Lovely Shadows.
A/N: Hello all! did you miss me? I know I missed my writing but I'm back now and happy to continue my writings. For my "The Scars of Our Hearts" readers don't worry I am working on the newest chapter of that as well as this but please enjoy this new story for the time being!
Chapter 1.
A storm was raging over Collinsport causing a power outage to most of the homes near the ports as the sea waves collided with the rocky shore exploding into salty mist. Barnabas was standing in front of the large arched window in his room watching the storm as it raged, all morning he had been overcome by a feeling of unease that only grew as the storm drug on. The sound of the heavy oak door opening then closing softly behind him drew his attention away from the black sea only long enough for him to look over his shoulder to find Josette making her way to his side, he turned back to the window but his body relaxed at the feeling of Josette's hand gently clasped his own while she looked out the window as well.
"Is something bothering you my love?"
Barnabas hesitated to answer for a moment before shaking his head and softly squeezing her hand.
"It is nothing my dear, just a feeling of unease I cannot be rid of."
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, she was watching the raging sea just as intently as he had been moments before her eyes following the waves as they moved to the shore and crashed against the rocks sending up a spray of white mist. His eyes were drawn away to the ceiling as the lights flickered wildly for a moment before they went out plunging the house into darkness, not that it bothered the two vampires standing at the window, somewhere in the house there was a small scream followed by Carolyn's voice outside the door headed for the top of the stairs slowly.
"Mom the powers out!"
After a moment Elizabeth's heels clicked against the floor as she left her office, there was another yelp from Carolyn as her mother grabbed her shoulder holding a lit flashlight in one hand and the other held one out to Carolyn.
"I can see that Carolyn, now help me find some candles and more flashlights."
With a bit of grumbling Carolyn began her search while Elizabeth knocked on the door. Barnabas placed a swift kiss to Josette's cheek before releasing her hand and going to the door opening it.
"The storm knocked out the power, could you help us look for candles, some are packed away in boxes around here."
Josette appeared beside Barnabas before he could speak.
"There's a box of old candelabras in the attic we could get them for you."
Elizabeth smiled glancing up at Barnabas long enough for him to nod, she thankd them both before setting off down the hall looking for David. Barnabas looked back over his shoulder at the window looking into the storm as it continued with no end in sight, he was once again pulled from his thoughts as Josette softly tugged his hand. With a sigh and a small smile he followed her from the room, the moment his back was turned the roaring waves crashed onto the beach again washing up with it a small wisp of red.
Julia opened her eyes coughing and sputtering at the saltwater burning her throat as it came out of her lungs, it took her mind a moment to register the sand under her head and for the salty fog in her mind to clear so she could remember fighting the currents to reach shore from god only knows how far out in the stormy sea. Forcing herself up onto her hands and knees she looked around to get her bearings and smirked seeing she was on the beach just a short walk from Collinwood. she got to her feet stumbling a bit as she began to walk but as she drew closer to the house she stopped feeling the burning in her throat return and a thirst she'd never felt before filled her making her bite her lip before making her way along the shore back towards Collinsport.
It wasn't long before she found herself sitting at the bar of The Blue Whale with a glass of bourbon in her hand and the eyes of nearly every man in the place on her, not that she minded.
"Next drink this lovely lady orders is on me."
Julia looked at the young man that had taken the open seat next to her and smiled, he was cute with dirty blonde hair that hung just low enough to touch the tops of his ears, and forest green eyes. She smiled drinking the last of the alcohol in her glas before ordering another sipping from it before looking at the young man.
"You'll go broke doing that for me boy."
He looked at her with a goofy, yet charming, smile.
"It'll be worth it then for a beauty like you. I'm Josh by the way."
Josh offered her his hand and after a moment she took it with a smile and a faint blush as he lifted her hand to his lips placing a soft kiss to her knuckles.
"Julia, you're quite the charmer just how old are you?"
Josh ordered her another drink as well as one for himself before smirking at her.
"21 why too old for you?"
Julia nearly choked on her drink as she laughed covering her lips with her mouth leaving Josh confused until she was able to speak.
"No not at all but I may be a bit too old for you, I've never been one for robbing the cradle."
Josh looked even more confused as his eyes trailed over her before he seemed to understand but his smile didn't fade as he chuckled.
"If it's any consolation you don't look a day over 25 Julia."
That caused a flush to rush over her cheek as she finished off her drink looking at the beat up wood of the counter under her arm.
"Don't kid you're making it harder than it needs to be."
Julia thought to herself as she stood looking at Josh as he watched her confused until she smiled gesturing to the door with her head. They slipped out of the bar unseen by anyone around them. As soon as they were in the alley behind the bar Julia turned to face Josh looking a little sad as she gently pushed him against the stone wall.
"I'm terribly sorry about this.."
"About wha-"
His words were cut off and replaced by a scream that died out faster than the thunder as she sank her fangs into his neck drawing out the warm crimson liquid. She sucked every last drop from his body before letting it fall to the ground in a crumpled heap as she licked her lips almost purring as the hot blood cooled the burning in her throat, but the feeling was brief as the thirst clawed its way back into her throat. Lucky for her they hadn't slipped outside completely unseen as the door opened and another young man, this one maybe just a bit older than Josh, stepped outside looking around until his eyes fell on his dread friend and Julia standing before him with blood covering her lips and trailing down her chin. Seeing her chance she grabbed him and sank her fangs into his neck before he could even make a sound draining him just as fast as she had Josh.
Once the body had gone dry the thirst seemed eased and Julia wiped her mouth hoping there wasn't to much blood still left on her face as she stepped out of the alley and into the street ignoring the rain as it pelted her in heavy drops. She walked through the street pausing when she seen a flyer stapled to one of the light poles boldly advertising a party that was going to be happening at Collinwood the very next day, smirking to herself already planning her sudden reappearance.
As the night went on the storm finally died down and the family began putting final touches on the house as the hour for the party to begin drew closer. Barnabas was pacing by the window of his room as he had all as people began to arrive holding umbrellas against the still drizzling rain, he watched as they entered the house and listened as conversations began. A gentle hand gripped his arm making him stop pacing and look at the owner of the appendage smiling softly as he met Josette's eyes her face hidden behind a black mask that had delicate gold embroidered edges and two red gems placed on the side to hold the black ribbon wrapped around her head in place. He carefully lifted the mask from her face and placed a light kiss on the bridge of her nose then her lips making her giggle and playfully bat at him.
"Stop it Barnabas! You still need to finish getting ready, Carolyn won't be happy if you don't wear a mask as well."
Barnabas kissed her a final time before moving away from her to finish getting himself ready, the masquerade theme had been David and Carolyn's idea saying it would be entertaining to do a mask removal at midnight. Once ready Barnabas followed Josette down to where the party seemed to be in full swing. His eyes scanned the crowd finding first Elizabeth talking to a group of people her mask held in her hand and a small smirk on her lips as she seem Carolyn leering at her from where she was seated at a table, the young woman was wearing a white mask that had gold stars framing the eyes and matching the silver star hair pin in her curled hair. Looking around again his eyes found David wandering around his mask perched atop his black hair for the time as he weaved in and out of the crowd until he found a spot at a table not far from where Carolyn was sitting now talking with a young man who'd face was hid by a black mask.
Julia carefully made her way into the house dodging people as she went, her eyes scanned the room looking for Barnabas until her eyes found him near the top of the stairs overlooking the assembled towns people. She smiled waiting until his eyes found her and widened considerably and his hand tightened around the banister threatening to splinter it as his eyes followed her through the crowd and out onto the terrace right past Elizabeth who was none the wiser.
Barnabas' eyes looked over the crowd once more when suddenly a flair of orange caught his eye, he looked back where he had seen the spot thinking it was a trick of the light until his eyes found the bright orange-red hair of Julia Hoffman, she was wearing a black dress that stopped at her knees and had a delicate swirl of silver around the skirt, it clung nicely to her now young farm, her red hair had been curled and was framing the edges of the mask she dawned, it was black sequined with red gems in the outer corner of the eyes three on each side with a silver border half hidden on one side by her flaming tresses,and the ribbon holding it in place was red as blood.
His eyes watched as she smirked widely and began weaving through the crowd away from him as though daring him to follow her as she moved to the terrace her body sliding right past Elizabeth who hardly seemed to notice the red-head that slipped by her and into the night. Without a clear thought Barnabas gave into her little game and followed her ignoring Elizabeth as he brushed past her and stepped onto the terrace looking around for Julia until he found her sitting on the stone rail ankles crossed and a smile covering her red painted lips.
"Hello Barnabas."