A/N: Welcome, welcome. I apologize for the long wait. I won't tire you with the reasons why. I hope you're still here…for the LAST chapter.
A huge thank you to: cerysclark, SpringBorn, Pinkychick1, Sunny, guest, Dragonmaster789, Leyshla Gisel, Sarah Leet, NewlandArcher, Sagacious Rogue, lottielovebuzz, Makrciana, XantheXV, MissMisc3, PGAEmma, AngeliqueBouchard1972, Lina Marie, LabyFan23, RippahGoneWolf, TinkerbellxO, HelloBruiser, runs with myths, ForeverACharmedOne, dionne dance and AgnesBriot1969.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Shadows.
Chapter 25
My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.
~Juliet, Romeo and Julie
"You look sad."
The voice startled her so much and she dropped the candle. She yelped and her eyes widened as the rug underneath her feet was caught on fire. Acting quickly, she moved forward and stepped onto the flames with her foot, effectively blocking the fire from spreading. Picking up the candle, she looked up frantically. No one was there. Surely, she had not imagined the voice. Shakily, she turned to look up and down the corridor. Great. Now she couldn't see anything without a candle.
"Wonderful…" she whispered as she let her eyes roam the dark walls.
Taking a few tentative steps forward, she outstretched her arms until she found the wall. If it hadn't been for her lack of sleep, she wouldn't be up walking the grounds like a ghost. The manor seemed deserted, but she knew that the staff was sleeping soundly at such an hour. She didn't need to ask to know where Barnabas was. He was practicing his hunting skills. And he was getting better at it. It wasn't that different than when he had been going hunting with his father into the woods; same task, but different feeling, different thrill. This time he was hunting to survive.
Samantha blinked in the darkness and paused. She couldn't see a thing. She shook the candle in her hand, as if willing it to light the way on its own and she groaned at her absurdity.
"Just walk and don't trip-…Ah!" she squealed because suddenly the candle burst into flames.
She dropped it, her mouth wide, but it still burned without spreading fire upon the rug underneath her feet. Barely breathing because of the shock, she looked around before she leaned down and nervously, almost reluctantly, picked it up. The flame was burning steadily, the top of it a pale blue color that made Samantha gaze at it in wonder.
"My God…" she breathed and when something swooshed by her, she gasped and looked away from the candle.
"Hello?" she whispered shakily and something tickled her cheek as a soft breeze blew by her. She realized with relief that it was just her hair. Nevertheless, she swallowed hard and turned around in a circle. Once she had completed the twirl, she came face to face with a pair of sickly blue eyes.
She cried out and stepped back only to collide with the wall. The translucent form of Josette flinched as well and swayed backwards, her feet a few inches above the floor.
"You seem sad." The ghost whispered glumly and Samantha was momentarily speechless.
"Scared too…" Josette frowned as tresses of her hair floated in front of her face.
"I…" Samantha could see that the spirit seemed remorseful for causing her such a fright and she tried to smile.
"I am fine…Did…did you light up the candle? Just now?" she asked quietly, forcing her expression to a more neutral state.
Josette nodded her head, "I know these grounds…I have had the time to wander around them…I see well in the dark…You don't."
Samantha pushed away from the wall, "Thank you." She didn't know what else to say.
Josette blinked, her eyelashes long and curled upwards even in death. They were a dark contrast to her dull complexion. Her dress was falling in waves around her despite its slightly decayed state.
"You…you need something?" Samantha blurted out and the specter didn't speak at first. Josette simply stared at her with impossible concentration before she finally replied.
"You're restless. I can feel it. As I can feel the death and ruin in this house. This place is a resting place for the dead…But you are not one yet." Josette floated about Samantha, gazing at her speculatively, "But the time is approaching. And he will try to stop it."
Samantha shivered as a dead, ghostly breath of air tickled her face.
"Have you come to warn me?" she whispered and the ghost shook her head.
"Do you hate me?" she continued quietly.
"One cannot hate in my world. You can only watch and prevent…if you can." Josette replied.
"Why are you still…here?"
Josette's hair was disturbed by the wind that accompanied her every move.
"I have unfinished business here…I can find no rest. The calamity of this place is still standing strong among us…Can't you see it? Can't you sense it? Every step has led to this. Lies, betrayal, lust, evil…trickery…death."
"I am sorry." Samantha whispered and Josette floated away from her.
"I have no use for your remorse. I never had." The blue eyes roamed her form with intensity, "You have the mark of death upon you…Since the very first day you gave your heart away. Your fate isn't that different from mine…but only one of us will get her heart's desire."
The flame upon the candle flickered and Samantha licked her dry lips.
"You are speaking of death…Will I die?" she whispered and Josette smiled.
"There are many forms of death…Mine is one…Barnabas' is another…The witch's is one that brings the most evil. Which one would you choose?"
Josette stared at her unblinkingly and Samantha gently shrugged.
"Do I have a choice?" Her voice quivered a little.
"Your heart shall make the choice." The words echoed loudly around them and Samantha winced.
"What does that mean-…"
"Do not fear. I shall help or else my soul won't be salvaged from this state of immobility. I cannot move forward as long as you're still in peril." Josette slipped closer, her arms slightly outstretched.
"How can you help? Can the dead help the living-…Ow!" She was cut short when Josette lurched forward and crushed her ghostly form against her own. The wind was knocked out of her and she dropped the candle in her effort to gasp for breath. Her muscles were suddenly stretched to their breaking point and a shadow passed over her eyes, but in a moment it was gone along with Josette. Her heart thumped rapidly inside her, as if beating for more than one person and then it slowed down to its normal rhythm. A cough escaped her throat and she had the urge to gag, but she slapped a hand over her mouth in order to prevent the urge.
Had…had the being just…passed through her? What on earth…? What was the purpose of all this? To scare her? Warn her? Comfort her? She wasn't sure because she was feeling all those emotions at once! Fear, hope and dread were all fighting for dominance inside of her and she was certain for one thing. Their fate was fast approaching; especially hers.
Turning around in a circle, and not failing to realize that the candle was still burning even as it rested upon the ground, she searched the hall for Josette. She and her blue luminance were nowhere to be seen. Placing a hand above her heart, she shook her head and quickly picked up the candle again. Without wasting time, she turned and fled the corridor. As soon as she entered Barnabas' chamber the flame went out.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Cool lips brushed her own slightly parted ones and she opened her eyes. The pale face of Barnabas greeted her and she quickly sat up from her chair her expression surprised.
"Oh!"
He smiled and she frowned. Odd.
"I fell asleep…What time is it?" She whispered and he looked at his pocket watch.
"Just after noon…" He brushed his hand over her cheek and walked leisurely towards the open back door. She didn't fail to notice that every part of his skin was covered by his long dark cloak.
Samantha stood up and walked over to his side. Her eyes zeroed on the circle of maids that were whispering to each other almost frantically. The gatekeeper passed by them and shook his head in incredulity, his eyes flittingly moving over his master before he walked away.
"What's wrong with Mr. Jones…and the girls?" she asked and Barnabas narrowed his eyes while his mouth curled upwards.
"The girls are gossiping…Mr. Jones has never approved that." He replied as he opened and closed his watch rhythmically, his eyes far away.
She shook her head, "What's the gossip about this time? You?"
Barnabas cocked his head to the side and strained his ear. His perfect hearing worked and he took a deep breath once the voices reached his eardrum.
Did you see the way she moved around town?
I was surprised that she didn't murder anyone!
Serves her right! The filthy witch! Everyone knew why the Collins dismissed her.
I have heard that they found a room filled with books and dolls! She has been practicing a lot under their own roof!
Yes, but why was she so mad? She seemed really troubled.
Troubled? Out of her wits, I'd say!
"No. Not me." He finally replied and Samantha grasped his arm and pulled him back from the door.
"Explain. What did you do?"
"What did I do?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"Yes! You were gone last night."
"I thought you were asleep."
"Barnabas, answer the question. Did you expose her?" She whispered and he turned away from her.
"No. That course of action would hurt the entire town." He narrowed his eyes, "I chose a different approach."
"I fear to ask what that approach was." Her eyes flickered to her branded wrist and she shivered.
"If I exposed her, if I offended her in public, then she'd take all her wrath out upon the townspeople. So…I made the offence more personal."
"What does that mean?" she hissed wide eyed.
"You do know how her mother died…do you not?" he asked as he walked further away from the door.
"Yes…I remember that she was burned…at the stake for witchcraft." She ventured carefully as she followed him.
"Indeed. When I was very young…My parents were fond of her…and so, when the execution was over they gathered the ashes and whatever was left from her mother," he turned around to face her, "put everything in a casket and buried her in the woods behind Collinwood." He frowned in remembrance and she blinked in confusion.
"They…arranged her burial? In secret?" she asked and he nodded once.
"Of course in secret. If the church and the people found out that they had committed such an offence against God, they would have turned against us. It had to remain a secret."
Samantha watched him as he started pacing, "So…only you knew, now, where her mother was buried?"
"Not just me and not out of accident. My parents did what they did because they thought that they could convince the young girl to follow the ways of God. That by a miracle she wouldn't turn out like her mother." He walked towards the counter where the silver cutlery was laid out to be cleaned. He brought his hand closer, letting it hover above the silver forks before he smirked bitterly and pulled his fingers away.
"We informed her that we had managed to bury her mother…What was left of her anyway. We even built a tomb with no name. We showed her where it was and she was allowed to go and see…Visit it."
Samantha already knew where he was going.
"But of course she used it to her benefit." She murmured and he nodded.
"She established a connection with her mother's spirit, I think. Or else she wouldn't be able to practice her trickery. At first, as a child, I used to accompany her. When I grew older and noticed her fixation with the grave, I stopped and simply watched with fascination her loyalty to her kin. Until very recently, I was foolishly naïve enough to believe that she was innocent. Apparently, I was wrong. You see, when her mother died her tutoring had been left incomplete. My new abilities have helped me discover all this…It wasn't difficult to figure out why she went there so often…It's been years after all."
Samantha swallowed hard, "Barnabas, what did you do?" she whispered as her stomach started clenching in fear and dread.
He turned to her, his eyes wild, "What I should have done months ago! I destroyed her precious temple of evil once and for all."
"I don't understand."
"I broke the tomb, Samantha. Smashed it. And then I burned what was left in it. It's gone." He hissed impatiently and she clamped a hand over her mouth.
"That's an offence. It's a sin against God-…"
"That woman was condemned by the church! I did what I had to." His eyes flashed angrily and she trembled.
"Why now?" she asked and he curled his lip in a sneer.
"Because I want this done. I want her out of our lives. I want her to come and find me. Because I am tired of playing cat and mouse with her." He paused, breathing heavily, "I want her dead."
Samantha could only stare as he turned away from her and ran a hand through his short hair. Feeling her eyes on him, he closed his eyes in pain.
"Please, Samantha. Stop looking at me like that." He turned to look at her from over his shoulder, "We both know that I have no soul to condemn. It was taken from me when I killed that innocent woman." He looked away again and she reached up to rub her temples.
"Now she won't ever release us from our curses-…"
"She wasn't planning to do so anyway, my love. There is only one way out and that is to destroy her." He spoke the words without facing her and she glanced towards the still gossiping maids before she approached him tentatively.
She reached out and touched his hard arm, curling her fingers around it and pulling herself closer to his body.
"You want revenge."
"Of course. My main purpose is revenge." His eyes dilated at the thought of sweet vengeance and she gazed at his sharp profile with fear before she nodded.
"Then I will help you get it…No matter the cost." She whispered as she pressed a kiss to his arm.
He looked at her sideways and his expression softened, "Samantha…"
"You must send away the staff." She stated firmly, her eyes determined, "She will come here and no one must be around to get hurt. I'll inform Maria-…" she started pulling away, but his hand seized her elbow.
She looked up into his shimmering black eyes and she waited.
"I am sorry."
She frowned, for the words surprised her, "What for?"
"For loving you."
She froze, "For loving me? You regret loving me?" she whispered and he nodded faintly.
"Yes. My love has only brought you pain from the very start. I wanted to have everything with you…A family. Now I can have nothing but death. You shouldn't be ready to die for someone like me, Samantha. I am not worth it."
Taking a deep breath, she stepped closer and reached up towards him. Barnabas inhaled sharply as soon as her scent hit his nostrils and swallowed hard, his eyes half lidded as he gazed down at her.
She smiled, "Has anyone ever told you that you're too sure of what you say? Hmm?"
The vampire blinked rapidly in response, his mouth opening and closing until he closed it firmly and averted his eyes. Samantha knew that if he had been human he would have blushed.
"I…I might have a vague suspicion of the fact." He muttered as he looked back at her.
She simply shook her head and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, causing him to groan enthusiastically in response. His hands tried to grab her arms, but she slipped out of his reach with a smile.
"Ah, no! We're in public, Master." She breathed with a flush when he growled in defiance.
"I need to find Maria." She bowed teasingly and then she walked away.
As soon as she was out of the kitchen, the feeling of happiness disappeared and it was swiftly replaced by the mounting feeling of dread.
It was one thing to want revenge and another thing to insult the dead…Even the evil ones…
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Samantha stretched her hands out towards the fireplace, trying to warm her cold fingers by leaning towards the hearth. The manor was silent, deserted. The staff was gone and despite Maria's valiant attempts to stay, Barnabas had sent her on her way with enough money to find a room at the local inn. As Samantha stood by her own in front of the large fireplace, she had the urge to run to Maria at the inn just for a few minutes of companionship. She knew not to do something so irrational though.
A night bird chirped outside the French doors and she turned her face towards the glass, looking out of it. A small dark bird was perched on the stone railing, picking at the surface with its small beak. Samantha was drawn towards the bird and she abandoned the warmth of the fire in order to see the little one better. She stood behind the closed doors for a moment and the black bird turned its little head towards her, its black eyes staring right at her.
She cocked her head to the side and briefly wondered if the bird's look was imploring. Ignoring the cold, she opened the doors and stepped outside. The bird chirped hoarsely and she laughed.
"Are you hungry? I have no food…" She approached the little feather ball and reached out with her hand. The wind blew and slammed the door hard against the wall and she glanced briefly towards the parlor, her hand still outstretched. A sharp painful bite caused her to gasp and she looked back at the little bird.
"Ow!" she hissed when she realized that the bird had actually torn a part of her skin with its strong beak. She cradled her finger close to her chest and gazed at the bird with wide eyes. The little one parted its beak and chirped loudly, causing her to take a step back. Its black eyes were glimmering and she felt her chest heaving as she was forced to lock eyes with the small animal.
She's coming.
The voice in her head was loud and clear and for a moment she wondered if she had been the one who had spoken because she had felt her lips moving. Looking around, she realized that no one was there. The only thing that had changed was that the little vicious bird was suddenly nowhere to be seen.
Shaking her head at her own imagination, she turned and walked back inside. She didn't notice the bird that sneaked its way inside the manor just before she closed the French doors.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Samantha entered the crypt and brought the candle forth. She hadn't come back in there for weeks, but she knew that it was Barnabas' hiding place. The air still smelled of dirt, humidity and metal and as she climbed down the stairs she realized that she had no need for candles. The dark hidden room was illuminated by numerous flames that flickered in the cold air.
"Like the light? I knew you'd come here before I made it upstairs." His voice startled her because she had not seen him. In a flash, he was in front of her. In his hand he held two daggers.
"Am I bothering you?" she whispered and he looked up.
"No, darling." He shook his head, his expression weary.
"What are those?" She motioned towards the two small blades.
"They belonged to my grandfather…" he stared hard at the shiny knives, "I decided to use them." He sheathed them and then looked up at her, "Are you familiar with sulfur?" he murmured and she blinked.
"We used it around the house back home…To prevent various insects and bugs from entering through the slits…"
"Indeed." He cocked an eyebrow, "According to my research, the only way to ensure the death of a witch is to attack her with sulfur. It will cause the heart to burst." He slipped the two blades in his pocket and then turned away.
He sniffed the air and frowned, "It's too cold down here. We should go back." He looked around and then stepped forward to douse the candles.
Samantha shivered and nodded her head, trying in vain to forget the purpose of those two daggers Barnabas had decided to carry upon him. Turning away as the vampire started blowing out the first candles, she headed for the stairs. Just as she had passed the iron bars that divided the crypt, a breeze blew and diminished her candle. Freezing in mid step, she blinked rapidly in the all consuming darkness and strained her ears.
"What happened?" she whispered and she could hear Barnabas moving towards her.
She's coming.
"What did you say?" Barnabas' hand grasped her elbow and turned her towards him. She could see his wide eyed expression.
"Nothing!" she exclaimed and he frowned.
"But you just-…" His words were caught off by the loud slam of the door. Both Barnabas and Samantha looked at the now firmly shut exit and Samantha was the first one to speak.
"What was that?" she whispered as she pressed her back against his clothed chest.
He didn't speak. He just walked around her and headed for the stairs. The air turned icy all of a sudden and she heard the sound of metal creaking loudly. A pained moan echoed in the darkness and she cried out as well when she was suddenly knocked off her feet and right onto the ground. She moaned in pain and twisted her body, feeling the iron door of the crypt lying heavily upon her back. She could feel blood on her arm, but that was the least of her concerns.
The weight of the iron door was suddenly lifted off of her and a cold hand grasped her arm, hauling her to her feet with unparallel strength and swiftness.
Barnabas pulled her to his side and then he was racing towards the stairs.
"Stop! We mustn't get out!" she wheezed against his chest, but he growled.
"She's here. We have to get out!"
She leaned against the wall as Barnabas forced his body against the door and pushed it open with a mighty push. It gave way under his strength and he almost stumbled in his attempt to get out. Samantha grasped his coat to steady him and he hissed as his shoes slid precariously over the suddenly wet floor. Samantha stared at the ground with wide eyes and then gazed around them. The parlor was drenched in water that almost reached their ankles. The French doors were wide open and in front of each door there were parts of…
Samantha screamed as soon as she spotted the lifeless eyes of Maria staring right back at her. Stumbling back and away from Barnabas, she pressed herself against the closest wall, willing her eyes to erase the awful sight of her mutilated friend. Parts of Maria were lying all around the parlor and pieces of her dress were blowing with the wind around their heads.
"My God." Barnabas' eyes were wide, his pupils dilated and he reached out blindly for Samantha.
"We have to get out of here." He hissed as he grabbed the back of her head and pushed her towards his chest.
A loud squeaking sound above their heads alerted them of more trouble and Barnabas ducked as a large framed painting of his ancestors started flying towards them with lightning speed.
Samantha fell on top of his chest and gasped when water soaked her clothes. Barnabas hissed and pushed himself backwards, his arm tight around Samantha, but she was a dead weight.
"Samantha!"
Her eyes were fixated upon the grand chandelier above their heads and he looked up as well.
"What?" he hissed and then he saw it. The small black bird on top of the candles. For the love of God… It looked like it was smirking at them.
"I let it in." she whispered as she gazed at the open French doors, trying not to focus on the limbs lying there.
Barnabas snarled and the bird let out a husky squeak in reply before it flew away from the chandelier. Barnabas had barely sighed in relief when the chandelier started swaying precariously above them.
"Damnation!" he yelled as he clasped Samantha around the waist and hauled her up and into his arms. She didn't move at all. She could only watch as the intricate chandelier was dislodged from the roof and started falling towards the ground. The candles' flames quivered and as soon as the chandelier fell onto the ground they had gone out.
Barnabas tore open the front door and leaped outside. He ignored the hound that lay dead on top of the porch steps and set course for the woods.
Samantha blinked and looked around, ducking in order to escape branches and leaves.
Barnabas grasped her forearm and swung her around, effectively setting her upon his back so he could run faster and see more clearly in the dark. She gasped, but held on tight, squeezing her eyes shut as tears gathered behind her closed eyelids.
"Maria…" she whimpered and Barnabas' hand squeezed her elbow tightly in response.
"Going somewhere?" The voice was too close and Barnabas came to an abrupt halt. His breathing was coming out in rough pants and his chest was heaving under Samantha's hands.
"Hmm?" Angelique appeared just as the Widow's Peak was visible over Barnabas' head.
Samantha tightened her hold around his shoulders, but he did not stop walking.
"You dare to show your face at last?" Barnabas' voice was low and the witch sneered, her long brown hair blowing with the wind as she stood at the clearing.
"I am not the one hiding in dark dirty holes, defiler." She whispered and then her eyes flickered towards Samantha, "You and your pet are causing much more trouble than what you're worth."
Samantha abruptly let go of Barnabas and came to stand beside him.
"Defiling applies only to things sacred and pure. You and your kin are nothing of the sort." Barnabas eyes are studying Angelique, "I see your status has been improved. What poor fellow did you seduce for this finery?" He waved a hand at her heavy silky dress and she smiled.
"Thankfully, you're not the only one who can prosper here. This town is as foolish as your parents."
"My parents tried to help you." He hissed and her expression shifted.
"And you destroyed what they did."
"The tomb? Oh, please. You killed my parents. Don't dare talk to me about honor."
She was obviously not expecting him to pounce so when he did leap towards her like a large bat in flight, she growled, but she wasn't quick enough to prevent the attack. He pushed her onto the rocky ground with a snarl and she hissed as her back made contact with the rough ground underneath her body.
He was quick to sink a hand in her hair in an effort to bear her neck, but her hand moved behind his back. With a flourish, a silver blade shone in the darkness and Samantha screamed when Barnabas cried out from the pain. He was thrust away from Angelique and he landed on his back with a loud, breathless groan of agony.
Samantha leaped forward, but a wave of Angelique's hand sent her onto the ground as well.
She tried to stand up, but the witch caught hold of her ankle and used it as leverage to slide up her body. Angelique's hand coiled around her neck and it burned like fire.
Screaming, Samantha bucked under the woman, but the witch caught her wrist, showing her the now glimmering initials with a manic grin on her face.
"You hope for death? It might come sooner than you expected. You think he'll stay, you think he'll linger? He never does." Angelique's eyes were unnaturally wide, the animalistic hate causing them to burn like hot coals.
Samantha closed her eyes as severe pain burned through her own eyes and groaned, once more arching her back in a vain attempt to free herself. The hand around her throat tightened and Angelique raised the silver dagger high in the air, aiming for Samantha's face, but she was knocked off the woman with a loud groan.
The silver dagger slipped from the witch's hand and as Samantha rolled onto her side, her eyes spotted it.
Angelique noticed and snarled, her nails digging into Barnabas' skin, scratching at his cheek with malice, but he pinned her down with his weight.
"Your mother got what she deserved." he hissed, out of breath, "Her seed was nothing but evil. I am not sorry." He smirked and the witch spat at his face before she delivered a sharp kick to his groin. He let out a little insane chuckle and pulled back, grabbing her by the hair and hauling her up.
Samantha rolled over until she could wrap her fingers around the fallen dagger. When she had it in her hand, she tried to stand only to stumble. Her feet felt odd; like they couldn't stay put upon the leafy ground.
Trying again, she managed to stand on her feet and turned towards the witch and the vampire. She caught sight of her wrist and she could see the initials still burning a bright gold, the skin around rough, swollen and reddened.
Feeling dizzy because of the pain, she moved forward, but Angelique noticed. With a wave of her free hand, she sent the dagger out of Samantha's hand and right onto the ground.
"I should have killed you instead." The witch gurgled with venom as she was thrust against the closest tree with force.
"You always made foolish mistakes." Barnabas informed her, his voice a low baritone, barely his own.
"Indeed." The witch smirked and she wiggled her fingers. The dagger leaped from the ground and with a subtle shake of her head it sped up towards Samantha.
"No!"
Samantha ducked to the left and the blade nicked her skin. She hissed and collapsed onto the ground. The blade fell by her head with a dull thud, but it didn't stop. It jumped in the air and started trailing a path towards Samantha's chest.
"Know the secret to break a curse?" Angelique hissed as Barnabas glared at her, "Cut out the victim's heart. Stab it. Death is the only solution…unless you decide to take a bite, but I don't think you'd dare. Too proud to give in-…"
Barnabas snarled and used his grip on her to throw her off. He spun in a circle and let go of her. The witch landed harshly near the edge of the hill and she laughed loudly.
Samantha's hand curled around the dagger, but it was hot to the touch. She screamed as it burned her hand in the most unnatural way, but then suddenly another hand curled around her own.
Barnabas grasped the knife with strength and gritted his teeth at the pain it caused him. Whirling around in a swift twirl, he aimed and threw the silver blade towards the witch.
Samantha stood up quickly, coming to stand next to Barnabas just as Angelique caught the blade before it could slice her stomach.
Barnabas growled in anger and agitation and lurched forward, but Samantha's cry made him stop short. He saw her flying past him and he could only watch as she landed right at the peak.
Angelique smirked and moved her hand, her lips mouthing silent words. Samantha's feet slid right off the edge and she screamed as she was suddenly floating right above the ocean waves.
Angelique held her suspended over the water with one hand pointed towards her. In her free hand she held the dagger.
"You were saying, my love?" She quirked an eyebrow and the vampire stepped forward.
"Do not defile that sacred word with your unholy tongue." He whispered as his terrified eyes flickered between the mortal and the witch.
"You rather enjoyed my tongue in the past. Have you forgotten?"
"Silence!" he barked as his eyes darkened and his fingers formed tight fists at his sides, "Silence, you demon."
The witch smiled sweetly and flourished her hand. Samantha was jerked further down and she yelped, her hands trying, but failing to grasp onto something, anything. Only water and rocks was beneath her dangling body and the sight of them made her head pound with horror.
"Sure. I shall stop talking. After all, all I have to do is tear out her heart and we'll be done. You shall return back to me and to the lovely little box I have for you." She paused as she turned towards Samantha with the silver dagger, "Hell, I could even put her corpse with you to keep you company. Would you like that?" She smiled sweetly, but when she turned towards Samantha her eyes were ugly, "Now, little mouse. Do you fear death?" She raised the dagger, ready to aim for the heart, but she froze when something awfully painful came in contact with her back. She gasped and groaned, and her hold on Samantha became less steady, causing the other woman to slide further down.
Looking around frantically, Angelique turned her icy blue eyes on Barnabas who stood directly behind her. The sulfur was burning her and made it difficult for her to breathe.
Bearing her teeth in an unholy snarl, she pushed him back with a motion of her hand and then turned to Samantha. She hauled the immobile body forward and then curled her claw like fingers around Samantha's already burned neck. In one flash, Angelique's hand moved and Barnabas had no time to stop it. A raw cry escaped his mouth as soon as the knife impaled Samantha's chest and he fell onto his knees.
Samantha creamed and kicked her legs as Angelique twisted the knife inside her and clawed at the unnaturally strong hand that was holding her up in the air.
The witch smirked despite the pain that was spreading from her back to the rest of her body and laughed.
"It won't hurt that much. I promise." She whispered quietly and Samantha stared at the witch's blue stare, fighting the urge to close her eyes against the immense pain.
Angelique sneered and pulled out the dagger in one swift move. Another cut was made across the first one and Samantha screamed again. Blood oozed from her chest, soaking her skin, her clothes, everything. The thick liquid was sticking to the blade and as the witch raised her hand up to strike once more, droplets of it fell on her face, making her look like the devil himself. In the thrill, Angelique had forgotten that someone was still watching though.
A hand suddenly forced its way around Angelique's waist and the witch screamed in rage. A hand moved, as quick as a lightning, and a hoarse scream was torn from the witch's throat. Samantha gasped as she swayed precariously upon thin air and a river of blood trailed down the corner of her mouth.
Barnabas twisted the knife deep in Angelique's chest, pushing as hard as he could until he heard the ugly sound of her heart being squashed.
The witch's hold on Samantha loosened as the spell was broken and the young woman found herself falling with rapid speed towards the huge waves underneath. Her wounded heart pounded slowly inside her chest, but suddenly her body stopped moving. Her hands were suddenly suspended away from her body, spread wide above her and her legs were held in place by an invisible force.
A familiar shadow of blue passed over her eyes and she tried to speak, but only more blood oozed out of her mouth. She was drowning in her own blood. She could feel the crisscross slash upon her chest stinging as if on fire and she closed her eyes, letting herself to be enveloped by the soft pale blue light around her.
Wait…wait. Josette's voice was loud and clear in her ears and she knew; she finally knew who had found refuge in her body the last couple of days. It was a pity that she could feel herself losing control. Her head fell forward and her blonde tresses were bloodied and limp as they hang in front of her face.
Don't let go…Wait… The sweet voice murmured again and Samantha felt herself moving upwards.
"Josette!" Barnabas' voice sounded far away, but Samantha heard it. She tried to open her eyes, but her heart was giving up, beating slower and slower now.
He's coming for the two of you. Josette was speaking to her again, but she could hold on no longer. The blue light faded and Samantha found herself falling once again, the wind slapping her face and making her pain even greater.
"No!" A loud growl vibrated in the air and then there were arms around her, cradling her close. A clothed chest brushed against her open chest wound and she screamed, but then a mouth nuzzled her cheek and then lips were on the side of her swollen neck. Her eyes were still firmly shut and she could not force them open.
The mouth parted upon her skin and then something prickled and burned. Fingers threaded through her hair as they kept falling with speed towards the ocean and suddenly, through her fog, she realized that the pain was caused by teeth; Barnabas' teeth.
He sank his fangs deep into the tender flesh of her neck and in a flash he was forcing his suddenly wet, slick wrist against her lips. A coppery taste filled her mouth and suddenly everything faded into a bottomless black light.
Black light?
Just before she was lost into blessed oblivion, she felt the weight of water crushing them and dragging them down to its depths.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Her unnaturally dark eyes opened with a start. Her pupils were dilated and her hand flew to her swollen, and mildly warm, stomach. She let her fingers rest there for a moment, her skillful eyes moving around in the dark. She could feel a soft, but equally cold hand rubbing her sweaty back in tender circles.
"It was just a dream." He murmured hoarsely as his bare arm curled around her waist and brought her back down on the luscious sheets.
"Not a dream." she whispered in the dark, her usually cold body shivering, "They were memories." She added and she closed her eyes when lips found her temple.
"Hush, you shall disturb the little one." he whispered as he covered her hand on her stomach with his own, "She's not like us…She will be human. You must control your emotions because she can feel them."
Samantha gazed at her stomach, "Do you think it's wise?" she whispered and Barnabas frowned.
"My love?" His fingers played with the golden ring around her middle finger.
"The selfishness of keeping her. We'll live, move around, but she will die…"
The arm around her tightened, "You do not know that. I was in love with your humanity…and no matter the means you, we, need to use in order survive, she will be the living proof of that humanity. She will be proof that you and I…" he trailed off and she turned around in his arms, looking up at him.
"You and I what?" she whispered and he gazed at her with determination.
"That you and I are not monsters. How can we be when we have created a little miracle?" He grinned widely and she blinked back the fear.
"I never thanked you." She bit her lip.
"Thank me?" He frowned a little.
"When you turned me that day… I never…Thank you." She pressed her hand harder on her stomach and he shook his head in amusement.
"There will always be time for that…After all, this is the beginning of forever." He breathed before he leaned down and captured her lips in a deep kiss.
The half mortal child inside her belly kicked in response, giving manifestation to her belief that they had, in fact, created a miracle. The age of innocence had not come to an end for them just yet.
The End.
A/N: Ahem…Dun, dun! It's done. I do hope I didn't disappoint anyone. I know that I scared you a little there, but nope! I didn't plan to kill off anyone important this time! Lol
Liked it? Hated it? Please, let me know!
*Also, Samantha got pregnant before she was turned; on the night they first slept together. Apparently, Angelique died and Barnabas turned Samantha before she could die. And then because of the stab in the heart she was free of the curse. I hope I cleared things out…*
Also, a huge thank you to my readers and reviewers. This story had a wonderful audience and I had never thought that it would interest anyone. I am happy that I was proven wrong!
Until the next time we meet!
Xxx Lina :D