Secrets Past, Part 23

Secrets Past: CONCLUSION.
Date: 8/8/98
From: barnster

When Diabolos' grip around Barnabas, Sr. throat tightened slightly, his face began to turn red, and his eyes bulge.

Diabolos rose his arm slightly, causing Barnabas, to stand almost on his toes. The demon smiled. "Give him up, Collins!" he intoned.

"Never!" croaked Barnabas, as best he could.

This angered the demon. He increased the pressure, and Barnabas managed a weak groan, and his eyes rolled.

Young Barnabas stared at his father, held in a literal death-grip. His mother's voice clamoured inside his head, urging him to stop this nightmare.

"Come to me, Barnabas," insisted the demon, of the young boy. "And end his suffering."

Barnabas, Jr. eyed him, distrustfully. He had killed Sabre, and now he was turning on his father.

He stared fearfully, as his father's face turned a shade bluer.

Father and son's eyes locked momentarily. And seeing the pleading expression of his father's eyes stepped hesitantly forward.

"No, Barnabas!" croaked his father weakly. "He'll destroy you, as well as this family! Resist him! You must_!"

Diabolos squeezed even tighter. "You Collins, have always been a thorn in my side. The boy belongs to me!"

"While I can still breathe, he won't!" whispered Barnabas, defiantly.

"Leave my father alone!" screamed Daniel, as he ran forward, towards the demon.

"Daniel, no!" cried Barnabas, Jr. too late, as he realised what his brother intended to do.

Daniel ignored him, and flew at Diabolos, with all the rage of an 11yr old.

Diabolos swiped at the boy but missed, and Daniel renewed his attack.

Diabolos' gesture caused him to release pressure on Barnabas' throat, and he greedily gulped in air.

He swiped at the boy again, this time his aim hit the mark, and the boy slumped to the ground.

Sarah ran forward to help her stricken brother, and both Barnabas's yelled, "No, Sarah!"

Diabolos' aim was sharper, than it had been with Daniel. And Sarah crumpled to the floor, almost instantly.

Barnabas, Jr. ran over to his sister, and felt for a pulse, as Julia had taught him. Until he realised that she was also a vampire. 'NO!' his mind hammered. 'It hasn't affected her yet!'

He turned with eyes blazing, "You've killed my sister!" he hissed dangerously.

"I told you, that something far worse than your dog dying would happen, if you disobeyed me. YOU WERE WARNED!"

'Save them!' Came his mother's voice. 'Before it's too late!'

Angered by all that he had seen, Barnabas, Jr. found the strength he needed.

"Let my father go!" he demanded, viscously, his fangs bared, and a fury in his eyes, that startled Diabolos.

Diabolos' grip had lessened on Barnabas, Sr. throat, and with the last of his strength, Barnabas pried free of the punishing grip.

He fell weakly to the floor, gasping and hitching in breath. Barnabas, Jr, immediately ran to his side. "Father, are you all right? Father!"

***

Sarah and Stephanie appeared unseen.

"We must do something, Aunt Sarah!" implored Stephanie. "Or all is lost!"

Sarah closed her eyes, "Remember the rhyme, Barnabas," she whispered. "You must remember!"

***

Barnabas lay weakly on the floor. He appeared to be dead, but hearing the concern in his son's voice, made him open his eyes. "Remember the rhyme," he whispered, repeating Sarah's message that rattled around his head.

"What rhyme?"

"The one I taught you, while you were learning to write," whispered his father.

"I can't father! I can't!"

'Yes, you can!' Came his mother's voice. 'You must save him! You must save them all!'

"Try," whispered his father. "You must try," he said as his eyes closed.

"Father, no!" he cried again, shaking his father. He turned to face Diabolos, his eyes blazing with defiance.

"You can save them, by joining me," intoned the demon, hypnotically.

The lad scowled, and in a voice filled with sheer hatred said, "I hate you!" as he said the words, his father opened his eyes again, and whispered, "I love you, son. Remember_ the_ rhyme."

Hope brightened the lad's face, at hearing his father speak. Not looking at the demon, he intoned, "That evil is wicked, is well understood. The wicked are punished, so you must be good!"

Diabolos screamed, with pain. "No! You shall be mine!" he hissed.

'Forgive your father! It is the only way!' came his mother's voice again.

"I can't!" wailed the lad, mournfully.

'I love you, Barnabas.'

"I love you too, mother," he whispered.

'Forgive your father! To defeat Diabolos and to save yourself you must!'

He was aware of something hitting him, and when he looked, he was astounded. "Sabre!" he cried in awed delight. "Your back!"

Again Diabolos wailed in agony. No! This couldn't be to happen!

'Forgive him!' insisted his mother. 'You have the power to resist him, now. Forgive him!'

"He won't hear me!"

'If you love him, he will hear you.'

"Father!" said the lad, again shaking the prone form of his father. "You must hear me!" he implored.

Julia, free of her trance came over to his stricken form, medical bag in hand.

Barnabas, Jr. stared at her, imploringly. "You must save him, Aunt Julia!" he begged.

Aunt Julia! He hadn't called her that in almost three years.

She smiled, and said, "I'll do my best, Barnabas."

He stared at her a moment, his brown eyes filled with anguish at all the trouble he had caused her.

Diabolos withered in agony at his words. And Barnabas felt an inner peace within him.

"I love you, Father, and I forgive you," he said, with sincerity in his tone. With an unearthly screech, Diabolos disappeared.

A second later, then was a flash of blinding light, and his mother appeared before him.

Sarah appeared at her side, and unseen by any of the others, was Stephanie.

Maggie came forward, and with a smile kissed her son. "I am so proud of you," she said, "I always shall."

At the touch of her kiss, warmth consumed him. And when it had gone, he knew that he was free, of the curse.

Sarah and Daniel, also recovered at their mother's touch, and instantly forgot all that had happened.

Finally she turned to Julia with a smile. "Look after them for me, Julia," she said. "As I know you will."

Julia smiled back. "I promise to do my best."

Finally she kissed Barnabas, who opened his eyes. He saw her briefly, before she disappeared. Smiling sadly, he whispered, "Goodbye, Maggie. May you rest in peace."

Her thoughts filled his head, "I shall, my dear, dear husband. Now and forever."

Barnabas looked around them room. "Where's Diabolos?"

"Barnabas defeated him," smiled Julia, proudly.

"Are you all right, Father?" asked Junior.

"I am, now," he said with a smile.

Barnabas, Jr. grinned, and his father realised what was different. The curse had been removed.

For a moment, father and son, stared at each other, and then hugged. The barriers that had come between them, broken at last.

"I'm so proud of you son," said Barnabas. "I love you."

"I love you too, Father," said the lad easily. "And you too, Aunt Julia," he added, when the hug ended.

He laughed at his father's understandable surprise. Then looking at Julia, a sober look crossed his face. "I'm sorry that I was so mean to you, about my mother."

Julia placed a hand over his. "You have nothing to be sorry about," soothed Julia, gently.

He grinned his funny half grin, so like his father's. "I'm glad, that_" he began but stopped short, as if listening to something only he could hear. The grin broadened.

"What is it?" demanded his father, suspiciously.

With a mischievous glint in his black eyes he said, "Mother says not to leave the wedding, too long."

***

Sarah and Stephanie watched the reunion, with a sense of pride.

"I'm glad things worked out," said Stephanie. Then she give Sarah a wistful look.

"Can't I appear to him, now? Please, Aunt Sarah! I like him, and he's so nice."

Sarah sighed, "Ok, but only he must see you. But you must keep it short," she said as she disappeared.

Stephanie gave a whoop of glee. Slowly, her ghostly essence took form. She willed it, so that only Barnabas, Sr. could see her.

Sensing that someone was watching him, Barnabas turned to face her and his eyes widened in surprise.

She giggled at his thoughts of, "Daniel was right; she is like Julia."

She half turned away, and offered him a special smile, which brightened her even features, and winked slyly. As she disappeared, in his head, he heard quite clearly, the words: "See you soon_. Father!"

The End.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.