The Curse of Collins Isle (26 pages total)
Part 1: Mark of the Werewolf (14 pages)
A rare tidal phenomenon releases William Starbuck, a werewolf who has been trapped on Collins Isle for over 200 years. Swearing death upon Barnabas Collins, Starbuck leaves a message for Barnabas at the door of Collinwood: a parchment paper with a lupine paw print on it. Immediately recognizing the threat, Barnabas rushes into the night to be alone.
Alone in the cemetery, Barnabas recalls the fateful time in the past that led to his present predicament. In the years of his youth, before he fell under the curse of the witch Angelique, Barnabas had been friends with young Jonas Starbuck, who had been sent by his father William to Europe to learn the family merchant business. However, while away, young Jonas had been turned into a werewolf by the sinister Count Villalobos, who returned with him to Collinsport.
In a confrontation, William Starbuck killed both Villalobos and his own son with a silver bullet, but not before the Count bit the elder Starbuck, passing along the curse. William Starbuck unreasonably blamed Barnabas for his misfortunes, since Barnabas had encouraged free thinking in young Jonas, and swore revenge on the Collins line, killing beautiful young Daphne Collins on the night of the next full moon.
Barnabas hid his family away and set out on a solo sea voyage to seek out a cure for Starbuck's affliction. However, Starbuck stowed away on Barnabas' boat, and that night at the full of the moon attacked Barnabas at sea. As Barnabas struggled with the beast, the boat hit a rock and Starbuck was knocked overboard and made it to Collins Isle, a forbidding pile of rock surrounded by raging waters. Back in the present, Barnabas realizes that the werewolf has returned for his revenge.
Part 2: The Raging Waters (12 pages)
Barnabas is disturbed from his memories by a scream from Collinwood. Rushing back to the great house, Barnabas learns that Elizabeth has been attacked. All she can recall about her assailant is that he was "a man... but not a man!" Fearing that Barnabas has again fallen under the curse of the vampire, Dr. Hoffman prepares an injection for him. After a second attack on Elizabeth, Julia confronts Barnabas. Wounded that Julia mistrusts him, Barnabas rushes off alone to confront William Starbuck. Starbuck takes no time in finding Barnabas and the two become involved in a struggle. Barnabas leads Starbuck back to Collins Isle, just as the tidal anomaly begins to reverse itself and surround the island with raging sea once more.
The struggle continues as Barnabas leads Starbuck to the top of the island. As Starbuck bends in to bite Barnabas, Barnabas finds a reserve of strength. Now cured of vampirism, he will not allow himself to bear the mark of the wolf. He fights manfully against Starbuck, and finally falls into the turbulent waters below.
Later, Barnabas washes ashore in Collinsport and is revived by Dr. Hoffman. Julia tells Barnabas she saw everything, and is sorry she did not trust him. Barnabas notes that the fate of William Starbuck is sealed: he will live alone on Collins Isle forever, unless fate finds a way to free him once again.
Characters from the TV show: Barnabas Collins, Dr. Julia Hoffman, Professor Timothy Stokes, Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, Roger Collins
Notes: The date of death on Daphne Collins' tombstone sets the flashback in 1748.
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