Subj: A Return to the Shadows Part 42
Date: 10/21/01 9:19:52 PM Central Standard Time
From: KimD

After the strange phone call from Maggie, Vicki returned to the drawing room. She was warmed by the way Quentin was looking at her, both emotionally and physically. "I'm so glad you're back," he said. His voice was soothing, calming any fears and trepidation she may have had. She looked up into his beautiful dark eyes. He seemed to be taking in her every feature. She couldn't resist reaching out to touch his face. His eyes took on a light. "You're beautiful," he said suddenly. Before she had time to respond or even to think he had her in his arms and kissed her.

Without warning the door banged open. They broke apart abruptly and looked up to see Barnabas standing in the doorway. His eyes were dark and threatening like storm clouds. He said nothing at first. He walked over to where Vicki sat. "What has happened to you?" he said in a satiny smooth voice that belied the anger he felt.

"I.I don't know," she answered nervously, unsure of what he was going to do.

He turned to Quentin. "What do you know about this?"

"Nothing. I had nothing to do with it." Barnabas advanced toward Quentin. His eyes glowed a dangerous red. Quentin jumped off the couch. Barnabas stood between him and the doorway. He had nowhere to go. He looked around the room for something he could use as a weapon, but found nothing. He felt trapped as the vampire advanced toward him.

Barmabas came closer to Jeremiah. No, he reminded himself. This wasn't Jeremiah it was Quentin. He couldn't stop thinking of how much he looked like Jeremiah. He could still see him, the way he looked before he died. Barnabas still felt guilty over his death, though Angelique had been responsible. He should never have been dueling. He couldn't kill Quentin, he looked too much like the brother he still felt guilty for.

The change in Barnabas was immediately noticed. His fangs receded, and his eyes were no longer red. He again looked like the English gentleman he professed to be. Barnabas looked back at where Vicki sat nervously on the couch. "Do you love him?" Barnabas asked.

"Yes," Vicki answered in a quivering voice, fearful of Barnabas killing Quentin, and coming after her.

"You needn't worry. I won't harm either of you. Victoria, I'm sorry for everything." He turned to leave the room.

"Barnabas wait," Vicki called. She stood up from the couch and went to him. "Why did you change your mind?"

He looked over at where Quentin still stood. "You're so much like my brother Jeremiah." Quentin recognized the name. He had already been shown pictures of the whole family. He remembered the tragic story of Jeremiah Collins.

"It was a duel wasn't it?" Quentin asked.

"Yes, but it was all my fault he died. The duel should never have happened." And he should never have gotten involved with Angelique, he silently added.

Barnabas smiled thinking of times before everything went crazy, when Jeremiah and he had talked and laughed. He said good bye to Quentin and Victoria and left still unsatisfied.

Quentin watched him leave then turned to Vicki. "I suppose I should be grateful for family resemblences. Do you think he really does mean to leave you alone now?"

"Yes," she said unhesitantly. "He carries so much regret from the past. Besides, if he was going to do anything he would have done it tonight."

"That's too bad," Quentin said drawing closer to her.

"Why's that?" She found herself being drawn again into those dark mesmerizing eyes.

"I was going to enjoy watching over you tonight," he said in a voice that suggested all the things they would have done.

"That is too bad." She turned away with a smile, certain he wouldn't led her go.

She left the room and had made it to the bottom of the steps when she felt his hand on her again. "Don't think that I'm ready to let you go so easily." She turned around and found him smiling at her tenderly. It was a look she loved, as if nothing else mattered right now but her. "Do you really love me?"

"Yes." She followed him upstairs to his room.



Barnabas fumed as he left Quentin and Vicki. He could only think of one person that could have interfered. That was Julia. He looked all over the house for her, but she was gone.

It was a few hours later when Julia came back from a date with Elliot to find Barnabas waiting for her in the front hall. "Where've you been?" he asked with a calmness he was far from feeling.

"Out," she answered not feeling it necessary to explain herself to him. "Why? Has something happened?"

"Vicki seems to be miraculously cured. What do you know about this?" His
anger grew with word. He noted the surprised look on her face, but wasn't sure she didn't know anything about it.

"I don't know," she said mystified. "What about Laura. I've heard that she has powers."

"What reason could she have to get involved in this?" he asked in disbelief, after all, Laura barely knew him. Why would she get involved?

"I don't know," Julia said, growing tired of his accusations. "Why don't you ask her." She turned and left him there without another word.

The only thing he could do now was to find out Laura really could have been behind this. He found her alone outside, holding two figures over a fire. Julia was right, she really did have powers. "What have you done?" he demanded, breaking her concentration.

"I don't know what you mean," she said turning toward the intruder.

"What did you do to Victoria?"

Laura looked at him with interest, "So you're the vampire. I didn't do anything to her. I simply freed her."

Barnabas walked toward her, his eyes narrowed in anger. "Why have you chosen to interfere in my life?"

Laura faced him, prepared to defend her actions. "I needed her, and I needed her to be free of any bonds. And what about you? How dare you come to my home, invade my privacy, and make demands of me." She looked in his eyes and saw that she had pushed him too far. He walked slowly toward her, fangs bared. She backed up, now afraid of him. She backed away from him until she felt the fire searing her skin and smelt the stench of burning flesh. She screamed out, but it was too late. The fire already engulfed her.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.