Subj: Dark Light -- 4
From: Flashman

Chapter 4-Carolyn's Visitors

Carolyn Shaw was getting ready for bed. Her husband, Sebastian, had already turned in earlier. This usually happened. Carolyn was a night person while Sebastian never cared much for it. No wonder, with what had happened to him years earlier. Being enslaved by vampire Roxanne Drew. Sebastian still feared the night and what could happen to one during its course.

Funny she should think about vampires. Most people didn't believe in them. Even those young people who dressed up like vampires and hung out in vampire clubs. Most were only play-acting, as if auditioning for a part in one of the old horror movies that were shown on the late-night television show she and Sebastian hosted together. Of course, the show was taped during the day. Hers and Sebastian's parts, she meant. Carolyn knew, however, that vampires were real. In fact, she knew where one was located right now. Poor, sad, tragic Barnabas. Chained in his coffin, probably for eternity this time. That is, unless someone stumbled along and released him.

Boy, wouldn't everyone be scared if they knew what she knew? Carolyn had told a few people, jokingly, through the years about knowing an actual vampire. Her cousin, to boot. Most just laughed and said, "Yeah, right." They chalked up the remarks to Carolyn's being a rather eccentric, though minor, local celebrity. That's what she and Sebastian were with the television program, her commercials for her psychic phone line, and Sebastian's astrology column. Minor, local celebrities in the city known as the Athens of America. They were not exalted by the cultural elite of Boston but the little people who met them on the streets or in the stores seemed to like them. Neither she nor Sebastian had ever refused an autograph request.

Carolyn had undergone a few psychic visions in the past. Lord knows, she had sat through enough seances during her years of living at Collinwood. But she didn't consider herself a psychic. Neither did most of the people who worked for her psychic phone line. But they weren't doing any real harm or ripping people off. No one had ever held a gun to someone and forced them to dial up a psychic phone line. Besides, Carolyn liked to think that she made people feel reassured and good about themselves. She always told her employees to tell only uplifting things to callers.

That's what Carolyn was thinking as she was undressing and getting ready for bed. She looked in the mirror at her body as she was putting on her nightgown. Still slender after all these years. Fat had always seemed to avoid her. Carolyn had long since cut off the long, blonde locks she had worn in her younger days. Now, her hair was cut in a pageboy style. Everyone said it looked cute on her. She'd aged better than Sebastian who no longer had the thick, golden hair he had when they first met. He wasn't bald but his hairline had receeded a bit and was mostly gray. In fact, Sebastian looked like a tired, middle-aged man. That may have been true, but he was Carolyn's tired, middle-aged man and she still loved him after all these years.

As she finished putting on her nightgown, Carolyn's thoughts turned to Collinwood. Collinwood, her girlhood home and the location of many memories, some pleasant, others not so. David and Amy lived there now with their three children. David ran the Collins family business and was keeping it afloat. She'd probably have to go back to Collinsport this summer for a visit. Got to keep David happy or he wouldn't send Carolyn her dividend check. Sebastian had never returned with her to Collinwood on her visits, not even for Roger and her mother's funeral. Too many unpleasant memories of the place for him. David knew what those memories were and never pressed Sebastian for a visit.

Carolyn climbed into bed and her thoughts turned to her daughter, Elizabeth, an actress who lived in New York. Elizabeth Stoddard Shaw. Named after Carolyn's mother who had died in 1989 after a long battle with cancer. Carolyn would give every penny she owned for just five minutes with her mother. But to return to her daughter, who had just landed a role on All My Children. That was Carolyn's favorite soap opera. She loved Susan Lucci and the character she played, Erica Kane. How many times had Erica been married on the show? Too many to remember. Hopefully, Elizabeth would get to do some scenes with Susan Lucci and someday Carolyn would get to meet her.

Enough of that, thought Carolyn. Time to get some sleep. She turned off the night light over her section of the bed, pulled the covers over her body, and nestled in next to Sebastian. Sebastian appeared to be sleeping soundly. This was good because he had been sleeping uneasily the past few nights. Something had been troubling his sleep and Carolyn wondered what it was. Maybe she'd ask him in the morning.

Carolyn soon dozed off and began to dream. She dreamed of her girlhood days at Collinwood. Growing up with a mother who had refused to leave her residence for 18 years because she had mistakenly thought she had murdered her husband. The tortures her mother had gone through. She dreamed of her close friend Victoria Winters. Vickie, lost somewhere in time with Jeff Clark. Vickie, whom her mother revealed on her deathbed to be Carolyn's half-sister. Carolyn wished she had known that fact when Vickie was still around.

The dream then turned to Barnabas, locked away in his coffin all these years. Since 1974, it had been. It was 1999 now. Almost the millenium. Roxanne Drew, who had victimized Sebastian, was the cause. She had escaped from her chained coffin in the old house with the aid of that drunken young hellion, Morty Trask, Jr., whose father still owned and operated the Collinsport Funeral Home today. Roxanne, from what Carolyn had been told, had gone on a rampage. Elliott Stokes had tracked down her coffin and destroyed it before Roxanne had been able to reach it. Just before she had been destroyed from exposure to sunlight Roxanne had exposed the fact that Barnabas was also a vampire.

It had been little enough trouble after that to track down Barnabas's coffin. Willie Loomis had broken down and told where it was. Stokes and Uncle Roger both wanted to destroy Barnabas but mother wouldn't her of it. Just chain him in his coffin like the last time. Elizabeth had loved Barnabas almost like a son and said it would be cold-blooded murder to destroy him. Her words had prevailed. Just as in 1795, Barnabas Collins had been chained in his coffin and the coffin had been placed in the secret panel in the Collins mausoleum. Directly behind Barnabas's father, mother, and beloved sister, Sarah. There it had remained all these years.

All this Carolyn had been told by her mother. She had feigned shock at the time. For Carolyn had already known Barnabas's secret, having discovered it years earlier. She'd been under his influence for a while until Julia Hoffman briefly cured him of his vampirism. Even after his influence had been broken, Carolyn had kept the secret because she was strangely attracted to the man, even though he was her cousin.

Suddenly, the images in her dreams changed. Barnabas was out of his coffin. The chains that held it locked were on the floor. Barnabas was standing over a blonde girl and the girl was bleeding from two bite wounds in her neck. Willie Loomis was there too and he was picking up the girl's body.

"Carolyn, Carolyn," Barnabas said in the dream. "I'm coming to you."

Carolyn Shaw awoke with a start. Her sudden movement stirred Sebastian.

"What's wrong, dear?" he groggily asked.

"Nothing honey, just a bad dream," was her response. "Go back to sleep."

Sebastian grunted incoherently and did as Carolyn requested. Carolyn thought--no, it can't be. It's only a nightmare. Barnabas is still chained in his coffin far away in the Collins Family Mausoleum. No way anyone could discover him. Still chained, still chained.

When Barnabas had been exposed in 1974, the Collins family had put out word tht he had suffered a heart attack and died. A funeral service had been held at the Collinsport Funeral Home. The Collins family told everyone that Barnabas had requested cremation. Some fake ashes had been procured and were scattered off of Widow's Hill by Julia Hoffman and Maggie Evans Haskell.

Poor Julia Hoffman. She had quickly confessed her role in helping Barnabas all those years. She had done it out of deep love for him, of that Carolyn had no doubt. No one wanted to punish Julia. Instead, Julia punished herself. Whether it was guilt over the many heinous things she had done protecting Barnabas or the fact that she simply couldn't live without him, Carolyn would never know. She was soon committed to Windcliff, the very institution she had been director of before coming to Collinwood. Julia had died there in 1984. The entire Collins family showed up for her funeral. Except for Sebastian, of course, who preferred to stay as far away from Collinsport as possible.

Now, thinking of these events, Carolyn was wide awake. She glanced over at the clock on her nightstand. Almost 2:30 a.m. Nothing to do now but try and get over the dream and attempt to make it back to sleep. Carolyn thought about what Sebastian had said the other day. According to both of their astrological charts an unforeseen occurrence was about to enter their lives. That must be why Sebastian had been having trouble sleeping. He always took his charts very seriously. Maybe subconsciously, what Sebastian had told her had gotten to her and hence the bad dream. Had to be the case, Carolyn thought.

Carolyn laid back down next to Sebastian. Try to get back to sleep. Just a dream. Everything will be all right in the morning. Then suddenly, Carolyn heard the doorbell ring.

She sat up quickly in the bed. Sebastian rolled over and slowly opened his eyes.

"What's going on, dear?" he querried.

"I thought I heard the doorbell ring."

"Just your imagination. Lie back down and try to get some sleep."

Then the doorbell rang a second time. Then a third. Sebastian sat up in bed too, alongside Carolyn.

"Since we're both wide awake, we might as well both go down and answer it. Who in the hell would be ringing our doorbell at this time of night?" asked Sebastian.

"Let's just let it ring. They'll go away soon," said Carolyn.

"No, it could be someone in trouble or an emergency. It had better be or I'm going to give whoever it is a piece of my mind." Sebastian sounded somewhat indignant as anyone would at having their sleep disturbed at 2:30 a.m.

Sebastian and Carolyn both put on their robes and walked downstairs to the front door. The doorbell had rung a fourth and fifth time while they were doing this.

"Coming. Coming," said Carolyn. "Just a minute."

Carolyn turned on the porchlight and opened the door. There stood Barnabas, Willie Loomis, and a blonde woman with green eyes whom Carolyn had never seen before in her life. Carolyn gasped. When Sebastian saw who it was he began to tremble.

"Hello, Carolyn. How nice it is to see you once again," said Barnabas.

"Barnabas! It can't be! How did you get out of your coffin?" asked Carolyn.

"I'll explain in due course. Please be kind enough to allow us to enter your home. I promise that no harm will come to either of you."

Sebastian stood trembling. He couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing. He finally spoke, "No. Go away. Get out of here and leave us alone. We don't want you here for another minute."

"But I am here," responded Barnabas. "You know what I am, Sebstian, and what my powers are. Just let us enter your home for right now. I promise that the three of us will only stay for a short while. Two days at the most."

"Two days! I don't want you here for another minute," shouted Sebastian.

"Sebastian, don't be difficult. I don't want to harm you but if you persist with this obstinancy I may be force to do so."

"Let them in, Sebastian," said Carolyn. "It will only be for a short time. You know Barnabas always keeps his word. Besides, we don't want any trouble and we couldn't stop them if we wanted to."

"All right, dear. Let them in. But please don't hurt us. You know that we've never meant you any harm." Sebastian sounded like a sniveling coward when he was saying this but he had once been a vampire's victim himself. So if this was cowardice, Sebastian supposed he had every right to be afraid. He knew the power of the Undead.

Barnabas, Willie, and the mysterious blonde woman entered the house through the front door and went into the living room.

"Hi, Carolyn," said Willie. "Nice to see you again."

The blonde woman said nothing as she sat down on the sofa. Barnabas and Willie then sat down next to her. Sebastian closed the front door, locked it, and pulled up a chair as Carolyn did likewise.

"All right, what happpened? How did you get out of your coffin? Did Willie get drunk and decide to let you out?" asked Carolyn.

Carolyn had always despised Willie Loomis. Ever since the first day he had shown up at Collinwood upon the invitation of his friend, Jason McGuire. Jason McGuire, the no good scoundrel who had tried to blackmail her mother into marrying him. Carolyn hoped Jason McGuire was rotting in hell somewhere. She also hoped Willie Loomis would join him soon. Willie had hit on her and Vickie Winters from almost the first minute he walked through the door at Collinwood. She had urged David periodically to rid Collinwood of Willie once and for all. But David had refused. Carolyn knew why. David had become almost as proud and pompous about the Collins family name as Uncle Roger had been. He would keep Willie around simply because Willie knew too many secrets about the Collins family. What was it that Machiavelli had once said, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer still."

"No Carolyn, he did not. In fact, our friend Willie had nothing whatsoever to do with my being freed from my coffin. This young lady here did the honors," said Barnabas, referring to the blonde woman.

Carolyn stared at the blonde woman sitting on the couch. Of course, she thought. That's where she had seen the woman. In her dream. She had been the girl lying on the floor in the mausoleum bleeding from two bite wounds in her neck. The woman was probably a vampire now herself or a stooge for Barnabas just like Willie.

"Allow me to present Miss Annie Dutton. From a city called Springfield in the midwest. Springfield is where we are heading on our little journey," said Barnabas.

"Pleased to meet you, Carolyn," said Annie. "Barnabas and Willie told me quite a bit about you on the way down here."

Carolyn rose from her chair and cautiously shook Annie's outstretched hand. Sebastian did likewise.

"Let me tell what happened, Barnabas," said Annie. Barnabas nodded and Annie began.

"I was passing through Collinsport two nights ago. Alone and almost out of money. I didn't have enough money for a motel so I broke into an abandoned house to spend the night. Barnabas's old house...."

Annie then told Carolyn and Sebastian about hearing the pulsating heartbeat from the portrait of Barnabas at the old house. About where the heartbeat had led her and about freeing Barnabas from his coffin and being bitten by him. She told about waking up the next night and being given a choice by Barnabas of either death or becoming on the Undead. That was a lie. Barnabas had actually given her a choice of either becoming a vampire or being turned into the police since she had revealed to him that she was a wanted fugitive. But Annie decided not to reveal that bit of information to the Shaws. You never know what they might do with it. Like Barnabas had told her, when you're one of the Undead, there's no such thing as being too careful.

"So," responded Carolyn after Annie had concluded. "You're one of them now? You may end up wishing you had chosen death."

"I would have chosen death. Anything is better than living that way. That is, if you can really call it living," said Sebastian.

Annie simply nodded when Sebastian made that statement. He may actually turn out to be right, she thought.

"What is it you want from us? You said only two days at the most. What are you going to do while you're in Boston, Barnabas?" querried Carolyn.

"We're only going to stay long enough to get enough money to complete our journey to Springfield. I brought along some jewels from the old house for Willie to pawn. We will need you and Sebastian to protect us during the day," explained Barnabas.

"And if we refuse?" asked Sebastian.

"I don't think you'll do that," replied Barnabas.

"Stand up, Sebastian," cooed Annie. "Come over here to me."

Sebastian did as Annie instructed. He was still terrified. He knew what was going to happen. It had happened to him once before with Roxanne Drew. However, Annie seemed somewhat softer and gentler than Roxanne had been. Annie approached him and bared her fangs.

"Don't worry, Sebastian. This won't hurt very much. I'm going to be very gentle with you. You're my first get, you know. Just relax. I'm not going to keep you in my power very long. Just for a little bit," soothed Annie.

Annie bit into Sebastian's neck and began draining blood from him. Not too much. Just a little bit as Barnabas had instructed. She only needed him in her power for a short time.

As Annie was doing this Carolyn rushed toward her husband. She had to save him. Willie grabbed her and restrained her. Carolyn began to cry. She cried for her husband who had so feared the night because he knew what evil lurked out there.

"Don't get hysterical, Carolyn. We're only going to put Sebastian under our power for a short while. When we depart he will be released," informed Barnabas.

Sebastian slumped to the floor. Annie had finished. Carolyn gave up her struggle with Willie. She knew it was useless now. She stopped crying and prayed that Sebastian hadn't suffered much. Oh, why had this happened? Sebastian's charts had been right. There had been an unforeseen occurrence.

Barnabas went to Sebastian and stood over him.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"A little weak. Groggy. But I suppose I'll be fine," was the response.

"Good. Now do as Annie instructs. Carolyn, you listen too. As long as Sebastian obeys you both will be fine. In the morning when Annie and I are dormant go about your normal routine. Go to work, do whatever it is you normally do. But remember, Carolyn, Sebastian's well-being depends on you. Annie can still control him even when she is dormant."

Carolyn agreed. She would help protect Barnabas and Annie for the sake of her husband and because deep down she still was strangely attracted to Barnabas. She only hoped that the incident wouldn't scar Sebastian too much. Maybe they'd take a vacation after this was all over. Maybe they'd go down to New York and see Elizabeth. That would put Sebastian's mind at ease. He had always loved New York and its sights and sounds.

Annie instructed Sebastian to go help Willie unload the coffins from the van. They did so placing them both in the basement of the Shaw house. That's where they would hide when the morning sunlight came.

Annie felt strangely sorry for Sebastian. She didn't want to hurt him. Not like she would hurt Josh, Reva, Alan, Cassie, and all the others who had wronged her. She could smell the cold fear on his breath when she had taken him. She hoped her other victims would be that way too. She glanced at the pictures on the walls at the Shaw house. There was the wedding picture of Carolyn and Sebastian. Sebstian had been very handsome then. Almost like a blonde God. He'd aged considerably and not really all that gracefully. Carolyn, in the wedding photo, had long, flowing blonde hair. Just the way Annie used to when she was a young girl.

Several pictures of another girl at various stages in her life were also on the walls. This had to be their daughter. Elizabeth, she thought that's what Willie had said her name was. There was another picture of Carolyn with an older woman. The woman looked very tired and sickly. Probably her mother, also named Elizabeth if she remembered correctly. She was the one who'd saved Barnabas from being destroyed in 1974 according to Willie.

Still another was of a youthful Carolyn with a doe-eyed brunette. The girl was very pretty. A friend from Carolyn's teen or college years, Annie guessed. She bore a strong resemblance to the mistress in the Von Bulow case. What was her name? Oh forget it, who cares?

Soon sunrise came and Annie and Barnabas retired to their coffins. Willie caught a few hours of sleep in the Shaw guest bedroom while Sebastian watched over things. He usually worked out of the house, anyway. He had all of his astrological charts and instruments at the house in his study. Sebastian would do his readings and fax in his column to the newspaper. Carolyn went in to work at her psychic phone line. She tried not to appear too nervous or jumpy. Wouldn't want anyone to get suspicious. Somehow, she managed to get through the day.

Willie awoke shortly after noon, grabbed the jewels Barnabas had given him, and began making the rounds of the pawnshops in Boston. He got some good deals on some, not so good on others. He wasn't able to hock a few of the more expensive pieces because several pawnbrokers assumed they were hot. He'd try again tomorrow if Barnabas and Annie decided to stay for another day. It was good for his eyes to see Carolyn again. Willie usually only saw her once a year when she made her pilgrimmage to Collinwood to visit David. He'd always been attracted to Carolyn ever since he'd met her in 1967 when he first came to Collinsport. He hadn't seen Sebastian since the wedding. He never came to Collinwood with Carolyn. Couldn't blame him, Willie thought. Not after what had happened to him with Roxanne Drew.

Willie knew that Carolyn couldn't stand the sight of him. Couldn't blame her, the way he'd acted around her when they first met. Victoria Winters had forgiven him, though. He looked at the picture of Carolyn and Victoria together. Probably taken the same year he had met them. They both looked soft and gentle in the picture but Carolyn was definitely the harder of the two. Victoria had grown to tolerate him somewhat but Carolyn still detested him on sight.

The sun soon set and Barnabas and Annie arose from their coffins in the basement. Willie showed Barnabas the money he had received from the hocked jewelry. Barnabas said it looked like enough for the time being. Never mind that Willie couldn't pawn several of the better peices. They could try again on down the road. Now, Barnabas and Annie wanted to get moving again. On to Springfield, Annie had said.

"Willie, get Sebastain from the study and load the coffins into the van," directed Barnabas.

Willie did as he was told. Along with Sebastian they loaded the coffins in his van. Willie hoped the van had enough going mechanically to make it to Springfield. He'd hate to have a break down. Oh well, Barnabas and Annie could always steal another.

Carolyn walked in the door as the load-in was finishing up. They looked like they were leaving. Thank God the ordeal was only going to last one day. Barnabas bid her farewell and Annie thanked her for her hospitality. Hospitality hell, you forced your way in here, thought Carolyn. Still, they were going and it would do no good to show bitterness. That might only start up trouble anew.

As Annie, Barnabas, and Willie climbed into the van to continue their journey, Annie looked at Sebastian.

She told him, "I'm sorry, I truly am. You and your wife have done no harm to me. I'll always remember you, Sebastian. You were my first get."

"Yeah, well just go. Leave us both in peace," was his response.

"Don't worry," said Barnabas. "We'll do that as long as you both keep quiet about our little visitation."

Willie started the ignition and backed the van out of the Shaw driveway. The van pulled onto the street in front of the house and was soon out of sight. Far on down the road. Continuing their long journey.

Carolyn and Sebastian stood in their front yard until the van was out of sight. The ordeal was over, they both thought to themselves. No real harm had occurred to either of them. Sebastian knew that his encounter with Annie hadn't been nearly as harsh as the one previously with Roxanne Drew. Barnabas Collins and Annie Dutton would leave them in peace. At least for the time being.