Subj: Quentin's Thoughts and Barnabas' Demise XIII
Date: 5/26/99 10:28:21 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Mysterious Millicent
Quentin's Thoughts and Barnabas' Demise XIII
Along the beach below Widow's Hill.......
The caped figure walked swiftly along the sand, the material billowing in the evening wind. The full moon cast a small path of light along the top of the water, which was somewhat calm on this night. The figure stopped for a brief moment to look at the sea and then up at the moon, before continuing on.
In a few minutes, the figure disappeared in a cave in the rocks that formed the fortress of the Collins estate from the sometimes violent ocean. Going inside the cave she pulled the cape hood away from her face and threw it down her back. She walked a bit further inside, following the light that grew steadily brighter. Slowly she came to a larger area of the cave that was brightly lit. Four torches on stands stood around a catafalque on which rested a coffin.
Walking slowly over to the coffin, the woman put out
her hands and ran them over the surface. "My love. Now you sleep. But soon you
will wake and live again. So much time has gone by. Do you remember? The times
that we loved? The nights in Martinique when the air smelled sweet and the music
filled the air. The cool nights we walked along the beach and the hot passionate
nights we made love. Do you remember?" Angelique walked around the coffin with
her right hand gently running along the top of the coffin as if in a caress.
"If only you had not been such a fool! We could have had so much, my love. If
you had only given me a chance." And suddenly, she removed her hand and turned
away from the coffin. Pulling her cloak
closer about her, she said in anger, "But you only had eyes for your precious
Josette! She and she alone was the only one you seemed to see. And I was merely
to be a carpet beneath your feet!" Then her face softened.
She turned around and walked back towards the coffin, once again placing her hands on the top. "I understand now, my love. And this time it will be different. I will show you that I can be forgiving and I can help others and not only think of myself. I want only to please you and to be near you!" By this time she had come around to the head of the coffin. "I want to help you Barnabas Collins, and be with you forever as your wife. And we can indeed be happy."
Angelique put her hands at the edge of the coffin top and slowly opened it. Inside lay Barnabas, fangs showing from under his upper lip. A large stake protruded from his chest. Angelique smiled. "Barnabas, my love. The time has come for you to help your family." And she giggled. "And they will indeed be surprised when they find you are not destroyed! When Pansy Faye staked you, she thought that she had destroyed you. And that arrogant Edward thought he had removed all evidence of you by pouring gasolene all over the coffin and setting it on fire!" Again she laughed. "They thought they had outsmarted the monster that had told them he was a cousin. Cousin indeed! A very OLD cousin!"
Angelique put her hand on Barnabas' face, and couldn't help but think about how handsome he was, even in this state. She smiled and said, "But they didn't count on me did they? They didn't know that I would always protect you from anything anyone would do."
Angelique moved to the large stake in Barnabas' chest and put her hands on it. With one swift movement she removed the stake, and threw it on the floor. "And now, my love, awake and come back to me. Arise Barnabas Collins and come to the aid of your family. Arise!"
Slowly Barnabas' eyes opened and he looked around him before his eyes fell on Angelique. "You! I should have known it would be you!" And he moved swiftly out of the coffin and placed the lid back.
Angelique smiled at Barnabas and fought to control the sensual urges within. "You are indeed one handsome man, my love."
Barnabas looked at Angelique in anger. "Love? You do not know what the word means Angelique!" And he started to leave. But something stopped him. Something he felt in Angelique. It was softer, more feminine, more understanding, and he piqued his curiousity. He slowly turned around. Looking at her in the firelight, she was indeed beautiful. He smiled and thought at first to go to her and enjoy the pleasures she possessed. But he stopped and stared at her. What game was she playing this time?
"No game, Barnabas, I assure you. I brought you back so you can help you family. Quentin is in much trouble. Only you can save him!"
A crooked smile crossed Barnabas' lips and he said sarcastically, "Since when does my family's welfare concern you, Angelique?"
Angelique fought her urge to fight, and said as softly and with as much concern as she could. "Since I realized something you had always been trying to tell me, Barnabas. You are right, I was always thinking of myself. I only cared about what I wanted and gave no thought to you or your family." She turned away from him.
"That is very interesting Angelique, and I really don't believe you." But there was something in her manner that caused him to think otherwise. What was she up to? Angelique always had a motive and reason that would only satisfy her whim of the time. But there was something different here.
"I don't expect you to believe me, or to even care. But Barnabas, if you care for Quentin, you must listen to me." She turned around to face him and said softly, "please."
Barnabas felt a pang of pity and love for this woman. This woman who had so many times caused him pain beyond reason. Caused him suffering that he was never quite sure how he was able to cope with. The woman who had indirectly been responsible for many people who he loved dearly, his mother, his sister, his cousin, his love, Josette! But something caused him to want to hear what she had to say.
"Very well, Angelique, I will listen. But I warn you. Do not take advantage of my weakness at this time. I can still cause you grief as well you know!"
Angelique smiled and said, "Yes, I know Barnabas."
Angelique filled Barnabas in on all that had happened since his disappearance. And she began to tell him of the story of Tabitha and Petofi, and the situation that Quentin was in. She told him of the powers of Petofi and the gypsy and how they planned to get to Quentin. Barnabas listened intently and with concern. When she finished he realized that Quentin was indeed way over his head and in need of much help.
He looked at Angelique and said, "If these two have as much power as you claim, then how pray tell do you think we are going to stop them?"
Angelique smiled at Barnabas and said, "There is a way. But I will need your help." She told Barnabas of how she planned to stop them, and when he heard, Barnabas raised an eyebrow and then slowly began to smile. "Yes, that will indeed work."
He walked over to Angelique and put his finger under her chin. {So beautiful, you are so very beautiful, .......... and so deadly! Can I trust you?} He smiled and said, "I think you have a very good plan here Angelique, but I must ask. What do you want?"
Angelique lowered her head for a moment and then looked back at Barnabas. She looked deeply into his eyes and said softly, "Your forgiveness. That is all I want."
Barnabas backed away from her in disgust. "I should have known, another trick!' But again, something tugged at him. Something he couldn't deny. He could sense with his vampire powers that she was indeed sincere. Something he had not sensed from her in the centuries he had known her. He turned around again and saw Angelique looking at him, tears in her big blue eyes. His face turned soft and he walked back to her. "Angelique, have you changed? You don't seem the same. What has changed you?"
"The loss of your love." Angelique replied and for the first time in many centuries, she began to cry softly.
Barnabas took Angelique into his arms and held her. "I did not know that witches can cry?"
Angelique sobbed softly and then said, "Witches DO have feelings just as any other mortal, Barnabas. We can feel sorrow, sad, and.........love."
Barnabas loosened his hold and lifted up Angelique's
face to meet his. He looked deeply into those beautiful eyes and said, "I am
sorry Angelique that we have fought each other all these years. Perhaps it is
time to put
all that behind us and start again."
Angelique looked at Barnabas with longing in her eyes and he felt the longing as well. Bending down, he kissed her on the lips. Those soft, full lips that had always been so inviting. But this time, there was something that had not been there before. Love. And Barnabas too, was overcome.