The Mother Road Chapter 2
Date: 2/14/98
From: marcos1

In a Roadside Camp--Oklahoma--1933

*********

Quentin and Erling sat by the campfire. The sounds of laughter from a nearby camp attracted their attention. They walked over, and found a traveling group of Gypsies, and a most amazing sight.

Young Johnny Romano held a strange looking object in his hand. Two children, Magdalita, and Julianka, seemed to hover in the air, just above the object. Quentin rushed over to Johnny.

"What do you have there?" Quentin asked, as he brutishly held the small boy. The strange object dropped to the ground, and Quentin picked it up. "Its the hand...the hand of Count Andreas Petofi!" A voice, that he hadn't heard in decades hearkened from the darkness.

"Quentin, leave the boy alone," said the old woman, who held a curved gypsy blade. "Or I'll use this...I swear that I will. I know that it ain't gonna kill you...but it will hurt like hell."

"Magda," gasped Quentin. "I always thought that you were dead." He walked closer to her.

"It ain't easy to kill old Magda," Magda laughed. "Now, give back the hand. Or I'll stab you, or your friend." She glared at Erling.

"No deal," Quentin said. "You forget that I lived inside the body of Petofi for a time. And I know of the great power of the hand. Answers. Magda, I want answers to some questions, first."

"Very well," sighed Magda. "Perhaps its time that you know. I've been expecting this day. I've seen it coming in the cards. For, Quentin, there is someone, someone, that you were meant to be with...but because of that terrible night...I never thought it possible." She dropped the curved shaped knife onto the ground. "Come into my tent. You and your friend. And I will tell you of the night in 1897. The night that changed everything."

Sitting in the gypsy tent, surrounded by gypsy artifacts, a crystal ball, beads, and decks of Tarot cards. Magda began her tale...

________

It all began when Beth Chavez fell from Widow's Hill. She was so afraid of you, Quentin. Because she thought that you were really Petofi. She fell off the high hill to her death. Or so everyone thought. But her blood was tainted by something evil. It was the bite from Barnabas that did it. The vampire curse refused to be forgotten. She didn't die when she fell from Widow's Hill. She became one of the living dead. A vampire.

The first thing that Beth did was to find me. I was in hiding from the Gypsy crucible. But it ain't hard for a vampire to find someone. She forced me to help her. I found a good hiding place for her coffin. Quentin, she had really changed. She had become so very cold, and heartless. But a part of the old Beth still lived. She still loved you. And she was determined to never hurt you.

One night while, Beth was roaming the woods looking for possible victims. She had a most providential meeting. The monster Garth Blackwood and Petofi had fought, causing a fire, in Petofi's cabin. But while Garth had apparently perished in the flames, Petofi still lived. Beth asked me to help her. I cut off Petofi's cursed hand, while he lay hurt on the ground. When Petofi awoke, he had the surprise of his life. He was trapped inside an old mausoleum with a vampire, without his precious hand. He was helpless.

I never saw Beth after that night. She left Collinsport with her new slave. For helping her, she gave me a wonderful gift. She allowed me, to keep the hand of Petofi. I returned it to my people. And was allowed to rejoin them. Here, where I'm the most happy, as a traveling Gypsy Queen.

______

Quentin was silent for a long time, after hearing this amazing tale. Erling looked at him, and said softly. "Quentin, what does this mean?"

"It means only one thing. I have to find her. I have to find Beth," Quentin said, in slow empathic tones. "I will find her."

To be continued--