1060

We thought Stokes could be defeated.  We were wrong.  We thought Collinwood was immortal.  We were wrong.  I thought myself worthy of love.

I was wrong.

Stokes, crazed, set Collinwood ablaze.  It was torture to see it, and my shock was allayed only by the knowledge that I was seeing a mere reflection.  However, Roxanne was far more than a reflection.  She was a woman who had the audacity to love me.

Damn you, Angelique.  Even in another dimension, your curse holds dominion over all.  “All I love shall die.”  Well, dearest, you have kept yourself quite, quite safe.  I have now seen one such woman burn alive in agony.  Angelique, this is a women not born of our time or even our world.  Why would you curse her as well?  Mere coincidence?  I have lived with centuries and mere coincidence.  I have seen my loves die time after time to mere coincidence.  You will not file this away under mere coincidence.  You will take responsibility for your systematic destruction of everything I ever loved.

You will answer to the charge.

As the fire at away the great house around us, Julia and I found ourselves trapped in the room which took us to this place.  Roxanne was unable to enter.  She screamed in mindless pain as I was paralyzed to stop it.

Then there was nothing.

Or so I thought.  More anon.

BC

1059

Julia lives.

We may win the day, yet.  To do so, Timothy Eliot Stokes must die.

BC

1058

I simply do not know what to feel.

Quentin?  Gone.  Maggie Collins has left.  Roger, Elizabeth, Carolyn?  All dead.  Collinwood is, for all purposes, abandoned.

Julia is dead.

That last sentence, so easy to write.  Just three words that rolled off my pen with astounding ease.  Is it because we have faced death so many times that I assume its ubiquity?  I simply do not think I have allowed myself to feel it.  Intellectually, I can accept it.  Or deny it until I have sufficient evidence.  Before I find that, and before the enormity of this loss consumes me, I can only say that she was the one thing I have never, truly known: a friend.  Yes, there was Jeremiah, but he was a relative.  This is different.  Did she love me?  Very much.  I could never return that, and she went to her death with my pursuits as hers.  Intrepid and wise, she deserved love more than anyone.  I am the fool for not providing it.

She needed me.  Need weighs upon me more and more.

To be needed.  For so long, I have needed.  But been needed?  By one I love?  The rarest of delicacies.  Roxanne came to me this evening, needing me and professing a love authentic.  She not only embraced me, but embraced the beast.

What will this mean for me?  Nothing, if I do not avenge these deaths.

BC

1057

Our courtship began as do all good ones; she attempted to stab me at the behest of another man.  When I revealed that Claude North was dead, her attitude quite changed.

The course of true love, etc, etc.

Now, my main goal is to find Julia.  To that end, the Inspector and I begin our quest!   Onward!

BC

1056

She is dead.  She refused to sign the confession that she killed Bruno.  However, Roxanne lives and breathes.

I have Julia and Quentin’s freedom in my grasp, as well as Maggie’s gratitude.  Everything rests on visiting Stokes!  As I departed to do so, I had the warmest expression of gratitude I have ever seen from her.

There was a time when I would have quite literally killed for such a glance.  But it comes a new time.  And Roxanne drives my heart.

Progress always comes too late.

BC

1055

The battle slowly turns in our favor.  Angelique is dying, a statement I write with deeply mixed sentiment.  How can I be so casual with life in Parallel Time.  Some matters.  Some does not.  Is that how I feel in my own time?  Yes, quite probably.  It is only that here, I am acutely aware of it.

The cold is claiming her.  That it matches her compassion is obvious, but necessary to say.

BC

1053

Roger is behaving as suspiciously as possible.  This now assures me of Quentin’s innocence.  Were I he, I’d fee as well.  Perhaps I should, anyway.

BC

1052

Dr. Julia Hoffman.  In many cases, she does what I cannot.  Is she braver than I?  If so, I will admit that with no reservations.

BC

1051

My impatience grows.  How soon to release her?  How soon to establish Quentin’s innocence.

I see need.  I have need.  And so little power to fulfill it.

BC

1048

Julia continues to make error after error as “Hoffman.”  I have assured her that she is in no danger due to her ignorance of the necessary nuances.

My reassurances are, of course, complete lies.

BC