Willie woke up to the sound of the beating heart. He got to his feet just in time to see Barnabas climbing out of his coffin. Barnabas. Barnabas, who had taken everything from him, his mind, his body, his blood, his free will. Willie felt like an empty husk. He was no one and had nothing but a horrible master to serve.

 

"Come, Willie, I have a job for you. You must find fresh blood; my hunger is growing."

 

"It's night time again? Another night like last night?"

 

"No, Willie, I will not accompany you this night."

 

"Wha- why?"

 

"I have other matters to attend to. Or would you rather I take what I need from you right now?"

 

Willies eyes widen and he lowered his head. Feeling sick to his stomach, he whimpered, "No".

 

"Well then, go out and see who you can find."

 

"Don't ya mean what I can find, like a dog or a cat or a rat or somethin'?"

 

Barnabas stared at his new servant. Slowly and deliberately he replied, "No, Willie, that's not at all what I mean. Now, take me to the Old House. I'll meet you there in a few hours. And, Willie, I don’t like disappointments."

 

Willie grimaced as the two got into his truck. In silence they drove to the Old House. With his master dropped off, Willie was alone for the first time since his encounter with the demon.

 

He muttered to himself. "I gotta get out o' here—but I can't."

 

Full of conflict and self-loathing, he parked his truck in an out-of-the-way place in Collinsport. He walked the back alleys behind the storefronts and around the boat dock, watching for anyone he could subdue and bring to Barnabas.

 

Spying a small-framed woman, he approached to capture her. Willie started to feel shaky and sick at the thought of harming an innocent person. She'd be just like that calf; a snack for Barnabas, her body dumped in the ditch, he thought. Willie had never attacked a woman before. This ain't no bar fight, he thought, I'm really gonna hurt this poor girl, and she’s gonna end up dead!

 

Willie hadn't thought it through and wasn't prepared when the girl fought back. She screamed, wrenched herself away and ran out of sight. Willie was beside himself with frustration and anguish. For the first time in his life he felt sick about hurting another person. He ran back to his truck without being seen.

 

Sitting silently for a few moments, Willie removed his bandage, and took out his knife. Musing at the blade, he placed a cut on his wrist where the Vampire had had his way. Maybe I got into a fight, or had an accident, he thought. He re-bandaged his wrist and drove back to the Old House, feeling solemn.

 

Barnabas was waiting for him outside the Old House. Willie approached the vampire, with his head down. "Well, Willie? Are you to disappoint me?"

 

Willie was visibly distraught. "I'm sorry, Barnabas; I tried to get this one girl, but she got away. Please, can we go get another cow?"

 

"I knew you didn't have it in you. We will go and get another cow as you put it.

 

Feeling somewhat relieved the man and vampire got into the truck. Willie realized he had put himself in danger rather than harm an innocent person. Barnabas is hungry, he could bite me any minute, he thought.

 

The two drove out of town until they were in dairy country. As they continued down the highway, Barnabas could see full-grown cows sitting in the tall grass.

 

"Stop the truck, Willie. I think something bigger than a calf will suit me tonight."

 

"I can't see anything out there," said Willie, squinting. He pulled the truck over, killing the engine and lights. The night was black as pitch.

 

"Come, Willie, I want you to witness this."

 

Trembling, Willie obeyed. They breached the fence and entered the pasture. Walking some distance, the young man’s eyes became used to the darkness, and he could now see sleeping cattle were sitting in small herds all around them. He sensed something was about to happen when at once Barnabas seemed to fold up, like a window shade, before his eyes.

 

Willie put his hand to his mouth to keep from screaming as Barnabas transformed into a giant bat and flew toward a sleeping cow. As the bat landed on it, Willie was reminded of the stench of blood, which had filled his nostrils the night before; Barnabas' face and mouth had been covered in calves' blood. His stomach started to churn at the thought of it when the bat suddenly returned and unfolded itself to reveal a clean and tidy Barnabas.

 

"No blood!" Willie blurted.

 

"Yes, this is cleaner. Now, Willie, I would like to see the port where my family has their ship-building facilities."

 

"They don't build ships there anymore. The Collins Family has a fish cannery now," said Willie, timidly correcting the vampire.

 

"Oh yes, fish. Let us see."

 

They drove toward the town. As they travelled, Willie became aware of the close space inside the truck cab. He started to feel claustrophobic, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. His stomach started to churn again.

 

As they entered Collinsport, Willie distracted himself by pointing out the library, the court house, the police station, City Hall, the hospital, even the hardware store. Finally arriving at the docks, they pulled up in front of the Collins Cannery.

 

"There it is."

 

"You seem to know quite a bit about Collinsport." Said Barnabas, raising an eyebrow.

 

"Yeah, I guess I coulda settled down in a place like this."

 

"But you are going to settle down in a place like this. You'll be living with me."

 

"Wha…whatdaya mean?" said Willie with incredulity.

 

"Just what I said. I have a plan, and that plan includes you. You will stay and assist me…until I kill you."

 

The young man was wide-eyed and full of dread as his captor mused to himself for a moment.

 

"I want you to drop me off at the Old House, then go to Collinwood and fetch your belongings. You won't be staying there any longer."

 

Willie swallowed hard. "Where am I gonna stay?"

 

Barnabas ignored Willie's question. "Meet me at the Old House; go now, Willie!"

 

Terrified the Vampire might get hungry again, Willie stepped on it. They quickly reached the Old House and Barnabas stepped out of the truck. As Willie watched, it seemed the vampire almost floated out of the vehicle. Barnabas looked back into the open door. "Meet me back here within the hour."

 

Willie parked just outside the Collinwood grounds. He stood outside Collinwood with great trepidation about how to enter without being seen or heard. He decided the best way to get in was to try the front door. He placed his trembling hand on the knob. If it's locked, how the hell am I gonna get in? he thought.

 

He firmly turned the knob and the door opened. He mentally rejoiced. Willie scurried up the stairs to his room and quickly shoved all his stuff into his sea bag. A moment of melancholy rushed through him and he tarried a moment as if to say goodbye to something.

 

He arrived back at the Old House within the hour and parked his truck out of sight. He walked around to the front of the house, put his hand on the door and gave it a push; the door creaked open.

 

The smell and feel of the house hit him like a slap in the face. It was revolting. The smell was like mildew, dust and some other horrid odor Willie couldn't, and didn't want to identify. The air was heavy, damp and cold. He could hear creaking sounds within the house like the sound of noisy bowels digesting a meal.

 

Willie shuttered. "This place is haunted for sure," he mumbled to himself.

 

"What was that?" said Barnabas.