Dark Shadows Among Us

Chapter 35

35.1

Ben watched Ironside as he went down the basement steps of the Old House ahead of him. He hoped Julia was right that Ironside had not been taken over by the Leviathans. They would be sure soon enough. Julia was right about the telepathic connection between Barnabas and Chief Ironside. Barnabas would be able to probe his mind. The twenty-first century detective would not be able to stop him.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Ben went over to the coffin where Barnabas slept the sleep of the undead. "He's not up yet," Ben said.

Ironside reached over to open the lid of the coffin, but Ben placed his hand on his wrist to stop him. "I am sorry Mister Ironside, but that is not a good idea. When Barnabas opens his eyes, he reacts quickly. He will automatically assume someone is there to do him harm. He could strangle you to death before he realized who you were. We will just have to wait until he awakens."

The detective grunted with impatience, but he supposed Ben Stokes knew Barnabas better than he did. After all, he had almost killed Ed Brown when he opened his coffin in 2015. Maybe it was better he wait after all. Ironside knew he was no match for the vampire's strength.

Moments later, the coffin lid came up; Barnabas Collins sat up and got out. "Robert! This is a pleasant surprise. I trust you have brought us good news."

"Just a minute, Barnabas," Ben said. "I think you should be sure that he has not been taken over by the Leviathans before you tell him anything. Julia did not think so but you are a better judge of that."

The vampire smiled. "Relax, Ben. Chief Ironside is on our side."

"Are you sure? Shouldn't you probe his mind or something?"

"I would know, Ben. The chief is fine." He turned to the detective. "I assume they used the Leviathan box on you?"

Ironside nodded. "They did. It had no effect on me."

Barnabas frowned. "But you pretended it did?"

He shook his head. "No. They would have known I was faking. I struggled with whether I should fake it or not but Nicholas Blair made that decision for me."

"Nicholas Blair!" the vampire cried. "He is here then?"

"Yes, he has followed us to this time. He is obviously here to stop us from changing the timeline. Incidentally, he is not as gullible as Jebson Hawks. He did not believe that I want to become a member of the Leviathans."

"But Hawks did?" Barnabas questioned.

"Yes, he believes I would be a valuable addition to the Leviathans. He wants me to begin the take over of San Francisco in our time."

"Robert, were you able to discover the secret of the Leviathan box when you looked into it?" Barnabas asked.

"There is no secret. It is simple hypnotism," Ironside answered.

"Hypnotism!" Barnabas exclaimed in surprise. "Are you certain of this?"

"I am. That is why they were never able to control me. No one has ever been able to hypnotize me."

"Then Julia would not have been in danger of falling under their influence either."

"No, she would not," Ironside replied. "That makes her dangerous to them. I am sure by now that Blair has told Hawks about her. They will want to eliminate her as soon as possible. She will need to stay with you or me; it should probably be with you. You are better equipped to protect her than I am."

The vampire nodded. "Yes, I shall see to her safety. Let's go upstairs and talk to her. If all the Leviathans are using is hypnotism, we can formulate a plan to stop them."

The three men headed up the stairs with Barnabas in the lead. They entered the foyer. Barnabas stopped long enough to lock the basement door. Ironside and Ben followed him into the drawing room. The vampire looked around the room. "I thought Julia was here in the Old House."

"She was right here in this room when Ben and I went down into the basement, to wait for you to awaken," Ironside said.

A worried look appeared on Barnabas' face. "Ben, check the rest of the house. And find Angelique. I don't trust her."

"Angelique is not in the house, Mister Barnabas," Ben informed him.

"Look anyway," he ordered.

Ben left the foyer in search of Julia and Angelique.

"It is unlike Julia not to be here when I awaken."

Ironside noticed a voodoo pin on the floor. He walked over and picked it up. He went back to Barnabas and placed the pin in his hand. "Does that look familiar?"

"Angelique! She must have taken Julia! She will regret it!" The vampire began to disappear when Ironside's voice stopped him.

"I doubt that she acted alone. Nicholas Blair likely sent her. He would know that Julia would have the ability to hypnotize you. They can take the chance that you would be unaffected by the Leviathan box. He knows that would undo everything they have done."

Barnabas nodded. "You are correct, Robert. We must find Julia and fast, if we are to meet the Leviathans. I cannot go unless Julia hypnotizes me, and I will not leave her behind either."

"No one is going to get left behind. I will go after Julia," Ironside said.

Ben shook his head. "If you do, then Nicholas will know that you have no intentions of becoming a Leviathan."

"Oh hell, he knows that anyway," Ironside countered. "We must find a way to stop Blair from showing up at the meeting."

"And just how are we going to do that. The only one that can deal with him is Barnabas. You and I cannot go up against him."

"That is not accurate, Ben," Barnabas told him. "For some reason Robert is able to resist all of Blair's powers. However, I think it best that I go after Julia and keep up the charade that Robert is joining the Leviathans. If Blair has no proof that he is not, then the chance of success are much higher."

"How do we even know where he is holding Miss Hoffman?" Ben asked.

"Blair is predictable," Barnabas said. He will have her at whatever place he is staying. He would think that after what happened to Miss Whitfield, I would not dare come after her."

The vampire's statement rubbed a raw nerve with Ironside. It brought back the horror of why he was here in the first place. "What makes you so sure he won't kill her?"

"Because, if he did, he knows he will have started an all out war with me," Barnabas said. I would not stop until that warlock was dead for good. No, he wants to use Julia as a bargaining chip. He will hold her and promise to release her when I am taken over by the Leviathans."

"What are we going to do then?" Ben asked, concerned for his friend and master.

"We are going to stick with my idea. I am going after her," Ironside said.

Barnabas shook his head. "No, Robert, I cannot allow it. He may not be able to harm you but he could harm Julia."

"Not if Julia is not really there," Ironside said.

"What do you mean?" the vampire asked.

"Angelique is capable of making a doppelganger, we know that," Ironside pointed out.

"Aren't you forgetting? This is not the Angelique of 2015. She is unaware of what is happening there," Barnabas reminded the detective.

"But she is the same Angelique that wants out from under Nicholas Blair and his master," Ironside said, raising an eyebrow.

The detective now had Barnabas' full attention. "What are you proposing, Robert?

"This is what we are going to do ..."

35.2

2015...

Professor Stokes and Sergeant Ed Brown stood outside the Great House of Collinwood. They knew the task that they had was not only important but also very dangerous. Hopefully, Willie could keep Tom Jennings busy long enough for the professor to not only reverse the effects of the Leviathan box Nicholas Blair had used on them, but to also make sure that none of them would fall under its influence again. It was a tall order, but it had to be done.

They stepped up to the door. The professor knocked. After waiting a couple minutes, David Collins opened the double doors. "Professor, Sergeant Brown, what are you doing here?" The young man did not hide his apprehension. He stepped back as the professor pushed his way past the future heir of Collinwood.

"We are here to visit the family. Sergeant Brown has come with information on the man that kidnapped Maggie Evans as well. Can you call the family together? I have no doubt that they will be happy to hear the news that we have brought."

David looked at them suspiciously but turned and went up the foyer stairs. As they watched the youngster ascend the staircase, David turned and came back down. "Can I talk to you before I go get the rest of the family?" he asked.

"Certainly, son. Why don't we go into the drawing room," Ed Brown suggested. They followed David into the drawing room. The young man chose a spot on the davenport and sat down. Ed could see the boy was in turmoil. Something was bothering him. "Alright, David, we are listening."

David looked down and put his hands together. "Something is going on around here and I am not sure what it is."

Ed sat down beside him. In a gentle voice, he said, "Why don't you tell us about it."

Professor Stokes sat on the other side of the boy. He pulled the medallion out of his pocket and held it in his hand. "Yes, David, tell us."

The youngest member of the Collins clan shrugged his shoulders. "I am not sure what to tell you. Everyone is acting funny around here. They all keep talking about how they have to serve the Leviathans. I don't understand. I don't feel the need to serve these people. They are plotting against Chief Ironside and Barnabas. I like Chief Ironside. He let me ride down that lift of his. And Cousin Barnabas has never done anything but protect this family. I don't understand what is going on. Why do they hate Cousin Barnabas?"

Ed looked over at Professor Stokes. He saw the medallion in his hand. He wondered in this case, whether it was going to be necessary to use it. "Professor, is it possible that they could not hold their influence over David?"

"Yes, it is possible," Stokes confirmed. He turned back to David. "Did Nicholas Blair or Tom Jennings make you look into a box, David?"

"Yes, but it is all so fuzzy. I don't remember much about it; only that I felt like I had to serve ... someone. No one will talk around me. I feel like an outcast. I don't even know what I did wrong. And they are all acting so weird."

"He was under their influence," the professor said.

"But he doesn't appear to be now," Ed pointed out.

"We better make sure of it. David, the reason everything is so fuzzy is that you were hypnotized by that box."

"Hypnotized!" he said excitedly. "Really?"

"Yes. The Leviathans are an evil race, David. They are trying to take over everyone in Collinsport. Don't you remember. You are the one that warned Barnabas and Chief Ironside about them, you and Miss Winters."

David Collins frowned. "Yes, it is coming back to me now! I ran away when Nicholas showed up with that box. Sarah warned me about it!"

"Barnabas and Chief Ironside are working to reverse the effects of the box. In the meantime, we must fight them. Do you understand?" the professor asked him.

"Yes, I understand."

"Good," Ed said. "We want to make sure they cannot take control of you again. Their hold on you was weak, that is why it did not last. Do you see the medallion the professor is holding?" David nodded. "He is going to use that to be sure they cannot take control of you again. Then you will be able to help Chief Ironside by spying on them."

This excited the boy. "Chief Ironside made me an honorary police officer. Will this be another assignment?"

Ed nodded. "Yes. But only if we fail to reverse the effects on your family. You will let them think that you are still under the Leviathan's influence and you will report to us. Is that clear?"

A serious look appeared on the boy's face. "Is that an order from Chief Ironside? Ed smiled and nodded. "Then I will do it!"

"Good. Now, David, watch the medallion," Stokes instructed.

Ten minutes later David was protected from takeover from the Leviathans. "Remember, you must not let them know that you are not one of them," Ed reminded him.

"Don't you worry, Sergeant, I will not let Chief Ironside down!"

Ed smiled at the child. The chief sure had a way with kids. He was always able to win them over. "That's great, now can you bring the rest of the family down here?"

"Right away, Sergeant Brown!" David took off on a dead run; out of the drawing room, through the foyer and up the stairs.

"Will the hypnotism hold on David?" Ed asked.

"It will hold," the professor said.

"So how are you going to handle this? You can't possibly hypnotize them all at once. The influence of the Leviathans would never allow it," Brown said, standing up and walking towards the drawing room double doors.

"We risk exposure if I do it one at a time. That is why I intend to hypnotize them all at once," the professor responded.

"Can you do that?"

"I can and will."

"Wouldn't it be better to catch each one of them alone like we did David?" Ed questioned. He walked back to Professor Stokes. He wasn't sure he agreed with this tactic.

"They had minimum affect on the boy. He sought us out, Sergeant. The others will not do that and Tom Jennings is not going to allow us to ... catch them alone, as you have stated.

"Alright, Professor, you know these people better than I do."

Roger Collins entered the drawing room with Elizabeth Collins-Stoddard. "Professor, to what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?"

Ed Brown looked around. He did not see Carolyn Stoddard or Victoria Winters. He didn't like it. Where were they?

"We came with news of Maggie Evans and the kidnapper," Professor Stokes told them.

From behind them they heard the voice of Tom Jennings. "What news, gentlemen? We happen to know that Chief Ironside is not even in Collinsport." He grinned and came into the room. "Well, well, well ... what have we here?" He walked over to Stokes and attempted to take the medallion out of his hand. Elliott backed up. "What's the matter, Professor? Are you afraid to let me see that medallion? Don't you think we know why you are here?"

"Oh for God's sake, man, we know why they are here and that medallion proves they are no longer loyal to the Leviathans. Do what you have to do, Jennings. Lock them up!" Roger Collins shouted

Sergeant Ed Brown pulled the service revolver from his holster. "Not so fast, Mister Jennings. Why don't you let the professor explain to you what he and Nicholas Blair has done. He did so with me. He can release you from the Leviathans' power."

"I told you they are not with us. You should have come down here armed like I said," Roger complained. "Now, see what you have done!"

Elizabeth Collins-Stoddard stepped forward. "That is enough, Roger! You are not helping!" She turned to Ed and the professor. "You gentleman need to look into the box. The Leviathans are our future now. You should know that. Join us. You will be rewarded as we have been."

"Rewarded!" Ed exclaimed. "They are controlling your every move and you call that a reward?"

"Easy, Sergeant," Professor Stokes smoothed. He looked directly at Elizabeth. "You know me, Mrs. Stoddard. I would only do what is best for the Collins family. Barnabas and Chief Ironside are, at this moment, trying to save the Collins family from this horrible race. I can free you of them."

Liz shook her head. "We don't want to be free of them. They are the future."

"You are wasting time, Professor. Just do what you have to do with that medallion. It is the only way to put a stop to this madness."

Tom Jennings took a step in Ed Brown's direction. The detective whirled in his direction while pointing the gun at him. "I wouldn't make any sudden moves if I were you."

"And I would drop that gun if I were you," Sheriff Patterson said behind them.

Brown and Stokes turned around to see him standing in the drawing room doorway with a gun pointed at them. The professor spoke first. "Sheriff, we are trying to help all of you. You are not thinking for yourself. The Leviathans have control of your minds. Let me help you. I can free you from them. Barnabas and Chief Ironside left us behind to help you."

The sheriff laughed. "Chief Ironside! What a mistake it was bringing him here. His reputation is over hyped. He has not found out a thing since he got here. He is not one of us and he can't be trusted. Neither can we trust Barnabas Collins. In fact, we cannot trust you either. Now, Sergeant Brown, unless you want me to shoot you dead, I suggest you drop that gun."

Ed was torn. He knew if he dropped the gun, they were finished. If he didn't then Patterson would probably shoot them. He had no choice. He would drop the gun. They still had one ace ... David Collins. He could see the boy in the foyer watching the scene in front of him. Somehow he would have to get a message to him. He would be their only escape from this madness. Brown dropped the revolver to the floor.

"Now that was not so hard, now was it?" Sheriff Patterson came forward and picked up the gun.

"Just shoot them, Sheriff. We can't let them live to cause more trouble," Roger said.

"Roger!" Liz admonished, "We are not killing them. They can be converted again."

"No, they can't," Jennings argued. "The professor has seen to that."

"Then what are we going to do with them?" Liz asked.

"Kill them. If they will not join us, that is the punishment," Jennings insisted.

Elizabeth Collins stepped in front of Stokes and Brown. "No! I will not permit it. There has to be another way."

"Lock them in the basement," Roger suggested. There is a room down there with a padlock. The door is made of steel. They will never be able to break it down. Willie Loomis is already in there. We can keep them there until Nicholas returns. Let him decide what to do with them."

Patterson nodded. "Yes, that is what we will do." He turned back to Stokes. "Professor, if you please, I will take that medallion."

Stokes looked at the barrel of the gun that was being held on Ed Brown and himself. What choice did he have? He handed the medallion to Patterson.

Behind them, David Collins quietly left the foyer and headed for the basement.

Patterson used the gun barrel to point in the direction he wanted the two men to move. Stokes and Patterson instantly obeyed. "Roger, show me the way to this room." Roger Collins led the trio to the basement.

David was already in the basement by the time they reached the room. His father unlocked the padlock and opened the door.

"Inside, gentleman," Patterson ordered.

Willie met them on the other side. But, before they closed the door, he saw David's hand reach out of a dark corner, and gently pull the medallion out of Patterson's pocket by the chain. The deed went unnoticed by the sheriff and Roger Collins.

After Sheriff Patterson & Roger left, David went immediately to the door. "Professor, Sergeant Brown, can you hear me?"

"We hear you, David," Ed called out. "Can you get us out of here?"

"No, Sergeant. The door has a padlock on it. I don't have the key. My father put it in his pocket."

"Is there another key?" Willie asked the boy.

"Not that I know of and I doubt my father will leave that one lying around."

On the other side of the door, Ed got an idea. "Professor, can David be taught how to use that medallion?"

Stokes smiled. "That is a brilliant idea, Sergeant Brown. He walked over and got closer to the door. "David, I am going to teach you how to use the medallion. Do you think you can do it?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Good, now I want you to listen to the Professor very carefully. Once he has taught you how to use it, you are going to have to use it on your family."

"But they would not allow it," David protested.

Professor Stokes stepped in to ease the boy's concerns. "I never should have tried to convert everyone at once. It will be up to you to do it one at a time. I will show you how to divert their attention long enough for the medallion to bring them under."

"I don't know," David said with doubt in his voice.

Ed took another tactic with the lad. "You are an officer of the law and Chief Ironside is your boss and mine too. I am a sergeant, which ranks higher than an officer. I am giving you an order, Officer Collins. You must convert everyone one by one."

That did the trick as Ed heard David say, "Yes, sir, Sergeant Brown."

"And David, if you could locate the key to this room, and without getting caught, we would appreciate it," Professor Stokes said.

"I'll do it," David replied. After Professor Stokes instructed the boy in how to use the medallion, David left the basement.

"Are you sure that was wise, Professor? Telling David to find the key to this room," Ed questioned.

The professor chuckled. "David Collins is a very cunning young lad. Believe me, he does a lot that he doesn't get caught at."

"That is for sure," Willie said. "If anyone can do it, David can."

35.3

Mark Sanger pulled the vehicle up in front of the Great House. He had delivered Maggie back to Doctor Eric Lang's clinic. He hoped he was in time to help Ed and the professor. He decided a direct approach was not the smartest one. He drove the vehicle a distance away from the mansion and pulled it into the woods. After shutting it off, he headed back to the Great House.

As he was walking through the woods, he spotted Tom Jennings. He was talking to Joe Haskell. Mark eased his way closer to the two men in order to hear their conversation. He made sure he was concealed from their line of vision.

"We have to find Maggie Evans before Nicholas comes back, Joe. I don't want to face him if we have not located her," Tom said.

"What does Nicholas want with Maggie," Joe asked.

"Just to make sure she is safe," he lied. "Barnabas and Ironside will do anything to destroy the Leviathans. Maggie is one of us. Sheriff Patterson is protecting the Collins family from them until Nicholas is back, but he can't protect Maggie if we don't know where she is."

"But, Ironside was brought here to find her. With his reputation, he should have done that by now."

"That is just it." Tom lit a cigarette and continued. "He has found her and is hiding her."

"Why would he do that? Patterson brought him here to find her."

"The sheriff thought that is why he asked him to help. He did not know that Barnabas Collins actually brought him here to help him destroy the Leviathans."

"Then where do we start looking? Not even Patterson has been able to find her."

"The guy that is with Ironside was seen driving off with her but, the person that saw him did not try to stop him, or follow him."

"Then we have to find this guy. Who is he?" Joe asked.

"His name is Mark Sanger. He works for Ironside."

"But I thought he was with us," Joe said, confused.

"He was but Professor Stokes reversed the box's influence."

"Influence?"

Tom Jennings was becoming impatient. He needed someone to help find Maggie and Joe would be the perfect person to do it. He did not want to stand here and answer a bunch of questions. He wanted him to get started. "Look, Joe, all you need to know is that Sanger has her and if you find him, he will lead you to Maggie. You do want to find her, don't you?"

"Of course I do! What kind of a question is that?" He was showing visible signs of anger.

"Calm down, Joe. I am just trying to help you find her. Are you going to look for Sanger or not?"

Haskell calmed and replied, "Yea, I'll help."

"Good. You check Professor Stokes' cottage and I will go back to the Old House."

"But, isn't Willie Loomis there?"

"No, he is locked up with the rest of them. He was supposed to show me how to go back in time on that staircase, but the thing never appeared. I am not sure it ever did. I have no idea where Nicholas is and when he will be back, but I sure as hell do not want to face him if we have not found Maggie Evans."

Mark listened without the knowledge of the two men. He was now pretty certain that Jennings had Ed and Professor Stokes. He was too late to help them. He did not have to wonder where they would take them. The Great House was huge. They could hide them in a room somewhere in the mansion, and it could take weeks to find them, especially with the Collins family's obsession with secret rooms and passages. He had to head over there and see if he could locate them. It was best he got out of the woods. Jennings and Haskell knew them better than he did. He would have a much better chance of going undetected if he used the under ground tunnel from the Old House.

Mark retraced his steps and then headed back to the Old House. He would have to be careful not to run into Tom Jennings.

"Going somewhere, Mister Sanger?"

Mark turned around quickly to see Sheriff Patterson standing behind him. He was holding a gun on him. He said nothing. He just stood there waiting for Patterson to make the next move.

"We have Sergeant Brown and Professor Stokes. I have no doubt the professor has helped you to resist the Leviathans."

"Sheriff, it is nothing more than hypnotism. They are blocking everything you believe in. The chief came here to help you. You don't really believe he is the enemy, do you? Think, man, the Leviathans have taken over the whole town. It is your job to help them. Professor Stokes can help you do that until the chief returns."

"Ironside is the enemy and so are you. Let's go, Sanger. Time to join your friends."