Subj: Quentin's Thoughts and Barnabas' Demise II
Date: 5/15/99 11:26:04 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Mysterious Millicent

Quentin's Thoughts and Barnabas' Demise II

He walked slowly towards the mist and held out his hand. "Angelique! I knew you would come!"

Quentin took Angelique in his arms and held her, caressing her and running his hand through her long golden tresses. She smelled of the scent of mint, and was ever so soft and pliable in his arms. "Angelique, " he whispered, "Why have you been away so long?"

Angelique broke from the embrace, put her hand on Quentin's face and smiled. Then she turned around and walked toward the fireplace. "Quentin, I came back to warn you. You are in trouble."

Quentin looked at Angelique and thought, {I know that already!} But now that Angelique had come back and he was with her again he felt more confident and less lonely. And his cocky and self-assured air returned. He walked towards her and turned her around to face him. Putting his hand under her cheek and lifting her face upward to his, he gazed into those big, beautiful blue eyes. {'So beautiful, so very beautiful} was all he could think of when she was near. "Whatever the problem is, my Angelique I will not be caught!"

Angelique pulled away from Quentin in a bit of disgust and said sternly, "Quentin Collins you are such a fool! You think money and gestures of love will get you anywhere! You have no idea the danger you are about to involve yourself !"

Quentin, now alerted to the anger in Angelique's voice said softly, "I'm sorry." He lowered his head as a small child who had been severly reprimanded by his mother and stood there solemnly waiting for Angelique's response.

She turned back towards him intending to continue the assault, but thought better of it when she saw the defeated man who stood before her. She smiled, and then said quietly.

"I came here to tell you that there is another woman in Collinsport who is going to cause a great deal of trouble for you. Her name is Tabitha and she is very knowledgeable in the black arts.. You must avoid her at all costs, for she will destroy you."

With that last phrase, her voice had risen slightly and Quentin was now looking directly at Angelique. "Who is she? Where did she come from?"

"You will have to find out that for yourself Quentin. But be warned, stay away from her." Angelique turned away for a minute and then said, "And this hand you have heard of. What do you know of it?"

Quentin walked to the chair and sat down. "Not much really. I overheard talk in town of the famous magical hand. Magda has gone to......"

Angelique turned around in anger, "That stupid Gypsy. Why do you listen to her. She is the one who got you in this mess to begin with! Oh Quentin, will you never learn?" And with this, Angelique stood there a few minutes watching Quentin and then she began to fade from his sight.

Quentin rose and walked towards her, "Angelique, don't go! Please don't go!"

But the form that was once human began to fade into a glowing light. As the light began to grow dimmer, Quentin heard Angelique's voice say, in that tone which demanded attention she had used so often, "Remember all that I have told you. You have been warned! Use the knowledge wisely Quentin!" And then the mist was gone!

Quentin stood there in the dim light of the candle puzzled by what had just happened. Angelique had come and seemed genuinely wanting to help him, and yet she spurned him again! And who was this Tabitha she referred to? He had several friends in town and no one had spoken of a Tabitha.

He walked over to the desk and then he quickly stood up, put on his coat and started out the door.

{I will ask Beth. If she doesn know, she will find out for me.} He left out the door and in a few seconds after he left the mist returned. Angelique appeared and walked slowly over to the desk. She placed a rolled up piece of parchment tied with a ribbon on his desk. She smiled and thought, {think! Much more indeed!} And then she vanished for the second time that night.