Chapter 22

Grand Ball Room

Elizabeth gasped out, "NO!"

Only to be pulled back from her sudden movement forward. Carolyn stood transfixed, she knew all too well what was about to happen, she did not want to watch but could not look away. Silently she prayed her sister would be able to with stand the first bite.

Maggie closed her eyes and turned away from the act being performed before her. Quentin jerked away from his captors to rush the dais, only to feel his legs being pulled out from beneath him as Sorin did a sweeping kick to knock him down. Standing over Quentin he hissed, "Don't move or be prepared to meet the most exquisite pain of your life immortal!" His words were a snarl and in guttural primal connotation. That made Quentin a believer. The guards all shifted to reinforce their hold on the prisoners. Vlad held Vicki by the waist licking her throat, his teeth already extending to bite her.

Quentin thanked whatever powers to be that Barnabas was otherwise occupied putting the rescue operation into place. Willie was stunned watching Vicki in Vlad's arms. He like Quentin was glad Barnabas was not there to witness his lovely Vicki being so ill used. Vlad bit into Vicki's throat causing her to gasp out in pain. She closed her eyes; the pain of the bite was sudden and then over. With each draw of her life force into his body, Vlad had to remember he could not turn her not at this time. He was making a point. He knew if Collins were hiding he would certainly step forward to save his precious Vicki. Glancing around Collins was not forthcoming. So he had to resign himself to the fact he had not come with his family.

Vicki was beginning to feel light headed. Vlad waited and when Barnabas did not appear, he released Vicki having only taken a small about of blood to put her under his control. Stokes smiled inwardly, he had called Vlad's bluff and found Vlad wanting. Vicki felt her knees buckle and slumped into Vlad's arms. "Radu, take the Princess to her room." Vlad commanded his Captain of the guard. Vlad turned and smiled to his guests. "Honored guests, please continue with your celebration of my impending nuptials. You will excuse me while I tend to business."

Handing Vicki's unconscious body over to Radu, he turned to his guard, "Take them to the dungeon and lock them up. They may be released to witness my wedding tomorrow." He watched Radu disappear with his beloved and then turned his attention back to his important guests. "I want you to enjoy my hospitality while you wait for my wedding to Elizabeta think about this, think on whether or not I decide to let you live as my entertainment or kill you after the wedding. Be assured that once tomorrow comes and she had agreed to become my wife, she will belong to me and there will be nothing that will prevent her from becoming my forever and eternal bride." He could not help but wonder if he had gone soft in not having them executed while they stood before him defiant and trying to take what was his again. He reasoned it was because he did not need his bride upset any more than she was already and for her he could be benevolent.

Castle Dracula

Vicki's bedroom

Radu carried Vicki to her bedroom and placed her on the bed. "Undress her and put her to bed, I will send up Doctor Stokes to dress her neck wound." Radu had to hide his own anger as such a showing by his Prince. He had never felt anger with his Prince until this night. He had quickly recognized the only reason Vlad had done such a thing was due to the fact he allowed his anger over power his good reasoning and now Vicki had paid the price.

Marta stepped to the bed with a pan of warm soapy water, with tenderness she began to bath the wound on Vicki's throat. "She is not going to turn is she?"

Radu was grateful the Prince had only bitten her as a means to get the prisoners under control. He had listened for the fetal heartbeat and noted there was nothing amiss with the baby's heartbeat. The question was not unreasonable but it was not his to answer. Instead he said, "Once you have her in bed, call me. I will remain by her side for the rest of the night." Marta stood curtsied to Radu watching him leave the room.

Marta opened the door and advised Radu she had her mistress in the bed. Once again, she curtsied to him as she stepped aside for him to enter. Radu sat on the edge of the bed watching her. With gentling fingers he traced the marks on her neck and felt rage at his Prince. Not because he wanted what he thought belonged to him. He was mad because Vlad's action endangered the unborn life growing within her. He felt a kinship with the baby that he had never felt before.

It was as if the child was communicating with him. The feel of her tiny mind was touching his and that it was so soft and gentle and made him think of soft down filled quilts or helpless newborn kittens. This is what made her more important to him. With the gentleness expressed in those empathic emotions convinced him that this child was a girl. From the corner a figure appeared in an incandescent glow, drifting to stand across from Vicki to peer down at her then over to Radu, "Josette."

He said her name, he knew her from the portrait in her room and from her contemporary that was to be his. He also knew her from their first meeting the other night. "Oui, Radu, that babe is more important than anyone knows. Victoria does not belong here, with him; she belongs in Collinsport. She belongs with Barnabas; not to him. He misses what is his, with his Elizabeta; he can have what he had. All Vicki needs to do is help Sarah and me bring Elizabeta back from the past to him."

Radu looked from Vicki to Josette. "How is this possible?" Josette drifted around the room to stand by the fireplace. The fire played its colorful display over her face and could be seen through her body.

"Do you think it was Sarah or myself that took her back to 1795? No, we only helped guide her to save Daniel so the Collins family would go on. She is the one that possesses the powers to fold time and to go back, she just has to be driven to do so, she needs to do it out of love." Shifting to peer at the handsome captain of the guard Josette saw the love he held for Vicki. This gave her hope that they might survive this and the plan they had worked on with Barnabas would bring fruition and give to Vlad what he desired the most his Elizabeta.

Radu reached for Vicki's hand; holding it in his, "What is she?"

Josette smiled, "She just found out she is a member of a coven of white witches, her stand is for justice and good. Unlike Angelique that gave up her soul to the darkness, Victoria gives her purity of heart for good." Josette drifted on the airflow of the room. "If Vlad Tepes takes her as he had intended, she and her child will be doomed to the pits of hell all nine of them." Josette's form floated around the room to rest in front of Radu over Vicki's unconscious body. "That child will be the guardian of the western hemisphere on the eastern seaboard of the United States. She will be one of many that will hold the darker eldritch at bay. She will have command of the elements and time."

Drifting over to Radu's side she floated next to him looking at the subject of her conversation. "Her child will be a champion that will stop the Angelique's' from harming others. To keep the Nicholas Blair's from controlling the darkness and allowing it to harm the innocents." Josette sighed softly, "Now she has been bitten, a part of the toxins that flow through your vein; the veins of the oldest most powerful vampire on this earth now flows through Josette's veins." Radu looked at her with open curiosity.

"You know the child's sex and name?" He spoke in wonder and awe.

She smiled nodding "Yes, she and Barnabas will name her Josette. She has an unimaginable future ahead of her. One that the world would like to know exists but will be kept in ignorance because of Josette."

Radu kissed Vicki's hand, and then tucked it under the blanket. "What are you asking of me Josette?"

She smiled, "That if you cannot follow your conscience, then follow your heart and do what is right." She disappeared leaving the faint hint of jasmine in the air. If Radu had not been resolved before, he was now. He may not be able to have Victoria; he could wait for Josette to grow up, he just had to make sure he was in the right place at the right time. Standing from her bedside he turned to stand broodingly in front of the window. He would figure out a way to help her, he had to do this for Josette. Closing his eyes he cleared his mind, then he slowly opened his eyes and glanced to the sky, the golden fingers of daylight were beginning to paint the night sky with glorious shades of gold, red, and yellow hinting it with a tinge of orange.

Yes, tonight was going to be an interesting night. What he needed to do was go to the dungeon and speak with Quentin Collins. It would be Quentin that could tell him how he could help. If he knew nothing else, he knew those that were willing to surrender their very lives for her would protect the woman he had grown to love.

Wedding Day

Vicki slept late; she felt unwell but knew that if she did not face this day her friends and family would be executed. Walking lethargically to her bathing chambers she drew herself a bath. Sliding into the warmth that greeted her she actually smiled at the feeling it gave her to feel her cleansed from the filth she felt crawled through her veins. A soft knock; then Vicki heard Valeria's voice. "My Lady I have your breakfast. I will need to start on your hair as soon as you are done with your meal."

Vicki sighed, she was loathed to leave her bubble bath, decided it might be best to go on and do so. Rising from her bath, she toweled off and walked into her room. The day was going faster than she wished and she had no other ideas as to how she could get herself out of this predicament. Her hair dressed, the gown was placed on her and she felt with each new event was just another nail in her coffin. She wryly smiled, a nail in her coffin would she not be spending most of her days from this day forward in a coffin? She sighed, and then turned to a knock at the door. She looked at her image in the mirror; which is how her mother found her when she entered the room. "Oh Vicki darling you look beautiful! I wished there was a way out of this for all of us."

Vicki turned to hug her mother. "We cannot give up hope, the fact that Barnabas is not here leads me to think he is planning something to help us out of this predicament."

Liz smiled sadly at her daughter, "Let us hope."

Vicki searched her mothers features, "Remember mother, if you and the others have a chance to escape do it without me. Trust that when I can I will join you back at Collinwood."

Elizabeth's eyes brimmed with tears, "Vicki I hope I can do as you ask." It was one of the hardest things her child had asked of her. She had found her, claimed her and now she was being asked to abandon her again. This was wrestling with Elizabeth's conscious to do something do against her maternal instincts.

Vicki smiled, "So do I, because if I have to worry about more than getting myself out, I fear we all may die. Just promise and trust I will do as I say."

The door opened and Radu walked into the room. Vicki noted he was dressed in his dress uniform, red jacket with decorations and wearing his ceremonial sword at his side. The accents were gold epaulets with fringe, a black belt trimmed in gold threading. If anything he cut a dashing figure. with a black tie. Bowing low, "My Princess its time we are to go to the council chambers and wait for My Lord Vlad."

Vicki looked from her mother then back to Radu, "I am ready." Her voice was soft and filled with uncertainty this was a Radu she had never seen before, so correct and formal.

Liz hugged her one more time and left the room. Radu looked down and spoke softly, "Trust me My Lady, you may take the vows of the unholy, you will not spend the night nor will you be made into something you would hate." He had spoken softly for her ears only.

Hearing this Vicki smiled tensely in a voice filled with gratitude she whispered back. "Thank you Radu."

He tucked her hand in the bend of his arm. "You are more beautiful today than I can ever recall you being before."

Vicki smiled, "Thank you Radu, well I guess we need to do this." He led her out of the room down stairs where a white fur cape was laid over her shoulders. Then she was escorted down the cleared front steps of the castle to an awaiting carriage with glass widows. "I have to admit that I do feel like a fairy princess today."

Radu smiled, "You are a Princess. Some day you will be a Queen." Vicki looked at him confused. "What I meant to say is that Elizabeta will be a Queen."

Vicki let out a small sigh. "I am sure they loved each other dearly. The problem is, I may look like her but I am not she. I am and in my heart will always be Victoria Winters Collins."

On the road to the Council House of the Undead

Radu smiled sadly at her, "Well my dear, your carriage awaits. Shall we?" The coach was being pulled by white horses with white and black plumes attached to their headgear. Radu helped and settled Vicki in to the carriage; Radu spoke softly into her ear. "I have seen Barnabas. He is here and he has a plan to rescue you. I am going to help as much as I can. Just remember do what I ask without question."

Vicki looked hopefully to Radu. "Is he . . ." Radu sighed looking out the window, "He is as he was. He is of course worried about you."

Vicki nodded and asked with concern, "The others are they unharmed?"

He nodded, "I said that on orders of Prince Vlad they were to be treated well and allowed to dress for your wedding, they will be there but under heavy guard."

Vicki glanced out the window of the carriage. The night view would have been beautiful if she were back in Collinsport. Her mood was soon plummeting to depression thinking of what she had to endure over the next four hours. Silently she said a little prayer for Barnabas to save her and their family. Vicki continued to watch the scenery they passed. The first inkling they were near any type of civilization was a small village. The villagers had come out wrapped in heavy cloaks waving excitedly to the horse drawn carriage and the beautiful princess inside. Then the horses trotted into a heavily wooded area.

She was glad the inside of the coach was heated, it was apparent that there was nearly two feet of snow on the ground which reminded her of an enchanted winter wonderland. The thought of how cold it was made her shiver; which prompted Radu to wrap another heated lap blanket over her legs. "Better?" He smiled tucking her in.

She nodded. "It looks so desolate and cold."

He nodded; "It is this time of the year. We were fortunate that we did not have as much snow as we usually do." He had comment absently thinking of what was about to happen and how he was going to do something he would never thought he would do in over four hundred years. A part of him felt like a traitor another part of him when he looked at her profile sitting next to him knew no other could make him do what he was about to do but her.

Vicki looked back at him and found she was beginning to relax in his company, "Really?" She felt nervous because she was headed to a wedding ceremony that could ultimately result in her death. "I think my shivers are more being afraid of what will happen to me once we are bonded as man and wife instead of the cold."

Radu covered her hand with his. "I said trust me. Now just get through the next four hours and we will see how you feel then."

The house of the Undead council

Vicki arrived in front of an ancient stone building with towering and intimidating arches. It reminded her of a medieval training arena that knights might have used to practice jousting. With Radu's assistance she exited the carriage to be surrounded by six young teenage girls. Dressed in elaborate gowns they walked down the stairs. Vicki noted that they were dressed as 15th century ladies of the court. And commented on their attire, "Ladies in Waiting?" Radu nodded and watched them take up position behind Vicki; lifting her train and veil. With Radu at her side she was escorted into the building, which was made of stone and wood, with vaulted ceilings, timeless wallpaper, ornate cornices in scripted swirls.

Inner Chamber

The whole room was oppressively daunting. Swallowing hard, she tried to calm her nerves; the weight of the dress was back for her to bear after the girls dropped her train and veil; pausing to straighten it out. The young girls made sure the dress was draped attractively and would flow easily with each step Vicki took. After arranging the veil and dress's train she noted that without much preamble, they fell behind her and Radu. Tucking their chins, bowing their heads, folding their hands in front of them; and then awaiting Radu to lead them into the council chambers. Vicki noticed there were only a few present for this wedding. Looking about for her mother, Carolyn, and Maggie, she relaxed and watched while they were escorted under guard along with Quentin, Willie, Joe, and Chris, who was beginning to sweat glancing anxiously and nervously around. His eyes were fixed to the nearest uncovered window. The moon was due to be full this night and he was already starting to get that itching feeling of his skin crawling.

Professor Stokes was allowed to escort Julia. Vicki noted she held tightly to his arm; with Vlad's castle guard surrounding them. All parties were escorted to a ringside seat near the council podium. Vlad turned to watch his 'guests' being placed in the appropriate places so they could have a ringside seat and see he was going to win this battle and his Elizabeta would be at his side from this day forward. Carolyn and Maggie dressed in the gowns that Vlad had selected for her brides maids were with keeping with his traditions of reliving his original wedding with Elizabeta except it would not be done in a church. Maggie and Carolyn both wore the wispy creation of celery green with an iridescent layer of material over the top making the gown appear to shimmer.

They stepped forward stand next to Vicki. With Vicki's attendants in place, from a curtained alcove appeared Radu and Sorin. Both men walked to take up their places and had silently slipped into place next to Vlad. Vicki watched this through the filter of her veil. Vicki licked her lips nervously; she waited for the lead council member to join them and begin the ceremony. Looking around Vicki noted they were in a circular type room with entry through a stairway that led to a landing, then a long hallway that had been lined with guards that Vicki suspected were part of the legion of the damned.

The stoic demeanor of the council members unnerved the humans in the room. Vicki glanced around to see who else would be present for the wedding ceremony and saw for this part of the ritual it obviously was for the council and her family. Which simulated the civil ceremony that would have been performed during the time of Vlad's original reign. The room was overbearing with all its polished ancient wood, low lighting and bare essentials to the room. Feeling nervous she glanced around, the stairs were wide, the hallway was long and she felt she had been led down the carpeted hallway. This to her felt she was walking a gauntlet. Though her knees felt weak and her legs were shaky she had to do this for her family; squaring her shoulders, holding her head proud she walked to her new life.

The Council President stepped forward to stand between Vicki and Vlad, turning he lifted the veil from her face, and then turned to Vlad. "You know what is expected, you intend to take this one as your eternal life mate, to walk in darkness, to share your soul and gift with her?"

Vlad nodded then taking Vicki's hand lifted it and kissed her wrist, letting his tongue glide over her wrist he then bit it. Drinking deeply from her, he followed the bite by licking her open wound. He watched the wound close. "It is my desire to take back what is mine. To hunt with her, to protect her from the sunlight, to soar into the moonlit nights and share many lifetimes with her."

The Council President turned to Vicki, "Is it you intention to follow him into the night, to join with him as one?" Vicki wanted to speak, to shout no! She wanted to throw her flowers into his face and spit on him. She knew that to do so would just cost her family their lives. She was taking so long that she noted 'the" look she was getting from Vlad, her voice cracked from being dry and she hoarsely acknowledged.

"Yes."

It felt as though it took her a lifetime to say yes. Vlad smiled tipped her head up and gently kissed her lips. She could not make her lips respond to his demand. It mattered not to him, he just took her lips and plundered her mouth with his passionate kiss. He let his mouth slide from her mouth and travel down her throat, once he was there, he feathered light sweet kisses over her neck then bit down and once again, took from her enough blood to bring her under his thrall. Vicki stood transfixed while Vlad closed the wound on her throat. The Council President smiled, "Then by the powers invested in me by the sacred council I bond you and entreat you go into the night and become one." Members of the ancient order of the Vampric Council began to clap. Vlad smiled, swept Vicki up in his arms and carried her from the room. The witnesses followed, leaving Vicki's family and friends to stand before the council.

"We have a new member to welcome to our community tonight, you as her family will be expected to offer a blessing at the civil ceremony, your failure to accept this marriage will find yourselves thrown out into the community to do with as we see fit. So, plan your words well." Elizabeth, Carolyn, Maggie, and Quentin, found the whole ceremony distasteful and an affront to the human nature. Elizabeth could not watch Vlad take her daughter's blood and had averted her gaze, Carolyn glanced down, and she did not like the idea that Vicki was being subjected to the very act that had brought her and Petru together. Finally, Quentin was feeling his rage build inside watching Vicki being forced against her nature to submit to this animal. His own guilt over what he was before the Portrait of him was painted forced him to study a point on his shoe.

Willie licked his lips nervously as he watched then had to avert his eyes. This was Vicki, someone that epitomized all that was pure and good and now she was being sullied by something far worse than Barnabas ever was. He glanced over to see what everyone else's reaction was and found he was relieved they had reacted as he had. Chris kept nervously peering around the room; the moon was hidden behind a heavy cloudbank. For that he was glad, because the minute that moon appeared he would have no control over his reverting. He was glad that the ceremony before this farce of a council was over. Perhaps the moon would wait until he could get back to the castle. His skin was crawling, he knew a transformation was forth coming. He began to twitch, which caused one of the guards to poke him with his staff. "Stand still dog, we will be going back to the Castle Chaplet to have the next ceremony." He pushed Chris and it was all Chris could do to not turn on him and rip his head from his body.

Ride to Castle Dracula

Vlad had carried Vicki to the carriage. Sitting next to her he was very animated. "Soon my love, we shall soar together in the moonlit sky. We shall share ourselves with each other. You will truly be one with me and the night." He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. She sat staring ahead, still under his thrall. "Are you happy my dear?" He spoke in her ear, "You are released from my hold."

Vicki blinked; half turning to look at Vlad. "I am sorry did you say something?" It had been a surreal feeling not having control over her actions, thoughts or reasoning.

He pulled her close to him. "I asked you if you were happy?"

Vicki sighed and looked down at her bouquet of flowers. "Vlad if I say no, you will be angry and will hurt my family, if I say yes, I would by less than truthful. I just want to know if my family is not harmed and are allowed to be freed, if I agree to be yours forever?"

His look turned sour immediately, "I would prefer you to be happy to be my wife Elizabeta, and as for your family they have caused me more problems than you can imagine. If I let them go they will become misguided and wish to save you from me. So, I plan to keep them where I can control them and that will be here with me."

Vicki looked away from him, fighting back the tears that burned her eyes. "Would you please reconsider your decision?" He pulled her chin up to peer into her eyes.

"I might reconsider if you would convince your family you will be happy with me."

Vicki dropped her gaze from his intense stare, "How can I be anything other than what I am. I am not happy here. My family is one of the most important things I cherish in my life and you threaten them."

He squeezed her hand. "You will think differently after we have been married for a while." Vicki took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She fell silent knitting her fingers through the material of her veil she turned away to watch the passing scenery.

Castle Dracula Chaplet

The coach stopped in front of the castle; castle staff stepped forward to help hold Vicki's train. Vlad guided her to the remodeled chaplet where a nervous thin man in a work worn grey suit fidgeted while waiting for their approach. He looked about the high arched room then swallowed as nervously as he shifted uncomfortably waiting for Vicki and Vlad to appear in front of him. When the bridal couple walked into the chaplet, Vicki became aware of more guests in attendance. Clearing his throat the rat faced man nodded to the alter where a document laid, "Come my dear we must sign our civil marriage license." Vlad stepped forward to sign first, he turned smiled and handed her the pen. "Here my love, and when this is signed, the alter man will perform the ceremony with a Priest from the castle.

Vicki felt her hand tremble taking the pen. Where was her courage? What happened to Radu, she had not seen him since she was escorted into the council chambers. Vlad covered her hand with his. "Sign Elizabeta Banal." His voice was cold and harsh as he slowly released her hand; Vicki swallowed the knot in her throat, put her hand to pen and paper and with resignation signed Elizabeta Banal. Laying the pen down, she stepped down to knell on the first step of the two little stairs. It was as she had been instructed. Vlad knelt next to her.