Subj: Petofi's Maze Ch 10
Date: 2/22/99 11:12:27 AM Central Standard Time
From: miranda

Chapter 10

Beth hurried out of Collinwood in order to return to the Old House. Having developed a friendship with Carolyn she intended to spend the evening talking with her. Beth found herself making a hasty excuse to leave early however when Carolyn explained that "Victor Finn-Gibbons" was coming to Collinwood as well. Beth wished to avoid seeing him, but in her haste almost collided right into him once she was outside.

"Why Beth, how good it is to see you again," Petofi greeted. "It has been a long time indeed."

"I don't wish to speak to you Count Petofi," she replied briskly and attempted to continue walking away.

"Perhaps you had better reconsider your attitude towards me. After all we will soon be man and wife," Petofi said as a sly smile formed on his fat lips.

Beth stopped in mid-stride and turned around. "What do you mean?" she demanded.

"Isn't it obvious? Soon I will take over your husband's body. So in actuality I will be your husband."

"You are sadly mistaken if you believe I would stay with you after you kill Quentin," Beth retorted.

Petofi took a menacing step closer to Beth. "May I remind you that Quentin entered into this arrangement of his own free will? As a matter of fact you benefited quite nicely yourself as part of the bargain. Now I strongly suggest you alter your decision. It would not look very good to the family if my wife suddenly decided to leave me, now would it?"

"That's something you'll have to worry about, not me," Beth said firmly and began to walk away.

Petofi reached out and grabbed her arm. "Remember this Beth, it would be unfortunate indeed if your youthful appearance would suddenly change into an old hag or a deformed monster. You seem to have forgotten that I still possess your portrait."

Beth jerked her arm free and slowly walked away. She was not willing for Petofi to see how his words terrified her.

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Early the next morning Quentin found himself roaming aimlessly through the Eagle's Hill cemetery. Beth's confrontation with Petofi troubled him deeply and he was unable to sleep the entire night. Things looked bleak for the both of them, but the thought of Petofi keeping Beth as his wife after Quentin was gone turned his insides. Beth had a contingency plan if all else failed; to find her portrait and destroy it before Petofi took over Quentin's body. This idea was more than Quentin could bear, but he had to seriously consider that this might be the only alternative.

He looked at the familiar names on the tombstones surrounding him on every side. How unnatural it felt to observe all living things go through the stages of life and death while he remained unchanged. He and Beth unaltered by time. That was the only thing that made eternal life bearable, to go through it with someone you love. Unfortunately, time was nearing an end because of Petofi.

Quentin stood over Jamison's grave. Feelings of regret flooded over him. He missed not being able to see Jamison grow up and become a man. He left with Beth in hopes of finding Petofi's bane and did not return until Jamison was an old man and quite demented. He studied the headstone and felt such sadness he thought his heart would break. Maybe in a way it was better that he wasn't present to witness Jamison's decline. So mad was he that he even made it a specific part of his will to have an odd symbol engraved on his tombstone. The rising sun illuminated the design and Quentin bent down and began to trace it with his finger. Suddenly, Quentin saw the design in a different light almost like when one sees through an optical illusion.

"This could almost be an overview of Collinwood's basement," Quentin muttered. He touched a part that was more hollowed out than the rest of the design. "Then this would be the bottom step." Realization dawned on Quentin. Could this actually be a message from the grave?