Barnabas and Josette blended into the darkness around the New House on the Collinwood Estate as the injured youths were filed in one by one; all save for Trevor, who was found dead. A red-haired woman stood in the doorway of the entrance; arms folded as she listened to the police answer her questions. She had been contacted at the New House shortly after word of the break-in at the Crypt reached Collinwood. The medical personnel had no idea what to make of the dead body, and since Julia was a prized gem to the Collins', they thought she could perhaps shed more light on the matter. She was extremely interested, and requested—against Roger's wishes—that the survivors be placed under her care, and her care alone.
"Do you know who killed him?" She asked.
The officer shook his head, "Not at this time and the others are too afraid to talk or make little to no sense when they've tried to. I'm not sure what to make of it, Dr. Hoffman."
"Traumatic experiences are often blocked out of a person's memory as it's the brain's way of protecting itself. Given time, they may start to remember what happened, or not at all; it depends." She replied with a shrug as she raised her eyebrows.
"Well, I'll cut them some slack, but if they happen to tell you anything—"
"I will phone you immediately, yes."
"Thanks. You take care now, Doctor, goodnight!"
"Goodnight, Brad." She replied as the police withdrew from the grounds and Julia went back inside. When all was quiet and still again, Josette cautiously edged her way toward one of the windows. She peered in as Barnabas joined her asking, "What do you see?"
"A rather irritated looking fellow…Roger, I think the doctor just called him."
Inside the drawing room, Julia was trying to calm down Roger Collins as he ranted on about the recent break in at the family mausoleum. "…Furthermore, I don't understand why those drunk, inbred hooligans are being allowed to stay in this house!"
"That's quite enough!" Elizabeth Collins-Stoddard said as she gracefully entered the room, her head held high and her voice firm. "First of all Roger, it is my house...and I shall let in whomever I choose."
"Elizabeth—"
"The children did a terrible thing, but they are paying the price for it; as I understand it, one of them actually paid with his life." She said looking to Julia who nodded. "And not all of them are ill-behaved, Roger. Samantha's a good girl; she would never have gone along with this willingly."
"Are we to make up excuses for them?" Roger asked in disbelief. "You cannot possibly be defending their actions!"
"I am not defending anything, Roger, and I do believe I've made myself perfectly clear on that point." She turned, "Julia is it possible for me to speak with any of them?"
"I administered painkillers to the boys, but Samantha would not allow me to sedate her. It's funny that you asked, actually, she wanted to speak with you."
Elizabeth's eyes brightened in surprise, "Me?"
"Probably to try and worm her way out of the trouble she's caused."
Roger said, but he backed away slightly as his sister glared at him, her gaze unyielding.
"Roger, you never cease to disappoint me; stay here, I think you've caused enough trouble with your mouth." She then began to climb up the stairs, with Julia in tow, towards the guest bedrooms leaving Roger alone with nothing but alcohol to keep him company.
Josette and Barnabas looked at each other, "What a horrid little man!" She exclaimed in disgust.
Barnabas raised an eyebrow, "He is not my favorite either, I must admit, but he is family nonetheless."
The ever-poised Josette snorted, "I disown him, then."
Barnabas let out a short laugh, "I might second that motion."
He exited the brush, and looked up towards the second story windows where he spied the silhouettes of Elizabeth and Samantha. He didn't even have to see Josette's face to know she was disturbed he might do something to the non-related occupants of the house. He spoke gently to her, slightly looking over his shoulder, "Don't worry; I shall not harm the humans…just make them forget." He said softly as her gaze joined his own on the window. "We'll wait a little longer; once the rest of the house has turned in we will go inside." As they stood on the lawn, their ears gradually picked up the conversation from within the bedroom.
Samantha's voice was strained as she spoke, "Please, Julia, I have answered questions for what feels like years, and I just…I need to be alone for tonight."
"If it's what you feel you need, I will leave." Julia said, getting up from the edge of the bed.
"If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask, Samantha." Elizabeth said, gently touching her shoulder.
The girl surprised her with a tight, desperate hug, "Thank you, Mrs. Stoddard…I am so sorry any of this happened. I tried to stop them, really I did—"
Elizabeth hugged back, speaking gently into her hair, "I know you did; what happened to that boy is not your fault. From what you told me he attempted to do to you, he had it coming to him." She pulled back, and held the girl's face within her hands. "Just rest now; everything will work itself out. Sleep well, dear."
"Goodnight." Samantha replied as the door the room closed…Thirty minutes later she was still unable to sleep, and felt sick to the pit of her stomach. Getting out of bed, she crossed to the window and opened it, letting in the cool night breeze. She lay back down trying to get comfortable, and was almost asleep when a high-pitched squeak assaulted her ears. There were two bats flying around her head; she rolled over, out of the mattress, and onto the floor in a startled panic.
When she finally managed to gain her footing again there were two shadows in front of her. She went to let out a startled scream; Barnabas's cold hand clamped down over her mouth, the other pushing her backward toward the mattress. Josette's hands held her arms down as she struggled to break free. Barnabas took his free hand and forced Samantha to look up at him and Josette.
The vampires stared into her eyes and at once entranced her as they spoke, "You will not remember what happened tonight." They said in unison; Barnabas carefully lifted his hand, and she replied, "I will not remember."
He spoke calmly, slowly, "You and your friends were out late; Trevor was drunk, he attacked the group, left you for dead; you don't know where he is now."
Barnabas said, and the girl shook her head, "I…I don't know…" She said softly as her lids slowly began to droop.
Josette grasped Samantha's legs and turned her so she was all the way onto the bed; then she gently covered her. Samantha drifted to sleep as the undead lovers transformed again, flew out the window, over the estate, and out into the darkness.
