Part 13 (1/2)
Julia noticed Barnabas' preoccupation at the ceremony to open the Center, and faced a fear that had been plaguing her since their return. During the reception later, she found a quiet corner near where Barnabas was talking to Quentin and Roger. She took a small mirror from her purse and turned her back to the group. In the mirror, she saw Roger's reflection - and Quentin's, but not Barnabas'. Quickly, she put the mirror back into her purse.
”Are you alright, Julia?” Carolyn asked. ”You look a little pale.”
”I'm fine, Carolyn. Just a little tired.” Spotting Willie across the room, Julia excused herself. ”Willie, can we talk for a moment?”
”Sure, Julia.” They found a quiet spot by the door. ”What's up?”
”Is - Barnabas' coffin still at the Old House?” she asked softly.
”You know it is, Julia,” he said nervously. ”What're ya askin' about that for?”
”Just curious, Willie.” She turned to find Barnabas talking to a vaguely familiar young woman. As she approached, she recognized the look on Barnabas' face, and31.
smiled up at her old friend. ”Here you are. Could I have a word with you, Barnabas?”
”Can it wait, Julia?”
”No. It cannot.”
She saw his anger at her interruption as he turned to the girl. ”We'll talk later,” he told her, then turned to his old friend. ”Julia?” He followed her to a small anteroom. ”Well?”
”I don't know how to tell you -”
”Tell me what?”
She could sense his impatience to return to that girl out there. ”Barnabas -when you were talking to that girl just now, what were you feeling? What are you feeling now?”
She saw the horrified realization in his eyes. ”NO!”
”Barnabas -”
”Angelique lifted the curse. How -”
”She removed the curse that she placed on you. The curse you were under before you went to 1840 - wasn't Angel-ique's.”
”The Leviathans. I had thought this done forever.”
”I'll start trying to isolate a serum. But you have to cooperate.”
”Why? I've no reason to want a cure now, Julia. Any reason I may have had I left in 1840.”
”Are you sure of that, Barnabas? I've spoken to Elizabeth. She remembers Angelique Rumsen. That means that she might be alive in this time. You could find her - once you're cured.”
There was hope in his eyes. ”You might be right. But I won't wait until you locate the serum. I'll contact her attorney in New York. He must know where she is.”
Julia was in her lab at the Old House a week later, working, when someone knocked on the front door. It was almost dusk, and Julia decided to make sure Willie didn't arouse any suspicions in the visitor.
”Mr. Collins ain't here right now,” Willie was saying as she approached the door.
”Will he be back soon? It's imperative that I speak to him.”