Never and Again
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Never and Again |
| Publisher: | Kathy Resch |
| Editor: | |
| Author(s): | Susan Ramskill |
| Cover Artist(s): | |
| Illustrator(s): | |
| Date(s): | |
| Medium: | |
| Genre: | gen |
| Fandom: | Dark Shadows |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Never and Again is a gen Dark Shadows novel by Susan Ramskill. Artwork has been uploaded to Fanlore with the publisher's permission.
Summary
From the publisher:
After a devastating illness strikes first Barnabas, then Julia, they find the solution in the Far East - and finally acknowledge their love. But their return to Collinsport is fraught with danger for Nicholas Blair has also returned, and the hellish army he raises threatens to destroy not only their love but their lives.
Exceprt
From a 2001 flyer:
"Julia," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "As soon as I learned what had happened, where you were, I raced to be near you. For I knew that it was because of me that this was happening to you. And of all the times that being my... friend... had placed you in danger, I knew instinctively that this would be the deadliest encounter.""What made you believe that?" Julia asked, remembering some distinctively frightening moments. Such as the time when Aristede had fashioned an elaborate death trap for her and waited for Barnabas to trigger it...
"Because this was the first since I realized that I loved you. Because suddenly I knew that the worst thing that could happen to me would be to lose you." He dropped his head. "And experience tells me that the admission of love might doom it"
"I don't understand..."
"Angelique," he hissed from a clenched jaw.
"But she's dead, Barnabas! And the curse is dissolved. You have nothing to fear."
"Dead?" His tone became bitter. "She breathed her last in my arms and yet I can't believe it. I can't believe that I - that we - will not encounter her malevolent spirit again." "Is that why you've cut yourself off from Collinwood? In spite of what you told Willie before you put him on that plane, I can see that you have no intention of returning to Collinsport. Do you believe distance will protect you?"
"Protect me? No. Not for long, at any rate, if she does still exist. But" he said, fixing her with a somber gaze, "it may protect you. Julia. If I haven't consigned you already by loving you."
She stared down to where her hands twitched nervously on the arm of the sofa. "Barnabas. I've worn my heart on my sleeve for years now, so I won't deny how much I want to believe all that you promise."
"Believe it" he urged softly, moving toward her again.
She held up a restraining hand. "I need to know that you feel absolutely the same. Gratitude -" he winced as she said it, "-- or even relief at my recovery simply won't sustain the relationship you propose. It would be intolerable to me and would ultimately embitter you."
Her eyes, shiny with gratitude of their own, flicked at him then away, as if afraid to linger. "Be certain, Barnabas, please be certain, because everything that has been until now and might be in the future is at stake. A false beginning will jeopardize everything." She hesitated and swallowed. "Don't risk it unless you're truly certain."