I was going to wait a little longer before I posted this chapter, but it's Christmas! I apologize in advance for not adding a longer chapter and for not making it more original... most of this is from the movie. Oh well, enjoy anyway!

Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Shadows!

The interior of Dr. Hoffman's office differed from the rest of the house. Although the walls weren't covered with extravagant paintings or damask wallpaper, it still looked grim. The only color in the room was the maroon therapy chair, a fern, and perhaps a few books on the shelf.

Julia directed Barnabas to the therapy chair as she pulled up her own.

"Do you know what a psychiatrist is?" she asked. "Regrettably the word is foreign to me. May I assume it is some species of American delicacy?" She – while grabbing an old glass of scotch - disregarded his assumption and instead enlightened him of the actual definition. "It's a medical doctor that specializes the disorders of the mind. I am a psychiatrist." She took a sip of the scotch and began to question him.

"Now, where were you born?" "Liverpool." "Can you describe it for me?" she asked. "Filthy.
The air is choked with soot and the streets reek of freshly hurled chamber pots. The smell of urine permeates the air."

An idea popped into her mind just then. "Have you any experience with hypnotism Barnabas?" "I find it very useful, yes?" "Yes I agree," she got out of her seat and grabbed a pocket watch off of the desk, "You see, sometimes we make up a fantasy world to help us erase horrible memories of our past. I find that hypnotism cuts through all that." "I employ it for other purposes," he said as she lowered the pocket watch. "May I hypnotize you Barnabas?" she asked as she began to move the watch in a tick-tock fashion. "Madam, I do not believe that remotely poss-" he was in a trance before he could even finish his sentence.

"Good. Now I'd like you to tell me a few things." She returned to her seat as she pondered what secrets she could squeeze out of this man while she had the chance.

"Barnabas?" "Yes?" "Have you ever been in love?" "Yes." "With whom?" she asked, slightly disappointed with his answer. "Josette, but unfortunately she is deceased." Her mouth twitched into a smile. "How long ago did she die?" she wondered. "Nearly two centuries ago."

She thought she heard him incorrectly. "Pardon me. When did you say she died?" "Nearly two centuries ago." She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "What year were you born Barnabas?" "1747." She didn't know whether to believe him or confirm that he had a dissociative disorder. "How are you still alive?" "I was cursed by a maidservant. She turned me into a vampire when I tried to plummet to my death from Widow's Hill."

She decided to play along with his story. "Where have you been all these years then?" she asked. "I was locked in a coffin and buried. Recently I was awaken," he told her. "By whom?" "By a yellow dragon with iron teeth. There were eleven men and I must say their blood tasted exquisite."

Her eyes grew wide as she recalled what had been on the news earlier. Eleven workers found dead in the woods off route 9.

Julia scurried down the hall with a million thoughts buzzing through her mind. There's a fucking vampire in this house... I've lost my mind... I'm a psychiatrist who's lost her mind... What if he sucks all my blood?... What if he murders the whole town?... Is it weird that he's actually more attractive now?...I must be really drunk.

She finally arrived at the study and burst in without a knock. Her head whipped to Elizabeth who's head was bent over a desk, looking over some paperwork. "A vampire?!" she yelled. "Keep your voice down she," Elizabeth replied with no display of emotion, "What on Earth are you talking about?" she asked acting as if she hadn't a clue.

"Oh spare me! I had him under hypnosis for hours." "Barnabas?" she asked nonchalantly. "There is a point where all illusions fails, but his didn't bodge," she informed while grabbing her old scotch, "He told me everything, including the fact that you've known his secret since the moment that he arrived! Why the hell didn't you say anything?!"

She gave up the charade, "I was protecting the children." Julia wanted to scoff, "Oh by hiding a vampire in the guest bedroom?" she asked bewildered, "Do you know he admitted killing the men at the construction site? He's a murderer!" She sat and took a swig of her drink.

Elizabeth disregarded her accusations – though true – and instead said, "He's a Collins and a good man and these days that's a desperately rare combination."

Julia replied mockingly, "Oh yes, I almost forgot, the family that can do no wrong." Elizabeth took off her reading glasses and looked at her for the first time, "You know Julia I'm surprised at you. I think a physician like you would find him fascinating."

Julia was coaxed, "Well sure. Medically, psychologically and ... physically he's fascinating. Which is exactly why I came to you instead of the police."

"Then be fascinated Julia. And if you have an ounce of love or respect for this family – keep your mouth shut."

Be fascinated. That I shall.

I'm still writing working on chapter 3 and I'll update when I can. Please leave reviews!