Subj: On the Dark Side of Twilight Chapter 3
Date: 10/1/01 9:21:55 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Melissa

"When did this happen," Elizabeth asked Julia after she finished telling Elizabeth about the accident.

"Late last night. I don't really understand why Mr. Wells won't let them stay, they wouldn't interrupt that much business."

"It's strange indeed, but Martin hasn't been the same since Jean died," Elizabeth said.

"I was wondering if you and your brother would put them up, till I am sure that they are well enough to go on their way?" Julia asked.

"I'll have to talk to Roger, I don't see why we couldn't, but I would like to talk to him about it."

"I understand, I just want them to stay in Collinsport till I am sure," Julia said.

Before Elizabeth could reply Roger came into the drawing room. "Liz have you heard about the accident?"

"Yes, Julia was just telling me all about it. Julia was wondering if they could stay here in Collinwood, until she is sure that it is safe for them to travel. Martin doesn't want them in the Inn anymore, he thinks it will be bad for business."

Roger looked at Julia, "How bad are they?"

"I was with them this morning, they weren't seriously hurt, I would like to do some tests just to be sure."

"I think we should go into to town and invite them," Elizabeth said.

"I think your right Liz," Roger said.

Julia poured herself a brandy and sat down, Vicki walked into the drawing room. "Hello Julia, where is Mrs. Stoddard? I thought she was down here."

"She went into down with Roger to invite the Countess and her brother to stay in Collinwood.

"Oh that's wonderful," Vicki said. "I think I'll go see Barnabas and tell him what's going on, I'm dying to see The Old House."

"Your going to be surprised, it looks wonderful," Julia said, as she walked Vicki to the door.

"That's awful," Barnabas said after Vicki told him about the accident. "And the others were uninjured?"

"Julia thinks so, but she wants them to stay in Collinsport until she is sure. That's why she asked Mrs. Stoddard and Roger if they could stay in Collinwood, after Mr. Wells said that they couldn't stay at the Inn any longer."

"Why is that?"

"He doesn't want people who are just coming to get a look at the strangers, and not for business."

"I can see his point, but its rather callous of him to throw them out like that without any place to stay. Did Elizabeth and Roger agree?"

"Yes, they went to town to invite them," Vicki said.

"I'll have to come and pay my respects," Barnabas said.

"I have to go, David has to have his lesson tonight," Vicki said getting up from her chair. "Barnabas the house looks wonderful. You and Will did a great job restoring it."

"Thank you Victoria, I'll see you soon," Barnabas said kissing her. He watched her leave The Old House, he had known about the accident, he had called Julia to report it, though she didn't know it was him that was on that called. It was all very mysterious, and that young woman Rosalie was strange. He felt inexplicably drawn to her though he had never met her, but so was Victoria. Barnabas could see it, in the way that she talked about the Countess. There was something different about her, something he had never seen in anyone else before. He would find out what it was.

Barnabas closed the front door and went down to the basement. He opened the door to one of the rooms. It was his private library where he kept all the books he had gotten about vampirism, and the supernatural.

He didn't know if he would be able to find the word that he heard the man say before he died. He pulled one book off the shelf, it was covered in dust, and he opened it up and began searching. He spent hours pouring over the pages of the old book, and then he found it. Vrolok. He knew the word all too well.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production