LIZ

Angelique had been rescued, and Yolanda unmaked as Schuyller's niece looking for revenge on Angelique. Liz had died of cancer, but before her death she has been paying Derek Pearce for undisclosed services. Phillip had disappered, leaving behind a prengant and penniless Vicky, who has returned to Collinsport. Urien has been found, and Barnabas plans to adopt him.

Chapter 1

Barnabas had brought Comet back from Wyncliffe for, as he said, a short vacation from work. He felt a twinge of uneasiness remembering that Comet was not a dog but a human being trapped inside a dog's body. However unworthy the man had been of the name "human", he still had his birthright taken without even a trial.

But then, how much of a trial did Nunez give his victims?

Still, it was a fact that he had overstepped himself when he had used Angelique's spell to inflict this particular punishment on Nunez.

Absentmindedly he stroked Comet's ears. Comet growled, resentful at being treated the way he was, and by someone who knew the truth about him.

"It is not that bad." Barnabas spoke "I did not sell you to a laboratory. I did not turn you over to the ASPCA for destroying. And I did not have you fixed. So what about a little gratitude?"

The growl became weaker but did not disappear.

"You still angry with me? You still wonder what right did I have to do this to you? Well, I agree that your human rights were violated. On the other hand, I can't help finding your concern about human rights somewhat belated. You should have cared about them when you were the one dishing it out."

Comet lowered his head and closed his eyes.

"I wonder if you understand what I am talking about. I wonder if you can ever understand... Sometimes I think that you are hopeless, that you will remain a dog forever. But that would be Norma speaking...She was in too much pain to know better while I am supposed to be in control of myself. Maybe what I can't forgive you is that I had to kill her."

"And I had killed before, you see, Comet?" I did it when... when I was a different person than I am now. I did not like being reminded of what I was, of what I might become again. And she touched me. I knew her pain. I knew her need. She was the same way I used to be. She was me... I could not let her kill the boy. But I wanted her to get away with it... Do I make sense to you?"

The low growl in Comet's throat told him to cut his lecture short.

"Comet, if you behave, I promise that for a short time I will restore human shape and speech to you, so that we can talk about these things."

Comet stopped growling.

"Well, that's a good dog. And a good working dog. In fact, you are doing so well that Julia wants to add more animal therapists to the payroll."

He knew what he was doing and he checked himself. No gloating, it was wrong. The only justification that hen could find for what he was doing was that it was his way of teaching him about he value of humanity. He had to keep his mind on it. If he abused his position with Nunez, that justification was gone.

Certainly, Nunez was not very promising material when it came to being human, but then, he had been even less promising material, once.

Willie could not help giving Urien a resentful look.

Barnabas was actually going to adopt him! A two-bit male prostitute, that was what Urien was!

He recognized the jealousy that caused his reaction. He told himself again that Urien was just a kid with too many bad breaks. But he could not control it.

Luckily Vicky's presence made him refrain from doing something that eh would regret later. Unhappily Barnabas was not the only one with a too quick temper.

Vicky seemed to be feeling better, even if she was still worried about Phillip. And maybe worrying if Barnabas' adoption of Urien had made him forget his promise to be a father to her baby... he did not really owe her, but still...

"You seem to be doing well" Willie commented to her.

"Yes. I am. But I am still in limbo. I would like to go look for a job, but Barnabas said to wait at least until the child is born. Anyway, who is going to hire me, in my state? He said to take up knitting, and that then I can work for Sandy Miller. She owes him a few favors."

Willie shook his head. Knowing what Sandy had wanted of Barnabas, was it wise to ask her for help? Vicky understood what he meant, even if he said nothing.

"If not, he'll talk to Davenport. Or I can work at the hotel. Or something else..."

"Yes. Barnabas is a good unofficial placement service. I guess that he gets to know a lot of people in his rounds. So he knows who is looking for work and who is hiring. Of course, lately there's been a lot more looking than hiring. Reaganomics, it is called. Voodoo economics. Hell, to a point I am lucky that I own my shop. Still, if people don't have enough money they stop buying and then I have to cut corners. And with Pearl, it isn't easy. I mean, me and Louella, we can do without. Pearl can't. She needs so many things. Clothes, hearing, doctor's bills. As for myself, at the moment I can't afford to come down with anything more serious than a cold. If the van had a problem I don't know what I'd do. Barnabas does not know how lucky he is that he does not need to shop for groceries and things like that."

Yolanda stood straight in front of Carolyn, looking impassible.

"This covers it." Carolyn handed her the envelope. "Your severance pay. I hope that it is enough to satisfy you. Actually, I don't even have to do this. You came here under false pretenses and were involved in illegal acts. I could actually press for prosecution."

"So why don't you do it?" Yolanda asked insolently.

"You are not worth the trouble." Carolyn said coldly "I just prefer not to see you in Collinwood again."

Yolanda looked down on her former employer "Or you just don't want your dirty linen to come out."

"You are truly your uncle's niece. Are you thinking of blackmailing me?"

"I wonder what would happen if certain people knew about your cousin Barnabas. Or even your Uncle Roger."

Carolyn tapped he fingers over the table top. "Have you heard of Wyncliffe Sanitarium? They would be better qualified to treat your delusions."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Wouldn't I? Who do you think they'd believe? Me, the head of Collins Enterprises? Or a young woman who came here under an assumed name, chasing a pet conspiracy theory? No, Miss Oates, or Overton, or whatever your name is, I will advice you to keep your mouth shut."

Peter sat looking numbly out of the window.

"Peter?" Jessica tried to coax him to her "Are you there?"

Peter said nothing. Just kept staring at the darkening sky.

"You don't want to play? Or watch TV, or anything?"

Peter made a slight movement with his head, then growled something that sounded like "no".

Jessica gave up. She had been trying to reach him. She closed the door behind him and went back to the living room.

"It is not working" she told Zeb. "I am not qualified to deal with him."

"He'll snap out of it. You know what Dr. Morton said, that he needs to live in a familiar setting. You recommended her."

"Yes. But Audrey also said that he should have more attention and care than we are providing. And she recommended that he stay with her longer."

Zeb growled. "You want to wash your hands off him."

"And you want to use him as a pawn in your battle with Brant and Collins. Look, I do not care about them. I care about the kid. I grant you, I don't feel maternal about him. Then I am not qualified to deal with a disturbed child like this. I am scared of mishandling him. So, either we send him back to Audrey who can handle him, or we get someone to live with us who has experience handling troubled children. I am serious Zeb. You fight Brant and Collins as much as you want - even if think you are unwise about it. - but this kid needs more serious help than you or I can provide alone."

Yolanda turned on her flashlight. She was not going to leave Collinsport. She knew that Carolyn kept something hidden in Collinwood and she was going to find out what it was.

The mask was destroyed, but not all of her power was gone with it. She had learned several spells, which she could use. Her power was weak now. But she could still cloud minds, and make them not see her as she went in.

She was going to find Carolyn's secret and used it in some way. How, she wasn't sure.

Soon she would face Angelique again and extract payment for her betrayals. Schuyller's and her Master's, Zachary...

She walked noiselessly over the deserted corridors, stopping a few times to allow the rats to scurry away.

Then there was a rat that did not move. It was dead, and she could now see the torn throat.

There was another dead rat. And another. And they led towards a locked door.

She closed her hand on the lock and muttered the spell.

The door unlatched itself. She pushed and stepped in.

She felt the presence inside the room, and knew that she was being watched.

"Mrs. Atwater, I presume?"