Subj: Petofi's Maze chapter 22
Date: 3/15/99 6:19:05 PM Central Standard Time
From: miranda

Chapter 22

"Petofi," Quentin said as his face reddened with anger. "Get out of here. I have one more night left in my own body."

Petofi slowly took off his coat as he spoke. "I'm afraid that is not exactly the case my dear boy."

"What are you talking about?" Quentin demanded. "We have a contract."

"Indeed we do have a contract, Quentin. Sealed in your own blood." Unfortunately, for you at least, I seemed to have misled you on the exact date of the transfer." Everyone stared at Petofi as he picked up his bag and put it on the table and then bought two covered pictures into the drawing room. They were obviously Quentin and Beth's portraits.

"Enough of this Petofi," Barnabas said. "Explain yourself."

"There is not much more to explain," Petofi said matter of factly. "I misled Quentin and tonight is the night I am to take his body."

Beth was visibly shaken. "Why?"

"Because I do not trust Quentin. I knew he would have some plan ready to try and back out of his side of the bargain." Petofi fussed with his bag. "Now this is what I have planned. I will take over Quentin's body and then move into Collinwood. I have bought my things with me here. I do not have many material possessions that I truly cherish, as you can see," he gestured to his small leather bag, "but of course these portraits are truly priceless."

Beth approached Petofi, "Please. Quentin and I planned to spend our last evening together tonight. Surely one more day won't matter to you. You can stay right here in the Old House and make sure we don't make any plots against you."

"Oh my dear sweet Beth. Someday I hope you have the same loyalty to me as you now have for Quentin," Petofi smiled. "No, I think tonight I shall go through with my plans."

Angelique knew that there would be no stopping Petofi. She decided she must try to summon Magda right now. She tried to slip away unnoticed.

"Wait a moment, Angelique," Petofi said, even though his back was turned to her. He turned and walked over to her. "Please forgive my rudeness. It is so nice to see your beautiful face again."

He tried to kiss her hand, but she pulled away. "I wish I could say the same for you, Petofi."

"My, I am going to enjoy sparring with you again Angelique. Something tells me we will have ample opportunity to do just that." He began to walk away, but added. "Just in case you were going to try and summon that gypsy Magda, I should warn you that doing so would be a fruitless effort on your part." Petofi met the eyes of every person in the room in turn. "You see I arranged that little distraction just in case you got too close to the truth of what secret the maze holds." He then turned to Quentin and emitted a loud mocking laugh.