Chastening of the Witch, Part 9
Date: 4/5/98
From: AngeliqueBouchard

The Old House

Angelique ran into an upstairs room with tears running down her face. How could it be possible? She and Judah Zachary, produce a child as lovely as her Barnabas? "I will destroy him!" She spit between clenched teeth.

She gasped when her eyes rested on the old dusty bed on which lay the body of Judah. He was uglier than she remembered. She felt the urge to scratch his bloated face, but knew this would endanger her son. She must get him to inhabit his own loathsome body again. Determined to save her children, Angelique tore his shirt and removed a piece. She looked from place to place, searching for something to use for her spell. Spying an old child's doll she snatched it up and tied the bit of shirt to it.

Barnabas entered the room and watched in silence as Angelique transformed a child's toy into the agent of the supernatural. He had never seen anyone casting a spell. Although he was aware of Angelique's past, he never imagined he would stand by witnessing such a thing. Under the circumstances, it seemed to be the only choice.

Angelique frantically clutched the doll in her hands and brought it close to her face. "I command you Judah Zachary to depart from my son's body and return to your own. You will feel the pain of his body expelling you out. You will hear me and..."

Suddenly the doll burst into flames. Judah's low mocking laughter reverberated in the long decaying room. Barnabas moved quickly to assist Angelique in smothering the fire. He spoke softly, "Angelique please tell me who this Judah Zachary is and why he hates our family."

"Have you ever heard of people living over many lifetimes, Barnabas?"

"I thought that was a myth," Barnabas replied.

"For some of us, it is real. I lived before I was born into this world as Angelique Bouchard. I came to fully realize this after Miranda was born and felt so compelled to bestow that name on her. Memories which were vague before became clear. I know now that I lived in the 1600's and my name was Miranda DuVal.

Judah Zachary was my instructor in the black arts. He was a powerful warlock. People referred to him as the 'devil's son'. He was tried and convicted of his crimes because of my testimony. He swore vengeance on me and on the entire Collins family for it was your ancestor, Amadeus Collins, who sat as a judge on the tribunal.

I fled to Martinique after the trial. There I married into the Bouchard family and introduced them to witchcraft. Years after I died my master allowed me to live another life and so I was born back into the Bouchard family."

Barnabas seemed mesmerized by Angelique's words. It was an incredible tale, but how could he deny its authenticity after everything he had seen today? "How has he managed to return?"

"When Judah was executed by beheading, his body was hidden and his head was put on display. The head never decomposed and it was believed that if the head and body were ever reunited that Judah would live again. Some insane fool must have done just that."

"Angelique, there must be something we can do to defeat him. What if I destroy his body?" Barnabas asked pointing at the bed.

"No Barnabas," Angelique warned. "If you destroy his body while he is possessing our son he will never leave. We must wait until he returns to his body. But Barnabas please understand he is very powerful. He will kill you before you could lay a hand on him."

"Are you saying there is nothing we can do?"

"Even if my powers were not weak, I doubt I could vanquish him. But, there is a man I know who also has mastered the dark arts. The master sent him to teach me when I was still in Martinique. Perhaps with his help, we can defeat Judah. His name is Nicholas Blair. I will attempt to contact him at once."

TO BE CONTINUED