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Christmas,
1794
"Barnabas," Sarah shouted
and leapt into her brother's arms. "I'm so glad you're home. I have
missed you. Did you miss me? Did you bring me a present?"
Barnabas kissed his sister's cheek and hugged her tightly.
"My dear Sarah, you'll never know how much I've missed you. And
yes, I brought you a present."
He opened his travel case and handed her the small box.
"May I open it now?"
"Of course."
"Oh, Barnabas, it is so pretty," she cooed while looking
at the locket.
"Will you put it on me?"
With all of the patience a child can muster, she waited for
her brother to secure the chain around her neck and then rushed
to her bureau mirror to admire herself. Turning to him, Sarah asked,
"How do I look?"
"As pretty as a princess."
Sarah smiled and admired her locket. "Barnabas, what does
this inscription say? Is it French?"
"No, my dear, it is not French. The jeweller told me it is
an ancient language and it means 'may good fortune and happiness
protect you.'"
"'Good fortune and happiness.' According to Father, the Collins
have all the good fortune and happiness anyone could want."
"Life is fickle and circumstances change. It never hurts
to have a charm to ward off bad fortune."
"So," Sarah said, still toying with the locket, "this is
like a talisman?"
"Yes," he answered.
"Then I shall never take it off. Never."
"Very well then. Now, tell me, what have Mother and Father
planned for Christmas?"
Sarah took a deep breath and began to recite the itinerary
she had committed to memory. "Tomorrow we must go to church. Then
after church we are to deliver gifts to Ben Stokes and his family.
Father says we are very fortunate to have a man like Ben Stokes
and must take very good care of his family. Then we will come home
and have dinner and enjoy a quiet evening together. Just the family.
Aunt Abigail will be joining us. She is such a bother at times and
has such peculiar habits, but Father says she is a Collins and we
must make allowances."
Barnabas smiled. Next Christmas he would be married to Josette
and, perhaps, would have a child of his own on the way. "Next Christmas
you will have a sister-in-law. What do you think of that?"
"I hope she makes you very happy, Barnabas. And I hope she
brings you only good fortune and happiness."
*
* *
Collinwood,
1795
So much had happened and
all her mind could understand was that Josette had not married Barnabas.
She had married Jeremiah Collins. Her Uncle Jeremiah was now lying
in the Eagle Hill Cemetery shot dead by Barnabas.
The person she and the others had trusted so much, the woman
who had married Barnabas, Angelique, was wicked and the cause for
everyone's suffering. And now Angelique was nowhere to be found.
Sarah had heard her father, brother and Ben Stokes talking. Something
about Angelique divorcing Barnabas and travelling to Europe.
Then, without any farewells, Barnabas mysteriously left Collinwood.
Sarah clutched the locket. So far it had kept her safe from
all ills that had befallen her family. Barnabas told her it would
protect her. Barnabas.
Tears spilled onto her face. If only she could see him again.
Why would he go away and not tell her goodbye?
Go outside… he's out
there, a gentle feminine
voice told her and then laughed. Go
into the night, and there you will see Barnabas.
Quietly, she donned her robe and crept down the stairs. Closing
the door behind her, she ran into the night.
*
* *
The silhouette before her was unmistakable. She recognized his stance.
"Barnabas!" she shouted and ran to him.
As he turned, his eyes glowed with crimson flames. Blood
covered his lips and chin.
His fangs and eyes glistened red in the moonlight.
"Sarah," he said and approached her.
Sarah tried to run from him but tripped over the hem of her
robe. Lying on the ground, she screamed, "Stay away from me."
"Sarah," Barnabas repeated and reached for his sister.
Scrambling backwards, she begged, "Leave me alone. Stay away
from me."
Barnabas stopped pursuing her. "Sarah, I won't hurt you."
"Leave me be," she repeated and ran away.
Barnabas watched her flee him. She was one of the few who
still caused human emotions to well within him. He dragged his cuff
over his mouth. Blood covered the white linen. Repulsed, he staggered
back to his crypt.
A flash of silver caught his eye. Lying on the ground where
Sarah had fallen was her locket.
Gripping it tightly in his hand, Barnabas swore he would
find a way to return it to her.
*
* *
Ben Stokes banged on the door of the great house. In his arms was
Sarah. She was wearing only her bed clothes. Weakly, she clung to
Ben.
"Sarah, thank God," Joshua said and ushered Ben inside. "Take
her up to her room. Her mother and the doctor are waiting."
"I saw Barnabas," Sarah told her mother. "I saw him. He was
drinking blood. It was horrible. He is horrible. I had to hide from
him. Don't let him near me. Don't. Please."
"Joshua," Naomi addressed her husband, "she's delirious with
fever."
"I saw Barnabas," Sarah repeated. "He's evil. Keep him away
from me."
Hours later, the doctor came down the stairs. Ben was sitting
in the foyer. The doctor shook his head. No words need be spoken.
"Poor little thing. I hope her spirit finds rest," Ben said.
"She is at peace now," the doctor said. "You go look after
Mr. and Mrs. Collins. I'll see myself back to Collinsport."
Ben entered Sarah's room. Naomi and Joshua were clutching
Sarah's body and weeping. Her fever was now gone and her small,
round face was aglow from the sweat of her illness. Wisps of her
hair clung to her forehead and cheeks. She looked just like she
had finished playing with his children.
But Sarah would play no more. Three days later Sarah was
entombed in the Collins family crypt.
*
* *
Barnabas pushed open the gate to the cemetery. Perhaps now it would
be safe to return. He saw the flowers left by the mourners. He entered
the crypt and looked down at the granite tomb. A small bouquet of
fresh flowers lay on the lid. He removed the flowers and opened
the coffin.
Buried in her favourite dress, Sarah looked like she was
asleep. So many times he had awakened her by tickling her cheek
or chin. She would open her eyes, laugh and hug him.
The chill of her flesh against his reminded him that she
was dead. And that he was one of the undead.
"I'm so sorry, my little one,"he said as he pulled the locket
from his vest pocket and secured it around her neck. "I am so sorry."
*
* *
Christmas,
Collinwood, 1795
Barnabas stood in the
woods near Collinwood. He could see the lights from the great house.
His cousin, Daniel, was now the heir to the Collin fortune. All
seemed to be well. He saw Sarah's oak tree. It was there that he
would read to her and indulge her in her play. He would go and rest
there for a moment. The only sounds were the snow as it crunched
under his boots and the grinding of the rope that secured a small
swing to one of the lower branches. There he would go and remember
his Sarah.
A childish giggle startled him. He turned and saw the small
pale figure sitting in the swing.
Thinking the child was one of Ben Stokes, Barnabas said,
"You should be at home. It's late. Now go."
"Do you not know me?" the child asked.
"Sarah?"
"Come, Barnabas. I'm not afraid anymore. Come sit with me,"
Sarah welcomed him.
"Sarah, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Can you
forgive me?"
"I know that now. There is nothing to forgive." Sarah opened
her hand and showed him the locket. "Keep this for me, please."
"It's yours. I can't."
Sarah turned his face to hers. "I don't need it anymore.
Nothing can harm me now. But, Barnabas, you need a charm to keep
you safe. You have suffered so much. Please, keep it and one day,
when all is well for you, you can return it to me." She dropped
the locket in his hand and closed his fingers around it. "I can't
stay long, Barnabas. Remember, this is my Christmas gift to you:
one day good people will help you and the curse will be lifted.
Then, good fortune and happiness will always protect and be with
you."
Kissing his cheek, she said, "I love you. Happy Christmas,
my dear brother Barnabas."
Barnabas watched her walk away. Her form vanished into a
mist that was scattered by the wind. Snow began to fall and swirl
around him but he did not feel the chill.
All he felt was the
warm glow of his sister's undying love.
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