Chapter 2

Old House

Willie Loomis stood on the ladder, scrubbing the chandelier. He had been happy that Barnabas has the electricity put in and now while he scrubbed the wax off of this beautiful crystal piece he knew it would be the last time he would need to do so, that the light that had been recessed into the ceiling would shine down and be displayed onto the crystal. It would glisten and shine with a brilliance that no stinking candles could. He had felt kind of odd since Vicki returned from the past and had some problems with believing she had traveled back to the time that Barnabas was normal. He had been busy with his task and did not wish to push his luck with Barnabas. Barnabas had not beaten him senseless in some months and he was on a roll so he figured he would stay on the good side of him.

The knock at the door startled him enough that he almost toppled of the ladder. "Shit." Grabbing the ladder to right it he muttered and the ladder quit moving. Slowly on shaky legs he backed down the ladder to peer out the front door to see Carolyn standing all pouty face on the front porch. "What the hell?" He walked to the front door and slid the dead bolt back and opened the door.

The petulant and spoiled little rich girl huffed past him and stood with her hands shoved into her expensive leather coat. "Took you long enough to answer the door. What were you doing?" Willie did not like meeting her dressed with his apron and covered in brasso and silver polish.

"I was on a ladder, what do you want?" Carolyn glared at him, thinking she lowered herself to come here to see him. "I'm working on a project for Barnabas, what's it to ya?"

If she wanted to be pissy so could he. Carolyn shook her head sending her hair off her shoulders and out of her face. "I came to see if you wanted to go into town maybe to the Blue Whale and get a drink."

She pouted so pretty with those lips and he remembered how good those lips tasted when he was covering them with kisses. "Well I can't, Barnabas wants this done before he gets back and I ain't gonna be on his bad side because I did not get it done."

Carolyn frowned and huffed past him again barely controlling her irritation. It was bad enough she had gotten drunk and slept with him, and now when she wanted some company he or Jeff were not available. As a matter of fact Jeff was cuddled up with some other blond bimbo at Lookout Point. "Fine, see ya around." She snapped out of the door grabbing it behind her and slamming it hard. Willie was half glad she was gone, this was going to be a bit of a problem what with him having taken her on the golden pony ride and now she wanted him and his pony and he was not always free to be available for her whims or desires. He shuffled into the drawing room and was brought up short. A figure stood with her back to him, staring up at the portrait of Barnabas hanging on the wall. He could smell her perfume and see she was not really a solid person; she was more transparent while she stood looking up to the portrait.

"Willie Loomis." She turned and he was taken aback. She had never appeared to him before now, and here she was.

"Yeah?" He was confused and a little afraid. Not afraid like when he was with Barnabas but afraid like when Jason threatened him. So now he knew various degrees of fear he could compare them with what he was experiencing in the new situations surrounding him.

Josette studied the young man and saw why Carolyn found him attractive. He was cute in a common sort of way. "You must protect Victoria Winters. You must not allow Barnabas to go through with the plans he has. Vicki will remember everything from the past and trust me once she does she will avoid Barnabas. He is wanting to change her to me."

Willie began to pace back and forth, his concerns and fears for Vicki were a different fear and it was embellished with something he thought he knew nothing about and that was compassion. He figured he had learned that when Maggie was there. "But Miss Josette, you now I can't go against him. He has some kind of hold over me and well he knows things that I am thinkin! I don want him to hurt Miss Vicki any more than you do. But there ain't nothin I can do about it!"

Josette drifted about the room in her long wedding gown and looked Willie over, "Willie you must convince him that he loves her for who she is and not because he is seeking to replace me with her." Willie sighed and slumped down in the chair and thought if he had any more interruptions he would be in deep shit with Barnabas for sure. But another part of him did not want to see Vicki hurt by Barnabas.

"You need to take her away and hide her from Barnabas. The minute she remembers what happened to him in the past she will be in grave danger."

Willie jumped up and began to pace again, waving his arms about in anxiety and trying to be expressive about how deeply he felt on this subject. "Looksee Josette, Vicki is so nice and she didn't hurt no one ever and no one should hurt her, and I really think Barnabas is beginning to like her for who she is. But, just like with Maggie, I couldn't save her, how do ya expect me to save Vicki?"

Josette drifted back to stand near Willie, "Then you will watch him turn her into what he is and that you will have on your head Willie Loomis, because you know there was something you could have done."

Josette drifted towards the corner of the room and passed through the wall disappearing as she went. Willie turned his eyes wide, his bottom lip quivering and he buried his face in his hands. She was right and he did not want to see her hurt. He had to find his balls and do something about this now. Not tonight but maybe tomorrow. Yeah he could try and resolve this while Barnabas slept. He just needed someplace he could hold her until he knew what he should do.

Collinwood

Vicki walked down the stairs and stood on the bottom step hearing the voices in the drawing room. She stepped to the door and for a moment she felt she was back in time and that Millicent, Reverend Trask and the original Barnabas were sitting in the drawing room. It was that moment relived that something niggled at the back of her mind, something she knew but forgot she knew it and it was almost there for her to touch. It was nothing tangible but tucked in the deepest part of her mind, something she had put on hold in a pique of denial. Barnabas smiled and looked up as Vicki entered the door. "My dear you look lovely and may I say after seeing you well worth the wait."

Trask frowned, she did look lovely and he was glad she was finally down here so they could go. "Well shall we go? I will drive us to the Blue Whale."

Vicki turned and smiled seeing Carolyn still in her unbuttoned coat. "You coming too Carolyn?" Carolyn was still feeling the affects of the first large brandy she had drank and was ready to dance and drink some more.

"Yes, is there a problem with it?" Vicki's smile tightened noting that Carolyn was a bit tipsy.

"Not in the least Carolyn, I am glad you are joining us. Shall we go?" She turned and walked to the entryway and lifted her coat from the hook and felt a pair of hands take the coat. Thinking it was Barnabas she turned with an appreciative smile and realized it was Gregory Trask helping her with the coat. Her smile froze and she said more stiffly than she had intended, "Thank you Mr. Trask."

He smiled charmingly and said softly, "I would appreciate it if you would call me Greg. That is my name too."

Vicki nodded stiffly and smiled, "Very well Greg." She stepped back to allow him to get the door and walked out to the car parked under the porte conchere. Stepping to the rear passenger seat side, Barnabas was there before Trask to open the door for her and then open the door for Carolyn on the passenger side front seat. Trask may have beaten him to helping Vicki with her coat but he would be damned if Trask would dictate where she would sit in his car for the ride to town.

Carolyn turned with a bright thankful smile, "Thank you Barnabas." Tucking her coat around her hips she slid in and waited for Barnabas to close her door. Trask had noted how Barnabas had manipulated and maneuvered Vicki to the back seat. He even noted Barnabas had opted to ride in the back seat with her leaving the spoiled Carolyn as his front seat companion. He would have the next advantage, because he had decided where they would sit at the Blue Whale and he would be beside both women.

Blue Whale

The conversation was kept light and on generalities during the drive to Collinsport which was done in quick order. Pulling the large comfortable luxury car into the parking lot near the Blue Whale, Gregory Trask slid out and began to open all the doors to his car, allowing Barnabas to exit behind him, and stepping around to open Vicki's door, helping her to the walkway, then Carolyn. They all noted the roll of thunder in the distance when they entered the Blue Whale, the wind had picked up as well. "Looks like we made it just in time." Carolyn remarked while entering the bar and watching Trask towards a small round table in the corner.

"I would have hoped that storm would have held off for a while longer." Trask noted that Carolyn was removing her coat and he trying to show he as a gentleman too was quick to help her. Turning to help Vicki he noted that Collins had beaten him to the draw. Tightening his smile he offered, "Drinks?"

Carolyn smiled, "I would like a black Russian."

Vicki looked around the room then back to Trask, "A Gingerale please."

Barnabas smiled, "Some cordial would be nice." Hearing Barnabas order a cordial she paused then shook her head. She would stay with her original choice of Gingerale. Carolyn was watching the younger crowd on the dance floor and she began to gyrate and bounce in her chair. One young man seeing her eagerness to jump up and dance reached over to pull her to the floor and Carolyn was up and bouncing all over the room, her hair flying and her laughter filling the room. Trask navigated around the active dancers on the floor and sat down.

"Bob said he would bring our drinks over." Vicki smiled watching the dancers and then turned to Trask, "So what did you wish to discuss about the night of the séance and my disappearance?"

Trask sat back and studied her. She did appear a little different. "I can assure you I do not recall everything about that night, I do know what I feel happened and that was I went back in time and I had a purpose to fulfill. I saw all the terrible things that can happen to people in that time and I met your great, great, grandfather Reverend Trask and he was one of the most disagreeable individuals I had the misfortune to meet."

Gregory was somewhat shocked by her frank assessment of his grandfather. "Really? From what I read he was a successful witch hunter and he made quiet a reputation for his abilities."

Vicki frowned, "I can assure you he was no gentleman and he did things that most men would be castrated for doing or locked up as a sexual predator with less than honorable intentions." Gregory was now intrigued, the family had hinted at a darker history than what had been written.

"Did you know he disappeared around the time of the arrest of one Miss Phyllis Wycke? I read where she found murdered later and they did suspect it was my Grandfather that was involved with that bit of nasty business."

Vicki who had been enmeshed in the tragedies playing out in Collinwood did not realize he had disappeared probably around the time he had kidnapped her and was preparing to torture and rape her in the cellar of the old house. She was sad to hear that poor Phyllis had been murdered and looked down and began to speak with such tenderness when she spoke of Phyllis. "He shackled poor Phyllis, and we suspected she was tortured and left a broken woman. I know for a fact that Phyllis was no witch. She was an innocent young girl in love with the original Barnabas' Collins best friend Peter Bradford." Then as she thought of his grandfather her whole demeanor changed and the tenor of her voice became one of disgust and outrage, "I can tell you this much Mr. Trask, or Greg, he was a debauched, lascivious licentious man with lustful cravings for the women he purported as being witches. He abused his power and authority and he was determined to see me hanged, but had told me if I would consent to be his mistress he would forget the charges of witchcraft against me."

Greg wondered was he supposed to be ashamed he was a Trask because of his grandfather? A part of him secretly respected and admired his grandfather and his tenacity and his drive to get what he wanted and if he had wanted Vicki, more power to him. Trask could easily see why he would have been attracted to Victoria Winters, he certainly found her fascinating and very desirable in an innocent virginal way. "I see so you want me to believe that some how you traveled back in time to the late 1700's met our ancestors, stopped time at Collinwood trapping all of us there while you lived out your life for several weeks?"

Vicki sat back watching Bob carry the tray of drinks to the table and smiled her appreciation. "Thank you Bob." Lifting her drink she sipped slowly, set the drink down while Bob set down the other drinks, "As a matter of fact Greg, I really don't care what you believe, this much I do know I lived it and it was frightening." Vicki's glance shifted as the pressure in the room changed and a brisk breeze blew through the door. Vicki reached for Barnabas' hand and squeezed; her face went pale. Carolyn who had been jumping about and gyrating to the music stopped and the whole room became mesmerized watching Maggie Evans walk in confused, dazed and soaked to the bone. To Vicki she looked like she had just been dredged up from the ocean.

Barnabas turned to see what was causing the reaction in the room along with Trask and Vicki stood, "Its Maggie Evans! Its Maggie Evans!"

Maggie walked into the room, looking around and stepped to the table occupied by Vicki, Barnabas, and Trask, looking at Trask then to Barnabas she began to mumble, 'Oh no! Oh no!" She then turned and collapsed on the floor in a dead faint.

Vicki rushed to her side and began to speak to her softly, "Maggie? Maggie, wake up it is Vicki, wake up Maggie." Trask bent to lift the girl up in his arms and sat back holding heron his lap with her head laid against his shoulder.

"I thought she was dead."

Barnabas frowned and looked sicken by the arrival of someone he thought had died. "We all are apparently the victim of a horrible hoax."

Trask looked around and then back to Vicki, "Perhaps they were mistaken?"

Vicki shook her head. "No, that is not possible, her father found her on the beach and took her to the hospital and then she was supposed to have died from shock."

Carolyn walked to the table and looked around the room. "Hey everybody go on about your business."

Barnabas looked around. "Where is her father is he not usually here this time of the day?"

Carolyn nodded, "Yes, and I suppose I should go get him and Joe. Greg may I use your car?"

Greg nodded to his keys on the table and Carolyn reached for them. Maggie began to moan and Vicki shifted to knell down in front of her. "Maggie, its Vicki, do you remember me?"

Maggie's eyes fluttered and she opened her eyes and looked up at Vicki and smiled, "I know you, we were friends right?"

Vicki nodded," Yes, we were close friends. Carolyn is going to get your father."

Maggie frowned, "My father, I can almost see him, he paints by a large window in a small cottage by the sea."

Vicki spoke softly and encouragingly, "Yes, his name is . . . "

Maggie sat up and looked excited, "Sam, his name is Sam Evans!"

Vicki nodded, "Yes, it is." Barnabas frowned, "Should we not send her to the hospital to get checked out and then perhaps we can find out what happened to her?"

George Patterson walked through the door shaking out the poncho he had thrown on when he got the call of a disturbance at the Blue Whale. Entering the room he stopped and paled, there was Maggie Evans. He and Sam had worked so hard to keep her hidden and the town believing that she had died. Now here she was in the one main public area that was the second hub of the passing of information for public consumption. The only other place was where Maggie had worked that the gossip mill had been so prevalent. Now before the night was over, the whole town would know she was alive and back in Collinsport and in danger from who ever had taken her. Walking over to Trask he spoke abruptly, "Where did she come from?"

Vicki glanced up to the sheriff and smiled, "She just walked in here and then passed out. We sent Carolyn to get Joe and her father."

George looked to Trask, "Would you bring her out to my car so I can take her over to the hospital we need to have her checked out."

Barnabas stood and grabbed Vicki's coat. "Vicki I feel you should stay with Maggie, while I go and inform the family of the good news."

Vicki frowned not like being left alone with Trask she took small solace in the fact that she would be with the sheriff. To further comfort her, she did remind herself she would not be alone with Trask on the ride home; Carolyn would be with them. "All right, how will you get home?"

She looked concerned knowing that Barnabas would have to brave the weather and try to get home safely. "I shall take a cab, do not worry about me, just get Miss Evans attended and I shall see you tomorrow." Vicki nodded and could not curb her feeling of disappointment. She turned to follow them out to the car and slid into the back seat with Maggie, while Trask joined George in the front seat. The wind was whipping the rain against the car's windshield and George was dreading the drive to the Collinsport Hospital.

He knew as soon as he got there he would be getting phone calls about wash outs, alarms, and accidents. "I hate nights like tonight, we always have the crazies come out on full moons and rainy nights. People forget how to drive in storms like this."

Trask chuckled, "I like these nights, it means good business for me, I usually get calls to bond people out of jail."

George shot a cold look at Trask, "I suppose you would." The rest of the trip to the hospital was done in silence from all parties. While silence surrounded them Vicki noted that those in the car were mulling over the strange events that had led them to this point in their lives. For Vicki it was Trask made her uncomfortable and did not like sharing any space with him. Trask was so like his grandfather in resemblance that just being this close caused her stomach to knot.

For Maggie it was the feeling; a rush of feelings run through her recalling the dour faced man with soulful brown eyes and something about him had frightened her. She knew deep down it was not an unreasonable fear, it was too strongly attached to her being to allow it to be anything other than what it was an it was the terror of dying when she saw him.

As for George Patterson; it was really simple. He did not like lawyers and especially this one. The grated on his last nerve and they all thought they were smarter than everyone else. He supposed it was the arrogance they exuded.

The only one happy with the situation was the lawyer Trask. Trask was the only one having a good time on this ride to the hospital in squad car. He had Vicki on captive custody and this appeared to make him smile. She was after all locked in the back seat of this squad car and if the car was equipped like most the only way she or Miss Evans could get out was if someone opened the door for them.

Barnabas waited for them to leave. Watching them pull from the parking lot, he slipped into the driving rain and the wind buffeting his coat around his body shifting to mist form and was drifting through the town headed to Collinwood and more specifically to the old house.

Old House

Appearing on the front porch of his house, he reformed to his human form and opened the door. Stepping in with a rush from the wind he shouted, "WILLIE! WILLIE!"

Willie had finished his job and had gone to the kitchen to fix his soup when he heard Barnabas bellow for him. "Shit he found out about Josette coming and now he is going to beat the living hell out of me." Willie was afraid as he muttered under his breath. Willie threw the can of soup into the sink, shut off the stove and walked sluggishly down the hallway to the drawing room. Barnabas had shed his soaking wet coat and now stood before the fireplace. "Yeah Barnabas?"

Barnabas turned and glared at the man that seemed to irritate him as much as Trask or Bradford. "I need you to go into town and then to the hospital. Maggie Evans showed up at the Blue Whale tonight and I want to make sure she does not remember anything about me. If she does I want you to contact me right away and allow me to take care of this how I should have when she escaped from here."

Willie's lower lip trembled, "Come on Barnabas don hert her, she ain't gonna remember being here."

Barnabas turned and smoothed his hands into his jacket and growled, "She recognized me tonight, I saw it in her eyes. If she speaks it will be over for both of us. So get to the hospital and let me know what you find out."

Willie was at least grateful he would not get a beating this night. Maybe it was because Barnabas was in a good mood, kind of not. "All right, I am going."

Barnabas glared at the boy backing away from him and turned to get his coat and head out into the driving rainstorm. "Why do things have to be so complicated? Why does it always seem to be storming here." Willie muttered all the way down the steps and to his truck.

He paced the drawing room floor he thought about the look Maggie had given him when she glanced at him tonight. It had been one of dawning recognition. A knock on the door alerted him to the arrival of a visitor and he was in no mood for visitors. Going to the door he opened it to look into the curious and rather triumphant face of one Julia Hoffman. "Hello Mr. Collins may I come in?" Barnabas did not want her to come in but was obliged by convention and good manners to open the door and allow her entry to his home. Julia entered and took her coat off, "Nasty night isn't it?" She walked into the drawing room then turned dramatically to face Barnabas, "You Mr. Collins are a vampire, and to deny it would be futile, I was here this morning and saw you in your coffin."

This was so unexpected that for a moment Barnabas was stricken with silence. "Madam you are mistaken or mad."

Julia smiled sitting on the chair by the fireplace, "I think I am quite sane and I am the solution to your problem. I am not a Miss Hoffman, just as Eric Lang is not only a doctor but also a specific type of doctor and we share the same field of interest. We believe we could cure you of your affliction. Are you interested or did I waste my time coming here?"

Barnabas turned and paced to the window and peered out. "Suppose you were right and I was interested what can you do to prevent my current situation being exposed?"

Julia was curious, "What do you mean?"

Barnabas turned and stared at her, "Maggie Evans."

Julia smiled, "Yes, Maggie, my patient safely tucked away in my sanitarium over a hundred miles away."

It was Barnabas' turn to smile, "No dear Doctor Hoffman she is not tucked away in your sanitarium, she is currently at the Collinsport Hospital and if I judge her memory she is about to tell them about being held by me here for over six weeks."

Julia stood and walked to the door, "Leave this to me, I shall be back tomorrow with Doctor Lang and we shall tell you what we both perceive. And how we both think we can cure you of this affliction."