Dark Shadows: Back to the Past

Chapter 32

1

Aristede burst into Count Petofi's cottage. Petofi was sitting by the fire reading a book. He looked up at his servant. He had banished him from the cottage. Although it was not intended to be permanent, he hadn't wanted to see him so soon. He had a good mind to thrash him again. Aristede had ruined a perfect opportunity for him to finally find out where the time portal was. He was running out of time. Aware that the head of the gypsies was looking for him, he had to leave this century. They were coming for the all powerful hand. He would not have it ripped from him. The problem was, the gypsies were the one group that could destroy him.

"What are you doing back here so soon. I told you . . ."

"I know what you told me, Count. I thought you would put that aside when you found out what I came here to tell you."

He studied Aristede for a moment. The young man was very excited. He was about to throw him out, when he thought better of it. Petofi would wait until he found out what excited him so. But first, he'd give him new instructions. "In a minute, Aristede. I have something I want you to do. And I suggest you not fail. It is time I take Quentin's body. It is the only way I will find out where the time portal is. I must leave this century and escape into the future.

"Why must you go into the future? I don't understand."

"Because of the gypsies. I have been told Magna has betrayed me. She has inform them of my whereabouts. They will come for me. No doubt they are already on their way. We must be gone before they get here. The gypsies are nothing but trash. I do not want to confront them."

Aristede resented the gypsies being called trash. He was a gypsy himself. It was unfortunate he accepted a favor from Petofi. If he'd known it was going to make him a slave to the warlock, he never would have got involved. He wouldn't mind it a bit if Johnny Romano and his tribe caught up with Petofi.

As if reading Aristede's mind, Petofi warned him. "Don't even think of delaying my plan. I assure you, if they do catch up to me, you will die before I do. Now, do whatever you have to, but bring Quentin Collins to me so I may make the switch. When Johnny Romano comes, he will cut off Quentin's hand and destroy him rather than me."

"I can't do that, Count."

Petofi turned his hand in one swift swipe causing the gypsy to be slammed into the wall. "Do not defy me. You will regret it. Now, go get Quentin."

"That is what I have been trying to tell you. Quentin is gone." Aristede kept his distance from Count Petofi, hoping his wrath couldn't reach him clear across the room, despite knowing it could.

"Gone! Whatever are you talking about?" Count Petofi lifted the powerful hand and pointed it at Aristede. "Speak!"

"I was in the woods when I came upon him. He was standing in front of a staircase . . . "

"A staircase in the middle of the woods. Do you take me for a fool?" Petofi said, raising his voice.

"Of course not. This just wasn't a normal staircase because Quentin walked up it and disappeared!" Aristede hoped that would be enough information to prevent the count from retaliating.

"How is that possible? One can't disappear on a staircase in the middle of the woods. Have you been drinking, Aristede?"

"No, Count, I swear. That is exactly what I saw. I don't believe it was just a staircase. Quentin was looking for a time portal. I heard him talking to that Collins boy. They both planned on going through the time portal to escape you."

A smile spread across Petofi's face. "Then we shall go to the time portal and join him in the future. He will not elude me. I must change bodies with him. I don't have many years left in this one. Quentin is a young man. He has many years ahead of him, and I intend to take advantage of them. I will not stay in this old body any longer. Now, tell me, can you find this time portal again?"

"Yes, Count. I marked the exact spot before I came to you," Aristede told him.

"Then you must prepare to travel with me."

His face dropped. "Travel with you? To the future? I thought maybe you would release me now that you would be safe in the future."

"Release you? You thought wrong. I have no intention of releasing you. I will need you to help with Quentin when we arrive in the future. Now, go prepare to travel through the time portal. We will not be coming back."

Devastated with this news, Aristede went into his bed chambers to collect what little belongings he possessed.

2

Magna had never traveled this far away from Collinsport. She had to find a way to rid herself of the demon vampire that was residing at the Old House. Magna had something Johnny Romano wanted. She intended to trade that knowledge for the destruction of the bloodsucking demon that had a hold over her and Sandor. She wanted him out of the Old House. Magna realized she was no match for the strength of the demon. She needed help, and Johnny was just the man who could help her.

Searching for hours for the gypsy tribe, she had become weary she would ever find them. Still, she wouldn't give up. Magna had traveled this far. She would keep going until she came upon Johnny Romano and his people. Her people. If she wanted to, Magna would be welcomed to join them. She knew she never would. Actually, she would, but Sandor would not. Magna couldn't live without her Sandor. She loved him more than life itself. Anything that would make him happy, she would do. That included living among the rich Collins family and serving them as if she was beneath them. It sicken her, but she loved Sandor. She wished the gypsy spirit would rise in him.

Why did Sandor choose to live in the Old House? It was deteriorating right before their eyes, and the Collins family didn't care. Why should they? As far as they were concerned, she and Sandor were filthy gypsies who deserve no better. Someday, she hoped her husband would develop a backbone and stand up to the Collins family. They didn't need them. They only needed each other.

"What are you doing out here, gypsy?"

Magna turned to see a grizzled man in dirty clothes. She figured he was a criminal running from the law. His clothes were torn and definitely seen better days. He had hair that hadn't seen water and soap for many weeks. "What business of it is yours?" she snarled at him.

"I am making it my business." He looked her up and down. The gypsy was wearing rings on all of her fingers and several necklaces around her neck. They had to be worth a lot of money. He could use the money. It had been several days since he last eaten. It wasn't possible to show his face in any town. He was wanted by the law. He would be arrested the second he entered any town in this area. His reputation was notorious.

"Well, I am not. So, I suggest you leave me alone or you will regret it."

The stranger move swiftly toward her. Magna backed up, but he never reached her. A shot rang out behind her, and the stranger fell to the ground. His eyes look blankly to the sky. She knew that look. The man was dead. Magna looked to see who had decided to be her protector. Her anxious feeling went away when she saw the man who came to her rescue was a gypsy, and he was wearing the code of Johnny Roman's tribe.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

"Who I am doesn't matter. What does matter is you are trespassing on our sacred ground. Leave at once."

"Why did you kill that man?"

"Was he with you?"

"No."

"Then why do you care?" he asked.

"I don't. I have never known Johnny Romano to kill unnecessarily. He would have run this man off his land."

The man's eyes lit up. "You know Johnny Romano?"

"We met a couple times. He told me I would always be welcome in his tribe. So, I insist you take me to him."

He stood there staring at Magna as if he was sizing her up. "How do I know you are telling me the truth?"

"The only way you will know is if you take me to see Johnny. I have knowledge of the whereabouts of the hand and Count Petofi." As she watched him, the expression on his face changed. The recognition. It was there in his eyes as well. But then she knew that. He had the Romano crest on his arm.

"I will take you to Johnny Romano. I warn you. He won't take kindly to being blackmailed or lied to. You could be killed for it."

"I am not going to blackmail him, and I have no intention of lying to him. I must see him. Now, will you take me to him or not?" Magna demanded.

He stood there for a moment making up his mind whether he should oblige her. Finally, he said, "Follow me."

They walked silently in the woods for what seemed like hours. When they reached the Romano camp, people stood staring at Magna as the gypsy passed her through them. He took her directly to Johnny Romano's tent.

As they entered the tent, Romano recognized her. "Magna, isn't it?"

"Yes. You told me I would always be welcome in your tribe."

"Have you come to join us, Magna?"

She shook her head. "My husband prefers to live among the rich Collins family," she said disgustedly.

"Then he is not with you?" Johnny asked.

"No. I come alone."

He gestured to the spot beside him. "Sit."

Magna wasted no time. She sat down beside the head of the gypsy tribe.

"Tell me, why are you here?" Johnny asked her.

"I have brought you information for which I will expect something in return," Magna said.

"What is this information you thing will bring you something from me."

"I have news of the hand and Count Petofi."

She had Romano's full attention. His dark eyes bore into hers. After a moment of silence, Romano asked, "What is it you want in exchange for the location of Petofi and the hand?"

"There is a vampire living in the Old House in Collinsport. He claims he is from the future. I have never believed in time travel, but this one had strange boxes. A box with words and a bright light. It is nothing like anything I have ever seen. Count Petofi believes he is from the future and came to our time through the use of a time portal. He knows you are not far. Petofi plans to use that time portal to escape you and travel into the future."

Johnny Romano spent the last ten years tracking Count Petofi. He did not let on to Magna how important and relieved he was to hear his mission to find the hand and punish Petofi was nearing its end. "You still have not told me what you want for this information you have just revealed. I am surprised you would do so without a guarantee from me that I will grant your demands. I could simply take the information you have shared and act upon it disregarding whatever it is you want."

"But you won't," Magna said.

"And why won't I?" Johnny countered.

"Because Johnny Romano is an honorable man. You will give me what I want. You know the information I have brought you is worth it. You will reward me as I have requested."

Romano smiled a rare smile. "What is it you want, Magna?"

"I want you to destroy the bloodsucker and remove him from the Old House."

Romano didn't like what she was asking of him. He had dealt with vampires before and almost lost his life in doing so. "If this vampire is from the future, how can you not be certain he will leave on his own and return to where he came from?"

"I can't. In fact, I believe he will. The problem is I have no idea when that will be, and I am not willing to wait. He has made a slave out of us. I could handle it, but not my Sandor. No one hurts my Sandor. I want that vampire staked and destroyed."

"The vampire has not bitten you, has he?"

With a shake of her head, she confirmed what he already knew. "He has a friend he brought with him. A big man. He listens to him. This man is dangerous. He claims to be a constable, but when I checked, he is not from where he claims to be. I can find out nothing about him or the people he is with."

"There are others?" Johnny asked.

"Yes. Another man they call Professor Stokes and a woman, Eve Ironside. He says she is his daughter, but she bares no resemblance to him. These people are strange. They seem out of place. They do not belong here. And they are able to resist the power of the hand."

"Are you saying Petofi cannot harm them?"

"That's exactly what I am saying. Ironside walks all over Petofi."

Romano thought for a moment. "I will help you. But, I will not kill the vampire."

Magna was livid. "I give you all this information, and you are going to go back on your word. I thought you were a man of honor, Johnny Romano."

"I am a man of my word. I will rid you of this vampire, but I will do it my way. If he and this man you call Ironside can resist Petofi and the gypsy hand, they can help us retrieve the hand and punish Petofi. I don't believe you have a problem in the first place. It is obvious to me they have a mission in this time and will return when it is completed. So, do not fret. Your vampire will be banished from your life. Now, we must prepare to go to Collinsport immediately."

3

Jamison Collins searched the woods. He could find no sign of Quentin. He promised he would come back to Collinwood and get him. It had been a dull dreary day. The sun had not shone and it threaten rain all day. Thunder could be heard off and on; the lightning lit up the sky several times. It was if God was angry. Perhaps he was angry because Quentin had lied to him. He must have found the time portal on his own and crossed over into the future. Why had he listened to the ghost of Quentin Collins. He was angry and could not rest because something in his life had not been settled. Something serious. Maybe it had something to do with Quentin being turned into a werewolf. Jamison didn't know and really didn't care. What he did care about was Quentin lied to him. He left him behind after saying he would take him with him.

Why did he have him lock David Collins in that room if he had no intention of letting him go to the future with him. He just didn't understand. Jamison checked the cottage where Quentin stayed when he was in Collinsport. Well, sometime he stayed there and sometimes he stayed at the Great House. Jamison much preferred he stay there. He was able to see him. Now he felt the despair of losing Quentin forever. Jamison would never see him again. How could he do this to him.

Wait a minute! He went through the time portal once, he could do it again. All he had to do was find it. Barnabas Collins knew where the portal was located. He and the man who claimed to be a cop would be returning to the future soon. Why couldn't he just keep the same plan Quentin made? He could return with Barnabas and Ironside. He already wrote the note that would help Judith find David. She need never know he was David Collins and not Jamison. The boy smiled. He would only have to fool Barnabas and Ironside that he was David Collins. They would take him back with them. Then he could see Quentin again.

Pleased with himself for coming up with a plan, he headed for the path that would lead him to the Old House. Now was as good a time as ever to find out if he could fool the two of them. David said he would never fool Barnabas. Jamison believed he was wrong. Barnabas had no reason to suspect he wasn't David. He would not even consider Jamison had come back through the time portal. It was Robert Ironside who worried him. He didn't like the man from what Quentin had told him about him. According to the ghost of Quentin, he had a very suspicious nature. He was a real live detective in the future, and considered the best there was. He would not be easily fooled. Yet, Jamison had fooled a lot of people in his day. He would just have to work extra hard to keep Ironside from discovering who he really was. By the time he found out, they would all be in the future. Then it would be too late.

Jamison continued on the path to the Old House. He practiced over and over what he was going to tell Ironside and Barnabas. The ghost told him Barnabas wasn't going to let Quentin go through the time portal into the future. That is where Jamison's plan manifested. He would inform Barnabas that Quentin had already found the portal and went to the future. He was certain he could be very convincing.

As he reached the Old House, his confidence began to wane. He was scared. What if he couldn't convince them? They would want to know where David was. He certainly couldn't tell them. Jamison would just have to keep insisting that he was David Collins until they believed him.

The boy climbed the many steps to the Old House and knocked on the door. He wasn't sure if the sound was coming from the door knocker or his knees. He needed to get a hold of himself or he would never be convincing. The door was opened by Eve Ironside.

Eve smiled when she saw Jamison on the other side of the door. "David! What are you doing out after dark?

Jamison gave her a fake smile. "It's not all that dark out. Besides, I must see Chief Ironside and Barnabas. I have something very important to tell them. Very, very important." He hoped he didn't overdo it. Ironside's daughter didn't seem to notice, but then she didn't know David that well. His performance would not have seemed over the top.

"Come in. Chief Ironside is in the drawing room. We are waiting for Barnabas to rise. It should be very shortly now." She smiled at him and close the doors after he entered.

Jamison had never been so nervous in his life as he was at this moment. This would be a make or break performance. He must convince them he was David if he were to go to the future with them. As he entered the drawing room, he heard the door open to the basement where Barnabas' coffin was hidden. Footsteps sounded in the foyer. Soon, Barnabas appeared in the doorway of the drawing room.

"David, what are you doing here? It is dark. Judith will be worried about you," Barnabas said.

"I . . . well, I told her I just had to see you Barnabas. She said it was okay as long as you walked me back to Collinwood. You will walk me back, won't you, Barnabas?" Out the corner of his eye, he could see Ironside scrutinizing him.

Ironside looked at the boy. He read people extremely well. David was extremely nervous. He looked worried and uneasy. Ironside decided right away the boy was not telling the truth. Then again, David was known for the whoppers he told. Even then, Ironside didn't see why the lad had any reason to lie to them.

"Of course I'll walk you back, David," Barnabas confirmed. "Is there something wrong? You seem upset."

"No . . . well, yes there is. That is the reason I am here." Jamison noticed Ironside glaring at him as if he knew he was lying. The man just unnerved him. Jamison just bet he could get criminals to confess just to get out from under that steely glare.

"What's wrong, David?" Professor Stokes asked. "You can tell us."

"Yes, David, tell us what you think is so important that you came here in the dark," Barnabas said.

"May I remind you it is the only time I can see you, Cousin Barnabas?" Jamison said.

"You could've come and talk to me," Ironside said, breaking into the conversation. You've always been able to talk to me."

"Of course I have," Jamison said. "You have always been nice to me."

Ironside noted the boy did not look him in the eye when he talked to him. Something was off. Something was wrong. Why was the boy so nervous? He would wait and see what he had to say before passing judgement.

"I came to tell you I saw Quentin this afternoon. He wanted me to help him find the staircase. He said the only way he was going to avoid the werewolf curse was to go through the portal to the future."

"I was afraid of that," the professor said. "It was only a matter of time before he decided that. It is what his ghost wanted after all."

"David, where is Quentin now?" Barnabas asked.

Jamison was confident he had fooled Barnabas. He really did think he was David. The professor and Eve Ironside seemed to also believe he was David Collins. He wasn't as confident Chief Ironside did. The man just kept staring at him. Was he trying to intimidate him? If he was, he was doing a very good job. The longer Ironside stared, the more nervous Jamison got.

"I don't know where he is. I have been looking all over for him, Barnabas, and I have not been able to find him. Judith has been looking for him too. She wants Jenny released from Wyncliff and returned to Collinwood. I have been to his cottage, his room and everywhere I can think of trying to find him. He doesn't seem to be in Collinsport."

Barnabas' handsome face took on a worried look. "David, did you show him where the staircase was?"

"No, Barnabas, honest, but he seemed to know the general area. I would never tell him where it was."

"No, you wouldn't do that. You took an oath when I came to Collinwood the first time. Do you remember what that oath was?" Ironside demanded, never taking his eyes from David.

"Ah . . . I am sorry, Chief Ironside, that was some time ago. I can't remember."

"David Collins never forgets anything," Ironside said, continuing to stare.

"Chief, take it easy, you are scaring David," Professor Stokes said.

"Am I? What is there for him to be scared of?" He turned his attention back to the youngster. "Whatever happened to that medallion, David."

"The medallion?" Jamison said. He was beginning to perspire. Ironside suspected something. He would just have to try and answer his questions and hope they were the right answers.

"Yes, the medallion. You know the one you used to hypnotize the Collins family to protect them from the . . . what were they called? I am sure you remember that. You saved the Collins family from them."

Jamison was in an all-out panic. Ironside knew he wasn't David. He was asking question he knew only David could answer. "I just don't remember."

"Robert, what is this all about?" Barnabas asked.

Instead of answering the vampire, he said, "Why don't we let David answer that?"

"Chief, what does this have to do with anything. You are intimidating him. He probably can't even think right now. Besides, it has nothing to do with our present situation," the professor said, defending the lad.

"It has everything to do with our current situation, doesn't it, David, or should I call you Jamison?"

"What!" Barnabas exclaimed. "Robert, are you suggesting that this is not David."

"It's not. This boy is Jamison Collins," Ironside said."

"I am not. I am David Collins!"

"If you are David, then answer my question. Who were trying to save the Collins family from?"

"I . . . I don't remember."

"Whose detective badge were you given just before we summoned the ghost of Quentin Collins?" Ironside snarled.

"What? Please, Chief Ironside, you are confusing me," Jamison pleaded.

"And what ghost did you visit at the Old House before Barnabas arrived in Collinsport?" the detective demanded.

Jamison just wanted to run. He hadn't fooled the detective, not even a bit. He should have spoken to Barnabas alone. He said nothing. There was nothing to say. He had no idea what Ironside was talking about. Everyone in the drawing room was silent. Jamison had failed to convince the one man he needed to in order to execute his plan. Now he probably would never see Quentin again."

"Jamison!" Barnabas said sharply.

"I'm not Jamison, I'm David," he insisted weakly.

The vampire watched the boy. "Do not lie to me. You are Jamison Collins, aren't you?"

"No! How many times do I have to tell you?" he cried.

Barnabas use vampiric speed to get to the boy. Grabbing his head, he elongated his fangs. "Do I have to bite you to get the truth from you." The vampire expected Robert to intervene, but he said nothing.

"Please let me go!" Jamison pleaded.

"I'll let you go when you tell me the truth. Are you Jamison Collins?"

Jamison looked up at Barnabas. His face was contorted in anger. His canine teeth were visible, and Jamison was sure he was about to tear his throat out. "Okay, I'm Jamison!" Tears rolled down his cheek. "I just wanted to be with Quentin. Don't you understand. It is so lonely here without him. No one else ever talks to me. I mean really talks to me."

Barnabas released his hold on Jamison. He stepped back. He could tell by the look on Robert's face what his next question was going to be, because it was the next question he wanted answered as well.

"Where is David Collins?" Ironside demanded.

It was then Jamison realized he still had some leverage against them. He just might get to join Quentin after all. "I'll tell you only if you promise to take me with you. Will you agree to that?"

"You will tell us now. I promise you nothing," Barnabas said.

"Then I won't tell you anything."

"You give me no choice, I will bite you and your will will be mine," Barnabas said. As he reached for him, he was stopped by the sound of Robert Ironside's voice.

"No, Barnabas! You will not bite the boy," Ironside growled.

"How else are we going to find out where David is?" the vampire asked.

"There has to be another way," Ironside replied.

There was a knock on the door. "Get that, will you, Professor?" Barnabas requested.

Elliott Stokes went immediately into the foyer to the double doors. When he opened them, he discovered Magna standing there with several gypsies.

"I am hear to see Barnabas Collins and Robert Ironside," Johnny Romano told the professor.

"Right this way," Elliott responded. Johnny and his party followed the professor into the drawing room.

Johnny Romano walked into the drawing room, but Barnabas didn't notice him. His eyes were fixed on Magna. "Where have you been?" His voice was low and deadly.

"Getting help since you are incapable of doing so," she answered.

Barnabas took several steps toward her. She backed away and stood next to Romano. Johnny put up his hand to stop him. "We come in peace, vampire. We mean you no harm."

Ironside could see the anger welling up in Barnabas. He walked over to him and stood beside him. "Who are you and what is it you want?"

"I suspect the same thing you want. You want Petofi gone, no?"

Neither Barnabas or Ironside said anything. They would wait until they knew more. Finally, Barnabas said, "You are head of the gypsy tribe."

"That is correct. My name is Johnny Romano. Magna tells me you have something I want."

Ironside looked the tribal leader in the eye. "And what might that be?"

"Petofi. He stole power from us. He stole the hand. We want it back. Petofi must be punished for what he has done." Romano stared right back at Ironside. It was obvious he was not the least bit intimidated by the detective.

"What do you want from us?" Professor Stokes asked.

"Your help in capturing him. We will deal with him. You will never see him again. He will trouble you no more."

Ironside wasn't satisfied with that answer. It was the serve and protect officer within him. "What do you intend to do with him?"

"That is of no concern to you. Will you help us or not?" Romano asked.

"Not," Ironside said, "unless you tell us what you intend to do with him."

Barnabas turned and looked at his friend. "Just a minute, Robert. This would settle our entire problem. If we give Petofi to him, Quentin is in the clear. He will no longer live under the threat of becoming a werewolf. We can go home. Remember, Petofi is a supernatural being. He doesn't fall under your laws anymore than I did."

The chief hated to admit it, but Barnabas was right. There wasn't any way to punish supernatural beings under mortal laws. They had to be dealt with differently. He had a hard time condemning a man without a trial of his peers. He almost laughed at that thought. What were they going to do? Put an add in the paper for all the warlocks in the area to sit on the jury? This was one time he had to defer to his vampire friend. He looked at Barnabas and nodded his head.

"All right, we'll help you," Barnabas said.

"Where is Petofi?" Romano asked.

"In a cottage not far from here. We will take you there," the vampire promised.

Ironside turned to Eve. "You will stay here with Jamison and Magna. Sandor went into town to pick up a few things. He will be back shortly. When we get back, we will locate David and then get the hell out of this nightmare. Quentin will be safe once Petofi is dealt with."

Jamison was sitting on the sofa with a grin on his face. "No you won't, leave that is. You see, I told you I didn't know where Quentin was. That wasn't entirely true. We were in the area of the staircase when he came upon me. I told him it was in that area somewhere. Now he is nowhere to be found. Where do you think he went? He found the staircase and crossed into the future. And you won't find David unless you agree to take me with you to the future. I will not be separated from Quentin again."

Barnabas moved over to Jamison quickly. He towered over the boy menacingly. It had the desired effect. Jamison shrank from the vampire. "You will tell. If you refuse, I have ways of making you tell us. I will deal with you when I get back."

"Come on, we are wasting time. Let's go!" Ironside said to refocus the vampire.

4

"Aristede, how much longer is it going to take you to pack?" Count Petofi called out.

The gypsy servant poked his head out of the room off the living room. "You have requested quite a bit of things, Count. It will take a while to gather and pack them."

There was a knock on the door. The warlock forgot about the packing for the moment as he headed for the door. He rarely received visitors and when he did, it was usually he who requested the company of the individual, not the other way around. Arriving at the door, he opened it to find a 15 year-old boy who served as his eyes and ears. He would occasionally drop in with bits of important information for which Petofi would pay him a handsome sum of money.

Not letting the lad in, he gruffly asked, "What is it?"

"I thought you would like to know Johnny Romano was seen entering the Old House about an hour ago. He just came out with Barnabas Collins, that police constable and the professor who is with him. I am not sure where they were going, but I thought you might want to know."

Petofi reached in his pocket and gave the lad several coins. The boy grinned, thanked Petofi and ran off. The count wasted no time. "Aristede, we have to leave now!!

Aristede came out of the next room. "I'm not finished packing yet."

"We have to leave now. Johnny Romano is in Collinsport. He met with the vampire. They were seen leaving the Old House together. I have no doubt they are headed here. You know what Romano wants. We can only escape him by the time portal. The vampire will fly over head to track us for Romano."

Aristede could feel the terror welding inside him. If Johnny Romano found him with Petofi, he would suffer the same fate. It wouldn't matter that Aristede was not given any choice by Petofi. He would be just as dead as the warlock.

"I'll grab the duffle bags and be right out!" he shouted.

"Forget the bags. We don't have time. Carrying them will only slow us down. We have to leave now!"

Aristede entered the room. Petofi could see how pale his face was. He was terrified of Johnny Romano and with good reason. Petofi would not be able to use the hand on Romano. It was the hand of a gypsy warlock. It would never harm Romano. The hand would be rendered harmless. Very few knew Petofi's power came entirely from the hand he had stolen. He had very little warlock powers without it. His only chance of staying alive was to escape Romano by crossing into the future by way of the time portal.

Aristede opened the door of the cottage to allow Petofi to go out in front of him. This time his gun was very visible where he placed it inside his belt. They wasted no time heading for the time portal.

It wasn't more than fifteen minutes later that Barnabas brought the group to the cottage. He stopped in front of it. The lights were on inside. "Robert, this is your specialty. What do you suggest?"

"He will be ready for you with a gun loaded with silver bullets," Ironside said.

"He won't be ready for me," Romano said. "My people will go in ahead of me, then I will enter. This is our fight. You can follow us in."

Ironside would normally not allow anyone to give the orders, but this was one time he gladly would. Neither he, the professor or Barnabas were armed. With his inhuman speed, the vampire could be upon Petofi before he could stop him. But he and the professor had no way of protecting themselves.

Romano kicked in the door and his gypsies immediately entered. "Spread out. Don't let him get away," Romano ordered.

"Robert, you and the professor stay with me," Barnabas said.

Within a few minutes, the entire cottage had been search. "He's not here," Romano said.

Ironside dropped one of the duffle bags on the floor. "There are two more of these in the next room. Looks like they were planning on leaving. They must have got word and left in a hurry."

"Robert, you don't suppose . . . " Barnabas said, but his voice trailed off.

"The time portal!" Ironside shouted. "We have to stop them!" He turned and raced out of the cottage. Everyone else ran after him.