Subj: The Better Half (part 3
Date: 7/25/99 7:30:56 PM Central Daylight Time
From: miranda

Part Three

It was almost five AM and Julia's time to keep watch was almost over. The night seemed to drag on and on in an unending waiting game. Julia's eyes began to droop despite the two hours of sleep she had previously acquired. A heavy knocking startled her to full consciousness. She flew to the door expecting to find Quentin desperately trying to get inside and warn her of Angelique's arrival at Collinwood, but instead was greeted by the fearful eyes of Nicholas Blair. He stood cold and naked in the doorway. Julia couldn't help but take a look, but quickly composed herself.

"Julia please help me!" he simpered. "You wouldn't believe what my master did to me. He was so pleased with himself for splitting Angelique in two that he did the same to me!"

Julia's eyes snapped open and she uttered a small cry. She looked around the room in a haze. Thank goodness it was just a dream. She couldn't take another one of hell's residents coming after her begging her for her help. She sunk back into her chair and once again her eyelids began to droop. "I'll just shut my eyes for a minute," she thought. She was surprised how tired she was. After all, it wasn't long ago that she pulled all-nighters when Barnabas was a vampire. "How did I do that anyway? I'm a doctor. I know it's impossible for someone to live on no sleep night after night and still function. That's something that happens on TV, not in real life."

Unexpectedly, Julia was jolted out of her twilight sleep by the sudden feeling of pressure around her neck. Behind her stood the evil half of Angelique wearing sinister smile. She experienced a unique sense of power watching Julia in this helpless position and felt so strong that she was able to subdue someone without the use of magic.

Julia fell to the floor as she weakly clawed at a rope around her neck. Darkness started to surround her. The last thoughts going through her mind were that she had been unable to call a warning to Barnabas. When Julia finally lay motionless, Angelique released her hold and walked over Julia's body. As she ascended the steps her heart leapt in vile anticipation. She had never before known such an intense pleasure at doing evil things. "This must be what the master feels," she thought to herself. "I understand now why he was so angry when I betrayed him for Barnabas. It's a wonder he spared me at all, let alone
give me numerous chances to prove myself. If I had his favor before, now there will no stopping me. I can't wait until I see Nicholas' face."

Angelique slowly opened the door to Josette's room. It was empty. "Of course he wouldn't have the nerve to sleep with her in here." Her rage was kindled even more at the sight of Josette's portrait. "After I dispose of 'the other me' and that two-faced Barnabas I'm going to burn this room and the entire house to the ground!" She slammed the door and ran down the hall opening doors. When she opened the third door, her eyes met her own. Startled by the noise, Barnabas was sitting up on the bed and Angelique's good half stood still in the middle of the floor. "How did I know I would find you in this pathetic mortal's bed?" She wasted no time in slapping her mirror image hard in the face causing her to stumble backwards and land in a heap on the floor.

Immediately Barnabas lunged at the evil Angelique. "Hold it right there Barnabas." She quickly pulled out a gun and aimed it at his chest. Barnabas froze. Angelique turned up the corners of her mouth in a cruel smile. "Even without the use of magic I have won."

The evil Angelique took a few steps backwards and eyed her other half kneeling on the floor. "I think that the most fitting way to do this is for Barnabas to die while you watch. It's only fair isn't it?" She taunted. "He already watched you die at the hands of Trask. Now it will be your turn."

"No!" the good Angelique yelled and threw herself in front of Barnabas. "Leave him alone. The master only instructed you to kill me. Hasn't he gone through enough because of your evil ways?"

"My master," the evil Angelique corrected. "You are much to sentimental to serve in hell now." As she continued to berate her counterpart she did not notice that Julia had recovered from her attack and was sneaking up behind her. Thinking quickly, Julia knocked the gun out of her hand. It flew across the room and Barnabas dove after it. The evil Angelique whipped around and punched Julia in the face, while the good Angelique ran past her counterpart and out of the room. Immediately, the evil Angelique followed and chased her down the hall and into another bedroom.

Once inside, the evil Angelique stopped short when she saw the room was empty. She was sure she had seen her enter. Suddenly, the good Angelique slammed the door shut that she was hiding behind. "I knew you would come after me."

"Well, it looks like I'll have to strangle you with my bare hands. I think I'll enjoy that."

The good Angelique pulled out a small silver gun of her own. "I guess we think alike."

The evil Angelique smiled. "Do you think I'm threatened by this? You don't have the guts to use it." She took a menacing step in her direction. "I really wanted to have you watch your beloved Barnabas die, but I guess you will have to settle for my guarentee that he suffer along with the rest of the Collins family."

By now Julia and Barnabas were pounding at the door trying to get inside. "I'm sorry Barnabas, but we're a little busy in here." The evil Angelique laughed as she continued to move closer and closer to her good half. "You knew from the beginning it would end with your destruction." She reached out to take the gun. "Say goodbye to your precious Barnabas Collins," she sneered.

Angelique fired the gun directly into her evil side's heart, who grabbed her chest and stumbled backward. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "If it were just me you were trying to harm it would be different, but I can't let you harm anyone else."

"Ohh shut up!" the evil side moaned as she fell to the ground. Moments later, her body disappeared.

One Month Later

Julia and Quentin lingered outside of Collinwood while the rest of the family filed back inside. Angelique and Barnabas had just left for their honeymoon after a beautiful wedding ceremony.

"Well I hope he's finally happy," Quentin said.

"As do I," Julia confessed. "To tell you the truth, I'm not sure what good I will be around here now. I've become so accustomed to being there for Barnabas with whatever crisis he was going through, trying to find a cure for his vampirism and such. Now, I think I've become obsolete."

"Well," Quentin paused, "I could use a cure." Julia stared up at him with raised eyebrows. "I certainly am tired of relying on that portrait to keep me from becoming a werewolf. Living forever is really overrated."

Julia took Quentin's arm and smiled. "I guess I have something new to occupy my time then."

THE END