A/N: I am back on it here. Mind you, many of these ideas for a 'Dark Shadows' sequel were formulated almost ten years ago when I stepped out of the theater in May of 2012. We'd been viewing OS Dark Shadows via Netflix, I'd eagerly awaited a potentially dreadful film with a few laughs, and then my companions surveyed my shocked expression as I uttered, "I can't believe it… I'm… I'm satisfied." Then one of the people in our crew shouted throughout the mall, in which the theater had been, his words echoing within the enclosed structure, "Do you hear that, Everyone? A WOMAN HAS BEEN SATISFIED!"

I continued my ideas for a sequel in my head ever since then. And here we go with the results in my follow-your-nose approach.

Chapter Thirteen: A Plan In The Works

As Josette toyed with her eggs, Barnabas was served and so on to Buzz around the table.

"The strains of Bach make this an entirely delightful pastime."

Carolyn smiled while taking her first bite of breakfast and ventured, "Providing a soundtrack… it was the least Aunt Laura could do."

"Your Aunt Laura gave you the radio?" Elizabeth wondered.

"No, it was more David finding it again and her suggesting he offer it now that we're all here with so little."

"It sounds as if this Laura," Barnabas announced, "was far beyond Roger's deserving."

"I can vouch for that," Elizabeth asserted, enjoying her own helping of eggs and sardines on toast. "Now what about rebuilding Collinwood? Are there any thoughts on that idea?"

"Keep it the hell away from Widows Hill," was the sharp assertion Buzz gave with a bite of toast.

"We've got opinions," Elizabeth grinned.

"Well you did ask," Buzz responded.

"And he's right," Josette nodded, "as everyone knows, I can vouch for Widows Hill."

Elizabeth surveyed the young governess quizzically, "How much… do you remember… Josette duPres?"

"About what, Mrs. Stoddard?" Josette inquired.

Elizabeth blinked, "Well, first off: a name basis. You ought to call me Elizabeth at this point," this broached with a warm smile.

"If you insist… Elizabeth," Josette returned the smile.

"I must approve," Barnabas expressed, "if my bride is not family now she is getting close enough to be."

"I approve as well," Carolyn echoed, "Why have a modern governess when we can have a reincarnation of a long-lost relative instead?"

"I remembered fragments before," Josette confessed, "but the more things changed last night, the more memories came to me, and everything familiar about the grounds weren't the odd sense of déjà vu I kept getting… but a home, and reasons why I kept feeling at-home within The Great House, the shores, even the cliff."

"That," Elizabeth pointed out, "was precisely what I was getting to. Do you believe Angelique's curses extend beyond the old grounds of The Great House, where it was built?"

Josette dropped her fork and suddenly sat bolt upright, wide eyed she responded in a stage whisper, "You have it, Elizabeth! That's the plan we need to understand!"

Elizabeth nodded gravely, "It is. Do you think we could determine where all her magic is wrought hereabouts?"

Buzz cleared his throat, "They do say when a witch dies all her magic dies with her,"

"Ah," Barnabas observed, "if that were the case I wouldn't still be as I am today. Last night I asserted my curse was broken but that wasn't being a vampire, it was a fatal attraction and struggle with the demon known as Lust. If Angelique's spells on The Great House could keep so well as to have century's old constructs attack us all, I'm sure some remnants are still in order upon the grounds."

"Yes," Carolyn imparted, "but she isn't around to command them anymore."

"Good point," Buzz grinned.

"All right," Elizabeth pointed her hand up, taking a notepad and pencil from her lap, "that will be on the list of to-dos. First thing is first," she began writing, "Find traces of bewitchments, next on the order of the day is to come up with a cash flow. Assets."

"I may attend to that, Cousin Elizabeth," Barnabas assured her.

"I might too, Cousin Barnabas," Elizabeth told him, "we have these things called bank accounts and insurance."

"Mother," Carolyn wondered, "do you think there is enough from the destroyed cannery income to rebuild our home?"

"There's definitely enough to get started. Cousin Barnabas can supply the rest, I'm sure."

"What's third on the list?" Buzz asked, self-assured.

Elizabeth briefly looked at him as she jotted down on her notepad and spoke aloud, "Find… Buzz Hackett… a job…to do…"

"I don't suppose entertaining me would be job enough?" Carolyn questioned facetiously.

"I don't suppose it would," her mother mused.

"I wouldn't mind that kind of job," Buzz admitted, jovially.

"But I would," Elizabeth contested, "and whatever matron is left in me still has a say in what goes on in these parts."

"No arguments here," Josette assented, "Now… how we go about determining left-over witch curses will be a puzzle."

"Almost like booby traps," Carolyn reasoned.

"Mmm…" Elizabeth nodded, "what do we have for scoping those out?"

"Josette and I can walk the grounds, of course," Barnabas offered, "We both have feelers for the task. I doubt we shall need to hire anyone."

"What about Aunt Laura?" Carolyn smirked.

All eating halted. Breathing eventually commenced when everyone in the room recognized the lack of absurdity in Carolyn's proposed joke.

"Carolyn Stoddard you are a genius," Josette said, eyes lighting up.

"Huh… well I had been joking but it's just as well I felt like joking about it!" Carolyn admitted in surprise of herself.

The next noise in the room was Buzz scarfing down whatever was left of his breakfast.

A/N: I do hope you reading can detail what you enjoyed in the narrative, however much our minds have sadly been fracked by Big Tech social sites. I realize what is considered "The Establishment" altered much more quickly than we've seen before in human history, but I would HOPE all'y'all can remember how to rebel against it! I do. (I, Daryl Wor, am *not* the New Establishment, by the way. I simply come from and was raised on their 'Home World' is all.)

Looking forward to what you enjoyed about the narrative in this chapter, as well as all the other ones. However, if you need to reach me I can receive PM's on this site and on Dreamwidth.

If you can't do either? Review with a list of 1972 pop songs. I need them for this sequel's inspiration! Thanks.