Dark Shadows Among Us
Chapter 21
21.1
Robert Ironside woke up in the room that he had been assigned to in the Old House. He immediately looked at his watch. It was twelve o'clock noon. He shook his head at the idea that his interior clock was completely messed up. He wondered if being bitten by Barnabas Collins had anything to do with it. He certainly hoped that his new found late-night hours would not be followed by the desire to sleep in a coffin in the daytime.
There was a knock on his door. "Come in," Ironside said, giving his visitors permission to join him.
The door opened as Mark and Ed entered the temporary bedroom. Ironside could see both had something on their minds. As much is he would have liked to send them away, he would not as they were hurting too.
"Chief, Mark and I would like to talk to you," Ed informed him.
"If this is a about who is going back in time with Barnabas, that discussion is closed. I will be going with him. You two are staying here."
"I think there's something you're not considering," Mark spoke up.
"And what might that be?"
"You are the only one that has been able to resist Nicholas Blair. If you don't stay, we may all fall to the Leviathans," Ed said.
"I have to go. Eve is dead because I did not go after her immediately. If she can be saved by altering the past, I have to try."
"We did everything we could to save her," Ed said trying to comfort his boss.
"It wasn't enough," Ironside said softly.
"Listen, Chief, if you go back and don't return, San Francisco and the rest of the world will suffer without you here to solve crimes. For that reason and because you seem to be able to resist Blair, you should stay here and let me go with Barnabas," Ed said. "Mark could go with me. If we were not to come back, we would not be missed. You would."
Ironside was always touched by the concern of his staff but he could not show it. He had to handle this. They would not understand but he just had to do it himself.
"No, my decision stands. I have to go. You talk like I won't be returning. I will be back. You're staying here. Help Angelique fight Blair and do as she says. She knows him and is a supernatural being herself. Let her protect you from Nicholas Blair."
"Then there is no way that we can convince you to let one or both of us go with you?" Mark asked.
"What's the matter? Don't you two think I can take care of myself? I will have a vampire with me, remember?"
Ed smiled. "That is not exactly a comforting thought."
Ironside looked back at Ed and chuckled. "I will be safe with him. It's not as if there will be a short supply people with blood in the past. Now, have you heard from Willie Loomis regarding the staircase?"
Brown shook his head. "Not a word. But then they got a late start. Loomis was up all night like the rest of us. He left about an hour ago with the Collins boy and Miss Winters," Ed told him.
"Victoria Winters? Why did he take her?" Ironside wondered.
"She would not allow David Collins to go unless she went with him. She said she is responsible for him. Angelique went to keep an eye on Nicholas while they are searching."
"Why didn't you go with Loomis as well?" Ironside demanded.
"Because Willie said someone had to stay behind to protect Barnabas in case Nicholas Blair decided to send Tom Jennings to locate his coffin, Mark answered"
"And that takes both of you?"
Ed ignored his boss's remark. "Professor Stokes is waiting for you in the drawing room. He has some books on the Collins family you should take a look at to familiarize yourself with some of the people you will be dealing with.
"Alright, but first get me into the shower," he ordered.
Mark pulled his wheelchair next to the bed and helped him into it. "Where's the bathroom in this haunted house?" Ironside demanded.
"Which one?" Mark asked. "There are several of them."
"Just find one with hot water. I hope our vampire has a hot water heater in this mausoleum," Ironside grumbled.
Ed laughed. "I am going to go join Loomis. Maybe I can help find that staircase." Ed left as Mark wheeled Ironside to the closest bathroom.
21.2
"Oh, what's the use," David complained. We are never going to find that staircase."
Victoria ruffled his hair. "Coming from the boy that can't seem to stay out of the west wing, you surprise me. We can't keep you out of this section no matter what we threaten you with."
"How many rooms have we been in and there has been no sign of any staircase."
"Barnabas said we may have to go through these rooms several times before it appears."
"But how do we know which room and when to enter it, Vicki?"
She smiled at her charge. "I don't know, David. We just have to keep checking."
"Well, I am going to go find Sarah. Maybe she can find it." David left the room as Willie entered.
"Any luck?" Willie asked.
Victoria shook her head. "I am afraid not."
"Willie, how are we ever going to find the staircase when we don't even know what room it is in or when it will appear?"
"I don't know, Vicki. I only know that Barnabas wants it found and we better do it before he awakens." Willie walked over to the wall and began running his hands down it.
Victoria watched him for a minute before wondering aloud. "It must be just awful for him to be forced to live as a vampire. I thought they were only something Hollywood dreamed up."
Willie turned around. He could see the pity in her eyes. He was not sure what to say. The last thing Barnabas wanted from her would be pity. He was a proud man. He deplored what he was but he could not bear to be pitied. He walked over to Vicki and put his arms around her.
"Don't you worry about Barnabas. Julia is working on a cure for him. He won't be a vampire for long. Julia will cure him."
She nodded before asking, "Do you think Barnabas can actually travel back in time and stop the Leviathans?"
"I don't know. I hope so. The Collins family existence depends on it."
"Then shall we try a different room?" Victoria suggested.
"Yeah, I guess so." The two of them took one last look at the room and left.
21.3
David Collins entered his favorite room in the West Wing. He came here when he needed to be alone. Ever since his father had brought him to Collinwood, he had been lonely. Since he had a governess and she tutored him in all his studies, there was no one to talk to or play with ... that is until he met Sarah. At first he did not know she was a ghost. It became apparent when he discovered she could appear and disappear at will, which she did often. He did not know how he had been able to tolerate life at Collinwood before she came along.
Discovering that she was the sister of Barnabas came as a shock. What was even more shocking was the fact that the current Barnabas Collins was actually the same man as the one displayed in the portrait on the wall in the foyer downstairs.
David had always known there was something strange about cousin Barnabas. Why did his cousin, who was supposedly from England, not have an English accent? Why did he look like he had just stepped out of a horror movie and dressed like he was from another century? He talked funny too. No one talked like he did. His speech was so proper and he treated women in such a strange way ... bowing and kissing their hands. Who did that kind of thing?
Well, now he knew the truth. David wished he could shout to the mountaintops. He had a cousin who was a vampire! Actually, he was not his cousin ... he was one of his ancestors. He was over two hundred years old! It was just so cool. Dang! He could be the center of attention among his friends ... if he had any.
"Hello, David," Sarah Collins said behind him.
He turned and smiled at his ghostly friend. "Hello, Sarah. Did you come to help me find the staircase?"
"None of you will ever find it this way," she said, regretfully.
He walked over to her. "Why not?"
"There are too many rooms and you will never walk into the right one at the right time."
"We have to find it, Sarah. My family will be lost to the Leviathans forever if cousin Barnabas does not go back in time and stop them. Is there no way to find the room the staircase is in?"
"There might be a way," Sarah announced.
"How?"
"We must contact Quentin Collins who built the staircase." She turned and walked away.
"Just a minute, Sarah. How can we do that? Quentin has been dead for years."
"So have I," she reminded him before disappearing.
21.4
Barnabas Collins opened his eyes. He pushed the coffin lid up and rose to a sitting position.
"Good evening, Barnabas," Julia Hoffman said, smiling warmly at the vampire.
Barnabas departed his coffin and immediately went over to Julia. He kissed her lightly and then asked, "Has Willie had any luck finding the staircase?"
"Not yet but he says young David has an idea."
"David? He is just a child."
Julia smiled. "So is Sarah."
He responded to that remark by saying, "You have a point."
"Actually, David said Sarah was the one who came up with the idea."
"What idea?" Barnabas questioned.
"To ask Quentin Collins where he built the staircase."
Barnabas frowned. "Ask Quentin? How? He is dead. Do you mean we are to hold a séance?" Barnabas looked directly at Julia waiting for an answer.
"No, Chief Ironside has a better idea," she told him.
"Let's go talk to him." He led her up the stairs. When they got to the foyer, they went into the drawing room. Professor Stokes stood up.
"Good evening, Barnabas. Chief Ironside has an idea on how to contact the ghost of Quentin Collins."
The vampire went over to the fireplace and sat down in his favorite chair. He lowered his dark eyes to stare into the eyes of Robert Ironside. "I'm listening."
"Quentin Collins lived less then a century after you did. According to these legends, he was a werewolf," Ironside began.
"I am surprised you would believe werewolves existed, Chief Ironside."
"I never believed vampires existed and here you are. Logic dictates that if you exist then so do werewolves."
Barnabas smiled. "Before you leave here, we will have you believing in the tooth fairy."
"You mean she exists too?" he said, sarcastically.
Barnabas could not help but chuckle. "If she does, I got cheated out of my share for missing teeth."
"Gentlemen, shall we return to the business at hand?" Professor Stokes reminded them. "Chief Ironside, will you tell Barnabas what we have discussed?"
Ironside opened the book he had been reading. "This is a diary that was kept by a gypsy name Sandor. It details how Quentin Collins was cursed to become a werewolf. He was married to Sandor's wife's sister. He was not faithful to her. It resulted in Jenny Collins eventually going insane. She tried to kill Quentin Collins. There was a struggle in which he killed her. Her sister, the gypsy Magna, was furious with him. She put a curse on Quentin and he became a werewolf to be transformed at each full moon.
"Now here is the bad part. Quentin sought the help of Andre Petofi. He was a very powerful warlock who forced Charles Delaware to paint a portrait of Quentin Collins. As long as the portrait was in existence, it would change at the full moon instead of Quentin."
"Where did you get this diary?" Barnabas asked.
"It was given to me," Professor Stokes answered. "It was passed down as Sandor is an ancestor of mine."
"How do we know that it is reliable?" Ed Brown asked.
"At some point, Barnabas will go back in time to save David and Amy from Quentin. He will haunt this house looking for revenge. Revenge of what? I suspect he blamed the Collins family for what happened to him."
"Just who is Amy?" Ironside wanted to know.
"She is Chris and Tom Jennings sister," Barnabas replied.
Professor Stokes added, "We know that she will come to live at Collinwood."
"How do you know that?" Mark Sanger asked. "Sandor could not possibly know what was to happen in the future."
"He didn't," Ironside agreed.
"I know it from my trip to the future," Barnabas recalled.
"Why does she come to Collinwood instead of living with one of her brothers?" Ironside inquired.
"Because we know Tom Jennings will be destroyed as a vampire," Barnabas told him.
"You will make him what you are?" Ironside snorted in disgust.
Barnabas was hurt by Ironside's demeanor but how could he blame him. "No, it will not be me who turns him. I was unable to ascertain who was responsible before I returned to this timeline."
"That leaves Chris Jennings," Sgt. Brown pointed out.
Ironside realized Ed figured out where Barnabas was going with this. "Quentin Collins had two offspring. One survived. The first born male in his line would share the curse."
"That is exactly right, Chief," Professor Stokes confirmed. "Where did you learn about werewolves?"
"I didn't. That is the way it was in the movies." Everyone chuckled.
"I believe Chris Jennings is a great-grandson of Quentin Collins," Barnabas revealed.
"Then he would've inherited the curse," Mark said.
Barnabas nodded. "That is correct, Mr. Sanger. And there is an animal out there attacking people when the moon is full."
"What does all this have to do with Quentin Collins?" Ed wanted to know.
"It explains how Amy Jennings ends up at Collinwood. Chris Jennings would not be able to take the chance of having Amy live with him. He would fear that he would harm or even kill her," Ironside told his sergeant.
"I still do not see what this has to do with Quentin Collins," Ed said, shaking his head. "Even if we are able to contact him, he will be in a vengeful mood. It could prompt him to come after the family a bit earlier than he actually does."
"We will have to convince him that we want to help him," Ironside explained. "Possibly we could prevent him from doing whatever it was that caused the curse."
"That is not our only problem," Barnabas said. "We will have to deal with Petofi. He is much more dangerous than Nicholas Blair. Petofi will take over Quentin's body and switch places with him. We know that Quentin eventually is able to switch back. We will have to try to prevent it in the first place. I cannot stress enough how dangerous it will be to deal with Petofi."
"So what we have to do is go back to Quentin Collins' time first, straighten out what happened there and then go back to 1797, and stop Barnabas from being taken over by the Leviathans. We will put a stop to them and destroy them," Ironside summarized.
"Before you can do any of that, you have to reach out to the ghost of Quentin Collins," Ed pointed out.
"And we will," Ironside said.
"How? A séance?" Barnabas wondered aloud.
"No, we are going to send David into his room. Remember, he looks like Jamison Collins who Quentin was very fond of. David will be the one to talk to Quentin's ghost."
Mark was not sure about that. "I get the feeling that Victoria Winters is going to object to this plan."
"It will be up to Barnabas to convince her of the necessity of David's involvement," Ironside said, looking at the vampire.
"I will talk to Victoria," Barnabas agreed.
"Who will talk to David?" Julia Hoffman inquired.
"I will," Ironside answered immediately. "I don't want him in any more danger than necessary. I will be the one to instruct him on what to do."
"It is settled then," Stokes said, as he got up. "Shall we all head over to the Great House?"
Julia looked at Barnabas and pointed out, "Chief Ironside is going to have some difficulty with that tunnel."
"We will see that he gets through," Ed said as he glanced at Mark who nodded.
"Then let's get moving, " Ironside growled. He started wheeling his chair out of the drawing room when he stopped abruptly. He turned around and looked back. "This tunnel does not fill up with water, does it?" he asked, sarcastically.
Amused at Ironside's sarcasm, Barnabas replied, "What's the matter, Chief? Don't you like going for a swim?"
"I would rather swim in the Pacific ocean and take my chances with the sharks."
"I don't understand why," Barnabas said. "The tunnels do not have any sharks. The ocean does and sharks might attack and bite you."
Ironside raised an eyebrow and said, "I could say the same about you."
21.5
Victoria Winters entered the room she had been instructed to. She had been told Barnabas wanted to see her. When she arrived, he had his back to her. He immediately turned to face her.
"You wanted to see me, Barnabas?"
"Yes, Victoria. Please sit down. It is about David."
"He has not gotten into trouble again, has he?"
"No, of course not. We have not been able to find the staircase."
"Yes, I know. We have been searching for it all day."
"We believe David can help us but it is not without risk. That is why I must talk to you. With the rest of the family under the control of the Leviathans, you are responsible for David's well-being."
"I see. What exactly do you want David to do?"
"Chief Ironside believes that David will be able to reach the ghost of Quentin Collins. He is the one that built the staircase to the past," Barnabas began his explanation.
"Are you proposing he take part in a séance?" Victoria wondered.
"No, I wish it were that simple," he replied, regretfully.
"Then what is it, Barnabas?"
The vampire took her hand in his. "Do you trust me, Victoria?"
"Yes, I do."
"Even knowing what I am?" he asked quietly.
Victoria ran her hand down his cheek. "You have always been very gentle with me. I have no reason not to trust you."
"I have done some terrible things, Victoria."
"Because you had no choice in the matter." She squeezed his hand.
"Then you are not afraid of me?"
"No. I know you are a wonderful, gentle man. You are not responsible for what happened to you. Now tell me what is it that you want David to do?"
Barnabas continued to hold her hand as he explain who Quentin Collins was and what he would do to David and Amy in the future. He described what Ironside had proposed and how they intended to help Quentin in order to get him to help them. When he finished, he waited for Victoria to respond.
She sat quietly for several moments before saying, "Isn't there another way? What if Quentin decides to take David right then?"
"It is a risk, Victoria, I admit but I see no other way to stop the Leviathans and reverse what has happened to Eve Whitfield. I owe it to this family and to Chief Ironside to right the wrong."
Victoria smiled at him. "You are always trying to protect people, Barnabas. That is why I trust you. Tell me, do you think you can protect David?"
"I promise I will be there and do everything in my power to be sure he remains safe. However, I must tell you that there is always the risk that something will go wrong."
She thought for a moment and knew that Barnabas was right. If something was not done, the Leviathans would take over the entire family. "Then I placed David in your hands, Barnabas. I trust you." She kissed his cheek.
21.6
Robert Ironside waited for young David Collins to join him. With Ed and Mark at his side, he would instruct the child about what he was to do. Ironside did not know David Collins but he seem to be a very brave and bright boy. He would be expecting a lot of him. Barnabas seem to think that David could handle it. Ironside only hoped that the vampire was correct.
The door to the room opened and David Collins walked in. Behind him the ghost of Sarah Collins came into the room as well.
"David, I need to speak with you," Ironside told the boy. "You know what is going to happen in the future with Quentin Collins?"
David tried to hide his discomfort. "Professor Stokes has told me. He also told me that you want me to talk to Quentin's ghost."
"Yes, David. You have seen the history books on your family. You resemble Jamison Collins as a boy. Quentin Collins was extremely fond of Jamison and the boy was fond of him. I believe that he will listen to you."
"What do you want me to say to him?" David asked.
"You must convince him the danger that the family is in. You must convince him that they are not to blame for what happened to him in the past. You must get Quentin to help us. I want you to tell him that we are willing to go back to his time and try to change what happened, if he will show us where the staircase to the past is. You must tell him about the Leviathans and what they are doing here in our time. You will explain to him that if he does not help us, the Collins family could very well come to an end."
"But what if he won't listen?" David argued.
"He is a Collins. You know that the Collins family has always been loyal to one another. Hopefully, Quentin is no different. I believe you can convince him because of your resemblance to Jamison. Will you try?"
"Will I be in any danger?" David had to know.
"It is possible," Ironside told the boy. "but your cousin Barnabas will be there and I will be there to protect you."
"And we will be there," Mark added. "We won't let that cat harm you."
"I am afraid," David said.
Ironside scooped the boy up into his arms. "I'll let you in on a little secret" he told him. "I'm afraid to."
David pulled back from the detective slightly and looked into his eyes. "But you are a famous police detective. How could you be afraid?"
"I have never met ghost, vampires and warlocks before. Dealing with the unknown is always scary."
"Even for a detective like you?" David asked, with skepticism.
"Yes David, even for a detective like me."
"My family is in danger, aren't they?"
"Yes, they are. I will not lie to you."
"And if I help will things go back to normal?"
Ironside almost laughed at the question. Since he had arrived in Collinsport, nothing in this town had been normal. "If we are successful in what we are trying to do, your family will be safe."
"Barnabas says that if they can change things, your policewoman will be alive again. Is that true?"
"I don't really know, David. I have never dealt with anything like this before. Barnabas thinks so and I trust him. All I know is I have to try. For Eve's sake and for the sake of your family."
"But it could be dangerous for you," David said.
"Yes, that is true. But I am a police officer and danger is part of my job."
"Would you have to deputize me?"
Ironside smiled. "This is a police assignment and only police officers can take part. So yes, I will have to deputize you."
David's eyes got really big. "Then I will be a police officer just like you?"
"Yes, you will. Do you think you can do it?"
Sarah looked at him and nodded. "You can do it, David."
David Collins nodded. "I am willing to try but I am still scared."
"Raise your right-hand," Ironside told him.
David raised his hand as Ironside said, "Do you solemnly swear to uphold the law?"
"I do," David replied.
"Then you are now deputized."
Ed Brown smiled and reached into his pocket. He pulled out his badge and walked forward to David and his boss. He handed the badge to David and said, "A police officer must carry one of these."
David looked up at the tall, handsome officer and said, "I will do my best and take care of this. I will give it back to you when I have completed my mission."
Ed looked at his boss and smiled.
"Alright now, let's join the others," Ironside told the boy.
21.7
Ironside opened the door to Quentin Collins' room. He grabbed hold of both sides of the door frame and pulled his wheelchair into the room. Everyone was there waiting for them.
Victoria Winters came directly to the boy. "David, do you understand what Chief Ironside wants you to do?"
"Yes, Vicki, I do."
"Can you do it?"
"I think so." He looked up at Victoria and she could see the fear in his eyes.
"You do not have to do this. No one will force you. If you do not want to do it, David, just say so."
"But I must do it, Vicki. I must help save my family. And I must help to bring back Chief Ironside's policewoman."
Victoria smiled at the brave front that David was putting up. She knew he was nervous and scared but he still wanted to help. "Alright then, David. Barnabas will help contact Quentin."
Sarah Collins went over to her human friend. "I will be right beside you, David."
The young man smiled at his ghostly friend. "Thank you, Sarah."
Josette Collins floated over to Barnabas. "You may begin, my love."
Barnabas Collins looked upward. He began, "Quentin Collins, Quentin Collins, I summon you in the name of the Collins family. I demand that you appear before us. Leave your rest and appear before us now."
Barnabas waited for a response. There was nothing but complete silence. He repeated, "Quentin Collins, hear me now. You are summoned in the name of all Collins that came before you. Joshua Collins, Naomi Collins, Sarah Collins, Abigail Collins, Jeremiah Collins, Josette Collins, and I, Barnabas Collins. Appear before us, now!
A wind blew up in the room, although there was not a window opened anywhere. It became stronger. Ironside watched, fascinated by what was progressing. Slowly, something began to form in front of them.
Ironside stared at the vision. The vision took shape in the form of a man. He was dressed in eighteenth century clothing. The man was tall with dark hair and sideburns that grew down the length of his jaw. His handsome face was contorted in anger. Ironside recognized him from the picture in the Collins family history book.
"Who are you people and why have you disturbed my rest?" Quentin Collins shouted, angrily.
"I am Barnabas Collins ... "
"Collins?" Quentin waved his hand and a burst of wind through everyone but Barnabas and Ironside backwards.
"I shall destroy you all!" Quentin raised his hand again but David Collins stepped in front of him."
Quentin stopped and stared at the boy. "Jamison?"
"Quentin, you must listen," David told him.
Quentin Collins grabbed David and pulled him towards him. "I will take you with me but first I must destroy them." He raised his hand again.
Ironside wheeled forward. Barnabas stepped to his side. "I am not a Collins. I am a police officer and you will harm no one. You were summoned here to help us, including that boy."
"Enough!" shouted Quentin. He pointed at Ironside who began choking.
"Quentin, stop it!" shouted David as he watched everyone in the room except supernatural beings begin to choke.
Quentin ignored the boy and once again waved his hand. He knocked over a burning candle and set the room on fire. He stood there laughing maniacally, as he watched the Collins family get what they deserved. Finally, he would have his revenge.
TBC ...