Romania

Air Space over the Burgos Pass

Once again, Barnabas Collins continental man from the 17th century was now experiencing something so completely out of his element that he was astonished at the accomplishments this world had made while he laid trapped in his coffin waiting for someone to come and release him. He was seated in a conveyance that had blades that lifted it into the air and carried them over the ground at a lower distance so all of the ground below could be seen. His mind was in a comprehension mode, which only made Quentin appreciate and relive his own experience with the achievements of this millennia. "Amazing is it not?"

Quentin had leaned over to speak into Barnabas ear, knowing that he would need to shout over the loud cut of the chopper blades. Watching the look of incredulousness in his eyes and saw him merely nod. Somehow he knew Barnabas would have more comments to make at this point, Quentin figured he was drinking in the experience. Captain Lara leaned over to the two men and shouted. "The castle is below. We will be touching down in about five minutes."

Both men looked below and noted that a large car was pulling away at a high rate of speed from the front entrance to the castle and that the castle appeared to have this eerie dancing green light that lay like a oddly burning ring of fire around the castle's boundaries. "Odd, what is it?" Quentin asked Captain Lara

"It is a force field of electromagnetic fields concentrated to protect the castle and its inhabitants." She said it like everyone should know why a green ring of fire circled the castle.

Quentin smiled and said sarcastically, "Of course. How gauche of us to not realize that a fracking castle in the middle of nowhere needs a concentrated electro magnetic field to protect it." He shrugged and gave a wry smile, which only seemed to annoy the Captain.

"You may not be aware of this Mr. Collins, but Alexandru Florescue is a King in his own right and there are many of the darker powers that would like see this country resurrected to the darkness that once covered the lands by the Huns. As such Commandant Florescue is at risk of being harmed, so he protects himself the best way he knows how. " She grew sullenly silent as the pilot indicated he was about to land.

Drawing Room, Castle Florescue

Ra faced off against Diablos, Andréas stepped back from any possible fallout and Alex crossed his arms. "You know gentlemen I think Ra has already told you what you came to find out. Now, if you will be so kind as to vacate these premises, I have guests of the State coming to pay call."

Diablos growled low, he had not intended to allow this to happen but it appeared he was going to have to vacate the body of Drake until Petofi said softly, "Then we travel to Collinwood, come Drake let us away so we can retrieve your bride, you can marry her there and bring her back here and have another wedding." Drake pointed a finger at Ra.

"You had better not have touched or harmed her, I promise you that should that happen, I would not care what happens to this body, I will come back in my own true form and you will have your hands full dealing with the wrath I will bring down on you and yours." Drake turned and marched from the castle to the awaiting car with Andréas following like an obedient little puppy dog trailing after its master. Entering the car Drake ordered the driver to leave this place and make it quick.

Ra rolled his eyes. "Such a drama king," turning he smiled and bowed:" She is unharmed and staying at the undead ones home. She has not been openly welcomed as the daughter to the mistress of the house by her own Uncle, I would suggest they make haste to arrive home and then I shall leave it to Victoria as to whom she shall choose to be her mate. Although for me I would want to keep her as a concubine." With a flick of his wrist he and Laura disappeared from view.

"Talk about a drama king." He turned to the arrival of his major domo.

"Your guests are landing in the rear of the castle grounds, shall I send a car to pick them up?"

"Yes, and be quick about it. I don't want any delays now that Diablos and Andréa know Victoria is home they will make haste to travel there. I also need John to join me in the library, I need to send a message to Josephine, she needs to move in closer to Victoria and be prepared to get her out of there before Diablos can bully her into a marriage. It must be her decision." The major domo bowed turned smartly and made his steps to the servants quarters.

Rear Gardens Castle Florescue

Nadia waited by the helicopter watching for their transportation, she had removed the headphones where she had constant communications with headquarters and the other members of this party. She had not agreed with the way that the General wanted to obtain their help but she was a subordinate to him and was powerless to counter any actions he would take.

Seeing the castle town car navigate the winding roadway to the makeshift landing strip she smiled. "Ahh Gentlemen our ride has arrived. Shall we?" She turned to walk to the edge of the tarmac and waited for the chauffeur drive the large comfortable vehicle to a stop. Quentin reached forward and opened the door for her with a charming smile. "After you Captain." He waited for her to enter the car and then Barnabas before he entered.

Sliding into the car's front seat he turned and looked back at Barnabas noted he was beginning to show signs of fatigue if not reverting. His forehead had beaded with sweat and his eyes had glazed over. Raising his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose and hide his eyes, he took a deep shuddering breath and spoke softly, "The eldritch are strong here. There is an ancient older power that holds the blood of this land in his hand."

Quentin frowned and looked from Barnabas to Nadia to see her reaction, which was tense. "How do you know this Mr. Collins?" Barnabas lifted his chin and looked at her, his eyes had gone blood red and he bared his fangs.

"Because I recognize one of my own close by and he is strong, stronger than any other that I have encountered except for she that made me." Shaking his head he withdrew his fangs and fought for control over his blood lust that had as suddenly come upon him under the command of another. From a voice close by and seeking any of his kind to come forth. "It calls to me and its as old as this land, this castle." He looked up at the castle as they drew in front.

Nadia had reached into her purse to pull out the crucifix she had put there when she knew she would be in residence with Alexandru especially if Josephine were around. "You do not need to draw your cross on me Captain. I can assure you this is not something I cannot control." She relaxed her hand. "Once we get to the castle, and I have access to my bags, I shall take the shot prepared for me by Dr. Hoffman and I will be as normal as you or Quentin."

The words were ripped from him from the depths of his soul and the anguish he felt at having lost control was evident in the defeated look he now cast to the floor of the car. Nadia felt sorry for him. "How is this possible that you can walk in the light of day, and not be affected as the others of your kind can. This injection is a formula made for you by Dr. Hoffman?" she sounded astounded at such a thing being possible and for the first time as a military person and then as a part of her heritage as a member of the tribe.

"Yes, she found a destructive cell in my system and between her and Dr. Lang they have been able to stabilize it and give me back life to a limited degree but life none-the-less!" He waited for her to open the door and exit the car to follow her out and stand outside the impressively large an overpowering feeling of the castle's exterior. "Is the inside as impressive as the outside?"

Nadia was uncomfortable knowing she had just shared the rear seat of the car with a strigoi. "The Prince thinks so, he has been an integral part of our country's defense for many years and has chose to remain here to conduct his business. Our country's leader has appointed him the head of our military and respects his standing in this part of the country. Please join me and as is always the greeting what joy you bring please leave a little when you leave." She turned sharply on her heel and walked to the front door, which was immediately opened.

Standing and awaiting her in the large foyer was Alexandru, Elizabeth, Carolyn, and David. When Quentin and Barnabas entered the room, Elizabeth ran to Quentin and hugged him tightly. "Oh Quentin! You came and you brought Barnabas. Unfortunately, Victoria is missing." Alexandru watched the look of anger cross over the strigoi's face and he frowned not liking where his thoughts might be taking him.

Carolyn hugged Barnabas and spoke softly, "We think she is safe we are just not sure where she has been taken." Barnabas returned her hug and smiled, though the joy of that smile was absent from his eyes, she could read his concern that edged it.

"I will assure you all that I have learned of the location she has been taken and Mr. Collins, Mr. Barnabas Collins that would be your home in the old house at Collinwood. My intelligence personal assure me she is fine just scared and feeling lonely because Mr. Roger Collins did not believe her claim that she was his niece."

Elizabeth turned and frowned, "What? Why would he be so cruel as to not believe her? I mean he should be more sensitive to me and to those I call my family." Obviously she was ready to get on the phone to Roger right away but before she could express her ire any further Quentin stepped forward and extended his hand.

"Quentin Collins a pleasure to meet you Prince Florescue. Would it be too much to ask for you to check on the comfort of our other traveling companions? It seems that your General took them with him to help with a problem he has and well we would like to know if they are well and will be ready to travel back with us once we are ready to leave."

Alex turned to Nadia and gave her a questioning look, "What General is he speaking of Captain?"

"General Franco requested the assistance of Professor Stokes, Dr. Hoffman and Dr. Lang and took them with him. He assured us that they would be used for consulting purposes only and would be available to return when we took our guests and their family back to their plane."

Alex was not happy about the members of this party being separated. "I see, well if you will excuse me, I shall place a few phone calls and make sure that the other members to your party shall be ready to leave when you are ready. I suspect you will be wishing to leave within the next day or so?"

Barnabas nodded, "Obviously we wish to take our family home and make them feel secure in their own home. We are most anxious to see to their continued comfort." Alex bowed turned to Nadia, "See our guests are properly attended to and that they have their own rooms prepared. I expect they shall be anxious to leave by tomorrow."

Covert Military Installation

Deep in the side mountains outside Bucharest Romania

Julia opened her eyes and felt the light was blinding her, she as well as Eric and Elliott had been drugged, sitting up and feeling a wave of nausea wash over her she looked around and saw she was in a nice room with a comfortable looking bed and adjoining bathroom, walking quickly into the bathroom, she bent over the toilet and emptied her stomach. Turning she dashed cool water on her face and studied her surroundings more.

For a jail she found it was very nicely equipped with all the luxury comforts of a home. Hearing a door opened she stepped out of the bathroom and looked at General Franco. "Are we prisoners?" She was growing defensive and she wanted to know where her friends were and if they were harmed she was not going to do anything for him or his scientists.

"Not in the least, I just could not afford for the location of this facility to be learned. So, I opted to drug you and your friends and then saw you safely placed in rooms."

"Where are Eric and Elliott? Are they unharmed?" She folded her arms over her chest and glared at the man in front of her. He found her utterly enchanting with her direct stare and defensive pose for her friends.

"If you wish to come with me, they have long shrugged off their drugged state and are in the lab speaking with our specialists." He stepped aside to allow her to pass him into a sterile metal hallway. "If you will follow me, I will take you to them." He led her down the hallway around a corner to an elevator. The door opened and he stepped inside and pressed a button, Julia followed him into the elevator and felt the elevator move in a downward motion. "We had to design this below ground surface to avoid anyone escaping and wreaking any kind of damage on our general population."

The lift slid to a silent halt and the pneumatic doors slid open to reveal a corridor with thick plexiglas enclosed cells that held a sundry of prisoners. Some were in various forms of transition or dormant. One thing was for sure they were angry, miserable, and agitated. "Please this way to the lab Dr. Hoffman and do not fear they are behind a wall that is virtually impenetrable or unbreakable. " He smiled reassuringly, but for Julia this did not seem as secure as he thought.

In one cell, a larger than the others the exterior of the cell held the tale-tell signs of a ultra violet lighting. In the center of the cell was a man, very old, bent, gnarled and looking very much as Barnabas had when she first started his treatment. He stood in the center of the cell, his eyes closed and his body unmoving. Passing zombies, werewolves, and some odd looking demons, Julia was drawn to the container and pressed up against the glass. The man fascinated her, he had an aura that drew her to him.

"Ahh, I see you are attracted to the oldest known vampire on this earth. Our history is replete with his cruelty and he is the living legend or I should say," he gave a little humorless chuckle. "Non living legend, I give you Doctor Hoffman," here he paused and then with his most dramatic voice said, "Vlad Tepes, also known as Dracula! The original strigoi of Romania" For someone that was to be so important to this country, this man sounded far less than impressed, his tone was more sarcastic than respectful.

He was being so dramatic with his introduction that Julia had not noticed the minor movement of the ancient being in front of her. Then his eyes suddenly opened and he looked into her eyes and she heard his voice, old and tired pleading with her.

"Help me, get me out of here! Help me!"

Julia nodded, she knew his pain, she felt his frustration and she saw his body was failing him. "Have you not fed him?" She turned to peer back at the General. She never took her eyes from him as she felt him in her mind.

"Help me leave this place and I will help you with your problem. No more of this being half starved because they fear what I am and not respect who I am."

"He gets enough to sustain what type of life he has now. To restore him to his youth would be a death sentence for all of those that run this facility." He found that when most females came into this area they were immediately drawn to this man. He smirked knowing those that chose their own sex as a preference of expressing their sexual desires. It mattered not if what sexual preference they had. All the women were immediately drawn to this man in this container.

He took her elbow and pulled her away from the attraction of the man behind the glass. She closed her eyes and smiled. "Patience, I am your hope and you will be out of here soon." She opened her eyes and smiled seeing the corners of his mouth twitch into a slight smile of acknowledgement.

The General was still prattling on, "Odd how he always attracts the females when the come down here. They are lulled into a false sense of security believing that he is harmless when I assure you he is not. He would no more think a second to take your body and drain it of every drop of blood and to do so quickly that you would be nothing but a husk." He continued to lead her through another door down another hallway and finally to a secured steel door that required his palm print and a scan of his eye.

The door opened and she was lead into the room that was so familiar to Julia she actually felt relieved and at home. There were several occupants dressed in white coats, wearing identification badges moving about the well-equipped laboratory. In the center of a group of doctors Julia saw Elliott and Eric and they seemed to be doing a Q and A for those that had gathered. Some spoke broken English and had what the two experts were saying translated for them some spoke perfect Queen's English and some just stood and watched and did not participate.

Those were the ones that Julia was interested in addressing because they were the ones that appeared to think they knew more than the experts. She smiled. Eric glanced up and brightened, "Here she is now, ladies and gentlemen, fellow doctors I give you Dr. Julia Hoffman." He extended his hand to Julia. Julia stepped forward and nodded to the gathered doctors.

Eric and Elliott stepped back as the group, including the ones that had hung to the outer edge of the doctors now pressed in around Julia throwing question after question. Julia systematically began to respond to the questions and for those that did not speak English well had their questions translated. Two of the 'expert doctors' inched forward and one asked, "Would you mind looking at our calculations and tell us what you think is necessary to proceed with a new formula?"

Eric and Julia both were immediately interested, Eric turned to the General and Elliott and spoke softly, "I would like to look at this." H e stepped away and walked back into the group following Julia and the others over to the lab table where some documents laid, Julia reached for her glasses and slipped them on and looked down at the papers then at the solution. Looking over her shoulder was Eric and he found the error right away. Which Julia felt it was not an error. So the debate was on for which became a lively debate and discussion.

Elliott rested his back against the lab table nearest him, crossed his ankles then his arms and laughed. "They are in their element. I suppose when she woke up she was pissed?" He glanced at Franco who laughed and nodded.

"She was indignant and thought we had taken her captive. Once I explained to her what was happening and reassured her she was not a prisoner and that you and your colleague were fine and here she relaxed. I fear though she had trouble with the sedative and was a bit nauseated upon waking." He watched Julia and smiled. The General could see he held a real affection for this woman and something in him felt irritated and he realized he was jealous. "You love the doctor?' He asked watching the man in front of him with a degree of interest.

"Who? Julia? No, I admire her, I respect her and if there ever was a chance to bed her, I would be happy to oblige her but love. Julia loves one thing and that is her work." He pushed off the table and turned to face the General. "Now you said you wanted me to speak with your people about an exorcism?" Elliott unfolded his arms and slid his palms into his rear pockets, slumping his shoulders over slightly. Cocking his head to take on an interested appearance.

"Yes, we believe one of the more powerful men in a region close to where your friends were taken has been possessed by a very powerful demon." Elliott was interested and wondered how they had acquired this information?

"Tell me, how did you discover this possession and do you know the name of the demon that has taken possession?" he shifted stood up straighter his mind racing with the practices he would need to instruct.

General Franco took him by the arm and led him to another interior door to the room. Once again he had to press his palm to he pressure panel and then lean in so that his retina could be scanned. Releasing his arm he turned and led him into the room. When they entered the rooms the auto lights came on and Elliott smiled recognizing a lecture hall when he saw one.

"We have recordings from various species of demons here. They are lower level ones that do not possess but just mindlessly kill if they are released. The recognized a stronger commanding power when it arrives in the area." Pressing a button on a panel he waited and nodded to the screen in front, Elliott turned to observe hideous looking succubus, incubus, Sloggoth demons, and one he had never seen before but was aware they existed.

"That one there what is it? I think is it a davric?" He studied the head and noted that they were of all various sizes, shapes and coloring.

"Very good Professor. You have a good eye. That is exactly what it is, now listen to them as they talk of the coming of one more powerful than they are." Elliott cocked his head and listened and every time one of them spoke the name that came more often to his hearing was a name that he had known from the beginning of time, the one that had taken the name Diablos.

Elliott sighed deeply and shuddered at the thought that this one would take to send it out of the possessed body and send it back to the pits of hell. "If it is the one I have studied, he is not going to go easily and he is very powerful. As a matter of fact he boasts that he was able to destroy and take over the body of Satan. So it will not be easy unless he wishes to vacate the hosts body he will not go willingly."

Franco frowned, "I see." The door opened and a young soldier stepped into the room. Looking around he laid his gaze on Franco, snapped to attention. "At ease, what is it?' His voice had taken on a more serious tone when in the presence of a subordinate.

"Many pardon my general. But there is a call from Castle Florescue and the Commandant wishes to speak with you as soon as you are done with our guests."

"Thank you Private, you may go and tell the Commandant I will return his call momentarily." He looked irritated and the Private knew the look well. It was common knowledge that the Commandant and the General locked horns over many things and apparently this was going to be another bone of contention between them.

Elliott could sense the tension in the General when the Commandant's name was mentioned and knew only too wisely to keep his own council. Turning he studied the demons on the screen and he listened and it was certain that a darkness had come to the land it had reached across the miles of oceans to touch the small community of Collinsport, Maine. What was at the center of this corruption could only be found in the form of one person and that person was Victoria Winters.