Chapter 7
"I'm sorry, I have not introduced myself," Barnabas held out his hand. "My name is Barnabas Collins." He watched as she nonchalantly slipped the stake in her back pants pocket, where it was still accessible. Then she shook his hand. For an instant, they felt an electrical charge pass through their hands. Barnabas felt a warm pulsating energy and Maeve felt a chill that ran up her spine.
Taking his other hand and placing it on top of hers, she noticed his black onyx ring. Introducing herself, she said, "My name is Maeve Smyth." It was not her real last name, but one she used nowadays. "I am happy to meet you, Mr. Collins." Would vampires keep their names, she wondered. She noticed his hands were cool to the touch but she felt a faint pulse. While their hands stayed connected, he felt something he couldn't describe pass between them. He was also surprised he had a faint pulse and assumed it had something to do with his recent feeding. Barnabas lifted Maeve's hand and kissed it gently on the back. She smiled and their hands separated.
"Barnabas, please," he corrected, smiling. "Maeve," he repeated her name, "That is Latin for goddess." She looked like one to him.
She smiled and said, "Barnabas, which is Hebrew for Son of Prophecy. Do you know the future, Mr. Collins?" she asked pointedly.
He shook his head and smiled.
"It was very brave of you to go into the alley and help that girl. You could have been hurt, or killed," Maeve reminded him, watching him look down at his hands, twisting his ring. She wondered if he made a habit of doing that. Right now, she wanted to go back to the scene and look around.
"Please call me Barnabas," he reminded her. "I felt it was my duty to help the young lady." In an attempt to spend more time with this fascinating woman, he asked, "may I interest you in a cup of coffee?"
"That would be nice," she said, trying to think how she was going to get back to the alley without causing any suspicion. "I know of a quaint place where we can sit and talk. Or we could meet another time, say tomorrow around noon?" she asked, watching him very closely, waiting for an excuse not to be able to.
"I have business tomorrow during the day. Tonight would be perfect. Besides, it isn't safe for a lady to walk around alone tonight while that maniac is loose." He suspected she wanted to go back to the alley. If she did, he had to watch her. Smooth talker, she concluded, maybe it wasn't a bad idea after all.
"That would be very gentlemanly of you, Barnabas," she said. As they walked back towards the alley, there was an ominous feeling in the air. Maeve had to stay alert, in control and able to act at a moments notice.
As they came up to the alley, Maeve said, "I'm going to look around the alley. I want to see if I can find evidence to the identity of the perp." She saw his facial expression change from interest to confusion. She concluded he didn't know what the term meant. "It's a term the police use that stands for perpetrator. Any evidence could help the police to identify the man."
"It is much too dangerous for you go down there alone. If you must go, I will escort you," Barnabas gently insisted. Worried about the different possibilities, he wondered what she would do if she found the body?
Good, she thought, as she entered the alley with her "suitor" next to her. She figured it was better to have him near in case she found evidence of a vampire attack. Then she would not have to go looking for him. She still had a hard time believing he was one.