Well, well. Another book? Haven't you run out of book ideas? Not yet my dears, not yet. Actually, I have another one I'm planning on starting soon as well. But that would be very different from this one. So, I'm sure you might have some questions about what I'm going to be doing here, so I'll just jump right in and tell you.

I have had this idea for longer than I can remember. At least four years I've been mulling this over. Mulling what over, you ask? A story about Barnabas' daughter. Now I know that the few of you who know my books have read Cracks, which I started many years ago (Note: that book is very embarrassing and I hope to make a much better story than that here) know I already wrote about his daughter with Angelique. This will be very different and not similar to that story at all.

I might be going into more details later on about specific characters and the movement of this work as a whole, but for now I say we should just get into it, yes? I think so.

DISCLAIMERS:

This story will be AU in the sense that it takes place in the present day and not in the 1970's or the 1770's. Because of that, obviously, characters will be different ages.

I will be using characters from the TV show The Vampire Diaries. However, I really didn't want to make this a crossover because that is not the point of this book. Damon, Stefan, Elena, Katherine and a few others will be mentioned and some will be part of the story but the seasons and drama of the show itself will mostly be put on the backburner. Damon will be a character in this story but he is not one of the main characters.

All vampires will be "Vampire Diaries" vampires. Barnabas will look like he did as a human. He will still be unable to go out in the sun, but most of the other curses will not be part of this story. He will be pale, but not inhumanely pale. Reflections, silver and other vampire "afflictions" will not affect him, just like the vampires in the Vampire Diaries. Also, when he was in the coffin for centuries, just like in the Vampire Diaries, he would not have been conscious for it because he would have been in a mummified state.

Note: Unlike my other works that are often rated M, this story will be rated T (for language, sexual references and alcohol use).

This story is dedicated to MissAmyCat. Thank you for your support, love!

** Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Shadows or The Vampire Diaries. **

Amara

Collinsport, October 2016

A slight breeze shifted her dark hair as she stepped into the car. The autumn air was crisp and yet filled with the smell of the sea. Amara had always missed that. The aura of her hometown, with it's salty air and ragged terrain. Maine always had a very distinct feeling. The fog was constant, the waves never quite reaching a precipice. The trees, impressively tall and now bursting with color, gave the land a sense of enlightenment.

Amara couldn't quite comprehend all the emotions she was feeling. Of course, she never fully did. But she did know that she was excited. Was she anxious, perplexed, fervent? Perhaps. But she was defiantly excited. She pushed the ignition button and pulled out of the driveway. The drive was short, but not nearly short enough. When Amara had gotten the phone call she was astonished. Sure, Angelique had kept things from her before, but nothing like this. Nothing remotely like this.

She drove through the open gates of Collinwood. Amara had never been inside the gates before. Actually, she didn't think that she had ever been to this side of town before. Towering trees on either side of the drive enclosed her in the darkness of anticipation. She had no idea what to expect of him. Was she supposed to desire something from him? She wasn't quite sure. All she knew was that he had no idea about her.

Angelique had expected her to wait. But Amara had never held so much anticipation in her life. She wasn't about to wait to be introduced. Besides, she was sure she could make a better impression on her own.

She quickly exited her car and stared up at the mansion. It looked so different up close. It was seemingly in very good shape. Every bush and hedge was trimmed to perfection. The only noise she could hear was the fountain trickling in the center of the drive, calming her racing heart for a few moments. Amara quickly made her way to the front door and knocked. She had many inclinations, but was weary of trusting any of them. She didn't know him. There was no way that she could. Nor could she know if he had any interest in knowing her after what her mother had done. Yes, Angelique had mentioned that they were on better terms at the moment, but Amara was not quick to trust her.

Footsteps approached the door. Amara quickly fixed her windswept hair before the door opened.

"Hello." The face of a woman greeted her. She was young and fairly beautiful, but her gaze was serious. She was dressed casually in a black top and jeans, with blonde hair that came down to her shoulders.

"Hello," Amara's voice was amiable, her lips curling upwards as she spoke, "My name is Amara Bouchard. I'm here to speak with Barnabas Collins if he's available." The woman looked her over for a moment. Amara could tell that she was trying to figure out who she was. She then pressed her lips together and gave Amara a small smile as she outstretched her hand.

"My name is Carolyn Stoddard." Amara took her hand and smiled gracefully. Carolyn gave her a slightly odd look. She didn't blame her for being curious, or even apprehensive. She did look a lot like her mother.

"Please, come inside." Amara stepped into the foyer and took a few moments to adjust to the sheer size of the house. Yes, it looked large on the outside, but not to the extent that it really was. It looked more like a palace than a private home.

"Thank you." The main room was massive, seemingly going on forever. The ceilings were extremely high, accented by the grand chandelier. Amara smirked at the design. It resembled an octopus. Whomever designed the house must have had a delightful sense of humor.

"You said your last name was Bouchard?" Carolyn blinked at her, trying her hardest to keep her face completely neutral. Amara turned her attention back to her.

"Yes." She said plainly. Carolyn tilted her head to the side.

"Are you by any chance related to Angelique Bouchard?" Carolyn ventured.

"I am," she replied and she gave a slight nod. Carolyn wondered if they were sisters. It seemed like it, but she wasn't quite sure if she should ask. Carolyn didn't want to get very mixed up in his affairs. What Angelique did to him, what she was, and that she somehow was on good terms with him after all she had done was enough to convince her that she didn't want to be associated with her at all. Strangely, though, she didn't ever remember hearing that Angelique had a sister. Or any family, for that matter. Then she licked her lips and remembered why the woman was here in the first place.

"Would you care for something to drink? We have coffee." Carolyn offered but Amara shook her head in the negative.

"I'm fine, but thank you." Carolyn nodded and Amara continued to look around the room. It was so much to take in. Wood carvings of mermaids and sea creatures were literally part of the house. The floor was intricately tiled in an overlapping pattern of blue and white. The same blue color was all around on the walls, just above the mahogany wainscoting lining the room. Antique portraits were found all around the room, varying in size and shape.

"Well, by all means come in and have a seat. I'll just go fetch Barnabas." Amara smiled and walked towards the main sitting area as Carolyn headed into a room on the left, presumably a parlor or drawing room of sorts.

Amara thought about sitting down, but she was too anxious. It would only be a few seconds now. She would see him. She exhaled deeply through her nose and prayed to God that he would want to know her. Meet her, even.

Suddenly the doors to the parlor opened and Carolyn walked out, followed by a man in a dark suit. That was him. It must be. Amara stopped herself from gaping at him as he approached because, dear goodness, they looked so similar. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and yet thin. He was dressed in an impeccable dark coat jacket and pants, with a silk cravat tucked into his crisp white dress shirt. His clothes made him look older, she thought. He was handsome and seemingly young, maybe thirty. His eyes were a beautiful chocolate brown, nearly the same color as his short hair. He had a strong jaw, but otherwise smooth features. His face was accented by an elegant nose and soft lips, much like her own. She watched him intently as he came to stand in front of her and bit the inside of her cheek. She couldn't believe it.

"Amara, this is Barnabas Collins." The first thing he noticed about her was how she so intensely resembled Angelique. The shape of her eyes and her nose, her tall, hourglass frame and wide smile all tipped him off to the fact that they were related. Her eyes lit up as he looked her over, a bit surreptitiously, and outstretched his hand. She shook it quickly and couldn't help but smile at him broadly. He was a bit cold to the touch, but she was used to that. She was well acquainted with vampires.

"Pleasure to meet you. Miss Bouchard, is it?" Amara nodded quickly before she let out a small laugh. The British accent caught her off guard. She hadn't expected him to be British, but it made sense.

"Yes." She smiled at him gleefully, showing off her pearly white teeth. Barnabas scowled and blinked at the woman, his confusion only growing. Carolyn pursed her lips and looked to him with something akin to inquiry. Amara seemed like a normal, modern American. Probably in her early twenties. The more Barnabas watched her, however, the more he noticed her resemblance to himself. Impossible, of course, so he tried to put it out of mind. She was most certainly of the current age. She was wearing a leather jacket over a chiffon burgundy top, dark jeans and boots. Her very dark brown hair was cascading over her shoulders in blown-out waves, framing her lovely face. He opened his mouth to speak but Amara cut him off.

"I'm sorry, I must seem crazy right now," Amara explained, "I'm so jetlagged. As soon as Angelique told me, Damon and I took the soonest flight here. I just dropped him off; I thought you could meet him later. I was actually supposed to wait for Angelique to get off work, but I just couldn't. I had to see you." Barnabas listened with furrowed brows. Her explanations only disoriented him further. She returned her gaze to him and as soon as she saw his perplexed expression and parted lips she huffed slightly.

"Right," she acknowledged, "You have no idea who I am." She looked him in the eyes and he inhaled sharply.

"I'm afraid not, my dear." Barnabas shook his head and Amara put her hand over her mouth, as if she was in shock. She huffed joyfully before she removed her hand from her mouth to cross it over her chest.

"Neither did I. Not until last night, that is." Her tone was more serious than before, more thoughtful. Her brown eyes, so very much like his, sparkled in anticipation as she looked at him.

"I'm your daughter."

Goodness, I love cliffhangers. They just make a story fun, don't they? Anyways, I know this story might seem odd right now. That's okay. I just really wanted to put it to paper. So - what did you think? Was it intriguing? Boring? Please let me know...