Subj: Dare Story - Chapter 6
Date: 8/19/01 12:35:00 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Carol H. Monterosso

Jon, Carol, Connie, Kim and Cindy trembled in the secret room. Barnabas' voice was loud and harsh, worse in reality than on TV. They could only imagine the fear that Willie went through on a daily basis.

"What is the meaning of this?" he shouted.

While they quietly listened from their hiding place, ears pushed up against the wall, they could hear the radio softly playing in the drawing room.

"Damn! Willie's gonna get it now!" Jon lamented.

"We can't let that happen," Kim cautioned.

"We've got our wine glasses but what about the bottle? Barnabas will surely think Willie was having a party without his approval," Cindy worriedly said.

"As if he'd let Willie have a party," Carol quipped. They all nodded in agreement.

"Shhh...I hear someone running down the stairs. It must be Willie." Jon put his finger to his lips.

Acting guilty as sin, Willie stopped at the bottom of the stairs with Donna and Scarlett closed behind.

"Who are these people, Willie?" Barnabas' condescending tone irritated Donna.

"Just hold your horses! We are NOT 'these people' but strangers who lost our way and Willie was gracious enought to take us in!"

"So there! What are ya gonna do about it?!" Scarlett mocked, sash shaying her hips left to right. She was ready for a fight!

"I don't care who you are or why you came. I want all of you out of this house. NOW!" Barnabas' eyes blazed with fury at the intruders. He raised his cane, ready to strike the first person that dared to provoke him further.

At that point, the five sequestered in the secret room tumbled out due to everyone pressing against the door to hear what was going on.

"More of you?!" Barnabas exclaimed. He put the cane down as he rushed into the drawing room.

"Chill out, man!" Jon said. "No harm done."

"No harm done? You are trespassing on private property, drinking my wine and causing damage to my home."

"And, a fine wine it is," remarked Carol who knew a good Amontillado when she had it.

"Let me explain," Willie urged.

"I will deal with you later," Barnabas' rage returned as he glared at his hapless servant.

"You'll deal with us now!" Donna strode forward and stood toe to toe with him. She looked him straight in the eye. "Do you wear contacts? Is that how they get your eyes to look so menacing?"

Willie cast Donna a concerned look. She was pushing her luck with the vampire.

"How dare you speak to me that way!" You could almost see the smoke rising from his head as his blood boiled with rage. Donna was so close that he could hear her heart beating, pushing the vital red fluid through her body, and making her carotid artery pulse with life.

"No, Barnabas, no!" Willie instinctively knew his master's thoughts. He knew that Barnabas would taste each and every one of the strangers blood to make them his new servants.

Aristede and Elaine were at the top of the stairs listening to the horrendous arguement. They were enjoying the plight of Barnabas' victims until a sudden glow overtook the drawing room and a woman's faint voice could be heard singing:

"Memories. Tucked between the pages of my mind."

That wasn't THE KING singing. IT WAS JOSETTE. And, she wasn't leaving the room!

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.