Subj: Consequences of Falling ch. 51
Date: 8/6/01 5:15:59 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Nicole
On the Road, 11:45 PM
Constance could not believe it: she had been looking for Quentin but found his great-great grandson instead. Constance had not planned on stopping for the man. She had not planned on driving to Maine, for that matter. It did not matter now because she was so pleased that she had stopped. This boy had to be Chris' son. His skin seemed to scream lycanthrope. She had seen a picture of Chris Jennings and Cameron was his mirror image...except for his blue eyes. This boy's eyes paled in comparison to Quentin's eyes but they were lovely. He was lovely. It made her pity him more. Where are you going, Cameron?"
Cameron jumped as if being awakened from a daze. "I...um...I'm going to Maine," he murmured weakly.
"Where are you going to in Maine?" asked Angelique.
"I'm going to Collinsport. Why?"
"That's where we are going."
Constance could see the boy's face brighten in the mirror. Cameron was definitely pretty. She wondered if he knew what his problem was. She wondered if he even knew he had a problem. "So Cameron," she said, "why are you heading to Collinsport?"
Cameron's smile instantly vanished. "Can it be my secret?"
"I'm sorry," cooed Constance sadly. "I didn't mean to pry."
Angelique leaned towards Cameron and said, "You'll have to excuse Astrid. Sometimes tact is her most sorely needed quality."
Constance would have shot Angelique a warning glance had a white care to emerged from the snow, forcing her to pay permanent attention to the road. Constance hated driving, usually preferring to pay some nameless soul to take her where she needed to go. But if they were going to drive to Collinsport, it was best that she did the driving. Constance had no need for sleep and could drive for days unimpeded. That did not mean that she enjoyed it. She was convinced she could talk Cameron into driving, no matter how anxious he seemed to be. Constance would bet that Cameron would be willing to try anything once. If he had any of Quentin in him, it would not take much coercion to talk him into it. "Do you want to drive?" she asked innocently.
The smile immediately returned to Cameron's lips, a bit shyer than before but definitely an expression of pleasure. "I...I'd love to but I don't think I can," he stammered sweetly.
"He's not kin to Quentin," she mumbled beneath her breath. Constance jumped when she felt someone pinch her side. She turned quickly to Angelique, who only shrugged and looked away. She soon realized who it had been. "Sorry Quentin," she whispered. Constance felt warm arms encase her and pull her back into the seat. The warmth soon spread over her body like a blanket, making her want to sleep.
Constance remained alert enough to pull into the nearest parking lot. "Why are we stopping?" asked Angelique.
"I need to rest."
"Why did you stop at a bar?"
"I need a drink or ten," she said nonchalantly, doing her best to ignore their stares. "Go on guys."
Cameron stepped out of the car first. Before Angelique could climb out, Constance pulled her inside and said, "Don't let him drink."
"Why?"
"I want him to drive. I'm tired. I've driven too long and I need a break."
Angelique nodded. She leaned in and asked, "Is he Chris' son?"
"I'm positive of it," said Constance.
"What are we going to do with him?"
"I don't know."
"Do you think he knows what he is?"
"Probably not. He probably knows that something is wrong with him but he can't explain it. If he knows exactly what he is, someone told him. No one jumps to the conclusion that there's a big vicious wolf inside them waiting to get out."
"That sounds right. I remember Quentin saying that Beth was the one who told him that he was a wolf."
Constance turned away, suddenly feeling the loss of his warmth. "Let's not talk about Quentin," she said softly.
"You felt him, didn't you?"
"Yes." Constance looked back to Angelique, more ready than ever to drown her sorrows. "And he led me to a bar. Accordingly, I need a drink."
Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.