Subj: Reoccurring Shadows, Part 1
Date: 12/14/98 4:27:45 PM Central Standard Time
From: Callie

The Old House sometime in winter 1997.

I stared at the snow, falling in a sheer white curtain, nearly blinding me as I walked up the stairs to the columned house. It has taken a lot of effort to get access to Mr. Loomis, and this blizzard wasn't about to stop me. I checked my appearance in my make-up bag mirror & smoothed my blonde hair. With a deep breath I hesitantly knocked at the door. In a moment an older looking man with a beer belly answered. "Whaty'd yah want?" he demanded rather roughly.

"Hello sir, I'm here to speak with Mr. William Loomis." I said, confidently, though my knees where shaking.

"You one of them tabloid reporters?" He asked , narrowing his eyes.

"No, I'm just a girl. I'd like to come in, it is rather cold."

As he opened the door, I stared spellbound at the room. I felt him eyeing me up and down. Turning quickly, I asked if I might have an interview.

He led me to a room which I later learned was a "Drawing Room"

"Well kid, you got into the Collins property, and the Old House & I still don't know a thing about yah, start talkin." he demanded

I smiled my best smile. "My name is Sandra Karmmer, but please, call me Andy. I know that your book, Dark Shadows was quite a success."

"That wassa long time ago, and you weren't even born, so who sent yah?" He demanded, rudely.

I lifted my chin stubbornly. "I sent myself thank you, and I read your book. I have 2 copies and one of them is highlighted and marked all to pieces. I would have thought a 1970 author of the year would be a charming man, Not a drunken buffoon.!" I said, my voice rising. "Professor Stokes was right, I shouldn't have wasted my time!"

"Professor Stokes? If he sent yah, that interview is in the bag."

I understand more than what was in you book happened, I'd like to know the rest, tell me secret."

He seemed in a world all his own, I wondered for a moment if my request had upset him.

"I'll tell, all right, but you better listen, and listen good, yah hear? What I'll tell yah will chill your bones. In 1972 I thought things might go back to normal, before Barnabas and even before the Phoenix showed up. I was wrong. Julia died of depression, something happened in 1841, something about Barnabas and Angelique. she was never quite the same. Well I'm getting of track. The blonde woman, she was the first. She had right pretty hazel eyes. Smile that made every guy go weak and bow down to her. Nicole. She was the first to die. Then Alex, the handy-man, he was a good friend of David's. There were others though, a lot of others.