Chapter 6

Castle Dracula

The rest of the drive was made in contemplative silence. "Sir, it appears your father and the Countess Balan have caught up with us and we should be arriving together."

Petru turned and looked back at the other set of headlights. "Excellent, thank you Dragos." Dragos had lowered the window to impart the information and now he raised the window. Petru turned and smiled, "Your mother and my father are behind us and it looks like we have arrived."

Footmen dressed in down filled coats stepped down the stairs to open the door for Petru and Carolyn, they bowed to them, stepped back and as Dragos pulled off, Count Rudolph's car drove up in place and again, they opened the door and bowed.

Carolyn shifted to stand close to her mother and then hugged her. The two women exchanged looks that spoke volumes to each other. Petru gave Carolyn his arm and she held it as they mounted the steps to the front entrance of the castle, where a doorman stood awaiting their arrival. Opening the door for Petru, Carolyn, Rudolph, and Liz, the inside maids waited to take their coats.

Vlad had been coming down the stairs and smiled at them all. "Rudolph, Petru, Ladies, welcome. Please, please come in and enjoy the warmth of my castle and what joy you bring with you, please leave a little before you leave." He was all smiles and appeared to be a very happy man. Elizabeth did not like him or his forced gaiety.

Carolyn shivered looking at Vlad and she whispered, "I suppose we have him to thank for being here." She noted her mother appeared to be withdrawn and holding a cautious look to her. Elizabeth was about to make a comment when a clearing of a throat arrested their attention.

Carolyn and Liz paused as they looked up to see Maggie at the top of the stairs. Carolyn's face lit up and she rushed to greet and hug her when she arrived at the bottom of the stairs. "Maggie!" Carolyn noted Maggie's hair was dressed very much as Liz's and Carolyn's with the same color ribbon as her dress.

Maggie hugged her friend in return and spoke softly in her ear, "What is going on? Why are we here and where are we?"

Vlad having excellent hearing spoke over his shoulder, "All will be explained in good time my dear Lady Margaret, please we are all hungry and awaiting are our other guests in the dining room."

Carolyn hugged Maggie's arm and moved forward to her mother. "Mrs. Stoddard?"

She stopped to look from her to the distinguished man at her side. Rudolph looked at Maggie and bowed to her, "Lady Margaret, may I present my lovely wife the Countess Elizabeth Balan."

Maggie looked from the old man to Liz and muttered, "I must be late for the tea party."

Vlad gave an annoying sigh stepping forward to take Maggie's hand and tuck it into the bend of his arm. Speaking softly to her while he led his guests to the main dining room, he said, "Non sense my dear, you have not fallen down the rabbit hole. Now come I wish to introduce you to Nicholas Blair."

Nicholas stood from his seat and bowed to Maggie, Carolyn, Liz, Petru, and Rudolph." He smiled his charmingly wicked smile. "Charmed, I am sure. " He reached to take Maggie's hand and kissed it, then Carolyn's hand and finally Liz's hand. Vlad then turned to the strikingly beautiful blond. "And this is…"

Carolyn spoke up, "Elizabeta?"

Vlad sighed and shook his head. "No, my dear Elizabeta has not arrived but will be here before the end of the week. This is Angelique Collins, Barnabas Collins wife."

Carolyn, Maggie, and Liz turned to each other and shook their head. "That is impossible, Vicki is Barnabas' wife."

Angelique smiled tightly, "I was the first Mrs. Barnabas Collins." Liz turned to her and with the haughtiest of tones spoke down to Angelique. "Barnabas never spoke of a 'first' Mrs. Collins."

Feeling the tension Vlad clapped his hands together sounding irritated, "Enough, we will not go into this any further, suffice it to say, she was the first Mrs. Barnabas Collins. Now shall we be seated so that those of us that require food may be served?"

All three women looked anxiously at each other wondering if they were going to be on the menu. Rudolph seated Liz, Petru seated Carolyn, Vlad Seated Maggie and Nicholas seated Angelique. "Now," turning to the butler he nodded and the butler opened the door for the servants to bring in dinner.

Petru, Rudolph and Vlad drank what appeared to be blood from wine glasses and watched their human guests eat. The silence at the table was annoying Vlad so he decided it was time for his guests to be informed of his plans.

"As you are aware, my beloved wife Elizabeta will be joining us by the end of the week. I had hoped she would join us tomorrow, however due to in climate weather she will be delayed a few days." He looked annoyed but continued with his thoughts and plans for the arrival of this mysterious Elizabeta.

"Upon her arrival I am planning a wedding so she may feel more like my wife in her current memory and life. I have sent for the finest satins, silks, and brocades to have her gown and your gowns made. As this weather had turned very nasty, you all will be given rooms here tonight and first thing tomorrow, you will be measured so your gowns can be made."

Carolyn dabbed her mouth with the linen napkin and looked to Vlad, "Prince Vlad, who is Elizabeta in her current form?" It had been a question she wanted answered since Petru had informed Carolyn of his sister.

Vlad held up his hand. "All in good time Lady Carolyn, all in good time. We as royalty here in Wallachia will have a formal wedding provided over by the Council of our kind. For obvious reasons we cannot have a church wedding. However under the rules of Wallachia, it will be very legal. Now, if you will excuse us, Petru, Rudolph and I have some business to attend." He nodded to his brother in law and his father in law who also stood.

As they left the room, Carolyn looked over to Nicholas, "Well it seems you have been relegated to insignificant as we have."

Nicholas had watched the proceedings with some degree of amused interest and noted Angelique's unusual silence. Nicholas using his most charming self spoke graciously, "Dear Ladies with women as beautiful as you all are, I would hardly consider any of you as insignificant. I actually consider myself very fortunate to be in your company." Angelique rolled her eyes, crossed her arms and turned a cold shoulder to the other women. "Oh now Angelique do you not like sharing the attention with these other lovely ladies?"

Angelique refused to rise to his bait and stood meandering to a nearby window. "Oh now dear sister, do not be petulant. Surely, you cannot deny you share the stage with three very beautiful women." Angelique continued to ignore him, while she watched the snow drifting and piling up below.

Elizabeth watched Angelique's head as she tilted it to listen to the on-going conversation; however, she pretended to ignore the conversation going on around her. "So, you two are brother and sister?" Elizabeth asked trying to be cordial.

Nicholas smiled effusively and spoke in a flamboyant manner, "Yes, we are siblings and as such reserve the right to torment and taunt one and another over trivial matters." He waved his hand in an expressive manner then held his hands together and fiddled with the black stone ring on his pinky finger.

Carolyn fingered the stem of her wine glass; "I think she is upset because I said she was not Mrs. Collins, that my sister is Mrs. Collins." Elizabeth noticed how Angelique tightened her body and knew Carolyn had hit a nerve.

Elizabeth did not like the woman and to irritate her more in her superior Collins tone asked, "So, Angelique when were you and Barnabas married and where?"

Angelique smiled and turned in a sensual seductive sway to the table, folding her hands onto the tabletop, she leaned over and plucked an apple from the center fruit bowl, "Collinwood, 1796."

Carolyn snorted, and shook her head, "That would make you nearly 200 years old and our Barnabas is less than three quarters that age."

Angelique smiled and then sank her teeth into the apple. Deliberately taking her time to chew her bite of apple, she swallowed, licked the juice from her fingertips and spoke condescendingly, "He holds his age remarkably well. I assure you he is a lot older than any of you think."

Nicholas allowed his irritation to tighten his smile stepping over to stand next to Angelique wrapping his arm tightly around Angelique's shoulders, squeezing her tightly he spoke with an over effective tone, "Now, my dear, you really must not joke with the ladies like this." Turning to peer from Carolyn, to Elizabeth, to Maggie, "They actually were married in London in 1950, they divorced and Mr. Collins moved away from London."

Elizabeth lowered her gaze and turned her attention to the goblet of wine in front of her. "So, Mr. Blair, why are you and your sister here?" Her words had been selected with great care. Lifting her gaze to pin it to Nicholas and appeared to be dissecting him while she waited for his response. A part of her had grown uneasy in both Angelique and his presence. She covered her feelings of unease by lifting her goblet and taking a small sip of the excellent Boudreaux.

Nicholas glared at Angelique, clinched his teeth together, and spoke softly, "Mind your manners you don't want to disappoint Mr. Tepes or our employer." His intent was made very plainly. He gave one final squeeze of her shoulders then released her and began to play with the black stone ring on his pinky finger. Back to being cordial he shot a warning glance to Angelique, squared his shoulders. Assuming a more relaxed congeal attitude he spoke with a air of care free excitement. "We have been invited to a wedding my dear Mrs. Stoddard. It seems the Prince of Wallachia has found his bride and she will be arriving in a weeks time for her wedding."

Maggie felt Angelique's gaze on her. "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"

Nicholas stepped over in front of Maggie, "I believe she thinks you remind her of someone she once knew a long time ago, isn't that right my dear?" He turned to smile at Angelique, but his eyes told another story.

Angelique glared at Nicholas and walked away from the table leaving her half eaten apple on her plate. "Yes, Nicholas she does and it annoys me."

Nicholas saw Maggie flush from embarrassment, finding her voice Maggie retorted, "Well being here annoys me. But you don't see me picking on you. Good manners obviously were not part of your proper upbringing."

Angelique laughed a menacing light laugh, "You would not like what my proper upbringing was like my dear. Manners were never a part of them."

Carolyn sat by Maggie glaring at Angelique; she pointedly put her attention on Maggie. "Maggie, why don't you join mother and me over here and leave Mrs. Collins to herself, she appears to enjoy her own company. Mr. Blair you are more than welcome to join us in the drawing room where we will be trying to keep warm in front of the fireplace. It has decidedly grown a lot chillier in here." Carolyn had stood dragging Maggie up with her. She pointedly looked at her mother who had stood.

"Oh come ladies, my sister is just in a petulant mood because she is no longer Mrs. Collins. I would be delighted to join you ladies, perhaps my sister needs her alone time to consider her rude manners." The tone of his voice sounded like a threat when he accented certain words.

Angelique huffed and stiffened listening to the tone of Nicholas' voice. He stepped over to her and spoke softly, "YOU do NOT want to upset Vlad, so I would suggest you get along with these women while they are guests in his house. Otherwise you may find yourself where you do not wish to be. DO, I make myself clear?" He added a stiff smile, then turned without waiting for her response and walked with the other ladies to the drawing room.

Castle Dracula

Vlad's Library

Vlad, Rudolph, and Petru sat in Vlad's den. Rudolph and Petru listened to Vlad's conversation while he was on the phone, "Hello, my darling how was your day?"

Vicki's voice was soft and controlled and somewhat distant, "It was fine thank you."

He looked at Rudolph and laughed, "Good, I will be sending someone to collect you on Thursday. I understood there is some nasty weather that would make it impossible for you to join me sooner, so you have a little more time to be with your precious Barnabas."

It really galled him to think of her with him. He had to contend with the fact that she would be joining him soon enough, "Now I further understand that your father wanted to take you away and hide you from me. You did very well in talking him out of doing such a silly thing."

Vicki had begun to tune him out. She wanted to think of the hours, moments, seconds that she had left with Barnabas and she certainly did not want to waste them listening to this mad man. At that moment the only thing Vicki could think was she only had 3 more days with Barnabas and she did not want to miss out on one moment with him.

Vlad's voice was demanding, "Elizabeta? Are you there my dear?"

Again, Vicki sighed and spoke softly, "I am here."

Vlad smiled and leaned back in his chair, "Good, you do understand what you will need to do this Thursday?" He smiled at Rudolph and Petru.

Vicki took her time before responding to him. "Yes, I understand." She was growing more afraid that someone might pick up the extension and would hear her conversation.

"Good, your mother, sister and friend are well and look forward to seeing you soon. Now before I hang up you tell me what is expected of you this Thursday."

Vicki clutched the phone so tightly she felt she was going to be sick. "Yes, I am to wait in my room until Radu comes to take me to you."

Vlad frowned he did not like the tone of her voice. "My dear, I have your mother here with me, your sister, and your best friend, I would think you would be a bit more jubilant upon hearing you will be reunited with them."

Vicki forced herself to sound more upbeat but the words were strained as she spoke, "Yes, I am excited. Is there anything else?"

Vlad frowned, "I understand you were injured and you may not be feeling well my dear, but rest assured that when you get here, I will expect you to be more than excited about what plans I have for us." Vlad could hear voices calling to her from a distance. "I see others are trying to get your attention. I will see you soon my darling."

Vlad put the phone in its cradle and leaned back. "I think she is not very happy about our impending nuptials. Oh well she will get used to it."

Rudolph sighed deeply, "I fear the mother is the same. She is moody and borderline polite and contemptuous, which makes me desire her all the more."

Rudolph chuckled, his son Petru shook his head, "Well then, Poppa you should put her under your control. When Carolyn gets moody, I bite her and she is all loving and as pliable as I want."

Rudolph reached for one of Vlad's cigars and snipped the end then lit the cigar and took a long draw from its burning leaves. "I do not want her pliable. I want her malleable and devoted to me and ready to join me for an eternity."

Petru shrugged, "I find the Lady Margaret very lovely too. Have you made a decision about the Lady Margaret Vlad?" Vlad stood and walked to the window and watched the snow falling. "I will give her to Radu, he can do with her as he sees fit. How goes the wedding plans?" He turned to look at the two men who both smiled knowingly, "All is going well, we hope the weather will clear enough so we can enjoy a pleasant evening without our bride succumbing to a chill and dying from it."

Petru was being flippant and it was beginning to annoy Vlad, "I will have the roads heated and the arboretum ready for the carriage drive and arrival here to the castle for our wedding reception." Vlad glanced at the clock and then back at his guests. "My problem I fear will come from the witch." Again, Petru was smiling as he thought about the beautiful Angelique. "Yes, she is most delectable."

Vlad stood, "And destined to be sent back to Diablos upon completion of her assignment to me. That is why the brother is here. His job is to keep her under control. Apparently, she has issues with Collins and imagines herself in love with him still."

Petru snorted, "How droll, I would think a lady of such talents and charm along with her beauty would find another more appealing than Collins."

Vlad continued to stand in front of the widow watching the snow fall he said thoughtfully, "There is no accounting for tastes, she apparently fell in love with him while in Martinique, and when her mistress, which by the way, looks just like Lady Margaret, became engaged to him, she used her sorcery to bring him to her and forced him into a marriage."

Vlad took a pause and looked thoughtful as he continued to explain the complicated relationship of Barnabas and Angelique. "Later when he found out she made his sister sick and then threatened to harm her, he shot her and she cursed him to the life of the undead. His father then chained him in his coffin for 175 years when his servant Mr. Loomis released him."

He grew somewhat angry as the spoke of Julia. "Now, thanks to the estimable Dr. Hoffman-Stokes, he is human again and she is furious and wishes him to be cursed as an undead and all that he loves die too. As I cannot permit her to destroy Elizabeta, she must be controlled. Her biggest desire is to have Barnabas watch as she dies. I will not allow that. I would rather kill the witch now than allow one hair on my love's head be harmed." Vlad walked back to his chair and sat.

Petru got up and poured a glass of blood from a wine bottle and sat down. "So, what makes you think she wishes Elizabeta to die? If she comes here to live with us, she is no problem for the witch surely she knows this."

Vlad stood and frowned and it was a chilling sight to those that knew him, "After Collins was released from his coffin, he went in search of a replacement for his beloved Josette, he found Lady Margaret and tried to make her over in the image of Josette Collins. When he was unsuccessful, he thought to do the same to Elizabeta, I think some where within his plans to make her into his Josette; he actually fell in love with Elizabeta. However, because there were so many unexplained supernatural occurrences going on at Collinwood, the Collins decided to have a séance."

Vlad became thoughtful recalling the intelligence report he had received concerning his Elizabeta. "During this séance, Elizabeta was transported back in time, where she witnessed all the events of that time. My poor Elizabeta was tried as a witch and hanged. Angelique made it appear Elizabeta was the one doing the witchcraft at Collinwood. When she was hanged she traded places with the original governess by the name of Phyllis Wick. It is my understanding she still holds some resentment for Elizabeta and it would not be beneath her to see that she were killed or harmed."

Rudolph listened to the recounting of Vicki's past and wondered if they all could go back could they change time and events. Would it be possible to stop Elizabeta from jumping from the battlements of the castle, would he be able to save his wife? He also wondered at this ability to change from a vampire back to human. How did they do it? He was witnessed to what happened to Vlad when they changed him back into human form and he died. How were they able to prevent that from happening to Collins? He lost himself in thought as he pondered the prospects.

A soft knock on the door alerted them to the arrival of the doorman, "M'lord, the roads are becoming inhabitable. Would you like me to prepare rooms for our guests?"

Vlad nodded, "That would be a good idea, The Count Balan will stay in his usual room and so will Petru, the Ladies need rooms prepared, you will have Mrs. Funar make the rooms ready."

"Vey well milord." He bowed and turned leaving the room.

Vlad smiled and spoke jovially, "The time has come for us to rejoin our ladies. Shall we gentlemen?" He stood from his chair and walked to the door pausing he smiled, "Soon, our family will be complete."

Collinwood Old House

Vicki hung up the phone and stood, she felt her stomach churn and thought she would be sick, so sick she thought she might actually throw up. Reaching for the table she ran her fingertips along the edge of the table, the fine redwood having been polished to a pristine sheen, she could feel the blemishes of the wood at her fingertips. Every pit, every divot, every miss shaved to hone it to the condition it now stood. Making her way around the room, she looked at the wallpaper, the woodwork with the fine carvings of the cornices. Just being here feeling these pieces she shared with Barnabas made her involuntarily smile. This is what made her happy. She tried desperately to commit every single detail to memory. The sun streamed through the windows and bathed the room in an after glow of filtered sunlight. Soon, the clouds would cover the sun and once again the soft warm glow diminished to a greyish cast reflecting her mood.

Fighting back tears she sighed and walked to the sound of her husband and father calling to her. Opening the door, she took a moment to commit their features to memory, chewing on her top lip; she stepped out and stood looking at them from the open doorway "Yes?"

Barnabas stepped forward and noted how her face appeared to be pinched and drawn. "Darling? Who was on the phone?"

She swallowed and thought a moment, schooling her features she had to lie again and she knew she was no good at lying. Taking a deep mental breath, she forced a light smile to her lips; looked at Barnabas and said "It was Mrs. Landry from Porters Store, she wanted to let me know that the Silver service set I ordered before our honeymoon had finally come in and she was going to have it delivered." It wasn't a lie per se, she had called on the service earlier and it was going to be delivered.

He smiled, putting his arm around her waist he led her to the drawing room where her father sat in front of the fire. He was very worried about her and his beloved Liz. He looked up and smiled at Vicki, "Hello sweetheart. How are you holding up through all this?"

Vicki let Barnabas lead her to the chair seating her before the fire. "It is hard Dad, I miss mother and Carolyn." His crestfallen look made it known he was missing her mother too. "I know Dad, you will get her back. I have faith in you." He smiled at her and she knew he was worried he would not get her back. "Look Dad, together as a family there is nothing we can't do as long as we do it together."

He smiled at her and looked at Barnabas, "Hey did you know my kid was a pretty smart girl? "

Barnabas nodded, "I have always cherished her intelligence and her beauty."

George stood up and stretched, "Well I need to go into town and see what is going on. Vicki, you married a smart man too." He bent over to give her a big bear hug and then walked to the front door. Pausing he turned to look at Barnabas, "That is my baby girl, please keep her safe." Barnabas smiled and escorted him to the door, where the conversation between the two men became mere mutterings to Vicki's ear. Rising she moved to the kitchen and up the rear staircase to their bedroom.

After seeing George out, Barnabas lifted his gaze to the second floor and could almost imagine her laying in their bed waiting for him to join her. Mounting the steps, he walked to the door of their bedroom, opened the door and looked at her on the bed. "Darling?" He walked to the bed and sat on the side of the bed.

Vicki sat up wrapping her arms around his neck. "My love, make love to me. Hold me and make love to me. I want this night to last forever!" She pressed into him and kissed him deeply and surprised the the same passion being returned when he gently laid her back on the pillows and laid on top of her.

"All night making love to you is the only thing on my mind at this time my dearest love."