Chapter 22

Willie and Alondra were sitting across from Barnabas as he "slept."

"I wonder when he will wake up," Alondra said.

"I don't know but it'll be ok, I'll explain it to him. Don't ya worry," Willie said and kissed her on the lips as he got up. "I've gotta go and get her, I'll be back."

Unable to determine where he was, Barnabas saw empty black space. It felt like he was whirling around, out of control. He didn't feel sick but it was a strange sensation. He even heard voices in the distance. Then he blacked out. When he opened his eyes, his vision was blurry. He blinked and looked around. The chair he was sitting in felt very comfortable. As his eyes cleared, he saw furniture that reminded him of somewhere. Before he could collect his thoughts, he heard someone talking to him.

"Barnabas! Good, you're up. I am so glad you are ok. How are you feeling?" the woman's voice said excitedly. Barnabas turned his head and saw the woman sitting across from him. He recognized her.

"YOU! You poisoned me," he exclaimed jumping out of the chair and facing Alondra.

"NO, it was an accident. We didn't know it was bad, honest," Alondra apologized, standing up and looking quit nervous. Barnabas looked at Alondra thinking she had changed. Then he looked around the room and saw he was not in her house anymore. He turned on his heels and faced a fireplace. Looking above the mantel he saw his portrait that Sam Evan's painted in 1967. He gasped.

"What's the matter? Are you alright?" Alondra asked anxiously. She placed a hand on his shoulder and felt his muscles twitch.

"I'm in my house," he said softly, mostly to himself but it surprised Alondra.

"Of course it's your house. Where did you think you were?" she asked curiously.

Barnabas turned around slowly and gazed at Alondra. Surveying her appearance again, he noticed she appeared more than 30 years younger. Excitedly, he asked her, "What year is this?" She started to laugh. "Please answer me, Alondra, it's important."

"Oh Barnabas, you crack me up sometimes. Ok, I'll play your game." As if playing a game, she looked at the ceiling and pretended to guess. "It's 1971," she said. "Do I win a prize?" She was still laughing when a younger Willie walked into the room.

"Whatchaya laughin' at, dear?" he asked Alondra. Barnabas gaped at Willie as he walked up to Alondra and lovingly placed his arms around her neck. Willie saw Barnabas standing there eyeing him. Alondra giggled.

"Barnabas, ya ok! Oh, Julia will be so happy to see ya up. She was so worried about ya," Willie said beaming at Barnabas. "We found out ya ate somethin' with food poisonin' in it. Alondra didn't know it when she bought the food. We're real sorry ya got sick and all," said Willie. Puzzled at the way Barnabas just stood there like a statue, Willie asked, "What's the matter, you still feel sick?"

"Hm, No, I don't think so." Lost in thought, he asked Willie, "Where is Julia now?"

"She went upstairs to get her medical bag. She thought she might have somethin' for ya to help yar upset stomach. Does it still hurt?" Willie watched Barnabas sit down in his favorite chair and just stare into space. "Alondra, he don't look so good. I better go find Julia and see what's holdin' her up." Willie turned around and ran upstairs. Concerned, Alondra sat down quietly and watched Barnabas.

Barnabas couldn't believe it was happening again. He must be dreaming that he was back in 1971. Can he wake himself up? He tried by pinching himself. That only hurt. He blinked several times but that only made his eyes water. As he looked around the room, he wondered if it was day or night. He jumped out of his seat, startling Alondra, and quickly walked to the mirror near the front entrance. He had a reflection. That settled it, he was dreaming again. He was getting real sick of this. Then he thought of the 'game' and guessed it might be playing a trick on him. As he looked up the staircase, he saw Willie and Julia coming down. She was alive and looked great. She had a huge smile on her face.

"Barnabas, I'm so glad you're awake. How are you feeling?"

"Confused," he answered walking towards his chair again.

"About what?" she followed him and sat down. Willie joined Alondra and stood together watching Julia and Barnabas.

"What I'm doing here and how long I'm going to be here this time?"

"What are you talking about? You live here. Maybe you are just a little disoriented because you were unconscious for three hours."

"Julia, I know I am just dreaming I am in 1971, back in this house. I will just sit here and wait for this to end," Barnabas remarked, slumping into his chair, which felt very real. He ran his hand over the upholstery, admiring the texture.

Julia got up, walked over to Willie and Alondra and asked them if they could leave her and Barnabas alone for a while. She needed to check him over for any medical problems. They said their good-byes and left. Julia went back and sat down, placing her undivided attention on Barnabas. He held his hand up to his mouth, staring at the rug. She had seen him do this a number of times when he was concentrating on a problem.

"Barnabas, what's the matter? Please let me help." Julia was very concerned about the man she considered her companion, who she loved very much. She knew he considered her as just a good friend and it hurt her to see him in so much anguish. He just sat and stared. He was not talking and she began to worry about his state of mind. "Barnabas, you have to talk to me if I am going to help you. What is on your mind?" Barnabas looked into Julia's face and thought of all the years he had dreamt of her and wished she were alive. Now here she was, in front of him and he was alarmed about waking up and being a vampire again. He chuckled. "What is so funny?" Julia smiled at the change in his demeanor.

"Life is funny, my life especially. Here I am, with you again and all I can think of is waking up," he chuckled again.

"You have me at a disadvantage because I don't know what you're talking about. What do you mean again? I have never left your side since we got back a few months ago from 1840. You remember that trip, don't you?" she asked him hoping he would snap out of his melancholy. He looked into her face and saw all the reasons why he cared so much for her and why he could never tell her before. Angelique's curse made all the women he ever loved die. He was so afraid to express his love for Julia because he never wanted that fate for her. Looking down, he lifted her hand into his. He thought about telling her now, even though this was a dream. Julia watched what he was doing and smiled back at him.

"Julia, I, uh I am going to tell you a story and you are probably not going to believe it. But I have to tell you, even though it means I'll eventually wake up afterwards." Julia opened her mouth to protest but Barnabas placed his finger on her lips. "I am dreaming that I am with you in 1971. Before I fell unconscious, I was at a dinner party with a friend at Willie and Alondra's house. It is," did he dare tell her, "more than 30 years in the future and I . . . I'm a vampire again." He saw her expression so he explained further, "I don't know how it happened but it's the true. I had just apologized to Willie for my behavior while he was my servant. Then we played the 'game' that helped explain to Alondra what my relationship with Willie was in the past. She got enraged and slapped me. Afterwards, she seemed to forgive me but at dinner I think she poisoned my drink." Seeing the puzzled look on Julia's face, Barnabas continued with his explanation. "We had brought with us a bottle of blood. Alondra served me a glass for dinner. About a half hour later I collapsed. Then I was here. You see, I am unconscious right now, in the future, and this is a dream." He ended his story and waited for Julia to talk.

"That is an interesting theory, Barnabas. However, what makes you think your life in the future is real and being here with me is a dream? It could be that in the last 3 hours you have been dreaming you were in another time and now you are awake."

Barnabas looked into Julia's eyes and saw the admiration she had for him. He wanted to hold her in his arms but he resisted. He wanted to kiss her and take her upstairs to his room. However, he was feeling exhausted. Sleep was overcoming his thoughts. His eyes started to feel heavy. "Julia, I'm feeling exhausted. Do you mind if we continue this tomorrow?" He thought if he woke up tomorrow and he was still here, he would take the time to figure this out very carefully.

"Not at all. Let me help you upstairs." She stood up and helped him out of the chair. As he placed his arm around her shoulder, he could smell her sweet fragrance. As they started to walk towards the stairs, he looked at her neck and thought about kissing it. He came very close and the only thing stopping him was falling over on top of her.

Upstairs Julia helped Barnabas into bed. He said goodnight to her, he closed his eyes and heard her said "Good night Barnabas pleasant dreams." It surprised him that her voice sounded like Maeve's. Then he started to dream.