Chapter 18

Vicki felt fear press into her very being as he spoke those words and she held tighter to him. "Do you think this is a dangerous possession?"

Barnabas stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. "I believe it a harmless one. It only seems to come over you when you are dancing and as this is only for the engagement party and our wedding, I am just as sure that it will be nothing more than artistic expression. If you wish we could ask Professor Stokes."

Vicki trembled in his hold and closed her eyes. "Do you think he will know what to do if it happens again?"

Barnabas wanted to take her fear away and make her feel protected, holding her tightly he whispered in her ear, "I am sure of it. Now come the family believe we are depriving them of our presence."

Vicki turned and looked at her family and flushed, they were watching her and Barnabas and waiting patiently for them to join them. Barnabas turned her and wrapping his arm around her waist, guided her towards the little gathering.

"Well Barnabas, what did you think of our little girl's performance?" George shook his hand and then gathered Vicki to him for a bear hug.

"Once again, my dear daughter, that was beautiful. I was very moved by your performance. I just hope that I won't crush your toes for the father daughter dance at the wedding."

Vicki felt safe in his arms and the fact he called her dear daughter brought an inner glow and warmed her heart. "Oh Dad, I am sure that you will be as agile as Mr. Dunst, he made me look good, so I am sure he will have you light and gliding on your feet for our dance."

Vicki turned to Barnabas, "Mother and Dad are going to take lessons from Mr. Dunst. I also believe that Carolyn and Penny are taking lesson, though I feel Jason and Thomas are on the fence about lessons."

She turned to look at her brothers and then a very lovely blond that appeared in the doors with Mrs. Johnson caught her attention. Reginald looked up at the very lovely young woman and the boys were immediately attracted to the blond, which was joined by another identical blond.

Quentin chuckled, "It appears good and lovely things come in twos."

The girls took off their street shoes and with reverence walked into the ballroom and looked around the grandeur of the ballroom. The girls with Reginald in tow were ushered over to Mrs. Stoddard, George, Barnabas, Vicki, and Quentin.

"Mrs. Stoddard may I present my twin sisters, Rhonda and Rita' Dunst, they are instructors for the dance studio."

Vicki muttered under her breath, "Well I think the boys are now officially interested in dance lessons."

Mrs. Stoddard smiled at each girl and noted they dressed differently to make it easier to distinguish. Rhonda wore a deep green dress and Renee' wore a paisley dress with a black patient leather belt.

Rhonda wore her hair down and Rita had hers in a ponytail. "You both are lovely young women." They smiled and looked to Reginald and then back to Mrs. Stoddard.

"Mother sent some more gown selections for Miss Winters to pick and well she was wondering if you would mind if we attended the engagement party and wedding?"

Liz smiled at both girls and then turned to Vicki and Barnabas, "Well it really is not up to me. Vicki? Barnabas?" Vicki looked at Barnabas and said softly, "I have no objections do you?"

He smiled at both girls; looking at them he wondered what Sarah would have looked at that age. He smiled graciously at the two girls. Noting how the boys were almost pleading with their eyes behind their backs for them to agree, "I would be delighted to have such charming and beautiful ladies celebrating our love."

The girls flushed at his generosity and turned to squeal and hug each other until they heard their brother clear his throat. "Girls, did you forget something?"

Again, embarrassed they turned to Vicki and to Barnabas and apologized, "We are so sorry of course thank you so very much!"

Barnabas smiled and bowed to them, "You are most certainly welcome."

Jason pushed up next to Rhonda, "Hey are you instructors too?"

Renee' nodded, "We have been ballroom dancing since we could walk. Mother had us in competitions since the age of 7."

Thomas pushed up next to Renee, "Where do I sign up for lessons?" He smiled beguilingly and took her by the arm and led her over to the record player.

Thomas shuffled through the record jackets and found one that caught his interest. "What is this one?"

Renee laughed and tisked, tisked, tisked him while wagging her finger. "This is the Latin dance of love. It requires a lot of control and movement and body contact."

Thomas' eyes lit up, "Really?"

Renee put on the record and went to Reginald. "Come here and we will show what the dance entails."

The music began and Vicki whispered to Barnabas, "I am going to go and change and take those gowns Mrs. Dunst sent to see which will work for our party."

Barnabas frowned. "I thought you were going to wear what you are wearing." Vicki kissed him lightly on his lips. "I am, but for the special waltz, I need to find something different."

George was watching the demonstration with Liz and he leaned over and whispered, "Maybe that is one dance we could learn together?"

Liz flushed and then turned back to watch. The dance was slow and sensual with a lot of lifts and cross body extensions combined with hip action and slow steps.

The dance almost seduced the observer and sucked the very air out of them as they watched. At one point Jason let out a long sigh as he watched the dancing duo move with the heat of the music. Having done a quick demonstration, the Dunst had two more students added to their dance studio credit.

Vicki and Barnabas slipped from the room along with Quentin. "I am afraid they will have me signing up for dance lessons."

Vicki chuckled, "It would be easy to fall into that trap, I did. However, I am glad that I did learn the two dances I am going to perform."

As they reached the front foyer, Vicki excused herself and moved up the stairs. She had gotten Josette's dress slightly soiled so she knew that in the morning after she checked on things at the old house she was going to take the dress into the dry cleaners.

Barnabas watched her disappear upstairs and turned to Quentin, "She was possessed during the waltz. I am not concern because the possession ended with the dance." Quentin nodded, "I watched her the first time she did the dance and was struck by how different she looked while performing that dance."

A figure appeared in the doorway of the drawing room. "Did I hear someone was possessed?" Professor Stokes stood with monocle in hand and looked from Barnabas to Quentin.

"Oh Professor how long have you been here?"

Julia moved up next to Professor Stokes and smiled. "For a while, Roger came home about the time we arrived. I fear we lost him to the ballroom and he must have gotten caught up in the lessons because we have not seen him since he left us."

Barnabas looked at Quentin then back to Professor Stokes and Julia, "We must have just missed his arrival, we left and came back here. I believe the Dunst family have recruited the Patterson Stoddard family as students."

Barnabas moved towards the drawing room and found a gentleman sitting patiently in a wingback fireside chair. "Oh, we have more company?"

The gentleman stood and moved to Barnabas, "Mr. Collins? I am Harold Porter, the photographer that was asked to come and take your engagement picture for the paper."

"Ah, yes, the newspaper. Well Vicki has gone up to change and should be down shortly."

Harold smiled and looked at Dr. Hoffman and Professor Stokes, "I was also told to get your picture too Dr. Hoffman and Professor Stokes. We were going to run your marriage announcement in the paper, the big day for you two is coming up, correct?"

Stokes looked at Julia and smiled, "Well I don't mind if you don't my dear."

Julia flushed, "I really don't know why . . . "

Vicki walked into the room, she had changed and now she looked studious. She had not had to wear her glasses for a while, and with the hint of a headache coming on she had put them on.

"Oh Julia, you must. It will seem right if you have your wedding announcement in the paper with ours."

Julia uncomfortable being the center of attention she reluctantly agreed. The reporter-photographer began to pose the couples. Placing a drink in Barnabas' hand he staged the couple by the piano. Barnabas stood proudly by her side as the reporter snapped several pictures of the happy couple. Vicki stood proudly next to Barnabas and her happiness radiated in her face as he snapped the last picture of them.

Then switching from Vicki and Barnabas to Julia and Elliott, he began to snap pictures of them. If she was not fighting a headache Vicki knew she would have been thrilled, this was one more step bringing her closer to a day she had dreamed of.

Putting Julia and Professor Stokes in the foyer, the reporter finally had his pictures. Thanking the couples for their time, the reporter began to gather his equipment.

"Oh, I understand the night of the engagement party, we will have a couple of photographers to take pictures for the Society Editor. If there are any pictures you wish to keep, you will be given an opportunity to have them. Again, thank you so much for your help."

Barnabas saw Mr. Porter out and then returned to Vicki, picking up the drink he had made for the picture he sipped it. "I hope that turns out well. Now, dear will you be staying with me tonight or here?"

Vicki looked around the room and sighed, "I really need to catch David up with his home work, and tomorrow, I need to take Josette's ball gown to the cleaners and then go talk to Maggie about coming here to live after we are married."

Barnabas looked down at his drink. "I see." His words were soft enough that Vicki knew he was upset she would not be spending the night with him.

"Wait here a moment and let me run up to see what David has gotten done and then I will join you and we can go on to the Old House."

Barnabas immediately smiled his appreciation and kissed her cheek. "Thank you my dear."

Vicki disappeared up the stairs and down the hallway to David's room. The family made their presence known by the sounds of laughter and quick lively repartee. As they entered the foyer, Carolyn and Penny saw Barnabas and zeroed in on him.

"Oh Barnabas! Where is Vicki, we have a huge favor to ask."

Barnabas smiled at the flushed faces of the group. "I see you all must have been involved in your dancing lessons?"

Carolyn nodded and Penny reached impulsively and lightly touched his arm. "Oh Mr. Collins, you just have to allow us this favor!"

"What favor?" Vicki said as she entered the upstairs landing and held her overnight case in her hand.

"We had this positively wonderful idea while taking our lessons. Would you allow the Dunst Family to perform some of their dances at the engagement party? We thought while the guests were eating they could take the dance floor and be our nights entertainment."

Vicki glanced at Barnabas and shrugged her shoulders, "I have no objections, and we are already going to do the waltz, might as well, while the guests are dining to entertain them. From what I saw, the whole family is very talented."

Barnabas took her overnight case and kissed her forehead. "If it is your wish then it is my wish." The girls squealed with delight and moved to speak rapidly with each other.

George and Liz moved through the arch, and by the flushed excited look in her eyes, Barnabas could tell that George must have stolen a kiss or favor from his cousin.

"Cousin Elizabeth, if you will excuse us, Vicki and I have matters to attend at the old house."

Elizabeth looked over at Vicki and nodded, "Have you check David for his home work?"

Vicki nodded. "I left him with more home work. Tomorrow when I am in town, I will be speaking to Maggie about the position. I am also taking Josette's ball gown in to be cleaned so if there is anything you need me to drop off some dry cleaning for you, just leave it on the foyer table. I will stop by here on my way into town."

Roger moved into the foyer past the chattering youths and moved to Vicki. "I have some suits I was going to drop off on my way to town. Do you want me to drop off Josette's ball gown?"

Vicki nodded and then tiptoed to kiss his cheek, "Thank you Uncle Roger. It is lying on my bed."

He smiled and cupped her chin in his hand. "With a sweet smile like that anything for you my dear."

Roger turned and looked for Quentin. "Where is Quentin?"

Barnabas nodded to the stairs. "While we were having our pictures taken for the paper, he made haste to hide in his room."

Roger started for the stairs. "Well I will say this. It certainly is nice to have the house full of laughter and family again." Roger disappeared up the stairs.

Elizabeth moved to the drawing room with George and Vicki looked at Julia and Professor Stokes, "Would you two like to join us at the old house? I am sure it will be somewhat quieter and we can have some sherry and relax. I for one am exhausted."

Julia glanced at Professor Stokes, "Well we do need to pick out our costumes for the party. Just give me a chance to give my regards to Elizabeth."

Julia moved towards the drawing room while Barnabas and Vicki put on their coats. " Then we will see you over in a few minutes, Barnabas and I will be walking through the woods. Oh, I forgot, there are trees down over the path."

Barnabas smiled at her, "Do not worry about it. I had Willie call for help to clear the path earlier. It should be cleared by now."

Vicki clutched his arm. "Good, because I was followed earlier by some gypsies in the woods."

Barnabas frowned. "When did this occur?"

She looked at him, "When I left the old house this morning."

Barnabas led her to the door, "My dear from now on I wish you to have Willie drive you home or you drive your car."

Vicki looked confused, "Why? They did not bother me and they moved through the woods like they had business somewhere else."

Barnabas put his arm around her. "Because they are not to be trusted, do I make myself clear, do this for me."

Vicki stepped out into the crisp clean air and pulled her coat closer to her.

"If you insist then for you I will do what you ask. "

He led her to the pathway to the old house. "Come or Julia and Professor Stokes will beat us home."

Vicki had time to run up to Josette's room and pull out the costumes that Professor Stokes and Julia were going to wear for the engagement party. Laying them on Josette's bed, she busied herself with unpacking her over night case and moved to sit at the vanity. There she freshened her face and her hair. Removing her glasses she left them lying on the vanity.

Preparing to leave Josette's room she paused, the air had filled with jasmine perfume. "Josette?"

The apparition appeared in the room and turned from looking at her portrait to studying Vicki, "Yes, Cheri?"

Vicki moved back to face her, "Thank you."

Josette drifted to the vanity and touched her music box. "Why are you thanking me?"

Vicki smiled and moved to the vanity to stand next to the apparition. "For being there for me when I need you. For looking out for me."

She turned and looked at Vicki, "As long as you take care of your Barnabas, I will always be there for you."

Vicki felt touched and wanted to hug her. "I owe you so much for making me see how important Barnabas was for me."

Vicki felt the warmth of what should have been an ice-cold feeling as Josette turned to embrace her. "You are my Cheri, and family. I will always be there to protect you and this family called Collins, now off with you. You are getting company."

The love that was transmitted by that hug was indescribable as Vicki turned and left the room. "Danger is ahead for you my dear Vicki, I will need to stay close and watch over you."

Josette faded into the astral plane that was now her home.

Vicki moved down the stairs upon reaching the bottom she heard Julia and Professor Stokes in the drawing room. "Ah, here is the topic of our conversation now."

Professor Stokes smiled at Vicki as she entered the room. Barnabas had pulled more chairs into the drawing room and arranged them around the fireplace; two side chairs complimented the two wing back fireside chairs.

"Here my dear, I poured you a small sherry. We were discussing your experience earlier. The professor thinks it is a harmless possession that you are not fighting and may very well be related to a past life you lead, which essentially is you possessing yourself."

"Thank you." Vicki accepted the drink and smiled at her company.

"Then I have nothing to fear?" She cupped her drink in her hand and looked to Professor Stokes.

"Because it disappears after the dance is done, makes me think that you may have a residual past life wanting to relive an important moment in that life, so it takes control and then lets you go once the dance is done."

Vicki sipped her drink and then set the glass on the coaster of the side table. "I see, so it is something I should not necessarily be concerned but may wish to at a later date explore?"

Julia had listened quietly sipping her drink. "Vicki remember when we explored your time in the past? How we were able to break through and find the crux of your fear and problem from the past?"

Vicki nodded and then offered, "But we determined that was because I thought I had fallen in love with Peter Bradford, we were able to decide that my true feelings for Peter had been nothing more than a need to hold to someone who had been kind to me."

Julia nodded and then steeple her fingertips together and looked distant as if she were recalling something from the past. "That is especially true now because you realized it was nothing more than self-preservation on your part to cling to someone who had shown you kindness and was helping you out of what obviously was a difficult situation. Now, it seems that you have a past life that is trying to reassert itself back into your present life. "

Julia fixed her gaze on Vicki's face and spoke softly, "My thoughts are that perhaps after you are married and have returned from your honeymoon we could explore this more and try regression therapy. "

Vicki nodded, "If that is what you think would help."

Stokes was quick to add. "I would only try that if the past life manifests itself in a negative way. At this time, it is only trying to relive a part in its life through Vicki and it only seems to manifest itself when she is dancing the waltz."

Vicki lifted her drink and stopped, "I do know that Josette came into my body while I was doing the minuet, I find her possession less of a problem. She is only trying to live through me and capture a time from her past. So perhaps this other possessive spirit is as harmless as Josette. If that is the case, then I am not so concerned."

Julia moved her hands expressively; "It is entirely up to you about how you wish to handle this."

Stokes stood and went to retrieve Julia's medical bag. "Come my dear the hour is late and we have much to do. We will see you at the party then?"

Vicki rose, "Oh wait, I need to bring down your clothing for the party."

She excused herself and went back up the stairs. Returning with the garments in a bag on hangers she handed them over to Julia.

"I am sure they should fit you both. They have been cleaned." Julia took the bags and thanked her. Together Barnabas and Vicki walked Julia and Stokes to the door.

"Well, thank you for coming by and I guess I will see you both on Saturday at the party!"

Stokes took Vicki's hand and patted it. "Good night my dear." Turning to Barnabas he shook his hand. "I bid you both adieu."

Vicki hugged Barnabas as they stood and watched Julia go to Professor Stokes car.

"I really am happy for them. I hope they will be happy together." Vicki spoke softly as she held to Barnabas, her head resting on his chest. As she stood watching them drive off, she sighed softly.

"Yes, Elizabeta, I too am happy for them as I will be for us?"

Vicki snapped her head back and looked up at Barnabas. She blinked as she looked into the hypnotic features of Vlad Tepes.

"Barnabas!" She pulled away and looked with panic in her gaze.

The figure of Vlad stepped forward and Vicki turned away in fear, "No, stay away! Barnabas!"

She heard herself scream as the figure of Vlad approached her and she backed away and felt herself falling backwards, until she was jerked back and against a hard chest.

"Vicki! Vicki!" Pushing her hair out of her face she looked up and saw Barnabas standing before her, holding her.

"Barnabas! Oh thank god! He was here, Vlad, Tepes was here!"

Barnabas stroked her hair and spoke to her soothingly. "No my dear, he is dead and gone. He was not here."

He held her trembling body and pushed her head back to gaze down at her. Brushing the tears from her eyes, he spoke soothingly to her. "My dear you are tired, come." He led her back and up to Josette's room.

"Why don't you prepare for bed my dear, and I will bring you a nice little night-cap."

Vicki clung to him, her voice filled with fear and confusion.. "Don't leave me, stay with me. I am afraid Barnabas."

He moved to the settee and folded himself on to the comfort of the delicate piece of furniture. "Please darling, don't leave me alone."

Barnabas smiled reassuringly to her, "My dear Vicki, I do not plan to leave you alone, I will wait here, while you do your nightly duties to prepare for bed. Once you have completed those duties, then I shall take you to our room and we shall sleep together, I will hold you until you fall asleep, then I will prepare for bed. I plan to hold you all night. Now hurry along and, get ready for bed and I will wait for you here."

Vicki smiled and moved to gather her pajamas and went down the rear hallway to bathe. As soon as she disappeared, Barnabas called "Willie, come here please."

Willie entered the room and found Barnabas waiting for him. 'Willie, when you were in the woods today with the construction men, did you notice anything out of the ordinary?"

Willie thought a moment and shook his head. "No, Barnabas, we just cleared the path and I brought the wood back here to use. Why?"

Barnabas turned and looked to where Vicki disappeared, "Because Vicki saw gypsies in the woods when she went home this morning. I want you to hire some trackers and see if they can find out what the gypsies are doing in the wood and who gave them permission to be here."

His thoughts were racing and then he smiled, and folded his hands together. "I also want you to check around town and see if any new tourists are in town. More particularly, if perhaps Angelique has come to town."

The thought he had figured out that Angelique might be behind what was going on with Vicki he smiled. "If she has come back, I will need to alert Professor Stokes so we can prepare a counter spell to whatever she is doing to Vicki."

He turned, "Tonight Vicki will be staying with me. Tomorrow I shall be taking her back to Collinwood. We want nothing to go wrong with the engagement party."

Willie looked nervously around the room, expecting to see Angelique popping out from behind the curtains. "How much longer until the house is completed?"

Willie put his hands on his hips and thought a moment. "Most of the work is already done. Clean-up on the projects started today, should be done by Julia's and Professor Stokes wedding."

Barnabas turned hearing Vicki coming down the hall. "Good, now off to bed with you. You have a busy day tomorrow."

Willie nodded and turned and left the room. "Barnabas?"

Vicki entered the room and Barnabas was again enchanted, she had chosen one of Josette's nightgowns and coats. "My dear may I say how charming you look." Vicki moved into his arms and put her arms around him.

. "I love you so much." She whispered into his ear.

He held her tenderly in return and vowed in a soft voice. "Nothing will harm you my dear. As long as I draw breath, I will not allow anything to touch you in any way."

Vicki sighed softly and smiled, looking up into his eyes, she stroked her fingers through his bangs and then held him close again.

"I believe that. Thank you for loving me. I promise I will make you a good wife."

He lifted her and carried her to his bedchambers, laying her on the bed, he slipped his shoes off and took his jacket and placed it over a chair.

Covering her with a blanket he once again, lay next to her and cradled her close and held her until she fell asleep. He looked down at the beauty in his arms and made a silent vow, 'Angelique, so help me, if you harm one hair on her head, I shall send you back to your dark master to burn."