Subj: Quentin's Thoughts and Barnabas' Demise VIII
Date: 5/21/99 8:51:31 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Mysterious Millicent
Quentin's Thoughts and Barnabas' Demise VIII
Petofi's place near the mill........
Petofi rummaged through the cabinet, leafing through paper after paper. For almost 30 minutes he went through every parchment he had. Then he stood up and glared into space. {Gone! The Agreement is Gone! }
"So, my dear Miranda! It is you that chooses to interfere again! You will regret this, I promise you!" Petofi went to the door, opening it to find Aristede pacing in the main room. He turned as he saw the Count coming out. Petofi did not look happy and Aristede feared he was in trouble.
"What is it Excellency?"
Petofi walked over to the corner to retrieve his cloak from the rack and putting it on left in haste up the stairs. Aristede watched his master leave, wondering where he was going. But it didn't take much time to figure that one out. He knew if he followed Petofi he would only arouse his anger. And he had a pretty good idea where he was headed.
And yet, Aristede believed in his heart that Beth was in trouble. Whether his master liked it or not, he was not staying around. He had to make sure Beth was not in danger! And he grabbed his cloak and ran up the stairs and out the door.
It wasn't long before he had come to the grounds of Collinwood. As he continued to walk he kept thinking about his master. He was very angry about something. What was it?
"He is angry because he knows who is ruining his plans!" a voice said behind him.
Aristede swung around rapidly and came face to face
with the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She stood a short distance away
from him, and he
long golden tresses glowed in the sunlight. She was breathtaking, wearing a
long gown of red velvet with black inlays on the sleeves and very low cut neckline.
Her neck was adorned with a spider's weave of silver chains from which a large
crescent moon dangled loosely. In her hair was a small golden tiara, that gave
her the look of royality. Her face was an ivory tone, with high cheek-bones
and her full lips that curved upwards in an inviting smile. But the most striking
feature about her were her large blue eyes that seemed to look right through
you. Aristede was spell bound ....... and speechless to the point where he forgot
his manners, and the irritation that she had stopped him from a mission. He
simply gazed at her in awe.
The woman walked slowly towards him and he could smell her perfume, that of mint. He was lost in the aroma and wanted nothing more than to embrace her. When she spoke he thought he was in a room full of angels. And all he could think of was kissing those full, lucious lips!
The woman broke this spell abruptly. "Where are you going Aristede?"
For a second, he was taken off guard, but managed to gain his composure quick enough and said, "I am on an errand for my master."
The woman smiled, "Oh, Aristede! Shame on you. You shouldn't lie, especially not to me." She backed away from him a bit and then said more seriously, "Your master has gone to see the old gypsy woman hasn't he?"
"I don't know where he went. He left without telling me." Aristede managed to reply.
Angelique smiled again. "It doesn't matter. What does matter is that you need my help."
At this Aristede suddenly came back to himself and realized where he was and why he was here. "Your help? I don't need anyone's help. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
"I see. And what will you do when your master realizes that you are not home and have left him? What will he do to you?" Angelique prodded.
Aristede shifted on his feet uncomfortably. He looked back at the woman and said, "Who are you? What do you want with me?"
Angelique smiled and said, "I already told you. I'm
here to help you Aristede." She then began to
walk away from him and said over her shoulder, "Come! we
have much to do!"
Aristede hesitated for a moment and then shrugged
his shoulders and began
to follow this beautiful woman.
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Collinsport Inn
Lady Greystone knew before the knock that it was her old adversary. She smiled and went to the door. "Andre, what a pleasant surprise!"
Petofi did not laugh. He was not in the mood to battle wits now! Coming into the room hastily he wheeled around and said, "Did you know she was here?"
Lady Greystone's smile left and she looked at Petofi bewildered. "Who?"
Petofi now, was able to smile. He had finally managed to know something first! "So, you don't know do you?"
It was now Lady Greystone's turn to be annoyed. "Who are you talking about? Someone I should........." She looked away for a few seconds and then back at Petofi. "No! That cannot be! I was sure that she was gone!"
"Apparently we were both mistaken!" Petofi replied. And then the smile left his face as well.
"How dare she come back! She should know better than to try to match wits with me!" Lady Greystone said in anger. "What is she up to?"
"You know perfectly well what she is up to!" Petofi said in irritation. "She thinks she can defeat me...... " and he added reluctantly, " ..... and you."
"Yes. Of course." Lady Greystone said as her thoughts went back to many years ago, to that of a beautiful, blonde woman that had managed to steal Lord Greystone away from her and begin many of her current problems. Not to mention what Andre had done to her as well. But the blonde woman was crafty, and quite good in the black arts. She was indeed a formidable foe.
Finally, Lady Greystone looked at Petofi. Sad as it was she had to admit it. For once, they needed each other if they ever intended to get rid of her. "Andre, I think it is time that we pool our resources. Wouldn't you agree?"
Petofi looked at Lady Greystone for a few minutes and then slowly nodded his head. He too did not like the idea of working with the woman who was responsible for causing major pain for him. But he also knew that alone, he would not be strong enough to fight her. "Yes, my dear I do agree."
"Together we will defeat Miranda duVal once and for all!"