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part 2
JULIA'S LAMENT
by Donna Eubanks
PART 1...... of 3
Dr. Julia Hoffman is standing in the foyer at Collinwood. It is midnight and Julia can't
seem to sleep this night. The month is October, the year 1999. Julia is staring at a
portrait, hanginging on the wall....it is a portrait of Barnabas Collins, her longtime
friend, and would-be lover. Barnabas had asked his dear friend, Julia, to accompany
him on a business trip to Boston, Massachusetts, but Julia had declined his invitation;
though she desperately wished to go with him. She remained there, gazing at the portrait,
"How handsome you look, how distinguished...you look like an aristocrat," she said aloud
to herself. He was dressed in a dark suit and tie in the portrait, his face had the look of royalty
and authority, Julia thought. She was alone in the house this night and she was beginning to
become lonely. A storm was beginning to rage outside the great house. Such storms were quite
common at Collinwood, for the house was right by the sea. Oh Barnabas, Julia thought to herself,
how I wish I did go with you tonight. I should have gone with you to Boston, to be at your
side so you wouldn't have to travel alone. I would like to sit close to you on the long drive. I
would like to have dinner with you by candlelight, at a cozy little table for two.
I want to hold your hand, Barnabas, and I want to look deep into your eyes and see the real you, the
true Barnabas himself; the only man I have ever truly loved. She sighed as she continued to think
about him, a long, deep sigh, the result of strong feelings for Barnabas she kept locked in her heart for
a long time. She remembered him saying good-bye to her this evening, and she remembered his kiss,
warm and gentle on her lips. Oh Barnabas, I want to be with you, and be by your side. I want to wake
up in the morning with you right beside me. I want you to hold me and never let me go...NEVER!!
But SHE will not let me! she said aloud to no one. Suddenly her eyes narrowed and her lips began
to tremble. SHE will stop me from being with you, but she cannot stop me from loving you. SHE will
not let anyone love you, not now or ever! "I still love you, Barnabas, now and forever!" Julia
exclaimed aloud to the empty room. Suddenly there was a sound of a woman's laughter, high
pitched laughter, echoing through the great house. Julia covered herears to muffle the sound.. She
has heard this laughter before, and she knows the name of the woman who is laughing at her this
night. The woman is laughing at her, tormenting she and Barnabas. Suddenly all is quiet again in the
house. Julia wiping away tears of love and sorrow, holds her hands to her heart.
She continues to think to herself, I would make you a good wife, and you, I know would have made
a good husband. Barnabas and Julia had planned to marry one year ago. They were at the church,
a beautiful church, it was, in Collinsport. The church was decorated with the most beautiful flowers
Julia had ever seen! The minister was there, the guests were all in attendance, including Roger Collins,
Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, Carolyn Stoddard (who never married), David and Amy, also the two lovely
women, Maggie Evans and Victoria Winters, who were in attendance with their husbands, just to name
a few; even Willie Loomis was there. Just as the minister was about to pronounce them man and wife,
there suddenly was a terrific rumbling in the ground. An earthquake, she thought. The crystal
chandelier fell from the ceiling, and crashed to the floor. It was lucky no one was killed, though a few
guests had cuts and lacerations from shattered glass. At the same time, there was the sound of a
woman's laughter, high-pitched, evil laughter. Barnabas and Julia knew who was laughing at them,
stopping them from becoming man and wife. It was part of her foretelling, part of her plan and curse.
The church caught fire, burning to the ground. Everyone watched in horror as the evil woman's
laughter grew louder and louder, but only Barnabas and Julia could hear her. "We would be married
one year now," Julia said aloud, "if it wasn't for you!"
She thought to herself, I remember a lovely book of poetry that Barnabas once gave to me; she was
sitting in front of the roaring fire in the stately drawing room. The storm was raging with all its fury
outside now. Suddenly the lights went out, due to the storm. Julia's only light was from the fire now.
She continued to think as she sat by the nice, warm fire. She remembered the look of admiration and
love, on Barnabas' s face as he presented the book to her. It was scarlet in color and trimmed in gold,
entitled: "Poetry For Lovers". The title was also printed in gold. How Julia had treasured that book,
because it was given to her by Barnabas. It was given to her with love, true and honest love, from a
man, a mortal man now, for Barnabas was free of the vampire curse, to his woman, Julia Hoffman.
Barnabas was not completely free of HER.....she still existed to torment he and Julia. Julia managed
to read one or two poems, before the book was destroyed. She entered her room one evening to a
horrifying discovery, her book had been burned and was now just a pile of charred ashes. Julia
picked up the charred remains of her book as the burnt pages fell through her fingers and on to the
floor. She collapsed on her bed and cried bitterly for quite some time. When Julia regained
composure, she said aloud, with a look of terrific anger on her face, and in her voice, "YOU did this,
don't bother to deny it! It seemed that she was talking to no one. Her voice trembled with rage. "The
devil has taught you well, very well, but you will not win, do you hear me??
(end part 1)
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