The night sky was filled with thick grey clouds that seemed to accumulate at the top of Widow's Hill, only yards away from the great mansion that oddly felt very busy deep within its body.
Kimberly scurried around Julia Hoffman's cold laboratory in a white lab coat placing different slides under microscopes. Her theory was that somehow Barnabas's genes had mutated just like Christopher's when Angelique placed her curse; changing his DNA forever and requiring him to (and even desire) the taste of human blood to survive. Her scientific answer to a supernatural question could change Barnabas' life everything!
Kimberly scurried around Julia Hoffman's cold laboratory in a white lab coat placing different slides under microscopes. Her theory was that somehow Barnabas's genes had mutated just like Christopher's when Angelique placed her curse; changing his DNA forever and requiring him to (and even desire) the taste of human blood to survive. Her scientific answer to a supernatural question could change Barnabas' life everything!
The only problem was Kimberly had yet to find the gene she needed to then begin tests at reversing his biology. Kimberly was going at this the same way Julia had, scientifically, but Barnabas was a being of supernatural creation, the main question that needed to be uncovered was if Kim's knowledge of science in 2016 could finally rid the impatient Barnabas of his hated trait.
Barnabas did have a more concerning fear of the project. Julia fell deeper and deeper into the depths of the supernatural powers that circulated Collinwood, could Kimberly fight the powers that were all around her?
Barnabas did have a more concerning fear of the project. Julia fell deeper and deeper into the depths of the supernatural powers that circulated Collinwood, could Kimberly fight the powers that were all around her?
As she worked Barnabas walked in silently as to not disturb Kimberly, but it didn't work. She could feel his presence as he paced around the room. His energy and force was so strong no one at Collinwood could even pretend not to notice him. Barnabas was in his element.
"Come to check up on me?" She said without lifting her head from her work.
"I didn't mean to interrupt you, I was curious to know what you found." Barnabas said as he looked around the Laboratory that had been updated with the most state-state-of-the-art equipment from Kimberly's own personal instruments.
"Barnabas it's only been a few hours. I've only just began testing your tissue samples. It's going to take time." Kimberly responded.
"I've been waiting for so long for any kind of break through and since you've come along, I feel like this could be it. I feel like I could finally be free. Don't you feel that too?" Barnabas said with hope in his eyes.
Kimberly turned and had half a smile on her face. She could see the optimism written all over Barnabas' face, a sign of happiness that hope that surely through his life rarely ever felt. And for the first time in a long time she felt that her work was actually going to do some good.
"I'll do everything that I can." she said.
"Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be between two worlds? It's a strange question to ask a person. But have you ever?" He asked Kimberly as she kept her head down to her work.
"No. Well, in a way. I guess everyone has at one point. We wonder what's on the other side of death. That's sort of the same thing. But I come from a scientific background, you see in my mind everything has a beginning and everything has an end." Kimberly said speaking in her best Doctor voice.
"Ahh... but there it is. You see I have never had an end. Everything in my world has been in constant motion. A beginning like everyone else, and then frozen in time forever experiencing everyone else's life as they pass through. But not I. This is why what Julia tried and what you are doing for me is so important. If discovered, this gene you speak of, can save me from an existence of loneliness." Barnabas explained.
Kimberly looked up briefly from her microscope to see Barnabas staring directly at her with clear and kind eyes, eyes that she did not expect to see from a man who was literally the living dead. And for that brief moment in time she felt as though she understood him.
"I'll do everything that I can." she said.
"Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be between two worlds? It's a strange question to ask a person. But have you ever?" He asked Kimberly as she kept her head down to her work.
"No. Well, in a way. I guess everyone has at one point. We wonder what's on the other side of death. That's sort of the same thing. But I come from a scientific background, you see in my mind everything has a beginning and everything has an end." Kimberly said speaking in her best Doctor voice.
"Ahh... but there it is. You see I have never had an end. Everything in my world has been in constant motion. A beginning like everyone else, and then frozen in time forever experiencing everyone else's life as they pass through. But not I. This is why what Julia tried and what you are doing for me is so important. If discovered, this gene you speak of, can save me from an existence of loneliness." Barnabas explained.
Kimberly looked up briefly from her microscope to see Barnabas staring directly at her with clear and kind eyes, eyes that she did not expect to see from a man who was literally the living dead. And for that brief moment in time she felt as though she understood him.
"Well, I hope I can make this----" as Kimberly finished her thought Carolyn burst in with a grim look on her face that Barnabas and Kimberly noticed right away.
"Carolyn! What is it?" Kimberly asked concerned.
"It's Caleb. He's been arrested for attempted murder."
Kimberly gasped and immediately began to remove her lab coat, "I have to go to him!"
"I'll go with you." Barnabas said moving towards the lab door.
"Are you crazy? You can't! What if someone see's you Barnabas!" Carolyn replied interjecting herself before he could run through the door.
"Caleb is family, I must go to him. Please, Kimberly may I come?" He asked.
Kimberly in her panic about her eldest son only nodded a faint yes, to Carolyn's displeasure.
As Barnabas continued to pass Carolyn in the door way she stopped him one last time by placing her hand directly onto his chest.
"What are you doing?" She whispered.
"Kimberly needs us. Caleb too." He said softly.
"Listen to me, this town has't seen you in over 50 years, putting yourself in the cross-hairs of people who don't know you've come back--again--Barnabas it's dangerous and it puts all in danger." Carolyn explained.
"I understand." Barnabas quipped, flippantly avoiding his Collinsport history.
"Just be careful when you're out there, and Barnabas, whatever happens here in this laboratory, with Kimberly.....look, she's not Julia Hoffman, ok? Just remember that." Carolyn said noticing the twinge of affection Barnabas was beginning to have for Kimberly, a woman Carolyn didn't fully trust yet.
As Barnabas continued to pass Carolyn in the door way she stopped him one last time by placing her hand directly onto his chest.
"What are you doing?" She whispered.
"Kimberly needs us. Caleb too." He said softly.
"Listen to me, this town has't seen you in over 50 years, putting yourself in the cross-hairs of people who don't know you've come back--again--Barnabas it's dangerous and it puts all in danger." Carolyn explained.
"I understand." Barnabas quipped, flippantly avoiding his Collinsport history.
"Just be careful when you're out there, and Barnabas, whatever happens here in this laboratory, with Kimberly.....look, she's not Julia Hoffman, ok? Just remember that." Carolyn said noticing the twinge of affection Barnabas was beginning to have for Kimberly, a woman Carolyn didn't fully trust yet.
Once Carolyn released him, Barnabas ran off with Kimberly in the night to the police station to find Caleb leaving Carolyn in the doorway of the laboratory with her thoughts and concerns. She knew Barnabas more then anyone in the entire world. He could charm anyone into doing what he wanted. But there was always a price to pay.
****
At the hospital Leopold lurked around Kat's room while she was being attended to, just waiting for the right moment to go into her room where they would be alone. He stood in human form in his black coat in a small hall just across from her hospital room and waited. Then the moment came.
He overheard an orderly tell a nurse that the woman in hospital room 6 was resting with a laceration to the back of her head. But would survive and he'd return to check on her later. Kat was alone. Leopold walked over quietly to her room and walked in.
He overheard an orderly tell a nurse that the woman in hospital room 6 was resting with a laceration to the back of her head. But would survive and he'd return to check on her later. Kat was alone. Leopold walked over quietly to her room and walked in.
The walls in Kat's hospital room was painted a faint blue that looked gray with the low lights. Kat lay asleep in her bed, almost angelic in contrast to Leopold's dark demeanor. He stood over her like an evil tower and closed his eyes. He tried unsuccessfully to go into Kat's mind but it was blocked, his telepathic abilities were no match for the spell Alexandra had placed on her, but it was too late. He knew Kat's mind was locked, and if the spell were broken she would surly try and reveal his secrets, and for Leopold the could spell disaster. He very existence depending on no one knowing the truth of his lust for blood.
He leaned in close to her as she continued to rest and felt her breath on his cheek. He could feel the blood rushing through her body like hundreds of red rivers flowing through her. He was tempted.
"Things could have been so different Katherine. If only you had stayed away like I had hoped. But you chose differently." Leopold said in a sinister whisper of a voice in her ear.
And as he spoke he looked around her hospital room with all the machines monitoring Kat's vital signs. He flicked the IV bag and watched the liquid slowly drip by drip into the vial that the poured into her veins. He walked over again to the other side of her bed where the heart monitor beeped its precise notes of Kat's heartbeat.
"Detective, It's time you die." He whispered, with a tone of voice the echoed his dark obsession with ending her life.
Leopold's eyes began to change to their evil Amber color, his skin turned pale and his fangs poked through as his jaw widened. Leopold slowly went down closer and closer to Kat's neck where he could feel the heat from her blood pumping in her veins. A chill filled the room as death came inches away from Kat's body.
Suddenly the room door opened and the light from the hall peeked through and created a golden triangle of light on Leopold's back.
Suddenly the room door opened and the light from the hall peeked through and created a golden triangle of light on Leopold's back.
"Excuse me, can I help you?" A young man's voice asked from the doorway.
Leopold instantly reverted back to his normal self. His eyes and skin and fangs all went back to normal as he slowly turned to face the person who interrupted.
"No, thank you. I just came to see my friend." Leopold said as he patted Kat's pillows.
"Oh. Ok. I'm her brother Sebastian. Thank you for coming so late. None of the nurses told me anyone was here to see her. I just drove in from Bangor, myself." Sebastian explained to an irritated Leopold.
"Her brother." Leopold said confirming.
"Well half brother. Who did you say you were again?" Sebastian asked suspiciously noting the strangers awkward behavior.
"Just a friend, I should go. I'm sure you'd like to be alone with your sister." Leopold said.
Leopold left Sebastian with a strange feeling as he left the room. Leopold was disappointed that his chance at killing Kat to retain the secrecy of his identity and leaving the situation in limbo but this wouldn't be the last time he would find Kat alone, in fact he was going to make sure that Kat wouldn't leave the hospital ...alive.
After Leopold left, Sebastian sat patiently sat at his half sister side as she started to come to. He jumped from his seat and grabbed her hand at the side of the bed.
"Kat! Kat, thank god, you're ok!" He said kissing her cheek.
"What happened?" She said reaching for her head.
"No, don't touch. You were attacked in town. You hurt your head."
"What....I...who............ ?" Kat asked looking at her brother with a foggy head and drowsy eyes.
"It's me, Sis, its Sebastian. Do you remember? Can you tell me who attacked you Kat?" He asked hoping for an answer.
Kat looked around the hospital room, her mind was foggy and confused. She tried as hard as she could to grasp on to something in her head that would make sense but couldn't muster up anything coherent.
"It's ok. Don't push your self, you need to rest. You hit your head pretty hard." Sebastian said comforting his sister.
Kat looked around and then back at Sebastian who was smiling at her hoping she would say something, anything.
"I dont know you. Do I? What am I doing here? I....I dont remember anything." Kat said to a shocked Sebastian.
After Leopold left, Sebastian sat patiently sat at his half sister side as she started to come to. He jumped from his seat and grabbed her hand at the side of the bed.
"Kat! Kat, thank god, you're ok!" He said kissing her cheek.
"What happened?" She said reaching for her head.
"No, don't touch. You were attacked in town. You hurt your head."
"What....I...who............ ?" Kat asked looking at her brother with a foggy head and drowsy eyes.
"It's me, Sis, its Sebastian. Do you remember? Can you tell me who attacked you Kat?" He asked hoping for an answer.
Kat looked around the hospital room, her mind was foggy and confused. She tried as hard as she could to grasp on to something in her head that would make sense but couldn't muster up anything coherent.
"It's ok. Don't push your self, you need to rest. You hit your head pretty hard." Sebastian said comforting his sister.
Kat looked around and then back at Sebastian who was smiling at her hoping she would say something, anything.
"I dont know you. Do I? What am I doing here? I....I dont remember anything." Kat said to a shocked Sebastian.
Sebastian took a step back and smiled a comforting smile at his sister who was terrified. Not only was her memory partly suppressed by Alex's spell, but she had now also forgotten everything else. Including who she was, where she was, and most importantly her attacker. Kat had amnesia.
"Just relax ok, I'll get a doctor." Sebastian said walking out of the hospital room quietly.
As Sebastian stepped out of his sister's hospital room he found a quiet corner and pulled out his cell phone from his pocket and dialed a number. The other person soon answered.
"It's Banning. Kat's awake but we have a problem. She doesn't remember a thing......... No, nothing at all..... Yes I understand the situation, but we'll get inside Collinwood another way. I promise. I'll call you back once I get more info." Sebastian said and quickly hung up the phone.
****
The police station was oddly quiet considering they had just arrested someone for an attempted murder. Kimberly and Barnabas burst in looking for Caleb. Searching for any officer who knew his whereabouts, and finally they came to Loomis.
"Calm down, yes we have your son." Loomis explained pulling out the case file.
"Well I want to see him! Detective, there is no way my son could have done this. He loves Kat!" Kimberly explained.
"Kimberly I heard it with my own ears over the phone. Kat clearly said his name as she was being attacked, and right now she's in a hospital room unconscious. " Loomis concluded.
"That just can't be." Kimberly said in a worried voice.
"What's going to happen now?" Barnabas asked Loomis.
"He'll be arraigned in the morning and bail will be set." Loomis explained.
"That is if you have enough evidence, of course." Barnabas added.
"Excuse me?" Loomis said turning to Barnabas
"Yes, you cannot keep a man in jail if you don't have enough evidence of the crime. So far all you have is something heard over a telephone, is that correct detective? I would assume you would wait for Detective Banning to recover so that she could give her side of the story." Barnabas said.
"Who are you again?" Loomis said baffled at this new person's meddling.
Barnabas' eyes changed to pitch black and Loomis looked directly into the black pools that swirled around and around. Barnabas then touched Loomis' chest and said "I am Barnabas Collins. The one. The only. And from here on out, you will listen to my demands. Caleb Collins shall be released, you will note the lack and insufficient evidence in his case and pursue him no more?"
Loomis' face had no reaction, Kimberly was shocked at what she was seeing, something she had never ever seen before. A hypnosis.
Loomis then opened the case file and began to write his report, quietly. He then handed it to Barnabas and walked into a hall. Barnabas and Kimberly looked at each other then opened the file that read Caleb had been suspected but not charged in Kat's attack, and was subsequently released on his mother's recognizance pending further investigation.
"How did you do that?" Kimberly asked.
"My dear, even though I hate what was done to me, there are some added side effects that work in my favor."
"Mind control." Kimberly said astonished.
"Caleb is family. I have learned from my past that family is the strongest key to one's own progress. Young Caleb needs to be free so that he can find out who really did this to Detective Banning." He explained.
"Thank you Barnabas." Kimberly said with tears welling in her eyes. No one had ever done something so extraordinary for her. "Caleb is innocent. There has to be some other explanation." She added.
"I'm sure there is." Barnabas said suspiciously.
"I'm sure there is." Barnabas said suspiciously.
As they both stood in the quiet Police station Caleb came running from the same hall that Loomis silently walked into.
"Mother!" he said rushing over to her and hugging her. "How did you get me released so quickly." Caleb asked.
"I didn't do anything. It was Barnabas." Kimberly stated.
"Thank you. How can I ever repay you?" Caleb asked turning to his centuries old cousin.
"We're family young Caleb. And your mother, thankfully, is on her way to helping me in return." Barnabas said, coldly referring to the gene therapy she had began in the laboratory before Caleb's arrest. "Shall we go?" he asked.
They agreed and quickly made their way out of the police station.
"Just a second." Loomis said as he also came back from the holding area Caleb was in. "You've been released but not cleared Mr. Collins, so I wouldn't be traveling anytime soon. Once detective Banning comes to, she'll be interviewed and then we'll see what the real story is.
"I swear to you, I didn't do anything to her. I was on my way to meeting her and when I crossed the street after I parked I saw her in this side ally....And there was this... I don't know, this shadow or dark figure holding her up by the neck." Caleb explained to an unconvinced Loomis.
"Like I said. Stay in town. I'll be calling you." The detective continued.
Caleb, Kimberly and Barnabas turned and quickly walked out into the Police station lobby. Barnabas grabbed Caleb by the arm and pulled him close.
"This black mass, or figure you saw, cousin. Can you describe it for me again." Barnabas whispered feeling as though Caleb's initial description sounded familiar. Very familiar.
"Well it was large, but not larger then a man. And it was consumed by darkness, almost as if it was coming from the shadows. It was bizarre. It had Kat by the neck and it was holding her up and when she screamed for me it turned and dropped her. That's when she hit her head." Caleb explained.
"Did it look at you?" Barnabas asked.
"Barnabas what's going on?" Kimberly asked, noting Barnabas' deep concern.
"It did. I saw just yellow, or bright eyes, but nothing else. It was all so fast." Caleb said.
Barnabas knew exactly what it was.
"This"it" in question was not an "it" at all, but a who. I have seen those same eyes when I visited the old house just the night before. Those were the eyes of Leopold Divernet." Barnabas said to a shocked Kimberly and Caleb.
Loomis returned to his desk where another police officer was reading the case file, confused and surprised.
"Hey Loom! You let that guy go?" The officer said in his Boston accent.
"No evidence. But don't worry, I'll be watching the Collins family very closely, and when they finally slip up, I'll be waiting for them. Kat and me." Loomis said definitely.
"Just a second." Loomis said as he also came back from the holding area Caleb was in. "You've been released but not cleared Mr. Collins, so I wouldn't be traveling anytime soon. Once detective Banning comes to, she'll be interviewed and then we'll see what the real story is.
"I swear to you, I didn't do anything to her. I was on my way to meeting her and when I crossed the street after I parked I saw her in this side ally....And there was this... I don't know, this shadow or dark figure holding her up by the neck." Caleb explained to an unconvinced Loomis.
"Like I said. Stay in town. I'll be calling you." The detective continued.
Caleb, Kimberly and Barnabas turned and quickly walked out into the Police station lobby. Barnabas grabbed Caleb by the arm and pulled him close.
"This black mass, or figure you saw, cousin. Can you describe it for me again." Barnabas whispered feeling as though Caleb's initial description sounded familiar. Very familiar.
"Well it was large, but not larger then a man. And it was consumed by darkness, almost as if it was coming from the shadows. It was bizarre. It had Kat by the neck and it was holding her up and when she screamed for me it turned and dropped her. That's when she hit her head." Caleb explained.
"Did it look at you?" Barnabas asked.
"Barnabas what's going on?" Kimberly asked, noting Barnabas' deep concern.
"It did. I saw just yellow, or bright eyes, but nothing else. It was all so fast." Caleb said.
Barnabas knew exactly what it was.
"This"it" in question was not an "it" at all, but a who. I have seen those same eyes when I visited the old house just the night before. Those were the eyes of Leopold Divernet." Barnabas said to a shocked Kimberly and Caleb.
Loomis returned to his desk where another police officer was reading the case file, confused and surprised.
"Hey Loom! You let that guy go?" The officer said in his Boston accent.
"No evidence. But don't worry, I'll be watching the Collins family very closely, and when they finally slip up, I'll be waiting for them. Kat and me." Loomis said definitely.
****
Back at Collinwood, Carolyn eagerly awaiting Caleb, Kimberly and Barnabas' return. She stared out of the drawing room window waiting for any sign of someone returning home, when finally the door opened and in walked Alexandra.
"Darling, where have you been?" Carolyn asked as Alex walked in with a long face. "What's the matter?" Carolyn added.
"I've had a horrible night mother, I really don't want to talk about it." Alex said brushing off the confrontation she had earlier with Chris where she destroyed the last vials of antidote that would cure him.
"It's been a very eventful night for everyone, I'll get us some tea. Why don't you sit down, I'll be right back." Carolyn said sitting Alex on the soft sofa that over looked a warming fire place.
As Alex sat alone she began again to hear the voice calling to her from Widow's Hill. The voice that she now could tell was her own voice, echoing across the bluffs and into the room and swirling around her mind.
"Your job is not done." The voice said inside her mind.
"What do you want from me!" Alex replied back shaking her head as if she were shaking water out of her ears.
"The only way to get revenge is to remove the cancer that has brought all of this upon you. You must destroy Claudia." The voice said as Alex stood up and looked out of the window to where she felt the voice coming from even though it was actually in her own head.
As Alex looked out of the window the reflection in the glass facing her startled her. The face was an angrier, more wicked version of herself, darker red lips, longer wavier hair, but it was definitely Alex, just another more horrible creation from her mind.
"What should I do?" Alex asked her reflection.
"In a room in the attic above the East wing there is a book bound in leather. It hold's powers you could never imagine, Alexandra. You must find it, and you must use it. When you reach it Alexandra, open it to a page marked with a crimson ribbon with the embroidered letter A. There you will find the answers." The reflection said.
The doe eyed Alex reluctantly agreed and ran off to find the boo in the attic, and as she did, her reflection remained in the glass and slowly the reflection began to morph into the face of a mysterious blond woman with deep blue eyes laughing a evil laugh.
