Subj: Grammar Story -- 41
Date: 1/6/01 5:05:46 PM Central Standard Time
From: Beverly LaCroix

1967 Old House

"I can smell your fear, Barnabas Collins, and it smells like the grave." Quentin laughed, throwing the vampire off him.

Barnabas looked at Burke Devlin, or the physical form of Devlin. In that instant he knew it was an enemy, and a powerful one. Was it Angelique reaching through the centuries to prevent him from loving someone. Did he love Maggie? She looked so much like Josette, and yet could be he knew. She loved him he knew that. But was it his Josette that loved him or was it the young woman who looked like her. He would find out, but right now he had to find out who this deadly enemy was.

"Willie, leave the room. Take Josette, and go upstairs."

Willie looked questioningly at Barnabas, but Barnabas was looking at Burke, and knew that Burke Devlin was a dead man. Wrapping a blanket around Maggie, he started to walk out of the cell. He could smell the blood, death, and for a microsecond realized with a horror, that the mind could not accept, how bleak it was, and it occurred to him the cell was a grave. A grave for a dead man's sick machinations to be played out, and he thought grimly that Burke Devlin would satisfy the crooning and calling of this grave tonight. A death dance was being danced, and Willie didn't realize that his master was not the chorographer. His thoughts were broken, when Maggie broke away from him, dropping the blanket, and he saw her nude form clinging to Barnabas.

Barnabas did not give Maggie the embrace she sought, but shoved her from him, whispering in a tone that put fear on her face, "I did not give you leave to touch me. Now, go with Willie. I will deal with your impertinence later."

Maggie bowed her head, and allowed Willie to cover her, and they both heard Burke laugh, and the deadly sound of his words curled around their hearts, leaving a dark gray feeling of impending doom to shoot through them. They were afraid, and the fear was not relieved, but grew as they heard the frightening, resounding, other worldly laughter, it was unrelenting. Burke Devlin was going to be victorious, and they could do nothing, but continue their vigil through the catacombs leading to the cellar.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.