Chapter 7

Julia sat on the plane next to Barnabas. "We should be landing in an hour Barnabas. Then we will need to move quickly to get to our next objective."

Barnabas peered out the window of the plane. There he saw the darkness of the night blending with the clouds. Clouds he could have reached out and touched from the window.

His thoughts had been preoccupied with bringing Victoria home. Twice he thought he had heard her calling to him for help. "Barnabas?" Julia touched his arm. Barnabas turned his head. "What, keeps you so deep in thought?"

"I was just marveling a what an age we live in. Where you can board an air ship and fly to a destination in less time than by sea."

Julia smiled and steeple her fingers together. "Yes, it is a marvel. Barnabas did you hear what I said earlier?" She watched him as he focused back to her.

"Yes, my dear. I had Willie hire us a guide to take us to Castle Wallachia."

Julia sighed, "And the supplies I will need?"

Barnabas nodded, "The guide will get the supplies for us and a place to prepare what you need."

Julia smiled, "Good. I hope that Victoria is safe, that he has not changed her."

Barnabas nodded his agreement. "Willie will follow us on the next plane. He has found us a place to live until we can resolve this situation."

The plane began to bump and roll and the 'fasten seatbelt" signs came on and the captain came over the intercom.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the captain. We have hit some air turbulence, I am going to ask you to return to your seats, extinguish all cigarettes, and fasten your seat belts."

Julia put out her cigarette and fastened her seatbelt. Since Barnabas had not unfastened his, he turned his attention back to the window and closed his eyes. Mentally he tried to project his thoughts out to Victoria, "Vicki, my dear, I am coming. Have faith my dear. I will be there soon."

From behind Julia and Barnabas, Professor Stokes spoke to Julia. "My dear Julia, has everything been prepared for our arrival?"

She leaned around her seat to look at the scholarly gentleman in a grey suit and sitting uncomfortably cramped in his narrow seat. Timothy Elliot Stokes was a robust and portly gentleman with more knowledge than anyone Julia Hoffman had ever met.

That was one of the many reasons she had come to admire him. He looked every bit a scholar from the top of his full head of greying hair to the bottom of his obviously large feet.

He was always impeccably dressed and she loved the fact he wore a rather soft scent of a special blend of after-shave he must have had imported in from France or Egypt.

She noted when he addressed her it was always with his rapt attention and his full respect for her standing in the medical community. "Barnabas assures me that Willie has taken care of everything. That a guide has been hired to take us to the castle and that he has procured my supplies."

"Yes, yes, my dear. I am aware of those arrangements, what I was speaking of was the arrangements for our friend Barnabas."

Julia flushed prettily and then nodded. "I took care of that personally. Before we boarded the plane."

Stokes leaned back and folded his hands over his stomach. "Good, good. That was a concern for me. It should not be long before we land and we should have about 2 hours before daylight."

Julia held up her hand. "I have given Barnabas an injection and it should last for at least another 8 hours so daylight is not a problem."

"Very good my dear. Then I shall try to take a small nap before we land."

Julia turned back and noted Barnabas had his eyes closed. Thinking Timothy had a good idea she closed her eyes and tried to relax until they were to disembark the plane.

Barnabas continued to try to navigate time and space to find Vicki and see if she were safe. The shot Julia had given him was inhibiting his supernatural abilities. Wrinkling his forehead in concentration he continued to try to draw on his abilities.

He saw a huge castle surrounded by beautiful ornate gardens with a large water fountain in the front courtyard. A tall wall surrounded the grounds and the entrance had a tall iron gate with an emblem of a Dragon accenting it. Pushing forward into the castle he saw a huge receiving hall with parquet tiling and the focal point was a huge dual staircase with a mid landing. Going up the staircase he was met by the apparition of Josette.

Beckoning him to her follow her, she led him down the large hallway to the room at the end of the hallway. He arrived at the end of the hallway, and tried to open the door and found it locked.

Knowing he was in ethereal form he walked through the doorway and paused. There on the bed laid his sweet Victoria. Moving quickly to her side he glanced down at her. She lay sleeping with tears drying on her cheeks.

Reaching his hand forward he gently moved her hair so he could look at her neck. She bore no marks of a bite from a vampire. Smiling down at her he gently touched her forehead.

He watched her smile and whisper his name. "Barnabas, my love." Leaning over he kissed her forehead and stepped back.

She was safe for now; he just needed to make sure she stayed that way. Josette hovered in the doorway. "Barnabas, she will be safe for now. I fear that his patience will wear thin and he will force her to embrace him and his belief that she is his wife reborn."

Barnabas turned to look at her, "He will learn her will is strong and he will need to contend with me."

Josette sighed and then turned, "He comes. We must not be here when he enters the room."

Barnabas sighed and nodded he and Josette disappeared. Barnabas sat up as the Captain announced they would be landing. The flight attendant moved from seat to seat to make sure all tables and seats were in the upright positions and all seatbelts were locked.

The luxury car navigated the narrow Burgos Pass and pulled into the quaint village. Neat white cottages peppered the hillsides and small businesses doing what appeared to be a brisk business caught the casual observers eye as the car navigated the town.

The car moved through the narrow two-lane road with little difficulty giving way to the occasional bicyclist, motorbike and scooter. Rarely were larger conveyances seen as they rolled to the out skirts of the village.

Such an opulent and regal vehicle was the curiosity of the villagers. The occasional pedestrian stopping to speculate who would own such an extravagant vehicle.

Barnabas was just beginning to feel fatigued as they moved towards a two-storied cottage at the end of a cul-de-sac. Their chauffeur was also the guide exited the vehicle and opened the two doors to the car.

"I have procured this home for your use while we are here in Wallachia."

The house was two-storied abode with shuttered windows and a nice courtyard with lovely flowers growing in the garden beds. A three-tiered fountain flowed with a soft tinkling sound.

Ian, was a stocky short man who doubled as a guide and a delivery of parcel post. If anything he was a resourceful jolly man whose intent was to please all his clients no matter the wear and tear on his life.

He wore a chauffeur's uniform that was a size too small. Waddling his robust and squat barrel chested figure to the front door, he opened the door with a set of keys and turned to hand the keys to Julia.

"This is lovely Ian, thank you." Julia smiled as he led them up the cobble-stoned walk to the front door and opened it.

Taking the keys she followed him through the door to a neatly kept home. The inside was well-appointed with modern conveniences and furnishings.

"There are six bedrooms upstairs 3 that face the front of the house and 3 with a rear garden view."

Ian moved around to show them the house, a sitting room, dining room, kitchen, living room, bathroom and den on the lower level, there were two staircases leading to the upstairs.

One set of stairs was in the kitchen and the other in the front of the house as you entered the foyer. Long narrow hallways upstairs and down with open doors allowed the viewer to peer into the rooms.

Julia went upstairs and claimed a room with a rear view, as did Barnabas. Elliott chose a room with a view of the street and front garden. As Ian moved the luggage in, a truck arrived with a long narrow crate.

Ian directed the men to carry it to the cellar. Barnabas followed them down the stairs to a comfortable cellar that housed a wall of wine. The foreman turned to Ian and asked, "Are domn vrea să deschidă cutia?"

"Mr. Collins, they want to know if you wish them to open the crate?"

Barnabas shook his head. "No, I will have my man-servant take care of the contents when he arrives.." Barnabas gave Ian some gold coins, "For their trouble and thank them for me."

Ian turned and said, "El nu și dorește să aibă acest semn al aprecierii sale." The foreman smiled and took the coins and divided it up with his help and looked at Barnabas and said, "Vă mulțumesc Vă mulțumesc și la domn."

Ian looked at Barnabas and said, "I think you have made a friend, he said thank you very much."

Barnabas nodded to the men as they moved past him. "Now, Ian, where will Julia set up her lab?"

Ian looked to a door at the end of the room. "Come, I have already brought in the items she needed." He moved to the doorway and opened the door and Barnabas was amazed, the room was almost identical to the one his crate lay in, except this room had no wine racks.

It was a huge room by definition and pristine except for the cardboard boxes that set on three tables against the wall.

Julia entered the room holding an embossed envelope and smiled. "Excellent, this is perfect. Thank you Ian."

Turning to Barnabas she spoke softly, "It seems that Elliott and I have received an invitation for a gala event at the Castle. I just found this on the hall table. It would seem that he is aware that we have arrived. You are also invited."

She handed over the envelope with Barnabas' name written in calligraphy. The ink gold flecks glistened on the envelope. Barnabas smiled and moved past her and Ian. "Excellent, did you pack your gala clothing Julia?"

She sighed, "I am afraid I came with only business clothing."

Ian bowed to her; "If Madam will permit, I will be happy to take you to the nearest clothier so you can purchase a gown for tonight."

Julia nodded, "Thank you Ian, I would appreciate that very much." Ian bowed to her and followed her out. Julia was caught by his charming smile, twinkling blue eyes and the blond hair that refused to stay in place as it fell over his eyes. He complimented her height by almost towering over her.

"I will be back shortly." Julia followed Ian out the door.

Professor Stokes came down the stairs and looked at the envelope. "It would seem that Mr. Tepes has thrown down his gauntlet and wanted us to know he knows we are here."

Barnabas moved to the sitting room and looked around at the cozy cottage style room. "He is doing exactly what I hoped. I had Willie send him a telegram saying we were coming to the Village."

Stokes moved to the window and folded his hands behind his back. "Speaking of Willie, he has just arrived."

Barnabas moved to peer out the window with Stokes and watched as Willie arrived in a hired car. He opened the trunk and pulled out a three suitcases and closed the trunk.

Stacking two cases on top of each other and resting them against his body, he lifted the third one, which appeared to be quiet heavy. Looking at the house he ambled up to the front door, Willie knocked.

Barnabas went to meet him, "You may choose a room upstairs Willie, unpack and then join Professor Stokes and myself in the sitting room." Willie nodded and moved past Barnabas to the stairs.

In short order, Willie was back downstairs and looking for Stokes and Barnabas in the sitting room. "It would seem that Mr. Tepes is having a ball tonight Willie. The Professor and Julia will be attending. You and I will arrive later; we have much to do between now and then. "

Willie looked around the room. "Sure, sure Barnabas. Where is Julia going to set up her lab? I brought the rest of her stuff."

Professor Stokes moved to the doorway, "If you will follow me Willie, I will show you to Julia's lab and there is the matter of Barnabas' coffin. It is in the basement and will need uncrated."

Barnabas stepped back from the window. He had not noticed he was sweating in the sunlight and Barnabas felt lethargic.

"Thank you Professor, I fear I had let time get away from me. I must be in my best form to do what I need to do tonight. If all goes well, Victoria will be on her way home."

Willie stopped and turned. "I have a plane and pilot on standby ready to fly us to Austria. From there we can hire another plane to fly us to England and then home to the good old U. S. of A."

Barnabas nodded. "Then we must be ready to move fast once Julia does what she needs to do."