A/N: Welcome to another chapter! I apologize for the long wait but a certain character has kept me out of my Barnabas duties…Lol

So, I want to thank: Foxx 1993, signifiedapollo, Zylia Gregorvich, Jandra1969, Bree, LittleMissJasperWhitlock, Jay D. Moore, nuckythompson, LabyFan23, Gary the Snail x3, Sagacious Rogue, Lovely Rain Dancer, simbasockz , ForeverACharmedOne, Makrciana, CharlieCats, Sapphire-Serenity-Phoinex, runs with myths, music is life 99 xxx, Leyshla Gisel, TinkerbellxO, XantheXV, dionne dance, smilin steph, BlooperLover, hannahhobnob, 88dragon06 and IgnitingFireworks.

Thank you all for the amazing comments!

Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Shadows.

Chapter 19

'I do not think, sir, you have any right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience.'

~Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

Don't come back.

Do not ever come back.

The words echoed in her head as she came to a sudden stop deep in the woods. She leaned forward and rested her hands upon her thighs, her breath coming out in quick, uneven pants of air. Sweat, cold sweat of fear had gathered on her brow and it mingled with the blood on her face. The cuts and scratches from the fall ached and stung and she straightened in order to walk towards a large tree. She leaned against it and pressed her brow against the scratchy surface and when she heard rapid breathing and footsteps she pressed her back against the wood, concealing herself. Tears fell freely from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks and she brought her bloodied hands to her face, covering it as a sob escaped her parted lips.

She knew he could smell her. He could smell her blood. She didn't know where he was going but then the footsteps retreated and he headed east. He was going back to Collinwood.

Samantha lowered her hands from her face and she wiped her tears away before she turned around. From her place behind the tree she could see Collinwood. The manor was dark and as she looked at it now it seemed more like a tower than a house. She swallowed hard as she recalled the lust in his eyes but unlike other times the lust was not for her lips or her hands; it was for the blood running down her face and arms.

She turned around and faced the woods again while shaking her head. What was he? What had she done? What had she turned him into?

A monster. The word was spoken quietly into her mind but she immediately hushed the voice. He was not a monster. He could never be one. He was kind and sweet and human and so warm. He could never be a monster.

She shook her head severely, forcing herself to push that vile thought to the back of her mind. He could never hurt anyone. He had always been so lenient and generous towards others, even in his grief. But now Josette was gone too and his parents were murdered by the same woman who took the life of his fiancée.

Oh God, Lady Josette. She covered her mouth with her hand. What had Josette done? She had never hurt anyone and yet she had paid the price of her master's deeds. Angelique took her revenge on the people he loved and at last on him. The thought sickened her. What the woman could do horrified her.

Suddenly she froze and looked down at herself. She was alive. Why was she alive? Surely such a fall ought to have killed her on the spot. And yet she had made it through with only a few cuts and scratches and maybe a hurt rib or two. But he had died! She had been sure of it. He had not been breathing and there had been blood running down his head. She had seen it. How on earth did…

Samantha pushed away from the tree and started walking. Did Angelique have the power to raise the dead? Or could he only become what he was only once he was dead? And what was he?

She paused and her fists curled around her torn skirt. She knew what he most probably was. So why did she have such a great difficulty uttering the word? Because she could never associate him with such a creature, that's why. She set her lips into a thin line and took a deep breath. She had to say it because she was going to go back to the manor. She was not staying away. First thing in the morning. With the first ray of sunlight and when she would arrive there she would see what he really was.

Just say it. Her inner voice screamed at her and even the voice inside her head sounded terrified and choked up.

"Vampire." She murmured and the word tasted foreign on her tongue but the more she recalled his features, those teeth and black eyes she knew that she was not mistaken. Like an ordinary child she knew all about the folklore that had to do with vampires. Her mother used to speak of such tales in order to frighten her from going out in the woods at night. She had always heard about them but as she grew older she had never believed in such myths.

She closed her eyes and she suddenly felt exhausted. She leaned against a tree and slowly slid down. She collapsed on the leafy ground and brought her knees up to her chest, hugging them close before she leaned her head against them and closed her eyes. Perhaps if she rested she'd wake up to find that everything had been a bad dream. Perhaps she'd wake up next to him and he would laugh at her odd dream, his voice warm and smooth as he would try to calm her down. But as the sun fell on her shut eyelids hours later and as she opened her eyes she knew that it was not a dream but reality. A monstrous reality.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The large iron gates were ajar as she came closer. She paused in front of them and eyed the empty driveway. The usually beautiful garden looked like it had been hit by a tornado. The flowers were hanging broken from their stems and the ground was filled with dry leaves from the vicious wind. He hugged her arms and shivered as she eyed the grounds.

She took a few steps closer and raised her eyes to the manor. It looked…lifeless. Where was everybody? The guards ought to have been at the doors and Mrs. Filch would have surely opened the first floor windows by then.

She swallowed hard and decided to enter. What worse could happen than this? He would never hurt her, she knew it. Her feet carried her quickly to the back door which was usually left open at night since there was always a guard at the back garden.

The door was unlocked and she hesitated only briefly before she pushed the heavy wooden gate open. She peered inside but she saw no one. There was a smell of burned wood as she walked inside the kitchen and as she looked to her left she saw that the cooking fire had long died out. The kitchen was untouched, like it had been on the night before and as she walked towards the corridor the smell of a familiar soap scent brought her to a halt. There was the servants' parlor by her left and she made a turn. She pushed the door open and then she screamed. Maria was leaning against the corner, her neck bloodied and her hand pressing against the wound on her neck.

Samantha's scream caused Maria's eyes to snap open and she flinched but then her eyes shone with recognition.

"S-Sam?" she whimpered and Samantha ran to her. She kneeled next to her and gently took hold of her hand, pulling it away from her neck. She gasped at the two bite marks and then looked around for a cloth. She found a linen handkerchief at the table, Mrs. Filch's, and then pressed it against Maria's neck.

"What happened? Where is he?" Samantha asked and Maria's eyes widened.

"Y-you know what-…"

"Yes. He attacked you?" Samantha asked but Maria had already started to hyperventilate.

"He came in and I heard him. He tried to walk away from me but he was drenched in water and there was blood on his eyes and cheeks…And his mouth... I had to make sure he was alright. B-but he told me to leave and his voice sounded too odd that I knew there was something wrong. I tried to approach him and that's when it happened." She panted for breath and Samantha nodded.

"Does it hurt?"

"It does a bit but I only feel lightheaded is all…He…he let me go very fast and then he was gone." Maria whispered as she wiped at her cheek.

Samantha kneeled back and rubbed her temples, "Where are the others?" she asked quietly.

"I've no idea. I heard voices and… and screaming but then there were footsteps and I knew; I just knew I was alone in the house." Maria whispered as she tried hard to keep her breathing under control.

"Do you think he's still here?" Samantha whispered as she eyed the door.

"I think so…Collinwood is huge. He must be here…Samantha, what happened?" Maria grabbed her hand and squeezed.

Samantha licked her dry lips and shook her head, "You won't believe me..." she murmured.

"I just saw my master with elongated teeth and blood dripping down his eyes! I'd believe anything!" Maria cried with wide eyes, "What happened to you? You have scratches all over you. Did he-…"

"No! No, Lady Josette is dead." Samantha blurted out and Maria gasped.

"What?"

"She fell off Widows' Hill. Angelique drove her mad. She had been playing with her head for weeks and…Master and I followed her because we saw her leaving the grounds. She fell and I slipped. Trying to catch me he slipped as well and we fell into the rocks." Samantha shook her head, "I thought he died…He was dead, he was not breathing but I was fine. I was fine and then…he started moving, Maria. I thought I went mad just by looking at him move. But then he started screaming and he…" she raised her eyes to Maria's shocked face, "He turned ashen and there was blood on his cheeks, on his mouth and his hands…his hands. Oh my God!" she broke down and covered her face with her hands.

Maria winced and leaned forward to place a hand on her arm, "Breathe." She instructed, "Do you think he'll kill us?" she whispered and Samantha looked up.

"I don't know, Maria. Would we kill for food? Because I think I know what he is…what she turned him into.

"Angelique..." Maria gulped, "Vrykolakas." she whispered and Samantha frowned.

"What?"

Maria shook her head, "It means vampire in Greek. They have a lot of folklore tales about them." She whispered.

"You know Greek?" Samantha murmured.

"My mother was half Greek. But that's not the point."

"It is the point because Master has various books in Greek. If you can read we might find something in them that can help him…or us." Samantha said with wide eyes.

Maria faltered, "I know some of it. Are you saying he has books on witchcraft and myths?"

"Yes. I've been to the library. There's Latin too. Can you walk? I need to change clothes." Samantha stood and offered a hand.

Maria took it and lifted herself up with a wince, "What are we going to do?" she whispered as she eyed the corridor with dread.

Samantha took a deep breath, "We're going to tend to your neck and then I am going to change." She paused as they headed slowly towards the corridor, "And then I am going to find him." She whispered and Maria's eyes widened but she kept silent.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The parlor was illuminated by the sunlight as she stepped into it. Her eyes did a quick perusal of the empty room and then her gaze came to rest on the stairs. A feeling deep in her gut told her that he was most probably not in his chamber but she headed over to them nonetheless. She climbed up the stairs quickly and then hurried down the corridor to his room. As her hand closed around the doorknob images from their time in there caused her to falter for a moment. How had everything fallen apart so fast? The thought was haunting her mind all day and so she pushed the door open, pushing the bad thoughts away as she did so. His room was empty. Bright sunlight fell on the bed and as she stepped further in she saw the various books, papers and quills on his desk. Her eyes welled up with tears and she turned her gaze away. She turned to walk over to his closet and she opened it. His clothes were inside and her hands, familiar with the items, took out a shirt and a pair of breeches he usually wore. She shut the closet and folded them before she turned to walk out of the door.

The library was empty but as her eyes swept the bookshelves she noticed that a few books were missing. Taking a deep breath she turned and walked away from there as well. She knew where she had to look.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Her fingers found the small crevice and she pressed on the handle. The hidden door parted freely for her and she was surprised. So he had actually thought that she'd never come back. That's why he had not bolted the door. Taking a deep breath she leaned down and passed through the threshold. The air was cold and damp as she climbed down the stairs and her hands tightened on the clothes in her arms.

She squinted in order to see in the semi darkness but as she walked further a few candles illuminated her way. The corridor was parted into two smaller passageways but a sudden noise to her right made her choose. She stepped into the right one and held her breath as she walked. The passageway led into an enclosed with bars space with the Collins crest engraved on it and she paused.

A movement behind her caused her to freeze and her skin erupted in goose bumps as a sudden gust of air blew her hair away from her neck. She twirled around but she saw nothing. She saw a shadow passing from her left and she gasped. Was it him?

"Master?" she whispered as her eyes roamed the crypt, her shoulders tense and her hands shaking.

She made a turn around herself, her eyes alert but then there was heavy breathing behind the bars and she turned back around.

"Master?" she called in a firmer voice, "I know you're in here. Please show yourself." She murmured, "You're scaring me." She whispered and then there was a long shuffle across from her. She resisted the urge to take a step back. Her courage was rewarded because he stepped forward and into the candlelight.

Samantha resisted the urge to cry out at the sight of him. His lips and chin were caked with blood and the collar of his shirt was dirty. His clothes were ripped as if from sharp nails and his hair was a wild mess upon his head.

As he came closer to the iron bars she took a reflexive step backwards.

"What are you doing here? How can you be so stupid?" he asked her hoarsely as he wrapped his hands around the iron bars, "Answer me!" he screamed at her and she jumped.

"I am stupid, yes." She replied with a nod and he snarled, his teeth stained with the same crimson that tainted his skin.

"Get out, Samantha." His voice was scratchy and low and it caused her to shudder.

"No. I've brought you clothes." She shook her head and looked him straight in the eye. The brown was completely gone from his eyes and all that she saw was black. Her breath hitched.

"Get out." He whispered as he eyed her with shock and horror, "Leave. Don't you understand what I can do?" he pulled his hands away from the bars and started walking towards the door that led over to her.

She tried hard not to move back, "I do. But you won't do it to me." She replied in a strong voice, "You will learn to live with it-…"

"Live with it?" he murmured, "Live with it. You think I can live with it? With this constant thirst? This constant burning in my insides? Look at me!" he barked at her and this time she did step back, "Do you see the man you wanted?"

"Yes!" she screamed back at him,

"Well, you're mistaken! I am not him. I am no longer your master…Nor your lover. I don't want you here." He told her as he started walking towards her, "I don't want you here." He repeated and his voice faltered towards the end of the sentence, betraying his words.

"Liar."

"I killed Maria." He whispered as he stepped over to her and his nostrils flared.

"You didn't. She's alive."

"You're lying." He choked out.

"I am not lying!" she shook her head.

"Stop lying to me!" he screamed as he banged his fist against the wall by her head. A tent appeared on the surface and Samantha jumped but turned to look at him in the eye.

"I am not lying to you, Barnabas. I swear I am not. Maria is fine." She murmured as she reached out to touch his hand. He flinched away from her touch and stepped back.

"I can smell it." He shook his head, "I can smell your blood even through your skin." He growled and covered his face with his hands, "I can hear it pound in your veins. It's torture. I can hear everything. I smell everything. I can…I can run without you even notice me." He looked at her from over his fingers, "I can kill you without you even noticing me pounce." He whispered and Samantha shook her head.

"Why don't you do it?" she asked and his eyes locked on hers, his gaze lost and tormented.

"I want to kill you…" he started with wide eyes, "but I can't." he murmured in a clogged up voice, "I can't. Not when you look at me with such trust. I don't want to betray that trust." He started retreating back to the shadows, "That's why you have to leave."

Samantha shook her head and in an act of sheer stupidity she leaped forward and grabbed his hand. He moaned and threw her away from him with a mighty push. Her back collided with the wall and she cried out. The clothes fell from her hands as she slid down to the ground. Pain made her squeeze her eyes shut and when she opened them again she could not see him anywhere. He was gone.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

"Are you sure about this? You can't stay alone." Maria whispered as she turned from the back door and eyed Samantha with dread.

"I am sure. He won't come up here. Not yet." She murmured but she wasn't sure herself.

"I will come back tomorrow morning, after dawn and we will look at the books. I won't tell a soul to anyone at the village." Maria took hold of her hand and squeezed it gently.

"Alright. I will be here when you arrive. Now go for it's getting dark." Samantha pushed her gently away and the other woman nodded.

"Be safe." Maria murmured and then she was gone.

Samantha closed the door behind her and leaned against it. She eyed the silent kitchen and an increasing feeling of fear started creeping up on her. She was afraid yes. She didn't want to die, yes. But she loved him more.

She pushed away from the door and headed quickly for the upper floors. She arrived in his chamber and walked in. She shut and locked it behind her and then she let her eyes roam the room. It smelled like him. A mixture of sandalwood and fresh soap was heady in the air and it brought a feeling of serenity over her. Her heart slowed down until it was beating steadily inside her chest and she closed her eyes for a few moments.

She then pushed away from the door and walked over to his bed. She sat down and let her fingers rub against the silk covers. Feeling exhausted, she slowly lay down on the bed and brought her knees up to her chest while clutching onto his pillow. The sudden thought of him coming in the room came into her mind but she felt no fear. Perhaps that would make him see that she was not going anywhere. Not until her master was back. Not until he was brave enough to touch her again. Not until she saw warmth in his eyes again. Not until he told her that he loved her again. Because when that time came she would say it back; and it would not matter if he considered himself a monster because it would simply not matter what he thought. She'd make him change his mind because that was love. It was sacrifice and she was ready to prove it.

End of chapter 19

Author's note: Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. Please review and let me know what you think. Reviews feed the muse!

Until next time, loves!

Xxx Lina :o)