Chapter 20
Barnabas was sitting in the passenger's seat of Maeve's car as they drove towards Willie's house. It happened like his dream, ran completely covered to the car which had sun-deflected windows. Now he pondered why he was going to a dinner party when he got sick from human food. What would happen if the blood-lust started in the middle of the evening? He shuddered at the thought, unaware that Maeve had taken care of this 'small' problem. He looked down at the door handle, thought about opening it and jumping out. That could be his getaway. Then he could leave this town, never look back and forget everything that's happened in the last few days. He would never forget. Barnabas closed his eyes and wondered if he was living a continuous nightmare.
"Barnabas?"
Barnabas looked ahead and saw the ghost of Julia engulfed in white light. It felt more than just a dream so he decided to see what Julia had to say to him. "Julia, I can't reach you. Come to me." His arm extended out before him but his body couldn't advance forward.
"Barnabas, come back to me . . . please." Julia said, voice fading away.
"Julia! I can't come to you, you're too far away!" he said, puzzled by her statement and resentful that she was fading further away from him.
"Barnabas dear, wake up." He could hear Maeve's voice on top of Julia's as it trailed off into the distance. Their voices sounded almost the same.
"Maeve," Barnabas said sadly, as he opened his eyes. "Julia came to me. I don't know if I can go through with this party.
"Barnabas if you feel sick during the evening, I will make an excuse and we will leave. Let us just take this one step at a time." Maeve said sympathetically. "We are almost there." Maeve looked at him and thought he must take these small steps before it is too late.
"Maeve, I have been meaning to ask you about the light in our visions during the 'game'?" He had to know if it was real. "What is its significance?"
"It is my 'guide', what I call the "Powers-to-be". All I know about It or 'them' is this: I met the light just as you saw in the vision, and those voices have been with me ever since, guiding and protecting me. I trust 'them' implicitly. Why?" She asked. It was good he was interested.
"I was just wondering," Barnabas replied, thinking about Julia with the white light surrounding her.
"Barnabas, I hope you learn to trust me because the light can also guide you." She smiled warmly and hoped he got the point. They finally arrived at Willie's house. Maeve knew from her psychic connection with Barnabas that he had not opened up to anyone in quite some time. She wanted him to trust her as must as he had learned to trust Julia. They walked up to the front door and rang the bell. Butterflies were flickering in Barnabas' stomach.
"Hi, Barnabas, Maeve, welcome to our home," Willie said as he opened the front door wider. Maeve handed Willie four wine bottles and quietly told him two were especially for Barnabas. He nodded and extended his hand to Barnabas as he closed the door. Willie whispered to his former employer, "I'll getcha a glass of this right away, Barnabas."
"Thank you Willie." Barnabas replied. After looking at Maeve and overhearing her talk to Willie, Barnabas realized that she had thought of everything. He must learn to trust her. Can he learn to trust others?
Willie walked them into the living room and said, "Dinner ain't quite ready so we can just sit in here and talk. I'll go fix ya'll a drink." He walked out of the room. Barnabas and Maeve walked over to the sofa and sat down. Barnabas' mind was buzzing faster than the speed of light. He saw Alondra walk towards them.
"Hello! I am so happy to meet you, Maeve, isn't it?" She walked over to Maeve and shook her hand. Alondra liked her right away. She then turned her attention to Barnabas and smiled. "Barnabas, it is so good to see you again." Barnabas stood up to greet her. Alondra gave him a friendly hug. Barnabas could smell her sweet scent and looked over at Willie as he entered the room with the drinks. They nodded to each other as Willie passed everyone a glass of wine.
"It is good to see you again, Alondra, it has been a long time." Barnabas greeted her warmly. He took the glass handed him and nodded at Willie.
"You look marvelous, dear. You don't look a day older," Alondra said jokingly, stepping back and giving Barnabas a good look over. "What is your secret?" Willie started to fidget and chew on his lower lip. Barnabas gave him a warning look.
"Did ya know that Alondra is a writer?" asked Willie excitedly changing the subject. "Why don't ya tell everyone about ya're novels?" Alondra smiled at Willie aware that he changed the subject. She felt as though she was the only one who didn't know something very important.
"Oh yes, I would love to hear about your novels. What types of stories do you write?" Maeve spoke up, interested in Alondra's creativity. Barnabas looked at Maeve and took a deep breathe. He wasn't ready to discuss himself.
"Have you read any gothic novels?" She looked at both Barnabas and Maeve, sensing they were interested.
"No," they both said together. Maeve looked at Alondra and saw a very attractive woman, blue eyes, short curly blonde hair and as she smiled, her face lit up. She could see why Willie worshipped his wife. "What pseudonym do you go by?" Maeve asked.
"I use 'Marilyn Ross'. There are quite a few in circulation and I have all of them in my library room," Alondra said.
"Really? Oh, I would love to see them, Alondra. Would you show me?" Maeve stood up inviting Alondra to lead the way to the their library. Alondra looked at her proud husband and told them they would be right back. She was interested in getting Maeve alone anyway so this was a prefect excuse. As the women exited the room, Barnabas started to get a lustful urge so he took a large swallow from his glass, finishing it. He looked over at Willie and asked for a refill. As Willie returned from the kitchen with another glass, Barnabas cleared his throat and took another drink before speaking.
"Willie, I must talk to you while the ladies are out of the room."
"What's the matter Barnabas? Is you drink bad?" he asked concerned.
Looking down at the glass, Barnabas replied, "No, it's just right, thank you. In fact Willie I want to thank you for all the years you served me back in Collinwood."
Willie was shocked. He could not remember ever hearing a compliment from Barnabas. "Are ya not feeling well, Barnabas?" Willie asked concerned.
"I'm fine," he replied. "What I wanted to tell you is," he paused for another sip. Gathering his thoughts he said, "I am very sorry for treating you so unkindly all those years." Barnabas saw Willie rubbing his wrist. It was the same wrist Barnabas bit when he attacked Willie in 1967. "I'm sorry for that too," nodding to Willie's wrist. "But mostly I am sorry for beating you for not obeying me, ordering you to carry out cruel demands. I don't expect you to ever forget but I hope you can forgive me." Barnabas looked into Willie's eyes and he saw a light glowing. At first, he thought it was the light from the 'game' but then something rolled down Willie's face. The light was the reflection in the single teardrop.
While the men were in the living room, Alondra was showing her novels to Maeve. After a few minute, Alondra asked Maeve a question.
"How long have you known Barnabas?"
"For about a week."
"Not long to know very much about him," Alondra concluded.
"Well, Barnabas and I have done a great deal of bonding lately." A great deal, she thought. "I think we know more about each other than many couples who have been together for years." Maeve knew that Alondra wanted to ask her something.
"Maeve, I would like to confide in you about a concern I haven't been able to solve. It concerns my husband and I'm worried." Alondra felt herself reaching out to a stranger as if she had known her for years.
"I would be more than happy to listen to you, if I can help I will." Maeve wanted Willie's wife to know Barnabas' secret but wasn't sure how to go about telling her without breaking Barnabas' trust.
"I believe Willie's holding back a very important part of his life from me. I have asked him numerous times about his connection with Barnabas. All he does is withdraw and quiver all over." Alondra wanted to know the truth and she hoped Maeve would shed some light on her concerns. "Do you know anything about their relationship?" That was it, she said it and now waited to see if the woman she confided in could help.
"I would like to tell you what you want to know, but if I did that, I would be breaking a trust with Barnabas. However, if he agrees, you could learn the truth from him. Follow my lead, trust me, and you will get your answer. Shall we go see the guys?"
Barnabas and Willie were casually talking when the women returned from the other room. Alondra checked the meat and it was still not entirely ready. Maeve had an idea and shared it with the group. "How would everyone like to play a game while we wait for dinner?" Barnabas knew instantly what she was referring to and gave her a warning look. She ignored him. Willie and Alondra asked her what the game was. She explained it as she did with Barnabas, vaguely.
"It is a very special 'game' called Truth or Consequences. The rules are simple. We all sit in a circle, hold hands, and ask a direct question for someone to answer. No one can lie and if he does, the others will know instantly and see the truth. Would you all like to play?" While Alondra and Willie talked about playing the 'game' and the possibility of revealing secrets, Barnabas and Maeve had a discussion among themselves. Everyone was speaking in quiet voices.
"Maeve, are you sure you know what you are doing?" Barnabas asked nervously.
"Barnabas, darling, do you want to get rid of your affliction?" Barnabas frowned questionably. "Haven't you wondered why you were inflicted with this curse again even though Angelique removed it?" He nodded. "Ok, let me control the questions and stay calm when the results come. Alondra needs to know the history between you and her husband. Do you want to tell her or let her see instead?" Barnabas pondered this and knew he couldn't reveal the truth without help.
"Do you honestly believe that telling Alondra will lift my curse? That is preposterous." However, Barnabas remembered not believing in witches at one time either. "I don't feel this is a wise move."
"I believe this is the first step in curing you. Trust me, please," she whispered. There's that word again, Barnabas thought, as he cringed. Maeve saw his reaction but continued, "If it doesn't lift the curse, at least she will feel better knowing what your relationship was with her husband. There will no longer be any secrets," or barriers, she thought. Maeve looked deep into his eyes and Barnabas felt he had more eyes on him then hers. He looked around, saw Willie and Alondra no longer talking but staring at them.
"Do you two want to play this 'game'?" Barnabas asked. Willie looked at Barnabas and the two men knew instantly what they feared most.
"Yes, we do," Alondra spoke up, looking at Maeve for assurance. Maeve nodded.
"Ok, let us all sit at a table and hold hands," Maeve instructed. Willie cleared off a small round table and Alondra set four chairs around it. They all sat down, girl, boy, girl, boy. They held hands and Maeve said, "Now the 'game' begins."
Everyone felt a sensation run through his or her connected hands. Each one felt the other's emotions of anxiety and bewilderment. "It's ok. This is how the 'game' works. From this point on, no one can tell a lie. If one lies, we will all know. We cannot let go either. Are you ok?" Maeve asked each of them but looked specifically at Willie and Alondra. All was quiet so Maeve began by asking the first question.
"Barnabas, this question is for you, dear. What is your disease?"
Everyone could feel extreme anxiety whirl around the circle but Maeve and Willie knew exact where it was coming from. Although Willie added some of his own anxiety to the question, Barnabas' anguish was over 200 years old. Maeve helped Alondra remain calm by sending her waves of compassion. Although Alondra didn't know where it was coming from, Willie had his suspicions. It took a while before anyone heard an answer since Barnabas had to calm down first, and then think of an answer.
"It is a blood disorder. I cannot be in the sun and I am on a strict diet." Barnabas could not think of anything else to say. He knew the 'game' would recognize his answer as the truth but not the whole truth. So it was no surprise to him what came next. However, Willie and Alondra felt a strange sensation from the 'game' which was about to take them on a trip.
Scenes flip by like pages in a book. Barnabas and a woman dressed in 18th clothing were in the drawing room of the Old House. Barnabas assured Josette he would gladly marry her tonight. She promised to make him happy, her face glowing with love, and they kissed. Beaming, he got ready to leave to bring back the minister. They planned to tie the knot at 9 p.m. that night. They hugged and smiled happily at each other.
The scene changed slightly. They were still watching Barnabas in the Old House but Josette was now married to Barnabas' uncle, Jeremiah. Angry and confused, Barnabas challenged his uncle to a duel. Moments later, they witness Barnabas shoot and mortally wound Jeremiah. The relationship between Josette and Barnabas deteriorated. Brokenhearted, he later agreed to marry Angelique, Josette's maid. However, he learned too late she was a witch and the cause of his family's tragedies. Hatred for her consumed his waken hours.
A new scene came into view and Barnabas quarreled with his wife, Angelique. Their argument was over Barnabas' love for Josette and his unwillingness to care for his wife. Holding a doll with pins in it, Barnabas demanded Angelique to hand it to him. Not getting what he demanded, Barnabas shot Angelique intending to kill her.
"What have you done!" screamed Angelique. "You didn't do your job well enough, Barnabas. I am not dead yet, and while I can still breathe, I will have my revenge. I set a curse on you, Barnabas Collins. You wanted your Josette so much. Well you shall have her, though not in the way you would have chosen. You will never rest, Barnabas, and you will never be able to love anyone for whoever loves you will die. That is my curse, and you will live with it through all eternity!"
Then they hear the sound of breaking glass. A bat flew into the room and attacked Barnabas, biting him on the neck. Barnabas screamed.
The scene rapidly changed again. Angelique, holding a stake and mallet, stood next to a coffin, locked in a secret room in the family mausoleum. Barnabas, who just rose from the coffin at sundown, grabbed Angelique at the throat, before she could end his curse.
The 'game' stopped. Barnabas was staring at Willie. Alondra gazed into Maeve's eyes. When the silence was broken, it was only Maeve voice they heard. "Are you able to go on?" She was talking directly at Alondra but she also included Willie. Although Willie worked as Barnabas' servant, he never knew about Barnabas' past to this extend. Alondra nodded, not saying anything. As though Maeve knew exactly what Alondra wanted to ask, Maeve looked at Barnabas and asked him another question.
"Barnabas, what was your relationship with Willie?
This time the high level of anxiety came directly from Willie. Alondra recognized the feeling immediately. Willie tried to break the circle by pulling his hands away from Maeve and Alondra, but it didn't work. Maeve looked into Willie's worried face and smiled. He calmed down slightly. Barnabas shared Willie's uneasiness. Again, he was in the hot chair. Hatred for the 'game' didn't stop him from answering.
"Willie came to work for me in 1967 as my servant." He couldn't think of anything else to say without sounding dreadful, so he waited for the 'game' to start again. Willie shook in his chair but Alondra gave his a loving smile. This time the 'game' took a different approach to answering the question. Maeve thought it had to do with Alondra's feelings for Willie, sparing them any further shock.
Suddenly they no longer saw each other. Instead, they were watching a younger Willie prying open an old coffin in several different places with a crowbar. They could feel his excitement as his eyes gleamed with greed, as he took all the tools off the top of the coffin and placed them on the floor. As he got the lid partly opened, his expressions changed to one of immense terror as a ringed hand grab the man by the throat.
After that, a few scenes flashed upon their minds. They witnessed several atrocities committed by Barnabas against Willie. Being Barnabas' slave, Willie couldn't run or attempt to kill Barnabas, however, he occasionally defied Barnabas. For disobedience, Willie received harsh beating with Barnabas' cane. Things were not all bad for Willie so the 'game' showed a few of those happier moments.
When the 'game' came to a sudden stop the silence only intensified the tension. Alondra tried unsuccessfully to break loose from Barnabas' hand. He could see tears streaming down her face. There was no eye contact for some time.
"Is this over?" Barnabas asked.
"Alondra, is there anything else you would like to ask?" Maeve addressed her soothingly.
"Yes. How do I kill a vampire?" Alondra asked through gritted teeth. Willie gave his wife a worried look and tried to assure her everything was ok. She looked at Willie with sadness and quickly calmed herself down. "I am sorry."
As suddenly as it started, the 'game' released their hands. Barnabas and Alondra quickly withdrew their own hands as if they were burned. I guess that's not a question the 'game' would allow, Alondra thought bitterly. "Is it over?" Willie and Alondra both asked.
"Yes, the 'game' believes you have gotten the answers that are necessary to know about Willie and Barnabas' relationship. Keep in mind that many things have transpired that you haven't seen and the bond they have is indescribable." Maeve spoke as if she also would never understand the relationship of Barnabas and Willie.
Without a word, Alondra stood up, walked over to Barnabas and slapped him as hard as she could. Then she told them she was going into the kitchen to serve dinner. As she turned away from them, her demeanor changed completely. Barnabas however was very suspicious. His face also stung like the dickens. Maeve went into the kitchen to help Alondra with hopes to calm her. Willie placed the table back where it had been and invited Barnabas to the dinner table. As they walked to their seats, Barnabas sat down wondering about what would happen next. After the 'game' was played before, strange happenings occurred. Alondra and Maeve returned carrying food and drinks. Alondra smiled as she handed Barnabas a large glass filled with blood.
"It's ok Barnabas, I understand completely. I will not forget this but I will try to forgive you. I can see you are trying to make amends. We will eat and you drink." Alondra served everyone and then sat down to eat, Barnabas still suspicious. Everything seemed to be going nicely. Quietly sipping his drink, Barnabas listened to the conversations. He did not have a great deal to say. He was still feeling the effects of the 'game'. After about a half an hour, he started to feel flushed. A fever started to spread throughout his body and he felt like he was burning up. He accidentally dropped his glass.
"Barnabas, are you ok," asked Maeve in a worried tone.
"YOU! You poisoned me," Barnabas said accusingly at Alondra. She had a shocked look on her face.
"Barnabas, what are ya sayin'?" yelled Willie.
"There was something wrong with that drink! I can't breathe." Barnabas said as he started to loose consciousness. Right before he passed out, he heard Alondra and Willie scream his name.