3: Stalked by the Vampire

<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="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="1: Surprise Encounter"><U><B>1:  Surprise Encounter</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2: A Proscribed Venerable Love"><U><B>2:  A Proscribed Venerable Love</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>3:  Stalked by the Vampire</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="4: Flight to the Auld Country"><U><B>4:  Flight to the Auld Country</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="5: Ally From Nowhere"><U><B>5:  Ally From Nowhere</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="6: Tales of Pookahs and the Sidhe Peopl"><U><B>6:  Tales of Pookahs and the Sidhe People</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7: The Middle Kingdom"><U><B>7:  The Middle Kingdom</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="8: My Lady Healer"><U><B>8:  My Lady Healer</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="9: Triple Betrayal"><U><B>9:  Triple Betrayal</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="10: A World Apart"><U><B>10:  A World Apart</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="11: Flight From Tara"><U><B>11:  Flight From Tara</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="12: Imbas Forosna"><U><B>12:  Imbas Forosna</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="13: Wheel of Fortune"><U><B>13:  Wheel of Fortune</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="14: Wednesday, the Best Day of All"><U><B>14:  Wednesday, the Best Day of All</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>3:  Stalked by the Vampire</B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>       Taken by surprise, Quentin was frightened; his cousin had always intimidated him and never more than when he was under the vampire curse.  His strength was super-human; his eyes were feral and unfeeling.  He felt his airflow being cut off as Barnabas tightened his grip.  Quentin put his hands on Barnabas' wrist, unsuccessfully trying to free himself. "Can't talk this way," he finally managed to gasp out.  With a snarl, Barnabas released him and took a step backwards.</div> <div>      Quentin felt incredibly vulnerable and foolish.  He was almost completely undressed, his clothes spilled onto the floor.  His enraged cousin was hovering over him, ready to strike.  He couldn't have been in a worse position.  Still, he mustered what dignity he could and asked, "Just what in the hell do you think you're doing?"</div> <div>      "I want to know the same thing!" Barnabas snapped, his eyes boring into Quentin's.  "What do you think you're playing at?"</div> <div>      Quentin looked away, unable to maintain eye contact under Barnabas' intimidating, penetrating glare.  "What are you talking about?"  He knew damn well what Barnabas was referring to; he was only hoping to buy time.</div> <div>      He only further angered Barnabas.  "You know what I'm talking about!"  Quentin sat up, the better to argue with Barnabas as an equal.      </div> <div>      "You've been with Julia!" Barnabas accused.</div> <div>      There was no use in lying; besides, he didn't want to.  "What of it?" he asked defiantly.</div> <div>      "How dare you take advantage of Julia?"</div> <div>      "Take advantage of her?"  Quentin repeated incredulously.  "I haven't done any such thing!  This is something we both wanted--whether you like it or not.  She's not incompetent, you know."</div> <div>      "Yes, I know!  I also know how vulnerable she is!"  Barnabas roared.  Quentin couldn't help himself.  He drew back in the face of Barnabas' fury, which was really very scary.  "And I know how you are with women!  Quentin, you are not going to treat Julia in the abominable way you've treated your other ladies!"</div> <div>      "I wouldn't do that!"  Quentin protested, sitting up again, drawing strength from his own anger at being unjustly accused.  "I have strong feelings for Julia.  She means a lot to me!"</div> <div>      "Pah!"  Barnabas scoffed.  "She was weak and gave in to you--why I don't know.  You won't see her again, though, will you?  And you certainly are never to take advantage of her again the way you did tonight!"</div> <div>      "Oh, now, wait just a goddam minute," Quentin snapped, his courage returning as his fury rose.  "Don't tell me who I will or will not see, Barnabas!  Julia is not some possession of yours, and you sure as hell have no claims on her!"  He heard his voice rising, but he didn't care.  "How dare you presume to speak for her?  You haven't given her the attention she deserves for years!  And if she and I find pleasure in each other in bed--why, then, we're just going to continue to do it!  The hell with you, Barnabas!"</div> <div>      "Look at me," Barnabas began, in a low threatening tone.  Immediately, Quentin turned his head away.  He had no intention of being hypnotized by the vampire, but he wondered how long his resolve would hold.  "I said, look at me."</div> <div>      "No!" he protested stubbornly.</div> <div>      "You know you must do as I tell you," Barnabas continued softly, sounding more menacing than ever.</div> <div>      "Not willingly, cousin.  You may be able to force me, but it won't be without a fight.  You're just jealous because Julia and I not only enjoy being with each other, we're enjoying making love.  You can't stand that--you want her for yourself, like your precious Josette.  Well, you lost her, and now you've lost Julia.  You had your chance and you fucked up, Barnabas!  Now I'm stepping in whether you like it or not--Ow!" He broke off.  Barnabas had taken hold of his ear and a handful of his hair, pulling him to his feet.  He was trying to remove Barnabas' hand from his hair when he felt as if his head was exploding. He seemed to be flying through the air, landing on his back on the bed.  Stunned, he was unable to move, even as he saw Barnabas coming toward him again.</div> <div>      The door burst open and Julia was there, shutting it behind her.  "Stop it!" she hissed at Barnabas.  "What are you doing?  Stop it!"</div> <div>      Barnabas whirled.  "Julia!  Stay out of this!  This is for your sake--"</div> <div>      "Hush!  Stop it!"  Julia cried out in fury.  "How dare you?  If you've hurt him, I'll never forgive you for this, Barnabas!"</div> <div>      "Julia, you are making a dreadful mistake carrying on with him like a--a--common--"  Barnabas stopped himself in time as Julia's face flushed to a deep scarlet hue.  "You KNOW how he is with women!"  He hissed at her.</div> <div>      "He's been nothing but a gentleman with <I>me</I>, and that is all I am concerned about, Barnabas Collins.  How dare you come in here and assault him like this?  Who do you think you are?  You are nothing more to me than a friend--you are not my husband or my lover.  <I>He</I> is my lover, and you <I>will not</I> hurt him again, do you hear me?  Or our friendship is over--for good!"</div> <div>      "And what will you do when he breaks your heart, Julia?"  Barnabas asked bitterly.</div> <div>      "The same thing I did when you broke mine," she answered with equal bitterness.  "Now get out of here!"  She was already climbing on the bed with Quentin, who was beginning to rouse himself and try and sit up again.</div> <div>      "Very well," Barnabas muttered with fury.  "Don't say I didn't try to warn you."  As the morning sun began to rise, the room began to grow brighter.  "I won't just let you go, Julia."  With those words, he faded into nothingness and was gone.</div> <div>      "Quentin?"  Julia asked, her voice full of concern.  His head was still spinning as he tried to focus on her.  He'd begun to tremble and was ashamed.  "Shh, it's all right, it's the shock and the cold," Julia murmured, trying to comfort him.  "Get under the blankets and let me look at you."</div> <div>      "I--I--I'm a-al-all r-r-right," he answered, his teeth beginning to chatter.  She pulled back the covers on his bed, and he obediently climbed under them.  She got in next to him, holding him while he trembled.  "J-j-jeez, I'm s-s-sorry!"  He felt miserably embarrassed.  She must think him a coward.</div> <div>      "Shut up!  Stop that!" she said fiercely.  She got up on her side to examine him.  "No permanent damage," she finally said, relieved.</div> <div>      "Thanks to the portrait," he answered, relieved that her shared body warmth had stopped his trembling and stuttering.  He began to feel blood circulating again.  "I guess you came in the nick of time, Julia."  He rolled toward her and kissed her gratefully.  "He was trying to make me look at him."</div> <div>      Julia compressed her lips in a thin line.  Then she stroked his hair and put her arms around him.  "He can be very frightening.  I know what he's like, dearheart.  I was on my way to the bathroom to take my bath when I heard a noise...I just had a feeling--" She broke off again as Quentin kissed her again and pulled her to him.  Arousal had quickly replaced the fear he'd felt.  It was as if he felt a need to prove himself.  She seemed to be aroused too, and did not object when he rolled her onto her back and mounted her.  In fact, she was as excited as he was; apparently the fear both had felt had rapidly been replaced by a heightened state of sexual arousal. He was thrusting into her quickly and deeply, and he could feel her hips rocking forward to meet him.  They held onto each other, each of them crying out.</div> <div>      There was a banging on the wall.  They both started, surprised.  "What's that?" Julia whispered.</div> <div>      "Mice?" Quentin guessed.  They both burst out laughing, and the banging started again.</div> <div>      "Will you be quiet in there?"  David's voice came through the wall.</div> <div>      Julia went beet red as Quentin laughed louder.  She covered his lips with her hands and tried to shush him.  "Stop it!" she snapped finally.  "It's not funny!"</div> <div>      "Oh, Julia, come on," he coaxed her, still smiling.  He stopped when he saw how upset she looked. "Julia--you're not ashamed of us, are you?"</div> <div>      She gave him an aggravated look and pushed him off.  "Stop that!  You know better by now--I hope.  No--it's just not right!  That boy is just a child--it's not right for him to hear us together--"</div> <div>      "Jeez, Julia, he's not that much a kid," Quentin protested.  "I think he knows what goes on between grown-ups."</div> <div>      "<I>Married</I> grownups!" Julia hissed. Quentin was stunned into silence.  Julia sighed.  "Oh, honestly, don't you understand?  It's one thing for our adult friends and family to know or guess our relationship.  It's quite another for a fifteen year old child to hear two unmarried people making love in the bedroom next to his!"</div> <div>      "Oh."  Quentin didn't know what else to say.  He saw her point.  "Think I should make an honest woman of you?"</div> <div>      "Quentin, really!  Stop it!"  Julia did start to smile then.  He wasn't sure how he felt about her response to him, treating what he said as a joke.  He thought he meant it that way; he certainly didn't have any intention on marrying anyone anytime soon, but...he realized he felt confused.  Seeing the confusion, Julia kissed him gently and got up off the bed.  "You'll be all right now, dearheart," she said.  "I still have to take my bath.  I'll see you at breakfast--if you wake up for it."  She slipped back out of his room, leaving him to think.</div> <bR> <div>      Thinking about his relationship with Julia had made Quentin pleasantly drowsy and so he had drifted off to sleep.  When he woke up, it was late--about mid morning.  He'd missed breakfast--again.  He got dressed and went downstairs into the kitchen, understanding he'd have to fend for himself.  Mrs. Johnson wouldn't want to go out of her way for him.  In fact, she was just drying and putting away the last of the breakfast dishes when he strolled in.  She gave him a baleful look and said, "I suppose you'll be dirtying up some of these dishes again to make yourself something to eat?"</div> <div>      Why do they keep this woman around?  Quentin wondered.  What a battle-ax.  "I think I'll eat out," he decided.  "I'm sure the company would be nicer in a diner."</div> <div>      Mrs. Johnson gave him an exasperated look.  "Mr. Collins, I am very busy.  I have to stick to a schedule here.  I don't have the time to make the same meal over and over again all day."</div> <div>      "I don't expect you to, Mrs. Johnson.  Look, do you <I>ever</I> smile?  Your face won't break, you know."</div> <div>      At that, she did give a short laugh.  "Yes, I smile--when I find something funny.  I don't find much around here that's funny."</div> <div>      "You need a young stud, Mrs. Johnson," Quentin declared.</div> <div>      He thought she was going to drop the dish in her hand.  She looked at him in astonishment, her eyes grew wide, and then she actually did laugh.  He was caught off guard, surprised, as she continued to laugh until she went red in the face.  Then she sputtered, "Are you volunteering?"  She laughed even harder at what he imagined must've been the expression on his face.  "Sit down," she said, wiping her eyes with the edge of her apron.  "That's worth breakfast, Mr. Collins.  What can I get you?"</div> <div>      Might as well shoot for the moon, he thought, incredulous at this wondrous change in Mrs. Johnson.  "How about bacon, eggs over easy, toast with marmalade and coffee?"</div> <div>      "Your pleasure, Mr. Collins!"  Mrs. Johnson bustled about, pulling out the things she needed.  She gave Quentin a sidelong glance.  "You don't object to older women?"</div> <div>      "No," he answered cautiously, wondering where this was going.</div> <div>      "That's good," Mrs. Johnson went on.  "So many of you young people think our lives are over and done with by the time we get to forty.  It's not so."</div> <div>      "I know that."</div> <div>      She gave him a long, appraising look that caused him to blush.  "I suppose you do.  It's refreshing to see that attitude in a young person--especially a man.  It's not always youth and beauty that can make a man happy."</div> <div>      Still waters run deep, he thought, wondering where Mrs. Johnson was going to take this.  Before it went any further, however, Roger and Elizabeth came into the kitchen.  Quentin was surprised to see him--usually he was long gone to the plant or cannery by now.  "Ah, good," Roger said stiffly.  "I'd hoped to still find you here."</div> <div>      Mrs. Johnson set a cup of steaming coffee down in front of Quentin.  "May I get some coffee for you, Mr. Collins?"  she asked Roger.  "Mrs. Stoddard?"  Both declined.  Mrs. Johnson quietly went about her business.</div> <div>      "Quentin, would you mind joining us in the dining room?  We'd like a word with you.  Mrs. Johnson can bring you your breakfast there."</div> <div>      "Sure," Quentin agreed amiably.  He didn't really have a choice.  He followed his cousins into the dining room, and they all took seats around the table.  He sipped at his coffee and waited.  Elizabeth looked distressed and uncomfortable.</div> <div>      "This is a rather delicate matter," Roger began, clearing his throat.</div> <div>      "Well, just spit it out.  It's easier," Quentin suggested.</div> <div>      "David told me that he was unable to concentrate on his studies this morning and asked for the day off."  Roger looked at Quentin with disapproval in his eyes and on his face.  Quentin could see what was coming but chose not to say anything.  "He says his sleep has been disturbed the past several nights.  Apparently, you and Julia have been visiting each other in the middle of the night.  Is that correct?"</div> <div>      Without answering directly, Quentin flushed a little and answered, "I'm sorry we disturbed David."</div> <div>      Now Elizabeth put in, "I am sure you can understand that we cannot have this behavior continuing in the house.  David and Hallie are young, and we don't want them exposed to--well--" she turned bright red and broke off.</div> <div>      "What Elizabeth is trying to say is that we have to establish rules of conduct in the house to set an example for the children.  We cannot have unmarried people cohabiting the same room."  Roger had gone beet red too, but he was more angry and offended than embarrassed.</div> <div> Quentin was a little more concerned for Julia than he was for himself.  If anyone else but Julia had been involved, he might have just told him or her to stuff it and move out on his own.  "I'm sorry," he apologized.  "You're right, of course."  Actually, the idea of moving out had merit.  "I don't want to make trouble for anyone, and I certainly don't want to break your house rules.  It'd be better if I moved out."</div> <div>      Elizabeth made a distressed sound.  "We don't want you to do that, Quentin!"</div> <div>      "We're not asking you to, either," Roger added.</div> <div>      "You'd just like me to abide by the rules, though."  Quentin wanted it out in the open so that everyone understood each other.  "I'm not allowed in Julia's bed and she's not allowed in mine."</div> <div>      "That's putting it rather bluntly," Roger said, "but, essentially, yes.  You're not married, after all."  He looked at Quentin closely.  "What are your intentions toward Julia?"</div> <div>      "I have no intention of hurting her," Quentin replied truthfully.  "Are you asking me if I'm going to marry her?  I don't know--yet.  This is all new for us, too, Roger."</div> <div>      "Oh, dear!"  Elizabeth exclaimed, still distressed.</div> <div>      "Quentin, I don't want to tell you your business--" Roger began.</div> <div>      "Then why are you?"</div> <div>      Roger shut his mouth abruptly and got up from his chair.  He looked extremely annoyed.  "I am older than you are, and you are a rude young man," he snapped.  Quentin was surprised and almost laughed.  "You may be enchanted with an older woman now, but given time, you will grow tired of her.  Be careful how you behave then, cousin."</div> <div>      "That sounds like a threat."</div> <div>      "No.  It isn't a threat, Quentin.   We're all fond of Julia--very fond of her.  I will not stand by and watch you break her heart without acting.  I do hope we understand each other?"</div> <div>      It was getting more difficult not to laugh.  For Julia's sake, Quentin said with a straight face, "I understand you."</div> <div>      "Good.  I must be going."  As usual, Roger didn't like to stay long in a confrontation and took his leave.  That left Quentin looking at Elizabeth, who was still obviously distressed.  Mrs. Johnson came in and silently placed Quentin's breakfast in front of him.</div> <div>      "Listen, Cousin Elizabeth," Quentin assured her earnestly after the housekeeper left them alone again, "please believe me--I care for Julia very much.  I'm not going to hurt her.  And I don't want to cause trouble for her here.  That's why I thought it would be a good idea for me to move out."</div> <div>      "Quentin, Julia and I are almost the same age.  When I think about this, well, if it was me, I would feel as if I was having an affair with my son."</div> <div>      Quentin laughed.  "I assure you, Elizabeth, that Julia doesn't think I'm her son."  He stopped laughing when Elizabeth went a deeper shade of red.  "I'm sorry.  I don't mean to offend you.  I guess the difference in our ages aren't important to us."  He paused and then went on, "We were going to New York for the weekend.  I'll move out when we get back."</div> <div>      "Oh, dear," Elizabeth sighed.  "I don't want you to go."</div> <div>      "Believe me, I'm not anxious to pack up, either, but I don't see any way around it.  I'm not going to stop seeing Julia, and I want her to be with me--at night."</div> <div>      Elizabeth sighed, bowing to the inevitable.  "Would you consider moving into Seaview?  Or the house by the sea?"</div> <div>      He made a face.  "Too big for me."  He thought and then countered, "What about the caretaker's cottage?"</div> <div>      "For <I>you?</I>  You're not a servant!"</div> <div>      "No, but it is small--that's all I need is a little living area and a place to sleep."  He gave her a "please" look that he knew women found irresistible.</div> <div>      Sure enough, Elizabeth smiled reluctantly and said, "Well, I'll discuss it with Roger.  I'm sure it won't be a problem."</div> <div>      "Great!"  Quentin said, relieved.  He began to eat his breakfast with enthusiasm.</div> <bR> <div>      He went into town after lunch, wondering where Julia had gone.  He tried the library and found her in the reference section again, her nose deep in a book.  She was so engrossed, she didn't hear him coming so he was able to effectively startle her with a nuzzle and a kiss on the back of her neck.  "Oh, Quentin!" Julia gasped, sounding both exasperated and amused.</div> <div>      "What are you reading?" he asked, curious, sitting on top of the table to her side.  He took the book out of her hands and then arched his eyebrows.  "<U>Ireland Since the Famine</U>?" He read a few lines out of the book; apparently it was about Ireland through the present.  There was a pile of books on the table she at which she was sitting; one was called <U>States of Ireland</U>, another was <U>The Green Flag</U>, and yet another was simply called <U>The Irish.</U>  "You're really getting serious about this, aren't you?"</div> <div>      Julia smiled.  "The more I think about it, the more I'd like to see Ireland."  She looked up into his eyes.  "What about you?"</div> <div>      "Land of 'The Quiet Man'," he said with some enthusiasm.  He really was beginning to like the idea.  "Julia, I can see you standing there in an Irish field with the wind blowing through your hair--just like Maureen O'Hara.  A storm blows up--we'd have to take shelter and let nature take its course!"</div> <div>      Julia laughed.  "Oh, will you be serious, please?  It's not going to all be like that, Quentin!"</div> <div>      "You do the researching, I'll do the writing," he said, leaning over to kiss her again.  "I'll write your history--and you can write mine."  Julia looked at him curiously.  He knew as he said it that he there was a different layer of meaning to his words.  He cleared his throat and took her hand.  He felt he had to tell her about what happened this morning, but he wasn't really comfortable about it.  "Julia, listen, when we come back from New York, I'm going to move to the cottage."</div> <div>      "What happened?"</div> <div>      "Well," he began and stopped.</div> <div>      "Roger or Elizabeth spoke to you?  Or both?"</div> <div>      "Well, both.  It'd be better this way, all around.  We'd have more privacy, right?"</div> <div>      Julia nodded and sighed.  "I didn't want this to cause any misunderstandings or problems with your family."</div> <div>      Quentin waved her off.  "Oh, you needn't worry about that.  No one's mad.  This was an amicable understanding we came to.  I'm a little more worried about the other relative--Barnabas."  Julia took the book back from Quentin and closed it, looking pensive.  "I don't think he's going to let go so easily, Julia."</div> <div>      "No," she agreed.</div> <div>      "Do you want him to?"</div> <div>      Julia sighed.  "You're still feeling insecure, dearheart?"  She took Quentin's hand and pressed it to her cheek.  "He had his chance.  I don't know about you and me--all I know is how you make me feel.  He's never, ever made me feel this way, Quentin.  I'm not giving you up--especially not for him."</div> <div>      Quentin smiled with relief.  "What do we do about him?  He scares me, Julia.  It would be one thing if he were a man, like me--I could fight him.  But Barnabas--"  Quentin stopped.  "I'm not a coward, Julia. I've had my share of fights, but not with vampires.  He was pretty angry with me--do you think he'd try to hurt me or put a spell on me or something?"</div> <div>      Julia considered.  "He can be awfully stubborn.  I wouldn't be surprised if he did try to exert his influence over you.  I hate to say it, Quentin, but perhaps you ought to carry a cross with you."</div> <div>      "I thought of that," Quentin said softly.  He reached under his shirt and pulled out a small gold crucifix.</div> <div>      Julia gave a visible start.  "Where did you get that?"</div> <div>      "Out of my grandmother's jewelry box.  It belonged to my grandfather.  Here, I've got one for you, too--this was hers."  He pulled out a similar crucifix and moved to put it around Julia's neck.  He was startled when she grabbed it and looked at it closely.  "What's the matter?"</div> <div>      "This is a Celtic cross, Quentin!"  Julia exclaimed.</div> <div>      Quentin shrugged.  Then he realized what it was she was so excited about.  "Oh--it's Gaelic, I mean--Irish?"</div> <div>      "Exactly!  I wonder why the family history started out so inaccurately?"  Julia wondered.</div> <div>      "Well, just from a class conscious point of view, Julia, the family probably thought it was more acceptable to be of English stock than Irish.  Remember 'No Irish Need Apply'?"</div> <div>      "Of course, but your family has been here much longer than that!"</div> <div>      Quentin shrugged.  "One of those mysteries we can clear up.  When do you want to go?"</div> <div>      "Soon, I think," Julia said.  "I thought about extending my leave of absence so that we could go to Ireland.  I can begin my work again at Windcliffe once we find what we're looking for.  What do you think?"</div> <div>      "Foine," Quentin replied, and Julia laughed.  </div> <div>      "How about giving me a lift to Windcliffe?  I'm meeting with the Board of Directors to discuss it."</div> <div>      "Delighted.  Chinese afterwards?"  Quentin winked lasciviously at her.  "One thing I like about Chinese food is that it's like sex--I want more after an hour."</div> <div>      "Yes," Julia agreed, looking at him with real lust for the first time.  "Me, too."</div> <div>      "Hors d'oeuvres," Quentin said softly, bending over to kiss her. She kissed back for a few moments and then pulled back.  "Come on," he whispered.</div> <div>      "No, that was just to whet your appetite, dear.  We have to drive.  Come on."  Julia stood up, gathering up the books on the table.  "I think I'll check these out and take them along."</div> <div>      "Let me," he said, taking the armful of books from her.  </div> <div>      "What a gentleman!"</div> <div>      He smiled at her, delighting in the healthy glow in her face.  She'd begun to look a little different to him lately.  She seemed to become prettier and more sexually alluring each day.  She almost glowed.  Hors d'oeuvres, he reminded himself.  Wait for the main course to come.</div> <bR> <div>      They were dining on another Pu Pu Platter at the same Chinese restaurant Quentin had first taken her to in Bangor.  He'd talked her into going to another movie with him-another Oscar nominated film, “A Clockwork Orange.”  It was a very controversial film, and he'd discovered a theater where they could see the original, uncut X-rated version.  They were deeply engrossed in conversation and didn't see or hear the man approach their table until he cleared his throat.  It was Willie, looking obviously uncomfortable and out of place here.</div> <div>      “Willie!”  Julia exclaimed in surprise.  “What are you doing here?”</div> <div>      “Barnabas sent me.  He wantsa see you, Julia,” Willie said, shifting from foot to foot.</div> <div>      “Barnabas!  How'd he know where we were?”  Quentin asked.</div> <div>      Willie looked at him and made a face as if to say how could you ask such a stupid question?  “He knows these things.”</div> <div>      Julia looked irritated.  “Tell Barnabas I'm busy,” she snapped.</div> <div>      Willie looked frightened.  “Aw, now, Julia, you know Barnabas and how he is.  He ain't gonna like to hear that.”</div> <div>      “Julia and I made plans, Willie,” Quentin said, taking courage from Julia's stance.  “He may not like it, but he's going to have to accept it.”</div> <div>      Willie looked appealingly at Quentin.  “What do you wanna do this for, man?  You know how he feels about Julia.”</div> <div>      Quentin sighed irritably.  “No, Willie, I don't.  He just seems to summon her whenever he wants company.  Well, Julia's a lady, and he can't treat her like that.”</div> <div>      “No, you moron, he <I>loves</I> her!”</div> <div>      Quentin burst out laughing.  “<I>You</I> are calling <I>me</I> a moron?”</div> <div>      “Hey!  Hey!” Willie was becoming agitated, seeing things were not going favorably.  “I've been with Barnabas a long time.  I know him a lot better than you do.  He loves her!”</div> <div>      “So do I,” Quentin said.  It was out without warning.  Willie's eyes bulged with dismay, and Julia looked at him, her eyes enormous as well.  “At least I know how to treat I lady I care for,” he went on defiantly, feeling suddenly confused.  Was what he felt really love?  Did it matter?  He definitely felt something for her.</div> <div>      Julia's hand covered his.  “I'm sorry, Willie,” she said softly.  “I know that Barnabas is going to be angry with you because I'm not going back with you to the Old House.  If I were you, I'd go out and see a movie and go back in the morning.”     Willie began to stutter with disbelief.  “I mean it, Willie.  I'm not going back.  Barnabas is just a friend.  He can't dictate demand that I show up at his door just because he wants me too.”</div> <div>      “I thought you loved him, too, Julia,” Willie protested.</div> <div>      “I did once,” Julia answered.  “Not anymore.”  Quentin felt her hand tighten around his.</div> <div>      Willie saw it, too.  “Aw, geez, Julia, not <I>him</I>!  I mean, he's just a kid, Julia-he's even younger than I am!” Quentin burst out laughing.  After a moment, Julia smiled, too.  “What's so funny?” </div> <div>      “Willie, you want to sit down and join us for just one drink?” Quentin offered.</div> <div>      “No thanks,” Willie scowled at him.  “Look, Julia means a lot to me, too.  You better not hurt her, or you're gonna have to answer to old Willie-you hear me?”</div> <div>      Quentin smiled at Willie, feeling he could be generous with him.  “Don't worry, I won't do anything to hurt Julia.  I wouldn't-even if you weren't here threatening me.”</div> <div>      Willie bobbed his head up and down nervously, looked back at Julia, and said, “Well, uh, okay, I guess I'll, uh, just have to think of something to tell Barnabas-“</div> <div>      “Tell him the truth,” Julia urged.</div> <div>      Willie nodded and turned away.  They heard him mutter under his breath, “I'd rather go get drunk.”</div> <div>      They put their heads together and laughed again.  “Poor Willie,” Julia said.</div> <div>      “Barnabas won't hurt him, will he?” Quentin asked, suddenly concerned.  He never dreamed Barnabas would hurt him, either, but he had.  He had become a dangerous entity in Quentin's mind.</div> <div>      “I hope not,” Julia declared, but apparently she was beginning to wonder the same thing.</div> <div>      “Maybe we should go back-“ Quentin began.</div> <div>      “No!”  Julia interrupted firmly.  “We will deal with Barnabas, but it's going to be on <I>our</I> terms.  That man is not going to dictate our lives!”</div> <div>      Quentin brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, impressed with her courage.  Barnabas could appear to her, attack her, and put her under his power.  There was that threat that existed now.  Hadn't Barnabas said, <I>"I won't just let you go, Julia”?</I>  Quentin had no idea how much Barnabas could hurt him-not very much, thanks to the portrait.  It was Julia he was concerned about.  Would Barnabas really harm her?  “Julia, are you wearing the cross I gave you?” he asked.</div> <div>      “Actually, I am, “ she answered, looking troubled.  “I put it on because you gave it to me, dearheart, not because I thought I was in any danger.”</div> <div>      He was relieved.  “I'd like to think not,” he said.  “I don't know if I trust Barnabas anymore after what he did this morning, though, so I'm glad you're wearing it.  I don't want anything to happen to you.”</div> <div>      “And you are wearing yours?”</div> <div>      He patted his chest.  “Right here.”  Julia nodded and picked up a sparerib from the platter.   He thought she might ask him if he really meant what he said about loving her, but she didn't.  He was a little surprised by that.  Maybe she didn't believe it.  He was relieved that she didn't bring it up because he wasn't sure whether he'd meant it or not.</div> <div>      The movie was disturbing to both of them, senselessly violent (it seemed).  “I can't believe we'd every get to such a state where young people would rob and kill innocent people so cold-bloodedly,” Julia said, shivering.  “I think that's what bothered me the most about this film-that these young people didn't care about the harm they were causing to other human beings.”  Quentin put his arm around her, and they walked down the block.</div> <div>      They hadn't gone a block when he began to sense that someone was following them.  “Julia,” he suggested, “why don't we go to that diner on the corner and get some coffee?  Want some cheesecake?”</div> <div>      “The coffee, maybe,” Julia agreed, seemingly unaware of what was going on.  “I don't know if I could stomach the cheesecake right now.”</div> <div>      They went into the diner and were seated at a booth.  While they waited, Quentin glanced out the window now and then, watching.  He tried not to be obvious about it, wondering if it was Willie or Barnabas who was following them.  He'd much rather deal with Willie, he thought.  “What are you thinking about?”  Julia asked.</div> <div>      He hadn't meant to bring it up but because he was already in a negative frame of mind, he asked, “Julia, do you think those children in Northern Ireland could grow up to be like Alex?”</div> <div>      Julia looked at him over her coffee cup, disturbed by the idea.  “You mean because they see violence over and over, they become numb to it?”</div> <div>      “Yes-don't a lot of those kids grow up to be IRA terrorists?”</div> <div>      “They do, don't they,” Julia mused.  “One of the things I was reading about Catholic children in Ulster is how they are raised almost to <I>become</I> martyrs-especially the boys.  It's almost expected that they'll grow up only to die young-and violently.”</div> <div>      “So maybe Kubrick's got a point after all.”</div> <div>      “You know that they've begun a program during the summers-a Catholic child and a Protestant child from Northern Ireland come and stay in the same home.”</div> <div>      “<I>That</I> must be interesting!” Quentin exclaimed.</div> <div>      “Oh, but it is!” Julia replied, sounding enthusiastic.  He kept her talking about it for the next hour, not because he was especially interested but because he wanted to see if he  could flush the stalker out into the open.  They'd had a refill already and Julia decided she wanted the cheesecake after all.  After the third refill, the waitress went back into the kitchen.  The diner was almost empty; it was after midnight now. The door opened and closed.  Quentin felt his hair prickle a little; then he saw Julia reacting in surprise.  “It's Barnabas,” she warned in a hissing whisper.</div> <div>       Quentin didn't turn to look.  He heard Barnabas walking toward them and only looked up when his cousin stopped at their booth.  He looked cold and distant, as if he were trying to control his fury.  “Good evening,” he said in a pleasant, even tone.  “May I join you?”  Quentin stood up.  He left his seat and moved quickly around Barnabas to slide in next to Julia, who moved over to make room for him.  </div> <div>      Quentin indicated the place he'd just vacated.  “Please do.  Would you like some coffee?”  He snapped his fingers.  “Forgive me, Barnabas.  I forgot.  It must've been that knock on the head you gave me this morning.”</div> <div>      Barnabas sat down across from them, smiling unpleasantly.  “Quite all right, dear <I>boy.”</I>  He looked at Julia and said earnestly, “Julia, I was very disappointed when you didn't come to the Old House.  I had something of great importance to tell you.”</div> <div>      “Well, as I told Willie, I'd made other plans,” Julia replied.  She'd reached out and put her hand on Quentin's knee when Barnabas had contemptuously called him `dear boy'.</div> <div>      Barnabas' brows arched up.  “I gather you haven't seen Willie,” Quentin guessed.  He looked at Julia and grinned.  “He must've gone to tie one on after all rather than face dear cousin Barnabas.”  He looked back at Barnabas.  “You've been known to be <I>violent</I> when you don't get your way.  I'd attest to that.”</div> <div>      “I have seen you throw some impressive childish tantrums yourself,” Barnabas countered.</div> <div>      “Look, Cousin Barnabas, we've been through this already,” Quentin began.  “Julia wants to be left alone.  You're bothering her.”</div> <div>      “I'd just like to point out that you do not speak for her either,” Barnabas said coldly.  He looked at Julia.  “Julia?”</div> <div>      Julia sighed.  “Barnabas, I am on a date with Quentin.  Do you know the expression `two is company, three is a crowd'?  You're crowding us.”</div> <div>      “I cannot believe that you would get involved with this <I>boy</I> and carry on the way you have been!  And how can you abandon our friendship after everything we've been through?”</div> <div>      Quentin bristled, and Julia tightened her fingers on his knee to restrain him.  “First of all, Quentin is not a boy-he is a man.  Second of all, I think you have taken our friendship for granted from the beginning.  It is only since I've been seeing Quentin that you realize what you are missing.”</div> <div>      “Perhaps you're right,” Barnabas agreed in a milder tone, as if hoping to get over on her good side.  “Perhaps this has made me realize my true feelings…”</div> <div>      “Barnabas, this really is a poor time to try and talk to me about that.  You really have a lot of nerve.  I am here on a date with Quentin, and you think nothing of interrupting me to talk about how <I>you</I> feel!  That is incredibly presumptuous on your part-and inconsiderate!  You are being rude not only to me but to Quentin as well.”</div> <div>      “I don't care about him. “</div> <div>      “Well, obviously!  But I do, and I will not be treated this way.  Now, if you will excuse us, we're <I>busy</I>!”</div> <div>      Barnabas got up slowly, glaring menacingly at Quentin again.  “Very well.  Let me warn you that I do not give up easily.”</div> <div>      “You said something like that before,” Quentin said, unable to keep quiet any longer.  “Are you threatening me-or Julia?  I don't appreciate being threatened Barnabas-I thought we were supposed to be friends.”</div> <div>      “I thought so too-I didn't expect you to betray me.”</div> <div>      “Betray you?”  Quentin was outraged.  “How did I betray you?”</div> <div>      Barnabas leaned down until he was almost nose to nose with his cousin.  His eyes had a fiery red gleam to them that was truly frightening to see.  Quentin felt his blood run cold at the sight of Barnabas' carefully controlled rage.  “You <I>know</I> what I mean!” he snapped.</div> <div>      “Julia is not a possession of yours!  She is your friend-she is still your friend, Barnabas, and so am I.  At least, we'd<I> like </I>to be your friend.  But friends don't threaten friends-and they don't stalk them, either.”  Barnabas stood up without a word.  He glared coldly down his nose at Quentin.  “You may have thought you had Julia in your back pocket, but you don't.  And you won't.  You don't like the idea, but I suggest you get used to it.  She's not coming to you anymore, Barnabas, because she wants to be with me.  Obviously, I'm giving her something you're not.”</div> <div>      “I can remedy that,” Barnabas argued.  He looked at Julia again, his expression changing to one of mute appeal.</div> <div>      Quentin felt genuinely worried now.  After all, Barnabas and Julia had a long history together. Now that he'd been shocked to his senses, Barnabas was apparently ready to make some sort of declaration of love for Julia.  He was willing to make whatever concessions she wanted.  He glanced at Julia to see how she was reacting.  Her face was very pale, and she looked torn.  <I>She's still in love with him after all,</I> Quentin thought bitterly.  <I>I should've known better-</I>Known better than to what?  Fall in love with Julia himself?  Then he heard Julia begin to speak softly, with regret, and he couldn't believe what he was hearing:  “It's too late, Barnabas.  I don't want you to.”</div> <div>      “You don't know what you're saying, Julia!”  Barnabas argued with her.  “You are enjoying his attention now, yes, but what are you going to do in five years?  Or ten?  You're going to grow older-he is not.”</div> <div>      “I am going to live with his love for as long as he gives it to me,” Julia answered in a determined voice.  “And I am going to love him back.”</div> <div>      “No, you don't know what you are saying!”</div> <div>      “Barnabas, enough!”  Quentin said.  He felt he had a right to intercede now.  “Don't you understand that <I>no</I> means <I>no</I>?  Back off-we love each other.”</div> <div>      “I am not going to allow this to happen!”</div> <div>      “You can't stop it!”</div> <div>      “Oh, can't I?”  Coldly, Barnabas turned to go.  Then he turned back, and looking directly at Quentin, he threatened, “You'll be sorry, Quentin.”  Then he turned again and walked out of the diner.</div> <div> “My God,” Julia said softly, in a wondering voice.  “I had no idea he'd carry it this far-this obsession.”</div> <div>      “He's done it with all his little Josette imitations,” Quentin pointed out, trying to suppress the fear he felt.  He had no idea what Barnabas had in mind for him, but he was very sure it wouldn't be pleasant.</div> <div>      “Exactly,” Julia said in an odd voice.  </div> <div>      Quentin looked at her, trying to read her expression.  She looked as if she thought she was dreaming.  He thought he knew what she was thinking.  “My God, Julia, you don't think you're as beautiful as they are?”  Her eyes were filling up.  “You don't believe it, do you?  You still don't believe that you are a beautiful, sexy woman, do you?”  He took her hand from his knee and held it tightly in his.  “You have to believe it now, don't you?”  It hurt a little, to think she'd only believe it when Barnabas could see it in her.</div> <div> She was shaking her head.  “You're not as clairvoyant as you might think, dearheart.   Actually, I began to <I>feel</I> beautiful the first time you danced with me.  I just never thought <I>he</I> would see it.”</div> <div> “You always wanted him to, and now he does,” he said softly, deliberately planting the idea in her mind if it wasn't already there.  “He wants you-you can still have him.”</div> <div> “We both are so insecure, aren't we?”  Julia looked at him tenderly.  “No, what I want is sitting next to me.”</div> <div> “Okay.”  He squeezed her hand.  “Now for our next move-what do you want to do, Julia?  I'll be honest with you-I didn't bring us here just for the pleasure of your company.  I had a feeling we were being followed.  So-do you want to go back to Collinwood?  Want to get a room here overnight with me?”  He looked at her intently and shrugged.  “How badly do you want to see Barnabas again?”</div> <div> “Not at all in the least-I just want to see your blue eyes, looking at me,” Julia whispered softly, as if he was going to swoon.  He smiled.  There were advantages to blue eyes, for sure.</div> <div> “Okay, I know a place we can stay that has a room.   It's even got a hot tub.  How'd you like to relax in a nice hot tub with a pina colada?”</div> <div> “That sounds absolutely divine!”</div> <div> It was an unexpected treat but, after all, what else was there to do but go back to the cottage or go to Collinwood and return to their rooms-separately.  This would be infinitely more satisfying-in more ways than one.  Tomorrow they could return to Collinwood and pack for their trip to New York.  He still hadn't told her about Ruby Keeler; he was saving that as a surprise.</div> <bR> <div> Quentin got them checked and settled, calling room service to order a couple of pina coladas.  He'd decided to splurge and got them a room with a king-sized bed; it looked enormous in the room.  Julia turned the jets on in the hot tub and climbed in while he waited for their drinks to arrive.  He gave the bellboy a generous tip and made sure to leave a “do not disturb” sign on the door.  Whistling, he stripped off his clothes and the cross and carried the drinks into the bathroom.</div> <div> Julia turned the sun lamp on as well as the other lights and was comfortably floating in the tub.  When Quentin came in, she self-consciously crossed her arms in front of herself and smiled shyly at him.  “You looking to get a sun tan in here?” Quentin joked, handing her one of the drinks.  Then he climbed into the tub and stretched out.  The hot water felt good.  He floated until his head was in her lap. </div> <div> He felt her hands moving in his hair.  “Where's your cross?” she asked suddenly.  He opened his eyes and looked up at her.    She was looking down at him, concerned.</div> <div> “I left it on the dresser,” he answered.  He noticed that her cross dangled from her neck, hanging between her breasts.  “Do you think it's necessary here?”</div> <div> “I'd feel safer, dearheart-put it on before we go to bed, all right?”</div> <div> He sat up, unpleasantly reminded of Barnabas and reached for his drink.  Pina colada-yuck!  He didn't care for the sweet coconuty taste, but the umbrellas and the frosted glasses made them seem more romantic.  Julia was enjoying hers.  “So…when do we go to Ireland?” he asked.</div> <div> “Perhaps under the circumstances, the sooner the better,” she replied.  </div> <div>              She sounded a little nervous so he moved closer to her and kissed her.  “Enjoy this while you can, then,” he said. “And while we're at the Waldorf, too-I don't think they have these in the auld country.”  He was using his best brogue, and she laughed again.  He kissed her again, becoming a little more familiar.  Having the warm water swirling around them made necking feel more erotic.</div> <div> When the jets stopped, they were both ready to move to the bed.  He enfolded her in one of the towels, drying her off slowly and covering her with kisses.  He lay down on the bed and tried to pull her on top of him, but she resisted for a moment.  “Your cross,” she reminded him.  She got it from the dresser and fastened it around his neck.  She leaned down to kiss him, and he grabbed her and rolled over on the bed with her, losing himself in the smell and the feel of her body.</div> <div> Late in the evening, he became awake with a small start.  He was breathing hard, and his heart was pounding.  He couldn't remember what he'd been dreaming about, but it must've been a beaut.  The adrenaline was still flowing through his body, and he was ready to jump up and run.  He took a long slow breath, letting the air out slowly.  Julia was sleeping soundly, breathing deeply and evenly.  He'd fallen asleep on his stomach, one arm thrown over her.  Gently removing his arm, he rolled over and looked around the room.  Something was wrong here.</div> <div> Even though it was dark, he could make out the shadowy shapes of the TV, the dresser, and the sofa.  He wasn't even sure what he thought he was looking for.  In one corner of the room, he thought he saw the shape of a man, and he felt his breathing hitch as he gulped in surprise.  He looked again, and there was nothing here.  <I>Idiot,</I> he thought. <I>Now you're seeing things.</I>  As he was about to lie back and try to relax, he sensed a movement from that corner of the room, and he looked again.  Raising himself up on his elbows, he started into the corner of the room and this time, he was sure he saw the broad shoulders and outline of a man.<B> </B><I>Barnabas.</I>  He was suddenly as sure of it as he was sure of his own name.</div> <div> Badly frightened now, he slowly sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed.  He stood up and made his way toward that corner of the room.<B> </B><I>You damn fool, </I>he berated himself,<I> you're doing exactly what the hero always does in those lame horror movies-and he ends up getting killed by the monster.</I>  He heard an exhalation that sounded like a sigh.  Yes-there was definitely a shape there, and it had begun to move toward him.  <I>Here I am in my naked glory</I>, he thought, realizing how vulnerable he was.  Was that the sound of Barnabas' cane being drawn back to deliver a blow?</div> <div> He grabbed the cross in his hand and thrust it out in front of him.  He heard a gasp and a low moan.  “Put it <I>away!</I> “ Barnabas hissed in a low, anguished voice.</div> <div> “Go away, Barnabas,” he whispered, still holding the cross out in front of him.  “Leave us alone-<I>please!</I>  Don't make me hate you.  <I>Go away!</I> “</div> <div> “You'd better make sure to take precautions.  Look over your shoulder, cousin.  I will not give her up!”  The low voice that spoke from the darkness was cold and unfeeling; the words seemed to come from a stranger and not from the man he'd called friend.  “Mark me, Quentin-you will be sorry.”</div> <div> Quentin felt goosebumps break out all over his body and he shivered with cold.  Barnabas was gone; he could sense it.   How long had he stood there in the corner of the room, watching them?  Had he watched them make love?  Feeling himself beginning to tremble, Quentin got back into bed and snuggled up against Julia for warmth and comfort.  She stirred, rolling onto her side and instinctively reaching out to draw him into her embrace.  He was glad she hadn't sensed what he had and awakened; he was relieved she hadn't heard what Barnabas had said.  He knew she wouldn't have been able to go to sleep after that, just as sure as he was that he wouldn't be able to sleep again the rest of the night.</div> <div>      </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="1: Surprise Encounter"><U>1:  Surprise Encounter</U></A>  <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2: A Proscribed Venerable Love"><U>2:  A Proscribed Venerable Love</U></A>  <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="4: Flight to the Auld Country"><U>4:  Flight to the Auld Country</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U>Cassie's Writing</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>