Chapter 5

Castle Darkhart

Carpathian Mountains

1992

Carolyn sat at the long banquet table, her mother sat across from her. Apparently there were more guests coming to this dinner party because there were over thirty places set for the dinner about to be served. Elizabeth looked wan and pinched face while she carefully studied her daughter's features. "Carolyn are they treating you well?"

Carolyn looked up from the dress she was wearing, her hands had traveled over the expensive blend of material and the color matched her eyes, it was the soft blue with beading she had ever seen. Her mother looked radiant to her in her dress of green. Both women were dressed to dazzle in their dresses with their hair styled and set with soft accents of pearls. "Yes mother, I just want to know what the hell is going on."

"You want to know what is going on Mistress Stoddard, allow me to explain the decent your mother has portrayed for the past twenty-five years. Allow me to explain how she deliberately kept her daughter from her father." Count Petofi walked to the rear of Elizabeth's chair and laid his hands on her shoulders.

"Why that is ridiculous, my mother never kept me from my father, he left us when I was a year old. Why would you make such an accusation?" Carolyn's face heightened with her indignation over such a statement made against her mother.

Andréas laughed, "I am not talking about you my dear, you are in deed her daughter, the one she breast fed, kept happy and secure in that big house on the top of Widows Hill. No I am speaking of your half sister, the one your mother bore three years before you."

Carolyn turned her incredulous gaze on her mother. "He is lying correct mother? You are not going to sit there and tell me you had another child and I had a sister and never knew about it?"

Elizabeth lowered her gaze to the table top and sighed deeply. "I cannot tell you he is lying Carolyn, I did have another child, a little girl and I hid her from her father." Elizabeth looked up with a defiant gleam in her gaze. "I hid her so she would not be sacrificed to the Prince of Darkness by her father." Elizabeth bit out the last part, stood and faced Petofi. "I hid her from you so you could not corrupt her with your vile dark magic and intent to turn her over to your dark master."

Her face had grown red with the passion of her speech. She glared defiantly at Petofi. "I was not out totally for that last ritual you had before you took me. I researched the purpose of such a ceremony and it was to take my virginity to give you a child, a child you could turn over to the dark master upon her twenty-fifth birthday. So, yes I kept her from you Andréas, I kept her hidden."

Andréas laughed, "But you could not keep her away from you for very long, you brought her to Collinwood. You had to bring home our daughter . . . "

Carolyn stood up her eyes wide and filled with curiosity, "Mother is this true? Is he saying that Vicki is my sister, your first born daughter?" Carolyn walked around the table to stand next to her mother and glared at Petofi.

He chuckled again, "Oh you are your mother's daughter, you have the same look as she had at your age. She was so tender but unlike you she was a virgin. You long gave up that prize a long time ago did you not Carolyn?"

Carolyn flushed with more anger than embarrassment. "And if I did what business is it of yours?" She folded her arms over her breasts and glared at the man that thought he could embarrass he over her loss of virginity.

"You are right my dear that was churlish of me to bring up your lack of purity. It would seem most the Collins girls give freely of their bodies and their love. Unfortunately, so did our daughter Elizabeth, she chose to give herself over to the man she proclaimed to love but was not pledged to and was to be with for the rest of her life."

Carolyn turned to her mother her look said it all which basically came down to 'what the hell does that mean' Standing in front of her mother facing Petofi she demanded, "Bring Vicki here now. I want to be and see my sister." She stepped up to Petofi and defiantly stared him in the eyes. "NOW." She had become demanding.

Andréas turned a quarter turn from her then turned back and backhanded Carolyn knocking her back against her mother and splitting her lip. "Never make demands from me again, next time I won't be so courteous."

From the open door way a soft gasp was heard and all eyes were focused on Victoria on the arm of Prince Drake. Elizabeth carefully sat Carolyn on her chair, took a napkin from the table and dabbed it in the ice water to daub Carolyn's lip. "Here darling, hold the ice against your lip." She spoke softly hand held the napkin gently to the stinging lip.

Victoria turned her gaze away from the man that had proclaimed her was her father and looked with confusion and hurt to Drake. Drake seeing this look began to soften his feelings towards her. "My dear go to the drawing room, send Angelique to me. I will handle this."

Victoria stepped away from Drake, turning she walked quickly towards the drawing room. Victoria paused and looked the filled room over with all the delegates and distinguished looking ladies and gentlemen awaiting a call to dinner. Victoria's gaze spotted the blond beauty standing by a young handsome man wearing several medals and looking every bit the peacock. Some of those present turned at the appearance of a vision in a white crystal covered gown that sparkled when the light caught the dress and sent the shine out from her body. Her hair had been dressed in curls and diamond pins.

Angelique's eyes narrowed looking at the woman that so closely resembled the one woman she had hated through the centuries. "My god who is she? Angelique's companion asked as most the males in the room turned an appreciative gaze over Victoria's figure.

"Zat iz Victoria ze Princes fiancé. She iz a little upset it seems." She smiled seeing how upset she had been when she arrived. Then realized she was walking directly to her location with the Prince of Slovakia.

"Excuse me Angelique, Prince Drake requests your presences in the dinning room." Victoria stepped aside as Angelique passed her to walk out of the drawing room. The gentleman that had been speaking with Angelique turned his appreciative gaze on Victoria.

"My dear it is a pleasure to finally meet the woman that has captured the heart and the eye of our Prince Drake, may I present myself." He took her hand and bowed over her hand, bringing it to his lips he pressed a kiss to the top of her hand. "I am Prince Johan Daxner, I am honored to meet you my dear." He held gently to her hand as others began to walk to her.

Various members of noble houses made their presences known and Victoria felt suffocated by the press of the people to her as she smiled graciously welcomed them and flushed at the multitude of compliments that were washing over her.

A clap of hands from the door and all turned to bow to the man that now appeared in regal dress and the look of command. "My honored guests, I make you welcome and invite you now to join me in the dining room. It seems my lovely bride to be has introduced herself so shall we make joy and happiness over breaking bread and getting to know one another and to share in the joy of our joining soon."

He extended his hand to Victoria and waited for her to join him. With as much dignity as she could handle she walked to him allowing him to take her hand and lead them to the dining room. Victoria walked in with Drake and noticed that Elizabeth, Carolyn and Petofi were huddled at one end of the table. The incident that occurred earlier was still fresh in her memory when she saw her father strike Carolyn. Looking at Carolyn she saw her lip was healed and she looked more frightened than upset.

"Come you may find your seats there are name tags placed at each setting. Victoria come at the other end of the table, while I invite your father to sit next to your mother. He frowned darkly at Petofi who at least showed a degree of uncertainty in his presence. "Once you are seated we shall introduce the unknown guests at the end of the table. Angelique had stepped from the open French doors that lined the wall of one room to take her seat across from Petofi.

Victoria had started down the table until she heard him say sit next to her mother. She watched as Andréas moved to sit next to Elizabeth Stoddard. Victoria looked directly at Elizabeth her eyes wide with confusion and hurt. Moving a slowly to her chair she waited for Andréas take out her chair and seat her. As soon as she wss seated, the rest of those at the table took their seat. Victoria tucked her chin and felt a knot choke the back of her throat.

Her mind was spiraling out of control. 'How is this possible? Is Mrs. Stoddard my mother?' Blinking back tears of frustration and feeling she was no longer in control of her life. She was about to marry a man she did not love, she just found her father and now they were telling her that Mrs. Stoddard was her mother. Drake signaled the servants to begin serving and with an occasional comment or note to one of the dinner guests he continued to watch Victoria toy with her food at the end of the table.

Drake was angry with Petofi for striking Carolyn in front of Victoria. It was not how he had planned to break the news to Victoria that Elizabeth was her mother. At that end of the table he watched her push her food around on her plate and she was not even attempting to eat. Tapping his knife against his crystal goblet he waited for all to look his way, he especially waited for Victoria to lift her eyes and look at him. "May I have your attention." He stood bringing his wine goblet with him as he stood.

"Tonight we celebrate two very momentous occasions, the first will be my attaining the thrown of my democracy here in Slovenia, I welcome my brother Prince Johan for joining me tonight for the occasion to announce my impending coronation and my wedding. May I toast my future bride Victoria Winters Petofi." Those around the table lifted their glasses except for Elizabeth, Carolyn, and Victoria she instead smiled tightly nodded her head and tucked her chin to avoid further eye contact with anyone.

Quentin's Bedroom

Collinwood, Collinsport, Maine

Quentin could not stomach much more of the posturing that Ra was doing and since he did not wish his true identity to be known he had referred to himself as Ramón Raymond. He was so arrogant that he had picked two names that began with his name 'Ra." Turning to where the picture of Josette had stood until Victoria had returned it to the old house he sighed. "Where are you when I need you now or for that matter where are you when Victoria a Collins needs you? Hiding like a true ghost only allowing yourself to be seen when it was necessary?"

Rolling to his side he reached for his pocket watch. Opening the watch he looked at the dated picture of a lovely blond woman that was his Daphne, not his daughter but the one that he had treated vilely and fell in love with so long ago. A time when Petofi thought to take his body from him and leave him with the broken decaying body that was Petofi. It had been a time of testing and recognition for Quentin and a time of grief and loss.

Sitting up from his bed, he laid the watch on the table and moved to the window to peer out at the night and saw it was the time of the new moon. At least that was one thing he did not have to worry about any more. He remembered the nights before the picture of how the pain would rip through his body making him feel he was being torn apart only to be put back together again the next day with his clothing shredded and covered in blood. He would lie in the dew-covered grass as daylight broke and the moon was no more to wonder what or whom he had killed.

How when each month a full moon approached he would try to secure himself in some place that would not allow him out into the world until that time of pain and agony had passed. There were times he wept for what had happened and other times that just left him sick. Then Petofi offered him a way out, a deal. How was he to know at that time it was a deal with the devil him self to get out of this curse that Magda had placed on him. He was so desperate to no longer fear the full moon he accepted Petofi's offer.

That was around the time that Petofi figured he could use Quentin's body to continue his life as a reckless and wealthy playboy and leave Quentin trapped inside his body to rot and die. Had he not had help and was rescued he would have done just that. It had been Evan that had helped him escape the trap that Petofi had set for him and he counted his blessings each day. It was through Petofi that his beloved Daphne met her end and plunged to her death off widow's hill.

Closing his eyes he was once again transported back to that time so long ago. Where his heart was filled with love and his daughter was the apple of his eye. He had promised Daphne he would watch their Cecily, while she went to check on Carl. How was he to know that Petofi had let Carl out of his locked cell? He had just put Cecily down for a nap when he heard her scream.

Collinwood Collinsport Maine

1845

Widow's Hill

"Carl, no you must not do this! I am here to help you. You know how much I care for you!" The pretty blond woman with her hair wrapped in a coil braid with curls edging around the braid to frame her face. Her wide blue eyes were filled with concern and love for this poor demented soul that now stood poised at the edge of widow's hill. Dressed in her practical work clothing of a Victorian period she reached her hand over to him. "Come to me Carl, come to me and let me help you!"

Carl studied her through his demented haze of reality and fantasy. "Daphne?" He studied her and then smiled he liked Daphne she was pretty. "Daphne, pretty Daphne. Carl likes Daphne!" He stepped towards her and grabbed her close to his body and turned her back to the cliff. "You know I love you Daphne but you don't love me. You love Quentin."

"But Carl, I love you too, very much. You are the little brother I always wanted to have." She watched his face shift from soft to mad and he frowned, and she quickly tired to reason with him. "You Carl are so special to me that is why I came every day to see you and sit with you and read to you. You remember that don't you Carl?"

Carly cupped her cheek and began to stroke it, his face softened with his memories of their times together. He nodded slowly, "I loved every day you came to read to me Daphne, the sound of your voice." His caress was gentle and caring as he stroked her face. "You Daphne, you were always nice to Carl. But then Quentin came home and he made you stay away."

"No Carl, I would not let Quentin keep me from our time. Remember, I kept coming to you and then when I gave birth to our daughter I had to stay in bed for a week that was the only time I could not come because I had to take care of my new baby girl. You remember Cecily? I brought her to see you when I was able to come." She smiled and pressed her cheek to his hand.

He studied her face and smiled then leaned forward and tried to kiss her. Quentin had watched from the old oak tree near the edge of the path's end and saw it happen and he was too late to stop her from stepping back and watched Carl push her giving her tiny body momentum to fall backwards. Even now he could hear her scream. When the scream ended he heard only the surf below and Carl's cries of pain and anguish as he looked over at what happened to his Daphne, Carl took one step and then he too fell from the cliff's edge and landed next to Daphne's broken body.

Collinwood, Collinsport Maine

Quentin's bedroom

Quentin closed his eyes tightly and felt the hurt, the loss and the grief of loosing his wife and brother to the curse of Collinwood. A soft moan escaped him and then he heard her voice. "You still morn me Quentin, that is so sweet. But surely you know I am gone and now I walk with your daughter Daphne in the twilight of the eve and together we share stories of you with each other. You seek another to fill your life but patience my love soon there will be another to join you and she will fill your tomorrows where I could not."

He turned to see the transparent image of his beautiful wife Daphne while she stood floating in the center of his bedroom. "I love you Daphne, I loved you from the time we first met. I was so terribly cruel to you. I did not deserve your love. And now and I miss you my dearest one."

She smiled at him and then sighed softly, "I know my dearest one. I am still with you in your memories that you use torture yourself. Surely, you know that I am here for you my love, and maybe some day we will be together again. For now though there is another that needs your help and your abilities. You must find a way to rescue Victoria, Elizabeth, Carolyn, and David and do not trust Laura, she will need her powers to challenge Angelique. Barnabas is not safe she has returned and now shares the same house with Victoria both are in serious trouble."

With her last words said she began to fade. Quentin stepped forward, "No don't go my love, stay a little longer." He was too late she had faded from view and now he was alone with only the chill of the grave left behind to waft over him. "Daphne, why could you not stay a little long!" His anguish of loosing her again was moving through him and Quentin collapsed to the nearest chair to bury his face in his hands and wept.

Old House Collinwood, Collinsport Maine

Drawing Room

Barnabas sat in front of the fire, his gaze with fixed and his mind was in turmoil. He loved Victoria of that he was sure. He needed her in his life and regretted he had left her with the impression before she went back in time that he no longer held tender feelings for her. She was his Josette only in this time and he would be damned if he would loose her again.

Willie interrupted his musing with a subtle cough, "Cough, um Barnabas, Dr. Hoffman is here with Dr. Lang." He shifted back and forth on his feet looking anxiously at he floor.

"It is all right Willie see them in and you can go to check on your Aunt, I know you are worried about her." Barnabas stood and took up position by the mantle waiting for the two doctors to enter the room. He watched Willie's chin move up and a slow smile spread across his face. He really needed to have Willie see a dentist about those teeth.

"Um thank you Barnabas. I really appreciate you giving me the night off. I am worried about Auntie." He backed out opened the door and allowed the two doctors to enter the drawing room. "He is in there." He bowed to them and then scampered off to the rear of the house.

"Barnabas, I realize you do not wish to have the treatments until you return from the Castle but we have a proposal to offer to you. Once we are past this unfortunate mess with Victoria, Elizabeth, Carolyn, and David, we thought we might have a permanent solution to your condition that would not age you as rapidly as my treatments did."

Barnabas studied Julia and thought she would look far more attractive is she had not worn her hair so strictly contained to her head. The current style made her look strict and gave her features sharp angles. "Yes, of course, do come in and sit and we will discuss this part of your treatment. Would either of you like something to drink? Cordial, wine, or brandy?" He had started towards the liquor cabinet and paused.

"Nothing for me Barnabas. Julia?" Eric had turned his attention to Julia.

"Nothing for me. We just dined at Collinwood and Mrs. Walker is as excellent cook as her sister. No we rather found the tension at Collinwood to be a bit unbearable."

Barnabas rolled his eyes. "Yes, the god Ra can be daunting I am sure. Well then shall we discuss your ideas?"

Collinwood Drawing Room

Maggie left Roger's side while he answered the phone on the table in the hallway. Walking towards the open door way a wave of power over whelmed her and she felt dizzy. Catching her hand against the doorframe she doubled over with a soft gasp. Feeling an arm of comfort around her should she was led to the sofa a deep voice spoke softly, "My dear are you unwell?"

A series of vision began to filter over her mind and her eyes were now milky white, Ra stared at her in amazement and studied her as she went through her visions piece by piece he touched her temple and he too could see what she was seeing. There was a castle, and an alter, on the alter was a beautiful woman who lay on the alter, her face reposed in tranquility. Standing over her was the image of a demon he raised his knife and cut his hand then lowered the blade to her hand and cut her hand joining her hand to his hand he mingled their blood. He spoke the demonic words of the black mass. Touching her lips with his bloodied fingertip he pledged his allegiance to darkness and requested . . . .

The vision was interrupted; Ra had studied the image of the woman the subject of the black mass was of interest to Ra. For a mortal he had found her to be very enchanting. He frowned as the milky whiteness cleared from Maggie's eyes and she moaned softly. "Death is coming . . . . " Ra set her back and looked at her features.

"You are the truth seer, the one that Laura spoke of, the one we will need on this mission." He had spoken to no on in particular when Maggie shook her head and looked up into the face of the man that had been muttering to no one in particular. Maggie smiled, her smile froze in place as another flash of a burning bird appeared in her next vision and she gasped, "You are the fiery death!"