A/N: Welcome back, lovelies! I apologize for the long wait!

A huge thank you to: unicornninja12, Sagacious Rogue, HelloBruiser, MissMisc3, LabyFan23, Lovely Rain Dancer, Jandra1969, ForeverACharmedOne, IgnitingFireworks, nuckythompson, Lina Marie, Makrciana, BlooperLover, missyclone, TinkerbellxO, dionne dance, CharlieCats, XantheXV and Leyshla Gisel.

Thank you all!

Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Shadows.

Chapter 23

He who binds to himself a joy, does the winged life destroy; But he who kisses the joy as it flies, lives in eternity's sun rise.
~William Blake

Samantha stopped stirring the soup in the small pot, her eyes suddenly flickering to her bandaged wrist. She gulped and even though she knew that they were still there she just had to look. Taking a deep breath, she abandoned the large spoon and took a step back. With careful fingers she un-wrapped the bandage and took it away with a sharp jerk. She inhaled sharply. The initials were still there. They were still carved upon her skin. Biting her lip, she stared at them, and stared at them until she knew what they looked like almost by heart. Sighing, she hesitantly reached over and brushed her finger over them, almost stroking the rough patch of skin. The color was not that of burned flesh. No, it was more like the color of gold. If it wasn't so frightening she would almost call the design beautiful.

She furrowed her brows at that thought. Beautiful? Was she insane? The whole situation was anything but pleasant.

"You're looking at them again?" His voice made her jump and she whirled around to face him.

Her back collided with the pot and he narrowed his eyes, "I startled you. Forgive me." He whispered and she quickly looked him over. His hands were balled into tight fists by his sides and his eyes were dark, unfathomable.

Samantha shook her head, "No, you did not. I was lost in my thoughts is all…Are you going somewhere?" she asked as soon as she saw his dark coat and walking stick.

He took a deep breath and nodded, "I am."

"Where?" She took a step forward.

"I have a meeting with Mr. Du Pres. I have arranged to stop by his house. I cannot procrastinate any longer." He murmured gruffly.

Samantha nodded, "So late?" She murmured and looked out of the kitchen door.

"Well, I cannot go out during the day, can I?" He almost snapped and she saw that his eyes were focused on her hand. She quickly wrapped her wrist up again, not looking at him as she did so.

"I guess not…" she trailed off as she wrapped up her hand, "You look tired." She whispered and he rubbed his eyes.

"I'm fine."

"Your eyes are getting red." She pointed out and she watched as he clenched his jaw.

"I said I am fine, Samantha." His tone was crisp, severe.

"You know you cannot be around people if you are thirsty-…"

"Eat something." He cut her off as he headed for the door, "You look pale." He muttered before he took off. He did not look back at her.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

"Do you need help?" Maria called from the threshold and Samantha looked up, her eyes wide and alarmed.

"Um…"

"Is there something wrong?" Maria entered the grand bed chamber and gasped as soon as she saw the bloodied shirt in Samantha's hands.

"What's that?"

Samantha quickly bunched up the shirt and thrust it into the bundle of dirty clothes.

"Nothing."

"Sam, that's blood." Maria whispered and Samantha bit her lip hard enough to bleed.

"I know."

"Is it yours? Has he fed from you?"

"You make it sound so wrong!" Samantha said a little harshly, "No, he hasn't. That's not mine." She shook her head at last and Maria swallowed thickly.

"Then whose blood is it?"

Samantha started for the door, "I don't know."

"Don't you think you should ask him?" Maria followed her out of the chamber.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because maybe I don't wish to know." Samantha snapped.

"Do you think that's reasonable?" Maria was hot on her heels as they started walking down the stairs.

"Nothing in my life right now is reasonable." She called from over her shoulder.

"Samantha, you could be in danger. Both of us."

"Then go! No one forces you to stay." Samantha whirled around as soon as she was on the bottom step and looked up at the other woman, "Just go if you are afraid." She said more softly.

Maria shook her head, "You know I can't do that. It's both of us or neither of us."

"I am not going!"

"Then you have to talk to him. He looks…on edge."

"Right now, you look on edge as well."

"And you look exhausted. Have you even slept at all?" Maria asked her as she stepped closer.

Samantha nodded, "I have…"

"Sam, listen to me…If you cannot feel comfortable enough to sleep then maybe-…"

"Maria! I am fine."

"You don't look fine." The usually quiet woman was obviously alarmed. Maria never raised her voice to anyone.

"Maybe if you left me alone to finish I would!"

"What's this?" Barnabas' voice echoed in the walls as he slammed the front door shut and walked towards them slowly, "Maria?" He frowned.

Samantha sighed and rubbed the heel of her hand against her eye.

"Nothing, sir. We just got into a bit of a disagreement here." Maria replied before she took the clothes from Samantha's hands and slowly headed for the washroom.

Samantha watched her go and when she looked back at Barnabas she tensed.

"How…how did the visit go?"

He squared his shoulders and slowly shrugged out of his coat, "Good. I've been practicing after all."

"Practicing?"

"Indeed." He gave a slow nod.

"Practice what?" She took a step closer and he swallowed down several times.

"My new skill." He murmured.

"And what's that?"

"I could make you go, you know. Right now." He told her as he started approaching her. He threw his coat and cane on the floor and a clutter echoed in the silence.

"Make me go?"

"Indeed." He came to stand just a breath away from her, "You found the shirt."

She tensed up, "Yes."

"You're not going to ask me about it?" He started circling her.

"I don't know if I should."

"Why?"

"I might not like the answer." She whispered and when he finished his circle and locked eyes with her she frowned, "What are you doing?" She murmured as she watched his pupils dilating.

"I am thinking about it." He whispered as a cold hand reached up and cupped her cheek. Her breath hitched as he did so and she leaned into the touch. His eyes narrowed at her reaction.

"Damn you, Samantha." He murmured brokenly and she took a deep breath.

"Did you hurt someone?" she asked him and he slowly nodded.

She stiffened.

"I tried…The damn rabbit got away." He muttered and she froze. Her eyes widened.

"Rabbit?" she repeated and he nervously rubbed the back of his neck, "An animal?" She whispered.

"It tastes revolting…Like beans…Not that I have to eat beans now, but-…"

"How on earth did a rabbit escape? You're…so fast." She gaped at him.

"It appears I have a soft spot for little fearful animals…" His eyes swept her form and she licked her lips as she gazed up at him.

"Why did you not come to me? You know I'd do-…"

"I don't want you to have to do that." He cut her off, "Don't you understand? What if I did this?" he grasped her wrist and shook it.

"I don't care." She shook her head.

"How can you be so reckless? You should care. We do not know what this means." He hissed angrily, "How can you be so calm about it? I've seen you staring at them."

"You know how…and why." She whispered as she freed her hand from his grip and stepped back, "When you decide that it's of no use to try and escape yourself, you know where to find me." She told him before she turned and started walking towards her room.

"Stay." The command was firm and in a flash he was in front of her. She gasped as his eyes locked with hers, dark red and glimmering.

"Don't go." She watched as his pupils dilated and she blinked, trying to step forward, but her feet did not obey her. Her eyes widened in alarm.

"See? That's what I've been practicing." He took a step closer, "I could make you do whatever I wanted. I could kill your friend, I could drain you and you wouldn't even be able to defend yourself. This is who I am now. Do you still love me?" He whispered as his nostrils flared, taking in her scent.

Samantha blinked again and stared back at him. As she did so, his pupils got smaller and in the next moment he released her and stumbled back.

"See?"

She took a deep breath and moved forward, his eyes widened, "Like I said, you know where to find me. And you might want to use that in someone else when she comes. You know who I am talking about."

"That's what you have to say?" He asked and she tilted her head to the side.

"I do not find you intimidating, Barnabas. Your attempts to scare me off are rather childish…Good night." She turned and walked away, leaving him staring after her with narrowed eyes.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The covers were extremely warm around her body and as she turned to her right she frowned. There was something cooler resting there. She groaned softly and pouted in her sleep, the frown between her eyebrows getting deeper.

Something smooth and strong grasped her hand as it rested on the pillow and her eyes slowly drifted open. She almost gasped when she found him next to her. His cheek was pressed against the spare pillow. His hand was pillowing his head and his eyes were alight.

"Mr. Du Pres is no longer a threat…" he whispered and she blinked, trying to push the fog of sleep away, "I took care of that."

"You compelled him." She said softly.

"You knew I could do that?" he murmured.

"It was in one of the books…Maria told me after you tried to do the same thing to me."

"I'm sorry." His words slipped out of his mouth in a rush, "I don't know what I am doing anymore. I am tired of hiding…I want to feel the sun again without pain. I had never paid much attention to little things before…The sun, the light of day, walking without a care in the world…" his eyes fell to her face, "A kiss from you." His voice was low and strained

She shifted higher on the pillow so she was closer to him, "You can still kiss me." She murmured.

"Not without fear." He shook his head.

"You want to put that to the test?" She smiled a little and he inhaled sharply.

"Not when I am like this." He quickly murmured.

"Why do you refuse my help?" She asked and he gulped with difficulty.

"Samantha…"

"I don't see why you won't agree. I trust you."

"I don't trust myself around you…" He groaned when she laid her palm upon his cool cheek. Her thumb brushed over his cheekbone, tracing the dark line under his eye, and his lips parted as he reflexively slid closer to her.

She laid her forehead against his and angled her hand so her wrist was brushing the corner of his mouth. His eyes looked at it sideways and he licked his lower lip as she pressed a small kiss to the tip of his nose. He inhaled sharply and briefly closed his eyes.

"She thinks you'll kill me…You have to prove her wrong." She whispered against his closed eyelids.

"Aren't you afraid?" He hissed hoarsely as his hand slowly slipped up and firmly grasped her wrist. He pressed his nose against the blue vein running underneath her pale skin and growled softly.

"Of course I am." she replied as she swallowed hard and slipped her free hand under his cheek, threading her fingers in his short dark hair, "But I don't know of what exactly. It's like walking in the dark." She whispered against his eyelids and his nostrils flared as he breathed in more of her scent.

He let his lips touch her skin and his eyes flickered open. He looked up at her as he pressed a kiss to the pulse under his mouth and Samantha locked eyes with him as he parted his lips wider. He let his teeth gently nip at her skin and when she inhaled deeply and gave a tiny nod of encouragement he growled. She felt more than saw his teeth elongating and when he grasped her wrist tighter she gasped. His eyes flickered with indecision, but when she used her grip on his hair to tug his head closer he moaned and snarled.

In a flash, she felt his sharp fangs breaking the skin of her wrist and she balled her fingers into a fist as he held her hand against his lips and cheek. The pain was intense, probably because of his eagerness to get to the crimson that was running through her veins, and she tightened her grip on his hair. His eyes snapped open when her nails bit into his scalp and she watched with fascination as his dark red eyes started turning a dark brown again. She swallowed numerous times and she tried to calm her breathing, but her breaths kept escaping her in fast, uneven gasps. When she relaxed and laid her head on the pillow, he groaned and his eyes rolled to the back of his head. His fingers squeezed her hand hard and then she felt him withdrawing his teeth. She felt the flat of his tongue on the two identical wounds and she gasped as she felt him laving at them gently. He made her palm his cheek with her hand and his lips trailed up, brushing over her inner forearm, leaving a hot trail of wetness behind them. She hooked her fingers on the hair behind his ear and when he used his hand to palm her bottom in order to pull her lower body closer her eyes widened.

His lips arrived at the short sleeve of her nightdress, but they did not stop. He kissed and sucked on her skin even through the cotton and when he arrived at the small naked patch of exposed shoulder he moaned and latched onto her skin with his lips and tongue.

Samantha's eyes drifted shut and she rolled onto her back, trapping his hand underneath her. His body followed hers and he moved to hover on top of her. His kisses were not gentle or slow, they were harsh, scorching, and hungry and she was sure that he'd leave marks. When his mouth reached the edge of her jaw and slid closer and closer to her dry lips she realized that she did not care. She did not care as long as he was close.

As he reached her lips, he paused and she did not like that. Her breath was rough and uneven and her heart was beating at an erratic pace. He gazed down at her and as she eyed his parted lips she realized that not even a tiny drop had escaped him. His lips were slightly pink from his kisses and his eyes were blazing with fire. She felt breathless.

She could still feel his hand on her bottom and when he moved it down so he could grasp the back of her thigh she arched her back a little.

His mouth twitched a bit and he leaned down, but away from her lips much to her displeasure. He pressed his mouth against the top of her breast, just above her heart and she looked at him with heavy eyes as he pushed away the neckline so he could reach more of her breast. When his lips reached their destination, she groaned and tightened her idle fingers in is hair. His palm, cool, smooth and hard slid over her thigh and towards her knee.

She watched as his lips pulled and sucked at her skin and she snapped her eyelids shut. Her leg moved on its own accord and slipped over his strong thigh, effectively pulling him closer and pressing his pelvis against her side.

He breathed in a jagged breath and pulled his mouth away form her breast to groan against her smooth skin. His fingers curled around the fabric that was bunched around her upper thigh and she opened her eyes to look at him.

His eyes were squeezed tightly shut and his mouth was pursed into what looked like pain.

Her fingers stroked the back of his head and he opened his eyes, locking his gaze with her own as he leaned up towards her face.

"You're playing with fire." He murmured hoarsely and as he stopped just a breath away from her lips she felt a sharp tug, "You're so brave." He whispered as his fingers tore through her nightdress at her thigh, "I only wish I deserve it."

His mouth covered hers before she had the chance to speak and she was jolted from the mattress as his hand slipped under her back and pulled her up to his rock hard chest. His fingers tore at the nightdress on her back as well as he held her and she smiled against his lips. He snarled and slipped his tongue into her mouth to taste her and when he pulled away he shook his head.

"Don't laugh. I am serious." He hissed as he laved at the corner of her mouth with his tongue, "Make me stop."

Samantha arched her neck as his lips reached for it and she shook her head.

"Samantha." His voice was a dark warning and when her hand reached to touch his belly, he growled and clasped her hand in a death grip. He trapped her hand against the mattress and he pulled back on his knees. His eyes roamed her form and then his hand was on her torn clothing. He clasped it with one hand and with a sharp, but firm pull he tore it in two. Cool air hit her exposed skin and she shivered. She blinked rapidly when she saw his hands on his shirt. He pulled it up while his eyes held her pinned to the mattress. She couldn't move, but she didn't want to. Knowing that it was probably the one and only time she'd be able to make him lose his reserve, she bit her lip and slowly parted her thighs. His eyes flashed and he bared his teeth at her in warning.

"Samantha." The growl vibrated in his throat and she tried not to feel intimidated by him, tried not to shrink back in fright because if she did he'd never touch her again. And she wanted him to touch her. She wanted him.

She simply stared back at him, challenging him and his eyes widened minutely before he slipped a hand to his breeches. Samantha's throat closed up as he fell on her. His lips collided with hers and his knee parted her thighs so he could settle between them.

Samantha's hands went to his bare shoulders and she pressed her fingers against his skin, feeling how unyielding and icy his skin was, but she didn't mind. His lips stole her breath away and as he pressed harder against her, she realized how he could easily crush her with his weight.

Pushing that thought to the back of her mind, she reached for the hard planes of his back. He arched his body, bringing his skin closer to her hands and she gripped him tightly, feeling his muscles rippling as he moved his hand between their bodies to cup her breast.

She moaned softly and he dragged his lips to her flushed cheek, his cold lips a sharp contrast that cooled her burning body and warmed her heart, causing it to pump blood faster. He groaned when he heard her racing heartbeat and tore his lips away so he could watch his hand moving over her flesh. Her breathless murmur of his name caused his eyes to snap up to her face and he suddenly couldn't breathe at the look in her eyes.

He bit down hard on his lip and trailed his hand down her body before he leaned down to kiss her again. Her fingers traced designs on his skin and when he buried his face in her neck she trailed her hands to his lower back, firmly gripping his hips and undulating under him with restlessness.

"I wish I could be with you for all eternity." He voiced breathlessly as his fingers disappeared between her thighs and his tongue gently probed her earlobe, "Tell me you want that too." He murmured and she let out a quick breath as his fingers dipped inside her.

She gave a firm nod and twined her legs around his hips when he moved his hand more ruthlessly inside her. He growled quietly and captured her mouth again, his kiss in perfect tandem with the movements of his devious hand.

As their kisses grew wilder neither saw the flickering flames of the candles or the slight shadow that fell over their forms for a few brief moments.

Samantha's hands drifted up to Barnabas' hair as he started parting his breeches with one hand. His hands brushed over her sides with tenderness and hunger at the same time, and when his hips closed that tiny space that was separating them, her nails dug into his skin without actually breaking it. He hissed and she gasped loudly, her eyes widening from the force of the pressure.

His hands curled at the sheets and grabbed at the pillow by her head. His expression was fierce, but his eyes were liquid soft, glowing a warm brown that made her forget the sting of pain. Releasing a hand, he slipped his fingers around her knee and spread her legs wider, moaning hoarsely when he slipped even further inside her. Samantha bit her lip hard and closed her eyes, but she quickly opened them when she heard his breathless gasps.

"Samantha." He hissed and when his eyes drifted shut, she leaned up to kiss him. Her hands found his arms and she rubbed at the tightly clenched muscles there before she cupped his face, tilting his head to kiss him more deeply.

His thrusts paused then and when he simply rolled his hips in a tiny circle, she gasped and gripped him more tightly. He did it again and she moaned as his pelvic bone pressed against the tiny spot that assisted in relieving the tension in her muscles.

He smirked against her lips and moved away so he could watch her. He rolled his hips again and watched with satisfaction as she sighed.

Her hands caressed the back of his neck softly and he groaned before he started moving again in slow long thrusts.

Samantha's heart was beating fast, thumping against her ribcage with force and as he moved inside her she could feel her insides, even her bones, melting like wax upon the mattress. Her tightly coiled muscles started giving in into his lovemaking and when he picked up his pace in a way that was half pleasurable, half painful she groaned into his ear. His hands curled into fists on either side of her head and when she gave an inexperienced, but reflexive buck underneath him his hands tore through the mattress. The guttural grunt that left his lips echoed in the walls around them and Samantha felt as if their combined movements were shaking the entire room.

She could feel the tight knot getting firmer inside her, but as she watched him pounding his hips hungrily against her she knew that he'd arrive to the end much faster than her.

His lips latched onto her shoulder and when he gave a few more rough thrusts, his teeth bit into her skin, the sharp edges of his front teeth breaking the surface a little and his elongated fangs completing the bite by digging into her flesh.

She cried out as he collapsed on top of her, but he was quick to roll them over. She ended up straddling him and he didn't even slip from inside of her. His tongue laved at the bite on her shoulder and when he was done, his hand slipped between their bodies to trail down her sweaty belly.

His eyes locked with hers and she swallowed thickly as his free hand curled around her back.

"Forgive me." His eyes flickered to her shoulder and she shook her head as she brushed her thumb over his moist lips. He briefly kissed her finger and then his fingers aimed to finish what he had started.

"I love you." He murmured as she collapsed onto his chest with a small moan.

"Thank God, for I just let you bite me." She murmured against his lips and he froze for a moment before he smiled and moved his fingers in just the right way. Samantha closed her eyes and hid her face into the crook of his cool neck, hiding the flush on her cheeks.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Her cheek was pressed against his solid chest and the sheets were wrapped around her, separating them. He was lying on top of the covers only in his breeches and he was sound asleep. His right hand was resting idly on the top of her head and his other one was thrown over his eyes as he slept.

Samantha couldn't stop watching him and when the bite on her shoulder itched she reached up to finger it. A small flush spread on her face and she huddled closer to him, watching as the moonlight fell into her chamber in luminous waves. She smiled a bit and when his fingers flexed possessively in her hair she felt safe in a way that she shouldn't.

She blinked and even though she felt tired, she couldn't sleep. Maybe it was her aching bones or the sweet sting between her legs, but she knew that it was probably the man beside her.

Her blush deepened as she recalled how she had practically provoked him, but she couldn't bring herself to regret it.

The curtain moved by her window and she quickly turned to look at it. She frowned because the window was shut. She gave a look around and when she saw nothing, she laid her head back down on Barnabas' pale chest.

She took a big breath and decided that it was better to try and sleep.

The soft rustling sound of the curtain disturbed the silence again and her eyes snapped open once more. She gasped when she realized that the room was illuminated by a soft, pale blue light. Her lips parted in confusion and she sat up. Barnabas's hand fell to her bottom with her motion. Her eyes perused the room and a feeling of dread started twisting her stomach into tight balls of fire.

"Barnabas?" she whispered and his name alone was enough to wake him up.

"Sweetheart?"

Samantha cried out when the door was suddenly slammed against the wall. The blue light got fiercer and Samantha grasped Barnabas' arm as a thin, almost translucent figure entered the room. Waves of blond hair brought realization and awareness into Samantha's head.

"Josette?" Barnabas' voice was hoarse and his eyes wide as he took in the creature in front of them.

Samantha gulped as the figure slipped closer to the bed. Josette's eyes were a vibrant blue, but her skin deathly pale, almost a grey hue that brought shivers up and down Samantha's spine. Her dress was the same color as her eyes, but it was soaked; an evidence of her watery prison, proof of her death.

"It's not possible." Barnabas whispered and Samantha clutched the covers to her chest out of sheer fright, "Josette?" a small flicker of hope and guilt shone in his eyes, but the specter in front of them had her eyes on Samantha.

"Be careful." The words were quiet, almost a hiss and Samantha stiffened, "She's coming." With a wave of Josette's hands a book floated into the room, slipping through the door.

"Be prepared." Josette whispered as the book fell heavily atop Barnabas' lap, "Don't let her win." The words were spoken with a heavy, heart wrenching desperation and Barnabas looked at Josette with confusion.

"I don't understand." He murmured and Samantha eyed the book. It was in Latin.

Antiqua Maledictiones: Conductum

"Ancient curses." Barnabas whispered and he looked at Josette who gave a slow nod.

"Where did you find it? This book had disappeared from my father's library years ago." He asked and Josette simply raised her hand and in a fluid motion the book fell open.

"Help her." Josette whispered and Barnabas' brows furrowed while Samantha stared between the two of them incomprehensibly.

"What are you?" He murmured with wide eyes and Josette simply stared at him for a long time. When a tear rolled down her cheek, Barnabas inhaled sharply and made to reach forward. Before he had the chance to do so, Josette disappeared into thin air, the pale blue luminance getting lost in the darkness of the long hall outside the room.

Barnabas turned and looked at Samantha who was staring wide eyed at the page. He swallowed hard and with a deep breath he looked down at the open book.

On top of the page, written in thick black letters, Samantha's fate was written.

Aeternitas Maledictio.

"What…what does it mean?" Samantha whispered and Barnabas pursed his lips before he turned to look at her.

"The Eternity Curse." He whispered as he reached out and grasped her hand. He turned it over and when his initials glimmered gold in the darkness both of them realized what it meant.

Angelique had bound them together. Forever.

End of chapter 23

Author's note: Ahem. I hope you liked that…As you can see, the story is slowly drifting towards the end…Not sure how many chapters are left, but I know that the end is near.

So, do you think that Barnabas' bite will enhance the curse or not? And why did Angelique bind them together? Hmm? Any guesses? More about the curse in the next chapter.

So, comments? They make me happy!

Until next time!

Xxx Lina ;o)

*Translations:

Antiqua Maledictiones: Conductum= ancient curses, a guide

Aeternitas Maledictio= the eternity curse*