Chapter 9

Collinsport Maine

Collinwood, Sarah Johnson's bedroom.

Willie sat at the edge of his Aunt's bed. "Auntie are you comfortable? Would you like me to get you anything?" His face was filled with his anxious need to please and show his affection for his aunt.

"No Willie, I am fine. Does Mr. Collins need you to help him with anything? I don't want you in trouble because you are here with me."

"Oh no Auntie, he gave me the night off so I could sit with you and make sure you and my other Auntie are doing ok." He turned to Mrs. Johnson's sister Harriett Franklin. He noted she made a eye rolling face and turned her back on him and her sister.

"Sarah if you need anything send Willie to me down in the kitchen."

Harriett turned and walked out of the door leaving the two together. Willie turned back to his Aunt, standing he bent over to straightened her pillows and gently tucked the covers around her, smoothing them down he smiled. "There you go, I am right here if you need me, I won't be going any where unless you want me too."

The door to Sarah's room opened and Melanie poked her head through the door, "Hi, I am Melanie the nurse hired by Julia Hoffman to help you through your recovery period." She stepped further into the room then looked at the scruffy looking man sitting diligently and like a devoted puppy at the patient's side. "You must be Willie, Mr. Quentin Collins needs you downstairs, he said to tell you he heard from Miss Winters and you are needed to inform Mr. Barnabas Collins."

Willie had jumped up quickly when the lady entered the room and found she was very attractive and she reminded him of someone but was not sure whom. When he heard the name of Miss Winters he and Mrs. Johnson were immediately attentive. "You mean she contacted you?" He glanced anxiously to his Aunt then to the nurse. "I mean someone contacted you about her?" He was all excited hearing that she was not going to be worm food or never heard from again.

"Yes, she called and she is being offered assistance by someone called Alexandru Florescue and has asked the family to come and rescue them or meet them." She sounded unsure of the exact request for help. "Anyhow Mr. Quentin Collins is requesting you go down to a place called the 'old house' and tell a Mr. Barnabas Collins that he is needed here at Collinwood?" She was not sure if she had relayed the information from the excited chatter she had gotten from the odd man downstairs.

Willie turned his eyes filled with conflict. "Auntie?" He shifted uneasily on his feet as he looked between the two women in front of him.

"Willie you go tell Mr. Barnabas about the call and bring him back and I am sure he will let you come back to sit with me, now you run along." Sarah knew he was torn between wanting to stay with her or go back to get Barnabas. She also knew he was glad he had gotten information about Vicki because he had been worried about her too. "Go on and go boy, you know you want to take him some good news for a change."

Willie bent over kissed her forehead and turn rushing from the room pausing only for a moment to bow to the nurse and say, "Thank you Melanie for letting us know about Vicki." Turning he was off like a shot.

Foyer of Collinwood

Quentin paced anxiously back and forth when the door opened and Elliott Stokes entered. "Oh thank God Elliott you are back, we just heard from Victoria and then Elizabeth called, they were helped to escape from Darkhart's castle and have taken refuge in a place with a man named Florescue. He has given them sanctuary and I am preparing to have the jet fueled and to go and bring our family home." He was excited and pleased with being the bearer of good news.

"Did you say Florescue? By any chance was that Alexandru Florescue?" Elliott advanced to Quentin's side waiting for confirmation. He did not show the pleased excitement that Quentin had expected with the news he had just issued.

"Why I think that was the first name of the Duke or Count that has given them sanctuary. Why do I get the feeling you are not happy they are there?" He walked with Elliott to the drawing room and went directly to the liquor cabinet to pour them both a nice stiff drink.

"There is a Count Alexandru Florescue that is a direct descendent of the Draculs'. Or as you may have read about them the Order of the Dragon also known as Dracula." He watched Quentin's face loose its exuberance with the mention of that name.

"But he died, did he not in the 16th century? That was merely a story about him being reborn in the blood of his enemies. And that was Dracula, this is Florescue." Quentin sat down and slumped to drink his brandy and watch the mood from curiosity and then concern edge the features of Elliott's face.

"Quentin, Barnabas was merely a legend. But we discerned he is not a legend but a victim. Dracula embraced his darkness and I am sure he spawned two sons that I recall with two different wives. One of which kept his mother's name of Florescue and began that branch of his family, and if memory serves me correctly the Florescues' were famous for dabbling in dark arts and the magic of the darker nature. I am sure that if I was to choose between Diablos or Alexandru, I would prefer Alexandru but it is not the savior we had hoped they would find."

"Then I suppose it is a good thing we are getting the plane ready to go and retrieve our family as soon as possible. I am going to send Willie down to tell Barnabas." He watched Elliott seat himself on the sofa and study the color of the liquor in his snifter.

"I thought Julia, Eric and he were going to come up after they were through with his treatment. Things got a bit intense earlier when the subject of Angelique came up." He sniffed the drink then took a sip. Sighing as the liquor bit the back of his throat.

Willie rushed into the drawing room sidding to a halt in his excitement. "Mr. Quentin you wanted me?" He stood looking anxiously back and forth between the two men.

"Yes, Willie you need to go to the old house and tell Barnabas that we have heard from Vicki and Elizabeth and they are safe in the home of a Count by the name of Florescue."

"What is this?" Ramon walked into the room as if he owned it peering at the others in the room with those dark penetrating eyes. Elliott deplored pretentious and arrogant demi-gods that were more demon than they admitted. Elliott ignored the way his gaze bore a hole into Quentin. "Did you say Florescue?" With that superior tone and look he advanced to the sideboard and poured him self a drink then turned and fixed his gaze on Quentin.

"Yes, I said Florescue, obviously you know the name." Quentin chose to be as haughty and high handed as this man was. "Why do you ask?"

"Because to get back what is ours is not going to be that easy, if it were just Darkhart or Diablos, then it would have been a challenge between just he and I. Now you throw in Alexandru Florescue the immortal wizard and we have a problem." He had sounded thoughtful and contemplative. "Did he say what he wanted in return for the release of your family?"

Quentin sighed deeply; the man was a drama king to the max. He lowered his glass looked to Elliott then back to Ramon. "I did not speak to Florescue, I spoke with Miss Winters and Roger spoke with his sister Elizabeth. They both said the same thing, that they were given sanctuary at his castle and we could come and pick them up."

Ramon shook his head, closed his eyes and in a matter of moments Laura came rushing into the room. She staggered to a halt and then fell to her knees before him. "You summoned me my lord?" Supplicating her self before him she awaited his directions. Elliott and Quentin found her manner degrading to heself and the name of Collins but held their tongues and continued to watch what was going to happen.

"I did. Come now we travel." He held out his hand to her and waited for her to take his hand. Rising she stepped to his side took his hand and in a brilliant flash of light they both disappeared.

"What the hell was that about?" Quentin stood watching them disappear. Turning he gave a questioning stare to Elliott.

"I would say he is being overly dramatic again. Those demigods tend to react instead of thinking it through. I say good riddance to bad rubbish and we do what we intended to do, take the plane and go pick up your family."

Elliott seemed totally unmoved by what he had just witnessed and peered at his drink. "You know this is one of the finest tasting blends I have ever had the privilege of drinking. I must say you Collins know how to live." He had segued into the change of subject so smoothly Quentin was not sure he was awake surely this had been a dream this whole surreal situation of a man and his ex just disappearing in a blinding flash of light.

Then again he was Quentin Collins, one time cursed werewolf and now famous author. So as far as he was concerned most anything could happen around him. "I need another drink."

Old House Drawing Room

Willie burst through the door and skidded to a halt just inside the foyer. "Barnabas! Barnabas!" He was excited and it showed in the tenor of his voice having gone up a couple of octaves with his entrance. He looked around and then saw Julia, Eric, and then Barnabas stepped into view.

"Willie? I thought you were with your Aunt Sarah?" Barnabas had a look of concern not sure what his sudden appearance denoted. "Why are you here?" He approached Willie then paused, the look was excitement not worry.

"Its Vicki! She called and so did Mrs. Stoddard, they are safe and wantin' us to go an pick her and the others up!" He had rushed it out in one breath that Barnabas was not sure he had heard correctly.

"What did you just say?" He reached forward and grabbed Willie forcefully. He was almost to the point of shaking the silly boy to be more specific and make sense because at this point he was not sure he had heard correctly.

"I said we heard from Vicki. She is being held safely with someone and you are s'pose to go to Collinwood so Mr. Quentin can explain." He finally let out a big deep breath and that to Barnabas made more sense than what he had said earlier. A look of fear edged Willie's face as he felt the bite of Barnabas arms into his thin shoulders. "Um Barnabas you're hurtin' me." He dropped his gaze from the intense stare that Barnabas was giving him.

Barnabas immediately dropped his hands and sighed deeply. "Of course, I am so sorry Willie. Now you say I need to go to Collinwood to speak with Quentin about Victoria is that correct?"

Willie nodded his head and then smiled. "Yes, he got a call from her and something about she is safe where she is but she wants you all to come and get her!" Once again he let out a long held breath that he had when he started to re-explain the call. Willie was exhausted the run over to the old house and the excitement of delivering the message had just about done him in.

Turning to Julia and Eric who had joined the two in the foyer he spoke cautiously, "Then I suggest we make ready to go to Collinwood, shall we?"

Castle Darkhart

Formal Gardens

Drake walked along the pathway his eyes pealed for Victoria. He paused and frowned, "If that bitch has done something to Victoria I shall make her life more than a living hell." He muttered when he heard a voice from behind.

"It has been a while has it not Diablos?" Alexandru stepped from behind a port curio of a cherub holding a vase with water flowing into a gold koi pond. He was dressed impeccably in his dark suit with white shirt. He gave the impression of being ready to dine out. Walking with assurance of a man that owned the world and had nothing to loose he stepped to within five feet of Drake. "I see you are wearing the latest in modern man with the tastes of an aristocrat. What have you done with the real Drake Darkhart? I must say you did pick a fitting name."

Alexandru circled around Drake to come to a complete stop in front of him now moving in to about three feet. "The same Alex as I recall." Drake folded his arms over his wide chest looking with the patience of Jobe at the man that now stepped in closer to put less than a foot between them. "Still tempting fate or me Alex?" He shifted and turned to walk away from Alexandru. "I have business Alex, in case you did not hear, I am about to be married to a very beautiful woman."

"Only if you can find her Drake and the last I heard she had disappeared along with her mother, sister and cousin." Alex had fallen into step next to Drake. "And you did not answer my question, what did you do with the real Drake Darkhart?" He stopped short as Drake halted his forward progress.

"What do you mean she has disappeared? The real Drake Darkhart is still here just suppressed mentally so I can borrow his body to marry my future wife." He looked sideways at the man on his left. "Besides he has everything already that I would need to be what I want and to bring forth an heir. My question is what is it to you? I know for a fact you don't like your cousin, never liked him and now you are concerned? I find that rather ironic to say the least."

Alexandru smiled, "Perhaps it is because I wish to not upset my dear departed Aunt and Uncle, they have been a bother since you took their precious baby's body." Alex held a bored but humorous tone to his voice as he spoke of Drake's parents. "I think they would prefer it was their son that is allowed to claim his heritage and take the crown for the Kingdom. As it is family, Diablos I will need to put you on notice, they are not happy."

Diablos laughed, "I care about his parents because? They are dead Alex, but my question is that the reason you come to this castle to deliver a message from the nether world?" He paused for a moment but allowed his eyes to scan the area searching for Victoria. He had decided it was time that he became nice to her again in order to secure her cooperation during the marriage ceremony.

"One of the reasons Diablos, but the main reason is that I think you will need to claim a different bride and send Petoffi packing he has been rather inept, I mean let us face it, he allowed his interest and the mother, sister, and cousin of the bride to escape his cleverly planned prison. As a matter of fact, I believe all your guests have deserted your home and you have that bitch Angelique to thank for the majority of your problems. She did after all try to weave a very nasty dream curse on your bride even to the point of making her feel the only way out was to kill herself. I would I think ask her why she felt the need to do something so childish and vindictive?"

Alex turned when Diablos' voice arrested his retreat. "What do you know of this and how do you know?" Diablos had narrowed his eyes and watched Alexandru turn, he was beginning to become aware that Alex knew more than he was saying and he had to wonder how he knew such details that involved his future wife.

"My gypsies told me of their escape Diablos and apparently those same gypsies have a vested interest in your guests. I would suggest you go talk to your witch or consult your scrying mirror my dear boy, it appears you are now a jilted groom." Alex smiled then faded from view.

A few choice expletives followed his departure and Diablos stood glowering at the last location Alex stood. "ANGELIQUE! BEFORE ME NOW!" He snapped his fingers and a half dressed and very frightened Angelique now cowered before Diablos. "What did you do and do not lie to me I will know."

Angelique knelt before her master head bent, eyes filled with defiant fear she lowered her body before him, "I told you it was just a nasty dream. She was sleeping and I saw her and I showed her what life would be like here with you." She kept her head bowed and occasioned to look up into the now glowing red eyes of her master.

"Why then does Florescue tell me you tried to invoke a dream curse on her with the end result ending in her death? Why would you wish to try and go behind my back and try such a thing knowing I have selected her as my vessel to bring forth my son?" The words were uttered with barely contained contempt and anger, and she knew she had gone to far to upset her master over her petty jealousy and as soon as she thought of it she knew he now knew why.

"YOU WERE JEALOUS OF HER?" His voice raised and could be heard over the grounds. "Then you will watch me destroy your love, you can do it from the pits of hell!" Waving his arms his eyes glowed with red-hot anger and flames appeared around Angelique she screamed out in pain and fear as she caught fire and disappeared in a cloud of white smoke. "Now to find my bride, and no one had better stand in my way to her!"

Castle Florescue

Rear Gardens

Carolyn found security in the private gardens of Florescue's chateau. Dressed comfortably in pants and a satin blouse of red she meandered around the pathway. Stopping to admire the rose bushes and to marvel at the structure of the house she had found sanctuary. The fact her mother had talked to her Uncle and they were coming to take them home made her feel happier. "An emerald for your thoughts." His voice was deep and cultured and held a hint of seduction to it.

Turning she smiled at her host. "I was thinking what a magnificent place you have and the gardens are very lovely and serene. I wonder how you are able to grow such exotic flowers in a place I know must get very cold during the winter season." She was lovely when she smiled and he was captivated by the sparkle in her gaze when she allowed it to travel the grounds.

"I have ways of keeping the area protected from more than evil Princes and other nasty's that might destroy my serenity. Tell me Miss Stoddard, are your gardens not as lovely back in Collinsport?" He fell into step next to her and began to stroll with her along the paved pathway.

"I think mother likes to tinker in the green house and she has gardeners come to groom them but for the most part she loves roses and she has all kinds of roses to mark our pathways." She had locked her hands behind her back and stopped to look at one particular species of exotic flowers. The shading and the shape reminded her of a peacock. "For instance we could never have anything like this in our gardens because of the extreme weather in the winter and the storms that lash our shores."

She had reached forward to gently cup the flower only to feel his hand shoot out and drag it back. "Careful, although it is very lovely it is also very poisonous." He held her hand and lifted it to his lips and kissed it lightly. "It would be a shame to have such a lovely young woman to be injured in any way while a guest." His eyes held Carolyn's with a look of seduction and intent.

Carolyn felt herself drawn into that gaze and was mesmerized by his look. "I um, I wanted to thank you for helping us. It has been a very trying three weeks and frankly I don't like feeling like a prisoner." She blinked and turned to walk down the pathway feeling him hesitate for a moment then fall into step next to her.

"I certainly hope you do not consider my treatment as that of a prisoner, I do not hold you against your will and even entreated you to call your family to come and get you." His voice was like satin on steel as he moved in close to her side allowing his arm to brush against her arm and his leg to brush against her leg. "I hope you feel you are safe and comfortable here, it is important to me that all your family feel safe and secure."

Carolyn paused turned and smiled and he enjoyed the smile, taking his hand he lifted it to brush it against her cheek and stroke her hair from her neck where he noticed she had scars from what appeared to be bite marks. This caused him to frown slightly. Running his index fingertip over the scars he spoke softly. "It would appear you have been marked by one the eldritch, not one from Darkhart Castle I hope?" He glanced back at her and noticed she had no idea of what he was speaking. "Never mind. I will find out soon enough. Forget I asked the question."

Carolyn had felt her mind close off and she closed her eyes to open them and look back at him and smiled. "You wanted to ask me a question?"

"It was not important my dear, come I think I heard your mother was looking for you and so was your sister. Your cousin's little friend Sarah had been visiting him earlier, so I am sure we will be getting ready for dinner soon and you know we dress for dinner, we are more formal for dinner than for breakfast or lunch. I understand your Cousins Quentin and Barnabas will be coming in sometime day after tomorrow so I jealously wish to keep and occupy your time while you are still here."

Florescue Library

Victoria stood looking at the rows of books, she stood poised against the rear left wall looking at the very rare and very old volumes of some priceless works. Running her delicate fingertips over the titles she noted the hair on her arm was rising and felt the static charge the air, a part of her wanted to cry out no, but another part was frozen to the spot as the room became charged and with a subtle pop two figures appeared in the room freezing Vicki to the spot.

Ramon and Laura stood in the center of the room. That cold and impervious gaze raked over the room and stopped on the lovely figure of Victoria Winters. "I see why he wants her she is pure and sweet looking. She has been touched but not by the earthbound but the eldritch, is she the one that pledged to the vampire?"

Victoria was aware of their presence but unable to move. He advanced on her and circled her looking her up and down. "She might have made a worthy sacrifice had she still been a virgin but she is lovely and would make a nice concubine."

Laura frowned, "I think you are distracted my lord she is not the subject of your sacrifice, the subject of your sacrifice is back at Collinwood and would be the seeker. What is here is my son." Laura wanted her master's attention back but was unable to capture it, he stood and continued to circle Victoria. Taking his fingertips he brushed her hair back from her face and smiled, "She bears a strong resemblance to that one that threw herself from Widows Hill, the one that caused her lover to be cursed by Angelique."

Laura sighed, she knew to get his attention now would be futile. "Yes, she looks like Josette Collins. Now my lord may we collect David and be on our way?"

Ramon flicked his hand and Laura was thrown back to the drawing room of Collinwood with a frustrated scream. Snapping his fingers the spell that had been cast over Victoria was removed and she slumped forward to be caught up in Ramon's arms. "Yes, I think I would like to get to know you better my dear."

With barely any movement from him Ramon disappeared taking Victoria with him.