A/N: Welcome to the first actual chapter.

A huge thank you to those who reviewed the prologue: 88dragon06, Makrciana, SweetMusicDreamer, TinkerbellxO, dionne dance, XantheXV, Jay D. Moore, AngeliqueBouchard1972, carmeleissle5cullen, skycord1990, nuckythompson, xxPaige23xx, ForeverACharmedOne, Jandra1969, BlooperLover, ElleWillBite, Balder Rask, CharlieCats and sparrowismyhummingbird. You all rock for reading and commenting on this!

Now on with the first official chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Shadows. I only own my OC and this plot.


Chapter 1

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
~
William Shakespeare, Macbeth, 5. 5.

1972, Collinsport, Maine

A small paw pokes me sharply in the chest and I stir. A groan escapes from my lips as I turn onto my side, facing away from the small intruder who is trying to remind me that a new day has arrived. I burry my head under my fluffy pillow but the small devil is not giving up. I can feel him pawing at my shoulder and I sigh with dread before I push the pillow away from my face.

"How on earth do you manage to get inside every morning?" I mumble as I turn onto my back and look at the white fur ball that is in the process of stretching on my bed as if he owns it.

"And how is it that you manage to wake up before me?" I mutter as I sit up and rub my sleep deprived eyes. I pull my hands away from my face and look at Tommy. Before you say anything, no. I do not own a cat. My landlady, Mrs. Newton does.

"Oh, right. Now I remember. You can actually sleep." I glance at the cat with envy before I push the covers away from my body and stand up.

The cat hops down from the bed and looks up at me with hope. I groan and lean down to pick him up before I storm barefoot to my door. I unlock it and open it before I climb the small flight of stairs.

I knock on the door and wait while Tommy looks at with what I sense is derision. I snicker and nod at him.

"Well, she is your mistress." I mumble down at him before I knock on the door again.

"Who is it?" Mrs. Newton's grumpy voice causes me to roll my eyes but I answer nonetheless.

"It's Jane."

The door is unlocked a moment later and she looks at me with a scowl on her withered face.

"What?" she almost spats and her hair looks like a bird's nest.

"Um, your cat invaded my home again." I say as I hand her the cat and step back.

Her eyes lit up at the sight of her pet but when she looks back at me they narrow, "I am still waiting for the rent, Jane." She points a bony finger at me and I have the urge to roll my eyes but I don't.

"I know, Mrs. Newton. I am getting paid in a week…The business is a little low-…"

"That's not what I heard." She cuts me off and I shut my mouth because I know there is no use trying to speak when she has that determined look upon her face.

"Oh?"

"I heard that the Collins' business is up and running properly again." She hisses out at me, "And you're supposed to know your economics." She eyes me with irk.

I swallow down my sharp reply and smile, "Sadly, as you may recall, I am not working as an accountant there, Mrs. Newton." I say through gritted teeth but like always she does not notice my irritation.

"Whatever, I want the rent on the 10th. Do not be late."

With those words she shuts the door on my face and I can hear her footsteps echoing down her hall.

I groan and push my straight hair behind my ear before I turn on my heel and walk back upstairs.

"Why do I bother?" I mumble to myself as I enter my house and close the door, "Your own cat does not like you." I make my way to the kitchen to make some coffee and while I wait I take a deep breath and rub my temples. I glance at the box of pills on the counter and groan as I take them. I pour a glass of water and I take two of them, hoping and praying that they will work until I arrive at work.

Insomnia is not a good thing when you have to wake early in the morning. It also is not great when you get really strong headaches because of it. It's not a constant thing, mind you. There are times when I can sleep well and fully but there are some times when I cannot.

Acute insomnia the doctor called it. It relates with high anxiety levels and stress.

I scoff. As if I don't know that already. Try and sleep when you cannot make ends meet.

I shake my head before I reach for the pot of coffee and pour myself a cup.

I am twenty seven years old and I still cannot stand financially on my own. My small, nonexistent salary is not enough to pay the bills but I cannot leave this town without any money in my pocket, can I?

I take a sip from my bitter coffee and groan when I taste no milk in it.

Another sign of insomnia; absence of mind. I open the fridge and I see that I am short on…everything really. With a groan I grab the milk and shut the fridge before I sit back down on my chair.

When my coffee is adequate at last, I finish it quickly and put the dirty mug in the sink.

As I make my way to the bathroom I ask myself when my studies are going to finally pay off. My inner voice answers; never.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

An envelope is thrust in my hands as Mrs. Collins-Stoddard passes me by on her way into her cold, normally abandoned office.

"Jane, follow me, please." She calls and despite my throbbing head I follow her, plastering a small, warm smile on my face.

"Mrs. Stoddard." I greet and she turns to smile at me hugely.

Odd.

"Jane, how long have you been working here?" she asks me as she situates herself behind her desk.

"Um…a year?" I reply with hesitancy. Is she going to fire me?

"Well, I think this will make your day." She announces as she points at the seat across her desk.

Timidly I take the offered seat and gaze down at the file on my lap.

"You have been a great assistance but I think you can help me on this." Her beautiful face is bright and her eyes are happy.

Maybe she is not going to fire me. After all, I am good at making coffee I think with sarcasm and a small smirk.

"I need you to help me renovate the business. Bring new machines and everything. We are going to make changes in everything, starting with the exterior of the site." She tells me as she points at the file in my hands, "I know you have the knowledge to help me with the finances. I trust you in this because your father was a great help to me, God bless his soul." She smiles and I am a little confused.

"I am sorry…For all this…we need money."

She waves a hand at me, "We have the money. Don't let that be your concern. Will you help me in this?"

"Of course." My reply comes instinctively along with a smile. God knows I need something to occupy my head with. I need something more to do than making coffee and cleaning her desk.

"Fantastic. I want you to study my ideas and I want you to do some research. Find what everything will cost us and how soon we can have everything up and running. You will, of course, get a raise…About seventy percent." She adds and I almost swoon.

Seventy percent?

"I'm sorry?" I blurt out with shock and she smiles.

"Believe it, Jane. Our lives are about to change." Mrs. Stoddard winks at me and I am surprised that the usually uptight woman is in so high spirits.

"Might I ask the reason for all this new...luck?" I ask tentatively and she shrugs.

"A very special friend." She replies cryptically and I smile.

"Santa?" I suggest and she laughs.

"He might as well be!" she exclaims and I can't help but return her smile with one of my own.

Well, it looks like Mrs. Newton is going to finally stop pestering me about the rent. And who knows? I might even find a new house.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

A few days later…

I take a sip of my wine and smile as I look down at the various receipts and papers that are scattered all over my small coffee table.

I put the glass away and make a grab for my small notebook. I start writing down the numbers and do the sums quickly before I write down the result.

As I sit there, lost in my thoughts, I can feel soft warm fur against my ankle. I pause and smirk.

"Hello, Tommy." I drawl as I reach for the wine glass again, "You want some?" I look down at him and just because I am in a very good mood I reach down and pick him up. I set him on my lap and smile.

"Now, I know what you must be thinking. How did Jane found the money for this wine? Well, Jane's luck smiled at her for once." I tell him and he mews at me with what I sense is fondness.

I scratch behind his ear and then lean back with my drink. I prop my feet up to the couch next to me and Tommy curls to my side.

For once I decide not to send him to his mistress. I am in a good mood after all.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

"This is the final total." I say as I hand Mrs. Stoddard the report she had asked from me, "It includes everything along with our year's expenses." I smile as she takes the report and grins at me.

"Excellent. Let us see who the best is now." She mutters as she opens the door to her office and invites me in.

She pauses and I almost collide with her back. My head barely misses her shoulder and I stagger for a moment. I grab at the door for support and rub my arm that had collided with the threshold.

"What are you doing here?" Mrs. Stoddard speaks up and I try to look over her shoulder.

"I apologize, Elizabeth. But I decided to stop by and see how everything progresses." The man's voice is smooth and elegant and I frown.

Man?

"You did very well, Barnabas." Mrs. Stoddard replies and then she moves from in front of me.

Once my vision is clear of any obstacles I finally see the visitor. I frown at the pale man who is sitting behind the desk.

Who is he?

"Here, take a look at this. Jane prepared everything." Elizabeth places my report in front of him and he spares me a small glance and a quick, short smile before he looks down at it. No surprise that his stare does not linger upon me. I am almost always invisible. It is not that bad. It has proven helpful a lot of times.

I don't smile back because I am too busy studying him and because he wouldn't even notice it. I can see a hat and a walking stick on the desk and I frown. Who still carries a walking stick?

The man's dark eyes peruse my report and I frown at how out of place he seems. He looks as if he is extremely uncomfortable but at the same time he exudes an air of elegancy that even Mrs. Stoddard must envy.

His hair is dark and a complete antithesis with his complexion. Not that I should talk. My dark hair is at odds with how pale I look.

"This is very satisfying, Ms…" he looks up and suddenly his eyes are upon me.

"Walden. Jane-…"

"Ms. Walden. I must congratulate you." He cuts me off and I shut my mouth, "This is great help. You will be keeping books from now on and they are to be updated regularly, yes?"

I blink. Who is this man? And how can he speak about the business? Isn't Mrs. Stoddard the CEO of the company?

"Thank you." I mutter despite myself and I cross my thin arms over my chest.

"Jane, this is Barnabas Collins…A distant relative of ours. He will be assisting me from now on." Mrs. Stoddard explains to me as if she can sense my perplexity.

I nod because I don't know what else to do.

He pushes the report away and smirks, "Has Angel Bay heard about this?" he asks Mrs. Stoddard and I frown.

Angel Bay…The largest fishery in Collinsport. Well, the formerly largest fishery in Collinsport.

"That reminds me…A Ms. Angelique Bouchard came by today." I speak up and suddenly two pairs of eyes are upon me.

I grimace inwardly, "She was here when I arrived." I say and Mr. Collins finally turns his full attention on me.

Oh, you're paying attention now, aren't you?

"What did she want?" he asks with a frown.

"Nothing…She didn't answer me. She just said that she wished to see the new changes. She left before I had the time to ask anything more." I shrug at the memory of the blonde woman with the bright painted lips. She looked like a model from a fancy magazine. I can't even put lipstick on for God's sake; especially so early in the morning.

"Jane, do not allow her here again." Mrs. Stoddard says to me and I blink in surprise for her tone is rather dark all of the sudden.

"We need extra security for that. On what grounds should I banish her from the building?" I ask quietly and Mr. Collins speaks up instead of his relative.

"On the grounds that she is unwanted." He says quietly with a cocked eyebrow and I frown.

"Persona non grata…" I murmur and then nod, "I see."

He nods and then turns to Mrs. Stoddard.

Without further ado I turn and exit the office, leaving them alone.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The workers are conversing loudly as I pass by them with the tray in my hands. The steaming pots of coffee smell delicious and since I actually managed some sleep last night the scent is tantalizing my nostrils. I take a big whiff of air and smile despite the pungent smell of fish that mixes in with the scent of coffee. I shouldn't complain about the smell. It pays the bills. Finally.

I flex my shoulders as I pass by the sorting unit and tighten my grip on the tray but something is wrong because I can feel my shoe gliding upon the floor with a shrieking sound. I loose my footing and the tray slips from my hand despite my attempt to hold onto it tightly.

A high pitched squeal that later will make my cheeks flush escapes my mouth but nothing happens. The collision I feared does not happen because a hand grasps my arm and steadies me before I fall on the slippery floor.

I gasp and place a hand against my chest even as I feel the hot coffee burning the skin of my feet.

"Are you alright, my dear?" a soft voice asks me and I look at my rescuer with wide eyes.

"Mr. Collins." I breathe with a small grateful smile and his mouth twitches slightly.

I frown. Is he laughing at me? My cheeks burn with embarrassment as he slowly lets go of my arm and reaches up with his hand.

"I fear you must get another one...um, whatever this is." He murmurs with amusement as he holds up a piece of blueberry muffin.

I reach up and I can feel crumbs on my hair. I grimace and shake my hair to get them out and only then does a chuckle escape him.

I look up at him and he shakes his head.

"I apologize."

I wonder if the apology is sincere because specks of amusement are still evident on his face even as he assists in pulling the crumbs away from my hair.

Angry at my own clumsiness, I step back and shake my head.

"Thank you." I mutter as I wipe my hands on a discarded napkin.

A linen handkerchief appears before me and I take it with reluctance. Can that man be any more…odd?

"My pleasure, ah…It's Ms. Walden, yes?" he points a long, questionable finger at me and I nod.

"Yes."

Finally you got it right. I mutter inwardly.

"Be careful of your step." He tells me before he walks away with long languid strides.

As I watch him moving away I can see his walking stick by his side and I blink.

Once he is gone I shake myself and turn to the mess on the floor. As I gather the items and food from the ground and make my way to the closest garbage bin, I notice a figure standing just by the entrance, several feet away.

My brown eyes lock with the blue gaze of Ms. Bouchard and I frown at the expression on her pretty face.

She keeps the eye contact with me for a few seconds before she turns on her heel and walks away, her hips swaying with her footsteps.

I shrug and once I have everything in the bin I make my way to the bathroom to tidy my most probably disheveled hair.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The walk to my house from the grocery store is short but the night has fallen and I quicken my step out of reflex. My eyelids feel heavy and I drag my feet with difficulty. I tighten my grip on the bag and stifle a yawn. I am surprised that I am sleepy so early but I am glad because I will probably sleep like the dead tonight.

I turn the corner and I sigh as I see my house. I slip my hand into my pocket and pull my keys out as I start crossing the street.

Tommy's wiggling tail greets me and I frown, "What are you doing out here?" I call out to him and a moment later he is gone from the pavement. I frown and look around for him but he's nowhere to be seen.

I swing my keys around my finger before I start walking again.

Suddenly there is a noise behind me but before I can turn and face the supposedly empty street invisible fingers hook on my coat and pull me back so hard that I gasp and let go of the bag.

I am slammed painfully against the pavement and I close my eyes as black dots explode in front of my vision. I groan and try to move but a high heeled boot is slammed against my throat, cutting off my oxygen and my eyes widen as I look up.

"Going somewhere?" a smooth female voice croons and I narrow my eyes, trying to see but I realize that I cannot. I blink again and again but nothing. Everything is black and the cold feeling of fear is crawling up my spine like an ice blooded snake.

"I don't think so." A cold hand grabs hold of my chin and I close my eyes in a foolish, hopeful attempt to clear my black vision.

Cool fingers trail down my cheek and then I hear a chuckle, "Just what I need." The woman murmurs in contentment and before I have the chance to speak her hand tugs hard on my hair, slamming my head against the pavement again.

I cry out when she does it again and as my consciousness slips away from my grasp I can hear a faint chuckle.

End of chapter 1

Author's note: Still here? Good! Thank you for reading! Please review before you go. I would really appreciate it. More as soon as I have some feedback! :P

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Xxx Lina :o)