Chapter 8

Josette had stretched out lazily on her beach towel, set her sunglasses, closed her eyes and gave into being a lazy beach bum for the day. Were it not for the sound of hooves hitting the surf would she have bothered to rise up on her elbows and watched her sister send her horse into a full gallop towards their favorite spot.

"She better slow that horse down before he finds a hole and they both fall and break something." she muttered as she fully set up drawing her legs to her chest and wrapping her arms around her knees. Jeanette did slow the horse when she caught sight of her sister reclined on the beach then drawing into a sitting position.

Slowing the horse she took him to an easy walk and then slid from his moving bareback slinging the beach bag over her shoulder. "Have you been in the water?"

She called going to their favorite place to change when they had been children. "Nope, thought I would be lazy for a while and wait for you. I figured you would be arriving before too long. How did you get here so soon?"

Josette rested her chin on top of her knees and waited as Jeanette emerged in a figure hugging yellow bikini, tucking various parts into her suit she sighed. "Guess I need a new one."

Josette laid her head sideways studying her sis. "Where did you get the bruise?"

Jeanette tapped her sister to share the blanket waiting for her to slide over. "Last night had a level C incursion in Logansport, one of the warehouses along the quay. Nailed two one went slipstream and got away. From there I just caught the train and came on in. Figured I would ride back with you." She shifted her shoulders as she tried to hold her breasts contained in the suit top.

"I see. Will you stop fidgeting you are wadding up the blanket and I don't want to be pouring sand out of my crotch for a day."

Jeanette sighed then lay back, "I really need to replace this suit."

Josette nodded and gave her a 'duh' look. "When did you get that one Junior or Senior Year?"

Jeanette flipped onto her stomach and laid her head on her folded arms. "Eight grade."

Josette shook her head and laughed, "You kind of filled out more since then."

Jeanette yawned and in dead pan said 'You think?"

Josette slapped her sisters nearly exposed bottom and said, "Yes, I think." She flipped onto her side then rolled onto her stomach and rested her head on her arms. "Had a meeting with one of Mom's old buddy's last night."

Jeanette looked at her sister through half closed eyes. "Really? Who?"

Josette shifted to make the sand more accommodating to her curves. "He gave a name of Dante, but I think he is Nicholas Blair's son. I got to look him up in the database when I get back."

Jeanette frowned, "Think he is trying to find out where daddy dearest is?"

Josette nodded closed her eyes and sighed. "He can look until he is blue in the face. He ain't gonna find him as the backwoodsman would say."

Jeanette shifted her shoulders then glanced to where she had left her horse and noted he had moved to find a harder surface and some grace to eat, discovering the trail and where Josette had tethered Nikki, she relaxed. "Remind me to have Marty put some sand clear in Amos, and Nikki's feed tonight."

Jeanette leaned back down and gave into the solitude of the days warming rays and the peaceful roll of the waves. "I forgot how wonderful this was. Do you think Canice, Sorcha, Earwyna and Aerith are around?" Jeanette muttered.

"Hello darlings, we have missed you, and were wondering if you remembered your aunts." Sorcha spoke from one of the boulders that lay at the surface edge; she smiled looking to the girls watching two more figures appear at their side with the third hovering in a bubble over the water's edge.

Earwayna angelic smile greeted them while she held her position in her bubble. Aerith hugged Jeanette and then Josette The next hug came from Canice as she wrapped her wind around both girls and finally Sorcha floated to the ground moving to scoop up Jeanette and Josette to deposit them on the ground. "How could we forget you!" Josette exclaimed smiling her joy at this reunion.

Jeanette thrilled at the feeling of love from her elemental aunts. "None of you have been far from our thoughts or our hearts."

Aerith moved to hand over a box made of bark, leaves and vines. Josette opened to find inside a chain of refined delicate gold.

"Oh, its beautiful! Thank you Aunt Aerith"

. Sorcha drifted over with a lump of coal, compressing it in her hand, she smiled feeling the pressure and heat from her talent transform the coal into the most perfect beautifully faceted diamond. "For my niece a pittance as a thank you for all you do and your birthday."

Canice shifted her body and the wind form a small vortex on the sand and from the depths a golden coin followed by four more golden coins appeared spinning in a crazy dance brought about by Canice's innate power. "Gold to pave your way to whatever path you take." Canice opened Josettes palm to allow the coins to drop from the sandy vortex.

Then it was Earwayna's turn to bring forth her gift. She held a clamshell in her hand and opened it; to expose two perfectly formed black pearls. "The black pearls are a gift from deepest depths of the sea wishing you the happiest of birthdays my sweet girl."

Jeanette watched with a look of wonder and love for her sister receiving her birthday gifts. The elementals turned their attentions to Josette's sister. "Though it is not your birthday our sweet niece, our gift for you today will be . . . "

From the sea she was bathed in a shimmering effervescences that covered her body with its glitter, the wind shifted and blew rings of flowers winding in a circle and binding together to lay around her shoulders, enveloping her with their scent.

Aerith smiled and presented her with a small jewelry box of the deepest sheens that could be polished on redwood. "The box represents something to wait for it to be filled. When next we meet my dearest Jeanette, you shall have something to fill in the box of love and good wishes."

Jeanette felt her eyes tear and she looked upon her sisters, I fill it with the love I share with all of you."

Sorcha smiled, "I am the last, to offer you a small token of what is to come." Lifting her hand she created sparks that caught the light and shimmered to explode into a thousand tiny bright and sparkling pieces that cooled the fire but not the glimmer that floated over Jeanette and showered down to coat her body making her shine as much as the flecks of the oceans sea mist.

Both girls were happy to be with their aunts and shared the rest of the afternoon frolicking and playing in the sun, surf and sand. With the day growing long and the sun showed signs of setting the girls remembered they had a dinner date with David and Hallie.

Last hugs goodbye they hurried home to race through showers, dressing to make their dinner date. The night was met with relaxed family discussing mundane things that finally led up to the discussion of the Liberty Ball being held Labor Day weekend. Josette sat half listening to the plans as the conversation went on around her. She suddenly realized she just wanted the vacation over so she could get refocused to what she had been born.

The rest of her two weeks went by slow and easy and her birthday was celebrated amongst her family offering her books, clothing and jewelry. Her father wanted a birthday dance and she found herself in the west wing ballroom, in the center of the dance floor waltzing with her father cherishing every moment and the smile he gave her as father and daughter bonded over a simple act such as a dance.

Her night ended with a surprise visit from Cameron arriving in a fast car, whisking her up in his arms, spinning her around to capture her lips and plunder her mouth with his demanding passion. He left her as he found her short of breath, flushed and wondering exactly who he was and what did he really want.

Too soon she had to return to work and to the demands of her job. The next six weeks had a surreal quality she felt that a bigger event was about to unfold and she wanted to be prepared and she had the added pressure of having to learn the minuet to dance with her brother at the gala.

She like her sister had become an adrenalin junkie and she needed the drive to fight for what was right. Her worse nightmare had been when Angelique and Vlad had finally escaped five years ago from thier imprisonment. The difference was Angelique had gone underground and had been quiet and she knew she was up to something. She just did not want that something to be her mother or father.

She had just returned from a long night of chasing down the Class A vampire nest. They had created some public stir along the New York seaboard. She had managed to kill off four of the six when she was side tracked by the appearance of two wolverines that seemed to hold some intelligence.

Calling in the back up team to run down the two vamps while she went tracking the wolverines. The problem that puzzled her on this track was the wolves were jumping time, so she had to fold time and she was afraid of being seen and disrupting the balance of time and nature. Finally, with the help of Cameron, she was able to corner the wolves and tag them to fold them back to a detention center.

That was the night she had arrived home, to a call from her mother, reminding her she was due home for the family gala and that she along with her sister and brother would be expected to be home for one of the family's biggest function.

That coupled with the fact part of the proceeds would be going to her Uncle Thomas' campaign fund she felt the added pressure. Not wishing to be jaded about her obligations she was at that point again that she was feeling tired and needed a refueling down time.

Pressing her face time application she sat and waited for one of her parents to respond. The one that was the first to pick up the call was her mother. "Oh darling hello. I am so glad you called, hold on while I get Dad."

Barnabas looking a little tired and much as he had at her last visit sat down while her mother stood behind him. "Hi darling. How is my little Josette?"

She smiled for her father. "I am well father, just a little tired rough day at work."

He nodded, "You are going to be here for the gala?"

Josette smiled and nodded, "I have the time off and will see you in a couple of days."

He nodded, "We love you and miss you very much my dear. Do take care of yourself."

She kissed her fingertips and pressed them to the screen, "I will and love you both." They completed their conversations and signed off. Josette leaned back and closed her eyes. "Looks like I am going back in time for the night of the ball." Rising she moved to take a hot shower and with her bathrobe on, she collapsed on her bed. Letting the worries of the day go so she could fall into a deep dreamless sleep.

The whisper of the night wind caressed the bare skin of Josette's open neckline sending a shiver down her spine. It was a perfect evening for the grand affair her Grandmother put on each year. The proceeds from the fashionable costumed event would go for support of the local charities.

She was glad to be home again, after her last visit, which had allowed her to rejuvenate and enjoy a simple carefree time, away from saving the world and destroying the dark powers that wanted to rule her world. She had spent six months of grueling fighting, recruiting, and killing off the trainable dark denizens and eldritch that she had grown weary to the point she was afraid of making a mistake.

Tonight she was to don the gown worn by the original Josette Collins and be presented as her this year as she had since her 18th birthday. Her mother had always gone as Josette before the honor was bestowed on her daughter the namesake of the woman that once dominated the life and heart of he father.

Opening the window wider, she glanced at the array of colors that painted the sunset and sighed. A soft knock on her door interrupted her contemplation of the night's event and she called, "Come in."

Her sister, Jeanette entered the room, wearing one of Josette's cousin Josephine's gowns, A soft concoction of silk empire waist accented capped sleeves in a hint of flush pink making appear almost like a blush color.

The overall look on her sister was enchanting except that it did not hug her body as it should have not with its back wide open. "Sis, do me up, please." Jeanette twirled around to expose a lovely slender line of her back. "I am glad we only wear this once a year. If I had to wear it all the time, I would scream the roof off." Josette chuckled. She knew what her sister meant and had to half-heartedly agree with her.

Jeanette had been the child born to mirror her mother in looks, her slender graceful body, with a heavy fall of thick dark brown hair that now was caught up in a riot of curls that laid over one shoulder reveling in the cry of the time that was the 18th century.

Looking at Jeanette, Josette was reminded of her mother's portrait that hung in her parents' bedroom. It like the one of the original Josette had been painted to the period dress they both wore.

Moving to her sister's open gown, she began the laborious duty of buttoning her up. "You better get a move on if you want to make the opening promenade."

Jeanette cast her sister a sideways glance as she did the last button. "Then wait a second and you can button me up. Is Mom and Dad ready?"

Josette moved to the bed to scoop up the lovely satin creation and slide it over her head, taking care not to muss the long curls that lay so lovingly along her slender neck. "Good thing you found that hair piece." Jeanette finished the last button as her door burst open and their baby sister came bounding into the room, her dress flying about her long legs.

"Hey Mom and Dad said chop chop. They are ready to head over to Collinwood." She moved to unceremoniously flop on Josette's bed and stare at them from a prone upside down angle.

Josette adjusted her neckline and paused to make sure she was put together right before moving to her younger sister and motioning her up. "For the love of Pete, Sarah, look at your hair. Did mother see you before you were sent up?"

Sarah rolled her shoulders and gave an exaggerated sigh. "Noooo, and I was hoping to get by without wearing this stupid dress tonight. It looks like a gunny sack."

Rolling off the bed, she slumped her shoulders and moved to the full-length mirror and studied her shape in the empire styled dress.

Josette grabbed two ribbons from her little dresser and her brush she moved to Sarah and motioned her up. Her naturally unruly curls refused to look anything but tousled. Using the ribbon, Josette pulled the unruly mop to the top of her head and then curled the hair around her finger dragging them down to lay in long curls. "Most would kill to have this mop of yours." Using a few bobby pins to fix it in place, she stepped back and smiled.

Sarah cocked her head and smiled, "Oh I look pretty except for..." " Her face fell as she looked at the shapeless dress.

Josette laughed, "Stand still and give me a moment to see what we can do about the gunny sack look." Taking the other ribbon, she pulled the dress back and then up, showing her fuller bosoms to an better advantage, then pinning the dress in a pleat so it fell gracefully down the back, she made a bow to hide the pin and turned her sister around to look at herself in the mirror.

"Oh Jo, you are the best sister in the world. I got boobs now!"

She got a big hug just before the girl dashed out of her room. "Jeanette, go on down and tell Mom and Dad, I will drive over. I just want to put on some lipstick and perfume."

Jeanette moaned, "Oh you are gonna make me go over with them? Can't I ride with you?"

From the hallway, they could hear their mother's voice. "Girls, come on, we are going to be late for the promenade and you know how important this part is to your Grandmother. She expects the whole family present."

Josette swiped her lips with the lipstick and then dabbed some perfume behind her ears and on her wrists then she grabbed her shawl, and rolled her eyes at her sister. "So much for hoping to drive myself. Come on kiddo, if I am going to ride in the family limo, so are you." She hooked her arm through her sister's and they both went out of her room to meet their mother at the end of the hallway.

Victoria Collins stood framed in the hallway dressed in an 18th century Parisian ball gown of cream satin accented by a cream colored ribbon in her dark hair. Josette hoped when she was her mother's age that she would be able to avoid the suicide brunette look. She admired her mother's glorious dark brown hair that now at the age of 48 was just beginning to show only a few faint strands of grey.

Her hair had been dressed up and away from her face, with long ringlets down the back of her neck. Josette knew her Mother was considered a beauty to be envied by all. Josette was always caught by her mother's natural grace and glanced at Jeanette, noting how much she had taken after her mother in looks.

However, that was where the likeness ended. Jeanette was too acerbic and jaded to be anything like her mother's temperament, which had been all giving and loving. Walking sedately down the stairs to her parents awaiting them in the hallway.

Josette saw pride in her mother's gaze watching her two older daughters. "My how lovely you both look. To whom do I owe a debt of gratitude for the upgrade to Sarah's hair and dress?"

Josette smiled, kissed her mother's cheek and whispered. "Me, but don't tell her I told you."

Jeanette kissed her mother's other cheek and winked at her. "We had to find a way to make the sows ear look like a silk purse."

Turning to Josette she queried, "Right?"

Vickie stepped between her daughters and hooked an arm around each of their waists. "Well it worked wonders now shall we make our entrance downstairs and head over to Collinwood?"

"Mother, has Father seen you in this gown?" Josette's eyes were twinkling with mischief.

"No, as a matter of fact he has not. I had to get this one special made, since you took over the roll of Josette."

Jeanette, moved to the head of the grand staircase, and caught her father's glance while he stood with Joshua, Daniel and Sarah by the front entrance. "He is patiently waiting for us, you come down last mom, we want to see Daddy's face when he sees you in that dress."

Barnabus was straightening Daniel's cravat as Jeanette made her way down to stand next to her father. "Ahh, how lovely you look my dear, you remind me of your mother when she was your age. I remember meeting her just about a year after she arrived at Collinwood."

He kissed her cheek, a twinkle of admiration in his gaze, and then he turned and for a moment he was transported back over two hundred years watching his oldest daughter move on satin slippers down the stairs. "Josette, each year you grow more beautiful." He moved to take her gloved hand and kiss the back of it. Helping her the rest of the way down the stairs.

Josette stood back with Jeanette and glanced up the stairs watching their mother appear. Immediately, they turned their gaze to their father's face. His eyes shown with his love for the woman that stood at the top of the stairs. Josette saw her mother's gaze fixed to her father's face and felt the love they shared swell in her own breast watching her father reserve melt at the sight of her mother.

"That is what I want from life, someone to love me as completely as my father loves my mother." Josette thought watching her father extend his hand to help his wife down the last step. Sliding his own-gloved hand to rest lightly on her back at her waist, he moved forward to the front entrance.

Josette and Jeanette could feel his pride in his family. Josette knew he felt even more proud of his wife and that she was his to have and to hold. Before exiting the door as the children filed past them, he spoke softly for ears alone.

"My dear you look exquisite." He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it, then tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. "Now, shall we go? I am sure Elizabeth is waiting anxiously for us to arrive to start the festivities."

Stepping from the doorway, two open horse drawn carriages drew up to the front of the house. "Oh my. What a lovely surprise."

Vickie whispered as she looked at Barnabus. "It was Elizabeth's idea. I thought it might be appropriate and romantic. A fitting tribute to the era we are honoring tonight."

Vicki kissed her husband's cheek and smiled, "A most fitting tribute if you asked me."

Barnabus helped Josette, Jeanette and Sarah into the carriage, and then Josh and Daniel joined their sisters. Daniel was looking sour and rebellious until Josette kicked his foot and made a silly face at him.

"Its only one night sport. Then you can go do what you want." Josh elbowed his brother and Jeanette had to put in her tease.

"Hey maybe you will meet the new neighbors daughters. I heard they are hotties."

Sarah huffed at her twin brother, "He is just miffed because Susan Caswell is not coming. He asked her and she had another date."

Jeanette elbowed her sister. "Shush you, don't pick on him. Not to worry bro, we will find you a hookup. I always thought Sue was too stuck up for you anyhow."

Josette could sense her brother's anger under the surface and sighed. Her twin brother and sister had not inherited any of the special abilities that she and her other two siblings had and she was grateful.

For that she was soo very grateful, at least at this age they would not be swept up into the secret world she and her other two siblings had found themselves involved and maybe they would live longer than her other siblings.

She felt the jostle of the carriage making its way up to the front doors of Collinwood. The covered arches provided some protection during heavy rains and snow. She noted that her grandmother had put on the best front for the night.

Two costume-clad livery had been hired to greet them and assist them from their carriage. White gloved, brocade bedecked, and white wig covered men were there to escort them through to the main ballroom.

As each member of the Barnabus Collins family were assisted from their carriages, cameras flashed and news stations with reporters pushing microphones into the faces of each member as the reporter asked each, "You are representing which Collins ancestor tonight?"

Joshua, Daniel, Josette, Jeanette and Sarah when asked stated they represented the ancestor whose name they bore. Smiling and waving to the spectators they moved into the foyer of Collinwood.

There the ever-growing Collins family assembled before moving out to the terrace to greet the other guests. Starting to look more and more like a crowd Josette thought looking at the family members she had grown up with and shared good times together. She remembered her mother once remarked; the family had grown so much. She had recalled how at one point it was only Carolyn and David.