Adult material

Chapter 3

Dark Cousins

Quentin was worried about his cousin. He seemed to be hell-bent on destruction. If not by that damned gypsy he had by his side from dusk till dawn, you could be sure Angelique would wreak her vengeance. Barnabas was a doomed man, no matter how he looked at it. He felt helpless to do anything to stop it. Barnabas did not need anymore trouble, but he just didn't seem to care.

His cousin was a mystery to him, and had been from the moment he arrived at Collinwood. Under the guise of a distant relative from England, no one questioned the validity of the story, and why should they? he looked exactly like the portrait of the "original Barnabas Collins" that hung in the foyer. No one could deny that he was a Collins. In reality he was not a distant cousin, e was from the more direct branch of the family. Quentin had confronted him when ha arrived, and had put a sword to this throat. Now Quentin knew he lucky to be alive. Quentin had assumed Barnabas was after he family fortune, showing up when his grandmother was dying, just like himself. It was a good thing Judith interrupted when she did or he probably wouldn't be alive today.

Barnabas had befriended him after that damned gypsy had cursed him. He found out about Barnabas' curse at the sacrifice of his brother Carl. He still didn't like to think about that. Barnabas and he were closer than brothers, at least closer than he and his brothers had ever been. A smile appeared on Quentin Collins face as he thought of the many evenings of merriment at the Old House. The smile soon turned to a chuckle, as he thought what Edward and Judith would think if they had dropped in unexpectedly. Barnabas had talked about arranging for Trask to drop in, while his daughter was there, but Quentin got a bigger kick thinking about Edward popping in. Barnabas didn't seem to care, but, of course, he knew they wouldn't intrude on their cousin's privacy. After all they were Collins, and Collins were bound by a code of decorum.

Count Petofi didn't like Barnabas. He was, in fact, afraid of him. He had no control over him. Barnabas was more concerned about keeping Quentin away from the likes of Petofi than worrying about what Petofi would do to him. That hypocrite Trask had labeled Barnabas and Quentin "the dark cousins." Barnabas thought the title befitting, and Quentin was amused by it. He always was the black sheep. He figured he was in good company with Barnabas anyway.

Now, if he could get Barnabas away from Magda. he didn't want to make him angry, because it was not a pleasant sight when Barnabas was angry. He had seen him angry one time, and that was enough. Charity Trask had decided to pay a visit to the Old House without invitation. It so happened to be an evening when he and Barnabas were out taking a stroll, enjoying the evening. The weather had been pleasant, the conversation as usual, with Barnabas was delightful. Barnabas was a very interesting man Quentin was finding out more and more everyday. He didn't let his curse weigh him down. In the beginning, when the vampire curse was placed on him, Barnabas told him of the depression that was so overwhelming, because of the horror of what he was, and what he was compelled to do to survive. He had gotten over it, as the humanity was replaced by the vampire and the need to do whatever to survive.

That particular evening, Barnabas had told him about Josette, the true history, not he recorded one. For instance, the recorded Collins Family History stated that Josette had come to America to marry Jeremiah, Barnabas' uncle, when in fact, it was Barnabas she came to marry. Quentin was fascinated by it all, especially the part about Laura and her marriage to Jeremiah Collins. Barnabas had also told him about his life in 1968, and how Willie had released him from the coffin. The most astounding bit that Barnabas had told him was that he was cured in his own time. He explained him about Dr. Lang, Dr. Hoffman, and Adam. Quentin questioned him about it every chance he got. Barnabas was free with his information. He didn't know where Adam was, and he felt bad about that.

Quentin had accompanied Barnabas back to the Old House for a brandy, as was their habit after a walk, and Charity had been waiting for Barnabas. An involuntary shudder went through Quentin as he remembered that evening. Barnabas Collins' anger was one of the most frightening displays of rage out of control that Quentin had ever witnessed. He could still envision the fangs dripping blood from Charity's neck vein. He and Magda had not even tried to move Barnabas, they pulled a screaming Charity away from the rabidly angered vampire. Charity would have been dead, if not for Magda and himself. He still had a hard time fitting that image with the usually soft-spoken, culture cousin.

Now, Quentin was concerned for his cousin and his misguided affections for Magda. He told Barnabas every chance he could to continue in the course that he had chosen would be trouble. He had reminded Barnabas about his marriage to Magda's sister, and ho that had turned out. Barnabas had reminded him that he had not been the best of husbands. Quentin would get angry and yell at Barnabas, until he could see Barnabas' eyes start to turn red, and he would stop until the next time. He played the conversation over and over in his head:

"Barnabas, how many people do you know ends up with a werewolf curse placed on them? That's what Magda did to me with her misguided information. And every first-born male descendant of mine will have the werewolf curse, THANKS TO MAGDA, BARNABAS!" Quentin was yelling by this time.

"Quentin, she thought you had murdered her sister, because of another woman," Barnabas replied in an even tone of voice.

"Even so, Cousin, don't you think her justice was a bit much even if the crime had been committed? Barnabas, my male descendants are Collins, just like you. Don't you care what happens to them? Or is it all you care about is satisfying some perverted evil lust of yours, and that twisted gypsy whore you've got sleeping with you at the Old House. That's what people are calling her, Barnabas Collins' whore! She's nothing more than a common whore at that." Quentin said so blindingly angry that he did not see the fist coming. He had been hit in his life, but never like that. It had only made his angrier, and he had actually got up, and caught Barnabas off guard, and hit him back. "Barnabas, I will stake you myself if you don't to your senses, Quentin said very loudly." That time he went over the couch as Barnabas' fist connected with his jaw. He caught the flaming red eyes, and the fangs starting to descend, but curiously it didn't frighten him, it made him angrier. They had hit one another until Magda stopped them. He knew Barnabas had kept the fight fair, but it still had hurt like hell.

Later on, when he cooled off, he knew he had been unfair to Barnabas when he had made the remark about his descendants, that was one of the reasons he had risked his mortality. Chris Jennings in the Twentieth Century locked in the mausoleum, no one knowing if he would ever be a man again. He apologized to Barnabas, and Barnabas accepted, gracious as usual.

They had had another quarrel the next night about Magda. " Quentin, the very curse she placed on you, turned on her, and now she has lost everyone she loves. She has no one. My relationship with Magda, if you can call it that, gives her a little happiness in her already bleak world. If she loves me, I can't die, Quentin, I am already dead, " Barnabas told Quentin through clenched teeth.

"And what is it you give her?" Quentin asked, temper rising. "WHAT, Barnabas? What dark thrill do you give Magda? There are no fang marks evident, so, I know it's not the *sensual* kiss of the vampire. Magda is not in your power? What gift could you possibly give her that would make her happy even for five minutes, Barnabas? You took her husband from her. You don't think for one minute she's forgotten what went on in this house with Sandor every night, do you? Well, Cousin, if you do, then I feel very sorry for you.

"Is it money? Jewels? What is it, BARNABAS?" Quentin was starting to raise his voice, getting angry again. His jaw was still sore from three or four nights ago. But he couldn't let this go.

Barnabas had been watching Quentin closely, studying his features, as he had been questioning him. Barnabas knew that Quentin knew he was going way way too far in his questioning of his personal life. The only emotions Barnabas could see coming from Quentin's eyes and that had registered on his face was concern for him. Concern for his safety, and welfare, and knowing what Magda was capable of, had felt he had to keep warning him no matter what the cost.

Satisfied with the intent of Quentin's questioning, Barnabas decided to answer him, because they were indeed a lot alike, and that's why they were known as "the dark cousins."

To be continued...

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