Chapter 14

Castle Dracula

Romania

Vicki felt sick; she thought she was about to throw up. Pressing her hand to her forehead she rolled over suppressing a moan. Slowly she sat up and discovered she was in a huge bedroom with a roaring fire in a large fireplace. Stumbling from her bed, she looked down seeing she was dressed in a pale blue nightgown. Rushing towards a room she hoped was a bathroom, she made it to the toilet to dry heave into the toilet bowl. She hung her head waiting for the next wave to hit, and it did sending her once again heaving into the bowl. Moaning she pressed her head to the cool porcelain then felt caring hands lift her and bath the back of her neck with a cool cloth, "Easy darling, you are going to be all right. It's the nasty drug they gave you to get you into the country."

Vicki knew that voice relishing in its sound she rested her head against the comforting arms that held her. "Mother, are you all right? Carolyn? Maggie?"

She tried to lift her head and once again felt her stomach lurch and she hugged the toilet bowl. "We are all fine my poor little dear. Carolyn and Maggie are in your bedroom waiting for us to come in. We will go see them once you are feeling better."

Vicki pushed herself up and staggered to the sink, washing her face, she rinsed her mouth. "So I take it we are in Romania?"

She looked up at her mother in the mirror and saw her concern written over her features. "Yes, we are guests of Vlad Tepes." Vicki used the plush towel to dry her face then turned to properly look at her mother.

Liz opened her arms and Vicki rushed to hug her. "Oh Mother I am so sorry this has happened. I would never have put you, Carolyn, or Maggie in any danger. The last time it was just me he wanted. I have no idea of what he plans by bringing you all here."

Liz held her daughter and comforted her with soft soothing tones, "Darling, we will find a way out of this together. Remember darling you and I are one hundred percent Collins and we endure. Now are you ready to see your sister and your friend?"

Vicki felt the burn of tears as she pulled away from her mother, wiped them from her eyes and nodded. "Yes, I am I have missed them very much."

Vicki with her arm wrapped around her mother's waist and her mother with her arm wrapped around Vicki's waist walked to the bedroom. Standing by the fireplace was Carolyn and Maggie. Vicki broke free and rushed to hug Carolyn and Maggie, tears of joy spilling down her cheeks. "Carolyn! Maggie! You both are not hurt!" They laughed and returned her hug, both wishing to ask a thousand questions and enjoy what little time they could have together the four women moved to sit by the fireplace.

Carolyn holding tight to Vicki began to give her an accounting of what had happened to them up to how they were now stuck in this castle due to the heavy snowfall with a detestable woman named Angelique. "She is detestable and I hate her!"

Vicki pulled away from her looking into her eyes. "Did you say Angelique is here? What does she look like?" Vicki's brow furrowed. She looked worried and if Carolyn was not mistaken Vicki looked afraid of this woman.

"Blond, blue eyes, haughty high brow and would you believe she claims to be Barnabas wife!" Carolyn laughed uncomfortably at the thought. Vicki stood and paced to the window overlooking the Burgos Pass below. She felt her world collapsing around her.

"Then it is true, she is here and claiming to be Barnabas wife." She just repeated what Carolyn had said, which brought Carolyn and Maggie to her side.

"Vicki, not your Barnabas. She is claiming to be the ancestor of your Barnabas' wife. Which don't ask me how she can make a claim like that, she would have to be nearly 200 years old and she does not look a day over 25."

Vicki turned to Carolyn; "She is claiming to be his wife because she is his wife, the one that he killed almost 200 years ago, however she cannot die because she is a witch."

Carolyn hugged her sister, "Darling you are suffering from jet lag. You need to lie back down and rest until we are put through our paces for supper. They make us dress in these gowns and sit in a large dining room in the company of that insufferable woman her brother and Vlad talking endlessly about the arrival of his bride."

Liz chastised her daughter, "Carolyn, have you forgotten? Vicki is his bride and now she is here. Which means he plans to go forward with whatever plans he has been making."

A rapid knock on the door brought all four women to turn and watch the door expectantly, "Come." Vicki said with authority she did not feel.

A small dark haired maid entered the room curtsied and said softly, "My lord Radu wishes an audience with the Princess."

Vicki put on her housecoat then turned smoothing back her hair she nodded, "He may enter." Her voice held a quiver to it as she spoke and she unconsciously squared her shoulders and fixed her gaze to the door.

Radu not waiting for the maid pushed into the room and bowed formally to the women in the room. "My Lady Margaret, my lady Carolyn, My Lady Elizabeth, if you would be so kind as to allow me a moment alone with the Princess."

Carolyn, Liz, and Maggie formed a protective line in front of Vicki. "And you are?"

Radu smiled, he knew he looked imposing in his uniform that is why he wore it for his first introduction. He gave the all-knowing look and then put his gaze on Vicki awaiting her acknowledgement. Vicki stepped between Liz and Carolyn facing Radu. Cinching her housecoat Vicki looked to Radu and spoke with only a mild quiver in her voice. "It's all right I will join you in the hallway.'

Radu smiled then bowed extending his hand to the open door. Vicki stepped past him into the wide expanse of the hallway.

Radu pulled the door closed and locked it. Radu then shifted to place his body at her side he extended his arm and she lightly laid her fingertips on his forearm. "I see you weathered your trip well enough." Vicki was silent while they walked down the hallway. "No ill effects?" He inquired trying to illicit a response.

"Yes, I was ill. Now may I ask what you want from me?"

He stopped and turned to face her. "To see that you are well and comfortable in your new quarters. To go over a few home rules while you are in the winter castle." Vicki crossed her arms over her chest and waited looking down to avoid his gaze. "While here, you will keep to your rooms during the daylight hours, if you wish to leave the castle, you will be accompanied by me. If you wish to visit your mother when she is away, I will accompany you. When you are not with the Prince, you will be in your room or in my company. Is that understood?" Vicki did not reply immediately, which made Radu reach out and cup her chin raising it so he could look directly into her gaze. "Do you understand?"

Vicki nodded turning to head back to her room breaking his hold on her. "I am tired, I understand we will be dining in the great dining room tonight."

Radu joined her at the door, opened it and stepped aside to let her in. "Yes, Prince Vlad will come for you and escort you to dinner, and as for Lady Margaret I shall be her escort."

Vicki paused and looked at him with curiosity, "Lady Margaret?"

Maggie stepped forward, "Yes, that would be my new name here."

Vicki rolled her eyes. "I see, well Lady Margaret, this is Radu, my jailer and apparently your escort." The sarcasm was not lost on either one of them when Vicki spoke with a derisive snort.

Maggie looked at Radu and felt a shiver run up her spine. "Charmed I am sure." Maggie spoke softly she turned to stand in front of the fireplace to warm the chill from her body.

Radu smiled then turned to Vicki, "Until later my dear Princess, rest well you will need it to get through the dinner party tonight. I fear you will be facing an old enemy at the dining room table." He bowed and left the room, securing the door behind him.

Vicki gave a low growl and turned to fling herself across the bed, "I detest that man with every fiber of my being. He is odious and makes my skin crawl."

Carolyn walked to her sister's side plopped down on the bed and began to rub her back. "He did not seem so bad. I kind of thought he was cute."

Vicki turned to look at Carolyn. "This place had gotten to you. That man was the reason I ended up in the hospital on Thanksgiving. He has been tormenting me since each one of you disappeared. He also has a habit of taking liberties."

Carolyn looked at Vicki, "Such as?" Vicki rolled to her back and stared at the canopy. "He steals kisses."

Carolyn laughed, "Is that all? I thought he was trying to seduce you. "

Vicki was aghast, "Carolyn!"

Which caused Carolyn to erupt in laughter, "Oh my goodness Vicki, you should see your face!"

Liz sat on the bed with her daughters, "Now Carolyn don't tease your sister. We all need to discuss this situation and how we are going to extricate ourselves from it. Maggie, come join us."

Vicki closed her eyes, she was tired and not from the drugs she had been given. She was feeling adrift in a sea of insanity. Her whole life was spinning out of control and she missed Barnabas. Closing her eyes she let the others talk as she felt herself drifting in and out of consciousness. Finally, it was quiet so quiet she just gave in to her exhaustion.

Maggie and Carolyn looked at Liz, "I guess we need to let her sleep, she is going to have a lot on her plate tonight."

Liz went to the door and knocked, the door opened and the maid from earlier curtsied to her, "We are ready to go back to our rooms." She nodded and waited for them to join her in the hallway.

Carolyn then noted Radu was posted outside Vicki's door. He smiled at her and gave her a mocking bow as she walked down the hallway. "I guess I can see what Vicki means. He is cute but creepy."

Maggie glanced over her shoulder to look at Radu. "He is kind of evil looking. He gives me the creeps when I look into his eyes. I feel like he is undressing us with his eyes and we are more like a steak dinner to him."

Carolyn broke into laughter, "Maggie, that is silly, come on lets go rest before we have to avail ourselves to the night of living hell that is dinner."

Maggie hooked her arm through Carolyn's; glancing back at Radu, he gave a smirk and winked at her. "Creepy is an understatement. I think he is mocking all of us and views us as beneath him."

Maggie heard him chuckle at her statement. "Oh my God he can hear us all the way down here, what the hell is he?"

Carolyn looked at Maggie, "Supernatural I am sure like everyone else in this place is."

Victoria's bedroom Castle Dracula

Vicki heard a light knock at the door and called, "Come." The door opened and her handmaid stepped aside to allow Vlad into the room.

"Ahh my darling Elizabeta! You look radiant my dear. I am so glad you have returned to me."

Vicki sighed and turned her back on him. "I suppose it would do no good to remind you I am not Elizabeta and I now belong to another man."

Vlad chuckled, "Your sense of humor gives me such joy my dear, come sit by the fire and let's talk for a moment." He put his hands on her shoulders and guided her to the fireside chair. "Now, as for your marriage to Collins, that has been annulled and to help you adjust to your new life I have planned a wedding for us."

Vicki felt her whole body tense up with anger, "Annulled my marriage to Barnabas? How dare you! Why would you even think you had a right to do that?"

Vlad let her have her tantrum, "Because he is already married and it would be illegal for you to be married to him. And it would be impossible for us to legally wed."

Vicki stood and began to furiously pace back and forth, "If you think for one moment that I would accept Angelique Buchard as the current Mrs. Collins, you can rethink that thought." Her anger heightened her color and made her eyes snap with fire and indignation over this affront. Vlad found her all the more charming. Patiently, Vlad watched her pace and build herself into a heated snit.

Folding his arms over his chest he smiled indulgently tucking his chin and watching her. "Now, now my dear, it is irrelevant whether or not you think you have a legitimist claim to Barnabas Collins as his wife. You will become the Princess Elizabeta of Wallachia and be my wife, when I claim title to King, then you will be a Queen. So, calm yourself and let us adjourn to dinner. Your mother and sister are waiting for us downstairs. Now come." He cupped his fingers waving her to him. "Come, come, my dear."

Vicki was still holding onto her anger. Walked to his side laying her fingers on his arm she let him lead her to the door and into the hallway. "I may become your wife Vlad Tepes, it does not mean I will be your wife in anything other than name only." She had clenched her teeth when she bit off each word spoken clipping her tone to match the now frosty stare.

He lowered his own voice and the tone was more than threatening, "My dear Elizabeta, when you become my wife by marriage you and I will become husband and wife and when you have accepted the fact you belong to me, I will then make you my wife for an eternity. Make no mistake I lost you so many years ago and now, I have found you again, I will not let you go." His voice had taken on an ominous cannontation as he narrowed his eyes and stared at her pointedly waiting for her anger to subside.

Vicki moved laboriously in her heavy gown of gold brocade. "You think you own me, and I assure you no one person can own another person."

Vlad was finding her denial tedious while they strolled to the grand staircase. "My dear you can deny my claim all you want, the fact remains that you were my wife and you have returned to me. You are in my country under my rule and dictates, so I will hear nothing else of this nattering about not being mine. Now we are joining your family for dinner, the least you can do is be cordial." When Vicki entered the dining room she had kept her eyes averted to her surroundings noting the ornate pattern on the runner and then the terrazzo flooring to the very rare and very old area carpet where a dinning room table sat with more chairs than she cared to count. With her chin tucked and her attention on the floor she became faintly aware that a chair was pulled out for her to sit, raising her gaze, she saw Angelique and froze. The look Angelique gave her was chilling and Vicki was only momentarily frozen to her spot when she turned and rushed from the room. Vlad glanced up to see a self-satisfied smile on Angelique's lips and he glared at her.

"I will not tolerate any disrespect to my future wife. If I see you being unkind to her again, Witch, I will send you back to your master in less than perfect condition, do I make myself understood?" Vlad glared at Angelique wanting to make his point and she could not help but see twin ice blue chips forming in his pupils that were now as big as his irises.

Angelique had enough grace to swallow hard and lower her gaze. "As you wish my lord Tepes, I apologize if I have unduly upset her highness." Angelique tried to sound as contrite and apologetic as she could but only managed to make is sound like she was anything other than sincere.

Liz stood from her chair, "If you will excuse me, I will go and make sure she is well." Vlad stayed her movement from the room. "No, you all stay and enjoy your dinner. I will deal with my wife." Vlad turned to leave the paused, "Nicholas, I suggest you muzzle your sister, the next time she upsets my wife, she will feel the justice of Romania under my rule." He turned pointedly putting those glowing eyes on Nicholas who did have the grace to nod and look apologetically but more so he looked intimidated by the man issuing the command.

His words were deliberately enunciated to make his ire known. Rudolph stood to reseat Liz then turned to the guests at the table. "Alexdru, tell the maids to serve dinner." He spoke to the domo at the kitchen door who bowed and disappeared into the kitchen.

Victoria's bedroom castle Dracula

Vicki rushed up the stairs and tripped over her long gown, falling to her knees she began to cry, deep sobs of anguish and frustration. From the shadows Radu appeared, having seen her exit, he had quietly rose from the table next to Maggie and made haste to a side door heading to the upper hallway. There he waited, when she appeared to fall he stepped forward and swept her up in his arms and carried her back to her room. Setting her gently in a chair in front of the fireplace he waited for Vlad to appear. When Vlad made his appearance, Radu quietly disappeared into the shadows leaving the Prince with Vicki. "Perhaps it was too soon after your arrival to expect you to join us in the dinning hall. I will send your maid to you and have her prepare you for bed."

Vicki kept her eyes averted watching the flames in the fireplace. "Thank you. I just could not face that woman again. She did after all try to have me hanged as a witch."

Vlad stooped by her side, taking her hand into his cold one, he kissed her fingertips. "Elizabeta, it is hard now but given time, you will come to accept me. There was never a love as deep as the love we shared. I would defend you to my dying day, and I will never let the likes of that witch upset you again. Now, you rest."

He kissed her forehead; lifted her hand and kissed her fingertips then rose and left the room. A tall lean blond woman wearing her hair in a strict bun entered the room. "Madam wishes to retire?" Vicki nodded then looked to the window, standing she went to stand and watch the snow fall and pile up. Feeling confident hands on her back lacings she waited while the maid unlaced her dress and helped her to take it off.

Vicki turned to her bed where her gown of white silk laid. "I can dress myself for bed." The maid shook her head, and remove the undergarments Vicki wore, then held the gown over her head, putting her arms up, Vicki felt the silk gown slide over her body. The maid then guided her to the vanity, and with care, took the pearl and diamond accents from her hair. Vicki lifted her brush and began to brush her hair. Again, as if the simple task of brushing her hair was beneath her, the maid took the brush from her hand and began to brush her hair.

"Your majesty, it is my duty to see to your needs. To fail to do so would result in me being punished. I am sure you would not wish that."

Vicki sighed, "No of course not, it is that I have never had anyone do this for me before. In the United States I am very capable of combing my own hair."

The handmaid smiled, "But madam, you are no longer in the Americas., You are now in Romania. So please let me do my job."

Vicki curbed her desire to let out an exasperated sigh;, put her elbow on the vanity and cupped her chin in her palm. "You speak English well. Where were you taught?"

The maid smiled, "My mother was English and my father was a Professor at the English University."

Vicki smiled at the girl's reflection. "What is your name?" She continued to brush Vicki's hair using extreme care with each stroke, "My name is Marta. I am your evening handmaid, Valeria will be your morning maid." She finished brushing Vicki's hair, "If madam has no further need of me this eve, I will bid you good night."

Vicki nodded and walked to her bathroom, where she brushed her teeth, she was tired, she was more than tired she was exhausted and she missed her husband. Turning off the light to her bathroom, she moved to her bed and was stopped in her tracks by Radu's voice coming from the shadows. "You should not have allowed the witch to upset you. She is here at Vlad's request and if you wanted her beheaded she would be."

Vicki turned stepping to the fireplace and sat. "I do not wish to have anyone beheaded Radu. I just did not want to see her sitting there with a smug smile lording her status over me. I have no fond memories of that woman, she nearly had me hanged for witchcraft and she was responsible for killing Sarah, Naomi, and had poor Barnabas attacked."

He leaned against the fireplace mantle. "And yet you do not wish to have her beheaded. Your virtue is above reproach highness."

Vicki pleated the belt of her robe. "I am tired Radu, so if you will excuse me, I am going to retire."

He smile, "Do you wish me to tuck you in?" His eyes twinkled with mischief and he smiled watching her blush a bright pink color.

She stood and shot him a dangerous glance. "No, I do not require your services. Good night Radu." He watched her go to the bed and pull back coverlet, she stood turning to see if he had left and noted he was now sitting in the chair she vacated.

"I said you may leave." He chuckled, "I am your guard, you are in danger as long as the witch is here, my orders are to protect you." Vicki huffed then took her housecoat off and hurried under the blankets. Turning her back on him, she punched her pillow and closed her eyes.

Shifting she punched her pillow again. Radu chuckled, "Do you need something to help you sleep?"

Vicki muttered, "Only my husband."

Radu offered, "Shall I go get Vlad?"

Sitting up to protest she realized he was just teasing with her. "No, wrong husband." Lying back down she closed her eyes and tried to think of Barnabas and their last night together. She began to relax and mentally she called out to him, 'Barnabas I love you, please help me!'