Subj: Consequences of Falling ch. 32
Date: 7/26/01 4:36:20 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Nicole

Collinwood, 9:00 PM

Although everything had been packed, Constance remained in Quentin's room. The pentagram lay only inches away, sitting as a testament to things to come. She was tempted to toss it once again, but she knew if would be pointless to do so. Beth would just return it, starting the cycle anew. Constance checked her watch once more, and, upon realizing that they would be late is she did not hurry, grabbed the pentagram and fled.

As she walked back to the main building, Constance was amazed how subdued the house was from her first visit. It was as if the ghosts of Collinwood had finally been put to rest. Of course the had not, but it was a nice dream. As she strolled down the halls, Constance was certain that she saw Beth Chavez sitting in one of the empty rooms. Constance had no idea what to say, only squeaking out an "I'll try." Beth smiled and dematerialized. Constance closed her mind to all interference and ran the rest of the way to the main building.

"Are you leaving now?" asked Angelique as Constance stood before the door the the landing."

"Yes."

"Are you ready?"

"I suppose," answered Constance weakly.

Angelique took her aside and said, "You'll be all right."

"I'm not worried about myself." Before giving her a chance to answer, Constance opened the door and walked onto the landing.

Constance immediately zoomed in on Quentin the moment she entered. The suit he was wearing seemed to be an Edwardian throwback, bringing back bittersweet memories of being lost at sea, of being lost in his eyes. But neither of them had known the truth about the other at that time. Those days had not been happier, but there was a certain innocence to that time that Constance longed to recapture. She slid down the banister and ran into his arms, kissing him on impact. "I'm sorry that I took so long. We'll probably be late."

"Nonsense," insisted Quentin jovially. "We won't be late and, even if we are, it won't be a horrible thing." He kissed her, pulling her closer than he had in a while. "We'll be together."

Constance noticed something seemed to trouble him. She leaned in and whispered, "What's wrong, darling?"

"Nothing," he whispered back. "Everything is perfectly fine. Well, not perfectly fine, but things are extremely good."

"I suppose you're right. Things will only get better. They only need a little room to do so." They pulled away slightly and turned to leave. Barnabas and Angelique stood at different ends of the room, both obviously worried and both attempting to hide their emotions. Constance could not blame them for putting up the happy face for show because she knew that both she and Quentin were doing the same thing. She bid them goodbye before she and Quentin left the building. "Are you ready to leave?" she asked him once they were outside.

"More than ever," said Quentin. "I don't want to come back for a long while."

"I don't either," said Constance as she stepped into the car. "Lets never come back."

"If I have my way," said Quentin as they pulled out of the driveway, "we never will."

Constance sighed in relief and fell back into the seat. She took one brief look at Collinwood before turning her attention back to Quentin. As they sped away, the house did not seem so foreboding, growing smaller and smaller until it became a speck of dust perched atop the hill. Constance gladly turned back to Quentin, happy to be done with one sorrow but horrified of the one just over the horizon.

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