Chapter 25

The servant hesitated. Petofi, aware that he's order hadn't been carried out, turned to face him, his one eye hold such malice, that the other man looked down.

"Must I repeat myself, yet again?" he asked, holding up his petrified hand. "Or punish?"

"Forgive me, my Lord," he began, and then stopped, an attitude of listening in his manner. "What is it?" demanded Petofi.

His servant remained silent, his head tilting to one side, as through trying to hear something that was just out of hearing range. He frowned, and then, issued a low, menacing snarl, revealing the tips of his fangs.

His eyes almost seemed to glow red, and his hands clenched into fists. "Barnabas!" he snarled, a sibilant hiss.

/

With a cry of agony, Barnabas clutched at his head, and stumbled backwards.

Sebastian caught him, steadying him.

"What happened?" he asked. He wasn't sure he much liked the paler than usual skin tone.

Barnabas took his time in answering. "He is aware of my presence," he said, turning back towards the windows, his sharp eyesight searching the darkness, uneasily.

"Is he close by?" Matt wanted to know, for now unconcerned that his father might be in some kind of danger.

Barnabas shook his head. "I couldn't tell. As soon as he became aware of me, the contact was broken."

Matt muttered an oath under his breath, and slammed a fist into his palm.

"We're no further forward than we were months ago!"

"At least we know there is another vampire!" Sebastian admonished him. "And at the cost of your father's safety! You know what you must do...before this vampire comes looking for him."

"If I'd had some useful information..."

"You are duty bound, Matthew, to protect your father, now that the presence of a second vampire is established," said Sebastian, stepping closer to him. "You asked for his help, and he give it. Honour his request."

/

"So, he is aware that you are here," said Petofi, closing his Hand into a fist. He's laugh was menacing. "I never knew Barnabas Collins to be that foolish. He must be desperate; being the scapegoat for one of your attacks must becoming extremely tiresome."

The vampire looked down at the floor, hiding his expression. But Petofi knew. He always knew.

"You're letting sentimentally get in the way again," intoned Petofi in a dangerous tone. "That was your mistake the last time, if I recall."

"But Julian..."

"Is a casualty of war," whispered Petofi advancing to his reluctant servant. "Just as Ben Marshall, is a casualty of war. Barnabas Collins is another problem for now, and he will be left alone. Let him look out for himself, he is aware of the danger he is in because of his misguided actions. You know what you are to do, and you will do it now. Do not make me repeat myself again. It is such a waste of energy."

/

The next two days, Matt spent in the gym, working out with Sebastian.

Including the blocking techniques, Matt now used armed combat, with various weapons. Finally, being well schooled in karate, they finished off with a mini tournament. Sebastian successfully blocked one fist, but failed, rather painfully for him, to block the other, and with a gasp, he sank to the matt, clutching his right side, and trying not to breathe.

Matt, realising that he had really hurt Sebastian knelt by his side. "I'm really sorry," he said, putting a hand on his shoulder, while Sebastian whistled asthmatically for air, wincing with each breath he took.

Gulping in air, Sebastian waved him off. "It's...what...I'm...training you for."

"You need the hospital?" he asked, genuinely concerned for the older man. "I get carried away sometimes, forget that you can't take the hits like I can."

Again, Sebastian shook his head. "I'll be fine," he grinned, but it felt more like a grimace. He started to get up, couldn't quite manage it, without Matt's help. "You know," he said between gulps of air, "I don't think there's ever been a better trained Slayer, than you," he said with some pride.

Matt looked down embarrassed. "I seriously doubt that," he said. "Besides, you're biased, considering it's you that's training me."

"No, I mean it. I've had a few Slayers in my time...you're a natural. Even as a child you were always quick at picking things up."

A muffled pounding came through from the front of the cottage, making both of them exchange curious looks. "Matt! Sebastian!" came Megan's voice, muffled and concerned. "Let me in!"

Matt wasted no time, as he hurried to the front of the cottage. Sebastian shook his head, marvelling that even after a serious workout, Matt could still appear refreshed. He painfully made his way to the front of the cottage, just as the two teenagers pulled apart from a kiss of greeting.

Immediately Megan rushed over to him, alarm clearly written on her face.

"Sebastian, thank God you're here! My father and Luke Marshall are heading here, wanting to talk to Matt! It's Ben; he's been missing form home for two days, and they think Barnabas has something to do with it!" she said in a rush.

He grabbed her by her arms, and said, "Slow down! Now start again, from the beginning."

She took a deep breath, and Matt came closer his face clouded. "What's happened to Ben?"

"Remember when we met him at the Coffee shop that night, and you felt someone watching? Well, no one's seen him since. Everyone knows about the fight and Barnabas going to see him. They think that Barnabas returned and finished him off."

"But that's impossible, we were with Barnabas, all night!" said Matt defensively. "We didn't leave him until dawn..."

A furious pounding came at the door, followed by a furious bellow. "Open up West! We want to talk to you, and that halfling!"

Matt and Megan exchanged looks that said only two things; Gil Phillips.

Sebastian had barely opened the door, when Gil and Luke barged their way in. Gil stared at his daughter, as though she was something unpleasant. "I thought I'd find you here," he sneered. "In his arms!" He glared at Matthew with contempt. "I knew you were trouble, the very first time I set eyes on you. A crime against humanity, you should have been drowned at birth!"

Matthew's anger boiled to the surface. He faced his accuser, almost the same height; their noses were only inches apart. His dark eyes blazed with fury and hate. "Its people like you that should be drowned at birth! I have done nothing wrong! I'm nothing like Barnabas Collins, and I never will be! I broke all ties with him years ago!"

"You are still his flesh and blood," Gil Phillips sneered. "No matter how much you deny it." He turned to Megan, and looked her up and down, with an air of disgust. She faced her father, defiantly. "It pains me, that I raised such an ungrateful wretch of a daughter. As long as you lay with him, girl, you can expect nothing from me."

Matt grabbed him roughly by the lapels of his jacket. He pulled Phillips towards him, despite his bulk.

"Take that back!" he hissed, between clenched teeth. "Take that back, right now!"

Gil Phillips paled, a film of sweat broke out over his forehead and upper lip. "Get this...this thing off of me!" he cried alarmed.

No one moved to his defence. Matt's eyes narrowed and grew darker.

"Apologise to her, now!" he barked.

Megan was at his elbow, tears coursing down her cheeks. "Let him go, Matt! He's not worth it!"

He continued to hold him, furious at his treatment of his own daughter.

"Please, Matthew!" sobbed Megan. Slowly, his vicelike grip loosened, and reluctantly, he let Philips go.

Gil wasted no time in putting some distance between himself, and the Collins boy. Despite his name change, everyone would always think of him as "Collins."

Luke watched the exchange without comment. He had his own concerns with the Collinses. And up until Ben and Matt had had their fight over Megan, he had been willing to give Matt the benefit of the doubt; the occupants of the Old house had always seemed normal to him, and he had had no objections with his son's friendship. Now, of course, that had changed. He knew where he's loyalties lie, and it wasn't with Matt or Barnabas.

"Where is my son?" he asked, getting straight to the point.

Matt stared at Luke, both concerned, and puzzled. "Mr. Marshall," he said politely, "I haven't seen him, since we met in the Coffee shop two days ago. He was fine then, if still hurt by..." he trailed off. There was no need to mention the reasons, everyone was aware by now of what had happened, and why.

Luke glanced at Megan, who suddenly found the floor, extremely interesting. It was one thing to defy her own father, but Ben's was another matter.

"You know that Barnabas blamed Ben, don't you?" asked Luke, sharply.

"Yes," said Matt quietly, refusing to look away. "And when I found out, I confronted him about it. I don't blame Ben for what happened, and I told Barnabas as much. He said he'd keep away from him."

"And you took him at his word!" snapped Marshall. "You took a vampire at his word! My son has been missing for two days! No one has seen him since you saw him at the Coffee shop, and Barnabas is to blame!"

"But that's impossible!" spluttered Matt. "I was will him until dawn. There's no way that he could be responsible for Ben disappearing!"

"You would say that!" sneered Gil, feeling brave, now that Matt wasn't holding him to ransom.

"Because it's true. I was up at the Old House with him all night. He never once left my sight."

"Can you prove it?"

"Yes he can," said Megan, "because I was with him, and so was Sebastian. Mr. Collins isn't responsible for this."

"Just like that stranger a few months back. He says he wasn't responsible for him, either," Phillips accused. "I'm warning you, halfling; if that boy turns up dead or harmed in any other way, you and that vampire will have more trouble than you can handle. And it will end with a stake through his heart."