Secrets Past chp 20
Date: 8/2/98
From: barnster
Barnabas glanced down into the gap-toothed grin of his never-to-be three-year-old son.
"Lucas!" he gasped his heart almost missing a beat. The toddler released his father's knee, and
held up his arms, for a cuddle.
Julia felt a lump rise in her throat, as he bent down and picked up his son. Then held the child
close to him, as if he never wanted to let go.
As Barnabas held his son in his arms, Maggie's ghostly essence began to take form.
Barnabas, Jr. who'd been watching the reunion of his father and younger brother, with mixed
feelings, saw her first.
"Mother!" he cried, once again, the boy he once was.
She smiled, "My son," she said with motherly love.
Barnabas hearing his son's cry of 'Mother', shifted Lucas, to his other arm, so that he could see
Maggie.
"Maggie," he whispered, in a voice barely above a whisper. His face showing his contrasting
emotions.
He felt his throat constricted, and warm tears sting his eyes. God, she was so beautiful! And he
felt an unreasonable guilt rise, as remembrance of his recent night of passion with Julia, crossed
his mind.
Maggie's smile broadened. "You mustn't feel guilty, Barnabas. It is right, that Julia and you are
together. It is as it should be. I will always be assured of your love. It will live on in my heart, just
as mine for you will live in yours. What has happened, could not be avoided. To me, or both of
our sons." Turning to Barnabas, Jr, she continued.
"Look into your heart, Barnabas, and you will realise the truth. You have discovered so much
about your father, and yet you still must see the truth. Despite the curse, he has overcome his evil
nature, and despite those who have wished him ill will, he has become a better man. Allow he
and Julia to help you. Return to the world of light and love, and reject the world of darkness, and
hate."
"But Julia could have saved you!" insisted the boy, glaring at his mother. "She's said so, many
times!"
Maggie shook her head. "You have the report. Show me."
"I--I can't, I don't have it."
"Yes, you do. See?" said his mother, as she pointed to the pocket of his jeans, where he had
intended to put it, before Diabolos had took it from him.
He reached in his pocket, and his eyes widened, as he realised that she was right.
"I don't understand," he stammered. "I saw him, burn it."
"So there is someone helping you?" asked his father, joining into the conversation.
The boy nodded. "He was at the mausoleum. He said everything in the report, was a lie. He said,
that you know all along that this would happen. After that, he burnt the report."
"Who is it?" Barnabas, Sr. wanted to know.
Fear flashed across his son's face, bring hope to Barnabas, Sr. If hid son were afraid of whoever
was helping him, then surely he could still be saved. Oh, how wished that were so!
"He said his name was Diabolos, and that he knew you," said the boy, as he finally looked at his
father.
"Diabolos!" gasped Barnabas. Followed by, "Oh my God! If he's involved, that can mean only
one thing!"
Out of habit, he handed Lucas to Maggie, and turning to his other son again, gripped him by the
arms, and stared into his eyes. "What has he said to you, about Julia and I? Or your mother?"
The lad frowned, still unsure of whom to believe. He looked from his father to his mother and
back again.
He felt the need for blood pulling at him again, urging him to feed.
His father, seeing the doubt, and the hunger growing stronger in his son, tightened his grip on the
boy's arms. His eyes narrowed as he said urgently, "Don't let your rage and anger at me, rule you,
like I did. Let Julia and I help you! I'm still your father, Barnabas, even if at this moment you
don't want me to be. I still love you."
"He's right, Barnabas," continued Maggie. "He and Julia can help you, but you must want their
help. Fight against your desires, and help us to help you. You have the report again. If Diabolos
were telling the truth, it would not have been possible."
His glance turned to Julia. But this time his eyes were questioning, rather than condemning.
"Did you willing let my mother die?"
Julia shook her head. "I would have done anything, to make her better. But it was useless. That
report is the truth. Maggie was my friend, just as much as your father is."
He came to his decision. HE turned to his father, and said. "He said that Julia let my mother die,
because she was in love with you herself. And she is wearing the ring mother wore," he added
with a glance at the ring.
"But she hasn't always had that ring," Barnabas tried to explain. "She only started wearing it
recently," he added tactfully. "What else as he said?"
The boy went on to explain everything that had happened, since the dreams had begun, including
that part about believing the report. Until Diabolos had burnt it.
"Will you let us help you, knowing what you know now?" asked his father.
Barnabas, Jr. stared bleakly at his father, the urge for blood at a fever pitch. An understanding
look on his father's face told him, more than any words could.
Finally, like the child he really was, he cried; "Help me, Father! I don't want to be like this!"
Barnabas advanced towards his son, with smile on his face, and embraced him. Since this had
happened, his son had refused to call him 'Father,' perhaps now that he could accept him in that
role again, things could work out. "I'll do everything I can, to help you, son. I promise you that."
***
Her mission accomplished, Maggie and Lucas slowly faded out of sight. "Love you, Dada!" was
the last thing he would hear from his youngest son.
"Dada loves you too, Lucas," he whispered, his voice quivering ever so slightly.
For the last time, Maggie and Barnabas face each other. On seeing her again, he had realised that
he still loved her dearly, and always would.
Maggie smiled again, and said in a voice only he could hear, "Be happy with Julia. She will make
you a good wife. She deserves your love. You need her, as much as she needs you. I love you,
my dear, dear Barnabas."
As she finished speaking her, form slowly dissolved, and she disappeared.
With tears coursing down his cheeks, he faced contorted, he said, "I love you, Maggie. I love
you."
Overwhelmed by his grief, his hid his face in his hands. Julia came over to him, and put her arm
around his shoulders. Despite his declaration of love for her, she knew that he would always love
Maggie.
She was aware that Barnabas, Jr was watching her, and she quickly let her arm drop, from his
father's shoulders.
He grinned a half- smile, and she thought,' he even smiles, like Barnabas. He is his father's son.'
***
Two hours later, Julia was ready with the serum. Both she and Barnabas had explained to some
extent about its effects.
He had been surprised to learn about the coffin, that his father and Willie had hidden away in the
loft of the house.
This was now the coffin that he would use, while he underwent the experiment.
Willie had hoped never to see that coffin again. He had protested emphatically, that he wouldn't
ever touch it again.
The appearance of Junior however soon changed his mind. It had been the first time he had seen
the boy, since learning he was a vampire.
Though he should have had little reason to be afraid of vampires, since he's been in the employ of
one, he was afraid of this one. Perhaps, he thought to himself, this time it was a kid, and not an
adult.
But it came to Junior himself, on how they would explain why they had a coffin in their cellar,
and Willie groan inwardly.
"Listen, Kid," sighed Willie, while Barnabas, Sr. was out of hear-shot, but within safe shouting
distance should he get any ideas. "Your father and I know more about this, than you, so do as
your told." But recoiled, when the lad had grinned, revealing his fangs. But there was a
mischievous glint in his black eyes, as he did so.
Julia had seen the exchange, and wondered again, on how alike he was to his father, and not in
looks. She sighed, wondering how she would cope, with literally dealing with two Barnabas'. She
found the elder, difficult to handle at times, even now.
"Are you ready for this?" she asked now, as she measured 5cc of the serum into the syringe. The
question was more for Barnabas, Sr. than the boy. She wasn't sure he's insistence to remain
while she gave the injection was a good one.
"I have a vested interest in this Julia," was his curt reply.
She sighed, and swabbed the area on the boy's arm.
As she worked away, she explained once again, what he would expect.
"Now, remember, this will sting, a bit like bee. And there will be pain. Do you understand?"
"Yes. Will the pain last long?"
"No, not that long, but it will be intense. Like when you broke your leg, last summer."
She checked the syringe, and then placed the needle in the boy's vein.
As she gentle depressed the plunger, he hissed in breath, and his face, which had had a waxy
pallor, now went beet red, and then purple.
As she removed the needle, he let out a muffled cry, and a quick glance in Barnabas' direction,
knew that his insistence in staying, was a bad idea.
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