From: dana_scully_mulders_protege@hotmail.com   
      
   *See Disclaimers and Summary on Chapter 1*   
      
      
      
   Scully made her way down the hallway with her robe flowing behind   
   her like a long cape. Candles that were lit began to flicker, as she   
   brushed past. Reaching her door, she slammed it behind her. She then   
   took off her robe and laid it on the bed. She stood catching her   
   breath. "Just who did he think he was talking to back there anyway?!   
   Trying to tell me what I did or didn't see!" She then paused   
   remembering how handsome he had looked sitting by the fireplace in   
   the men's nightshirt and pants. How he had gazed into her eyes and   
   lightly touched her chin.   
      
   "Forget him." A voice whispered in her ear.   
      
   Scully gasped as she heard the voice in her ear she had   
   previously. "Who…who are you?"   
      
   "Someone who is far better than he." The voice answered. "Who can   
   give you anything you want. Anything your heart secretly desires."   
      
   "How…how can you do that?"   
      
   The figure of Jonathan then appeared in front of her.  "Don't be   
   afraid of me, Dana."   
      
   Scully jumped and took a step back. "How…how do you know my name?"   
      
   Jonathan took a step toward her. "I know everything about you, Dana.   
   I know what lies deep within your heart. What you secretly long for.   
   You wish to be treated like the lady you are. You wish to indulge   
   yourself in pampering and delights." He placed his hand on the side   
   of her face. "I can make all of that come true, Dana."   
      
   Scully began to tremble. "I…I…"   
      
   "Ssssh." Jonathan replied caressing her cheek.  "Look into my eyes,   
   Dana. Can you not see the love I share for you? You are far more   
   beautiful than any lady who graced these halls. You should be   
   treated as the lady you are."   
      
   Scully looked into Jonathan's eyes and found herself hypnotized by   
   them. It was almost like they could see into her very soul.  All   
   thoughts of Mulder were leaving her as she lost herself in   
   Jonathan's eyes. Her eyes began to take on a blank stance.   
      
   Jonathan leaned into her and whispered in her ear. "Your bath awaits   
   you, my lady." He then gestured to the bathroom. Leading Scully to   
   the room, he showed her the large tub, which was now completely full   
   of water and suds.  Flower petals also adorned the tub. His hands   
   took a hold of Scully's nightgown and pulled it over her head.  His   
   hand then caressed her skin starting from the top of her neck and   
   slowly down her chest.  "Indulge in the mysteries of the water,   
   Dana. Lose yourself in its warmth and peacefulness."   
      
   Staring straight ahead as if in a trance, Scully slowly stepped out   
   of her panties and then into the tub. An overwhelming sensation over   
   came her as she closed her eyes and took in all the smells of the   
   flower petals and the warmness of the water.   
      
   "That's it. Your soul will be mine." Jonathan whispered before   
   disappearing into thin air.   
      
   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *   
      
   Mulder had fallen asleep next to the fireplace with the book still   
   in his hand. His legs were outstretched and his head resting on the   
   back of the chair. He then heard a strange voice.   
      
   "Fox."   
      
   Mulder's eyes halfway opened. There was only one person who called   
   him by that name. "Samantha?" He whispered weakly.   
   "You must wake up, Fox."   
      
   Mulder's eyes completely opened. As he focused he could see a young   
   lady standing in front of him. His eyes widened as he realized it   
   was the young lady from the portrait in Scully's room. "Ah!" Mulder   
   cried out as he practically jumped out of the chair. He started   
   backing toward the wall. "You're not real. You're just a figment of   
   my imagination!"   
      
   Josephine advanced toward him. "You can't be afraid of me, Fox. I   
   need your help. We all do." She reached out her hand toward   
   him. "Please do not shun me."   
      
   Mulder found himself shaking as Josephine's hand came   
   closer. "Keep….keep away from me! Scully!"   
      
   "She can't hear you. He already has her within his grasp."   
      
   "What…what are you talking about?"   
      
   "If you wish to save her then you must listen to me. Jonathan must   
   be stopped before he is able to complete his task." Josephine moved   
   her hand away from Mulder. "Do you know who I am?"   
      
   Mulder nodded. "Josephine, Josephine Cornwall. You were married to   
   the owner of this house, Jonathan McBride."   
      
   "Engaged." Josephine corrected him. "I was engaged to Jonathan   
   McBride and not happily. My father thought it a good match and   
   Jonathan's family was very wealthy. My father obtained the resources   
   he needed through Jonathan's ties. I was…promised to him against my   
   wishes. Back at that time, a young girl did not question such   
   arrangements."   
      
   "But….you loved someone else."   
      
   "Yes, a man named Anthony. He was…below my station but I didn't   
   care. He was the only man I truly gave my heart to. He made me feel   
   free and alive. When he found out that I was to be married to   
   Jonathan it broke his heart. But we continued to carry on a secret   
   love affair regardless until…"   
      
   "Until you were found out by Jonathan."   
      
   Josephine nodded. "Jonathan appeared to be everything a young girl   
   could desire. He was handsome, had money, could get you anything you   
   wished." She paused. "But beyond those eyes was something much more   
   evil and sinister. He believed that once he had a woman he literally   
   possessed her. He became this…horrible monster. And I was a victim   
   of this. Anthony came here to try and rescue me from him." She   
   closed her eyes tightly. "Jonathan murdered him in a fit of rage and   
   then he…he killed me as well."   
      
   "That was the page that was missing from that book."   
      
   Josephine nodded. "That book…contained the mysteries of this house.   
   It was no coincidence that you found it. But Jonathan tore that page   
   from it. To prevent you from learning the truth of what happened   
   here."   
      
   "But….why are you telling me all this? What is this house? What has   
   all this to do with my partner?"   
      
   "This house…is pure evil, Fox. It harbors the souls of all those he   
   has claimed long since me. Every Halloween this mansion appears in a   
   different place. Places with fields, woods and other kinds of vacant   
   areas. And it has just one purpose….to claim the souls of others.   
   Those who wander into this place never return. The hapless victims   
   are normally couples such as you and your partner who end up lost in   
   the middle of nowhere."   
      
   "Wait a second. My partner and I are not a couple. We're only here   
   because we got a flat tire just down the road and we couldn't call   
   for help."   
      
   "Do you think it's a coincidence that you had that flat tire? That   
   you are here now? Jonathan can hear a soul crying out for a need   
   thousands of miles away. He feeds upon it."   
      
   "A need?" Mulder paused. "Wait, are you saying…"   
      
   "Your partner, she was seduced by this house. It all started when   
   she looked into his eyes in the painting. He could sense her   
   weakness, her longing and now he is preying on it.  He will seduce   
   her with gifts and promises. Anything that she secretly desires he   
   will know and present to her. And once he seduces her…he will   
   possess her soul. And she will be trapped here just like the others   
   for eternity."   
      
   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)