11: Carrying the Weight

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#CC9900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="047005a0dwnjzk.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>     | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cassie's Writing</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id109.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="1: Stolen Memories"><U><B>1:  Stolen Memories</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2: A Complex Puzzle"><U><B>2:  A Complex Puzzle</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id111.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="3: Peeling the Onion"><U><B>3:  Peeling the Onion</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="4: Secrets Revealed"><U><B>4:  Secrets Revealed</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="5: Going Home Again"><U><B>5:  Going Home Again</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="6: ThingintheBox"><U><B>6:  Thing-in-the-Box</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7: Challenging the Leviathan"><U><B>7:  Challenging the Leviathan</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="8: Circling the Wagons"><U><B>8:  Circling the Wagons</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="9: Jebs Curse"><U><B>9:  Jeb's Curse</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="10: Spell of Jealousy"><U><B>10:  Spell of Jealousy</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>11:  Carrying the Weight</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="12: A Fiendish New Year"><U><B>12:  A Fiendish New Year</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="13: Barnabas Crisis"><U><B>13:  Barnabas' Crisis</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="14: Barnabas in Parallel Time"><U><B>14:  Barnabas in Parallel Time</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="15: Clues to Disaster"><U><B>15:  Clues to Disaster</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="16: Demons Possession"><U><B>16:  Demon's Possession</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17: Breach of Trust"><U><B>17:  Breach of Trust</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="18: Labyrinth of Emotions"><U><B>18:  Labyrinth of Emotions</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="19: The Amanda Dilemma"><U><B>19:  The Amanda Dilemma</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="20: Ziganas Cure"><U><B>20:  Zigana's Cure</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="21: The Approaching Storm"><U><B>21:  The Approaching Storm</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="22: Enigma at Collinwood"><U><B>22:  Enigma at Collinwood</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="23: Reunion in Hell"><U><B>23:  Reunion in Hell</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="24: Scattered Through Time"><U><B>24:  Scattered Through Time</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>11:  Carrying the Weight</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id107.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alternate Destiny"><U><B>Alternate Destiny</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>      It was late when Chris and Sabrina dropped Quentin off at the Inn.  He stopped to pick up his messages, assuming Barnabas would have Willie call if he wanted to speak to Quentin about Roger.  There was a message, but it was from Amanda.  <I>I didn't think I'd ever hear from her again, and surely not this soon!</I> He thought, surprised.  He remembered how she'd clung to him before, wanting him to come to the taping.  Maybe she was much more needy than he'd realized.</div> <div> Thoughtfully, he picked up the phone and called her from the room, wondering if she would be there.  </div> <div>      She picked up on the third ring.  She sounded as if she'd been drinking or drugging and crying, or all three.  "I'm so sorry I left you the way I did," she sobbed into the phone forlornly.  "You don't hate me, do you?"</div> <div>      "I rather thought it would be the other way around," he answered, sitting down heavily on the bed.  He certainly didn't expect this.  </div> <div>      "I should've known better, Quentin, I know how you are, and I'm sorry I hurt you and left the way I did-I was just so upset."</div> <div>      He felt sorry for her, but he also felt the stirrings of contempt.  She'd been right to be angry with him.  He'd been lying to her constantly right from the beginning.  "Amanda, I'm sorry," he began.  "I made a mistake, and I hurt you and-" He stopped himself before he could say Maggie's name.</div> <div>      "I lost my job," Amanda wept.  "I just blew all my lines, and then I blew up at the director."</div> <div>      "I'm sorry," he said, and he meant it.  He hesitated and then added, "I can't leave Collinsport right now."</div> <div>      "Can I come there?" she asked in a begging tone.</div> <div>      "I don't think it's a good idea, Amanda," he objected.  "Those creatures I was telling you about-they're really dangerous!"</div> <div>      "What am I going to do?" she wailed.  "My agent says that I really made that director angry, and the producer is mad, too!  He doesn't know if I'll be able to find anything at this point-it's the wrong time of the year!  What am I going to do, Quentin?"</div> <div>      "I don't know," he answered, feeling very guilty.  <I>I shouldn't do this-I know I am going to regret this.  </I>He said it anyway.  "Look, I don't like the idea of you being near these creatures but what if you were to come and stay in my apartment in Portland?  At least until you find something else-another show or whatever.  I can come to see you there.  I think you'd be reasonably safe.  What about that?"</div> <div>      "Oh, darling, thank you!" Amanda burst out gratefully.  "Thank you!  Can you meet me there?  Would you-please?  I don't have a key, and you could help me get settled.  Then you could just come and go as you please.  Just please come this first night?"</div> <div>      "Yes, I'll come," Quentin agreed, reluctantly.  "I'll have to rent a car."</div> <div>      "That's all right.  I'll fly in.  Mr. Nakamura is back-and do you know?  He can take care of bringing your motorcycle back to Portland-or Collinsport-for you.  Won't that be nice?"</div> <div>      "Peachy."</div> <div>      Amanda either didn't hear or dismissed the lack of enthusiasm in his voice.  "I'll fly up tomorrow.  Can you meet me tomorrow?"</div> <div>      "Sure," he answered.  He hung up.  <I>This is wrong, this is a mistake, and you're going to be sorry!</I> He berated himself.  The phone rang, and he stared at it with disbelief.  Was she really calling back so soon?  After the third ring, he decided he would answer after all and said warily, "Hello?"</div> <div>      "Quentin?"  It was Roger, and he sounded as if he could barely contain his fury.</div> <div>      "Roger?  What's the matter?"</div> <div>      "How am I supposed to just stand by and allow that creature to corrupt everyone in my family?"  Roger sounded not only outraged but also very drunk.</div> <div>      "What happened?" Quentin asked quietly, hoping that would cause Roger to calm down a little.</div> <div>      "I'll tell you what happened!" Roger snapped.  "I just had a confrontation with that Jeb person!  He came into the house without knocking and went upstairs to see David.  When I told him to get out, he said that I was not in charge of my own home-he was because Elizabeth gave him the right to come and go as he pleased.  And he pleased to go up and see David!"</div> <div>      "Roger, you didn't try anything, did you?"</div> <div>      "No, because I thought I should listen to you and talk to Barnabas first-but he is not at the Old House."  Roger drew a breath and went on.  "I will not put up with this!  I will have him driven out of this county-out of this state, if I have to!  I have friends!  I have connections!"</div> <div>      Roger was getting louder instead of softer, Quentin realized, and if Jeb was in the house it could become a dangerous scene very quickly.  "Roger, listen!" he said sharply.  Roger stopped talking, but Quentin could hear him breathing loudly into the phone.  "Listen, I know you don't like this but Jeb won't respond to those threats.  He'll laugh at you and then he'll kill you.  Where will that leave David and Elizabeth?"</div> <div>      "Don't tell me there is nothing I can do!" Roger finally said in a tight but soft voice.</div> <div>      "I won't tell you that-we'll do something.  We just can't act right this minute.  You've got to hang on.  Don't confront Jeb.  Try going to the Old House again.  Maybe Barnabas is there now.  I'll come out if you want me to."</div> <div>      After a moment, Roger said, "No, don't do that.  I'll come and call for you at the Inn if Barnabas isn't at the Old House.  We'll go to the Blue Whale."</div> <div>      "All right," Quentin agreed, relieved.   Not long after that, the phone rang again, and Quentin wondered if he was going to get any sleep that night.</div> <div>      "It's me," Julia said softly into the phone.  "Roger and Barnabas are talking at the Old House.  I've dropped Maggie off safely at her aunt's.  I'm not sure it was a good idea for you to tell Roger about the Leviathans."</div> <div>      "I'm not sure it was, either," Quentin agreed, "but he was really upset and had to be told something.  I didn't want to lie to him-and he might be able to help us."</div> <div>      "I hope you're right.  Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that everything here is all right for the night."</div> <div>      "Well, thanks."  He supposed he was grateful for that.  "Julia, I have to go to Portland tomorrow but I'll be back."  He explained what happened to Amanda.</div> <div>      "That's unfortunate," Julia said sympathetically.  "Try to keep her in Portland.  The less targets Jeb has the better."</div> <div>      "You're telling me!" Quentin exclaimed.  They said good night, and he stared at the phone, thoughtfully.  He had an idea.  He called Dan Powell and gave him all the names he could remember Amanda giving him.  He didn't care if it cost extra money.  He was interested in any information Powell could turn up.</div> <bR> <div>      There was bad news from Julia when Quentin returned from Portland on his motorcycle early the next evening.  He spent the afternoon with Amanda, listening to her sad tale of the lost opportunity with the soap opera.  He had a feeling she was trying to imply that it was his fault somehow that she'd flown off the handle and lost the job.  He resented it and rebelled against it, but decided it would be to his advantage to go along with her enough to get her into bed.  That always seemed to mollify her enough so that he could leave without too much trouble from her. </div> <div>      Chris was missing.  Julia and Barnabas suspected that Jeb and his new best friend, Bruno Hess, had something to do with the disappearance.  Sabrina was in hysterics, sure that Chris was going to be killed.  She'd last seen him the night she, Chris, and Quentin went to the diner.  Chris dropped Quentin off first, then Sabrina, and then supposedly had gone back to the cottage.  "He did come back to the cottage, but it looks like there was someone there waiting for him, and he was taken by surprise," Julia explained.</div> <div>      Quentin groaned.  "All right, so what's going on now?"</div> <div>      "Why don't you come out to Collinwood, sweetie?  We're going to see if we can find Chris-Barnabas is sure that Jeb is holding him somewhere nearby.  Maybe in the cemetery."</div> <div>      When Quentin arrived at Collinwood, Mrs. Johnson took his coat and said, "Maybe you can help with Miss Stoddard."  She looked as grim as usual, and Quentin could hear Carolyn shouting at someone in the drawing room.  He went into the room, wondering if she was arguing with Roger, and was very surprised to see Julia and Barnabas there.</div> <div>      Carolyn glared at him angrily.  "Now you're here, too!  Why do the three of you hate Jeb so much?"</div> <div>      Julia and Barnabas looked upset.  Quentin didn't know what had gone on before, but he said, "Look, Carolyn, the guy isn't your type.  He's not good enough for you.  Aren't you having bad dreams about him, anyway?"</div> <div>      "That's none of your business!" Carolyn snapped.  "I wish you would all stop meddling in my affairs!"  She stalked past Quentin and went up the stairs.</div> <div>      "What was that all about?" Quentin asked.</div> <div>      "She's had another dream.  Her father spoke to her, she said.  `Don't go with my killer'.  She didn't understand who he meant, and Julia and I were trying to tell her that it was Jeb," Barnabas explained.  "At that point, she became infuriated."</div> <div>      "How does she explain the dreams she's been having about Jeb with blood on his hands?"</div> <div>      "She can't," Julia answered.  "I think that's what makes her so angry.  She's confused.  She is both drawn to Jeb because of some kind of spell he's put on her and yet she is also repelled.  She blames us for that."</div> <div>      Quentin rolled his eyes.  <I>More unreasonable, irrational women!  Just what I need</I>! He thought.  "What about Chris?"</div> <div>      "I was about to go out looking again," Barnabas said.  "I have gotten some useful information from Megan Todd."     Quentin saw Julia's eyes narrow and understood that to mean that Barnabas had summoned Megan.  "Bruno Hess has taken Chris and is holding him somewhere in the cemetery.  Will you help me search the crypts and mausoleums?  Willie is searching already."</div> <div>      "Of course," Quentin agreed.</div> <div>      "I'll try to talk to Carolyn again," Julia said. "I'm not sure how far I'll get with her."</div> <div>      Quentin took his coat off the rack and put it back on.  Outside the house, Barnabas put his hand on Quentin's arm.  "Take this," he said softly, handing Quentin a pistol.</div> <div>      "What about you?" Quentin asked.  Barnabas arched his eyebrow and Quentin thought, <I>oops! I forgot.</I>  The two men took Julia's car to the cemetery.  They walked in opposite directions, agreeing to meet back at the car in two hours.  </div> <div>      Quentin had been in and out of more tombs and mausoleums than he cared to count or ever visit again.  He was on his way to the next one when the werewolf dropped down from the roof of the one he'd just exited.  The beast looked up at him with a terrible sort of pain its eyes and then fell to the ground, writhing.  "Chris!" Quentin cried out, watching, as the incredible transformation reversed itself.  There'd been no full moon.  <I>What in the hell is going on?</I> Quentin wondered.  As Chris began to take human form again, Quentin knelt beside him.  "Chris?"</div> <div>      The young man seemed stunned, breathing but apparently unable to move.  After what seemed a long time, he opened his eyes.  "Oh, God," he whispered.  "It happened again."  He struggled to sit up, and Quentin supported him.  "I killed the man who was guarding me."  His voice broke.</div> <div>      "I'm sorry," Quentin said quietly.  He understood the guilt and self-hatred Chris was feeling now.  "I don't understand why this happened to you-there's no moon."</div> <div>      "Remember what I said about stress?" Chris asked bitterly.  "When I got back to the cottage, some guy with a gun was there.  He made me go with him into someone's tomb and chained me to the wall."</div> <div>      Quentin was outraged.  "What did he look like?"</div> <div>      "Black hair, dark eyes.  About my height, maybe taller," Chris said.</div> <div>      <I>Bruno Hess.</I>  Quentin scowled.  "Then what happened?"</div> <div>      "Well, you won't believe this," Chris began, looking at Quentin with a worried expression.  "I wasn't sure I believed it myself."</div> <div>      "What?" Quentin asked, impatiently.</div> <div>      "Bruno brought in-" Chris stopped, grimacing.  "It was Sheriff Davenport.  I know he's dead, but it was him.  He was walking and talking."  Chris covered his face with his hands as he relived the horror of that experience.  "Bruno said the sheriff was going to stay with me until I changed.  They knew there wasn't going to be a full moon for a long time, but Bruno said he'd bring me food and water.  When I did change, there was someone Bruno wanted me to kill."</div> <div>      "Who?"</div> <div>      "I don't know-he didn't tell me.  Quentin, I was so scared with that dead thing pointing a gun at me, talking to me.  He said by rights he ought to kill me for the murders I committed from before.  How could that happen?  How could a dead man come back like that?"</div> <div>      "The same way we could become werewolves," Quentin answered in a kidding tone, but Chris didn't smile.  "How did you get away?"</div> <div>      Chris shook his head.  "I don't remember.  I must have killed whoever it was Bruno wanted me to kill.  I just remember being so scared and freaked out that I could feel the transformation starting.  Davenport couldn't believe it-he said it was too early.  That's the last thing I remember."</div> <div>      "Who did Bruno want you to kill?" Quentin wondered.</div> <div>      "I don't know!" Chris exploded.  "But I'll tell you what-I wish they'd killed me!  I can't stand this shit anymore!"</div> <div>      "Chris, take it easy!" Quentin said sharply, which was the wrong tone to take because Chris stood up and shoved him roughly.  Quentin stumbled backward and fell to the ground, the gun Barnabas had given him falling out of his coat pocket.</div> <div>      "You've got a gun?" Chris exclaimed.  He picked it up before Quentin could grab it.  His eyes were wild as he thrust the gun back at Quentin, who'd gotten back to his feet.  "Take it-shoot me, willya?  Shoot me!"</div> <div>      "Are you crazy?  I'm not going to shoot you!"</div> <div>      "Why, you fucking coward?" Chris shouted.  "This is your fault! That's the least you can do for me, you bastard!"  </div> <div>      The intensity of Chris' anger and hatred was truly frightening.  "Chris, listen!" Quentin shouted back.  "What about Amy?  What about your sister?  You want to leave her alone like this?"</div> <div>      "Damn you!" Chris yelled.</div> <div>      "That's right, get mad at me.  You want to hit me?  Go ahead, Chris!"  Quentin moved his arms apart to show he wouldn't fight back.  "Come on-you're right, it is all my fault.  But you shouldn't have to die for it!"  For a moment, Quentin thought Chris was going to take him up on his offer.  Chris' shoulders sagged in sad defeat, and he turned away.  <I>He should have hit me,</I> Quentin thought.   He waited for a moment and then asked, "Can you remember where you were?  We need to find Barnabas and see who's back there."</div> <div>      "I guess," Chris said dully.  "Come on."  He led Quentin back through the path and took him to a crumbling crypt.  There was an entryway and a stairwell down to the interment area.  It was cold and dank in here, and Quentin shuddered.  The strong odor of decay made him feel nauseous. A uniformed body lay on the ground.   </div> <div>      Quentin flashed his light on the still form and sighed.  "You didn't kill anyone, Chris.  He was already dead."  He heard Chris gag; the young man turned and ran up the steps and back outside.  Quentin could hear him vomiting; he felt sick to his stomach, too, and left quickly.  Chris was coughing and choking but seemed to have brought up everything he could.  "You okay?"  When Chris nodded, Quentin said, "Come on-we'll meet Barnabas at the car."</div> <div>      Over Chris' objections, Quentin and Barnabas came into the cottage to make sure it was secure.  It was just a short walk from the cottage to the Old House and Quentin only walked part of the way with Barnabas.  "We need to get Chris out of here," he said to Barnabas.</div> <div>      "The problem is that his transformations are so unpredictable," Barnabas fretted.  "We'll have to think of something because you are right-Chris is not safe here now."  They hadn't met Willie along the way while they were searching; Barnabas was going to see if he'd returned to the Old House and then go out looking for him if he hadn't.  Dawn was quickly approaching.  Before he went back to the hotel, Quentin decided he'd stop by the Old House to make sure Willie was there.</div> <div>      Right now, he wanted to stop by Collinwood.  He was still puzzled by Bruno's behavior.  Who did he want Chris to kill?  Obviously not Davenport. Who then? He remembered Roger's ranting into the phone.  <I>Oh, god!  What if Jeb overheard all that?  Barnabas says he is ruthless about wanting to kill off all the non-followers.</I>  Feeling alarmed now, he parked Julia's car at an odd angle and jumped out.  The front door was standing open.  Something was wrong!</div> <div>      Quentin ran faster than he had in a long time, nearly tripping over Roger's body, which was sprawled on the floor of the foyer.  Quentin knelt down, checking for a pulse.  Roger wasn't dead, he was just unconscious.  Quentin began patting his face and calling to him.  "Roger! Roger!"     Slowly, Roger began to come around.  He started violently, grabbing Quentin's arms and rolling over so that Quentin was now flat on his back.   He drew his fist back to strike.  "Roger!   It's me!" Quentin yelled.</div> <div>      Roger stopped short.  "Quentin, my God!" He let go of Quentin and got off.  Quentin sat up and stared at his cousin.  Roger was as white as a sheet.   "There were dead people in here, Quentin.  Dead people-and they've taken Julia."  His eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out again in a dead faint.<I>  Oh, holy shit!</I>  Quentin thought, calling to his cousin again and shaking him.</div> <div>      When Roger came to the second time, Quentin managed to haul him to his feet and half carried him into the drawing room.  Quickly, he filled a glass of brandy and turned to hand it to Roger.  He poured one for himself, too.  "What happened, Roger?"</div> <div>      Roger swallowed hard.  "When I came in, I found the door open.  The house was very quiet, though.  It was very odd-eerie. I called for Mrs. Johnson and then for Liz, but there was no answer.  I was beginning to go up the stairs when the first of the-the-my God, what were they?"  Roger covered his face with his hands.</div> <div>      "If they were walking dead men, they were zombies," Quentin answered calmly.  "Roger, what did you say about Julia?"  He was panicking but couldn't allow Roger to see how frightened he was.  Roger was having a hard time dealing with this insanity as it was.</div> <div>      Roger sighed heavily and then spoke.  "I asked the first one what he thought he was doing in my house.  He didn't answer, and then the second one came out, carrying Julia.  She dangled in his arms like a rag doll.  I tried to stop him, but he just brushed by me.  Two more came out after him, and the three of them overpowered me."  He stopped.  "I don't remember anything after that.  I only remember the overwhelming stench-and the cold.  Their fingers were so cold, Quentin!" He dropped his hands and looked at Quentin with horror.</div> <div>      "Roger, that monster Jeb is capable of calling people back from the dead," Quentin said.  "Drink the brandy.  We've got to do something to help Julia."</div> <div>      "Why would they take her?" Roger wondered.</div> <div>      "What about Carolyn?" Quentin wondered suddenly.  "And Elizabeth?  David?"</div> <div>      Roger jumped up.  "Oh, my God!"</div> <div>      Quentin got up, too, grabbing Roger's arm.  "Look, Roger, you're going to have to calm down.  Let's check and make sure everyone else is all right.  Let's try not to wake anybody, all right?  The last thing we want is Elizabeth and Carolyn asking a bunch of questions!"</div> <div>      "You're right," Roger agreed, visibly pulling himself together and controlling himself.  "Come with me, we'll check the rooms.  Everyone is in the same hall."</div> <div>      "That's convenient," Quentin said dryly.</div> <div>      The other members of the family were all sleeping in their rooms.  Quentin and Roger returned to the drawing room.  The sky was becoming lighter; the sun would rise soon. <I>Barnabas,</I> Quentin thought, feeling helpless.  He hoped that Willie was at the Old House.</div> <div>      "Why would they have taken Julia?" Roger wondered.</div> <div>      "It doesn't matter," Quentin said.  "They've got her, and we have to get her back.  Where would they have taken her?"</div> <div>      "The carriage house," Roger guessed.  "That's where Jeb is."</div> <div>      "Or he may have had them take her to an old mausoleum at Eagle Hill."</div> <div>      "How do you know that?" Roger asked, puzzled.</div> <div>      Quentin shook his head.  "I'll explain later.  Right now we need to find her."</div> <div>      "Why don't I check the carriage house, and you check Eagle Hill?"</div> <div>      "I don't think we should split up," Quentin objected.  "I know that it'll take us longer to find her, but I think we'll be safer if we stick together."</div> <div>      "All right," Roger agreed.  He took a key out and went into a wall safe, drawing out a handgun.  He looked at it and laughed.  "What use would this be against a dead man?"</div> <div>      "None, but take it," Quentin answered.  "We might need it against a living man.  They're not alone.  They can't think.  They're taking their orders from Jeb, and he's got to be there."</div> <div>      "Right," Roger agreed.  Both men jumped as someone thumped at the front door.  "Who in God's name is that at this hour?" Roger strode to the door, with an offended air, determined to get rid of the unwanted caller quickly.  It was Sky Rumson, asking for Elizabeth.  "I'm sorry, you'll have to-" Roger began.</div> <div>      "Mr. Rumson, come in," Quentin invited, and Roger half turned, stunned.  He looked at Quentin as if to say, <I>have you lost your mind?</I>  Quentin moved his hand as if he was dribbling a basketball and hoped Roger would understand.  Roger's brow shot up but he didn't say anything.  Quentin brought Rumson into the drawing room, beckoning Roger behind his back.  "My cousin will be down in a few minutes," Quentin went on as if there was nothing odd about the hour Rumson chose to come calling.  "Can I get you a drink?"</div> <div>      "Yes, thanks," Rumson said pleasantly.  He walked around the room, looking at the portraits of the Collins' ancestors.  "I'm impressed," he said.  "I collect portraits, but I'm sorry to say none are of my own ancestors."</div> <div>      "Our family came to this country in the 1690s and built right here on this property," Quentin replied conversationally.  He put the brandy bottle down, glancing over at the wall and gratified to see that the swords were still there.  He pulled one out quickly and was across the room before Rumson could turn around.  When he did, Rumson found himself at the tip of a very sharp sword.  His eyes widened in shock.  "All right, Mr. Rumson," Quentin said harshly.  "Where is Dr. Hoffman?"</div> <div>      "Who?" Rumson asked.</div> <div>      Furious, Quentin pushed the point of the sword into Rumson's throat and was pleased to see a drop of blood form.  "Wrong answer," he said softly.  He'd run the man through without a shred of guilt for what this bastard had done to Barnabas.  "Do you want to live, you worthless piece of shit?"  Rumson stuttered and tried to back up, but Quentin followed him easily. "If I were you, I'd start talking."</div> <div>      Rumson wasn't a brave man.  He didn't want to die.   "All right, all right!  She's at the carriage house!"</div> <div>      "Good man," Quentin said contemptuously.  "Now, what's the password?"  Rumson seemed a little reluctant, so Quentin encouraged him by pressing sword's point into Rumson's throat a little deeper.</div> <div>      "Stop!" Rumson cried.  "All right, I'll tell you-it's `live'!  Get that thing away from my throat!"</div> <div>      As much as Quentin hated to split up, there was no other way around it.  Barnabas couldn't help and neither could Willie.  He would have to go alone.  "Roger," he called to his cousin.  "Take this for me, would you please?"</div> <div>      Roger moved with alacrity, looking at Quentin with admiration.  His hand shook a little as he took it from Quentin.  "All right, I have it."</div> <div>      "Hold him here until I get back," Quentin said and left quickly.  As he ran through the foyer, he heard Roger order Rumson to sit down.  He ran out the door and down the path to the carriage house.  Sure enough one of the zombies was posted outside, directly in his path.  As the thing moved toward him, Quentin called out: "Live!" and the body withdrew back to its post.  <I>Got to keep the element of surprise,</I> he thought, and hit the front door running, throwing it open.</div> <div>      Jeb jumped up thoroughly surprised, and Quentin launched himself at him.  Jeb ran, trying to get to the back room, but Quentin brought him down to the floor.  "Where's Julia?" he yelled into Jeb's ear.</div> <div>      "Eat shit!" Jeb yelled back.</div> <div>      "Rude sonuvabitch!" Quentin got a handful of Jeb's hair and yanked his head back, then pushed his face into the floor, hard.  Jeb screamed.  "Where is she?"</div> <div>      "Quentin!" Julia cried out.</div> <div>      She was in one of the back rooms.  Quentin smashed Jeb's face into the floor again and got up.  He knew where Julia was now.  As he stood, he felt deathly cold hands grabbing him.  Quentin was filled with revulsion as he struggled to get away.  </div> <div> Jeb was on his feet now, bleeding heavily from the nose and mouth.  His features contorted in fury.  "Hold him!" he ordered the dead men.  He glared at Quentin.  "I told you I would get you, <I>my boy</I>, and your time's come for your cozy surprise-I guess I should say <I>old man</I> though!  You've lived way too long!"  His hand curled into a tight fist.  He drew his arm back and hit Quentin between the eyes as hard as he could.  Apparently he'd been practicing-that fist was the last thing Quentin saw before he blacked out.</div> <div> He came to in total blackness, aware that he was in a very tiny, enclosed place-much worse than a closet.  He could hardly move at all, and the air seemed stale.  <I>Where the hell am I?</I>  He wondered.  <I>How long have I been here?</I>  He tried to move, but found that he couldn't.  He was lying flat and couldn't roll over on his side or sit up either.  With growing horror, he began to realize where he was and panicked immediately.  His sense of being rebelled against the idea of being sealed in a coffin-yet that seemed to be exactly what had happened.  His only thought was to get out-but how?  <I>Did they bury me? </I>He clawed at the wooden lid just a few inches from his face.  It wouldn't budge.  Worse, he began sweating profusely and gasping for air-how much air was left?  It depended on how long he'd been here.  <I>How in God's name is anyone going to know where to look for me?</I> He thought, despairing.  Would the portrait keep him from suffocating?  He had no idea-he didn't think the portrait would keep him from losing his mind, though.</div> <div> Quentin fought to stay calm, thinking.  <I>There has to be a way of getting someone to hear me.</I>  He remembered calling to Barnabas by throwing his thoughts.  He took in a deep breath, trying to relax.  He began to concentrate, trying to ignore the itching on his hands.  When he felt he was ready, he began to call.  He was surprised that it wasn't his cousin's name he called.  It was Maggie's.  Over and over, he called to Maggie, begging her to come and find him.</div> <div>      He felt as if he'd been calling for hours.  <I>Maggie, Maggie</I>, he thought.  <I>I just wish I could tell you how much I really do love you</I>.  He was sweating so profusely he was soaked through; it was harder to breathe, and he knew the oxygen was almost gone.  He felt very dizzy.  How long would the portrait keep him alive?  Better to just die and get it over with than to spend any more hours in the closed confines of this box.  <I>But Maggie, if I could just hold you one more time... </I>Through dulled senses, he felt his wooden prison shudder as something slammed into it.</div> <div> He could hear scraping sounds--must be a shovel.  Could it be Maggie?  How?  And if it was Maggie, where would she find the strength to move the coffin?  He was being rocked back and forth now; he could hear voices but felt too weak to respond to them.  He could hear the lid of the coffin being pried back and joyfully recognized Maggie's voice, urging Barnabas and Willie to move faster.</div> <div>      The lid was pried off, and cold wintry air flowed over him as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water on him. He began to shiver.  Maggie reached in for him, crying, throwing her arms around him.  He felt a smothering sensation again, but reached for her, hugging her back. "Quentin, my God, how did this happen to you?"  He heard Barnabas' voice, but all that mattered to him was Maggie.  He felt Maggie being pulled away from him, and he resented it.  "Maggie, you must give him some air," Barnabas was saying.  Maggie was gone; the face of his cousin and friend bent over him.  "Quentin!"</div> <div>      "I'm all right," he gasped.  He tried to sit up and felt very light-headed.  "I'm dizzy..."</div> <div>      "Lack of oxygen," Barnabas said.  "Don't move.  Quentin, try slow, deep breaths.  Don't move until the light-headedness goes away."  </div> <div>      "We have to get him out of here!"  Maggie cried.  "He's still in danger."</div> <div>      He wanted her.  He tried to get up.  He felt Barnabas arm on his shoulder, pressing him back.  "Barnabas!  I want to get out of this thing!"  He protested.</div> <div>      "Yes, all right," Barnabas agreed, understanding.  He moved so that he could put his arm under Quentin's to help support him as he got up.  His knees buckled, and Willie quickly moved to his other side, putting his arm around his waist.  Maggie was behind him, her hands on the small of his back.  He could smell her scent; her perfume.  He felt dizzy again.  "Quentin, sit down here.  It's too soon to try and move.  You are soaking wet-we must cover you to keep you warm."  </div> <div>      "My legs feel so weak," Quentin agreed.  He collapsed to his knees, nearly pulling Barnabas and Willie down with him.  Maggie fell to her knees too, throwing her arms around Quentin's neck again.  "Maggie..." he whispered.</div> <div>      "She knew where to find you somehow," Barnabas said, sounding puzzled.  Quentin felt something warm draped over him and realized his cousin covered him with his cape.  </div> <div> He looked up at Barnabas and realized he was regarding them with a concerned, dismayed expression.  Quentin fought his feelings, sitting back, removing Maggie's arms from around his neck.  He longed to kiss her and lay with her right where they were, but he fought off that desire. He felt guilty about the look in Barnabas' eyes. He licked his dry lips and looked away, ashamed.       "What happened?"  Barnabas asked.</div> <div>      "It was Jeb," Quentin replied, glad to have something else to talk about.  "He promised me he had something special in mind for me."  He was able to look at his cousin again.  "He wasn't kidding."</div> <div>      "Jeb did this?"</div> <div>      "He has Julia, too, Barnabas," Quentin added.  Concern for Julia suppressed any of the remaining desire he had to take Maggie in his arms and kiss her.  "Help me up.  I think he's going to kill her, too."</div> <div>      Without hesitating, Barnabas helped pull Quentin to his feet again. Willie supported his other side again.  "We'll go to the Old House first.  You can tell me everything. Willie and I will go for Julia," Barnabas was saying.  They got up the path to the Old House and climbed the steps.  To their surprise, the door opened, and Julia stood there, looking pale and frightened.</div> <div>      "Julia!  Thank God!"  Barnabas exclaimed.</div> <div>      "What's happened?"  Julia gasped, stepping forward.  "I heard you coming up the steps..."</div> <div>      "It's Jeb!  He's tried to kill Quentin!"  Barnabas answered, and the fright on Julia's face changed to one of cold anger.  Quentin felt himself being guided to the stairs.  "He'll be all right, Julia--he just needs some rest.  I'll be down to explain to you in a moment!"</div> <div>      They climbed the stairs to Barnabas' room, where Quentin had been sleeping when he stayed overnight to guard his cousin.  Quentin sat down heavily on the bed.  Barnabas pushed him gently so that he lay back, and then lifted his long legs and placed them on the bed.  "Rest, cousin," he said softly.</div> <div>      "I'll stay with him, Barnabas," Maggie volunteered. She'd followed them into the room.  Just before he closed his eyes, Quentin thought he saw a vague look of suspicion in his Willie's eyes as he looked from Maggie to Quentin.  </div> <div> "He's all right, Maggie," Willie said.</div> <div> "Perhaps it would be a good idea," Barnabas objected.  "Julia needs to make sure he is all right, obviously, but we must talk to her first.  Maggie can make sure that Quentin is all right until Julia can tend to him."</div> <div> "Okay, whatever you say, Barnabas," Willie answered, sounding reluctant.</div> <div> Quentin heard the door close and felt Maggie take his hand.  "Oh, Quentin, I don't know what I would've done if we hadn't found you in time," she whispered.  He felt her lips brush the back of his hand and felt her bring it to her cheek.</div> <div>      He opened his eyes and looked at her tenderly.  "Maggie, thank you," he said softly.  She leaned over and kissed him gently.  "I'm all done in," he added.  He felt gratitude mixed with desire mixed with guilt and exhaustion.</div> <div>      "Close your eyes and rest, darling," Maggie said.  "I'll stay with you until you fall asleep."  He felt her caressing his hair and brushing it back from his sweaty brow.</div> <div>      He fell into a dreamlike state, drifting between sleep and wakefulness.  He saw images of people he cared about now--Chris, Amy, Carolyn, Elizabeth, Roger, Julia and Barnabas.  A more frightening image appeared--Jeb.  He could see Jeb sneering at him as the cold, dead hands of those zombies had over-powered him.  Then he saw Maggie as she had looked before she'd had to flee to Bangor for her life; she'd looked guilty for some reason. He had a dream-like vision of her, something he knew he'd never seen before but still appeared vividly in his mind as if it'd happened just yesterday.   She was gathering flowers from the garden, and looked up at him with a half-lidded, sensual expression on her face.  Maggie!  He could feel himself becoming aroused and opened his eyes to look for her.</div> <div>      He was alone in the room.  Someone had removed his sweaty clothes-who?  He wondered where Maggie had gone and sat up.  He scratched the back of his hand; looking down to see if a mosquito had bitten him, he saw the same odd pitchfork that had appeared on his hand weeks earlier.  She must have one, too, he realized.  Where had she gone, though?  He heard her voice, downstairs:  "Barnabas?"  Why was she calling for him?  Shakily, he got up and made his way downstairs.</div> <div>      Maggie was in the drawing room, looking for Barnabas.  The house was still--maybe no one was home.  She was facing away from him and jumped when he put his hands on her arms.  "Maggie," he said softly, turning her to face him.</div> <div>      "Oh, Quentin, what are you doing up?  You should be resting," Maggie said, her voice full of concern.  Still she began to caress his bare arms, moving toward his chest.</div> <div>      "Look," he said, showing her the mark.  Stunned, she looked at her own hand.  Sure enough, the back of her hand had a pitchfork on it.</div> <div>      "It's there again.  I don't understand!"</div> <div>      "I don't either.  All I know is, I don't want to fight it."  He looked at her steadily, with longing.</div> <div>      "Neither do I," she whispered back.</div> <div>      He put his arms around her and kissed her.  "Where are they?" he asked.</div> <div>      "I don't know. I heard arguing.  I came out to listen, and I heard Jeb down there, talking to Barnabas and Julia-he was threatening them.  I heard Barnabas and Willie saying something about trying to save Carolyn.  They've all gone together.  We probably should, too, but--" She looked at him, desire for him in her eyes.</div> <div>      He picked her up in his arms.  "They'll be all right.  I need you, Maggie," he said huskily, carrying her up the stairs.  He almost went into Josette's room and abruptly changed his mind.  Bad move, he realized.  Willie had a room at the end of the hall and had been slowly helping Barnabas renovate the other rooms. Quentin remembered Barnabas showing him the rooms. One of these had belonged to Sarah. Further down the hall, across from Willie's room was the bedroom that had belonged to the family governess.  It was to this room that Quentin carried Maggie.</div> <div>      He set her down gently on the bed and partially climbed on top of her, putting his mouth on hers.  Maggie twined her hands in his hair and opened her mouth to him, allowing him to explore her with his tongue.  When he turned his head to nuzzle at her neck, he felt her nibble on his ear and felt the goosebumps rising on his flesh again.  She was running her hands over his shoulders even as he began to unzip her dress from behind.  "Wait," she whispered.  The zipper was in the back of her dress and he could only go so far.  She sat up and turned her back to him so that he could slowly lower the zipper the rest of the way.  She pulled the dress up and over her head, turning back to face him.  He pulled his briefs off.  She moved closer to him, putting her palm on his chest, moving lightly over him, caressing him.</div> <div>      He put her arms around her and pulled her down with him.  Arms around her, he deftly unhooked her bra.  "Climb onto me, Maggie," he said huskily.  "I want to see you."  She straddled his hips, and leaned down toward him.  Her hair fell into her face, but he could still see her eyes, lustful, wanting him.  She cupped her breasts for him and held them up for him to see.  Drawing in his breath, he put his hands on them, gently kneading them.  Maggie threw her head back and moaned softly.  Then she leaned down again, kissing him, her tongue moving between his lips.</div> <div>      As her pleasure increased, Maggie twined her fingers into his hair again and pulled.  "Quentin, please make love to me now," she cried.</div> <div>      "You love me," he stated matter-of-factly.  She reached down to help guide him into her.  She was more than ready to receive him, and he was more than ready for her.  He was hoping to make it last a little longer this way, letting her take charge of their lovemaking.  She seemed to understand and was more than willing; it was enough to drive him mad, though.  She moved up and down very slowly, almost lazily.  Sometimes she would just move from side to side, as if she was using a bowl and using him as the spoon to stir the warm juices inside.  That particular movement was especially arousing and he couldn't stop himself from thrusting into her whenever she did it.</div> <div>      Finally, neither could stand to wait anymore.  She increased her movements and he began thrusting his hips up until they both came to a climax.  She stretched out full length on top of him, panting, and he put his arms around her gently, kissing her.  "I love you, Maggie," he said and meant it.</div> <div>      "I love you, Quentin," she responded, and he knew she meant it, too.  She moved off to his side, resting her head on his shoulder, curled up against him.  There was no one else in the world right now except for the two of them.  With the contentment that exists between two lovers who have shut out everything else, they drifted off to sleep.</div> <bR> <div>      "Quentin?  QUENTIN!"</div> <div>      Quentin opened his eyes, surprised.  It was Julia--and she sounded very close.  Panicked, he looked over and saw that Maggie was awake, too, looking at him with wide-eyed fear in her eyes.  He put his finger to his lips.  "Stay here," he urged her quietly.  "Don't move."  He looked for his clothes, realized with dismay that they were in Barnabas' room and quickly pulled a blanket from the bed. He felt silly wrapping it around himself but there was no other way to get out of this.  He went to the door, opened it and stepped out into the hall. </div> <div> Julia had just closed the bedroom door next to Barnabas' room and was moving down the hall toward him.  "Julia?  Julia!  You're all right?"  Quentin moved toward her swiftly, grabbing her and hugging her with relief with one arm.</div> <div>      "Quentin!"  Julia exclaimed, sounding squashed and exasperated.  She did, however, hug him back.  "I was worried when I didn't find you in here."  </div> <div>      "I--ah--" he began and stopped.  He swallowed and stepped back, letting go of her. "It was hot in there, Julia," he finished lamely.  Then he blushed.</div> <div>      Julia studied him now with curiosity and puzzlement.  "Quentin, you're lying to me," she stated, sounding surprised and disappointed.</div> <div>      He thought briefly of denying it, but something about the look in her eyes told him that would be a waste of time.  "I'm sorry," he muttered, looking down.</div> <div>      "But why?"</div> <div>      He couldn't answer her.  When she made a move toward the door, he stepped back in front of it, blocking the knob with his body.  "Ah, Julia, what happened?  How did you get away from the zombies?  What happened after you left? What time is it?"  He hoped to distract her by peppering her with questions.  Besides, he really did want to know what had happened to her.</div> <div>      "It's after dawn.  I was looking for you because I need to go out, and I wanted to make sure you were up to--look after Barnabas," Julia answered.  "Quentin, what are you hiding in there?"</div> <div>      "Nothing, Julia, for crying out loud," he exclaimed irritably.  "I just slept in another room, that's all."  Julia gave him a stern, disbelieving look, making an obvious show of looking him up and down. She could see right through him, and she wasn't going to let him off easily.  So he gave her a charming smile.   "I'm sorry I wasn't much use last night," he said, trying to throw her off track.  "I went right to sleep.  What happened, anyway?"</div> <div>      "Where is Maggie?"  Julia asked, not to be deterred.</div> <div>      "Uh, Maggie?  Well, she was here until I fell asleep and then she--well, I woke up, and I heard her downstairs, and I assumed she--" he broke off.  Julia looked at the door behind him and then back into his eyes.  "I--I assumed she went back to--to Bangor."  He swallowed again.  "Didn't she?"</div> <div>      Julia's eyes widened with stunned surprise.  She pursed her lips, took him by the elbow, and pulled him down the hall.  "You do realize how Barnabas feels about Maggie, don't you?"</div> <div>      Stung, he answered, "Yes, of course."  They were almost at the stairs.  "Why'd you ask me that?"  She turned and faced him.  Her eyes had an understanding but knowing look in them. "Barnabas is your friend as well as your cousin," she said firmly.  "I hope you haven't forgotten that."</div> <div>      Now he felt guiltier than ever.  "I know that.  Why are you telling me that, Julia?"</div> <div>      "Because I think Maggie was in that room with you.  And she is still in there, isn't she?"</div> <div>      "You don't pull any punches, do you?"</div> <div>      "I care about Barnabas."</div> <div>      "I know you do.  I know how much you do, too, Julia," he answered.</div> <div>      "That's not any excuse for you to-to-seduce Maggie, or whatever it is you've done!" Julia scolded.  "And what about Amanda?"</div> <div>      "I can't help it!" he blurted suddenly. At Julia's look of incredulity, he showed her the back of his hand, desperate for her to believe him, and she gasped.</div> <div>      "You're under a spell!"  she exclaimed.</div> <div>      "That's what Maggie said.  But who--?" He stopped suddenly.  He knew.  <I>Angelique.  That bitch</I>!  "Why would Angelique do this to us?"  He felt his temper rising.</div> <div>      "Because she's jealous of the friendship between Barnabas and Maggie.  Now that she's lost Sky, she wants Barnabas back.  This isn't the first spell she's cast like this," Julia said, studying the back of his hand, holding it in both of hers.  "Barnabas told me that this is how she cast a love spell on Jeremiah and Josette. They weren't able to control themselves, either. They ended up running away together."</div> <div>      "Jesus, Julia, what am I going to do?  I don't want to hurt either one of them!"  Quentin was clearly distressed.  It wasn't just Amanda, Barnabas and Maggie, either.  What if Beth came back?  He still hadn't given up on that entirely. Julia put her hand on his arm compassionately. He was relieved that she wasn't angry with him and that she understood.   He was lucky to have her as a friend and confidant.</div> <div>      "If I can find her, I'll try to reason with Angelique," Julia said.  "We've become tentative friends."  She lowered her voice. "Quentin, you must try to fight this--not only for Maggie's sake, but for your own."</div> <div>      "And Barnabas," Quentin added.  "Julia--" he began and then stopped.  She looked at him expectantly, but he shook his head.  He didn't want to ask; didn't want to hurt her.  He was sure she was hurt plenty by Barnabas' lack of romantic interest in her without him bringing it up as well.  "What did happen last night?  How did you get away?" </div> <div>      She looked as if she had just read his mind, but she chose to answer his question, continuing to lead him downstairs.  "Nicholas helped me-of all people! Jeb had me kidnapped because he suspected that Nicholas was conspiring with Oberon and Haza against him.  Jeb wanted me to try to fuse his-other self-with his human form.  He felt he would be invincible that way.  Nicholas came in, though, and smashed the equipment Jeb and Bruno had set up for me.  I ran to the Old House.  I knew that Jeb was planning on hypnotizing Carolyn and was going to perform that perverted marital ceremony with her.  Barnabas, Willie, and I went to the altar.  I suppose Jeb's antics must have impressed Nicholas into coming over to his side because he was conducting the ceremony. When Nicholas handed the ceremonial scepter to Jeb, Barnabas rushed forward and struggled with him for it. Willie pulled Carolyn away, over to where I was standing.  We started to run.  I only looked back once-Barnabas had the scepter, and he smashed the box with it."</div> <div>      "Then what happened?"</div> <div>      "I don't know, Quentin, I could hear both Nicholas and Jeb screaming but we were running away.  We returned to Collinwood with Carolyn; she was still in a deep hypnotic state.  Elizabeth was there--the spell was broken, because she didn't remember anything about the Leviathans at all."</div> <div>      "Does that mean Jeb is gone?"</div> <div>      "Quentin, I just don't know.  I was going to go to Collinwood to find out.  That's why I wanted to make sure that you were up, just in case there were any repercussions."  Julia stopped at the drawing room.  "When Willie returns, ask him to take Maggie back to Bangor."</div> <div>      "Or I could do that, and Willie could stay here."</div> <div>      "Quentin--" Julia said in a warning tone.</div> <div>      "You're right," he said sheepishly.  "All right.  Is there anything to eat?  Any coffee?"</div> <div>      "I left a pot on the stove for you," Julia said with a smile.  "It should be all perked by now.  And pancakes warming on a platter."</div> <div>      "Thanks, Julia," he said, with true appreciation.  </div> <div>      Julia laughed.  "Save some for Maggie."  As she said this, her expression became serious.  "Quentin, please--"</div> <div>      "I'll try, Julia.  I will."</div> <div>      She gave his arm a squeeze and left.  He went into Barnabas' room to retrieve his jeans and briefs.  He went downstairs.</div> <div>      Alone now, he realized he felt cool.  It was always cold in the Old House, he realized with a shiver.  He wished Barnabas would give in and allow the addition of some of the modern conveniences of life--like a contemporary kitchen.  The thought of walking onto the stone floor of the room that served as a kitchen was thoroughly unappealing.  The woodburning stove would provide some warmth, though, and he was hungry so he padded down the hall and into the kitchen.</div> <div>      The stove had burned low and so the room wasn't very warm.  Quentin had an inspiration.  Why not have breakfast in bed with Maggie?  They could talk about the spell that had been cast on them and how to fight it.  He found a tray and began looking around for plates, silverware and some coffee cups.  In the small icebox (a concession to poor Willie?), he found some milk and a six pack of Bud.  He laughed and took the milk, pouring it into a serving pitcher.  <I>Too bad I can't put my hands on a vase.</I>  <I>I  could bring Maggie some flowers...too bad it's winter and not spring.</I></div> <div>      <I>What are you thinking of?</I>  he berated himself.  <I>That's just going to make things worse, not better.</I>  He balanced everything carefully on the tray and headed back up the stairs.  As he came down the hall, Maggie opened the door and poked her head out.  "You shouldn't do that," he called to her reprovingly.  "How'd you know it was me?"</div> <div>      "I didn't," she answered, obviously relieved.  "I was hoping it was, though.  What was I to do, Quentin?  I couldn't stay in here all day, could I?"</div> <div>      "Actually, no.  You'll need to go back to Bangor.  Julia asked me to have Willie take you."  Quentin set the tray on a nearby dresser and turned to face her.  Her eyes were huge.  "Don't be scared, Maggie."</div> <div>      "Quentin, did you tell her--?"</div> <div>      "I didn't want to.  I tried not to.  She knew I was lying to her.  She knew you were in here."  </div> <div>      Maggie covered her face, distraught.  "Is she going to tell Barnabas?"</div> <div>      "No!  And neither are we," he declared.  "Maggie, Angelique put a spell on us.  That's where these came from."  Again, they compared the pitchforks on their hands.  "We have to try and fight it."</div> <div>      "I know.  I am so ashamed, Quentin.  I never meant to hurt or betray Barnabas."</div> <div>      "Neither did I.  But, Maggie, except for that, I'm not sorry."  Looking at her, he began to feel the love he felt earlier returning. </div> <div>      She returned his gaze.  "I'm not sorry, either, Quentin."</div> <div>      He turned away, disturbed by the growing desire he was feeling for her again.  He'd promised Julia he would try.  He cleared his throat.  "Ah--I brought us breakfast, Maggie.  I thought you might be hungry."</div> <div>      He felt her arms go around his waist; felt her cheek on his back.  He shivered, and it wasn't from the cold.  "How sweet of you," she said softly.</div> <div>      "Let's have breakfast in bed," he suggested, a little hoarsely.  It was hard to look at her.  She hadn't gotten fully dressed.  Now she climbed back into the bed and pulled the sheet up to her waist.  He brought the tray over and climbed in next to her.  On impulse, he used his fork to cut off some pancake and offered it to her.  She liked that; she did the same for him.  They fed each other, laughing like a couple of kids when some of the syrup dripped down his chin.  They sat back and relaxed, enjoying their cups of coffee.</div> <div>      "What is Julia going to do?"  Maggie asked.</div> <div>      "She said she'd try to reason with Angelique.  Angelique is jealous because you and Barnabas are friends," Quentin explained.</div> <div>      "Why should she care?"  Maggie sounded surprised.</div> <div>      Quentin realized belatedly that Maggie wasn't in on the true story of Barnabas and Angelique.  He had to think quickly.  "They met before she married Sky Rumson, in England.  I guess she thought she was in love with him, but he wasn't interested."  He hesitated a moment to polish up the story.  "Barnabas liked her, but he was interested in coming here--to meet the family.  She wanted her career, and so they went their separate ways.  Then she met and married Sky Rumson."</div> <div>      "I see.  And what happened to their marriage?"</div> <div>      Apparently she hadn't heard.  "Sky's a Leviathan."</div> <div>      "Oh, God!"</div> <div>      "So Angelique left him and came here."</div> <div>      "And met Barnabas again," Maggie continued.</div> <div>      "And got jealous..."</div> <div>      "But a spell, Quentin?"</div> <div>      "Apparently she dabbles in the black arts, Maggie.  She's a witch."  Quentin shrugged, trying to make light of it.  Maggie's eyes grew huge.  "Lots of strange things have happened here, you know," he added softly, trying to make her feel better.  She shivered.  He moved the tray onto the floor and put his arms around her, rubbing her arms as if to warm her.  Touching her soft skin made him tingle with desire.  He should stop it and move away--he'd promised Julia, but...after all, there was no one in the house now (except Barnabas, part of him spoke up--but that didn't count, not really--Barnabas was...unaware; besides, what could Barnabas offer Maggie while he was still cursed?)  and all he was really doing was comforting her.  Even the kiss he gave her was just to make her worry less about Angelique.  The fact that that kiss led to another and another was not his fault--he was just trying to help, that's all...</div> <div>      It was almost like a dream, but a very pleasant one.  Somehow those comforting kisses had progressed to caresses; he'd laid her back down on the bed and moved between her legs.  As had happened before, she was ready and wanted him, and he mounted her, feeling the chill he'd felt replaced by the heat of his desire.  Once again, they came together, rocking on the bed.  With a contented sigh, Quentin collapsed onto her, kissing her gently.  Then he slowly rolled off her.  He raised himself on his elbows so he could look into her face.  Guilt mixed with satisfaction.  She smiled gently up at him.  </div> <div>      There was a small sound--he couldn't identify what it was.  It almost sounded like the soft hiss of a cat.  Maggie drew her breath in sharply, crying out and pulling at the sheet.  "What--?" he began.  </div> <div>      She was staring speechlessly at the door.  It couldn't be--it was too early, Quentin thought, looking over his shoulder.  Willie stood there, pale and trembling with rage.  Then he shut the door, and they could hear him walking down the hall.  "Oh, shit, goddam it!" Quentin exploded.  He practically jumped out of the bed, reaching for his pants.  Maggie was weeping.  "Don't cry, Maggie, I'm sorry," he said, trying to be supportive and pull up his pants at the same time.  It wasn't working.  He leaned across the bed to kiss her.  "Please don't cry, Maggie. I'll try to square it with him."   </div> <div>      She continued to sob and he felt vaguely annoyed.  The pitchfork sign was beginning to fade.  "How could we keep doing this?" she lamented in what sounded like a whiny tone to him.</div> <div>      "I'm only sorry that it hurts you and Barnabas," Quentin said softly, admirably controlling his irritation with her. He was furious with himself.  Being caught by Willie brought a clear and distinct memory of his reunion with Beth.  The very same thing had happened: he had spent the night with her, hadn't left when he was supposed to, and Beth's brother had caught them.  I must be doomed to keep making these silly damn mistakes, he berated himself.  That it was the same thing that happened to he and Beth made it seem worse--it was like betraying Beth twice over.  But there was Maggie, and she was clearly distraught.  Even if he didn't love her, he had to comfort her.  He said in a soothing voice,  "I do care about you Maggie--a lot."</div> <div>      "You don't love me though, do you?"</div> <div>      "This isn't exactly the best time to talk about it, you know?"  This time, he let his irritation show.  She would just have to understand.  "I've got to find Willie, fast."</div> <div>      "You're right!"  Maggie wept. "Try to explain it to him..."</div> <div>      "If he doesn't knock me down first," Quentin muttered and went out the door, shutting it behind him.  Where would Willie have gone at this hour?  It was too early for Barnabas to be rising--that wasn't for hours and hours.  "Willie!"  He called, walking down the hall.  No answer.  He went down the stairs and didn't find anyone in the drawing room or kitchen, either.  The front door was still closed; he hadn't heard him leave.  He had to be inside somewhere.  He went downstairs.  It was freezing down here.  No one down there but the coffin--where Barnabas rested.  He felt a strong pang of guilt.  "Willie?" he called.  Where could the little son of bitch have gone?  </div> <div>      He turned and went back through the house, searching each room as he went.  Willie wasn't anywhere on the first floor.  He ran back up the stairs and began checking the rooms up here.  He knocked at Willie's door.  No answer.  "Willie, come on, I know you're up here!  Where are you?"  He heard a sound at one of the other bedrooms.  He opened the door tentatively and saw Willie angrily stirring up a can of paint.</div> <div>      Willie looked up and snarled at him:  "Get the fuck out of here, man."</div> <div>      "Willie, we need to talk," Quentin said holding his hands out in a placating manner.</div> <div>      "We got nuthin to say to each other," Willie growled, glowering dangerously.  Quentin sighed. He'd made an enemy.  As if to confirm that, Willie went on: "You're supposed to be his cousin, you traitor son of a bitch.  What's he gonna think?  He trusts you."</div> <div>      "Are you going to tell him?" Quentin asked, alarmed.  </div> <div>      Willie thrust the stirring stick into the paint can and stood up.  He strode toward Quentin and jabbed him in the chest with his forefinger, backing him up.  "No, I ain't gonna tell him nuthin--YOU are."</div> <div>      "I can't do that!"     </div> <div>      Willie was surprisingly strong for such a little guy.  He grabbed Quentin by the upper arms and shoved him back against the wall.  Quentin stood a head taller than Willie, who seemed unconcerned by that fact.  He put his arm across Quentin's throat to hold him in place.  "Oh, you can't, huh?  Well, you're not gonna keep sneakin around behind his back slipping it to Maggie, either.  Whatcha wanna bother with her for?  She's a nice girl.  She's too good for you--I know your type.  You're an alley cat--like one of those low class New York hooers."</div> <div>      The muscles in Quentin's jaw tightened resentfully.  "Let go of me, Willie," he warned.  "Look, Angelique put a spell on us.  See?"  He began to show Willie the back of his hand but then realized the pitchfork was gone.  Willie sneered at him.  He pushed up on Willie's arm and shoved him backward.  Willie immediately drove his fist into Quentin's unprotected belly, knocking the wind out of him.  As Quentin sank down to his knees, Willie hit him in the face. Quentin's head hit the wall, and he realized he'd underestimated Willie in every possible way.  He wasn't just a cowardly, twitchy little wimp.</div> <div>      "Get up!"  Willie spat at him.  Quentin got to his feet, and Willie charged him.  They both fell to the floor.  Quentin rolled to one side, pulling Willie along with him.  They struggled and wrestled together on the floor, neither of them getting anywhere.</div> <div>      "Stop!"  Maggie yelled at them from the doorway.  "Stop!  Please!"</div> <div>      Quentin stopped struggling.  He'd managed to pin Willie under him, but holding him down wasn't easy.  "I don't want to fight you, Willie," he said in a conciliatory manner.  "Let's just call it quits, okay?"</div> <div>      "Get off then," Willie growled at him. Quentin got up and the two men squared off, facing each other. Willie put his finger in Quentin's face.  "Let's just get one thing straight--I think Barnabas is makin the biggest mistake of his life trustin you.  But I'm onta you.  You better not do nuthin to hurt Barnabas--or Julia either--or you're gonna be sorry."</div> <div>      "Willie, did you ever think this might be better for Barnabas and Julia?"  Quentin asked, trying to appease him.</div> <div>      Willie's eyes widened.  "That's not your business to get into!  That's between them.  An you ought not to talk about that stuff now!"  His eyes flickered briefly toward Maggie.  Then he glared at Quentin again. "You better listen to ole Willie, now.  You might not think I'm much, but you got another think coming."</div> <div>      "I don't think that," Quentin said, and it was the truth--now.  "Julia thought it would be better if you took Maggie back to Bangor."</div> <div>      "Sure, I'll do that.  She's right," Willie agreed.  Then he gave Quentin a shocked look.  "Does she know--? Jeez, you really have some kinda nerve, you know that?"  He shook his head, disgusted.  He looked at Maggie with kinder eyes.  "You okay?"  Maggie was hugging herself, looking at the floor.  She nodded.  "I'll go bring the car 'round."  Willie started to brush by, then stopped and glared at Quentin.  "You should be ashamed of yourself."</div> <div>      "I am," Quentin answered. Willie shook his head again and left.  "I am," he said again, for Maggie's benefit.  He moved a little closer to her and put his arms around her.  "I'm sorry, Maggie.  Would you look at me, please?"</div> <div>      She did, reluctantly.  "You don't love me, do you?" she whispered.</div> <div>      "I like you, I like you a lot, Maggie.  I haven't wanted a woman the way I've wanted you--"</div> <div>      "But that's because of the spell, isn't it?  You wouldn't want me if it wasn't for the spell--"</div> <div>      "Maybe," he admitted doubtfully.  "Maggie, I've been alone for a long time.  It's hard not to want someone, spell or not.  You're very pretty, and I might have felt something for you if I didn't know about you and Barnabas--" he stopped and sighed miserably.  "I don't know if I'm making any sense at all.  I don't want to hurt you, Maggie, that's all.  I don't want you to think that none of it means anything--because it does."  He stopped again.  He felt like he was digging himself in deeper.</div> <div>      "You're very sweet," Maggie answered, finally looking at him.  "Thank you for trying to make me feel better."</div> <div>      He kissed her gently.  "Let me walk you downstairs.  Do you need anything else?"</div> <div>      She shook her head, no.  He put his arm around her waist and walked downstairs with her to the foyer.  "I think, under the circumstances, this is as far as I should go."  She nodded, turning to hug him.  He hugged her back, then tilted her face up and kissed her again.  She gave him a sad, guilty look and then went out the door, closing it behind her.  Sighing, he turned and went back upstairs to finish getting dressed.  Then he'd take care of the breakfast dishes.  Willie would be gone for several hours so he didn't have to worry about facing him again.  Once again, though, the thought of facing Barnabas--and Julia, too--filled him with some trepidation.  Well, there was nothing he could do about it except live with the consequences--whatever they were.</div> <bR> <div>      Julia returned with disturbing news.  Elizabeth and David continued to experience some remarkable form of amnesia, which confused and worried Roger.  Sky Rumson had managed to get away from Roger, who wasn't used to handling swords, and he hadn't been seen since. Carolyn had had another disturbing dream about her father and Jeb.  Her father had challenged Jeb to tell Carolyn the truth, but Jeb only answered:  "It's too late, she loves me." Julia tried to hypnotize Carolyn to either find out what she was feeling or to help her deal with the dream by encouraging her to realize that Jeb really was her father's killer.  "Jeb's spell on her is too strong," Julia fretted.  "Carolyn woke up immediately and became angry with me.  Yet, at the same time she is also very frightened and confused."</div> <div>      "How come Jeb didn't die when the box was smashed?" Quentin wondered, puzzled.  He looked at Julia.  "You didn't-"</div> <div>      "No!"  Julia exclaimed, sounding shocked.  "That was all an act!  I have no understanding of Leviathan physiology and besides-I would <I>never</I> help Jeb after what he's done to Barnabas!"</div> <div>      "I'm sorry," Quentin apologized immediately.  <I>I should have known better,</I> he thought.  "Where'd this Nicholas Blair character go?"</div> <div>      Julia shook her head.  "I don't know."  She looked troubled and then confided, "There's something else, Quentin.  Megan Todd has disappeared."</div> <div>      Quentin tried to remember who she was and then remembered.  She was the one who'd played "mother" to the thing.  He also remembered that Barnabas had bitten her to get information from her.  He had a sinking feeling that she might be dead.  He looked into Julia's eyes and saw the same fear reflected there.</div> <div> <I>Lord, what a fucking mess,</I> he thought.  "You didn't get a chance to talk to Barnabas after he smashed the box?"</div> <div>      "Until I saw him-downstairs-I wasn't even sure he was safe," Julia answered softly.  "No, we haven't had a chance to talk yet."</div> <div>      Quentin nodded.  "Look, why don't I check out the carriage house and see if I find anything?"</div> <div>      Julia shook her head no.  "I want you to stay here-at least until Willie gets back.  He took Maggie to Bangor?"</div> <div>      Quentin flushed.  "Yes."  He looked away.  "Julia, I won't confront them.  Let me just go and see if they're around."  He needed to get away.</div> <div>      Julia seemed to understand.  "Promise me that you won't go near any of them, Quentin."</div> <div>      "Yes, I promise.  I'll be back later," Quentin promised.  He was relieved to get away.  There was no one at the carriage house; it was thoroughly deserted, the door standing open.  Quentin entered cautiously and looked around.  There was no sign of Jeb, Nicholas, or Bruno.  That back room was covered with boards-just like at the antique shop.  <I>I know I promised Julia, but they're not here.  It's dark there.  If Megan is a vampire now, would she hide there?</I> Quentin checked, but the room was dark and empty.  No vampires and no Leviathans.  <I>What about Chris?</I></div> <div>      Quentin left the carriage house and headed toward the cottage.  He heard the sound of someone running toward him and darted off the path, watching from the underbrush.  He saw a man in his early thirties running toward him. <I>Now who the hell is that?</I>  Quentin wondered.  As the man drew abreast of Quentin, he stopped suddenly.  The man looked directly at Quentin.  "Has Jeb come yet?" he asked urgently.</div> <div>      "Who the hell are you?" Quentin responded.  "Are you one of Jeb's friends?"</div> <div>      "I'm Paul!" the man answered.  "Remember?  You summoned me.  I've got to save my baby because that Jeb is planning to take her away and marry her.  He thinks he's going to meet her on Widow's Hill."  The man suddenly made his voice sound exactly like Carolyn.  "That's the best place for us to meet, darling," he said.  </div> <div>      <I>This is like an opium dream</I>, Quentin thought, thoroughly amazed.  "Who are you-really?  You don't look like Paul Stoddard."</div> <div>      "I'm borrowing Philip Todd's body," the man answered impatiently.  "He hates Jeb.  Jeb has caused his life to become a living hell.  I helped him get out of jail."</div> <div>      "Well, hell," Quentin exclaimed in admiration.  "What should I do to help you?"</div> <div>      "Go to Collinwood and keep Carolyn there-I've got to take care of Jeb myself."  The man smiled broadly.  "Look-this is the first time I've really been able to do anything for my daughter.  I want to thank you for that because after this, I'm going back.  I'll be able to rest."  He walked toward Quentin and shook hands.  Quentin felt the prickle of a mild electrical shock.</div> <div>      "Good luck, Mr. Stoddard," he said softly.  The man nodded and began to run again toward Widow's Hill.  Quentin went to Collinwood to find Carolyn, trying to think of a good story to tell her.  He forgot to ask Stoddard if Carolyn thought she was supposed to be meeting Jeb and decided to feel her out on it.</div> <div>      Mrs. Johnson admitted him, looking as unhappy as always.  Mr. Collins went into town-some kind of urgent call from the shipyard.  Mrs. Stoddard and Carolyn were both in the conservatory.  Carolyn was playing the piano again, and Quentin smiled a little.  She was hesitantly playing a Beatles song-a very sad one, but it was still a Beatles song.  "Hello, Quentin, how are you?" Elizabeth said very pleasantly.  </div> <div>      Quentin kissed her cheek.  "I'm fine, how are you?"  He looked at her curiously, wondering if she really didn't remember anything.</div> <div>      "I feel very well, thank you.  Would you like some tea?"</div> <div>      "Thanks, that would be nice."  Quentin moved to greet Carolyn as Elizabeth got up to ask Mrs. Johnson to bring a pot of tea.  "Hi!" She looked up at him listlessly and then back down at the keys.  "When did you get the sheet music?" he asked.</div> <div>      "The other day," Carolyn answered and stopped playing.</div> <div>      "Why did you stop, dear?  That was pretty," Elizabeth remarked, stopping at the door.</div> <div>      Carolyn stood up.  "It was the <I>Beatles</I>, Mother!"  Elizabeth only looked at her impassively and then left the room. Carolyn rolled her eyes.</div> <div>      "Pretty ballad, `Yesterday'," Quentin observed.  "Very sad, though."</div> <div>      "That's what I seem to be in the mood for."</div> <div>      "Well, here, then.  Sit down and listen."  Quentin sat down on the piano bench, looking up at Carolyn expectantly.  She sighed and sat down with obvious reluctance.  Suddenly inspired by Paul Stoddard, Quentin began to play another Lennon and McCartney song-a lullaby.  </div> <div>      "What's this?  I don't know it," Carolyn asked with mild interest.</div> <div>      "It's a Beatles song," Quentin told her.  "I just thought it might be something your father would pick for you."</div> <div>      Carolyn's eyes filled with tears.  "You do?  What are the words?  Would you sing them?"</div> <div>      "Well, it goes like this."  Quentin began to sing softly.</div> <div> "Once there was a way to get back homeward</div> <div> Once there was a way to get back home</div> <div> Sleep pretty darling do not cry</div> <div> And I will sing a lullaby</div> <div> Golden slumbers fill your eyes</div> <div> Smiles awake you when you rise</div> <div> Sleep pretty darling do not cry</div> <div> And I will sing a lullaby</div> <div> Once there was a way to get back homeward</div> <div> Once there was a way to get back home</div> <div> Sleep pretty darling do not cry</div> <div> And I will sing a lullabye…"</div> <bR> <div>      Carolyn's tears began to flow freely, and Quentin put his arm around her to comfort her.  "Your father loved you, Carolyn, you know that, don't you?" he said softly.  He hoped that thinking of her father and his love for her would help break the spell Jeb had on her.</div> <div>      The door burst open, and it was like a bad dream starting over again.  Jeb stood there, wild-eyed and gasping for breath; Elizabeth, distraught stood behind him.  Quentin stood up.  "What happened?" he asked harshly.</div> <div>      "Mrs. Johnson is calling the police," Elizabeth began fretfully.  "Somehow, Philip Todd escaped from jail!"</div> <div>      Carolyn stood up now, gasping.  Jeb looked at her.  He held his arms out.  "I need you," he said in a whimpering voice.  "I don't know why he'd do such a thing-he tried to kill me!"</div> <div>      "Oh no!" Carolyn exclaimed and ran right into Jeb's arms.</div> <div>      "What happened to Philip Todd?" Quentin demanded.</div> <div>      Jeb looked at Quentin, cradling Carolyn to him.  His eyes were cold and cunning as he looked into Quentin's eyes.  He was well aware that only Quentin could see what his eyes looked like.  His voice sounded deceptively soft and shocked.  "I had to it.  I couldn't help it-I had to defend myself."</div> <div>      "What happened?" Quentin asked again.</div> <div>      "He rushed me," Jeb replied calmly.  "We struggled at the edge of the cliff-and then I pushed him over."</div> <div>      Quentin's hands balled into fists.  Speechless, he stood there feeling helpless and unable to move.  He could hear the distant sound of police sirens becoming louder as they came toward Collinwood.  Philip Todd was dead, Quentin was sure of it-but what had happened to Paul Stoddard?</div> <bR> <div>      Jeb went into town with acting Sheriff Sirkis to sign a sworn statement about Philip Todd's attempt on his life.  The sheriff was very puzzled about Mrs. Todd's whereabouts and Jeb was deliberately vague, claiming that she had gone out of town to visit a relative because she couldn't stand the stress anymore.</div> <div>      <I>Why doesn't that man die?</I>  Quentin wondered resentfully.  Now that the Naga box was destroyed, why was he still hanging around? He was irritated because he'd had another argument with Carolyn.  She wanted to go into town with Jeb, and Quentin wouldn't allow it.  He dared Jeb to try and fight him while Carolyn screamed at her cousin to mind his own damn business.  Finally, Jeb said, "It's all right, Carolyn.  We'll be together-you'll see."</div> <div>      The commotion clearly distressed Elizabeth, who watched in dismay as Quentin hustled Jeb out the door.  "How dare you!  Who do you think you are?" Carolyn railed at him as he shut the door.</div> <div>      Carolyn looked so much like Nora at this moment, Quentin thought.  "I'm just trying to look out for you!" he exclaimed, ducking as Carolyn swung at him.</div> <div>      "Carolyn!" Elizabeth sounded scandalized.</div> <div>      "When is everyone going to let me start leading my own life?" Carolyn screamed, running up the stairs to her room.  She slammed doors all the way to her own room.</div> <div>      "Quentin, I really don't understand this at all," Elizabeth said reproachfully.  "I understand that he is a stranger in town but why are you so against him?  He seems polite enough."</div> <div>      Quentin felt uncomfortable.  He didn't want to put his cousin back in danger by telling her that she'd been brainwashed by some creature from hell.   "He's involved in things he ought not to be involved in.  He could get Carolyn into trouble," he explained enigmatically.  He wasn't really lying.</div> <div>      "Does he take drugs?" Elizabeth asked immediately.</div> <div>      That sounded good, and he wasn't opposed to lying to save Carolyn.  "Yes, I've seen him passing dope to some young people," he said.</div> <div>      "Well, we can't have that!" Elizabeth exclaimed in a stern tone.  "I'll just go and talk to Carolyn."</div> <div>      Quentin thought that was a very bad idea but he didn't want to tell Elizabeth how to deal with her daughter.  Besides, this way he didn't have to answer any other questions.  He waited until Elizabeth went upstairs and then started for the door, intending to go out looking for Julia. As he opened the door, she walked in.  Relieved, he went into the drawing room with her and explained what happened.  Julia shook her head, troubled.  "Jeb must be hanging on through will power alone.  I don't know if he can transform anymore now that the box has been destroyed," Julia said, looking clearly worried.  "So-Barnabas is still in danger."</div> <div>      They heard the sound of footsteps hurrying down the hall and then down the steps.  Elizabeth appeared in the doorway, out of breath and completely out of sorts.  She looked stunned.  "Carolyn's climbed out the window!  I can't see her anywhere!" she exclaimed.</div> <div>      Julia looked at Quentin.  "She went to town?  After Jeb?"</div> <div>      Quentin's eyes narrowed.  He was sure that was exactly what happened.  "It's not just Barnabas, Julia-it's Carolyn, too."  They understood each other-Carolyn was the one in danger now.</div> <div>      </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="10: Spell of Jealousy"><U>10:  Spell of Jealousy</U></A>    <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="12: A Fiendish New Year"><U>12:  A Fiendish New Year</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U>Cassie's Writing</U></A></div> <div>      </div> <div>      </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>