Chapter 7

"So it is going to be a séance?" Oriana asked. "Funny, I have never been to a séance. We will try to contact Guthrie tonight, after Barnabas comes back from his errands?"

"Yes, that would be best. We need Barnabas' energy for this."

"You think that this man Guthrie can help us find what we need to know?" Louella asked.

"He should" Julia said. "He was the one who found out what she was in 1967"

Harry Redwolf wondered what could the sheriff want with him. Did he thing that he had anything to do with that story with Torrance? He didn't know the details, but probably there was more to it than the drunk and disorderly charge that was used to lock up Torrance and Davenport.

There was something odd in the way Sheriff Brant looked at him. he wished that he could pin it down. but then, most of the people he had to deal with in this Davenport deal were weird. Starting with Barnabas.

"Mr. Torrance wants to see you." George explained.

"Torrance?" Redwolf furrowed his brow. "Look sheriff, whatever he did get himself into, I was no part of it. I has been weeks since I saw him last."

"And Davenport? When did you see him last?"

"Several days ago. The same stuff as always." he laughed. "He would not make more concessions unless he got certain things from me. I said not, but offered others instead. Then he made other offers.. you know, the usual horse trading."

"That's not what they say."

"Then they are lying."

"Would you care to discuss it with Torrance?"

"Sure, if I am being accused, I want to know of what."

George led Redwolf towards the cells. Torrance's cell was at the end of the corridor, and he had managed to have the other cells empty. He preferred not to have stories going around about this.

Frank was lying down, humming to himself.

"Well, Torrance. Here's Redwolf." George said "got anything to say to him?"

Frank got up slowly.

"Look Torrance, I don't know what you have been saying about me, but I know that it isn't true. Whatever you and Davenport were doing, was no business of mine."

"But you would have liked to know about it." Frank said mockingly "It would have done you good to know about it."

"You see, he says that I wasn't in it!"

"Ah, Harry, you would have wanted to be in it. Think how much you'd have gained. I should gave gone to you, not Davenport."

"All right." Harry turned to George " You have heard him say that I wasn't a party to it. Can I go now?"

George shook his head. "No, you can't"

"What do you mean, no? What else do you want me for?"

"I told you. You are an accomplice. As of now."

"What?"

George seized him and held him against the bars, where Frank caught him. "You weren't an accomplice then, but will be one now." With Frank's help he handcuffed Redwolf to the bars "You better listen to what the has to offer."

"Thanks sheriff" Torrance said. "I will do the rest."

"You want him gagged? I don't want stories about screams coming from my jail."

"There will be no need. Just close the door as you leave."

Frank flicked the lighter. The small flame burned on it. He almost thought he could see Janet's eyes in the flame.

He had lost her. She would not come until he had succeeded in killing Barnabas Collins. And he would do it. He would bait a trap with Redwolf's help.

He lifted the flame to Redwolf's eyes, close enough to singe the eyebrows.

Redwolf screamed once, but then Frank's hand covered his mouth.

"No, don't say anything. Just watch the flame." he put it right over Redwolf's nose, between the eyes. "It is beautiful, isn't it?"

Redwolf blinked.

"Look at it." Frank insisted.

There was an entranced look in Redwolf's expression now. Frank released his mouth

"Don't be afraid."

"I am not afraid."

"Open your eyes wide. Do not blink."

He lifted the flame to the eyes. First the right, then the left. Redwolf tensed, then relaxed.

"That didn't hurt, did it?"

"No..." Redwolf's voice now sounded remote, like disembodied, as his will was still fighting a losing battle with Laura.

Frank ran his hand over the flame, put two fingers through it, and pulled a golden scarab from it."

"Will you serve us?"

"I will serve you."

"Even to the death of Barnabas Collins?"

"Even to the death of Barnabas Collins."

Frank gave him the scarab. "Wear this around your neck, always."

Julia gave Willie his pill.

"Take it, Willie." she ordered him.

"Why? I am not sick."

"You know why. Take it, it is only Valium."

"You doping me?"

"I am trying to keep you calm. You have to admit that you have been somewhat difficult."

"It was David's fault." Willie grumbled.

"It was nobody's fault. Our nerves are on edge. That's why I try to keep you tranquilized. Come, everybody else takes them."

"Yeah." Willie looked down "All right, doctor. I'll take it." he received the pill in his hand.

"Now swallow the pill?

"All right.": he swallowed it. "Happy now?"

Priscilla glided among the trees noiselessly. Barnabas saw her and flew towards her. She would abuse him again. so be it. He had to talk to her. Maybe this time she would give him the information he needed. Just in case they did not learn what they needed from he séance tonight. Priscilla could help them, and if she did, the abuse would be worth it.

She looked at him, her face setting as he approached. He could read all the hatred locked in her, the reproaches she had yet to make. She glided away from him. Not much. Just enough to indicate her distaste for his presence.

"Priscilla" he began.

She lifted her face, fixing him with cold eyes. "What do you want?"

"What is that we need? David can't remember."

"He will remember."

"We are so helpless..."

"Helpless? And how do you like being helpless?"

"I don't like it."

She smiled maliciously "You never wanted to see me, and now you go out looking for me, are desperate to talk to me."

She moved away a little bit, her eyes fixed on him.

Then she screamed.

"Priscilla!"

She was now struggling, trying to pull away from something that seemed to have snagged her dress. She tried to grab the branches above and pull herself up, but her hands just went through them.

He saw the small flame rise for the half-extinguished cigarette.

"Help! Help me, Barnabas!" she shrieked "She's got me."

Barnabas tried to hold her, but his hands went through her uselessly, as she screamed louder and louder, pain now mixing with terror in her screams.

"Priscilla!"

She was being sucked into the flames, he realized. Already her feet and lower legs had disappeared into in. He stomped furiously on the cigarette, but it was useless.

"It is too late." Laura's voice said. "I have captured my disobedient slave and I will punish her now."

Priscilla's screams began to die away as more and more of her body was swallowed up into the flame. She was whimpering now, begging Laura to release her. She turned anguished eyes to Barnabas, opened her lips once more to beg... and was gone.

Barnabas stomped on the cigarette angrily, impotently. Laura had won this time, and Priscilla would pay for it.

He had failed Priscilla. Again. What was Laura doing to her now?

"You can't do anything for her now." Julia said gently "maybe later, if Guthrie helps us."

He sat at the table and extended his hands. One to Willie and one to Oriana. David and Julia completed the circle. Kenneth had refused to cooperate and Louella had insisted on looking after Frances.

Oriana felt nervous. This was the first séance she attended and she wasn't sure that she was supposed to do. If something went wrong, they'd think it was her fault.

Willie could not keep from worrying about attracting Jenny again. In fact, Laura could cause that to happen, to chase Louella out of the house, where they would be waiting for her.

Yet they were desperate for anything that could help them. Maybe Guthrie had the answers. David had them, but could not remember what they were. And until them, they were prisoners in the house.

"Peter Guthrie." Julia said. "Peter Guthrie. Come to us. We need your help."

Then her voice rattled and she threw her head back.

"Who calls me?" she asked in a man's voice.

"Professor Guthrie, this is David. David Collins. You helped me once."

"Yes. David Collins. I knew you."

"We need help again."

"I do sense the evil threatening you. There is a strangeness here and the dangers comes closer to you."

"Can you tell us what to do?"

"I will show you in due time."

"Please, tell us." Barnabas pleaded "the danger is growing and we are helpless."

Julia stared at him. "I will tell you, but not now."

Julia's head dropped. She gurgled and shivered.

"Julia, are you all right?"

"Huh?" Julia lifted her head "Yes... did he tell you anything?"

"That we are in danger, and that there is evil around us. Nothing that we didn't know." Oriana said with impatience.

"He said that we'd soon learn of it." David said, defending the man who had once helped him.

"But why couldn't he tell us now?"