Part 52 (1/2)
”I think it best if you don't know that. Then Barnabas can't force you to tell him. Where is he, by the way?”
”I think he's downstairs with Elizabeth. I don't want to go back to that house with him, Quentin. He's become cruel, and -”
Quentin rose and put an arm around her, pulling her against him. ”There, there. You don't have to go back if you don't want to. I'll be leaving Collinwood in a few days -you can go with me -”
The door opened violently, and Barnabas stood there, anger in every line of his body. ”She's not going anywhere with you.” He held out his hand. ”Come here, Angel-ique.”
Quentin kept his arms around her. ”She doesn't want to, Barnabas.”
”Let her decide. Come here.” Angelique shrugged off Quentin's arms and slowly moved away.
”NO! She's chosen me this time.”
Angelique put her hand in Barnabas. ”Go downstairs, Angelique - or back to the Old House -”
”I'd rather stay,” she said quietly.
”Very well. But don't interfere.”
”I won't.”
”Perhaps it's best if you do stay. Now Quentin can tell you who he really is.”
”I beg your pardon?”
”Tell her.”
”There's nothing you can do to make me say a thing,” Quentin said, picking up his gla.s.s.
”I wouldn't be too sure of that.”
Perhaps there was something in that tone that he recognized, for he gave a
decidedly nervous laugh. ”You're joking, right?”
”I'm not joking. I'm very serious. Now, are you going to tell her the truth, or do I have to force it out of you?”
”I would love to see you try, Barnabas.”
”As you wish.” He stared at the window until it opened, and then told Quentin, ”Look outside.”
Nervous now, he turned and paled when he saw the axe suspended in the darkness. ”No!”
”Then tell her your name. Tell her from whom she has been seeking comfort.”
When there was no response, the axe began to move closer, making a chopping motion. Frightened, he cried out. ”JUDAH! Judah Zachary.” He slumped into a chair as the axe vanished. ”You. You're Aaron For-sythe.”
”I'm pleased you still remember me, Judah. I swore revenge on you once, many years ago.”