Terror returned, part 1
Date: 3/11/98
From: barnster

Twelve years. Twelve years he had been happy. More happy than he had ever thought possible. And now all that had changed.

As Barnabas gazed out at the setting sun, he thought back over the past few days. He thought of the joy his marriage to Maggie had brought him. Added to the arrival of three sons and a daughter. With thoughts of the children, he wondered what the effects of the last few days would have on his eleven-year-old son, Barnabas JR. Barnabas who was so like him in looks and his ways. For those who didn't know the truth about Barnabas Sr., it bore out the startling resemblance he had to his 'ancestor.'

From Barnabas Jr, his mind wondered to Sarah, his eight-year-old daughter, the youngest of twins. (Daniel being the oldest by 45 minutes) Sarah, who was so like his own sister. And yet so like Maggie. Then there was Lucas Samuel. Two years old, and he would have to grow up, never knowing his father.

As he continued to gaze out at the now gathering dusk, he thought of the return of Angelique and Nicholas.

Angelique had threatened instant destruction to Maggie and the children, if he didn't return to her as her rightful husband. Promising the curse would return to him, if he refused. Nicholas had returned for Maggie, and he was prepared to go along with anything Angelique might subject him to.

Barnabas, with usual stubbornness, had refused point blank, to agree to their terms. Swearing to fight them every inch of the way.

He began by telling Maggie the real truth about himself. To his surprise, it had changed nothing in her feelings towards him. And it resolved him to fight Angelique all he could.

And so the curse had returned. With a vengeance. He had tried to hide it from Maggie, but being an ever dutiful wife, she had discovered his secret.

With his old loathesomeness, at what he had yet again become, he turned his back on her. Nevertheless, difficult though he had been, Maggie had stood by him. And Angelique and Nicholas had won.

Knowing that Maggie could not be turned against him, Barnabas tried to fight against his bloodlust. With the help of Julia, things had looked promising. His thirst had been curbed, and he no longer had to prowl the night hours, searching for female throats. But then the cell in his bloodstream, that Julia had discovered and isolated, had begun to mutate. Making the serum ineffective.

Julia, unable to work at the old house, had decided to return to Wyndcliffe, to work on the problem there. Barnabas had suffered through the following nights, refusing to have what he needed to survive.

As night finally descended, he walked over to the fireplace. A tremour rippled thorough his body, and he gripped the chair, until the pain had passed. He knew he had to feed, and soon. He felt pity for whomever it was.

He was still stood by the fire, when Maggie entered. He looked up as she entered. The agonized look on his face was enough to tell her, that something was wrong. She went over to him, "Barnabas, what is it?" He clenched his jaw, and turned away from her. "Nothing," he lied, through his pain. But Maggie wasn't to be put off. "I know that there's something wrong. Tell me, maybe there's something I can do." He turned back to her, and attempted to grin. Instead a low moan escaped him, and he gripped the chair again, in an effort to stop from falling. She helped him to his feet, and stumbling, she managed to get him to a chair. Seeing the concern on her face, he hid his face from her. He trembled violently.

Bending down, Maggie took his hands away from his face. Looking deep into his brown eyes, she said, "I know what' wrong, Barnabas. And I know that you have to have blood soon, or you die. Take what you need from me." He looked at her aghast. "No!" he fumed, but all he could manage was a groan. Maggie persisted. "Your too weak to out, Barnabas. You know that. I'm offering you what you need."

He shook his head, as if to clear it. He knew she was speaking the truth. He was nearing the end of his resolve. He had two choices. Take Maggie at her word, or die in saving her. He struggled to his feet.

"Where are you going?"

"To the village. I'll find what I need there."

"You can't! Barnabas you'll never make it!" cried Maggie.

"I won't do what I must, to you! I won't!" And he lurched to one of the pillars. Maggie followed.

Blocking his way, she said, "You'll never make it, and you know it. Let me be the one, Barnabas. My love for you will remain the same. No matter what." He stared at her, seeming to debate what she had said. The struggle to survive and his desire not to hurt her, fought within him. At last he could stand it no longer.

Swallowing hard, he looked at her long and hard. When he spoke, his voice was strange and thick. Quite unlike his own. "No!"
"Then I refuse to let you leave. You can't stop me, your too weak." He stared at her in a fury, but he knew she was right. He was too weak to do anything.

He felt his fangs stir in their sheaths, and he groaned. A tremor coursed through his body. "Barnabas...?" questioned Maggie, but to him, her voice came from a distance. She reached out to touch his shoulder, and his body went rigid.

He had bent his head against the onslaught of his need, now he looked up. For the first time in twelve years, he saw fear on the face of his wife. "Maggie..!" he croaked.

Standing it no more, she cupped his face in her hands. "My love WON'T change, Barnabas. Take what you need, from me!"

He turned away from her again. His fangs slipped from their sheaths. When he turned back to Maggie, his brown eyes blazed with an inner light.

He stroked her hair gently with one hand, and then he traced one finger across her cheek. "Close your eyes!" he ordered curtly......

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.