Subj: Petofi's Maze Chapter 16
Date: 3/5/99 6:58:02 PM Central Standard Time
From: miranda

Chapter 16

Barnabas sent Jeb to take Carolyn home and promised to follow shortly. He went over to Angelique who had secluded herself in the shadows of the graveyard lest Carolyn recognize her as Cassandra.

"Thank you Angelique," Barnabas offered.

"You're welcome Barnabas," Angelique said softly. "So tell me about this vampire loose in Collinsport."

"It's the most extraordinary thing I've even seen. Tom Jennings is not only a vampire, but he seems to have the ability to transform into and live in water. I would have thought it impossible if I didn't see it with my own eyes. I do not understand it. Vampires do not have such powers."

Angelique was unmoved. "Barnabas I'm surprised with everything you have experienced in your own life that you are so perplexed. He is a water vampire. Someone has brought him back and given him the powers of water."

"Nicholas Blair," Barnabas declared. "Nicholas is back in Collinsport. Jeb told me Nicholas appeared to him and told him he would resurrect Carolyn if he killed me. He has to be the one. I must be a threat to him because I have been hunting the vampire."

"So Nicholas has returned to Collinsport," Angelique commented. To add to her surprise Barnabas also explained Petofi's own return to Collinsport and his evil scheme to take Quentin's body. He quickly explained how Quentin had discovered the maze and their hope of finding something inside that would destroy Petofi.

Angelique listened to Barnabas' story without so much as a raised eyebrow while inwardly fear's icy grip took hold of her heart. She privately wondered if Barnabas would be grateful if she was able to help. For a moment she was tempted to demand Barnabas live with her as her husband in return for raising Carolyn from the dead and a promise to assist him against Nicholas and Petofi, but she reminded herself how doing so in the past always met with increased resentment from Barnabas. She decided to secretly go about her own investigation. When she found a way to be of benefit to Barnabas, she would reveal how she worked on his behalf and hopefully he would see her in a new light. Maybe they would once again recapture the love they felt in Martinique so many years ago.

"Well Barnabas, if I discover anything that might be of assistance to you I will contact you," Angelique said.

"I greatly appreciate your help Angelique," Barnabas said and turned to leave. He hesitated for a moment and then added, "I'm sure we will meet again."

Angelique smiled to herself and slowly walked among the graves. "I'll always be there when you need me Barnabas," she said to herself. She strolled through the cemetery looking at the gravestones. Upon finding the stone bearing Tom's name she stooped down and grabbed a handful of dirt. Slowly pouring out the dirt from her hand she began a spell, "Tom Jennings I see through your eyes, I hear through your ears, I feel through your touch…"