Subj: Love's Familiar Face ch 3
Date: 5/1/99 1:05:05 PM Central Daylight Time
From: miranda

Chapter Three

"I just don't have a good feeling about this, Barnabas," Quentin said as they stood looking through the doorway into parallel time.

"I must take this chance, Quentin," Barnabas replied. "For so long I have mourned being separated from Josette. Perhaps this is fate's way of making everything as it should be again."

Quentin thought silently for a moment, "I guess you have to follow your heart. I hope you will at least come back and visit with us."

"Of coarse Quentin. And I hope that once I have won Josette's heart will we return to this time band together."

"I don't understand one thing. How can you enter and exit from this parallel time just by being in the room when it changes? Why don't people on the other side just pop in and out of our time?" Quentin asked.

"Professor Stokes explained that one has to be aware that the window will open to cross over time bands and to concentrate on doing that. Similar to the I-Ching. You can not simply throw the wands and something will magically happen. You must be a part of the process and deeply concentrate on what you want to achieve."

"Look Barnabas," Quentin pointed at Josette who had just entered the room. She walked over to Angelique's portrait and stared silently.

Barnabas wanted to reach out and pull Josette over into his arms and never let go of her. His life had been so empty since he lost her back in 1796. All those endless years chained in his coffin, thoughts of her permeated his mind. Once he was released his main purpose was to recreate her in others such as Maggie, Vicki, and Rachel. When he truly found her reincarnated in Lady Kitty Soames he thought he would finally be granted the happiness with her he had been deprived of all these years. Now, he once again was staring at another chance to be reunited with Josette.

As the scene faded Barnabas sighed. Quentin broke the silence with an observation. "You know what I've noticed from everything I've seen or heard others have seen happening in this parallel time? Every person who comes into this room goes to Angelique's portrait and cries, speaks to it, or just stares. It's as if every person in this time band has some unique relationship with her. Barnabas, what if she is a witch like our Angelique?"

"I haven't seen any evidence of that Quentin. As a matter of fact all I have heard mentioned in reference to her are praises of her character and beauty," Barnabas replied. He looked at Quentin with a touch of sadness in his eyes. "I guess this is goodbye…for a little while at least."

"I hope you do return to us Barnabas," Quentin said and then added to lighten the mood, "Since we're not sure exactly what will happen to you after you cross over, would you mind if Beth and I at least install a phone in the Old House?"

"I will never bring such modern monstrosities into my home," he replied good-naturedly. Then he added a with a touch of seriousness, "My wish has always been to recreate the Old House to be as it was in 1795, to find my Josette, and then live out our lives just as things should have been."

"Well I hope your wish comes true Barnabas," Quentin said.

"I have a feeling that it finally will, Quentin."

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Hours Later…

Barnabas entered into the parallel time during the cover of night. Collinwood was eerily silent as he furtively moved through the empty halls. His heart jumped as he realized that Josette might be asleep on the other side of one of these doors.

Barnabas walked down to the main floor and went into the drawing room. He turned on a small light and was happy to see that just like in his time band, the Collins Family History book was located in the same place. He flipped through the pages to the entry about Barnabas Collins. "Excellent," he thought to himself. Barnabas Collins was recorded as having lived and died in England. He would use the same story he had used before about being a cousin from England come to Collinsport to rediscover his roots.

Suddenly a familiar voice demanded, "Who are you?"

"Josette?" Barnabas said before he realized he wasn't even supposed to know who she was yet.

"How do you know my name?" She asked coldly.

"I am Barnabas Collins. I recently arrived from England. I know this will be hard to explain…"

Josette cut him off, "Who are you really?" she demanded. "What kind of a trick is this? Angelique sent you here didn't she? So, she knows who I am. Well let me assure you she will not win this time."

Barnabas gasped as Josette curled her lips and revealed long pearly fangs in her mouth. Her eyes glowed with a hatred he had never before seen in his beloved. Barnabas backed up slowly and moaned, "Oh no, oh no, not you."