Subj: Quentin's Thoughts and Barnabas' Demise XVII
Date: 5/27/99 11:44:29 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Mysterious Millicent
Quentin's Thoughts and Barnabas' Demise XVII
Colllinwood...........
"Aristede, what happened? What did I do? I don't remember anything!" Beth said as she sat on the sofa sipping on the wine.
"What a shame. I do wish you remembered some of this." Aristede said with a smile.
Beth looked at him in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
Aristede smiled and said nothing. Then he put his hand on Beth's cheek and said softly, "Don't worry Beth, nothing really happened. You just weren't acting quite right, and I wasn't really sure it was you. All that happened is that we were talking here in the drawing room about Jamison when Julianka knocked at the door."
Beth suddenly started to rise from the sofa. "Jamison!"
Aristede rose quickly and looking at Beth said, "What is it?"
Beth began to stagger a bit still weak from collapasing earlier. "Jamison, Aristede! Please go check on Jamison. He might be in danger!"
At first, Aristede was not sure he should leave Beth.
And he was not sure but that this might not be a trick of Petofi, or Tabitha,
or even Angelique. But he also knew that it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Alright Beth, I will check on Jamison. You sit here and rest. I will take care
of it." And Beth nodded. She sat back down slowly as Aristede
walked out the drawing room door and ran up the stairs.
{Jamison! I must make sure he is alright. It is my responsibility!} Beth rose to walk towards the door, when she again began to stagger. Slowly, she got her balance and then stood straight and erect.
Walking towards the front door, she grabbed her cloak and putting it on, looked up the stairs and smiled. Then she quickly left out the front door.
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Woods near the Old House...........
Julianka walked through the woods towards the town of Collinsport with her treasure tucked safely under her arm. She must get back to the camp. King Johnny would be very proud of her for securing the hand so quickly. He would realize that she indeed was capable of doing a task assigned to her. And she knew that her great-grandmother would be very proud of her.
As she walked she began to get an uneasy feeling that
she was in danger. She stopped and looked all around her. The woods were thick
in this area and it was difficult to even see the moonlight here, even though
the moon was full. She peered into the darkness and said, "Who's there?" But
no one replied. She stayed very still for a few minutes and listened
carefully. All she heard were the chirping of the crickets and the occasional
rustling the leaves as a gentle wind passed by. But still, she felt uneasy.
Once more, she continued her journey towards town. And again, she stopped. Looking all about her, she again saw nothing, but stood for a few minutes to listen intently. This happened several times until suddenly the figure of a woman appeared a little ways away from her. Or was it a mere apparation? It looked like a shadow in the night. But the forest was so thick here she couldn't be sure. "Who is there?" She called out. No reply.
Again she called out, "Who is there?" Again, no reply!. She was about to move forward when a voice called out behind her. "Who are you?"
Julianka wheeled around to see another woman, a tall woman, who looked vaguely familiar. She peered into the darkness and tried to make out who the woman was. There was a stronger force of wind and the trees blew open a slit to the sky above and the moon cast it's light on the face of the woman who Julianka had seen at Collinwood.
Beth walked slowly towards her. "Oh it is you, Julianka! What are you doing here? I thought you were going to the Old House?"
Julianka replied. "I've been to the Old House. I got what I came for. I am going back to the gypsy camp! Please, let me go on my way."
Beth started towards Julianka, but then she grabbed her head and started to sway as if she was going to faint. Julianka began to walk towards Beth when she felt somthing sharp hit her back. The pain was so fierce that she bowed forward and crumpled in pain. The action caused her to drop the wooden box and she fell to the ground writhing in pain. Once more a sharp pain was felt in her back, and she screamed in pain before collapsing into the ground.
A figure picked up the wooden box and clutched it to her breast. She looked at Beth who was still weaving slightly and said, "You have served me well this time Beth Chavez." And then walking away swiftly, she called out behind her, "I release you." And then she disappeared into the night.
Beth slowly stopped weaving and suddenly was able to breathe normally. She shook her head to shake the disorientation feeling from her and then she looked down at her feet. Julianka lay there, motionless, blood oozing from a wound in her back. Beth bent down and felt the woman's body. She was not breathing. And feeling the woman's wrist, she could detect no pulse. Beth formed the word NO and getting up slowly looked around not knowing exactly what to do! Then she did the only thing she could, she ran for Collinwood. She would get Aristede.
Shortly after she left, two figures came into the area. They walked over to Julianka's motionless body and the man bent down and felt Julianka's arm. Rising to his feet he proclaimed that the woman was dead.
The woman walked over to the body and said, "Now we have reason to inform King Johnny Romano!" And they suddenly vanished into thin air.