Subject: Where Are the Angels
Chapter 16, 17 & 18
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 00:55:02 EDT
From: Melissa
"Good night Josette," Barnabas said as he kissed her goodnight at her bedroom door, "At this time tomorrow we will be on our way to Italy, and we will be married."
"I can't wait to be Mrs. Barnabas Collins," Josette whispered. "Goodnight."
Angèlique watched Barnabas go into his own room, she went to Josette's door, and knocked softly. "Yes."
"It's me Angèlique."
"Angèlique what do you want?" Josette asked.
"I just wanted to see if there was anything that I could do for you?"
"Oh no, I'm going to sleep," she said.
"I could brush your hair."
"That would be nice, if you don't mind."
"Not at all," Angèlique said. She walked into the room and picked up the silver brush, she sprinkled and few drops of the rose water onto it. She turned back to Josette and began to brush.
"That feels wonderful," Josette said. Gradually Josette began to fall asleep.
Angèlique began to whisper into her ear, "Barnabas has been unfaithful, he loves another, you love another, you love Jeremiah Collins."
"Josette," Angèlique said shaking Josette.
"Did I fall asleep?" Josette asked.
"Yes, I'm going to leave you now, get some sleep."
"Good night Angèlique," Josette said as Angèlique left.
Back in her own room she took out the hair that she had cut from Josette's hair. She wrapped it around the tiny doll that she had made. She wrapped the hair of Jeremiah she got from Ben, he had left it for her under the door.
She placed the two doll on top of each other, and began to whisper, "Lover's awake, awake from the sleep of the shadows. Awake to the knowledge that you love on another. It is a love that can not be denied. You must follow it."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Angèlique woke up before the sun rose, she had to see if her spell had worked the way it should. She made her way quietly down the hall to Josette's room, she knocked and when there was no answer she opened the door.
There was no sign of Josette anywhere. This was a good sign. Angélique looked around and saw a note on the vanity. She opened it up and read it:
I have left with Jeremiah, I could no long hide my true feelings for him. Barnabas has lied to me, and I cannot marry someone who does not love me.
Josette
Angélique smiled. She had done it.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Natalie woke up with a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had this feeling only two times in her life. Once when she found out that her boyfriend was seeing another woman and the other when Josette's mother, Anaïs died.
She threw on her robe and went to Josette's room. She knocked on the door; there was no answer. She hoped that Josette was just over sleeping because of the late night last night. She knocked again before she went inside.
Her heart sank when she walked into the room. She knew something was wrong. She saw the note on the vanity; she picked it up and read it.
How could this be true? Josette and Jeremiah hardly spoke a word to each other. Why would Josette leave Barnabas? They loved each other so much. Somehow she made her way out into the hall, she could no longer control herself, and she began to sob.
Several doors opened. André raced over to his sister, she handed him the note. Joshua and Naomi came out and Barnabas came out of his room, he came over to the Natalie.
"What's wrong," he asked. "Countess where's Josette?" he asked after he looked into the room. André silently handed him the paper. "I don't understand, why would she," he paused and ran up to Angèlique's room.
He threw open the door. It slammed against the wall, Angèlique jumped.
"What did you say to her!" he yelled.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"What did you say to Josette about us?"
"I didn't tell her anything. What's the matter with you?"
"I know you said something to her, why would she run away with Jeremiah?" Barnabas yelled.
"What?"
"Don't act innocent with me!" he raged.
"I didn't do anything Barnabas, I swear to you. I should have never said or done what I did. I'm sorry, but you have to believe me that I would never have done or said anything to her about us."
How could he believe her after all that she had done. One minute she couldn't keep her hands off him the next she was over him.
"You can't fool me. You've been after me since you got here."
"I know but I am telling you the truth. . . "
Barnabas couldn't listen to anymore, he left slamming the door behind him. He went into the living room and grabbed his jacket.
"Where are you going?" Naomi asked.
"I'm going to go find her."
"But you don't know where they went," his father said.
"I know."
Barnabas turned and saw Ben at the door, "How do you know?"
"Jeremiah woke me up this morning and asked if I could take them to the plane. They went to New York to get married."
"Why would they do this," Naomi asked.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Angèlique walked through the abandoned garden; all the wedding decorations were set up. She smiled. She had done it, it had been a hard task, but she had done it. It wouldn't be hard to get Barnabas to marry her now. Once he saw Jeremiah with Josette, he was as good as hers.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Barnabas got out of the cab and ran into the Plaza; he went to the Concierge.
"Ah Mr. Collins, what can I do for you?" asked Maurice.
"Is my uncle here?" Barnabas asked.
"Why yes he is, he and his bride arrived this morning."
"Can you tell me what room they're in?"
"They didn't want to be disturbed," Maurice began.
"I know, but I want to surprise them."
"Well in that case," he said and gave Barnabas the room number.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jeremiah stepped out of the bathroom; he was drying his hair. Josette said on her side of the bed. She is sitting there like she was in a daze.
"Josette are you all right?" he asked.
"Yes," she said. But she wasn't she was confused, how did this all happen? She remembered that Barnabas was in love with someone else. And now she loved Jeremiah.
When Jeremiah was next to her she felt safe again. Jeremiah leaned forward and kissed her, his hand sliding into her robe.
Then there was a pounding on the door. "Stay right there," Jeremiah said as he went to answer the door.
"Where is she?" Barnabas yelled.
"Barnabas. . . "
"You bastard," Barnabas cried out when he saw Josette on the bed, he punched Jeremiah before he could block it.
"Stop," Josette cried.
Jeremiah got up and wiped away the blood. "Calm down Barnabas we all have some explaining to do."
"What is there to explain?" he asked. "You stole my fiancée."
"You love Angèlique," Josette said.
"What?" Barnabas said.
"I saw you with her," she said sobbing. "I saw you holding her."
"Barnabas I think you better go," Jeremiah said.
"So you could be with your whore?"
Jeremiah grabbed him, throwing him up against the wall, "Don't call her that, maybe if you could decided which woman you wanted to begin with none of us would be here right now."
"Fuck you!" Barnabas yelled and pushed Jeremiah back they fell to the floor. Josette screamed for them to stop. The door opened and several security guards came in and separated them.
"You'll still have to deal with me at home," Barnabas said as they lead him out of the room.
Jeremiah closed the door behind them; he turned to his bride. She was sobbing in the corner of the room. He went over to her and took her into his arms.
Chapter 17
The house of Collinwood stands silently as if waiting for what is to come next. Barnabas Collins has returned to the great house, but he has greatly changed. He does his work, and nothing else. His sister is the only one who can make him smile. His parents are worried about him, but there is little they can do for their only son. They worry about what will happen when Jeremiah and Josette return tonight.
"Laura, would you take the children out this evening, I don't want them exposed to anymore of this," Naomi said after the governess came into the drawing room.
"Of course Mrs. Collins," Laura said.
"Mother," Barnabas said coming in.
"Yes dear," Naomi said as Laura walked out.
"I think I'm going to keep the house, I don't think I could stand living in this house any longer. And once they come back I don't want to be here."
"Are you sure Barnabas, they might not want to stay," Naomi said.
"Why wouldn't Jeremiah stay, he doesn't have to work if he stays, isn't that what Grandfather's will said?"
"Barnabas you must try to forget."
"How can I? He stole her away from me," Barnabas said and left.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Daniel what time is it?" Millicent asked from her chair in the library.
Daniel looked up with a devilish grin, "Ten to. . . ten to your own damn business," he said barely able to control his laughter.
"Very funny," Millicent said rolling her eyes.
"I couldn't help it, I've been waiting so long to use it."
"Well I know you didn't make that up, where did you get that from?"
"Mystery Science Theater, I got it with my allowance."
"Well you made another fine investment to your future," she said sarcastically.
"Daniel isn't it time for you to go out with Sarah and Laura?"
"Yeah, I wish we didn't we always do what Sarah wants, and that's boring."
"Well try to have fun anyway."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Do you think Barnabas will be home," Josette asked Jeremiah as they got out of the cab.
"I don't know," he said as he opened the front door.
"Josette," Natalie cried out as she came down the stairs, she took the young woman into her arms.
André came down and hugged his daughter, he was disappointed in her, but she was his daughter, the image of her mother, and he loved her so much.
"I'm so glad that you are all right," he whispered.
The homecoming was not cheerful, but the couple was congratulated and welcomed.
Over the next couple of weeks Barnabas avoided coming into contact with anyone. Angèlique had made a little progress, she had made it a habit to come and sit with him, and after awhile they began to talk. He was finally able to trust her again, and she felt like nothing had ever come between them.
A month after the marriage of Jeremiah and Josette, Barnabas was walking from his room down the hall. Josette was just emerging from her bedroom. They looked at each other she turned away.
"Wait," Barnabas said grabbing her arm.
"Let go of me," Josette whispered, she would not meet his gaze.
"Why Josette?" Barnabas asked holding her against the wall so she couldn't escape. "You know that I still love you, after all this I still love you."
"I didn't want any of this to happen either," Josette said weakly. She hadn't been this close to him since she discovered that she loved Jeremiah. She felt herself losing control of herself, how could she not want him to hold her.
"I should have told you about Angélique, but I was afraid. I love you Josette," he leaned forward to kiss her, but she pulled away.
"Its too late Barnabas. I'm married to Jeremiah, and I love him. We can never be alone together," she said beginning to cry.
"What's going on," Jeremiah said coming upon them.
Barnabas moved away from the wall, "I was just talking to her."
"I want you to stay away from my wife, or, I'll," Jeremiah said with teeth clenched.
"Or you'll what? Where do you get off threatening me? I wasn't the one who stole the woman you loved away."
"Look," Jeremiah began, but Josette interrupted him.
"Stop, please," she sobbed.
"No, we're going to finish this. This might be an primordial ritual of the past, but I think it might be the only way we can solve this," Jeremiah said, "I challenge you to a duel."
"I accept," Barnabas said.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Isn't there anything you can do," Naomi asked her husband the night before the duel was to take place.
Joshua placed his hands on her shoulders and looked at her reflection in the mirror, "I wish there was, but Jeremiah can't be convinced. And Barnabas, you know how he is when he agrees to something," Joshua sighed.
"We have to do something," Naomi said turning to her husband.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Are you sure you want to go through with this," Ben asked the two men.
"Yes," Jeremiah said strongly.
"Yes," said Barnabas with something of regret in his voice, he loved his uncle, but he was still in love with Josette, after everything he couldn't deny it any longer to himself, she was his soul mate. She made him a whole person.
If anyone outside the family knew about this no one was doing anything about it, the people of Collinsport had learned a long time ago to ignore what happened on the house on the hill. Though nothing like this had ever occurred.
"You get to choose the weapons," Ben said to Barnabas. "Don't do this," he whispered.
"I have to Ben, wouldn't you if you were given no choice?"
"No I would try and move on."
"I choose the guns Ben," Barnabas said.
Josette stood on the top step that lead down to the pool, her father and aunt stood by her side. Joshua and Naomi stood nearby; they were holding each other tightly. Angélique watched from the window from up stairs. She could not let Barnabas die, she watched as Ben gave each of the men the guns, and the bullet. When he handed Barnabas the bullet, she saw Ben take back the bullet and put it in his pocket, they seemed to be talking about something. She called to Ben she had to know what Barnabas said.
"Ben I will not have the death of my uncle on my head. I don't want my sister afraid of me, and I don't want my family ashamed of me. If I have to lose Josette then so be it, maybe then she will realize what we had together," Barnabas said.
"But," Ben started.
"Don't stop me Ben, I think it's better this way," and he took his place.
Naomi turned her head away as the duel began. Both guns were raised, and Barnabas gave his uncle a sad smile, as if he were saying good-bye.
Angèlique blew in the direction of Barnabas' gun, and whispered a spell "Truly sees your dragon eyes, all that dwells beneath the skies, help me save Barnabas' life today."
After she spoke the words both guns fired, Barnabas was shaken he knew that the barrel was empty Ben had his bullet. He looked threw the smoke and saw Jeremiah fall to the ground.
"No," he cried running forward.
Josette screamed and ran to him, "Don't touch him," and then screamed in French, "Meurtrier, vous l'avez détruit, vous avez détruit le seul homme que j'aimerai jamais."*
Barnabas stood back stunned he dropped the gun, and began to cry. Naomi took him into her arms like she had done when he was a boy. She watched Joshua as he checked on his brother. When he looked up she saw that he was dead. What was happening to her family?
*translated-(Murderer, you killed him, you killed the only man I will ever love
Chapter 18
The funeral for Jeremiah Collins was held the following Sunday. It had been quite some time since a Collins died. There were crowds on the streets in front of the church. Reporters from all over the country came to cover the funeral. Jeremiah was always a favorite, when he was young he got into a lot of scraps and his father, Isaac Collins had always gotten him out of trouble, but after his death Jeremiah had changed.
The family told everyone that Jeremiah had died in a hunting accident. Joshua had told this to everyone in the household, and if anyone were to say otherwise then they would be dealt with accordingly.
Many people thought it was strange that Barnabas didn't attend the funeral, since the two had been so close, but that was also covered by Joshua.
Josette was the perfect portrait of the mourning widow, black veil covering her face, leaning on her father's shoulder.
Back at Collinwood, Angèlique sits in her room, she feels bad about Jeremiah's death, but she had to save Barnabas. Josette would never forget Jeremiah, so she had nothing to worry about.
Angèlique stood up and looked at herself in the mirror. She patted her hair down and made her way to Barnabas' room.
She knocked on his door, "Come in," he said.
"It's me Barnabas," she said as she walked in.
"What do you want Angèlique?" he asked.
"Are you okay?"
"No I'm not," he said, she saw the heartbreaking look in his eyes.
"Oh Barnabas, can I do anything for you. I hate to see you like this."
"There's nothing you or anyone else can do, I killed my uncle. You know the funny thing is I know that I didn't have any bullets in my gun so how did I kill him?"
"Maybe there was a bullet already in the gun?"
"I looked."
"Please Barnabas, you need to forget about what happened, just remember what you had with him. Remember the good times, that's all you can do."
"Angèlique how can you still be by my side after all I've done to you, how can you?"
"It's because I love you and I know that you didn't mean to do it," she said kneeling before him and looking into his eyes. "I love you Barnabas, I'll always love you," she said leaning up and kissing him.
"How can you still? After all that I've done to you?"
"I don't know, I just know that I can't imagine my life with out you," she said.
Barnabas said nothing, he looked into the fire and thought, Josette would never love him again. He had lost her, and she made it perfectly clear that she didn't want to see him anymore. He couldn't wait for her forever.
Angèlique still loved him after all that he put her through she was still there. And maybe he would grow to love her again.
"Angèlique I know I have no right to ask you this, but would you marry me?"
She looked surprised, but a huge smile lit up her face. "Yes, I will marry you Barnabas."
The news of Barnabas' engagement was a big surprise to the family.
"Are you sure that you want to marry this girl? It's only been a month since the wedding was canceled," Joshua said in his office.
Barnabas looked at his father, "Yes I think I need to move on, and I think that my relationship with Angèlique will help me forget about Josette."
"Do you love her?"
"In time I think I will love her," Barnabas said after awhile.
"Do you think that is fair?" Joshua asked.
"Perhaps not, but there's nothing I can do now."
The wedding was going to be held in two weeks. Angèlique could hardly believe that she was finally going to marry Barnabas. Naomi was kind enough to help her find a dress. It wasn't the one that she would have wanted, but since it was on such short notice it was all that was left.
The decorations that hadn't been put up for Barnabas' wedding to Josette were used, and though not as many people came to this wedding, she was proud of it.
"Do you Angèlique Bouchard take Barnabas Collins to be your husband?" asked Reverend Trask asked.
"I do," Angèlique said.
"And do you Barnabas Collins take Angèlique Bouchard to be you wife?"
Barnabas looked into Angèlique's face; he saw all the hope she had carried over the past two months. He could feel Josette's eyes on him; she felt nothing for him.
"I do," he said.
"You may now kiss the bride," Reverend Trask announced. Barnabas kissed Angèlique hesitantly.
The audience clapped for the couple. The party didn't last as long as Angèlique would have liked, but she felt as if she was accepted into the Collins family.
Josette's friends were still staying at Collinwood; they stayed by Josette's side. They didn't really understand what happened. They were sure that Barnabas and Josette would have gotten back together again. No matter what Josette said.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Although the honeymoon was less than she would have hoped for, Angèlique was happy to be back with the man she loved. She had waited so long for him to come back to her.
She had hoped they would move into the house Barnabas bought, but he told her that he was thinking of selling it.
"Who are you going to sell it to?" she asked.
"Josette, she doesn't want to go back to France, and she doesn't want to stay in Collinwood either. I think it would be the perfect place for her," he told her.
Angèlique agreed, he was still thinking of her, no matter what Josette did or said, Barnabas would never forget her. He had married her, but he hardly looked at her during their honeymoon and even less since they returned.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ben walked into Barnabas' office the following Monday, he was aggravated that Angèlique had choose Barnabas after all that he had done for her. He wished he could tell Barnabas exactly what kind of woman he married, but he couldn't every time he opened his mouth to tell Barnabas, he lost his voice. He had to find some way to tell Barnabas the truth.