Chapters 19

Vicki sat in the nursery singing softly to her baby. She smiled watching her daughter study her with an intensity that was far to mature for her infantile mind. The heavy roll of thunder made her aware of the dangers of living on a coast in the summer with the advent of a predicted hurricane. They were on high enough ground to not have the concerns normally associated with the advent of a storm surge.

Unfortunately the residents living along the coastline did not have that luxury and Barnabas along with Roger and Willie had gone to fetch Quentin and Daphne. Liz had extended and offered the ballroom of the west wing as a storm shelter and had felt guilty she had not done so before now.

She watched as her daughter's eyelids became heavy with sleep and lower then close. She was struck by the totality of the innocence that enveloped her child in her sleep and how it was reflected in the purity of her face. Rising she moved to her room, and placed the baby in the crib, covering her with the warm pink blanket edged with the gaily jumping white lambs on the decorative ribbon that laced the edge of the blanket.

Turning she looked to the windows of her room and frowned. She could not see out of the shutters that Willie had put in place earlier. She was reminded that they needed to get more shutters so all the windows would be protected. Looking at her baby one more time, she moved to the hallway and started down the stairs, when Mrs. Cook came bustling into view.

"Oh Mrs. Collins, do you want me to go to Collinwood to help out Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Smith with all the new mouths they have to feed?"

Vicki nodded, "That might be helpful. I suppose if things get too over whelming some of the towns people could come here."

Mrs. Cook smiled at the generosity of her employer as she moved back to the kitchen. Vicki continued down the stairs and this was one day she had been grateful she had chosen a pair of jeans and light summer weight sweater to wear. Her tennis shoes had cushioned her footfalls and nearly made her advance silent as she entered the drawing room intent of going to her sitting room.

There were some household expenses that needed her attention and she did not want to delay addressing them. As she moved to the hallway leading to her sitting room, she was arrested by a scent of jasmine. Pausing she turned and looked around, "Josette?"

She searched the hallway for the lovely ghost and found her shadow drifting down the hallway to Vicki's sitting room. She paused and smiled waving Vicki to follow her. Vicki smiled; it had been a while since she had seen her and the thought of having a conversation with the lovely young ghost brought a tender smile to her lips.

Moving forward she opened the door and found Josette standing by the table in front of the window to her sitting room. "Josette? What a pleasure to see you."

Josette drifted around the room not speaking and paused again by the small fireplace that was lit by a fire giving the room a cheerful feel. "Victoria, much danger lies ahead and this night evil roams the great estate of Collinwood. An old enemy will make their return and you must use caution."

Vicki had felt no threat since the attack on her child on the date of her birth. Vicki had found herself lulled into a false sense of security as she and Barnabas fell into a routine as dull as could be expected for their family. "What do you mean?"

Josette shifted and drifted away from the window. "mon Dieu,. Mon petit bien-aimé. This is the evil that tried to take our loving David. Le phénix has risen and is returning. You must guard yourself she is coming for you my dear and she knows of our little bebe Josette and will try to do harm to her."

Vicki felt a panic like no other she had felt before. "Is she coming for David as well?"

She watched Josette shift floating about the room in a gliding fashion. "I know she comes for him she did not get him and her dark master has granted her another chance. He requires the sacrifice of an innocent and who better to take than our David."

Vicki bit down on her bottom lip and studied the apparition that had helped her with this problem once before. Vicki nodded, "I am prepared for her kind and I hope she realizes that I will view her to be of no threat if she comes to harm my family or me. She will do well to know I will be more of a threat for her."

Josette smiled, "I knew you should be warned. Je vous dis au revoir my sweet Victoria."

She shimmered from view and Vicki moved to the fireplace. "So, Laura wants to come back into our lives. Perhaps I shall allow her a small passage and finish this threat once and for all."

She studied the flames watching them move and dance with the subtle change of the wind that now whistled down the flue to incense its deadly dance, it was beautiful to watch the flames change their shape and color with each subtle nuance added from the log that gave in to its demands to add more fuel to its desired affects of consuming more out its life. 'Fire is your life so I guess we shall make sure that you have no fire when I confront you."

She had muttered under her breath watching the fire. From behind a voice called to her. "Vicki?"

Vicki turned seeing Daphne in the doorway. "Oh hello Daphne, did you and Quentin decide to stay here tonight?"

Daphne moved into the room and the unassuming beauty before her struck Vicki with why Quentin was so attracted to her. "That is if it's ok with you and Barnabas, I fear though Elizabeth may have more on her hands with all the people flooding into Collinwood. I may have Quentin take me to Collinwood to help there. He was supposed to call and let me know if he thought I would be needed."

Vicki nodded, "I would think with the help of Mrs. Cook, Maggie, Joe was sure coming up to Collinwood, Carolyn said that Tony was coming up; along with the new staff, I would think with all those people they would be falling over each other."

Daphne pursed her lips then nodded, "I guess you are right. Would you mind if I went up and looked at our little precious darling?"

Vicki smiled, "No go on, I did just put her down, but I seriously doubt she would sleep very long what with the wind howling and threatening to tear down the house around our very ears."

Daphne turned and left the room. Vicki sat at her desk and pulled the receipts from her desk drawer and began to sort through them. "Hello Victoria." The words were soft and held an underlying hint of a threat.

Peering up and around the room, she felt her nostrils flare at the scent of death. Standing she stepped away from the desk and backed up against the chair, pulling it in front of her to use as a wall between her and whomever was in the room.

Stepping from the darkness was Baal. Her heart threatened to beat from her chest staring at the image before her. "You are a clever little thing thinking you could best me and escape."

Vicki kept the chair and desk between her and the image of the man before her. "I did beat you, I escaped and you are never going to take me again."

The laugh was unpleasant and echoed the room filling it with its chill. "Oh, I think I won't have to take you. I think you will come to me willingly."

Vicki dug her fingers into the chairs fine leather covering. "I think you are trying to frighten me and its not working, you are just making me mad."

She felt the cold embrace of the god of death and destruction made his presence known in the room. "It won't be tonight my dear, it won't be tomorrow night. Protect well those you love and cherish for a storm is coming and the next time we meet, you will stand by my side and share in this world's destruction, heed my words well Victoria, I never loose."

With the utterance of those words, his image disappeared from the room and the flames behind her flared with a whoosh as his presence left the room. Vicki crumpled over the back of her chair resting her forehead on the top as she waited for her fear to pass and the trembling to leave her body.

The room's pressure shifted as her door was thrust open, startling her to bolt upright and stare with open fear at the doorway to a figure that was outlined in the darkness. "Vicki?" She relaxed and smiled with her gratitude as her husband entered the room.

"Darling? Whatever is wrong you look as if you seen a ghost." Vicki rushed to his open arms and pressed in close to his body. "Oh my silly imagination, I thought you were one of Baal's minions coming to torment me. He was here in image only right before you came in."

Barnabas frowned and glanced around the room, just sensing the presence of evil that was slowly dissipating. Pressing her head held gently but protectively to his chest he let his own gaze peer around the room. "I see, so he has threatened you?"

She glanced up and saw the look of anger on her husband's face and she had only seen that look one other time and she was the brunt of the ire and had found it most unpleasant.

That had been so long ago, that she had almost forgotten how dangerously cold he could be when he was angry. Holding close to him she was glad those days were long gone. "I can handle him my love it is he did not threaten me he threaten those I love."

Once again, she saw that dangerous haunting look. Barnabas did not take kindly to threats against himself or his family, he had been remiss in heeding advice when Angelique had threaten him through his family and this was just an ugly reminder of that time so very long ago.

"My dear it is my intention to make sure you do not have to deal with him." He lifted her chin with his fingertips, to lower his lips and capture her lips and kiss her lightly on her lips. Vicki was not content with a chaste kiss, she had been far too long gone from her husband and craved his touch she locked her arms around his neck and extended the kiss with the fervor of her passion.

She moaned as she felt his hand creep up to caress her breast that sent her pressing into his body more. It was the sound of a baby crying that broke the moment of passion and separate the lovers. Barnabas smiled and hid his frustration and he arousal as the door opened and the crying baby held by Daphne entered the room.

"Oh, sorry am I interrupting?" Vicki looked slyly to Barnabas and saw he had moved to the window with his back to the room. Vicki suspected it was to hide his discomfiture of being discovered in the throes of his passion.

"No Daphne, what is going on?" Daphne beamed holding the crying baby. "I think she is wet, I just need to know where are the diapers?"

Vicki nodded, "I put them in the nursery under her dressing table. You will see the diaper pail and the cabinet right next to it will house her diapers and; her changing pad. Do you want me to change her?"

She shook her head, "No, I actually am looking forward to getting some practice in."

Vicki laughed, "Well I hope it's just wet and well if there are other little surprises, you can find the soft cloths, powder and lotion under the cabinet, just be sure to rinse out the diaper before you tuck it in the pale. I fear Carolyn was a little remiss and did not follow the procedure and well it was very unpleasant in her room for a couple of days."

Daphne laughed, "I had brothers and sisters I was the oldest so I know all about rinsing."

She backed out of the room with the still crying baby. "You can turn around my love, she is gone and the coast is clear."

He turned with a mischievous look on his face. "The coast is clear?"

She laughed, "It's a slang term meaning you can do whatever you want there is no one to see." He moved to his wife and scooped her up in his arms. "What I would like to do we can't right now but you just wait Mrs. Collins tonight I will take you to new heights of ecstasy and let you float on a pool of pleasure."

She shivered, "Oh I love how you talk Mr. Collins, I just hope you are able to execute on your promises."

She leaned into him resting her palms against his chest her chin tipped so she could look into his eyes. He smiled as he held her close, "Oh my dear Mrs. Collins I assure you I can execute on my promises and then some."

She laughed, and then leaned up to plant a deep passionate kiss on his lips. Sliding her palms up to locking her arms around his neck. She closed her eyes and gave in to the feel of the moment she had missed this intimate sharing of body and emotions with the man she loved.

Her return precipitated her delivery of Josette and forestalled any love play with her husband for nearly six weeks. There had been an adjustment to having a new baby in the house, company coming to pay their respects to mother and child and happy father.

Their nights had been a time of just beginning to adjust to each other once again only to be interrupted by the cry of a hungry baby or a wet baby. Barnabas had been willing to change the diaper as long as it held no nasty surprises or smell. Vicki had laughed as he made a face the first time he had found a diaper that was less than wet or pleasant and how he had held her out and looked with complete anxiety to Vicki to take her.

She had found him one evening sitting in the nursery speaking to their daughter on how he would not allow her to date until she was thirty. That he wanted to know her boyfriends completely before she could date them. Vicki had found herself doubled over with laughter at the seriousness of his talk. To which he had been offended by her mirth over his duties as a concerned father.

Now that she had her last check up and the doctor had given her the all clear to resume her marital relationship she had made plans to play a sexy siren for her husband. Her plans had been to give him one of the most sensually sweet nights of pleasure and love making only to have nature show her displeasure and send a hurricane barreling their way.

Oh nature how had you wrecked her night of passionate love making. Even now a subtle reminder of what had thwarted her plans when the lights flickered she broke her kiss and she smiled, "Oh my do you think our hot passion caused the lights to dim because they could not compare to our hot steamy love?"

Barnabas was not about to part with this pliable vixen in his hold. Removing one hand to flick her nose he called her an imp and she wrinkled her nose scrunching it at him and sending him into a peal of laughter.

It had been far too long since they had shared laughter together and it felt right. The mood had been lightened and he was finding his happiness once again. "I think you dare to dream to think you could compete with nature and her ire with us mere mortals."

Vicki laughed, "I think Aerith, Aerwyna, Canice, and Sorcha would take exception to such a claim as you made Mr. Collins." H

e gave a faux look of contrition and then captured her lips again. He allowed himself the selfish delight of taking advantage of his wife as he held her in his arms. A polite cough interrupted the two and they turned to peer at an embarrassed Quentin.

"I am so sorry to break this up, your mother is on the phone Vicki, she sounds quite distracted."

Vicki with a look of regret broke free from her husbands light lovemaking and moved to the foyer to pick up the phone. "Hello?"

Elizabeth was near tears. "Oh Vicki darling, I hate to bother you but I am beside myself. We have some injured and some hysterical townspeople in the ballroom and I am almost out of bedding to make them comfortable. Would you or Barnabas have any that you could spare?"

Vicki felt sorry for her mother, "I most certainly do mother. I will send Willie over and have him stay to help if you need him."

Liz Stoddard sounded relieved. "Oh that would be lovely dear. I so appreciate your offer. Is Josette safe?"

Vicki smiled, "Yes, mother she is very safe she is currently wrapped in the arms of love by her god mother." Liz was beginning to sound less stress she paused in her conversation to give instructions to the household help.

Since her wedding to George, Elizabeth had hired a handyman, three maids, and a gardener, which had increased the household staff by double if not triple to what she had.

"Mother are you sure you are doing ok? "

Liz sighed and with that action Vicki knew she was stressed but getting it under control. "I am doing the best I can under the circumstances. I was concerned I would not have enough blankets."

icki thought and then offered, "Mother, send someone into the servants wing of the west wing, there are a ton of blankets and bedding there."

Liz was surprised, "How did you know about the servants wing?"

Vicki was not going to lie; she was just going to hedge. "You remember when you were going to allow Burke and me to live in the west wing after we were married?"

Liz was not sure and then recalled they had offered the west wing for Vicki's and Burke's use to help David over his rough patch. "Yes."

Vicki took a breath and crossed her fingers behind her back. "Well I did a little exploring and found the servants quarters and the stock pile of bedding in one of the rooms."

Liz seemed to accept that explanation and sighed with relief. "With what you found there darling do you think I will need your blankets?"

Vicki thought then said; "I will send them anyway and if you need them you will have them and if you don't I can get them later." Liz seemed satisfied with that solution and hung up.

Vicki found Willie finishing up with his job of securing the house and garage "Willie, I need a favor."

Willie turned looking at Vicki; he rested his hands on his hips. Vicki looked the man over and noted he had been hard at work, with his sleeves turned up and his hair tousled by the wind and rain.

"Yeah sure Vicki." She nodded to the basement. "In the basement are three trunks they have spare blankets and sheets in them. Would you take those trunks over to Collinwood to my mother? They have half of Collinsport seeking shelter in the west wing ballroom and they were running out of bedding."

He nodded and smiled, "Sure if you think you won't need me any more tonight?"

Vicki smiled, "No I am sure Barnabas and Quentin can handle anything else, and if my mother needs help would you mind staying to help her?"

He shook his head. "Nope I will be happy to stay."

Vicki was grateful that Willie was so agreeable. There was a time when she had actually been frightened of Willie and did not like him. Over the past three years she had reassessed that opinion and found that Willie could be very pleasant and agreeable. Gone was the pensive sad face she had come to associate with the young man. She attributed his change to his association with Barnabas. She thanked him and moved to find her husband and pick up from where they left off.