Subj: Fiery Forbidden Love: Burning Embers Ch. 8
Date: 99-03-03 00:04:05 EST
From: beverlylacroix

Plans In Motion

Watching Roxanne in the gazebo talking intimately with Cassandra, Barnabas smiled, as if he knew that Roxanne would run to Cassandra, whining and simpering about how terrible her husband treated her. Nicholas Blair would keep Cassandra occupied for now, and Barnabas knew from past history that Cassandra would do nothing more than use Roxanne for her own purposes, and that was Roger and their children. Smiling genuinely, at the thought of his ex-wife and his cousin living in marital bliss, he felt envy shoot through him, as the picture of Roger and Cassandra gazing into one another's eyes lovingly, finding it hard to keep their hands off one another, envy was soon replaced with rage. He would deal with Cassandra, for taking Laura from him. He didn't care what he would have to do or who got hurt in the process, the happiness and joy that he had experienced for a moment in time, would not be Cassandra's to flaunt in front of him. Dear God, why had he ever married Roxanne. He just wanted her out of his house, out of his life, and he wished more than anything in the world that he would never have to hear her refer to his and Laura's son, as "hers." In a rage, he had lost control, and attacked and raped her, and now she was going to have his child.

Hearing the last of Roxanne and Cassandra's little plan, he found himself quite amused at the idea of them trying to fool Nicholas, and on and on the plots and plans would go, and yet no matter what any of them said or did or tried all he ever thought about was Laura. He could see her face when he closed his eyes, see her beautiful smile, remember her touch as she clung to him crying out his name, professing her love for him over and over again. Everywhere he could see her, hear her musical laughter. He had never loved anyone like he loved Laura, not even his dear Josette. All he had now was Jamie, and the very idea that Roxanne thought of him s hers caused the deadly quiet anger to rise near the surface. He needed Jamie with him, and he needed someone he could trust to help take care of him. The idea that Roxanne would share in the care and raising of Jamie made Barnabas laugh. A woman who went to any lengths just to achieve what she wanted, would never take care of his and Laura's child. Did she honestly believe that going to Angelique, whose master resided in Hell would be allowed near his child. An idea was forming as his thoughts were swirling about him like a cyclone, he needed to hire a nanny for his beloved son.

It was starting to rain as he neared the big double doors of Collinwood, knocking on the door, he composed himself, readying to talk with Roger.

"Ah, Mr. Barnabas, you better get in here, and out of that rain, it looks like it will be a downpour in another minute," Mrs. Johnson said happy to see Barnabas.

"Good evening, Mrs. Johnson. Is Roger in?" Barnabas asked in a friendly tone.

"Yes, he's in the study, going over some correspondence." Mrs. Johnson replied.

"Would you please tell him I'm here, and I would like to talk to him alone if possible," Barnabas said.

"Barnabas, come on in. What a pleasure to see you. We don't see nearly enough of you these days," Roger greeted his cousin in a friendly tone.

One subject that Roger and Barnabas avoided was Laura. Barnabas was never sure how much Roger knew about his feelings for Laura, but Barnabas was very sure about Roger's feelings for his beloved. So, he never approached the subject.

After the amenities were out of the way, and Barnabas accepted a Scotch and water, he presented his idea to Roger very smoothly, and all husbandly concern for Roxanne.

Nicholas Blair had one concern right now, and that was Cassandra. He would deal with her, and deal with her very soon. Knowing exactly what he was going to do, he started to laugh, but was cut off when Maggie Evans entered his room without knocking. He was not pleased at this moment to see her, but without thinking he took her in his arms, and held her in a tight embrace. The love he felt for her welled up, and could not be denied.


At that moment there was a knock at the door, and Nicholas disengaged a very reluctant Maggie from his embrace, and went to answer the door.

"Mr. Blair, I am sorry to disturb you, but -- oh, there you are, Ms. Evans. Mr. Collins is looking for you," Mrs. Johnson said.

"Thank you, Mrs. Johnson.

I will talk to you later then, Nicholas." Maggie said walking out of the room.

"Barnabas, how nice to see you," Maggie said entering Roger's study.

Rising, Barnabas greeted Maggie affectionately, for he was genuinely fond of her, and happy to see her.
"Mr. Collins, you wanted to see me?" Maggie asked.

"Yes, Maggie, I did." Roger said.

Nicholas had finished his incantation for Cassandra, and couldn't help smiling. He hated doing this to Roger, but he had had enough of her interference in his plans. Plus, he owed her. Pulling on his dinner jacket, thinking how lovely Maggie had looked, but he couldn't think about her right now, he was off to find the soon to be Mrs. Nicholas Blair. Elizabeth was waiting for him; he sensed it.

Cassandra was strolling along the cliffs thinking about Roxanne and Barnabas, when she was startled by a noise, and then a voice that she recognized, and it struck fear in her.

"Angelique, I know who you are, and I know what you are," the maddened form of Joe Haskell said to her.

Cassandra froze as Joe advanced towards her, she didn't know how to respond. So, he had recognized her.

"I'm going to destroy you. You killed my cousin Tom, and then you threw me aside after ruining everything for me with your unholy, and inhuman lusts. You wanted Barnabas. Do you still want him?" Joe was taunting her now. He could see fear in her eyes, and it slightly confused him.

"Cassandra, are you all right?" a deep voice said from the darkness.

"Oh, Barnabas, yes, of course. I think Mr. Haskell is out and about a little too soon, don't you?" Cassandra asked rather quickly.

"Joe, what are you doing out here?" Barnabas asked the younger man very gently.

"Barnabas -- I don't know. I heard her calling me." Joe managed to say.

"Heard who, Joe?" Barnabas asked patiently.

"I don't know. I don't know why I'm here. I -- I -- I'm sorry, Mrs. Collins. I didn't hurt you, did I," a shamed Joe Haskell asked.

"Oh, no. Mr. Haskell, you just startled me, that's all." Cassandra said.

"Why don't you go back to Collinwood, Cassandra, and I'll take Joe by the Abbey, and have Julia take care of Joe." Barnabas said.

"Thank you, Barnabas, I will," Cassandra said, very grateful for Barnabas' interference. She was still shaken that he had remembered her. She didn't want to think about that right now.

Walking beside the young troubled man, Barnabas thought he heard him mumble something, and asked Joe if he said something.

"You should be careful of that woman, Barnabas. She's evil," Joe said to Barnabas. By now he had stopped and was looking Barnabas straight in the eyes.

If Barnabas had been anyone else, he would have thought the wild-eyed look that now graced Joe's countenance belonged to an insane man, but he knew better.

"Joe, I'm not sure what you're talking about, but listen to me. Cassandra is not the woman you're thinking about. She's happily married to Roger, they have twins, and are a very happy family. I want you to remember that, Joe." Barnabas told him.

They said no more to one another, and continued on to the Abbey. Barnabas was filled with anticipation at the reaction that his presence would bring to Mr. and Mrs. Quentin Collins.

It seemed their butler or maid or housekeeper couldn't be found, so Quentin told Donna and Jon not to cheat at the game of Candyland they were playing, and went to answer the door.

"Barnabas," Quentin whispered as desire coursed through his body.

"Quentin, who's at the door?" Julia asked walking down the stairs.

"Good evening, Julia," Barnabas said in a low and seductive tone.

"Oh, Barnabas, how nice to see you," Julia said, as desire burned through her.

This did not go unnoticed by a very jealous Quentin Collins. First thing in the morning he was going to call his lawyers in New York, and use whatever was at his disposal to ruin Julia. His loving wife throwing herself at Barnabas in his own home, and their children in the next room. No, Julia was not going to come between him and Barnabas, and she was not going to have the children. By the time he was through with her she wouldn't have a medical license. He would instruct his lawyers to use everything at his disposal, and he would not hesitate to use the powerful Collins name.

"Quentin, are you all right?" Barnabas asked him, breaking him out of his reverie. Barnabas had seen the mad fire burning in Quentin's eyes as he had walked in, and Barnabas had smiled a very evil smile before announcing his arrival.

Walking in the great house of Collinwood, Cassandra breathed a sigh of relief, as she saw her husband walking out of is study, and went to greet him.

Roger saw Cassandra, and couldn't wait to greet her. She had made him happier than he had ever thought anyone had a right. Approaching her, a buzzing began in his head, and looking at Cassandra he knew it was her evil hideous presence that was causing the hum. He was able with clarity to see her, and what she had done before to him and his family, and somehow Joe and Barnabas had been very hurt by her. He couldn't bear to look at her. He wanted her out of the house, and he wanted her out right now.

Walking down the stairs, Elizabeth and Nicholas were talking very intimately until she saw Cassandra, and a buzzing started in her head, and she knew who Cassandra was, could remember being buried alive, and what it felt like to be entombed in a coffin ...

"Oh, no! I know who you are," Elizabeth cried, looking at Cassandra.

Looking away from her, Elizabeth's mind felt fuzzy. Nicholas was smiling. He knew Roger and Elizabeth, or any Collins with the exception of, maybe two very different Collinses, would be affected by the sight of Cassandra. They would think they knew why, or wouldn't care, they would just want her away from them. No matter what.

Maggie had packed up, and was preparing to move to the Old House to care for Jamie, and they would see if tutoring David also would work. Roger had agreed. Barnabas had been very persuasive about David. Maggie didn't understand why it seemed so important to Barnabas to include David, but she had shrugged if off. Roger had had to leave the room for a moment, and Barnabas had whispered to Maggie, that Roxanne would be going to England, and she would be alone with him. Would she like that? A thrill of desire coursed along her very being, and when he had promised her Josette's Room, she felt an intimacy with him that she did not understand. I've been in this house too long was her answer. The more she thought about it, the more she thought it was a figment of her imagination.

"Quentin, are you all right?" the caressing voice of Barnabas reached his ears.

Quentin took a deep breath, and turned to face his cousin. All resolve to be strong and resist Barnabas melted when he looked in Barnabas' eyes. Barnabas was pushing him to the edge, Quentin realized, but somehow he didn't care. He needed him.

Their eyes were locked, when he heard Julia calling for Barnabas. Barnabas saw the look of rage and jealousy on Quentin's face at the sound of his wife's voice.

"Julia, I'm in the study with Quentin." Barnabas said.

"Barnabas, we need to take Joe to the hospital," Julia said, noticing the desire on her husband's face, knowing that desire was for Barnabas, angered her, not because she was jealous of her husband, but because she had dared to hope and dream again of a future that had her and Barnabas and all their children in it.

She didn't believe what she heard Barnabas reply to her.

Would you mind repeating that for me, Barnabas?" Julia said in disbelief seeing the smile on Quentin's face, wanted to throttle him.

"Julia, I said I am going to stay here and visit with Quentin. You are a doctor, call an ambulance or have one of your cars brought around, and take Joe to the hospital where he belongs. It is starting to rain again, so you had better hurry. I would not recommend leaving Joe here in his condition. You do have your children to think about. Now, run along and take care of your patient. I will keep your *husband* company." Barnabas said in a lover's voice that only included Quentin.

Julia was enraged. How dare Barnabas talk to her like that? He preferred Quentin to her, well, she would have to fix that situation. She wanted to be with Barnabas badly enough to get rid of Quentin. For some reason that brought back the image of her old friend Dave Woodard.

passing the pen. Cassie, Ann.