Chapter 4

1969

Collinwood, Family's Private Sleeping Areas

David's Bedroom

Vicki watched David disappear into his room with a look of utter frustration. Wondering about his curious actions, she followed him down the hallway, smoothing her hair and straightening her clothing. Opening his door she stepped in and saw him bent over his table with tears of frustration filling him. "David?" She stood next to him and gently brushed his hair from his face and wiped the tears from his eyes with her thumbs. "What is wrong?" He looked up and wanted to shout she was in danger by what he knew to be an eldritch being and there was nothing he could do to tell her of his fears.

"You can tell me anything David, you know I will believe you and support you? Is it because I am marrying Barnabas?" He opened his mouth to speak and the feeling fell over him, his mouth opened and closed like a guppy out of water, his eyes wide and filling with tears of frustration. "David what is wrong?" Her voice stressed seeing him struggle to speak but nothing coming out.

Drawing him into her arms and holding him close to her chest she held his trembling body close to hers and spoke softly. "Relax David, perhaps if you relax you will be able to say what you want to say."

"He can't tell you any more than I can tell you because someone has placed a spell over him and the rest of us that would want to protect you. If we try to tell you, we are punished by being teleported to another place or are struck silent." Sarah spoke from the shadows and stood poised in the center of the room. David broke from Vicki's hold and nodded his head agreeing with what Sarah said, and as she even said that little bit her tiny form suddenly disappeared and was gone.

"See, Vicki that is why I can't say anything if I try or even try to write it down, I will find I can't think of what I need to write! You gotta help us and figure it out with the clues that Josette and Sarah leave before they are sent away for good!" David threw his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly. "I love you Vicki and I don't want you to go away or die!"

This sounded far more serious than anything she had encountered so far and her charge, her cousin was under attack. Holding him she spoke softly soothing his fears. "David, I promise you that I will find out and will follow the clues, and I need you, Sarah, and Josette to just be observers this time around and allow me to figure this out so you are not placed in harms way. Agreed?" She pushed his forehead back brushing the hair from his eyes. Peering down into those troubled filled brown eyes she smiled.

He nodded and finally with one last exhaled breath of frustration he relaxed into her hold. "I love you Vicki, I don't want this person to hurt you or maybe kill you!" He had buried his face into the comfort of her breasts and sighed. This was the one place that he had always felt safe and secure, pressed into her or his Aunt Elizabeth's breasts. Where he had always viewed Carolyn as possibly a sister he was attracted to Vicki as a mother figure and his Aunt as a Grandmother figure. He wanted to hold onto those feelings because it always seemed someone took them away from him.

"Now, finish getting dressed, I see your Aunt laid out your best blue suit. I need to go see what she wants with me." She bent kissed his forehead. Smiling she said softly, "I love you too David." She got one quicker hug. Vicki paused briefly to watch him turn to his bed he waited for her to leave his room.

Turning she walked to his door paused and turned to look over her shoulder, "It's Cousin Henri and his wife that are the problem isn't it?' She did not know what had caused her to say it but there it was and she watched him stiffen and knew he or his wife was behind this assault on David. Smiling she had resolved a part of the puzzle. She just had to figure out how they were involved and why. A part of her knew that dream she had earlier must have been something that had been given to her in her sleep by Josette.

Walking down the hallway she paused outside her mother's door. "Mother?" She called softly and heard the excited voice of her mother answer her."Come in Vicki." She sounded so excited and pleased that it forced a smile to her lips as she opened the door to come up short to see a pile of designer labeled boxes lying on her mother's bed. "Oh Darling, I am so glad you are here. I had a chance to go through your wardrobe and discovered that it was sadly lacking for formal wear. So, your Uncle Roger and I went shopping today. I finally get a chance to spoil you and Carolyn needs some maternity formal wear so . . . " she turned and with a dramatic flourish of her hand she stood back and indicated the bed's bounty.

Vicki was overwhelmed there were at least six dress boxes stacked on the bed, with shoe boxes and some bags containing she was sure the under garments that would be needed to accent the dress. "I know that Barnabas told me to not buy you any jewelry he plans to cover you with some of the family's heirloom jewels that were taken with his family to London when the original Barnabas moved there."

Vicki was frozen to the spot until her mother stepped next to her and wrapped an arm around her waist and led her to the bed. "Come on tell me what you think?" She stepped back and waited for Vicki to open the boxes. "There are five gowns, one in black chiffon, one in peach organza, one in mint green silk, I particularly liked the silk navy blue one trimmed in duponi lace and last but not least for your engagement party we will host here in the west wing's ballroom or at Barnabas Ballroom is a white satin trimmed in mother of pearl and pale pink satin ribbons." She clapped her hands together her eyes lighting up.

"For tonight darling would you wear the black chiffon for your dinner with your father and half sister and brothers? I just want to see you in that dress and I think you would look very elegant and well personally after that nasty Josephine was so condescending I wanted to make sure we made a proper and good impression on the visiting relatives." Vicki had to hold a slight chuckle back hearing her mother was not impressed with the overly full of her self their cousin Josephine.

"Yes, I think your sentiments about Cousin Josephine were reflected in Barnabas. I think he was less impressed than you mother." Vicki had uncovered the boxes and the dresses were all very lovely and delicate looking and would compliment her coloring. She fingered the fine satin gown that would be hers for her engagement party that had been in the planning stage for a week. Lifting the lids to the shoes she was impressed with the array and color of the low-heeled pumps to match the dresses.

Elizabeth stepped to the other side of the bed and lifted the bag and began pulling the contents on the bed and began to organize them. Lifting up strapless bras, she lined them up with each dress for each box. Then she followed with full length split half-slips, and several nylon packages along with lace trimmed panties. "I hope I bought enough delicates for you dear." She smiled seeing the look of delight and excitement on Vicki's face.

Turning to the chair near her bed, she lifted up one more bag. "I also took the opportunity to buy you evening bags to go with each dress. They match the shoes." She laid the small flat looking boxes on the bed, and opened the tops to reveal black beaded and sequined cover clutches. A golden sequined covered purse, silver sequined covered purse, a white pearl covered clutch and a delicate blue satin clutch that would match the navy blue sheath style dress.

Vicki felt a prick of tears fill her eyes and she turned to rush to her mother and embrace her. "Thank you mother, thank you for all of this. I feel I cannot take them it almost seems to be too much!" Liz was overwhelmed with a rush of emotions just as receiving these items from her mother had thrilled Vicki. "I sometimes feel it will all be just a dream and when I awaken, I will find out that was just that and only my hopes of finding out who my mother was."

Elizabeth felt guilty when Vicki spoke of not believing she had finally fond the missing information to her life and birth and somehow it had become surreal to her. "I wanted so much to bring you home darling. I wanted you where you belonged which was here in Collinwood with your family. Now we have you here and you are going to get married and leave us?" There was a bittersweet tone to her voice.

"I won't be that far mother. Neither will Carolyn when she marries, She will be moving just a mile and a half from here. We all will be in such a short distance and can be here in a matter of minutes." She leaned forward and placed a light sweet kiss on her mother's forehead. "I love you mother and just think I shall be at the Old House within walking distance." Elizabeth's eyes had begun to tear-up; she hugged her daughter close.

"Which means so much to me. Now shall I help you take these to your room and allow you to get ready for later? Oh and I did arrange for Claudette to come by later, she is going to bring her staff to arrange our hair, I also hired a lady's maid for Cousin Josephine, to placate Mrs. Johnson, and a man's servant for Cousin Henri. You should go on and get your bath and when Claudette gets here, I will send her to your room to fix your hair."

Elizabeth kissed her daughter's forehead and watched her lift three of the boxes, which they had condenses all the other items into the dress boxes. Elizabeth lifted three and followed her out of her room and down the hallway to Vicki's room. "You know the night you came here and I brought you to this room, secretly I had hoped you would sense you were where you belonged. It only seemed fitting that I put you in the room, that I had when growing up here to share something that was mine with you even if it was in secret." Liz followed Vicki into the bedroom then gently placed her three boxes on the bed while Vicki took her boxes to the chair by her wardrobe.

"I think inside it seemed overwhelming and rather frightening but I was excited and I felt an affinity to this house, to you and this room was so special. I had never had my own room at the foundling home so getting this room was like Christmas in July." She smiled, turned and opened the doors to her closet. Pulling out the satin covered hangers she began to unpack the dresses and hang them in the closet. Her hand gently gliding down each dress as she hung . Placing the matching shoes in the boxes on the floor of the wardrobe she smiled. Then placing the evening clutches on the top shelf she paused to turn and accept a dress Liz had unpacked and placed on a hanger.

"I will leave you to your bath and putting up your things and will send Claudette to your room. I do think she intends to dress Carolyn's hair first. Her assistant is going to do Daphne's, I think Beth is coming over to dress too and that young man that calls you mother his girlfriend Eve will be there tonight. Julia and Eric will join us at the restaurant." Vicki paused putting up her delicates turned to peer at her mother.

"Just how many are going to be there tonight?" she had originally thought it would be just the immediate family. Now it sounded as if the whole of Collinsport would be there. She was not unhappy with the thought. However she did want to know who all was going to be present.

Liz paused in the doorway and thought a moment. "Well, there will be," she began to count them off on her fingers. "Your father, his three children, Roger and David, Carolyn and Greg." She paused a moment and smiled. "Willie and Beth, Eric and Julia, Elliott, Hallie, Adam and his friend Eve. Quentin, Daphne, and I believe Maggie and Joe, Sarah Johnson of course and Cousin Henri, his wife Josephine will be there and Barnabas, you and me. I believe that is twenty-six total. I think that about does it."

Vicki flushed and then chuckled, "My goodness are they going to be accommodate a party that large?' She was thinking about Lookout Pointe and knew that it had a large dining room with a dance floor and an upstairs banquet room.

"Yes, we reserved the banquet hall for tonight and later if you wish to dance to the music they have a wide mezzanine that also opens to a back deck that can accommodate dancers form the banquet hall and as we will have a full moon tonight, I figure that it will be very romantic and very lovely. " She smiled watching her daughter go dreamy eyed thinking of dancing with Barnabas under the moonlight.

Liz stepped out of her room and closed the door behind her. For the first time in a very long time she finally felt complete and happy that she had made her daughter happy. She was complete and she dared anything to stop this feeling or interfere with her daughter's happiness. Walking down the hallway she paused at the top of the stairs and looked down the hallway to the sleeping quarters of her guests.

Smiling she knew she had hired one of the best lady's maid in Collinsport and had hired the gentleman's servant from Bangor. Taking a prideful deep breath she let out a pleased sigh. Turning she walked to the top landing of the stairs and opened the door stepping through she peered below to the foyer and saw Cousin Henri standing in front of the portrait of the original Barnabas Collins.

"Remarkable isn't it? How much he looks like the original Barnabas down to the cane and the ring?" Elizabeth glided her hand on the bannister and walked down the stairs to stand next to the distinguished man at her side and peered into the eyes of the portrait they both studied.

"Yes, I was just thinking that the Collins bloodline was very persistent in producing the same type of Collins over and over." He turned and gave Elizabeth a half bow. "Just as you look so much like Naomi and dear sweet Carolyn my own Grandmother, Millicent. " He reached for Elizabeth's hand and tucked it in the crook of his arm and guided her to the drawing room. "I wanted to personally thank you for getting my wife a maid and a manservant for me. You do know that was not at all necessary."

Elizabeth fell into step next to him and spoke softly, "But I felt it was necessary to see to the comfort of my guests and your wife I am sure has more than one lady's maid in your own country." She took her hand from his arm and walked to the fireplace and sat on the seat in front of the cheerfully burning fire. She saw him color and bow his head.

"You have made your point, now do tell me the occasion for tonight's celebration?"

Wyndcliff Sanitarium

Julia sat by the bed of the old man that had paid for his room and board and the right to have access to this private wing for the rest of his natural life. She could not understand why he after a visit from some dignitary fell into a comatose state and appearing to be unresponsive. Bending over his body, she lifted his eyelid and noted that his pupils were equal and reactive to the light. "Mr. Van Gibbon can you hear me?" She leaned down over his face and got close to his ear.

With a sudden convulsive move, which startled Julia his hand reached out and grabbed Julia's wrist, his mouth began to move and she watched his lips as they moved. She read his lips and determined that he was saying over and over "Help me escape here, he is going to kill me!"

Julia frowned, "Who?" His eyes were wide and fixed and he mouthed on word over and over. "Petofi", Julia recognized the name from books she had read in Elliott's study. Hearing a noise at the door she turned to see Daphne poised in the doorframe. From what Julia observed, Daphne appeared to be in a trance; her eyes fixed and staring straight a head. She entered the room walking to the bed of the old man whom had specifically requested her to be his nurse. Julia started to call Daphne's name. However, she decided to wait and observe what was happening.

Stepping away from the bed; taking up her position in the corner, and she waited watching to see what Daphne would do. It appeared that Daphne was not aware she was in the room. Daphne walked to the bedside of the old man, looked down at the man that laid quietly appearing to be comatose but his lips were still moving. Reaching into her jacket pocket, Daphne pulled out a syringe and lifted it, just as she was about to plunge the syringe into his vein, Julia knocked the needle from her hand, turned her and began to shake her violently calling to her. "DAPHNE! WAKE UP!"

She watched horrified Daphne's eyes flutter and she collapsed to the floor. Julia followed her down to the floor catching her head before it hit the floor. Reaching for the call button Julia waited for the orderly and the charge nurse on duty to answer her call. They walked into the room and seeing Julia holding Daphne in her arms and the man on the bed moving his lips they rushed to Julia's side. "Dr. Hoffman what happened?"

Julia had been quick enough to hide the syringe. "I am not sure, she came into the room and just passed out. Is this not her private pay patient?" Bill Thomas the male orderly nodded his head and Janet Freeman the jealous nurse snorted and nodded.

"Yes, she has been paid privately to hold his hand." Julia nodded and looked to Bill. "I want you to do two things for me Bill. First take Daphne to my office and put her on my sofa. Leave her there she is breathing fine and just seems to be exhausted from all the duties she has been forced to perform at Collinwood, I am sure after a little sleep she will be fine. Janet, I want this man transferred from this wing to the south wing and placed under a different name."

Janet looked at the head of the clinic as if she had lost her mind. "He has paid to have this private wing until his death!" This statement illicited a frown from Julia. She did not appreciate Janet's attitude.

"I am aware of that, just do as I say and allow me to take any repercussions for what might happen. I want him placed in the South Wing, you will call them and tell them to put him on a ward, under the name of Marvin Jones. Do you think you can do that and keep your mouth shut? I really think this man is in danger."

Bill had lifted Daphne and turned to look at Doctor Hoffman; "If she can't I can and I can assure you that Nurse Freeman needs this job so she can too." He gave Janet a firm and cold look daring her to say otherwise. Janet tucked her chin, flushed deeply and then sighed.

"Yes, of course I can Dr. Hoffman. I do need this job and if you really think he is in danger of course I will be happy to see him properly protected." Janet had adjusted her jealous attitude and had to weigh her jealousy against the possibility of loosing the well paid job. Janet stood from where she had gone to her knees to check Daphne and followed Bill out of the door. Julia retrieved the needle walked to the man lying on the bed and squeezed his shoulder.

"I don't know what is going on Mr. Van Gibbon but I promise you that while you are under my roof here at Wyndcliff you will have nothing to fear from anyone including Petofi. You rest easy and I will be back later to check on you."

Collinwood foyer

Vicki stood poised on the top step in the long flowing gown in black, her feet encased in the silver colored shoes, the dress empire waist and long skirt wafted around her body with any slight movement she made. Her hair had been elegantly dressed in curls that lay delicately around her shoulder and draped down her back. In her hand she held the silver sequined clutch and she smiled looking down at Barnabas who had turned and paused seeing how beautiful she looked in her black gown with an empire waist.

He stepped to the bottom step looked up at her and smiled, his eyes shining with admiration and love. "My darling Victoria you are beautiful! Come, I have a gift that will accent that dress perfectly." He held his hand up to entreat her to join him. He was dressed in black tie and tails and waited anxiously below for her to join him. With each step she stood she appeared to glide down the stairs to stand on the bottom step pausing smiled for her fiancé .

"I take it you approved?" She said in a hushed excited whisper. He had turned to lift a jewelers box from the center table and smiled.

"I will approve once I place Naomi's necklace around your throat to accent that dress." He lifted the heavy ornate necklace of diamonds and sapphires form the box and turned holding it up. "Come my dear allow me to dress you as befitting a future wife of a Collins."

Vicki stepped in front of him the pivoted on her the balls of her feet. He lifted the necklace and brought it down over her head to place it around her neck and snap the lock into place. Turning her around he smiled; the shine of the jewels lit up the color of her eyes and accented the black dress to perfection. "Come allow me to show you how beautifully enhanced you have become with this simple ornamental piece." He whispered softly in her ears.

Escorting her to the mirror hanging in the vestibule he turned her to see the necklace laying like it had always belonged on her neck. Vicki caught her breath she had seen Naomi wear this necklace one other time and knew Barnabas had loaned it to Elizabeth the night of the ball. The light caught the necklace and reflected a myriad of colorful lights over her and the room. She smiled. "I feel I should not wear this what is someone tries to take it or steal it or I loose it?"

Barnabas turned her around and gathered her close to his chest and whispered softly, "Then I will replace it." He lifted her chin tipping it up to capture her lips and plant a passionate deep kiss on her causing her to lift her arms and place them around his neck and return the passion of the kiss.

Cousin Henri stood in the open doorway of the drawing room and curled his hand into a tight fist, his face clouded over and for a moment the anger and hatred was there for anyone to see if they chose to look. He was, he found jealous and the more he covetedly thought about the way Barnabas held her the angrier he got. Turning away from the intimate moment between the two he walked with a ridged back to the fireplace and laid his hand on the mantle. "You are going to die a slow torturous death Barnabas Collins you will not take what is mine to control!" He muttered these words under his breath. "You will pay for taking her from me long ago. Time did not change as much as you thought. All memories were not lost by that little flux of time."