Parallel Time

Terry S. Bowers
August 24, 2000

Julia Hoffman stepped from the caretaker's cottage and glanced over her shoulder at the closed door while she fastened the top button on her coat. She'd made certain she was with Sabrina at sunset, to witness for herself what Barnabas might do. As far as she could tell, he had not summoned Sabrina, or anyone, even though the scratches on her own neck had throbbed a bit as the sun went down. Sabrina had been anxious to go to Barnabas, but she was too weak to get out of bed by herself, although that would change should Barnabas summon her. Julia really didn't think he would, but she had tried to make it extremely clear to Chris that he was not to leave Sabrina alone for even a second. She hoped he understood and followed her instructions to the letter, but just in case, Julia had left Quentin there to watch over them both. She knew he understood the importance of keeping Sabrina from going to Barnabas again.

Glancing up at the night sky, Julia took a deep breath and began to follow the path that would take her back to Collinwood. She had a feeling Barnabas was waiting there for her, and she intended to make him understand how dangerously close Sabrina was to death. Julia knew he did not want the young woman to die and rise as a vampire. But she also knew Barnabas might not be aware Sabrina was extremely close to the point where she could not recover. If Barnabas were unable to control his needs and took blood from Sabrina even once more, she and Willie would have to do for Sabrina what they had done for Megan Todd -- end her life with a stake through her heart. Julia did not want to be the one to try and explain the reasons for such a brutal end to Chris Jennings.

Julia found Barnabas in the drawing room, waiting for her. He seemed to understand the gravity of Sabrina's condition, but before they could reach a conclusive understanding or form a plan of action toward keeping Sabrina safe from him, the night's events took a tragic turn. Carolyn Stoddard, so recently married, was now a widow. Her husband, Jeb Hawkes, had died when he fell from Widow's Hill after struggling with Sky Rumson. Rumson was later found dead, the victim of a possible suicide.

Barnabas was adamant that Rumson's death would eventually be declared a definite suicide. He didn't want to discuss it further, but was distracted before he could make the point clear to Julia. She knew why. Julia watched Barnabas carefully, aware of what was happening even before Barnabas told her. She could feel the scratches on her neck tingle, itch, throb slightly. Barnabas quickly turned away from her and tried to put some small distance between them in the confines of the foyer.

"Julia,... you'd better go to Carolyn and Elizabeth."

Julia closed her eyes for a brief moment, then looked into the near distance, certain of the reason Barnabas had told her to leave.

"It's starting again."

"Yes, and there is no way to control it."

Julia turned to face Barnabas and stepped closer to him. She reached out to touch his sleeve, to allow her fingers to gently brush across the back of his hand, perhaps in an effort to slightly strengthen their weak link. She wanted Barnabas to know she didn't care what happened, that she wasn't afraid of him or of what he might have to do, but Barnabas did not want to know that. Julia sought his gaze as he tried to avoid meeting hers.

"What will you do? Where will you go until morning?"

"The room in the East Wing. Perhaps I can find an answer there, perhaps even an escape. Julia, go to them, please."

Barnabas broke away from her and hurried up the stairs, forcing himself not to hear or heed Julia's pleas that he wait. He dared not stop, dared not turn to her or look at her. Although he had tasted only a drop of her blood the night before, it had been enough. They were drawn to one another by the very weak link that taking of blood had established. If Julia came near him, he would not be able to stop himself as he had the night before. If Julia came near him, it would be she who died as his victim this night, not Sabrina.

"Barnabas, wait! Barnabas!"

Julia paused at the bottom of the stairs as Barnabas hurried up them, heading for the East Wing. She glanced over her shoulder toward the drawing room, knowing Elizabeth would welcome her assistance and support in dealing with Carolyn, but right now, Barnabas needed her more. Julia hurried up the stairs behind Barnabas, determined to find some way to help him.

Slowly entering the parallel time room, Barnabas glanced around, wondering why he was so fascinated by the room, speculating if it could be due to the fact his life, as chronicled in the book by William Loomis, had been so different from the one he knew. Barnabas pulled the book from inside his cape and studied the cover.

"Barnabas! I need to talk with you!"

Hearing Julia's voice in the hallway, Barnabas turned away. He closed his eyes and covered them with his hand as he bowed his head. No! Julia! She shouldn't have followed him. He would not be able to stop himself, he would harm her. He would kill her. He had to send her away, had to keep her away from him, even though he knew she would not go.

"Julia, go back..."

Barnabas' eyes grew wide as he realized the room was suddenly different. It had changed while he was in it! He was now in parallel time! He had somehow transcended the barrier. He looked around, then turned back toward the doors.

"Julia, it's happened... Julia, can you hear me? Julia..."

There was no answer. He could not see the dark and dusty hallway beyond the doors. He was alone in parallel time...

Julia hurried up to the parallel time room and gasped, stopping short as she encountered an invisible wall that prevented her from going any further.

"Barnabas!"

He was in the room, in the other band of time. He was calling to her!

"Yes, Barnabas, I can hear you. Barnabas!... Barnabas!"

He couldn't hear her, he couldn't see her. Julia tried to enter the room, but the barrier held her back. Fear and panic washed over Julia as she understood she was separated from Barnabas by the barrier between time bands, and Barnabas could be trapped there forever. Julia renewed her efforts to somehow breech the barrier, but she could not.

Astonished fear crossed Julia's face as she saw Carolyn Loomis enter the room before Barnabas became aware of her presence. Mrs. Loomis demanded to know who Barnabas was and what he was doing in the room. Julia watched with growing sadness as Barnabas, unable to divert Carolyn's questions and interest in him, resorted to the one thing he had hoped would be different in parallel time. Julia knew the same instant as did Barnabas that he was still a vampire. She brought her hand up to her neck, allowing her fingers to gently caress the scratches on her neck, and shook her head in sorrow as Barnabas grabbed Carolyn by the arm, pulled her to him and sank his fangs in her neck.

"Barnabas, no..."

Julia closed her eyes and swallowed back tears of anger and sadness. Barnabas' hopes of salvation in parallel time, his hopes of being cured and able to walk in the daylight were groundless. He was still a vampire in parallel time, but worse, he was a vampire in a completely alien time band where he had no friends, no one to protect or defend him. Julia swallowed again and shook her head in despair.

Barnabas raised his head from Carolyn's neck and eased her into a nearby chair. He slowly turned to face the doors, the sadness and anguish in his eyes making the lump in Julia's throat grow larger. He crossed to the doors and stood directly in front of Julia, the barrier preventing him from seeing her, the barrier preventing her from reaching through and pulling him back to her time band, back to her.

Barnabas cast his gaze about the hallway beyond the double doors, then let it settle on the spot where he hoped Julia stood in that other, darkened hallway. He began to close the doors, but just before he stepped backward, his gaze intensified and he shook his head once.

"Julia..."

The doors closed and Julia involuntarily stepped back, a gasp escaping her lungs.

"No! Barnabas!"

She pushed the doors open, but the parallel time room was gone, leaving only the empty room of her own time band. Julia shook her head as she stood there, looking into the empty room. Barnabas was in parallel time and she didn't know if he would ever be able to come back to her...

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FINI

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