Winds Of Eternity Part 49

"I will be, Julia." He closed the door behind her as Willie appeared. "Willie," he said, needing to tell someone his news, "Julia's serum worked. I'm cured."

Willie's smile was dim. "That's -great, Barnabas. Does Angelique know?"

"No. I'm going up to tell her now. And Willie, see that no one disturbs us."

"Sure, Barnabas."

With a heavy heart, Barnabas started up the stairs.

Angelique was sitting, listening to the music box, thinking about Barnabas, about how like Judah it would be to possess the body of the only one who had ever defeated him. She wasn't certain how much longer the present situation could continue. The tension was becoming more than she could handle. The door opened, and as Barnabas appeared in the room, she closed the music box and came to her feet. He hadn't been in this room since the night of their wedding. She heard the key turn in the lock, saw him put it in his pocket. "Barnabas?"

"I think it's time for us to have a long talk, Angelique."

"Yes," she agreed. Suddenly she was anxious to get it over and done with, no matter what the consequences.

After checking on Roger and finding no change, Julia called Quentin's private number into the West Wing. He answered on the first ring. "Julia. How is Roger?"

"No different. But that might change. I just came from the Old House, Quentin. Barnabas is cured, and he's insisted on confronting Angelique. They're probably together right now. One of them may be in danger."

He chuckled softly. "You know, Julia, I've been thinking. Maybe we should just let them fight it out. The remaining one will obviously be Judah -"

"Quentin," Julia said, shocked by the suggestion.

"Sorry. It was a bad joke. I'll go over and see if I can't stop them from killing each other again."

"I'll be out later."

"Why are you doing all of this?" Barnabas asked suddenly, his voice shattering the stillness of the room.

"Me? Why are you?"

"I've done nothing," he denied.90.

"Oh? Then why did you tell Willie to take care of Judah Zachary's headstone after your walk to Eagle Hill the night we married? And the next evening, you were so cold and distant. And you went back to Judah's grave. I saw you there."

He shook his head. "I remember walking to Eagle Hill that night, I wanted to say good-bye to my past there. I don't recall going to Judah's grave - nor giving Willie any such instructions. As for the next evening -I don't remember anything about that evening from the time Julia gave me my injection until she left with Carolyn. I a.s.sumed that you had done something to affect my memory."

"And why did you go back to his grave later?"

"I had begun to suspect that he might be using you to complete his revenge on my family," he explained. "What about you? Elizabeth's attack after your quarrel?"

"There was no quarrel, Barnabas. I was desperate to find a way to prove that Judah had possessed you, so Quentin and I invented that quarrel and made sure you would overhear us talking about it. I thought that if you were Judah, you wouldn't pa.s.s up the opportunity to make me look even more guilty. I didn't cause her attack. I thought you had."

"I remember that night clearly. After Julia left, I very nearly came up here to catch you in the act. But I was afraid to. I knew that it would be the end of us again."

Angelique threw her arms around him, felt his around her. "Oh, Barnabas. If only we had talked before now."

"We weren't meant to, my darling. But if Judah hasn't possessed one of us, then who has he possessed?" he wondered aloud.

"Julia?"

"No. She didn't have the time to cause Elizabeth's attack."

"But - Quentin did. He had all the time in the world - and he just happened to have that amulet waiting. Barnabas, it could be him. He's the main cause of our not

having talked before now. He's been playing us against each other."

"You're right. But how can we fight him?"

"Let me think. Judah probably chose Quentin because of the portrait. He can't age. Barnabas, after he's destroyed the family, Collinwood would be his, and he could stay here in Quentin's body forever, start a new coven -"

"Yes. The portrait. If I threaten to destroy it, then Quentin would also be destroyed, and Judah would be forced to give up his quest yet again."

"You wouldn't actually destroy it, would you?" she asked him.

"I hope it won't come to that."

There was a knock on the door downstairs, and a moment later they heard Willie talking to Quentin. They were both silent until Willie's tentative knock on the door. "Yes, Willie?"

"Quentin's here. He's in the parlour-"

"Thank you, Willie. I'll be right down." He waited a moment. Turning to Angelique, he said, "I want you to stay here. I'll go down -"

"No, Barnabas. You go up to the third floor and find the portrait. I'll go downstairs and keep Quentin occupied without arousing any suspicion. I can always invent another argument between us about him."

"I'll be down as soon as I can," he said, pulling her into his arms. He gave her brief kiss that promised much more. "Be very careful, my love."

"I shall be."

Quentin was gazing in a gla.s.s of brandy when she came in. "You shouldn't have come here."

"That's not much of a welcome."

"Barnabas is in a terrible temper. We just argued again -"

"What about this time?"

"My spending so much time with you."

He touched her cheek with the back of his hand - something that so reminded her of Judah, that she bit back a gasp. "I91.

wonder if we shouldn't give some substance to his accusations, my dear? If he's going to hang us for the thought, why not for the deed?"

"Be serious, Quentin. I'm afraid of what Barnabas might do if he finds you here."

"At least you're worried about me. That's a good sign." His hand moved to her waist, intending to draw her closer.

Angelique met Barnabas' look as he came down the stairs. He shook his head negatively, then moved his gaze to Quentin's hand. Sensing her withdrawal and the reason for it, Quentin released Angelique and turned to greet Barnabas. "Quentin. I trust you have reason for your visit?"