Subj: Where Are the Angels? Chapter 42
Date: 8/12/01 3:56:39 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Melissa

The old man behind the counter smiled as Josette walked into the used bookstore.

"Can I help you?" the man asked.

"Yes I'm looking for some books about the vampire myth," Josette told the man.

"Those would be in the occult section, right over there," he said pointing to the back corner.

"Thank you," she said and walked back to the section. She had to know if there was anything that she could do; maybe she could find a way to cure Barnabas, if only she had thought of this earlier.

There were eight books about vampires. She didn't have the time to look through them all. She took them all up to the counter.

"Find what you were looking for?" the man asked her.

"I hope so," she replied.

The man totaled up the books and told her the amount. Josette took out her checkbook and wrote him a check.

"Thank you," the man said handing her the bag of books.

At home Josette settled down on the sofa in her room and looked through the books. Every book told her how to kill a vampire, and how to protect yourself against on, but so far none told her how to cure a person of vampirism.

"Damn-it," she cried throwing a book to the floor. She looked down at the book, and saw the page it opened to. Curing a Vampire. She grabbed the book and began to read.

"Curing a vampire is nearly impossible. The only one that can cure the vampire is the one that infected him or her. Once the one is destroyed, the vampire will be human once again.

Josette set the book down. Why hadn't she thought of this before? She took the book and went to find Joshua.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Joshua sat at his desk in his office; the situation was getting no better. Not that he really thought it would, but it would be nice if it were to get a bit better.

"Mr. Collins," Linda said over the intercom, breaking the silence.

"Yes Linda," he said.

"Josette Collins is here to see you sir."

"Send him in," Joshua said.

A few seconds later Josette walked into his office. There was a look of excitement on her face.

"What is it Josette?" he asked.

"Look what I found," she said handing him the book, opened to the page. He read it, "What do you think?" she asked him excitedly.

"I think it's too bad that we didn't find this sooner," he said. He closed the book and looked at the cover. "Where did you get this book anyway."

"Collinsport Used Books," she said.

"We have to find a way to destroy Angèlique," he said. "We know she isn't dead?"

"Because Barnabas would no longer be a vampire if she were dead."

"But Barnabas killed her," Josette said.

"She didn't die," Joshua said, "There is only one way that she can be killed, and that is the one thing that we need to find out."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Back in her rooms in Collinwood Josette sat back to think. She could have changed all that happened if she had gone to that bookstore. But how could they kill Angèlique? She was so strong.

There was another matter that they would have to think about now. If they were able to cure Barnabas how could they explain it to everyone?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Good-bye Mama," Naomi said.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay any longer? I can, I'll just cancel my plans," Jacqueline said to her daughter.

"No Mama," Naomi told her. "I promise you I'm doing much better, ask Joshua."

"I have, he thinks you are doing better, but he is as worried about you as I am," her mother said.

"Mama, I'm going to be fine, I have Joshua, he's been wonderful. I don't think I could have ever made it if I didn't have him."

"I know you're very lucky to have a man like him," Jacqueline said.

"Thank you Mama," Naomi said.

"Call me if you need anything," she told her daughter as they walked to the car that would be taking her to the airport.

Naomi hugged her mother as the driver was putting the bags in the trunk. Joshua's car pulled up in the driveway.

"Are you going already?" he asked.

"Yes it is time that I go," she told him.

"Let me help you," Joshua said, "thank you for coming. You helped Naomi so much."

"Take care of her Joshua. I'm still not sure if she is doing as well as she says she is."

"I will, I know what you mean. I know that she has been doing a lot better since Josette told us about the baby."

"Yes, well call me if she needs anything," Jacqueline said.

"I will," Joshua said kissing her cheek, and helped her into the car.

He stepped back and put an arm around Naomi, "How are you feeling?"

"Better, I am a bit relieved that she's gone. I am grateful that she came, but I don't think I could have taken it another moment with her in this house."

Joshua smiled and kissed her forehead. "Josette said that she wasn't going to be here for dinner tonight."

"Oh yes she said that she was going to go into town for dinner with her friends."

"It's nice that they are here for her. She's very lucky that Therésè has come here to live."