Subj: Dark Light -- 3
Date: 3/20/99 7:32:29 PM Central Standard Time
From: Flashman
Chapter 3-Annie and Barnabas
(I)
The door to Annie's room opened and she awoke from her slumber. The two men who held her there, Barnabas Collins and Willie Loomis, entered the room. Barnabas first, followed by Willie. She wondered what they had decided to do about her.
"Miss Dutton," announced Barnabas. "I've decided to give you an option. Please think it over very carefully."
"All right," replied Annie.
"I've decided not to kill you. Someone as beautiful as yourself doesn't deserve to be killed like an animal. Therefore, you have two options. Weigh each choice carefully before you make your final decision. The first option is what our friend Willie recently wanted. He turns you over to the police. If your story is true, you'll definitely go back to prison. But should you inform anyone about me, I must warn you that as one of the Undead I have special powers. There is no way you will be safe from me. I will find you and destroy you.
"The second choice is this. I make you one of the Undead just like myself. You'll live forever, just as I have lived. You'll look forever as you do now. Slender, beautiful, and with all the powers that I possess. Do not think it will be easy. You will never again see the beauty of a sunrise, you will never know eternal peace, there may be times when you will be hunted like an animal just as I have been. But if you are crafty and determined, like I believe you to be, you will survive.
"Do not give me an answer right away. Come downstairs with Willie and myself. I want to hear your life story. Then, I will tell you a condensed version of mine. After that, you can give me your decision," said Barnabas.
Boy, that's a no-brainer, thought Annie. In fact, she'd been hoping for option number two ever since Barnabas had told her that he was a vampire. To live forever, that would be glorious. And revenge. Oh, sweet revenge. Springfield would tremble before her. All her enemies would be vanquished. Annie Dutton would show them all. Still, it wouldn't hurt to listen to this guy's story. In fact, Annie was beginning to like Barnabas very much. She didn't think she could ever love him but he could prove very useful to her. Maybe she could persuade him to come to Springfield with her. Springfield wasn't exactly the cultural center of the universe but it was sure as hell more exciting than this one-horse town. Many more potential victims for a vampire. In fact, she could think of two blonde bimbos who would make excellent victims.
Annie walked with Barnabas and Willie downstairs into the living room. The room was lit with candles just like the bedroom she had left. Some of the cobwebs had been cleared away, also. The three sat down in the living room.
Barnabas broke the silence, "All right, Miss Dutton, you're on. Tell me the story of your life. Try not to fabricate or embellish. I want to know who the real Annie Dutton is."
Annie then began the story of her so far miserable life. She didn't spare any of the details. All of her sordid past both in Springfield and before came out from her mouth. She told Barnabas everything. All about Eddie Banks, Josh, Reva, Rick, and Alan Spaulding, the bastard. She had a special plan for Alan but decided not to tell Barnabas yet. That would have to wait until the deed was done and she was a full-fledged vampire. It took Annie nearly an hour to complete her story.
"How interesting," replied Barnabas. "You've certainly led a very colorful and somewhat tragic life. In many ways more colorful and tragic than my own." His tone was non-judgmental, just like Annie had hoped for.
"Let's hear yours. You'll probably bore poor Willie here to death since he knows it already but I want to hear it. Come on, come on. Tell me how you became a vampire. Excuse me, I mean one of the Undead," Annie pleaded. She really did want to hear his story. It wasn't often that one met a man who had lived for over two centuries.
And so Barnabas began his story. He told Annie of his boyhood, his great love for Josette, and of the events in 1795 that had led to his being cursed as a vampire. He informed Annie of the treachery of Angelique, the tragic death of Sarah, and his mother Naomi's sucide upon learning that her son had become a vampire. Then, he told of his father, Joshua, and Ben Stokes chaining him in his coffin for what he presumed would be all eternity.
Eternity lasted until 1967. That's when Willie Loomis entered the picture. Poor, greedy Willie. Willie, searching for buried jewels, had freed Barnabas from his prison. That freedom would last a little over seven years. He told Annie about his dear friend Julia Hoffman and how she had tried to find a cure for his condition. Never completely successful although he had briefly been cured. Then came his encounter with the Leviathans who turned him back into a vampire. The cure that had worked previously failed when tried again.
In 1974 his secret had finally been exposed. Elliott Stokes, that's who had discovered it. Barnabas bore Elliott no malice. In fact, he had liked and respected the man. Deep down, Barnabas knew it would happen someday. During his seven years among the living, he had often been reckless and had taken many foolish chances.
And so Barnabas had lain chained in his coffin for 25 years this time. Until Annie had stumbled along the previous night. Fate, that's what had brought them together. Two people so different and yet so similar. As Barnabas concluded his story, Annie could see many similarities in their lives. They'd both suffered tragic deaths of loved ones. Annie, with the death of her unborn child and the grandmother who had raised her, and Barnabas with the deaths of Sarah, Naomi, and Josette.
They'd also been cursed by witches. Barnabas had Angelique. Annie had Reva. Though Reva wasn't a real witch, she might as well have been for all the trouble she had caused Annie. Get ready Reva, Annie thought. Payback's coming and it's going to be hell.
Annie sat somewhat awestruck as Barnabas finally finished his story. It was now time for her decision. She knew what it would be.
"I want to be like you, Barnabas. One of the Undead, as you call it," said Annie.
"Are you certain? You know what that entails?"
"Yes."
"Then let us get on with the business at hand."
They both rose from the sofa they had been sitting on. Barnabas opened his mouth. Those hideous fangs were there once again. Only they didn't look so hideous to Annie this time. This time, she pulled Barnabas to her. When his teeth pierced the skin in her neck she had never felt so sensuous before in her life. Annie then had an orgasm and blacked out.
(II)
Annie awoke from her slumber. She was inside a confining space. A coffin, it had to be. Barnabas had probably gotten Willie to procure one. She pushed open the lid and sat up in the coffin. The deed was done. She was now immortal. Annie Dutton--vampire. Or Undead as Barnabas preferred. She liked the term better than vampire herself. It seemed classier, more dignified.
Fangs, did she have fangs? That was Annie's next thought. She thought of fangs and she could feel the incisors inside her mouth growing. Annie opened her mouth and reached to touch her teeth with her fingers. Yes, she had fangs. Too bad she could never see them. Vampires, or the Undead, cast no reflection. However, others would see her fangs soon enough. Very soon.
The first one would be Alan Spaulding. That no good bastard who refused to stand by her when it was revealed she was still legally married to Eddie Banks. She remembered the last time they had spoken in the Springfield Jail when Alan revealed he had stolen all the Lewis Oil stock she had purchased with her life savings and had destroyed all the samples of the Simply Annie perfume line they had planned to launch.
"I'm already rich, Annie. And you. You can't lose what you never had." Those were the last words he had spoken to her that day in the jail.
You may be rich, Alan, thought Annie. But you're going to lose a lot. A lot more than I did. You're going to lose your soul. Your will. I'm going to make you my personal stooge. My Willie Loomis. My Renfield. You'll do my bidding until the day you die. Oh, and I'm going to be a very harsh mistress. Very demanding and harsh. That witch Angelique that Barnabas mentioned would have nothing on Annie.
Fran Ridgkins. She was another that Annie would make a stooge. To her credit Fran had tried to warn Annie about what a devious bastard Alan Spaulding was. She wouldn't be nearly as hard on Fran as she would be on Alan. Perhaps she and Fran could become friends again just like they had been in the old days when they had known each other in nursing school.
Josh and Reva. Hmm....she hadn't decided yet. There was plenty of time to think up something exquisite for them. Their fate would make Alan's look like nothing. In fact, they'd beg for Annie to do to them what she had done to Alan.
Then there was Cassie. Old slutbutt Cassie. Cassie, who'd stolen her friend Dinah's fiancee. Cassie, who'd ruined hers and Alan's plans regarding Lewis Oil. Cassie, who'd accused her of kidnapping Tammy. Bullshit!! Alan had temporary legal custody of the child. She'd give Cassie to Barnabas. Let Barnabas do whatever he wanted with her. I just hope Barnabas likes tall blondes, Annie thought.
Beth Raines. There was another name that filtered into her head. Beth had been the only person from Springfield to visit her in prison. Only once, but Annie appreciated her kindness. Beth had also begun writing to her in prison and had kept her informed about events in Springfield. Annie knew that Beth had been devastated when ex-husband Phillip Spaulding, whom she still loved, had married that dorky dweeb, Harley Cooper. I know, thought Annie. I'll turn Beth into one of the Undead. Beth was very vain about her appearance and this way she'd never have to worry about aging. Annie knew Beth might hate being one of the Undead at first but she would get with the program. Then Beth could really get revenge on Phillip and Harley.
Annie surveyed the room she was in. There was a flight of stairs leading upward. She was probably in the basement of the old house. Then she heard voices at the top of the stairs. They belonged to Barnabas and Willie.
"I'm down here, guys," she yelled.
The door at the top of the stairs opened and down strode Barnabas and Willie.
"How are you feeling, my dear?" asked Barnabas.
"Great," replied Annie. "Like a woman who's just been reborn. Which I guess I have been, in a way."
"Excellent. Excellent," said Barnabas.
"Barnabas, I have a proposition for you."
"I'm listening, Miss Dutton, er Annie."
"Why don't you and me leave this one horse town? There's nothing here in Collinsport for you but memories. You need to see the world, have some excitement. You certainly won't get that here from the looks of this town."
"But Annie, Collinsport and Collinwood are my homes."
"Homes hell. What have you got waiting for you here? They'll hunt you down just like they did 25 years ago. Just like they did 200 years ago. Only this time maybe you won't be so lucky. Maybe you won't get chained in your coffin. This next time it may be a stake through the heart or exposure to sunlight."
"Hey, Barnabas, she could be right about that. David, he's a pretty hard guy. If he finds out you've escaped he'll come after you. He won't hesitate to destroy you completely if he catches you," said Willie. He knew that the only reason David hadn't destroyed Barnabas before now was out of reverence for the memory of his Aunt Elizabeth, who'd wanted Barnabas chained and not destroyed.
Barnabas Collins paused. It was true what Annie had said previously. He did need to see the world. When he was among the living he had rarely left Collinsport except for the occasional trip to Boston and the trip to the West Indies where he'd met his beloved Josette. During the years 1967-1974 when he'd been free the first time he had always stayed in the vicinity of Collinsport. Annie was right. If he wanted to survive for a prolonged period of time he'd have to leave Collinsport.
Besides, there was much she could show him. The world had changed greatly during the last 25 years. There was even a Democrat in the White House. He needed someone to help him make the adjustments. Annie was the one to do it. She appeared to be pretty volatile and had made a lot of enemies if most of what she had told him was true. She would want revenge. Barnabas understood that. Revenge could indeed be sweet but it had to be controlled. No wholesale carnage and mayhem. He would help Annie in her plans but only up to a point. Hopefully, he could control her and keep her from going too far. She had much to show him about today's world but he had even more to show her about being one of the Undead.
Angelique would be around. Somewhere. She'd find him, she always did. Then there was Nicholas Blair, the warlock whom he had defeated twice before. Against those two he would need allies. Annie and whomever she could gather from the place called Springfield. If Angelique and/or Nicholas Blair should cause trouble for him he was going to need all the help he could get. At least he wouldn't have to worry about Count Petofi or Gerard Stiles, foes who were long since vanquished, and in many ways more fearsome than either Nicholas or Angelique.
He regretted that he was not going to be able to see Maggie Evans, the reincarnation of his lost love Josette, again. From what Willie had said, she and Joe Haskell had led a good life together. He'd leave her in peace. Once he got to Springfield, Barnabas thought, he would send Maggie some money anonymously so that she could get on her feet financially.
As for David Collins, who cared? Barnabas had never really cared for David when he was a child. An obnoxious brat who'd grown into an obnoxious adult if what Willie had said was true. He would miss seeing Amy and the woman she had become for he had been fond of her. Whatever happened to her brother, Chris Jennings? Had he ever been cured of his lycanthropy? Barnabas had forgotten to ask Willie about him.
"Very well, Annie," Barnabas finally replied. "I'll leave Collinsport and go to this place Springfield with you. Willie, listen carefully. I have a plan. Where did you get that coffin for Annie?"
"From the Collinsport Funeral Home. Old Morty Trask has a bunch of 'em in his basement."
"Go and get another one for me. Then go to the secret room in the mausoleum and put those chains back on my coffin. That way, if David should happen by, he'll assume that I am still imprisoned. We'll load my new coffin and Annie's into the back of your van."
"What then, Barnabas?" asked Willie.
"We're driving to Boston tonight. We'll go and see Carolyn. She knows my secret and shouldn't give us any trouble. Even if she does we both know how to handle her."
"Who's Carolyn?" asked Annie.
"My cousin. She knew my secret the first time I was released and kept it well. Her husband is a bit of a flake but I think that between the two of us we can handle him, should any problems arise," answered Barnabas.
"Wait a minute, Barnabas, I lost my license for DUI a month ago. What happens if we're pulled over? I can get this guy Gary Johnson to watch Collinwood, I've done that before, but what if we're stopped by the police on the way?" whined Willie.
"You'll just have to observe the speed limit and keep the van between the ditches, that's all. Don't argue with me, Willie, and get moving," ordered Barnabas.
"What happens after Boston, Barnabas?" asked Willie.
"We're going to Springfield, where Annie is from. We'll drive only at night. You and Annie can divide the driving. She knows the way. There are some jewels in the basement. We'll take them and pawn them along the way so there will be money. Once we've arrived in Springfield and get settled you can return to Collinsport if you wish. Now get started."
Willie left the old house to begin his appointed tasks. A road trip might be fun and at least Barnabas would let him come back to Collinsport. He'd lived in Collinsport so long he knew he couldn't adjust to living anywhere else.
Annie and Barnabas remained in the living room of the old house. There were several moments of silence between them.
Annie broke the silence, "So, this is it. You're coming to Springfield with me?"
"Yes, for better or for worse, I'm going to Springfield with you. You know that once we get there you will have to keep a very low profile since the police are looking for you," cautioned Barnabas.
Annie replied, "That shouldn't be for too long. The district attorney in Springfield is a friend of mine. He's as crooked as a dog's hind leg. He's got plenty of connections. Maybe he can get me a pardon or something."
"Let us hope that he can. We don't need to take any foolish chances."
"Don't worry, Barnabas. Everything will be fine. You're going to enjoy yourself in Springfield. In fact, I know a nice, tall blonde named Cassie who would be perfect for you. You're going to enjoy her."
"I hope that you are right."
"And I know the first person we're going to look up when we get to Springfield. Alan Spaulding, the richest man in town."
"Is he the one who took all of your money and deserted you?" asked Barnabas.
"Yes, he's the one. We'll make him our stooge. I'll take him myself but I'll make sure he obeys you, too. Like I said before, he's rich as hell but once we take him we'll be able to control all of his money. Then we'll deal with Josh and Reva. If you have any ideas regarding them, let me know."
"You certainly have big plans regarding your return to Springfield. It should be interesting to see how things work out. I'll be loyal to you, Annie Dutton, as long as you're loyal to me. Together, we could make quite a team."
"Damn straight," replied Annie.
