Subj: Fiery Forbidden Love: Smoldering Flame: Chapter 12
Date: 11/19/98 9:49:58 PM Central Standard Time
From: msann

Ed Note #1: In this series, Roxanne's birthday is in late June/Early July. Why this is mentioned shall be explained
at the end.

Note in my use of Selene: I make no mention of this, but my sources say that Selene was involved with Zeus and had a child with him. He is also said to have been the one to grant Selene's wish to make Endymion the sleeping immortal described in the legends. However, it could come up in the future. (just a thought)

Roxanne quickly paid the cab driver and ran into the hotel. She continued to use Jamie's blanket as a homing device so that she could quickly find them. She stopped outside the suite and placed her hand upon the carpeting to see if her earlier vision was correct, and indeed Elizabeth, David and Jamie were alone inside. Roxanne knocked on the door and after a brief pause, Elizabeth opened it. "Roxanne! What are you doing here? I thought you were
in England," inquired Elizabeth.

"I came to warn you that you must leave here at once. Right now you are safe, but I don't know how long that will last. Re may decide to come after David and Jamie again. You must leave here at once and return to Collinwood."

"But what about you? Aren't you in danger as well?"

"Yes, Elizabeth, but I must stay here and fight. Somehow there is still a way to save Barnabas. I must find out what that is. I had a vision that I must investigate before I can leave here."

With that said, (and before Elizabeth could protest further) Roxanne concentrated and mentally programmed Elizabeth to take David and James back to Collinsport where they would be safe from Re for the time being. A probe of Elizabeth's mind told her that Nicholas was busy with other affairs and would not be too upset about Elizabeth's return if the proper explanations were given. Three hours later, Elizabeth, David and James were on a flight back to the United States.

Roxanne went back to her own hotel room and began looking through some books she had on ancient mythology. She had concluded that the only way to effectively fight Re would be to enlist the aid of another god. But who could she call upon and how?

"I may be able to help you there, Roxanne."

Roxanne whirled around in her seat. "Who are you? How did you get here?"

"In your world, I am known as Selene, goddess of the moon. I watch over all the sick people in the world and help all those I can, especially those whose ruling planet is the moon. I first became interested in your plight when Nicholas Blair dared to use me in order to play one of his mind games. I despise him and Diabolos and would gladly help anyone who would fight against him."

"How can you help me?"

"Although your myths say otherwise, I am a hunter like my sisters Diana, Luna, and Artemis. It is my job to know my enemy so that I may be able to predict his movements. I know how to contact someone who knows how to deal with Re and together, we may be able to stop his madness and save your husband."

"Who is this person?" asked Roxanne.

"The person that I am referring to is Isis. She is the one who caused Re to leave the Earth long ago. She knows more things about Re than his servant Laura does. If we can convince her to help, we can save him. In the meantime, you must go to your husband and see what vessel Laura is using to communicate with Re when she is away from the tomb of King Zoser. From my knowledge of Re, she will likely have some sort of beetle-shaped object called a scarab. Determine its location, but do not destroy it. It will only bring about your husband's anger. However, you should tell your husband about your child. He should know as soon as possible. This knowledge may make him more open to suggestion," explained Selene.

"But what about the state of mind he is in? He is not himself. How can I tell him without risking my life and my
baby's should Barnabas decide to lash out at me?"

"I am not unprepared for that. Take this charm with you," said Selene as she handed Roxanne a golden crescent moon on a silver chain and a bottle filled with a silver liquid. "The charm is called the Crescent Moon Pendant. It will protect you from Barnabas' power. The potion is a healing elixir. Go to Barnabas' hotel and give this potion to Quentin Collins. Although it will not cure his problem, it will help him deal with it Barnabas' hallucinations. Then wait for Barnabas and Laura to appear. While you are there, I shall go and speak with Isis and ask for her help. Isis was a very devoted wife and mother like you are so it is likely that she will help us. I shall find you later and tell you more. Farewell."

Roxanne sat for a moment and absorbed what Selene had said. She only hoped that Isis would be as kind as the books described her to be. Roxanne needed all the help she could get.

There were only a few things in the world that scared Julia Hoffman Collins like Barnabas did when she first met him. The Barnabas of 1967 was evil, cruel, sadistic and didn't give a damn about anyone except the woman he chose to become his Josette. 1973's version of Barnabas was running a close second. Although he had not done anything to her directly she could read into the true meanings of what he said, and from what Quentin had told her under hypnosis, she could see just what Barnabas was capable of. For now, Quentin was asleep and seemingly free of the haunting visions he had experienced in the past. The fact that Barnabas could revert to his former self so fast and so completely made Julia seriously wonder just what else the vampire was capable of. However, there was some hope. Laura, for some reason had decided to take Barnabas away to take part in some ritual to appease Re's suspicions of him. For now, they were safe. Julia's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Julia, are you in there?"

"Roxanne, is that you? " asked Julia.

"Yes. Are you all right? Open the door so I can come in. I need to see you."

"Barnabas locked it before he left. We cannot open it."

"And neither shall you!" said Barnabas as he materialized near Roxanne.

"Why do you keep them locked up as prisoners? Julia and Quentin are your best friends," asked Roxanne, hoping that reasoning with Barnabas was still possible.

"I no longer need friends. They are servants, easily gained and discarded. I have Laura and James. They are all that I need."

"What about us?"

"'What about us?' There is no 'us.' You were just a convenient receptacle for my son to grow in, that is all. You are of no further use to me."

"I may not be, but what about our child. Will you abandon him too so that he will grow up without knowing his father?" demanded Roxanne heedless of the vampire's anger.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm pregnant, Barnabas. With YOUR child."

Next. . .

To answer the statement earlier about Roxie's birthday, it was so that her ruling planet would be the moon.