Chapter 11
Barnabas froze staring at the now empty bed. She was deeply unconscious when he'd left earlier. Where the devil could she be? The sound of a choking sob drew his attention and he groaned. There in the bright light of the full moon Kathleena stood as the falling snow covered her beautiful tresses, she herself intently focused on the ground far below.
"No!"
She turned at the sound of his voice, her eyes dazed and wet with tears still unshed. "Please," she whispered as an uncontrollable tremble surged through to her very soul. A tremble, he knew that was not caused from any winter chill she may have felt. Barnabas closed his eyes, fully aware that the witch had appeared to her... made her fear him as had Josette so long ago. Although he longed to go to her, pull her to safety he couldn't. She would jump in terror to escape him.
No! Not again!
Groaning in incredible anguish Barnabas forced himself to turn away. Then, to his surprise he soon felt warm breath against his cold cheek and as she stood before him, the vampire jerked in disbelief. He could find no hint of fear in Kathleena's beautiful gaze. Long fingers reached up to stroke the strong contour of his jaw and she shook her chestnut head. "You don't understand, Barnabas," she murmured, her voice gentle but rich with desire. Small hands slowly drifted along the hard wall of his lean chest as sparkling blue eyes gazed deeply into the warm depths of his own. "You don't understand at all."
Immense relief for her safety comingled with the pent up desire he felt to claim her in that instant and still Barnabas held himself apart from her. Something was very wrong! Grasping her hands firmly he pulled them from him keeping her at arm's length. "Kathleena, What is it?" he implored desperately. "Tell me!" Noting a mysterious flicker in her eyes, he knew. Shouting at the ceiling he challenged, "I know you are here, Angelique! Show yourself you monstrous bitch!"
With a strangled cry, the Frenchwoman clutched her throat. As she fell unconscious Barnabas was not surprised when the evil enchantress removed herself from the young woman's still form. As he slowly lowered Kathleena to the bed, he hissed, sharp fangs flashing, "Leave her in peace, damn you! She's done nothing to earn your abuse!"
The witch glared at him, such a piercing look of hostility coming from her icy eyes that he felt the need to create some distance between them. Angelique's eyes narrowed furiously. "I'd advised you to stay away from her and yet you've refused. Very well. Kathleena Tell has one single purpose on this earth, Barnabas! She will be the instrument of your torture! She will be your final downfall!" At his stunned expression, she continued with pleasure, "Did you truly believe meeting her was purely a chance encounter?" Angelique laughed then, the sound utterly sinister. "Do you not remember my warning? 'You will never be able to love anyone, for whoever loves you will die!'"
"It was-?" The vampire's brows shot up and his sharp gaze flew to her face now ugly and twisted in jealousy and rage. "Did you also make me fall in love with her? Were you the reason why I forsook Josette?"
The sorceress had gone absolutely white with shock. So soon? That wasn't in her plans.
Barnabas stared at her for a moment and then a chuckle, deep and rich erupted from his throat. "Your scheme has failed miserably, Angelique." He stepped closer and to his amazement the blonde backed away. Quick as a flash, he grasped her upper arms painfully, holding her, forcing her to stare down at the bed. "Look at her." When she refused he shook her roughly, her head jerking to and fro on her slim neck. "I said to look at her!" Shuddering at the all-powerful anger in his voice, at the pain caused by his touch, the witch begrudgingly obeyed his order. "She is a beautiful woman, giving and kind. And, truth be told, in some aspects like Josette. However, in the most important way she is completely different. She does not run in horror from this monster you have made me. Why, Angelique? You have cursed her with this ability to know everyone she touches, to know... me and yet, instead of turning away, she offers herself to my hunger. That is one thing no one has ever done willingly, not even Josette! Why does she not fear me?"
Unable to touch her a moment longer, Barnabas viciously flung her away and Angelique had to catch herself on the bedpost to keep from stumbling into the fiery hearth. "The expression on your face speaks volumes. Just as I cannot control her will, you are unable to control her emotions, aren't you? You can show her images of what can and will be and still she remains undaunted. Do you know why, damn you?! It is because Kathleena is unafraid of death itself. She welcomes it! She longs for it! She had actually begged me to kill her!" Staring into Kathleena's beautiful face, he added wistfully, "She is unlike any other woman I have ever experienced." Redirecting piercing eyes toward his nemesis, he growled exposing sharp fangs as he advanced on her dangerously. "No! She does not fear me! This son of yours, Duncan, is the only one she truly dreads. What role does he play in all of this?" Barnabas clutched Angelique's slim wrist, grinding the delicate bones until tears sprang to her eyes from the pain. "Tell me!"
Panting, she glared at him murderously and then smiled resentfully at Kathleena, icy eyes shooting blue flame. "Time will tell, Barnabas. Time will tell!"
With a ferocious snarl, the vampire released her watching dispassionately as she massaged sensation back into her bloodless hand. "Before you leave Angelique, I have a gift for Kathleena. Would you care to see what it is?" Reaching into the breast pocket of his suit coat, he smiled.
The witch's face fell. Surely he wouldn't- "It would indeed be an ill-advised thing to do to propose to her," she warned ominously.
Arching a thick black brow in shock he looked away. "Propose?" he said with a mirthless chuckle, "Is that what you-? Do you actually think that I would- that I could marry anyone in this condition?" As Barnabas shook his dark head incredulously, a stray lock of hair fell nearly into his eyes. Despite her anger, Angelique's fingers itched to push it back, to touch him lovingly. Suddenly she was torn from her fantasies by his vicious, mocking laugh. "I see that you are truly confused by my intentions, witch." Removing the plainly wrapped item, he generously offered it to her. "Since it is because of you she is unable to grasp its beauty at the moment, perhaps you would care to do the honors?" As she eyed him suspiciously, curiosity ultimately got the best of her. Greedily grabbing the package Angelique stomped away, quickly undoing the ribbon. So consumed with rage, the blonde failed to note the bright gleam of triumph in Barnabas's now smiling eyes.
"Nooo!" she shrieked, frantically hurling the package at his head. Clutching it in midair, he tore off the rest of the paper and held aloft the powerful amulet as the enchantress recoiled to a darkened corner of the room. "Damn you, Barnabas Collins!" she screeched. "You think this is over? This will NEVER be over!" In the next instant Angelique vanished, nothing but an eerie mist in her wake.
Gently raising Kathleena's head, he placed the leather cord around her slim throat, the talisman lying upon her chest. "Kathleena, come now. It's time to awaken. It's Barnabas… Barnabas! Look at me." Feeling his strong hand gently tap her face, Kathleena froze deep inside herself. (No. Please no. Not Barnabas!) How she wished to remain as she was, asleep forever. She did not want to face this life, the future that stretched out hopelessly ahead of her.
"Kathleena, you forget, I am able to read your thoughts. We must talk. Angelique was here."
Slowly her eyes began to open and Barnabas reeled back at the look of excruciating sorrow in her pale stare. "I know," she whispered. Suddenly Kathleena gasped as she noticed the deep scratches on his face. Running her long fingers softly against his wounds, she remembered. "My God, what have I done?"
Clasping her hands he shook his head. "Do not fear. They will be gone very soon. I heal almost instantly. That's not important now. Come, we must talk." As he helped her to rise Kathleena felt something heavy jerk against the back of her neck. Staring down, she fingered the elaborate medallion casting him a questioning glance. "It will protect you against Angelique's evil control, but you must wear it always. Never remove it. Not even for an instant, for she will be waiting to strike."
Sadly she shook her head. She was not the one in need of protection. He was. Looking up into his warm gaze she whispered, "You should not have returned, Barnabas. I didn't wish to see you again." Kathleena closed her eyes against the horrid lies. With a deep sob she covered her face unwilling to look at him a moment longer lest he see her culpability. "You must leave. Leave now! I am a danger to you! I now know why Angelique wanted me. What her plans are for me. And for you." Barnabas sat still and silent, waiting to discover what she would freely divulge. Bounding from the bed she paced about the room. "We had no choice but to meet, don't you understand? Angelique thrust us into each other's lives for a purpose. A vile, evil purpose..." Kathleena stared out into the night and following her gaze, Barnabas stood, his hand tightening desperately on the head of his cane.
"Kathleena-!" His voice was thick with sudden fear. A deep-seated fear he'd known before.
"I shall not be the cause of your torment, Barnabas!" she said, her voice thick with firm resolve. Hitching her skirts, she pushed through the double doors and without hesitation leapt from the terrace. Her final thoughts were of the single night of pleasure spent with Barnabas at the cave, thankful to have such a wonderful memory to treasure in the seconds before she knew no more.
And then, then she was flying! Soaring high above the trees. What was happening? Was this death? Surely not, for there was no bone breaking pain. Feeling a strong tug from above, Kathleena looked up. The curved talons of an enormous bat were clutched tightly about her upper arms; its giant leathery wings beating powerfully in the star-studded night. As she struggled violently against the creature's grasp, it swooped down lowering her gently to the frozen ground below. Immediately Barnabas Collins stood before her. Oddly unaffected by his incredible transformation, Kathleena viciously flung herself at the vampire bashing her fists into his chest. He simply stood there taking the brunt of her anger, her frustration at being thwarted in her foolish attempt at suicide. "Damn you, Barnabas! Why won't you allow me to die? It's what I want! Je vous déteste," she cried, tears flowing freely. "I hate you!" Kathleena's vile screams and curses, most of them in French had soon tempered into hopeless cries and moans of desperation. In utter defeat, she collapsed weakly against him and he scooped her up into his cold embrace carrying her into the manor and up to her room.
Sitting in a chair beside the bed, Barnabas pulled himself closer and she turned away. He had to remove her depression somehow."Kathleena," he growled, "You will listen to me." Never before had she heard him speak to her in such an intimidating way. She turned back 'round gazing up into his dark eyes. Immediately, Angelique's horrendous words returned to haunt her and as she opened her mouth, he simply said, "Say nothing!" Aghast, Kathleena fumed, her face turning red as her blood began to boil. She'd had enough edicts in her life. No more! Seething, she clambered to him, her breasts heaving in fury. As she raised a credible fist under his elegant nose, Barnabas watched as her pale blue eyes stared courageously into the very depths of his soul.
"I will never be silent! Never again, do you hear? Duncan had taken that away from me for so long. Although you were the one to restore my voice, even you haven't the right to demand that I be quiet." Her face fell as she realized what she said.
He smiled warmly at her. "Now, we can talk." Seeing the look of anguish cross her beautiful features, Barnabas cleared his throat. Perhaps tonight was not the night for this...
"She told me everything."
He remained silent for a moment. He could let this drop or – "And what is—everything?" Barnabas heard himself ask.
"Although she had initially agreed to wed me to Duncan, it appears that Marie had a pang of conscience. She'd gone to Angelique and implored her to release me from their bargain. Having future– designs where I was concerned, the witch naturally refused." Shivering uncontrollably Kathleena found herself unable to look at him. "Fearing my mother would dispute her right to claim me after I was born, Angelique murdered Marie during childbirth, making it appear as though she'd died of typical complications."
Barnabas simply stared at the woman as she spoke coldly and unemotionally of her mother's demise. Her feelings were understandable, he supposed. Kathleena had never met the woman and still all the havoc Marie Tell had caused for her. The witch had told her all of this? He nodded to himself. Yes, of course she had. Knowing Angelique as he did, she probably relished the telling. "What of this Duncan? What part does he play in her plans?"
"He was simply a means to her gain," Kathleena said shaking her head angrily. "Angelique despises Duncan. That's evident. There was such contempt in her voice every time she spoke his name. Without her supernatural abilities, he is an altogether huge disappointment, despite his efforts to try to please her with his show of ferocity and death." Closing her eyes, Kathleena remembered not only her pain at his hands but the tragic death of her brother. Sweeping away a tear, she continued, "Angelique is aware that Duncan wishes to marry this Claudette, but since she refuses to release me from this agreement, so must he suffer." Suddenly staring down at her fingers she added, "hence the reason he abuses me."
Barnabas looked at her in that moment and, catching his eye, Kathleena instantly turned away."Why did Angelique give you the ability you possess?"
"I – I truly don't know," she said with a curious tone, her brow deeply furrowed. "I'd asked, naturally but Angelique refused to say. She only said that I am to be the bane of your existence!" With a shuddering sob, she flung herself from the bed, facing him. "Oh Barnabas, please leave me! Leave and don't ever return!"
Slowly uncoiling from the chair, Barnabas came to stand before her. Grasping her chin in his large icy hand, he captured her eyes with his. Shaking his dark head he whispered, "That is now impossible, Kathleena."