Collinsport's tradition. Mothers and Daughters doesn't get along too well

     "I can't believe we're doing this* Elizabeth sighed and massaged her forehead before looked tiredly at Barnabas. "You seriously want to save that Witch who tormented our family for couple centuries?"
Angelique hissed, looking at Elizabeth as she was ready to kill Elizabeth.
Barnabas hold out his hands, stepping between them, "Elizabeth, you must understand that Angelique is only one who can ever release our family from our curse. If she dies now, we are all doomed for the end of the world. No one can release us but Angelique."
"Well I'm not so sure that old woman deserves any releasing at all" Angelique said.
Barnabas sighed and looked at her, "Angelique, they all came here tonight to help you. Willingly or not, they came."
Angelique raised eyebrow and looked around the room. Carolyn was sitting lazily on her chair, Elizabeth was standing next to her, David and Victoria were sitting on couch near to fireplace.
 "Like there's much use of them anyway." She said and walked out of the room.
Elizabeth couldn't hide her smile, looking Barnabas as saying "I told you so"
Barnabas shake his head and go after Angelique.
 "Angelique, There is more of us. She is alone. You have-"
"You don't know that!" Angelique hissed, looking at him. "You don't know is she alone."
Barnabas study her ice cold eyes and nodded, "True. I don't know. But I know.... We are not the ones to give up. We have Carolyn, her bite is deathly enough. And I am there. I could imagine that Vampire and Werewolf bite together is toxic."
"Have I died when you bite me?"
"We both have never bite you at-"
Angelique shake her head and smiled, "You bite me front of villagers to show them what we are. Carolyn bite me many times just few minutes later."
 "But... You are hollow."
Angelique got pale, "Only if I choose to be."
"You can control it?"
"Of course I can... No doubt, so can she."
Barnabas was about to say something, when Carolyn came to doorway, "Hey, it's disgusting enough to look at you two together so can we just get over with this thing and go home? Someone's coming."
At the same time, doorbell ring. "What did I just say?" Carolyn said and go back to living room.
Angelique looked at Barnabas like seeking his support.
"We will survive through this." He said. His fangs were already growing to attack.
Angelique nodded a bit and go towards the door. She stopped before she was able to reach the door.
"Can... Can David call her mother like you can call Josette?"
Barnabas blinked and thought about it. "I believe. I go ask him."
Angelique nodded and opened the door. "You're not welcomed to my house."
"Ouch.. Own daughter doesn't let me in."
Angelique heard someone moving behind her. "It's typical here in Collinsport. Mothers and daughters doesn't get along too well." Elizabeth said.
Angelique didn't bother to look at Elizabeth, but she knew that Elizabeth was standing right behind her.
Angelique's mother laughed, "Right... You are the mother of Werewolf."
Elizabeth bite her tongue, hissing between her teeth, "Leave my daughter out of this."
 Angelique's mother looked at the house. "How many of you is in there?"
"Like we'd tell you."
"Well I can always burn whole house down like you did to Collinwood."
Elizabeth pulled Angelique back and stepped out, "You stole my idea." She said, taking lighter from her pocket and throw it towards Angelique's mother.
Angelique looked at her eyes wide when she run back inside and locked the door.
"What? doesn't they usually burn Witches to death?" Elizabeth asked.
"Usually, but I'm living proof it doesn't always work."
Elizabeth got pale. "I forgot..."
"Yeah, you're old." Angelique said and left to living room.
"Where is she?" Barnabas asked.
"Elizabeth got her on fire." Angelique said, "How long that will keep her down, I don't know. It took some days for me to recover when you got me on fire."
Carolyn looked at Barnabas, "Cool, you tried to burn her?"
Angelique stepped towards Carolyn and Barnabas took hold of her wrist. "Leave it, Angelique. Carolyn is...Typically annoying at her age."
 Elizabeth run to the room, "Hide David! She's coming inside any minute."
Angelique pointed towards bathroom. "It's only place where you can get out without leaving any signs of you even being here."
Victoria took hold of David's hand and run to the bathroom.
Carolyn stood up, "Now what?" She was obviously getting bit nervous.
"You turn into pretty doggy and go to her so she can pet you. Then you're bad doggy and bite her hand off."
Angelique said.
"But it's not even full moon!" Carolyn said. "Come on! Can't I go with Vicky and David?"
"No." Angelique said and go towards Carolyn. Barnabas took few steps to follow her but stopped, watching her carefully. Elizabeth kept an eye on her as well.
Angelique placed her hands to Carolyn's cheeks and whispered something so quietly Barnabas couldn't understand.
 Soon Carolyn fell on her knees, growling and whimpering.
"What have you done?" Elizabeth screamed and run to Carolyn but Angelique took hold of her arm and pulled her away. "She's turning."
"Turning?"
"I made her body to reach as full moon does. She's turning into her wolf form."
Elizabeth sighed and watched her daughter. "If I help you to kill your mother... You have to release my daughter."
"No promises Liz." Angelique said and turned away.
Now Elizabeth took hold of her wrist. "You have promised! You promised to Barnabas!"
"Well, there's huge difference between you and Barnabas. I don't give a damn about you, or your doggy daughter."
"But Barnabas cares about us... "
"And?"
"If you're going to marry him, you're going to be part of Collins family and it means you must help us!"
Angelique laughed, "Do you really think I'd ever care about your pathetic family?"
"Angelique." Barnabas growled.
Angelique turned to look at him, "I don't care about your family. I thought it's obvious. I care about you. If I'd release them, it would be because of you."
Barnabas sighed again and nodded a bit. "If... If you release them, I will.. Marry, you."
Elizabeth looked at him eyes wide. "You're not serious, right?"
Barnabas looked at Elizabeth, "I am."
Angelique smiled and pulled her hand free, going to Barnabas. "Say it.. You still love me."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Still?"
"Hm, has he not told you, about our... Adventures, in past? In drawing room.. His own room.. My room.. Garden.."
Barnabas cleared his throat, "It is not such thing I wish to talk about." He said quickly.
Elizabeth looked at him, "Are you... Blushing?"
Angelique run her finger against his cheek, "Don't tease our poor, sweet Barnabas."
They heard noise from hallway.
"She's here!" Elizabeth said in panic.
"Well don't just stand there!" Angelique hissed.
"Now.. My child, these parties are over." Angelique's mother said coming into the room and looked around.
Carolyn jumped from behind the chair and bite the woman everywhere where her teeth happened to sink in.
 Barnabas didn't waste time either and came to bite her.
Angelique heard her mother crying out in pain, and soon after that Carolyn whimpered, flying across the room, in no time, Barnabas falling next to her.
Angelique knelt down and took hold of Barnabas, shaking him slightly.
 "There you are." She heard her mothers voice.
She looked up and saw her mother completely healed already.
She looked down to Barnabas who still lay there concisions.
"You.. never loved my father. Nor us... "
"No." Her mother admitted. "I meant to kill you and your brother right after your father, but you made it surprisingly difficult."
Angelique looked at her. "And you killed him? My brother."
Her mother laughed, "Long time ago."
"Why you didn't come to kill me sooner?"
"Because you were growing surprisingly talented. I was meant to kill you before you realize your own powers. But you run to this.. Collins family, who protected you. And you damn little rat, you grew stronger. It was getting difficult to reach for you. But you fell into most dangerous trap Witches has.. You fell in love with that" She pointed towards Barnabas. "And made him to be your weakness. I had to wait until he's back. Because when he was underground, he was there as a prison, yes... But also, safe. You were too strong to be killed. Now you have your weakness, and you're growing weaker and weaker the more you care about him."
 Angelique shake her head in disbelief. "No.. He's not my weakness.. He's.."
"He's what? Your lover? And that, my child, makes you weak. Makes you depended on him"
"He's my strength.. " Angelique whispered. Her eyes was filled with tears. "You don't understand it, you never felt it. For once, I was better than you. And I found new power, you can't use because you don't understand it."
 Angelique's mother laughed and throw her hand in Angelique's chest, taking hold of Angelique's heart.
"He's not here to safe you now. He and that little wolf are poisoned by each others bites."
Angelique looked down to Barnabas, tears falling down her cheeks.
 "He never loved you Angelique. It's time for you to let him go. Consider this as motherly advice. And I will even help you to let him go."
 "But I love enough for both of us."
Angelique's mother laughed and held Angelique's heart tighter to cause it crack, but for their both surprise, Angelique's heart didn't shatter.
 "What-?" Her mother said confused, until suddenly she pulled her hand away. "That ghost!"
Angelique smiled, "Hello mother." Her voice was different, same was the look in her eyes.
"Who are you? Where your powers come from?" Angelique's mother asked.
"My name is Josette DuPres. And I have no powers Mrs.Bouchard, but I share same desire with your daughter to protect Barnabas. It connect us enough, I am able to join her in these kind of situations."
"Josette? I have heard about-"
"About that your daughter killed me?"
"But then-"
"You can't kill, what is already dead. You held my heart, not hers. And I- Mrs.Bouchard, have been dead for nearly two hundred years."
Angelique's mother looked at her hand, "No.."
"I think it is time for you to join us, Mrs.Bouchard."
"Us?"
Angelique nodded towards doorway. David's mother was there.
 Angelique's mother seemed frightened, looking around the way to escape.
She run to the window, but Elizabeth stepped in front of her.
"Move, old woman!"
Elizabeth raised her eyebrow. "You do have something in common with your daughter after all."
"What? Just move!" Angelique's mother growled and pushed Elizabeth aside.
Elizabeth hit her head to table and fell to the floor unconscious.
 David's mother came to finish what Elizabeth couldn't. Josette let Angelique's body, leaving Angelique falling to the floor exhausted.
"It's time for you to join us, Mrs.Bouchard." Josette said, and together with Davids mother, they pulled out the life from Angelique's mother, leaving her body laying there lifeless.
 Victoria came to see if everything was alright now, since there had been silence fr quite some time.
She looked around the room, seeing everyone laying on the ground either unconscious or- dead.
She saw Angelique's mother laying on the floor and carefully tested if the woman had a pulse. Finding her dead, Victoria pushed the body to fireplace. Even she knew that Witches are meant to be burned in order to destroy them.
 

Like good old times.

   No matter how much Barnabas called for Josette, there was no answer.
Victoria heard his calling though, and came to tell him that she hadn't seen Josette since she returned to Collinwood.
 Angelique had bad feeling that her mother had already found a way to capture Josette's remaining soul to be sure Angelique had no one to help her.
 Barnabas sighed heavily and placed his hand against her back, "We will find a way... I swear it."
Angelique blinked and looked at him, "What did you just say?"
Barnabas looked slightly confused, "I said, we will find a way."
"But after that. What did you say?"
"I said... I swear it.."
Angelique felt sudden hit of flashback, seeing Barnabas standing at the balcony with Josette.
"The balcony...."
Barnabas looked at her curiously, "What are you talking about?"
Angelique looked at him, "You gave your promise to be with Josette forever, when you were standing at the balcony with her. You also got together with Victoria when you where at the balcony..."
She looked around destroyed manor. "Where the balcony was?"
Barnabas lead her to place where it used to be.
"Call her now." Angelique said simply.
Barnabas raised eyebrow but still he looked around and called for Josette to come to him.
 He called her name for while, until he sighed again and looked at Angelique. "It's not working.. Angelique? Angelique?!" He placed his hands to her shoulders, shaking her gently.
Angelique looked up to him, "Yes, my love?" She said like she had just awaken from deep sleep.
"Angelique, it is not working. She is not answering to me."
"But I am right here." Angelique said. Her voice was softer now, and her eyes didn't seem so icy. Only bright baby-blue.
 "Oh my god..." Barnabas said, realizing that Josette had taken over Angelique's body. Somewhere deep down in his mind, he became to worry what Angelique would do when she figured this out after Josette leaves her body, but he couldn't help but being pleased to be able to speak with Josette again.
 "Josette.." He said slightly uncertain, and Angelique nodded.
"I came when you first called me, but her hate towards me is much greater than her need for my help. And I cannot lie to you Barnabas, I don't do this for her. I do this for you. So you would have a chance to talk her into releasing your family from this curse. To release you."
 "I see... It's very.. Noble, of you."
Angelique smiled. Barnabas didn't remember when he had seen her smiling with so purely sweet manner.
For Josette, it was natural. But for Angelique, it was rare these days.
 Partly Barnabas could blame himself, but partly it has been Angelique's own choice.

... Barnabas nodded gently on old wooden door and waited.
"I'm coming" Soft voice answered and soon the door opened and Angelique looked at him, smiling as she saw him.
 "Did I awake you?" He asked, entering small room.
"No, I was.. Reading."
"What did you read?"
"That same old book." Angelique smiled and sit down to her bed, taking the book from her bedside table.
Barnabas smiled and sit next to her. "Maybe I should find another book for you. You must get tired of reading that over and over again."
"You don't have to. I'm happy with this." Angelique said, holding the book against her chest.
Barnabas laughed, looking at her playfully. "If it makes you happier than I do, I will become jealous."
Angelique laughed softly and placed the book back to the table. "Don't you worry my love, nothing can make me so happy as you do."
"Good. Then I need not kidnap you again and runaway, far away from here." Barnabas nodded and kissed her lips gently.
Angelique blinked and pulled back, "Why we could not run away? You have money enough to get us little house from somewhere. I am able to find food... We might not be able to live so fine life as here but.. It would still be life. Our life."
Barnabas singed and run his hand through his hair. "I cannot leave Collinwood. My parents need my help here. It would be awful shock for them if I suddenly disappeared."
Angelique took hold of his hand, "But they could get over it. They hardly ever see you anyway."
"But they know, I am here. I take care of business and the house."
"Excuse me, I take care of the house, you give just orders."
"You know what I meant..."
Angelique looked down, "I could do anything for you... But you.."
Barnabas turned to look at her and kneel down to the floor, taking hold of her hands. "I know you would. I wish I could do the same. I wish I could tell my parents about us. I wish we could build our life here as equal partners, I wish-"
Angelique pulled her hands away, "Your wishes are not enough, when you're not willing to do anything to make them true."
"I am willing!" Barnabas growled. He placed his finger under her chin, making her look at him. "I would not take these risks to spent so much time with you, unless I was willing to bear consequences. If these times we spent together, lead to that my parents finds out the truth, I am not going to let them punish you or throw you out. Or I come with you."
 Angelique smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I love you."
Barnabas smiled, hugging her tightly and buried his face to her hair. "I know... And I.. I know.."...


".. So if I am near by when you meet her mother, I am able to come into Angelique's body and have that way power over her mother. Now we only need to get Angelique to agree with this. Do you think you can talk her into it? Barnabas? Barnabas?!"
Barnabas blinked his eyes, "I'm sorry. What did you say?"
Angelique shake her head a bit, "What is on your mind Barnabas? This is serious situation."
"Yes, yes I know. I was.. Thinking."
She smiled. "Always so thoughtful."
"Indeed."
Suddenly Angelique stopped, like frozen. "She's fighting back... I must go.."
Barnabas didn't really have time to realize what happened before Angelique suddenly look up to him and watched carefully around, narrowing her eyes as she usually did.
"Angelique?"
She looked at him sharply, "Give me one good reason not to hunt her down and destroy her miserable soul for good!"
"Angelique!" Barnabas growled. "Stop this nonsense, you need her help."
 "Even so, she has no right to get into my body."
"You knew that?"
"Of course I did. I heard and saw everything all the time. Though it was like seeing a dream but I have lived long enough to know when someone is possessed. And that will be last time I am possessed."
 Barnabas sighed, trying to keep situation under his control. "Angelique, would you for once place your hatred and jealousy aside and let us work as a team? Especially when it is you who most need help."
"Don't you dare try to make her seem like saint. I can handle this by myself if I have to. I have-"
Barnabas rolled his eyes and pulled her closer, kissing her gently.
 Angelique blink few times in surprise until she closed her eyes, relaxing into his arms.
Barnabas pulled back, holding her protectively near. "Will you now listen what I have to say?"
"Hm.. If you just keep holding on me." Angelique smiled.
Barnabas smiled a bit and nodded, "Very well."
She rest her head against his chest, listening his plan how they could get rid of her mother.
He held her in his arms, breathing her fresh scent. He looked to the ocean farther away and felt cold shiver, as another presence was near by. He didn't feel the threat, but terrible pain, loneliness and sorrow.
Looking up, he could just nearly see faint figure of Josette disappearing into the shadows.
 He sighed heavily again and Angelique looked up to him, "What is it?"
"Nothing... I just feel tired of all this, chaos."
Angelique smiled a bit "Well, we could go to my house and have nice hot bath."
"A bath?"
Angelique nodded, smiling playfully. "You can't tell me you have forgot they are my specialty."
Barnabas massaged his temples and nodded tiredly, "Fine. A bath."
Angelique took hold of his hand and lead him back to her house.
  While Angelique was filling bathtub, Barnabas looked out of window to night sky. He knew it was hard for Josette to see him with Angelique. And it would be Hell to Angelique to see him with someone else. She would most likely destroy half of the world along with his beloved one.
 He heard Angelique moving near by, soon feeling her hands sliding around him as she hugged him behind.
"Bath is ready."
"Hm... I will be there soon. You go ahead and relax. I will join you shortly."
"Where you go?"
"Just take life from that little rabbit over there."
Angelique kissed the back of his neck and left.
He looked after her for while until he go out, hunting down the rabbit he saw little moment ago.
Throwing away the corpse, he got back inside and unbuttoned his shirt while walking towards bathroom.
As he entered the room, he smelled slight scent of roses. Lights were out and Angelique had placed candles around the room to light it up.
 "Hm.. You are in exceptionally  romantic mood today." He said and got into hot water.
 "Maybe.. Or maybe I feel like remembering good old times."
Barnabas looked at her and smiled a bit, "Indeed."
Angelique came closer and kissed him softly. "Turn around." She whispered against his lips.
He seemed little unwilling to turn away but did as he was told.
Angelique massaged his shoulders and back, easing tension from his muscles.
Barnabas closed his eyes for while, "I would love you like this... As you are, your old self."
"You would?"
"I would... I did, back then, but couldn't admit it." He opened his eyes and turned to face her. "I'm sorry."
Angelique looked at him, obviously confused. "Sorry? For what? You're leaving me again?!"
"No! No... I mean, the past. I am sorry I didn't ever tell you."
She relaxed and Barnabas could swear he saw her smiling a bit. "You can make it up to me now. We have all eternity together."
"Hm, eternity..." Barnabas repeated little uneasy. "Perhaps we start with inhumanly long lifetime together."
Angelique laughed softly and leaned against him, "We can start from that."
"After we have finished off your mother."
"Shh! That's tomorrow's problem." Angelique said and kissed him.

Back to Josette

 
      Barnabas listened carefully behind the door, hearing the knocking again.
 He narrowed his eyes, feeling his fangs ready to slaughter whoever might be behind the door.
 "Angelique!" He heard familiar voice calling behind the door.
He quickly opened the door, "Elizabeth, what on earth are you doing here?" He asked totally surprised.
Elizabeth looked at him for while, "So you are here."
"I am. Did you come to look for me?"
"No, some crazy woman break into Angel Bay. All workers are dead. I thought Angelique might want to know about that. This would be our big chance to get best jobs from the company."
 Barnabas turned Elizabeth around and pushed her gently to leave. "That's great. I will inform Angelique about that. Now go back to Collinwood, look for the most secure locked room and take David, Carolyn and Victoria there. Don't let them out of your sight."
"Barnabas? What on earth is happening?" Elizabeth asked sharply.
"We all are in danger. If Angelique is strong enough to bring whole family down, her mother must be able to bring whole town down."
"Angelique's mother?! But Barnabas-!"
"No time to explain this now Elizabeth" Barnabas said seriously, his dark eyes reflecting pure worry.
Elizabeth nodded slowly and left back to Collinwood.
 Barnabas got back inside and go to bedroom. Angelique was still sleeping.
He knelt down next to the bed and gently touched her cheek. "So quiet... So beautiful."
Angelique opened her eyes and looked at him. "What?"
"We must discuss of how we get rid of your mother. Elizabeth just visited and informed me that your mother has killed all workers in Angel Bay. God knows what she is up to next."
 Angelique sit up and rub her forehead. "She wants me so  she can kill me."
"So we must find a way to destroy her."
"How?! Barnabas, my powers are not enough to destroy her and if you have been practicing witchcraft so well hidden that no one knows and you've become more powerful than I am, then please do tell what we do!" Angelique hissed, her eyes looked reddish from sleepiness and stress.
Did Barnabas even saw tears in her eyes?
He placed his hand on her cheek again. "We will find a way, my love"
"I just don't know what to do..." Angelique sighed.
"We will figure out something."
"How?"
Barnabas sighed now too. That was million dollar question. How indeed.
"Did you not say that... Ghosts has affect on Witches?"
"What about it? Do I look like floating light ball?"
"No, you do not. But the woman you cursed, does." Barnabas said and smiled a bit. "I'm sure I can talk to Josette and get her help us. It would not do any harm to ask her. Swallow your pride Angelique, you do need help."
Angelique growled, "Not from that Dead Doll. Never! Forget it."
Angelique!" Barnabas said sharply, "Don't speak such way of her! Besides, she is only one able to help you"
 Angelique looked at him for while emotionless look in her eyes. "Forget it" She hissed and left the room.
 Barnabas go after her. "For once Angelique, admit that you do not have all options you wish for! You cannot control everything."
"I can, and I will"
"How, if I may ask?"
"Somehow! Let me think!"
Barnabas took hold of her shoulders and forced her to stop and turn to look at him. "Josette warned you about this. You are only one to able to save my family by stop tormenting them. If she helps you now, you will be able to help us."
 "I don't want to see that damn-!"
"You don't have to! Close your mouth and look away while she's around and act as the real lady should!"
Angelique looked slightly hurt which made Barnabas sigh and speak again with calmer voice.
"You need her help. Accept it."
"And what I'm supposed to give in return?"
"Release my family from your curses."
"Never. You will not leave me and you would leave me at the same second when you become a human!"
"I did not say release me! I said, release my family!"
Angelique narrowed her eyes. "Fine..."
"Then you accept?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"No." Barnabas said. "We go back to Collinwood now, to find Josette."
Angelique tried to swallow her hate. "Oh yay... That will make my day so much better..."
Barnabas raised eyebrow at her comment but kept walking through hallway. He took huge umbrella to cover him from sunlight and they left. Still Barnabas had a feeling Angelique was not quite serious with their agreement.
 
  .... "Josette!" Barnabas run around the manor, calling for her. "Josette!"
Angelique hide her wicked smile and came to him, "What's the matter, Master Barnabas?" She asked coldly.
 Barnabas turned to look at her and took tight hold of her shoulders, shaking her slightly, "Where is she?!"
"Who?" Angelique asked hatefully.
"Josette! Where is she?"
Angelique smiled. "Ups... I think she heard the call from other side, calling her name."
Barnabas got pale and looked out of the window, "No... Josette!" He quickly run through hallway and out, running through the fores towards Widow's Hill, Calling her name over and over again.
  Angelique looked after him for while before walking after him. She needed to get there before Barnabas got himself killed. He needed to be under her spell before his heart stops beating, or her plans would be ruined.
When she heard his voice loud and clear, she slowed down and kept hiding behind the woods.
 "Josette?!"
Blond young woman turned around, looking at him helplessly.
"Help me..." She said with emotionless voice before she fell from the cliff.
Angelique smiled and walked bit closer. Barnabas was obviously going to jump too.
She focused her energy to him and placed a curse upon him. When he jumped, she run to the cliff and looked down.
 Seeing him move a bit, she knew her spell was already working. Still she kept on going, making the spell stronger. All her hate, grudge, anger, heartbreak... Everything made her curse more powerful.
When he finally looked up to her, she saw blood tears running down his pale face.
"What have you done?!" He yelled.
She smiled, seeing him change.
Suddenly she felt exhausted. All her energy was gone to the curse she had placed on him. She needed to get back to Collinwood before Barnabas would find his way back home....

  Seeing now destroyed manor in front of her, remembering the night when she killed Josette, she felt strong need to get away from there. She hated everything about there, and knowing that Josette's ghost had remained in Collinwood, made it more disgusting to her. She remembered seeing a sight of Josette every now and then when she was near to Collinwood. She had found out very soon after Josette's death that her spirit still remained there.
 Barnabas took tight hold of her wrist, like reading her thoughts.
"We will find her together."
Angelique rolled her eyes. "Right..."
 She would use Josette now, but she would never forgive to her that she ruined perfect love Angelique and Barnabas once had. And even if Josette saved her from her mother, it did not mean she would let Josette out of her misery.

Not all Witches sell their soul to Satan, but give their heart to beloved one.

  "Your own mother?!" Barnabas kept saying in disbelief, walking around the room.
"Barnabas... Stop it." Angelique sighed, sitting in comfortable chair, watching dying fire in fireplace.
  It had been few hours since they met Angelique's mother. Sun was about to rise from horizon and Angelique was almost healed. Few little cracks was still on her chest, about to disappear any minute.
  "Your own mother..." Barnabas muttered.
Angelique stood up and looked at him, "Yes, my own mother! Stop saying that. It's driving me insane to hear it over and over again!"
Barnabas stopped and looked at her. He looked rather lost in his disbelief and worry. "I'm sorry" He said finally and sit down to opposite chair, watching as she sit down again.
 Angelique was well aware of that he was studying her body to find any unhealed cracks.
"I'm fine" She said, not bothering to look at him, but weak light in fireplace.
Barnabas turned to look at the fireplace as well. "I never thought it was truly so awful for you... I kept thinking.. There must have been something good in your mother. Something... Just, something.."
"There isn't."Angelique said simply.
"She has sold her soul to Satan." Barnabas nodded.
Angelique laughed, "Don't all Witches sell their soul to Satan?"
Barnabas looked at her. "You didn't."
Angelique looked at him rather surprised. "What makes you think that?"
"I know you. You are selfish enough not to give even one little piece for someone else if you don't gain anything from it. You're selfish because that's all you've ever learned. From your mother.. your masters..." His voice got lower and finally disappear until he cleared his throat and kept talking. "You're selfish because it's only way you know to protect yourself."
Angelique looked at him for while, "I'm not selfish with you."
"Hm... No."
"I gave you my heart.. Out of my own free will. Because I loved you."
Barnabas nodded slowly. "Indeed."
 They sit there for while, both sinking into their own thoughts.

 .... Angelique tickled gently Barnabas' face with her long dark hair.
"Wake up my love" She whispered against his neck, placing soft kisses there.
 "Hm.." He turned his back to her, wiping her hair away from him.
Angelique sit up and turned him to face her, "Oh no, you don't! Wake up sleepyhead, you have business meeting within couple hours."
 He opened his eyes tiredly, "I'm tired."
Angelique smiled, "I guess it's partly my fault, but still, you have to get up."
He looked at her for while. Her dark hair little messy and eyes bright after well slept night. She looked somehow fresh, even she had just awaken.
 She leaned down to kiss his lips softly. "I go make you breakfast, if I don't see you downstairs within half an hour, I will come and pour cold water on you."
"Don't you dare!" Barnabas growled playfully and pinned her down to the bed, "If you do that, you will have to take me to bath, and then I surely am late from my meeting."
 Angelique placed her hand against his chest and pushed him off, "Don't be fool my love, it's important meeting." She sit up and took her clothes.
 Barnabas watched her as she dressed and pulled her long hair up before she turned to see him. "Half an hour"
 "Alright, alright.." He sighed and sit up.
 When he finally came into dining room, Angelique was waiting for him.
"Barnabas... There's something you should know.."
He sit down at the end of the table and watched her. The expression on her face told him clearly that something was wrong. "What?"
Angelique came closer and leaned towards him to whisper to him, "Some of the servants has run off."
"Run off?" Barnabas repeated in low voice. "Why? Where?"
Angelique looked uneasy, "To the town... They.. "She bite her lip worriedly before she said, "They has told to villagers about us."
Barnabas looked at her worried eyes, hiding well that he was thinking the same as she was, and said calmly, "Don't worry about it. I can easily tell everyone that all of them has been ill lately, and fever has damaged their brain, they imagine all kind of things. Then I bring them back here."
"What will happen then?" Angelique asked, quite well knowing the answer.
"Dismiss them." Barnabas said.
Angelique nodded a bit, "I thought so..."
Barnabas looked at her, "Sit down for while with me."
She did as she was told, keeping him company while he ate his breakfast.
Those kind of moments, he felt her company most comforting. She took care of him, and made sure he was prepared to everything. Those kind of moments, he did start to think any possibility his parents could give their blessing for their love....

  Barnabas blinked his eyes, waking up from his thoughts and looked at Angelique.
She had fallen asleep on her chair.
 He got up quietly and looked out of window. Sun was already up.
He took her gently on his arms and carried her to bedroom, lay her down to the bed and got curtains to cover the window well before her lay down next to her. He watched her sleep and realized how her beautiful face all of sudden seemed much more tired and serious than it was centuries ago. Her beauty has hide that well, and just now, when she had her guard so perfectly up, it became clear how stressful it was for her.
He wanted to find the way to protect her from her mother, but he had no idea how to defend a powerful Witch from even more powerful Witch.
 His eyes trailed to her bedside table, where small box was safely placed.
He reach out his hand, taking the box. He looked at Angelique carefully, finding her sleeping peacefully, until he gently opened the box.
 It was tightly closed, and it took little force to get it open. Barnabas assumed Angelique had never open it after their child was placed in there. He was surprised how fresh the ashes seemed. They still smelled strongly, as if it was burned to ashes just yesterday. But more surprised he was that somewhere in that strong smell of ash, was weak scent of blood, but also that slight fresh smell that Angelique usually had.
 When Angelique moved a bit, he closed the box quickly and watched her sleeping. Wondering how on earth ashes can have slight scents of blood and freshness.
 He placed the box back to bedside table and wrapped his arm around Angelique's waist.
She took deep breath, turning towards him and snuggled closer to him.
He couldn't help but smile a bit. Now that she was so stressed and scared of her mother, she showed it more openly that she really needed him. Not when she was awake of course, but in her sleep, even she still seemed to have her guard up, she seek safety from his arms. As she had seek safety from him back in centuries ago, from her own past nightmares. He couldn't possibly believe that Angelique, his own Angelique, would have sell her soul to Satan. She had kept holding on everything she can, and her soul belonged to no one but herself. Her heart, how ever, had belonged to him ever since they were young. Her delicate, beautiful heart. He should treasure her heart as it was meant to be treasured so it won't shatter.
 But then again, how he could let go of Victoria? He knew that it was nearly impossible for him to choose between Angelique and Victoria. He had always loved Angelique in his own way. Maybe the feel of it, he had known her forever, was rather safe. Familiar. And he liked it.
 But Victoria, who was Josette's reincarnation, felt so right for him. He had loved her ever since he first met her.
 He sighed lightly and closed his eyes. He would think of that after he had got some sleep. Somehow he still couldn't fall into deep sleep. He kept waking up time to time. Something felt terribly wrong to him. They would not be safe until they found the way to destroy Angelique's mother.
  Knock on the front door, made him freeze for while. He got up, trying not to awake Angelique, slowly, carefully not to get touched with sunlight, he go towards door. He had bad about this, but still he had decided to find out who was after his Angelique now.