Subj: Fiery Forbidden Love: A Smoldering Flame Chapter 16
Date: 12/22/98 8:27:49 PM Central Standard Time
From: Irishcoda

Nicholas and Quentin got over their shock first, each one squaring off and glaring at the other. "What are you doing here?" Quentin finally demanded. "I am attempting to help Maggie with Willie--he seems to have hurt himself."

"What?" Julia said, concerned. "Willie?"

Willie was grinning broadly. "Grant! You're back!" he exclaimed, grabbing Quentin by the hand and thumping him on the shoulder. "Thank God! No one around here seems to know what I'm talking about!"

Nicholas, noting the appraising look in Roxanne's eyes, knew it wouldn't be long before the confusion abated and the questions began. Turning to Maggie, he said swiftly, "I believe I've done all I could for now, my dear. I'll call you later." He strode out the door before Quentin could break free of Willie and stop him.

Maggie nodded vaguely. She turned to Julia and explained, "He fell down the stairs into the basement, Julia. When he came to, he said his name was Christian Shane Douglas. He said that Grant Douglas was his cousin."

"Uh-huh," Quentin said, trying to extricate himself from his "cousin" who was now attempting to hug him because he was so thrilled at this reunion. "Grant Douglas is my pen name."

"Still the kidder!" Willie exclaimed.

Julia's eyes narrowed at Quentin. "And who is Christian Shane Douglas?"

"Well--"

"I am!" Willie broke in. "I am a werewolf!"

Maggie immediately backed away. "What!"

Roxanne put her hand on Willie's shoulder and immediately let go. "Julia, as if we didn't have enough problems," she stated and sighed. "He is possessed."

"Possessed? By a fictional character?" Quentin burst out.

"Excuse me, Grant, that's really unkind of you!" Willie objected.

"Why don't we all go into the drawing room?" Roxanne suggested. "We could have some wine and cheese and talk."

"I think I'd better be going," Maggie said. She'd had enough for the evening.

Julia whispered into Quentin's ear, "Do NOT let her go alone! Nicholas Blair may be skulking about!" Quentin nodded and offered to take Maggie home. Nicholas was standing just off the path near the Old House and watched Quentin come outside with Maggie on his arm. Damn the man! He thought, furiously. He thought about casting a pain spell on Quentin, knowing full well he couldn't permanently dispatch him. He changed his mind at the last minute, though. He would be able to attend to Quentin and the others later. He realized he was being summoned--rather strongly--by Diabolos, and that his Master was very angry indeed.

Julia skillfully slipped a sedative into Willie's drink. She was rather exasperated that they had yet another complication to face here. It was bad enough that Barnabas was in a psychotic state and had had to be admitted to Windcliffe before their arrival here. He had seemed enraged but was uncharacteristically silent when they met up with him in Alexandria. He refused to speak to any of them.

Quentin was angry and had tried to provoke Barnabas into a confrontation but had been unable to elicit any response at all. That had just made Quentin angrier, but Julia said: "It's better to let him alone. Let him come to terms with what's happened."

Roxanne was heartbroken. She'd been hoping that once the spell with Laura was broken, Barnabas would be all right again. He was like a stranger, though, glaring at her with fury and hatred. He refused to speak to her as well, even when she tried to talk to him about Jamie and the unborn baby. She'd kept her distance warily. On the flight back to the United States, she'd isolated herself. She cried silently.

Barnabas sat by the window and sat staring, still in a hostile rage. Julia sat beside him, and Quentin had the aisle seat. Julia explained that she'd called Cassandra. Roger and Cassandra would fly back with all the children in tow now that everything was all right. "Is it?" Quentin asked, arching his brows and indicating Barnabas.

The real trouble started at the airport in New York. Roxanne preceded them down the stairs. Julia had Barnabas go next, closely followed by Quentin. As he stepped onto the ground, Quentin turned momentarily to offer his hand to Julia. At that moment, Barnabas sprang forward, closing his hands around Roxanne's throat and squeezing. "It's your fault! You did this to me!" he shouted as Roxanne managed to scream just once before her air supply stopped.

Quentin was on top of Barnabas immediately, trying to loosen his cousin's hands from Roxanne's throat. Barnabas' was very strong, however, and Quentin found himself unable to pry his cousin's fingers away. He stepped back and punched Barnabas as hard as he could in his right kidney. His cousin immediately let go, roaring with rage and whirling to face his attacker. The intensity of the rage on Barnabas' face frightened Quentin momentarily, then he felt his own hostility and resentment send adrenaline surging through his body. "All right, come on!" he challenged. He and Barnabas began circling each other. Out of the corner of his eye, Quentin could see security officers running toward them as Julia tended Roxanne. Barnabas moved in suddenly, swinging. Quentin pulled back instinctively, turning his head, and taking the punch on the side of his jaw. He turned back swiftly while Barnabas was still off balance and punched his cousin once in the abdomen. As Barnabas' knees began to buckle, Quentin followed with an uppercut to his cousin's jaw and knocked him out cold. He shook his hand and blew on his knuckles.

Security guards surrounded them. Quentin went down on his knees beside his wife; she was examining Roxanne's throat. "Is she all right?" he asked, concerned. Mutely, Julia looked up and nodded. She raised her brows.

"I'm fine. Haven't felt this good in a long time," he said in answer to her unspoken question.

Julia persuaded the security guards not to take Barnabas to jail. Quentin objected. "You see he's dangerous! He tried to kill his wife--this isn't some misplaced loyalty of yours, is it?"

"No, it isn't!" Julia snapped. "He's a sick man, Quentin! He needs to be in a hospital--not in a jail!"

"Julia is right," Roxanne said hoarsely. She was sitting up now, bright red finger marks on either side of her neck.

Barnabas had begun to stir. "All right," Quentin said reluctantly, "but don't you think we should at least restrain him? Or do you propose to have me fight him all the way back to Collinwood?"

One of the security guards nodded and knelt down with a pair of handcuffs. "You can tell him it's for his own safety," the guard advised Julia.

"That would be true, too," Julia agreed, thinking. "We'll have an ambulance take him to Windcliffe."

"From LaGuardia?"

Julia smiled bitterly. "I don't think anyone would want him on a plane to Bangor, do you? Besides, we won't have to ride in the ambulance. We'll meet him at Windcliffe. I'll make the arrangements to admit him--at least temporarily." She went off in search of a phone.

Barnabas had become conscious and railed against Quentin and Roxanne, promising to kill them both when he got his hands on them. Roxanne burst into tears, weeping into her hands. Quentin put his arms around her to comfort her. "Barnabas, shut up!" he snapped. "I know you can't help yourself but if you don't shut up, I swear I'll kick your face in!"

Barnabas stopped shouting, becoming ominously quiet. Quentin led Roxanne to a seat. "Rest here," he said to her softly. "I'll be right back." He went back to his cousin and squatted down beside him, genuinely hurt and upset by the hatred he saw in Barnabas' eyes. "Look, please try to calm down. All we want to do is help you."

"You've betrayed me," Barnabas replied in a disarmingly calm voice. He wasn't struggling at all anymore. Only the cold, flat expression in his eyes revealed how dangerously angry he still was. "You will be sorry for this, Quentin, I assure you. I have helped you at all times and you have done nothing in return except lie to me and betray me time after time."

"That isn't true, Barnabas," Quentin protested. "I have helped you. I've saved you--we've helped each other many times."

"No," Barnabas said bitterly. "You have only acted to help yourself. I warn you, cousin--I will have my revenge. First *her* and then you. Tread lightly, dear cousin!"

Quentin got up and backed away quickly, leaving Barnabas with the two guards. He couldn't stand it. He sat down next to Roxanne, putting his arm around her shoulder to comfort her. Until Barnabas had come to 1897 and helped him, he'd trusted and loved no one but Jamison and Beth. He had let his guard down with Barnabas, and a trusting friendship had developed between them. He loved his cousin and it hurt that Barnabas looked at him now with such bitter hatred.

"It hurts me, too," Roxanne whispered, tears streaming down her face. Quentin looked at her guiltily, realizing too late that Roxanne was able to sense his thoughts. "No, it's all right, don't feel guilty. We're both hurting."

Julia returned to tell everyone that the ambulance was on its way. She stopped short at the sight of her husband and Roxanne comforting each other, her eyes narrowing to slits. She knew she shouldn't feel jealous, but...Watching from the ground, Barnabas almost smiled with delight. Good! he thought. Let it begin this way...

"Master...Let me explain..." Nicholas began in a placating manner.

Diabolos was furious. "How can you justify this most recent failure on your part, Nicholas? What of this new race of subservient beings born of the union between Barnabas and Laura Collins? That is not to be, now!"

"It was not a sound plan to begin with, Master," Nicholas said, hoping to divert attention from the fact that he'd abandoned the plan to come to Collinsport and seek out Maggie. He shielded her from his thoughts so that his love for her would not become known to Diabolos and doom him forever.

"Vampires do not answer to any Master, and the phoenix would be loyal only to Amen-Re. However, I have a better plan."

"And that is?"

"What better way to start a master race totally devoted to you than to begin with the seed of your most loyal, devoted servant?"

"You, Nicholas?" Diabolos sneered.

"I have not betrayed you as your other servants have," Nicholas said smoothly. He cleared his throat. "Angelique? Miranda?"

Diabolos didn't answer, deeply disappointed in Angelique whom the vile demon had revered once upon a time. Then he said: "You are sterile."

"You can change that."

"I can. And who do you propose to join with?"

"Maggie Evans."

"How dreary," Diabolos sighed irritably. "This Maggie Evans is the same mortal you fell in love with before? Do you love her still?"

"She is young, fertile--she is alone. She has no one to turn to anymore--her family is dead. She is a pliable person--remember, Barnabas Collins brainwashed her into believing she was Josette DuPres. I can easily turn her to you, Master. The children we raise will be totally devoted to you. It is true that the Deliverer will be--delayed, somewhat, but this plan would be more in the 'natural' order of things. Perhaps Maggie herself will bear the Deliverer."

"Particularly if I infuse you with my seed," Diabolos agreed. "Very well, Nicholas. I am intrigued and curious enough to allow you to attempt this. Go and seduce Maggie Evans. Marry her--do whatever you will. Make sure you impregnate her!"

Nicholas grinned lustfully. "As you wish, Master!" No doubt this was the best assignment he'd been given to carry out.

As Nicholas was having his audience with Diabolos, Willie was passing out in the wingback chair of the Old House. Quentin looked at him with disgust, then turned to his wife. "Well, what now, my dear? You don't want to just leave
him here, do you?"

"I suppose we could take him home with us," Julia said. "We mustn't leave him here."

"Oh, great!" Quentin complained. "I have to carry him to the car!"

"Well, there's another thought," Roxanne said hesitantly. "You could all stay here..." She broke off as Julia began shaking her head, no. She thought she knew the reason and felt sorrow. She didn't want to come between Julia and Quentin, but she was lonely and frightened.

As if reading her mind, Quentin said, "What's the harm? Roxanne's been through hell. We can keep her company and at the same time keep an eye on 'Cousin Chris.' Besides, maybe Roxanne can help us think of a way to un-possess him."

Julia looked as if she was about to argue and then sighed. "Very well, we'll stay the night." She looked at Quentin sternly. "I'll need you to carry Willie upstairs, though."

"Better upstairs than through the woods!" Quentin exclaimed, grabbing Willie and hauling him to his feet. He struggled to keep his balance and then managed to throw Willie over one shoulder. "Let's make this quick! For a squidge, he sure is heavy!"

Roxanne led the way upstairs, leading Quentin to Josette's old room. Julia helped get Willie settled, assuring them that he would sleep for the next several hours. It was late, and Roxanne looked drawn and tired. "Let me show you to a room, and I'll see you in the morning," she said. As soon as Quentin and Julia were alone, he put his arms around her. "I need you," he whispered to her.

"This has been a nightmare, hasn't it?" Julia said.

"Let's let it end now, just for a while and before we get Jon and Donna back," Quentin said, leaning over to kiss her. He felt her responding to him and easily picked her up and carried her over to the bed. They took pleasure in arousing each other slowly and leisurely. They were just beginning to come together when they heard a loud crashing noise somewhere upstairs. They looked at each other in surprise and dismay. "Willie?"

"It could be," Julia sighed. She was almost all the way undressed.

"I'll go check," Quentin volunteered. It didn't matter if his top was off. He pulled up his zipper and went out of the room, walking barefoot down the hall to check on Willie. He opened the door and heard Willie snoring loudly. Out cold. Confused, he shut the door and heard the sound of weeping. He realized that Roxanne had gone into a room which had been modernized into a bathroom; he could hear the water running. Better leave her alone, he thought.

He started to tiptoe away when the door opened behind him and Roxanne gasped, "Oh! I didn't know you were out here!"

Embarrassed, Quentin turned back and said, "I'm sorry--I heard a noise and I thought it was Willie, so I came to check."

A single tear slid down Roxanne's face. "I'm sorry--I knocked my bamboo shelf over." Another tear slid down her face. Quentin felt sorry for her. He put his arms around her, hugging her. "I'm sorry," she said again, trying to stifle sobs. "I'm emotional because I'm pregnant--I know that. It's just that I can't get used to the idea that Barnabas hates me!"

"Sssh, don't cry, Roxanne," Quentin soothed her. "You know he doesn't--not really. He's sick, like you said. Look, I think I understand. I know my feelings are hurt, and here you are married to him..." He caressed her hair lightly and felt her hug him back. He also heard another door open and felt Roxanne pull back. He looked down the hall and saw Julia standing in the open doorway of the guest room, her face white and angry. Oh, shit, he thought.

"I'm feeling better now," Roxanne said softly, mortified. She said to Julia, a little louder, "Quentin heard me crying. I was upset, but I'm all right--really." She backed away until she got to her room and disappeared inside.

Julia had retreated back into the guest room and was shutting the door.

Quentin managed to get himself wedged halfway into the door. "Julia, come on, it's not what you think!"

"Really? What do you think I'm thinking about what I saw? Out!" Julia hissed.

"Julia, this is silly--she was just crying because Barnabas has been such a shit to her. Let me in, would you?"

"Oh, Quentin, really! You two were embracing each other!" Quentin managed to lean on the door enough so that Julia stepped back.

"Look, listen to me--I love you, Julia, I was just trying to be nice to her--"

"Nice? Go knock on her door and be nice to her, Quentin! Out!" Julia had no idea why she was being so unreasonable--could it be because Roxanne was young and beautiful and she just couldn't believe that a young, good looking reformed (?) womanizer like Quentin could be faithful to her? It was suddenly all too much, all this strain with Barnabas and now this..."Go away, Quentin--or I'll slap you!"

"No, you won't," he said, sounding a little smug. "You love me too much." He was even going to try and kiss her. The nerve! She drew her hand back and hit him as hard as she could. She shoved him hard enough to push him back out into the hallway and slammed the door, turning the lock on him. Quentin put his hand to his cheek, shocked. This is what I get for being a nice guy, he thought. He hit the door with his fist and then cursed because now his cheek stung and his hand hurt like hell. "Julia!" he yelled. A little more softly, he complained, "You hit me! You hurt me, Julia!"

Willie put his head out of his door and snapped sleepily, "Geez, Grant, quiet, wouldja? How's a guy supposed to sleep around here?"

"Oh, shut up!" Quentin shouted, furious again. He pushed Willie back into the room and down on the bed. "You started this! Now go back to sleep!"

Willie cowered on the bed. "Okay, okay, Grant! You don't hafta be so mad!"

"Yeah, right!" Quentin snapped in disgust. He pulled one of the blankets off Willie's bed and stormed out, intending to curl up with it in the drawing room downstairs. "Go to sleep, Cousin Chris!" Willie shut his eyes tight and Quentin slammed the door shut, carrying the blanket.

As he reached the top of the stairs, he heard another door open a crack. "Quentin..." he heard Roxanne call softly, and he stopped where he was.

Nicholas jauntily reappeared on the path to Collinwood. Whistling, he walked up the drive and knocked at the door. He realized it was late, but possibly Maggie was still up. Mrs. Johnson came to the door, looking exasperated and put upon. "Good evening, Mrs. Johnson," Nicholas said to her as smoothly and pleasantly as he could.

"Good evening!" Mrs. Johnson groused. "It's more like 'good morning!'"

Nicholas handed over his hat and coat, smiling charmingly in the face of bitter resentment. "Is Maggie Evans still up by any chance?"

"Yes, yes, she's in there!" Mrs. Johnson indicated the drawing room, turning to hang up his things.

Smiling, Nicholas strode to the drawing room doors. He opened them and walked into the room. Maggie and Elizabeth turned around to greet him. Both women were giving him "welcome back" smiles. Elizabeth's eyes even twinkled at him. Oh, dear, Nicholas thought, his heart sinking.

to be continued...