Subj: Love's Familiar Face ch4
Date: 5/5/99 7:23:33 PM Central Daylight Time
From: miranda

Chapter Four

Josette stepped closer and closer to Barnabas and he in turn retreated until he backed into the wall next to the fireplace. With saliva dripping from her fangs she grabbed his face with a supernatural strength Barnabas himself once knew. He could feel her breath on his neck as she leaned forward and prepared to bite. "She is going to kill me," he thought to himself. All the planning and longing for them to be
finally united were futile dreams that would come to nothing. In desperation he cried out, "Josette please! I have mourned you for over one hundred and seventy years. Please do not take away this one last chance for us to be together!"

Josette hesitated, "…Barnabas?"

"Yes. Perhaps not the same Barnabas you knew long ago, but believe me when I say that no one could love you more than I."

Josette released Barnabas and took a few steps back. She eyed him warily, not knowing what to think. Barnabas slowly made his way to the couch and sat down. The rush of adrenaline made his hands shake and he wanted to get up and run out of the room, but he was very careful to control himself and make no sudden moments. "Please let me explain…"

Barnabas began his tale starting with an explanation of being from a parallel time. He was surprised that she comprehended the concept of multiple time bands so quickly. As he spoke Barnabas began to realize that Josette was not the demure, naïve girl he had fallen in love with in 1795. Obviously, like Barnabas, Josette had become accustomed to modern advancements in science and even possessed knowledge of the supernatural. And he realized he loved her all the more for surviving as a vampire like he had done in his own time band.

Josette listened intently to Barnabas story. By the time he was done she had moved to the couch and sat down. Slowly tears began to flow down her face. He reached out and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I have never known such pain as having to live without you," she choked. He drew her into his arms and kissed her. After a long moment she drew back and gazed into his eyes. "I can't believe it's really you."

Josette pulled away from Barnabas and began to pace the room. "Barnabas, you have told me your story and now I have to tell you mine. I'm afraid I haven't been as fortunate as you. I think I would have preferred being encased in a coffin all these years compared to all the pain I lived through."