Chapter 20

Dracula's Castle Vicki's bedroom

The day dawned with overcast skies and the prediction of more snow, Vicki sat up and stretched, sliding from bed, she skittered off to the bathroom to prepare for the morning. When she was done she entered the room and looked over to see a blue dress with elaborate embellishments. Valeria walked into the room, her eyes all a glow, "Oh my lady, is it not exciting a ball and the royals will all be here tonight. We must dress your hair and get you prepared, you have a long day ahead of you." The outside reflected her mood, overcast and heavy. "I have brought you breakfast, your mother and sister will join you shortly, I fear Lady Margaret has slept in today, and there is a new lady here."

Vicki glanced up, "Oh, who is it?" Valeria smiled, "I am told she is a lady doctor."

Vicki brightened, "Julia?"

Valeria nodded, "Yes, she asked to let her know when you were awake she would like to see you."

Vicki quickly ate her breakfast, then awaited her mother Carolyn, and Julia. Valeria had begun to dress her hair, when her mother and Carolyn were shown into her room. Rising she hugged her mother and sister, and then looked behind them to see if Julia was there. She anxiously watched and saw the guard escorting Julia to the gathering outside of Vicki's door.

Vicki stepped to her dear friend and clung to her whispering softly. "Julia, are you all right?"

Julia stepped back smiled and nodded. "Just a little upset over the drugs they gave me to bring me here. They made me ill. I am much improved since I got some rest. I heard you had the same reaction to the drugs as I had?"

Looking down she nodded, "Yes, they made me very ill for about a day once I had them out of my system I was much improved. Vicki looked anxiously around, "How is Barnabas?" She had spoken softly for Julia's hearing only.

Julia hid her concern behind a polite smile, "Missing you, the rest are equally concerned for your welfare." Julia walked with Vicki inside the room. Standing just inside the door she had to admit the Count had given them the luxury of their surroundings and was treating them cordially enough. Her fears were what would happen once the marriage took place and he had no need of them any more to bring Vicki over to what he was and what Julia dread would happen.

"My lady, please you must come and sit so I may finish your hair. This is an important night for you and the Prince." She had stepped to Vicki's side and gently took her arm and gently tugged her towards the stool,

Vicki listening to Valeria urged her back to the vanity. "Come my lady, we need to finish your hair."

Vicki smiled apologetically to the others. "I am sorry, seems I have a ritual I must do before tonight and Valeria has each of you to style after she is done with me."

Valeria looked apologetically. "I do not wish to interrupt such a grand reunion. Please forgive me." Each lady took their seats and watched while Vicki's hair was styled and adorned with ribbons and jewels. As a final touch she put a tiara in Vicki's hair to denote her station as the Princess. A soft knock at the door announced the arrival of a mid morning snack. Vicki went to the window seat and sat, she watched Valeria carefully dress Carolyn's hair, while her mother, Maggie, and Julia waited their turn. The ladies only dealt in trivial conversation taking care not to say too much in front of Valeria.

Elizabeth even asked Valeria if she would mind doing her style in her room. As Elizabeth led Valeria to her room, Maggie closed the door behind them and all three women converged on Vicki. "Barnabas, Quentin, George and Elliott are going to try and rescue us. Julia thinks it would be wise to try and stay together as much as possible. They should be here today."

Vicki smiled sadly at them, "You all must promise me one thing, if you have a chance to escape from here, do not wait on me." Carolyn went to interrupt along with Maggie, "No, listen to me, I will find a way out of here, what you must promise me is that you will go and not look back. Once I know you are safely in Collinsport, I will do my utmost to get home to you. Do you understand? If I have to worry about you all being here and in danger I cannot concentrate on escaping myself." Vicki was calm and looked at them so seriously that they knew deep down she was right and that they should do as she said, it took Julia to say it out loud.

Julia nodded, "She is right Carolyn, Maggie. We must do as she says."

Carolyn shook her head, "We can't leave you behind." Carolyn was afraid for her sister she just found her and she did not want to loose her.

Vicki smiled and hugged her sister, "You are not leaving me behind, I will find a way to come home to you. You must promise me that if you can escape you run as far and as fast as you can from this place that God has forsaken and do not look back. Just know that I will be doing everything I can to come home. Do you understand?" She looked at each of them and watched them consider her words. Though it pained them to agree, they all made a pact to get out of Castle Dracula alive and back home to Collinsport. With tears of frustration they hugged and spoke of the future together.

Carolyn trying to sound brave and upbeat spoke, "I will promise as long as I know that by spring we can plan Maggie's wedding." Carolyn was living in a fool's paradise with her glib tongue speaking of a wedding when she knew her sister was about to sacrifice herself for their sake.

Maggie sniffed, "Yes, you have to be there to be my matron of honor. You have been my best friend since you arrived in Collinsport."

Vicki chuckled softly, "Even though you called me a jerk? I was never so shocked Maggie Evans as I was that night when you called me a jerk and you did it because I was going to work at Collinwood."

Maggie laughed, "Well guess I was the kettle calling itself black. Look who is working there now."

Vicki laughed, "Yes, then I suppose this makes you jerk number two and you have been there more than a week and look how beautiful your hair is, not one gray strand to see!" They all laughed when Vicki explained Maggie predicted that after a week at Collinwood her hair would be a glorious shade of grey.

Maggie hugged her friend and whispered, "You will always be in my thoughts until you return home."

Vicki pushed her back and stared deeply into her eyes, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "You will always be in my heart my dear friend, always." She turned to look at Julia and Carolyn, "All of you will be in my heart no matter what happens, I can endure anything as long as I know you all are safe."

This brought about a fresh batch of tears and hugs to be interrupted by the entrance of Liz with Valeria. "Okay ladies who is next for hair?" Liz smiled brightly for the girls and Julia.

Somewhere over the black sea

Quentin sat stretched out comfortably on the private jet's sofa, his eyes were half closed as he listened to the others. "When we arrive, we have a guide willing to take us to the nearest Village to the castle near Burgos Pass. Once we get to the village, we will be taken to a cottage, and once again, I have enlisted Willie's help to procure us transportation. As it will be dusk, we will not need to transport Barnabas by crate." Elliott had taken his finger and pointed to the locations on the map. Professor Stokes sat in a swivel chair in front of a table. He had his papers spread out before him.

Quentin spoke up, "What about the maid? What will we do with her?"

Professor Stokes turned to George Patterson, "We are going to have you escort her back to her family home. Then you will need to join us in the village at the cottage we have rented."

Quentin yawned, "We do know that Tepes, knows we are coming. I understand its been snowing for the past three days. Some of the passes are closed; the main pass to the castle has been kept cleared. Which indicated to me he is expecting our arrival and is fully expecting us to stay at his castle."

Professor Stokes smiled, "Which is what we want. It will give us access to the castle and further access to Tepes. I am hoping Elizabeth, Carolyn, and Maggie are with Vicki and Julia.

George stood and sat in the chair on the opposite side of the table from Stokes. "Why is he being so accommodating?"

Stokes shrugged, "I can surmise he wants us to witness his marriage to Victoria and her succession to the legion of the undead like him." Elliott had been pragmatic and had not consider4d his words would upset George and realized by the paling of his features that he should have tempered his words with a more sympathetic response to George's inquiry. "Excuse me George I apologize I just get caught up in the plan that sometimes I forget that these individuals are our loved ones, it comes from being a bachelor for so long do forgive me." He watched George look down at the map and frown.

Willie fidgeted in the corner as he watched the rear cargo hold door and then the others. He did not want Vicki to be a monster and it was a concern for him since he had become close to her and Barnabas after their marriage. "But, . . .But she would not willingly do that would she? I mean she would not go willingly to be his bride. She is married to Barnabas and she loves him not that Vlad guy!"

Professor Stokes shrugged, "I am not sure how much she had been brainwashed by Tepes or if he has her already under his thrall. What I suspect will happen will be right before the wedding ceremony, he will bite her, putting her under his thrall, then after the wedding he will continue the process of making her into one of the undead. Willie we must face the possibility that because she is being coerced into doing this that she would willingly sacrifice her own life to protect those she loves and that includes you and Barnabas as well as her mother, sister and best friend. She very well may not be the Vicki we remembered and loved before she was taken. "

George sighed and looked down. He knew what the Professor was saying was the truth but it was a truth he wanted to avoid and not believe had happened but would happen and they would be there to stop it. He was also concerned for Elizabeth and he wanted her safe too. "You don't suppose he has already done that to Elizabeth?"

Stokes fiddled with his monocle and pursed his lips. "I fear I do not know, whatever has been done, rest assure George, Julia can help undo the damage to a degree." It was a little hope but it was hope for them to cling to while they decided how they would bring their loved ones home they hoped unharmed.

George smiled tensely. "For that I am grateful. I just hope nothing more has been done to Carolyn; we know Peter bit her. We do not know what has happened to Maggie."

Joe Haskell stood and began to pace. "Nothing had better happened to her or so help me there will not be enough stakes to go around for everyone. I will find that bloodsucker and use every stake I can lay my hands on to drive into his dark heart. Into all their dark hearts!"

Quentin chuckled, "My what a lovely bunch of cut throats we all have become. Well I for one would like to go wolf on them, but unfortunately the portrait prevents me from doing that."

George shifted uncomfortably, "Yes, well that is why we have Chris with us. If the calendar is correct we will be expecting him to turn upon arriving there. So, if we need him, then we can let him go all wolf on them. It will certainly prove my theory that wolves are far more deadly than vampires." George was not about to let Chris loose on an innocent but to save his family he was prepared to look the other way. He had after all accepted the fact that he was about to marry into a family of weir wolves and vampires.

"Are we ready for Josette to do what we need her to do?" Quentin asked covering his yawn. Quentin for one had been glad that something had shifted in the power of darkness to allow Josette and Sarah to become more aware of their surroundings and the need for Jeremiah had diminished. It was bad enough to use Jeremiah but to see him in such a hideous state had been unnerving. He had scared the beegeebers out of Quentin when he had appeared before him and Barnabas late one night at the Old house in the study.

"She and Sarah will be there to help, as long as Vicki is capable of doing what we need her to do." Stokes looked thoughtfully to the ceiling of the plane. "Julia, will need access to a lab, so she can try the new formula that I created on paper late last night prior to us boarding the plane.' Elliott patted his stomach and continued to speak his thoughts aloud. "Unfortunately, the life of the serum will fall to half-life in less than 12 hours. So, when we get to the village she will need to have access to the information I have." He sighed deeply then looked back at the pages spread out before him and George. "We just need to find a way to get them to her and hopefully the necessary tools to mix it up before we leave this cursed place."

Turning to look at his companions he continued. "Willie has already made plans to have what she needs delivered to the cottage, so it will be up to the rest of us to see that she gets the equipment."

Chris sighed studying the clouds outside the plane's windows, "How are we going to get the equipment to her? I am still unsure as to what we all are suppose to do once we get there and in the castle."

Quentin looked over to Professor Stokes; "We will leave that part of the mission to General Leland and his head mercenary Parker." Quentin was glad they had hired the mercenaries that held a special talent for hunting and destroying the eldritch. Barnabas had found them and he was not sure how he had found them but was glad they were prepared to take out a bunch of blood sucking monsters. He was equally glad they knew how to track and hunt weir wolves he was worried about Chris and what might happen if they caught him in their cross hairs. He wanted to make sure they understood that Chris in that form was on their side.

Stokes nodded, "That was a stroke of genius on Barnabas part to think of mercenaries to breach the castle for us and get the ladies out. I believe he was very capable in locating this particular group. We did win some major wars in our past with mercenaries and now we have them at our disposal."

Quentin chuckled, "Yes, how he remembered during the Revolutionary War that they were used for more than just breaching the English' ranks. They were more than just fighters too. They had special talents that lent themselves to helping us seek our freedom."

Willie stood walked to the table and looked down. "Barnabas told me that they were suppose to meet us at the cottage. Then we would go to the location near the castle where they have set up their mission headquarters." That was what Barnabas had told him before preparing for his rest and trip to Transylvanis. Willie just wanted this over with and done. He was worried about Vicki and now he had to worry about Julia and Barnabas.

Stokes smiled, "Excellent, then we can put everything in place. Joe, Chris, you know what you will need to do?" Elliott looked over at the two sitting close to each other, Quentin looked bored and Chris looked frightened, he kept darting his gaze out the small window of the plane watching the sky and looking for the moon.

Chris abruptly stood, "I don't like not having control over my environment with a full moon coming on. What if I attack the wrong group? What if I cause problems for the rescue mission?"

Joe glanced down, he had seen what happened to his cousin during a full moon and it still bothered him. "I know we need to be close to the castle before the moon rises, but what if we don't need Chris? What should we do with him to protect him from his self and the innocents?"

Stokes smiled, "Not to worry dear boy, I have instructed the elite guard to tranquilize Chris if need be. He advised me he had experience with this sort of situation. Which leads me to believe Chris, that you are not unique with your problem and there yet may be hope for you." He watched Chris shoot his chin up and turn his gaze the first ray of hope blazing through his eyes.

"Do you really think it is possible?" He was afraid to hope for the best but it was the first positive word he had since this curse affected him on his twenty-first birthday.

Willie was feeling uncomfortable with all this talk of weir wolves and the supernatural. It was as though it was an every day occurrence for them and he was still trying to get over what had happened to Barnabas when he reverted. He was even more worried about his sweet Sonja. He did not like keeping secrets from her. He remembered their parting just a scant five hours ago.

Earlier Old House Pre-dawn

"Babe, I promise you that once we are done I will be back here in your sweet arms and we can pick up where we left off. I just need to do this for my boss." He looked at her threw that errant fall of hair over his eyes. He pleaded with his words and his gaze watching her for acceptance and not condemnation.

Sonja had pouted so prettily snuggling closer to Willie, "You are not going to be in danger are you? I mean that country seems so far away! I just could not stand it if anything bad happened to you my sweet Wee Willie Woo-Woo." He had smiled at her nickname for him.

He had snuggled in close to her neck kissed her earlobe and spoke her nickname he had for her, "Not on your life Sassy Sonja, my sweet pea. Old Wee Willie Woo Woo is a lot tougher than you know. I can handle about anything, so don't you worry that sweet little brain of yours." He had left her with tears brimming her moving to the truck parked behind the Bentley, which was already occupied with the Collins men folk and Joe, Professor Stokes, and George Patterson. The trip to the recently purchased private airfield had been a short one. Quentin had purchased the private airport and making it his contribution; had the right to dub it the Collins Airport.

Willie held his breath as the pilot made ready for take off and they were instructed to fasten seatbelts and put out all cigarettes. Willie hated flying that was why he had become a seaman. Closing his eyes he tried to take a small nap but found it impossible. Now he listened quietly to the plans being laid out by Professor Stokes and Quentin. When the question was raised as to when and where the group would meet the private soldiers they had hired Willie had sat up and walked to the table to tell them what Barnabas had told him earlier. Speaking of Barnabas he was glad no questions were asked about the long box now stored in the hold. Willie and those that needed to know were aware that was Barnabas in his coffin.

The captain of the plane announced over the speakers to secure their seatbelts and prepare for landing. As they touched down to a sunset of glorious hues of gold, red, orange, and yellows, Barnabas rose from his rest and prepared himself to join his family. He knew that it would be a matter of hours and he would once again be in Vicki's arms and she in his. He just did not know how to tell her what he had become and why.

Walking quietly into the main cabin he looked around and nodded to everyone present. He was beginning to feel excited with the mission. Quentin heated up a bottle of blood for Barnabas and handed it to him before the landing gear was deployed. "I thought you might need this and I heated it for you." Quentin looked away not wishing to see him drink the blood and noticed the others were looking at anything and everything other than Barnabas while he sated his immediate needs for blood.

Accepting the drink Barnabas gave him a sad smile and spoke softly, "Thank you." Barnabas sipped the blood and looked around at those present. He did note they were giving him his privacy as he drank his dinner. Trying to absolve any uneasy feelings he posed the question, "So we are clear on how and what each of us must do once we get to the Burgos Pass?"

He heard them say "Of course and yes." Then there were the nods of their heads and he finished his drink set it down and then seated himself next to George.

"I apologize for subjecting you all to the needs I have for that liquid. Obviously, I wished it had been a normal drink and not one of the nature that was presented." He was uncomfortable around their own distress over the fact he had reverted to a vampire again and had needs beyond what their minds were willing to accept.

They all could feel his unease and rushed to comfort him, he was a part of them and he needed their support not their condemnation. So each apologized in their own way for making him feel uncomfortable. Then for the rest of the time was spent going over everyone's assignment once they were in place. "We do not know how are family members are faring or if they are intact. We must assume the worse and expect the best." He lifted his bottle of warmed blood and proposed a toast. Success or let us hope not death!"

Professor Stokes lifted his glass of sherry, Quentin his brandy glass, while the others scrambled for something to lift to the toast. "May our success be our enemies downfall!" Professor Stokes added to the toast. The bump of the landing gear going into place was a signal to sit and secure for landing.

The plane taxied to the debarkation point, the pilot shut down the engine and exited the cockpit. Stepping out to the head of the cabin he smiled, "I will await your return with all passengers here. I am officially on standby and have told the tower of our plans should we need to take off in a hurry." He watched the passengers gather their belongings and walk to the rear steps. He smiled; this had been the best job ever. He was paid twice his normal pay and all he had to do was fly half way around the world and just sit and wait to fly half way back around the world. This was the honey pot of his career and maybe now he could find that special one to settle down with and have a family. It was close to Christmas and this was the time he missed not having a family. He settled back, closed his eyes and decided a small nap might not be a bad idea. Smiling he began to imagine what his wife would look like as she sat with their three children near the Christmas tree helping them open their presents.