Return of Josette DuPres

   Two weeks was already passed since Carolyn attacked Victoria, but Barnabas refused to allow her to be buried. Elizabeth had hands full with work Angelique had given her and top of that she had to comfort Carolyn who was shocked of fact she had killed Vicky.
 David on the other hand was locked himself to his room, and Elizabeth couldn't understand where Doctor Hoffman had disappeared now since the boy definitely needed her.
  "Angelique, you have to come to Collinwood." Elizabeth said as she walked into Angelique's office.
Angelique leaned back and watched Elizabeth for while with her wicked, cold eyes.
"Who gave you permission to enter my office?"
Elizabeth placed all papers and folders, Angelique had made her go through, to the desk.
"Here, your highness. It's all done. And I doubt I need permission to come to you, when it's about Barnabas."
Angelique stand up, "Don't you dare underestimate my love for him!"
Elizabeth looked down, quickly dropping her sarcastic attitude. She had to constantly remind herself that Angelique was only one able to help her family right now, since they didn't have any money without her.
 "Sorry."
Angelique took the folders and put them to the closet.
"How is he?" She asked looking at Elizabeth over her shoulder.
Elizabeth looked at her, "He doesn't leave her. Not even for little while. He still waits for her to open her eyes."
"He haven't feed at all?"
"No."
Angelique looked out of window, "She's not going to wake up. I tried... I really tried, but I couldn't make her heart beat"
Elizabeth seemed perfectly surprised. "You actually tried to save her?"
Angelique hissed angrily, turning to face Elizabeth, "Of course I tried! Not because of myself.. But because of him. I was fine with her death, but he wasn't. He needed her to at least be alive. So I tried... I tried to save her for his happiness."
Elizabeth didn't know what to say, she had never thought that Angelique was able to feel something so deep as love.
 Angelique turned to take her handbag and shut the lights from her office. "I come to see him little later."
Elizabeth followed her out of Angel Bay and watched as she got into her car and drive away.
 While she drive towards her house, she tried to think how to make Barnabas let go of Victoria.
 As she got home, she walked right away to bathroom and made bath ready, go choose the dress and took it near before she got into bathtub, leaned back and closed her eyes to relax.

 .... "Am I doing this too hard" She heard Barnabas's gentle voice whispering behind her, while massaging her shoulders and back.
  "No.. It's perfect. You are perfect." She found herself saying, looking around bathroom which was filled with candles.
"Hm, I try." Barnabas said and slid his hands around her, pulling her into protective hug and she leaned back against his chest, keeping her eyes closed.
Barnabas run his fingers up and down her arms, making her shiver slightly even water was hot.
"You're teasing me." She smiled and looked up to him. She saw him grinning slightly before kissed her shoulder. "I did not mean to."
"You lie" Angelique laughed and sit up, turning around to face him.
"I swear, I did not." Barnabas protested, obviously holding back laughter as well.
Angelique wrap her arms loosely around his neck, and kissed him.
"You taste like soap." Barnabas said, pulling her closer while he leaned back to bathtub again, holding her against him.
"I know. So do you" She nodded burying her face to his neck, closing her eyes.
"Do you feel better now?" He whispered softly into her ear, making her shiver.
"I do.. You're my own Angel." She whispered against his neck, causing him shiver slightly as well.
Barnabas tightened his hold of her and kissed her shoulder, "Let this be our Heaven then"
 "Yes.. Let it be so." Angelique found herself agreeing...

  She opened her eyes and got out of bath, wrapping towel around her hair and bathrobe around her body before she stepped out of bathroom.
Something about the memory she just had remembered, made her long to get into his arms. She wanted to go back in that time when they were happily together.
 Shaking her head and clearing her mind from fantasies, she took the dress and got it on, going back to bathroom to do her hair and make up, that didn't take long from her after few centuries of practice.
 After she checked that she had all she needed in her handbag, she left, driving as fast as could so she'd see him as soon as possible.
 This time Willie was waiting for her and opened her car door to her when she stopped.
"At the end of hall, left door" He said when she stand up.
Angelique didn't show any reaction to his words, she simply walked in damaged manor and walked through the hall and opened the door.
 Barnabas was on his knees next to wooden table where Victoria was placed to.
Angelique stepped into the room and kneel down next to him. "Barnabas... Look at me"
Barnabas didn't move for while until finally turning his bloody eyes to look at Angelique.
His pain and sorrow ate him inside, and now Angelique knew she could never fill that hole in his heart that Victoria's death has caused.
 "You have to come with me. You need blood."
"Blood... Yes.. " His eyes trailed down to her neck and he licked his lips.
"Barnabas, don't.. Not me." Angelique said, pulling back, trying to make him stand up. "Come with me Barnabas. I will find someone for you to slaughter."
"No.. "He said as he stood up and pushed her against the wall. "No others." He hissed, piercing his fangs into her neck.
 Angelique gasped weakly, feeling his fangs break her skin. Knowing she was able to survive without blood in her system, she made quick spell to make her heart beat blood in her so he could get at least something to feed his hunger.
 "Barnabas... You're hurting.. Me.."
Barnabas growled, feeding hungrily from her neck and took hold of her wrists to stop her from trying to make him stop.
 She felt her wrists break in his tight hold, and as soon as she fell into unconsciousness, her heart stopped making blood. That was when Barnabas pulled back, his lips and chin covered with blood.
"Angelique?" He asked helplessly like lost child and let her go, soon lifting her into his arms as she was about to fall to the ground. "Angelique?... Angelique! No.. No.. Not you. You promised me.. Angelique!"
He shake her body desperately, blood tears running down his cheeks.
 "Stop it.. "Angelique whispered tiredly and blinked her eyes open.
"Angelique? You're alive.. Thank god." Barnabas said and hugged her so tightly she thought she may get few cracks more.
 "Barnabas, you need to come with me. You need to feed more. I will bring you back here then. I promise."
"But she might wake up. It is nearly full moon. Maybe if she did turn into werewolf, she might wake up!"
Angelique looked into his eyes, behind those bloody tears that didn't seem to stop cascading from his eyes, there was small hope. Hope that he refused to let go. Even he knew it was nearly impossible, he wanted to believe in it.
 "Barnabas... She was too-"
"That's why she's resting now. Recovering. Changing. Into a werewolf."
Angelique couldn't break his last hope, and she simply nodded. "Maybe..."
Barnabas looked at her hopefully, "You really think so?"
Angelique sighed. "I think... Miracles can happen sometimes. I think, she was too weak to survive, but we can wait until full moon, if there happens a miracle."
 "Full moon.. Yes, of course.. Full moon. It is after two nights. She may wake up" Barnabas nodded.
"Barnabas you must come out of here for while and feed. You can't help her now. We sent Willie to guard her, and you come with me so we can find you some people to slaughter."
 "Yes, Willie.. Willie will guard her." Barnabas nodded and walked to the door.
Angelique took hold of his arm and lead her out. Cool night air hit their face and Barnabas closed his eyes for while. "Ah, the freshing wind" He said, standing still for while, enjoying the wind cooling him.
 Angelique watched him carefully and something catch her eye moving in shadows near by.
"Wait here" She said to Barnabas and walked towards the shadows.
 Behind damaged manor, was floating weak ball of light.
Angelique narrowed her eyes and stepped closer, when she realized it's not ball. It was delicate Victorian beauty Josette.
 "Why are you still here?" Angelique asked, failing to mask her jealousy perfectly from her voice.
 "He needed me..." Josette said simply.
 "He doesn't need you to remind him from his past... I take care of him now.This is our new start!"
Josette looked at Angelique calmly. "You wasn't here when his world broke down on him, nor when he spent nights crying and praying for Miss Winters. I heard his cries and felt his pain, and at least for little while, I can make him feel he's not alone."
 Angelique hissed but Josette shake her head "I know." She said, smiling sadly. "All you've done, was deep down motivated by your love. You are cruel, Angelique. You do terrible things. But greatest of your powers, is your love. That's why you did try to save Miss Winters. That's why you are so willing to do anything to make him happy."
Angelique looked surprised.
Josette looked through the forest towards Widow's Hill. "But you will never be me. You will never find the love I did. Because difference between you and me, is here." She placed her hand on her chest. "I love through the death. I love him even I can't have him. I love, even I know he doesn't know it. And my heart is not poisoned my jealousy. You may have him Angelique. But he has my love, and you cannot take that away from him."
 After that, she disappeared.
Angelique scratched nearest tree, leaving deep marks on it, and left back to Barnabas.
 He looked at her curiously, "What did you do there?"
"I was thinking." She said, walked to him and placed her hands on his cheeks. "I love you Barnabas."
He raised his eye brow, seemingly surprised of her sudden emotional state. "Yes.. I know."
She hugged him tightly, resting her head against his chest. "You can't even imagine... How terribly much I love you. The pain you carry in your sinfully beautiful heart, breaks my heart. Those tears you cry, are like knifes through my chest... Let me be here for you my love."
 Barnabas looked perfectly surprised now, but her words touched something in him and he hugged her slowly back.
"I love you too Angelique."
 Angelique smiled, one single tear falling down her cheek and she hold him bit tighter.
     Not so far away, Josette watched over them and smiled sadly.
"I hope she can give you happiness you once gave to me."
 Barnabas looked around and loosen his hold of Angelique a bit.
"What is it?" Angelique asked and looked at him slightly worried.
Barnabas shake his head. "Nothing... Nothing. I suppose it was the wind. Shall we go now?"
Angelique kissed his lips softly. "Yes, you must be starving."
"Hm, I admit."
 Angelique took hold of his hand, walking towards the town with him.