Subj: DS:Legends 9
Date: 2/25/02 11:50:05 AM Central Standard Time
From: Aesgaard

"Who are you ?" Amadeus (john karlen) looked upon Hester (joan bennett) with fear and suspicion. She didn't answer him right off. She turned and lit a lantern to illuminate her home. Most of it was wooden as the front part, but the back half looked like a mine that had been partially converted into a home.

"Just as you think," Hester guessed. "A witch who came here from Blair to escape the witch hunts, but I know you, Amadeus Collins, and that was my husband you were escaping......."

"Husband ?"

"The very first white man to have his blood spilled on this land." She claimed as she broke pods of peas to a basket. "I also know you love your brother, but his anger makes it hard for you. He's had to fight for everything, and it's made him bitter."

"How do you know this ?"

"I'm a witch, aren't I ?" She grinned toward him. "I know a lot of things, and this won't be the last trial for your family." Hester closed her eyes and lifted her head.

"I see........" She seemed to be having visions. "Armies fighting to free the colonies from England,,,,a nation divided in war,,,,a great leader killed by an actor,," Her eyes flashed open as she stood up to Amadeus. "You in trial with the severed head of a warlock,,,,,a princess dashed at the rocks at Widow's Hill,,,,,,,the death of a brother,,,,,an heir who won't stayed buried,,,,,a wayward son who fears the moon,,,,,a cursed painting,,,,,,disasters for anyone named Collins !!!!" Hester's predictions drove her to a frenzy as she suddenly calmed and pointed her finger to him. "Beware the child with the innocent smile !!!"

Angelique (sarah smythe) was tucked into bed in the rafters of her mother's home. The girl had the vantage point of the whole room as Valerie (kathryn leigh scott) stroked her head and kissed it. She beamed on her little girl and climbed down the ladder.

"You don't have to worry about paying me the back months rent." Her brother, Thomas du Val (don briscoe), spoke. "I have sold it to Isaac Collins for twice it's worth and he will be here later this week to tear it down."

"What ?!!!" Valerie was incredulous. "How dare you sell my cabin ?"

"For one," Thomas leaned on the mantle as his arm stuck out from his cape.

"It's not yours, it's mine. I built it. Two, he named the price. Three, you were not about to give me any money."

"You want money you bandit." Valerie held up a small pouch with coins. "This is all the money I left from selling mother's jewelry. Take it !"

"You sold our sainted mother's last possessions !!!" Thomas scowled as a horse sounded outside. "How dare you ?! Now, I'll have to buy them back !"

"For what ?" Valerie screamed. "To lose them in another poker game !!!"

Thomas lunged at his sister and started choking her. She clawed at his face as the front door of the one room cabin slammed open. The breeze blew out the fireplace as the fog off the ocean illuminated everything in blue. A figure stepped out of the hellish mist and entered the cabin. It didn't have a head. With one sharp strike of its silver rapier, Thomas was beheaded. His blood splattered on his sister as she felt her hair being pulled and then her whole body jerked off her feet.

Angelique watched the whole spectacle as she listened to her mother's screams being dragged off into the foggy night.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.