Dark Shadows: Back to the Past
Chapter 11
1
Ed had gone home for the night, but Eve was still in the office. Chief Ironside had convinced Mark when he came home from night school, to take a night off and enjoy himself. Eve encouraged him by telling him she would stick around and help the chief with anything that he might need. Mark didn't like leaving the chief right now as he knew something was bothering him. The dreams he was having and his lack of concentration on the two main cases they were working on had him concerned.
Still, Mark knew he too had to have some relaxation like everyone else. Reluctantly, he agreed. Since Eve's memory had returned, Ironside felt like he didn't have to solve this problem alone. Eve was an excellent officer. He had seen it in her early on when his office had been formed. That was why he had asked for her to be transferred to his special crime unit. Maybe her input could help him find a solution for this mess.
Yet, Robert Ironside's own instincts told him there was only one way to handle the problem, and he did not care for the solution. "Eve, get me a cup of coffee, will you please?" He always thought better with a cup of brew in front of him, even if he didn't drink it.
"Sure, Chief." Eve said and headed for the kitchen. She pulled down a coffee mug with the letters SFPD stamped on the side of it, poured the fresh coffee she had made and brought it back to the table. "I take it you wanted to talk since you asked me to stay behind."
"You are in the unique position of knowing what is really going on," Ironside began. "We have to discuss what might happen if Quentin doesn't listen to Barnabas and back off from insisting we go back in time."
Eve smiled. She knew her boss only too well. "What is there to discuss, Chief. If Quentin won't back off, you are going to go to Collinsport and go back to Quentin's time with Barnabas."
"Right now, Officer Whitfield, I am simply going to let this play out. I am not making any such plans until we see what Quentin's next move is."
Outside of the building, the ghost of Quentin Collins stood, looking up at the windows he knew belonged to Chief Ironside's office. While David was doing whatever it was he had to do, Quentin would make one last attempt to convince Chief Ironside to keep his promise. He knew if he could convince him to go back in time, Barnabas would go with him to protect him. The vampire seemed to have quite an affection for the crippled constable. No, detective was the expression they used in this century.
The ghost floated up to the window and entered the office of Robert Ironside. He was pleasantly surprised to see Eve Whitfield there. Actually, he wasn't all that surprised. He had watched Sergeant Ed Brown leave as well as the young man that was Ironside's aid.
"Hello, Chief Ironside," he said as he appeared. Looking over at Eve Whitfield, he smiled. "What a pleasant surprise to see you here, Miss Whitfield."
Ironside had been expecting another visit by the ghost since Barnabas had told him they refused to go back in time. His instincts told him Quentin would never accept that as final. "Good evening, Mister Collins. Are we to be haunted by you for the rest of our lives?"
Quentin chuckled. "I am not haunting you. Let's just say I am visiting you. Believe me, you would not want me to actually haunt you."
"Visit? You mean like the visit you paid Commissioner Randall, and the visit in the middle of the street to Officer Whitfield here?" Ironside asked with sarcasm.
"Yes well, I did apologize for that," the ghost said sheepishly.
"And I really enjoy having you visit me in my dreams." Ironside's voice was dripping in sarcasm.
"I had to get your attention, Chief. I didn't know any other way to do it. If it makes you feel any better, I was wrong. I should just have talked to you man to man."
"Don't you mean ghost to man?" Eve questioned.
Quentin could not blame them. Their association with him had been less than pleasant, and it was his fault. He should have taken the time to think this through before acting. Unfortunately, a ghost would almost always use his spirit powers instinctively. Thinking always was secondary if that did not work.
"Alright, I deserved that," Quentin conceded. "Can we try to get past all that?"
Ironside's famous blue glare stared at the ghostly figure in front of them. "What do you want this time, Mister Collins?"
"Please call me Quentin. After all, we are all friends here."
"We are not friends and I will call you Mister Collins," Ironside snarled.
Quentin shrugged and approached the table. He appeared to sit down in the chair next to Eve. Ironside did not actually know whether the ghost could sit or whether he just projected the image to make it look like he was sitting. Either way, he did not much care.
"I was wondering if you have considered my proposal, Chief Ironside?" Quentin asked. There was no sense in wasting more time on pleasantries as it did not seem the detective wanted to be the least bit pleasant. He wondered if he was always this grumpy.
"You will have to forgive me, Chief, but I took the liberty of telling Miss Whitfield all about what happened in Collinsport."
"She didn't believe a word you said," the detective told him. That wasn't quite the truth. Eve had trouble with what she had been told, yet it brought her to his office to question it all.
"Then why is she here? I suspect her memory has been completely restored, or at the very least she is taking your word for what happen, even if she did not take mine," the ghost surmised.
"You still have not told us what you want." the chief said, prodding the ghost.
"I want to know if you have considered my kind offer to allow you to go back and solve the Jack the Ripper murders?"
"As interesting and tempting as that is, the answer is no."
"Why not?" Quentin was genuinely surprised. He actually thought once the famous detective thought about it, he would jump at the chance.
"Because the past should not be manipulated."
"Funny thing coming from the detective who did exactly that," Quentin said as he looked at Eve Whitfield and smiled. "Or is it that you are only willing to manipulate the past if it benefits you?"
Ironside certainly could not answer that accusation, since it was true. Not completely true, since it was Eve Whitfield he was trying to benefit. "That was a one time thing only."
"Of course it was, Chief, because it is what you wanted to change. Since it doesn't matter to you if things change for me, you don't want to be bothered."
"Look, Mister Collins. You have already lived your life. Eve's was cut short because of a supernatural being. I had to put things right. I had no choice. I understand that you want to live again; I am certain all ghost who have not gone to their eternal rest feel the same, but you had your shot at life."
"My life was cut short as well, Chief Ironside and I too was affected by the supernatural, still am as matter of fact." Quentin waited. He wanted the detective to make the right decision. Not wanting to send David into the past, he had to give Ironside the chance to make things right. "Does your work account for nothing, sir?"
Ironside said nothing. Eve, worried her boss was softening, spoke up, "The chief and Barnabas are not going into the past. There is no way to control the staircase, Quentin. You could be sending them anywhere, anytime in history. That is unacceptable."
"But it wasn't unacceptable when they did it for you, was it, Officer Whitfield?" Quentin's eyes had lost all sense of reason. He was clearly becoming upset. Hoping he could convince Ironside to talk to Barnabas about his situation, his wish had been to spare David. It didn't look like he was going to be able to do so.
"If I had had anything to say about it, I would not have allowed them to do it, Quentin. I don't believe time should be manipulated either." She stared directly in the eyes of the ghost. She had to convey to him that it was just plain wrong.
"Then you won't help me?" Quentin asked one last time of the detective.
"I am sorry, Mister Collins. I can't help you. Return to your grave and rest peacefully," Ironside told him. He knew regardless of the advice, the ghost was not going to take it. The chief also believed Quentin already had another plan in mine, one no doubt that would lead to forcing them to go back to the past.
Quentin stood up. "Well, I have given you and Barnabas time to do the right thing. I will not be responsible for what happens next."
"You will be entirely responsible for what happens next. I have no doubt of that, Mister Collins," Ironside said.
The ghost walked away from the table. "I came here to ask you to honor your promise, Chief Ironside. Since you refuse, I will take other measures. Don't say I didn't warn you." He disappeared from Ironside's office.
Ironside and Eve looked at one another, both thinking the same thing. How long would it be before Quentin forced Barnabas and the chief to keep that promise?
2
David, excited to have another friend went looking for Sarah. He would not see her for a while and he had to say goodbye. He did not want her to worry about him. Like Quentin said, he was a young man and he could take care of himself. Sarah was his friend. She may be a ghost, but she was still his friend and friends didn't go away without letting each other know where they were. "Sarah! Sarah! I must talk to you. Where are you Sarah?"
David received no answer and no indication that Sarah was even around. He did not understand it, Sarah almost always came when he called for her. Where was that little ghost girl? He had to find her. David did not want to go away with her not knowing where he was. "Sarah! Please answer me," he pleaded.
Still, there was no answer. He decided to go into the Collins Mausoleum. Quite often, if he could not reach her in the cemetery or the woods, she could be found in the mausoleum. It only took him a few minutes to reach the mausoleum gates. He opened them and entered where the three coffins of Joshua, Naomi and Sarah Collins had been for over two-hundred years. David often wondered if Sarah longed to rest forever in that coffin instead of walking the earth as a ghost. She had told him she had to watch over her brother, which he had not understood, as her brother had to have died two centuries ago.
"What is it, David? Why have you summoned me?" Sarah said behind him.
The boy turned around to see her standing in front of the gate holding her flute. She put it to her lips and began playing "London Bridge is Falling Down." She continued to do so until he lost his patience.
"Sarah, I need to talk to you," he said firmly.
"No, you do not. You have already made up your mind," she said sadly.
It amazed David sometimes how the ghost girl knew what he had been thinking or doing. "How do you know I have made up my mind and to what?" He really wanted to know how she did it.
"I just know," she said, giving her standard answer.
Frustrated, David demanded, "What do you know?"
"I know you are going to use the staircase and go back to Quentin's time. Don't do it, David. You don't know how to control the staircase."
"But Barnabas and Chief Ironside went to the time they wanted and came back too. There is no danger, Sarah."
"You don't know that. There could be plenty of danger if you do not understand how to control the staircase. It could drop you anywhere and anytime. You must understand how it works."
David watched her sway back and forth. Every time she did that, she knew more than she was telling, and he thought he knew what it was. "Do you know how to control the staircase, Sarah?"
"It doesn't matter what I know," she replied.
"That is not what I asked you. Do you know how to control the staircase or not?" he asked in frustration.
"Yes."
"Then tell me how to do it."
"I can't tell you," she said.
"Why not?" David demanded.
"Because."
"Because is not a reason. Why can't you tell me?"
"Because I can't, that's all."
"Then I will do it myself," he responded.
"Don't go, David. You may never come back. You have no way to protect yourself. Barnabas won't be there to protect you."
David became instantly angry. "Barnabas thinks I am a child. I can take care of myself."
"Barnabas cares about you, and you are a child, just like me," Sarah insisted.
"That is not true! I am much older than you are. Quentin doesn't think I am a child. He thinks I am a young man with wisdom beyond my years," he smirked.
"If you believe him, David, than you really are a child."
"I am not listening to anymore of this. I came to tell you good bye. I will see you when I get back." He began to storm away.
"If you get back," she said before disappearing.
"Silly ghost. She doesn't understand." David headed towards Collinwood. He tried to put on a brave front for his own benefit, but Sarah had succeeded planting a doubt in his mind. What was worse he was now afraid.
3
Quentin awaited David in his room in the West Wing of Collinwood. He hoped he had not made a mistake leaving him alone. He had a good idea of where David was going. The boy wanted to say goodbye to Sarah Collins, Barnabas' sister. The fact she was the vampire's sister worried him. She would be loyal to Barnabas and probably would try to convince David not to go back in time.
David listened to the ghost girl. The more Quentin thought about it, the more he was regretting not staying with him. He could have countered any argument the girl had to try to keep David from using the staircase. The problem he faced was he had to get David to go through now. Once Barnabas awaken at dusk, Sarah would tell him what David was going to do. The vampire would surely stop him and have the boy watched much more closely.
Quentin could not figure out why Barnabas and Chief Ironside were being so stubborn. He was only asking them to keep their promise. After all, he had helped them by telling them where the staircase was. Without his help, they never would have been able to travel to the past and reverse Eve Whitfield's death. They owed him. If they would not keep their promise willingly, he would force them to do it. Once David had crossed over into the past, Barnabas would insist in going after him. He would let Ironside know what was going on and then the detective would insist on going back with him. Quentin was sure of it.
The problem of controlling the staircase still existed. Quentin had no idea how to do it. He never really did understand how it worked in the first place. The only thing he could figure was it was built right in front of a time portal he had no idea was there. Now it served as a vehicle to the past. He should have destroyed it the minute he found out what it could do, but the blasted thing would appear and disappear just as fast.
Yet, there had been some way Barnabas and Chief Ironside had controlled it, even if they didn't know how they did it. It was the only comfort he had that he wasn't sending the boy back to the time of dinosaurs. He shuttered to even think about it. David would not last a day in times like that.
Quentin looked at his pocket watch. What was taking the boy so long? Had Sarah talked him out of traveling to the past? Would he have to make another attempt to convince him to go? Impatiently, he walked over to the phonograph that always soothed his nerves. He placed the arm over the record and lowered the needle onto it. The melodic tune began to play. In his time, the ghost had played it over and over until his mood had changed. Sometimes it required the help of a glass of sherry.
Sherry, oh how Quentin missed the taste of it. As a ghost, food and drink were not required to continue his existence. He could not wait for the time when he became human again and could raise a glass of the soothing liquid to his lips. He could almost taste it now...almost, but not quite.
The door to his room opened and David Collins stood there. The young man was showing signs of nervousness. Quentin did not like what he was seeing. Was David about to back out? He could not let him do that. It was the only way he could get Barnabas and Chief Ironside to go back in time and help him.
"David, I was beginning to think you were not coming. Did you say goodbye to Sarah?"
David walked further into the room. "How did you know I was going to see Sarah?"
"Well, if I were to leave here, the first thing I would do is to say goodbye to you. That is what friends do, David. It was not difficult to figure out you wanted to see Sarah before you left. You did see her, did you not?"
"Yes, I saw her, Quentin. She doesn't think I should go. She thinks I will be in danger."
That is what Quentin had been afraid of. Sarah Collins had been trying to convince him not to make the trip into the past. The ghost would have to do just a bit more convincing. He remembered what had worked in the graveyard. He would re-enforce the idea in the boy's head.
"She thinks you can't take care of yourself. I don't understand everyone here. Why do they treat you as if you were a mere baby? You are a man, perfectly capable of taking care of yourself."
David perked up a bit for the first time since he had walked in to the room. He walked over to Quentin and looked down at the phonograph. "Why do you play that over and over?"
"Because it reminds me I am not who everyone thinks I am. I don't want other people defining who I am. Do you, David?"
"No way. I am tired of being treated like a baby. Aunt Elizabeth treats me that way when I want to play in the woods. Even Vicki treats me like a child sometimes. She is always telling me to be careful and reminding me to do things."
"Like what?" Quentin asked.
"Like saying don't forget to put your coat on, or be back before dark, or complete your lesson before you can go out. I have only been doing all those things forever. Besides, I am far more capable of taking care of myself in the woods than any of them, well except for maybe Barnabas. He knows the woods as well as I do, but I know them better than everyone else."
"I know what you mean. I was always told I had to take some responsibility in my life. Take an interest in the family business, settle down and get married, live up to the family name."
David's eyes got bigger. "You too! Father is always telling me I have to live up to the family name, not do anything to embarrassed the Collins family name. Good grief, how can I do that by playing in the woods?"
"You can't, son. They just don't understand either of us. They don't want us to be men. They want us to stay a child for the rest of our lives so they can control us," Quentin said.
"Well, am not a child," David said with a fury.
Quentin knew he was succeeding. He just had to put on the finishing touches. "That is why they will not understand your desire to go back in time and enjoy this adventure. You are too young, to immature and unable to take care of yourself. I was told all the same things by my parents. Hog wash! You and I are alike. It is in our nature to seek adventure." David grinned. Quentin was right. He had come here ready to tell Quentin he was not going to go back. David had allowed Sarah to frighten him. She used that as a means to stop him from going on this adventure. Well, no more. He would prove to them all, he was not a child. He was not afraid. David was just like Quentin. He had always sought adventure. Never had he ever soiled the Collins name. After all, if Quentin had been called the same things as he had, it was only proof the family wanted to control them both. His mind was made up. He would travel to Quentin's time and help him to somehow transcend time and return here as a human and not a ghost. He owed him that for making him realize there was nothing wrong with his way of thinking.
"Well Quentin, when do I go?" David asked, eagerly.
Quentin looked up to see the staircase appear. He stood and smiled at young David. Pointing at the staircase, he said, "Your chariot awaits."
David grinned at the ghost and walked over to the staircase. "I will see you in the past, Quentin. I can't wait to get to know you as a mortal."
"Goodbye, David. The next time I see you, we will seek our adventures together."
David walked up the staircase and disappeared.
With a grin on his face, the ghost walked back to his phonograph. The record was spinning around and around, but no music was playing. The needle had reached the end of the record. Quentin reached over and lifted the arm. Placing the needle at the beginning of the record, he lowered it and the music began to play again.
He said aloud, "Barnabas and Chief Ironside, will you keep your promise now?" He began laughing. Everything was going just as he planned.
4
Julia Hoffman headed down into the basement of the Old House. Every night she greeted Barnabas as he rose from his coffin. It had become a tradition ever since Barnabas had declared his love for her. She looked forward to the day when she would find that cure for his condition and they could be together as man and wife. Julia was certain she would make Barnabas a very happy man. She loved him so, and now he finally realized he loved her too. If anything good came out of Eve Whitfield dying, that was it. He had discovered he loved her. It had indeed been a glorious day for her.
She watched as the coffin slowly opened until it was pushed completely open. Barnabas Collins sat up and placed his legs over the side. Standing up, he smiled when Julia was there to greet him. He bent down and gave her a kiss. "Good evening, my love."
"Good evening, Barnabas. I am happy you have risen."
"Oh, has something happened?" he said alarmed.
"Why no, not that I know of. I am just happy you have risen."
Barnabas's apprehension dissipated immediately. He was afraid Quentin had not heeded his advice and dropped his insistence he and Chief Ironside go back in time. It was a relief to know it had not happened.
"Well, what would you like to do tonight?" Julia asked him.
"Why don't we go to Collinwood and visit Elizabeth. I would like to check on the family and make sure everything is alright. Where is Willie?"
"Lighting the candles. He went grocery shopping today and did a lot of work around the Old House. Barnabas, I wish you would order him to take it easy. He has only been out of the hospital a short time, and I think it is in his best interest for him to only be on light duty for a few days."
"Then I shall speak with him immediately. Let's go upstairs." Barnabas took Julia's hand and led her to the steep stairs which led to the foyer of the Old House. They walked up together, hand in hand. Julia had never been more happy in her life than to be at the side of the man she loved and to finally have him return her love.
When they arrived in the foyer, Barnabas immediately called for Willie Loomis, his servant. Willie came down the stairs with cleaning products in his hands.
"I finished Josette's room, Barnabas. Boy, if I don't clean a few rooms a day, they can get pretty dusty, but don't you worry, I am not going to let that happen."
"Willie, Julia thinks you should be taking it easy for a few days," Barnabas said.
"Gee, Barnabas, I feel fine. I can work and the Old House needs cleaning," Willie said.
"Nevertheless, Julia is your doctor and I want you to follow her instructions. Is that clear?" Barnabas demanded.
"It's clear."
"Willie, I want you to go to your room and relax for the rest of the evening," Julia said.
"But Julia..." "No buts, Willie," Barnabas said.
"Oh alright, but I really am fine," Willie protested.
"Your room, Willie," Barnabas ordered.
"Yes sir." Willie put the cleaning products in the kitchen and headed for his room off the drawing room.
"Now, let's head over to the Great House," Barnabas said, smiling at Julia.
Suddenly, Sarah Collins appeared in front of the double doors leading outside from the foyer. The vampire could see there was something drastically wrong. "Sarah! What is it? What is wrong?" Barnabas cried.
"It's David, he's gone!" The little ghost girl answered.