Standoff

by Terry S. Bowers
June 12, 2000

Tugging nervously on her gloves, Julia Hoffman listened carefully as Paul Stoddard began to explain about the threat he perceived to be a major concern for everyone in Collinwood, and Collinsport; a threat that revolved around Barnabas Collins. Julia was interested in whatever he had to say, whether it was conjecture, fact or opinion. At this point anything would be helpful in discovering what was going on with Barnabas, why he had changed so drastically and why he was treating her with less trust now than when they'd first met.

Stoddard walked past Julia and turned so he faced the doors to Collinwood's drawing room. His face lost all expression and he stopped speaking in mid-sentence. Curious as to what could have caused this reaction, Julia turned to find Barnabas Collins standing in the doorway, a veiled, unspoken threat directed at Stoddard in his eyes.

"Good evening, Julia... Mister Stoddard, I stopped by to welcome you to Collinwood. It must be nice to be home again."

Julia studied Barnabas carefully. Stoddard didn't move, barely breathed, and just stared at the man Julia had once known very well. She had stopped asking him what was wrong, because he denied anything was. She would have to learn that on her own.

Clutching her gloves, holding them tightly stretched between her hands, Julia watched as Stoddard said nothing. He stepped forward and walked past Collins, out of the drawing room. Julia turned more fully to face Barnabas. She would not allow herself to react in any way other than the nervous twisting of her gloves, but the expression of evil delight in silencing Stoddard that was reflected on Barnabas' face caused her heart to leap in her chest, her mouth to go dry and her throat to tighten in fear. Not allowing herself to reveal any of the fear, Julia watched after Stoddard as she took a step closer to Barnabas.

"You have quite an effect on him, Barnabas."

Letting her gaze flick back to Barnabas' for a moment, Julia decided she wanted to be anywhere but in the same room with this man. She walked toward the door, brushing past his shoulder.

"Julia."

She paused, not turning to look at Barnabas. Julia wasn't at all certain she could contain her emotions if she looked at him, and she would not allow him to see how very concerned - and disturbed - she was by his behavior. Twisting her gloves again, Julia pursed her lips angrily, her voice deeper than usual because of that anger.

"Do we really have anything to say to each other?"

Again Julia started forward, prepared to retreat to the relative safety and privacy of her room when she heard Barnabas turn toward her. His arm flashed out and he caught her by the elbow with his hand. His grip was firm, firmer than what was really called for, but Julia refused to flinch. She could be as cold and detached toward Barnabas as he was being toward her. He was making it extremely easy to do. Slowly Julia turned to face Barnabas, her eyes flashing cold fire.

For a brief moment, as their gazes met, Julia saw a trace, a flash of the Barnabas she used to know. She couldn't pinpoint what it was, exactly, but something in his eyes, in the flickering trace of a smile allowed her to wonder - ever so briefly - if this was soon to end and Barnabas would stop treating her like the enemy. She wasn't, she was still his friend, in spite of everything, but he just didn't seem to believe it any longer.

Julia refused to lower her guard, however. Barnabas had to make the first move, one that was extremely honest and very convincing. The fact his painful grip on her elbow had not lessened reminded Julia that nothing had changed.

"Can you really mean that, Julia? We have always had a great deal to say to one another."

"And what would that be now, Barnabas? You have made it extremely clear you have no interest in past concerns, even though they have not been satisfactorily resolved. You refuse to share your present concerns with me. What does that leave for us to talk about? The weather?"

"I understand your harshness and your anger. Believe me, it is for your own good that I treat you as I do."

"My own good? Should not I be the judge of that, Barnabas?"

He slowly shook his head while maintaining eye contact with Julia. She bit her bottom lip as another flash of the old Barnabas returned, only to be... squelched by the distant, harsh, cold man who stood before her once again.

"Not in this case. If you care at all for... what we once had, what we once shared, you will believe me when I tell you this. Stay out of my affairs, Julia, leave it to rest. Nothing you can do will make any difference."

Julia studied Barnabas carefully. He was not threatening her. He was, to his mind, stating a fact. One he expected her to accept without question.

"You used to know me better than that, Barnabas. You would never have made a statement like that to me and expect me to accept it on your word alone."

"Do not pry into my affairs, Julia. Our past friendship does not give you open access to my life. Whatever misguided ideas you may have once had about us..."

Julia pulled herself up to her full height, her eyes going hard with barely controlled anger and something she was afraid bordered on hatred. She gave her elbow a tug, her voice deep with an intense warning.

"Let go of me."

The unspoken threat in Julia's voice caused Barnabas' eyes to grow wide and he released his grip on her elbow. He dropped his hand back to his side, his gaze locked with Julia's. He had once been able to predict her reactions, to manipulate her with her own emotions. Slowly Barnabas shook his head and glanced down. Perhaps that ability would work for him again. He released a deep sigh.

"Forgive me, Julia, I do not know..."

"Save it for someone who will believe you, Barnabas. As I said before, we have nothing to say to one another."

Julia glared hard, then continued on her way past Barnabas, through the foyer and up the stairs. Barnabas completed his turn and watched until Julia stepped through the door on the upper landing and closed it behind her.

"Yes, you are right, Julia. We no longer have anything to say to one another, but you have much to learn. No matter how hard you try, you will learn nothing except that which we wish you to know."

Taking a deep breath, Barnabas turned and walked into the drawing room. A very distant, now very insignificant part of himself that stubbornly held on to his previous affection, trust and respect for Julia regretted this turn of events. Julia Hoffman was far better to have as an ally than she was to have as an enemy, but the enemy she now was. Her complete defeat would be his - their - total triumph. She believed they had reached a standoff, herself and Barnabas, but to him it was war.

Barnabas smiled a cold, detached, frightening smile. The Leviathan race would triumph and he was certain Julia Hoffman's punishment for her interference and opposition would be great. He did not have time to further contemplate that possible punishment, for he heard Elizabeth enter the drawing room. He turned to face her, knowing her concern was Paul Stoddard.

Had Barnabas Collins not been so completely controlled by the Levithians, so totally determined to be certain the Leviathan plans were successful, his common sense would have reminded him - loudly - that it took a great deal to vanquish or even dissuade Julia Hoffman. She was a formidable and resilient opponent; one who should not be underestimated. The Levithians had already made that mistake with her, they had already underestimated her by believing she would accept the drastic change in Barnabas Collins without question. That mistake would, ultimately, be their undoing...

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