Subj: DS:Ally 11
Date: 4/3/02 2:23:52 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Aesgaard

Once it became clear that Ally was not going to appear at the Blue Whale, William got in his trans-am and returned back to the estate. He roared through the front gates as usual, tore a hard right on the road for the Old House and whirled over the old bridge on the estate with a cloud of twirling dry leaves and dust. The trees of the property whisked past him as he slowed and came to a stop outside the three hundred year old house he called home.

He bounded up the front veranda past the huge oak columns out front and in through the foyeur. Ally snapped to attention at his sudden appearance.

"What happened ?" He approached her. "My dad said you wanted to meet me at the Blue Whale ?"

"What ? Oh, uh, yeah he did...." Ally shined away as he almost touched her.

"Did you forget ?"

"No," Ally uncomfortably backed from him. "It's just that, uh, I started talking to your mother. You know, she really is a sweet and wonderful person."

"You're not related to her. You don't know what she's really like." William took her hand as Ally's eyes widened out of fear.

"It's still not too late. Let's go out."

"What ? Uh, no." Ally forced a grin and backed off. "Darling, I was thinking......"

"Don't call me that."

"What ?"

"Darling." William took her hand again. "My mom calls me that. You know how she drives me nuts." Ally slightly dropped her jaw and narrowed her eyes as if she took offense.

"Well," Ally changed moods. "Your beautiful and caring mother who loves you very much told me about this family pastime you have here, something called a seance ? I'd like to try it."

"A seance ?" William rolled his eyes suspiciously. "Ally, speaking as an expert, they're really pretty boring. You know hours can go by without anything happening."

"Oh, I think something's going to happen." Ally grinned connivingly as Quentin emerged through the swinging doors to the dining room. He looked worriedly to Ally then to William.

"Hey," he grinned. "Who's up for a seance ?"

"Did someone request a seance ?" Barnabus emerged from the back hall.

William glanced between the two of them suspiciuously.

"What's going on here ?" he asked.

"Sweetheart," Ally took his arm and lead him to the dining room. "Come sit by your mother at the table. This will be fun!"

"I've got to get you home. You're turning into my mother." William noticed his mother sitting at the table. Propped up in the chair, eyes closed and hands on the table, she looked emotionless as if she was asleep. "Mom, did you put them up to this ?"

"William, don't bother your mother !" Barnabus responded as he and Quentin exchanged looks. William looked up at him in disbelief as they all sat down.

He started sitting down as Ally stopped him.

"Sit next to your mother with her between us." She replied.

"You are turning into my mother !" William did a doubletake, sighed and mother to the next empty chair. "Mom, what did you do to Ally ?!"

"She didn't do anything." Quentin answered. "Now shut up and take your mother's hand."

William shot him a look as they sat at the end of the table. Quentin, Barnabus and William were at one end with Angelique at the end and with Ally on the other side alone. She grinned as if she were hiding something.

"Who are we contacting may I ask ?" William replied.

"Angelique Miranda DuVal." Ally claimed with an enigmatic grin. "Your mother's ancestor."

"Why ?"

"Why not ?"

"Well, don't we need a protection prayer against evil spirits ?" William asked as his mother's body began leaning over. Barnabus made a look and quickly propped her up in her chair as William shot another confused look at him.

"Quentin, give us a prayer." Ally showed she was in control.

"Oh, Lord, protect us. Amen." Quentin replied fast and quick.

"Amen." Barnabus and Ally chorused as William was getting confused in this dizzying quick farce. This wasn't a seance as he knew it; it was more of a comedic confidence act with Ally curiously in command.

"Okay," Ally replied. "Concentrate. Think of Angelique Miranda DuVal, the young woman who so many years ago enraptured many with her intense beauty...."

Barnabus chuckled as Ally noticed with a grimace. Quentin simpered a grin as well as William looked from face to face. His mother hadn't moved, or said a thing since he had arrived. He couldn't think of a time she had been so quiet for so long.

"William, concentrate !" Ally grumbled angrily as he looked back at her. What was going on here ?!

"Angelique Miranda DuVal." Ally called out. "Come to us...."

The Old House became eerily quiet except for the seasonal wind outside blowing the leaves against the house. A random twig hit the windows as William wondered what his mother had done to Ally. He had never seen her so determined or authorative. The front doors in the foyeur slammed open as both Ally and his mother jumped to their feet.

"That is it !!!" Sara screamed as she fought to close the doors. "Joe Haskell and I are through !!! He's stood me up for the last time !!"

Angelique rubbed her face and looked to her body as Barnabus stood and went to her side. Ally looked around in confusion as if she didn't realize where she was. Sara entered the dining room and went straight up to her mother.

"Mom," she crumpled up her face as if she were about to cry. "Joe stood me up for Jenny !"

"Darling, calm down," Angelique finally spoke. She smiled enigmaticly to her son, kissed her husband and stood contently in his arms. Ally shook her head and appeared in distress.

"What's going on ?" She asked.

"You don't know ?!" William responded as she turned his wrist to see his watch.

"I missed my train !" She screamed. "I promised Richard I'd be back tomorrow." She darted out and upstairs.

"Ally !" William tried to catch her, but instead hesitated and glared back at his parents and Uncle Quentin.

"One of these days....." he continued "We are going to get together, and we are going to have a long talk." He raced after Ally.

"Over my dead body." Angelique murmured as Quentin and Sara looked on.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.