Chapter 15

From across the ocean Barnabas could feel Vicki's presence. What was more astounding was he could have sworn she had just called out to him for help. The toxins in his system were at war and he was ill from fighting the battle to remain human, the solace he received was in knowing that his wife was holding him in her thoughts and needed him. A stronger resolve filled him to fight so he could be reunited with her. Closing his eyes he mentally called back. "I am coming Vicki, know how much I love you."

Romania

Dracula's castle

Vicki sat up with a startled gasp and peered around the room. She heard him, she knew she had heard him call out to her of the love he had for her and he was coming. "Princess is there a problem are you well?" Radu stood by her bed and she had to admit he did appear to be concerned for her well-being

"It was just a dream that startled me awake." She wanted him away from her and from her bed. Rolling over on her side she closed her eyes and forced herself to relax. Radu studied her as she lay on her side and found her to be unsettled. Going to get a chair, he pulled it to her bedside this allowed him to make himself more comfortable; he appeared to doze off. Vicki half turned in bed to see his still form by her bedside and she was flustered. Mumbling to herself she rolled back over and went back to sleep.

Radu smiled listening to her mumbles then leaned back and closed his eyes. He had a lot to think about. He owed everything to the Prince including his life. Prince Vlad had offered him Lady Margaret as his, somehow that did not seem enough. It was not because she was anything other than an attractive female human, it simply was because she was just too human, and she had no passion or flair to sustain him for an eternity. What he wanted for an eternity was someone like Victoria. Her sister was too annoying with her whining and demanding ways.

Vlad was the lucky one, because he had her, his Elizabeta. Radu looked upon her sleeping form and found that he wanted her, needing someone like her in his life. To take her would violate all he had lived for over the past years obeying without thought for his consequences and absolutely Vlad Tepes his Prince, the man he had pledge his allegiance and life for and no other. Now the temptress that lay in this bed was going to cause him to break that bond. He shook his head and stood and stepped away from her bed. No, he would not give into his baser needs; he would protect her for his Prince. He turned and looked back at her as she slept. She was so very lovely and what was more she was not for him. This twisted his gut and he slumped down in a chair near the fireplace. Daylight would come soon and he would need to find a dark place to be while keeping her locked in this room until she was needed again. Rising he stretched and turned one last time, walked to her bedside and gently brushed her hair from her face. He sighed lowered himself to place a light kiss on her forehead and turned leaving the room locking the door behind him.

The next day

Castle Dracula

When daylight broke, Vicki was awaken by a soft knock on her door, rolling over she rubbed her eyes and pushed her hair from her eyes speaking sleepily, "Come."

The door opened and the maid that must have been Valeria entered the room. "Madam, your wedding gown arrived." She carried the heavy plastic bag into the room and hung it on the armoire door. Unzipping the bag, she revealed a lovely concoction of chiffon and organza. It was a gown befitting any royal bride. The problem was Vicki did not much feel like a royal bride. "Oh Madam, it is so beautiful. You will make a lovely bride one to be envied by all."

Vicki slid the blankets back and slipped from the bed. "I suppose. You are Valeria are you not?"

She smiled and nodded, "Yes, Madam. I will bring your breakfast up soon. Will you need me to help you bathe and dress?"

Vicki smiled and shook her head "No to needing help to bathe, to dress am I suppose to wear those long gowns again?" She sounded annoyed at being expected to wear outdated heavy clothing.

The maid smiled and nodded, "Yes, my lord wishes you to keep with tradition as will all the grand ladies of the manor will be expected to do the same." The poor young woman had no clue as to why the Princess would be annoyed so pretended to ignore her petulant sounding voice.

Vicki sighed and nodded, "Then I will need help with buttons." Vicki threw the blankets off of her body, felt the rude rush of cool air covering her warm body and wanted to crawl back into the bed until the room was warm. At least the dress would keep her warm once she was in it.

Valeria curtsied with a smile, "Then I shall return to help you after you have had your breakfast." She hustled from the room. Leaving Vicki to go and bathe. Valeria returned as Vicki had finished her bath. Entering the room with a huge tray of food, Valeria set the tray on the table. "If you wish to eat, I shall lay out your clothing. Oh and your mother, sister and the Lady Margaret wish to see you when you are ready to receive guests."

Vicki sat and uncovered the plates, seeing eggs, bacon, toast, coffee and juice she smiled. "I did not realize how hungry I was until I smelled this wonderful breakfast."

Valera nodded, "The castle has one of the finest cooks in the region." Vicki spooned a small amount of sugar into her cup; then she stirred. She glanced over the room and watched Valeria while she laid out all the clothing she would need for the day. Amazed at the number of under garments and other accouterments she would need to dress for the day.

"Valeria, will I be allowed to visit with my mother in her room or will she be allowed to come to my room?"

Valeria looked confused, "Madam has the run of the castle today. If you wish to go into the town you will be allowed under security of the castle guard. I would not recommend leaving the castle today. The snow has been falling for several hours so most roads are impassable. It will take the road crews several days to get the roads cleared and that is only after the snow stops falling." The young pretty girl looked to the window and shivered. "I had trouble getting into work and the rest of the staff have been told to find rooms and expect to stay in residence tonight that is how bad this snow has been.

Vicki finished her meal, stood and walked to the bathroom to to brush her teeth. "Then by all means after I am dressed take me to my mother and perhaps we can stroll the castle so I can become more familiar with my surroundings." Valeria looked pleased curtsied and waited for her to come out so she could help her dress. Both women made quick work of getting her in the heavy satin dress of white and red. Dressing her hair in plats with pearl accents, Valeria stood back to tell Vicki how lovely she looked. Vicki smiled at her maid and waited for her to take her to her mother's room. Strolling down the hallway following Valeria she stopped and knocked lightly on her mother's door.

A muffled "Enter.", greeted them from inside the room.

Valeria opened the door for Vicki and left her with her mother. Vicki entered the room and rushed to her mother embracing her. "Oh Mother I am so happy to see you this morning. Is Carolyn up?"

Liz smiled and kissed her forehead, "No darling she is still sleeping, Maggie is up and dressed, we had breakfast together that is when we learned that you were up having your breakfast."

Vicki dropped to the footstool at her mother's feet. "I was so upset last night I fear I may have caused some distress during dinner and upset everyone."

Liz waved her hand and smiled, "The only one other than you that was upset was Angelique. Vlad threatened to have her beheaded or impaled. She found herself with a headache and retired early so we were not subjected to her presence. I think she thought she would make a deal with a different kind of a devil and found she has only sealed her own fate for something quiet different than she expected."

Both women looked at each other knowingly and chuckled. "Then perhaps we will not have to deal or see her any more." Vicki said rising from the stood and walking over to the large bay window looking out over the white expanse that was the Estate of Vlad Tepes. "I discovered we would be able to leave the castle. The problem is there is so much snow that the roads are not passable. So, I suppose we bide our time until we can get you, Carolyn, and Maggie out of here and back to Collinwood."

Liz sighed stood to follow Vicki to the window. Standing at her side she reached over and hugged her daughter, "We all are going to get out of here Vicki not just some of us, but all of us. Now, today I plan to spend my day enjoying the company of my daughters and their dear friend."

Vicki returned her mother's hug, "Then perhaps we can enjoy roaming around the castle. I have been given permission to explore the castle."

Liz nodded, "That is how we will plan our escape from this place, by becoming acquainted with our surroundings. Then if we can lull them into a false sense of security, we might be able to escape before this goes too far and we are made into the same creatures with which we are being forced to socialize."

Vicki took her mother's hands in hers. "Mother, you must do something for me" Vicki held her mother close, watching the snow continuing to fall. Taking a deep breath she spoke softly, "If it comes down to you, Carolyn and Maggie getting away from here without me, then I want you to promise me you won't hold back and you will go. If you promise me that, then I promise I will do everything in my power to get back home to you."

Liz shook her head. "Darling how could you ask me to leave you behind? I just got you back how can I leave you?" Elizabeth was afraid for her daughters, Maggie and herself and the thought of leaving Vicki behind frightened her more than becoming a member of the living dead.

Vicki leaned forward and put her head in her mother's shoulder. "Because I would die if I thought you were hurt in any way because of me. You are here because of me. I have just found you mother I certainly do not plan to just give up. I will fight to get back to you, I cannot fight if you are here and under threat of being hurt, so you must promise me that you will do as I ask."

Liz brushed her fingers over Vicki's hair. "I promise." She kissed her forehead her lips pressing softly to her temple. A soft knock on the door and the door opened to admit Maggie. Maggie walked into the room. She like Vicki and Liz wore 15th century satin and velvet dress, Maggie was dressed in green, Vicki was dressed in blue and gold and Liz wore a burgundy color that accented her complexion and hair. The women sat around the fireplace and spoke mostly of what had been going on since they were all together back at Collinwood. As the day grew into mid morning Carolyn finally put in an appearance. Vicki noted she wore a scarf around her throat and she shuddered to think Petru was feeding her from. Like the other women Carolyn was dressed in a 15th century gown of blue similar to Vicki except her accents were black instead of gold. When word came that lunch would be served in the minor dining room, they walked down the hallway to the dinning room on the first floor.

Informal Dining room Castle Dracula

It was there that Nicholas Blair met them. With an effusive bow he smiled his weasel like smile and seated each woman offering the apologies of his sister for being unable to attend lunch due to a horrific headache. Though nothing was said, it was implied that everyone present was glad that she would not be in the room, and they allowed Nicholas to lavish them with insincere compliments dressed behind polite smiles and nods. As the lunch progressed, Nicholas could not help but further his own agenda by bringing up the upcoming wedding. "So, my dear, are you excited about your impending nuptials to Prince Vlad?"

He sipped his wine and watched Vicki's reaction over the top of his glass. "What do you think Mr. Blair?" She was equally as glib as she sipped her own wine. She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing how much this wedding upset her.

He nodded, "I would say you are very excited. I understand it is to be soon before Christmas."

Remaining neutral in her responses Vicki nodded, "That is my own understanding. I personally don't understand why it has not already happened." She could not hide the bite of sarcasm she felt while she set her glass with deliberate ease on the table's surface.

"Well I believe it has to do with some out of town guests that have not arrived. I do believe that once they are here, the ceremony will no longer be held off." Nicholas was sure he had just surprised them with that bit of information that he tried to show was accidently allowed into the conversation.

Vicki quirked a brow and nodded slowly, "These out of town guests do you know who they are?" Trying to remain calm she asked in a causal tone attempting to show it was really nothing of importance to her.

He smiled and nodded, "Of course I do. They are your family. My sister's husband Barnabas Collins, a Professor Stokes, and his wife Julia Stokes, and I believe your cousin. Quentin Collins."

Carolyn choked on her wine causing Maggie to rise and pat her on her back. "Carolyn will you be all right?" Maggie glared at Nicholas watching Carolyn while she cleared her throat.

Carolyn coughed a couple of times waving off Maggie. "Yes," she gasped, holding her throat. "I am fine. So, you say it's our family that is arriving?"

Nicholas using his charm smiled and nodded as he went to pour himself a cup of tea. "Yes, I guess you are right it would be your family therefore the family of my sister."

Vicki rose forcing her hands to not tremble or her anger to highlight her face, lowering her eyes she walked to the side table holding the chilled wine and the tea service standing next to Nicholas she spoke softly. "Yes, I suppose you are right they would be your sister's family too." Vicki poured herself a cup of tea then turned to Nicholas, she had never been good at cat and mouse games but now was the time to implement her own new found knowledge. "So any curse put on my family would then relate to your sister too?"

Nicholas felt his smile freeze. Whoever told him this woman was nothing to worry about was wrong. He quirked an eyebrow, lifted his glass to his lips and looked at her over the top of his glass. She was turning out to be more interesting than he previously thought. "As far as curses go I would assume if a family were cursed it would also extend to their wives or husbands. However, as I do not know much about curses, I am not sure."

Vicki stirred a cube of sugar into her cup, lifting her cup, she blew softly over the liquid in her cup, took a sip and then she looked at Nicholas curiously and spoke so innocently, "Yes, I suppose, it is that I was under the impression some witch had placed a curse on my hus. . . my family and as I have been informed your sister is a witch. Therefore, you must be a warlock. Or am I mistaken?" She had looked him in the eye with an innocent but knowledgeable determination to best him at his ridiculous game. She sipped her coffee slowly and watched him over the cup. He locked gazes with her, again his smile frozen.

"I was not aware that my sister was a witch." Even Nicholas felt his tone was flat and unconvincing to the sound of his own ear when he made that statement.

Vicki shrugged her shoulders lightly; fixing her own gaze; not backing down she locked her gaze to his. "Well I was under the impression that a curse was placed on the Collins family two hundred years ago. So, I guess that same curse would apply to her as well." She lifted her cup and sipped, then smiled sweetly at Nicholas, "But as you say I don't know much about curses either." Vicki even punctuated the statement with a smile.

Vicki slowly stepped away from Nicholas and sat primly on the chair. Nodding to the butler indicating they were ready to be served. The conversation drifted to the mundane such as weather, the snow and how much longer they would be subjected to the conditions that existed outside. Dinner was soon over and the party adjourned to a smaller drawing room. This time, Angelique joined them. Vicki glanced at Angelique then ignored her for the duration of their social time in the drawing room.

As the family members gathered around the fireplace, Angelique strolled to the window to peer out and continue to listen to the conversation. "Did you mean it when you said she would be subject to any curse placed on our family Vicki?"

Carolyn watched Angelique's back while she stood silent sentinel at the window. "Of course I did Carolyn, just stop and think about it logically, if a curse is placed on a family, then the curse is placed on the family as a whole. Of course it does depend on the type of curse."

Carolyn shivered, "Ooh, I find this fascinating. How did you find out about curses?" Carolyn let her gaze drift to Angelique and noticed she was standing stiffly pretending to ignore them and staring blankly out of the window.

Vicki plucked at the fullness of her dress. "I have been reading the books Professor Stokes had brought to the old house. While you were all here I was kind of captive in the old house. Though I find Barnabas fascinating and very entertaining, he has his other interests during the day, I found myself reading a great deal."

Angelique could not help but comment, "I am sure he found the daylight or more importantly the sunshine very taxing." She continued to watch out of the window when she made her comment.

Vicki stood and walked slowly and with deliberate ease to look her directly in the eye. "Actually we spent a lot of days walking in the garden enjoying the sunshine and on occasions we walked to Widow's Hill, where the sun rose for us every morning and we sat on the rock and watched it climb higher in the sky and he told me it was one of the most enjoyable times of his life to share those pre-dawn and dawn moments together on that hill that was tragic for so many."

Angelique did a slow burn; she turned her back on Vicki and watched the snow falling out the window. Vicki leaned into Angelique. In a confidentially soft tone she said, "He especially enjoyed sunrise in our marriage bed. He once told me, he loved how the sun caught the highlights of my hair and streamed across our bodies as we, " Here she blushed, lowered her eyes and smiled, "Well, anyhow I am sure you get the idea."

Angelique turned filled with rage lifting her hand to rake her nails across Vicki's face. Before she could move, Vicki lifted her finger and uttered some words softly, "Ellesrium Impedtrium." She watched with a hint of satisfaction as Angelique was stopped in her tracks. She could not move her hand no matter how hard she struggled she found her whole body was frozen in one spot. Vicki for the second time this afternoon leaned into her hovering hand and once again said with confidence and triumph, "How do you like it now Angelique? Now watch."

Vick shrunk back in fear and shouted, "NO! DON"T!" Under her breath she muttered, "Releium expectum" The shout brought Nicholas rushing forward to grab Angelique's hand just as it was released from the spell.

"Sister dear, what are you doing?" He stood between Vicki and Angelique. "Come let me take you to your room before you offend," He accented the word 'offend' "our host." He then turned to Vicki and the others, "I am sorry, it appears my sister is still feeling unwell. YOU, " Again he accented the word and lowered his voice, "You will excuse us. I think she needs to lie down, I fear her headache has retuned." He forcefully pulled Angelique from the room. Vicki back away from Angelique and Nicholas, her eyes locked with triumph into Angelique's. When Nicholas turned Vicki allowed Angelique to see her knowing smile and then change her expression back to fear.

Vicki turned to a stunned Maggie, and Carolyn, "Excuse me, I am not feeling well myself." She turned and rushed past Nicholas and Angelique to her room.

Waiting for her was Marta, and glancing at the clock she noticed it was shift change for the castle staff. "Oh Madam, you are back in your room early.

Vicki nodded and assumed a frightened and tearful demeanor. "That lady Angelique tried to scratch me with her nails. I think she was angry with me and then tried to attack me."

Marta frowned, "I do not like that woman!" Vicki walked to her bed and lay across it. "She is a very disturbed woman. Oh, Marta, when I first arrived here, there was a trunk with some of my personal things, do you know where it is?"

Marta smiled, "It arrived today while you were at dinner, I was about to go through it and hang up your clothing."

Vicki smiled, "Oh, would you mind letting me go through it and lay out my things on the bed? It might go faster if we worked together to unpack."

Marta was more than a little happy to let her lay her personal items out on the bed. In Marta's mind it would make the task go faster. "For that woman's sake, I hope the master does not hear of what she did earlier it would not bode very well for her. Our Master made it very well known that no one was to lay one finger on you out of disrespect, that should that happen he would e very unhappy and when the master is unhappy." She shuddered.

Vicki paused and glanced to Marta, "Why what happens when the master is unhappy?' She was more than a little curious. Propping her chin up with her palm and elbow bent she watched Marta grow uneasy.

"When the master is unhappy, people disappear forever." She spoke softly looking to the mountains snow covered peaks getting a distant look to her manner.