Collinsport Part 4 A Dark Shadows novel

Chapter Eight-Barnabas Collins and David Collins-1967

***

"Who are you?", David Collins asked.

"Barnabas Collins, I used to live here", he answered.

"I'm David Collins".

"I was freed by Willie Loomis".

"You're a vampire".

"I was turned into one by a witch named Angelique Brouchard".

"I read about her".

"Then you know about Josette duPre".

"Yes, she died when she fell off Widow's Hill a long time ago".

"Collinwood was a place that is most precious to me. Josette was my first wife in seventeen ninety-five. Her death was terrible".

"Sometimes I get blamed for things by Uncle Roger Collins".

"I'd like to meet the family", Barnabas Collins gripped the bright red ring with his right hand; he smiled at David.

And they headed down the dim hallway to the Drawing Room.

***

"David, are you here?", Elizabeth Collins Stoddard asked.

"Yes, I was with Barnabas Collins", David Collins answered.

Before she could speak, she saw a tall, pale, man.

His black hair was short.

His eyes were hazel.

"Barnabas, this is Aunt Elizabeth Collins Stoddard".

"A pleasure to meet you, M'Lady".

"You're dead".

"Willie Loomis freed me, but not the others".

"What do you want?", Elizabeth asked.

"I'd like to stay here in my house", Barnabas smiled.

"Would you like some tea, or red wine?".

"Red wine. David has told me all about Roger Collins".

"Has he now".

"Yes, he reads books, I hear".

"Yes, Victoria Winters is the Governess. She teaches him here". Barnabas nodded.

"Home-schooled".

"Yes, after the way other schools have treated him, we decided to have a new Governess to oversee David's education".

"My education was a long time ago. I was in Collinsport, Maine, in the Bangor area. I stared at the raging seas, and I knew my life was to make my fortune here. Josette and I were to be married at the Manor, until her death at Widow's Hill ended any chance of happiness. Then I met Angelique Brouchard. But she was a witch, and cursed me to be a vampire. And now I have returned to my ancestral home to make amends for my nefarious ways".

"Would you like to look around, Barnabas?", Elizabeth asked.

"Shortly", Barnabas answered.

He drank the red wine, and savored the taste.

***

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