Subj: Barnabas & Quentin War Over Julia -- 13
Date: 7/17/00 11:08:10 PM Central Daylight Time
From: DSRules
Nicholas turned from his altar. "It's done. The spell is lifted."
Barnabas gave the warlock a grim smile. "Thank you, Nicholas." He said. It was obvious that Barnabas begrudged the warlock his thanks, but he also was equally clearly elated to have the spell lifted.
"Oh, and if you could do me one more favor?" Barnabas asked.
Nicholas sighed. "What is it now? Donamarie and I would like to get back to bed."
Barnabas handed a flake of paint to Nicholas. "This is some of the paint from Quentin's portrait."
"And?"
"Could you use it to locate the painting and destroy it from here?"
"Simplicity itself." The warlock responded. He place the chip in a metal dish and held it aloft. He then chanted, "Wonssa etihwsaw eceelfs ti bmalelttil adah yram. Wonssa etihwsaw eceelfs ti bmalelttil adah yram. Wonssa etihwsaw eceelfs ti bmalelttil adah yram."
As Barnabas watched, the chip began to smolder. A brief flame shot up from the dish, and the chip was reduced to ash.
"Is there anything else you need?" Nicholas asked sarcastically.
"No, thank you. You've done everything I need." Barnabas smiled grimly as he turned and walked out the door.
* * *
Barnabas returned to the Old House. "You're all mine, Julia," he muttered as he mounted the steps to his bedroom. He climbed back into bed with the red-haired doctor. He had just settled back into his place wrapped around her from behind, when he heard the door slam open.
"Barnabas!" Quentin's voice bellowed. "Come down here and face me!"
Julia sat up, groggy from sleep. "Barnabas? What's Quentin doing here?"
Barnabas sighed as he pulled his clothes back on. "I don't know. But I intend to find out."
Barnabas walked down the stairs. "What is it, Quentin?"
"I love Julia," Quentin declared. "And I intend to settle this once and for all. Between the two of us."
"Shouldn't Julia be the one to make that decision?" Barnabas asked.
As he said this, Quentin saw Julia, her hair still mussed from Barnabas' attentions, descending the staircase. She tried hard not to admit to herself the way her heart pounded from Quentin's declaration of love.
"Julia!" Quentin gasped. "You can't tell me that after everything, you chose Barnabas."
Julia's heart pounded in her ribcage. {Quentin's so handsome when he's angry. The way his eyes flash with passion . . . . Stop it, Julia Hoffman, you love Barnabas.} "Yes," she said in an uncertain tone. "I did."
"He doesn't love you, Julia. He's just using you."
"And I suppose that you do love her, Quentin." Barnabas snapped.
Quentin turned on his cousin. "Why don't you tell me, Barnabas. What's Julia's favorite movie?"
"Wha - I -" Barnabas gathered himself together. "I don't see what this has to do with anything."
"It has to do," Quentin's blue eyes were alight with passion, "with which of us knows her best. Her favorite movie is Gone With the Wind. Her favorite scene is the one where Rhett tells Scarlett that she 'should be kissed, and often. And by someone who knows how.'" His blue eyes bored into Julia's green eyes as he said this.
Julia felt herself blushing at the way his eyes seemed to caress her face, and she hoped that Barnabas didn't notice.
Barnabas put up a great show of impatience. "Is that all, Quentin?"
"No. What's her favorite food?"
"I'm really too tired for this, Quentin." Barnabas yawned.
"You can't answer that, can you? It's Thai food. Her favorite restaurant is the Thai Orchid over in Ellesworth. Remember when we went there together, Julia? That was the night I fell in love with you, though it took me a while to admit it to myself."
"Julia," Barnabas demanded. "You tell him which of us you love."
"I - " She paused, then started again. "I love Barnabas." She looked at the floor as she said this. "He needs me."
"What does he need you for, Julia? To gaslight his latest girlfriend, like you did to Maggie Evans for his sake? Or to aid and abet him the next time the Leviathans convince him that he can have Josette back if he helps them? How about helping Eric Lang with his scheme so that Barnabas could win Vicki? Did you know that Barnabas wanted to kill Jeff Clark to have Vicki? Would you have gone along with that out of your love for him?"
Barnabas was shamed by the list of things that Julia had done for his sake. "You aren't going to convince her with old history." He blustered.
"And what about the next time a pretty young thing bats her eyelashes at him, Julia? What will you do when he goes haring off after her?"
"And you're the example of fidelity, Quentin?" Barnabas demanded. "You couldn't even be faithful to your own wife."
"I can be faithful to the right woman. I loved Amanda for over 70 years!" Quentin insisted.
"I loved Josette for nearly 200!" Barnabas responded.
"Fraud!" Quentin yelled.
"Cad!" Barnabas responded.
Barnabas reached into a drawer and pulled out a glove. Slapping Quentin across the face with the glove, Barnabas said, "I challenge you to a duel!"
Quentin laughed. " This isn't 1795, and I'm not Jeremiah. Fine. In fact, we'll dispense with the duel. If it'll help you get this out of your system," Quentin reached into the drawer and pulled out the dueling pistols. He placed one in Barnabas' hand. "Just go ahead and shoot me now."