Secrets Past chp 19
Date: 7/31/98
From: barnster
At the old house, Barnabas sat alone in the drawing room. He held the drawing of Angelique and
himself, in his hands.
It really was incredibly life like. Maggie had always thought that their eldest son had taken after
Sam, in his artistic abilities. He felt it unfortunate that all four of the children should have been
denied the love and affection, of their respective grandparents.
He frowned slightly, at the memory of the night he'd told Maggie the truth about himself. When
he had come to this decision, he had agonised all day long, on what would be the best way of
broaching the subject. Knowing, that it could ruin all the happiness they had shared.
Once he had gathered all his courage to tell her, he found that he couldn't stop. Though at first,
he hadn't intended to tell her about his illicit affair with Angelique in Martinique, he felt as though
a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, when he did.
Something he hadn't been able to accomplish, totally, with Julia.
He remembered how shocked her face had been, as he'd explained his true history, and felt a
wave of guilt surge through him.
But he'd been more than surprised, when Maggie had confessed that it changed nothing in her
feelings towards him. He was her husband, and he had more made up for his mistakes in the past.
It was the future that mattered.
Understandably curious, she had questioned him about his past life, and Angelique. He had
answered her questions readily enough; the time for secrets was past.
Her talk turned to Josette, and he'd been less ready with his answers. But he had answered them.
As his mind returned to the present, his frown deepened. Finally, with anger on his pale face, he
savagely tore the drawing from the sketching pad, as he had once done to the likeness of
Jeremiah, in the family history, and tossed the page into the fire. He watched as the flames ate
hungrily at the paper. Maybe Julia was right. Maybe he would have been better off, he hadn't met
either Josette or Angelique. Though he had been furious, when she had first suggested it.
Certainly, his life span would have been shorter, than it would have been, had it not been for the
curse.
Finally, with a sigh, he rose to his feet, and headed towards the cellar_ and Julia.
****
In the mausoleum, Diabolos, smiling evilly asked, "Do you understand what you must do?"
The young boy grinned devilishly, revealing his fangs. "Yes. I know," he said eagerly.
Diabolos' smile broadened. "Excellent! You are learning fast! Now, go and complete your task!"
The young boy dematerialised, and Diabolos' evil laughter echoed hollowly around the confined
space.
"Through you, young Barnabas, the Collins family will finally be destroyed!"
***
As Barnabas descend the stone steps, that lead to the lab, he glanced to the right, and saw Julia,
working busily over one of the microscopes.
He stopped and stared at her a moment. And wondered not for the first time, what she ever saw
in him.
On discovering that she knew him to be a vampire, he had threatened her life, more than once.
Forced her to become an accomplice to her friend's murder, then tried to drive her insane, when
she threatened to expose him.
But despite all of that, their friendship had grown stronger. Following him, on his numerous
sojourns into the past to help him, defeat some threat to the family, they both loved.
He had known of her love for him, and felt guilty, at the remembrance of how often he had used
it, to his own advantage.
Or ignored her words of warning, over some pretty face that happened to catch his eye.
Then expecting her to pick up the pieces, when everything went wrong.
As he began to descend the steps, the dogs began to howl, and a shiver rippled through his body.
How he hated that sound!
Julia sensing she wasn't alone lifted her head reluctantly from the microscope.
She turned her green eyes towards him, and smiled. Once again he marvelled at how beautiful she
really was. And resisted the urge to count, then kiss each and every freckle that peppered her
nose and cheeks in a fine spray.
Instead, he nervously fidgeted with the gold wedding band, he still felt unable to remove, almost
three years after Maggie's untimely death.
"Have you found anything?" he asked, as he looked up.
Julia stared at him a moment longer, before turning her attention back to the slide.
"Possibly. At least, the tests bear out my theory. The serum should work. Once his thirst is
controlled, it will give me the time I need to find a way to defeat the curse, and hopefully provide
the answer for the twins, as well."
As she finished speaking, the mournful howling of the dogs came again. Closer this time.
She lifted her head from the microscope, and saw the apprehensive look on Barnabas' face. "He's
nearer," he muttered to himself. Then turning to her, he asked, "Have you still got the crucifix?"
She nodded, and showed him the small gold chain around her neck.
"Though it's pointless, since he already knows the truth about Maggie and Lucas."
"We're only assuming he does. Whoever's been helping him, maybe the one with the report. And
it's that someone we have to find, if there's to be any hope of helping him."
"But assuming that Barnabas, does have the report, once he finds out the truth, then he may be
willing to let us help him," insisted Julia.
"Assuming that he is willing to let us help him, will he go through what I did, with the serum?"
Julia refused to answer him. "Will he?" demanded Barnabas, grabbing her arms, and turning her
to face him.
She pouted, and nodded. "Yes."
He released her, and turned away from her, his eyes closed against the memory of the agony he
had felt, as the serum had coursed through his body. Agony so intense, that he would rather have
stayed as he was, then have to experience such pain again.
And now, he was about to put his son, through the same thing. Knowing what his silence meant,
Julia placed a hand on his arm. "You mustn't blame yourself, Barnabas. Neither of you knew this
would happen. How could you?"
"But it has, and it's all my fault. I'd never thought I'd say this, Julia, but I'd rather that this was
happening to me, rather than him. If it were in my power, I'd spare the three of them."
Julia sighed. "I know," she said, as she pulled him into an embrace. He didn't resist, and as his
own arms, encircled her waist, her kissed the side of her neck.
From a shadowed recess, two dark eyes watched the lovers, with malevolence.
As Barnabas, Jr. watched, his father, and Julia separated, and he once again, heard parts of their
conversation.
'He's my son_' 'You're his father_' 'I'll love him, no matter what he is.' 'Deep down he still loves
you_'
Since leaving the mausoleum, he had been plagued by voices in his head, each varying for his
attention. Voices that drifted in and out, like the tide, sounding familiar, and at the same time
unknown. Now, they clamoured again, with their incessant whispering, demanding he listen.
"Look to your heart, see the truth." "He is responsible for all that you feel." "Look to light, not to
darkness_" "He shot Sabre, he loves the woman who killed your mother_"
He tried unsuccessfully, to push the voices away, and try to concentrate on his father and Julia,
but the voices wouldn't let him.
His father directed his attention to something under the microscope. As Julia pointed something
out, his sharp eyes, caught a glimpse of the onyx ring, his mother had habitually wore.
So, Diabolos had been right! Just as he had been about his father being responsible for the way he
was now! And that meant that the report was nothing but lies!
He felt his rage grow, and again, the babble of voices broke his thoughts. "He shot Sabre, he
meant to destroy you," "Turn away from the darkness, forgive him,"
"Never!" he whispered to himself, his eyes glowing evilly.
He stepped silently into the cellar.
Julia saw him, and was about to warn his father, when he silenced her with a glance. As she
stared into his bottomless eyes, she felt her will fade.
Barnabas, still bent over the microscope, was unaware of his vampire son's presence. He
continued to ask questions, about the slide, but eventually tiring of receiving no reply, looked up.
Father and son faced each other. The latter with a look of hatred on his face.
"You came to the mausoleum, to destroy me." It was a fact, not a question. "And you shot
Sabre."
Seeing no point in hiding anything any longer, Barnabas. Sr., said, "Yes, I shot Sabre. I had no
choice."
"He was protecting me!" snapped the boy, furiously. "You shouldn't have shot him!"
"I'm sorry. But at the time, I wanted to give you, what your grandfather couldn't give me. The
peace you deserve. Sabre will live. But your brother's rat, wasn't so fortunate."
The boy's eyes burned with a furious glint. "I had no choice! And it's because of you!" wailed the
boy, with anguish in his voice.
With a look of understanding on his face, Barnabas. Sr., said, "Then let me help you. Release
Julia, and let us both help you, like she helped me."
For a moment, Barnabas saw the boy his son once was. And a feeling of hope and relief
consumed him.
But the boy's expression changed, slightly, and Barnabas, Sr. knew what that look meant.
The need for blood was beginning to pull at the boy. And guilt pressed heavily on his heart.
"Never!" he hissed. "You are responsible for all that I feel, and you'll pay!"
As she finished speaking, he slowly advanced towards his father, mouth agape.
Barnabas knew what his son had in mind, but he remained where he was, unflinchingly.
Some small part of Julia's mind, free from the vampire's hypnotic influence, screamed for
Barnabas to watch out. Aware of what he intended to do.
But as the boy stepped towards his father, three things happened at once.
"No my son. You must stop," came a voice both father and son recognised. Stopping the boy in
his tracks, and bring Julia out of the trance.
At the same time, Barnabas Sr. felt pressure on his right knee and a child's delighted squeal of
"Dada!"
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