Subj: Quentin's Thoughts and Barnabas' Demise VII
Date: 5/21/99 11:52:48 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Mysterious Millicent
Quentin's Thoughts and Barnabas' Demise VII
Petofi's place near the mill.......
"Something is happening at Colllinwood! Something that I must know!"
Petofi walked over to a cabinet that had several parchments of paper and began to rummage through them. Suddenly, he turned and looked at Aristede. "What are you still doing here? Leave me!"
Aristede stood up abruptly and bowing low replied, "Yes, Excellency!" He quickly walked to the door and shut it behind him, leaving Petofi still shuffling through a mound of papers. {What in the world was that all about? What is going on? I wish I could leave. I am sure Beth is in trouble. But if I do, his Excellency will surely punish me.} And Aristede walked over to the cabinet and poured himself some brandy. Then he walked over to the setee and sat down, waiting for Petofi to come out and tell him what his "new orders" were.
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Woods near Collinwood...........
Rachel continued to run through the woods. She glanced back several times to see if anyone was following her. She had left the school in secret and had been very careful that no one saw her. Since the death of Tim Shaw, her dear friend, she had been extremely careful. She had to warn Edward Collins again of the danger Nora and Jamison were in. She had to find a way to get him to realize how important it was to get them away from Rev. Trask and his "training" before it was too late.
She continued to run through the forest when she stumbled and almost fell on someone. Catching her balance, she looked down and saw a man lying there with blood all over his tattered and torn clothing. He was moaning softly, so she knew he was still alive. Her eyes grew larger when she saw who it was. She kneeled down beside him and lifted his head slightly.
"Mr. Collins! Mr. Collins!"
Quentin slowly opened his eyes and peered into face before him. It took him a few minutes to focus. Then he realized who it was. "Miss Drummond," he said softly, and his lips curved into a slight smile.
"Are you alright? Where are you hurt?" Rachel said as she began to check his clothing to see where his wounds were. She managed to see a few large scratches before Quentin suddenly pulled away from her and managed to get to a standing position.
He stumbled towards one of the trees and holding on to it for balance glanced back at Rachel who by this time had stood up and was coming towards him. "No, don't come near me!"
"But you are hurt! Let me help you!" Rachel said as she slowly advanced.
Quentin replied, "I am alright! I am fine. Just a few scratches." And he turned away and started to walk towards Collinwood.
Rachel walked swiftly towards him. "You must be hurt more than a few scratches to have that much blood on you, Mr. Collins! Please let me help you!" And she continued to advance towards Quentin.
Quentin turned around and started to shout at her, but when he saw the look of genuine concern on her face he softened his voice. "Alright, Miss Drummond. But I tell you I am fine. I am not sure what happened. But beyond a few scratches, I am sure I am fine."
Rachel smiled and realized that Quentin was too fatigued and hurt to really talk and needed to have his wounds tended to and get rest. So she dropped any inquiries that she had at the moment. She put her arms around his waist and his arm around her neck and tried to support him as much as she could.
Quentin was touched by this woman's considerateness. And even though he knew that the blood was not his, but someone else's and the guilt would haunt him for a long time, he still was glad to have someone's help. If only to have company.
As they walked towards Collinwood, Rachel's thoughts drifted to the night she almost lost her life. She had come to the crypt in search of Tim, to warn him that his escape was known, only to find a coffin. When she opened it the coffin lay a man she had seen only once. It was Dirk Wilkins, eyes closed, mouth slightly open revealing two large fangs with blood leaking around the lips! She gasped. What was this? It was a few minutes later that Judith appeared and began to talk to her. She was acting very strange and seemed to know a great deal about Dirk. She seemed to be protecting him. She suddenly raised a pistol and aimed it at Rachel. But at that moment Tim had returned and seeing what was happening had grabbed the pistol from Judith dropping it to the foor. And taking a piece of wood he found on the floor with a jagged edge he place the wood over the body of Dirk and stabbed the body. Dirk's eyes opened and he screamed and began to writhe in pain and anguish. Blood began to gush from the wound as Tim pushed the stake in deeper. Then Rachel looked up and saw Judith bend down and reach for the pistol. In one swift motion she pointed the pistol at Tim and shot him in the head. Tim staggered away from the coffin and then looking at Rachel and reaching out his hand, slowly slumped to the floor. Judith, looking at the pistol, then at Tim and then at Rachel, dropped the pistol and turned around and fled out the door. Rachel went over to Tim and lifting his head realized that he was gone from her forever. Just like her father. She bent her head and wept bitterly.
Some time after this, Edward had appeared and seeing what happened, tried his best to comfort Rachel. He had brought her to Collinwood and saw to it that a rich and very memorable funeral had been given for Tim. Edward, feeling responsible for the death of Tim, had gone to Trask and seen to it that Rachel's debt was paid and that Rachel was released from her bond. But Trask had gone back on his word and insisted that Rachel remain at the school. Unfortunately, there was little that Edwards could do, for if he went against Trask, he would surely turn Judith in. And the facts regarding Dirk would have also been exposed causing more "problems" for the Collins Family.
But Rachel knew that now she must tell Edward about the children. And she must see to it that Quentin was taken care of as well. The poor man. What had happened to him this night? Was it the results of that mysterious beast that everyone in town kept talking about?
Quentin also was deep in thought. {Who had he killed this night? Or was the victim of his curse lying in the woods somewhere bleeding to death?} He shook his head once to try not to think about this. And he looked at Rachel who had tightened her grip around his waist. {Rachel, you risk your very life to protect and help me. And yet, I can't help but be very grateful to you. You have such kindness. I must keep you safe from my curse! }
And the two walked on towards Collinwood as the first rays of the sun began to slip over the horizon and spread faint colors into the sky above.