Chapter 10
Barnabas began his hypnosis. "I want you to relax and keep looking into my eyes. Listen to the sound of my voice Maggie."
Willie watched in terror and fascination as the vampire worked his magic on his victim. "Do you hear my voice Maggie?"
"Yes."
"Who's voice do you hear Maggie?"
"My master's voice."
"That's right Maggie. I am your master and you will listen and do everything I say."
"I will master."
"You will willingly give me your blood Maggie."
Willie couldn't help crying out, "No! Barnabas, no!"
Barnabas whipped his head around and glared at him. "Shut up Willie! You knew this would be necessary!"
"I know, but I thought we'd do it another way!" Willie explained. Barnabas' plan required collecting some of Maggie's blood, but Willie thought they'd use a syringe. He could tell Barnabas' intentions lay in another direction.
"You stupid fool. It's critical that Maggie has the marks she had before when they found her in Eagle Hill cemetery."
"Please don't hurt her Barnabas!" Willie begged. He was incapable of admitting Barnabas was right. He couldn't stomach watching Barnabas bite Maggie again. He egregiously took a step closer and was rewarded with a backhand to the face that sent him flying across the bedroom. The force of contact with the wall knocked him unconscious. One positive came from the situation: He didn't have to watch Barnabas pull Maggie up to him and sink his fangs into her neck.
Later…
Willie regained consciousness in the same spot. It took him a few moments to remember what had occurred but when he did he picked himself up from the floor and looked around for Maggie. He found her lying on the bed, seemingly asleep. He walked over, checked her neck, and found the tell-tale wounds which were still oozing. He choked back the bile that rose to his throat. Maggie moaned and muttered, "Master…Master."
Moments later the Master re-entered the room. Willie quickly stepped away from the bed. Barnabas gave him a withering glare and asked, "Are you planning to interfere with me again?" His tone conveyed the clear warning that it would be suicide to do so.
Willie shook his head. "No sir I won't."
Barnabas seemed to accept his pledge and sat down on the edge of the bed. He stroked Maggie's hair. "I'm here Maggie; I heard you call."
Maggie opened her eyes and reached a hand up for him. Barnabas took the hand in his. "My dear we must continue what we started earlier."
Maggie nodded her head but clearly didn't know what was going on. Barnabas continued speaking to her calmly while staring into her eyes. "I want to tell you a story Maggie. It's the story of a man called Jason Maguire…"
Midnight
Willie opened the front door and let Jason Maguire into the foyer of the Old House. Jason looked concerned and his eyes scanned the visible parts of the house. "He's not here then?"
"No, Mr. Collins is out of town," Willie told him.
Jason relaxed. "Ah, that's more like it. I couldn't understand why you wanted me here in the middle of the night lad. So, where's the loot?"
Willie closed his eyes; he couldn't bear to look at Jason while sending him to his destruction. "In the basement; the jewels are in the basement."
He opened his eyes and saw Jason beaming with the anticipation of the big score.
"This way," Willie began walking to the back of the house. Jason followed his old friend without hesitation.