Secrets Past chp 12
Date: 6/23/98
From: barnster
Barnabas couldn't believe his eyes, as the panel slowly swung open.
"So it's true!" he said in an awed voice. "Everything in my dream is true."
He jumped down from the coffin, and peered into the secret room.
***
Barnabas left the hospital at 2:30. But when he returned to the cannery, he found that his
concentration was worse, than it had been, before Julia's phone call.
Well, at least Sarah was beginning to recovery. Now, perhaps, Barnabas wouldn't be so eager to
condemn Julia.
Thoughts of Julia, brought a smile to his face. She had been a tower of strength, since Maggie's
death. Even if, at the time, he hadn't wanted her help.
But he was glad, she had persisted. She had known, that he would have eventually accept her
help, as he had so often done in the past.
'Julia,' he thought now. 'My dear, sweet Julia. Where and what would I be, without you?'
He struggled vainly for two hours, to get his thoughts off Julia, and onto some work. But it was
a losing battle. She seemed to dominate his thoughts a lot, lately.
Giving up, on any thoughts of continuing work, he pressed the intercom button. "Siobhan, I'll be
leaving again, in five minutes. Cancel my remaining engagements."
"But Mr. Collins," protested the voice at the other end, "Mr. Tyler is expected to call with the
quotation, you asked for."
"Tell him, I'm in a meeting," advised Barnabas. "And I'll call him back, ASAP."
***
Barnabas stared at the coffin. IT was all true! Everything! So, everything his father had ever
told, was based on a lie! But *why?*
He searched around the room, and a pile of chains, caught his eye. He picked them up, and
stared at them, puzzled. What would a pile of chains, be doing in here?
He stared at the coffin, and then back at the chains. They seemed long enough to bind the coffin.
But why would anyone want to do that?
Surely, if Angelique's curse, had really turned Barnabas Collins into a vampire, she had destroyed
him, when she brought the stake and mallet?
He dropped the chains, with a look of disgust. Who believed in vampires, anyway?
Again the image of a bat, flashed across his mind. He absently began scratching his neck, as he
stared at the chains, then back at the coffin.
Then a growing suspicion that the coffin was empty, began to gnaw in his mind.
But faced with the reality of his dream, how could this be possible? He had 'seen' Barnabas in the
coffin, as Angelique had held the stake over his heart.
But the suspicion persisted. With a determined look, he prepared to raise the coffin lid..
***
When Barnabas returned home, he was greeted to childish laughter. He hung up his coat and
cane, and then headed for the drawing room.
He stopped in mid stride, and his jaw dropped, in total surprise. "*Sarah*!" he gasped.
The little girl turned with a smile of delight, on her pale features, and Barnabas was at once
reminded of his sister.
"Father!" she enthused, and ran to greet him, followed by an equally delighted Daniel.
Julia observed the three of them, with an amused expression on her face, as Barnabas hugged
them both delightedly.
When he finally looked up, the look in his eyes, were the only thanks she needed.
"Julia, I," he began, but he stopped unable to express how he felt.
With a beaming smile, she said, "You don't have to say anything, Barnabas. But I would like to
talk to you," she added with meaning.
Barnabas knew that tone well, and while he was thrilled at the though of Sarah being home, he
was anxious to know what Julia had on her mind.
"Why don't you two run along to the playroom, while your Aunt Julia, and I, have our talk?" he
suggested to the twins.
Sarah and Daniel exchanged knowing looks. "All right," piped up Daniel, with a sly grin. "Excuse
us, Aunt Julia," he added, as he and Sarah escaped to the playroom.
"Well?" asked Barnabas, when they had gone.
"Just because I've allowed Sarah home, doesn't mean that she is recovered, Barnabas," said Julia,
with a professional air. "I hope you understand that?"
He sighed, and said wearily, "Yes, I understand."
"I hope you mean that, because, at the first sign of a regression, she'll be back to hospital."
Alarm crossed his face. "That won't happen, will it?"
"It's a possibility. She may look healthy enough, but that can be deceptive. She tires easily, but
that's to be expected. But I'll count on you to keep a watchful eye on her. And at the first sign of
any symptoms, I want you to tell me, immediately. I've already discussed it with her, and she's
agreed to tell you, or Willie, if I'm not available."
"Let's hope there's no need for her to go back."
"There's one more thing. I think I should check Barnabas, for this virus, too. Daniel has proven
clear up to now. I'd like to know that he is, too."
"He might not be willing to. You know how he feels about us at the moment. I've told him, Sabre
can stay, but.." Barnabas shook his head.
"As his father, I'm hoping you'll be able to convince him, it's for his own good. And now that
Sarah's home, he might be willing to cooperate."
"I'll try," said Barnabas, as he rose to his feet. "Are you going to stay for dinner? I know Sarah
would."
Julia smiled, "Then I'd be delighted to."
***
On opening the coffin, Barnabas discovered that his suspicion was correct; the coffin was empty.
As he was about to close the lid, something shiny caught his eye.
He frowned slightly, as he recognised a silver cross, fixed to the lid of the coffin, at just about the
place the head would be, if the coffin had been occupied.
With a look of pure hatred, he slammed the coffin lid closed, furiously.
A fury like none he had ever experience in his young life surged through him.
His father had lied! He was more sure, than he'd ever been.
With the advent of dusk, the strange feeling that had plagued him during the day, had lessened.
He turned to the opening, with a frown, and discovered that it was indeed dusk. But how had he
known that?
He shrugged, and calling to Sabre, left the secret room, and closed the panel.
***
Barnabas had allowed Sarah and Daniel to remain up, an hour and 1/2 longer than usual, as it
was her first night home.
But as soon as the children had gone to bed, he and Julia shared a glass of sherry.
During the last three hours, Julia had the idea that he seemed on the point of telling her
something, or perhaps asking her opinion. But each time, he hesitated.
She began to sense that something was bothering him. Indeed, since the twins had retired for the
night, he had lapsed into a thoughtful mood. Answering any questions she might ask, only
vaguely.
Even the knowledge that she would be travelling to Wyndcliffe, early the next day, seemed to
make little difference.
Finally putting her sherry glass down, and raising to her feet, she said, "Well, I'd better head back
to Collinwood. I have a long drive ahead of me, tomorrow."
He made no move to accompany her. He usually insisted on walking her back to Collinwood,
himself.
Frowning and a little hurt, by his reaction, or lack of it, she headed out of the room, and retrieved
her coat.
When she returned, Barnabas had risen to his feet, and stood facing the fire.
He turned on hearing her step, and at once she noticed the strange look on his face.
"Barnabas, what is it?" she asked suddenly concerned.
He continued to gaze at her, as if seeing her for the first time. And perhaps, in a way, he was.
"Barnabas?" she question again, coming closer. "What is it?" He only continued to stare.
She looked at him, her concern for him, growing. She stepped nearer. And saw a mischievous
gleam in his expressive eyes. A look she had never hoped, or expected to see.
"Barnabas?" she whispered, lingering on his name. "Is anything wrong?"
His answer was to take her gently by the waist, and gently caress her lips, with his own, startling
her so completely, that for a moment, she was unable to respond.
When she did respond, she felt his heart hammering against his chest, as the kiss deepened, and
grew in intensity.
Then she became aware of being swept into his powerful arms, and gently carried towards the
stairs...
Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production