Subj: DS:Ally 8
Date: 3/26/02 5:40:43 PM Central Standard Time
From: Aesgaard

Ally covered the file Quentin had showed her three times. It was very well documented, researched and very disturbing as she peered over it and into the dreamy blue eyes of William's uncle. Her looked back to her trustingly as a bit of fear welled up in her.

"This is impossible." She replied.

"Bottom line," Quentin started. "Can I be tried for burning down a house that I owned in 1952 ?"

"You owned a house when you were 11, or were you actually 82. You look like you're in your late forties."

"I should look like I'm in my late fifties." Quentin beamed unthreateningly as Ally's eyes widened in fear. He nervously rubbed the back of his head as he paced the floor. "Mrs. McBeal, I'm going to tell you things that even my wife and two kids don't know."

Ally dropped like a rock into the loveseat.

"I am the original Quentin Collins born in 1870."

Ally didn't want to believe him except for the file in her head. A tiny part of her mind pictured her bound and gagged in a straitjacket as Elaine grinned, waved good-bye to her and moved in on William.

"Really ?" She forced a grin.

"In 1897," Quentin continued. "A sequence of events happened beyond my control that made me live forever. Well, not forever. In 1972, acquaintances of William's mother removed the spells keeping me from marrying Maggie and my life went back to normal. I started getting older again. I cannot allow these facts to get out in court for too many reasons. These events would destroy the family and if you love William, you have to make this case go away without telling anyone or you could lose him."

"Is William's mother really a witch ?" Ally asked.

"She's retired."

"Oh my god !!!" Ally stood and freaked as Angelique and Barnabus entered the room. She locked her eyes with her potential mother-in-law and clutched her mouth to keep from screaming.

"Quentin, William told us you were in sort of legal problem." Barnabus began.

"We sent William for Maggie, but....." Angelique looked at Ally. She was nervously shaking in fear before the fireplace. "Ally, dear, what's wrong ?"

"I told her the truth about myself." Quentin revealed outloud. His voice lowered to a whisper. "You can still remove memories like Julia used to, right ?"

"Yes," Angelique whispered back as Ally stared at her in fear. "But later, we need her on our side."

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.