Chapter 3

As Sheriff Patterson pulled under the canopy he sighed, the night had been filled with flooded roadways and accidents. He was glad he was able to redirect Carolyn and David to the Collinsport Inn.

"Mr. Collins, I am going to suggest that you and Miss Winters stay at the old house tonight. We were able to get the tree out, but we could not really secure the house so I have posted an officer out there until we can get a repair man out there to replace the doors."

Barnabas nodded and then adjusted a blanket around Vicki to make her as comfortable as possible. "That will suit us fine Sheriff, and we so appreciate your help."

Vicki shifted and Barnabas adjusted to support her as much as he could without causing more harm.

"Sheriff Patterson, thank you so much for all your help. I don't know what I would have done." Vicki sounded tired but sincere. George nodded as he negotiated the roads heading back to the Collins estate.

"We've had a busy night and from the sound of what the weather man is telling us, this is going to be around a little longer than we thought. With all the rain it is bringing with it I would say it is safe to say it will cause a lot of flooding. Apparently, this is a low category hurricane that made landfall." George was trying to make small talk. It was more to calm them as he tried to navigate around roads that had washed out and the flooding.

Vlad stood in the middle of Josette's bedroom and peered up at her picture. "So, you are the reason Barnabas is a vampire."

From the corner of the room, a figure began to appear. "You must leave Victoria Winters alone. She is not for you."

Vlad looked over at the figure and smiled. "She is exactly for me. She is my Elizabetha returned to me over four centuries."

Josette moved to the center of the room to peer up at her portrait. "Barnabas tried to replace me once. He found that his idea of what he remembered as his love for me was not what he really wanted. Perhaps you should reconsider your ideas as well."

Vlad chuckled and shook his head. "You were his greatest love and you killed yourself to avoid becoming what he wanted you to become. My Elizabetha killed her self because she thought I was dead. Once she is reawaken she will join me in the life we deserve."

Josette turned and looked at the handsome man before her. "If you pursue this you may find that Victoria will hate you for what you have done to her and she may follow my path and take her own life."

She studied him as she floated in the center of the room. Vlad studied the beautiful apparition before him and he smiled, "And you do not think what Barnabas plans to do to her is any less heinous than my own plans?"

"Barnabas will be human again. When he becomes human he will not need to bring Victoria over."

This information caught his attention and he moved towards her. "What do you mean he will become human again? That is impossible."

Josette knew she had his attention so all she did was smile and said, "So you say. But miracles can happen. After all, he is a Collins." Josette faded from view leaving her scent behind.

He moved around the room and paused in front of the dressing table. So like his Elizabeta in so many ways, how alike Barnabas and he were? If it were not for the fact that he wanted Victoria Winters as much as he wanted his Elizabeta back he felt that he and Barnabas could have been brothers of a kind. Moving from the room he went down the stairs and stood in the drawing room.

Closing his eyes he began to summon any gypsies in the vicinity. If he were to take Victoria back to Romania he would need Romney gypsies. "I summon you to me, children of my children, blood of my blood. I summon you as your duty to the Order and family of the Dracul. Come to me."

Holding his arms wide he closed his eyes and waited. The very air around him was charged, as he appeared to take on a trance-like pose.

Minutes passed as he stood in his trance, the storm outside raged as he stood arms spread and head back. He continued his Romanian chant of summoning.

He knew that any Romney within 100 miles of this place would hear his summons. It was in their blood to obey him. They were obligated by their ancestry to obey his command.

There came a knocking at the door and Vlad opened his eyes and smiled. With a flick of his wrist the doors flew open. One by one seven male gypsies moved into the room and stood before Vlad and then knelt before him.

"Master we have come as you summoned us and we are here to do your bidding. Command us we are yours to command!"

Vlad smiled and motioned them to stand. "Come children, we have much work to do before the sun rises."

Barnabas tucked Vicki into bed in Josette's room. Making her as comfortable as possible he pulled a chair up to the bedside and sat back. "So, my dear we have a long night ahead of us, I need to keep you awake."

Vicki yawned and smiled at Barnabas. "Do you know what I wish?"

He smiled at her and said, "If it is in my power to grant it, then it is yours to ask."

Vicki smiled at him. "Hold me. Hold me Barnabas and never let me go." Barnabas looked at her with such tenderness. Rising he moved to the bed and sat next to her and with gentle care gathered her into his arms and held her. She smiled and rested her head against his chest.

With her head resting on his chest she expected to hear a heart beat. Because she did not she thought perhaps it was the painkillers Dr. Lang had administered earlier was affecting her. Barnabas again felt that secure feeling of complete happiness as he held her close.

Resting his chin on the top of her head he drank in the scent that was unique to her. He drank in all her scents, the lilac perfume she wore, and the floral fragrance of her shampoo.

He reveled in the feel of her hair against his face. It felt like spun silk against his cheek as he held her close.

"Thank you Barnabas. I have never felt so secure and safe as I do now."

It was all he could do to keep the monster inside of him. He had come to far to give in to his blood lust now.

They spent the next eight hours in each other's arms talking and sharing their deepest thoughts. Vicki speaking of her life at the foundling home and her quest to find her identify, and her family.

"I suppose what I missed the most was not knowing who my mother was."

Barnabas taking care not to put pressure on her arms, or bump her sore on her head.

Using care, Barnabas gently stroked her hair and listened to her. "Perhaps one day soon, you will no longer need to worry about your family. Perhaps you will be able to begin anew and have your own family."

Vicki smiled and closed her eyes. "That would be wonderful. I could think of nothing more wonderful than sharing that dream with my dearest friend."

Lifting her chin she smiled at Barnabas and looked at him with eyes filled with love. Barnabas lifted her chin and placed a sweet tender kiss on her lips and lost himself in the moment.

That is until Vicki shifted and grimaced with pain. It broke the kiss and the moment was spoiled. "My dear I am so sorry. Are you all right?"

Vicki sighed and shifted her arm so she would not bump it and rested her head against his chest. "It was my fault and I should be the one to apologize."

As the night grew longer and the time for Vicki to stay awake expired, Barnabas allowed her to drift to sleep as he tenderly held her. Glancing up at the portrait of Josette and sighed softly and thought to himself.

'If only it had been possible for this to have been for us. Since you are truly gone, I must look to someone from this time. I hope I have your blessing.'

Gently and with the utmost care, Barnabas put Victoria on her pillow and removed himself from her hold. Covering her, he moved across the room as the clock began to chime and Willie met him at the door.

"Barnabas, I arranged for Mr. Tepes to use the mausoleum at dawn." Barnabas listened as the storm continue to rage outside the old house.

"I fear we are in for a strong nor'easter Willie, I am sure we will have a few more hours of this before it moves back out to sea."

Willie sighed and looked over where Vicki slept. His gaze showed his concern and he tried to determine if Barnabas had bitten her. Rubbing the back of his neck, Willie looked at Barnabas.

"I heard on the radio it's a Category 1 hurricane and the weather man says it will be down graded later today as a tropical storm then it will go back out to sea as a depression. They think it might very well come back on shore as another storm so it could be around for a couple of days."

Willie had let his thoughts stray to Vicki and then to his employer as he continued to inform Barnabas of the weather situation. "The eye is expected to pass over Collinsport around 10 am."

Then he paused and took a chance by expressing his thoughts, "Um, Barnabas?"

Barnabas was becoming irritated with Willie as he noted how he was trying to see if he had taken advantage of Vicki. "Yes, Willie?"

Willie looked as Vicki shifted and found a more comfortable spot and continued to sleep. "Is she going to be ok?"

Barnabas closed the door and started down the hallway. "She will be sore but the doctor said she should be feeling better in a couple of days."

Barnabas knew he wanted to ask if he had hurt her but had changed his mind at the last minute, "Now, Willie since she will be staying here until they can fix the doors at Collinwood."

Barnabas continued down the hallway heading towards the cellar. " I need you to go over there and bring some fresh clothing for her and of course we will need more groceries."

He turned to make his point as he spoke softly, "I do not want her disturbed by anyone especially Tepes. I am hoping to conclude our business and send him on his way."

Willie nodded and watched as Barnabas slipped down to the cellar. He moved on down the hallway towards the kitchen to take stock of the inventory.

Securing the cellar door, he let himself out the front door. He figured he could get to Collinwood, pick up some fresh clothing for Vicki, get into Collinsport and try to pick up some supplies and be back before she awoke.

Two dark figures hid in the dense foliage of the old house and watched as Willie pulled away. Then on feet of stealth they moved to the old house and looked for a way to make entrance. With a calculated look both men began to try the doors and windows.