Chapter 20

Rhiannon looked at him in fear. This madman who held her immobile, this man was her father, and he had just threatened her life.

"What do you mean kill me? You'd kill your own daughter?" "Yes, that's why I have to kill you." He said softly. "But why? I don't understand!" "Nobody understands!" he screamed, "and nobody can. Rhiannon, It can't pass on, I can't have you carry it don't you see? You can't pass on the curse." "Curse? What curse?" Rhiannon asked in terror, surely Quentin Collins had lost his mind!

"It's not important." He said quietly, musingly, " Yes, I must do it quickly, because you would pass it on, I know you would you slut!." "Rhiannon looked at him speechless, he looked agitated now, she knew there was no reasoning with him. Her life was in his hands. He jerked his head up and she saw the madness in his eyes, "No, no not yet. I can still use you. You'll bring Nancy back to me." "I won't!" she screamed. "You will, and," he ran his finger down her cheek sensually, "I've never stopped wanting you. I always get what I want. I'm Quentin Collins!" He laughed a strange, diabolical laugh and he carried kicking and screaming back toward Collinwood.

The great house was empty and when he came crashing into the foyer. Rhiannon beat her fists against his broad back and struggled desperately, but to no avail. He seemed to have some inhuman strength, the strength only madness can bring. He carried her up the stairs and down the long hall to his room. He slammed the door behind him and he set her down. She tried to open the door but his body blocked it, preventing her. He grabbed a necktie from the near-by dresser and grabbed her wrists to tie them. That done, he grabbed the telephone and demanded to know the number of Carolyn Stoddard Loomis. "I won't tell you," Rhiannon said defiantly, " my sister has suffered enough at your hands and I won't help you get her back." "Oh I think you will, he said smugly, " now tell me the number!" "You'll have to kill me first." "Well," he said "I may just do that." He dropped the phone and reached for her. He wrapped his hands around her throat, prepared to strangle her, then backed off and looked at her musingly. "No, no that's just what you want me to do. No, I can think of a better way to get that number from you." he said chillingly as he advanced toward her. "Oh no, you wouldn't, please! You're my father, please!" "Please? Are you begging me? I like it when they beg. You're begging for it aren't you? They all do." "No, no, I'm begging you not to, not to! Don't!" she choked back a sob and he began to rip her skirt. "I'll tell you! I'll tell you! Just please don't." "Well," he smiled smugly, "That's more like it." he grabbed the telephone. Rhiannon rattled off the number, her breath coming in short gasps. She knew it was her sister who answered the phone by the look in Quentin's eye. Her suspicions were confirmed when he began to speak.

"Nancy darling, you didn't tell me where you were going. Well who else would it be? I have a close friend of yours here, very close, in fact I believe she said you were her sister. Oh she's fine, her skirt is a little worse for wear I'm afraid. Me? Would I do that to my own daughter? Yes I know that too. Let me tell you, I'll do that and worse if you don't come back to me." "Don't do it Nancy!" Rhiannon screamed, "Don't come!" "Oh you'd better come my dear, because if you don't, I'm afraid I'll have to kill her."