Dark Shadows: Back to the Past
Chapter 30
1
Robert Ironside traveled along the the path to the Great House. He was more than ready to leave this infernal century and go back to his own. The detective was worried about Eve. The last time Barnabas went out to save her from a captor, she had been killed. That was the reason he and Barnabas had gone back in time last time; to change the past so his police woman could live.
This time wasn't much different. Only now Ironside believed Count Petofi to be much more dangerous than Nicholas Blair. Despite Petofi's inability to harm him, Ironside was painfully aware that Eve was not impervious to his powers, and neither was Quentin Collins. How could they return to their own century until Petofi was dealt with? If they left without stopping him, he would still be able to attempt to take over Quentin's body. When they arrived back in their own century, they would still have the same problem with Quentin's ghost.
Obviously, Ironside had no idea what effect Petofi would have on the future if he abducted Quentin. Could he really change bodies with him, or rather minds? The detective longed for the days when he had no idea what role the supernatural played in society. He would rather deal with every-day criminals. At least he understood them. Warlocks, witches, vampires, and ghosts were altogether a different matter. Without Barnabas Collins, Ironside couldn't help but to feel lost in this world. He wished he never received that phone call from George Patterson. He should have told his friend to deal with his own problems in Collinsport.
He arrived at the double doors of the Great House. The mansion had not change much over the centuries. Only the decor, the furniture, the manner in which people dressed, and the lack of modern conveniences reminded the detective he was in a different century.
He would have loved to explore the country at this time in history, especially his beloved San Francisco. Much of the land was not yet part of the country. Despite having read about the history of the period and San Francisco, it couldn't compare to being able to live it. Instead, he was stuck here in Spooksville, trying to stop a powerful warlock from keeping them to accomplish their mission. If it weren't for Petofi, they could return to their own century, having stopped Jenny from killing Quentin Collins. Now, it was becoming painfully obvious that they were going to be forced to deal with Count Petofi before they could go home.
Ironside knocked on the door. He waited a few moments before the doors opened and Judith Collins answered. "Constable Ironside, what a pleasure to see you again." Then the expression on her face changed. "You haven't come here with bad news have you?"
"No, Miss Collins. In fact the news is good. Quentin found Jenny. They are both all right"
With her hand at her throat, she exclaimed, "Oh thank God!" Then it dawned on her she didn't know where Jenny was. "When will Quentin bring her back to Collinwood."
"He won't. He is taking her to Wyncliff," Ironside informed her.
"Wyncliff! Why, he can't do that! The gossip will be all over Collinsport! There will be a scandal for certain!"
Ironside felt immediate disgust. He met a lot of wealthy people during his career, but he never met any that were as vain as the Collins family. He sometimes wondered why Barnabas protected them with such determination. "Isn't Jenny's well being more important than how the people in Collinsport will perceive the family?"
"You don't understand, Constable. For over a hundred years, this family has been very prominent in this town. It is even named after us. It is important the people of the town respect us. A scandal of this portion could harm that image. Jenny should've been brought directly back here immediately. Quentin had no business taking her to Wyncliff. We can't have a member of the Collins family in that place. She can get all the help she needs right here."
"Locked in the tower with two dolls she thinks are her babies?" Ironside questioned.
Judith was losing her patience with Ironside. Why was she arguing the point with him to begin with. He was not a member of the Collins family, therefore he couldn't possibly understand what their standing in the town meant. "None of this concerns you, Constable. Now, if you will excuse me, I must have the servants ready the horses and a carriage. I will pick up Jenny myself from Wyncliff."
"I am afraid that is not going to be possible. Quentin has the sole responsibility for Jenny's well-being. You have nothing to say about it. She just attempted to kill him. She belongs where she can get help, and that is at Wyncliff, not locked in your tower room."
"We'll see about that! Quentin has been completely irresponsible about Jenny. I will be making the decisions for her care, not my brother."
"Not in the eyes of the law, Miss Collins. He can decide what is best for her."
"Quentin will do as I ask or he will be banned from Collinwood!" she stormed past Ironside and headed for the stables.
The detective shook his head. How did the Collins family ever survive to live into his century? Judith had left in such a hurry she hadn't even closed the doors of the Great House. Ironside stepped inside. He had to find David. Barnabas wanted him back at the Old House. He wondered if he should even bother at this point. They weren't going anywhere until they dealt with Petofi. David would have to continue to pose as Jamison for a while longer. Ironside turned and left the Great House. He'd have to convince Barnabas that Petofi had to be put out of commission before they could return home.
2
The present . . .
Jamison was getting rather tired of having to hide in the West Wing. He wanted to get out of the mansion and explore the woods. And why shouldn't he? Everyone here would think he was David Collins. He looked just like David. Why was Quentin keeping him cooped up in this dark, dingy room? It was a room the boy knew well. It was Quentin's room, and he had spent a great deal of time in it with Quentin. Jamison was very fond of him. He seemed to be the only one in the Collins family who understood him. Judith certainly didn't.
"Jamison, my boy, you seemed troubled," the ghost of Quentin Collins said behind him.
The lad turned quickly to face the ghost. He was always appearing out of nowhere which he found annoying. Why couldn't he appear in front of him, instead of always startling him? "Quentin, where have you been? I can't stand to be cooped up in here much longer. I am going stark raving mad."
The ghost smiled. "Don't be so dramatic, my boy. You are not going mad."
"But why can't I leave this room? Won't the family panic when they don't see David Collins?" Jamison asked.
"They know I sent David into the past. They also know Barnabas and Constable Ironside went after him. No, they will not panic when they don't see David. They don't believe he is even in this century."
"But Quentin, I can't continue to stay here. I have to get out of here. There is nothing to do. I'm bored."
"Well, then you will be happy to know why I have come to see you?"
Jamison's eyes lit up. "You have decided to let me leave here?"
"In a way, yes. How would you like to return home?" Quentin grinned at the boy.
"Return home! Do you mean it?"
"I do. But, when you get there, you must find me and show my living self how to return to this century. I will be able to escape Count Petofi and Jenny. I can start a new life in this century."
"What about me? I don't want to live without you, Quentin. Do you have any idea what it was like at Collinwood when you were away? It was unbearable. Please don't leave me again, Quentin," Jamison wailed.
The ghost wished he could go to the boy and put his arms around him. He could be such a comfort to him. Yet, as a ghost, his arms would only go right through Jamison. "Listen to me, Jamison. I have no intentions of leaving you behind. You will come forward in time with me."
"How? David Collins will return with Cousin Barnabas. There cannot be two of us here in this time. How will you explain that?"
"We will not have to because David Collins is not going to return to this time. He is going to remain in our time. You are going to come back with me. You will become David Collins. No one will be the wiser. They will believe you are David.
"But how? Barnabas is not going to leave David Collins behind."
"Not if he knows both of you are in the past. It will be up to you to take your rightful place as Jamison. You must dispose of David."
Jamison's eyes practically bulged out of his head. "You mean you want me to kill him?"
"No, of course not. He has taken your place as Jamison. He simply will remain behind and you will come forward in time with my living self." Quentin grinned.
"Again, Quentin, how am I going to do that. Barnabas . . . "
"Do not worry about Barnabas. He is not going to know. You are going to trick David into one of the rooms in the secret passages. You will hold him there until you can convince my living self to join you in the future. Before you come back with me, you must leave a note where David can be found. Do you understand?"
Jamison grinned at Quentin. "Yes, I understand. But, how can you be sure Barnabas and Constable Ironside have stopped Jenny from killing you?"
"Because I can feel it, Jamison. They have accomplished their mission. I no longer feel the anguish of what happened. Now it is time to set our future in motion."
"All right, Quentin. I am willing. What do you want me to do?" Jamison asked.
You will go back and take David Collins place, or rather take back your own place. Convince my living self to come back through the time portal with you. But before you do, you must make sure someone will find David Collins. I don't want him harmed. He reminds me so much of you. Besides, we are not killers. David will not be harmed. He simply will live out his life in the past as Jamison Collins, and you will live your life in this century as David Collins."
Jamison grinned. "As long as I am with you, Quentin. That is all that matters to me. I'll do it. But, how do I go back without the staircase? I have not seen it since I got here."
"Chief Ironside and Barnabas pointed out to me that the staircase is not what transports a person through time. It is in front of a time portal. The only reason it appears and disappears is that the time shift is attempting to pull it back to the past, and this side of the portal is trying to pull it here. Hence, the reason it keeps disappearing."
"Then how do I go back?" Jamison asked.
"You simply walk through the portal, Jamison. It is as easy as that."
"Do you know where this portal is?"
"Of course."
"So, when do I go back?" the boy asked.
"There is no better time than the present," Quentin said with a grin. "Isn't that why we are planning to live in the present rather than the past?"
"Then, let's do it," Jamison said excitedly.
"The portal is right over there." Quentin pointed to the spot where Barnabas and Ironside had disappeared into the past.
Jamison walked over to the spot Quentin was pointing. He looked back at the ghost. "I'm scared, Quentin. What if I don't arrive where I am supposed to?"
"Just think of home. All you have to do is thing about where you want to go, and that is where it will drop you. Do you understand?"
With a little more confidence, Jamison said, "Yes, I think I do."
"Then go, Jamison, and return here with my living self."
Jamison nodded and stepped through the time portal.
3
Barnabas arrived at Petofi's cottage. He turned back to human form. Standing outside the door, he waited. He remained frozen in place. Was it fear he was feeling. Fear was not an emotion the vampire had experienced in a long time. Not since he was human had that particular emotion invaded his being. Yet, Petofi had not been able to harm Chief Ironside or Professor Stokes. If he could not harm them, why should he believe the warlock could harm a vampire?
The professor said Petofi could not harm him because he was a relative. Yet, Robert certainly was not a relative of Petofi's. Why then could he not harm him? There wasn't any doubt Barnabas was far more lethal than Robert Ironside. Why then was he just standing here instead of going in? How much longer would he waste time outside the cottage of Petofi. Eve Whitfield's life could depend on him. He owed it to Robert to make sure the same thing didn't happen the last time his detective friend brought her to Collinsport.
The time for hesitating was over. Barnabas disappeared and reappeared inside Petofi's cottage. The count had his back to the vampire. His presence had not gone unnoticed. "Hello, Mister Collins, or may I call you Barnabas?"
The vampire watched as Petofi turned around to face him. "You have Eve Whitfield. You will release her at once."
The warlock smiled. "You are not in the position to make any demands. I will be more than happy to release her. I have no conflict with Miss . . . Whitfield, is it? All I want is the secret to time travel."
"That is not possible. I cannot allow you to leave this century," Barnabas replied.
"You are well aware of my problem with the gypsies, are you not?" Petofi asked.
"Of course," the vampire replied, "but, it is your problem. Don't make it mine."
"Oh but it is, vampire." Petofi looked out the window. "You have another problem. It will soon be dawn. You will have to return to your coffin. I can make that much more difficult for you. In fact, it would be to my advantage to do so."
"You cannot harm me." Barnabas took a couple steps toward Petofi. With a wave of his hand, Petofi stopped the vampire's forward movement.
"You see, Mister Collins, I have dealt with vampires before. You have a weakness I doubt even you are aware of. You cannot harm me. You don't seem to understand you are not dealing with Nicholas Blair. He is powerless compared to me."
Barnabas couldn't move. He attempted to disappear, but failed to do so. He began to feel real fear so great that he was soon to feel another emotion long since dead to him . . . panic. Petofi was right. He had to return to his coffin. He had wasted much of the darkness waiting for Quentin to return from Wyncliff. Now, he was out of time. He had hoped to come here, rescue Eve, and return to the Old House before the sun could burn and turn him to ashes. "Release me!"
"Not until you tell the secret of time travel!" Petofi didn't understand why he hadn't thought of it before. He didn't need Eve Ironside. He only needed the vampire right where he was at this moment. Completely vulnerable. He would burn up if he didn't agree to Petofi's proposal.
"Aristede!" the count shouted.
The gypsy servant came into the room. After surveying the scene in front of him, he walked over to the vampire. With a grin on his face, he said, "My, aren't we in a fix? You shouldn't have challenged the count. He knows how to handle a bloodsucker."
"Now, Aristede, I thought I taught you never to gloat. Mister Collins is about to tell us what we want to know. He is going to give us the secret of time travel. You and I are about to leave this century."
"Never!" Barnabas snarled. His eyes turned black and his fangs elongated. He began hissing.
Aristede began laughing. "I do believe our vampire friend is having a temper tantrum.
"You don't have much time, Mister Collins. When you leave here, you will not be able to turn into a bat and fly back to the Old House. Nor will you be able to disappear as you already know. I am certain you have already tried."
"Release me!"
"Not just yet. Tell me the secret of time travel."
The fear in the vampire began to disappear. He had existed a long time. If this was his time to leave the world for good, then so be it. He would not leave without accomplishing one last deed. "Release Eve Whitfield and I will tell you what you want to know."
"Tell me the secret of time travel first and I will release her and you."
"No! I do not trust you. Release her first. You may succeed in destroying me, but you will never get the secret of time travel from Robert Ironside. You can't harm him." The vampire watched his enemy as he stood there thinking.
"What assurance do I have that you will tell me if I release her first?"
"My very existence."
Petofi smiled. "You have a point. All right, as you wish. Aristede, release Eve Ironside, rather Eve Whitfield."
Aristede bowed and left the room. He returned with Ironside's policewoman. Petofi returned his attention to the vampire. "Now it is your turn. What is the secret of time travel."
"Not until Miss Whitfield is far away from here," Barnabas insisted.
"Barnabas, no!" Eve shouted.
"That will be enough!" Petofi said sternly. "You will not say another word."
"Let her leave, and I will tell you what you want to know."
Eve realized Barnabas was frozen in place. There was no other explanation for why he would agree to what Petofi wanted. She had to find a way to help him. He had saved her life; she had to save his. Dawn was not far off, and if he didn't return to his coffin, he would be destroyed by the sun. "I'll tell you if you release Barnabas."
"Eve!" Barnabas had no intention of telling Petofi how to travel through time; he couldn't allow Eve to do so either. He just wanted to get her out of here and under the protection of Robert Ironside once more.
They heard horses gallop up to the cottage. Petofi turned to his servant. "Aristede, point your gun at that door."
"But, Count, I don't have my gun on me. It is . . . "
Before he could finish, the door burst open, and Robert Ironside entered with a gun of his own. He pointed it toward Aristede. "You stay right where you are. Remember, I am a police officer. My aim is flawless, even with something as primitive as this gun."
"Chief, Barnabas can't move!" Eve told him.
"I just came from the Great House. The professor joined me there. He remembered something from his reading about Petofi. He suspected Barnabas would be vulnerable. He's outside holding the horses. We are leaving, Petofi."
"Barnabas, isn't going anywhere," Petofi said. "If you don't give me the secret of time travel, then he will be destroyed when the sun comes up."
The door opened, Professor Stokes came in. "I have been listening. Barnabas, the reason he is able to hold you is strictly fear. Because he has temporarily halted your powers, he's been able to bring out a long since buried emotion in you . . . fear. Conquer your fear, and he can't harm you. It will take a while to regain your supernatural powers, but you can walk out of here. We have horses outside to take you back to the Old House.
"Do it now, Barnabas. We are running out of time," Ironside said.
The vampire concentrated on moving. At first nothing happened, but with all of the effort within him, he stepped forward as he began to lose the fear of the loss of his supernatural powers.
"Now, let's get the flaming hell out of here!" Ironside shouted.
Eve and Professor Stokes assisted the vampire out of the cottage as Ironside held the gun on Aristede and Petofi. Petofi was fuming, but he knew there was nothing he could do at the moment. He would deal with Aristede for leaving his gun in the other room.
"We will meet again, Mister Ironside," Petofi told him.
"If we do, I will forget that I am an officer of the law. Remember that. If Barnabas has taught me one thing, it is that the law doesn't apply the same way to supernatural beings." With that, Ironside backed out of the cottage.
Arriving outside, he found that the professor and Eve had already mounted one horse. Barnabas was on the other. Ironside put one foot in the stirrup and lifted his large frame unto the horse. "Let's go!"
With the professor guiding one horse and Ironside the other, they galloped the horses at top speed back to the Old House. Stokes jumped down from the horse and assisted Eve down. "Go, Chief! Get Barnabas downstairs at once!"
Ironside pulled the vampire from the horse and hurried him up the numerous stairs of the Old House. They raced inside, down the foyer, and descended the stairs to the basement. As they stood by the coffin, Barnabas looked at his human friend. "Robert, I . . . "
"We'll have time for that at sunset. Get in the flaming coffin!"
The vampire opened the coffin. Ironside notice the look of surprise on his face. "What is it?"
Barnabas assisted Rachel out of his coffin. "Take care of her, Robert. I will deal with her at sunset." The vampire got into the coffin and closed the lid just as the sun rose in the sky.
Ironside looked at Rachel. "What in blazes do you think you were doing? Don't you realize he could have killed you?"
"Barnabas would never harm me. He is my destiny."
Shaking his head, Ironside led her out of the basement. "Vampires," he grumbled.
4
Jamison stepped through the time portal and into the woods. Looking around, he he felt total relief. He was home. At least he was home for the time being. He must remember, this would only be his home until he convinced Quentin to travel into the future. He had to admit he was scared. He didn't even know a person could travel through time. Now, not only had he done so, he would do so again. Only this time, he would travel to the future and stay there. He really didn't care where he lived as long as he was with Quentin. It had been so lonely when Quentin went away. He couldn't live through that again.
Jamison was worried about posing as David Collins, but if it meant being with Quentin, he could learn to become David. He started toward the Great House. Knowing that David Collins would be there, Jamison would have to sneak into the mansion and find him. He knew the perfect place to hold him. It was one of the passages Judith knew about. That was who he would leave the note. She would be the one to find David after he and Quentin left for the future. He knew he should feel bad about leaving him in a century that was completely foreign to him, then again the century he was going to was completely foreign to him too. So, in his mind, they were even.
As he approached the Great House, he started thinking about how he could lure David into the secret passage ways. He certainly wasn't going to go there with him willingly. Jamison worried David would tell Barnabas about him, and he couldn't allow that. Barnabas would do what Jamison was about to do to David. Only it would be Jamison that would be held prisoner until they could return to the future. He wasn't about to allow that to happen. The lad wasn't going to be separated from Quentin. Never again.
"David, what are you doing out here in the woods this early in the morning?"
Jamison whirled around to see Quentin standing there. "I am not David Collins. I am Jamison Collins. You should know that, Quentin."
"Are you forgetting. Barnabas and Chief Ironside told me everything. I know you are David Collins from the future."
"No, Quentin, I am Jamison. I just returned from the future. Your ghost sent be back here."
The tall handsome Collins looked down at him and frowned. "This is not funny, David. You get back to Collinwood. Be careful what you say and do. Judith cannot suspect that you are an impostor."
"But I am not an impostor. I am Jamison Collins." His eyes lit up. "Ask me only something you and I would know. Go ahead, ask me!"
Quentin stared at David Collins, or was it Jamison Collins. If the boy went through the time portal once, why couldn't he do it again. Ironside and Barnabas said that his ghost was the one that forced them to travel to this time to stop him from accidentally causing Jenny's death; therefore stopping Magna from cursing him to become a werewolf. Maybe he should allow David to prove he was Jamison. After all, if it were only something he and Jamison knew, there would be no way David Collins could answer him.
"All right, we will play your game. Let me pose a question to you. This will be one only you and I would know." Quentin decided he would ask a question that David Collins would know, but not Jamison. "What did I ask you to do in regards to Edith Collins?"
Jamison looked at Quentin. He couldn't remember anything Quentin asked him to do. "I don't understand. You did not ask me to do anything where she was concerned. Maybe you should explain the circumstances. Then maybe I will remember."
Quentin frowned. The puzzled look on David's face looked genuine. But then, the boy was capable of fooling a lot of people. "All right. It was right after Edith died."
Jamison's eyes grew big. This was news to him. She was alive when he left. "She's dead?"
"Yes, but you know that already."
"No, I didn't. When I crossed over the staircase into the future, she was still alive."
Quentin began to wonder. Was this really Jamison Collins. Only David would know Edith was dead. If Jamison did indeed cross over to the future, he would have no idea she was gone. Yet, the boy was dressed in the clothes of the day. "Why are you dressed that way if you were in the future? They must dress differently than we do today. Progress dictates that."
"I never left the West Wing, which is not in use in the future. You wouldn't let me."
"I wouldn't let you?" Quentin said.
"Your ghost, Quentin. He wouldn't left me. He sent me back here to convince you to come forward in time when Barnabas and Chief Ironside return. He believes you will avoid the werewolf curse. I don't think he wants to depend on Barnabas to stop the curse. Or rather you don't."
That all made sense to Quentin. It is exactly as he would handle it. "One last question, David . . . "
"Jamison, my name is Jamison."
Quentin nodded in acknowledgement of the boy's insistence. "Jamison. When I came back, where did we first see each other?"
"That's easy. In your room. I was there playing your music," Jamison responded.
That did it. The boy standing before him was indeed Jamison Collins. Quentin went directly over to him and hugged him. "I didn't even know you were gone until Barnabas told me the boy posing as you was actually David Collins." When he let go, Quentin said, "Tell me more about what my ghost said."
"He wants you to cross the staircase and go into the future. You will be able to avoid becoming a werewolf. No that is not quite correct. The staircase has nothing to do with it. It is the time portal that counts. At least that is what your ghost said.
"Barnabas and Chief Ironside will never allow me to do that. They will insist I stay here."
"You can't do that Quentin. If you do, you will become a werewolf."
Quentin thought about what the boy had told him. It was so overwhelming. "Barnabas saved my life just a little while ago. I believe he is here to help me."
"He is, but he is not going to allow you to cross into the future. He is worried about how it will change the timeline."
"Do you know where this time portal is?" Quentin asked.
Jamison lowered his head. "I am not sure. I came through, but didn't pay any attention where I came out."
Disappointed but not deterred, Quentin ruffled the boy's hair. "Don't worry about it, we will find it."
"Quentin, you must take me with you. Your ghost promised me you would."
He smiled at Jamison. "You know I would never leave you behind." Yet, he knew he would never take the boy with him no matter how much it hurt to leave him behind. Barnabas was right about one thing. They could not change the timeline anymore than necessary. Taking Jamison with him could have a very adverse effect on the Collins family. Quentin had no idea what would happen in Jamison's future. He might be the only one to carry on the Collins line. He would not be responsible for ending the Collins family in the future.
"We will have to hide you in my room until I talk to Barnabas. David will have to be moved to the Old House. We can't have two of you roaming around here." Quentin made a fake expression of horror. "Can you imagine the panic it would cause if someone found out there were two of you?"
"Come on, Quentin, quit kidding around."
Quentin grinned. I wasn't kidding." He led the boy back to the Great House. He trusted Barnabas, but he had no intention of staying in this century. If going into the future would keep him from becoming a werewolf, than he was going back with Barnabas, Ironside, Stokes and Eve whether they wanted him or not.
