Chapter 24
Lower levels of Castle Dracula
Her face was pale and she lay unconscious in his arms. Bending his head, he bit into Vicki's throat taking her blood, and then he bit his wrist and forced it to her lips. "Drink Vicki, drink." Vicki pressed her lips to his wrist; tentatively licking the blood from his wrist.
From the open doorway Radu heard a voice that was bordering on rage "NO!" He advanced on Radu. "Leave her be, if she is to come over, then it will be by me!" Barnabas lunged towards Radu with the intent of ending this being's life. Radu gently laid her on the floor. Rising he stepped away from Barnabas faster than Barnabas could move. Radu turned to smile at Barnabas and then he performed a mocking salute to him.
Turning he spoke with a hint of edged anger, "You don't deserve her." With those words he changed into mist form drifting from the room. Barnabas bent over Vicki lying on the floor, carefully he bent lifted her and then cradled her in his arms, and he bent his head and placed a light kiss on her lips.
"My darling, if you are to join the legion of undead then let it be by my means." Lifting her in his arms; he kissed her lips one more time, then lowered his lips to her throat. There he bit and drew blood from her body feeling her heartbeat slow, as the heart beat grew slower to a scant six beats a minute, he bit his wrist and pressed his blood into Vicki's mouth. "Forgive me my love. You have to drink."
Vicki weakly drank from his wrist then collapsed. Barnabas cradled her close to his chest and then he heard it, ever so softly it beat faster than the mother's heartbeat. Barnabas realized she was pregnant; his life was filled with absolute fear and revulsion over what he had just done. "No, for all that is pure and good, please no." He cried into the echoing darkness that surrounded them both. Silence greeted him and fear grew in his heart. Looking down at his wife he looked upon her pale features and prayed her would see her chest rise and fall.
He listened for the frail heartbeat of his wife. It was slowed and then it beat no more, then following the beat of the other tiny heart it too began to slow; to a point that Barnabas was sure it had stopped. Unimaginable grief filled him. He held her body in his arms looking into the purity of her face. "Why? Why does this keep happening?" Tears filling his eyes, he looked up to an unseen force and called out, "Please let her live, let them both live, I will give up my life to allow them to live." Barnabas held Vicki as he had held his dearest Sarah the day she died, burying his head against her breast. His body shook with the intensity of his emotions he waited.
Then it came ever so softly, so sweet to his ears he heard the tiny heartbeat first. Slow, then faster, as the baby's heartbeat grew in strength its mother drew breath. Her eyes opened and she gasped drawing in air, Barnabas was amazed. How was it possible? Her heart beat; she was drawing air and expelling air. She lived! Whatever higher power had heard his plea, she lived. Vicki spoke softly to him, "Barnabas?" He held her close, rocking with her in his arms.
"Yes, my dearest love, I am here."
She smiled then looked concerned, "You are crying. Why?"
He looked deep into her gaze. "I was afraid you had died my love. I did not know if I would ever see you again."
Vicki licked her lips; tasting the sweet brine of blood. "Barnabas, I need to know something."
He cupped her face in his palm. "Yes?"
She reached up with tender fingers; brushing the tears from his face. "Are you the original Barnabas, the one I met in 1795?"
He took a deep breath; looking away with shame he nodded. "I am he."
Vicki gently turned his face back to her gaze, "I loved you then and I love you now. I understand what Angelique did, there is much we must discuss when we get back to Collinwood."
He sighed then smiled sadly. "I will be forthcoming with anything you wish to ask me that I am able to answer my dearest one."
She smiled, "I too will be forthcoming. I will be your faithful and forever wife."
Her eyes glowed with a red intensity and then she smiled. "I promise together we will find a way to fix what has happened and fill our lives with love and children."
Barnabas gathered her up in his arms; carrying her down a long dank hallway to the outside. There they were greeted by a moonlit, snow covered mountains and the smell of burning wood and mortar. Walking with her towards the strand of trees away from the castle that now stood burning under the night sky. Vicki glanced over to the trees and saw him; blending with the snow a white wolf with feral glowing eyes.
When he saw her watching him he stood lifted his head and began to howl. Barnabas turned and glared at the wolf that turned; disappearing into the woods. "He means no harm to us Barnabas, he helped Mother, Carolyn, Maggie and Julia to escape and he protected me from being killed by one of the mercenaries."
Barnabas smiled at her, "Then I owe him a debt of gratitude." Barnabas carried Vicki to the transport van; Joe helped lift Vicki into the van. Carolyn looked anxiously around and noted George and Liz were the only ones missing. Barnabas turned to Joe; "Take care of them, get them to the plane, I will go and bring George and Elizabeth back here and we will wait for the Captain. Once they clean up here we will meet you at the plane."
Maggie snuggled in close to Joe resting her head on Joe's shoulder. He gently stroked her hair from her face. "Its ok Maggie, we will be home in no time."
Three mercenaries pulled the sedated body of Chris Jennings through the snow to another vehicle, following them were two more that helped George and Elizabeth to the vehicle. Barnabas did a mental checklist; Elizabeth, George, Chris, and he were with the surviving mercenaries.
They were loading up, the living wounded into the one van, while the comrades had brought out their dead buddies. Placing them in the other vehicle and covering their bodies with plastic, their stoic grime faces len truth to the mission they had just completed. Obviously they were bearing up under the levity of the situation they had just experienced. Barnabas watched Quentin start his transport and pull away; he did another mental checklist. In the vehicle driven by Quentin were Maggie, Willie, Joe, Carolyn, Julia, Professor Stokes and Vicki. They all were accounted for and were now safely secure in their vehicles headed back to the plane.
The last of the mercenaries loaded their payload and dead into the last transport vehicle and drove away headed to the private hanger being used by the Collin's family. This had been one of the biggest battles they had been involved and the highest death count they had suffered since going private sector. Their hearts were heavy with their losses and the thought it was going to be hard telling their wives and children that their husband or daddy would not be home for Christmas.
The Plane on the way home
Barnabas sat next next to Vicki noting she was sound asleep; gently he pushed up her lip and noted she was just beginning to form canine teeth. His heart was ripped apart, never would he had ever wanted her to become what he was and the most horrific part was she carried his child, while she was in mid transformation. Julia broke from the security of Elliott's arms and sat on the other side of Vicki looking with assurance to Barnabas she spoke. "Don't worry Barnabas, Elliott has found a temporary solution to our problem and I can start you both on the cure when we get back to Collinwood."
Barnabas leaned into Julia and spoke softly in her ear, "Vicki is pregnant, there is a child in her womb, and how will it affect the baby?"
Julia put her hand over Vicki's stomach and could feel the beginning of the maternity bump. "I am not sure Barnabas, but if we don't do this, she could loose the baby when she transforms."
Julia frowned, "Its an unknown Barnabas and no guarantees. All we can do is hope that the baby will accept the treatment in her mother's blood."
Barnabas was exhausted. He glanced outside the window and noted that sunrise was a few scant minutes away. "I must go to the cargo hold Julia, what should we do about Vicki?"
She turned to Quentin, "Quentin, I need yours and Willie's help please."
Quentin showing his immediate concern hurried to Julia's side. "Willie, go back to the sleeping area and close all the windows and make the room as dark as possible, Quentin, I need you to carry Vicki to the bed. Barnabas you go and do what you must. It's a long flight back home and by the time we get there it will be well past dark."
Barnabas stood, then bent to kiss Vicki's forehead. "Rest my love."
George knew what was happening, however; a confused Elizabeth was less informed.
"What is going on with Vicki?" She stood; Elliott stood in front of Elizabeth and guided her back to George's side.
"Elizabeth, you know how highly I regard you?" Liz shook her head. "Then allow Julia to do what she needs to do to protect and care for Vicki."
Julia turned to those in the cabin; "I just found out Vicki is pregnant. We must get her comfortable before we get home. Don't worry about her, I will do whatever I can to care for her and her child."
George turned Elizabeth to face him. "Liz, you know I love you, you know I would do anything for you and our daughter? Sit down we have a lot to talk about and how we plan to take care of our children and apparently our grandchild."
Somewhere over the Baring seas
The luxurious confines of the private jet went unnoticed by the exhausted group that now occupied the main area that would have been considered first class. The rear section had been divided into sleeping quarters and seating. The contingent of mercenaries stretched out in the seats trying to sleep. The mood was somber because some of their comrades were making this trip home in a body bag. Sergeant Cane did a quick head count made out his report, then slid into a light sleep, this trip was going to take all of 14 hours. He just wanted to rest. This had been one of his bloodiest battles to date. Now all he wanted to do was rest. He watched the family huddled together and they looked like they had been put through hell. He sighed; at least they were safe from the bloodsuckers that had taken so many of his men.
He wondered if the 550,000 dollars Collins had paid for their services were worth it? A lot of good men had been sacrificed today and for what? A bunch of depraved half human beings that had no right to live and share the same air or earth as he. Strigoi were the worst to fight, they always-left death in their wake whether or not they lived. Deep down his hatred for such things made his skin itch to kill something. All he wanted now was to get home, take a bath, see his wife and wish the kids a Merry Christmas. Then it dawned on him, they were going back a day when they arrived home, it would be Christmas Eve. He would be home for Christmas and it was not going to be in his dreams. It brought a smile to his lips. Christmas was a time of rebirth and new beginnings or at least that was what he had always been taught growing up in a strong Christian home.
From somewhere in his heart he found some joy in the thought of waking up tomorrow to see his kids opening up Christmas presents. He started with his deep base voice, "Silent Night, Holy Night, All is Calm, All is Bright . . . " The rest of his company joined in with war weary voices singing Silent Night and now he found it ironic that Silent Night was the first Christmas Carole he had thought to sing, he knew this night was silent now, but earlier, that would be left up to God because he would have to sort out the souls that lost their lives this bloody night. The singing of such a time-honored Christmas Carole gave him peace and helped his men adjust to what they had gone through and whom they had lost this night.
The singing soldiers could be heard in the section of the cabin occupied by the Collins family. Elizabeth sighed and smiled; the song they sang had always been one of her favorites since childhood. She snuggled closer to George's warmth and spoke softly, "I love you George Patterson, or should I say Grandpa?" She slid her chin up to peer into his eyes.
George chuckled and it vibrated against her cheek, "Grandparents. Elizabeth we are going to be grandparents. That is an even bigger responsibility than being a parent."
Liz chuckled softly, "Yes darling it is and I think we are more than ready to accept that responsibility. I think together we can handle anything."
Carolyn watched her mother and George Patterson huddled together with George protectively holding onto Liz, leaning to Maggie Carolyn spoke softly, "They make such a cute couple don't you think?"
Maggie lifted her head to look over to George and Liz, "Yes I think they do. They seemed suited to each other kind of like Joe and me." She turned her gaze to her fiancé that stood over his sedated cousin, covering his body with a blanket. Joe turned and stepped back to Maggie and Carolyn Joe lowered his body into the seat next to Maggie.
"He is going to be sleeping the whole trip back, at least we don't need to worry about him going all wolf on us. That really must have been some very potent sedation they used." Maggie glanced at Chris sleeping soundly in his torn clothing. She had witnessed him attacking one of the vampire counsel members that had tried to come after her when she made her escape out of the door. Chris had pounced and ripped open the throat of the vampire. Her fear was he had seen her and was advancing towards her when a dart hit his hip and he yelped in pain. He turned to the attacker that had just shot him, snarled then dropped. When he dropped in wolf form, his body shimmered and he reformed to his human form. Maggie was not sure but at that moment in her fear she was sure she saw another figure shimmer into view.
It had been a most peculiar figure, dressed in a black mesh body-fitting suit that appeared to have a cross section of webbing weaved into the suit. It had no face and it had masculine attributes so she assumed it was as a man but was shaped like a woman. The figure just appeared through what looked like a split in the fabric of reality that surrounded them. Blinking she rubbed her eyes and looked again. The figure for what was the briefest of moments was there and now was gone. Maggie figured she was hallucinating from her extreme fatigue and blood loss.
The two mercenaries that had darted Chris now moved to her and escorted her from the building. She was sure she had seen Petru squirming his own cowardly escape with his father through a back entrance of the castle, as all hell broke loose. She did not have a chance to think about it further the mercs were hurrying her along the deep snowdrifts to the transport vehicle. Finding Quentin sitting behind the wheel she was just glad to finally be out of the prison that had held her for what seemed a lifetime.
The flight was a long one and the party on board had tried to rest, Julia walked from the small sleeping area from checking on Vicki to sitting with her husband. She noticed that this trip had taken its toll on her husband. He was unusually quiet siting in his chair with his eyes closed. She saw the bruising of his ill treatment and gently touched his face. "My poor Elliott, this had been a rough one on all of us."
Elliott snuggled closer to his wife and smiled, "I could weather about anything as long as I knew you were safe and not being ill used. Don't you know that my dear Mrs. Stokes?" His voice was soft and filled with the tenderness of his deep feelings for her.
Julia chuckled softly, "I just know when I saw them beating you I wanted to kill them with my bare hands my dearest Timothy." She kissed him lightly on his lips. "I would have gladly given my life to secure your release. There were times that I was not sure we were going to make it out of there alive." She suppressed a shudder at the thought.
Elliott nodded slowly and winced, the action reminding him he had been ill used. "When we get home, I want to sleep for a month in your arms." Elliott was sounding tired and talking silly love talk.
"I want to sleep in your arms too my dear but not for a month. I would be just as happy to do it for a week, I fear we both would grow weary of each other or bored if we extended it to a month." Julia was happy to be with her husband and in his arms it left her feeling warm and secure.
Quentin walked to Carolyn's side and drug her into his warm arms and nestled his chin against her head. "How are you doing cousin?" He whispered softly in her ear. He looked at her neck and saw that one of those blood-sucking monsters had used her for a food source. He was concerned for her well-being.
Carolyn softly spoke with a hint of resignation to the unimaginable fatigue and now sudden loss of feeling she was no longer a prisoner left her unnerved. "I survived Quentin, I am just so glad you and Barnabas were able to get us the hell out of there. I was afraid I was going to be forced to watch Vicki become one of them. She made us promise that if we got the chance to escape to leave her behind and escape. We all had problems with it but her reasoning was sound."
Quentin thought about the beautiful woman that had married his cousin. "I think she knew that if she did not have to worry about your safety she would have found a way to escape herself. Tepes was using you as leverage to gain her co-operation to stay with him. With just a hint of a promise to let you go to get her to do what he wanted."
Carolyn nodded, "I know it did not make it easier but we knew if we had the chance we would escape and find a way to help her escape. Then Radu came to me and told me that you were waiting by the roadway and directed me to use a secret passage out of the castle to find you. That was before the world blew up!"
Quentin laughed, "You have Barnabas to thank for that part of the rescue. It was his idea to use mercenaries with special abilities to help with the rescue. He sold off some of his families' jewels to gather all the weapons and men we needed to bring you out. He even had me buy this plane for him so we would have transportation. As an extra incentive, I chipped in an additional two hundred fifty thoughts dollars as insurance to get the mercenaries to bring you all out alive."
" Oh my could you afford that?" Then as an after thought she asked, "You don't think he is broke now that he has us back do you?" Carolyn knew this kind of operation must have cost a mint.
Quentin laughed, "Of course I could afford it! My god woma very wealthy man and that was a drop in the bucket to what I have or could have chipped in for this operation." Then he shook his head. "As for Barnabas being broke, not on your life. You see I paid for a portion and Barnabas paid for a portion. He has money left that he and Vicki could easily live comfortably for the rest of their natural lives as well as those of their children and their grandchildren, so don't you worry about his fortune it is still in tact as is mine. ."
Carolyn nestled close to his wide chest and closed her eyes, "Well I am going to try and sleep and use you as my favorite pillow if that is all right with you?"
Quentin wrapped his arms around her slender shoulders and closed his eyes. "We will try to nap together, rest my dear and tomorrow will be Christmas Eve." He kissed the top of her head.
Willie sat watching Vicki while she slept, she would occasional jerk or whimper then settle down. He could only imagine what she might have been put through and it bothered him. Reaching forward he picked up her delicate hand he looked at the slender fingers. "Vicki, ya gotta get better, you are the only one that can make him happy. You can't die and you can't be like him. You would not like it and would hate it if anything bad happened to the kid you are carrying." He held her hand and watched her until he too began to feel sleepy and then laid his head on the bed next to her body as she slept. It was going to be Christmas and he was alone again. He could not believe that bitch Sonja was using him. He thought of one word to describe her and that was bitch. At least he did not have to worry about her any more, he watched as one of the mercenaries blew her apart with his silver nitrate gun and she died with a horrible gurgling noise coming from her throat.
Earlier at Castle Dracula
Willie had walked to her side and looked down at her while she stared helplessly up at him. "Ain't life a bitch? Guess you know now never jack with the Collins Family." He had turned and walked away leaving her to die alone.
Collinsport Maine
Collinwood
Collinwood was lit up with colorful Christmas lights, Roger had a sleigh with nine tiny artificial reindeers appearing to take flight from the front snow covered lawn. Lights cheerfully entreated the viewer to enter the porte conchere to the front double doors of Collinwood. Double wreaths decorated the doors making a warm cheerful welcome to those that chose to visit this house on Widows Hill. The weary travelers pulled in front of the doors, Roger opened the door to expose the interior of the house to more Christmas decorations, to the sight of a huge blue spruce with gaily twinkling lights, ornaments and tinseled ice cycles hanging from the branches. Beneath the tree lying invitingly on a blanket of white with glitter sprinkles were a cornucopia of presents.
When George and Liz exited the van, Roger rushed to his sister and hugged her tightly and then stepped aside so David could latch on to his Aunt and hold her tightly. That is until he saw Barnabas help Vicki step out; David let out a yelp "Vicki!"
He nearly bowled her over running head long into her open arms and hugged her, then he stopped looked curious, put his head to her stomach and listened. "Your stomach is making a funny pitter patter noise."
Vicki laughed, holding him tightly to her she spoke softly to him, "David, that is your new cousin, you are going to be an older brother to him or her."
David's eyes lit up. "Really? Like a Big Brother to someone I can boss around?"
Vicki laughed and shook her head. "I doubt you will want to boss them around, but if that is how you wish to view it now, then by all means, yes another little one to boss around."
He held her tight, "I sure missed you Vicki and I am so glad you are home."
Vicki looked around at Collinwood then back to David, "And I am happy to be home."
Old House Vicki and Barnabas' bedroom
Christmas morning dawned to a feel of more snow in the air and the crisp wind. Vicki held her breath, Julia had given her and Barnabas an injection the night before, and it had made her feel ill at first. She held her hand protectively over her stomach feeling the baby at rest in her womb unaffected by what was happening to her mother. Barnabas showed an immediate reaction his blood lust and canines recessed into his gums, his eyes no longer held an intense glow. Slowly, she walked to the window and carefully pushed back the curtain and put her fingertips to the sunlight. Nothing, no burning sensation, moving to the mirror she peered at herself in the mirror and smiled, lifting her lip with her index finger and noticed her canines were normal. Feeling excited, she squealed then ran headlong to the bed where her husband slept. Diving under the covers next to him she snuggled close to him and whispered "Merry Christmas my love."
Barnabas smiled, kissed the top of her head and snuggled closer to her, "Merry Christmas to you too Mrs. Collins"
TBCWhat will spring bring to the Barnabas Collins family? What new adventures will Barnabas and Vicki have to face to hold onto their love? The next installment will surely bring about some really interesting situations as Vicki becomes familiar with her newly found powers.
The next installment A Dark Shadows Spring at Collinwood