Collinsport Part 4 A Dark Shadows novel

Chapter One-Victoria Winters

***

I walked along the gloomy hallways of Collinsport Manor.

I wanted to let David Collins to resume his studies.

He was a kind, if reserved, boy.

In the eyes of others, he was a nuisance.

But, to me, he wanted love and affection.

***

"David, where are you?", I asked.

"Go away!", David answered.

His hair was messed up.

"What happened?".

"I saw Uncle Roger near Aunt Elizabeth's drawing room. Can you speak to him that I've done my studies?".

"Yes, David. You can have a break now".

"Thank you, Victoria".

And she smiled.

***

The drawing room was vast.

Statues of the Collins family created a gothic feeling of dread.

The framed pictures of Josiah Collins, and Barnabas Collins, loomed throughout the eerie house. I stared at the red ring on Barnabas's right, middle, finger.

His eyes penetrated my soul.

I was thinking of them when Roger Collins appeared.

He poured a glass of red wine, then sighed.

"I suppose, in my undue haste, that my temper created a sense of trouble for me. Is David alright? He seemed withdrawn".

"David finished his studies and is taking a break, Roger. You shouldn't make him feel unwanted; you're his Uncle, not his father".

"His father is...not of your concern".

"Burke Devlin thought he was his father".

"Burke Devlin is a criminal. And he lies".

"Not all men lie".

"I feel that, since your arrival, things have improved. In my defense, I don't come across as a fatherly man. Maybe I am a man of certain ways of going about my business without something, or someone, hurting me, or my family".

"I just want David to feel wanted. Is that so much to ask?".

"Yes, I suppose so. Liz did feel she needed help. And you came to make it easier for all of us. And, for that, I apologize for my behavior".

Outside, in the dim hallway, David Collins heard everything that he needed to hear. He crept through the secret passage that led to his own bedroom, and closed the door.

***

"I can't believe Liz that David has accomplished anything. I hate to deal with him now that Victoria Winters is overseeing his studies", Roger Collins sighed.

"Don't be too hard on David, Roger. You do know she's under immense pressure". She stared glumly out of the window; she saw the edge to Widow's Hill, and shivered.

"I hate to think she would deal with the vampires".

"Vampires. You don't think I would damage my family's reputation with ghost stories. Burke Devlin hates me".

"Burke Devlin cares about Victoria".

"Does he? He knows about our family. Carolyn made a mistake by dating him".