Shadows and Light

Chapter One: The Governess

A/N: This is sort of AU, since in this fic Burke has died before Barnabas arrives. Also, this is my first attempt at a Dark Shadows fan fiction, so it will be only a few chapters. Enjoy.

Valerie Hopewell scanned the letter in her hand, a slight frown on her face. She pushed back from her desk and exited her office, spotting a young girl. "Felicity, be a dear and ask Miss Winters to come to my office." Felicity nodded and ran off, returning a few moments later with Victoria Winters. The young lady looked a bit confused, no doubt wondering why the head of the orphanage wanted to see her.

"Yes, Mrs. Hopewell?"

Mrs. Hopewell motioned for her to come into the office. Once they were seated, she handed Victoria the letter. "I received this letter from a place called Collinwood. Have you ever heard of it?" At Victoria's confused no, she continued. "It's from an Elizabeth Collins Stoddard in a town called Collinsport in Maine, and she requests that you take a job as governess and tutor to her nephew, David. Do those names mean anything to you?"

Victoria shook her head, baffled. "I've never heard of either of them. Why should Mrs. Stoddard wish to hire someone she's never heard of?"

Mrs. Hopewell shrugged. "I don't know, dear. Mrs. Stoddard is offering a very generous salary, more than you are making here. What shall I tell Mrs. Stoddard?"

Victoria thought for several moments before smiling. "I'll accept the job."

Mrs. Hopewell smiled and patted her hand. "Good for you, dear. I'll write Mrs. Stoddard and tell her the news." Her face softened for a moment. "I will miss you, Vicky."

Victoria gave her a sad smile, and then left to get her meager belongings together, wondering why on earth someone she had never heard of should want to hire her. 'No doubt things will be resolved soon enough.'

One week later, she said her goodbyes and headed for the train station. For the first time she realized that she was on her own in the world. The idea scared and excited her at the same time. She looked out the windows of the train, watching the landscape roll by, and wondered what Collinsport looked like. Was it a small town? Would she make friends, or be as isolated as she had been at Hammond Home? What was her employer like? Vicky hoped she wasn't too stern. She had an image of Mrs. Stoddard in her mind-tall, but with an air of regal grace and elegance. Her mind switched gears, wondering about her new ward. Would he be a brat, like many of the boys at the home, or an angel that would give her no trouble? Not so secretly, she hoped for the latter.

The train wheels clicked and clacked, and gradually Victoria fell asleep.

The sound of the harsh train whistle jolted her awake and she blinked, looking around, certain that she had heard someone talking to her. She turned, staring at a rather handsome man. He had slicked back hair, brown eyes, and a rather aristocratic look. "I'm sorry, did you say something?"

The man laughed. "I was asking you where you're heading."

"I'm going to Collinsport. Collinwood, to be more specific."

The man frowned. "What's your name?"

"Victoria Winters, why?"

"Well, Miss Winters, might I make a suggestion? Don't get off at Collinsport. This train goes all the way to Bangor. Once you arrive there, you can go anywhere you wish."

Victoria gave him a look of confusion. "Look, Mr…"

"Devlin. Burke Devlin."

"Mr. Devlin, I am not going to run off simply because a strange man tells me to. Mrs. Stoddard personally requested me, and it would be rather rude of me to accept her offer and then never show up, don't you think?"

Burke sighed in reluctant agreement. "Yes, but that's no place for a naïve girl like you. The Collins are…well, not exactly what one would call normal."

Victoria huffed in exasperation. "Mr. Devlin, I am hardly a child. I was offered a job, and I intend to take it. Now if you will excuse me, this is my stop."

He smiled and stood with her. "Mine too. Miss Winters, I'm afraid we got off on the wrong foot. Might I be allowed to buy you a cup of coffee in the café?"

Victoria considered the offer. "Very well, Mr. Devlin."

Burke smiled and offered his arm, leading her into the café, which Vicky noted was called The Blue Whale. The only other people in it were an elderly couple and the waitress, a blond girl that Vicky guessed was maybe a few years older than her. Burke led her over to the counter, and the girl smiled at them. "Evening, what can I get you two?"

Burke gave her a grin. "Two coffees, please…" he peered at her tag, "Maggie."

Maggie nodded and poured the coffee, then turned to Victoria. "So what brings you here?"

"I've been hired as governess to David Collins."

Maggie gave an exaggerated shudder. "You couldn't pay me to go in that spooky old house. Everyone says it's haunted." She held her hand out. "Maggie Evans."

Victoria shook it. "Victoria Winters."

Maggie grinned. "Nice to meet you, Miss Winters. I've gotta say, you're braver than I am!"

Burke finished his coffee. "I've got some business to tend to. Miss Winters, before I go, I want to ask you one more time if you really want to take that job. If not, I'd be more than happy to buy you a train ticket to anywhere you want. Even back home, should you wish."

Victoria smiled coolly at him. "Thank you for the offer, Mr. Devlin, but I'm not in the habit of running away."

"Well, you can't blame me for trying. Goodbye, Miss Winters." He placed a crumpled up dollar on the counter before exiting the café.

Maggie placed the money in the register before grabbing a rag and wiping the counter. "I still say you couldn't pay me to set foot there."

Victoria laughed. "What is so bad about that house?"

Maggie shrugged and continued wiping. "It's haunted. Mrs. Stoddard hasn't left the place since her husband disappeared seventeen years ago. And that brother of hers is a cold one."

Victoria laughed. "If you're trying to spook me, it won't work. I don't scare easily."

"I can see that."

The café door opened, letting in a tall blond man with a cold face. He walked over to the counter, staring at Vicky in indifference. "Miss Winters?"

"Yes?"

The man's voice was brusque. "I'm Roger Collins. Elizabeth asked me to bring you up to Collinwood." The tone of his voice made it clear that he was not enjoying the assignment, and Vicky nodded quickly. "Good. Then come along, Elizabeth is waiting."

Vicky paid for her coffee then hurried out of the cafe and into Roger's waiting car. "Thank you, Mr. Collins."

Roger didn't as much as glance at her. "Do not thank me, Miss Winters. I am merely fulfilling a request from my sister. If I had my way, you would walk to Collinwood. Now kindly be silent."

Victoria fell silent, and stared at her lap for the rest of the drive.

Collinwood was enormous! Victoria could well see how it had gained a reputation for being haunted. It sat on a hill, seeming to almost loom over the town, and she could hear the thunderous boom of waves crashing onto rocks far below.

The inside of the mansion was even more astonishing. Vicky felt like she had stepped back in time. She shivered. The house was cold, but she fancied it was from more than just lack of heat.

'This is a strange place.'

Roger seemed to think he had fulfilled his obligations, because he walked past her without a word. She looked around, wondering what she was supposed to do now, and noticed a woman walking down the hall towards her. She was tall and regal looking, and Victoria gave a tentative guess. "Mrs. Stoddard?"

"Yes. You must be Miss Winters. I should tell you that my nephew has had six governesses in as many months, and none of them have lasted. It is my hope that you will do better. I suppose you're also wondering why I hired you."

Victoria nodded. "Yes, especially since I've never heard of you or of this place until a week ago."

"I have my reasons, which I do not choose to reveal to you at this moment. For now, might I suggest that you get some sleep? You can meet David in the morning. Your room is at the top of the stairs, second door on the left."

Victoria blinked, feeling a bit off balance. "Mrs. Stoddard, I…"

"Good night, Miss Winters. We can discuss salary and other items in the morning."

Victoria nodded. "Very well, Mrs. Stoddard."

Once she had found her room and gotten settled, Vicky allowed herself a small thought. 'What am I in for here?'

Somehow, she felt that the answer would not be one she wanted to know.