Black Arts 101 Chapter 4
Date: 2/4/98
From: marcos1
Eliot Stokes continues his tale of Cassandra
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April 9, 1865 Appomattox Court House- Virginia
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Captain Edward Tucker of the Maine regiment stood outside. He was waiting for the final word
of Robert E Lee's surrender. The war had taken a terrible toil on him. As he stood there, thoughts
filled his mind. He was going to escape all of this horror, and build his special place. It was going
to be a beautiful house by the sea. It would be a place, where he would be safe from the cares of
the world. And as he glanced down at the stub that used to be his right leg. He vowed that no
one would ever hurt him, or any of his loved ones, again, ever.
February 14, 1910 Tucker House- Collinsport Maine
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The three young ladies sat down by the seaside. They were called Lucy, May, and Madge. They
were beautiful. Lucy was feisty, bold, and modern. She had once gone to a boxing match, where
one of the young boxers had lost his pants. Years later, she would recall, the sight of the young
man, naked, standing in the ring, amidst, the laughs of the crowd. She felt like it was a beautiful
sight. She was leaving Collinsport, to marry a young doctor from Miami. May was tender, and
sweet. An early childhood illness had left her, with her neck bent over. She felt such bittersweet
feelings, as Lucy left with her beau. She knew that no man would ever want her, all bent over.
She so loved cats! Cats would come from everywhere, to share in the wondrous food, that she
prepared for them. And to share in her kindness. Madge was already married. She was the
serious sister. She had great plans, for her husband. They would run a successful business, and
make their parents, proud. The three darkhaired beauties, sat by the sea, thinking about their
future, and their childhood past.
Edward Tucker gazed out his bedroom window, looking at his three granddaughters. He felt
such pride. He knew that his time was short. The years had caught up to him. The civil war was
now considered ancient history. But he remembered his promise to himself, so long ago. His
family would always be safe, and protected, at Tucker House.
Tucker House--March 9, 1960
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May sat on the porch. Seven cats surrounded her. She never felt alone. Lucy and Madge had died
in an automobile accident in 1956. A young man, new to the power of drink, had crashed into
their car at an intersection. When the police arrived, Madge was already dead, but Lucy was
barely breathing. Lucy never opened her eyes again, dying before reaching the hospital. The
young man was never questioned. His father was the local Judge. He would later study law, and
became a lawyer for the town of Collinsport.
The car pulled down the long drive. May felt such joy! She would have a visitor. She stood-up
from her rocking chair. She would fix the visitor some lemonade. Her cats ran and scattered. A
young man approached her porch.
"Miss May Tucker," the young man said, smiling. "I'm here to offer you a great opportunity. I'm
a lawyer for the town of Collinsport. We need this land to build a hospital. The springs that run
under your house, are the only source of fresh water nearby. I'm prepared to offer you a top
price for your house and land."
May was visibly shaken. For all her life, this had been her only home. And if she moved, who
would take care of her cats? She shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. I can never sell my house. This
is my home. My only home," she said, her voice breaking.
The young man frowned. "I'm afraid that you have no choice. The town has eminent domain
here." This was his first big assignment for the town, and everything had to go smoothly. This old
hag couldn't stand in his way.
"Listen, you old bitch," he sneered. "You will sign this paper, or, I'll get animal control out here,
to pick-up your damn stinking cats."
May turned and walked back into the house. She was shaking with fear. She walked up the three
flights of stairs to her room, lay down on her bed, and fell asleep, forever. Her heart had stopped.
The young man was driving back to town. The winding roads, that faced the sea, were very
familiar to him. He ignored the signs that advised slowing down. For he had always been safe
before, except for that one accident. But his father had saved him, from that one. Those two old
ladies weren't that important. They didn't matter, anymore, than that old bitch today. She would
sell. How dare she walk away, and close the door in his face? But then something appeared in
front of his car. His car began to skid, and fell over the side of the mountain. And as he fell
headlong into the cold sea, for a moment, he saw something. It was a Union Officer from the civil
war, and he was laughing.
The next day, the police found the mangled car, lying among the sharp rocks, along the seaside.
They also found the young man. His body was crushed, but the look of fear was still present on
his face. The look of terror. The town of Collinsport, later decided, that they didn't need, Tucker
House. The house sat alone. The stray cats wondering what happened to May?
February 4 1968--Tucker House
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Cassandra walked into the house. How ideal, it had been, to find this large deserted house! It was
just perfect for her needs. She would destroy the Collins family, and torment Barnabas. He was a
vampire, but somehow, he had stopped killing. It must be that damn Doctor Hoffman! She had
watched them in the old house, by using her supernatural powers. The mirror told all. Her
thoughts were interrupted by Elizabeth.
"Satan sends his regards," Elizabeth Bathory said, laughing. The Vampiress, had dark hair, and
black eyes.
"You've learned to speak English?" asked Cassandra, who always felt a certain chill, when you
was near Elizabeth. Whose evil seemed to fill the very air, with a cold chill.
"Oh, its not very hard," replied Elizabeth, "For you've brought me back as a supernatural
creature. I can do many amazing things." She started to giggle. "They laugh about you in hell. A
witch in love! How very farcical! For you know that you still love this Barnabas Collins. How
very funny."
Cassandra felt a flush of rage. "Elizabeth Bathory, I brought you back. I'm your Mistress, and
you will do my bidding. And I will not be ridiculed by you," she said, her face red with anger.
"I'm very grateful to you," Elizabeth said, moving close to the mirror. "For now I'll be forever
beautiful. I love being a creature of the night. If only I could see my reflection? How beauteous I
must be!"
To be continued--
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