Chapter Three 
by Peggy

"Hello, Mr. Barnabas."

The two of them heard a sudden noise behind them. When Barnabas turned, he saw Julia standing in the doorway with a confused look on her face. He went over to her with a worried look on his face.

"What's wrong, Julia?"

"What is Elliot doing here in New York?"

"He's not here, Julia."

"I know what I saw. He is standing behind you."

When he turned, he saw that Ben still stood where he had been. He motioned Ben over to them. Before he was able to introduce them, Ben spoke.

"Mr. Barnabas?"

"Yes, Ben?"

"What is Countess DuPres doing here?"

"She is not Countess DuPres, Ben. She is my friend, Julia Hoffman." Barnabas then turned to Julia.  "This is Ben Stokes."

"I'm pleased to meet you, Ben. May I ask you something, Ben?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Are you any relation to Elliot Stokes?"

"I don't know, ma'am."

Suddenly, the color drained out of Ben's face.

"What's wrong, Ben?"

"There is someone watching us. I felt it as soon as I came in. Could it be her? Could it be Angelique."

"No, Ben, it isn't her."

"How do you know, Mr. Barnabas?"

"She removed the curse from me just before she died."

"She's dead?"

"Yes, she died in my arms."

Julia retired for the night and Barnabas and Ben continued talking until they fell asleep. Barnabas had been asleep for about ten minutes, when he opened his eyes and sat up. He had heard the music, but he didn't know where it was coming from.

He got up and went into the kitchen to see if the radio had been left on. He found it wasn't plugged in. He knew that Julia had been having a feeling that someone was watching her. She had told him so. He went back to bed and managed to get back to sleep.

In the morning, when Julia got out of bed, Barnabas was able to tell that she had not slept well. "Julia, are you ill?"

"I didn't have a good night's sleep. I heard music playing, but I didn't know where it was coming from."

"Julia?"

"What, Barnabas?"

"I heard the music also."

"Who is doing this to me?"

Part Four