Sweet betrayer

 
    Barnabas heard the door being slammed and Angelique's heels hitting the floor.
She was coming closer and obviously not very good mood.
He stood up and looked at the door as she opened it and came in room.
"What did you tell her?! What?!" She hissed angrily.
Barnabas looked perfectly confused, "To who? What is happened?"
Angelique growled, "Your damn beloved Josette! She knows about my long lost daughter and dares to make a joke out of it in front of me!"
Barnabas didn't have slightest idea what was happened, and making jokes out of something so dramatic was not style of Josette he knew.
 "And tell you what, she claims us to be sisters! That worthless Doll would never be related to me!"
"Angelique, calm down. I can't do anything about it if-"
"Calm down?! In your dreams blood sucker, I will sent her miserable soul in Hell!"
Barnabas took hold of her arms and pulled her closer, kissing her suddenly.
Angelique seemed to be too tense and too angry to realize for while what happened, until she finally relaxed in his arms.
 Barnabas pulled back and looked into her eyes, "What happened?"
 "She thinks... Victoria is my daughter."
Barnabas looked at her eyes wide. "Never."
"That's what I said!"
Barnabas shake his head, "This must be misunderstanding some sort of... Victoria is nothing like you. She's.. She's Josette's mirror image."
Suddenly Angelique seemed to fall into some kind of trance. Barnabas looked at her curiously for while and shake her gently. "Angelique?"
She looked at him, "Another Witch."
It took for while until Barnabas remembered Josette's warning. Angelique was not only Witch in town anymore. But he couldn't realize what it had to do with Victoria now.
"Another Witch? You think this another Witch has forced Josette to tell this story to you?"
"No... I think this another Witch saved Victoria. And if that's so... Josette, being connected with Victoria, is trying to make me fall into their trap."
Barnabas sighed and massaged his forehead, trying to understand. He was in desperate need for blood, but in that state of mind he wasn't going to make Angelique any more angry or she might lock him away. That would mean he had to starve for years.
 "Why would they use Victoria, I mean Josette, to get you into trap? If they think you care about her, they obviously doesn't know you."
"Because they were unable to take you." Angelique said. Whole thing was coming clear to her now. "They took Victoria instead, knowing you would force me to save her."
"Save her? Is she still in danger?"
"Don't even think about it" Angelique said sharply. "I don't go there like a fool to hand myself over to someone who is obviously trying to get rid of me."
Barnabas sighed again and shake his head. "I did not mean that. I thought.. You said they were saved Victoria."
"They did. From dying after Werewolf bite. But I doubt she will be much use for them now. So Josette was send to tell me this fairy tale that Victoria was my long time ago dead child, so I would go there to save her."
"And you are sure of this?" Barnabas asked.
Angelique looked at him coldly and he looked down, "Of course you are." He said, clearly uneasy. He licked his lips, feeling his mouth getting dry. He could drink dry an army if Angelique now let him go.
 Obviously Angelique sensed his desperate hunger since she looked at him for while before asking with her usual wicked voice with slight playful tone in it. "Do you wish to have something to drink?"
He looked at her instantly, with slight hope in his eyes. His reaction was obviously the one she was waiting for since she laughed.
 He looked down again, hope quickly disappearing from his eyes. She enjoyed torturing him. Of course she loved to tease him now when he was starving.
 To his great surprise, she walked to the door and opened it. "Go on. We go out now."
He didn't move for while, until she nodded towards door and offered her hand.
He took hold of her hand, still surprised he followed her out.
"Am I.. I mean.. Can I really go to-?"
"I come with you. And when you're slaughtered enough, I take you back in your room."
"I see... Thank you."
She watched him for while. His eyes scanning the ground carefully, searching for his first victim.
"I'm not as cruel as you think.." She said suddenly.
He looked at her. "I did.. Not say you are."
"No. But you think me just cruel and heartless Witch. I'm still a woman too."
"Of course..."He stopped for while. "I know that. I.. I found that woman in you last night when we held our-"
She looked around now and pointed to the park, "There. Kill them"
Barnabas turned to look at the direction she pointed. She obviously didn't want to her about her child.
It hurt her, he supposed.
  She stayed bit farther away when Barnabas go politely ask from middle aged couple could they tell him where he could find hotel. Kind couple nodded and started to explain him where hotel was.
He killed the man when his wife was pointing to other direction to show him where to go, and when she turned to see Barnabas, he killed her too.
 Angelique watched him feeding thirstily from those humans, thinking of what this other Witch would want from her.
  Soon they heard way too familiar voice calling Barnabas.
Instantly he looked up, "Victoria!"
Girl run towards him and throw herself into his arms. "I have missed you!"
Barnabas looked perfectly surprised, slowly hugging her back.
Angelique's eyes got cold, hateful look which Barnabas probably sensed since he pushed Victoria off of him gently.
"Victoria? What in a world has happened to you?"
 Victoria smiled to him, "You won't believe me even if I told you."
"Victoria, you must tell me."
"Alright. Once we get back home I will."
Angelique growled, but before she could move, Josette appeared in front of her. "Leave them be."
"Go to Hell, Dead Doll"
Josette hold out her hand, getting closer to Angelique. Her hand slid through the Witch's chest, reaching her heart. That was when Angelique seemed like frozen. She couldn't breath, not move. Her eyes got wide feeling the ghostly hand wrap around her delicate heart. Her skin started crack. Her helpless cries didn't have voice. Barnabas could not hear her. He was too focused on listening Victoria.
 "You should have let him go Angelique." Josette said. Her usually so gentle face looked cruel, almost insane.
 Angelique could feel her heart getting weaker. She knew that Josette was able to kill her.
She closed her eyes, praying with all her willpower that Barnabas would sense her love and that he was about lose her. She heard Victoria talking about how Josette had appeared to her many times, telling her not to give up, but never she heard Victoria mentioning this another Witch.
 Josette held her heart tighter, causing it crack a little. That was when Angelique cried out in pain loud enough to catch Barnabas's attention. He turned to look at Angelique and froze.
"Josette! Don't!" He quickly came to them, watching Josette's ghostly hand being throw through Angelique's chest. He didn't need to think twice why. He knew she was holding Angelique's heart.
 "Josette, don't. What she did to you was wrong, unforgivable, but please... Don't break her." Barnabas said. When Josette turned to look at him, he step back. This was not Josette he knew.
 Also Victoria let out weak scream. She didn't recognize this to be Josette she had lived her life with.
 Barnabas knew he couldn't do anything until ghost would release Angelique.
 Ghost laughed. Josette's gentle features disappeared, slowly exposing older woman with incredibly cruel looking grin.
 Her ghostly form got more solid, she was real person.
Angelique cried out in pain, skin of her chest shattering when ghostly hand got it's real form.
 "M-mother.." She gasped.
Barnabas's eyes got wider. This was Angelique's mother.
 Somehow he found courage to take tight hold of this woman's neck. If she was like Angelique, she would crack as well.
 He was wrong though. She only laughed.
Victoria kept whining silently, totally frightened and helpless.
Barnabas growled. "Let go of her heart."
"Why? Because you love her?"
Time seemed to stop. Victoria was staring at him as well as Angelique's mother. Angelique was listening carefully.
He sighed, "I... I've known her forever... "
"It doesn't mean she is important to you."
"She is!"
Woman laughed and looked at Angelique. "You'll die by your mother's hand, in front of man you loved so much. And he didn't care. Didn't do anything to save you."
Barnabas looked at Angelique, tears fall down her cracked face. He looked at Victoria who seemed helpless and frightened, still he knew how much she cared about him.
"I... I love her." He said finally with weak voice.
Angelique's mother looked at him. "What did you say?"
"I love her." Barnabas growled.
Victoria's huge innocent eyes filled with tears. Barnabas looked at her, "Forgive me." He begged.
Victoria had always understood him so well. She was perfect to him.
 She smiled a little, "You did it to protect her:" She said so quietly, that if Barnabas wasn't Vampire, he wouldn't hear it.
He smiled to her, warm love towards her filled him. "Go home Victoria. I will come visit Collinwood some time soon."
She nodded and left.
 Barnabas focused on Angelique's mother. If this woman didn't crack, she was flesh and blood.
He suddenly pierced his fangs into old womans neck.
"Barnabas.."Angelique gasped weakly. "Don't..."
 But Barnabas sucked womans blood thirstily, not letting her go until her body seemed to get weaker.
When her hand was pulled out from Angelique's chest, Barnabas pulled back. Blood running down his lips and chin.
He took hold of Angelique's mother and broke her neck before he turned to look at Angelique.
"Are you alright? Can you walk?"
"You love me?"
Barnabas saw that unexpected softness in her eyes, which he had seen centuries ago. Usually after he had said or done something very romantic.
 He smiled a little. "I do."
Angelique smiled softly. "Lets go home... She'll recover soon, I want away from her."
Barnabas nodded. "Let us go."
 Angelique looked over her shoulder at her mother. Cold shivers go down her spine. She knew this was nothing compared to what they will face in near future. For once, she thought she might have to join forces with Collins family.

News from other side.

   ..."Angelique, I'm sorry my dear, but you would be hearing a lie" 
 "God is my witness Josette, I swear it" ...
 Angelique opened her eyes. She looked around the room, realizing that it was already afternoon. 

Sun would soon shine into the room from the window.
 She sit up, looking down to Barnabas who was asleep as well.
Thin lines of blood was already dry to his cheeks and he was still holding the box against his chest.
She quickly stand up and pulled heavy curtains to cover the window.
 Barnabas opened his eyes tiredly as her warmth was gone. Seeing small spot of sunlight he stood up and step back to the corner, letting out frightened sound that reminded more like whimper than scream.
 Angelique covered the window and turned to look at him. "I'm not going to burn you"
He looked up to her carefully. "You don't?"
"No. What it would help?"
Barnabas seemed to think that for while until he stand more straight and cleared his throat. "Nothing. Of course you wouldn't burn me now. I'm your prison. You can do whatever you like."
 Angelique held out her hand, "The box. Give it back."
Barnabas looked at his hand, still holding the box tightly.
Angelique growled warningly. Even it was only a box with centuries old ash in it, she defended it like lion defended it's children.
 Barnabas give it to her and she placed it safely back to her bed side table.
 "Angelique?"
"What?" She hissed coldly.
Barnabas looked at her while. She seemed more humanly creature now than she had looked ever since his arrival to this time. She was hurt and filled with sorrow.
 He thought carefully what to say. "Angelique, if you take Elizabeth back to work, give my family a chance to survive, I will... I Will marry you. We will have as many children as you can bear and we'll be doomed to this eternal life together, only if you let my family to survive."
 Angelique looked the box like in trance. "Nothing can fill the hole she left in me."
Barnabas blinked, he never thought Angelique would be able to love so deeply, without any sexual passion. She had some kind of humanity after all.
 She looked at him like reading his thoughts and then, without any other word, she left the room.
Barnabas tried to follow her but he couldn't open the door.
He sighed, she has indeed locked him into that room, and with bright daylight, he could not escape from window without  dying.
 "Angelique! Angelique! Come back!" He yelled, but no one answered. Soon he heard her car leaving.
He go sit to the bed and looked at the box.
He felt how thirst grow in him. He needed blood. It had been too long since he last time had got anything to drink. Now he really wished Angelique could be able to feel mercy she never had shown to him before.
   Angelique drive through the town, fighting back tears.
Finally she stopped in front of Angel Bay. Workers greeted her respectfully and few new folders was waiting for her in her office.
She took the folders and left again.
 "Angie!" She heard familiar voice calling.
She looked back to her guardian Thomas. "Not now."
He took hold of her arm, "We must talk!" He insisted. She felt his tension and nervousness. He was totally head over heels in love with her.
 "Let go. I have more important things to do right now." She said coldly.
"Angie... When you can talk?"
"Some time later." Angelique said and pulled her arm free, leaving Angel Bay.
 She got into her car and strange feeling filled her. She looked around and saw way too familiar weak light glowing near to destroyed Collins cannery.
 She got out of her car and walked towards it.
 "A Witch!" Ghostly voice said.
"Hello to you too Josette." Angelique said lazily. "Don't make me look fool since no one else sees you, so just tell me what you came to tell."
  Josette's delicate form appeared in front of her. "Go to Collinwood."
"No. I have nothing to do in there."
"Go." Josette insisted. "Your child... Never died."
Angelique narrowed her eyes. "Don't ever talk about my child!"
Josette looked almost pitying her. "You never understood..."
"Understood what?"
Josette smiled a bit. "You and I, both have blue eyes. Only wonder why."
Angelique rolled her eyes. "Means Barnabas has weakness for blue eyes girls. Nothing more."
Josette shake her head. "We are sisters. Your father is my father. Man you thought to be your father, loved you like his own child, but he was not your real father."
 Angelique looked at the ghost eyes wide. "Never." She hissed.
Josette smiled sadly. "Victoria Winters, is your child. She was born with your strength, and with my looks. She saw me, as you see me. I was there for her, when you wasn't. She doesn't fear you, because she knows you."
 Angelique shake her head. "You're insane!"
Josette shake her head as well. "No. Barnabas felt strong love for her ever since they met, but his romantic nature thought her to be me since I gave my looks to her. I gave my life to her. Life that you took from me. Victoria is bit of both of us. She is part of you, and part of me. Barnabas is not her father, and still he reminds her of true family. Victoria survived from Werewolf attack with my help, but only nearly. She will die soon if you don't help her."
Angelique shake her head and turned to leave, when Josette's voice got more creepy than she had ever heard before.
"Save her Bouchard!"
She turned to look at Josette and stopped.
Josette's usually pretty body was ruined. Bones were broken and her face was bruised and damaged. One of her eye was bruised so badly she couldn't open the eye.
Angelique figured that this was what happened to her body when it had been down in water long time until her body was buried.
She raised eyebrow. "Josette, go back to Hell before I curse you to go there."
Josette looked even more terrible when her face changed as she got angry.
Angelique could sense threat Josette was sending to her.
Witch or not, Josette was spiritual creature also and perfectly able to attack against her with her own powers if she so wanted.
 Angelique go back to her car and drive back home. She would accept Barnabas's offer if Barnabas told Josette to leave them be.

Their family

  When Barnabas left Angelique's office, the room was in same condition as it's owner.
The guardian kept Barnabas suspicious, and came right away to knock on Angelique's office door.
"Miss Bouchard! Miss Bouchard, is everything alright?"
When there was no answer, he break down the door, quickly yelling for others to come help.
 "She is unconscious." The guardian said, gently trying to pick her up from floor.
"Stop it! You're breaking her." One of the workers said, noticing deep cracks on her arms, no doubt continued down her sides.
 The guardian watched his broken boss and stand up looking angry.
"Find that Collins man and bring him back. Dead or alive, but make sure he suffers!"
Others looked uncertain.
"This is what we owe to her! We all have given our promises. Now do it!"
One of the older workers nodded, "Yes, lets go. He cannot be too far."
As all the workers were gone, guardian kneel back down to Angelique.
"Miss Bouchard, can you hear me? Wake up."
 For one terrifying moment he thought his boss was truly dead, until he heard her heart beating strong and calm, and she opened her eyes.
 "Miss Bouchard, men is going after Barnabas Collins. They will take their revenge for you"
Angelique smiled a bit, "Good boy."
"Can you get up?"
Angelique took deep breath, "Just a minute.. I lay here for while, I'll be fine."
 Guardian looked around the room. "It seems he is completely mad." He noticed deep scratching marks on walls, thinking that she must have try to fight back.
Angelique could sense his anger towards Barnabas, and compassion towards her. Maybe he was even jealous.
 "How did you know everything wasn't right?" She asked, watching him carefully.
"I saw him leaving, I had feeling that he's done something he shouldn't... Something to harm you*
Angelique looked into his eyes, finding his green-blue eyes to tell the truth.
She knew he liked her, but had he secretly fall for her, she wasn't sure.
He was fine looking man with his well trained body and blond ponytail. For some, he was Prince Charming.
She had never thought of him much, unless it was for the work.
 She stand up, leaning against the wall in her weakened state and he was right away offering his help.
"Miss Bouchard, can I get you something?"
"No.. I'm fine soon. I just need some rest."
He helped her to sit down on her chair, watching her ever beautiful face. "You're healing well"
"I know." Just now Angelique got an idea, to use his love for her against Barnabas.  "Thomas, tell me.. Is there anything you won't do for me? Of course you'd get paid well."
He shake his head, "No, I'd do anything you ask me to."
"Really?"
"Yes."
His eyes showed no hesitation, he was willing to do anything. But was it for his feelings towards her, or was it his will to have successful career, she couldn't tell yet.
 After sitting there for while, Angelique felt well enough to get back to her feet and walked to the door. "Make sure my office is cleaned and fixed until tomorrow morning."
"Yes. I see it's done."
"Good." She nodded and turned to leave.
"Miss Bouchard!"
She looked at him over her shoulder, "Yes?"
"You are not going to see him, are you? Barnabas Collins.."
Angelique narrowed her eyes, "I guess it's none of your business."
"Your safety is my business! He is dangerous for you"
Angelique stared at him for while. He obviously knew he was in trouble for arguing with her.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have.. It is not my business out side of work.. Of course."
"It isn't. And I can take care of myself."
"Yes, you can. Very well."
"Do you have some special reason to look after me so much, Thomas?"
He looked down, "Yes."
She smiled a bit. "What is it?"
"I.. I care about you."
She turned back and go to him, placing her finger under his chin to make him look at her. She could hear his heart beating faster when she touched him. "You care about me?" She asked, looking innocent.
He swallowed, nodding a bit. "I do."
Angelique smiled for his troubled state, obvious desire for her but fear to do something that might make her kick him out of Angel Bay and refuse to ever see him again.
 "Miss Bouchard, I know it's-"
She placed her finger to his lips, "Shh.. " She stepped closer so her body nearly touched his, testing his self control, she loved to tease him.
  "Miss Bouchard, we have him!" The voice called from hallway and she turned around, quickly walking out of the room to go to see what her workers had done to Barnabas.
 When she saw them, she froze. "Did you idiots kill him?"
"No Miss Bouchard. He is unconscious."
"Chain him, and throw him into my car, I know perfect place for him."  She said and go back to her office to get her handbag.
Thomas was still there, obviously waiting for her.
"Angie.."
"Not now, I have something far more important to take care of." Angelique said and flashed sweet smile to him, "Good night."
She left the room, knowing she had to deal with him later.
 "He is chained, still unconscious" Her workers said as she was about to get into her car.
"Good. Write me reports of tonights happenings, I will see that each of you get proper payment of tonights work." She said and started her car, driving back to her house.
  When she stopped in front of her house, she pulled Barnabas out of the car and inside her house, chaining him into her bed. That was when he opened his eyes.
"What on earth are you doing to me!" He yelled.
"Easy, my love. This is just simple payback from what you did to me." Angelique smiled.
Barnabas looked disgusted, "I hate you"
She placed her finger to his lips, "Shh my love. Now you're all mine." She kissed his lips and whispered, "You'll be my little pet, in my bed, all eternity"
He looked at her eyes wide, "Never... Let me go! I want away!"
"No. You stay here and hope that I'm kind enough to give you some blood every now and then."
He growled, "Let me go Witch!"
"No. " She said and left the room, hearing how he uselessly tried to break free from his chains.  
 She go to her kitchen, taking glass of wine and sit down, soon sinking into her own thoughts.

 .... "No! Please don't!" she cried, trying to fight back.
"This is how your masters are commanded, now stay still so I don't have to force you"
"No! Let me go!"
The doctor tied her to the table, "This will only hurt for a minute."
Tears cascading down her face, Angelique was forced to watch as the doctor cut her stomach, pulling out tiny creature that was meant to be her child. She heard as the doctor wondered how the child was grown so incredibly fast to human form and she could help but ask, "Please.. Let me see it.."
The doctor clearly took pity on her at this point. Drown into her sorrow and pain.
"Well.. Very well. You may hold her while I take care of your wound." He said heavily, releasing her from ties.
"Her?.. It's a girl.."
"Yes.. It is a girl." He said, giving blood covered tiny child into her arms.
She held the child gently in her arms, tears falling down her cheeks like waterfall, she softly wipe blood from the child's tiny face, caressing it gently. She didn't care of the pain the wound caused her, the pain she felt in her heart was much greater.
 Doctor cleared his throat. "It's done.. It's time to.. Get rid of it."
Angelique looked up to him with her teary eyes. "Not yet..  Please.."
Doctor sighed, "I don't do this out of my own will to cause you such pain. I'd much rather help women to give birth of their living children and watch them cry tears of joy when they get to see their child first time. My wife lost our first child. It was born dead. I know, your pain has no limits right now. And I won't want to be the one to tear this child from your arms. But trust me, it's much easier for you that I take it, than that you should burn it by yourself.. You will have the ashes. I promise. You can have her with you. and you can do whatever you want with her ashes."
 Angelique looked at her daughter, kissing its forehead.. "I love you... I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. " She whispered to its small ear.
 The doctor blinked fer times, tear falling down his cheek as well and he took the child from Angelique and heard Angelique break into hopeless cry.
 As he left the room, Angelique heard him calling the nurse to go to her, giving her options. She didn't care what option they were talking about, she only knew that her own dear child was gone.
  The nurse, kind looking older lady, came into the room.
"I am very sorry for your loss Miss." She said, gently wiping Angelique's tears. "I can't say I know how you feel, and my Sorry won't mean anything in you sorrow, but I pray you will one day recover enough to go on."
Angelique looked at the nurse and her kind eyes before breaking to cry against her shoulder.
The nurse rub her back gently, allowing her to cry her pain out.
 After for while nurse took huge box and placed it to Angelique's bed.
"Here is some little box's, and you may freely choose what kind of box you want to your child."
As nurse started to show her different kind of little box's, Angelique's tears started dry and she watched emotionless all the option she had.
  Finally she saw beautiful wood box which had pretty rose prints around edges.
"That." She said with weak voice.
"It is beautiful choice." Nurse nodded and took the box to the doctor to place ashes in there.
  It didn't take very long until the doctor came to the room, giving Angelique the box.
"Perhaps I should not be saying this... But.."
"But what?" Angelique asked, looking at him sharply.
"She opened her eyes once... She had brown eyes."
Angelique closed her eyes, tears falling down her cheeks. "She had her father's eyes..." She held the box against her chest, crying helplessly.
 The doctor watched her suffering compassionately, "I.. will leave you now to rest. If you need anything, just call. Nurse will be near to your room and bring you medicine to ease the pain, in wound.. "
Angelique didn't say anything, she simply held the box and cried....

 Tear fell down her cheek as she blinked her eyes, waking up from her memories.
She drink her glass empty and go back to bedroom.
"Angelique! Release me!" Barnabas growled.
Angelique held out her hand to silence him, "Not now Barnabas." She said with broken voice that made Barnabas look curious. "What happened to you? You nearly look like, woman with humanity."
Angelique took old little box from her bedside table and held it against her chest, tears falling down her cheeks.
 Barnabas blinked, obviously surprised. "Angelique?" He asked with more gentle voice. Her sorrow was real, and he sensed it.
 She opened her teary eyes to look at him. "You remember... The letter you found."
"Yes."
"The child.. I told you about... One I.. I lost." Her body was shaking as tears cascaded down her cheeks.
Barnabas watched her carefully, now feeling sorry for her. She still missed the child and her pain of losing it, was real.
 His eyes wandered down to the box she was holding against her chest. "It this... Our child?"
She winced with his words to call it their child.
"It is.." She said weakly.
Barnabas sighed heavily. "Free me Angelique. I shall not leave. You may bind me to this room, but allow me to hold our child. Please."
She looked the box and nodded a bit. "Fine..."
 The chains loosened around him and he pulled his arms free. "Come here, I wish to hold you too."
Angelique lay down next to him, resting her head against his shoulder as he wrap his arm around her.
He tried to take small box from her hands, but she held it too tightly. "I don't take it from you.. Let go Angelique, it's right here next to you."
She slowly let it go, letting Barnabas hold it. He placed it against his chest, took hold of Angelique's hand and placed it on top of the box, covering her hand with him own.
 For little moment, they were a family.
She break into hopeless cry against his shoulder as he held her tightly, not letting go either one of them.
In time Angelique fell asleep after crying hours, and as he watched her sleep, tears drying on her beautiful face, and the small box they both held so lovingly, bloody tears run down his pale cheeks.
 "Only if I would have known...."