A/N: Hello and welcome back! I want to thank my reviewers for their support: ForeverACharmedOne, MissMisc3, Newland Archer, TinkerbellxO, XantheXV, Makrciana, skycord1990, PGAEmma and dionne dance. Thank you for your comments!
Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Shadows or the Ninth Gate…Nope…Darn it…
Chapter 4
Things forbidden have a secret charm.
~Tacitus
Just one lump, please…I-…Wow…Crap. What the hell is that? How come I didn't notice that before?
Sophia freezes as she hears his thoughts. She pauses with the pot of coffee in hand and looks back at him. He is leaning against the counter, his fingers on his lips and his eyes on her. She follows his line of vision and tenses up as soon as she realizes that he has his eyes on her arm.
Should I ask? Women are weird when it comes to their-…
"It's rude to stare…Dean." She points out and his eyes flash up to her own almost-almost- guiltily. He blinks and he smoothes down his moustache with his fingers before he points at her arm with a single finger.
"How did you get that?" He frowns and slowly he places his fingers on his chin.
Sophia blinks at his straightforward question and clears her throat before she gets back to the coffee. She pours the hot liquid into two cups, adds a lump of sugar into his and none to hers before she picks up the cups and heads towards the counter. She sets his cup in front of him, but before she can get away he grasps her wrist in his warm hand. She inhales sharply and tries to ignore how hot his fingers are.
"Won't you answer me?" he murmurs and as she looks up she can see honest curiosity in his brown eyes, "Hmm?" He encourages with a crooked smirk and she sighs.
"Why do you want to know?" She asks him as she eyes his hand with wonder. Why on earth is he still touching her?
"Curiosity." He replies simply and when she wriggles her nose into a grimace he laughs and gently taps the scar with his fingertip, "Alright, alright." He scratches his chin with his free hand and smiles sheepishly.
"It's in my nature to be curious…Also, you always take care not to show it so, seeing it today…Let's just say that my curiosity just peaked."
Not to mention the fact that I always seem to be looking at you lately.
His thoughts are followed by a subtle perusal of her face and neck and she clears her throat again before she pulls her hand from his.
"I had an accident a few years ago." She replies and he nods his head, silently urging her to continue, but she doesn't.
His face falls, "Oh, come on! That's it? A single accident doesn't explain how you ended up with a bite mark on your forearm." He narrows his eyes as he gazes at her with intensity.
Sophia fidgets nervously and that is not something she does often.
"I was unconscious for the most part…" She trails off as she takes a quick sip from her mug.
Corso scoffs and takes a sip from the coffee.
Damn. How on earth she knew how I take my coffee-…
"I don't appreciate your mocking. Surely you're not that curious." She cuts off his thoughts and his eyes are unfathomable when he locks them with hers.
"Who ever said I am mocking you? I noticed a scar, an odd scar, and decided to ask you about it. I think I came off pretty honest." He takes another greedy sip and Sophia can't help but once again compare him with Barnabas-…
"So, a rabid dog bit you?" He asks and she blinks out of her daze.
"I don't know…Like I said, I was unconscious." She mutters and then takes a sip from the warm liquid, trying to distract herself from the onslaught of memories.
Corso regards her for a few moments and then sighs.
"I suppose I should get back to my research." He mutters as he rubs the back of his neck.
Sophia is thrilled at the change of subject, "Did you find anything interesting about the book?"
Even the question burns her mouth because the question itself is a lie. They already know about the book and its hiding place.
"No…nothing I didn't already know…I even dusted up my Latin, but nothing of its whereabouts." Corso mutters as he stares into his cup with narrowed eyes. Those eyes lock with hers a moment later and she can't help but stare back at him.
"Sophia." he murmurs her name and she nods, trying to look gullible, "You don't know anything else, do you?" His question causes an odd stirring in the pit of her stomach and she takes a sharp breath before she replies.
"No." The lie scorches her mouth with poison and she doesn't even know why she feels like such a bitch.
"Sophie." The use of her pet name brings a tiny smile onto her lips and he blinks as if startled.
"You may use my computer if you'd like." The words are flying out of her mouth before she can stop them and he seems interested, "You might find something there." She adds for good measure and he smirks.
"There is a computer in this house?" He breaks into a fit of chuckles and she shakes her head.
"Don't be mean. Mr. Collins is good with technology." She admonishes as she gently stirs her coffee and he grins, a perverse tinge to his smile.
"I bet he is good at everything…" His eyes roam her form and she tenses up.
"Was that an innuendo?" She cocks a blond eyebrow and he shrugs like a rebellious adolescent when he is anything but. Her eyes flicker to his graying hair and she is momentarily distracted by the bead of sweat that is sliding down his temple.
"Take it as you wish. You're the one locked up into Dracula's castle with a rich playboy." His lips are twitching with mirth and instead of feeling insulted she is actually amused.
"Indeed." She murmurs and then reaches for a paper towel. She offers it to him and he frowns.
"I think you're hot." She informs him and he cocks an eyebrow while his mouth falls open a little. She laughs and shakes her head.
"I can see you're sweating, I mean." She clarifies and he closes his mouth quickly.
He takes the paper towel and wipes at his forehead, seemingly unaffected by her words.
"Thanks." He mutters and she regards him keenly before she steps around the counter.
"Like I said, you are welcome to my computer." She repeats and he blinks at her.
"Which is where?" He throws the paper towel away and she laughs before she beckons him to follow her.
"I'll show you." She turns and walks out of the kitchen.
Dean takes his coffee with him and follows her out of the room in silence. He tries not to watch the gentle and subtle sway of her hips as he trails after her. He fails miserably every time he attempts it.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
"You let him alone on your computer?" Barnabas' voice is sharp as he storms down the corridor and towards her personal study.
"Barnabas!" she hurries to catch up with him and grabs his arm. He freezes and turns to look at her.
"Why are you so upset?" She asks quietly and his nostrils flare before he reaches up to pinch the bridge of his nose.
"The internet is a vile thing. God knows what he can dig up-…"
"Now you're being ridiculous. He could find a computer in town too. It's better to have him do the research here than-…"
"I had pictures into that computer. Personal pictures, Sophie. Of you and me." He cuts her off sharply and she freezes.
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I had thought the picture on the screen would have been telling enough." He snaps and she rubs her temples.
"I haven't been on the computer lately…Calm down. He already suspects that something is going on between us." She tries to reassure him with a gentle hand and he catches her arm, pulling her closer to him.
"What is going on between us, dear?" He murmurs huskily and she gulps.
"I…I…"
"Will you take dinner to my room tonight?" His eyes are molten and pleading and her breath hitches.
"I…Alright." She inclines her head and his mouth stretches up into a charming grin that always causes her stomach to flip pleasantly.
He leans in and presses his lips to her forehead, his lips cool and familiar and she closes her eyes.
He pulls away and as they approach her study, Corso walks out of the room, empty mug in hand. He pauses when he sees them and his eyes linger on Sophia before he approaches them.
"I shut it down in case you're interested. I've been on it for hours." He informs Sophia and she nods at him, a faint flush on her cheeks at the look he is giving her.
"Did you find anything of interest?" Barnabas asks with total composure. Sophia is still surprised at how easily his mood can change.
Corso straightens and approaches, "Well, it does seem that this Bouchard lady," His eyes flicker towards Sophia, "Lived here in Collinsport, something you missed to tell me." Dean's eyes are shining with accusation and Barnabas nods.
"It must have slipped my mind." Barnabas replies with an easy smile and Sophia looks away from them both.
"Aha…I see." Corso steps closer to them and his gaze burns Sophia's face.
"Mr. Corso, don't look so severe. Sophia had nothing to do with all this. She doesn't even know Ms. Bouchard. I fear that I am your sole information source." Barnabas' hand is heavy on Sophia's waist and she tenses up at the tension between the two men.
"Hmm…" Corso's gaze flickers between the two of them and then he nods, "You also never told me that she was a business menace when it came to your company…Odd, isn't it?"
Barnabas takes a deep breath and steps closer, "Mr. Corso, I thought you were more adventurous than that. After all, I cannot do all the work for you."
Corso chuckles and adjusts his glasses, "True. I always like a challenge…I suppose I have to find on my own what this Bouchard lady is then…Right?" He cocks an eyebrow and Sophia steps between the two men.
"Gentlemen, must we exude this air of hostility? Please, we are all on the same side here. Dean, you should already know that she was not an ordinary woman…She possessed the Lesser Key…What do you think she was?" She looks up at the book dealer and he blinks, the fury leaving his face as he gazes into Sophia's blue eyes.
Barnabas' sharp intake of breath is palpable, but she ignores it. His possessiveness must make way for this to work.
"What I think she was? Either a witch or a demon." Corso murmurs and Barnabas smirks.
"Ah, but the question still remains." With that he turns and walks away from them.
Once he is gone Sophia calms down and looks at Corso.
"I wonder why he is so furious every time this lady is mentioned…You wouldn't happen to know, right?" he asks and she places one hand on her hip as she regards him.
"Things are not always as they seem, I fear."
"Oh I know that." Corso's eyes lock with hers as he speaks, "I know that, Sophia. I suppose you won't ever divulge the nature of your relationship with Mr. Collins, will you?"
She exhales slowly and lowers her gaze.
Fucking him must have its privileges after all.
She looks up sharply at his thoughts and takes a step closer, "If we start telling truths," She steps right up to him and gazes deep into his eyes, "then you might as well tell me what made you desperate enough to seek solace in Satan's arms." She hisses and Corso tenses up, all color leaving his face.
"You're not playing fair, Ms. Lockheart. The whole world knows about me and the Ninth Gate. I have received academic opportunities because of my association with the book…What have you gained from Mr. Collins other than his money and house?" His voice is husky and strained and Sophia shakes her head.
Love. Comfort. Protection. She thinks, but doesn't speak the answer.
"Things you shall never know." She replies simply and he narrows his eyes, agitation obvious on his face at her response. He doesn't like to be disregarded so easily, but he is hell-bent not to show it.
"How elusive." He breathes and she takes a deep calming breath.
"Mr. Corso, Dean." She looks up and he blinks, trying not to show his irk. She is encouraged by his willingness to hear her out. That doesn't happen often with Barnabas.
"Do not presume to know what is going on in my life. You'd fail at it miserably and I like you enough to not want you to be miserable. I will repeat again and it will be the last time I do so; things are not always as they seem." She whispers quietly and he groans.
What the fuck does that mean?
"What does that mean?" He snaps and she shakes her head at him.
"Don't make me hate you, Dean. If you want to know things about me you have to try to get to know me…Getting to know me takes more than a few innuendos about things you know nothing about."
Corso remains silent, until he groans, "Fuck. I don't like games, Sophia. Stop playing with me and tell me the damn truth! What does he want?"
"He wants the book."
"Why?"
"Because."
"That is not an answer." He snaps and she gives a tiny shrug.
"It's the only one I've got for you."
"Then I will presume whatever the fuck I want until you tell me what you know." He slaps the mug on a vase stand next to him and Sophia sighs.
She gently rubs her temples and then looks up at him, "All you have to do is find the book. That is why you're here. Everything else is immaterial to you."
"The same applies for you as well then?" He narrows his eyes.
"Why do you keep returning back to me? I am simply doing my job."
Job…Really? A damn interesting job that is…Ms. Blue Eyes.
"Fine." He mutters and straightens. His eyes peruse her form once and then he smirks.
"Nice wallpaper by the way." He murmurs and she freezes, "I think I shall find my own way towards the liquor cabinet. I do believe I deserve one drink, no?" He passes by her and proceeds down the corridor as Sophia turns to look at him.
She watches as he pulls out a cigarette and lights it, his footsteps calm and suave, until he is gone in a cloud of smoke.
She curses quietly at the mess of the situation and turns to look at her study door. She always knew lies and deception never worked right. She knew things wouldn't move along smoothly and now it seemed like she had been right all along.
With a last look towards the hall, she turns and makes her way into her study, closing the door behind her. She takes a seat behind her desk and quickly turns on her computer. She leans her head against the desk as the computer powers up and closes her eyes.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
The cold hands around her throat are stifling, causing her to gasp and pant for breath. Her back is pressed up against the large tree trunk and she can feel the harsh wood digging into her skin. Her eyes are fogged, not allowing her to properly see the creature-no, woman- in front of her and she cries out when the sharpness of a nail catches the tender skin of her neck.
Her body freezes up and her brain stops functioning as she is suddenly pulled away from the tree and thrust against the opposite direction. She opens her eyes wide as she is lifted slightly off the ground and her gaze finds another pair of dark blue eyes. The woman's pupils are dilated and the blue is just a tiny line around them.
Sophia wiggles in the woman's cold, cruel grip and tries to speak, to cry out for help, but she is hushed.
"Don't speak." The command is sharp, eager and a little hopeless, but she finds out that she does as she is commanded to. She opens her mouth, but no word comes out and cold fear grips her hard. Her body is already bruised from the car wreck and she can feel an ache building up in her chest. She is pretty certain that she has a punctured a rib…or two, maybe even more.
"Hush now." The voice comes again and she struggles to keep her eyes open, but the soft voice is hypnotic, calming and her eyes start to drift shut.
Everything is lost to her; the woman's harsh breathing, the sound of the night birds, the other voice that is screaming in the distance, everything.
Her hands slip from the woman's forearms and she allows herself to be moved around like a ragdoll.
She can hear faint growls and the sound of rapid footsteps, and she tries to open her eyes. Her eyes go wide when she sees the sharp white teeth that are bared in front of her. Her body comes to life and she starts fighting again, kicking out her legs and digging her nails into cold, hard skin.
"Victoria!" The call is loud, severe and commanding and Sophia silently cries out when she feels her nails breaking. The woman's skin is unyielding and so frozen.
"Victoria-…"
"I will share, Barnabas-…"
"Victoria!" The male voice is a mere snarl of fury and Sophia's eyes are drawn towards the sound.
Her eyes fall on dark hair and she wants to cry out for help, but she cannot make a sound.
"Let go of her-…"
"No!"
"Victoria! I won't repeat myself again! Control yourself. Now!" The man is screaming, but all Sophia can see now is his mouth, his sharp elongated teeth and incredibly pale complexion.
"But I don't want to." The woman whispers and then she pounces.
Strong fingers curl around Sophia's hair and they tug hard, baring her neck, craning her head back to an uncomfortable angle that brings tears into her eyes.
Her legs give spasms of fear until her entire body freezes from it. The razor sharp teeth graze her throat and Sophia's mouth parts in a silent scream as she feels them digging into her skin, breaking, tearing and wounding the delicate tissue.
A fierce growl breaks through the fog of fear and Sophia is suddenly shaken by a great force.
A powerful hand finds its way through their bodies and the woman- no, the creature- is torn away from her with a loud scream of despair and fury.
Sophia staggers as she falls onto her feet with force. She cries out from the sudden impact and her knees and ankles protest with pain.
Strong arms curl around her form before her body meets the harsh ground and she is swept off her feet and cradled against a cold, hard chest. Her face is buried into the crisp shirt of her rescuer and she can smell him. His skin is cold and scented with a peculiar mixture of rain, soil and his perfume only adds to the sensation of safety that cocoons her body into a tight heat. Her arms are clutching his back, her fingers curling around the thick fabric of his suit jacket and her legs are not touching the ground; they are securely wrapped around his hips and she can feel his hipbones digging into the tender, but bruised flesh of her inner thighs.
For a moment the man holding her staggers and takes a deep uneven breath before his arms tighten around her almost to the point of pain. He stumbles back and Sophia clutches at him more tightly, fearful of being alone. Her young face is pressed hard against the man's shoulder and she has her eyes tightly closed as tears slide down her cheeks into thick rivulets of helplessness. Every bone and muscle in her body aches and her breath is coming out with difficulty.
"My God…" The man wheezes out and his hold becomes possessive as he pulls Sophia tighter to him, "Victoria…" He breathes the name out, his voice a hiss of desolation and Sophia shivers as his cool breath disturbs her matted hair, blowing them away from her sweat slicked forehead.
Sophia opens her eyes and sniffs loudly before she turns her head, wondering what is the sight that has caused him such distress and why the woman is no longer in sight.
She cranes her head and her eyes briefly catch sight of the woman. Sophia cries out at the scene behind her and then a cool hand is on the back of her head, turning it gently away so she is facing his shirt again, the cold palm cradling her scalp like an infant's.
"Hush, child…Hush, it's over." The man's voice is in her ear then and she wants to scream at him that she is not a child, but she cannot; not with the woman's impaled body still in front of her eyes, not with her wide lifeless eyes gazing at them, judging them.
He moves then and she can feel herself being carried away from the woods. The wind is slapping at her face as the man breaks into a quick run, his feet moving abnormally swiftly, but she can do nothing but hold on tight as each jump and shake causes sharp pain to rush through her.
When she is put down it is on a soft bed and her eyes flutter open only to lock with the man's midnight gaze. There are stains of tears on his cheeks, but his lips are twisted into a tiny smile. His hands are gentle as he cups her face and leans down, and then she can feel his mouth on every cut and nick of her skin, his hands cooling and healing away her pain with each languid glide.
Relief floods through her system as his eyes lock with hers and a wave of comfort cradles her body the more she gazes into his eyes. His cool fingers glide down her neck and she tenses up, but then she can't and then his lips pull back to reveal the same sharp teeth the woman had presented her with. She inhales sharply as he leans in and then she can feel his mouth around the swollen skin of her neck. She exhales with relief when his lips close around the puncture wounds on her skin and when his tongue tends to the marks she drifts into a blissful oblivion.
When she wakes up, she is in a dark room and she is alone, and a wave of panic overwhelms her, causing her to sit up and scream with fear and despair-…
"Sophia! Sophie." A warm hand is shaking her awake and her eyes snap open with a start. Corso's face is looming next to her head, but her eyes are drawn to the picture on her computer screen. Barnabas' face is smiling and his features relaxed as he is sitting in his settee with his arms tight around her waist. His head is resting on top of her shoulder as she is playfully posing for a photograph. The picture is gone a moment later and when another one pops up she closes her eyes.
"Are you alright?" Corso's voice brings her back to the present and she looks up into his frowning face.
"Yes." she whispers groggily, "I fell asleep…"
He pulls his hand away from her arm and briefly touches her sweaty forehead. Sophia shudders at the warm touch and shakes her head.
"I am fine." With those words she pushes the memories of her past away and ignores the wild beating of her heart when she recalls the warmth and care in Barnabas' eyes.
"Are you?" Corso asks and she looks up at him sharply.
"Of course."
"You were screaming." He adds quietly and she can see a little bit of torment in his brown gaze, proof that he is too tormented in his sleep by memories of his past and menaces of the future.
She feels guilty and on an impulse, she reaches out and strokes his arm that is resting on his thigh.
His eyes follow her hand and they darken a little. She is quick to pull her hand away and then she stands.
"Why are you here?" She asks lightly.
"Why were you screaming?" He insists and she licks her dry lips.
"Bad dream." she replies laconically, easily dodging the actual question and he sighs, "You want the computer again?" She asks and he looks at her sharply as if he wants to say something else, but then he simply reaches up and runs his fingers over his moustache and goatee, looking thoughtful.
"That too…I actually came here to apologize…I guess." He blurts out with a groan and a small smile lights up her face.
Corso notices it and rolls his eyes.
Oh, please, Blue Eyes. Now is not the time to go all lovey eyes on me. Not when I am half drunk.
Sophia frowns at his thought and she straightens, "Perhaps we should both retire for the night then." She quickly turns around and turns off the computer and so, she misses the frown that passes over his face at her words.
"Alright…"
She turns around and steps closer to him, "I accept your apology. Sleep well." She murmurs before she walks out of the study, leaving him to stare after her with wide eyes and parted lips.
End of chapter 4
Author's note: Thank you for reading. I hope the dream cleared out Barnabas' relationship with Sophie…At least a little...More will be revealed as we go on…
So, liked it? Hated it? Please, let me know with a review. Please?
More to come soon!
Xxx Lina ;o)
