Chapter 17

Maeve suggested they go back to Barnabas' room. She wanted him calm and secure after the stressful evening. From this point on, it was critical that he know the truth about her since she knew more about him. This would begin their special journey together. After arriving in Barnabas' room, he went into the bathroom for a few minutes. Maeve looked around and noticed similarities to her own room. The phone rang and she grabbed it on the first ring.

"Hello?" . . . "Yes it is." . . . "Oh, it is nice to hear from you." . . . "I met your husband tonight at the hospital with Barnabas." . . . "Oh yes, everything is fine. He wasn't feeling very well but he's ok now, thanks to your husband." . . . "That sounds wonderful, how about 7 p.m.?" . . . "May we bring the drinks?" . . . "Great. I look forward to meeting you and having a nice chat." Maeve grabbed a sheet of paper, wrote down the address and phone, and then slipped it into her backpack. Right after she hung up the phone, Barnabas came back into the room.

"Who was that on the phone?" he curiously asked.

"It was Alondra Loomis inviting us to their house for dinner on Friday night, at 7 p.m. I accepted her invitation." She sat on the bed, smiling up at Barnabas.

"WHAT?" Furious, he walked to the bed and scowled down at her.

"Oh sit down, Barnabas." She said, grabbing his hand and pulling him down next to her. "What's the matter now?" She knew she had a great deal of work to do and this would be only the beginning.

"We can't . . . I can't." Barnabas looked at the phone and pointed, "You call her back and tell her we aren't coming. I refuse," he pouted.

"Why?" She asked calmly.

"WHY? How can you ask me that question?" He roared but she smiled at his reaction.

"Barnabas, there's no reason why you can't have a social life. Willie is your friend and Alondra is being very gracious to ask us over." She's acted like an understanding girlfriend while the look on his face told her the 'game' was the right course of action.

"I have no friends," he looked down at the floor and twisted his ring. "I would think it would be obvious to you by now, Maeve." Barnabas was stunned that she didn't understand the implications of this get-together.

"So tell her the truth." Maeve said half seriously. Surprisingly, she was enjoying his discomfort. She knew this was not going to be easy. She smiled at him as he frowned back at her.

"No one shall know the truth about me! I have worked very hard to keep my secret and not even you will change that," he said gritting his teeth. He was beside himself with the thought of anyone else knowing his secret. He still had not accepted his fate.

"Well, maybe she knows already. Do you think Willie keeps secrets from his wife?" Maeve asked. "If she does know, she has not told anyone. Maybe you should start trusting people more." She stared at him as he stared back, speechless. Pondering what she just said about Willie, Barnabas wondered if his previous servant could be trusted. Since he no longer had any control over Willie, was it possible that his friend would share with his wife his guarded secret. No, he thought, Willie would never betray him. Barnabas thought of the punishments he gave Willie in the past for betraying him. Maeve spoke up interrupting his thoughts.

"Barnabas, you and I are going to play a 'game'. We have until Friday, and in the process we will learn so much about each other." Joyfully, she got up, took off her coat and placed it on the chair. Then she jumped playfully back on the bed which made it bounce. Watching her, Barnabas wondered what she meant by "a game."

"What is this game called?"

"Truth or Consequences."

"Ha, sounds like a television show," he said, sarcastically.

"It's better. We will hold hands, ask each other questions and we can't LIE." She sounded like an excited little school girl who just received a present, but Barnabas had his suspicions.

"We can't lie and we can ask any questions?" he asked thinking there had to be a catch.

"Nope, can't lie," she shook her head, "and you can ask any question in which I will answer truthfully. Then I will ask you a question and you will answer truthfully. We will get to learn so much about each other and we will bond in the process." He could see little stars in her brown eyes twinkling in the moon light. He looked out the window and saw it was a full moon. What she didn't tell him was once the 'game' started, neither of them were in control. He would meet the Powers-to-be and this worried her. How would he react to this new surprise? She could loose his trust but she kept getting this nudge from her guides to continue.

"Ok, I will play your silly little game as long as you do something for me." He was going to get something out of this affair.

"Ok, what?" Maeve already knew since he was so transparent to her. She knew their psychic link would intensify during the 'game' and she needed him to feel secure.

"You must place your backpack in the closet and spend the night." Barnabas smiled wickedly. He was good at playing games too. She would have spent the night even if they didn't play the 'game'. She got up, grabbed the backpack and tossed it in the closet, closing the door in the process. Returning to the bed, she sat down and began.

"The 'game' starts as soon as we hold hands," she instructed holding out her hands for him to grasp. They faced each other on the bed, held hands and looked into each others eyes. Suddenly, Barnabas felt their hands merge, sealing his fate, which he was unable to break loose and his emotional barriers fell away. He felt extremely vulnerable.

"What just happened?" He asked her while he tried to drop her hands.

"Good, your first question. Our psychic energies have just fused together so we can't let go. We will not be able to lie to each other and we will know instantly if the other is lying." She knew he would be uncomfortable, but not how much. She was about it find out, quickly.

"Why are you doing this to me?" he replied angrily, feeling trapped.

"Barnabas, that is not how the 'game' works," not answering his question. "It is my turn to ask a question and you answer." She felt his body tense and his anger rise. This was going to take time.

"You tricked me." He snarled.

"No, I told you the truth. Trust me. Everything is happening as I said. We are not in control. The 'game' is." She knew the 'game' had a mind of its own and Barnabas would soon find out too. The 'game' did not start again for some time since it was not in any hurry, they were not going anywhere. During this time, she felt his emotions reach all levels and then subside.

"What now?" He finally asked, seeing it was hopeless to fight any longer. Maeve looked into his eyes and thought, that's a start.

"Let us start with an easy question." Here we go, she thought. "Barnabas, when did you stop trusting?" She wondered if he knew exactly. The question threw him into another whirlwind but she had to ask him.

"I have never stopped trusting," he lied through gritted teeth. Aware of his lie, the 'Powers-to-be' started the 'game', which sent a surge of energy throughout his body, and then everything went black. In his inner vision, he was shown a scene from his past. Unaware that Maeve was having the same experience, Barnabas watched himself pace around in the Old House, worrying about his beloved, Josette. Right then, his uncle Jeremiah and Josette returned to the Old House.

"Josette!" Barnabas exclaimed.

"They are married Barnabas." Joshua, his father told him.

"Married!"

"Married," Jeremiah echoed.

Barnabas screamed, "No!" He turned to Josette and asked, "Tell me you're married! I will not believe it until I hear it from you! Tell me, Josette!"

Josette sadly replied, "I am married, Barnabas."

"Why? Why did you do it?" Barnabas asked. "I didn't know you! I was wrong about you!"

Maeve then watched the image of Barnabas slap his uncle and challenge him to a duel. Barnabas watched himself during this painful experience then slumped on the bed as the scene faded.

"Why did you make me witness that event?" he asked sadly, realizing she also saw it.

"I didn't Barnabas," she said sympathetically. "That's how the 'game' works. If you do not tell the truth, you experience it as you lived it originally. I'm sorry it was so painful." She leaned over and kissed him affectionately on the lips. The sweet gesture didn't help him feel any better.

"You haven't trusted anyone since, have you Barnabas?"

"That's none of your business," he said angrily. "This 'game' is over." He tugged to release his hands but he couldn't disconnect from Maeve. "Let go!" He yelled. She didn't say anything however a thought formed in his mind which informed him the 'game' was not over.

"That is not entirely true. You have given your consent to play the 'game' and the 'Powers-to-be" have accepted your word as contract." Learning about the reality of the 'game', he stopped struggling. "We are still on the same topic about "trust". The 'game' shows us events that illustrates the truth. It will be the 'game's' job to let us know when it is time for the next question." They felt a spin and they knew the 'game' was ready to show them something.

The room went black and they were shown numerous scenes from Barnabas' past concerning his obsessions for young women, a few being Vicky Winters, Rachel Drummond, Lady Kitty Hampshire and Roxanne Drew. He could never completely trust them unless they became his victims. As the years flipped between 1795 and 1967 then back to 1897, they saw scenes of his attacks, manipulations and obsessions for young women. He was driven to find a replacement for his lost love, Josette. One such unfortunate young woman was Maggie Evans. After the accidental release from his coffin in 1967 by Willie Loomis, Barnabas met and became infatuated with Maggie. Her exact resemblance to Josette caused her to be the unfortunate victim of Barnabas' wrath. Once he had taken control of her will, he had planned to turn her into Josette, and finally change her into what he had become, a vampire. The scene started to take form.

Maggie was standing in the cemetery, shrouded by fog. Out of the fog stepped Barnabas as he walked up to Maggie and smiled evilly.

"And now we must go somewhere else, my dear. Someone else might find us here. Come."

"Barnabas!" suddenly, a voice exclaims. It was Willie, who told Barnabas, "Barnabas! It's not safe here! Her friends know where she is! Come on! We've got to leave her here and go where it's safe!"

"How could her friends know where she is? How could YOU know they know?" Barnabas barked! They hear Burke's voice in the distance call "Maggie!"

"Come on, Barnabas, there's no time! We've gotta leave!" exclaimed Willie.

"Come with me," Barnabas ordered Maggie but she collapsed onto the ground, so they left her there. Willie and Barnabas enter the Collins family mausoleum. Barnabas heard a noise in the distance behind them as they opened the door to the secret room where they would hide. Just after they were hidden, someone entered the mausoleum, looked around and left.

"I thought I heard him go," Willie muttered.

"Quiet, you idiot!" Barnabas warned.

After a few moments, Willie quietly exited the secret room and looked around to make certain no one was there. He told Barnabas, "They've gone. It's very safe."

"Then you have some explaining to do." Barnabas exited the secret room into the tomb. "How did they know where to find the girl?"

"I don't know!" Willie lied.

"How did you know they knew?" Barnabas asked.

"When I went to the Evan's cottage earlier, I overheard them talking," Willie lied. "I heard them say they were going to the graveyard."

"But how would they know to go to the graveyard? YOU must have told them, Willie. You betrayed me! I must punish you, Willie! You will never betray me again!" He raised his cane and started to beat Willie mercilessly with it.

The scene abruptly ended but the 'game' didn't stop there. Barnabas didn't have time to comment or defend his actions. He had to see and feel what his victims felt.