The Lull Before The Storm Pt.1
Date: 7/24/98
From: marcos1

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April 3, 1971 Collinwood-----

"Would you like some more tea?" Elizabeth Collins Stoddard asked. She was feeling so wonderful this morning, two of her favorite people had just announced their engagement. She had looked forward to this day for a very long time, long suspecting that her cousin and Julia were more than friends.

"No, thank you, Liz," Barnabas replied, smiling. "Too much caffeine tends to make me nervous. I'm already nervous enough, I've been a bachelor for such a long time. My marriage to Julia will be quite a change for me." He was sitting on the green sofa, his dark eyes reflecting happiness.

"Is Willie going to continue working for you?" She asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Yes," Barnabas replied. "There is still so much to revamp at the Old House. It's a very old building, as Collinwood is. Besides, Willie is not only my employee, but a valued friend."

"Revamp?" Julia laughed. "Darling, that is a very strange choice of words." She was wearing a brown pants suit, with a large white collar and a pearl necklace.

Liz shivered. "Julia, that is not even funny. I still get nightmares about that fantastic story you and Barnabas told me." Her eyes widened. "I just can't believe it...Barnabas was a vampire when he first came here."

"We thought that you deserved to hear the truth," Barnabas said softly. "I'm sorry that it causes you bad dreams." His brow furrowed. "If there is anything that Julia or I can do to help?"

"No, I'm fine," Elizabeth said. "I'm just glad that terrible period is passed. Things have been very peaceful for the past year."

"So am I," Julia said. "Barnabas and I are going to be married and all that supernatural stuff is but a bad memory."

~~~~~~~~

1840---Eagle Hill Cemetery---

The gravestone was marked Valerie Collins--Beloved Wife Of Barnabas. The man approached it near midnight, he had dark hair, his eyes had an intense look to them. "Oh, Angelique, what have you done?" he laughed. "Do you enjoy being dead?" He squatted down and picked up a bit of the freshly dug dirt and toyed with it in his hand. "I'm getting very tired of rescuing you." He cleared his throat. "However, in this case, perhaps I owe you." He smiled broadly. "For you have done me a wonderful favor my dear, eliminating my main rival, in the form of one...Judah Zachery. With that cursed warlock out of the way, there is nothing that can stop my plans for the Collins family...nothing."

Lightning struck the ground nearby as a storm approached. "Prince Of Darkness, I beseech you, raise this mortal woman from the bowels of the Earth." He moved his hands in a circular motion. "And where there was once a mortal...bring forth a Succubus...a creature that must survive by using lust, to invade the dreams of mortal man," Nicholas laughed. "When we return to Collinsport in 1971, how surprised Barnabas will be." Smoke formed in the air, covering the grave and earth began to move. "Barnabas proclaimed his love for you...but perhaps it was only pity...but of his lust for you, there can be no doubt...for that is how all this began." The sound of the proud warlock's laughter filled the air, as Angelique was reborn, again.

~~~~~~~~~

"Will you stop being so nervous, Willie," Maggie said, grinning. "They will be here in a minute." They were preparing a special surprise party at the Blue Whale. The room was full of banners and ribbons. There was a large poster over the bar with the drawing of a large heart---reading Barnabas and Julia in love.

"I don't know...I just have a bad feeling that somethin is gonna go wrong," Willie said, pacing the floor drinking a beer.

"I know one thing," Joe Haskell laughed, "Willie, if you keep drinking those beers...you are going to be very drunk before Barnabas and Julia arrive here." He had a twinkle in his eyes, thinking about the special announcement that he and Maggie were going to make at this party. They had hopes of a double wedding with Julia and Barnabas. He had finally popped the question and Maggie had said-- yes.

"Here they come," David Collins said, excitedly. He was so thrilled to be here, maybe the adults would allow him just a taste of beer.

"There are the two lovebirds," came a chorus from the room, as Barnabas and Julia walked in. Maggie, Joe, Eliot Stokes, Mrs.Sarah Johnson, Willie, David, Elizabeth, Roger, all broke into a shout, "CONGRATULATIONS."

~~~~~~~~

Windcliff---

Carolyn Collins Stoddard was feeling restless, she knocked her head on the side of her padded room. "Let me out of here, luv. I'm not the one that's crazy...it's that Doctor Hoffman...my name is Pansy Faye, and I just want to dance...let me out." Her blonde hair fell over her face, it was twisted and matted. She started to sob. "I'm not crazy...won't anyone believe me...damn it to hell."

He appeared in the corner of the room. "Pansy...dear Pansy, I'll let you out soon," the man said laughing. He had dark hair and appeared very debonair.

"Who are you, luv?" Carolyn asked, blinking her eyes. "Are you the blooming devil?"

"Guess again," Nicholas laughed. "Guess again."

TBC