Chapter 6
Pausing to turn around she felt the first splatter of rain the prelude to many more drops that would surely follow. Picking up her pace she moved along the pathway until she came to the witching tree her mother had been tied to by Reverend Trask. "Josette." The voice was softly feminine and eerily familiar.
Stopping she pivoted on the balls of her feet looking around. "Who is there?"
A high pitch giggle sent some chills down her spine and she searched the darkening woods. "Josette, do you not recognize one of your oldest friends?"
From the top of a low hung branch a large feline stretched lazily knowing leaves from the intermittent raindrops sheltered her.
"Lei lay?" Josette smiled and looked up at the shape shifter.
"Oui mon petite, I have come to bring you something for your birthday." Lei lay jumped down to the ground at her feet and shimmered into human form, appearing like a 10-year-old girl in a party dress of peach with long flowing hair that was caught up by a matching ribbon.
"Oh sweetie you did not need to get me a gift."
Lei lay shook her head and the hair soft and fine like spun gold sheltered over her shoulders acting like a cape. "Oh but Mon petite Mrs. Mamm says I need to give you this."
She unhooked a necklace she wore around her neck. It was a lovely black onyx stone set in a golden casing with embossing around the edge. Lei lay handed the necklace over to Josette and she looked at Lei lay with concern.
"If Mrs. Mamm sent this did she send the prophecy that went to it?"
Lei lay smiled and nodded, "She said to tell you," and Lei lay screwed up her face trying to recall exactly the way she had put it. Josette knew that Lei lay had a photogenic memory. "Beware the dark man with the charm, he will surely set off your alarms. Junior to the senior he will bring harm." She stopped and sighed. "I wish she would be more to the point instead of in rhyme, anyhow she also said use the stone to protect yourself from his bite, he is the viper in disguise."
Josette took the necklace and put it around her neck noting the back had some kind of writing on it. She knew she would try to decipher it later when she had time to study it under light. Then she bent and hugged the small girl and kissed her cheek, which sent another round of shrill giggles from her. Josette watch as she shimmered into a gull and flew off towards the stables.
Tucking the necklace into her pocket Josette set off towards the old house, her mind filled with the mysterious message sent by Mrs. Mamm, an ancient fey white witch. Too soon the rain had turned from intermittent pelting to a down pour, but this did not make Josette hurry any faster, if anything she lifted up her head and let the rain wash over her face. The feeling of being cleansed to her very soul filled her until she felt it leaking down the front of her blouse and brought about a chill that was chasing her to the bone with its invasive touch.
Arriving at front door of the old house, Josette paused to turn and look around at the family's property. She stood watching the storm wash over the land and relaxed. This was home, truly was home. "Are you going to stand there getting soaked to the bone or are you going to come in?"
Josette spun and squealed in excitement. "Poppa!" Then she promptly launched herself into her father's open arms an collapsed against him.
"Welcome home my dear, welcome home."
Barnabas held his daughter wrapped in a hug of love. Josette laid her head against his check and sighed. "Thank you poppa it is good to be home."
He escorted her inside to the fireplace where the warmth of the fire greeted them. He handed her a towel allowing her to dry herself. After which he then took it to the kitchen to let Clara hang it up on the hook to dry and then went back in to see his oldest daughter.
"I thought your mother went with you."
Josette nodded and said, "She did but David cornered her about business and she was going to get a ride home."
From the sound of the door opening in the hallway, they were alerted to the fact that maybe this was Vickie returning home. Sure enough, Vickie's voice was heard but she was talking to another individual.
The voice appeared to a man with a charmingly deep voice. "Really Mrs. Collins it was no bother at all and I appreciate the invitation to dinner. It will be a pleasure to meet your family. After everything my father and mother had told me of the Collins family, why I feel I already know you each and everyone of you."
The man's voice sent a shudder of dread through Josette and she anxiously watched the archway for them to make their appearance. Her mother entered first. "Come I am sure Josette and Barnabas are in the drawing room."
She rounded the corner followed by a man whose height matched her father's and only slightly towered her mother. "Oh darling good you are home, and you too Josette. May I present Mr. Dante, Mr. Geoffrey Dante."
Barnabas ever the proper gentleman went forward to shake his hand. Josette looked at him with a feeling of distrust but hid it behind a politely cold smile. Draping her arm over the back of the fireside chair, she stood frozen to that spot.
"And this is the birthday girl Josette I have heard so much about?" He had allowed the proper amount of time to drop Barnabas' hand and moved towards Josette extending his hand.
Josette reluctantly extended her hand and Mr. Dante took her hand and pressed his lips to her hand. "Charmed I am sure." Why was it Josette felt the need to go and take a bath after him touching her? Both of them locked gazes to each other and it appeared to Josette he was issuing a silent challenge. S
he gently disengaged her hand from his. "Yes, Mr. Dante, a pleasure I am sure."
Dante smiled and immediately Josette thought of a tightly wound snake ready to pounce on its intended dinner.
Looking around him to her parents she spoke softly, "If you two . . . " and as an after thought she said, " and of course Mr. Dante will excuse me, I really need to go and get ready for dinner tonight."
Dante bowed to her and watched her pacing herself not to run up the stairs and away from him. The conversation down stairs became nothing more than a soft hum of voices. As soon as she was out of sight, Josette took flight and raced to her room, throwing open her door, and closing it to lean against it and to calm her nerves and pounding heart.
"We will see just exactly who you are Mr. Geoffrey Dante." She muttered trudging to her bed and slid her boots off. Taking them to the boot rest, she went back to her bed and fell back on its inviting comfort. "But you must wait until later. Right now, I am going to take a little nap."
Closing her eyes she drug her quilt over her body and thumped her pillow and let the fatigue take her to unconsciousness. There she began what could only be termed a nightmare. She could see herself in a darken hallway, it smelled of a dank musty smell. She followed the dimly lit hallway until she came to a door that appeared to be a cell door very reminiscent of the cell door in the cellar. Opening the door she stepped though only to have the door slam shut on her. Trapped, she had been led into a trap.
Pulling on the door did no good and then she turned and noticed that there were several candles burning on long freestanding candelabra. Against the wall was a dark form and it began to growl and lunge at her, she jumped away from the wolf man creature and frowned. "I have no fear of you, you are not real and cannot harm me."
The figure disappeared and then another form appeared before her. It was a coffin and the lid was being raised and sitting up from his day's rest was none other than her father.
He turned to Josette and in anguish he cried out, "No, I do not wish you to see me this way my little one. Please do not hate me."
Josette felt her heart constrict and she cried out. "Who is doing this? This is but a dream, that is not who my father is but as he was so be gone." She waved her hand and the image disappeared and then she saw him, the man who assisted the woman who had caused her family the most harm.
With a guttural cry of anger she spoke his name. "Blair, Nicolas Blair, you are vanquished to the . . ."
She stopped and smiled. "No, I won't tell you where you are, you are trying hard to find out so you can be released. That is not going to happen and you won't get it from me."
The image of Nicolas faded and just as the nightmare began it now ended and Josette slipped off into a dreamless sleep. The stone in her pocket continued to glow while she slept the possessor unaware that it was working to protect her.
Nicolas Jr., swore under his breath, the image in the mirror faded, as his spell was broken. Pacing around his hotel room he could not help but notice that little had changed to update the Collinsport Inn.
Perhaps a more modern feel to the furnishings, new paint had replaced the wallpaper and maybe the carpet had been updated but the suites were as they were in the early sixties. Open living room with two windows overlooking the street below and chenille curtains, there was a possibility that the blinds were new. There was a small bedroom and bath opening into the living room area, and a small kitchenette opening into the living room area.
He could hear the frustration of his father crossing through a long void demanding he get him out of this place and back to where he belong. Nicolas being the son of his father the most powerful warlock he had ever known to exist reacted much as his father would have, with irritation. 'I cannot rush this father, you must learn patience, something YOU taught me, now leave me to think."
Nicolas S., grumbled but soon was no longer heard. "Something is blocking me or my spells, so this calls for me to go in a different direction." Nick closed his eyes and began to meditate, but exhaustion soon over took him and he drifted to sleep.
Sunshine covered by an occasional cloud filtered through Josette's windows and the warmth of the sunshine caressed her face much as a lover would. Then the sensation of having her face stroked startled her awake and she stared up into the loving gaze of her father. "Father?" She wanted to be reassured he was not there to impart bad news.
His smile dispelled those thoughts and he cupped her chin. "Mother said you and your Grandmother were picking up Jeanette in Bangor . . . " Josette shot up in bed looked at the clock and noted it was going well past 10.
"Oh my, I was supposed to be there by now." She could not forgive that she had overslept and probably had a fuming Nettie waiting for her at the airport.
Barnabas chuckled and grabbed her wrist when she began to rush about the room. "My darling Josette," He spoke those words with long practiced and loving care. "Your sister arrived late last night. She got an earlier flight, rented a car and drove in and got here around 2. So your mother and I decided to let you both sleep in."
Josette blinked then went to sit by her father on the bed. "Oh, well, of course. I just wished she would have called." She reached for her cell phone and noted there were 3 missed messages. Each message displayed Jeanette's cell number. "Oh my seems I am putting my foot in everywhere."
Barnabas chuckled at his eldest daughter and patted her back. "Your mother wants you to come down when you feel properly rested. We are having company tonight, Grandma Elizabeth and Grandpa George are coming and so is that nice young man, Mr. Dante, Geoffrey Dante."
Once again, Josette felt an unease at the mention or ever the thought of Geoffrey Dante. "Dad, I don't like that man. He makes me feel uncomfortable. There is something about him that makes my skin crawl."
Barnabas frowned and took her tiny hand in his. "I never go against my instincts and you should not either." Then he noticed the necklace with the hieroglyphics, "Why what a pretty piece, where did you get it?"
Barnabas studied the markings. Josette let him take his time and then answered him, "It was a gift from a friend at work." Barnabus dropped the necklace and glanced up at her. She read his thoughts and smiled, "A female friend poppa, no one important in my life at this time."
He smiled and sighed, "No one to take my beautiful Josette away from her doting and loving father?"
Josette leaned over and put her head on his shoulder. "I simply cannot find anyone to take a place next to you in my heart."
She felt his embrace and his kissed the top of her head. "You are as charming as your mother."
She did not want this moment to be broken but knew she had to get up and moving. Her birthday was tomorrow and knew she would not have a moment for herself. So, today she was hoping for a long ride along the beach to her favorite cove and if the whether held, she would lay out and sun herself being lazy and possibly catch up on her reading.
She lifted her head and looked around the room. "I was thinking of a long ride maybe some sunning and a picnic on the beach." She watched her father stand and glance around the room, she was sure it was filling him with memories of a long, long time ago. "
Do you want be to tell Clara to pack you a lunch?" Josette stood and stretched and ran fingers through her tousled unkempt hair.
She smiled at her father, "Would you please?" He smiled and then turned and left the room. Josette was rummaging through her closet when she heard her door open. Turning she smiled as her mother came in carrying a designer's labeled box.
"Josette, your father and I got you this as an early birthday present. We hope you like it and will wear it tomorrow for your party."
Josette watched her mother lay the box on the bed and waited for her to come and open it. Josette tightened her robe about her waist as then moved on bare feet to the bed. Smiling she looked at Vicki then to the box.
It bore the name of Panini on the label. "I thought she only did wedding dresses."
She opened the lid and pushed aside the tissue paper and gasped. Inside was the most beautiful gown she had ever seen. It was made of layers of iridescent material with tiny beads lining the bodice. When Josette lifted the dress up, it fell into a shimmering pool to the floor. The color was almost like spun moonlight dancing upon the deep blue seas.
Holding the dress to her, Josette smiled at her mother as the hint of tears blurred her vision. "Mother it is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen. I love it!" She laid the dress down on the bed and then turned to hug her mother.
Victoria laughed and hugged her back, "When we saw this dress at Klein Felds we knew it had to be for you."
Josette kissed her mother's cheek and then turned to find a satin hanger. Coming back she lifted the dress and hung it on the hanger. Victoria reached into the box and pulled out a zippered bag with the Panini logo on it and held it so Josette could put the dress in the bag.
"So your father tells me you want a picnic lunch on the beach, does that mean a ride too?" Vicki took the dress and went to Josette's closet to hang it up. When she turned, Jo was already dressed in jeans and was tucking in her shirt.
Jo looked up and saw her mother staring at her. "Yes, it does and if the weather holds, I will be sunning myself." Which meant under that shirt and blouse was her swimsuit.
Vicki frowned, "You do know we have a squall building up in the Atlantic and it very well could change into a hurricane, so you should not go very far."
Josette reached for her boots under her bed. "I will watch out for bad weather and return before it gets me."
Vicki went to the settee and folded herself to its comfort. She studied her daughter then advised, "We have been having very unusual weather, I guess there is something to that global warming theories after all." Vicki had resisted telling her child of the sudden changes in the weather and that it was most than likely from a dark power or more to the point Baal.
This was one time she was not going to have her daughter's birthday ruined because a demi god was having a temper tantrum. Rising she moved to place a light kiss on her child's forehead and left her to prepare for her ride and picnic.