Chapter 19

Collinsport Maine

Old House

Josette's Room

1845

Vicki could feel the soft stroke of a hand on her hair; the voice she expected to hear was not Barnabas. She struggled to open her eyes to see whom it was that was taking liberties with her while she lay in Josette's bed. "So lovely and such a shame you will belong to the monster. I plan to make sure you never marry him. If you must marry someone you should marry me." Struggling to open her eyes she found she was unable to do so. "No my dear, I know you are awake but I wish you to remain unable to stop what is about to happen."

Petofi turned to see Aristides standing in the doorway. "Is it done?" Noting the young man's smile he nodded. "Good come bring our new guest we must be in our new home before the spell wears off. I don't want her waking up and fighting against what is about to happen." Petofi chuckled softly stood back and watched Aristides lift Victoria from the bed. "How soon until he returns?" Petofi followed him from the room watching him take care to carry Vicki with due diligence to not harm her.

"He will not get out of that situation I placed him in until daylight and by then he will need to seek shelter out of the sun."

Petofi chuckled, "As long as the body is in tack, I do plan to use it you know. This one is worn out and I need a new one that can last forever and as a vampire it will last me for as long as I need it and I won't age and I shall have this lovely young lady at my side as my wife." He smiled thinking of the pleasures he could seek with her following his servant out of the house.

Collinwood Woods

Pathway near the Old House

1845

Quentin had approached the old house and saw Victoria being carried by a stranger. He frowned and then paled when he saw who followed Victoria and her captor. "Petofi! What the hell are you doing here?" He had hissed the name and then nearly jumped when he heard another's voice behind him.

"Making trouble for sure for dat vun!" Magda watched as they loaded Victoria into a carriage and drove off. "I vant 'im dead!" Magda spit saying the name of the man she hated more than she hated Barnabas. "'Is servant done sealed Barnabas in za room. Sandor iz releasing 'im now as ve speak. Come, I will show you vhere dey take 'er." Magda poked Quentin's side jerked her head for him to follow her into the woods.

"What is he up to? Do you know?" Quentin began to follow her down the pathway to the entrance to the tunnels beneath Widow's Hill. Showing Quentin something he had long forgotten. It had been in his youth he had first discovered the series of tunnels that Jeremiah Collins had carved out during the war with Joshua with the intent to connect the two houses. "I had forgotten about these tunnels. Is this where Aristides had taken Barnabas?"

"Jes, he brought 'im 'ere and collapsed some rock in one of ze side tunnels to trap 'im. Sandor found za secondary tunnel to ze chamber and ze are vaiting for us dere. Din ve go to Petofi's 'ouse!" Magda was indignant that the scourge of all gypsies had her Victoria and even though she did not like Barnabas, she did not wish this on him or his woman.

Quentin continued to follow Magda as she bantered on about her hatred of the very same man that had tried to take Quentin's body from him. "Is he planning on trying to take Barnabas' body?" He knew that trick only too well and the fact that Magda had forgiven him enough to speak with him for mistreating her sister was a big step in a more positive direction between the two. He did not realize that his father Daniel had secured a very deranged and totally insane Jenny in the tower room.

"Jes, he vants 'is voman and 'is life which would be very bad!" Magda paused then whistled softly into the darkness of the cave, to her whistle she heard a response from the depths of the darkness. Quentin watched as a soft light appeared in the cave's dark interior.

"Magda?" It was Sandor's voice that echoed back to them.

"Jes, I bring Quentin. "E saw Petofi take Victoria!"

Barnabas sat looking stunned from his ordeal of being buried alive. What Quentin had not realized is that he had been pinned in a room filled with crosses that had since been removed. "What of Victoria? What has that blackguard done to her?" His voice sounded weak and he was appearing to have trouble breathing. That was the point of view of Quentin that now walked into the room to peer around at their surroundings.

In reality Barnabas was weakened but angry and was trying hard to contain his anger. "I swear as God in my witness if he harms on hair on her head, I shall kill him!" Barnabas' voice had dropped low and had almost become a growl.

"Relax Cousin, I know Petofi well and all he has to protect him is his servant Aristides. We will get Victoria back for you. We just need someone as strong or stronger in the dark arts than he is." Quentin said it like it was not about to happen and they were not going to find anyone that was equal to Aristides.

Barnabas sighed deeply looked up and then smiled, "I happen to have someone that is equal in the dark arts."

Quentin quirked a brow, "Really and whom might that be? Because I have a friend but he is a new initiate to the ways of the dark arts."

Together both said the name of the person and found it was astonishing that both were closely associated.

"My sister Angelique."

"My friend Evan Hanley."

Both looked at one another and then a soft chuckle from Magda reminded them they were still a part of this conversation. "So, jour sister and jour friend share somezing in common. How appropriate!"

Collinwood

1795

West wing hallway

Quentin opened the door and was amazed, the stairway through time was there now all he needed was for Victoria to come and join him, glancing around he frowned, what if he took her back before she was done doing what was needed? She had made him promise that regardless he was to leave without her. Shaking his head and feeling pretty much a coward, he stepped through the doorway and began his trek to the year 1968. He walked up the stairs until he came to a door and opened it.

Stepping into the hallway he sighed, it was as he remembered, filled with cobwebs, dust covered furniture lining the hallway and the smell of musk and slowly decaying carpeting filling the air. "Thank god." He muttered softly.

"Quentin dear boy! We had just begun our research of your stairway when you appeared we have been waiting watching three closets in this section of Collinwood hoping to see this magical stairway appear." Elliott Stokes stood watching Quentin now dressed in eighteenth century period clothing.

"Elliott thank goodness. I was there I saw Vicki in 1795. She was unable to come back with me." He was apologetic but was confident he had taken the correct actions.

"You did the right move dear boy. To have brought her back could have caused a catastrophic cascade and you may not have found Collinwood standing."

"So she was correct in sending me on without her?" He needed that reassurance. He looked tired and anxiously awaited to hear what Elliott would say.

"Absolutely you were right to move on without her. You were in a time not your own just as she was. She had a mission to accomplish and she did just that in the time she was first there in the time she was needed. You however were the preverbal fly in the ointment. We must find out what the fallout for that will be and you have some explaining to do. Who was that poor unfortunate man that had your diary in his desiccated body?"

Elliott led him down the hallway to another juncture where they met up with Daphne. Seeing Quentin she dashes to him and threw her self into his arms. "Quentin! Oh Quentin!" She kissed him deeply and he could feel how fast her heart was beating.

Of course he returned her passionate kiss with as much feeling as he was receiving and was glad to hold her in his arms, he whispered softly against her ear, "I have missed you my dearest love." He could feel the dampness from her tears as it soaked his collar and neck.

"I was so worried we had not seen or heard from you or Victoria over the past two weeks!" He could feel the tension in her body, the passion in her voice and the fear that had edged her mind. He was however surprised to discover it had been only two weeks here when in fact he knew he had been gone for over three months.

"I think we need to find Julia and Barnabas and go back to the old house. We still have a missing Victoria and have been unable to locate her dear boy." Elliott's sage wise voice broke the moment between the impassioned lovers. Quentin reluctantly let her go turned to face Elliott.

"It is very easy to find Victoria, I took her to 1845 and shoved her into the time that I was here at Collinwood. I can simply go back into the stairway and go fetch her!" He had turned as if in preparation to return to the stairway in time. When Elliott stepped in front of him.

"It is not that simple Quentin. That is why we are going back to the old house to discuss this situation and decide a course of action. I will also explain why you cannot go back. For that matter the only way you could go back is through I-Ching or Barnabas use I-Ching to bring her back."

1845

Seaview Cottage

Upstairs Bedroom

Aristide looked with a degree of interest on the unnaturally sleeping form of Victoria. Leaning forward he took his fingertips and trailed it over her cheek to her lips. Gently he ran his index finger over her lips and wondered what it would feel like to press his lips to hers. He even wondered what it would taste like to kiss someone so pure and untouched. "Beautiful isn't she Aristide." His voice was filled with breathlessness while he watched the two of them from the doorway.

His gaze drifted over the large room noting that Aristide had executed his orders to perfection. He smiled and looked with approval at the bars over the two main windows that faced the ocean. The door was double locked from the outside. The inside of the room was done to perfection with a canopy bed of Spanish lace; the color was a deep rose color. A large fireplace faced the west wall away from the sea, which was on the east wall.

He took inventory mentally noting, a nice table, a bookcase, vanity table with silver brush and comb, perfume. His eyes continued over the room to the large, wardrobe closet. He had personally selected and filled with expensive gowns from Paris. His gaze looked to the dresser he had filled with satin and lace gowns, and foundations garments. From behind he could hear the uneasy shuffling of feet.

Turning he placed those myopic eyes on the small young lady he had hired to be her personal maid. "Antoinette, come here and see your new charge." He pushed the fourteen year old wide eyed girl forward to peer into the luxurious room. Guiding her to the side of the bed, Petofi waved his hand and watched for a moment for Victoria to open her eyes. It started with a flutter of her eyelashes and she opened her eyes to peer confused and unsure of her surroundings.

"Welcome to my home and your new room my dear. Allow me to introduce myself to you. I am Count Andréas Petofi and I welcome you to my new home." He did a half courtly bow from his waist. He offered him his gloved hand. "Allow me to assist you to sit up and introduce you to your new family."

He waited for her to take his hand and when she hesitated she felt her hand grabbed by Aristide and put into the gloved hand of Petofi. "Now, now Aristides, not to rush the poor girl she is confused and I am sure somewhat frightened by her circumstances." Covering her hand with his free hand he gently tugged her to a sitting position.

Vicki slid her legs around and set them on the floor. Not saying a word she glanced around at those that seemed to surround her, then she saw th young lady and smiled timidly for her since she appeared to be so afraid to be in the two men's presence. "Why am I here? Where is Barnabas?" She felt terribly under dressed in her gown and housecoat in front of these stangers.

Petofi's expression froze for a moment. Assuming his original cordial attitude he chuckled softly, "My dear this is your new residence and we are your new family. You must forget Barnabas. He is dead." He had said it so calmly and with little emotion that Victoria was not going to believe one word he had just spoken.

She lowered her gaze and studied the floor. "I don't believe you. I think you have taken me somewhere and he is out there trying to find me. I would know if my husband were dead." She had said it with such passion that Petofi had to rethink his first impression of this young woman. Stiffening his smile he turned and walked to the barred windows.

"I see, well be that as it may my dear you will not longer play out that farce of a marriage with Barnabas Collins. You will be joining my family and will be known as Tatiana Petofi my niece and I will arrange a marriage for you." He continued to watch the fog roll in from the oceanfront. Turning he smiled, "I have plans for you and your future my dear and in that future you will learn that I get what I want."

Aristide please attend me downstairs. Antoinette, attend your mistress and I want her called Tatiana from this point on is that understood?" Petofi turned and walked with a gated step to the door and waited for Aristide to join him. Once Aristide passed through the door Petofi pulled the door closed, then secured the two women in the room together. Aristide sighed deeply.

"I do not think she is going to like being your niece Uncle. It seems to me she is going to fight us all the way on this." Aristide had fallen into step next to his master. "Are you sure you made the right choice in this one?"

Petofi smiled his eyes hidden behind the thick glasses he now wore. "I think I do not care what she feels, if she becomes too resistive, I will merely put her under my control and she will be my puppet to do as I ask. I am sure she is the right one, she is still a virgin you young fool surely you could see that in the purity of her essence. She is no more Barnabas Collins' wife than I am a normal mortal man."

Petofi walked into the drawing room and sat heavily on the chair by the fireplace. "We will not have any problems with Collins, I buried him deeply in that cave and had it covered with crosses he will never get out." Aristide chuckled softly at the thought of the look on his face when he discovered the cave was filled with holy crosses.

"What of the gypsies that were staying at Old Collinwood? What of them?" Petofi took his glasses off, pulled his kerchief from his pocket and cleaned his tinted glasses. He glanced to Aristide awaiting his response to that last question.

"I had them followed and they were headed out of Collinsport. I think they saw us near the house and were alerted to our presence. I also had Quentin Collins followed, he has taken an unhealthy interest in his cousins 'bride'."

Petofi chuckled, "This may work out better than I even had hoped. I shall get my revenge on all the Collins Family before this project is done. Now, I will be retiring just make sure that you allow Antoinette out of the room. You also have your orders on what I want done by tomorrow?"

Aristide bowed, "Consider it done my lord." He straightened turned and walked from the room once again headed to a place only he knew he should go.

1795

Basement of the Old House

Prisoner Cell

Trask hovered over the near unconscious form of Victoria Winters as he made his demands. "I will allow you time to consider your fate my dear, for now you will stay here. There will be no one to hear you cry or your pleas for help!" Trask turned and walked towards the main area of the cellar, hearing a door he paused, "Gifford! You sure took your time getting here!" Peering up into the darkness of the stairwell he paused no hearing a reply.

What froze his heart with fear was a voice he had not expected to hear. "YOU!" Barnabas Collins eyes glowed with a hint of blue while he glared at Trask, hearing a soft crying sound in the back of the cell he glanced briefly to the area his father had chained errant servants and slaves. Frowning deeply, he growled again. "Whom do you have held in that room!" Moving quicker than Trask's eyes could see Barnabas was on him and grabbing him by his shirt front and flinging him against the wall to watch him hit with an groan and grunt to slide into unconsciousness to the ground.

Ben slowly walked into the foyer and could hear the sounds of an altercation occurring in the cellar. Rushing to the door, he paused only for a moment then moved quickly to the cellar. "Mr. Collins?"

Barnabas had already advanced to the cell and paused his eyes widening at the deplorable state he had just discovered Miss Winters. "Ben here! Hurry!" Lifting her he carried her from the room after breaking her chains. Meeting Ben in the hallway he gently handed her over to his care. "Trask had her held captive here."

"I was goin' ta tell ya she was missin' from Collinwood and Mr. Joshua had ordered us to search for her." Ben held her in his arms cradling her much as he had Sarah when he had found her in the cemetery that time.

"Take her upstairs into the drawing room, then return to me down here, we have a task that must be performed before this night is over."

Ben carried her up the stairs and laid her gently on settee by the bay window. Covering her with the blanket that laid over the back of the settee he looked at her one more time before turning and rushing back down the stairs to meet with Mr. Barnabas.

Vicki's eyes opened and she looked with pain and fear in her gaze around the room. She was not sure how she was freed but the one thing she knew she did not want to stay in this house with Trask nearby. Pushing her body up, she staggered to the door and out of it into the night . . .

1969

Collinwood

The Library

Elliott stood behind the desk; his gaze was fixed on the sheaf of papers he had been perusing. "So you see my dear boy, that is why you cannot physically go back without causing a cascade affect and thereby possibly destroying all of us!" He glanced up from the page he had just been studying reached for it and handed it over for Quentin's perusal. Quentin took the page and glanced at it.

His frown deepened and then he sighed deeply, "Then how do you propose we rescue her from 1845, if not with the stairway through time?" He had crumpled the page marked Cascade Affects with double occupation. It had been a paper written by Elliott in his youth and now had been carefully preserved like the rest of his papers. "We cannot leave her there! It was Trask's fault to begin with. He is obsessed with her and he came through that stairway to kidnap her and take her back to 1795."

"We deal with Trask before he has a chance to take or meet Victoria. If we do this, then we do not need to go back in time. The problem will never have happened." Barnabas entered the room looking worn and worried. "I will kill him before he has a chance to meet Victoria. He will not then come back and take her for whatever perverse heinous reason he may have."

"But you won't know about the plot or what Trask truly is in that time. The only way you could do that is if you go back before you were made into a vampire. Barnabas we both are in a position that neither of us may go back, not even Professor Stokes can go back to rescue Victoria we both are in that time frame. Professor could not subdue someone like Trask and there is the chance Ben Stokes and Professor Stokes in the same time line could that also cause a cascade affect?

"Not necessarily, but it does put my family line in danger." Elliott dropped his monocle and used it to tap it against his fingertips while he stood thinking. "My thoughts were to remove our consciousness from out bodies and placed them in our contemporaries in that time. However for you, Quentin, we have not found an ancestor other than Daniel and Joshua from that time frame.

Quentin shook his head. "No, there was another one that Father said I favored that came to Collinsport briefly he had just married a Countess or Duchess." Quentin walked to the bookshelf and withdrew the family history from the years 1750-1799. Barnabas paused momentarily thinking about that visit.

"He is right we had a distant relative, he was a nobleman, a Duke from . . . " Barnabas was trying to remember the country when Quentin found the portrait and picture.

"Luxembourg, he was the Grand Duke of a smaller principality near that location. His name Henri Collins Limburg." Quentin lifted the book with the page open to the family from that distant country. Laying the book on the center of the desk next to Elliott's picture he could see all eyes were fixed to the handsome face that so closely resembled his own.

"But he did not arrive in Collinwood until my mid twenties and I was in Martinique at the time of his visit so I did not get to meet him." Barnabas looked at the portrait and had to admit this was a contemporary to Quentin there was a strong family resemblance.

"Gentlemen what you are all are forgetting is that once you occupy those bodies you will have the knowledge from this time and will have bonded in one common cause and that is to prevent Trask from ever meeting our Victoria and thereby having the opportunity to kidnap her or cause a problem for others in Collinsport."

All three men smiled looking from one to the other. "Then I suppose we have a plan the next way we execute this plan is to figure out how we get back in time to our other bodies."

Elliott reached into the satchel he had previously set on the chair and smiled. "Easily accomplished." He lifted the box with the I-Ching wands and dumped them on top of the family history book. They tumbled into a haphazardly fashion with the 47th parallel lying on top. "And this gentlemen is the wand or shall I say our invitation to the past and a way to bring back our lovely Miss Winters."