Chapter 10
It was past midnight when the two women made their way back to Collinwood. The woods were pitch-black so they had flashlights to aid them in the dark. Dogs howled in the distance making both women rather nervous.
"I don't like the sound of those dogs," Max remarked looking all round.
"I don't think there is anything to be afraid of out here," Maeve said consolingly. "It's probably just the neighbor's dogs loose on the grounds."
Max looked at the woman next to her and said, "Yes, you're probably right." Changing the subject, Max asked inquisitively, "I've been meaning to ask you, Maeve, don't we know each other?"
"I don't know how," Maeve said.
"I don't know how it is possible but I swear you look just like the woman who raised me for the first five years of my life. But you do not look a day older then that day you left me at the orphanage." Max stopped walking, shined the flashlight into Maeve's face and waited. "Can you explain that?"
Lowering Max's flashlight out of her face, Maeve said hurriedly, "I would love to explain it to you, but now is not the time." Maeve started to walk again and continued, "I must get you to Collinwood immediately and then return to the Old House." Maeve picked up her pace and Max had to run to keep up with her.
"You are doing it again! Rushing around and dumping me off," Max yelled from several steps behind Maeve. "I will not stand for it anymore. I am older and not to be brushed off. Maeve, please talk to me."
Maeve stopped, turned around to face Max and then spoke slowly as though she was talking to a loving child. "I am sorry dear, but now is NOT the time for this conversation. You will get all your questions answered another time. I would advise you keep your theories to yourself for now until we are able to talk to each other further."
Max stood dumbfounded. She nodded obediently and then followed Maeve through the woods towards Collinwood. Suspiciously, Max wondered how Maeve knew her way around these woods since she just arrived in town.
The women left the Old House about ten minutes ago leaving Barnabas alone. As he sat thinking, that familiar lust hit him harder in the stomach and chest. Standing up quickly, Barnabas tried to fight the urge to go out into the night. His common sense was loosing to his instincts. Slipping his cloak over his shoulders and grabbing his cane, Barnabas left. Dogs started to howl fiercely.
Her instructions were to go to town and pick up more food because the master of Collinwood invited more guests for Sunday brunch. Anita was used to sudden changes in plans, unlike her grandmother. After shopping at the mall's all night grocery store, Anita remembered something she forgot to do at the cottage. She took a shortcut through the woods between the main house and her destination. All of a sudden, dogs started to howl. Just before she reached the front door of the cottage, she heard a noise from behind her. As she turned around, she shouted out into the dark. "Who's out there? Speak up, I have a gun and I'm not afraid to use it!" she lied.
She heard familiar laughter and let out a sigh of relief. "William Loomis Jr., you come out here this instant!" A young man stepped out from behind a tall tree and approached the pretty maiden.
"At your service, my lady," William said bowing low in a courtly way.
"Oh really! Come here, sir knight and plant one right here." Anita placed a finger on her lips. They had played this game before. Obediently, William advanced forward to his princess, swept her off her feet and kissed her passionately for several minutes, while he walked up to the front door. After a moment, he opened and closed the door behind him.
Outside, another figure watched and waited in the darkness.
Fifteen minutes later, Anita left the cottage after getting what she needed and said good-bye to William. "Now remember, William, Mr. David will need you to drive him to Bangor on Monday and don't be late," Anita reminded him.
"Yes dear and you be careful walking through these woods all alone. You never know what lurks within the shadows."
"Stop trying to scare me or I'll never come back to visit you," Anita teased.
"Yes my love," William laughed and closed the cottage doors. As Anita walked towards Collinwood, she felt someone was following her again. Thinking it was William, she turned around to confront him.
"Ok, William, I told you it was unnecessary to walk me home. But if you insist, come out from behind the tree!" A figure walked out from behind the tree but it wasn't William. Shocked, Anita held her ground remembering her self-defense classes. "Can I help you sir? Are you lost?" She watched the man approach her quietly and slowly. "You are on private property and I advise you to leave immediately." She continued to watch the man approach her as he stepped from out of the shadows. She gasped when she saw his face. "It can't be!" but at that moment her thoughts and body became very still.
The man stood right in front of Anita and raised his arms. Unable to resist his hypnotizing stare, she walked into his strong embrace unaware of what fate awaited her. His arms closed around her body as his mouth opened and came down on her neck.
Only a few minutes pass before a loud voice rang in the silence of the night. "BARNABAS, NO!" Maeve yelled. Barnabas angrily looked up into the dark and ignored the intruder standing behind the girl. He returned to feed, entranced by the sweet flowing nectar warming his veins. Desperate to spare the girl, Maeve quickly grabbed the cane hanging on Barnabas' arm and quickly moved behind him. Swinging the cane as hard as she could, Maeve struck Barnabas' back with it. This broke his concentration. Angrily he released the unconscious girl, who fell upon the soft grass.
Barnabas turned menacingly towards Maeve and bared his fangs at her. Knowing he had lost his senses to his vampirism, she swung the cane again and struck him directly across the face. It only moved his head slightly to the right as he advanced on what he perceived as an unknown intruder. Maeve swung again, which threw him off balance. The throbbing blow penetrated his awareness.
"Barnabas, LISTEN to me!" Maeve held the cane above her head. "It's Maeve, Barnabas, I don't want to fight you but I will if you make me," Maeve spoke loudly but gently to the bewildered and stunned man.
"Maeve, what happened?" Barnabas asked looking down at the unconscious girl and feeling a stinging sensation in his face. Rubbing his cheek, he looked into Maeve's eyes.
"It's over, Barnabas, now we have to do something about this girl." She handed him his cane.
"Who is she?" He took his cane, frowning at it.
"We must find out and make her forget. Do you feel up to it?" Maeve asked.
"Why shouldn't I be?" Barnabas looked at her puzzled.
"Then let's get to it before she is missed," Maeve replied hurriedly, ignoring his question and confusion. They both lifted the girl to a standing position and as Maeve held her, Barnabas woke up the unconscious girl.
"You must listen to me very carefully and follow my instructions, do you understand?" Quietly, the girl nodded. "Who are you?" Barnabas started asking questions. They learn the young woman was the cook, Anita, for the Collins and she was on her way back to Collinwood when attacked. After a few minutes of learning the identity of the girl and making her forget everything since she met Barnabas, they let her walk back to Collinwood alone.