Chastening of the Witch, Part 19
Date: 5/2/98
From: AngeliqueBouchard

Barnabas woke up suddenly and drew in a sharp breath. The last thing he remembered was being surrounded at the cemetery by Judah's coven members. Thankfully they appeared to have no interest in Harriet or Melanie who both ran off towards Collinwood. Barnabas looked around. He was sitting on the ground tied to a tree. It was dark and a great bonfire lit the clearing. A large stone slab, which seemed to be set up as an altar, had on it placed a golden chalice, a strange mask, and many black candles. Behind the altar was Thomas. He was also tied to a tree, but was secured in a standing position with his arms tied above his head.

Before Barnabas could call out to Thomas a procession arrived headed by Judah Zachary with Miranda and Barnabas following and the rest of the coven behind them. Miranda stared at her father, not understanding why he was brought there. A feeling of dark dread overcame her.

Everyone formed a circle and Judah addressed his followers. "The time has arrived. Tonight I will abandon this body for good and take another," he gestured to Thomas. He then looked hard at the coven members who trembled at his stare, "I am very disappointed in your inability to locate Angelique Collins. Perhaps I should sacrifice one of you in her place."

"Sacrifice?" Miranda said, daring to interrupt his lecture.

"Yes, my lovely Miranda. This mass needs a blood sacrifice and I have chosen it to be your parents." Miranda's heart started to pound as she glanced guiltily at her father tied up like an animal. "This will prove your loyalty, Miranda. Both yours and your brother's," he put his hand on Barnabas' shoulder. Barnabas stared straight ahead, showing no emotion. "I must have absolute confidence in you both, Miranda. Only a dedicated woman can be my wife." He moved close to her face and gestured to the stone altar, "Behold our marriage bed."

Judah moved to the altar. He took the mask of Baal and placed it on Thomas' head. "Soon you will be no more," he said. Thomas did not even attempt to fight. He was obviously drugged. Judah then took the chalice. Another member came forth and offered a long sharp knife which Judah took and cut his own arm allowing the blood to drain into the cup. He gave it to Barnabas who drank without question. Barnabas passed it to Miranda. She held the chalice to her lips and hesitated. All eyes were on her. "Miranda," Judah said threateningly.

"Please," Miranda said, "allow my father to go free. My parents can live without causing any harm to us."

"This is not a matter for discussion, Miranda. Either you are with me or against me. Your parents will die either way," Judah said loudly.

Miranda looked at her brother who still stood like a stone statue, not moving or feeling. "The answer is no," Miranda sat the chalice down on the altar.

Judah seethed with rage. His lips curled into a sneer as he said, "Very well Miranda. Even if you will not be my wife, I will still have you for my pleasure." Judah signaled his coven. They grabbed Miranda, stripped her, and carried her to the altar. Everyone but her brother surrounded her, holding her down. Judah climbed on top of her. "You will not escape my influence that easily Miranda. If you will not submit willingly, then I will keep you prisoner to use for this purpose until I tire of you and sacrifice you to the master. He raised his cloak revealing his deformed body. Suddenly, all the coven members holding down Miranda released their hold and dropped to the ground seemingly unconscious.

Miranda's brother Barnabas stepped up to the altar. "Do you just expect me to stand by while you murder my parents and rape my sister?" Using this moment for her advantage, Miranda reached up and scratched Judah across his ugly face and scrambled out from under him. He jumped off the altar and began arguing with Barnabas. Miranda quickly threw her robe over herself and then ran to her father in an attempt to release him.

The yelling continued, "You will not destroy my family because of acts their ancestors committed! You are nothing but a disgusting, evil creature!"

Judah swung his arm as if he were hitting Barnabas across the face. Even though Judah was standing too far to touch Barnabas, an invisible force struck Barnabas causing him to fall backwards to the ground and leaving a bloody, red welt on his face. "You are unwise to speak with such disrespect Barnabas," Judah said between clenched teeth. "As you can see, my ability to do you harm goes far beyond this physical body."

Barnabas rose to his feet. "I will not allow you to hurt my family."

Sensing what Miranda was doing behind his back. Judah turned with outstretched arm to where she was furiously trying to free her father. She went flying through the air and then fell hard to the ground at Judah's feet. Barnabas ran at Judah, but not missing a beat, Judah quickly turned and with no more than a movement of his hands, Barnabas too went flying through the air backwards and banged into a large tree. Barnabas shook his head groggily trying to fight off unconsciousness. Judah grabbed the discarded knife from the ground and stood over Miranda. "Now you will both meet the master face to face." He raised his arm to strike.

Suddenly a large silver cross was held before Judah's face. he dropped the knife and hide his eyes. It was Angelique. She luckily had spent the day with Lamar Trask and was not captured by Judah's coven. She managed to find this place just in time. In her free hand she held an axe. Judah was not about to be held off by the woman he abhorred. With his head turned to the side so he would not see the cross, he grabbed her arm and mumbled some words. Angelique cried out in pain as Judah's hand began to burn her wrist. She dropped the axe, but Judah also grabbed that free arm as it rose to support the cross and began to burn that as well. "Drop the cross!" he demanded.

"Never!" Angelique shouted at him. She writhed with pain. She knew the only thing which was preventing Judah from destroying her entire family was this religious symbol. Smoke began to rise from Angelique's arms. Barnabas yelled out his wife's name. Just when Angelique thought she would pass out from the pain Judah abruptly let go of Angelique. He moved his hands to his chest from which protruded the tip of the knife which someone had thrust into his back. He turned to see Miranda standing behind him, defiantly staring into his eyes. Before he could react to her, Barnabas, who had grabbed the axe, swung and with one cut decapitated Judah Zachary. His headless body fell to the ground. Unexpectedly, no blood poured out.

Angelique took a vial from her pocket. As Lamar had instructed her, she took the holy water and sprinkled it on the body and head. "Burn it," she said. Miranda grabbed the head and cast it into the bonfire. It exploded into a bright fireball which shot upwards to the heavens. Barnabas dragged the body toward the fire as Angelique went to her husband to untie him. Miranda tended to releasing Thomas. She took the Mask of Baal and flung it into the fire as well.

The coven began to wake up and stand to their feet. They stood in shock as they beheld Barnabas pulling Judah's body into the fire. Barnabas roared, "Leave! Never come back or you will all suffer Judah's fate!" They all took off running.

Angelique and Barnabas embraced. "We are finally free," Barnabas said.

"Are we?" Angelique said casting a look towards her children. "Will any of us ever be free from the memory of what Judah has done to our family? Will our children ever be the same again?"

TO BE CONTINUED