Subj: Winds of Change Part 3
Date: 6/25/99 12:56:29 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Mysterious Millicent

Winds of Change Part 3

"Yes, Father. I am alive. The victim of a witches curse!" Barnabas replied to his Father's exclamation!

"What has Miss Winters done to you son? How is this possible?"

"The witch placed the curse of the living dead onto Barnabas, Joshua. He is doomed to walk the night taking the blood of the living. He can have no peace and no rest. He will be like this for all eternity!" Abigail said.

"No. The attacks in the village! Did you do that my son? Did you kill all those women?" Joshua said in an almost whisper

Barnabas lowered his head and said, "Yes, Father."

Then Joshua turned around and said, "Then you must remove yourself, my son. You will only do others more harm. And ..... your mother, what will she say?"

Barnabas looked up and walked over to his father. "Look at me, Father!"

Joshua turned around and looked into the face of his son. Barnabas smiled widely to reveal the fangs and those piercing red eyes. "I am a vampire Father! I must have the blood of the living to survive. I cannot be killed because I am already dead. Can't you see that?"

Joshua now began to understand. He had heard the word vampire, long ago from talk of the superstitious people in the village. He had always thought this was merely due to fear and lack of education. But now, after seeing the son he watched die and buried himself standing before him, he had to accept the truth.

"My son. I will find a way to cure you. And you must let me hide you so that you do not attack anymore villagers. Also...."and the next he said in an almost whipser.."to hide you from your mother. This would kill her!

Barnabas looked at his father and said, "Father I will try to do as you ask, but my survival depends upon the blood of the living. I cannot change what I am."

Joshua thought for a moment and then said, "I will find a way to help you, Barnabas and keep you alive. I will not lose you again, to that witch, Miss Winters!"

"Father, I will do what you ask, if you will do something for me." Barnabas replied. "I will go wherever you wish me to go and I will not go into the village, if you will see to it that Miss Winters is freed!"

"Barnabas! How can you say that? She is the reason you are like you are!" Joshua said in anger.

Barnabas's eyes glowed red and blazed with anger. "No Father! Miss Winters is an innocent young girl. Angelique, my wife was the witch! She put this spell on me because she lusted for me. She put a spell on Jeremiah and Josette and made them fall in love, and I killed my own Uncle out of pride and arrogance. She is the one who killed Sarah, and Josette! Not I." Barnabas paused for a moment and then went on, "I killed her Father! I killed my wife, Angelique, the true witch! And Miss Winters is
completely innocent!"

Now the truth came out and Joshua began to realize that this was indeed the truth. How had he been so completely wrong? But was Miss Winters working with Angelique? "Son, are you sure Miss Winters is innocent? She was not helping Angelique?"

"No Father. Angelique is quite capable of getting what she wants on her own. And you must be careful Father. Angelique can still use her powers from beyond the grave!" Moving a bit away from his Father, Barnabas continued, "Please help Miss Winters Father. You are the most influential man in the province and you have many friends in high places. You must see to it that she is freed!"

Joshua nodded his head and said, "I will my son. I will write to Governer Bartholemeu Thorton and see what I can do to take care of this mess." walking over closer to Barnabas he put his hand on his shoulder and said, "I am so sorry, my son. I have failed you. I did not see the problem when it was right in front of me. Forgive me, my son."

Barnabas turned around and looked into his Father's eyes. "There is nothing to forgive, Father. You acted the only way you could. But you will help Miss Winters and see to it that she is freed? That is all I ask."

"Yes, my son. I will do all that is in my power to help Miss Winters." then turning to Abigail he said, "Abigail, you must not tell anyone that you have seen Barnabas until we can find a cure for him, do you
understand?"

Looking first at Barnabas, who nodded his head, Abigail then replied, "Yes, Joshua, I will keep still, except to help with Miss Winters trial. It is my fault she is there in the first place. And you will need me when it comes to fighting Reverand Trask!"

At this, Joshua smiled. For Abigail was right. She had summoned this pest from hell and only she could remove him properly and discredit him. "Very well, dear sister. And now, Barnabas, we will take you to the tower room at Collinwood. You will stay there until I find a way to cure you. Come!"

All three walked out of the Old House, shutting the door behind them. But what they didn't see was a figure that stood at the window watching them.

"No, Joshua. You will NOT find a cure for Barnabas! He is mine! And I will NEVER let him be free of my curse!" The figure disappeared followed by the sound of laughter that filled the entire house!

(to be continued.....)