Chastening of the Witch, Part 20 (Conclusion)
Date: 5/2/98
From: AngeliqueBouchard

THE NEXT MORNING

Angelique and Barnabas spent the night talking. Although exhausted mentally and physically, neither could sleep. They went out for an early morning walk and were just returning to Collinwood. They were not looking forward to picking up the pieces of Judah's destruction. Miranda and Barnabas - defiled, used, and broken. No longer would they have an innocent zest for life and the future. Jeremiah and Daniel were dead. Harriet - would she ever come back to her right mind? How could she possibly raise Quentin and Gabriel now?

As Angelique and Barnabas stood in the foyer the quite house suddenly came alive. Miranda came bounding down the steps and hugged her mother and father. She gushed, "Welcome back! When did you return? I've missed you so much!" The first thought in Barnabas' mind was that Miranda had gone insane.

Thomas came down the steps after Miranda, with Sara on his arm. Sara embraced her brother and then Angelique. "Welcome home. I know you must have just arrived back last night, but I hope you do not mind that we are going into town with Miranda. I promise we will be back shortly."

Before they could speak Barnabas came out of the door straight from eating a quick breakfast. His face lightened and a huge smile formed on his lips. He too embraced his mother and greeted his parents. "I was not expecting you to arrive back from traveling so soon, but I am glad you are home."

"We are so happy to see you all," Angelique said, playing along.

"Please forgive me, but I must make a short trip to the shipyard. I will be back as soon as I can," Barnabas said.

The foursome left together leaving Barnabas and Angelique alone. "Barnabas, what has happened to everyone?" Angelique asked.

"I assure you I do not know," Barnabas replied.

Naomi came downstairs next. "Barnabas, Angelique, I was told you had returned during the night. I have some terrible news." Naomi grabbed Barnabas hands. "Your Uncle Jeremiah and Daniel were in an accident late yesterday. I am afraid they are both dead." Barnabas and Angelique appeared shocked, but not at the revelation of the deaths. Their shock was due to how different Naomi's version of what happened was from the truth. Not only the demise of Jeremiah and Daniel, but why did everyone think they had only arrived back from traveling only last night?

"I did not tell anyone, but Melanie and Harriet. Now that you are home Barnabas, I hope you can help with this difficult task," said Naomi.

"Of course mother," Barnabas replied. "Tell me how are Harriet and Melanie taking this?" He wondered if Harriet had any memory of being buried alive.

"They are holding up quite well under the circumstances. It was of coarse a shock to both of them. I dread telling Quentin and Gabriel that their father is dead. If you will excuse me, I want to check to see if they are awake."

Barnabas and Angelique were once again alone in the foyer. "What on earth had happened here?" Angelique mused.

"I can explain that," a familiar voice said. Barnabas and Angelique looked towards the wall and noticed the mirror was misty. From the midst of the clouds the face of Nicholas Blair appeared.

"Nicholas!" said Angelique.

"I hope you like my work," he said. You will find that no one remembers any of the horrible events since the arrival of Judah Zachary. Everyone believes you have just returned from traveling and that Daniel and Jeremiah died in an accident yesterday night."

"Miranda and Barnabas have no memory at all?" Barnabas asked.

"It is as though they had never met Judah Zachary." Nichoals replied.

"I do not know how to thank you Nicholas," Angelique said gratefully. "But Nicholas, let me ask you, why have you done so much to help us?"

"He smiled devilishly, "Well, I did owe you a favor and anything I could have done to foil Judah's plans is more than enough reason."

"Thank you," Barnabas offered.

Nichoals nodded. "I don't think I will be seeing either of you again. Perhaps in another lifetime Angelique?"

"I do not think so," Angelique smiled.

The image of Nicholas faded away from the mirror. Barnabas and Angelique gazed at each other with new hope. "Angelique, I have been thinking it is possible that Barnabas was conceived before the night Judah masqueraded as me."

"That is true Barnabas," Angelique replied. "But I guess we will never truly know."

"I think I already do know," Barnabas said with a smile.

THE END