Chapter 21
Vicki sat up with a gasp. "No, no, no!" She muttered over and over. "I do not believe your lies. Leave me alone!" She could not believe that dream. There was no way that Barnabas would harm her or this family. He was devoted to this family. Throwing the covers off of her she jumped out of bed slid on her house shoes and moved to the door of her closet.
"I am going to end this once and for all!" she huffed and she began to dress in a pair of jeans and a heavy sweater. "I know what and who you are Nicholas Blair, and you will not interfere in my life or Barnabas' life. We are going to be happy!" Pulling her hair back in a ponytail, she grabbed her jacket from the closet.
Moving downstairs to the kitchen she found the keys to the estate car. Moving to the garage she was determined to put an end to this non-sense once and for all. Backing the car out of the garage she pulled into the driveway and headed the car to the double iron gates. Driving down the roadway to the entrance of the Old House's driveway she had to slam on her breaks as a huge wolf darted across the roadway in front of her car.
"Shoot!" She muttered she nearly hit the wolf and skidded the car sideways. Looking up at the sky she could not see the moon or any light to help her look to see if she had hit the wolf. The car flooded out and she sighed and muttered some curse words under her breath. "Damn and double damn." she muttered softly she waited for the gas to clear the lines.
Then it happened, the wolf charged her driver's door. Throwing his body against the door, snarling, growling, teeth snapping at the glass to try and get to her. Her heart pounding in her ears, Vicki turned the ignition key and prayed the car would start. The engine turned over once, then twice, "Come on, start damn it."
The glass on her window threatened to break with the next lunge the wolf made. On the third turn the car started,. Vicki threw the car in gear and gunned the engine racing it towards the front of the Old House. Keeping her eyes pealed for the rabid wolf, she laid on the horn. "Please someone come out! Please come out. " She kept repeating over and over while she watched for the wolf.
Willie turned to look at the Professor and Elliott then to Barnabas. "Who is that laying on the horn, they are going to run their battery down if they keep it up." Willie moved to look out the front window. "Hey that looks like Vicki in the family car." Willie moved to the door and threw it open.
Vicki watching saw the door opened, she threw open the door and made a mad dash for the front door, and then she heard it. The growling and the snarling were behind her. She ran as fast as she could and then felt her feet slip and she started to fall. Screaming out in terror Vicki balled into a fetal position and waited for the animal to attack. The wolf made its attack, only to feel its body lifted in the air by another force stronger and more powerful. The rescuer dove straight for the attacking wolf, lifted it into the air and flung it away from Vicki.
Vicki felt herself lifted and what appeared to be in a blink of an eye she was being handed over to Willie while the force that had rescued her went off the porch in pursuit of the wolf. Barnabas charged into the night looking for the wolf he had just flung across the yard. Willie carried Vicki back he could see from his peripheral the wolf limpimp off to the wood line. Heading that way, Barnabas shifted to mist form and moved towards the last place he had seen the wolf.
Moving over the woods he spotted something odd. Shifting to bat form he circled back to what he saw was a naked man lying face down in the dry leaves. Shifting again to human form Barnabas landed next to the naked man and found he was injured but alive. Taking his off his jacket he covered the man. "Can you hear me?" Turning to face the house he pushed out his mental powers. "Willie, I need you to follow my voice and come to me with a blanket and hurry. I have an injured man in the woods that may have been attacked by the wolf."
Willie had moved into the drawing room with Vicki and set her down on the chair, and then he felt him in his mind and heard him. "Um Professor can you take care of Vicki. Barnabas needs me!" Willie moved to the hallway closet and pulled out a blanket. "He said he found a guy in the woods that might have been attacked by that wolf." Willie turned and began to instinctively follow the pull of Barnabas' power allowing it to guide him until he was on the pathway that showed him two outlines near the ground. Moving quickly to the two shadows he stopped and looked down seeing the naked man. "Whoa! What happened here?"
"I don't know I found him lying here naked. Help me get him up and back to the old house. The wolf is gone I could not find it anywhere is Vicki all right?" Barnabas concern was evident by the tone of his voice. He was so angry when he saw her being attacked by the wolf that he did not need to think he only reacted.
"Yeah, I left her with Xavier and Professor Stokes. Then I heard your call and came right here."
"You did good Willie, now help me get him back to the old house and we will have Xavier check him out to see if he has any other injuries."
Vicki sat with the glass of sherry in her hands that trembled with the aftermath of her fear from nearly being attacked by the wolf. "I was getting married and when I arrived at the drawing room the whole room was filled with bloody dead, all of the Collins family was dead and Roger's figure had turned into a Skelton. Then I head his voice. Nicholas Blair's voice and he was taunting me. So I came here and that is when I nearly hit the wolf on the roadway. It attacked the car and was trying to get me." Xavier studied Vicki's demeanor and found her to be very truthful and brave.
"Are you going to be all right my dear?" Xavier was being the cordial and caring physician while he checked her for any other damage.
" I was so sure I was going to die. That wolf was coming right for me. What happened?" She looked from Professor Stokes to Xavier.
"Barnabas knocked it off of you and he and Willie are looking for it as we speak my dear." Professor Stokes refreshed her drink. "Drink up it will warm you and calm your nerves." Professor Stokes gently patted her arm. Turning to Xavier he spoke softly, "Is she hurt?" He kept his eyes fixed to Xavier as he asked his question.
"No, not hurt. She is shaken and naturally upset but now she speaks of Blair, I thought he had returned to the under dark after Angelique was banished.
Stokes nodded, "We all assumed that but apparently he has unfinished business and it appears to involve Barnabas and Vicki's nuptials. I cannot see him returning without his side kick Angelique."
The front door opened to allow Barnabas and Willie to help the young man into the house and into the drawing room where he collapsed in the nearest chair. "Dr. Von Zwack, could you please examine this young man. I found him lying naked in the woods. He appears to be injured."
Barnabas turned to kneel next to Vicki. "Come my dearest, let us take you to Josette's room where we can talk and you can tell me why you came at such a late hour tonight." Barnabas help her to stand, then led her from the room. Guiding her shaky form up the stairs to Josette's room. Taking her to the settee, he seated her, and then pulled the chair to sit in front of her. Once again, Vicki began to relate her dream, the deaths she saw, and how Barnabas attacked her and killed her. Then when she shouted out her denial she heard Nicholas Blair's voice mocking her.
He held her hand as she spoke, his face grave with the tale she just relayed to him. "My dearest Victoria you do know that I would never harm you or my family. You do believe me don't you?"
"Of course I do, Barnabas that is why I denied it to the voice in my head. I denied that you could do such a thing. That is why I had to come here and that is when that animal attacked my car on the road not far from here."
"There, there my dear. We will allow you to sleep here tonight. You will not need to go home and here I can protect you from any other horrible dreams you may have. I will have Willie find one of Josette's gowns so you may rest comfortably."
He stood and then she stood and moved into his arms. "Do you have to go?" She held on to him tightly. "I really am not ready to be alone."
Barnabas smiled, "Then I shall have Willie find you something to wear and will come back to sit with you until you fall asleep."
Xavier did a summary exam of the dazed young man and found him to have a possible broken rib and sprained foot. Bandaging his foot he cautioned. "You really should go to the hospital young man and get your ribs x-rayed and your foot. Try to stay off your foot for a couple of days or until you get it x-rayed and confirmed it is not broken.
The young man looked expectantly from Xavier to the Professor. "Thank you both for all your help. I don't remember what happened. I was in my hotel room at the Collinsport Inn and thought I heard something outside my room . I remember going out to see what was going on and then all of a sudden nothing else but waking up here. It is all a mystery to me as to how I got in the woods in that condition."
Xavier shook his head. "It sounds like you may have been drug or rendered unconscious some how."
Elliott agreed, "I could call the police for you if you wish. Oh by the way I am Professor Elliott Stokes. And this is my good friend Xavier Von Zwack. This young man is Willie Loomis, and the gentleman that found you is Barnabas Collins. "
"Collins? Would that be a Collins related to Elizabeth Collins Stoddard and Roger Collins?" The young man stood up straighter and looked around.
"Why yes, he is a distant cousin to them, is that a problem?" Willie asked using a defensive tone while he eyed the man carefully assessing him.
"Oh no, they are distant relatives of mine. So, if I am in Mr. Collins home would he be close to Collinwood?"
A rap on the door caught Willie by surprise. "I will be right back. Moving to the door he opened it and smiled, "Hello Quentin what brings you out so late at night?" Willie stepped aside to allow Quentin access to enter.
"I just got bored knew Barnabas would be up and thought I would come over, seems he has more company is that the estate car I saw all scratched up on the driver's side?" He thumbed the car.
"Yeah, Vicki had an accident. Professor Stokes and that Von Zwack dude is here too, and we got some stranger that says he is related to the Collins family but we don't know his name." Willie turned to lead Quentin to the group in the drawing room.
Quentin entered the room with a curious and doubtful look on his features his eyes fell on the young man sitting in one of the fireside chairs. Blue eyes locked to blue eyes a feeling of familiarity filled him. "Hello? I am Quentin Collins and you are?" Quentin extended his hand in a cordial greeting.
"Jennings, Chris Jennings. I was here to visit with my brother Tom Jennings and my cousin Joe Haskell. I think we are related to you. Our Grandfather was Quentin Collins." He reached for Quentin's hand and felt the strength in the handshake tighten then relaxed.
"Well then I would say yes we are related. My father was Quentin Collins the third, so that would make me your Uncle; I suppose." He smiled tightly and released the hand that had held his and stepped back. "So I guess it would appropriate for me to say welcome to the family."
Barnabas came down the stairs, a look of concern and consternation on his face. Pausing on the steps he looked around at those that were gathered. Hearing Quentin he smiled. "I see we have more relations that have arrived?" Barnabas continued on down the stairs.
Moving into the drawing room he looked from Quentin to the young man he had rescued from the woods. "Chris Jennings Mr. Collins. I am a grandson of Quentin Collins. My cousin is Joe Haskell."
Chris stood up slowly extending his hand. "Pleasure to meet you Mr. Collins and I think I owe you a thank you for helping me." Chris held the blanket close to his body.
"Well pleasure to meet you, and I see we may need to get you some clothing. I found you without a stitch of clothing on unconscious in the woods."
Quentin frowned looking at the blanket that covered his grandson's body and sighed. "Maybe I need to go and get you some clothing or take you to your clothing?"
Chris smiled widely, "That would be the best. I am staying at the Collinsport Inn and honestly to not know how I got out here in the woods without my clothing. I was telling the doctor here that I heard something in the hallway and then the next thing I know I was here being told that Mr. Collins found me naked and unconscious. I really don't remember anything else."
Barnabas turned to Willie, "Willie go up and see if you can locate a coat for Mr. Jennings to wear. I am sure the coat will be a lot more comfortable and easier to use than a blanket."
"Yeah sure, be right back Jennings." Willie moved back and towards the stairs and paused for a moment to study the young man that sat back down in the fireside chair. He frowned he watched the shifting of Chris eyes.
Turning he moved on up the stairs and down the hallway to a storage closet where he found six different sized coats. "Willie?" Vicki had stepped out of Josette's room and saw Willie in the closet.
Jumping he turned looking at her, "Dang Vicki I forgot you were here. Are you all right? Do you need anything?" He grabbed a coat from the closet.
"I heard voice downstairs and was wondering who was here. Barnabas said he was going to ask you to find me one of Josette's nightgowns. I was just thinking it might be a lot of trouble and I don't want to create more problems for you than I already have."
Willie smiled, she was thinking of others and not herself again. "No not a problem, as a matter of fact if you look in the closet you will find a nightgown and matching house coat that belonged to Josette that should fit you. The young man we found in the woods needs something to cover up with. He was naked when we found him unconscious in the woods."
Vicki smiled, "Thank you Willie. Do you think they need my help?" She looked uncomfortably around the hallway and then back at him.
"I don't think so, he is suppose to be Quentin's nephew and he don't remember how he got in the woods like that. So Quentin is going to take him back to the hotel where he lives so he can get some clothes, he needs them."
Vicki nodded turned and moved back to Josette's room. Moving to the wardrobe she opened the door and looked at the lovely light blue gown and matching lace housecoat. Taking them down from their hangers she moved to the bed and laid them down and began to undress. Donning the gown she dressed quickly and then moved under the covers on the bed, pulling the blanket up to her chin she laid back and looked around the room. "Well I am in your room in your gown but that does not make me you Josette, but I feel like you right now and frankly I am afraid. I don't know what is going on with my dreams and only ask you to help me through this night."
Lying back on the bed she tried to close her eyes and relax, the exhaustion of her previous encounter set in she felt herself slip off into a deep sleep. From the portrait over the mantle of Josette began to glow and the room filled with the scent of jasmine. Josette moved from the portrait to the side of the bed where Vicki laid sleeping. "Do not worry Mon chéri, I am here to protect you, nothing will harm you while I watch over you. "
Xavier and Elliott followed Quentin and Chris to the door seeing them out. Barnabas moved to the fireside chair and sat down. His night had not gone the way he had anticipated and he was most anxious to meet with Eric and Julia again. The curious part of his night had just walked out of the door.
Xavier with Elliott moved back to the drawing room and sat down picking up their drinks. "Odd, I wonder if he was what is the word they use? Rolled?" Elliott considered while sipping his drink.
"What a curious euphemism, Rolled meaning robbed?" Xavier noted sipping his own drink.
"Gentlemen there is something not quite right about this whole situation, how did he get so far from the Collinsport Inn to the woods near Collinwood and here? Surely he was not robbed, and his clothing taken and then dumped in the woods like that? Who would be so cruel as to do something so horrendous?"
Barnabas was stumped. Elliott finished his drink around the same time that Xavier finished his. "Well I personally have had a full day and need some rest gentlemen. So, please forgive me if I make my final adieus for now." Xavier stood and offered a bow to each man and moved towards the door. Then realized he had come with Elliott. "Oh dear Elliott I do apologize, it seems I am getting a bit addle pated in my advancing years. Of course when you are ready so am I." Xavier looked to his friend with a contrite look upon his face.
"Not to worry my dear fellow. I too am weary and we shall both make our goodnights to Barnabas so he may attend to Vicki." Elliott stood set his empty glass on the table. "Until tomorrow. Shall I be seeing you at the hospital?"
Barnabas stood following them to the door. "Yes, I really think we need to let Eric and Julia know what happened with the serum and the after affects of said serum."
Barnabas escorted his two callers to the door, and then turned to Willie, "I meant to tell you, Victoria needs a nightgown and house coat, perhaps one of Josette's."
"I already took care of it for you Barnabas. She found me looking for a coat for Jennings and I told her in Josette's closet was a gown and housecoat. I think she has already gone to sleep."
"I still plan on sitting with her in the room, she was very upset and very frightened by all that had happened earlier." Barnabas took on a protective tone to his voice looking up the stairs to the room that held his love. Though he did not see the room at the top of the stairs he could visualize it in his mind.
Willie hesitated, "Um with these new powers you ain't gonna hurt her are you? I mean you have control over that thing that makes you mean?"
Barnabas felt a moment of irritation pass over him at the idea that he would harm Vicki and the insinuation that Willie was making made him involuntarily backhand Willie across the face. Still fighting for control over his emotions Barnabas grabbed Willie's shirt and drug him face to face.
"Do not ever think or insinuate again that I would harm the very life of my life, the love of my life or the very reason for my being is that understood Willie? You are becoming too familiar with me and with those I love and I remind you I am your employer."
Barnabas shoved him backwards and then realized what he had done. Stricken by the depth of his reaction and anger he turned from Willie. "Oh Willie, I am so sorry." His shame was complete with his over reaction. "I don't know what came over me just then. Of course you should worry. I need to regain your trust in me again. Please Willie forgive me for being so harsh."
Willie was frightened at first then realized that Barnabas did not know what he was doing when he grabbed him so harshly and slapped him. Still feeling the sting of the slap he moved away from Barnabas his gaze filled with confusion and fear. "Yeah sure Barnabas." His words were soft and filled with hurt.
Barnabas heard the hurt and felt his fear wash over him like a wave of guilt that now engulfed him for his over reaction. He did not know what else to say except how much he regretted his reaction. "I am sorry Willie, I don't know why I did that just now and it grieves me that I have violated your trust in me again. Your trust means more to me than you could possibly imagine. This break in my own personal protocol had shaken me to my core and I cannot express to you how sorry I am."
Willie felt the sincerity of his apology and understood he was moody and subject to tantrum and outburst but since he would have traded his life for Barnabas' life he felt they had bridged that aspect of their differences in their lives. This just showed him he was still considered his slave and nothing more.
"No Willie, I think of you as family. I would never want to violate that treaty we formed and would never intentionally hurt or harm you or Victoria. I want you to know I mean this from the bottom of my heart."
Barnabas had sensed his conflict and entered his mind to see the hurt and confusion that was resting there like a viper ready to strike out at the heart of one of those he had come to respect. Sighing softly, Barnabas turned from him. "I shall be up in Josette's room if you need me you know where to find me."
Moving to the stairs he made his way with a heavy heart to Josette's room where he found Vicki sound asleep and the ethereal figure of Josette hovering nearby. "Josette? Why are you here?"
"I have come to protect our Victoria from the bad dreams that Nicholas Blair sends he is evil Barnabas and would drive our Victoria to Widows Hill and her end if we do not protect her." Josette stood protectively next to Barnabas. "It is up to us to see her safe and secure from his evil."
"I plan to do just that my dear Josette and nothing will stand in the way of our happiness."