DS:Legends 13
From: Aesgaard
Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2002 11:16:57

Judge Aaron Radcliffe (mitchell ryan) had come all the way from Boston to listen to Amadeus and Ben debate on whether there was a case that could exist to hang Isaac. Aloysius Stokes(thayer david) was present at the inquiry as Ben took opposing counsel.

"Isaac Collins killed my brother and tried to hide his body in the walls of Collinwood." Stokes declared.

"Your honor," Ben stood up. "The witness's brother was killed by a phantom rider on horseback. This was confirmed by the late Joshua Harridge who hid the body in Collinwood outside of Isaac's knowledge."

"Objection." Amadeus spoke up. "Hearsay evidence. Harridge is not alive to confirm this."

"This is not a trial." Radcliffe listened. "I'll allow it."

"Even so," Ben continued. "Isaac already owned the land. There was nothing to gain for killing him."

"And Thomas DuVal ?" Amadeus asked.

"A venerate gambler." Ben pointed out. "He had many more dangerous enemies."

"What of Lionel Stockbridge ?" Stokes added. "Everyone saw his argument with Isaac."

"Isaac was in Collinwood at the time." Ben confirmed. "Seamus Malloy was there."

"Prosecutor." Judge Radcliffe sat back. "Before we begin a case of witchcraft, I want to see that Isaac stood to benefit in any way. He already had everything; why would he kill anyone for things he already possessed."

"But what of the symbol under the DuVal cabin ?" Amadeus reported.

"Your honor," Ben continued. "It was painted to the underside of the floor. Only a child could have put it there."

"And if he did burn it down," Radcliffe reasoned. "He had a right to as he already owned it. Anything else, prosecutor ?"

"Not now, your honor." Amadeus replied.

"Your honor." Ben added. "May Isaac at least be released on bail ?"

"He's not charged with anything." Radcliffe stood. "He's free to be let out."

Once Ben released Isaac from under Collinwood, Isaac set about to rehire the workmen who had left. He was preparing the notice when a beautiful woman was presented to him.

"Yes ?" Isaac pleasingly looked her over.

"Mr. Collins." The young lady presented herself. "I am Emily Bouchard and I am interested in the role of a domestic. You see, my mother lives closer to here than Boston and I would rather be closer to her."

Clara was viciously eavesdropping on the conversation as her sister approached. She motioned for her.

"What is that woman doing here ?" Clara asked.

"Looks as if she is being hired as a housekeeper." Grace looked over.

"Oh, sister," Clara appeared wrought. "Don't you know ? That's the mistress he was keeping time with since before we arrived. And now he's moving her in to your house !"

"What ?!" Grace believed it as she rushed into the room. "Isaac ! How could you ?!!"

"How could I what ?" Isaac was confused.

"Keeping this trollop behind my back !!"

"What ?!!" Isaac was alarmed as Emily took offense. "There is no such thing!!"

"You needn't lie about it." Grace looked to her sister. "My sister told me everything !! Now everything makes sense; why you've been so busy !! You've almost never home because you've been handling your city. I can see what you've been handling !!"

"I beg your pardon !!!" Emily was offended.

Ben heard the argument and rushed through the front door. He caught a brief glimpse of Isaac following his wife up the stairs as he noticed Emily. "What happened ?!"

"I applied for a job and got accused of being a mistress." Emily ran out past him. As Ben reflected a second on who to follow, he noticed the cellar door slowly swinging closed. As he peered down the steps, a caught a scant glimpse of Clara's long blonde hair vanishing downstairs. Wondering what she was up to, he carefully sneaked down himself. Her presence wandered toward the caves under the structure's foundation and then into a dark chamber. He saw a light being lit and then smelled smoke. Curiouser and curiouser, he wondered as he neared and peeked in. She sat on the floor and picked up a dried skull in front of a small altar.

"Gods of darkness, gods of strife," She chanted. "Send my horseman for another life. Help make me Isaac's wife." She picked up one of her sister's hair ribbons and wrapped it around the skull. "Rise my horseman, ride the night. Kill my sister with all your might !!" She laughed out loud as she noticed Ben's face in the door. He ducked back as his footsteps vanished back upstairs. She just grinned and pulled out one of his embroidered scarves from her bag.

"Take the one who leaves my sight !!"

Ben ran up and noticed Isaac staring forlornly at the front door. He looked more depressed than ever.

"Grace took August and left me." He mumbled.

"Isaac !" Ben told him. "Amadeus was right ! But it's Clara that's the witch !! She's trying to ruin you so she can walk in and take over !!! She sent the horseman to kill her sister !!"

"What ?!!" Isaac came to his senses. "So many things are much clearer to me now ! Go tell my brother ! I'll get some horses to protect Grace."

The two of them ran in different directions. Ben charged down the path for the docks as the night became darker and colder. Hitting the main road, he ran as he could, but just he reached the town limits, he heard the hoof beats.

The laughter came with it.

"No !!" Ben ran faster now that his life was imperiled. He hit the docks as hard as he could and turned over a barrel. The horseman climbed off his demonic steed and came after him. He floated over the  barrel rolled toward him and continued coming with his rapier swinging and his ghostly laughter echoing through the night. Ben grabbed a sword from a decoration on one of the ships to duel him, but the horseman jumped the ten feet on to the incomplete frigate. Sailing like an unearthly black demon with wings, it swung at him and Ben stood surprised as the phantom's rapier shattered his weapon in his hand. He jumped back from every swing as he backed to a mast.

Jumping aside, he watched the ghostly rapier wedge itself into the thick post.

Seeing the specter defenseless, Ben started punching it and kicking it, but it caught his left arm and snapped it. Screaming over the broken bones, Ben dropped as the ghost grabbed its sword again. Plotting, his living foe tied a rope to his waist and then stood up. Backing to the middle mast, he allowed the ghost to slash at one of the other lines. The broken line freed a weight which yanked Ben off the dock and to the crow's nest. The horseman roared with hostility at watching his prey jerked away from him. It paced as Ben started to grab another rope to sail to another ship. Sailing for the next frigate over, Ben watched as the flying rapier cut his line and returned to the horseman's hand. He dropped straight down between the boats and landed with a splash into the cold dark waters. The horseman hesitated over his lack of a reflection looking for his prey to surface, then headed back to his horse to kill his other target.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.