Subj: Dark Light -- 12
Date: 3/26/99
From: Flashman
Dark Light-Chapter 12-Cassie
The minute he walked into her bar, Cassie Layne knew there was something special about him. She'd never seen a man like him before. For the first time in a long while she brushed aside the painful memories of her dead child, Tammy. She completely brushed aside any thoughts of her fiancee, Hart Jessup. She absolutely had to get to know this man.
He hung up his cape on the coat rack near the entrance to the bar. He then sat down at the bar putting his can on the stool next to him. Looks like a wolf's head on the handle, Cassie thought. When he ordered his drink his voice simply made Cassie melt.
"Scotch and soda, please."
"Sure thing, mister. Say, I've never seen you in here before. Are you new in town or just here in Springfield for a visit?" asked Cassie.
"I recently moved to your fair city. Just this week in fact. My name is Barnabas Collins."
"Plesed to meet you, Mr. Barnabas Collins. I'm Cassie Layne. I own this place. Such as it is."
"Seems like a charming place you have here, Miss Layne. Not too crowded. A place where a man can sit and drink in peace," observed Barnabas.
"Sometimes I wish it were a little more crowded. It's my living, you know," replied Cassie.
"Understood," said Barnabas. "Has business in here been slow lately?"
"Yeah, a little. It comes and goes. Some nights we have a good crowd and some nights are like tonight. Dead," answered Cassie. "Say, where do you work? You must have moved here for a job opportunity, I'm guessing."
"I work at Spaulding Enterprises. I'm starting my job there tomorrow," informed Barnabas.
Uh oh, thought Cassie. Spaulding again. Then again, Barnabas Collins was only an employee there. No real harm in being that. Besides, she had been mesmerized by the sound of the man's voice. So smooth and charming. She could overlook his association with Spaulding.
"What are you going to be doing at Spaulding? I mean, what's your title?" asked Cassie.
"Instead of me telling you that now, why don't you wait until tomorrow? There is going to be a huge announcement concerning my position at Spaulding Enterprises," answered Barnabas.
Have to tell Reva about this, thought Cassie. She saw that the time was after 11:00 p.m. Nah, Reva's in bed by now. No real need to wake her. She can find out in the morning like everyone else. Probably just routine anyway. The hiring of a new executive isn't any big deal.
Barnabas stared at Cassie. Like Annie had said previously, she certainly was beautiful. He was deeply attracted to her. Not in love, the way he had been with Josette and later Roxanne Drew, before she'd turned against him. Call it lust, as the saying went today. About the only thing he disapproved of about Cassie was her curly hair. Barnabas preferred straight hair on a woman. He'd soon change that.
"Cassie, come over here. Take a look at this cane," commanded Barnabas. "This is a very special emblem, this wolf's head. Look at it closely, see the world inside it. It is a very special place and you can be a part of it if you so desire."
"Yes," replied Cassie. "I see. I want to be a part of that world."
Cassie had been mesmerized by the cane. She had seen the images of the world that Barnabas Collins had mentioned. She wanted to be a part of that world. Barnabas, he could show her how. She would do anything Barnabas asked of her.
"I see by the sign on your door that you close at 1:00 a.m. Go about your normal routine until then. After you close up I shall be waiting for you outside behind the building. Meet me there and I will show you more," directed Barnabas.
The time passed by. Too slowly as far as Cassie was concerned. She wanted to see more of the world Barnabas had given her a glimpse of. Maybe this was her destiny. Since the tragic death of Tammy, everything had floundered for Cassie. Both her business and her relationship with Hart. She had come to the conclusion that their relationship had been built on physical attraction and lust, not the fact that they were soul mates who had been meant for each other, like Hart's sister, Blake, had once stated. Now, the lust was dying and so was her relationship with Hart. They were still engaged but more and more Cassie doubted they would ever marry.
Closing time came and Cassie did her routine. The help and customers cleared out and Cassie locked the place for the night. She went behind the building where Barnabas had said to meet. He was there, just as promised. Cassie went to him with eager anticipation. Barnabas opened his mouth to reveal his fangs. Cassie was not afraid. So Barnabas is a vampire, she thought to herself. Good. Since she had been a girl, Cassie had always fantasized about being bitten by a vampire. She had adored Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in the movie Interview with the Vampire. Now, her fantasy was going to become reality.
Barnabas took her. He drained a modest amount of blood from her body. Not as much as he had taken from that Nancy Diaz girl on the previous night. He wanted Cassie conscious and alert. He was going to give her a private tour of his domain.
When he had finished Cassie said, "Oh Barnabas, that was wonderful. Let me stay with you. I want to be with you always."
"And so you shall, Cassie. You shall be with me until you displease me."
"Oh I'd never do that, Barnabas. I want to please you in any way possible."
This could be interesting, thought Barnabas. He was glad that Annie had recommended this girl to him.
"Barnabas," asked Cassie. "Can we have sex in your coffin?"
