Chapter 2

1969

Collinwood Drawing Room

Quentin sat at the desk in the drawing room he was going over his mail and had a slight frown on his face. His editor was pushing for the next chapter on Escape from Budapest. He had been dry on ideas for a while and this was beginning to gnaw at him as an author. He had never been out of ideas before and for once he was in a corner wondering where he was going to take his main character and hero. Hearing the door open and close he leaned back in his chair and smiled.

Vicki stood in the vestibule removing her coat. "My goodness that sure is a brisk day for Spring." She called to him and returned his smile. Except for the troubling dream she had about Cousin Henri she looked flushed and filled with contentment. Stepping more fully into the drawing room she paused to see a pile of mail on the center table and on top was an official looking manila envelope bearing her name and the impressive title of Brockman, Statham, and Nobles Attorneys at Law.

Picking up the envelope she frowned wondering what law firm this was, sliding those slender fingers under the flap she opened the envelope and pulled out a sheaf of papers that appeared to be the answer to the law suit filed on behalf of her law firm for the accidental death of Burke Devlin. In that moment she was plunged back to the nightmare world of hearing of Burke's death almost three years ago. Feeling a quick prick of tears bite at her eyes, emotionally she thought she was ready for this. Apparently, she was not.

Quentin seeing her reaction to the envelope had risen and stepped towards her. Seeing her hands tremble and the quick sting of tears he reached for the envelope and papers taking them from her nerveless fingers. "Here, let me deal with this, you go into the drawing room and sit down. Would you like some tea?" He had draped those warm comforting arms around her and drew her close to his chest to allow her a moment to feel his strength and comfort and give her the time she needed to collect her self.

"I had forgotten . . ." Her voice had grown heavy with emotions, closing her eyes she felt the wash of emotion sweep her up one more time and finished her sentence. " . . . that Burke's Company had filed a law suit against the airlines." She whispered against his chest. She had not grieved like this in so long that she was unnerved by the degree of her anguish over loosing Burke. She cleared her throat hoping it would give her more control over her emotions.

"He was bigger than life and so ready to destroy anyone and everything that got in his path. In the beginning I put as much distance between us as I could because he was going to hurt this family. Then I had to give in to my real feelings and those were I loved him." Lifting her chin she peered with tear soaked eyes into his understanding mesmerizing blue ones. Lowering her chin she rested her face against his chest and could smell the aftershave Britsh Sterling mingled with his bathsoap. He had opted for the woodsy outdoorsman's smell and the two combined made him smell like a city boy in the woods. "You smell odd, a good odd but good."

She had spoke softly and her voice was muffled against the expensively tailored jacket where she rested her forehead. He felt her take a deep cleansing breath and let it out slowly. Quentin had glanced down at the opening paragraph of the Complaint and shook his head. That alone was enough to open up the healed scabbed wounded feelings that must have lain just below the emotional surface. Turning her to lead her into the drawing room he held a tight but comforting arm around her trembling form.

"Victoria Winters Collins, I would not be able to face such obstacles like you obviously have in loosing someone that I thought would share the rest of my life, so it is perfectly fine for you to release those emotions. So you go right a head and cry no one is here to hear you." He held her close and found that by offering her comfort and hearing her tell her story of Burke and his arrival that fate filled day so long ago it had just unlocked a plethora of ideas for his next chapters for his book. Laying his cheek against the top of her head he waited for the deluge of tears to subside and then the silence of a shared moment between them that seemed so personal he was almost embarrassed by it.

When her shoulders quit shuddering and she stood silent in his arms, he had to tip her chin up and peered down into her tear soaked eyes and smiled. The moment between them was charged and for that moment he was reminded of someone from so long ago and a time he had long forgotten when another stood like this in his arms and had cried. Not realizing he was lowering his lips down to hers he lightly kissed her lips, cupping her cheeks in his hands his eyes closed and he was back to that time from so long ago once again.

1845

Collinwood Rear Gardens

She was so pliable and felt so good in his arms. Her lips tasted like sweet wine mingled with the salty tears she was shedding. He did not know what possessed him to lean down and kiss her, he suppose it was his solution to everything when it came to beautiful women that were distressed and in an emotional release. "Oh Quentin! This is so wrong! Edward, I am engaged to Edward your brother!" He had followed Joanna as she rushed out of the house after a quarrel with his brother Edward and now she was held in his arms; he knew he would have Edward's wife just as he had his first wife Laura.

He had been so smooth and tender with the right words to calm her harassed nerves. "Oh my dear we did nothing wrong, I stole but a kiss and obviously you must have wanted me to kiss you because you have not slapped my face."He smiled that devilishly handsome smile. He watched the color rise under her collar to stain her neck and cheekbones. Her eyes wide she broke his hold on her and turned her back on him.

She held her lace kerchief and sniffed delicately then blew her nose and dabbed her eyes. "You should not say such things. I most certainly did not invite such liberties my dear sir." She had a halfhearted tone to her voice and that to a man like Quentin Collins was her capitulation to his future advances. He had felt the spark between them and the need that Edward could not fill for Laura and obviously with this much younger woman would never be filled.

He smiled behind her back but assumed a tone of contrition. "I could not help myself dear Joanna, you are so beautiful and were so distraught that I felt compelled to distract you from your emotional distress by giving you an innocent but brotherly kiss." Oh he was too good at this. There had been only one he had wondered about and missed. One who like this sweet thing here had bested him at his own game and side stepped his advances. Thinking of her now he caught her only as a whisper or perhaps it was a fragment of a memory from what seemed the long forgotten past and even now though she was but a distant memory in his mind she still held his fascination and curiosity. She was but a vague shadowy figure that so reminded him of this sweet lovely thing in front of him.

1969

Collinwood Foyer

Quentin broke the kiss and turned his back on Victoria leaving her feeling flushed and confused. "I am sorry Victoria I should not have done that." He could still taste the sweetness of her lips and he liked the feel. Why was this happening, he knew he loved Daphne. Closing his eyes he could sense she was distressed as much as he was and glancing down he saw a mark on his left hand, it appeared to be a pitch fork. Had he scratched himself?

Turning back to look at Victoria he noticed that she was looking with absolute fear down at her hand and she bore the same mark he had, the mark of a pitch fork. Something she had seen on Phyllis' hand and Barnabas' hand so long ago when she was in the past. It was shortly after Angelique had arrived and discovered Phyllis caught in a passionate kiss with Peter. Victoria had turned not wishing to witness such a personal and intimate moment between the two that when she turned she ran into Angelique.

Shortly after that tender shared moment between the two Victoria had noticed that Barnabas was caught in a tryst with Phyllis Wycke in the rear garden and they seemed compelled to hold to each other and kiss passionately in full view of her and Peter. Peter had turned and rushed from the garden nearly bowling Victoria over. After that one tender scene Victoria could not help but notice that both Barnabas and Phyllis seemed shocked. They were more than surprised that they had reacted as they had and then both discovered a mark very similar to the one that was now fading on her hand and on Quentin's.

"Quentin, do not blame yourself for that moment. It was against your will and mine for allowing it." She held out her hand and showed him the now fading mark. "We were branded by a witch. This is her mark and I know what witch is doing this to us. She is making mischief because she does not wish Barnabas to be happy."

Collinwood, Guest Bedroom

Angelique watched the door and then turned her attention to the two clay figures she had bound together facing one another. One figure had female attributes while the other had male. On the head of the female's figure was a few strands of dark hair. The male figure had short dark hairs pressed into the head. Taking an ID bracelet she looked at the initials scripted inside the golden band, Q D.C. Smiling she encircled the figures. Lifting up a red ribbon she bound the fingures together with the ribbon.

Laying the bound figures between a white candle and a red candle. She then lifted up a small cauldron in which she had sprinkled a few grains of white sand and salt over the burning incense and began to chant over the two figures. "Star of love, burn so bright! Aid me in my spell tonight. Unite true love to these two before the alter of their destiny. As it is willed so mote it be! As it is willed so mote it be!" She let out a soft sigh and smiled her eyes growing wide with her power filling her as she imagined what was happening now between Victoria and Quentin Collins.

The door was flung open with a bang, causing Angelique to jump from her alter. Bracing her hands on the table she twisted to look at the rage filled eyes of her 'husband.' "What are you doing Josephine!" He stepped fully into the room and his gaze shifted over the alter Angelique had just performed her spell. He watched her push back from the desk, stood and placed her body in front of the make-shift alter she had built. Henri marched to her, grabbing her by the shoulders and forcefully threw her over to the bed.

Then his gaze shifted over the alter before him and he growled low. "You bitch!" He voice was raspy as he fought for control over his anger, his gaze fixed to that of the two clay figures. Lifting the figures up, he held them in one hand and he began to speak softly, "What was will now never be. What spell was cast on these two is now dispelled as I command so mote it be!"

Angelique watched as the bracelet fell from the two dolls, the ribbon caught fire and fell in ashes to be caught by an unseen wind and whipped away. Finally the two bound figures were separated and the clay began to melt and malformed to nothing more than a molten lump. "If ever I catch you meddling in this other than I have instructed Angelique Bouchard, I promise you that Judah Zachary will seem more like a walk in the park compared to my anger." He shifted drawing his figure up to his full height and turned that impervious cold anger filled look over her cowering form.

Judah Zachary had frightened her but she had made sure he was out of the picture long enough for her to hone and increase her own powers to be nearly equal in abilities to him. However, Andréas Petofi was a more powerful and devious adversary and she had crossed him thereby crossing a line with his code of ethics. "If you have ruined what I have in place, I shall replace you with no problem Angelique. You will learn not to cross or betray me." He closed his eyes and began to concentrate.

Angelique began to feel the flames of purgatory lick up around her body burning her. She opened her mouth to scream and found she was unable to release the fear and the terror she was experiencing because she no longer had a voice to speak or scream. Clutching at her throat and feeling th flames grow closer to her body she bolted off the bed and fell to the floor crawling to the corner where she huddled in absolute fear of what she was experiencing. Petofi ne' Henri smiled watching her grab at the burning clothing she could only see in her mind.

"Good Lord Cousin Henri! What is wrong with your wife!" Roger entered the room in a rush to Angelique's side. Henri frowned suppressing a sigh of frustration he was by Roger's side and released the effects of the spell he had so enjoyed watching. Roger gently took Josephine into his arms and cradled her close gently lifting her to the bed.

"Henri what was wrong with you? Did you not see your wife is in trouble and suffering some kind of seizure?" Roger glared at his uncaring cousin and covered Josephine with the coverlet at the foot of the bed.

Taking Roger by the upper arm, Henri led Roger from the room to the hallway, closing the door behind him. "Roger, dear, dear Roger. Do you not recognize the signs of a temper tantrum? My adoring wife and I have our ups and downs and she got mad because I would not allow her a new toy so she was throwing a temper tantrum much as a child might. She has been prone to these types of outbursts before and the specialist said to treat her much as you would a reactant child and not give in to their hysterics."

Roger flushed. "I see, I thought she appeared to be in extreme pain and not having a fit of hysterics. Of course I can understand a child out of control. I have experience with David, he has always been a handful." He laughed uncomfortably now realizing he had walked in on a petty family squabble and saw his wife reducing herself to a child in the throes of a temper tantrum. "My apologies Cousin Henri, had I know I would not have interfered and let you continue to ignore her actions. I hope I have not made things more difficult by my interference."

"No, no, no think nothing of it my dear Cousin Roger, as you can see we are all getting used to each other's differences. Now, if you will excuse me unless you had something you wished?" He looked expectantly at his cousin.

"Oh yes, Elizabeth sent me up to ask if you and Josephine would like to join us tonight at Lookout Pointe, we are to meet with Victoria's father and he has planned a dinner to let his children know that Victoria and Barnabas have set their date and what their parts will be in the wedding."

Henri smiled, "Anything that involves our cousin Victoria is of great importance to myself and my wife. Of course we shall be happy to join you." He bowed slightly, "Oh casual dress as last night at Q's or will it be a more formal affair?" He smiled his most charming smile watching Roger's face pucker.

"You know I did not bother to ask. I will let you know later. I believe it will be semi formal attire or as we call it business casual but I think the ladies want to dress up a bit so I might go ahead and say it will be a formal occasion." He smiled knowing his sister and niece Carolyn, who was for the first time in a while, was going to be present and would like to dress up.

Henri watched him walk down the hallway then frowning deeply he turned and walked forcefully into the room. "Well my dearest wife did I convince you of my sincerity of making sure my plans will not be interfered or altered in any way shape or form?" He glared at her cowering form as she shrank beneath the covers to peer at him over the top of the blanket she had drug up as a shield of protection against his wrath.

"Yes, Henri, I am convinced. I shall do as you have asked." Her words were said softly but in her heart she knew she would bide her time and make him pay for this punishment before this was all said and done. The only reason she had not tormented Victoria and Quentin more was her hope of being reunited with Peter.

"Ahh, yes your precious Peter, well my dear shall I the next time you decide to go against this plan of mine; that perhaps I shall expose your precious Peter to the sunlight while he sleeps in his coffin?" He smiled watching her pale and her body tremble at the thought of him destroying the man she loved.

"Now we have our priorities straight, you will change your clothing, compose yourself, and get rid of that." He nodded to the temporary alter she had designed on the desk. "And never shall I see something like that again, do I make myself clear?" He towered over the bed where she laid and glared his eyes narrowing only slightly as he watched her cower under the blankets.

Turning he left the room with a forceful pull of the door behind him. Stopping outside the room he took a breath and then closed his eyes. "Aristides meet me in the cave below Widows Hill. I have something for you to do." Taking a deep breath he thought about his future with the one elusive woman that would give him dominion over the Romano Clan, the only weak link in his chain of life, the one true fear he had whenever he was near gypsies. How could he not control Johnny Romano's restless spirit if he had control and owned his grand daughter? Smiling he moved with a lighter step towards the upstairs landing.

Hearing voices below he smiled, she was downstairs. He had been bitterly disappointed when he discovered she and Barnabas would be together for a stroll in the moonlight and the rest of the evening at the old house. Then when they had returned from dinner, a message had been left that she would be spending the night at the old house had caused him to take his ire out on Angelique. When she had tried to be loving to him in their bedchambers he had turned a cold shoulder to her and pretended to be asleep.

That must have been why she had tried to place that love spell on her and Quentin Collins. He felt his stomach tighten down as he thought about Quentin. He had missed his chance of taking Quentin's body as his own years ago. Now he had Grand Duke Henri's body and it was enough power and money to allow him to do whatever he wished to do.

The only fear he had in this life was loosing that power and being discovered. He knew he had to check on the body he had left behind at Wyndcliff. To make sure Henri's mind was trapped inside a body that was failing. If he played this correctly he would outlast the body and Henri would die in that shell he had vacated. He could send Aristides but this was something he needed done by one he had under his control.

Hearing footsteps behind him he turned and smiled. "Ahh, the lovely nurse Daphne." He reached forward to brush a strand of hair from her face and watched as his hand touched her face and her eyes glassed over.

"Hello Count Petofi, how have you been?" Her words had grown soft and held no emotion what so ever, she had become his automaton slave again. "What do you wish from me?" Again that deadpanned no emotion in her voice. He placed his arm around her shoulder and drew her close laying his lips against her ear he spoke softly.

"I wish you to go to Wyndcliff and check on the body I left in the room there. I need you to make sure that he is still unable to speak or communicate in anyway and then come back to report to me." He smiled watching her nod.

"I will go to Wyndcliff and check on your body and make sure he is still incapable of communication and then I will come back and report to you." Her eyes stared straight ahead and she waited for him to release his hold on her. He gently placed a kiss on her cheek and stepped back.

"Now off with you. My dear we shall meet again later after everyone has retired and you will tell me what you discovered." He watched her turn and walk away from him. Turning back to the door to the upstairs landing he opened the door to come face to face with Victoria. She abruptly halted with a startled look on her flushed face. He could tell she had been involved in a passionate embrace with Quentin, her face was still flushed from the encounter and she appeared to have been crying.

"Oh my please excuse me Cousin Henri, I had no idea you were there." She stepped aside to allow him to exit the private sleeping quarters area of the Collins family. He smiled charmingly and when he stepped by her he deliberately brushed up against her noticing her stiffen at the touch and step back further pressing her body to the wall.

"Oh my pardon cousin Victoria, this is tight quarters. Forgive my impertinence." He smiled noting the confusion and emotional upheaval their touching had caused her and it appeared more than the apparent enchanted encounter she must have experienced with Quentin disturbed her. Reaching up to caress her cheek he spoke softly, "You are so lovely my dear, so very lovely."

She was caught up in the intent stare of his eyes and felt him caress her cheek, but those eyes held her pinned to the wall. Closing her eyes she saw but one face and she felt only the touch of one man and that man did not have piercing blue eyes. He had dark brown eyes that were soulful and filled with tender love for her. Letting out a soft breath she spoke softly. "Barnabas." With the utterance of that name she felt the soft caress on her cheek tense only slightly then the pressure was gone and the press of that body was no longer there.

Opening her eyes she watched the back of the man she had just met in the door walk to the head of the stairs and start down them. Blinking to clear her thoughts and her mind she shook her head wondering if she had by any chance just imagined that whole brief encounter. Pushing open the door she rushed into the inner hallway and rushed down the hall to her room. She had to get a grip she was not only having erotic dreams about the man she was now imagining he was groping her in the hallway.

Arriving at her door, she shoved it open rushed into her room, and closed the door to lean against it with her shoulders and back holding it close. What was wrong with her, why was she having these experiences, first with Quentin and then with the older version of what Quentin would be in another twenty or thirty years? Walking away from her door she flung her self across the foot of her bed and propped her chin up with the palm of her hand. She was tired and her mind must be suffering from the fatigue too.

Rolling onto her back she closed her eyes and relaxed in her bed. Giving herself a few moments of time she found herself falling in to a deep and troubled sleep.