A/N: Sorry for the long way but because stuff happens in this chapter I wanted to take my time with it.

So, I want to thank: Sapphire-Serenity-Phoinex, LittleMissJasperWhitlock, Why Fireflies Flash, Jay D. Moore, MissMisc3, runs with myths, TinkerbellxO, smilin steph, nuckythompson, dionne dance, ForeverACharmedOne, 88dragn06, Sagacious Rogue, Makrciana, Lovely Rain Dancer, IgnitingFireworks, Leyshla Gisel, JohnnyDeppLover44, XantheXV, AngeliqueBouchard1972, LabyFan23, BlooperLover, hannahhobnob, Jandra1969 and .

You are all awesome for sticking with me!

Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Shadows.

Chapter 18

He was my North, my South, my East, my West

My working week and my Sunday rest

My moon, my midnight, my talk, my song

I thought that love would last forever I was wrong

The stars are not wanted now put out everyone

Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun

Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood

For nothing can ever come to any good.

~Funeral Blues, W. H. Auden

"Rosy, keep it down!" Maria hissed as she thrust the freshly washed sheets into the basket the other maid held in her hands. Rosy shrugged and giggled.

"What? It's the truth? He's been wandering around like a ghost, ignoring Lady Josette's placid smiles and empty gazes, and what is wrong with her by the way?" Rosy asked with a frown.

"It's not any of our business." Maria insisted and as Samantha stepped closer with the dirty laundry she paused by the door.

"Yes, it is. We're living here and it's been a month! All this misery is not good for my poor nerves." Rosy rolled her eyes and Samantha had to bite her lip hard enough to bleed in order not to scream at the other maid.

"Show a little respect for the Master. He's always so good to us. Even now that he's mourning." Maria snapped.

"Yes, that's true." Rosy admitted but then she sniffed and shook her head, "But, please! He's like a walking corpse. He's walking around the manor with suspicion, he's not eating, not sleeping. He's spends all his time in the library, burying his nose in awfully dark books and then he's wandering the village looking for Angelique because he thinks she's the one to blame." Rosy finished and Maria frowned.

"And you don't think someone caused their deaths?" she asked and Samantha swallowed hard, ready to make herself visible.

"Well…I always suspected her for being a witch but…isn't this a bit extreme?" Rosy whispered.

"Extreme? I saw the statue crushing them! How on earth did that happen? Collinwood is the best house in Collinsport. It's new. How on earth did it go down like that?" Maria asked while throwing her hands up in the air.

Rosy faltered and frowned, "Alright, yes but-…"

"But you shouldn't speak about other people's affairs." Samantha spoke up as she entered and dumped the basket of dirty clothes to the ground, "Hold your tongue."

Rosy gaped at her, "Were you spying on us?" she asked and Samantha shook her head.

"I didn't have to. Your voice is heard all the way over to the West Wing." She replied sarcastically.

"Why are you so sour?" Maria asked, "The incident has had an impact on all of us but you seem so on edge." She put a comforting hand on Samantha's arm and rubbed it.

"She's like that because she's smitten with the young Master." Rosy snickered and Samantha who was usually lenient on Rosy's comments scowled at her.

"He's no longer the young Master, Rosy. He's the only Master and you better lower your voice when you speak about his private affairs."

Rosy actually flushed at the reprimand and took a step back, "Heavens, you're starting to sound like Mrs. Filch." She muttered before she tuned and walked our of the laundry room, leaving them alone.

Samantha watched her until Maria squeezed her arm to grasp her attention, "Hey. What's wrong?"

Samantha swallowed thickly, "I just saw Lady Josette. Good Lord, she seems lost again." She whispered and Maria nodded.

"Yes, I saw her too yesterday. It's like she has no grasp of what's happening. Last night I heard her talking to the guards about the upcoming wedding and that they should help in planting new roses for the ceremony. The guards were staring at her like she had sprouted two heads. I think she's going insane. Not to mention that the Master barely notices her here." Maria murmured and Samantha bit her lip.

"I know she seems…lost. She moves around like a string puppet." She said quietly and then shook her head, "Anyway, I have to go help in the kitchen."

"Why bother? No one eats but us." Maria muttered as she checked on the fire for the clothes.

"Nevertheless, Mrs. Filch insists that we should go about our chores as we always did. Give a sense of normality." Samantha rubbed her hands to warm them as the chilly breeze from the door hit her exposed skin.

"Except that nothing is normal anymore." Maria murmured and Samantha sighed before she turned and walked away.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Samantha nervously wrung her hands as she eyed Lady Josette's docile expression. The other woman was sitting curled upon a settee while looking at a book. She had not turned the page for the last half an hour.

Samantha stepped back towards the main entrance door and eyed the large wooden gate with impatience.

He ought to be back soon, she was certain. When the door was opened finally minutes later she approached eagerly. He was wrapped up in his coat and his hands which were naked were pink from the cold.

"Master." She whispered and when he looked at her his expression cleared.

"Samantha. What are you doing up so late?" he murmured as he reached out and cupped her warm cheek with his frozen hand. She reached up and took it in hers before she looked towards the direction of the large parlor.

"Lady Josette is here." She whispered and he frowned, his expression turning cold suddenly.

"Still? I thought that I had given descriptive instructions to Mrs. Filch this morning. She was to be taken back to her home and her father was to be informed of the situation. The wedding is called off." He snapped and Samantha nodded.

"Yes, but we were not able to move her. She does not listen to us."

"I cannot bother with her right now." He started but then Samantha's hand was on his arm, stopping him from walking away.

"Please, Master." She murmured and he eyed her with confusion, "I know you're intent on your purpose of finding Angelique but Lady Josette is not well. She needs help. Please." She murmured and Barnabas' expression softened and a wave of resignation passed over his features.

"Very well. I shall deal with her. It's not as if I can find Angelique anyway. I went to the house where she was employed but the masters of the house had no idea what I was talking about. I even barged into their home to look for her and when I did not find her I had to pay them in order to placate them for my nerve." He sighed, "It's useless, Samantha. I won't ever find her."

"Perhaps it's for the better." Samantha murmured and his eyes flashed.

"Better for whom?"

"For you." She whispered and emotion glimmered in his dark eyes. He smoothed a few curls away from her face and then brushed his fingers down her cheek in a caress.

"Let's go." He told her as he made his way towards the parlor. He shrugged out of his coat and threw it on a chair before he approached Josette.

"Josette?" he whispered as he came to stand in front of her. When she didn't reply he reached out and grasped her shoulder, gently shaking her.

At last she looked up and she smiled serenely, her hands limply letting go of the book she had been staring at. It fell on her lap like a dead weight.

Master Barnabas smiled a bit at her and then kneeled in front of her, "What's wrong?" he asked her as he placed his hand on her knee and squeezed it, "You ought to be home."

Samantha lingered in the background but it was as if she was not there, for Josette at least.

"Home?" Josette murmured, "I was waiting for our wedding clothes to arrive today…or was it tomorrow? Either way, I think you should be here with me." She said and Master Barnabas stilled.

"Josette, we've talked about this. The wedding…the wedding cannot and will not happen. Especially now." He added slowly as if talking to a small child who could not comprehend the difference between right or wrong.

"But…I don't have to leave, do I?" she whispered as she looked at him with wide but shallow blue eyes.

Samantha studied the other woman with intent but she could not fathom what was wrong with her. She seemed fine a few days earlier.

"No." Master Barnabas' voice was gentle but held suspicion and worry in it.

"I am sleepy now." Josette murmured and Master Barnabas turned to look at Samantha helplessly before he turned his attention back to Josette who was already dozing off.

"God." He whispered as he reached out and tucked some hair behind her ear. In doing so his eyes caught something. The hair below her ear was shorter and purplish bruises were on her neck, as if someone had wrapped their fingers around her throat.

"What the hell?" he exclaimed but Josette did not wake.

Samantha approached, "What is it?"

"Come here." He beckoned her closer and held up Josette's hair. Then his fingers went to her bruised neck.

Samantha stumbled back, "Who would do that?" she gasped but Master Barnabas' eyes were narrowed.

"You know who. This is Angelique's doing. She's using Josette…What for though?" he asked but then he shook her head, "I am going to put her to bed. Make sure to lock the doors and then come to me." He looked up at her, "Make sure Mrs. Filch does not see you." He told her and then he leaned forward. He picked up Josette and cradled her to his chest before he walked out of the parlor and towards the grand staircase. Samantha watched them go with wide eyes and a raging heartbeat.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

She nervously tiptoed up the stairs, pulling her shawl tightly around her shoulders. Her feet stepped onto the long corridor and she hastily picked up her pace.

His door was ajar as she arrived in front of it and the moment she pushed it open his hand closed around her wrist. She yelped as he pulled her into his arms but she wrapped her arms around him all the same, pressing her face into the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent. His lips found her forehead and his kiss warm and firm like always made her weak in the knees.

His hand twined through her hair and he tilted her head back, slowly pushing her backwards against the wall by the door.

"I am sorry." He murmured before he pressed an earnest kiss upon her lips.

"What for?" she asked a bit shakily as she eyed his tired face.

"I've been neglecting you." He told her huskily as he brushed his thumbs under her eyes.

"No, you haven't." she shook her head.

"Life is for the alive, I know that. But I still cannot fathom this…this sudden crumble of my life. It is just…cruel and unfair. All they've ever done was protecting her. It's so obvious that she's the culprit. Why else would she disappear?" he shook his head and Samantha cupped his cheek.

"And now something is wrong with Josette. I even locked her door because yesterday I found her ridiculously close to the edge of the balcony at the East Wing." He laughed humorlessly, "Everything is falling apart." He sighed and locked eyes with hair, "I am even thinking of dismissing some of the staff. I don't need them all. Hattie can leave with dignity, she's old enough. I will be sure to find proper placements for Rosy and Maria as well."

"But the manor is large. It needs supervision." Samantha objected, "Besides, it's good to be around people." She whispered, "If it's a money issue…" she trailed off when he laughed.

"It's not the money. I have all the money I want. That's why I asked you to come here. I want to show you something. Something you don't know about Collinwood. It might prove useful at some point." He murmured and then took her hand, "Come."

He walked out of his chamber and pulled her down the stairs. He headed for the parlor and came to stand in front of a large alcove by the fireplace. Samantha frowned.

"Why are we here?" she asked and he turned to her with a small smile before he reached out placed his hand under the mantelpiece. His hand moved and then a click echoed in the silence around them. The walls in front of them started moving and a small passageway appeared. Cold air rushed through it and Samantha shivered.

"What-…"

"Secret passageways. Hidden rooms deep in the earth. Collinwood is full of them." He smiled a bit proudly at her bewildered expression.

"Do the others know? The staff, I mean." She asked and he shook his head.

"No. No one knows. Well, my parents knew but…" he trailed off and smiled sadly, "They're gone."

Samantha swallowed hard, "It feels cold in there, right?"

"Indeed."

"Where does it lead?" she asked curiously and he grinned.

"I'll show you." He murmured as he took her hand. They approached the open door but then footsteps alerted them of someone's presence.

Master Barnabas froze and turned towards the parlor. He narrowed his eyes and when the figure was visible his hand on Samantha tightened.

Samantha turned to face the intruder but she became still when she saw the flowing hair of Lady Josette.

"How…I locked the door." Barnabas whispered with parted lips. His eyes followed her and when she headed for the main entrance door his eyes widened. He started walking towards her, gradually letting go of her hand.

Light from the moon flooded the hall as Josette unlocked and opened the door and then she was stepping outside.

"Hadn't you locked the door?" he exclaimed as he looked at Samantha and she sputtered before she nodded frantically.

With a curse he followed Josette but as he stepped onto the steps of the entrance she was nowhere to be seen. Samantha followed him and she started looking frantically around, not caring when the wind picked up and ruffled her hair and shawl.

Master Barnabas walked down the steps and his dark eyes perused the darkness. His eye caught something by the woods and he squinted until his gaze lit up with recognition.

"Josette!" he called, hoping that it would halt her movements but it didn't. He started walking fast behind her and Samantha watched with bated breath until her own feet moved.

"Samantha, stay here!" he called but she did not listen to him, "Samantha-…"

"We have to run or we won't catch up with her." She cut him off before she started sprinting behind the other woman.

Master Barnabas cursed and followed her with long strides, "How on earth did she get out?" he barked but Samantha did not answer. She ran faster and she could feel rocks and leaves underneath her shoes. Tree branches hit them in the face as they ran through the large trees but no matter how fast they were Josette seemed to be always a step ahead of them.

"Lady Josette!" Samantha called but the woman moved as if she were walking upon water. It was as if her feet weren't touching the ground.

"Josette!" Master Barnabas yelled as he ran faster but Josette kept walking incredibly fast and with an elegance that was otherworldly.

"Josette, stop!" he called again and by then both him and Samantha were breathless. As they kept parting way through the branches they realized that they were far away from Collinwood and that the manor was a small dot of light in the distance.

Suddenly Master Barnabas stopped running and his wide eyes looked ahead of them.

"Widows'." He whispered, "She's heading to Widows'." He exclaimed and then he picked up his pace while Samantha faltered, her eyes filled with horror at the realization.

But as she watched her Master following the other woman she resumed her running, no longer caring about the cuts and scratches on her feet and face from the rough tree branches.

"Josette, get back. What are you doing?" his voice was hoarse and panicked and for the first time since his betrothal his eyes showed real emotion and concern for the woman who was standing near the edge of the hill. Her hair was flowing with the wind and Samantha shivered at the sound of the angry waves that were crushing to the shore with force. She hated that hill. It had always frightened her and she had not ventured so close to it before. But now…now it was even more terrifying; especially when someone was standing so close to the edge.

"Josette!" Master Barnabas' voice had lost its patience by then and he was approaching rapidly the frail woman standing in front of him.

Abruptly Josette turned towards them and she blinked as if coming out of her stupor. Her hair was a tangled mess of loose curls and her face a deathly pale.

"I'm sorry." She murmured as she blinked rapidly, "I cannot. The things she shows me…I cannot." She shook her head as she took a few steps back, "I've tried to fight it but…" her hands grasped fistfuls of her skirt and her eyes went to Samantha before she continued, "I cannot."

"I'll help you. Just get away from the edge. Please." Master Barnabas' voice was gentle and earnest and he outstretched his hand towards her, his fingers beckoning closer as he took a few steps towards the woman.

"No one can. Beware her. Please."

And then her hands released her skirt and she raised them high above her hips and then she started falling, backwards and backwards as if in slow motion and then she was gone. Her scream echoed around the rocky landscape and then Master Barnabas was stepping closer, his eyes wide with horror as he watched her body crushing into the waves and colliding with the sharp rocks underneath.

"Jesus Christ!" Samantha exclaimed as she came to stand next to him. Her hands covered her mouth and she screamed as another rough wave crushed Josette's body, moving her as if she were a ragdoll. The extremely high height made her dizzy and her hand shot out to grasp Master Barnabas' sleeve. But her fingers were slick with sweat and she didn't manage to hold onto him. She swayed dangerously and she cried out when an invisible force pushed her forwards and then Barnabas snapped out of his daze and his wide eyes fell on Samantha who was trying but failing to keep her balance. His hands shot out and he grasped hold of her waist but her weight was already tipping them backwards and as Samantha's foot slipped right off the edge his body was drawn to her.

His combined body weight forced her other foot to follow the first and then they were falling, falling right off the hill and right towards the rocks.

Samantha screamed and her hands grasped his arms and his hands tightened around her waist and as they fell they heard a loud sinister chuckle that was even chillier than the wind slapping their skin.

Samantha squeezed her eyes shut when her eye caught the approaching waves and a moment later they collided painfully with the water and the rocks swimming underneath it. Her chest collided with Barnabas and her legs were entwined with his own. His back found the rocks first and Samantha screamed in horror, scraping her elbows and knees hard against the sharp edges. Her breath was knocked right out of her but she forced her eyes open when she realized that she was not dead. Her limbs felt heavy and they did not cooperate when she tried to move but then her eyes went to the man underneath her and a huge lump formed in her throat as she watched his pale and lifeless face. His eyes were closed and his hands were lying limply by his sides. His hair was soaked and matted against his beautiful face and as she cupped his cheeks he felt cold to the touch. Unrestrained tears welled in her eyes and her vision became blurry with them as she shook him.

"Barnabas?" she whispered as she rubbed his skin with her thumbs but she received no reply. In a sudden movement she staggered back and away from him, her hands and knees trembling as she crawled backwards, her dress catching on the rocks but she didn't care for the large rips. Her wide eyes were fixated on his pale face but then she heard that laughter again and she looked around for the source. She looked up and even from so low she could see the woman clearly; Angelique.

"What did you do?" she screamed but the woman only smiled at her, her arms outstretched.

"Do not mourn yet, ma petite." She called, "Not just yet." She murmured and then her eyes closed and her body convulsed.

Samantha shuddered as the wind instead of cold turned warm, no not warm, scorching hot and she hugged herself. Her terrified eyes went to the lifeless form of the man she adored and the more she looked at him the more odd he started to seem.

First his eyes moved behind his closed eyelids and then his fingers twitched. His legs jerked and his head which was tilted to a strange angle moved.

Samantha stopped breathing as his eyelids flickered.

Her heart thumped loudly against her chest but she did not hesitate. She started crawling her way towards him, not caring of the water that soaked her to the bone even more.

"Barnabas?" she whispered and she ignored the loud cackle of laughter, focusing on the man twitching in front of her.

She touched his hand but it was so cold and frozen that she immediately knew that something was wrong.

And then his eyes snapped open and they were dark and his pupils dilated. His hand moved under hers and he turned it so he could grasp her hand. She cried out in sheer shock but before she could start laughing with relief his expression changed. His eyes darkened further and the skin under his eyes turned ashen. His lips shone a dark pink and a loud scream escaped his throat. He fought for breath and suddenly threw her hand away. He rolled onto his side and his hands clawed at the rocks under him.

A moan of pure agony rang in her ears and she stumbled back as his body jerked and he doubled over.

"Master?" she breathed as she gathered her courage to approach him again.

He lifted himself up on his knees and brought his hands forward to cover his face. Samantha watched him from over his shoulder and when she was standing right behind him he whirled around to her. At her sight he stumbled backwards and he lowered his hands from his face.

Samantha gasped. His eyes…his eyes were bloodied and dark crimson was sliding down his cheeks, staining his pale skin. The corner of his mouth was stained with the dark liquid as well and his eyes were pained.

"Go away." He choked out as he looked at his bloodied hands. When she didn't move he snarled, "Samantha, leave!" he screamed at her but she couldn't. She couldn't look away even as her foot collided with Josette's lifeless body. She stumbled and caught herself against a rock but then he growled in pain and tried to close his mouth shut but he couldn't because something was standing in his way. His mouth oozed more blood and he parted his lips to scream. As he did so his teeth were revealed and Samantha whimpered and pressed her back flush against the rocks at the sight of him. His sharp fangs glimmered crimson in the moonlight and he staggered backwards terrified of himself.

His eyes locked with Samantha's for a moment but when he saw the fear and desperation in them he looked upwards.

"What have you done?!" he screamed but Angelique only smiled and stepped away from the edge.

Barnabas snarled and then his eyes shifted to Samantha, eager and worried but then his nostrils flared and his eyes went to her scrapped hands and face. A low growl escaped his throat and his Adam's apple moved as he swallowed rapidly.

"Samantha." He murmured as he started approaching her, his eyes wide and fixated on her bloodied skin, "Run." He breathed and as he looked into her eyes she knew that he meant it.

End of chapter 18

Author's note: Thank you for reading. Were you expecting that? Let me know your thoughts. Will he hurt her, will he not? Why did she not die from the fall? Questions, questions. ;o)

Oh and if you haven't done so already check out my other DS story. It's quite different though…

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Until next time!

Xxx Lina ;o)