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Daughter of Darkness
By Kay Kelly
Rating: M | Status:
Completed | Genre: Drama | Series: None
Summary: Original Series. Offers one--or two?--possible explanations
of the origin of Angelique.
"I've never understood why you commissioned
that portrait of Angelique." There was a hint of recrimination in
Josette's voice.
"I regret it now." The man standing near the window busied
himself with the drapes, avoiding eye contact. "But at the time, I
wanted...it's hard to explain what I wanted.
"I suppose I owe you the truth. Josette, did you ever believe
Adrienne Bouchard's story of Angelique's birth?"
"That she was fathered by an angel? Of course not." She
wrinkled her nose in distaste. "Did you know that for her most
gullible audience--slaves, superstitious townspeople--Adrienne gave the
angel a name? Lucifer."
"My God! No, I wasn't aware of that."
Josette frowned. "I never believed Angelique's theory,
either."
"Angelique's theory? What was that?"
"I don't think she really believed it, deep down. It was more a
fantasy. She used to say Adrienne had kidnapped her when she was a baby.
So she could claim she, a black woman, had miraculously given birth to a
golden-haired, blue-eyed child. Angelique said she might be the daughter
of a wealthy planter, just like me."
"You...didn't think that was possible?"
"Of course not! No wanted child could be kidnapped on Martinique
without its being talked about, even years later. Besides, Adrienne
would have given herself away when she tried to pass the child off as
her own."
"I see what you mean. Where do you think Adrienne got
Angelique?" He seemed to be edging away from her, unconsciously
retreating into the shadows.
"I don't understand what this has to do with the portrait. But...I
know Adrienne acted as midwife for the waterfront prostitutes--many of
whom were white--when they accidentally became pregnant. By seamen, or
visitors in town. I've always assumed one of the prostitutes died in
childbirth, and Adrienne kept the baby."
"I'm sure you're right, Josette. But not all those visitors in town
were common seamen."
"I know that." Her eyes narrowed. "Are you
suggesting--"
"Listen to me!" He spun to face her, sweat beading his brow.
"I commissioned that portrait, had it delivered, before I ever laid
eyes on Angelique. Because I had heard a description of her. Heard her
so-called mother could not possibly be her real mother. I reached the
same conclusion you did about her origin.
"Josette...God forgive me, I was one of those 'visitors'!
Angelique's age fits. And the portrait confirmed my worst fears.
She...resembles some of our ancestors."
"What?" Josette was on her feet, eyes wide with horror.
"You're saying...oh God, no! You...you allowed..."
"I did not allow it!" A cry of anguish torn from
his soul.
"You didn't stop it!"
"How could I? How could I speak out? Other people would have been
hurt."
"You should have thought of those other people years ago."
"I won't try to defend myself." He squared his shoulders.
"There is no defense. The sin is on my conscience, mine
alone."
With those words, Joshua Collins strode from the room.
"May God have mercy on us," Josette whispered. "Barnabas
is married to his sister!"
***
In his distant home, Lucifer smiled.
(The End)
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