Subj: Consequences of Falling ch. 14
Date: 7/12/01 4:54:49 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Nicole

Collinwood, 6:30 PM

"This interrogation has gone on long enough!" insisted Angelique.

"I can't understand why you are hiding her secret!" screamed Barnabas.

"Why have I hidden your secret? Or Quentin's? Secrets are meant to be hidden and if anyone is supposed to understand it's supposed to be you!"

Barnabas was exasperated. As much as he had prodded Angelique, she had barely budged in her silence. She had all but admitted to having known Constance DuVane before returning to Collinwood. She just refused to tell him when, how, or under what circumstances the two had met. He could not understand her loyalty. "You have no reason to protect Constance DuVane!"

"And you have no reason to persecute her!" Barnabas turned to see Quentin standing in the doorway, the drawing room key gripped in a tightly clenched fist. His anger was obvious although it did not register on his face. It seemed to emanate from his body. "You have no right to know her secrets."

"Maybe we should lock the doors," murmured Barnabas.

"Why?" snarled Quentin. "The only ones here this evening are you, I, and Angelique. No one else will be back for hours. So tell me, why are you so obsessed with Constance"

"I ask the same of you."

"I love her and care deeply for her well being. You, on the other hand, seem determined to cull some horrible secret from her past and hang it over her head."

"I'm trying to save you," insisted Barnabas.

"You don't get it: she saved me!" countered Quentin angrily. "Constance saved me from myself. You can't imagine how many times I've thought of shredding the damned portrait, of just ending it all. Have either of you really contemplated your immortality? Well, I have and it never fails to blow my mind! In so many years, almost everyone i know today will either be dead or dying. How many generations have passed before me that I am allowed to witness another's disintegration? And who will be left? Me, of course. And Angelique; you'll never go away, will you darling?"

"Don't," insisted Angelique as she approached him.

Quentin pulled away from her and moved towards the window. "Let me finish," he said calmly. "I want to get this off my chest." When he was convinced he could continue, Quentin took a seat nearer the two of them. "You'll be there too Barnabas. You don't think so, but you'll relapse soon enough. You always do. But what does any of this mean to me? It means I'll be looking forward to a lifetime of Josette reincarnations and hearing about how she must be forced to realize her 'true self' and join you in eternal damnation. But then that will be countered by how that unfortunate woman must be stopped because she she could never love Barnabas as much as you do."

"You're talking nonsense!" bellowed Barnabas.

"But this nonsense hits too close to home, doesn't it? No matter. Let's talk about what other pleasure lurk in the future of Quentin Collins! Maybe I'll be haunted my some past love i unceremoniously ruined and have now forgotten. After that lovely piece of hell there will be the joy of meeting the son of either Chris and/or Amy. It'll be just another reminder of a sinful, dubious past! I hope the poor fool tries to take me out."

"What about Constance?" asked Angelique.

"Constance," he said slowly, a smile quickly spreading across his face. "Constance DuVane is the only bright spot. Her connection to my past is transient, yet bright. There's something about her that still seems pure although she is no saint. I can't let that go. I won't let her go and I'll be leaving with her when she leaves next month."

"And you choice her because you believe you have no other alternative?" asked Barnabas.

"You mean like the way you've done to Julia?" asked Quentin. "No. I don't think I can ever be that cruel again. You know, I think we've all seen what you've done and we feel for Julia. I'm sure even Constance feels for Julia, although she probably wouldn't care much for either of you now." Quentin's glance suddenly shifted to the doorway and he asked, "How do you feel about it?"

Barnabas turned to see Julia standing in the doorway, her eyes narrowing to thin slits the longer she stared at him. She soon looked away from him and walked towards Quentin. "Constance is leaving," she announced.

"No. You have to be mistaken."

"I'm not. Constance DuVane will be leaving the estate as quickly as she can. She has everything packed."

"She can't leave!" Quentin ran past Julia and out of the building.

Julia turned abruptly to Barnabas, the anger once again streaming from her eyes. He could tell that she had heard the entire conversation. "I can explain," he whimpered.

"You can explain later." Julia turned to Angelique and contemptuously asked, "Can't you leave us alone?"

"Not forever, but I can for a moment," answered Angelique, grinning deviously as she left the room, closing the doors behind her.

"Is Constance really leaving?" asked Barnabas.

Julia did not answer immediately. She fixed herself a brandy and took a seat next to the fireplace. "She's leaving," said Julia sadly.

"And...?"

"And I'm going to tell you something you have no right to know. Be grateful that at least I love you. One day that will be all you have left."

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.