Dark Shadows Among Us
Chapter 34
34.1
1797...
Ben Stokes walked into the drawing room at the Old House. Looking at Robert Ironside, he said, "I did not get the chance to tell you that I was so happy to see you made it out of the Leviathan's hands. We have been concerned about you."
"Why? Did you people honestly think I would not return? These Leviathans may be nasty creatures but the leader is very gullible. I did not have any trouble convincing him I wanted to join them," Ironside said.
Ben frowned. It had not occurred to him before of the possibility Ironside could be taken over by the Leviathans. He instantly became skeptical. He would not allow this man anywhere near Barnabas until he was certain that he had not succumbed to the power of that horrible race. He walked over to Doctor Hoffman. "How do we know that he isn't actually one of them?"
"I wondered that myself, Ben, but he is not. Remember, Barnabas bit him. Even if he had fallen to their power, Barnabas would know. However, I am convinced that he has not. He has brought us news on how to fight the Leviathans."
Ben was not completely convinced. He still was not about to allow Ironside near Barnabas until they knew for sure. Only then would he trust him. "Nevertheless, he should wait here until Barnabas rises and one of us should stay with him."
"Oh, I don't think that is necessary, Ben," Julia disagreed.
"Actually, it is an excellent idea, Doctor," Ironside responded, surprising Hoffman. "Neither of you know me that well and your job is to protect Barnabas. If I was in Ben's place, I would insist on the same thing."
Ben looked at Ironside. Was he being sincere or was he simply trying to make them believe he was on their side? He would feel better after Barnabas rose and told them Ironside was on the level. They had not had a chance to discuss it as the bricking of Reverend Trask had distracted them. "I am going downstairs and wait for Barnabas to rise."
"I am going with you," Ironside said. He walked directly over to Ben. When he saw the look on the servant's face, he said, "You will be with me. Now what could I possibly do with you there with me?"
Ben said nothing. He only nodded. He and Ironside left Julia standing alone in the drawing room.
34.2
2015...
Willie looked up at Professor Elliott Stokes. Confused as to how he had gotten there, he looked around to see Sergeant Ed Brown and Mark Sanger standing over him.
"Welcome back, Willie," Professor Stokes said, with a smile.
"Why am I here?" Willie fought the fog in his mind. Then it came to him ... he and Sergeant Brown had taken Maggie Evans from Doctor Eric Lang and brought her to Professor Stokes. But, they were supposed to take her to Nicholas Blair's cottage. Why would they do that? That would be delivering her to the devil, himself. Willie's mind was beginning to clear. Blair! He had made all of them look into that infernal box. Willie realized he had been under its influence. He looked at the medallion that the professor was holding. Had he used it on him?
"What's going on?" Willie asked.
"Relax, Loomis," Ed told him. "The effects of the Leviathans will wear off in a minute. You will be able to remember everything."
Ed Brown was right. It was all beginning to come back to him now. "Blair! He is responsible for what we have been doing!" Willie exclaimed.
"That's right, Willie," the professor confirmed. "However, now that we know the secret of the Leviathan box, I have made sure that it will no longer have an affect on any of you. We must now do the same for those at Collinwood. We must free them from the Leviathans and Nicholas Blair."
"Can we do that?" Willie wondered. "Tom Jennings will certainly have warned everyone at the Great House about us."
"How could he?" The professor disagreed. "He has no idea that we are not with them."
"The professor is right," Brown said. "Jennings believes that we have all fallen under the box's influence. He is not going to be watching us as he had been before."
"I can tell you Tom Jennings is not a very trusting man," Willie told them. "He will remain suspicious of all of us. I have no doubt he is checking up on us."
"It does not matter if he does," Mark said. "We simply act as if we are under the influence of the Leviathans. That should be sufficient to get the professor close enough to the family to use that medallion on them."
"Mister Sanger is right," Stokes said. "We are all going to act like we are Leviathans. We must get into the Great House and reverse the effects of that box. Once we have done that, we can go to Sheriff Patterson and bring him out of it."
"Patterson should be a priority," Ed said. "He is a law officer and he could help us."
Professor Stokes shook his head. "No, he would have more questions than we could possibly give him answers, Sergeant. I believe Chief Ironside has kept the sheriff in the dark, has he not?"
Ed had to admit the professor was right. The chief basically had not told him anything. He would have a lot of questions, and they may still not be able to convince him of what had been going on in Collinsport. Would he believe a word of what they would tell him? Probably not. It had taken Ed a long time to accept what they had found here. How could he possibly expect Sheriff Patterson to believe any of it immediately. No, the professor was right.
"You are correct, Professor. The chief has not told him anything yet," Ed admitted.
"And he won't. When the time comes, either Doctor Hoffman or I will use this medallion to plant a vision in his mind as to what did go on here."
"Okay, so we agree to leave Patterson out of the loop," Mark said. "I think it is best if we go to the Great House when Jennings is not there."
"Jennings will be practically living there," Willie pointed out.
"Then we lure him away," Ed said.
"How?" Willie wanted to know.
"I can do that," Mark offered. "Leave it to me."
"Can't do that. I need to know what you are going to do?" Willie insisted.
Mark grinned. "It is what you are going to do, Mister Loomis. You are going to use the staircase and go back in time to inform Barnabas of what is going on here."
"I can't do that!" Willie said. "I have my orders from Barnabas and he does not like being disobeyed."
"You are not going to actually go back in time, Willie," Ed said.
"We only need to convince Jennings that you are going to do so," the professor said.
"We will let him know you are no longer under the influence of the Leviathan box. He will race over to the Old House to use the box on you."
Willie's eyes went wild. "I am not looking into that thing again!" He began pacing back and forth.
"Yes, you will, Willie. But you have nothing to worry about. Through the use of the medallion, I have seen to it that you, Sergeant Brown and Mister Sanger can not fall to its influence again," the professor said.
"Are you sure, Professor?" Willie asked with skepticism.
"As sure as I can possibly be but, if it doesn't work, I can simply re-hypnotize you," the professor assured him.
Willie continued pacing the room. His nerves were betraying his feelings. He was scared. He did not want to fall to the Leviathans again, but he had an obligation to Barnabas. If this worked, the entire Collins family would be released. No one said anything to him. They gave him the space he needed to make up his mind, although, none of them doubted that in the end he would make the decision to help them.
Finally he turned to Professor Stokes. "If this will help Barnabas, then I will take the chance."
Stokes smiled. "Good decision, my dear boy!" He turned to Sergeant Brown. "Ed, may I call you Ed?"
"Go right ahead," Brown answered.
"You are the detective here. How do we handle this?" the professor asked.
"First of all, we secure Maggie Evans. He turned to his friend. "Mark, you take Maggie back to Doctor Lang. Explain to him what has transpired here."
Mark nodded in acknowledgement. He really wanted to stay and help with the plans for Collinwood, but he knew the chief would want him to follow Ed's orders. "I will go get Maggie and take her now." Sanger left the room.
"Willie, you will go back to the Old House and wait for Tom Jennings. You are to resist looking into the box as long as you can. But, you will look into it. When it has no affect on you, you will pretend it does. Is that clear?"
Nervous but wanting to help, Willie nodded. "Okay, Sergeant, but if I fall to its influence, I might tell Jennings what you are planning," he pointed out.
"You will not fall to its influence," Professor Stokes said. "But if you do, it will still give us the time that we need to reverse the effect on the others. I promise you, I will again do the same for you."
Willie did not like it but he would do as they asked. Barnabas would want him to. "Alright, Professor." Wringing his hands, he said, "Well, I better get going." Willie turned and left.
"Ed, are you ready?" Professor Stokes asked.
"Let's go," Ed said.
Mark came out of the bedroom carrying Maggie Evans. "I will join you gentlemen as soon as I get back."
Ed Brown and Professor Stokes left the cottage to retake Collinwood from the Leviathans.
34.3
1797...
Julia Hoffman stared into the fire in the drawing room in the Old House. She worried what Nicholas might be up to. Blair had been a thorn in their side since the first time she had laid eyes on him. No doubt he would have latched on to Angelique to help him with his plans. Whatever they were, she knew they would be geared to make sure Barnabas met up with the Leviathans on his way back to 2015.
The door in the foyer opened. Angelique walked in and entered the drawing room.
"Why Doctor Hoffman," Angelique said. "I understand I will run into you in the future."
Julia was stunned into silence for a moment. Then she realized that this is exactly what she had been expecting. If Angelique had been summoned by Nicholas Blair, he would have told her about where she came from, and what she was here to do. This was one time Angelique would gladly join forces with Nicholas. She would not want to let Barnabas escape to the future where Julia would eventually cure him of his vampirism.
"You will never succeed, Doctor. I will not allow it. Barnabas will remain a vampire. That is his punishment for what he did to me."
"You did it to yourself, Angelique. And, I will succeed. You see, I already did. It is just a matter of time before it happens again."
"Oh yes, time ... that is the key, isn't it? Nicholas says you are from the future. You came here because you were too much of a coward to face the Leviathans. Well, my dear Doctor, you cannot avoid them. They will take over Collinwood in your time. They probably already have."
Julia smiled. "I bet Nicholas left out one small detail. He has every intention of allowing me to find that cure for Barnabas despite your meddling in the future."
Angelique turned sharply to Julia. "What are you talking about?"
"I see he has failed to tell you quite a bit. You see, Angelique, you are helping us in the future. Nicholas wants Barnabas to become human."
"You lie!" Angelique spat out.
"No, I do not lie. Not this time. You are helping us because you do not want Barnabas to become human, and because you have this romantic notion that he will turn to you when we succeed in ridding Collinwood of the Leviathans."
Angelique stared at the doctor. "Why should I believe you?"
"Tell me, Angelique, has Nicholas ever done anything to help you? Has anything you have ever wanted ever mattered to him?"
She stood there quietly looking into the eyes of Julia Hoffman. "If, and only if I choose to believe you, what is your point?"
"My point is why don't you help us in this time? If you truly love Barnabas you will release him from this curse and allow him to live out his life. You are a beautiful woman, Angelique. There will be plenty of men out there that will want you. You only have to choose. Find real love and be happy. Your obsession with Barnabas is only making both of you miserable. Find true love and release yourself from this obsession and from Nicholas Blair. You would like to be rid of him, would you not?"
Angelique said nothing but Julia knew she had given her much to think about. She doubted that any of it would actually sink in but maybe she could turn her against Nicholas. "Nicholas really plans on allowing Barnabas to become human again?"
"Yes, he does. Besides, do you really want the Leviathans to rule this planet?" Julia asked.
"No, Doctor, I do not." She turned away from Julia and looked down. After a moment, she turned back to her. "If I help you, what do I get in return?"
"Your freedom. Free from your hatred of Barnabas and free of the dominance of Nicholas Blair and your master. We can show you how to resist both," Julia told her.
Again the witch was silent. Finally she looked Julia Hoffman in the eye. "I guess trying to hold on to Barnabas is hopeless. If I help you, you can honestly show me how to resist Nicholas and the Master?"
"We can. Remember, Barnabas is not ruled by your master. Otherwise, he would be helping the Leviathans, not trying to stop them."
"Alright, Doctor, I will help you," Angelique said.
Julia frowned. This had been entirely too easy. Angelique had folded her hand and Julia had not even had to produce an ace. "How do I know you can be trusted?" she asked the witch.
"Because I know something you do not. Willie Loomis apparently became impatient that Barnabas had not returned to his time. He traveled across the staircase to our time. Unfortunately, Joshua was there when he appeared and he shot him. Nicholas is perfectly content to let him die but I understand you are a medical doctor. You can save his life."
"Oh my God! I must inform Barnabas!"
"There is no time. If you are going to help Willie, you must come now."
"Alright, Angelique. Show me the way," Julia said.
Julia followed Angelique out of he Old House. She hoped she would be in time to save Willie. She knew how much Willie had come to mean to Barnabas. Why couldn't Willie just have followed Barnabas' orders, stayed in 2015 and let Barnabas take care of things here. The young man's loyalty to the vampire was much stronger than his servant's role. The two men had become friends. She could not really blame Willie for trying to help Barnabas, but he should of stayed in 2015.
As Julia continue to follow Angelique through the woods, she could not get rid of the uneasy feeling that this was a trick. Angelique would never give in that easy. On the other hand, if she was sincere and Willie was really in trouble, how could she refuse to help the young man. It only remained to be seen if she had made a mistake. Regardless, she should have waited until Barnabas had risen. He knew Angelique better than she did. He would have known right away if she was really willing to help them.
Angelique made so many twists and turns in the woods that Julia had lost track of where they were. After all, these woods were not the same as the ones she was used to walking through in 2015. They were much thicker and they did not have the landmarks that she was used to seeing. How would she ever find her way back to the Old House?
They came upon a cottage that was almost completely hidden behind trees. Angelique motioned for Julia to follow her into the cottage. There on the other side of the door stood Nicholas Blair. Doctor Hoffman, welcome to Rose Cottage!"
34.4
Tom Jennings did not understand why Ed Brown had not dropped Maggie Evans off at Nicholas' Cottage. He had been waiting for what had seemed like forever. Nicholas had given him an order to find Maggie before he got back. Tom knew that was one order he could not ignore.
His hope of getting away from Nicholas had all but vanished when the master had come for Angelique. The warlock needed someone to do his bidding and Tom knew he was it. He should have known that finding and returning that box would not be enough for Blair to release him. Jennings did not know why he seemed to only be partially controlled by the Leviathans. He was unaware that it was because when he had been hypnotized before, they could never put him completely under. Tom had no idea that the Leviathan's control was nothing more then hypnotism.
Jennings stood by the fireplace contemplating what punishment Nicholas would come up with, if he did not find and bring Maggie back to his cottage. Ed Brown had been a big disappointment. He could not understand why a detective as famous as Robert Ironside would choose a man that was so incompetent. Brown could not locate Evans in this small community. There was only so many places Barnabas could hide her.
There was a knock on the door. Tom left the drawing room. He stood in front of the double doors and shook his head. Rich people were strange. Why did they call a living room a drawing room? Fancy names did not make it any better than his living room at home. He stepped into the foyer which made him laugh. Turning to the left he walked down the short foyer, which was nothing more than a hall, no different than what was in every other house in the area. Yet, these out of touch rich people had to have a fancier name than calling it a hall.
Tom looked out the window. Standing on the other side, and knocking frantically on the door, stood the man that Nicholas had assigned to assist him to keep everyone in line. "Yes, Luther, what is it?"
"Tom, we have a problem! A big problem! Nicholas will kill us if Loomis succeeds!"
Jennings stepped back to allow Luther into Blair's cottage. "Calm down and tell me what is wrong." Jennings led Luther into the drawing room and offered a seat. He poured him a glass of sherry to calm his nerves.
Luther took a sip of the sherry, crinkled his nose and said, "This is terrible. Don't you have some beer?"
"Beer? In Nicholas' cottage?" he asked sarcastically as if he was questioning Luther's stupidity. "Tell me what is wrong," he demanded.
"It's Willie Loomis. Somehow, he is no longer one of us. He is not a Leviathan. He is going to interfere!"
"Luther, calm down and tell me what he is going to interfere with."
"With Nicholas. He plans on going back in time by that staircase and tell Barnabas what Nicholas is up to. We can't let him do that! Nicholas will punish us."
What else could go wrong? Tom thought. Why did Nicholas have to leave him in charge. All he wanted to do was get out of Collinwood and never return. He was sick of rich people, warlocks, witches, vampires and visiting cops from California. How he wished he could just hit the road and leave them all behind.
"Alright, let's go over to the Old House. We will stop him. He is not going anywhere." Jennings left Blair's cottage with Luther following close behind him.
Getting into Luther's beat up truck, they headed down the dirt road that would lead them to the Old House. If truth be told, it would have been quicker for them to travel through the woods. The truck was a worse beat up piece of junk than Loomis' truck.
Luther pulled up in front of the Old House and the two men got out of the vehicle. Jennings motioned for Luther to wait at the truck. He went up the stairs to the Old House, passed the double doors and headed directly for the window that looked into the drawing room. There pacing in the middle of the room was the vampire's servant. On one of the chairs in front of the fireplace was a small suitcase. It was opened and contained clothes. It was obvious that Loomis was planning to go somewhere.
Tom wondered what kind of idiot the vampire had protecting him. He should realize that clothes from this century would be completely out of place in 1797. He would not be able to wear any of them. He would have to change as soon as he got there or people would wonder who the man was with the strange clothes. The last thing he would want to do was draw attention to himself.
It did not matter since he was not going back in time to help the vampire anyway. Tom went back to the truck and pulled the Leviathan box out of the back, where Luther had placed it. He handed it to him.
They walked back to the double doors and Tom checked. He shook his head. You would think a man who is a vampire would keep the doors locked so that no one could roam into the house.
Jennings opened the door and pulled the gun that he was carrying out of his jacket pocket. He opened the door and entered the foyer. Luther walked in behind him.
"Is that you, Professor?" Willie called out, knowing fully well who it was.
Tom Jennings entered the drawing room with the gun pointing at Willie. The vampire's servant had not been expecting that. How was he going to resist with a gun pointed at him? His only choice was to stall, to give the Professor and Sergeant Brown time to undue the hypnotism of the Collins family.
"What do you want, Tom?" Willie asked.
"Going somewhere, are we?" Jennings said sarcastically.
"I am getting out of here while Barnabas is not here to stop me," Willie lied.
Jennings laughed. "Nicholas told me that there is no where a vampire's victim can go to get away from him. The telepathic connection allows him to find you."
Loomis pulled back the sleeves on his shirt. "Does this look like he bites me?" He then lowered his collar on both sides of his neck. "He quit doing that some time ago. Barnabas treats me good," Willie said angrily.
"Well, isn't that just nice," Jennings mocked. "A vampire that treats you good. You aren't very bright, Loomis. He should teach you English. I don't care how well he treats you, you are playing on the losing team. Use your head. The Leviathans are going to rule Collinsport and then they will take over city after city. One lone vampire can't stop them. Look into the box and rejoin the Leviathans. Nicholas will make sure Collins keeps that meeting with the Leviathans. When he gets back, and you are not with us, he will kill you. You want to live don't you? The Leviathans are your only chance."
Willie wanted nothing to do with the Leviathans, but he knew he had no choice but to look in the box. He hoped for two things, one... that Professor Stokes was right and the box would have no affect on him and, two... he would be a good enough actor to convince Jennings that he had again become a Leviathan.
Loomis feigned indecision. He did not want to be to quick to accept or Jennings would become suspicious. So, he stood there without saying anything until Jennings could wait no longer.
"Well, Loomis, what will it be? Are you going to join us or do I lock you up until Nicholas gets back?"
"I... I... guess it would be better to be on the side that wins. Are you sure the Leviathans can defeat Barnabas Collins?"
A smirk appeared on Jennings face. "I'm sure. So are you with us or not?"
Willie nodded. "Yes, I will look into the box."
Jennings grabbed the box out of Luther's hands. "It's about damn time." He turned the box until he had it positioned in front of Willie. Slowly, he opened it. "Look into the box, Loomis."
Willie could put it off no longer. He squinted his eyes and looked into the bright light. He felt a pull but he did not feel the loss of will that he had felt the last time he had been forced to look into the box. He continued to stare at the bright light. He had to hold himself back from grinning as he knew Professor Stokes had been right. He would not be taken over by the Leviathans. Now he only had to convince Tom Jennings that he had.
Jennings watched Willie Loomis closely for any sign that he was not falling under the power of the Leviathan's box. The vampire's servant had that blank look on his face. Jennings had seen that look every time Nicholas had used the box to take over someone.
"You do understand that you are to serve the Leviathans?"
"I am a Leviathan," Willie said in a monotone voice. "I serve the Leviathan cause."
"Very good, Loomis. Tell me, where is Maggie Evans?" Jennings asked.
Willie was not about to tell Jennings where she was. He had always had a soft spot for Maggie. He would protect her. He would not tell him anything. "I do not know where she is. Julia and Barnabas would not tell anyone where she is. They did not trust any of us with that knowledge."
"Damn it!" Jennings said. Loomis would have told him if he had known. He would not have been able to resist telling the truth. The power of the box would have seen to that.
"Tell me, where are Stokes and Brown?" Jennings asked.
"I think they are at Professor Stokes cottage."
"Are they still Leviathans?"
"As far as I know. They were when I left them."
"I think we better find out. I have a feeling it was Stokes that reversed the effects of the box."
"Is that wise?" Luther asked.
"Is what wise?" Tom demanded.
"Going to the professor's? If he did indeed reverse the effects of the box on Loomis, wouldn't his next target be the people at Collinwood?"
Tom Jennings began to panic. Luther was right. Stokes would be undoing everything that Nicholas had accomplished. The only explanation for Willie shedding the Leviathan influence had to be because of Stokes. Why didn't Nicholas just kill him? He never should have left him behind to meddle. "Alright, let's go!"
Willie hesitated. He knew he was supposed to stall as much as possible, but he did not want to make Jennings suspicious. He was not sure that the professor and Sergeant Brown had had enough time to accomplish reversing the effects on everyone at Collinwood. "I don't think they are there. We really should check his cottage first. I just came from there and they were both there, along with Mark Sanger."
Tom Jennings studied Willie for a moment. He appeared to be under the Leviathan influence again. Should he trust him? Was Stokes at his cottage? Or was Loomis taking him on a wild goose chase?
"I think that would not be wise," Luther interjected.
Tom looked at his henchman. So far he had been very helpful. He decided to listen to what he had to say. "Why not?"
"Because if he is there, nothing would be accomplished. You can't kill him without Nicholas' permission. We simply would find them there. If they had broken the influence of the Leviathans, you could once again put them back under. But if Stokes is responsible for Loomis breaking the influence, then what do you think his next step would be? He would have already broken the influence on Brown and Sanger."
"Collinwood!" Tom Jennings cried.
"I am telling you, they were Leviathans when I left them," Willie insisted trying to keep Jennings from going to the Great House."
Jennings moved closer to Willie Loomis, so close his nose was almost touching the vampire's servant's. "How did you break the influence of the Leviathans?"
"I dunno," Willie stammered, not knowing what to say. Damn, the professor should have provided him with the answer to that question.
"That's what I thought." Jennings lifted the gun and once again pointed it at Willie. "We are going to Collinwood and you are going with us. Now move!" Using the gun he pointed toward the foyer.
Willie had no choice but to do what he was told. He just hoped the professor had the time he needed.
TBC...