Chastening of the Witch, Part 7
Date: 4/2/98
From: AngeliqueBouchard

Abruptly ending their travels, Barnabas and Angelique returned to Collinwood in response to an urgent letter from Naomi:

Dearest Barnabas and Angelique,

You both must return to Collinwood immediately. It pains me greatly to tell you of the sorrow your children are causing the family. They have committed such unspeakable acts that I dare not write them down in this letter.

Please return as soon as you can.

Your loving mother

Barnabas and Angelique were confronted the moment they walked through the doors of Collinwood by Naomi, Abigail, and Jeremiah and ushered into the drawing room.

"The devil resides at Collinwood," Abigail exclaimed.

"Please Aunt Abigail," Barnabas snapped. He was not in the mood for her religious hysteria. "Mother please explain your letter."

After replaying this very moment over and over again in her head for the last few days, now that it was here she could not think of the words to say. "I'm afraid... your children... are living as man and wife."

Angelique gasped. Barnabas stood dumbfounded. Of all the acts he imagined his children had committed on his journey back to Collinwood, this was the furthest thing from his mind.

"They are fornicators!" Abigail seethed self-righteously.

"Abigail, that is enough," Jeremiah demanded. "You are not helping this situation."

"I will not be quiet for only I know how to rid this family of the evil that has befallen it. The Reverend Trask must come and exorcise the evildoers."

"I will not have that man anywhere near my children." Barnabas could never comprehend Abigail's friendship with such a maniacal man as the Reverend Trask.

"Abigail would not relent. "He is the only man of God who can help. Him and his son Lamar."

"The funeral director?" Naomi asked incredulously. "Are you saying that Barnabas and Miranda need to be murdered?"

"Of course not," Abigail continued in her sanctimonious tone, "Lamar Trask is now assisting his father in the work of God. They must come to Collinwood as soon as possible. It is the only way to cleanse the family of evil."

"I assure you it will not be necessary to involve the Reverend Trask or his son in this matter," Angelique stated with a determined look on her face. She knew of Trask's reputation. Being a practitioner of the black arts herself she knew the methods he used in an exorcism were not an authentic means to rid someone of oppressive spirits. It seemed as if he only inflicted such pain on others to satisfy his own sadistic desires.

"Yes, we will tend to our children," Barnabas said confidently. "Where are they?"

"They have been living at the Old House," Jeremiah explained. "Please let us know what happens."

*******************************

When Barnabas and Angelique arrived at the Old House, they found who they thought was their son sitting be the empty fireplace. Miranda was standing nearby and lowered her eyes in guilt at the sight of her parents. "Is it true?" Barnabas asked obviously very angry. "Are the terrible things I have been told about you both true?"

Miranda ran from the room unable to face her parents. Judah just laughed long and hard.

Angelique stared in horror. She had never seen her son behave in such a way. A horrible feeling crept into her heart that reminded her of a past lifetime.

Barnabas seethed with rage, "How dare you defile your sister!"

"You blame me?" Judah said. "You obviously do not know Miranda to be the sensuous creature that she actually is. She was more than eager to wrap her legs around me."

Barnabas was so angry he shook. He lunged full force towards whom he thought was his son. Suddenly, he froze in mid air. Judah began to laugh again. Angelique slowly moved to her husband's side, who was desperately trying to move. "Who are you?" Angelique asked quietly despite the fact she already knew the answer.

TO BE CONTINUED