Subj: Unicorns Rising: CH. 1
Date: 5/15/00 10:03:54 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Charlene
Collinwood 1971
Barnabas stood at Widows Hill intently watching as the cold Atlantic waves beat into the rocks below. His mind, however, kept floating back to that night in 1840 when he had lost Angelique. So deep in thought was he that he didn't notice the approaching footsteps until he heard a voice he hadn't heard in almost 74 years.
"Well Mr. Collins." the voice chuckled, "It seems that we are meeting in this time after all."
Barnabas whirled around to face the man from whom the voice came, "Petofi!" he exclaimed, "How??"
"I have many secrets Mr. Collins, you should have learned that by now."
"We thought that you died in 1897." Barnabas said, his brown eyes glaring at his old enemy.
" 'WE' meaning you and Quentin. Really, that must have been wishful thinking on your part. Remember I told you that if I got the hand back I would live forever. While you might have made it somewhat uncomfortable for me back in 1897, you should have realized that you can't kill me. You and Quentin, however, surely can die. Perhaps not as easily as mortals die, but I know how to kill you both."
"Is that why you're here Petofi!" Barnabas demand.
"All in good time Mr. Collins, all in good time. Do give dear Quentin my regards. I will be seeing you both in the future."
With those words, Barnabas watched in astonishment as Count Petofi disappeared in front of him. That was a power Barnabas had not known Petofi to possess. He looked towards Collinwood and watched as the clouds floating over the great house covered the moon. An Omen of doom he wondered?
The Collins family had been through so much. Barnabas had hoped that upon his return from 1840 that the curses of the past were finally defeated. His treatments for the Leviathan curse were finally beginning to be successful. He could even go out for limited periods in the daylight and did not have to sleep through the entire day even when confined to the interior of his home.
And now to have Petofi return. Barnabas remembered that they barely defeated him before, and then they had Angelique's help. But Angelique was dead and would never return to him. To his aid, to his arms.
"Stop this Barnabas!" he silently chastised himself. " You've got to warn Quentin and Julia and start preparing to do battle with Petofi. You do not have time for this self-pity about what can never be."
He morphed into a bat and flew towards the west wing of Collinwood, Quentin had to be told, Petofi was back!!