A Return to the Shadows -- 1
By Vicki Reed & KimD

Victoria Winters opened her eyes, she gasped for air, flashes of light and dark passed before her. "Oh God!" She screamed, then saw Elizabeth Stodard hovering over her, calling out her name. Her eyes darted across the room, Maggie, Julia, Barnabas! Barnabas! Surely she was so confused and disoreinted that she was wrong about she had discovered. "Elizabeth!" She held the older woman tightly. She looked down at her dress, it looked strange compared to her surroundings.

Everything was so dim, like it was a dream. She gasped again, and remembered Peter Bradford, the handsome young man who had fought so hard for her, the man who had lost his life for her.

Julia Hoffman stepped forward. "Mrs. Stodarrd, I think it would be wise for me to check Victoria, to make sure that she is well and in good health." Elizabeth nodded in agreement.

That would be best for her, come everyone, Mrs. Johnson has made some tea for us." She touched Barnabas on the shoulder lightly. "Cousin Barnabas, if you would like you may stay, I know how much you care for Victoria.."

"Thank you Elizabeth, I think that I shall stay for a few moments."

Julia looked up at Barnabas; Victoria seemed to be lost in her own world. "Victoria, Victoria, how are you feeling."

"Julia. Oh God! I don't know. I feel so out of place, I saw so many things. I was in the past, I truly was. And I learned why..." She looked at Barnabas, fear in her eyes and in her heart.

"Yes Victoria?" Julia prodded her on, desperate to find if this young girl did know the horrible secret, if this sweet naive girl had had a brutal taste of reality.

Why.." Victoria took a deep breath. "Dr. Hoffman, could you please get me some water? I'm desperate for something cool to drink." Julia took off her glasses, so if Victoria did know something she wasn't going to give anyone the benefit of the doubt.

Gathering up her things Julia left Victoria and Barnabas in the room together. "My darling." Barnabas walked over to the side of her bed, pushing the loose hair away from Victoria's face.

Victoria was hit with a flood of memories; she could not tell this man she knew his secret! "Josette was a beautiful woman, terrible what happened to her. I tried...I tried to save her Barnabas, I did." Barnabas kissed her forehead.

"I am sure you did Victoria. And I'm certain that my ancestor would have been proud of you." Victoria nodded, wishing that this charade could be over. But it was dangerous, perhaps what she had experienced in this past had been a dream...but it wasn't, she knew that it wasn't.

For now she must pretend that she didn't know, she had to let everyone believe she was all right. She had never felt so lost in her life. And as for Angelique, Victoria knew it was too much to hope that her reign of terror was over.

Meanwhile at the Collinsport train station a young woman stepped off the train, much like the way Victoria had weeks ago. Having heard that the governess for young David Collins was gone, she thought that she should replace her.

he woman took a deep breath. She gazed into the glass of a store window,surprised a little by what she saw. Her hair was jet black, cut straight around her face in a stylish pageboy, eyes were green, very sexy, very professional she thought.

She went into the little shop; she needed something very nice to give Elizabeth Stoddard, something to impress her. "Afternoon madam." the shopkeeper, an older woman said smiling. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Yes, I am looking for a gift that would be suitable for the Collins family, I'm sure that they already have everything."

"There is one thing that Elizabeth's been looking for. I was just going to call her and tell her that I have it, but it would make a lovely gift."

The cab stopped in front of Collinwood and a young dark haired woman got out carrying a package. She was admitted to Collinwood and shown to a setting room, soon after Elizabeth came in. "Mrs. Stodard. It's so nice to meet you. My name's Helen Lyndon. I heard you were may be in need of a new governess. I hope you don't mind my presumption in coming here."

"Thank you for coming, but we're not really looking for a new governess right now."

"I brought a package for you while I was in Collinsport." Helen reached beside her and retrieved a square flat package and handed it to Mrs. Stoddard. Liz unwrapped it to find a portrait of on older white haired gentleman.

"It's Isaac Collins," Elizabeth said. She stared at the portrait and her voice showed her astonishment "He was the first Collins to settle in this area."

"Mrs. Stoddard, your young nephew needs guidance in his life right now. I would be happy to take care of him until Victoria is well again. After all, you do want her to recover don't you?"

"Yes! Of course I do! Victoria needs time to gather herself, she's been through quite an ordeal, and besides Barnabas is so smitten with her, they need time together."

"Of course they do! I would make a fine governess for David, I have my credentials..."

All right Miss. Lyndon, as long as you know that this is simply temporary."

Thank you Mrs. Stoddard! You won't regret this!" Helen smiled, now it was time to put her plan into action.

Victoria had stayed in her home for most of the day, plagued by thoughts of the past. There had been so much death. Everyone had already been in to see if she would tell them about what happened. She was somewhat surprised that Carolyn had been in her room more than anyone else had. Dr. Hoffman was a close second, and after some persuasion she had let the doctor examine her.

She was told to stay in her room and rest. Time travel, and she assumed the effects of the being jailed had taken a toll on her strength. But she was growing restless; she had to get out of the house if only for a little while. The air felt cool and refreshing as she walked away from Collinwood.

She found herself near Widow's Hill. Josette had died here. She could remember when Barnabas had she had walked here. He had been so frightened when he thought she had run around here. Now she knew why. She heard footsteps behind her. She turned around to find Barnabas. "I was just coming to see you," he said.

Victoria felt her heart skip a beat. "Barnabas, I didn't know you were behind me." He linked his arm through hers. Victoria shivered involuntarily as she realized that she was touching the skin of a man who killed to live.

A murderer. She looked up to find Barnabas studying her. She pulled her coat tighter around her. Let him think that it was the cold that her made her shiver.

"Darling, Elizabeth has hired a temporary governess, which gives you time to sufficiently recover thought Julia told you to rest."

"She did, but I just couldn't stay there anymore. Too many memories in that house."

Barnabas agreed with Victoria, too many memories. He couldn't believe that she was home, safe, alive, and sane. But he could not tell what she knew, he had instructed Carolyn to keep a sharp eye on Victoria, he had to know. Perhaps she would hate him, despise him, but perhaps she would love him, be with him always. Be his Josette. She so looked like his beautiful bride of the past, the eyes, the hair, the playful smile...he had to have her. "Do you feel like talking about you experience yet?"

"No, not yet. I saw and did so much. It was all so overwhelming. I know how much family history means to you. I'll let you know when I'm ready to talk about it." She knew that he would eventually ask that question, but it was safest not to let him know that she had any clue about his secret.

"Barnabas!! Barnabas!" Barnabas and Victoria turned to see Willie running up the hill, stumbling as he came. He came to a halt with he saw Victoria. "Miss Winters! You're home!" he said smiling. "And looking just as pretty as when you left."

"Thank you Willie." Barnabas felt something tug at his heart, his cold, dead heart. It was her smile, her gentle way with Willie. "It's so good to see you again."

"Uh..Miss Winters can I talk to Barnabas?"

"Yes, of course. Barnbas," she touched his hand. "I need to be getting back to Collinwood now."

As Victoria started back alone Barnabas turned on Willie. "What is it Willie! I do not have the time for this."

"Banrabas! The new governess!! I know who she is! She's Angelique!!!"

Barnabas said nothing for a moment, but stood there processing what Willie had told him. This couldn't possibly be true. "Willie that's not possible. Angelique died two hundred years ago, and Maggie got rid of her spirit."

"But I saw her at Eagle Hill Cemetery. She was chanting over one of them old graves."

"What grave?"

"Jeremiah Collins."

"Willie, you imagined it. Angelique is gone." The mention of Jeremiah had shook Baranbas. He couldn't forget the day he had died. The crack of gunfire and the smell of gunpowder that had come from his gun that gun that killed his own brother.

"Yes Barnabas," Willie answered, realizing that protesting would only make Barnabas angry.

The new governess couldn't possibly be Angelique, Barnabas thought. But what if she was? He had to see her and find out for himself.

He entered the drawing room where Elizabeth, Roger and Helen appeared deep in conversation. "Hello Barnabas," Elizabeth was the first to great him.

"Good evening Elizabeth. Roger."

"I don't think you've meet our new governess yet. This is Helen Lyndon,"Roger said indicating the brunet on the couch. "Helen this is our cousin Barnabas Collins Engand."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss. Lyndon. I trust things are going well for you so far?"

"As well as can be expected." He starred into her green eyes for a sign of who she really may be, but she reviled nothing.

"She's referring to David," Roger said. "Vicki seems to be only person who can keep him under control."

"I'm sure things will get better soon. Didn't I see you outside earlier?"

"No, I don't think so."

"She's been in here with us all evening," Elizabeth said. Maybe she really was who she said she was.

Helen retreated to her room as soon as she could excuse herself. She could tell that he suspected her. But that wasn't important. Once her plan started it wouldn't matter who he or anyone else believed she was.

Helen smiled as she pulled out the small painting of Jeremiah Collins. "Ah," Helen said laughing merrily. "You were useful to me once. Let's see if you can be useful again."

Victoria sat by the window in her bedroom, gazing out into the cold night when she felt a presence in the room. Listening to the music from the music box which had charmed two women from two centuries. "David!" She exclaimed, surprised to see the little pajama clad boy standing beside her.

"What are you doing in here? Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"I hate the new governess," he said, crossing his arms in front of him.

"David! What an awful thing to say! You aren't supposed to hate anyone! Besides, she's just arrived and I'll be taking care of you again soon."

"She's wicked Miss Winters, Sarah told me." Victoria wanted to laugh it off as a child's ranting; some silly made up story. But he had been right about Barnabas, he had known all along.

"What did Sarah tell you?" Victoria remembered the happy little red head as a child, how beautiful and lively she had been until her tragic death. "I went into the past and saved us all."

"For now maybe. I'm afraid of Helen. She's going to kill me.'

David! Stop this! I'll be well soon and Helen will leave, go on to some other job, there is nothing to be afraid of."

"Fine. When we are all dead you'll see..." Vicki pulled David toward her in a protective hug.

Julia Hoffman sat in her room, looking over her book, a record of everything she had tried to do for Barnbas, and she found a vial of blood, a vial that contained the cured blood. She had been so taken with Barnabas, smitten like a teenage girl; she had allowed her emotions to get into the way of science.

But then everything had gone horribly wrong. Barnabas had allowed his feelings to interfere as well, but Julia had nearly lost her life for it. Now Carolyn was under his spell, ready to do his bidding, no matter how horrible the request. If only there was a way that Julia could medically break Barnabas' hold on Carolyn. There had to be a way...

The treatment that had been working so well with Daphne and Joe Haskell would work for Carolyn. Although Julia knew Carolyn was too much under Barnabas' spell to agree to the injections, she had to ask.

She was able to find Carolyn later, alone. Carolyn was sitting in the drawing room, staring blankly into the fire. "Carolyn, I want to help you." Julia said simply. "I can break the hold Barnabas has over you if you let me."

"I don't need your help. I'm doing just fine," she said in her voices dripping with venom. "Besides Dr. Hoffman, I'm not the one who tried to kill Barnabas, you're a very wicked jealous woman." She tossed a red lock behind her shoulder.

"You realize that if this continues he could kill you." Julia pleaded. "Carolyn, he is a very dangerous man! Look what he almost did to Victoria! Look at the women in the town! There will come a time when he no longer needs your help! He'll kill you Carolyn!"

"I don't want your help," she shouted, getting up and brushing past Julia. But Dr. Hoffman knew that there was a way, and she was determined to find it.

The next morning dawned cool and foggy, Victoria had skipped breakfast, and was studying the portrait of Barnbas above the stairs when there was a knock at the door. Victoria answered a knock at the door. Seeing that Mrs. Johnson wasn't answering she walked over to the door herself.

Victoria could feel the blood drain from her face at the man that stood before her. "Jeremiah," she whispered when she realized that she was gazing upon Barnabas Collins' brother.

"No, I'm Quentin Collins. I'm a distant relative. I just wanted to meet the family. I'm sorry if I frightened

"No, it's alright," she said slowly regaining her composure. Not Jeremiah. Jeremiah died two hundred years ago. "Please come in. I'm sure Mrs. Stodard and Mr. Collins would love to meet you."

Willie was outside drinking a beer that morning, it was early but it had been a rough night, Barnabas had taken three victims, demanding that Willie bury them before dawn. He could remember the first days he had spent with Barnabas, the beatings, the pain, but slowly a friendship and a deep loyalty had formed.

But Willie worried about his violent gentleman friend, Victoria was home, but everything was different. Barnabas was afraid Victoria knew his secret, afraid of losing her. Then there was his battle with Dr. Hoffman, and Carolyn, ah poor Carolyn.

Joe Haskel had died because of what happened to her. But no one mentioned Joe to Victoria, no one even really knew that he was gone. Everyone just thought he had left town, but Willie had buried him too.

"Willie! Good morning Willie!" Dr. Hoffman said, coming up the drive. "How are you this morning..." her voice trailed off at the sight of the beer. "Everything ok?"

"Yeah I guess so Doc." he muttered.

"You look exhausted!" Willie just shrugged and turned away from Julia.

"Willie, what's wrong?"

"You'd...you'd better leave Doc, Carolyn might see you here, and if Banrabas knew..." Julia put her hands on her hips.