Chapter 6
Reverend Trask was a licentious man with tastes for pretty young things that could sate his desire and lust. He had been planning on taking Victoria Winters from Collinwood for sometime and he had the dastardly plan how he would bring her to heal. There was something delicious and undeniable about her and her beauty. Just thinking of her now gave his body heat and he wanted her in front of him on her knees begging for him to take her as his lover. The thought of her pleasing him as many would expect from a beautiful woman made his imagination and his desires grow. He ran his hand over his manhood and smiled, she would belong to him. She would be his and there was nothing Collins could do about it.
He peered over at the pathetic young woman that was his latest conquest in his need to purge the land of witches and darkness that hung to the very foundation of some houses and the worse of them all was Collinwood. He could only imagine the debauchery he knew must be coming from the very pits of hell in that house. That foolish Abigail had disappeared and he wondered where she had gone? He had made plans to wed her. It would have given him a foot in the door of a very wealthy and old established family. He would lower his standards to do what he needed to do in the name of God.
Thinking of the shriveled up prune faced woman that was one of the heiress to the fortune of Collinwood could allow him to do as he saw fit to meet his end. He could give her the cursory attention that a wife would require. He could even tolerate her lack of beauty with the largess attached to her name and inheritance, which would compensate him very nicely.
He allowed his imagination to run rampant over what he could do with that sum of money. She was a spinster and only needed some love. It was a shame that she had passed the age of child bearing and her womb probably had shriveled up. However he could surrogate a child with Victoria, once they were married Abigail would just have to understand that a man had needs and desires and those needs were to be had in the arms of a younger woman more willing to give him what he needed.
He could also claim it was divine intervention that forced him into the arms of another and then condemn her to a life of servitude to him and his wife. He could then visit her bed at night after Abigail had fallen asleep. He could easily slip into the bed of the one he truly wanted to be with and if by some sad happenstance that Abigail met her ends early in their marriage he would of course play the devoted and very sadden widower Trask. Oh this could work out wonderfully well, he just needed to find Abigail, but first he needed to find this closet. The one the mysterious voice has spoken of that was in the west wing of Collinwood. The voice had come to him like the devine voice of God and allowed him to see his prayers answered.
He smiled, God had chosen him to speak too so he knew his desires and prayers were being answered because of his true belief in what he was doing, which was ridding the world of darkness and destruction of Satan. So this must be God giving him directions on what he should do. He slapped his hands together and headed to Collinwood.
Vicki stood in front of the mirror, she wore Elizabeth's wedding gown. The soft chiffon and tulle fell to the floor to pool in yards of satin, chiffon and tulle. The skirt bloused out in the silhouette of Princess styled gown. Vicki turned and could not believe how well it fitted her. Turning she looked to the back in the mirror admiring the long six foot train laid out in beaded designs of rosettes. The pearl inlay bodice had a scooped sweetheart sneckline and accented against Vicki's skin giving it a transparent soft glow.
Liz's eyes began to tear up looking at her first born in her wedding dress. "You have no idea how long I hoped to see you in this dress for your wedding day and the only thing that would make this even more perfect is the veil that Joshua bought for Naomi. " She turned to Vicki's bed and lifted the soft lace veil with scalloped edging her her dark hair then ran her fingers down the length of the veil so that it draped her from head to toe and laid back behind her another eight feet. Vicki stood in front of the mirror and looked at the affect and now she was affected by the moment.
"Oh Mother its lovely, somehow I think Naomi would approve of me using her veil. She liked me." She turned and the dress moved with her as she turned.
Liz was touched by the fact she called her mother and now with the veil on she thought she truly looked like a bride. "I was thinking you could wear the sapphire tiara that I wore on the night of the ball. It would accent your hair and you would look lovely with your hair done up in long curls. You could use that as your something borrowed and blue."
Vicki sniffed lightly, "Thank you mother that would be perfect. I still need to buy a garter for the best man to take off and I need to pick out my floral arrangements and I am so hoping that Carolyn will be feeling better so she can be in my wedding. "
Liz smiled, "Why not go down and show her the gown, I am hoping she might consider allowing it being used when she reaffirms the vows after the baby is born." Vicki moved to hug Elizabeth then made her way to the door with the heavy dress and train following her down the hallway to Carolyn's room. Knocking on the door she poked her head in and looked at Carolyn propped up in her bed.
"Hey got a moment for a visitor?" Vicki stepped into the room and Carolyn's eyes lit up, "Well look at you! Vicki you look beautiful in mother's wedding dress and is that Naomi's veil? Every Collins bride wore that veil when they married. I suppose I will wear it on my reaffirmation of my vows when we have the more formal ceremony. Right now I feel I won't ever get out of this bed."
Vicki moved to sit on the side of the bed and took Carolyn's hand. "You know I envy you because you are pregnant. I want to have a big family with Barnabas. And I could think of no more wonderful Aunt for our children than you Carolyn. You are going to make a wonderful mother and a terrific aunt."
Carolyn leaned forward and hugged her tightly. "I am so happy you are my sister. I always wanted a sister and I could not ask for a better one than you." Her eyes were filled with the emotional tears she had been holding back. Falling back against her pillows she closed her eyes.
"I love you too Carolyn, I am so glad we are sisters. I always felt close to you and really considered you more like a little sister instead of a friend. What with all the petty arguments we had I just figure you were acting more like a sister than a friend. I hope you are feeling better by the time we are married and you can be my bridesmaid. I am going to ask Maggie Evans to be a bridesmaid and thought I would ask Julia to be my matron of honor and Daphne as a bridesmaid. Unless you would like to be my maid of honor?"
The door opened and Quentin with Daphne entered the room. "Well did we walk in on something important? Victoria wow just look at you. That dress is breath taking!" Daphne moved to the side of the bed looking with admiration at Vicki and the gown she wore. Vicki stood from the bed and did a slow turn.
"Mother said I could use her wedding gown for the wedding and except for a few minor alterations I should be able to wear it for my wedding, and I was hoping you would be one of my bridesmaid?" She looked at Daphne. Seeing the instant smile on Daphne's face she knew then she would. Moving to hug her she laughed softly, "Thank you Daphne!"
"No thank you for making me feel so accepted into this family." Daphne stepped back from the hug and smiled into the gaze of her friend. "I think you will make a beautiful bride and a lovely Mrs. Barnabas Collins."
Vicki smiled her appreciation then turned to Carolyn, " I will be back in a little while, I need to change. You do what your nurse tell you." She smiled with her teasing tone and shaking a finger at her sister. Moving past Quentin she moved down the hallway.
As she turned the corner going to her bedroom, she felt a strong set of arms clamp down over her allowing her a scream of fright to escape as Trask grabbed her and forcefully picked her up to carry her down the hallway. Vicki was struggling but the long heavy gown hampered her movements, and the veil was ripped from her head to be left lying on the floor.
Quentin hearing the scream turned to Daphne and frowned. "Was that Vicki?" Daphne nodded and followed Quentin into the hallway. Quentin turned to Daphne, "Go call George!" He moved down the hallway finding Naomi's veil he lifted it off the floor and looked to the open doorway into the west wing and growled. "Oh hell no!" Laying the veil on the hallway table he ran towards the open doorway moving at break neck speed to see Trask dragging Vicki into the closet that housed the stairway of time. Following closely behind he caught up with Trask.
Grabbing Vicki from his arms, Quentin shoved her behind him and began to struggle with Trask. Besting him with height he flung Trask down the steps and turned to Vicki, "Come on." He moved to the stairs going up and began to recall the last time he used this way to travel through time. He smiled remembering the year was 1845. That thought was interrupted by a hard push from behind.
Quentin tuned and frowned seeing Trask was advancing on him, turning he saw the door and opened it shoving Vicki through the door he turned to face off against Trask. Quentin had balled up his fist to prepare to deliver a blow when both men felt the stairs shift and change and once again there was a new door in front of them. Surprised by this sudden transition, Quentin was not expecting to feel Trask push him backwards to tumble down the stairs and into unconsciousness.
Grumbling all the way Trask one more time thought of the year 1795. The door in front of him shifted and changed and the stairs continued to move downward. Trask moved to Quentin and looked up to see another door appear. Jerking Quentin by his heels he moved him through the door and into the west wing of Collinwood in the year 1795. "You will tell me what year you left her in before this is said and done."
Vicki stood confused and dazed in the hallway of the west wing of Collinwood. The difference was this west wing was in use and had people living in it. Moving along the hallway she paused to come up short to peer at the startled but pleased gaze of Gabriel Collins. "You must be Joanna, Daphne's sister?" He wheeled himself forward and looked at her dress. "Kind of formal are you not?"
Vicki shook her head and muttered, "No this cannot be happening again!"
Gabriel reached for her hand and smiled, "Please to meet you Joanna, would you like me to take you to Daphne?" Gabriel turned to wheel down the hallway expecting her to follow him. Vicki followed Gabriel to the end of the hallway where he came up short and a scowl moved over his face. "Brother, have you seen Daphne?"
Quentin's gaze raked over Vicki with a lustful smile he shook his head. "Not in the past hour Gabriel and who is this sweet thing being forced to endure your company?" Moving forward he took her hand into his hand looked into her wide innocent eyes and smiled, "I am Quentin Collins and you must be?" He left the question open ended.
Vicki noticed he wore mutton chops she was pretty sure she was not with the Quentin in the 20th century but one from another time. Gabriel swung his chair around and glowered at Quentin, "Daphne's sister Joanna if you really must insist on monopolizing her forward movement to her sister."
"Ahh the delectable and delicious Joanna, so pleased to meet you my dear.," The way his had caressed her hand she was sure he was trying to seduce her right here in the hallway in front of his own brother. "It is a shame Gabriel that you cannot do what I am doing right now with Miss Mills. I bet it is killing your soul that someone as deliciously lovely as Miss Mills cannot be a part of your attentions which I am sure you would wish to force on her."
Both men were interrupted when another figure appeared at the end of the hallway and a delighted exclamation filled the air, "JOANNA!" Daphne Harridge stood at the end of the hallway her eyes alight and excited seeing her sister standing there in what might be a wedding gown. Daphne with arms extended rushed towards Vicki throwing her arms about her shoulders and hugging her tightly, much as any sister who had been long absent from her sibling.
Vicki turned to see Daphne moving towards her with open arms and prepared for the generous hug she was about to receive. She felt she had fallen through the hole and was now at the mad hatter's tea party. "When did you get here? What are you doing in this part of the house and why are you dressed like that!" She released her hug from her sister and stepped back to peer anxiously into her startled confused gaze.
"I am sorry, I just don't remember how I got here, did I do something wrong?" Vicki was trying hard to hide her anxiety over being recognized as someone else as it happened once before. Daphne frowned, ran her arm around Vicki's waist and led her down the hallway.
"No nothing wrong just on the opposite end of our quarters. Come along sweet sister, you must tell me everything and most of all why are you wearing what looks like a wedding dress?" Vicki moved down the hallway watching her feet kick forward the skirt of the wedding gown that belonged to her mother.
Gabriel laughed softly, "Now there is one that was not caught up in your charms and ready to fall into your bed. How does it make you feel brother that there are women in this world that can resist your chams."
Quentin looked away from watching the women disappear around the corner of the hallway to look down at his brother with a sardonic smile on his lips. "Your problem Gabe is that even if she were to throw herself into your bed, you cannot do anything about it. Just as if I wanted Edith for the night, she with her longing and hot temptress needs would be there at a snap of my fingers."
Quentin watched the angry blaze of hate spread across his face and then suffuse with that delightful shade of red he always got when he knew his banal banter had not been the one to give him victory in the argument. "The next time you wish to do a battle of wits with me Gabriel be sure to come well armed because we know you don't have a foot to stand on." He smirked and sauntered off down the hallway following the ladies to hear Gabriel break out in a chorus of curse words that would have turned the air blue. To end the expletives that had been uttered Quentin could only follow his brother's frustration with a soft chortle.
Jamison came running up the hallway to pause in front of the two women. His eyes went up and down over Vicki and his mouth opened. "You look like the lady in the parlor!" Daphne frowned looking at Vicki and then to Jamison. "What do you mean Jamison?"
"There is a lady in the hallway saying she is your sister and is demanding to see you." Vicki frowned and looked around she was not going to wake up soon from this nightmare and she knew she was going to be put under scrutiny by the residents of Collinwood. She needed to get out of this madness. Turning she lifted her skirt and headed for the one place she knew she could find shelter and have time to figure out a cover story. She just needed to remain calm.
Although she knew that at this moment calmness was in her thoughts. What she did know was she did not exchange places with anyone when brought to this time. The other thing she knew was in this time; she was Victoria Winters and not someone else. Moving with swiftness of foot, she ran towards the family mausoleum on Eagle Hill and to the door that would open for her and afford her shelter and time to figure out what she was going to do.
Stepping into the secret room she paused, sitting in the center of the room was a coffin on its bier. "Barnabas." She spoke in a hushed whisper. Moving forward she twisted the locks of the chains and found them fasten tightly shut. Looking around the room, she found a stand for candles, breaking the end off she put the leverage and found the locks easily broke. Moving the chains of the coffin she pushed up the lid of the coffin and felt a hand shoot up and grab her by the neck.
Cutting off her breath she grabbed his hand struggling against it. Pulling her down to him he started to bite her and stopped, his own gaze shocked, "Miss Winters?" Barnabas was shocked. "Where did you go? What happened to you when you left the old house?"
Barnabas had released her throat and jumped from the casket. Moving to help her stand. His actions of grabbing her and then releasing her had caused her to fall back and land hard on the floor. "Barnabas, I went back to my time. You may not remember but I was not from your time but from 1967. Since that time, I have met your grandson and well we are to be wed. The reason I was in this dress."
He looked at her dress and smiled. "Then he will be happy, but why are you here? Why have you opened my casket?" He moved to close the casket and look at her realizing she knew what he was. "More to the point how did you find out about me?"
Vicki took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "Because it is you I am going to marry in 1968, and I know all about your curse, Angelique and what she did to Bradford and you. There is a lot that has happened between the two of us since we last met Barnabas and well frankly we are planning our wedding for July. Now I find myself trapped in a place in time that is past your time and from the clothing I saw and the house's improvements, I would say that we are sometime in the mid 1800's."
Vicki leaned against the wall. "I am afraid I don't know how we are going to fit into this time Barnabas, I was in some stairway with Trask and he and Quentin fought the next thing I know, Quentin shoved me through the door and I was in the hallway of the west wing."
Barnabas frowned, "Curious, who is this Quentin?" He studied her with a thoughtful intensity, then he did turn to her later and did what? Fall in love with the enchantingly sweet Miss Winters? "Well, I have an idea who we can approach on this, but we will need proper clothing to blend in and we can easily pose as Mr. and Mrs. Barnabas Collins from England newly married and on our honeymoon wishing to see Collinwood."
Vicki physically relaxed hearing he had a plan. She could not explain how she looked so much like this Joanna that had appeared in the foyer of Collinwood or how she was going to explain why she did not have an English accent. "How do we explain my lack of an English accent?"
Barnabas turned and peered at her, "Easily enough we will simply say you were my bride of an arranged marriage to a wealthy family from the Americas."
Vicki smiled and nodded, "I could very well have been a wealthy bride to you, that could explain why I was in the west wing of Collinwood. I could say I got confused and entered the wrong end of the house looking for you because you arrived a head of me. Where shall we live while here, you know they will offer us a place at Collinwood."
Barnabas smiled, "I think the best place for us to become comfortable would be the old house. When father was moved to the new Collinwood he signed over the old house and its surrounding property to me. I have secured in a secret hiding place at the old house the deed to the house singned by father. Perhaps we can get the patriarch to grant us permission to live there with proof that I actually own the house by succession. Then I can with ease arrange to have my coffin put there, you could protect me during the day. "
Victoria smiled and nodded, "I would suggest we put it behind the bookcase in the drawing room. That way if any one tries to come and find out about us or snoop they will not know about the secret room and you would be perfectly safe."
"Well my dear it seems we will require funds and clothing, what I need to do is make a trip to town to sate my needs and then find someone that can act as a servant during the day and find me sustenance at night. "
Vicki frowned, 'You won't kill anyone will you? If that is the case, then I ask you to drink from me." This was the most important part of their plan, she wanted to make sure she would not have to bear the knowledge that death occurred and she could have prevented it. Barnabas smiled and shook his head. "No my dear all I will do is take enough to sustain me and not kill them. As for drinking from you, let us use that as an emergecy. I do not relish what I am and you of all should know this by now if we are suppose to wed in the future."
"Before we make our dual appearance we both must make it a point to get enough information so we know how we both will fit into this century's Collins family. So, my dear, if you will wait here, I shall return shortly and we should be able to integrate ourselves into the family."
Quentin felt reality start to return from the smell, it was a fetid disused smell of decay and mold. Looking around he could make out he was in some kind of disused mausoleum. From what he could see in the darkness that outlined the area, grave robbers had broken into the old crypts. Bodies had been left mostly unmolested lying in the confines of their coffins still dressed in their Sunday best looking much as they had when they were laid to rest. Moving his leg he moaned, a shackle bound his ankle to the wall behind him. "I see heathen you are awake, perhaps we can begin your education into the ways of God and drive the devil from your body and you will tell me where you sent Miss Winters!"