Chapter 7

"So that's the whole story" Megan finished her tale.

Barnabas rose unsteadily "The attack on Phillip was planned by them, too?"

"We are sure of it." Roxanne said quietly "He knows too much and had to be silenced, and this isn't so obvious. Do you remember that he had nightmares about bottles, even before Tom did what the did?

She was right. It fit. Ghastly as the method was, it also had a classic simplicity to it. He remembered all those nightmares of Phillip's all relating to how he had survived his fall off Widow's Hill. All gone now, after Tom's rape.

"About Tom, did they arrange that, too?""

"Yes, They did. A good way of getting rid of the werewolf without attracting suspicion. Tom would end up either locked up or killed and that would be the end of the werewolf threat."

"But there is David and Sandy..."

"And we were all very vocal about they being cured of their affliction, and not leaving Wyncliffe until they did."

"How come David got cursed?"

"That we arranged ourselves. Sandy was a lucky accident." Roxanne said, daring him to complain

"You arranged for David?"

"Not only that. They manipulated you into killing Carl Collins " Megan said.

"Did you?"

"Yes."

"Why? What was he to you?"

"Nothing" Roxanne said coldly. "But his death served its purpose which was to delay you so that you could not keep the werewolf curse coming down to Chris."

Barnabas was aghast "I see very little to choose between you and the Leviathan."

"The choice is not up to you." Roxanne said with contempt. "and before you judge me, remember that you are the one who reduced me to this. You and that bitch Valerie."

"You... you remembered."

"Yes. I have" Roxanne grinned " have you anything to say about the subject?"

"Enough!" Megan interrupted "recriminations will not help us any." she turned to Barnabas. "There is one thing that you must remember about all this. It is an operation of mine. What does it mean?"

"It means that I keep the Hell out of it."

"Good. We are letting you have Phillip. Treat him for the obvious symptoms. Do not ask yet about bottles. "

'Well, in his state mention of bottles will not help him any. It is only when he is stronger that I can start on the subject."

"So, we are agreed.. Go to Phillip, and we will take care of other business."

Barnabas tried to absorb everything that he had been told. The Leviathan. It had not ended with Jeb. It had gone on, more devious, more secret, more convoluted than before. And the Leviathan were not the only ones. Roxanne's unseen Masters...

But he would have Phillip...

He had some idea of what he could do. What he wanted to do. An idea had begun to form...

But that was for later, when he was told he could start looking at the business with the bottle. Now he had to bring some peace to his mind..

He appeared next to Phillip. "You'll be all right, Phillip." he said. "I will make you well."

Chris was wary of meeting Sandy.

"Are you sure that she will want to see me?"

"She knows that it was Tom who did those things to her, not you." Julia said, encouragingly.

"I don't know. Those things were rather tough...And it was my body that did them. She can't forget than so easily."

"Barnabas has been working with her, and he says that she will be all right."

"It still doesn't...doesn't feel right."

"Trust me, Chris."

Sandy and David seemed relaxed. Roxanne sat at a distance from them, appraising them coldly. Sandy seemed to hold up as well, as she waited to meet her former tormentor. There should be no problem there.

What if there was? Then she'd have to do with only Chris and David. That or somehow force her, thus risking trouble with Barnabas.

Her lips curled She'd like to have a scene with Barnabas. Hurt him through Sandy as he had hurt him through Phillip...

She checked herself. No. Not yet. She had gotten in enough trouble with Phillip already. If Barnabas ever knew what was behind his breakdown, if Megan knew... Megan would be a dangerous enemy... and if she found out.

No, better leave her plans for revenge for afterwards. Then, with the Leviathan out of the way, she'd begin settling old scores.

Chris came in, obviously embarrassed.

"Hello, David, and uh, uh...Mr. Miller."

"Hello, Chris." Sandy got up, smiling. Even if it was a forced smile. She extended her hand towards Chris.

He shook her hand, not fully believing that he could do it. She was still uneasy about facing him, but was bearing up bravely.

"I am sorry... for everything."

"It wasn't you that did that."

"Still, in a way I feel responsible. It was my body, my face."

"Yes. It was." Sandy admitted "but it was not you." she licked her lips "You know that I have the curse, too?"

"Yes. I...I am sorry."

"Don't be. I can deal with it. It was rough at first, being chained in the cellar. It brought too many memories of... of the things Tom did to me. If it hadn't been for Barnabas taking care of me as he did I don't know how I could have stood it. But I did. I can do it now, and not be afraid of it." she smiled, a small, insecure smile. "and I can look at you and remember that you are not your brother."

"Thank you, Mrs. Miller." Chris gulped.

Roxanne cleared her throat, making them turn into her direction.

"Well, that's enough introductions. We are here in business."

They all sat down again, unable to shake off the awe she managed to impose on them.

"How many of you have you heard of the Leviathan?"

"I did." Chris said. "But that is over. The box was smashed and Jeb Hawkes is dead."

"But his widow is very much alive and pregnant..

"Leviathan? What is it?"

"The Leviathan is a reptile race that was here before man. It took refuge in time-hopping to escape the natural cataclysm that destroyed their civilization. They now want the Earth back. And they can only get it by either destroying or enslaving the human race. Lately they have set up a cross-breeding program to make with selected humans. Carolyn Collins is one of the chosen ones, and her child is half-Leviathan.

"But Quentin is the father..." David said.

"The legal, not the biological father." Roxanne paused for effect "Carolyn's child must never be born, or he'll destroy all of us."

"But why call on us?" Sandy asked.

"Because werewolves is what they fear most." David said "I read it in their own book."

Sandy flinched at the words. She had somehow accepted her curse, but still could not adjust to being called a werewolf. It made her feel dirty, alien, as if she was some stranger...

"Right" Roxanne continued. "at this moment they believe that all werewolves are neutralized and at a safe distance. If things go right, they won't learn otherwise until it is too late. I need your cooperation for this. Chris?

"Count me in. I remember them."

"David?"

"The same."

"Sandy?"

"You said that they would kill everybody?"

"Or enslave them."

"And my children too? Yes, they too." Sandy nodded "Count me in, too."

Derek moaned on the couch.

Megan patted him on the cheek but could not speak the comforting words. He would not be OK. The wound of what he had done to Carolyn, of what he had seen done to her was not an easy one to heal. Even after this was over, it would leave stains on his soul, which would take time to go away.

He never wanted to hurt anyone, and cruelty was foreign to him. But he had been forced into a terrible cruel act, and was unable to repent or atone for it. Part of him would relive it and be unable to change the ending...

The only one capable of changing the ending was herself. So, she had to get back and let Roxanne know what had happened. Let Derek wake up by himself, and seek whatever consolation he could find.

When this is over I will find a way to help him. she promised herself.

"Are you feeling better today?" Barnabas asked Phillip.

"Yes." Phillip said listlessly At least he had stopped screaming and didn't have to be restrained in a straightjacket anymore. He was calmer, even if he was growing dangerously dependent on Barnabas who was the only one who could provide him with a good night's sleep...

Already he was assuming a fetal posture.

It was time to go to the next stage, if Phillip was ever going to walk out of Wyncliffe on his own.

"Do you want to try something?"

"Something?"

"Something to get you well."

Phillip nodded.

Barnabas helped Phillip to his feet and steered him towards the door.

"No!" Phillip tried to tear himself away "I don't want to go there!"

Barnabas hugged Phillip until he quieted down. "No one will hurt you. If they try, I'll break their arms."

"But why do we have to go there? Why not here?"

"It is nicer there.."

Treatment could not take place in Phillip's room. For it may get rough later on, and if Phillip had a bad reaction he'd get a feeling of safety in his own room, where none of it happened.

Helpless as Phillip was, he had to be an active participant in his own recovery, and that to be given more and more control of his situation as the treatment progressed. And control would begin with his deciding whether or not to go to the treatment room.

Barnabas knew what the last stages would be... might have to be if Roxanne insisted in breaking the barrier to Phillip's memory. He did not relish the thought. But certain things that Roxanne and Julia had said led him to believe that the sooner Phillip recovered his memory the safer he would be. Unpleasant as what he planned to do was, it was preferable to deliver Phillip to Roxanne and her masters' tender mercies...

Phillip went with him to the room he had chosen the night before. It was a little larger than Phillip's own with a large window, a cot, a chair, a small table, and a writing pad with pencil over the table.

Barnabas made Phillip lied own on the cot, watching as he relaxed.

With slow movements, so as not to startle Phillip, Barnabas drew a bottle on the pad.

"Phillip?" he said. "Are you all right?"

"Yes." Phillip answered in a dreamy voice.

"Lift up your head and look at this.

Phillip did, and faced the picture that Barnabas showed him,

His face rearranged itself in panic, but before it reached its final stage, Barnabas tore the sheet into several pieces, crumbled it, and threw it away.

"You see, it is gone. it is destroyed. It cannot hurt you."

"Yes. it is gone." Phillip said with relief.

"You want to see that again?"

Phillip was silent a few moments, pondering it.

"Yes." he finally said. "do it again."