Subj: Dark Light -- 14
Date: 5/7/99
From: Flashman
Chapter 14-The Meeting
When Annie and Barnabas awoke at sunset it was with great satisfaciton. Everything was working out better than they had originally hoped. Alan and Cassie were under their power and Barnabas had power of attorney over Alan's assets. Fran informed them when they awoke that there had been reporters at the door all day. She had referred them to Alan Spaulding or Spaulding Enterprises, saying that Barnabas was probably at one of those locations.
They had decided to move Annie's coffin over to Spaulding Manor. They'd place it in the attic there. Annie wanted to be near Alan to make sure he stayed in line. Fran was going there, too. Alan had discharged his long-time maid Nettie. He was still weak from being bitten by Annie and Barnabas felt that Fran, with her nursing background, should be there should he need any assistance.
Cassie would stay with Barnabas. Boy, she had taken to being a vampire's moll like a duck to water, thought Annie. She didn't even seem angry when she first saw Annie. Just went back to sticking her tongue down Barnabas's throat. Cassie was so entranced with Barnabas that Annie knew she would never betray them even if it was to help her own sister.
Now Reva was coming into their lair. At 7:30 tonight she would arrive along with Josh and Blake. Too bad Annie couldn't be there. For now, she would have to be content with remaining in the background. Standing in the dark shadows while the events she had set in motion played themselves out. Annie shape-shifted into a bat and went over to Spaulding Manor as Barnabas, Cassie, and Fran were preparing for the meeting with their invited guests.
At 7:30 p.m., right on the nose, the doorbell rang. Fran answered. Josh, Reva, and Blake stood at the door.
"Hello, Fran. I would say it's good to see you again but why lie," cracked Reva. "Heard anything from your old friend Annie lately?"
Boy would you be surprised if you really knew, thought Fran.
"Oh Reva, don't be arguing with Frannie. Come on in and sit down," instructed Cassie.
Josh, Reva, and Blake entered the house. Fran took their coats and hung them in the closet. Cassie bade them all to sit down on the sofa in the living room.
"Now for the grand entrance," announced Cassie. "This is Barnabas Collins."
Barnabas walked through the kitchen door and entered the living room. He introduced himself and shook hands with Josh and Reva. He shook hands with Blake, also.
"Nice to see you again, Mrs. Marler, er Blake. I'm sorry that I haven't had a chance to visit with you since our first meeting. But, as you have probably heard, I've been very active," said Barnabas.
Yeah, like seducing my brother's fiancee and putting Alan Spaulding under some type of spell, thought Blake.
"Okay, Mr. Collins, let's get right to the point. What's going on between you and my sister?" asked Reva. She was Reva Shayne and she always cut to the chase.
"I can assure you Mrs. Lewis that my intentions with regards to Cassie are completely honorable. Let me tell you that we met last night in her establishment. I had entered there for a nightcap. When our eyes met it was as if nothing else in the universe existed except ourselves. After closing down, she came home with me last night. In the morning, she asked if she could move in here with me. She said she wanted to stay with me forever."
"Cassie, is this true? He isn't using force or coercion to make you stay here, is he?" asked Reva.
"No Reva, he isn't. I can't explain it. It's like he's the man I've been waiting for my entire life," replied Cassie.
Blake interjected, "But you and Hart, you were made for each other. You can't just throw away what you two have for one night of passion with another man." Blake knew from experience. It was what she had done.
"Blake, like I said this morning," replied Cassie. "Things haven't been right with me and Hart for quite a while."
Reva said to her sister, "I can't believe you're throwing away what you have with Hart but you are my sister and I will always love you and support you." But she was Reva Shayne and she was sure as hell going to check up on this Barnabas Collins. Get a hold of Harley Spaulding and have her start the ball rolling if Phillip hadn't already done so.
"Let me ask you a question," said Josh, who except for the introductions, had remained silent.
"Certainly, Mr. Lewis," replied Barnabas.
"Just what is going on between you and Alan Spaulding? Why did he give you power of attorney over his affairs? What is your role at Spaulding going to be?"
"To answer your last question first, I will have no say so whatsoever regarding the day-to-day affairs of Spaulding Enterprises. My position will be solely one of watching over and directing the personal assets and affairs of Alan Spaulding while he recovers. You see, Mr. Spaulding is currently suffering from a nervous breakdown due to the extreme amount of stress he has been afflicted with in the last few months."
"Okay, sounds reasonable. To be honest with you I've never cared much for Alan Spaulding and for all I care you can steal him blind. But you have entered into a relationship with my sister-in-law and that makes it my business. How do you know Alan Spaulding and who in the world are you?" asked Josh.
"I first met Alan Spaulding during our days in prep school. We became close friends there. Through the years we have remained friends as well as having had numerous business dealings together. He contacted me last week and asked me to come to Springfield. He stated that he was suffering from ill health due to nervous exhaustion. He wanted me to aid him with his personal business affairs. When he had his nervous breakdown yesterday he gave me his power of attorney so several personal business dealings he has going could continue."
Oh this guy was smooth, thought Reva. He had all the right answers and all the right lines. But she was Reva Shayne, and she wasn't buying it. This guy was hiding things, plenty of them. If it had only involved Alan Spaulding, she was like Josh. Let Barnabas Collins steal Alan Spaulding blind if he wanted to. But Barnabas Collins was also involved with Cassie. She was Reva Shayne. Nobody tried to destroy her family and got away with it.
"You do the presentation just fine and dandy, Mr. Collins, but I think that underneath it all you don't have a damn thing to sell," said Reva.
"Why Mrs. Lewis, whatever do you mean by that statement?"
"I mean that I don't trust you, Mr. Collins. I don't trust you one damn bit. You're not telling the whole truth about why you're in Springfield and you're trouble. Trouble for me and my family. I don't like anyone hurting my family," answered Reva.
Annie was right about this woman, thought Barnabas. She was loud-mouthed, overbearing, and somewhat trashy. She could also prove to be a dangerous foe. She had certainly destroyed Annie's life. Never underestimate your opponents, he had learned. Alan Spaulding had mentioned previously that he had something going against Lewis Oil. Barnabas hadn't pressed him for information on this but tonight when he saw Alan he definitely would.
"I'm very sorry you feel this way, Mrs. Lewis. Let me once again assure you that I have no intention whatsoever of harming you, Cassie, or anyone else in your family," reassured Barnabas.
"That had better be the case, Mr. Collins, or you will have hell to pay. Nobody messes with Reva Shayne or her family and gets away with it," stated Reva.
"Oh Reva, come on," said Cassie. "Don't be so suspicious. Everything's going to be all right. I have a feeling that you and Barnabas are going to end up being good friends."
"Don't count on it. But I'll try to get along for your sake, Cassie."
"Good. That's all I ask," said Cassie.
Josh Lewis then stood. He felt it was time to bring this little gathering to a close. No need for Reva to get too volatile. Like Reva, he was suspicious of Barnabas Collins. However, he hadn't turned into a full-fledged enemy, yet. There was no need to sit here and let Reva's mouth make one of him. Reva did have a tendency to go overboard.
"Well Mr. Collins, thank you for your time this evening. You've cleared up a few things for us, even my wife will agree on that," said Josh.
"Yes, Mr. Lewis. It's been a pleasure having you over to my abode, sparse though it may appear right now. I've told Cassie that she can start redecorating using any style she sees fit. I truly want her to be happy. She's one special lady," said Barnabas.
Josh, Blake, and Reva arose and headed for the door.
"Goodbye, Reva. Give Marah and Shayne my love," said Cassie.
"I will, Cassie. You know you'll always have a place at our house if you ever decide to leave this place," said Reva. She was Reva Shayne and she was going to try and make sure that happened damn quick. I may have to destroy this guy just like I did Annie Dutton, she thought.
After the guests had departed, Fran Ridgkins came down from upstairs where she had been packing her things for a second time within days. At least she was going to be living in Spaulding Manor now. The previous time she had been at the place, trying to get more money from Alan Spaulding, he had slammed the door in her face. My, how the times have changed, Fran thought.
"What are we going to do now, Barny Warny? Let's go down to the basement and have sex in your coffin like we did last night," suggested Cassie.
"Please don't refer to me by that horrid nickname, Cassie. I have to go and see Alan Spaulding right now. I have some business to attend to with him. Afterwards, I promise to return and we can do whatever you want," said Barnabas.
"Oh goody," replied Cassie.
Cassie's attitude about things sickened Fran. This guy has turned her into a submissive plaything. Oh well, better her than me. She hadn't been attracted to Barnabas even though she had to obey him. Sex in a coffin, how gross!
"Come, Miss Ridgkins. Get your things and take me over to see Alan Spaulding," instructed Barnabas.
Fran did as ordered and they were soon on their way over to Spaulding Manor. The drive over gave Barnabas time to pause and reflect. Josh Lewis had seemed like a decent enough fellow. Good looking, intelligent, all those fine qualities. He could certainly see how Annie could love him, unlike the cold-blooded Alan Spaulding. Yet there was something missing beneath the surface of the man. Josh Lewis appeared perfect on the outside but Barnabas felt he was hollow beneath that perfect surface. Hollow to the core. He was probably dominated and controlled completely by Reva.
Barnabas remembered Annie telling him how perfect her life with Josh had been until Reva, presumed dead, had returned. While Barnabas doubted that Annie and Josh's life together had been all that perfect, he could sense that Josh had allowed himself to be manipulated by Reva at the expense of Annie. Josh had to be with Reva, whatever the cost to Annie. Barnabas sensed that Annie had once been a decent and caring person. Now, she was vengeful and manipulative. Josh and Reva had made her that way.
Barnabas and Fran pulled up to the gates of Spaulding Manor. The guard there let
them pass on through like Barnabas had instructed Alan on the previous night.
Let him pass without incident. Fran parked the car in the spacious driveway. The
two got out. Fran began the chore of unpacking her belongings while Barnabas went
directly to see Alan Spaulding. Some important business had to be discussed.
