Chapter 2

Collinwood Library

Barnabas pressed his lips to the tender soft neck and was ready to sink his teeth deeper into the charmed beauty in his arms. The sound of Roger's voice calling to Vicki brought her out of her haze and she jerked back looking confused and disoriented. "Vicki! Bring Barnabas into the drawing room." Barnabas turned from Vicki feeling a modicum of shame at having almost given into his desires to take her blood.

Feeling embarrassed at how intimate they had become, she stepped away with a soft flush to her cheeks. "It appears Mr. Collins we are summoned." Her words were filled with a flush of discomfiture having found her self so readily to go into his embrace. Confused by her brash actions she turned away to cover her embarrassment for being so forward with him.

Barnabas turned back with a look of apology. However, it was for him to act as if what had just occurred was nothing or to pretend it did not happen. "Of course my dear, come let us see if Roger was successful in encouraging Cousin Elizabeth to change her mind." He followed her out of the study, his gaze looking over her body from head to toe enjoying the view of such a tender sweet thing. He was reminded once again how bad a mistake he had made in not taking Victoria first.

Drawing Room

Approaching the drawing room, Roger stood next to Liz, "Good news Barnabas, Liz tell him." Roger's upbeat tone gave an indication to Vicki that Mrs. Stoddard was not about to disappoint her cousin. She turned to look expectantly to her employer.

"Barnabas I would love to attend your party and apologize for any impression I gave or offense to your sense of propriety. " She looked down and sighed softly, "I fear it will take me a little longer to adapt to the new situation of my circumstances and change my life style that has been a part of me for over eighteen years." She looked up expecting him to try and understand what had made her reluctant to attend his party.

Barnabas walked to Elizabeth and took her hand in his cold hands and smiled. "No need to explain my dear, I am just happy you have decided to join the party. The party would not have been a party were you not to attend and I wanted this party for you and to welcome you out of your cocoon." He offered her a encouraging smile.

Roger now satisfied he had convinced Liz to join the fun took up his position in front of the fireplace assuming that almost contrived cosmopolitan posture of the rich and famous. "Now then Barnabas do tell us of your plans."

Barnabas waited for the ladies to take their seats and stood next to Roger. "Now it was my intent that we all come dressed as a member of the family from that time."

Roger shoved his hands into his jacket pockets and with his superior tone spoke half jokingly. " Well it takes no imagination to see whom you will portray. I am sure you will come as Barnabas."

Barnabas nodded and an obvious tone of capitulation was uttered. "Yes, Barnabas Collins."

Roger chuckled, "And my role?"

Barnabas smiled indulgently, "I have a very wealthy role picked out for you."

Roger practically purred, "Oh I like already that who shall I be?"

Barnabas had to stay his hands from rubbing them together in a delighted and evilly delicious fashion of anticipation. "You will be Joshua Collins."

Roger nodded and thought a moment, "Well that would make me your father."

Barnabas nodded, "Yes."

Elizabeth leaned forward from her reposed position. "And my role?"

Barnabas turned and bowed slightly, without preamble he spoke, "And you will be Naomi Collins."

Elizabeth smiled and nodded, "How appropriate, there is some family resemblance and that would make me your mother."

Vicki having sat quietly still somewhat disturbed by what had happened in the study earlier spoke softly. "And whom shall I be?"

Barnabas laid a greedy gaze of expectation upon her innocently sweet face. "And you shall be Josette Collins."

For a moment Vicki felt a chill of trepidation and then delight. She had always felt an affinity with the tragic ghostly figure. She knew she was connected to her somehow. She had chosen Vicki as a conduit to channel her in the séance. Now to actually feel and be a part of her life gave Vicki a sense of belonging. In an obscure way she felt it was right to be portraying the lovely wife of Jeremiah Collins. Smiling brightly she beamed looking around at those present; with her gaze falling first on Elizabeth and then Roger. Speaking softly she humbly thanked Barnabas. "I wanted to thank you for thinking of me and inviting me to this party."

Barnabas had watched her face when he had told her she would be Josette and then when she offered her gratitude he readily replied, "I think of you often," he had gotten ahead of himself, he realized he had almost tipped his hand to his diabolical plan he amended it by peering around at each of them, "I think of all of you often, but especially you dear Elizabeth."

Liz smiled a tight uncomfortable smile. She was still not convinced this was the right thing to do. The thought of dressing up in clothing that belonged to her ancestors whom all had suffered a form of tragedy had unsettled her somewhat. "Thank you for your generous thoughts Barnabas."

Barnabas smiled to each of the occupants of the room. "Well the hour is growing late and I am sure you were about to retire, so I will leave you to your evening routine."

Vicki stood following Barnabas out to the foyer. "Miss Winters my dear have you had a chance to see the view from of the ocean from the porte concher tonight?" He knew the storm was brewing for a second onslaught for the moment he could tell the first down pour had passed and the weather was setting up for another round. He could at least spend a few more moments with her and take advantage of the lull in the storm.

Vicki paused in her retreat upstairs. "No I have not had a chance with David being so consuming with his new studies. Then of course we narrowly missed being drenched by the storm. Is it still raining?" Barnabas slid his Inverness cape on and advanced to the double doors. He knew it was a contrivance to get her alone had succeeded she had stepped through the door to stand next to him admiring the view. " No, I believe the rain has abated for the moment." Stepping out into the crisp night he looked to the ocean and smiled. "Jeremiah Collins certainly knew what he was doing when he put the house in this spot." Barnabas had used his most congenial tone while discussing the view.

Vicki smiled politely and looked at the moons' perfect reflection upon the surface of the water despite that to the west a thunderhead was building. With the soft light radiantly bathing the waters; allowed it to have a look of a thousand diamonds reflecting back to the afterglow of the moonlight. The air held the hint of rain with the promise of more to come.

"I have oft times admire this view time and time again. However tonight it does seem to have a more ethereal look to it." She had expressed herself so eloquently her voice had softened. Barnabas studied the lovely woman's profile that now stood at his side. He was amazed at her intelligence. She appreciated the call of the past and was attuned to the romance that was Collinwood.

"I like the night, it seems to present a calm and beauty all its own. Where as the daylight is so harsh and ugly."

Vicki was quick to disagree with his statement about the sunlight and daytime. "I don't think the day light is ugly or harsh. The night can be just as cruel. How can you say that about the sunlight?"

Barnabas smiled and gently guided her thoughts back to his way of thinking. "Why the sun is cruel, you can hardly look upon it without being blinded and to stay too long in it burns you. It is hard to believe that the moon takes its beauty from the reflection of the sun when you look upon it."

Vicki studied the moon and a reflective look of a romantic expression appeared on her features. Once again, Barnabas was at that moment caught by the simplistic beauty of such an expression; which evoked his sensitive nature to respond effusively. "Surely with the beauty of the moon presented you could see how beautiful the night is at this moment?"

Vicki nodded slowly while watching the beauty of the moon shining through the clouds to color and bath the ocean with its light. Softly with a thoughtful reflection she responded. "I suppose if I could have a lifetime of nights like tonight I would agree. Still not ready to accept the night over the day she spoke thoughtfully having carefully constructed her argument for daytime. "But Mr. Collins surely you realize that man cannot live without the sun."

The import of those words sunk into the dismal part of his lonely existence. "But I have been redesigned to embrace the night and find myself more active in the evening." His words had been said with a hint of regret.

These curious words struck her intelligent reasoning mind and with a smile of polite inquiry she questioned. "What do you mean?"

Barnabas again surfaced that charming smile and evaded, "It is just I find myself more active and alive in the evening." He softened his words with a smile.

Being one of practicality Vicki returned the sincere charming smile with one of her own and innocently asked, "Oh when do you sleep?"

A soft chuckle and a moment to dismiss the inquiry, "I find the time. You know Miss Winters I regret that I have not spent more time in your company I find you most agreeable and charming. I enjoy your company very much so."

Being raised to be polite and feeling very complimented by his otherworldly charms she said softly but graciously, "Thank you." Thinking about their discussion she had been struck by how formal he seemed when discussing the sun and moon. "I see your education encompassed philosophy?"

He chuckled softly, "Yes my education was both formal and practical at most." Turning to face her and to drink in the sight of her innocence and beauty he smiled, "You know Miss Winters I would like to talk more with you in the future and discuss such things as life and death?' In the distance the sound of a wolf could be heard as it let out a long mournful howl and began to bay at the moon. Barnabas was immediate to notice that she tensed to the sounds of the children of the night. Her reaction appeared to be extreme by how pale she had grown while listening to the baying hounds.

"My dear what troubles you so?" Vicki let a subtle fall of her thick dark lashes shelter her fear that had seemed permanently etched in her gaze.

Shivering slightly she rubbed her arms and spoke softly. "It is nothing really. I am probably feeling foolish but the howls of the dogs bother me, they frighten me."

Stepping forward to gently bring her into his arms and offer her a cold but circumspect hug; Barnabas sniffed the smell of her hair and reveled in the scent of her shampoo and the feel of the softness of the long strands and thickness of her hair. "Why my dear why would the sound of the children of the night upset you so?" Vicki stiffened slightly at his touch then relaxed and laid her head to his shoulder. "That's right my dear relax and tell me of your fears."

With a hint of emotion edging the tone of her voice she spoke so softly that were it not for his excellent vampiric hearing her muffled tones would have been lost to the strong expanse of his chest. "The night Maggie disappeared I was with her. The dogs began to howl and they sounded as if they were in frenzy or rage and it was so terrifying. I have nightmares and this was a reminder of that night and the loss of my best friend." Something about the tone of her voice touched the core of something that was oddly familiar to him. The fact he could recall such tender emotions within his own mind amazed him. He had been so focused on securing him a eternal mate that he had forgotten what it was to for a moment to feel utterly human and vulnerable again.

With fingers that gentled in touch and eyes that held centuries of infinite sadness he pushed her back to slowly lift those over bright beautiful eyes to his own and he sought within her what he knew he needed. There in the depths of the changing colors of her gaze he found what he had lost so long ago. He embraced it for the barest of moments that part of him had made his love for Josette and his family uniquely him. In her gaze he found his humanity. Albeit brief it had touched an inner part of his soulless life and for a moment he drank in the embrace of that which had been denied to him so long ago.

Vicki saw the play of emotions run their course over his own gaze and she was struck by how terribly sad this man who longed to be in the past was in this moment lost in time and place. For reasons only known to her subconscious she reached up and cupped her warm delicate hand to his face and smiled.

Words that were not her own she felt her mind shift to another plane and now her body belonged to another.

In a voice that was very familiar to Barnabas she spoke, "My beloved, never alone will you be as long as you can still feel love. I am here with you and always will be. Do not hurt this girl that is not me but one that is capable of showing you love. The kind of love you could never have found in our time with me. You know my body belonged to another though my heart was always yours."

Barnabas was struck with awe and fear. Who was this he held in his arms so close and tender? The voice was hers and the body was Victoria's. His words over wrought with emotions he had not felt in so long caused his voice to crack slightly peering down into the dark mesmerizing gaze of his long lost love. "Josette?"

For a moment the image of his beloved Josette shimmered and then replaced the features of Vicki. "My beloved Josette. Why do you come to me now?" His words were uttered with such a degree of anguish that could he cry he would have. His first instinct was to drag her closer, lower his lips and take what he had longed to feel. The years of being denied blood and chained in that coffin had driven him mad; of this, he was sure. To now press his lips upon those of this warm entity that allowed his love to be in his arms once again was a dream to come true. Lowering his lips to hers he captured her warm lips and pressed himself into her demanding a return of the passion he had been denied for so long.

She broke the passionate kiss and pulled from his embrace. Then Barnabas realized he had no longer held his Josette but Vicki had been returned. Feeling so very embarrassed by the abandon of her actions she pressed her fingertips to her lips and blushed the most complimentary shade of red and turned her back on him. Her words were uttered with shock and dismay. "Oh Mr. Collins! Please forgive me, I . . . must go." Turning he observed her rush into the house.

Barnabas watched her disappear behind the closed doors with a look of intrigue and surprise. "I know now Josette if I am to have you it must be someone from this century. You are right my beloved you must go away and never return." He paused then looked around the area and then to the moon. "You all must go away and none of you return." He spoke into the night air and once again the cacophony of howls filled the night as they the children of the night sensed his own distress and unease. If he had meant those words for anyone to hear it would have been for his father and Uncle. Looking up to the second level of Collinwood to the room he knew she occupied he nodded. "Soon my love, my most beloved we shall be together and my nights will be filled with sweetness and love." Lifting the famous wolf's head cane he gave the house a mocking salute.

Vicki's Bedroom Collinwood

Vicki embarrassed by her wanted display rushed into the great house and made a dash up to her room where she collapsed onto her bed and closed her eyes. Lifting her hand to her forehead she caught the sight of Burke's ring on her finger and her heart sank. For a moment she was caught up in her guilt. She had just passionately kissed a man that held a strange fascination for her. The large diamond ring sparkled in the dimly lit room and Vicki felt conflicted. "What have I done?' Her emotions were running raw and out of control. "No, I love Burke. It was just my loneliness and need for consoling that must have driven me into his arms. It is Burke I love with all my heart. Oh Burke hurry home soon my love. I need you so desperately in my life!" Silently she called from the depths of her mind.

Closing her eyes she tried to bring to mind the ruggedly handsome face of the man to whom she had pledged her love. As hard as she tried to bring up his image, it was slowly dissolving into a faded memory and what held her thoughts were the sad dark eyes of a handsome man whose life was caught up in the past. Those same eyes were mesmerizing and captivating her to the point she felt she was being drawn into them and the past with him. In frustration she rose from her bed and walked to her dresser and pulled her brush from the dresser's top and began to drag it through her tangles. Holding her long tresses she fought with the tangles she was reminded that is how her life had now become. A tangled mess of emotions she was not prepared to admit she was in conflict with those emotions.

Walking to the floor length mirror she stood and looked at her image. It was bad enough she had no past to turn to or memories of family. The one thing she had held to was her intelligence and her image. Even now the image she sought was no longer there in that mirror. Instead she looked upon the face of a stranger peering back at her, dressed in a long elegant gown of purest white satin, her hair now carefully coiffed into a cascade of long curls to lay invitingly upon slender white shoulders. The eyes that peered back were hers but not hers. Reaching fingertips out to touch the glass she felt another presence in the mirror and another hand reached forward to touch gently to her fingertips. Gasping softly she withdrew her fingertips and looked down at them. Then when she glanced back, it was her image, the little governess of David Collins peering with shock and dismay in return.

Pressing fingertips to her face she felt her world spinning out of control. "What is wrong with me?" Her emotions were raw and her mind filled with confusion. A subtle knock on the door brought her back to the present and announcing the arrival of a visitor. "Come in."

Carolyn Stoddard the vibrant bouncy blond daughter of Elizabeth Stoddard bounded into the room. Vicki stared at her warily, she was not sure if she were drunk or just happy. Vicki was not sure if she should be preparing for another round of arguments or the constant buoyant enthusiasm, which was Carolyn. Tonight it would have been very draining for Vicki to emotionally spar words with Carolyn. Vicki had likened her to a roller coaster ride, with the highs and lows she seemed to display almost made her feel exhausted. "Vicki!" The first sign was the exclamation of her name in a spirited excited tone. "Mother just told me Barnabas is having a party and we are all invited and it is to be a period costume party?"

Relaxing her stance Vicki nodded, "Yes, we all have parts to play, your mother is to be Naomi, Roger is Joshua, I am Josette, Barnabas is to be of course Barnabas."

Carolyn bounced on Vicki's bed spreading her self across its foot. "So has he decided whom I shall be?"

Vicki shook her head. "No he did not say. I am sure once he gathers the costumes he will finish deciding what part you will play what part."

Carolyn rolled over on her back and looked up at the canopy that draped over Vicki's bed with its charm and sheerness. As quickly as her excitement was displayed coyness slipped into her tone. "Mother says that Burke was away on business."

Vicki clutched her hands behind her back and looked at Carolyn. "Yes, South America why?"

The thought she may have seen her and Barnabas kissing earlier somewhat unsettled her. The hard edge of jealousy was still hinting with resentfulness in Carolyn's voice. "Just curious. So you really are going to marry him?" Carolyn rolled over on her stomach and pinned Vicki with that clear blue-eyed look. Vicki laid her brush on her dresser.

"I said I would." Her words had fallen soft and hushed to the room now filled with tension.

Carolyn jumped up from the bed and strolled to the door making for a quick escape as she shot a look of pure resentment to Vicki's back. "Just curious. You don't seem in a rush to want to set a date." Vicki read between the lines and sighed.

"You know the reason for that Carolyn, David needs me now and Burke understands. You know David has not quite recovered from the death of his mother and I don't want him to feel abandoned."

Carolyn was half way out the door. "I think you should worry about the man that loves you and not that demon spawn that is my cousin. But that is only my thoughts." Vicki felt the smugness of those words tossed so carelessly over Carolyn's shoulder to make a point for what Vicki felt was her sake.

Carolyn flounced out of the room with a decided hard click to the door's closing. Vicki felt her legs trembled and worried that she had seen the kiss and now could not wait for Burke to get back to tell him she had been unfaithful to him. Turning Vicki flopped down on her bed and pulled a pillow to hug close to her body. In that moment truth be told she was not sure what she felt for Burke or for that matter what her feelings were for Barnabas. All she knew was in one fate filled moment; one kiss had turned her world upside down and in side out.

Feeling the sharp sting of tears she laid her head back and closed her eyes curling into a fetal position to hold onto the softness and security of the pillow she now held to her chest. "What have I done!" She cried out mentally to herself and the universe. Feeling the emotional exhaustion guilt often brings she gave into a restless sleep allowing her mind to drift and seek answers or comfort in her sleep.

Old House Drawing Room

Not far away a lonely figure stood by the bay window of the old house's drawing room. Barnabas stood looking out to the front of the grounds lost in thought and unseeing anything other than where he allowed his thoughts take him. She had been so pliable, he could have easily exerted his control over her and taken her then and there under the porte concher of Collinwood. Something other than Josette's presence had stopped him and now he could not think of anything other than the sweetness he had held in his arms and tasted. She had felt so good and tasted like home, love and humanity. Even now he fought not to go to her room and take what he felt belonged to him. "Um Barnabas?" The irritating voice of Willie interrupted his thoughts and with infinite patience he answered.

"Yes Willie what is it?" Turning Barnabas dropped that piercing annoyed gaze and looked upon the cowering form before him.

"Its all gone. There is nothing left to show she was here at all."

Barnabas turned heading to one of the fireside chairs and dropped his lean figure to it and crossed an elegantly clad leg over the other. "Very good Willie, now tomorrow I want you to go to the attic and bring down the two chests of clothing we stored up there earlier."

Willie felt his stomach clinch down in anxiety. "Why?"

Barnabas snapped an irritated gaze at the boy. "You must learn Willie to do as I say and not question me is that understood?"

Willie was not the brightest color in the crayon box and forever pushed his luck with Barnabas. "Um why?"

Barnabas was tempted to backhand him. Instead he clinched his fist into a ball. Taking a deep what in his human life was a deep breath but for him now was a tension reliever he spoke in clipped tones. "We are going to have a costume party Willie and those clothing will need to be sent to the cleaners and then taken to Collinwood. All you need to know is that I want them brought down to Josette's room. A room that will not remain vacant long."

Willie was sicken by the thought he was about to do to another girl what he had done to poor Maggie Evans who now lay dead and cold in the ground. "A party? What kind of party?"

Barnabas stood abruptly starting to feel annoyed. "A party with the Collins family. We will be dressing the parts of my family and I hope to recreate a moment in time where once again; my family and my newest Josette shall surround me. I have already selected the next Josette."

A hint of more than anxiety filled Willie stepping forward he could not control wringing his hands together, "Who will it be?"

Barnabas turned after studying his nails and looked impassively over Willie. "You will find out soon enough. Now do as I say and bring down those trunks to Josette's room in the morning. For now I want you to bring me the jewel cask, I wish to select a gift."

Willie rubbed his hands on the apron and looked at him. "I bet I know who it is?"

Barnabas quirked a curious brow to Willie's assumed knowledge. "Oh?" He questioned sarcastically.

Willie nodded, "Its Vicki Winters."

Barnabas frowned, "You will need to wait and see Willie, now bring me the jewel cask."