Subj: PASSION ATE DARK SHADOWS Part Eight
Date: 4/14/00 7:27:47 PM Central Daylight Time
From: N.E. Collins
Now, Natalie was not a witch by any means, but when she spoke the rhyming verse summoning Joshua to return, her words coupled with the love spell already in force, had allowed her the temporary power necessary to break Angelique's transformation spell.
Joshua did not love Natalie in any sense of the word. When he reverted from a tom-cat back to a man he was still caught up in that animal nature, although he had no memory of his time as a feline. All Natalie had to do was merely place a gentle hand to his neck to inspire further passions from him. He maintained an air of complete indifference when they were in the company of others, but he was a beast of furious sexual urges when they were alone!
Natalie did not notice the difference, and if she had she would not have cared. She was under a spell to love this man, and it did not matter what he did or did not feel for her.
No one else, besides Angelique and Ben, knew a thing about these two and their ongoing affair. Everyone was too preoccupied with the scandal of Josette and Jerimiah's sudden elopement, not to mention their brazen return to Collinwood as man and wife! Barnabas was openly heartbroken, and Naomi's attention was all his, when she was sober enough to extend it.
So it wasn't any wonder that Joshua got sloppy in his amorous advances to the Countess. They were on the grounds of the Old House one Sunday afternoon in broad daylight, mind you! They were near what was to someday be the swimming pool. The workmen had the day off and no one appeared to be around, so Joshua took full advantage of this romantically lustful scenerio!
He had Natalie securely bond by himself alone against the trunk of a mighty oak, and he was applying his mouth to her exposed breast when all of the sudden a woman screamed! He quickly tore away from the Countess and turned to the sound, and there standing in horror at the scene was none other than Phyliss Wicke!
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Abigail had "invited" herself and the Reverand Trask to a tea at Collinwood where they were being entertained by their host and hostess, Jerimiah and Josette Collins. Angelique was in attendance to her lady at the small gathering in the drawing room. She appeared outwardly calm, but inwardly she was a little more than fearful of this man of the cloth.
Trask came right to the point setting aside any further social amenities. "There is a WITCH amongst us! As a man of God I know this to be true! And she must be found out and DESTROYED!" His eyes gleamed with all the fires of judgement day!
Josette visibly shuddered, and Jerimiah quietly squeezed her hand in comfort as he replied. "Surely, if you find such a woman would you not try and save her from this evil?"
Trask was defiant in his manner. "I am forever concerned first and foremost with the salvation of sinners! But it has been my experience that those who have sold their souls to the devil are beyond redemption!"
"Amen!" intoned Abigail with matronly pride.
There was a brief silence all around and then outside the closed door of the room there was a loud discussion in play. The sounds of startled and angry voices were heard clearly through the thick oaken doors. "Sir! Please! You have not been announced!" "OUT OF MY WAY!"
The doors to the drawing room burst open slamming back against the inner walls! There stood an angry Barnabas Collins with a look of such malevolence on his swollen face, obviously red from crying! He pointed at the Reverand and yelled in protest! "The only evil here, my good man, is the dishonor of my uncle, and the unfaithfulness of his bride!" He purposely strode up to Jerimiah and STRUCK him across the face with a glove he'd had concealed in his hand! Josette gasped in alarm and reached to the back of her chair for support as Barnabas declared, "I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL!"
Everyone was taken aback save for Angelique who smiled unnoticed by all. She thought to herself, "This is going better than even I had planned."