited her. He was a reviled creature of the night, but yet he was a charismatic being that humans were both repulsed and drawn to at the same time, and not knowing why. She had never been drawn to any being like him before. Barnabas had told her that Dirk had believed him capable of bringing her back to life, that fool hadn't known how right he had been, Laura thought with a look of disdain, thinking about Dirk. Laura knew that the sun in her veins warmed the dead cold night that ran through him. It had been a wonderful heady experience for both of them, so much so that they had been unable to let go in spite of the danger.
Supernatural creatures wondered the Earth, Laura knew this, and she had run into some during the times she had been here, but never had made contact with a vampire until Barnabas. His kind was forbidden to the offspring of the gods. The gods were fearful of contamination. They weren't sure from where the vampire's inception began. The gods knew that the vampires had no allegiance to any of them, not even Re, the great sun god, and they knew they had no allegiance to Diablos or any of the fiery demons of Hell. With this knowledge, Re had ordered Laura to destroy Barnabas and Jamie. Laura could not do it, that's why she had left her children with Elizabeth in Alexandria, and traveled to Memphis, the earthly home of her master. Laura had informed Amen-Re that according to Barnabas that Jamie was normal, because of his surrogate and legal mother Roxanne Collins, so, therefore, no threat. With that, Re had granted her a reprieve. Barnabas and Jamie were safe thanks to the strange young woman from another time band, parallel time it was called. An idea began to form in Laura's mind, a smile was on her face, as she walked back towards her hired car. The blue sundress she had on made her blue eyes even bluer, and now she was absolutely radiant. In her planning, and scheming, she had forgotten about Nicholas Blair, and his plans.
Alexandria, the shining pearl of the Mediterranean, and the beacon radiating its culture and heritage to the world at large, belied what was going on in the large hotel where a vampire slept, and his cousin guarded him, and his terrible secrets. No shining pearl to Quentin Collins, a dark suffocating nightmare was threatening to choke him. Afraid to go to sleep, because of the strange erotic power Barnabas had over him, he was ashamed of the desire he felt for his cousin, and repulsed by the thought of it.
Alexandria lying north-west of the Nile delta and stretching along a narrow land strip between the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Mariut, linked to Cairo by two major highways and a railroad line, traveling at a high rate of speed a car carrying the beautiful Laura back to Alexandria was traveling down one of these major highways.
One of the most notable summer resorts in the Middle East, for, in addition to its temperate winters, its beaches, with white sands and magnificent scenery, stretching for miles along the Mediterranean Sea. The young Mrs. Barnabas Collins did not notice any of the beauty around her as she was landing on a private airstrip just outside the ancient city, ready to confront any of the demons awaiting her, as she prepared for the fight of her life.
Alexandria was built by the Greek architect Dinocrates in 332-331 BC on the site of an old village, Rhakotis, at the orders of Alexander the Great. The city, immortalizing Alexander's name. It was the site of the Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, as well as the Great Library. It was along these shores that history took a tragic turn at the time of Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Octavian. Laura remembered it. She remembered bathing with Cleopatra, laughing over different ways to look beautiful. It had been such fun. Alexander had been such a boy, Laura thought to herself, laughing out loud, she noticed they were entering Alexandria.
Meanwhile, back in England at the Collins Castle, Cassandra had practiced over and over and over in her head what she would say to Roger, but had dismissed every conversation so far. Another scene played in her mind, it was one of Nicholas Blair accusing her of sounding like a suburban middle-class housewife.
The very thought of Nicholas angered Cassandra, and she knew he couldn't tell Roger what was going on, he would think her mad, and it would be the end of their marriage, their family. But what about David? She would ask herself. Oh, I'm not getting anywhere like this. She just knew Roger was not going to find out about Laura and Barnabas. She would find David, make him forget the horrors that he had gone through.
Convincing Roger to take her to Alexandria might not be easy, but it would not be impossible. Excitement coursed through her as she heard her husband's voice downstairs, and she went to greet him. I will have one night alone with my husband, without trouble, or discord, Cassandra thought as she hurriedly dabbed Chanel No. 5 behind her ears, and walked towards the door.
"Mrs. Collins, Mr. Collins has arrived. Shall I show him to your rooms?"Mrs. Phillips asked.
"Yes, of course, and make sure high tea is served," Cassandra directed the housekeeper impatiently.
"Cassandra, my love." an excited Roger Collins exclaimed happy to see his wife walking hurriedly to his opened arms.
Julia got off the plane at the airport, the hot air leaving her lungs feeling seared. Perhaps I'd better follow Quentin's advice and give up smoking, she thought as she went down the steps with her bag. The air was very dry as well. The walk to the cool terminal seemed miles away. Once instead, she paused, allowing herself to feel refreshed by the air-conditioned comfort. Then, following Cassandra's advice, she began to concentrate. She focused first on Quentin's face and then the sound of his voice. She had never believed she'd had any psychic abilities and perhaps this was a latent power enhanced by Cassandra's help. She suddenly felt sure which hotel she should have the cab take her to. She had to hurry-it was almost dusk.
Cassandra embraced Roger lovingly. "What do you think, my darling? We have the house to ourselves tonight! I have told cook to prepare a special dinner for just the two of us!"
Roger looked surprised and delighted. "Where is everyone?"
"On a little excursion across the Channel," Cassandra replied with her lilting laugh. "They're not due back until tomorrow. We are quite alone!" She gave him a very passionate kiss, feeling him respond to her warmly. She wanted him very much, it was true, but her desire for him was coupled with another sense of urgency. She was sure she would be able to stop Nicholas and Laura without having to go to Alexandria if she could have but a few minutes alone to cast a spell. For that, she needed Roger sated and happily preoccupied with something else. She would take care of their needs first -- then tend to Nicholas and Laura.
The sharp rap on the door of the suite literally made Quentin jump. He'd been standing at the window, looking at the horizon and watching the sun go down with an increasing sense of dread. He'd been up all night with Barnabas combing the streets of Alexandria. Barnabas was in a rage. He could sense Laura's closeness but was unable to trace her exact location and it made him irritable to the point that Quentin worried about his own physical safety. Once when he'd asked when they could stop this pointless searching, his cousin drew his arm back and Quentin braced himself to be struck; Barnabas only barely managed to stop himself and growled the search would stop when *he* was ready, not before.
The daytime hours were worse, not better. He'd only managed to drift off to sleep once and had a similar dream in which he thought he was being kissed and caressed by Julia only to see his cousin's face or hear his voice instead of hers. After that, he'd simply refused to sleep. He paced back and forth restlessly all afternoon. Now that it was growing dark, he apprehensively anticipated another night of Barnabas' cold and bitter rage.
"Quentin!" he heard Julia call through the door.
God, no! He thought, both frightened and relieved to hear her voice. He swiftly went to the door and unlocked it. He pulled the door open wanting to sweep her into his arms but he was only able to stand there staring at her speechlessly.
Julia was unsettled by his appearance. Quentin looked haggard and frightfully upset. "I'm here, dearheart," she said to him, moving into his arms. Mechanically, his arms went around her, and she looked up at him, puzzled. "What is it?"
He started to pull away. "You shouldn't have come. You're in danger here."
"I couldn't stay away." Julia followed him into the room and shut the door. "I could feel that you were in trouble. What is it? What's happening?"
Quentin turned away from her, shivering as if he was cold. "Julia, it's bad enough that I have to be here under his control. I don't want to have to worry about you, too. I want you to leave. Where are the kids?"
Julia's jaw set stubbornly. "I am not going to do that, and Jon and Donna are safe where they are. I have dealt with Barnabas for many more years than you have. He is not going to harm me."
Quentin sat on the bed, covering his face with his hands. He felt Julia sit down beside him. She reached over to stroke his hair. He turned to her for comfort. For just a moment, it wasn't her face that he saw-it was Barnabas' and he drew back with a cry of protest. She put her hand on his arm, alarmed at how quickly his face blanched of color. "What is it, dearheart?" she whispered.
The door to the connecting room opened and Barnabas entered. "Good evening, Julia," he said pleasantly. "How nice to see you."
Julia stood up and faced Barnabas, her eyes narrowed to angry slits. "What have you done to Quentin?" she demanded.
Barnabas looked both amused and insulted. "Why, nothing. Why on earth would you ask me such a thing?" He turned his eyes to Quentin, his eyes boring into his cousin. Julia followed his glance suspiciously.
Quentin lowered his head. "He hasn't done anything, Julia," he muttered. With a show of disbelief, Julia gently turned Quentin's head from side to side. She made a big show of examining his neck for wounds. There were no marks.
"There, now, are you satisfied, dear Julia?" Barnabas asked with contempt.
"Not by a long shot," Julia snapped out each word. She examined Quentin's arms as well, remembering full well that Barnabas had victimized Willie by biting his wrist. I have to be satisfied with this, she thought. She was not going to embarrass her husband by taking his pants down to check the femoral artery in his legs. Later, though… She met Quentin's eyes briefly and was distressed by the desperate expression in his eyes.
Laura knocked awkwardly at the door of the sumptuous hotel suite. Nicholas himself came to the door and smiled broadly when he saw who it was. "My dear Laura, won't you come in!" he exclaimed.
"Thank you," Laura replied, stepping into the room. She was carrying Jamie in her arms and was accompanied by David. Elizabeth came in from the bedroom, a serene expression of sublime satisfaction on her face. "Laura!" she exclaimed. "How wonderful to see you again! And my darling David!" She reached her arms out toward her nephew. He ran to her with a cry of relief. Now he could trust totally--his beloved aunt was here, and everything *must* be all right!
"Won't you come in and sit with us?" Nicholas invited.
"I'd love to, but I really came by to ask a favor," Laura said. With her eyes, she communicated with Nicholas. There is something I must do-I must go to the Temple of Amen-Re with Barnabas. He demands it. "I have an appointment I absolutely must keep, and I wondered if I might leave the boys with you?"
"Well, absolutely!" Nicholas said heartily, reaching for the baby. "We'd be delighted, wouldn't we, my love?" He was addressing Elizabeth, who looked at Nicholas with shiny eyes.
"We would love to, Laura," Elizabeth agreed. "They can have dinner with us. We'll order something to be sent up to us."
Laura smiled charmingly at her former sister-in-law, dimpling. "I won't be gone long. I will return, and we'll all have much to talk about."
Elizabeth looked at her blankly and smiled. She was totally entranced.
Laura called a cab from the suite and asked the driver to take her to the hotel where Quentin had booked a suite of rooms. She'd sensed how frantically Barnabas had searched for her the night before and was grieved that he'd suffered so. There was no way she could come to him before winning an assurance from Amen-Re that Barnabas would be safe. Barnabas loved her enough that she knew he would not mind assuring her god of his neutrality in any supernatural matters pertaining to him and his domain. She arrived at Barnabas' door, flush with the prospect of seeing her lover again and heard angry voices from within. Julia-that meddler! Laura thought with disdain. She tried the door and found it unlocked. She opened the door and stepped into the room. The scene in front of her stunned her. Quentin had just stepped in front of his wife, who was red with furious rage. Barnabas had taken a menacing step toward his cousin, who had the audacity to pull out a cross from under his shirt and hold it up. Crying out, Barnabas turned away and saw her.
"Beloved!" she cried. She stared intently at the cross, and Quentin cried out as it burned his hand. He let go of it. When it touched his shirt, it burned his chest, too, and so he pulled the chain over his neck and threw it onto the bed, shaking his burned hand. Laura herself ran into her lover's arms, pressing her lips against his. She felt him return the kiss passionately, and then he took her by the arms and set her back a little. He gave her a brief smile, turned, and knocked Quentin to the floor with a single backhanded blow.
"I have not finished dealing with you!" he threatened in a sinister tone of voice. As Julia bent over her husband, Barnabas turned back to Laura, pulling her back into his arms, kissing her again. "You didn't come to me," he said in a low voice, distressed. He was unable to control himself and sank his fangs into her neck.
"Yes, yes, beloved, it is all right, though! I have saved us!" Laura murmured in a state of ecstasy. Through their link, she communicated to Barnabas that they were to go to the Tomb of King Zoser where they would communicate directly with Amen-Re. He would let them go in peace after that. He would not require Jamie as a sacrifice; as for David and Laura, that was not necessary at this moment. Satisfied, Barnabas raised his head and kissed Laura again. He wanted her now, but there was Quentin and Julia…Angrily, he turned toward them.
Laura gasped, sensing Barnabas' intent to punish. At the sound, he turned toward her, puzzled. "Don't hurt them, my love," she begged.
"They have defied me!" Barnabas protested.
"I know," Laura agreed. "They are weak and frightened. They won't defy you again. Besides, we'll need them…" She gave him a look of intent longing and love. He couldn't reject her appeal on their behalf, although he felt they were unworthy of her attention.
"All right," Barnabas said grudgingly. He turned toward Julia and Quentin. Quentin had managed to sit up and was holding his aching head, while Julia had her arms around him. Julia's eyes blazed with fury but she made no move against Barnabas or Laura. "Get up," he said harshly. "We are going now."
They had no choice but to obey.
Cassandra excused herself to go to the bathroom, leaving a thoroughly content Roger reading before the fire. They'd made love before dinner, enjoyed an exceptionally fine meal, and then enjoyed more passionate lovemaking as dessert. They'd been sitting before the fire, reading in companionable silence, for about a half-hour when Cassandra decided it would be appropriate to take her leave. She had everything she needed for the spell she was about to cast. She knew she was not in favor with Diabolos, but there were other nether-gods she could appeal to who would help her. Diabolos would not interfere; his evil could be quite mischievous. He'd want to see how Nicholas would respond to the spell. Cassandra was no fool. She'd accumulated small possessions of a number of people and had kept them in case she'd ever need them. She had a small ribbon that belonged to Maggie Evans. She began her incantation, rubbing the ribbon between her fingers almost lovingly. She wasn't going to hurt Maggie, oh no- she had no intention of doing that . . .
Nicholas chucked Jamie under the chin. He neither liked nor disliked babies and children. He understood that they were necessary creatures and so he tolerated them. He knew how to be charming to them and knew well how to entrance children as easily as he could win over suspicious adults. As he played with Jamie, he was struck suddenly by a frightening image in his mind. Maggie was going to die within the next 48 hours!
He stood up abruptly. Startled, Elizabeth and David looked at him. He brought the baby to Elizabeth and set Jamie on her lap. "Elizabeth," he said quietly and intently, "something has come up and I must go for a little while. But you'll be all right here with the boys, won't you?"
Dazed, Elizabeth answered automatically, "Why, yes."
"Good. I have faith in you." Nicholas kissed her on the cheek and then swiftly retrieved his trenchcoat and hat. He called for a cab before leaving them without another word. Diabolos would not be pleased, Nicholas knew, but he there was no way he could allow anything to happen to Maggie. He'd fully intended on reclaiming her once his mission here was completed. He was positive that Laura had things under control and so he would be able to go and deal with whatever danger Maggie was in. Concern for Maggie abruptly kindled the small flame of love he still carried for her in his corrupt soul.
At the tomb of King Zoser, Laura reverently approached the pyramid. "The opening is through here, Barnabas. We can only stay momentarily because you are not one of us-it is only to assure the god that you will bring no harm to us."
Barnabas took Julia by the wrist and pulled her close. "We cannot take a chance of leaving them alone together out here even for a moment. She will come with us."
"No!" Quentin protested. "I'll do it." He stared into Barnabas' eyes, thinking: do what you want to me but leave my wife alone!
Barnabas let go of Julia. For just a moment, he looked back at Quentin kindly and with compassion. His expression had become cold again when he said, "Come along, then."
"Quentin-" Julia protested, frightened.
Quentin pulled her to him. "Now, don't you worry," he reassured her. "I'll be fine." He let go of her and turned, following Barnabas and Laura to the base of the pyramid. Stunned Julia watched as one moment they were there, and the next-they were gone. It's like that parallel time room, she thought.
She paced back and forth, thoroughly frightened for herself and for Quentin. There was no reason to worry about Laura and as for Barnabas-her lips became a thin furious line and her eyes narrowed to angry slits again. This was his choice to put everyone in harm's way. She no longer gave a damn what happened to him. She didn't know how long she'd been pacing when they suddenly reappeared out of nowhere-it seemed.
Relieved, she ran to Quentin, who was very pale. He squeezed her hand to let her know that he was all right.
"And now my love, we will be together," Barnabas was saying to Laura. Their arms were around each other's waists. "Come along," Barnabas called to Julia and Quentin in an off-hand manner.
Julia opened her mouth to snap at him, but Quentin grabbed her elbow and shook his head at her furiously. She kept her peace. At the hotel, Barnabas disconnected the phone in their room and carefully locked both doors from the outside. They were prisoners. In the adjoining room, Quentin and Julia could hear the happy reunion taking place. "Are you all right, dearheart?" Julia asked, concerned at the defeated droop in Quentin's shoulders.
He was sitting on the bed, pulling his shoes off. He sighed heavily. She climbed onto the bed behind him, massaging his neck and shoulders. He was very tense; she could feel the knots and lumps in his muscles. Leaning forward, she placed her lips on his neck. "No!" he shouted, leaping to his feet. She was stunned. He'd covered his face with his hands and when she went to him, she felt him trembling.
"What has he done to you?" she asked softly.
"I can't tell you." His voice sounded agonized.
Her jaw set in a determined way. "Quentin, sit down on the bed," she said firmly. He didn't argue with her. She got her purse and fished around in it until she found her medallion. He'd taken his hands away from his eyes and looked up at her with a trusting, questioning expression on his face. "He's done something to you to cause a wall between us," she explained. "I'm going to take that wall down-if only temporarily. I'll do it everyday if I have to. You and I are going to be together tonight, Quentin-we are going to bring comfort to each other. I love you. Do you trust me?" Wordlessly, he nodded.
"All right, dearheart, I want you to look at this. Do you see the light? I want you to look deep inside-and tell me when you find the center of the light…"
Roxanne concentrated hard on her baby's blanket. She was beginning to get an image in her mind of a room…a hotel room. She could see the furniture, and now she could see Jamie-lying safely in Elizabeth's arms. She sensed but couldn't see David. They were safe because…they were alone in the room. Good! She thought with determination. She hailed a cab.
Roxanne quickly paid the cab driver and ran into the hotel. She continued to use Jamie's blanket as a homing device so that she could quickly find them. She stopped outside the suite and placed her hand upon the carpeting to see if her earlier vision was correct, and indeed Elizabeth, David and Jamie were alone inside. Roxanne knocked on the door and after a brief pause, Elizabeth opened it. "Roxanne! What are you doing here? I thought you were in England," inquired Elizabeth.
"I came to warn you that you must leave here at once. Right now you are safe, but I don't know how long that will last. Re may decide to come after David and Jamie again. You must leave here at once and return to Collinwood."
"But what about you? Aren't you in danger as well?"
"Yes, Elizabeth, but I must stay here and fight. Somehow there is still a way to save Barnabas. I must find out what that is. I had a vision that I must investigate before I can leave here."
With that said, (and before Elizabeth could protest further) Roxanne concentrated and mentally programmed Elizabeth to take David and James back to Collinsport where they would be safe from Re for the time being. A probe of Elizabeth's mind told her that Nicholas was busy with other affairs and would not be too upset about Elizabeth's return if the proper explanations were given. Three hours later, Elizabeth, David and James were on a flight back to the United States.
Roxanne went back to her own hotel room and began looking through some books she had on ancient mythology. She had concluded that the only way to effectively fight Re would be to enlist the aid of another god. But who could she call upon and how?
"I may be able to help you there, Roxanne."
Roxanne whirled around in her seat. "Who are you? How did you get here?"
"In your world, I am known as Selene, goddess of the moon. I watch over all the sick people in the world and help all those I can, especially those whose ruling planet is the moon. I first became interested in your plight when Nicholas Blair dared to use me in order to play one of his mind games. I despise him and Diabolos and would gladly help anyone who would fight against him."
"How can you help me?"
"Although your myths say otherwise, I am a hunter like my sisters Diana, Luna, and Artemis. It is my job to know my enemy so that I may be able to predict his movements. I know how to contact someone who knows how to deal with Re and together, we may be able to stop his madness and save your husband."
"Who is this person?" asked Roxanne.
"The person that I am referring to is Isis. She is the one who caused Re to leave the Earth long ago. She knows more things about Re than his servant Laura does. If we can convince her to help, we can save him. In the meantime, you must go to your husband and see what vessel Laura is using to communicate with Re when she is away from the tomb of King Zoser. From my knowledge of Re, she will likely have some sort of beetle-shaped object called a scarab. Determine its location, but do not destroy it. It will only bring about your husband's anger. However, you should tell your husband about your child. He should know as soon as possible. This knowledge may make him more open to suggestion," explained Selene.
"But what about the state of mind he is in? He is not himself. How can I tell him without risking my life and my baby's should Barnabas decide to lash out at me?"
"I am not unprepared for that. Take this charm with you," said Selene as she handed Roxanne a golden crescent moon on a silver chain and a bottle filled with a silver liquid. "The charm is called the Crescent Moon Pendant. It will protect you from Barnabas' power. The potion is a healing elixir. Go to Barnabas' hotel and give this potion to Quentin Collins. Although it will not cure his problem, it will help him deal with it Barnabas' hallucinations. Then wait for Barnabas and Laura to appear. While you are there, I shall go and speak with Isis and ask for her help. Isis was a very devoted wife and mother like you are so it is likely that she will help us. I shall find you later and tell you more. Farewell."
Roxanne sat for a moment and absorbed what Selene had said. She only hoped that Isis would be as kind as the books described her to be. Roxanne needed all the help she could get.
There were only a few things in the world that scared Julia Hoffman Collins like Barnabas did when she first met him. The Barnabas of 1967 was evil, cruel, sadistic and didn't give a damn about anyone except the woman he chose to become his Josette. 1973's version of Barnabas was running a close second. Although he had not done anything to her directly she could read into the true meanings of what he said, and from what Quentin had told her under hypnosis, she could see just what Barnabas was capable of. For now, Quentin was asleep and seemingly free of the haunting visions he had experienced in the past. The fact that Barnabas could revert to his former self so fast and so completely made Julia seriously wonder just what else the vampire was capable of. However, there was some hope. Laura, for some reason had decided to take Barnabas away to take part in some ritual to appease Re's suspicions of him. For now, they were safe. Julia's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Julia, are you in there?"
"Roxanne, is that you? " asked Julia.
"Yes. Are you all right? Open the door so I can come in. I need to see you."
"Barnabas locked it before he left. We cannot open it."
"And neither shall you!" said Barnabas as he materialized near Roxanne.
"Why do you keep them locked up as prisoners? Julia and Quentin are your best friends," asked Roxanne, hoping that reasoning with Barnabas was still possible.
"I no longer need friends. They are servants, easily gained and discarded. I have Laura and James. They are all that I need."
"What about us?"
"'What about us?' There is no 'us.' You were just a convenient receptacle for my son to grow in, that is all. You are of no further use to me."
"I may not be, but what about our child. Will you abandon him too so that he will grow up without knowing his father?" demanded Roxanne heedless of the vampire's anger.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm pregnant, Barnabas. With YOUR child."
Stunned, Barnabas could only stare at her. He had to control his fury with her for as much as he would like to dispose of her, he could sense that she was not lying. She really was pregnant. How was it possible? He wondered. Perhaps Laura would know… He composed his features so that he looked coolly polite. "I see," he finally said. "Well, you must be sure to get some rest then, mustn't you? Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to go and visit Julia and Quentin for awhile." He reached into his pocket for a key. He gave Roxanne a slightly contemptuous look. "By the way, you have no need of that ridiculous potion. Quentin will not be troubled by any more dreams."
Roxanne looked at him, startled. "I know far more than you and those gods who claim to want to help you. I am more powerful than they are. I am the one who decided Quentin would not dream anymore-not you." Barnabas hissed at her, opening the door. Julia stood just inside, her face pale. "Good evening, my dear Julia, here is some company for you. I am sure you have much to catch up on. Please forgive the inconvenience of this temporary confinement. In the morning you shall find that you are free to go."
"Is that so?" Julia asked coldly and suspiciously.
"Why, yes. By then, Laura and I will have taken our leave. I trust that you and Quentin will do nothing to disturb us at home." He gave her a long, meaningful look. "You do nothing to interfere with us, and you and Quentin will find you will lead much happier lives. You should focus your attention on each other-and on your children." He smiled, a very unpleasant smile that hinted of a sinister threat. "Besides, you will have Roxanne to look after. It seems she has gone and gotten herself with child again." With that, Barnabas pushed Roxanne into the room ever so gently. He shut and locked the door in their stunned faces.
Willie walked Maggie up along the drive to the door. "Thank you for the movie and the ice cream sundae," Maggie was saying. "I've been enjoying this little vacation a great deal!"
Willie put his arms around her and kissed her. She still tasted of the crushed peppermint candy she'd asked for on her vanilla sundae with chocolate sauce. When it was time to come up for air, he asked, "Does it feel strange to stay in this big house with everyone gone to Europe?"
Maggie laughed. "No more so than for you to stay at the Old House."
Willie laughed sheepishly. "You know-I have an idea, Maggie. I found one of those old-fashioned popcorn poppers. You know what I mean. With the long handles. Why don't we go down to the Old House now and I can make us some popcorn over the fireplace?"
"What a lovely idea!" Maggie exclaimed. "Well, why not? I don't have to do anything early in the morning! Sure, Willie!" He wanted one more kiss, remembering the peppermint taste of her mouth and how soft her lips felt pressed against his. He put his hand in her hair, stroking it. It was so soft…better go, there was time enough for more kissing…
They turned toward the path to go to the Old House. Nicholas Blair stepped out of the shadows of the trees, watching them go, glaring balefully at Willie's back. Is that speck of rubbish the cause for his pell mell run back to Collinwood? Surely Maggie wasn't in any danger from that little mouse! Still…he had been kissing Maggie quite passionately, and she seemed to be enjoying it. Obviously, she had forgotten him. That could not be allowed…
Nicholas followed them down the path to the Old House.
"Tell me again about these people you spoke with," Julia asked, once she had ascertained that Roxanne was physically fine. She spoke softly so that she wouldn't disturb her sleeping husband. He lay still and looked peaceful, a small smile curving his lips.
Roxanne noticed her worried glance. "I have something for him if Barnabas wasn't telling us the truth," she said.
Julia smiled grimly. "Oh, I believe he was telling the truth. Now that he has no further need of forcing us to cooperate, he can afford to be 'kind' and stop tormenting Quentin. Who are these gods?"
Roxanne shook her head. "I'm sorry-I wish I could tell you more, Julia. It all seems foggy to me, as if I was dreaming. I have a feeling though that they are close by and that if necessary, they will come forward-or maybe they'll act through me." She leaned forward and pulled the crescent moon charm on the necklace out from under her blouse to show Julia. "This was given to me by Selene to protect me against Barnabas' powers. I need to be able to find Laura's scarab-I was not to do anything to it, I am just to find it."
"We may have to return to Collinsport before we're able to do that." Julia drummed her fingers on the table. "If only there was a way to get into their room…"
They heard the sound of voices next door-Barnabas and Laura. A door closed and the voices were in the hall way, receding. "They're going out!" Roxanne exclaimed. She looked toward the door which connected their suites. "Have you a nail file?"
Julia was already searching through her purse. Fumbling, she found one and handed it to Roxanne, who took it to the door. She tried to slide the nail file into the keyhole. It fit easily because it was much too small; the nail file moved back and forth uselessly. Roxanne sighed with frustration. "What the hell are you doing?" Quentin asked sleepily. Both women started, turning round with their mouths opened in surprise. Quentin laughed at the looks on their faces.
"Quentin! How are you feeling?" Julia asked.
"Rested, my dear," he responded, in a slightly wondering tone. "Rested enough to want to throttle my dear cousin-if that was possible, but it's not. What are you doing? What's Roxanne doing here?"
Julia explained quickly as Quentin climbed out of bed and came over to help them. "May I?" he asked Roxanne. She put the file in his hand, and he began to work with it. "You need to be an expert at this, Roxanne," he explained in an easygoing tone, working the file around slowly. "There's a certain little button that you've got to pop…" He paused. They heard a small click. "There it goes!" He gave them a triumphant smile and bowed mockingly.
"Expert, eh?" Julia teased, pleased to see some of her old Quentin returning.
"Used to do this all the time when my father locked me in my room," he explained. "It wasn't a nail file I used though."
"Oh? What was it?" Julia asked as Roxanne opened the connecting door.
Quentin leaned over and kissed Julia lightly, playfully. "My dear sister Judith's hatpin-pinched for occasions like that." Julia laughed in delight. Roxanne had already entered the room. Everything was suddenly business. "What are we looking for?"
"The scarab," Julia answered. "Do you know what it looks like?"
"Yes I do-like a beetle. What are we supposed to do with it?"
"Locate it-that's all."
As they moved into the room, all three of them felt a spasm of fear. What if Barnabas returned? Julia feared Barnabas' icy hands around her throat. Quentin feared the return of the nightmares and the threat to Julia's and the children's safety. Roxanne thought of her unborn child. "Where would someone hide a beetle?" Julia wondered.
"Here," Roxanne said faintly, lifting a pillow from the bed. They all looked at it with disgust. Slowly, she let the pillow fall. "All right, now we know that she has it and where it is," she said. "If we aren't to do anything to it now, perhaps she'll keep it in the same place once they return to Collinwood."
"Perhaps," Julia agreed. She looked at Quentin. Both of them were thinking the same thing: are we sure we want to interfere with Barnabas and Laura at all?
Roxanne saw the look that passed between them and understood it. Is that why you appeared to me, Selene? She could not blame them for how they felt. Barnabas was repulsive to her now as well. But for Jamie's sake…Jamie wasn't of her blood, but he was of her body. He was as much hers as theirs. She could see that Julia understood what she was thinking, too. Quentin shut the door behind them. He looked at the doorknob, thinking. "Well, Houdini, do you have any ideas?" Julia asked, crossing her arms and looking at him. Quentin looked over his shoulder and grinned at her ruefully. Her eyebrows arched up in expectation. "Well, what did you do when you returned to your room when you were a boy?"
"Usually Father was waiting for me and I got spanked." Quentin's smile grew a little broader to hide the fear he felt. He shrugged.
"That won't happen this time," Roxanne assured him. She concentrated deeply. Selene, I don't understand your powers, but help me now. Please, Selene. She put her hand on the knob, feeling it grow warm under her touch.
"Roxanne!" Julia exclaimed in a warning tone.
Roxanne looked down. The doorknob glowed brightly, and she pulled her hand away. Julia grabbed her hand, examining her palm. There was no burn. The three of them looked at each other with wonder in their eyes. The doorknob was no longer glowing. Julia reached out for it, tentatively, and found it was securely locked. Now the look they shared was one of triumph.
Willie had settled Maggie on the sofa before the small fire he had kindled. They kissed again, as only new lovers did over and over, seeming not to weary of it. "I'll be right back," he said to her softly. The popcorn and oil were in the old fashioned kitchen; the skillet was hanging on the wall just inside the cellar door. He found the popcorn and oil without any trouble, but when he reached for the skillet-it wasn't there.
Grumbling with frustration, Willie opened the door a little further and stepped inside. He seemed to feel a push from behind and yelled, startled, as he was thrown forward. He lost his balance and tumbled down the stairs, hitting his head at the bottom. Maggie heard him fall and jumped up in alarm. "Willie!" she exclaimed. She started to run into the hallway when the front door blew open. She gasped, frightened. There was a figure standing there on the steps, and she screamed more from surprise and shock than from horror.
"Maggie! Don't you know me? It's Nicholas!" The figure stepped inside, and Maggie recognized the man who had romanced her and almost married her. She really couldn't believe her eyes-she never expected to see him again after what he'd done.
"What are you doing here?" she gasped.
"Why-I have come back for you, my dear!" He went to her and pulled her into her arms. She struggled, freeing herself and stepping back. "Maggie…"
"Willie!" she cried out, turning and running for the basement door. Behind her, Nicholas rolled his eyes in exasperation, wishing he knew a good spell to make a human body vanish. He could hear her heels clattering on the stairs as she ran down, hoping she wouldn't slip and knock herself senseless. "Willie, Willie!" she screamed.
Sighing, Nicholas walked to the door and looked down into the depths of the cellar. He knew what he would find. Maggie knelt beside Willie's prone body. He wasn't moving at all.
Maggie found herself remembering Nicholas, and how much she had loved him. Their marriage, and she had married him in a strange and bizarre ritual of the underworld -- No. No, that had been a dream. Only a dream.
"Willie, are you okay?" Maggie asked him gently.
Stirring, Willie, looked up at her and said, "who are you?"
"Willie, it's me, Maggie," Maggie replied, sure that he would snap out of it as soon as his head cleared.
"Maggie. I don't know no Maggie," the young man replied.
"Willie, are you all right? Can you stand up?" Maggie asked him.
"Yes, but I don't know why you keep calling me Willie," he said.
"Well, what is your name?" Maggie asked pacifying him, she didn't know what else to do at the moment.
"My name, young woman is Christian Shane Douglas, and I am looking for Grant Douglas. He is my
cousin. I was supposed to meet him here about a month ago. We both -- oooohhh, my aching head."
Alexandria Egypt
Julia grabbed the scarab, and told Roxanne that they had to take it to the resting place of Amen-Re, and place the sun seal on the hole that opened for Quentin, Barnabas, and Laura, and that way they would keep Amen-Re in his world, and send Laura back to hers, and Barnabas be damned. He would just have to wonder the world looking for something, which would not be new to him, because he had loved a lost cause for centuries.
"Are you quite through venting, my dear?" Quentin asked with a twinkle in his eye, and not just a little admiration at this wonderful woman he called wife, and yet again thanked his lucky stars at the sheer stupidity of his cousin. No offense, cousin, but you lost on this one, was Quentin's last thought when Roxanne interrupted him with, "she's right, Quentin, and I will be the one to seal the tomb. Let's go."
"How are we going to get to the resting place of Amen-Re without being stopped by Barnabas and Laura? It's not as though they are going to say 'Oh come in and destroy me and my plans!'" asked Julia.
"I believe I can help you there," said Selene as she appeared next to Roxanne. "I have spoken to Isis and arranged a little scenario to keep Barnabas and Laura quite busy while we go and take care of Re. Isis agrees with your conclusions, Julia Hoffman. She has also told me the reasons for certain events occurring over the past few weeks and months. But there will be time for explanations later. Now, all of us must hold hands. I have secured the incantation to place the sun seal on Re's hole and will guide us to the sepulcher of Amen-Re."
Everyone held hands as Selene concentrated on the tomb and soon all four figures faded away from the hotel and reappeared within the tomb. "Look! There it is!" said Julia, pointing to a cylinder-like pyre in the center of the room.
"Yes. Now we must hurry. Julia, place the scarab within the hole," said Quentin as he turned to Selene. "Um, Selene, you sure about what to do here aren't you? I don't want to take any chances."
"I am certain of what must be done. Isis gave me these," answered Selene as she Quentin a scroll. "I believe it has the proper incantation written upon it."
Quentin quickly read over the scroll and smiled, remarking "Isis sure thinks of everything, doesn't she."
"Isis is one of the cleverest of the gods. She is said to know all and is the only one who could find out Re's most guarded secret," Selene remarked. "And that is?"
"His Secret Name, the Name of Power."
"But why didn't she just say his Name and destroy him outright?" Roxanne asked with wonder. "We could have avoided all of this!"
"Isis pledged an oath to Re that she would never reveal his name except to her son and the first born heirs afterwards with each bound to secrecy about Re's Name. Afterwards, Re had to leave earth and pass into the Realm. Isis seeks to prevent the possibility of Amen-Re trying to return to his former station as ruler of the Earth."
"I see."
"Well, if you are through with your history lesson, I am ready to begin," said Quentin.
"I am ready," said Roxanne as she approached the pyre.
"All right then," said Selene. "As Quentin reads the incantation, you must focus your power through the sacred moonstone in the charm I gave you. You and Julia must focus your entire beings on sealing Re away or the spell to create the sun seal will not work. Once we begin, do not stop for anything. We must not give Re any advantage if we are to succeed. I will try to help you in whatever way that I can, but I must warn you, we could all die in our efforts here tonight."
"If it means getting rid of Re and Laura, I am willing to take the chance," Roxanne responded.
"Julia and I agree with Roxanne. This horror must end tonight. There's no way we can continue to go on as we have with Laura showing up to cause chaos and destruction in our lives."
"Very well. Quentin, if you will begin."
In another part of Alexandria, Barnabas and Laura were enjoying a walk under the full moon. They had already made love several times that night and had decided to take a break and walk upon the sands Abu-Qir Suburb, a famous Alexandrian beach. Barnabas thought it curious that a being dedicated to fire would enjoy areas near water so much, but then again she had spent a great deal of time in Collinsport during her lives so perhaps the sea life rubbed off on her. Unbeknownst to Barnabas and Laura an unseen figure began observing their walk upon the beach. She looked at the little romantic scene with disgust. She had no quarrel with Barnabas, but Laura had done a great deal to deserve her wrath. 'The plan should be going into effect soon now,' she thought.
Back in the tomb, Quentin had began reading the scroll to call upon the forces of goodness and light to destroy the fiery darkness that Amen-Re threatened to unleash upon the Earth. Roxanne took the crescent moon charm from her neck and held it out in front of her exclaiming "Sacred moonlight, give us the strength to seal away an evil which threatens to destroy us all. Give us the power to seal away the evil of Amen-Re!"
In response to her words the fire in Re's pyre began to roar and increase in intensity as a voice from beyond began to speak.
"INTRUDERS! HOW DARE YOU ENTER THE SACRED TOMB OF AMEN-RE! FOR YOUR DISOBEDIENCE YOU WILL ALL BE PUNISHED! NO ONE DEFIES THE WILL OF AMEN-RE AND LIVES!" said the fire as it began to take the shape of a man.
"Not this time, Re. This time your wishes will not become reality. You have had your chance on Earth and you have wasted it. You could have done a lot for the people of the Earth and they would have worshiped and revered you in return. Instead you sought to destroy. Now it is you who will be destroyed."
"YOU?! A SIMPLE MOON GODDESS WITH HER LITTLE HUMAN FRIENDS CANNOT DESTROY ME? NEVER!"
Re unleashed a wall of fire at Selene but she was able to stop it with a shield of ice she quickly constructed.
"No, Re. The forces of goodness acting through my friends and myself shall destroy you."
"You tried to destroy the lives of two innocent children! Your 'servant' took my husband from me and helped turn him into a monster. You must pay!" screamed Roxanne as she unleashed her power at Amen-Re.
"NO!!!" Laura suddenly screamed out. "What is it?"
"Someone is extinguishing the flame! We must hurry and stop it. If the flame goes out, I'll die!"
"Roxanne and her little friends must be behind this!"
"Actually, it was my idea that this should happen to you," said Isis as she appeared before Barnabas and Laura.
"Isis! I should have known it was you," spat Laura.
"The end is near for you and your master Re. You and he should have been happy with what you had before on the earth and what you had in the Realm. You and your master tried to be greedy and take more than what you are allowed to have, so once again I am forced to step in," answered Isis as her gaze shifted from Laura to the steadily advancing Barnabas. "Stop!" she exclaimed, freezing Barnabas in mid-step. Barnabas was shocked to find he was unable move in any direction. "What have you done to me!"
"I have 'borrowed' a trick from an old enemy of yours, a Count Petofi. What he could do with his hand, I can do with simple incantations. It is quite effective on mortals and many immortals such as you. Do not worry, when I am done here, you will be freed."
Beside Barnabas, Laura's face was now contorted with pain. Like Barnabas, she too was frozen to her spot, unable to move and do something to stop Isis. The pain came in waves as she began to glow and flicker in and out of existence. "Great Master Re please! Help me!"
"Not this time Laura. I think Re has his own problems to worry about now. He doesn't have the resources to help you now."
With a scream to wake the pharaohs (not to mention half the tourists in Alexandria) Laura screamed her last and faded away into the night. Barnabas looked at the scene before him in disbelief as his beloved Laura 'died' in front of him and this time since she didn't die by fire, she may not be able to return to him. Then he too was hit as his body began to feel as though it was burning from the inside out.
"What are you doing to me?" he managed to yell out.
"Nothing. The supernatural influence of Laura's fire is leaving your body."
"Laura did nothing to me with her fire."
"Yes she did. It was her fire that first triggered the urges in you and led to your reversion to your vampire state. The flame stimulated the dormant vampire cell within your body and your desire to be with Laura. Now that the flame has been extinguished, your body is regaining control over the vampire cells. I would suggest that you sleep in an open coffin at dawn. Your body will be reverting back to its human state. Perhaps it will happen tonight or perhaps later on. Your mind will follow, but that will take longer as Laura had a much greater control over that than she did over your body."
"Laura didn't control me! I controlled her!"
"If you prefer to think of things that way, Barnabas Collins, I will not stop you. But it is not my opinion that you should be thinking of. What of Roxanne, Julia and Quentin, all of whom you brutalized in your efforts to be with Laura? What about the unborn son you threw away? What will you do when you return to Collinsport to face those people you took advantage of? The loss of Laura's fire is sending your mind into a state of madness. Roxanne has the power to save you, but will she after you rejected her? I hope you can do something to make her take pity and save you. Think about that." With that, Isis was gone and Barnabas found himself alone upon the beach.
The power Roxanne released at Re formed into a sphere of white light which, at Quentin's command moved towards Re. Re's powers had not been fully restored since his return to the Earth and so he was unable to withstand both attacks. The sphere of energy moved towards Re and upon reaching him he screamed out in agony as the entire tomb exploded. Roxanne, Julia and Quentin awoke to find themselves floating in void of some sort. They all looked around at each other with the same thought running through their heads, 'Are we dead? Did we succeed?'
"You are all alive and well," said a disembodied voice, which formed into Isis. "Your attempt to seal away the evil was successful. Amen-Re and his servant have been sent to a place where they cannot harm anyone for a long time. I wished to tell you this before I sent you back home. You have done a great favor to all of us. In return for what you have done, one day I shall return to you and repay the favor you have done for all of us. Now I send you in peace back to Collinsport. Until next we meet, farewell!"
'Christian Shane Douglas? That must be a character out of the book Willie was writing with Barnabas and Quentin. If only they were here. They know much more about "Christian" than I do. Well, Maggie, you're going to either have to ask God for a miracle or you're going to have to play along with Willie until Quentin gets back next week.'
"Uh, sorry, Christian, its just that you look a lot like a guy I know named Willie. Grant had an emergency. He and Julia had to go to Europe unexpectedly. Grant should be back next week. He said you would be coming but had been held up by some personal business. Can you get up? I'll take you over to his cottage."
"That won't be necessary, Maggie. We can take care of Christian now."
Maggie and Nicholas gasped in shock as Quentin, Julia and Roxanne walked into the room.
Nicholas and Quentin got over their shock first, each one squaring off and glaring at the other. "What are you doing here?" Quentin finally demanded. "I am attempting to help Maggie with Willie--he seems to have hurt himself."
"What?" Julia said, concerned. "Willie?"
Willie was grinning broadly. "Grant! You're back!" he exclaimed, grabbing Quentin by the hand and thumping him on the shoulder. "Thank God! No one around here seems to know what I'm talking about!"
Nicholas, noting the appraising look in Roxanne's eyes, knew it wouldn't be long before the confusion abated and the questions began. Turning to Maggie, he said swiftly, "I believe I've done all I could for now, my dear. I'll call you later." He strode out the door before Quentin could break free of Willie and stop him.
Maggie nodded vaguely. She turned to Julia and explained, "He fell down the stairs into the basement, Julia. When he came to, he said his name was Christian Shane Douglas. He said that Grant Douglas was his cousin."
"Uh-huh," Quentin said, trying to extricate himself from his "cousin" who was now attempting to hug him because he was so thrilled at this reunion. "Grant Douglas is my pen name."
"Still the kidder!" Willie exclaimed.
Julia's eyes narrowed at Quentin. "And who is Christian Shane Douglas?"
"Well--"
"I am!" Willie broke in. "I am a werewolf!"
Maggie immediately backed away. "What!"
Roxanne put her hand on Willie's shoulder and immediately let go. "Julia, as if we didn't have enough problems," she stated and sighed. "He is possessed."
"Possessed? By a fictional character?" Quentin burst out.
"Excuse me, Grant, that's really unkind of you!" Willie objected.
"Why don't we all go into the drawing room?" Roxanne suggested. "We could have some wine and cheese and talk."
"I think I'd better be going," Maggie said. She'd had enough for the evening.
Julia whispered into Quentin's ear, "Do NOT let her go alone! Nicholas Blair may be skulking about!" Quentin nodded and offered to take Maggie home. Nicholas was standing just off the path near the Old House and watched Quentin come outside with Maggie on his arm. Damn the man! He thought, furiously. He thought about casting a pain spell on Quentin, knowing full well he couldn't permanently dispatch him. He changed his mind at the last minute, though. He would be able to attend to Quentin and the others later. He realized he was being summoned--rather strongly--by Diabolos, and that his Master was very angry indeed.
Julia skillfully slipped a sedative into Willie's drink. She was rather exasperated that they had yet another complication to face here. It was bad enough that Barnabas was in a psychotic state and had had to be admitted to Windcliffe before their arrival here. He had seemed enraged but was uncharacteristically silent when they met up with him in Alexandria. He refused to speak to any of them.
Quentin was angry and had tried to provoke Barnabas into a confrontation but had been unable to elicit any response at all. That had just made Quentin angrier, but Julia said: "It's better to let him alone. Let him come to terms with what's happened."
Roxanne was heartbroken. She'd been hoping that once the spell with Laura was broken, Barnabas would be all right again. He was like a stranger, though, glaring at her with fury and hatred. He refused to speak to her as well, even when she tried to talk to him about Jamie and the unborn baby. She'd kept her distance warily. On the flight back to the United States, she'd isolated herself. She cried silently.
Barnabas sat by the window and sat staring, still in a hostile rage. Julia sat beside him, and Quentin had the aisle seat. Julia explained that she'd called Cassandra. Roger and Cassandra would fly back with all the children in tow now that everything was all right. "Is it?" Quentin asked, arching his brows and indicating Barnabas.
The real trouble started at the airport in New York. Roxanne preceded them down the stairs. Julia had Barnabas go next, closely followed by Quentin. As he stepped onto the ground, Quentin turned momentarily to offer his hand to Julia. At that moment, Barnabas sprang forward, closing his hands around Roxanne's throat and squeezing. "It's your fault! You did this to me!" he shouted as Roxanne managed to scream just once before her air supply stopped.
Quentin was on top of Barnabas immediately, trying to loosen his cousin's hands from Roxanne's throat. Barnabas' was very strong, however, and Quentin found himself unable to pry his cousin's fingers away. He stepped back and punched Barnabas as hard as he could in his right kidney. His cousin immediately let go, roaring with rage and whirling to face his attacker. The intensity of the rage on Barnabas' face frightened Quentin momentarily, then he felt his own hostility and resentment send adrenaline surging through his body. "All right, come on!" he challenged. He and Barnabas began circling each other. Out of the corner of his eye, Quentin could see security officers running toward them as Julia tended Roxanne. Barnabas moved in suddenly, swinging. Quentin pulled back instinctively, turning his head, and taking the punch on the side of his jaw. He turned back swiftly while Barnabas was still off balance and punched his cousin once in the abdomen. As Barnabas' knees began to buckle, Quentin followed with an uppercut to his cousin's jaw and knocked him out cold. He shook his hand and blew on his knuckles.
Security guards surrounded them. Quentin went down on his knees beside his wife; she was examining Roxanne's throat. "Is she all right?" he asked, concerned. Mutely, Julia looked up and nodded. She raised her brows.
"I'm fine. Haven't felt this good in a long time," he said in answer to her unspoken question.
Julia persuaded the security guards not to take Barnabas to jail. Quentin objected. "You see he's dangerous! He tried to kill his wife--this isn't some misplaced loyalty of yours, is it?"
"No, it isn't!" Julia snapped. "He's a sick man, Quentin! He needs to be in a hospital--not in a jail!"
"Julia is right," Roxanne said hoarsely. She was sitting up now, bright red finger marks on either side of her neck.
Barnabas had begun to stir. "All right," Quentin said reluctantly, "but don't you think we should at least restrain him? Or do you propose to have me fight him all the way back to Collinwood?"
One of the security guards nodded and knelt down with a pair of handcuffs. "You can tell him it's for his own safety," the guard advised Julia.
"That would be true, too," Julia agreed, thinking. "We'll have an ambulance take him to Windcliffe."
"From LaGuardia?"
Julia smiled bitterly. "I don't think anyone would want him on a plane to Bangor, do you? Besides, we won't have to ride in the ambulance. We'll meet him at Windcliffe. I'll make the arrangements to admit him--at least temporarily." She went off in search of a phone.
Barnabas had become conscious and railed against Quentin and Roxanne, promising to kill them both when he got his hands on them. Roxanne burst into tears, weeping into her hands. Quentin put his arms around her to comfort her. "Barnabas, shut up!" he snapped. "I know you can't help yourself but if you don't shut up, I swear I'll kick your face in!"
Barnabas stopped shouting, becoming ominously quiet. Quentin led Roxanne to a seat. "Rest here," he said to her softly. "I'll be right back." He went back to his cousin and squatted down beside him, genuinely hurt and upset by the hatred he saw in Barnabas' eyes. "Look, please try to calm down. All we want to do is help you."
"You've betrayed me," Barnabas replied in a disarmingly calm voice. He wasn't struggling at all anymore. Only the cold, flat expression in his eyes revealed how dangerously angry he still was. "You will be sorry for this, Quentin, I assure you. I have helped you at all times and you have done nothing in return except lie to me and betray me time after time."
"That isn't true, Barnabas," Quentin protested. "I have helped you. I've saved you--we've helped each other many times."
"No," Barnabas said bitterly. "You have only acted to help yourself. I warn you, cousin--I will have my revenge. First *her* and then you. Tread lightly, dear cousin!"
Quentin got up and backed away quickly, leaving Barnabas with the two guards. He couldn't stand it. He sat down next to Roxanne, putting his arm around her shoulder to comfort her. Until Barnabas had come to 1897 and helped him, he'd trusted and loved no one but Jamison and Beth. He had let his guard down with Barnabas, and a trusting friendship had developed between them. He loved his cousin and it hurt that Barnabas looked at him now with such bitter hatred.
"It hurts me, too," Roxanne whispered, tears streaming down her face. Quentin looked at her guiltily, realizing too late that Roxanne was able to sense his thoughts. "No, it's all right, don't feel guilty. We're both hurting."
Julia returned to tell everyone that the ambulance was on its way. She stopped short at the sight of her husband and Roxanne comforting each other, her eyes narrowing to slits. She knew she shouldn't feel jealous, but...Watching from the ground, Barnabas almost smiled with delight. Good! he thought. Let it begin this way...
"Master...Let me explain..." Nicholas began in a placating manner.
Diabolos was furious. "How can you justify this most recent failure on your part, Nicholas? What of this new race of subservient beings born of the union between Barnabas and Laura Collins? That is not to be, now!"
"It was not a sound plan to begin with, Master," Nicholas said, hoping to divert attention from the fact that he'd abandoned the plan to come to Collinsport and seek out Maggie. He shielded her from his thoughts so that his love for her would not become known to Diabolos and doom him forever.
"Vampires do not answer to any Master, and the phoenix would be loyal only to Amen-Re. However, I have a better plan."
"And that is?"
"What better way to start a master race totally devoted to you than to begin with the seed of your most loyal, devoted servant?"
"You, Nicholas?" Diabolos sneered.
"I have not betrayed you as your other servants have," Nicholas said smoothly. He cleared his throat. "Angelique? Miranda?"
Diabolos didn't answer, deeply disappointed in Angelique whom the vile demon had revered once upon a time. Then he said: "You are sterile."
"You can change that."
"I can. And who do you propose to join with?"
"Maggie Evans."
"How dreary," Diabolos sighed irritably. "This Maggie Evans is the same mortal you fell in love with before? Do you love her still?"
"She is young, fertile--she is alone. She has no one to turn to anymore--her family is dead. She is a pliable person--remember, Barnabas Collins brainwashed her into believing she was Josette DuPres. I can easily turn her to you, Master. The children we raise will be totally devoted to you. It is true that the Deliverer will be--delayed, somewhat, but this plan would be more in the 'natural' order of things. Perhaps Maggie herself will bear the Deliverer."
"Particularly if I infuse you with my seed," Diabolos agreed. "Very well, Nicholas. I am intrigued and curious enough to allow you to attempt this. Go and seduce Maggie Evans. Marry her--do whatever you will. Make sure you impregnate her!"
Nicholas grinned lustfully. "As you wish, Master!" No doubt this was the best assignment he'd been given to carry out.
As Nicholas was having his audience with Diabolos, Willie was passing out in the wingback chair of the Old House. Quentin looked at him with disgust, then turned to his wife. "Well, what now, my dear? You don't want to just leave him here, do you?"
"I suppose we could take him home with us," Julia said. "We mustn't leave him here."
"Oh, great!" Quentin complained. "I have to carry him to the car!"
"Well, there's another thought," Roxanne said hesitantly. "You could all stay here..." She broke off as Julia began shaking her head, no. She thought she knew the reason and felt sorrow. She didn't want to come between Julia and Quentin, but she was lonely and frightened.
As if reading her mind, Quentin said, "What's the harm? Roxanne's been through hell. We can keep her company and at the same time keep an eye on 'Cousin Chris.' Besides, maybe Roxanne can help us think of a way to un-possess him."
Julia looked as if she was about to argue and then sighed. "Very well, we'll stay the night." She looked at Quentin sternly. "I'll need you to carry Willie upstairs, though."
"Better upstairs than through the woods!" Quentin exclaimed, grabbing Willie and hauling him to his feet. He struggled to keep his balance and then managed to throw Willie over one shoulder. "Let's make this quick! For a squidge, he sure is heavy!"
Roxanne led the way upstairs, leading Quentin to Josette's old room. Julia helped get Willie settled, assuring them that he would sleep for the next several hours. It was late, and Roxanne looked drawn and tired. "Let me show you to a room, and I'll see you in the morning," she said. As soon as Quentin and Julia were alone, he put his arms around her. "I need you," he whispered to her.
"This has been a nightmare, hasn't it?" Julia said.
"Let's let it end now, just for a while and before we get Jon and Donna back," Quentin said, leaning over to kiss her. He felt her responding to him and easily picked her up and carried her over to the bed. They took pleasure in arousing each other slowly and leisurely. They were just beginning to come together when they heard a loud crashing noise somewhere upstairs. They looked at each other in surprise and dismay. "Willie?"
"It could be," Julia sighed. She was almost all the way undressed.
"I'll go check," Quentin volunteered. It didn't matter if his top was off. He pulled up his zipper and went out of the room, walking barefoot down the hall to check on Willie. He opened the door and heard Willie snoring loudly. Out cold. Confused, he shut the door and heard the sound of weeping. He realized that Roxanne had gone into a room which had been modernized into a bathroom; he could hear the water running. Better leave her alone, he thought.
He started to tiptoe away when the door opened behind him and Roxanne gasped, "Oh! I didn't know you were out here!"
Embarrassed, Quentin turned back and said, "I'm sorry--I heard a noise and I thought it was Willie, so I came to check."
A single tear slid down Roxanne's face. "I'm sorry--I knocked my bamboo shelf over." Another tear slid down her face. Quentin felt sorry for her. He put his arms around her, hugging her. "I'm sorry," she said again, trying to stifle sobs. "I'm emotional because I'm pregnant--I know that. It's just that I can't get used to the idea that Barnabas hates me!"
"Sssh, don't cry, Roxanne," Quentin soothed her. "You know he doesn't--not really. He's sick, like you said. Look, I think I understand. I know my feelings are hurt, and here you are married to him..." He caressed her hair lightly and felt her hug him back. He also heard another door open and felt Roxanne pull back. He looked down the hall and saw Julia standing in the open doorway of the guest room, her face white and angry. Oh, shit, he thought.
"I'm feeling better now," Roxanne said softly, mortified. She said to Julia, a little louder, "Quentin heard me crying. I was upset, but I'm all right--really." She backed away until she got to her room and disappeared inside.
Julia had retreated back into the guest room and was shutting the door.
Quentin managed to get himself wedged halfway into the door. "Julia, come on, it's not what you think!"
"Really? What do you think I'm thinking about what I saw? Out!" Julia hissed.
"Julia, this is silly--she was just crying because Barnabas has been such a shit to her. Let me in, would you?"
"Oh, Quentin, really! You two were embracing each other!" Quentin managed to lean on the door enough so that Julia stepped back.
"Look, listen to me--I love you, Julia, I was just trying to be nice to her--"
"Nice? Go knock on her door and be nice to her, Quentin! Out!" Julia had no idea why she was being so unreasonable--could it be because Roxanne was young and beautiful and she just couldn't believe that a young, good looking reformed (?) womanizer like Quentin could be faithful to her? It was suddenly all too much, all this strain with Barnabas and now this..."Go away, Quentin--or I'll slap you!"
"No, you won't," he said, sounding a little smug. "You love me too much." He was even going to try and kiss her. The nerve! She drew her hand back and hit him as hard as she could. She shoved him hard enough to push him back out into the hallway and slammed the door, turning the lock on him. Quentin put his hand to his cheek, shocked. This is what I get for being a nice guy, he thought. He hit the door with his fist and then cursed because now his cheek stung and his hand hurt like hell. "Julia!" he yelled. A little more softly, he complained, "You hit me! You hurt me, Julia!"
Willie put his head out of his door and snapped sleepily, "Geez, Grant, quiet, wouldja? How's a guy supposed to sleep around here?"
"Oh, shut up!" Quentin shouted, furious again. He pushed Willie back into the room and down on the bed. "You started this! Now go back to sleep!"
Willie cowered on the bed. "Okay, okay, Grant! You don't hafta be so mad!"
"Yeah, right!" Quentin snapped in disgust. He pulled one of the blankets off Willie's bed and stormed out, intending to curl up with it in the drawing room downstairs. "Go to sleep, Cousin Chris!" Willie shut his eyes tight and Quentin slammed the door shut, carrying the blanket.
As he reached the top of the stairs, he heard another door open a crack. "Quentin..." he heard Roxanne call softly, and he stopped where he was.
Nicholas jauntily reappeared on the path to Collinwood. Whistling, he walked up the drive and knocked at the door. He realized it was late, but possibly Maggie was still up. Mrs. Johnson came to the door, looking exasperated and put upon. "Good evening, Mrs. Johnson," Nicholas said to her as smoothly and pleasantly as he could.
"Good evening!" Mrs. Johnson groused. "It's more like 'good morning!'"
Nicholas handed over his hat and coat, smiling charmingly in the face of bitter resentment. "Is Maggie Evans still up by any chance?"
"Yes, yes, she's in there!" Mrs. Johnson indicated the drawing room, turning to hang up his things.
Smiling, Nicholas strode to the drawing room doors. He opened them and walked into the room. Maggie and Elizabeth turned around to greet him. Both women were giving him "welcome back" smiles. Elizabeth's eyes even twinkled at him. Oh, dear, Nicholas thought, his heart sinking.
And so ends our journey through the Smouldering Flames. But don't worry! The Fiery Forbidden saga continues
In case you were interested, you were visitor number
to smoulder in the flames.
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Fiery Forbidden Love