A/N:Welcome back, loves! Happy August! I didn't take that long, did I?

A huge thank you to: Makrciana, Leyshla Gisel, BellaMarieRosaCullen, Frasier Crane, Babygirl555, SugarplumDuckie, 88dragon06, Dionne dance, Mallie, ForeverACharmedOne, Onitsu Blackfeather, TheBrightersider, the misery chick, duckie9848, sweetizzy93, Echo M. Blake, MinnieMcGee, GloomDusk, Jay D. Moore, MinuteAfterMidnight, velvee, sullsinger, Adelene Abnormal and to all the anonymous reviewers! You seriously put a smile on my face. :D

Let's see how you like this…:P

Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Shadows.

Chapter 11

Abigail frowned down at the tray she held. Ruth had thrust it unceremoniously into her hands when the phone had rung, proudly declaring that it was her daughter. As Abigail gazed down at the empty, tall crystal glass and napkin she frowned, dumbfounded.

Why did he want an empty, tall glass at ten in the morning for?

Realizing that she couldn't look at the tray and watch where she was going at the same time she shrugged and looked up as she walked down the hall towards his study.

Once she was there she knocked softly and waited for his voice to invite her in.

"Come in."

She tensed at the dark velvet that was his voice. It made funny things to her stomach.

She pushed the door open and walked in.

"Ruth-…" as he looked up he froze.

"Abigail?" he was surprised and a little uneasy at the sight of her and she wondered why.

"I mean Abby." He smiled at her and pulled his hand quickly away from his desk drawer, "I was expecting Ruth." He noted and Abigail quickly walked over with the glass.

"Sorry. She had a phone call." She apologized as she tentatively placed the tray in front of him, "You want me to pour you something?" she motioned towards his alcohol cabinet.

"No, thank you. I shall do it myself." He shook his head quickly as he briefly clasped the arms of his chair.

Abigail was confused, "Is something wrong?" she asked and he cleared his throat.

"No, of course not. I am just preparing for our session." He smiled at her a thin smile of firmly shut lips.

"Oh."

"Six tonight is alright with you?" he asked and Abigail quickly nodded, "I can't wait to see how you have transformed the attic." He leaned back in his chair, a little more at ease.

"Oh, I didn't really transform it. I just moved a few of my things there." She smiled at him and he looked satisfied.

"Good. I want you to feel comfortable in my home. It is after all yours too." He said as he gazed up at her with dark unfathomable eyes.

Abigail was startled by his words.

Collinwood? Her home?

"Isn't it?" he seemed upset, "I hope I didn't offend you, my dear." He murmured when she hesitated.

"No, of course you didn't. I guess this is my home for now." She said with a small sigh and Barnabas' eyes narrowed. She didn't notice.

"For now." He echoed back and when she looked at him he plastered a small smile on his face that screamed fake in huge black letters. That was a first. His expressions were always sincere and clear.

"Um…if there's nothing else…" she trailed off and he shook his head.

"No."

"Then I'll see you tonight?" she asked hesitantly and this time he fully smiled.

"Certainly." He inclined his head and Abigail walked away with a blush on her cheeks.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Abigail paused with the brush and craned her neck to relieve some of the tension that had gathered there. She looked up at Barnabas who smiled at her widely.

"I have to say that this is rather comfortable for me." He said and she pursed her lips.

"You're sitting. Of course it is." She couldn't help but smile.

"I could be standing but you didn't want to tire me, did you?" he asked and she chuckled as she gazed at his elegantly put form. He was sitting in one of his lush armchairs with his hands gently grasping the arms and one of his legs crossed over the other. He was dressed in a dark blue suit and his hair was pushed away from his forehead. His boots were as shiny and immaculate as ever and instead of a tie his trademark red silk scarf with the Collins crest was peeking out of his shirt.

"No, I did not." She replied at last as she averted her eyes from his form, "Let us take a break." She suggested as she stood up from her stool and stretched. Her shirt moved with the motion and revealed a little bit of her skin, just above the waistband of her worn jeans and Barnabas' eyes were immediately drawn to that patch of skin.

Abigail lowered her arms and smiled at him, oblivious of his stare and he quickly stood up and looked into her eyes.

"Coffee?" she asked and he quickly shook his head, "Oh, right. Not a taste for coffee." She teased and he grinned as he folded his hands behind his back and approached as she turned to pour some coffee from the steaming pot at the table.

"Not really." he murmured as he came to stand behind her.

His eyes burned the back of her head and neck as he stood there and Abigail hastily turned around to face him.

"I love your posters." He said out of the blue as he turned and motioned to the walls of attic.

"Really?"

"Monet." He pointed at a poster across from them, "Manneporte, right?" he smirked and she gaped at him.

"Um yes…"

"Why did you choose to put it here?" he asked and she paused.

"It reminded me of the Hill."

"Hill?" he murmured inaudibly. "Widows'?"

"Yes."

"I see." he looked at his feet and the turned his eyes on another poster, "And that one…" he narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.

"The Bodmer Oak." She finished for him and he turned to look at her.

"Interesting…"

"Beautiful." She shrugged and Barnabas smiled.

"Indeed." He murmured as he stared at her with his head slightly cocked to the side.

Abigail flushed and cleared her throat as she brought the cup of coffee to her lips and took a sip.

"So, besides Monet…?" he quirked an eyebrow as he started walking around the attic, looking at all her supplies.

"Dali." She said immediately and he turned to look at her.

"Different that Monet." He smirked and she smiled.

"Definitely."

"Is this…used already?" he asked as he held up a large sketchbook.

Abigail flushed, "Um…a bit. Don't open it!" she almost squeaked and he raised both of his eyebrows at her.

"Why not?"

"I…I don't show my sketches around a lot." She explained as she walked over to him and tentatively took the book from him. His fingers brushed hers as she did so and she shivered.

"Why?"

"I just don't." she murmured as she put it away.

His eager eyes followed it until it was out of side, "It has something that I am not supposed to see?" he asked and she shrugged, "Perhaps it has my name doodled all over it?" he teased and she laughed.

"You wish!" she chuckled and his eyes narrowed.

"I do." He murmured and the smile left her face to be replaced by her blush.

Abigail brought the cup to her lips again before she looked up into his still smoldering gaze.

"Shall we continue? It's going to get dark soon." She suggested quietly and he nodded.

"Of course, my dear." His voice was equally quiet as he made his way back to his chair and sat down while she took her place behind the canvas again.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

A few days later…

"Damn it!" she hissed as she threw the brush away and grabbed another one.

"Abby." Barnabas' voice warned and she peered at him from behind the canvas.

"What?" she asked with irritation as she looked at her work. She didn't like it. It held no resemblance to him. It was…void.

"It's not polite or ladylike to curse." He admonished and she scowled.

"Really?" she asked as she extended her brush as if to correct something but she paused and threw that brush away again. It clattered against the wooden floor of the attic and rolled on it until it hit Barnabas' shoe.

"What's the matter?" he asked as she hid her face in her hands.

"Nothing."

"You're upset." He murmured as he stood up and started approaching her.

"Stop." She held a hand up with wide eyes.

"I beg your pardon?" he asked in surprise.

"Don't come any closer."

"Why ever not?" he was baffled and she stumbled over her words.

"You can't see that. It's the rule."

"But-…"

"No, stop, stop!" she exclaimed and he paused just by the canvas.

"I want to see what made you so upset." He said quietly and Abigail rubbed her eyes which were prickling with tears.

"It's just…" she trailed off with her fingers still pressed against her eyelids, "I haven't worked in such a long time that it's…" she took a deep breath and looked up at the painting with defeat.

"It's what, dear?" he asked her as he took another step towards her.

"Inadequate." She finished as she held the back of her hand over her mouth and looked at her half finished work.

"Nonsense." Barnabas muttered before he came to stand next to her and looked at his painting. He froze.

Abigail looked at him with wide eyes, "It's awful. The lighting is all wrong…and your face is…"

"Shut it." He murmured as he clasped her wrist and walked closer to the picture. His eyes studied the painting while Abigail kept biting her lip.

"I told you." She whispered and his cold fingers tightened around her warm wrist before he turned to face her.

"You silly creature." He murmured and Abigail gaped at him.

"Excuse me?"

"I am trying hard to see what has you in such a bad mood but so far I am failing to do so." He told her as he shot another look towards the picture.

"Are you kidding me? It's not…It's…"" she stammered and his hand pulled her closer.

"It's real." He cut off her stammering and she gulped.

"But…you're…" she motioned wildly towards the painting and himself with her hand, "You're not…"

Barnabas smiled and reached out to clasp her flailing hand inside his own. Abigail stilled and looked at him as he pulled her closer to his body.

"I am what, madam?" he murmured and his cool breath fanned over her lips while his sandalwood scent invaded her nostrils.

"A marble statue." She breathed and as soon as her breath mingled with his, his nostrils flared and his eyes darkened.

"I take that as a compliment, sweetheart." He whispered huskily before he leaned down and covered her lips with his. Abigail's breath hitched and she sagged against him as he released her hands and placed them firmly around her waist. He brought her closer to him, pressed her hard against his stone-like body before he deepened the kiss, forcing her to part her lips and accept his hungry invasion.

Her hands remained idly by her sides but when he reached up and slipped his hand into her hair she woke up from her daze and placed her hands against his hard chest. She hesitated in pushing him away but when she heard the telltale sound of footsteps she made up her mind. She pressed her palms flat against the plane of his chest and pushed him back.

Their lips parted with a soft sound and Barnabas groaned low in his throat as she stumbled away from him. His eyes opened and watched her shocked face as she held a hand over her mouth while her wide eyes stared at him in sheer disbelief.

"Please, don't-…" his plead was cut off by Ruth's voice.

"I am here to see the progress! Oh, look how beautiful!" the woman exclaimed and Barnabas closed his eyes in order to gather his thoughts while Abigail took the opportunity to make her quick escape.

"I need…to use the bathroom." She said calmly before she turned and headed for the door.

"Abby-…" Barnabas voice trailed off when she fled the room in a hurry.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Abigail pulled her feet under her knees as she sat crossed legged on top of her bed while eating from a cup of yogurt. She slipped another spoonful in to her mouth as she stared blankly at the wall across from her. She paused and lowered the spoon with a sigh. She picked up her napkin and wiped at her lips and then paused. She slowly touched her lips with her fingers and shuddered at the memory of his lips against hers. She quickly pulled her hand away and discarded the half eaten cup of yogurt with a grimace. She stretched her legs out and lay down on her pillow while staring at the ceiling.

She really was a coward. She huffed at her own immaturity. She had managed to avoid him for the rest of the day but she wasn't going to keep avoiding him forever. She was a big girl for Christ's sake. So they had kissed. So what?

Her eyes widened suddenly. Did that mean that he liked her…like that? The thought was shocking. No one had liked her like that before. Sure everyone was nice to her but no one had showed her that kind of attention before. Even in her teenage years she was always the friend but never the girlfriend material. But he…he was looking at her differently. She could tell.

Stifling a sigh she turned onto her side and closed her eyes. She so wished to sleep but after that she was certain that she would stay up all night again.

She didn't know how long she had been coming in and out of sleep but when he slipped into her room she felt it and her skin prickled. She tried to keep her expression neutral and her breathing calm as the window cracked and his feet fell onto the carpeted floor with a soft thud. She didn't even wonder how he had managed to get in since she had left the window unlocked. It was as if she was asking for trouble…or excitement. Either one.

His footsteps stopped just as he reached her bed and then everything was quiet. She was tempted to open her eyes and see who it really was but she was too busy cheering like a schoolgirl inside of her because of the fact that the man was real and not just a figment of her imagination.

Her calm façade almost broke when she heard the sound of metal hitting the headboard above her head. A cool breath fanned over her forehead a second later and then the tip of a cold nose skimmed up and down her own, making her shiver. The motion of their Eskimo kiss was so soothing that she found herself relaxing under him and when his hand touched her cheek she leaned into his touch like a flower seeking the warmth of the sun. But he was not warm he was so cold that it should have been unnerving; but it wasn't.

"I'm sorry." His murmured apology made her frown and it slowly brought her from her daze like slumber. His voice was so, so familiar and his touch was ever so light against her skin. Her breathing changed a bit and she stirred, deciding that it was a good time for her to open her eyes and finally see him. She didn't think much of it as she took that decision though.

It took one more touch of his hand to her neck for Abigail to wake up fully from her light slumber. A small crease appeared between her eyebrows and her eyes suddenly snapped open. A gasp left her mouth as her gaze immediately locked with Barnabas' frozen stare. His eyes widened and Abigail used his shock to her advantage. She looked up at him and when she realized that he was holding himself up with a hand against the headboard and that his feet weren't touching the mattress at all, she inhaled sharply.

"Oh my God." She breathed as her breath hitched.

How was he floating there like that? How hadn't she noticed that before?

She had thought nothing of the fact that the mattress never dipped from his weight.

Barnabas seemed to wake up from his daze like state at her breathless exclamation and he jumped away from her. He flew all the way across the room until his back collided with the wall. The frame that was next to him, on the wall fell from its place and the glass shattered loudly against the floor.

Abigail gasped and quickly sat up. She looked at his horrified expression but there was no pain in his features. The impact hadn't affected him at all; it was as if he was made of stone.

She watched as he pressed his back against the wall and noticed how his expression changed from horrified to guilty and then horrified again.

"How…how did you move like that?" she murmured as he swallowed hard and closed his eyes in complete and utter defeat, "It's not normal is it?" she whispered and his shaky breath made it obvious that the question pained him.

Slowly, ever so slowly, his eyes opened and he opened his mouth to speak.

"I am so sorry." He whispered with his back still pressed against the wall.

"Sorry?" she whispered back as she stared at him in horror, "What…How…You have been coming in here all these times then?" she asked and Barnabas took a deep breath before he nodded.

"Why?" she asked him and he looked away before he turned his magnificently dark eyes on her again.

"Because I wanted to be able to look at you." He murmured and she stilled.

"Look at me?" she frowned as she clutched the covers tightly in her fists.

"Yes."

"That doesn't make any sense." She told him and he breathed a humorless laugh at her observation.

"Not much of my existence makes any sense, sweetheart." He said and she ignored the endearment.

"Existence?" she echoed before she took a deep breath, "What are you?" she asked him and his lips twitched.

"Straight to the point then, right?" he said and Abigail pursed her lips.

"If you saw me floating over your head, what would you think?" she snapped and he shrugged.

"It wouldn't surprise me." He said before he pushed away from the wall. Abigail pressed her back against the headboard and he paused.

"Make a list of my characteristics, Abby." He cocked his head to the side.

"What?"

"You will figure it out on your own as soon as you do as I say." He said quietly and she blinked rapidly.

"You're cold." It was the first thing that had bothered her since the first time he had touched her but she had thought nothing of it until now.

"What else?" he prompted and she gulped.

"You're pale. So pale." She whispered and he nodded.

"What else?"

"You move unnaturally." She breathed and as he resumed walking towards her she jumped up from the bed and held a hand up to stop him. He froze in mid-step, following her unspoken request.

"I do." His lips barely moved as he spoke.

"Did…did you climb in order to get in here?" she asked him and he paused.

"I glided down. My room's high up from yours." He answered her question immediately and his honesty unnerved her. He wasn't even trying to prove her wrong.

"What else?" his voice got a little more loud and commanding and as she looked up at him she saw a hard expression edged on his face.

"You have very sharp nails." She whispered as she looked briefly at his hand.

"Good girl." He murmured and she swallowed hard.

"I have no idea what you-…"

"Yes, you do. What else have you noticed about me?" he pressed on and she paused, raking her brain for another clue. When she remembered, her face turned ashen. Her eyes scanned his tall form until her gaze settled onto his face.

"You never eat." She whispered and he closed his eyes.

"Indeed. Why is that? Can you guess?" he asked as he reopened them again.

"No, I can't. This is ridiculous-…"

"I also don't go out in the sunlight." He cut her off and she startled at the sound of his voice.

"Stop." She shook her head but in a moment he was next to her. Her eyes widened at the speed in which he reached her and she gasped when he grabbed hold of her hand and held it fast.

"Do you want to know?" he murmured and she tried but failed to pull her hand from his hold.

"I am not sure."

"Then perhaps you shouldn't have pretended to be asleep, my dear." He said with narrowed eyes and she gasped.

"How dare you-…"

"Do you want me to show you?" he cut her off sharply and after a few seconds she licked her lips and looked at him.

"Okay."

"Do you trust me?" he murmured and she scoffed.

"No." she deadpanned and a strange emotion passed over his features before he nodded.

"Good." And with that he used his nail to scratch her finger.

Abigail cried out because it stung but before she had the chance to take her hand away he tightened his hold and brought it closer to his face.

His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, his eyes darkened and his lips parted in a snarl, showing off his white teeth. Abigail inhaled sharply as his entire expression changed into one of pain and hunger and she watched on as his canines shifted and transformed into sharp, elongated fangs. A low rumble vibrated in the air between them and Abigail realized that it had come from his throat. His impossibly dark eyes were fixated on her bleeding thumb and everything clicked into place all of a sudden.

"You…"

Her vision blurred and she blinked rapidly in order to clear it but it was useless because a moment later she collapsed on the ground with him still holding tightly onto her hand.

End of chapter 11

Author's note: Eem, yes. The truth's out. How do you think this is going to play out, hmm? What do you think her reaction's ought to be?

Please review before you go. It means a lot. Sneak peeks to everyone who reviews!

Xxx Lina :)