"That's horrible…." Linda shuddered, and A.J. put an arm around her as Barnabas nodded, a far away look in his eyes.
"It was meant to frighten Kasey and her husband…make sure that if something happened to us they wouldn't question the circumstances. The use of a dead bird is a death warning, thankfully for us.." Barnabas paused and glanced at Quentin, who gave a wry smile to Laurie.
"Even though I think Adams had misgivings…he and Kasey backed us up. When I found out the whereabouts of the I Ching stone…"
"I Ching stone?" Oscar looked alarmed. "Is that anything like the I Ching wands used for time travel?"
"Yes, I should have remembered you spoke with Julia and Professor Stokes, when he wrote his last book." Barnabas smiled, and Laurie turned to her adopted father.
"I didn't know you knew about that."
Oscar reached over and stroked her hair. "I made it my business to know your family, honey. That's why I stopped protesting your visits to Collinwood. Once I was sure Barnabas was cured, I knew you needed to be with people who cared about you."
"Oh, Dad..I was.." Laurie gave him a hug, as Rick surreptiously wiped his eyes.
"So what was the I Ching stone?" Rudy asked, clearing his throat.
"A small onyx wheel, with ancient markings on it. It was said if you held the stone and sacrificed your mortal enemy in it's presence, you would control the past and present of the place you were in." Quentin continued. "What I didn't know was that the clue that led me to the stone was a trap. Kasey had told me about Lost Valley, and when I thought I "found" a map to the caves there, I foolishly followed the directions and was captured by members of the coven, namely Innkeeper Miller and his desk clerk. If Adams hadn't thought it suspicious that the two of them followed me when I left to locate the relic, well.."
"But that's what Kasey says, Gene was wary about those two, and when he saw them go after you, that's when he followed them, following you…" Laurie explained. "Kasey was upset that he told her to stay behind, so that's when she went to find Barnabas. It took some fast talking, but Fred Loomis finally let her in to wait for you to wake up."
"It was dark in the basement, with only the two candles next to his coffin. I shivered, knowing I would see Barnabas rise in a few minutes, and I hoped he would not desire blood when he awakened. I was relieved, nonetheless, when the coffin lid opened, and Barnabas climbed out of his resting place.
"Mrs. Adams, what are you doing here?" he asked, warily.
"Barnabas, Quentin found a clue to where the I Ching stone is hidden. He left town this morning to find it, but that Miller and his clerk followed him, and so did Gene. I'm afraid they're in danger!"
At once he became concerned. "I told Quentin to wait until tonight…I'm afraid his finding that clue was a trap. Has Adams come back yet?"
"No, Barnabas, and I'm worried…I thought I saw a stranger hovering around outside.." I began, then Fred Loomis appeared at the basement entrance.
"Mrs. Kasey, Barnabas…Some guy just dropped off a note for you…."
"Give it to me…" I watched as Barnabas accepted the note, then saw his face darken as he read it.
"Thank you, Fred….. I began, only to see a despairing look come across Barnabas's face.
"What is it, what's happened?"
"It's from an old enemy of ours….he has Quentin and is demanding I come to meet him, or else." Barnabas told me.
"Who is it, Barnabas? Does he say anything about Gene?" I asked. Collins shook his head.
"No…so hopefully the sheriff has avoided capture…"
"All right, let me get Pat and Andy…." I began, only for Barnabas to shake his head.
"No…we'll never get to him in time…I must go alone…I'll make sure Sheriff Adams is safe."
His matter of fact tone made my blood boil; how dare he be so cavalier with my husband's life.
"You can do whatever you want, to save your cousin's life, I'm going to find Gene." I told him angrily, then turned and went up the basement steps.
Behind me I heard him call, "Kasey!" I ignored him, then he did it again, only in a different way.
"Kasey….come to me.."
I paused in the doorway, momentarily caught by his mesmerizing voice. Then I remembered another voice, one that I loved.
"Honey, please. Whatever he did to you, whatever he threatened to do…I'll protect you. I love you, Kasey."
Instantly I whirled to stare down at him, his face frozen in the candlelight.
"I'll never obey you, never! You pretended to need my help to what…make me your slave? Forget it! I'm going to find my husband, and your cousin if it's the last thing I do!" I yelled, then ran out of the house to get Lightening. As I untied her from the hitching post, I heard Loomis call, "wait, Mrs. Kasey!"
Fuming, I got on my horse, then turned to see the thin little man run up to me.
"He didn't mean it, Mrs. Kasey….he's just desperate…he said to head to Lost Valley on the north side, he'll enter from the south….and whatever you do, carry this…"
He handed me a strangely familiar crucifix, then I remembered….
Abruptly he let out a howl, then let me go, as Gene shoved a crucifix in his face. Instantly he backed away, then Gene knocked him down, sending the big man crashing onto the floor.
Before Barnabas could get to his feet, Gene went towards him, slugging him, then shoving Collins into his coffin. Slamming down the lid, he jammed the crucifix into the lock, imprisoning him.
"Gene, you did it!" I let out a deep breath, then fought back tears as Gene untied me, then picked me up and kissed me.
"We did it, sweetheart. Now I'm going to get you out of here, then I'll be back to finish him once and for all!" Gene told me.
"No, please leave. He'll never harm you again!" Fred Loomis stood at the top of the basement stairs.
Gene shook his head. "Loomis, he's a threat, he doesn't deserve life after what he's done!"
"He can't ever get out of that coffin as long as the cross is holding it closed, I swear. Let me take him back to Maine, I promise he'll never be back." The young man pleaded.
"What happened, Fred….why did you let him out?" I said, slowly. Loomis dropped his head in shame.
"Some guys were going to rob me on the train, and I guess Barnabas heard them…he told me to pull the cross out of the lock…and he saved my life. Afterwards, " he shrugged, "He said, "You saved my life, I saved yours…if you want to leave, I won't stop you… But I couldn't, Mrs. Kasey…he's so sad….and he knows he's cursed until he finds a cure. That's what he and Quentin are trying to do…and if this Blair wins…"
"Blair?" I questioned, horrified. William Blair was the new minister at the church…recently transferred from…
"From Maine.." Oscar finished grimly. Barnabas sighed, his face lined with pain.
"Yes, he had been masquerading as a clergyman as he tried to locate the stone, and only by chance did I find out his identity. Laurie…" he turned to her, "I'm not proud of how I acted with your grandmother….I was desperate then, and desperate when I first met you. Fortunately Julia was able to get past all that and effect a cure, but still…"
"I was able to get past your curse too, Barnabas.." Laurie smiled and took his hand. "You were helpless under that curse, and yet you still managed to break its hold, not once but twice. You're my family, and you're always going to be family."
Rick watched her with tears in his eyes as the older man squeezed her hand. "Thank you, my dear. No one is ever going to hurt you or anyone in our family again. Now, what did Kasey write next?"
"Here darlin'…" Rick refilled a glass of tea for her, then took the journal in his hand and held it up for her. She leaned against him, "Thank you, love. Let me see…"
"No…oh, no… Fred…Gene won't have a clue about him…I have to get to him. Grab a horse and follow me to Lost Valley, I'll leave a mark at the entrance to the caverns…hurry!"
Not waiting to see if he followed, I galloped towards the sheriff's office, where I alerted Deputy Pat about the "fake" minister, and the possibility he was trying to kill the two "wealthy" Collins's.
"I 'll come after you as soon as I can, Mrs. Kasey..", he promised earnestly, then I rode out of town. Within a few minutes I was on the trail past our ranch, the cold moonlight illuminating every inch of the road, then I rode past the secret passageway down in to the valley. I turned to enter the canyons on the north side, and as I approached the twisting, turning path down, I heard Champion whinnying, and I stopped.
"Champ! Where are you? Where's Gene!" I called, then heard him letting out a frightened noise from down below. Quickly I dismounted, tying Lightning's reins to a tree, then climbed down the trail to the canyon floor. There I saw a frightening sight…Gene lay on the ground, unconscious, next to Champ.
"Gene!" I screamed, forgetting to be cautious. I dropped to my knees next to him, seeing a thin trickle of dried blood on his temple. Pulling a canteen of water from my pocket, I dripped a little through his lips, and was relieved to see them part to receive the liquid.
"Gene, wake up…oh please…" I begged, then almost cried when his eyes flickered open.
"Ka..Kasey.." he mumbled, then he gasped, "Look out!"
Half turning, I caught sight of a familiar face and an upraised club. Instantly I pulled my gun and got off a shot, then rolled and came to my feet, face to face with Deputy Andy.
"What the…are you crazy?" I said in disbelief. He shook his head, the moonlight shining eerily on his sandy-colored hair. He clutched his arm in pain, but his eyes looked glazed, almost as if he was hypnotized. Slowly he raised his bleeding arm, holding his own gun level with mine.
"No, ma'am…..just doing my job. Put your gun down, and I won't hurt you…or the sheriff."
Immediately I knew his mind was not his own..and I conceived of a plan to distract him.
"Of course you won't, Andy…because you are his deputy, aren't you." I murmured in a low tone. He stared at me as I continued, "You need to watch over Sheriff Adams, until Pat comes, do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am…I'll take care of the…oh, my God.."
Suddenly he shook his head, as if waking up, then glanced around the canyon as if seeing it for the first time.
Knowing I was wasting valuable time, I grasped his good arm. "Listen, Andy…listen. You've been under the power of a evil man…that Minister Blair is a fake..a hypnotist. I need you to get the sheriff to safety, then bring me some help…otherwise.." I stopped to remember what I'd told Pat.
"He's going to kill Mr. Collins…I heard him say it was to take over the town.." Andy explained, running his hand confusedly through his hair.
"Thanks, Andy…now stay with Gene, I'm going to take care of that crook once and for all." I said, then spotted the opening of the Elders caverns.
"When Pat and the others come, tell them I've gone into the caves and to follow my trail…" I instructed.
Afraid to stop for even a moment to check on Gene, I rushed into the cave, focusing on the anger I felt for the assault on my husband. Behind me I thought I heard him call my name, but I was too intent on getting to Blair before he killed Quentin.
Taking a lit torch off the cave wall, I held it up as I reached a dark passage, then saw which way the flames flickered. Picking up a piece of stone off the ground, I marked an "X" which showed up white in the glow of the torch. As I turned into the new pathway, I heard a strange chanting, and quickened my steps. Every few turns I marked another "X", until I heard the voices stop. Up ahead I saw a light, and I made my way towards it through another winding passage. Just as I reached what looked like an large room, something scraped behind me, then an arm wrapped around me while a hand slammed against my mouth.
"Bring her forward!" The sinister voice of Rev. Blair sounded ahead, and I was dragged through the opening into a large room. I spotted Mr. Miller, the pharmacist John Horn, and the minister's assistant, a corpulent man who kept glancing around nervously. In front of me was a table of some kind, with Quentin Collins stretched out on it. His wrists were tied to a metal ring above his head, and he glanced at me, his eyes wide with fear.
Fury gave me strength, as I let myself sag against the man holding me, then I stomped on his foot, and drove my elbow into his ribs. As he yelped in pain, I freed my arms from his grasp, then as Miller reached for his weapon, I pulled out my gun and shot him.
"No…you can't do that….you'll ruin everything!" he yelled, then stared as a red blotch appeared on his shirt. As the other men froze in disbelief, Blair pulled a knife, then held it to Quentin's throat. At that moment I spotted the thin, black disc in his other hand.
"Touche, Mrs. Adams….but the time for games is over. This is the hour of my triumph, and I'll not let you or your nosy husband get in my way. Put your gun down, or he dies."
"No…Kasey…." Quentin protested, then winced as the knife came into contact with his neck.
"All right, Blair….." I pretended to give in, and slowly lowered my gun as the evil imposter lifted his knife from Quentin's throat. I met the younger Collins's eyes with my own, then nodded slightly, hoping he got the message. Seeing his eyes narrow, I knew he had spotted my back up.
"I thought you'd see reason, ma'am…" Blair turned his sinister smile on me, then howled as I again raised my gun and shot at the black stone in his hand.
A puff of smoke erupted from his fingers as the stone disintegrated, and Quentin seized the moment, jackknifing his legs into Blair's stomach. He went crashing with a loud noise into the rock wall, causing the three men with him to run heedlessly out of the cavern.
I came forward and picked up Blair's knife, using it to cut Quentin free. He managed to slide off the stone table just as Barnabas entered the cave.
"Quentin…are you all right?" he asked, as I held Blair at gunpoint. The younger Collins nodded his head gingerly.
"Yes, sorry I didn't wait for you, Barnabas… I should have known not to put faith in such a convenient clue." He admitted. Suddenly Blair stuck his fingers into his jacket, then pulled out a small object and threw it on the floor. A cloud of smoke billowed into the air, and I lost sight of the two Collins. A hand grabbed my arm without warning, and I found myself being dragged coughing and choking down a dark corridor. I screamed, "Help!", only for my kidnapper to slap a hand over my mouth, smothering my cries.
"Quietly, my dear….since I have lost one sacrifice, you shall take his place." He hissed in my ear. Futily I struggled in his iron grip as he pulled me along an endless tunnel, then came out into a dimly lit room, a pole with chains hanging from it in the center.
Instantly he slammed me against the rough wood surface, knocking the wind out of me. Dazed, I fought for breath as he bound me to the pole with chains. He hit me as I tried to twist away from him, causing blood to drip from my cheek.
"Let go of me!" I cried out, praying Barnabas or Gene could hear me. My hope for rescue faded as Blair grabbed my face and stuffed a knotted cloth into my mouth, then tied it behind my head. I could only make muffled sounds as an evil smile spread over his face. Stepping back, Blair pulled an ornate dagger from his belt.
"You may have destroyed the object of all power, Mrs. Adams….but sacrificing you will buy me another life to dedicate to the lord of evil!" he snarled. I watched him in frozen horror as he came towards me, my last coherent thoughts drifting to Gene, praying he would come in time.
"Bam!"
Blair's eyes stared at me as he stumbled in place, then screamed in agony as he saw the end of the crucifix I had dropped in the cavern sticking out of his chest. Out of the corner of my eye I saw my husband and both Collins, Gene with his gun drawn and Barnabas helping hold upright his cousin.
"Die, Blair! Go back to the hell you so richly deserve!" Barnabas intoned, and with a poof, the imposter disappeared.
"Kasey….honey…" Gene came to me as I slumped against the pole. He managed to undo the gag from around my mouth, causing me to gasp for air.
"Just breathe, sweetheart.." Gene soothed me as he unchained my arms and legs, then held me until everything stopped whirling around me.
"Gene….you're all right…Thank God, my love…I was afraid he'd killed you." I said, numbly, shivering as he started to guide me out of the cavern.
"No, no honey.." he reassured me, holding me upright as we inched our way back to the entrance. As we emerged into the starlit night, I remembered Barnabas was with us.
"Barnabas…is Quentin all right?" He nodded. "He's remaining behind to make sure every piece of the stone has been destroyed. All Blair would have to do is recover one shattered scrap, and he would come back to life."
"That's it!"