Subj: A More Consistent Origin, Parts 24-26
Date: 1/2/99 4:10:08 PM Central Standard Time
From: Whitey Pale

Part 24

Back at the Du Pres plantation, Countess Nathalie Du Pres began laying out her tarot cards on a white lace tablecloth. It was a habit that she indulged in with the grudging acceptance of her brother Andre, who thought the Countess was wasting her time.

Nathalie Du Pres felt a sense of dread as she proceeded, as she recently had had some readings showing that all was not well at the plantation, and that there would be violent change. Since then, two of the Du Pres servants, Alexis and Gavroche, were dead, and another, Angelique, had left without a trace.

Before the Countess could begin her reading, however, she heard a carriage pull up to the front of the house. She arose and looked out the curtains. A bright-faced young girl with auburn hair alighted from the carriage. Nathalie steeled herself and went through her mind what she had prepared to say.

"Aunt Nathalie!" the girl squealed as she walked in the front door and rushed to embrace the Countess.

"Josette! Oh, it is so good to see you again! You look magnifique! How is Cousin Janine?" the Countess planted a motherly kiss on Josette's forehead.

"She is very well, although she scolded me for bringing so many chocolates. Now she cannot fit into her dresses!" Josette laughed. "How is father? Is he slaving away at the office or outdoors today? Honestly, he works harder than the help."

Nathalie smiled. "Your father is quite well. You know how happy he is when he is busy, and he is on the brink of closing a very profitable business deal." She sat down and indicated for Josette to do the same.

"Another one!" Josette grinned. "You would think that the Collins deal he was so interested in would have already made us the richest family in the Caribbean."

"Oh, this is the Collins deal he is working on," the Countess responded. "He expects to wrap things up this week."

Josette blushed. "You mean Monsieur Collins is still here?"

"Yes. But he really is a very polite and charming fellow. You will like him. That is why your father and I felt that it was all right to send for you. We all missed you so much!" Nathalie said.

"Aunt Nathalie," Josette frowned in mock seriousness. "I hope you are not making me part of Father's business deal! I hear that New England is very cold and New Englanders colder still."

Nathalie looked away. "Of course not, Josette. Well, of course I cannot speak for your father, but I really like Monsieur Collins. He is not at all like the type of man that you describe."

Josette began twirling her purse in her hand. "Well, then, I cannot wait to meet the gentleman. And how is my Angelique? I hope that you have not worked her to death, finding her odd jobs to do in my absence." She playfully pointed a finger in her aunt's direction. "I know how you are with the servants."

Nathalie Du Pres rose from her chair and walked slowly toward Josette. "Josette, there is something that I need to tell you. I did not want to write this to you because I did not want to upset you. . ."

Josette rose in concern. She interrupted, "what's wrong? Has Angelique's sickness worsened?"

The Countess remembered that Angelique did not travel with Josette because she had become violently ill. "No, Josette. Angelique recovered from her illness. But," the Countess paused, measuring her words, "she is gone."

"Gone!" Josette exclaimed.

"About a week ago her mother, Alexis, was killed by a wild animal in their bedroom. Angelique was fortunate enough to have been out of the room at the time. She had had an argument with her mother, and had run out that afternoon. Had she returned, she too would have been killed."

Josette bit her lip. "How horrible for her!! Angelique must feel terrible. She must feel so guilty!" Josette paused, fighting back the tears. "I know how that feels. I sometimes feel guilty that--that my mother died while I was being born." Josette could barely get the last words out and her aunt embraced her in a sympathetic hug.

"Josette, my poor Josette! I have often told you that your father does not blame you for your mother's death. It was an act of nature, it certainly is nothing for you to feel guilty over."

"Thank you, Aunt Nathalie," Josette sobbed. "But where is Angelique? I must offer my condolences. You said that she was gone."

The Countess sighed. This was as difficult as she had expected it to be. "When she learned that her mother had been killed, Angelique asked your father to release her from her indenture. She said that she could not stay any longer. Your father granted her wishes, although he tried to encourage her to stay. He said that you would miss her."

Josette broke away from her aunt's embrace. "But where could she go? Her father is dead, and she has no family."

Nathalie Du Pres responded, "I do not know if she has no family, but I do know that she wanted to go to Monsieur Dawson's agency in town, the same agency that placed her mother here when she was pregnant with Angelique. Gavroche took her into town."

"Where has she been placed then? I must get in contact with her." Josette asked.

The Countess lowered her eyes. "I do not know where Angelique is."

"Did you ask Gavroche? Maybe he knows."

The Countess looked up again. "Josette, I hate to burden you with more bad news on your first day back." The Countess cast her gaze to the floor and continued, "But Gavroche too is dead."

Josette was too stunned to speak. "When Gavroche did not return with the carriage the day after he and Angelique left, Jacques offered to search for them. Two days later, Jacques returned with the news that Gavroche had been attacked on the way back by highwaymen. They stole the carriage and killed Gavroche. The servants are out burying him now."

Josette was alarmed. "And Angelique! Was she killed too? Or taken prisoner?"

Nathalie Du Pre placed her hands on Josette's shoulders. "I do not know for sure. Jacques said that he investigated in town. He learned that Angelique did not return with Gavroche, but that her present location cannot be ascertained. Monsieur Dawson closed up his business apparently soon after Angelique arrived."

"So, she may be dead!" Josette wailed.

"I--I doubt it. I was about to ask the cards when you came in."

Josette looked down with a look of disgust at the cards set before the table. "Really, Aunt Nathalie! I do not know how you place such faith in a pack of playing cards. Isn't there some real way of finding out Angelique's whereabouts?"

Nathalie Du Pres sighed again. "Not that I know of. But if you desire, I will talk to your father about allowing Jacques to make more inquiries the next time he goes into town." After a beat, she added, "Josette, would you please do me a very large favor?"

"What is it Aunt Nathalie?"

"We have not bothered Monsieur Collins with our servant troubles. When we meet for dinner tonight, will you please avoid mentioning the subject, and be a very pleasant and gracious hostess?"

Josette turned on her aunt. "Servant troubles! Really, Aunt Nathalie, sometimes I cannot understand you! Two servants are dead and all you can think about is upsetting our dinner guest." The Countess turned away.

Josette sighed. "Of course, Aunt Nathalie. I will make Monsieur Collins feel welcome and not trouble him with our tragedies. But only if you promise to prevail upon Father to allow Jacques to make more inquiries in town concerning Angelique."

Nathalie Du Pres walked over and kissed her niece. "All right, Josette, I will see what I can do. Now you had better unpack and prepare for dinner. Your father and Monsieur Collins will be home soon."

Josette left for her room to unpack and dress for dinner. Nathalie Du Pres returned to her tarot reading. Much to her delight, the cards told her that Angelique was alive.

Part 25

Barnabas Collins was in somewhat of a fretful mood as he changed for dinner in his room. His business in Martinique was supposed to have been concluded a week earlier, but he had to postpone his trip back to Collinsport because Andre Du Pres had raised new obstacles to the deal.

Barnabas thought that Du Pres was using negotiating tactics to get him to cave in--and that if he did so, Joshua Collins would be furious. He had spent the previous week walking a tightrope, trying to placate Du Pres without doing anything to anger his father.

Barnabas also found himself often thinking about the departed Angelique. In the evenings, Barnabas frequently wandered into the gazebo where he had had his passionate encounters with Angelique, and wondered where she was and what she was doing. He thought about how he longed to have Angelique back in his arms again even though he considered a future with her not to be possible.

As Barnabas walked down the Du Pres's grand staircase to dinner, his eye caught a beautiful young woman in the nearby sitting room. She had light brown hair, was thin, fair complexioned with a look of benign innocence on her face. She wore a frilly laced silk gown and moved fluidly and animatedly as she was talking to the Countess. Barnabas was immediately captivated by her and wondered who the visitor was.

"Ah, Barnabas!" Andre Du Pres boomed jovially as he saw his guest. "There you are. Come here, there is someone, I would like you to meet." Barnabas was shy and walked somewhat timidly into the sitting room.

"Barnabas, this is my daughter, Josette Du Pres. Josette, this is Barnabas Collins, my business guest from America."

Josette smiled and curtsied, offering her hand to Barnabas, who kissed it, bowing. "How do you do Mademoiselle Du Pres? It is certainly a pleasure to meet you." He returned the smile.

Andre Du Pres explained, "Josette has just returned from visiting relatives on the island. While she is an only child, she has numerous cousins that she constantly visits. Keeps her occupied and young while we keep occupied and old."

Josette giggled. "Now Father, you and Aunt Nathalie are not old. I will not hear of you insulting yourself in front of our distinguished guest."

She looked at Barnabas, sizing him up. "My father has a talent for poor-mouthing himself to others but, as I am sure you know by now, in business there is no one better in Martinique. I hope that my father hasn't bullied you too much." she laughed.

Andre Du Pres was not entirely pleased with this comment. "Now Josette, it is you who are poor-mouthing. In any event, Monsieur Collins and I have conducted business all day, and now we would like to have a nice relaxing dinner without it."

"I'm sorry, Father," Josette replied, somewhat embarrassed.

Barnabas came to the rescue. "If your father and aunt allow, may I escort you into the dining room, Mademoiselle Du Pres." Andre and the Countess nodded their assent. Barnabas held out his hand and escorted Josette to her seat in the dining room.

During dinner, the conversation gravitated naturally towards the two participants who had just met. Barnabas asked Josette about her cousins, her interests and her life. Josette asked Barnabas questions about America, in particularly, New England and snow.

Barnabas hated the harsh New England winters, both personally and professionally (for its effect on productivity and travel), but found himself minimizing their misery. Instead, he told Josette of how he had helped his sister, Sarah, build a snowman that looked like their father. Barnabas left out the part of how Joshua scolded him that he should find better uses for his time.

Barnabas also mentioned the fun he had with his Uncle Jeremiah, sliding down the snowy hills, leaving out the parts about his frozen behind and the terrible colds that sometimes followed. Josette's eyes sparkled at his stories, and Barnabas used this encouragement to tell even more glowing stories of home.

While this was happening, unbeknownst to Barnabas and Josette, the Countess kept shooting stern glances to her brother, as if to say, "surely, you cannot let this continue to go on."

Andre, for the most part, ignored her, but shot a glance back on occasions when he surmised that Nathalie was about to say something about New England winters that was contrary to Barnabas' picture. The Countess took the hint and remained silent.

At one point in the conversation, Barnabas asked, "did you take lessons with your cousins?"

Josette's smile melted. She sadly replied, "No, I had a private tutor."

Barnabas was horrified at Josette's reaction. He said quickly, "I'm sorry Mademoiselle Du Pres if my question offended you. It was certainly not my intent."

Josette smiled weakly. "No, Monsieur Collins, it is I who must apologize for my reaction. It is nothing that you said. I was just thinking of my former servant, Angelique."

Barnabas felt a jolt of anxiety as he heard the name, like a child being caught with his hand in a cookie jar. "Angelique!" Barnabas exclaimed. Andre and Nathalie Du Pres looked at each other, then Nathalie looked at Josette as if to remind her of her pledge not to reveal the tragedies that had befallen the servants.

Josette noted Barnabas' reaction, assuming that his disturbance was class based. "I did not mean to offend you Monsieur. I had heard that in America all men are created equal, so I assumed that servants there receive an education as well. Angelique and I took lessons together until," Josette paused, choosing her words carefully, "she was old enough to begin her full-time duties."

By now Barnabas had recovered from his surprise at hearing Angelique's name and was trying to cover his tracks. "Well, in America some servants receive an education. I am sorry to say that ours do not, but I keep trying to convince my father to change this. I--I have met Angelique and had heard that she was educated. I was just startled to hear that she had been educated with you."

"Oui." Josette answered. "As I believe you know," Josette quickly glanced at her Aunt to indicate that she would be following instructions, "Angelique has left our employ to work elsewhere. Father allowed her to do so, and I miss her terribly."

Barnabas thought of asking where Angelique was, but thought better of it. Instead he said, "Yes, I heard that she and her mother had left together."

Josette cast her eyes down and fought the expression of disgust she wanted to show because she had sworn to her family that she would lie. "Yes," she said simply.

Barnabas responded quickly. "I'm sorry. I know how much you said that you missed Angelique. She must have been more than your servant. She must have been your friend." Barnabas felt flushed at the thought that he was now attracted to a good friend of the woman he had passionately made love to a week earlier. "I will drop the subject, and talk about happier thoughts. I have not told you yet of how beautiful Collinsport is in the autumn, with the leaves on the trees changing color."

Josette's expression brightened again. "Really! Please tell me about it."

The discussion continued through dinner and afterwards. As Barnabas was walking to his bedroom, he finally had an opportunity to think about the evening's events.

He was captivated by Josette. Her beauty, her fragility, her innocence and her wide-eyed wonder infatuated him. She did not share the harsh experiences of New England women. Josette also seemed somewhat plain-spoken--like her father and Aunt--but, at the same time, lacking their arrogance.

Moreover, Barnabas reasoned, she had many of the same qualities of Angelique, i.e., education, deportment, but was of stock from which his father would approve for a wife.

Barnabas decided that he would court Josette, but that he would not allow his passions to rule him as with Angelique. Not only did he figure that a forward approach would cost him Josette, but that it would also cost him the entire business deal with her father. No, Barnabas thought, this must be done tactfully, through flattery and by engaging her interest.

In the days that followed, Barnabas and Josette spent much time talking to each other at meals and on outings in which Barnabas accompanied the Du Pres. They never were unchaperoned except for a few times when Barnabas and Josette went horseback riding together. However, while Barnabas longed for her, he knew that he dare not act on those longings.

Part 26

At about the same time that Barnabas was having his first fateful meeting with Josette, Angelique was preparing for what she believed would be her own fateful encounter. She had been on the road with her new slave, Phillipe, for several days.

Sometimes they had stopped at an inn, where Angelique and Phillipe would pose as man and wife, and Phillipe would sleep on the floor. However, recently, as the carriage made its way into more remote territory, and the going was slower, Angelique and Phillipe would both sleep in their carriage.

Each night when they slept outside, Angelique would place certain herbs around the carriage to ward off wild animals. Angelique knew that the herbs would not deter the monster that she had seen at Dawson's deserted office, but she also had an inkling that, since she had not seen the monster after that night, it would not appear until she reached her destination. Judging from her map, that would be the next day.

Angelique did not know quite what she expected to do once she reached her destination. Would she confront Judah Zachary? What could she do other than to plead for her life? Would she have to do battle with the monster? Angelique spent a restless night as she wrestled with these questions.

The next day, Angelique and Phillipe started again. The terrain was barely passable. There was not what one would call an official road, but there was an outline of one which Angelique surmised was used by the residents of the settlement at which her mother had lived. About an hour and a half into their journey, they reached a forested area with a clear path leading in.

Angelique figured that this would be it. She took Phillipe's revolver and told him to wait with the carriage. Angelique knew that she had to do the final leg alone.

With trepidation, she began to walk along the path, which was lain with tree bark. After walking about five minutes, she saw a clearing. Her heart pounded faster as she walked towards that clearing. When she reached the edge, she gasped.

Before her lay a barren wasteland. The remnants of a terrible, all-consuming fire. The earth was scorched black, a few parts of dead trees remained, but little else.

Angelique nervously walked along the devastation, choking as she kicked up soot and ash with each step. Occasionally, she found a charred plate or tool indicating that there had once been a settlement in the area. But it had apparently been totally destroyed.

Then, Angelique noticed an object in the distance, several hundred yards away. She could not make it out as the air was still somewhat laden with ash and soot--indicating that the fire had occurred, at most, a few days earlier. Continuing to choke on the soot that her feet kicked, Angelique began walking towards the object.

When Angelique was about 50 yards away, she could begin to make out the object. Horrified, she still felt compelled to press forward. Soon, she was only a few feet away from a grinning, but badly charred human skull, sitting on top of one of the few remaining tree stumps.

Angelique gaped at the empty eye sockets and the protruding teeth. There was some significance here, but she could not think of what it was. However, Angelique felt that for some reason that she could not comprehend, the skull signified safety.

With a quiet sense of relief that surprised her, Angelique wearily turned around to leave the doomed area. When she returned to the carriage, Angelique told Phillipe that they would be heading back to town. She hoped that the Du Pres would hire her back. Angelique felt that it would be the only way she could hope to see Barnabas Collins again.

____________________

Many miles away, in the Caribbean Sea, Evan Dawson looked at the sunset and smiled. He figured that by now Angelique had reached the tail end of the wild goose chase he had sent her on.

Years earlier, Dawson had figured that Angelique's mother, Alexis, might reveal his Leviathan story, and perhaps even the existence of Judah Zachary, to her daughter if she learned that Barnabas Collins slept with Angelique. Rather than look at such an eventuality with fear, Dawson had seized upon it as an opportunity.

Dawson had planted a changeling, "Jacques", as the Du Pres's gardener after Dawson learned that Barnabas would be coming to Martinique. In his true form, "Jacques" could scamper to town quickly to give Dawson nightly reports on the progress of his plan. "Jacques" surreptitiously witnessed Barnabas making love to Angelique the first time in the gazebo, and then informed Dawson, who sprang into action.

Dawson ordered Jacques to kill Angelique's mother, who had outlived her usefulness. Dawson then quickly closed up his storefront in town and took everything with him except for a map and a shopping list of occult items, which he planted in the office for Angelique to find. Dawson also left a book of spells with the apothecary who had supplied his settlement, figuring that Angelique would get her hands on it. Dawson then left for the settlement.

Then came the grisly part. Dawson and Judah Zachary knew that they must leave the area, giving the impression that there was no trace left of the coven. A few of Zachary's most committed followers poisoned the other settlement members and either dumped them in the ocean or buried them in shallow graves. They then burned the settlement to the ground.

A human skull was charred and left on a stump so that, if Angelique had any residual memories from her past life as Miranda DuVal, she would connect the skull to Zachary and feel as if he too had been killed. In the meantime, "Jacques" would follow Angelique, unbeknownst to her, and occasionally appear, as needed, to frighten her into continuing her quest.

In Angelique's absence, Dawson figured that Barnabas would have an opportunity to meet Josette Du Pres, whom Dawson knew would be more acceptable to the status-driven Collinses than a servant girl--particularly one that had run away without a trace.

Dawson figured that, after finding the remains of the settlement, Angelique would return to the Du Pres. He hoped that the plan he had conjured up all those years ago would work--that Barnabas would have fallen in love with Josette and that Angelique, unknowingly using her vengeful heritage from a past life, would wreak terrible revenge upon the Collins family.

But Dawson would not know if his plans had worked for a long while. Judah Zachary had become tired of the Martinique settlement and impatient with the fact that the native witchcraft had failed to reanimate his head with a body. Zachary wanted to try the mysterious Orient to see if anyone could help him there. Thus, Dawson, Zachary, and a few of their trusted lieutenants were heading (no pun intended) there. (Of course, Zachary would be no more successful in the Orient, but would catch a break in 1840 when Desmond Collins came to town. . .)