Chapter 14
In the very heart of the pitch black cavern Barnabas stood holding his arms wide, summoning her. The incredible fury he felt within, brought on by Page's report of the earlier events of the day knew no bounds. "Angelique! You will come to me!" Although his voice was firm and clear, it belied the emotions raging inside. What is happening to Kathleena at this very moment? What is that bastard doing to her? Is she dead? No! He dismissed that thought the instant it had materialized. Surely he would know if she was dead... he would feel it in his – heart. With a tormented growl, Barnabas bellowed, "I know you can hear me, bitch! Appear to me. Now!"
Dark, penetrating eyes burned with rage as the evil woman arrived in her characteristic showboat fashion, a pale shaft of ethereal light. Without warning, Angelique found herself caught in a vice like grip, large fingers enveloping her long neck. "Where is your son?" he hissed. "Where has he taken her? Tell me, damn you!" Slowly, reluctantly he slackened his hold to allow the woman the ability to speak.
Clawing the bloodless hands with her nails, Angelique gurgled, "I don't know!" Gasping raggedly, trying to draw in any bit of air she was utterly terrified. As he clutched her throat, the witch could consciously feel her aura fade; her very life gradually ebbing away. Why were her unearthly powers not enough to protect her? She began to panic. Where was the master when she evidently needed him so?
"Don't defy me, you vicious slut!" Barnabas hissed as his fingers tightened painfully. "You know everything! You control everyone! Where are they?!" Closing her eyes in silent prayer, Angelique beseeched her maker for help. Do not forsake me, Master! Do not allow him to triumph! Could Barnabas finally defeat her at last? No. Never defeat. She would be allowed to return… eventually; once she was properly penalized for her transgressions. But then it would be too late; Barnabas would have Kathleena! The witch growled deep in her chest. All her plans for vengeance, all those years… squandered. No! She would not let that happen!
"All right," she gasped, glaring up at him with icy, hate filled eyes. "I'll find them!" She struggled fruitlessly against his overwhelming grasp. "Release me!" Comprehension dawned and he chuckled maliciously at the dire straits in which Angelique found herself, his brown eyes twinkling.
"Or," he hissed into her ear, "I can find Kathleena myself and finally rid the world of your evil once and for all!"
Angelique's eyes narrowed furiously. "Before Duncan kills her?" she taunted heartlessly. "Do you really want to take that chance?"
Barnabas's face fell, a frown deepening his gaunt brow. A look of triumph flashed across her features, she had him and he damn well knew it. Flinging her away so ferociously that she slammed against the wall, the vampire was in her face before she could gather herself, his teeth bared with hands on either side of her head.
"Find her, Angelique, and should you fail, - well, - I suggest that you don't," he growled ominously.
Desperate to escape those hard penetrating eyes, Angelique ducked under the cage of his arms. He turned, watching on in a perverse awe as she raised her hands toward the barren fire pit. Gradually, a glowing cinder appeared, followed by a reedy flare and lastly, a crackling fire. The flames leapt high, popping and sizzling. As he came to stand beside her, the witch, for once did not welcome his closeness. Nervous, she swiftly began her invocation.
"Energies of fire… You are my window, my portal to the entire universe…we are one, connected for all eternity..." Casting Barnabas a look so fretful and fleeting she continued, "…show me the one I seek. Show me the woman, Kathleena Tell."
Instantly recognizing the confused scowl on the witch's beautiful face Barnabas stepped closer, menace in his piercing eyes. Afraid, Angelique moved to the opposite side of the pit. Arching his dark brows, he glared at her; the flames flickering upon his pale skin made him appear irrevocably sinister. Startled, her quizzical gaze returned to the fire.
"Flames of hell, I command you! Show me the woman!"
What could possibly be awry? There were no revelations this night. Where was Kathleena? Had Duncan already destroyed her? If so, Angelique Angelique had no doubt that this would be her last night on earth.
As if reading her thoughts, the vampire strode angrily though the licking flames to get to her. Large blue eyes widened with shock as he emerged, unscathed. Seizing her arm, Barnabas twisted it sickeningly behind her. "Where is she?!"
"I don't know, t...truly. She must... she must be wearing the talisman you gave her," Angelique stammered, trembling now. "It is preventing me from connecting with her." Yes! she nodded fervently, Yes, that was it. It must be. It was his fault. His, for giving her the damned amulet, not hers!
"Dammit!" Barnabas hissed. Suddenly he stared down at her, evil in his penetrating gaze. "Bring your son to me. Now."
Despite the danger she faced, Angelique vehemently shook her head. Although she completely ostracized the man, still Duncan was her blood. Her property. No one else's. "No," she said defiantly.
At her reticence, he pulled her close, his fangs touching, nearly piercing the taut skin of her throat. "Call him. Now! Or I shall make it so you will be powerless to resist me." The witch shivered and he smirked. How ironic to have her curse used against her. They both knew what would happen were he the one in control.
"Duncan," she whispered.
Barnabas raised his head and laughed mirthlessly into her ear, "You'll have to do better than that, damn you. Hurry, there isn't much time left."
She closed her eyes, desperately trying to focus through her distraction as he purposefully blew icy breath against her skin, taunting her. "Duncan. You will come to me! I must see you. Come to me now! You will hear my voice and respond. I am waiting for you!" Her eyes flew open and she glowered at the vampire she had created so long ago. He was summoned.
The pair stared at each other in silence. Icy, malicious blue orbs bore into piercing, burning brown until the very air seemed to crackle with their mutual animosity. At the faint sound of hoof beats gradually approaching, Barnabas roughly thrust Angelique before him as a safeguard, realizing that it could be a fatal mistake were he to underestimate the threat her son posed.
As he slid through the entrance, Duncan's eyes narrowed murderously. "What is this?!"
Barnabas snarled in disgust as he assessed his young adversary. Pure evil, through and through. A striking face to conceal a devil's soul. Like mother, like son. Tightening his painful grip on Angelique, he sneered, "Where is she? Where is Kathleena?!" At the man's triumphant curl of the lip, the vampire's hand flew tightly to the witch's throat, his large onyx ring glittering obscenely in the firelight. "I will not ask you again," his voice now deathly ominous.
Confused, Duncan gawked at Angelique, noting the deep fear in her eyes. Fear was an emotion he had never witnessed before on his mother's face. No, he thought, she was all powerful. "Free yourself!" he demanded.
With a vicious sneer, Barnabas continued to exert force until she could do nothing more than utter a pathetic squeak, nearly crumpling were it not for the clawing grip on her windpipe. "I will not relinquish her until I have Kathleena. Have I made myself absolutely clear?"
Comprehension dawned and Duncan's eyes narrowed. "You are the one who returned her speech and removed my marks." he accused angrily. "What are you?"
Barnabas's arched brows raised a good inch. Was Kathleena correct? Did Angelique truly hate her son so deeply? Obviously she didn't care enough to take him into her confidence. So, there were secrets between them, were there? He smirked evilly, "At the moment, I am the one who has complete control over your mother and, truth to tell, she hasn't much time left. Were I you, it would be best to get on your mount and show me where Kathleena is…now!"
"What do you want with-?"
"I recommend you make haste, boy." Barnabas warned though gnashed teeth, desperation running wild through his icy veins. With this animal, nothing was beyond possible. Kathleena was either dead or close to it and he had to get to her, immediately.
Staring at her reddened face, a spurt of fear for Angelique's very life was the only defining factor that prompted Duncan to finally sit his stallion and head off for the clearing. Clutching Angelique fiercely, the vampire morphed, flying high into the night.
Thoughts rambled through the handsome sadist's head as he urged Wyvern faster and harder. Who was this man who had the bullocks to challenge him? What demonic abilities did he possess to control Angelique so? Their powers seemed to rival each other's. Too, he had the power to cure Kathleena. Duncan paused, his brow creased. What were his designs where Kathleena was concerned? Perhaps he should just drop his plans for the bitch and then he would be free to wed Claudette.
No. She would not allow that to happen. Angelique was too hell bent on Kathleena's destruction. No, he had to wait, to bide his time. Too, pride would not allow him to give her up so easily. It was his destiny, a destiny drilled into him at a tender age. Duncan relished the pleasure he garnered from her agony. Sliding the tip of his tongue along his lips, he closed his eyes actually feeling himself harden as he remembered her high pitched screams, her wails as – He shook himself, shivering in remembered delight. Yes! Yes, he would be Kathleena's executioner and when the time finally came, he would welcome the task. For it was she who was born. She, the reason he had to forego his true nuptials and she who will die in the most agonizing way he could possibly concoct.
A broad smile of incredible bloodthirstiness spread across Duncan's face as he thought of the pleasure he would gain in those final ticks of Kathleena's life. So distracted was he in his sinful machinations that he failed to control his steed as, suddenly, Angelique plunged to the ground before them. Wyvern, rearing in fright, dumped his master out of the saddle. Shaken, son scrambled to mother as a huge bat lunged past, transforming once more into man.
In an instant, Duncan found himself clutched by the throat. Barnabas heaved the odious whelp high into the crisp night air with ferocious strength. "Where is she, you whoreson? Tell me!" Despite the danger he faced, the Frenchman smirked, unable to bury the bright gleam of enjoyment in his cold eyes. Eyes so very much like Angelique's, and just as evil, Barnabas thought.
"She's right there," he sneered proudly, staring over his captor's left shoulder. Following his vicious gaze, Barnabas fearfully turned and trembled with a mixture of revulsion and uncontrollable fury. Kathleena, naked and unconscious, was obscenely stretched between two sturdy elms, her bloodless wrists knotted securely with thick cords. Although held upright, her body was slumped forward nearly driven to her knees as hot blood sluggishly oozed from the dozen lashes on her flayed back, blood that had trailed down her buttocks and legs to leach into the hard packed snow below.
"My God!" he mouthed in disbelief, absolutely horrorstruck. What agony had she endured during this animal's thrashing? If there was a merciful god above, she was unconscious for most of it, unaware of the leather strap slicing into her body over and over again. Unable to bear anymore, blazing eyes turned, nailing his opponent in a consuming glare. Duncan's face was met with a ruthless fist. A fist adorned with a black onyx ring. Blood spurted from a crushed nose as he fell limply in the vampire's grasp. Barnabas longed to pummel him into the earth until his lungs collapsed, until his ribs cracked in two, puncturing his black heart. But first...first he had to reach Kathleena, to see if she... Viciously slamming the paltry piece of shit alongside Angelique, the Englishman cautiously approached the tortured woman. Fear clearly present on his thin face, he guardedly felt for a pulse in her throat. Such relief, relief as he had never felt before, raced through him. She was alive. Alive!
But the suffering she would face… he shook with renewed rage at the thought. Extracting the sharp rapier from his cane, Barnabas smoothly cut her down, catching her lovingly, tenderly in his strong arms. All at once, the shrill mindless screaming began. Over and over… constant. Closing his eyes, he begged the gods for any show of leniency for there was nothing he could do to diffuse her pain. With tears in his eyes, his large hand wrapped about the handle of his weapon. Manic with the need for vengeance. Barnabas turned fully prepared to demolish the evil twosome, experiencing an equal amount of shock and frustration at the sudden realization that they had vanished into the stillness of the black night.
"I will find you, you bastard, and when I do, I will destroy you! I will extract my revenge! Mark me well, Fasette! Mark me well!"
Aware of the sudden silence that surrounded them, Barnabas looked down. Kathleena had once again fallen into blessed unconsciousness, her beautiful face twisted in agony. He sighed, thankful that, for the moment at least, she was unawares. Glancing up at the position of the moon in the sky, he sighed again. There was so much to be accomplished before dawn. He must heal her, save her. Swaddling her nudity with his cloak and laying her gently on the ground he spread his arms wide. Sharp talons curled gently about Kathleena's upper arms and lifted her, still and unresisting, into the darkness.