16: Demon's Possession

<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><A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="11: Carrying the Weight"><U><B>11:  Carrying the Weight</B></U></A><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><B>16:  Demon's Possession</B><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>16:  Demon's Possession</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> All of this is just bullshit, Quentin brooded, pouring himself a brandy.  I'm wasting my time here when I should be helping Chris and Amy.  I should be looking for Beth.  He felt someone watching him and turned to find Julia standing there.  She was dressed and ready to go somewhere.  "Quentin, what's the matter?" she asked.</div> <div> "I'm just thinking about how I'm wasting my time here," he told her truthfully, taking a swallow from his brandy.  "The night of the sun and the moon is over, and nothing happened to anyone.  Not to me, not to Carolyn, and not to the children.  So that clue was totally useless."</div> <div> "I don't know," Julia objected, thinking.  "Maybe those clues are just meant to guide us."  Quentin rolled his eyes in exasperation and turned away.  As long as they persisted in this loony obsession of theirs, he'd never be able to get Barnabas and Julia to come to Cuddeback with him.  "Quentin, that disaster was real.  What is troubling you, sweetie?"</div> <div> "I'm bored," he declared, showing his exasperation.  "I miss Beth.  I'm never going to find her this way."  He drank down the rest of his brandy in one gulp.</div> <div> Watching him, Julia observed, "You seem to be looking for a drinking partner, not for Beth."  She had a and-what-about-Amanda look on he face he didn't care for.</div> <div> He put the glass down.  "Well, you're right, Julia.  Do you have a minute?  I wanted to talk to you about trying to find her-" He broke off when he saw a faint look of impatience cross Julia's face.  "Are you going somewhere?  You have time for one cup of coffee first, don't you?" He smiled charmingly at her, trying to coax her.</div> <div> "Maybe later-when I get back," Julia answered.</div> <div> Quentin scowled.  Same old story.  He became aware of the scent of perfume in the air.  "Very nice perfume you're wearing, Julia," he commented with bitter sarcasm.  "Are you meeting a man?  Elliot, maybe?"</div> <div> Julia gave him a shocked look.  "Elliot!  Why, no!  And I'm not wearing perfume."  She put a hand on his arm.  "I know you miss Beth.  I know you want to talk about it.  I promise that when I get back, I'll-"</div> <div> "Right, Julia," he interrupted, rather nastily.  He wasn't in the mood, and turned back to the brandy decanter.  He heard the front door closing.  <I>Shit!</I> He thought, angry.  He went to the phone and tried to call the house in Port Jervis, but there was no answer.</div> <div> He went out for a walk.  He found himself down at the beach below Widow's Hill, walking toward the caves.  One of them led to the basement of the Old House.  He stood looking at it, remembering other days-with Beth-here on the beach.  It depressed him so he took the path back up to the top of the cliffs.  He stood looking out over the ocean.  The breakers were especially high today.  Maybe a storm was on the way.</div> <div> He followed another path, and this one took him into the cemetery.  Curious, he decided to look for the headstone of this mysterious Gerard Stiles.  After he'd been wandering around awhile, he finally found it.  The inscription sounded ominous:  "Gerard Stiles, 1811-1841, In darkness he did live and die."  He was awfully young, Quentin reflected.  Just thirty years old.  He wondered what happened to the man.  He heard footsteps coming toward him and was surprised when he turned and saw Julia.</div> <div> She looked equally surprised to see him.  "What are you doing here?" she wondered.</div> <div> "Thinking," he answered.  "What are you doing here?"</div> <div> "I took a shortcut back from town," she answered.</div> <div> "Did you find what you needed?"</div> <div> "No," she said, clearly disappointed.</div> <div> "I found Gerard Stiles."  He pointed to the headstone.  "What happened to him?  He was young-thirty."</div> <div> "Yes," Julia agreed.  "Look, Quentin, there's Daphne's grave."  She pointed and he turned to look. Daphne Harridge had only been 23 when she died.  "Does it mean anything to you?"</div> <div> He shrugged.  "Nothing-except she was even younger than he was.  And this girl is the one who is supposed to drive me nuts, huh?"</div> <div> "Yes, you were quite taken with her-in 1995.  You talked to her as if she was there with you.  I'm sure she was.  I saw her-a beautiful woman with long dark hair and dark eyes.  The room would fill with the scent of lilacs just before she'd appear."</div> <div> "Lilacs?"  He was startled.  That was the scent he'd noticed earlier.</div> <div> "Yes, why?"</div> <div> "Oh, nothing," he lied evasively.  He didn't want to tell her-she'd become more obsessed with this nonsense than before.  He did think, however, if this ghost was going to appear it would be a good idea for him to be gone.  "Julia, I really want to go back to Port Jervis.  I'm not going to be able to do anything here-none of this means anything to me.  I don't understand all of Jenny's dream-I don't know what it is that you and Barnabas have to do with it, but I do know that I have to try and help Chris and Amy."</div> <div> "Quentin, I understand how you feel-believe me, I do.  Please wait and let's talk this over with Barnabas later."  Julia put her hand on his arm, pleadingly.  "The danger to the family is real.  We want to help Chris, too, but we can't abandon the family to disaster."  </div> <div> "All right," he agreed grudgingly, filled with misgivings.  He had a feeling that he would regret it very much.  He and Julia returned to the house.  He hoped Julia would be willing to listen to him, but apparently she'd become uncomfortable with his urgent need to leave for Port Jervis.  She made an excuse to go upstairs and left him in the drawing room.  </div> <div> He decided to get drunk-the hell with it, why not?  Barnabas and Julia were just going to manipulate him again anyway.  It was the last coherent thought he remembered.  The brandy made him feel warm and drowsy; he fell asleep.</div> <bR> <div> When he woke up, he was looking into the large, beautiful blue eyes of Angelique.  He started violently, and then realized that his arms were fastened securely.  "What the fuck?" he cried out in confusion, struggling.  He also realized he wasn't at Collinwood-he was seated in the corner of a room with padded mats all over the floors and the walls.</div> <div> "Quentin?  Please calm down and look at me.  Quentin?" Angelique was saying.</div> <div> He looked at her, feeling thoroughly disoriented and confused.  "Where am I?  What is this?"  He felt as if he'd been dreaming for a long time.  Strange images flooded his mind.  A woman, with long flowing dark hair and dark eyes-who was she?  He'd never seen her before.  There was a man as well-a man who radiated sinister evil.  It wasn't Gerard, though; Barnabas and Julia had been mistaken about that.  It was a man named-"Judah Zachary," he whispered.  He looked at Angelique again and then down at himself.  He was in a straight jacket, and he was sitting on the floor of what was derisively called a "rubber room."  Elliot Stokes was there, too, and another man with blonde, curly hair and rimless John Lennon glasses.  "Where the hell am I?"</div> <div> "Thank God, he's back," Stokes said, sounding deeply relieved.</div> <div> "Yes, he's back," Angelique answered, smiling, brushing Quentin's cheek with the back of her hand.</div> <div> "Why am I trussed up like this?" Quentin demanded.</div> <div> "Mr. Collins, I am Dr. Longworth.  Do you remember me?" the man with the glasses asked.</div> <div> Quentin looked at him.  "No, I don't remember you.  Where are we?"</div> <div> "This is Windcliff, Mr. Collins.  Do you remember anything at all about coming here?"</div> <div> Windcliff!  Quentin felt his blood run cold.  He looked from Stokes to Angelique.  "My God, it happened?"</div> <div> "Yes, Quentin," Stokes said, his voice heavy with grief.  "He is quite himself again, Dr. Longworth."</div> <div> "May I ask a few questions to be sure of that?" the doctor replied politely.  He asked Quentin his name, the names of his family members, what year it was, if he knew what Windcliff was, and several other questions before he was satisfied. "He's not psychotic-not now."</div> <div> "Can I get out of this thing?" Quentin asked.</div> <div> "Yes, yes, of course you can," the doctor replied, and began to undo the straightjacket.  "You may return to your room with your visitors as well, if you like."</div> <div> "Would I be able to sign him out of here?"  Stokes asked.</div> <div> "A member of the family would need to do that," the doctor replied.</div> <div> Quentin looked from one to the other.  He'd been committed, that was obvious.  <I>I really must have been in a bad way</I>, he thought, <I>I can't even</I> <I>remember what happened to me</I>.  Stokes looked at Angelique.  "I can call Roger Collins and ask him to come here."  She nodded.  Stokes turned to Quentin.  "I am glad you're back, young man.  I will be back in a few minutes.  We have a lot of work to do."</div> <div> The straight jacket had been loosened.  Dr. Longworth helped Quentin pull it off as Stokes left the room.  The doctor reached out and helped Quentin get to his feet.  He still felt very groggy and off balance.  He didn't know what to say or do.  The doctor said, "Why don't we go back to your room and talk?  Professor Stokes will join us there."</div> <div> "Are you in on this?"  Quentin asked.</div> <div> "I have been involved in your treatment since you got here, Mr. Collins," the doctor answered.  "I have an interest in the paranormal and that is why Professor Stokes asked me to take the case.  Dr. Hoffman and I have collaborated together on a few cases-your friend, Julia?"</div> <div> "Yes, I know Julia, of course," Quentin said.  He looked at Angelique.  "You've been helping, too?  You want to tell me about all this?"</div> <div> "Let's go back to your room and talk there," Angelique said, looking around and shuddering.  Dr. Longworth and Angelique led him back to a simple room with a bed and a dresser in it.  There was a teddy bear on the bed-he recognized it.  It looked like (but wasn't the same as) a teddy he'd had when he was a child.  He picked it up and looked at it, then looked at them with a questioning frown.  "I gave it to you," Angelique said simply.</div> <div> Professor Stokes appeared at the door.  "Roger's on his way.  He should be here in less than an hour."  He looked at Quentin.  "Well, Quentin, I am sure this is a big shock."</div> <div> "That's putting it mildly," Quentin agreed.  "Would you tell me what the hell is going on now?"</div> <div> Stokes looked at Dr. Longworth.  "Medication?"  The doctor nodded and left the room.</div> <div> "What for?"  Quentin demanded.</div> <div> "What we need to tell you is shocking-we don't want you to become overly excited or agitated.  This is a plan the three of us agreed upon for when you-were rational again."</div> <div> <I>How bad could it be?</I>  Quentin wondered.  He looked at their faces.  Some disturbing fragments were coming back to him.  He wanted to tell Barnabas something important.  He was trying to fight the evil force of the man who controlled him so that he could tell Barnabas about the danger.  Barnabas was looking at him expectantly…"Where is Barnabas?" he asked.</div> <div> "We'll tell you everything, Quentin," Stokes promised.  </div> <div> Dr. Longworth was back with a needle.  "This works faster intramuscularly than if I gave you a pill to swallow, do you understand?"  Quentin nodded.  "This is similar to Valium.  It will help you relax.  All right?"</div> <div> "Okay," Quentin agreed.  He knew the drill.  He turned, unbuckling his belt.</div> <div> "I can come back," Angelique offered.</div> <div> "Why?  You aren't going to see anything you haven't seen before."</div> <div> "Very funny.  Very well."</div> <div> After the doctor injected the tranquilizer, Quentin sat on the bed, leaning against the wall.  The other three took chairs and sat down.  "Now that you're sure I won't freak out, will you please tell me what happened?"</div> <div> "Yes, of course, Quentin," Stokes began.  He paused, thinking.  "I'm trying to think how to tell you all this.  What is the last thing you remember?"</div> <div> He told Stokes about being in the cemetery with Julia, coming back to the house, getting drunk on the brandy and passing out.  When Stokes prompted him further, he searched his memory for other pieces of information.  He remembered going on a picnic (and thinking it was another waste of his time) and that David had taken a picture that had an optical illusion in it-a face.  He stopped suddenly, remembering.</div> <div> "What is it?" Stokes asked.</div> <div> "The picnic-it was one of the clues," Quentin explained, frowning.  He couldn't remember what happened after he looked at the picture with David.  It was frustrating!</div> <div> "It's all right, Quentin.  What else can you remember?"</div> <div> "I was with Julia-something really<I> was</I> going on, and it was evil.  We had to make it stop.  You were in Europe, right?"  When Stokes nodded, Quentin continued, trying hard to remember:  "I tried to exorcise the house."</div> <div> "What happened?"</div> <div> "I don't remember.  Why can't I remember?"  He looked at Stokes and Angelique, distressed.  Dr. Longworth sat quietly, watching.</div> <div> "You were possessed, Quentin," Angelique answered softly.</div> <div> "<I>What?</I>  By whom?"  He couldn't believe his ears.</div> <div> "You said the name," Angelique answered.  "Judah Zachary."</div> <div> "Not Gerard Stiles?  Who is Judah Zachary?"</div> <div> "A powerful warlock-there is no one more powerful than he."</div> <div> "Quentin, what else do you remember?" Stokes asked gently.</div> <div> Quentin sighed and concentrated.  Day after day, he and Julia went through the books, searching for something.  Suddenly he remembered something about one of those interminable days.  "There's a diary my great uncle kept-something about a staircase through time."</div> <div> All three people sat forward.  "Where is the book?"</div> <div> He thought.  "The last time I saw it, it was in the drawing room.  I was reading it."</div> <div> "Where is the staircase through time?"</div> <div> "Somewhere in the west wing," he answered vaguely.  Somehow he thought he ought to know <I>exactly</I> where, but he couldn't quite grasp the memory.  "I-think it's-why can't I remember?"</div> <div> "It's all right, Quentin," Angelique reassured him soothingly, stroking his arm.  "Can you remember everything else?"</div> <div> He thought.  He was getting a headache from concentrating so hard.  He shook his head.  "Everything else is like a blur.  The only other thing I remember is Julia telling me that I did something wrong-I let Hallie get away, and I felt guilty-it's all my fault!"  He covered his face with his hands, suddenly overcome with grief and guilt.</div> <div> "No, Quentin, you are wrong!" Stokes exclaimed, sounding almost angry.  "Look at me, please."  When Quentin looked up, he saw compassion in the other man's eyes.  "None of this was your fault, do you hear me?  Angelique has told you the truth-Judah Zachary possessed you.  You haven't been yourself for a long time."</div> <div> "How long?"</div> <div> "Several weeks."</div> <div> "What is several weeks?  How long-what month is this, anyway?"</div> <div> "It's the middle of March, Quentin."</div> <div> "No! That can't be!  It  was January when I came here-"</div> <div>   I believe that Judah Zachary took possession of you shortly after you came back to Collinwood from New York."</div> <div> "But how?"</div> <div> "Through Daphne Harridge's spirit, whom he controls."</div> <div> "What happened to Chris and Sabrina?  What happened to Amanda?"  Quentin was outraged. </div> <div> "They're all right, Quentin," Stokes answered calmly.  "When people called, looking for you, I explained that you were called out of the country.  An emergency.  Mr. Jennings seemed confused but accepted the story.  There was a call from your attorney-and from someone named Olivia Corey.  Neither seemed surprised.  I am sorry-there was no call from anyone named Amanda."</div> <div> "How did you know to tell them that?" Quentin asked suspiciously.</div> <div> "I told him," Angelique put in quickly.  "I knew your employment background, you see?"  </div> <div> He did see.  He was still very angry-so much time wasted! "Who is Judah Zachary to the family?  Why is he doing this?"</div> <div> "I can explain that," Angelique answered.  Quentin began to feel grateful for the shot Dr. Longworth had given him because Angelique proceeded to tell him an incredible story of witchcraft and revenge-dating back to the 1690s.  Judah Zachary, the warlock condemned to death after a witch trial, had promised revenge on the Collins family.  He was acting out on his threat for vengeance now-and in 1840.</div> <div> "Is this that `many worlds' stuff again?" Quentin asked, looking over at Stokes.</div> <div> "Something like it," Stokes answered.</div> <div> Quentin looked at Angelique.  "How did you get involved in this?"</div> <div> "Why, I couldn't refuse Professor Stokes when he told me it was you who needed to be exorcised.  You know I could never resist you, darling, possessed or not," Angelique replied, teasing.</div> <div> "Is that what you did?  You exorcised me?"</div> <div> Dr. Longworth cleared his throat.  "That's the simplest way of putting it."</div> <div> "Science and witchcraft?"  Quentin laughed bitterly.</div> <div> "Some people thought science <I>was</I> witchcraft," the doctor replied softly, with a smile.  "Who is to say?"</div> <div> "Where are Julia and Barnabas?"  At this question, Quentin saw the expressions on Stokes' and Angelique's faces and he knew the news was bad.</div> <div> "Roger will be here soon, and I'd as soon tell you the worst of it before he gets here," Stokes said.  Angelique took Quentin's hand and squeezed it.  "Judah Zachary destroyed Collinwood.  He possesses it now, with his mad army of supernatural creatures.  The ghost, Daphne, somehow was brought to life shortly before this disaster.  But now, she, Elizabeth, and the children are dead."  Quentin started violently, and Angelique put her other hand over his.  "Carolyn has had a breakdown; she is here, too, sedated, and in another room.  It's possible she is possessed-as you were-but not by Judah Zachary.  Mrs. Johnson and Roger have moved into the Old House."</div> <div> "Julia and Barnabas?"</div> <div> "The night of the destruction, Julia disappeared-she went down the mysterious staircase we were discussing a few moments ago.  Barnabas fought off the army of-zombies, or whatever they are-but was unable to follow her.  He called me, and he called Roger.  We both ended up on the same flight back from London.  Barnabas, Mrs. Johnson, and Willie had already found you and Carolyn wandering in the woods.  Soon after that, we had you and Carolyn brought here.  Since then, Barnabas used the I'ching to try and find Julia."</div> <div> "Where?"</div> <div> "I thought at first Julia had gone to the future.  Barnabas apparently was right, though-they've gone back to 1840 to try and change the events occurring there."  Stokes paused, then leaned forward and put his hand on Quentin's other arm.  Quentin looked into his eyes, stunned.  "Listen, Quentin, Angelique and I need your help.  If you are the man I think you are, then you are familiar with the supernatural."  Quentin felt his blood run cold again, and Angelique pressed his hand again to reassure him.  "Trust me.  You have nothing to fear from me.  But we must have your help if we are to fight this evil and restore Collinwood."</div> <div> "Is that possible?" Quentin whispered.</div> <div> "I think it is.  Angelique agrees.  But the two of us are not strong enough to fight Judah Zachary here.  We need you."</div> <div> "Of course I'll do anything I can," Quentin said immediately.</div> <div> Angelique stood up.  When he looked up at her, she smiled at him sweetly and bent down to kiss him gently.  "I'm going to go now.  The less I see of Roger the more comfortable I feel.  I'll see you later, my dear."</div> <div> Dr. Longworth stood up, saying, "I'll escort you out, Mrs. Rumson."</div> <div> After they left, Quentin looked at Stokes and asked, "What's that doctor got to do with all this?"</div> <div> "He has similar interests to Julia's."</div> <div> Quentin narrowed his eyes.  "What do you mean?"</div> <div> "I mean you can trust him, Quentin, as you trust me.  He's been a great help to Angelique and me in restoring you to yourself."  Quentin continued to look at Stokes with dismay and suspicion.  "I'll tell you everything you want to know once we get back to the Old House.  Roger should be here shortly."</div> <div> "Are we telling Roger all this?"</div> <div> "He knows as much as he is capable of handling.  We're not going to tell him anything else," Stokes said, looking at Quentin steadily.  "You and I must talk privately, however.  Will you talk to me?"</div> <div> Quentin was extremely uncomfortable.  He looked down.  "We can talk," he mumbled.  <I>I'm just not sure if I'm going to tell you the truth.</I></div> <div> The door opened, and Dr. Longworth returned with Roger, who looked pale and washed out.  He'd lost a great deal of weight.  "Quentin?" Roger asked doubtfully.</div> <div> "Roger," Quentin answered.  To his surprise, Roger's eyes filled up with tears and overflowed.  "I'm all right," he said hastily, to reassure his cousin. </div> <div> "I'm sorry," Roger apologized, wiping his eyes.  He struggled to regain his composure.  "It's so hard-I don't know how much you know-" his voice broke.</div> <div> For the first time, Quentin thought of Elizabeth-dead.   That David and Hallie were dead was upsetting, too, because they were just children.  But he had known Elizabeth as a child, and he thought of her as she was then, lively and pert and full of life.  He also thought of her as he'd seen her when she'd been describing her own experience with the Alice in fucking Wonderland room.  He remembered the look on her face as she watched the full eclipse of the moon.  His heart grew heavy and his own eyes filled up with tears.  Through his tears, he saw that Stokes had become emotional too.</div> <div> "Look at us!" Roger exclaimed in a self-mocking tone, another attempt to get his emotions under control.  He shoved his hands deeply into his pockets, unable to seek comfort from Quentin or Stokes.  Stokes put his hand on Quentin's shoulder to comfort him.  That simple gesture was enough to start Quentin's tears flowing as he began grieving for Elizabeth, the little lonely child who'd lost her mother at such a young age.  Stokes moved to the bed and put his arm around Quentin, wiping his eyes with his other hand and sighing heavily.</div> <div> "I'll leave you alone for a few minutes," Dr. Longworth said discreetly.</div> <div> "No, I'm quite all right.  If Quentin is well enough to be discharged, I'd just as soon get that underway," Roger declared.  He followed the doctor out the door.</div> <div> "He is having difficulty coping with his grief," Stokes commented.</div> <div> "He doesn't know how," Quentin agreed mournfully.  "His father ignored him."</div> <div> Stokes looked at him closely.  "Indeed?  I believe you're right, Quentin.  Pity."</div> <div> That reminded Quentin of Jamison's accident, Ruth's death, his resulting bitterness and the drinking that ensued…what a loss!  More tears flowed.  "They won't let me go like this."</div> <div> "On the contrary," Stokes objected.  "This is a very normal response.  Dr. Longworth understands.  However, it would be helpful if we got your things together.  The sooner we leave the better."</div> <div> "Right."  Quentin paused, wiping his eyes with his hands as he'd done as a child.  "How did you manage to get me back?"</div> <div> "A combination of strategies.  Medicine, psychology, witchcraft, and tender loving care-the latter two mostly provided by the lovely Angelique.  She has proven to be a remarkable ally-although a close-mouthed one.  I hope you will be more forthcoming-that you will trust me, Quentin.  There are things we must do here in order to help Julia and Barnabas.  Judah Zachary is here as well as in the past, and he poses a grave threat."</div> <div> "Forthcoming about what?"</div> <div> Again, Stokes looked at Quentin kindly but with eyes that seemed to know too much.  "We'll talk at the Old House.  I am sure that I can convince Roger to allow me to get you settled comfortably there.  Will you talk to me?"</div> <div> "I'll try," he hedged.</div> <div> "That's all that I ask for," Stokes said gently.  "Now, what can I do to help you pack?"</div> <bR> <div> Safely within the confines of Josette's old room, Stokes and Quentin sat across from each other.  Quentin felt very tired.  Dr. Longworth had sent him off with a bottle of pills.  Quentin looked at them suspiciously but took them and put them in his pocket.  Roger thought it was logical that Professor Stokes would come in and stay long enough for Quentin to get settled; he seemed relieved, in fact.  When they arrived at the Old House, they found Willie and Mrs. Johnson at odds with each other.   Willie was clearly irritated at having his position usurped by the cantankerous housekeeper but he beat a retreat to the kitchen when the three men arrived.</div> <div> Roger retired to Barnabas' master bedroom immediately.  Mrs. Johnson brought up a pot of tea for Stokes and Quentin.  Quentin was about to lace his with a helping of brandy he'd left in the room.  "No, Quentin, you mustn't do that," Stokes chided.  "You're taking medication--don't forget that."</div> <div> "What is this shit?"  Quentin asked.  He pulled the bottle of pills out of his pocket.</div> <div> Stokes looked at it.  "It is diazepam-Valium.  A rather strong dose, too.  You mustn't drink alcohol with this.  In fact, Valium can be habit forming."</div> <div> Quentin laughed.  "Like alcohol!"  Stokes gave him the bottle and he looked at it resentfully.  "Do I need this?"</div> <div> "After the stress you've been put through, I wouldn't turn it down," Stokes commented.  "I would be cautious with it.  As I said, it is addictive.   And you mustn't drink."</div> <div> "You said that.  All right, I guess I'm stuck with plain tea but I have a feeling I'd rather have the brandy."</div> <div> "Take a pill.  The shot will wear off soon, Quentin."</div> <div> Quentin looked at the bottle again.  "What do you want to talk about?"</div> <div> "You are the original Quentin Collins-you lived in 1897?"</div> <div> "Do I look like I'm almost 100 years old?" Quentin hedged, laughing.  He was very nervous, though, and fumbled with the bottle.  Stokes took the bottle from his hand and calmly opened it for him, shaking out a pill.  Quentin looked at him, frightened.</div> <div> "Don't be afraid of me, please, Quentin," Stokes said softly.  "We have to trust each other if we are going to get through this."</div> <div> Quentin considered.  He wondered what, if anything, Angelique had told him.  "All right," he said cautiously.  "Yes, I'm that Quentin."</div> <div> Stokes looked immensely relieved.  "Thank you, Quentin.  I assure you that your secret is safe with me.  You don't have to tell me anything else if you don't want to.  I thought you might be he when I heard you attempted to exorcise the house.  So-you have some knowledge of magic, then, do you?"</div> <div> "Yes," Quentin agreed reluctantly.  "I haven't-"</div> <div> "It's quite all right.  I'm not asking you to practice black magic.  However, you can help us-Barnabas and Julia, too-fight Judah Zachary and restore Collinwood.  We can undo what's been done."</div> <div> "You said that before.  How are we going to do that?"</div> <div> "You remember this book, don't you?"  The professor reached into his pocket and pulled out a worn, water-damaged book.</div> <div> Quentin recognized it immediately.  "That's the diary I was telling you about! You had it all this time?"</div> <div> "Yes, I thought I would save it for this talk.  You remembered reading of a stairway through time your great uncle was working on-the staircase that Julia used to escape Judah Zachary's creatures.  We need to find the stairway again."</div> <div> "I don't remember anything like that at Collinwood, Professor," Quentin objected, "anymore than I remember any playroom."  He hesitated.  There<I> was</I> a playroom.</div> <div> "They do exist," Stokes said softly.  "Please, you must call me Elliot now.  I must insist.  These places are in the west wing somewhere, both the room and the staircase.  They seem to come and go, somewhat like the parallel time room in the east wing."</div> <div> "Schrodinger's cat again?" Quentin asked.  "Is that what all this is about?"</div> <div> "It seems, but I don't think so.  In this case, I believe that the room and the staircase appear and disappear because of their magical properties, not because they are channels to another world."  The professor flipped through several pages of the diary until he came to a diagram.  "Would you take another look at this, please?" </div> <div> Quentin took the book and looked at the picture closely.  It was a schematic of the staircase.  Studying it closer now than he had when he skimmed it with Julia, he realized that there were runes sketched onto the handrails of the staircase.  "Oh!" he exclaimed softly.  "My great uncle was a sorcerer?"</div> <div> "It's possible," Stokes agreed.  "It's hard to be certain when this is the only source of information we have."</div> <div> "You think there might be more?"</div> <div> "I do, indeed.  In this case I thought you might help us."  When Quentin looked at the professor, wondering how he could help, the man continued:  "Angelique and I discussed having a séance.  We'd like to reach your great uncle and find out more about this staircase.  I am hesitant to have Roger participate, under the circumstances, and I hoped you might-"</div> <div> "Of course," Quentin agreed immediately.  "When?"</div> <div> "Good!" Stokes exclaimed, getting up.  "Tomorrow evening?  I would like you to get some rest."</div> <div> Quentin stood up too.  "All right-Elliot."  He reached out and shook Stokes' hand.  It was just as well-he felt totally exhausted now.  After the professor let himself out, Quentin climbed into the bed and fell asleep almost instantly.</div> <div> <I>"You lied to me, Quentin!"  Julia said reproachfully.  She looked at him with sad and angry eyes, an expression of betrayal on her face.  "Hallie didn't run away-you were distracted by Daphne.  You let her get away!"</I></div> <div> <I>"That's not true!"</I></div> <div> <I>"I found this."  She held a handkerchief in front of his face.  "This is hers, isn't it?  Daphne's?"</I></div> <div> He couldn't look her in the eye; he was guilty and couldn't bring himself to admit it to her.  He wanted to tell her very badly because he knew she'd been defending him constantly to Barnabas, who continued to be suspicious of him.  "I haven't seen Daphne, Julia!" he lied, cursing himself for it. "Are you accusing me of trying to harm the children?"</div> <div> <I>His attempt to deflect her failed.  She grabbed him by the arm and tried to turn him around to face her, but he refused to look at her.  "I am just asking you a question, and I want a straight answer!  Quentin!  Look at me!  Why won't you tell me the truth?  Daphne appeared to you and distracted you-and then Hallie ran away.  That is the truth, isn't it?"</I></div> <div> <I>No!  No!  </I>  <I>He kept denying the truth, exploding with anger at Julia and running from her.  He remembered hiding in his room with the brandy decanter.  He kept refilling his glass.  He'd been very bad-he'd betrayed everyone.  He'd lied and covered up for Daphne the whole time-at the expense of the children. He tried hiding from the truth in his room, but first Carolyn came knocking at his door.  She spoke of the deep guilt he carried, and he'd shouted at her, too.  He'd frightened her enough that when he looked up from his newly filled glass, she was gone.</I></div> <div> <I>No one was leaving him alone-next, Julia and Barnabas were in his room.  They were both angrier than he'd ever seen them before, accusing him of lying and protecting Daphne.  They were right, it was true, but he continued to lie and deny it. "The children are back-they're safe, aren't they?"</I></div> <div> <I>Barnabas was red with fury.  He brought his face very close to Quentin's and shouted into his face, "The children are not all right-they are possessed!"</I></div> <div> <I>"I don't believe it!"</I></div> <div> <I>He thought Barnabas would hit him; instead, his cousin took a deep breath and, obviously controlling himself with great difficulty, said gratingly, "Would you like to come and see for yourself?  Would you like to question them?  Come with me now and see for yourself!"</I></div> <div> <I>He didn't need to, though.  He knew the truth-and it was all his fault.</I>  He sat up abruptly in the bed, crying out, "My God! What have I done!"  He was breathing hard, and it was very dark in the room.  He was momentarily confused-where was he?  Then he remembered-this was Josette's room.  He could hear someone coming down the hall; someone knocked at the door.</div> <div> "Quentin?" Roger called.  His cousin opened the door, holding a candle.  He held the candle up to help him see, but it gave his face an eerie, frightening glow.  "Are you all right?"  He heard other footsteps approaching and felt embarrassed.  He must've cried out in his sleep.</div> <div> He found his voice and said, "I'm all right, Roger.  I just had a dream."</div> <div> "Are you quite sure?" Roger asked, sounding genuinely concerned.  "Do you want me to call Dr. Longworth?"</div> <div> "No, it really was just a dream-I'll be all right."  Quentin was shaking a little.  Roger still stood in the doorway, looking toward Quentin doubtfully.  <I>He's probably worried I'll flip out again,</I> Quentin thought.  He wondered how long it had been since he'd taken one of those pills.  He could hear someone whispering to Roger in the hallway-probably Mrs. Johnson or Willie.  "Roger?  Do you think I could have some water?"</div> <div> "Of course," Roger answered promptly.  He seemed relieved to have something to do.  He whispered sharply to the person in the hallway with him-it had to be Willie.  "Just go and <I>get</I> it!"  He came into Quentin's room tentatively.  "I've sent Loomis for some water."  He hesitated, obviously concerned yet very uncomfortable.  "Was it a nightmare about-" He stopped.</div> <div> "I guess I'm remembering some of it," Quentin answered.  He felt miserably guilty, glad for Roger's company but uneasy at the same time.  After all, David wouldn't be dead if it hadn't been for him.</div> <div> Roger was silent, torn between wanting to know and wanting to remain ignorant of all the details.  "You and Carolyn are the only ones left who know what happened that night," he finally said, very softly.  "Barnabas didn't tell me everything-I couldn't take it all in then."</div> <div> "I missed the service, didn't I?" Quentin asked, hoping to head off any questions about what happened.  He didn't remember it all yet, either, and was sure he didn't want to.  </div> <div> After a moment, Roger cleared his throat.  He came further into the room and sat down on the edge of the bed.  "There wasn't a service," he said finally, his voice sounding thick.</div> <div> "I don't understand?"</div> <div> "When we saw everything that had happened, Elliot and Barnabas convinced me that it might be possible to-to-bring them back," Roger began, his voice sounding shaky.  "And so I agreed to-cover it up.  No one has been to the house in weeks, Quentin.  No one knows that I am living here.  Everyone believes that Elizabeth and the children are away-on a holiday."</div> <div> It made sense-sort of.  Quentin admired the quick thinking on the part of Elliot and Barnabas.  "Oh."</div> <div> "Do you think it's possible, Quentin?" Roger asked.  He sounded very close to tears.  "I never even got to say goodbye-"</div> <div> "I hope so." Quentin said up, moving so that he could put his hand on Roger's shoulder.  He could feel his cousin's body shaking with silent sobs.  </div> <div> Willie appeared in the doorway with the water, and Roger stood up abruptly, moving away.  "You ask me, he's just faking," Willie muttered, sounding angry.</div> <div> "No one asked for your opinion!" Roger snapped.  He took the glass from Willie and brought it over to Quentin.  "Can I get you anything else?"</div> <div> "No thanks."</div> <div> "All right, well, you call if you need one of us," Roger said, clearing his throat again.  He shut the door behind him, and Quentin could hear him scolding Willie.  <I>Well, now I have to find the pills</I>, he thought to himself.  <I>And the matches-and a candle.  Fuck, why doesn't Barnabas get electricity?</I></div> <div> "Let me," a voice said softly from the corner of the room.  He nearly jumped right out of his skin.  The voice laughed softly.  "I'm sorry, darling, I didn't mean to frighten you."</div> <div> "Sure, not much," he muttered resentfully.  Angelique climbed onto the bed next to him.  He asked:  "What are you doing here?"</div> <div> "I was worried about you-I knew you were dreaming," she answered.  He felt her hand on his face, stroking his cheek.  He felt grateful for her presence; he really didn't want to be alone.  "Open your mouth, darling."</div> <div> "Why?"</div> <div> "Well, you want this pill, don't you?  I'm here to help you.  Here."  He felt her slip the pill into his mouth, then brought the glass of water to his lips.  After he'd swallowed some of the water, she said, "Lie down.  I'll stay here with you until you fall asleep."</div> <div> "That's very kind of you," he said dryly.</div> <div> "I'm not trying to be kind," she objected.  "Lie down."  He slid down obediently.  He felt the warmth of her body next to hers.  He remembered the touch and feel of her again and felt a stirring.  He was reluctant, though-he remembered the spell she'd placed on him and Maggie.  More than that, he remembered that she'd often slapped and pinched him.  Still…he turned toward her and wasn't surprised when her lips met his.</div> <div> "This is wrong," he muttered.</div> <div> "Why?  It's not like we haven't been together before."</div> <div> "I know, but-all of this is my fault."</div> <div> "Stop that!  You aren't going to be of much help if you're going to go on like that.  It's not your fault-you're just a man, and one man is no match for Judah Zachary, Quentin."  She'd begun to kiss him again.  He stopped her.  "What's the matter?"</div> <div> "You're not going to hit me, are you?"</div> <div> She laughed at first and then said seriously, "No, I won't hit you. I'm sorry about that."</div> <div> "What about Barnabas?"</div> <div> "He doesn't love me, Quentin-he never will.  I know that now, and it's really all right.  I want him to be happy."  He could hear her saying the words but couldn't believe his ears.  He was afraid to say so, though, because he didn't want to anger her.</div> <div> "But, Angelique, there's Beth-"</div> <div> "Sssh, we don't know where she is now-that's why you're here, isn't it?"  As Quentin began to protest, she covered his mouth with her hand.  "Just lie back and go to sleep, then, Quentin.  It's all right.  I'll still stay here with you-so you don't have any more dreams."</div> <div> He was beginning to relax again as the medication began to take effect.  He closed his eyes, feeling her stroking his hair.  Toward dawn, he woke up again.  She was still in the bed beside him, and now he wanted her very much.  He leaned over her and blew into her ear softly.  Her eyes flew open immediately.  Smiling, she rolled over.  "Welcome back, Quentin," she whispered.</div> <div> The next time he woke up, Angelique was gone and Willie was pounding on the door.  "Come on, willya get up!  Mrs. Johnson is fucking going nuts in the kitchen there, tryin ta keep your breakfast hot!  Get up!"</div> <div> Quentin felt wooly-headed from the drugs.  He wondered where Angelique had gone.  "Hey, fuck you, stop yelling!" he shouted at the door.</div> <div> Willie stopped banging at the door and snickered.  "Feelin better already arncha, you sonuvabitch?"</div> <div> Quentin threw the covers off trying to get out of bed.  Roger must be at the cannery; Willie would never dare to speak that way if there was anyone else at home.  He could hear Willie retreating as he pulled the door open.  Willie was safely out of reach.  "Where's Angelique?" he snapped.</div> <div> "Who?"  Willie stopped at the head of the stairs.  "Mrs. Rumson?  She ain't been here in a long time.  So I should tell Mrs. Johnson to toss your stuff or what?"</div> <div> "Go ahead, tell her-and then you'll see how much better I feel you little twinkie bastard," Quentin snapped, slamming the door.  He thought that Angelique must've gone because she didn't want to see Roger-she bore an uncomfortably close resemblance to Cassandra (actually, Quentin knew she was Cassandra), Roger's ex-wife.  He heard Willie laughing.   <I>Bastard</I>, he thought.   He didn't care that Willie resented him but the attitude had to go!</div> <bR> <div> Professor Stokes wanted to try the séance in the early afternoon.  The plan was for Willie to take Mrs. Johnson into town to go shopping.  The professor and Angelique would come to the Old House and the three of them would go through the ceremony.   Quentin waited until Mrs. Johnson went out the backdoor and then got up, feeling pulled to the cellar.  The door was latched from the inside, but he knew how to reach inside and unlock it.  He wondered if Barnabas was foolish enough to be keeping his coffin downstairs-why else would the door be locked?</div> <div> He went down the stairs and stopped short, completely surprised.  Barnabas was sitting at a table, with the I'Ching wands arranged before him.  He was in a deep trance.  Quentin tiptoed over to him, even though he knew that Barnabas couldn't hear him.  In fact, it was daytime and Barnabas would be in the sleep of death now, wherever he was.  Barnabas looked so peaceful right now, unlike the last time…</div> <div> Willie found him wandering in the woods during the night.  "Bastard!"  Willie knocked him down, and he cowered, whimpering.  "Get up, you fuckin coward!"  Willie hauled him back to his feet and pushed him, hectoring and shoving him back along the path to the Old House and all the way up to the door.</div> <div> <I>"I don't want to go there!" Quentin whined, like a child.</I></div> <div> <I>"Yeah? Well, tough!"  Willie pulled the door open and then grabbed Quentin as he turned and tried to run.  "Barnabas!"  Willie and Quentin struggled.  As Barnabas got to the door, Willie hit Quentin again.</I></div> <div> <I>"Willie, no!" Barnabas roared angrily, shoving Willie aside.</I></div> <div> <I>"I'm sorry, Barnabas, I couldn't help it!" Willie sounded contrite.</I></div> <div> <I>Quentin cowered on the ground.  Barnabas hauled him to his feet.  "Quentin!  Are you all right?"</I></div> <div> <I>"I couldn't stop it," he wept.</I></div> <div> <I>"Come inside," Barnabas said harshly, pulling Quentin into the house.  Quentin resisted; he didn't want to go in there because he knew he had been bad.  Barnabas turned and shook him furiously.  "Stop it!  Now, come with me-now!"  He was shoved into one of Barnabas' chairs by the fireplace.  Barnabas leaned over him.  "Quentin!  Look at me!"</I></div> <div> <I>"I want Julia!" Quentin whined again.</I></div> <div> <I>The expression on his cousin's face scared him so much that he turned his face to the side and shut his eyes tightly.  "I don't know where Julia is!" Barnabas yelled at him.  "Do you hear me? Julia is gone-and if anything has happened to her-look at me!"  Barnabas grabbed him roughly, turning his face forcefully.  Tears rolled down Quentin's face.  Barnabas let go of him abruptly, breathing deeply.  Quentin drew his knees up to his chest, no easy feat in that chair and cried.  He felt Barnabas' hand on his head, stroking his hair gently.  He wasn't angry anymore, but he knew that Barnabas still blamed him for what happened to Julia-and she was probably dead, too.</I></div> <div> "Hey!"</div> <div> Quentin jumped.  He felt a hand grab him roughly by the shoulder, pulling him off balance.  "What the hell ya think ya doin down here?"  It was Willie, looking almost as angry as Barnabas had.</div> <div> Quentin pushed him off.  "Let me go, you squidge!  I'm not doing anything!"</div> <div> "Yeah?  Well, I don't trust ya!  Get the hell out of here!"</div> <div> Quentin elected not to fight.  It wasn't worth it-he didn't want to spoil the séance plans by delaying Willie's departure, so he retreated back up the stairs.  "All right, I'm going!" he snapped.  "Is he going to be all right down here?"</div> <div> "Yeah-long as you keep your big mouth shut!  There's no sun light gets down here, although now that ya've seen him, I'll prob'ly hafta move him! Sonuvabitch!"</div> <div> "Hey, fuck you!  You move him if you want to-I'm not telling anyone, Willie, you hear me?"</div> <div> "Yeah, right-you're such a good friend, arncha, Quentin?  Came straight to Julia and Barnabas as soon as all that shit started comin down, dincha?  No, you didn't keep no secrets didja?"  Willie's words hurt him to the quick because they were all true.  He didn't answer.  "Barnabas shoulda listened to ole Willie Loomis!" Willie called after him spitefully.  "I tole him not to trust you-not after what you done with Maggie, Quentin!"</div> <div> Quentin kept going, right out the front door.  He could wait for Stokes and Angelique outside.  He nearly knocked Mrs. Johnson over.  She started, surprised.  "Oh, I thought you were that no-good Willie Loomis!" she exclaimed.  She took a closer look at his face.  "What's the matter?"</div> <div> "Willie Loomis!" Quentin burst out irritably.  Willie was right behind him, still berating him.</div> <div> "You, Willie Loomis!" Mrs. Johnson cut in.  "You let Mr. Collins alone! Who do you think you are, aggravating the man like that?"  Quentin almost burst out laughing, feeling vindicated.  Willie gave him a sour, outraged look and shut up.  He stalked down the path to the car, Mrs. Johnson following behind. She was still going.  "You have a lot of nerve, Willie Loomis!  You forget that I was here when you first arrived, and I know what kind of person you really are!"</div> <bR> <div> Quentin was nervous about the séance but after Elliot had begun to call on the spirit of his great uncle, he found he didn't remember anything.  He roused himself, feeling completely disoriented.  His head throbbed painfully with one of his rare headaches.  Angelique was slipping medication into his mouth, but he spat it out.  "I don't want it!  What happened?"</div> <div> "Take it, Quentin, please," Elliot urged.  "It will help you relax."</div> <div> Quentin glowered at the professor.  "Maybe I shouldn't be relaxing so much.  Was it so bad?  Do you think I'm going to lose my mind?  Don't you think I ought to be in my right mind for all this?"</div> <div> "He's right," Angelique said, and he felt grateful to her.</div> <div> "Yes," the professor conceded.  "And we don't want him dependent on it."</div> <div> "Elliot, I'm awake you know," Quentin complained.</div> <div> "I apologize-you're right.  Perhaps you shouldn't be taking so much of the Valium.  It's time to cut back on it."</div> <div> "All right," Quentin said, mollified. "What happened?  I guess he spoke through me?  I feel kind of dizzy.  What did he say?"</div> <div> "A lot of things," Angelique answered.</div> <div> "He was very helpful," Elliot added.  "We know where the staircase is, and there is a way to make it reappear.  There are a few things we have to do.  Apparently, your great-uncle sealed off a room in the west wing, which contained more of his writings and research.  One of those books contains the spell to bring the staircase back."</div> <div> "The others may be helpful to us to distract Judah," Angelique said.  "We'll have to do that so that Elliot can use the staircase."</div> <div> "To do what?"</div> <div> "Barnabas and Julia won't be able to defeat Judah on their own-he's too powerful.  We've got to outflank and outsmart him-both here, and in the past.  I can go back to the past to put some of the spells in place," Elliot was saying.</div> <div> Quentin began shaking his head, no.  It sounded crazy.  "We have to do it this way," Angelique insisted.  "It's the only way.  You look too much like your great uncle.  Besides, I need you here."  Quentin looked at her doubtfully, and she blustered, "After all, when Judah finds out what it is we're doing he is going to come back and try to strike out at us.  I'll need you to help hold him off."</div> <div> Quentin sighed.  "What else did he say?" He listened with disbelief as they told him the story of his great uncle, of Daphne, and of the hapless Gerard Stiles-who wasn't evil at all, but who'd had the bad luck to be possessed by the warlock Judah Zachary.</div> <bR> <div> The next two weeks were spent in fending off the spirit of Judah Zachary almost continually so that Roger and Willie could break the walls down leading to great-uncle Quentin's library.  Quentin and Angelique spent most of their time countering the enraged warlock's spells so that the others could work in peace.  It was mentally exhausting; at night, Quentin would fall face down in the bed and dream some more.  Angelique would come to him then and he would take comfort in her presence.  </div> <div> Finally, they were through the wall, and Stokes exclaimed in delight at the amount of books that were there.  Working quickly, Stokes, Roger, and Willie removed all the books.  As soon as they were safely away, Angelique and Quentin left the ruined remains of Collinwood, too.  Roger and Willie weren't able to help any longer because they didn't understand the books, nor did they have any desire to.</div> <div> "Some of these are original manuscripts," Quentin said, impressed, leafing through one of the books.</div> <div> "Carefully, please, Quentin," Elliot admonished gently.  "I believe that some of those are not only original, they may be the only copies in existence.  This is the most varied collection of books pertaining to the occult I have ever seen."</div> <div> "I know how much you want to preserve these, but we do have to keep moving," Quentin pointed out.  He was exhausted, both emotionally and physically.  He'd never felt so drained, not even when he'd battled Petofi for control of his body.  He was worried that he was still vulnerable to Judah Zachary.  He wanted to move quickly, not only to save the family but so that he could then move on with his own life.</div> <div> "We'll be able to find most of the tools we need in these books," Elliot said enthusiastically.  "Shall we begin?"  He picked up one of the tomes gently.  "My God!  If we'd only had this one earlier!"</div> <div> "What is it?" Angelique asked.  She was looking at a volume which seemed to contain ancient rites.</div> <div> "This is a Leviathan text!" Stokes exclaimed.</div> <div> "My great-uncle had <I>that</I>?" Quentin exclaimed with disbelief.</div> <div> Angelique gave him an ironic smile.  "Your great-uncle was an unusual man, Quentin."</div> <div> He looked at her suspiciously.  "How would you know?"  She smiled mysteriously but didn't answer.  Stokes was making clucking sounds of mild distress.  "What's wrong, Elliot?"</div> <div> "This is an original manuscript-but it's in German."  Stokes sounded dismayed.</div> <div> "May I see it?" Quentin asked.  "<I>Unaussprechlichen Kulten</I>."</div> <div> "Can you read it?" Stokes asked.</div> <div> "I can try."  Quentin sat down with the book.  Soon all three were absorbed in what they were doing.  They didn't even look up when Mrs. Johnson brought them something to eat.  They ignored Willie as he moved around them, doing some kind of chores, muttering under his breath.  </div> <div> Roger came home from the plant and found them still reading, by candlelight now.  "What on earth are you all doing?" he asked incredulously.</div> <div> Stokes rubbed his eyes and stood up.  "I hadn't realized how late it had gotten."</div> <div> "I must be going, too," Angelique said hastily.  "Would it be all right if I borrowed these?"</div> <div> "If you wish," Roger said stiffly.  He and Quentin walked Stokes and Angelique to the door.  Quentin used this opportunity to stretch his limbs.  He hadn't realized how long he'd been curled up in the uncomfortable chair, trying to decipher everything he was reading.  Roger watched him arch his back as he shut the door.  "I never understood why Barnabas didn't install electricity," he said irritably.</div> <div> "Me neither," Quentin agreed, trying not to yawn.</div> <div> Roger looked as if he wanted to ask something but was uncomfortable.  Finally, he asked, "Are those books helpful?"</div> <div> "Yes, Roger, I think so," Quentin answered, and Roger looked relieved.  <I>The burden on him must be terrible</I>, Quentin thought.  <I>He won't talk to anyone</I> <I>about it</I>.  He wished he could help Roger, but any time he tried to show any emotional support or affection, his cousin would move away uncomfortably.  <I>Edward was cold to Jamison, and Jamison ended up being cold to Roger, and now Roger is cold toward everyone.  But I'll bet he hurts a lot inside. </I> "Roger-" he began.</div> <div> "I'm sure you haven't had a chance to talk with Mrs. Johnson about the menu tonight-let me check and make sure she has everything she needs," Roger interrupted, moving off toward the kitchen.  Quentin knew it was a useless gesture, and that Roger just didn't want to talk about any of it.  He had been extremely uncomfortable since the discovery of the library, nervous and uneasy.  It almost was if he felt unneeded and now looked for reasons to either stay at work or keep himself preoccupied with mundane activities-like Mrs. Johnson's menus.  Quentin sighed.  He felt as frustrated with Roger as he had with Jamison-he just didn't know what to do to help.</div> <div>      As usual, Angelique showed up in his bedroom.  He was still struggling with the handwritten book in German.  "My great uncle must have purchased this thing from von Juntz himself," he said, barely looking up as Angelique came out of one of the darkened corners.  He was squinting in the dim glow of the hurricane lamp, secretly cursing Barnabas again.  Angelique sat on his lap.   "Angelique-"</div> <div>      "Put the book down for awhile, Quentin, you don't want to overtax your faculties," she said teasingly.</div> <div>      "No, let's overtax my cock instead, is that it?" he asked, amused, putting the book down.  He stroked her hair, which was still thick and soft.  "You're still a beautiful woman, Angelique."</div> <div>      "Not that it does me any good-it hasn't made me lucky in love, has it?"</div> <div> She smiled a little bitterly.  "Well, at least we can comfort each other for a while, can't we?"</div> <div>      "Do you think all this stuff is going to work?" he asked.</div> <div>      "All we have to do is determine all the spells we need and set all the right traps, Quentin.  That sounds simple, doesn't it?  But it's very very dangerous.  I don't think Judah expected any of this, which is the only thing we have in our favor.  I don't know if it's going to work-I just know that it's the only thing we can do."  She put her head on his chest, slipping her arms around his neck.</div> <div>      He thought of Beth and how often they used to sit this way in Vienna, before the war-when they were all still happy.  They had such a beautiful view of the Danube, and at night…"Angelique," he said hoarsely.  "It's not just my family we're talking about here.  You know that if we can pull this off, you know that I'm going to look for Beth again…"</div> <div>      "Yes, I know," she replied.  "I don't mind.  You'll find her again, Quentin, I'm sure of it."  She almost said something else, but stopped herself.  He wondered what she was about to say but before he could ask, she covered his mouth with hers.  He could feel himself responding already.  That was the thing with Angelique-she was so hot and she never failed to arouse him to an almost mindless passion.  Amanda was a lot like that.  "Ah," she said delighted, moving slightly so that she could reach down and unzip his zipper.</div> <div>      "That's better," he whispered, relieved.  "Angelique, you always make me so hard."</div> <div>      "Let's see what we can do about that, Quentin.  I always like it when you are able to last longer."</div> <div>      His eyes widened as she slid off his lap onto her knees.  Oh, he always enjoyed it when she did this with him-she was never hurried, knowing that when he became hard again, he'd be able to keep his erection longer.  That increased her pleasure.  He squirmed a little as she took him slowly into her mouth-the only thing was, he never seemed to last very long this way.  She would look up with such a burning sensuous intensity even as she moved her mouth on him that he felt he would explode immediately.<I> Oh, well, </I>he thought,<I> if I'm going to pop off this fast, it might as well be in style.</I>  He gently put his hands of her head to guide her.  "Ohhh, God," he moaned; he was already beginning to come.</div> <div>      When he came to his senses, he realized someone was knocking at the door, and Angelique had both hands over her mouth trying not to laugh.  "Quentin?" It was Roger.  "Are you all right?  I heard you crying out."</div> <div>      "I'm all right, Roger!" he managed to gasp out, trying not to laugh himself.  "It's just a dream!"</div> <div>      "If you're quite sure…," Roger said a little doubtfully.  "Well, goodnight then, Quentin."  They could hear him moving back down the hall, and Quentin fell forward against Angelique, pushing her to the floor.  They were both snickering and giggling; Quentin hoped that Roger couldn't hear any of it.</div> <div>      "Mmm, that was nice-I'll have to return the favor," he said to her, kissing her.  He could taste the saltiness of himself on her lips-it excited him, and he moved along her throat.</div> <div>      "The floor is cold, darling," Angelique said softly.  Obligingly, he picked her up and carried her to the bed.  He laid her down gently and then crawled onto the bed between her legs.  Except for the hitting and the pinching, sex with her had always been very good.  She began to shriek and he covered her mouth with his hand just as she bit down on her lip.</div> <div>      He almost yelled out with pain.  Instead, they both giggled, feeling very silly. He got back to business pleasing her, and her arousal excited him.  She clutched the pillows, clenched her teeth and tried very hard not to cry out.  By the time she began pulling at his hair, which was her old signal that she'd had enough and wanted him in her, he was more than ready and mounted her.  He buried his face in her neck to keep from crying out as they rocked together wildly.  Spent, he collapsed on her.  "What's that?" he heard her hiss in his ear suddenly.</div> <div>      There was a noise at the door.  "Stay here," he whispered.  He blew out the candles and turned the light off in the hurricane lamp so that the room was in total darkness, got out of the bed and went to the door, pulling it open.  "Willie, you dumb fuck!  What d'you want?"</div> <div>      "Who you got in there witcha?" Willie growled from the darkness of the hallway.</div> <div>      "Who? No one, you idiot!"</div> <div>      "Yeah?  I know what I heard through the walls, Quentin!  You are a real prick, ya know? Taken advantage of Barnabas and Roger an all, an don't think I'm not gonna tell Roger what you was up to."</div> <div>      "There's no one in here, you asshole!" Quentin snapped, reaching for Willie.</div> <div>      "Oh, yeah?" Willie threw his hand off.  </div> <div> Roger's door opened down the hall and he came out, holding a candle aloft.  "What is going on out here?" he barked furiously.</div> <div> "Quentin's got some dame in there with him!" Willie accused.  "Look at him-ain't got no clothes on and makin noises!"</div> <div> "You're perverted!" Quentin shouted.  "What were you doing?  Listening through the wall with a glass, you sick fuck?"</div> <div> "Quentin!" Roger admonished.  He came closer, saw that Quentin was indeed naked and turned to Willie, his embarrassment expressed in rage.  "Why were you listening at his wall?"</div> <div> "I wasn't-" Willie howled in protest.  "Godamighty, Mr. Collins, couldn't you hear them makin all that racket?"</div> <div> "Go and have a look if you want to!" Quentin cut in, hoping fervently that Angelique had disappeared. Roger growled with aggravation and then stepped into Quentin's room, holding the candle up and looked around.  He turned back to Willie and snapped, "There is no one here, Loomis!  You have some explaining to do!"</div> <div> Willie's mouth opened and closed like a fish just taken off a hook.  Quentin tried not to laugh but couldn't repress a snicker.  Willie flashed a look of pure hatred at him.  "Never mind!" Roger snapped.  "I don't want to hear it!"  He turned to his cousin and said stiffly, "I'm sorry we disturbed you, Quentin."</div> <div> "It's all right, Roger, don't worry about it," Quentin said.  </div> <div> Roger looked as if he wanted to say something else but decided against it. He shoved Willie.  "Go back to your room, Loomis, and mind your own business from now on!" Willie backed away, grumbling. Roger turned to Quentin and cleared his throat uncomfortably.  "Quentin-perhaps you should, too, I mean, before Mrs. Johnson comes out and sees you ah-"</div> <div> "Oh, you're right, I'm sorry.  Good night, then, Roger."</div> <div> "Good night."  Roger turned and walked quickly down the hall.</div> <div> Quentin shut the door.  He could hear Angelique giggling from the bed.  He ran and jumped on the bed, climbing onto her.  "Quentin!" she hissed.  "Stop! Don't you think we've caused enough trouble?"</div> <div> "No, it's been a long time since I've had this much fun," he declared.</div> <div> "Oh, darling, come here," Angelique purred.  She pulled him down to her for a kiss.  "No, we have to behave ourselves now.  We have a full day tomorrow."  He pretended to grumble and rolled onto his back beside her.  He started to laugh helplessly.  She laughed too, covering her mouth with her hands to suppress the sound.</div> <div> He reached for her hand in the dark and brought it to his mouth.  "Hey, thanks for being my friend."</div> <div> "Oh, Quentin," she said softly, stroking his cheek.  "Go to sleep, darling.  I will always be your friend."</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="15: Clues to Disaster"><U>15:  Clues to Disaster</U></A>    <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17: Breach of Trust"><U>17:  Breach of Trust</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U>Cassie's Writing</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>