Chapter 17
Barnabas and Max felt the familiar spinning sensation again. As their vision cleared, Barnabas recognized the sanitarium, Wyndcliff, and they found themselves in a doctor's office.
Julia was sitting in front of a desk talking to the doctor. "Are you sure, Sam?" Julia asked, looking over some forms in a folder.
"Julia, you see the results yourself. The results are positive. I am surprised at your reaction to this news. You should be happier."
"Oh Sam," sighed Julia, "I am happy. I am just shocked that this could happen at my age. I am also worried. You know about my condition, don't you?"
"Yes, but that should not effect the baby."
"No, but I will not be around to raise her." Julia said sadly. "Please Sam, keep this information to yourself. Do not tell anyone about this, especially Barnabas."
Appalled, Sam responded, "Julia, you aren't going to keep this from your husband, are you?"
"Sam, you much let me handle this my way," Julia sighed and thought, 'and what about Barnabas; how will he be able to handle a child if he . . .?' Julia twinged at the thought.
Barnabas listened to Julia's thoughts and felt his body shaking violently as he realized she knew he was changing even back then. 'Oh Julia, why didn't you tell me?' he sobbed. Wanting time to process everything he heard, Barnabas tried to break his connection with Max. Unsuccessful in his attempt, Barnabas howled in frustration. Max tried to comfort him but he was unaware of her efforts.
'Both of you must witness more,' echoed the voices in their shared consciousness.
'Who's that?' he asked the unknown voices in his mind. 'Maeve, are you listening?'
'She cannot assist you. This is your blood destiny.'
'Who are you? Who gives you the right to hold me against my will?' Barnabas felt his anger building. While Max was aware of Barnabas' perplexity, her own curiosity from the experience excited her.
'You did,' the voices respond.
'What about Max? She didn't give her permission.'
'Yes when she walked into this room,' the voices replied knowing Max wanted to know more.
'You're the ones who run the 'game', aren't you?' Barnabas asked telepathically, realizing he was communicating with the 'Powers-to-be'. There was a long silence before Barnabas was aware of any additional thoughts.
'We play no games, only present the truth.'
'What truth must we know?' Barnabas asked but instead of hearing an answer, they felt the familiar spinning sensation and blurry vision, signaling them that the 'game' had started again. Their collective awareness strengthened as they returned to viewing the past.
It was a dark and gloomy night as a room came into view. Someone was sleeping in bed. With the window open, there was a squeaking noise right before a figure appeared in the darkness and approached the bed. Outstretched hands lunged for the bed then stopped short when a voice spoke up. A woman greeted the mysterious figure by saying she was expecting him. Barnabas and Max recognized a younger Julia standing in the dark room facing a surprised and angry Barnabas
Julia moves toward the bed and Barnabas blocked her way with his arm resting on the bedpost.
"What is it you want?" Barnabas growled.
"You," Julia replied.
"I don't know what you mean but it doesn't matter because I am going to kill you, Miss Hoffman." Barnabas grabbed her by the throat and started to strangle her.
"Dr. Hoffman," she choked, "Dr. Hoffman..."
"Dr. Hoffman?" he repeated still holding her throat.
"Yes, I...I can help you," Julia choked holding the hands that surrounded her throat.
"Help me?"
"Yes, I'll tell you, you don't have to live this life," Julia confessed while choking.
"You are merely trying to save yourself," Barnabas snapped as he released her throat.
Holding her throat and grasping for air, she replied, "Would I let myself be in this position if I didn't believe I had something of value for you AND for me?"
"But there is no other way of life for me," Barnabas stated matter-of-factly.
"There is," Julia countered rubbing her neck.
"It isn't possible," Barnabas disagreed.
"It wasn't possible 130 plus years ago but it is possible now," Julia assured.
"How can you be so certain?"
"Because I've spent my lifetime studying conditions such as yours."
"How could you have done this?" Barnabas remarked in disbelief. "Have there been others like myself?"
"No you are the only one I've encountered. That's why you are so important to me. That's why I need you," Julia confessed still rubbing her neck.
"Need me?" he asked puzzled.
"By the time I entered medical school I've been fascinated by the relationship of life to death. I believe one is a continuance of the other. That some day they will merge and that life will not terminate. That day is close at hand now, now that I have found you."
Barnabas listened intently and then said, "You assume too much. You assume I am interested in your theory."
"You can't help but be interested in my theory. You are the only link I know of that spans the two worlds from dead to living. My research has been very long and hopeless up to now. Your condition seems to exist only in legend and story. I had no hope of finding someone like you."
"What is this theory of yours?" Barnabas asked.
"Whole blood is insignificant to sustain you," Julia explained. "That's why you constantly have to replenish your supply."
"If I were to permit you, what would you do?" Barnabas asked quite intrigued.
Suddenly, Barnabas and Max were alone. Before they could assimilate the information they observed, Max's life began to flash before their eyes like series of flash cards. From infancy, to adolescence and into adulthood, Barnabas watched his daughter grow up without a mother and father. Max trembled and whimpered as she watched her nightmarish memories come alive. For the first time, she realized some events in her life were actually real and not dreamt.