Chapter 25
Collinwood
With a quiet assembly, Jeremiah was laid out for viewing in the library of Collinwood. His cold stiff face looking serene and at peace the best the mortician could provide for one of Collinsport's mightiest families. The soft sobbing sounds of those that had come to know Jeremiah, respect him and considered him a friend were there now paying their respects. Victoria stood in the drawing room not sure how she could find the courage to go into the library and look once again upon the face of a man she had loved in another time to see him dead again was so hard. Vicki slowly walked to peer out the window she wondered how many times she had done this and admired the view of the ocean and the gardens. The reason she could admire all that was Collinwood and its surroundings was because of the man that laid to rest in the library.
However, today and this time it had a different feel, a surreal situation that was not safe or normal. If anything, this felt odd and she had to admit she was frightened. She knew that Josette was lying in her bed and was not sure but may be near death from some kind of horrible attack by an animal that must have gotten in her room. That from the conversations she was hearing from the villagers that it was the same kind of attack that had happened along the docks to the ladies of the evening that plied their trade to the lonely sailors. The name of the Collinsport Creeper was being bandied about; he was like an animal that moved like a man was attacking women no matter what their station in life.
This was sounding so much like what had happened to Maggie, Willie, and others that had been attacked in her time. Sighing softly she heard him enter the room and turned to look at the hard cold stare of Joshua Collins. He was somewhat the contemporary to Roger in her time except this man was cold as ice and hard as nails and ruled with an iron fist. "Miss Winters do you have a moment for me?"
Vicki turned and slowly nodded offering up only the smallest of smiles, "Of course Mr. Collins." She was apprehensive, she was sure with the duel that the timeline had changed, Jeremiah was supposed to have died falling of his horse and Barnabas had lived and moved to England, that was where her Barnabas' family had come and now returned in her lifetime to Collinwood.
He nodded to the sofa and then took a seat after she had sat in a fireside chair. "My wife tells me that you suffered a head injury and do not recall much of your life?"
Vicki fidgeted with the ribbons on her dress and slowly nodded her head. "Yes, I found myself wandering on the road leading into Collinsport and the coach driver nearly rode me down. I don't recall much except I believe my name is Victoria Winters and I may be from Portland."
Joshua stood and stepped to the mantle. "I understand from the way you were dressed you may be high born? I know you are educated, that is apparent by your vernacular and your demeanor." He turned to face her and she lifted those delicate shoulders in a resigned shrug.
"I think so but I am not sure Mr. Collins. I don't remember much about my life before nearly being run down on the north shore road."
He turned and folded his arms over the front of his jacket. Prominently displayed over his left breast was the traditional purple ribbon denoting his period of mourning? "From the gown I was shown when you arrived on our doorstep and collapsed into my son's arms it would appear that you come from a wealthy family. So we could possibly inquire to the surrounding areas. Perhaps you have been reported missing. Considering the town here is under some kind of assault from some animal that is attacking women on the docks and in their homes it would not be impossible to consider that you too had suffered from such an attack. Those women reported feeling dazed and confused and had suffered some memory loss."
Vicki folded her hands primly in her lap and looked down at her nails. "Any help that you could afford me I am sure would be rewarded and by me very much appreciated."
Joshua waved his hand as if it were nothing. "I understand that you are well educated and would perhaps be amenable to assist us with Sarah and Daniel's education? Miss Wycke it seems has taken to her bed and very well may be facing arrest shortly for witchcraft."
Vicki looked shocked and frightened on behalf of the young lady. "I will be happy to help out in any way I may. I will warn you that Mr. Trask has accused me of witchcraft as well and I fear he may be trying to have me arrested along with Miss Wycke." Vicki had sounded more than mildly disturbed by these facts.
Joshua inwardly moaned. "Yes, well Mr. Trask from what I understand manhandled you in my home and I will not tolerate that in any form. I would caution you about not going into town or being any where alone that man may be."
Vicki nodded purposely, "Thank you solid advice I am sure and I thank you for your courtesy and your generosity for offering me your protection and your home."
Joshua studied the lovely young woman that sat on the sofa and wished that she had been here sooner to distract Barnabas away from Josette. "Well you are dismissed my dear, if you would not mind would you please check on Josette, I believe she asked for you earlier."
Vicki stood up and curtsied to Joshua, "Of course and thank you Mr. Collins."
He watched her leave the room and then looked towards the hallway and the direction of the library. Slowly he stepped into the hallway and to the doors, grabbing his greatcoat and hat and set off for the old house, noting that the night would be upon them soon.
Old House
A part of him held a great sorrow for he was about to check on his son's body. He had dealt with Naomi falling into a depression over loosing her son and Jeremiah then dealing with Sarah and her grief had been a great burden on his otherwise overly tolerant demeanor. Walking up to the old house and through the front doors, he had this overwhelming feeling that the house had been abandoned and it had such a desolate sad feeling. It had always seemed a happy place watching Barnabas grow up and then the arrival of Sarah the sound of childish laughter in the house made it seem brighter and happier. Stepping into the house and up the stairs with a heavy heart, he paused outside Barnabas' room and then entered and was stunned. His gaze looked on in shock and disbelief the body of his son was missing.
Joshua turned in a furious anger and stomped down the stairs to the servant's quarters where he met the servants that had been left behind to pack up and to see to the cleaning of the body and preparing him for burial. "Who here can tell me what has happened to Mr. Barnabas' body?"
The servants looked confused they began to look back and forth to each other and then looked to Joshua. "Mr. Joshua, we cleaned his body, dressed him in his best clothing and he was lying in his bed the last we know."
They began to cross themselves and mumble watching Joshua pace furiously back and froth. "I want his body found!" He turned and looked at each one of them. "I do not care what it takes, I want to know where his body is and I want it returned. I find this deplorable to be treated so callously after the death of my brother and then my son and someone has taken my son's body. I am not going back to tell his mother his body is missing, so I suggest you all stop what you are doing and find that body!"
Dusk Old House Barnabas' bedroom
Barnabas awoke with a need, a terrible need and a thirst. The bloodlust was on him. Rising up he noticed that his clothing had been changed and he had been put in his best clothing. He did not wonder why, he just knew he needed to feed. Stepping out into the hallway he hurried with expediency down the hallway. He found his body could do new wondrous things. Shifting to mist form, he disappeared and turned to bat form and flew off towards town and the docks.
Collinsport Docks
He like Peter had discovered his hearing was extremely heightened, his eyesight perfected to see the smallest of creatures scurrying for cover of night. His sense of smell assailed him with the onslaught of death and decay from below he could tell each living breathing creatures was slowly dying but they held what he sought and needed. His search was for a blood meal and a source for that meal. That would be the docks and the ladies of the evening that plied their trade on the wharf. Once there he began to troll the docks looking for a victim. It did not take him long to come upon a working girl that stood on the docks and looked for a passing sailor to ply her trade.
Barnabas approached her, she smiled invitingly and when Barnabas moved in she tried to back him off only to find he had a pretty tight hold on her. "Hey now honey! Easy enough we can have a bit of fun with a slap and tickle but go a bit slower." The bloodlust was upon him with a vengeance he held her tightly and she screamed and the scream was cut off when he bit into her neck and drank deeply. He would have taken it too far if it had not been for those that were leaving the Eagles Nest. The sailors being the saviors for the ladies of the night rushed towards the sound of the scream. Hearing their approach, Barnabas laid her body down on the docks and stepped into the night changing to mist then bat form. The sailors arrived to find her unconscious with her throat nearly ripped out and bleeding. "Hey ain't that Lottie Magahi?" One of the sailors having been a regular to the working girl recognized her right off.
The chaos that ensued was near pandemonium with the docks filled with gawkers and the local authorities. Rumors began to run rampart with word getting out that there was an animal moving about the docks attacking people and ripping out throats. The area was quickly cleared and the patrons of the Eagles Nest went home with stories that were beginning to sound so fantastic that it made for bigger and more far fetched stories. One thing was for certain now there had been it seemed more than one attack of the dock whores that night. The town was fast growing afraid and demanding that the madness be stopped and to find the animal that was doing this and to have it put to death.
Old House
Barnabas was flying in bat form to the old house. He found this new mode of travel was exhilarating. The freedom that it afforded him was something he had never experienced before. His senses were intensified that he could smell and hear things he had never known existed. The ability to transform into other than human form was a positive. However, there was the negative side to this new life. The need to feed from another human being was like being a parasite. The fact his eyesight had improved in the dark, in the light the eyesight was severely affected. The sense of smell was great he could smell his victims, but the stench of their bodies was over powering. The hearing was enough that sometimes so much at one time could be deafening. The flow of the blood through the veins, the beat of the heart when his intended victims became afraid was almost as frightening to him as it was to the victim. It was in these moments he hated what he had become but could not help himself.
When daylight made its approach, there was a sense of panic he felt the burning need to find shelter and his body began to grow fatigued. It was something he would have to investigate and adjust his life style. If he were to try and survive this new life he had to know what was happening to him. A deep primal part of him was growing more attuned to his surroundings and there was within him a drive for self-preservation. Instinctively Barnabas knew that he had to find a place safe and hidden from the rest of the world. Slipping away to the family mausoleum, he found a coffin and emptied the body from it, then set it up in the secret ammunition room his father had made to hide weapons from the British during the war. This would do nicely for now. He would figure something out later for a more permanent place of rest for the daylight hours. He found it abhorrent to crawl into a coffin that had belonged to another and his rest would not be as deep as he had thought but for now until he found someone that could help him, he would make due with this temporary solution to his problem.
Collinwood
Naomi was in tears, she was near hysterical and Joshua did not handle the hysterics of a woman as well as he thought he had hoped. If anything, he was growing irritated not so much with Naomi but his inability to help.
His frustration with the constant crying and lamenting over the loss of Barnabas was wearing on his nerves and his temper. Finally, he had poured enough cordial down Naomi's throat that he knew she would sleep off the alcohol. Millicent had flown into a fit of the vapors upon being told that Barnabas had died. She truly thought she would be married to him and secured the names Collins and their fortunes. Now she knew she had to turn the fortune over to Daniel to be held in trust. She like Naomi fell into a depression and kept weeping; only Millicent had the good graces to hide in her room and cry. The only non-weeping adult female in the house was Miss Winters and her company was more preferable than any of his women. The servants had also been crying over the loss of the old master and they were not endeared to Joshua so he was pretty sure he was going to have to build a loyalty base to gain their trust.
He had watched them instinctively draw to Victoria and ask her to intervene on their behalf to the new Master. So from all appearances, if he were kind to Victoria then he knew they would eventually be endeared to him. Otherwise, they would do as he asked. However, he saw it was with the look of resentment or the tone of disapproval in their voices. He would have been sorely put upon not to take a rod to them for their insolence. If not for Miss Winters now taking over the running of the house and the servants he would have been beside himself. The one and only servant that had been loyal to him and that was through his close association with Barnabas, was Ben Stokes.
Old Ben had stood by dutifully waiting for Mr. Joshua to tell him what to do. Even now he had Ben out trying to hunt down who could have stolen his son's body. He did not want to think it was a body snatcher and what unspeakable horrors were being committed upon Barnabas' final remains.
Joshua slumped down into the nearest chair in the drawing room and closed his eyes rubbing his fingertips over the bridge of his nose muttering softly. "My god, when will this end and what will happen when it does?"
Josette's bedroom
Peter Bradford stood outside Collinwood and he called to Josette, "Josette! Hear my voice, come to me Josette!" His mental call to came to her unconscious mind.
Vicki had sat beside her bed much as she had done with Maggie; when Maggie had the same strange illness over take her. She watched the beautiful Frenchwoman twist in her bed and turn and spoke softly, "Barnabas? Jeremiah? No, please no more! Come, yes I must come."
She sat up in a trance and Vicki stood anxiously watching her. Again the same thing that Maggie had done, appearing to be answering a call only she could hear. "Josette? Please you are much to weak to be up!" Vicki tried to push her back down on her bed only to feel her hands grab her with surprising strength. Josette turned on the girl that now held her in her bed. For someone so weaken by a mysterious disease she had incredible strength.
"Leave me be! I tell you I must go to him, he wants me to come!" Her eyes were wild with her intent and her need to leave her bed and go to whomever needed her. Vicki felt the shift of her body and she broke the hold sending Vicki staggering backwards. With the last ounce of strength that Josette possessed, she stood from her bed and walked to the door. Had her body not been so weakened Vicki was just as sure she would have made it out of the door and away from Collinwood. She watched her collapse in the doorway. She slumped to the floor in a flowing heap of gown that feathered out around her like a deflated balloon.
From the drawing room, Joshua heard Miss Winters scream and was up like a shot and dashing up the stairs. Rushing towards the last place he knew she had been, he arrived to see Vicki rising from the floor having been thrown there by Josette and a pile of gown with the form of Josette in the center of the gown. "Oh dear lord!" Joshua bent to scoop Josette's lifeless form up in his arms and carry her back to her bed.
Vicki rushed to her side and looked with concern and anxiously to Joshua. "She said someone was calling her and I tried to keep her in bed but she shoved me and I fell. I am so sorry Mr. Collins." Vicki stepped in front of Joshua and began to smooth down the blankets over the frail woman's body glancing apologetically to Joshua.
"I understand my dear, this wreaks of supernatural, perhaps that fool Trask is right perhaps we are under the influence of a witch!" Vicki blanched and felt her hand tremble with Joshua expressing his disgust at such a thought with great vehemence.
"Surely you do not think it is any of us that is doing this Mr. Collins and I find it hard to believe that there are such things as witches."
Joshua frowned, "Of course you are right. I just have no other explanation for it."
Vicki chewed her bottom lip; she was afraid if she expressed what she really suspected she would be marked as a witch. "I am wondering if its influences of others and in her delirium she thinks she hears the voices?" Vicki was grasping for any explanation other than withcraft.
Joshua studied her and found that such a thought was probably very astute and she was smarter than he previously suspected. "Perhaps."
Vicki walked to the window to Josette's room and secured the window shut. When she appeared in the window, Peter glanced up and frowned. "Meddling woman!" He muttered feeling his feast for the night had been kept from him by the lovely but interfering Victoria Winters. Peter was then distracted by another window and a figure that stood peering out into the night with eyes wet with tears and face pale as death and he breathed the air and smelt her. "Phyllis, my love!" He shifted to mist form and drifted up to the open window. Phyllis had removed her housecoat, dabbing her eyes she sighed and walked to the bed and laid down. Peter maintained his gaseous form watching her draw the covers up and quietly cry her self to sleep. Reforming he moved to stand over her sleeping body and smiled, taking his fingertips he gently pushed the hair away from her neck and face. "How beautiful you look my love, how I miss your warm embrace, how I long to taste your lips!"
He bent and placed his cold lips to her and watched her eyes fly open in surprise and fear. The urge to take her was so strong that he knew if he were not to place a thought in her mind she would scream and that would bring others. Leaving only but a thought she had dreamed the kiss and his presence, he shifted again and turned to mist drifting out of the open window and into the night. The softly uttered words echoing back to her, "Soon my love, soon we will be together forever!" Drifting off into the night he drifted his form towards the docks and watched from over head very amused. Barnabas was searching for something to curb his need and bloodlust and saw he had found Gertrude Magahi. He would have laughed if it were not so pathetic. He knew the urge and feeling the new fledgling was feeling and stayed back to see how he fared.
He watched Barnabas panic at the girl's scream which had summoned some of the sailors leaving the Eagle Nest and he sighed sadly, surely there was not enough gotten from this attack to curb his need or desires for blood. Peter could not dwell on helping his friend, he had his own needs to attend and he would find a bite, he smirked at the thought a bite to eat, and chuckled inwardly at his pun shifting and drifting along the dark streets of Collinsport. Then he saw her, walking home from a late night at her employer's house. She was a young pretty maid that must have been put through her tasks by the Master of this house's spouse. She stumbled tiredly and he could almost feel the ache in her back and the soreness of her feet and the rush of her life's blood through her veins.
He could smell the sweat of her hard pushed young body; she must have been hours on her knees scrubbing the floor, polishing the bannisters and wood. She smelt of lye soap and polish. Her own sweat mingled with the smells and he could almost hear her thoughts wondering if this was all her life would be until she died? This night Peter smiled, he was about to put her out of her young misery and answer that question he shifted and swooped down and reformed to surprise her stepping from behind a tall stone fence with a wrought iron gate. Startled she gasped and stepped back, her gaze wide and her heart rate moving rapidly. She spoke tiredly. "Oh sorry M'lord I was nay expecting to see anyone out this late."
Peter's eyes glowed a piercing ice blue and he captured her gaze with his hypnotic one. "I am sorry, I did not mean to frighten you. You should not be out late alone like this my dear have you not heard? There is an animal out attacking young women."
The young girl that had been called Callie had backed up and then froze seeing the intense look of the oddly glowing eyes. "Oh nay sir, I had nay heard such a thing!"
Peter smiled and his lips parted and she saw them long sharp teeth that dripped with expectation of what he was about to taste. "Oh yes my dear and unfortunately you have met the monster and he wants you." Peter grabbed her close, bent her head to the side and sunk his teeth in deep and began to draw the blood from her body. Her scream had started and then was cut off he took her there on the street, in a lonely dark section of town.
He drained the last of her blood from her body, he lifted her body and flung it over the fence into the courtyard of some noble who would have the privilege of finding the discarded husk of his dinner and a part of him that he had held in check, that deep dark evil part of him smiled at the thought of what that discovery would wreak.
There would be screaming, and a rush to the master and then the authorities coming to see what was causing the problem. Then the look of horror on their faces while they looked down at the pale lifeless pretty girl with eyes wide fixed and staring into nothing and showing the revulsion and fear on her own features he had taken her and discarded her like nothing more than the evenings trash to be thrown away. Oh yes this thought filled him with delight and expectation of what the rest of the week would bring. Glancing around he realized that the night had grown long and that daylight would be upon him. For a moment he allowed himself the thought of whether or not Barnabas had figured out he must rest in the daylight and find shelter, but that would have required some compassion for his friend and he no longer afforded him self any part of humanity that had been his in his mortal life.
Now, all he cared for and wanted was to find an eternal mate, to share his existence for what must surely be an eternity and to feed when the blood lust was on him. He knew he would have to draw on his old way of life to fit into the human part of this new world or they may figure out what he was and try to destroy him. So he not only had to be clever but cautious. Shifting to mist form he drifted up and looked down one last time as the poor young woman that he had just used and discarded, gave her no more thought and drifted towards the beach and the cave he had called home for now. The coffin hidden deep inside the alcove and away from prying eyes, he knew this was safe and was part of the intricate tunnels that was under the old house and widows hill. Oh yes, this new life was going to fit him like a glove and he looked forward to it with relish.