by Terry S. Bowers

Closing her eyes, Julia sighed lightly, contentedly. She had insisted that Barnabas come to her for his blood needs, and he'd not resisted, welcoming her complete acceptance of him and her unfailing love for him, when he'd been unable to accept or love himself. There had been no recurrence of the overwhelming need to mate during that time Barnabas reverted, but neither had been overly concerned. They enjoyed a very healthy, very active love life, but there were no other children. Julia had accepted long ago she and Barnabas would remain childless, except for dhampir they'd created, the child of mixed existence who had been taken from them. Julia tried not to think about it, yet every day she wondered, and wished to know what that child looked like, how it coped with its dual existence, if it wondered about its parents. She knew Barnabas did as well, although they never talked about it. Not because of resentment or anger, but because they knew it would change nothing.

Feeling warm hands come to rest on her shoulders, Julia smiled and leaned her head back until it touched the fabric covering the chair. She felt a light kiss on the top of her head as the hands squeezed gently.

"Come to bed."

Barnabas' tone was deep, rich, sensuous, and Julia knew she couldn't resist, even if she wanted to. Closing her notes, she placed them on the floor, stood and dropped the afghan across the arm of the chair. She met Barnabas' gaze. It was as deep and sensuous as his voice. Smile met smile and they walked slowly toward their bed on the far side of the room.

Curled under the covers, snuggled into Barnabas' embrace, Julia sighed and sought his hand beneath the blanket, fingers lacing together.

"I need not ask what you were studying. I know those books almost as well as you."

"Just... double checking, to be sure."

Barnabas nodded, understanding his wife's caution. His time as a vampire was as difficult for her as it was for him. Not just physically, because Julia insisted he come to her alone when he needed blood, or because she often neglected her own needs to concentrate on his, but emotionally as well. Julia's love for him never wavered, her devotion never lessened, but her fear for his safety increased.

"I have sensed no indications of change, Julia."

"Nor have I, but we both know it can happen so quickly, with no warning. I just want to be certain the booster series is still effective."

Collins kissed her tenderly.

"I have often marvelled at how you could look past what I was, what I did, and love me anyway."

Julia rolled over so she stared down into Barnabas' eyes, her expression one of total love and tolerant amusement. Even after all this time he was amazed by her love for him. She shook her head.

"I've never really understood that, Barnabas. You're very easy to love, even when you tried to make it difficult."

"Perhaps... because I could not love myself and therefore found it incomprehensible that someone else could."

"Well, I could, and I do, and I always will."

To emphasize her words, Julia bent and placed a firm, determined kiss on his mouth. Welcoming the response his entire body had to Julia's closeness, Barnabas returned her ardent kiss, his fingers lightly caressing her sides and shoulders. She pressed herself against him, smiling when their gazes met.

"I love you."

Julia nodded and resumed kissing her husband. Morning was hours away and they would make the most of the night.

In an uncharacteristic - and magnanimous - show of generosity, Roger Collins hosted a reception in the Board Room of Collins Enterprises, to celebrate a very lucrative contract they'd just been awarded. Family, friends, executives, secretarial and support staff, factory workers and fishermen were all invited, as everyone would benefit from the contract. Barnabas, who was on staff as consultant and supervisor for the repair, maintenance, and acquisition of the fleet of ships owned by the Collins corporation, stood quietly off to the side, surveying the room. Roger was chatting with some of the board members, while Elizabeth talked with some of the factory workers. Carolyn and David were engaged in conversation with several of the fishermen who'd yet to put to sea for the day. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

As his eyes wandered about the room, Barnabas smiled to himself when his gaze rested on his wife. Julia was engaged in an animated discussion with the plant physician. It had been Julia's strong recommendation to the Board of Directors that an in-house medical facility be established, and that it be staffed by a fully qualified and state licensed physician. They'd been uncertain the cost would be justifiable, but soon found funding was available to small firms who had difficulty meeting federal on-site emergency care requirements. Julia agreed to oversee the remodeling of the area destined to become the clinic, and to help screen applicants for the position of in-house physician. The clinic became fully operational over a year before, with Doctor Emma Dayton as physician. The two women doctors had become good friends during that year, and Barnabas suspected they'd again been swapping medical school stories or comparing the pranks, belligerence or outright prejudices they'd had to endure as women in a still predominantly male profession.

Glancing down at his half empty drink, Barnabas suddenly felt a complete lack of desire to finish it. He was, in fact, beginning to feel a bit queasy from the food and drink he'd consumed at the reception. Within moments the nausea was almost overwhelming and Barnabas put his glass down, his hand trembling with the effort. He leaned against the wall, concentrating on staying on his feet as dizziness began and an overwhelming chill rushed over his entire body.

"No..."

Aware of a sudden, very subtle change in the atmosphere of the room, Julia finished her conversation with Emma Dayton then turned to survey the area. Long years of practice and, she suspected, some kind of residual mental bond that was a result of her link to Barnabas during his last two periods of vampirism allowed Julia to find him in the middle of the crowded and noisy room. It took her only a few seconds to locate Barnabas across the room, and a silent alarm slashed through her when she saw him, pale and trembling, leaning against the wall.

"No..."

Julia knew the early signs as well as Barnabas, and she started across the room to join him, deftly avoiding entanglement in any other conversations.

Barnabas sensed Julia near and forced his eyes open in time to see her step up to him, blocking his view of the room and, hopefully, preventing anyone in the room from seeing him.

"Julia..."

She touched his hand, felt his wrist pulse and met his gaze. Glancing over her shoulder toward the window, Julia cursed under her breath. It was still over an hour until sundown, and she dared not take Barnabas outside. She needed to get him home as quickly as possible, but could not risk exposing him to sunlight should the change be swift enough so they didn't have time to get to the safety of the Old House.

"Can you get to the clinic, Barnabas?"

"Yes."

He made a great effort to stand up-right and not lean on Julia as they headed for the door, to their immediate left. They were nearly there when Julia stopped at the sound of her name being spoken. She turned to face Emma Dayton.

"Julia, is there anything I can do to help?"

Dayton nodded toward Barnabas, who'd gone even more pale than before. Julia shook her head.

"No, thank you, Emma. He's having an allergic reaction to something he ate, probably the shrimp. He just needs to use the Men's room, then rest."

"Here, have him lie down in the clinic. It's quiet and away from the activity. If you need me for anything..."

Emma handed a set of keys to Julia, who smiled gratefully.

"Thank you, Emma. Would you make our excuses?"

"Of course."

Julia smiled again, and helped Barnabas from the room. It was a long walk to the clinic area, but they passed very few people, and Julia was relieved when she closed and locked the clinic door behind them. She helped Barnabas to lie down, turning on only the desk lamp. She heard Barnabas wince as the light hurt his eyes, and she tilted the shade so it kept most of the light away from him.

"Julia..."

She stepped up beside him and reached to take his pulse, then borrowed a clinic stethoscope to listen to his heart. She met Barnabas' gaze, both knowing what was happening.

"How long, Julia?"

"A few hours, I think. We should be able to get home in time, and I have a fresh batch of serum in the fridge."

He nodded and squeezed Julia's hand. After the last time he'd reverted, Julia had taken to keeping one dose of serum in the back of the refrigerator at all times. She'd perfected the formula and was able to make only a small amount, which she replaced every month. They'd never needed to use it - until now.

Julia could tell when the sun set by watching Barnabas' reactions. She helped him to his feet and they left by the side door, going directly to their car. Julia had returned the clinic keys to Doctor Dayton earlier, so there was no delay in their return home. They arrived at the Old House as full darkness was settling and she could see Barnabas fighting the changes as best he could.

Julia parked in back and took Barnabas in through the kitchen entrance. Within minutes she'd gotten her medical bag, prepared the injection and administered it to Barnabas. She monitored his condition, beginning to fear they'd not gotten back in time. The serum was having no effect and Barnabas was growing worse.

"Julia,... my coffin?"

She took his hand and knelt beside him nodding her head.

"In the cellar."

Without Barnabas requesting it, Julia helped him to his feet then slowly made their way down the cellar steps to the small, well concealed room where they kept his coffin. Barnabas leaned against it while Julia lit the large pillar candles in each corner of the room. Reluctantly, but accepting, Barnabas raised the lid and peered into the interior of the satin lined box. "... How I hate this."

"I know... I'm sorry."

Barnabas looked at his wife and shook his head as he reached up to touch her cheek.

"Do not apologize, My Dear. You have done more for me than anyone. It is the... nature of the beast."

Julia nodded and went into Barnabas' embrace. They stood holding one another a long time, until Barnabas pulled away. He met her gaze.

"I must..."

Julia knew what he meant, and turned away. Still, after all this time, Barnabas did not like her to watch him get in or out of the coffin. When he was settled, he quietly called her name and Julia turned back toward him. She stepped up beside him and took his outstretched hand. His fingers were cold now...

"Will you be here..."

"Of course."

She bent close and kissed him, holding his hand more tightly as his breathing became labored and shallow. All her medical instincts told Julia to act; all her knowledge of Barnabas' condition told her it would do no good and only distress them both. She could do nothing now.

"Never doubt my love for you, Julia."

"Or mine for you."

She kissed him again, then watched as the vampire cell once more claimed dominance of Barnabas' system. When he woke at sundown the next day, he would need blood, and she would be there to provide it for him.

Julia stayed with Barnabas until after dawn, then closed the coffin lid and went back upstairs. She made herself some coffee and toast, then called Barnabas' secretary at the plant to let her know he wouldn't be in for a few days - a bad cold coming on.

Climbing the stairs, Julia retreated to their room and laid down to get some sleep. Before dusk she would start a new batch of serum.

As she waited for sleep to claim her, Julia reflected on how quickly her life became a nocturnal one to mirror Barnabas' existence when the curse was dominant. And not for the first time she wondered how she would react when Barnabas met his final death. She'd watched him 'die' and rise as a vampire more than a few times. It was simply a part of his condition, a set-back they had to treat and deal with - not unlike any chronic illness. But when he died and did not rise, how would she react? Julia didn't know. With grief and sadness, yes, but perhaps, also, with relief, knowing Barnabas would finally be at complete rest.

Taking a deep breath, Julia turned on her side and released it as a ragged sigh. She reached out to touch Barnabas' pillow with her hand, seeing him so quiet and still in his coffin. God, how she loved him, and hated what he was forced to endure. And, as always, Julia promised herself the vampire curse would not win. Barnabas would be human again, very, very soon.

Quickly falling into a routine altered to fit the hours of darkness during which Barnabas was able to function, Julia Collins descended the front stairs of the Old House, intending to spend the hour before sundown in her lab, studying the samples she'd taken from Barnabas early that day, before sunrise. She found being closer to Barnabas as the sun set and he became conscious helped them both. It strengthened the psychic link they shared, and it helped re-assure him she was nearby and his need for blood would be met moments after he rose. Julia made a point of not being in the coffin room, for Barnabas disliked anyone watching him rise, but she was never far away. She willingly went to him, sharing first a human kiss, then a vampire kiss.

So, when the knock on the front door announced the presence of a caller, Julia paused on her way to the cellar, a frown crossing her face. She briefly considered ignoring the knock, pretending not to be home, but knew she couldn't. If the caller were one of the family, stopping by to see how Barnabas' illness was progressing, Julia knew she had to keep their suspicions from growing.

Doctor Dayton had passed their apologies on to the family the night Barnabas reverted. The next morning Elizabeth came by to see how he was. Julia again used the excuse of an allergic reaction on Barnabas' part and said he was recovering from that, but feared he was coming down with something else, which had helped to make the reaction more severe. Julia knew she couldn't keep stalling them for much longer; that Barnabas had to begin recovering soon, or they would grow suspicious. She sighed and turned around, going to answer the door just as a second series of knocks echoed through the hallway.

Adjusting her turtleneck sweater to be certain the marks on her neck were well hidden, Julia swallowed hard, then opened the door.

"Yes."

"Good afternoon, Doctor Hoffman. Oh, forgive me, it's Doctor Collins now, isn't it."

"...Nicholas Blair."

* * * * * *

The being who had many names, but was best known as Nicholas Blair to those in Collinsport, stood before Julia, smiling the same charming, insincere smile that he'd always had. To Julia, he had not changed over the years. Why should he? Blair was an immortal being with powers and skills that were - perhaps - almost limitless. He was attired all in grey, his suit of the most current, the most fashionable cut. He wore gloves, a hat and carried a walking stick. His hair was neatly trimmed, and when the light hit his brow at just the right angle, the impression that he had horns was there, horns that were no longer visible when the light changed.

"Don't look so surprised, my dear Doctor. Surely you knew we would be meeting again."

"What do you want, Mr. Blair?"

"May I come in?"

"Why?"

"Protective and suspicious as always, I see. But I think you will be interested in my reasons when I tell you I have someone here I believe you have been anxious to meet, for a very a long time."

Julia drew breath to tell Blair she was not interested in meeting any of his associates when something stopped her. Something in his eyes triggered a memory Julia had never been able to fully access. She studied him carefully as a hand came up to rest at the base of her throat. Blair motioned someone just outside her field of vision to step forward. Julia's eyes grew wide and she swallowed hard. A soft word of denial escaped her as Blair smiled more widely.

"I'd like you to meet Nickodemos, named, ironically, after myself."

Blair was smiling and chuckling, but Julia paid little attention. Her eyes were fixed on Nickodemos. This was her child, her son by Barnabas. The child who'd been conceived in 1870; the child who was a hybrid, half human, half vampire - a dhampir; the child for whom she had been abducted and held until after his birth; the child Nicholas Blair had deliberately caused to be made; the child who possessed powers that could ultimately lead to his own father's final death.

Julia stared at her son. He was tall and lean, as Barnabas had always been. His facial features, while paler, were almost exactly a younger version of Barnabas. His hair, thick and wavy like Barnabas', but with strong red highlights, the same color red her own hair had been when she was his age. His eyes... his eyes were the same sharp, intelligent, all observant blue as her own. A shudder ran through Julia as those eyes fixed on her own and he took a step toward her.

"She is tainted."

Nickodemos' voice held the same timbre as Barnabas', but was softer, and somehow more threatening. Blair laughed in response to the dhampir's statement.

"Of that I have no doubt."

Blair stepped into the house, Nickodemos following him. Julia made no move to stop either of them. Her son was gazing about the drawing room, as if looking for something, and Julia sensed the very beginnings of Barnabas' returning awareness as the sun dropped lower in the sky. She had to warn him, but how? She didn't know the extent of Nichodemos' powers and abilities, but she did know some of Blair's.

Nickodemos turned to face Julia, his eyes studying her carefully. He stepped toward her again, reaching out to grip her arm.

"She willingly allows the vampire to come to her; there is no fear, hatred or resistance. There is... love?"

The look on her son's face told Julia that was the last thing he'd expected to find; that Blair had told him very little, if anything, about her and Barnabas, or about his own history.

"How can you feel love for such a vile, repugnant creature?"

Julia just shook her head, unwilling to answer his questions, not while he was ignorant of the situation. She heard Blair chuckle and glanced his way.

"Don't trouble yourself with the niceties, Nickodemos. We are here to do a job, nothing more."

Swallowing, Julia turned to face Blair, her eyes cold and hard.

"Why?"

Again he chuckled, and it was accompanied by his wide, insincere grin.

"That should be perfectly obvious, My Dear. More than once you have interfered with my plans, have taken from me the most valuable possession I had - my Master's approval. Now, in return, I shall take what the two of you value most - each other."

Julia bit her lower lip as she nodded, her suspicions finally confirmed.

"I wonder you had the patience to wait this long, Mr. Blair."

"Oh, when I am finally to achieve a goal, I have the patience of... a saint."

Blair laughed openly at his joke. A saint he would never be. Julia watched him carefully, becoming more and more aware of Barnabas' returning consciousness. She was awaiting the right moment to warn him.

Nickodemos had been wandering about the room, his expression confused. He turned to look at Blair.

"The entire structure is tainted, and has been for many, many years. Yet, there is... happiness and joy here as well, intense love and devotion. It overshadows and almost cancels out the tainted years. How can this be?"

Blair shook his head and waved his hand casually, as if to dismiss a trivial matter. To him it was a trivial matter. But to Julia the moment was one she needed. While Blair was distracted, she felt Barnabas return to full consciousness.

Taking advantage of their mental link, Julia sent a message of warning to her husband. Danger! Flee.

She did not wait for a response, but closed the link as best she could. She would not allow Blair to use her against Barnabas.

"Ah. Sundown!"

That was all Blair needed to say. Nickodemos' eyes narrowed, his concentration fixed on Julia. He frowned. She was not being summoned. The vampire was not calling her to its side.

"She has warned the creature. He will seek another."

"No, I don't think he will. But it doesn't matter, for he will learn she is in our company soon enough. He will come to her. And if not... you have other means of locating him, My Boy."

Nickodemos nodded once, the same determined nod Julia herself had, then stood before her and met her gaze. Julia could feel his mind try to touch hers, try to forcibly take the information he wanted. Julia knew she could not cooperate, and took advantage of Blair's duplicitous scheme. She met the dhampir's gaze and thought only what she wanted him to know.

'Please, Nickodemos, do not continue until you have all the facts. Blair has not told you everything. He has kept your true heritage from you.'

The intensity of Nickodemos' gaze flickered for a second, as if he'd mentally glanced at Blair. Then his determination grew stronger and he tried even harder to wring the needed details from Julia. She continued to hinder his efforts as best she could.

'Have you never wondered about your parents, the man and woman who loved one another enough to give you life? Have you not wondered how your powers and abilities came to be?'

This time Nickodemos closed his eyes briefly, not liking the way this human woman was blocking his efforts. He did not understand. Why would she deliberately resist, consciously protect the creature that fed from her and used her. Why would she not gleefully assist in his destruction?

'He is not what you have been led to believe. He is neither vile nor evil. He does not use or abuse me. To harm him is to harm myself.'

Nickodemos frowned and glanced at Blair, who had stepped up behind Julia, preventing her from trying to escape should she think about it.

"She resists. Her mental discipline is strong."

"Years of association with the vampire have taught her much, Nickodemos. But you are stronger. Your very nature will allow you to triumph."

"And what becomes of Nickodemos when this is over, Mr. Blair; when your purpose for him no longer exists and your need of his abilities is past? What will happen to him then?"

"Why, Nickodemos will occupy a place of honor and esteem in my Master's realm. He will be among the Master's most valuable servants. He will share in my glory."

Julia did not turn to face Blair, but she did smile, a wry laugh issuing from her throat.

"Forgive me, Mr. Blair, but you have never willingly shared your... laurels with anyone. You will find some way to take full credit and leave Nickodemos out in the cold."

"Really, Doctor, you do know me well. But you forget with whom you converse. Nickodemos is like a son to me, my own child. I would never...

"...do anything that would detract from your own triumph. And we both know he is not your child."

"Perhaps, but it is I who have nurtured him, trained him, taught him to use and refine his abilities so that he is one with his very nature."

"Did you love him, Mr. Blair?"

"What?"

"Did you - do you - love Nickodemos?

"Certainly not. Love is not an attribute looked upon favorably by my Master."

"No, I suppose it is not."

Nickodemos listened to this conversation with growing confusion - and interest. He stared hard into Julia's eyes and found the same emotion he'd sensed earlier from her in regards to the vampire. He sensed love, but different somehow, and directed at him.

"Nickodemos."

Blair's stern, manipulative voice cut through the dhampir's confusion, and Julia's son shook himself. His gaze grew hard, cold and demanding.

"Your questions are irrelevant, your attempts to distract me useless. I will learn where the vampire hides, with or without your assistance.

"Then it will be without it, for you know I cannot help you, even should I desire to do so. And I do not desire to help you."

Nickodemos glared at her, then allowed his gaze to bore into hers. Julia felt his mind probing hers for the information, and she was truly thankful she could not feel her link to Barnabas. She did not know where he was or what his plans might be. She had her suspicions, but they were not fact. She would not betray Barnabas.

Full consciousness had not yet come to Barnabas Collins when he became aware of external danger. He probed carefully, sensing fear for his safety from Julia. As the sun set and he was able to rise from his coffin, Barnabas became acutely aware of the danger Julia sensed. Her calm but firm warning, ordering him to flee made Barnabas certain there was adequate reason to heed her alarm. He closed the coffin lid and left the Old House by one of its many entrances. Carefully he reached out to touch his wife's mind, and found their connection closed, their link blocked. He could tell Julia was in no immediate danger, and determined to seek shelter in one of several havens they'd established over the years. Never before had Barnabas needed to use them, not since his marriage to Julia. He hoped he would not have need of them for long.

Not knowing who - or what - had caused Julia to send him such a firm warning, Barnabas took refuge in the hidden room in the family mausoleum. It was, perhaps, the most obvious place to hide for any who knew of the room's existence, and Barnabas hoped that would also make it the least likely place for them to seek him out.

Over the course of the next hour, Barnabas tried, at what he hoped were irregular intervals, to re-establish his link with Julia. He didn't so much want them to be in complete mental communication, but he did want to know how she was and if she were still relatively safe. It was during one of these attempts that Barnabas received an overwhelming rush of terror from Julia. Her life was in danger - immediate danger - and he knew if he did not go to her, she would die.

Opening the stone door of the secret room, Barnabas slipped out as soon as the gap was wide enough. He pulled down on the ring in the lion's mouth to close the door again even as he hurried to the iron gate. Stepping into the night, Barnabas assumed his bat form and flew directly toward the Old House.

Nickodemos stared hard into the woman's eyes, but she revealed nothing. He released her and glared at Blair.

"You did not prepare me for a will so strong nor a determination so stubborn as those she possesses."

"I thought you more skilled than this."

"Fine. You try."

Nickodemos pushed Julia over to Blair, who caught her by the arms and smiled at her.

"No, you are right. I have encountered this woman's fierce will and strong determination before. I should have foreseen she would reveal nothing, as she is protecting a creature she loves. Since we cannot break her... kill her."

Blair gave Julia back to Nickodemos, who studied her a long moment. He saw no fear or desperation reflected in her gaze. But something he did see sparked his curiosity - for a moment. Then his resolve hardened. He reached up and placed his fingers around her neck. Slowly he began to squeeze. Julia gasped for breath, a flash of overwhelming terror engulfing her. She somehow knew Barnabas had sensed her terror and was on his way.

"... No..."

"Take as long as you like, My Boy. It may bring the vampire to us. This one has always been foolishly sentimental about humans."

The dhampir continued to slowly strangle Julia, trying to crush her windpipe while Blair looked on. Suddenly Nickodemos was distracted and he looked up to find a tall man standing in the doorway. The vampire.

"Stop. I am the one you want."

"Yes..."

Nickodemos glared at Barnabas, then looked down at Julia, his eyes full of confusion again. The vampire looked an older version of himself.

"Stop hurting her. She is your mother."

Nickodemos looked hard at Julia, then released the pressure of his hands about her neck. She sagged to her knees, gasping for breath, hands at her throat, trying to ease and soothe the pain. The dhampir then stared at Barnabas, looking at him carefully. He looked back at Julia and met her gaze. She was not angry, did not hate or fear him, but something in her eyes confirmed for him what the vampire had said. As Nickodemos looked back at Barnabas, he suddenly understood and rounded on Nicholas Blair.

"You lied to me."

"No, not technically, My Boy. I merely... neglected to give you all the facts. They make no difference. You are still what you are, your very nature makes it impossible for you to... resist what you know you must do."

Blair met the boy's gaze and stared hard at him, then Nickodemos slowly relaxed and turned once again to face Barnabas, who had gone to Julia's side and held her in a protective embrace. Together they felt their son's intense gaze on his father, and Barnabas stood slowly, to face the child of dual heritage, to learn the nature of his beast.

Blair took a step backward, anxious to see this battle of wills. He was not concerned about Doctor Hoffman, she would be no threat. She did not have the physical strength to interfere, and the mental link she had with Collins would keep her from being able to act in any other way, for what he felt she would feel, until the very moment of his death.

Julia struggled to her feet and stood beside Barnabas. She felt his arm go about her waist to lend support. She too met Nickodemos' gaze, hoping she could somehow prevent him from doing what she knew he must.

Nickodemos stared at the vampire and the human before him, understanding these were his parents, his earthly parents, and not understanding how neither was afraid of him, of his powers and abilities, of his pre-ordained fate to identify and destroy vampires. But they were not, no more than she feared or despised the vampire who held her protectively and tenderly in his arms.

This made no sense, it was not what he'd learned to expect; it was not what he'd trained and practiced to do, it was not what he'd been taught to believe. Perhaps these people - his parents - might be his only chance to understand himself. But could he ignore his own nature, could he not do what every instinct was telling him to do -- destroy the vampire? Slowly Nickodemos' eyes narrowed and grew cold, his focus intense on the undead creature before him. He was a vampire. Nothing else mattered.

To be Continued

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