Subj: Consequences of Falling ch. 43
Date: 8/2/01 7:27:17 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Nicole

Meanwhile

"Did you prick him? Did he bleed? Remember the magic number is three," said Avery.

Constance poured another cup of coffee, watching the steam rise as she stared into the thick black liquid. Her hands shook violently as she picked up the mug. It took all her power not to drop it. "He dripped two drops and the wound closed."

"What about making the sign of the cross over his body?"

"First things first, I always thought that was a stupid cure. Secondly, I'm an atheist. What good would it do?" Constance dropped the ceramic mug and it shattered, spraying coffee over the hardwood floor. She carefully picked up the pieces while Avery wiped up the mess. "What good would it do if a holy man performed it. Nothing will work!"

Avery picked Constance up and led her into the living room. Constance thought that he looked at her strangely, as if he were trying to see inside her. She soon realized that this was probably the product of an overworked imagination and let it pass. "There are other ways."

"It's been well over 9 years since he tasted human flesh...well, since he ate it. Is he supposed to kneel in one spot for one hundred years? Be struck thrice on the forehead with a knife? Maybe we should try the moon poppy? I don't know. You tell me!"

"You wanted my help and I've done all I could!"

"I know! I'm sorry but I...I can't accept this."

"Then don't," said Avery sternly. Constance hated the look in his eyes. He seemed to see something she could not. She could not understand him. "Go home," he murmured. "Go back to Quentin and talk to him."

"I suppose I must." Constance murmured a quick farewell and left Avery's building. The drive home was long. For the first time, Constance was truly glad that they were living so far from a major city. The fewer people the wolf had the chance to injure, the better Quentin's chances of not being caught. She knew that if she could protect him throughout the night, his chances for survival were excellent.

While driving, Constance noticed a hitch hiker. She recognized him immediately and swerved her car to hit to him, running him down until he was caught between her bumper and a tree. Josef smiled as he walked from between them, moving casually towards the driver's side door. Constance attempted to make an escape from the other side but Josef grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the car. "Where do you think you're going?"

Constance turned and spat in his face. "I should have known you were involved!"

"Hey! I didn't do anything!" said Josef. "All I did was suggest to 'someone' that I might be able to set up a contact point at say...a wedding in Collinsport. Once he knew exactly where Quentin was, he could always track him."

"Carolyn's wedding was a trap. Why?" she whispered. "Why do you care?"

"Why don't you? I want our triumvirate back and Petofi wanted a body that would fail him. It was a good exchange. I need you and Angelique. It was good before, you can't deny it. We can have it again!"

"We could have remain with the master but you ruined that. You ruined our relationship with Angelique. Why do you want to fail again?"

"Because I actually care for her!"

"I care for Quentin!"

"You won't care for him once you find out what's wrong with you," snorted Josef. He let Constance go and looked her over coldly. "And you went to Avery! Listen, if you really love yourself or Quentin, don't go back to Avery!"

"Oh shut up! You've sacrificed my lover for your failed dreams of grandeur. Leave me alone!" screamed Constance.

Josef watched her as she ran back to her car. "Fine!" he wailed. "Go back to your wolf. You have hardly any time left anyway!"

Constance did just that, zooming back to their home. As she entered the house, the silence hit her. The click of her heels resounded across the thick wooden floors, filling each room as she looked for Quentin. She found him in the living room lying on the sofa and staring up at the ceiling. It relieved her to know that he could move after the injection. Constance was hesitant to approach him until Quentin looked at her. She began to approach but stopped dead in her tracks. Quentin sat up and dangled the chain with the pentagram in front of his face. She could not believe that she had forgotten it. "We...we need to talk," she stammered.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.