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.....The black caped figure stood crying out, hovering at the edge of Widow's Hill like a shadow in mourning. Barnabas raced down the treacherous path that led to the beach beneath the cliffs. Calling her name like a desperate prayer, he fell to his knees and took into his arms the pale, lifeless form which once bore the beautiful name of Josette, who now lay sprawled and broken upon the jagged rocks.
.....He moaned her name over and over again, first in loud sobs, then in a broken whisper. How he needed her to hear him, to forgive him, to know how much he loved her.
.....Yet she only lay there, still and oddly peaceful, oblivious to his tears falling upon her bruised skin. For what seemed a lifetime, he remained there, clinging to her in a final, tragic embrace.
.....For an instant, he considering joining his beloved Josette in her fate, to plunge into that same blissful, eternal rest. Yet he knew that his curse would not be so easily broken. And nothing would ever bring her back to him.
.....Finally, he returned to the shack where his servant Ben was waiting. He had prepared twin coffins - one for his master, one for Josette - that were meant to bear them together throughout eternity.
.....When Barnabas opened the door and slowly walked in, the expression on his face told Ben that something was very wrong. The vampire slumped down into a small wooden chair, and told a horrified Ben the tale of all that had happened at Widow's Hill.
.....He had arranged to meet the auburn-haired beauty there that night, to fulfill his plans to make her as he was, his vampire bride. They were to leave Collinsport that night, although he wasn't sure where they would go. Perhaps they would return to the dark, beautiful island of Martinique, where they had first met and pledged their love. Or perhaps, they would roam England's misty shores. As long as they were together, what would they care?
.....But when he arrived at Widow's Hill, calling out to her, she was clearly frightened. She screamed for him to go away, to leave her alone. Josette ran, not into Barnabas' loving embrace, but to the very edge of the treacherous cliff, and... slipped? Jumped? Did it matter? In sheer horror, he watched helplessly as she plummeted to her death, and heard the sickening sound of Angelique's laughter, mixed with Josette's terrified screaming, echoing through his tormented mind.
.....Barnabas would later discover that the witch had learned of his plans for Josette and met her there first, showing her a horrible vision of her future with Barnabas, what she would become, frightening her, literally, to her death. And now, Josette was gone, and that was all he knew.
.....Weakly, he arose and went to the window, glaring out at the cruel night that had stolen away everything from him. A devastated Ben tried to comfort Barnabas, but his overwhelming grief and guilt would not be soothed.
.....The moon cast its blueish glow across Barnabas' agonized face, highlighting the furrows that bore deeply into his brow. He turned and walked over to the coffin that was meant for Josette.
.....Reverently, he caressed the smooth wood of the box which, instead of keeping his beloved Josette close by his side, would now separate her from him forever. Their wedding song had become a dirge, the wine turned back to bitter water, hope into despair.
.....Barnabas had never before fully understood the extent of the price he would pay for his curse, not until this very moment. How heavy, how cruel the weight of it was upon his noble shoulders. But he would go on. There was no other choice. And so, with a sigh and a final glance at Ben, he left to face another lonely, bitter night. Alone.
THE END
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