Chapter 14

Nunez knocked at the door of the cottage. He let him in. He could attack him immediately, but he wanted to talk to him first...

He recalled Nelle Gunston, how he had let her hang herself with her own words, until he was sure that he was doing the right thing when he killed her..

Well, Nunez would not die, but still he was due a nasty surprise.

"I got your message." Nunez said. "I didn't have the opportunity to thank you for what you did for Carlos."

... Carlos... so that was the child's name...He had fallen into Norma's trap of not thinking of the child as more than an extension of the father...

"I am glad that I could be of help."

"We said certain tings... I..."

"We all were on edge. We all said things that we shouldn't.."

Nunez pursed his lips and Barnabas hated him with all his heart. For Nunez was, by his lights, a honorable man. He paid all his debts, he went out of his way to be a gentleman... he probably wore white gloves to executions and the like...

"Do you want a drink? Scotch? Rum?"

"Scotch would be fine."

He gave Nunez a glass, and held another himself.

"It is good that we can clear thee little misunderstandings between us." Nunez said.

"Yes, it is good."

"The woman was a dangerous maniac. You can see that, of course."

Barnabas nodded. He waned Nunez to damn himself.

"That's the trouble with all those human rights groups. They have no idea what is going on. They don't understand the nature nor the enemy. Then the communist propaganda blows it all out of proportion."

Barnabas nodded and smiled, feeling defiled for doing so. A few more words, and he would pounce.

Then he had had enough. He faced Nunez.

"This is it.:" he said. dropping his mask. "This is the end of the line for you, Nunez."

"What are you saying?"

"Norma is the last one you will ever hurt. Justice has finally caught up with you."

"I will not be talked to this way!"

Barnabas shoved him back on the chair. "You won't go anywhere," he hissed, letting his fangs show. "You are going to sit down and hear me out."

Before Nunez could react he captured his arms and made his head tilt back. NUnez fought, but by then Barnabas' fangs had found the vein in is neck.

Barnabas let him go after he had got control of his mind. It was an ugly mind. If he had not needed it to bring justice to Norma, he would not have touched it.

"I knew Norma well. I know that she was not crazy ' he said, outrage fueling his words. " She was not a maniac. I know who destroyed her"

"You...what did you do to me?"

"You taught her how to be cruel and heartless. You don't deserve to live. But I owe it to Norma to find a way that satisfies her, and for that you have to live."

"What do you want from me?"

"You have to do what I command you to do. You know that you cannot escape that. Words will not change that. Bravado will not change that. Today you start paying for your crimes."

"Crimes? Those were worthy acts, done in defense of our Homeland."

"They are crimes."

"What do you care? You are not even a human being?"

"And what would you know of humanity or the lack of it?"

Nunez howled his outrage, at the knowledge that he had to obey this... this monster.

"First you write a suicide note. So that they do not look for you."

"No.."

"You cannot resist. You will write it. And then you will go to where I point you to. It is one of the caves. I will be waiting for you there."

The cave below Widow's Hill was lit by a single solitary candle. There were other, unlit candles which would be used when Nunez got there.

Barnabas could not repress a shiver contemplating what he was about to do. he had condemned Angelique in the past for such thing, and here he was doing it himself.

With good reason.

He had to bring justice to Norma.

Nunez came in. He was aware of what was happening, but could not resist.

"Undress" Barnabas ordered him while he began to light the candles.

Nunez did so, then laid down on his back.

"Among you, when somebody is in that position you bring in the cattle prod. Unless it is a woman a you think if funny to push a rat into her private parts."

Nunez twitched. That was all the rebellion left in him.

"Well, I don't got to those extremes." Barnabas said calmly "I have my own ways. Too bad that Norma can't see you."

"But I can" Norma said, appearing by the far wall of the cave. "As my children can. And others. We come to watch."

A look of fear came to Nunez' face. There was not doubting now. Barnabas was indeed what he claimed to be, and he did the power to do what he threatened.

"What are you going to do with him?"'

"Just watch and be quiet."

He placed the candles in a circle around Nunez, lifted a dagger in the air and began to chant.

"Wolf thou art . Beasts thou art. Beastly are thy hungers, beastly are thy pleasures. Beastly is thy nature."

Nunez's skin began to prickle at the chant., as if refusing to hold the body inside any longer.

"Inside, beast you are. Outside you are not. Let your outside match your inside!"

Nunez whimpered. Norma laughed. And there was an echo in her laughter...

Barnabas looked at he with concern. Carl had sounded like that, with no hint of his former carefree laughter. Trask had sounded like that...

Did he have the right to chain Norma to this hatred and need for revenge?

But it was not him doing the chaining. It had been done without his intervention. And maybe his actions would now free her and the others.

He threw powder over the candles, giving rise to thick blue smoke.

"May your outward nature show our inward one. may the truth about you be there for all to see."

The smoke enveloped Nunez and Barnabas fed it, its color growing darker, close to purple as it began to hide the ground from sight.

"Let the truth about you be seen by everyone! May your truth be shown.!" Barnabas heard his own voice reverberate on the walls "Let yourself find the truth Know it for all time!"

The smoke now filled the cave. It had an acrid, unpleasant odor. He could not see Nunez anymore., hidden under the smoke. There was some motion, but he could not identify it.

He had to hope that the spell was working properly and that he was not botching it up.

"What is happening to him?" Norma asked eagerly.

"He's changing."

"Changing? Into what?"

"You'll see.:"

They looked at each other. Rage and hurt were still in her, but not so desperate now.

"Norma, you understand that after I am done you will have no claim on him. Nor will any of the others."

She nodded. "I understand. Make it good."

"Let go of it. Let go of our hatred and try to find peace."

She nodded again.

The smoke was clearing and they could see the ground again.

And the large dog lying on it.

"Fitting" Norma laughed "he was always a son-of-a bitch."

Barnabas put a collar around the dog's neck.

"Does he know?" Norma asked eagerly. "Is he aware?"

"Yes, He is." he looked at her. "do you have what you wanted.?"

"Yes."

"Then go in peace, Norma. Be at peace. All of you."