Chapter 5

Vicki's eyes did tear up and that one act touched the whole town that she was grateful. "I will get the materials and I pledge three gold for each one of you that helps"

The Mayor hung his head and shook it, "We will do it because it is the right thing to do your Highness."

Vicki opened her arms to them and spoke from the heart. "You are all blessed and wonderful people and I love each and every one of you. The materials will be delivered tomorrow."

The crowd began to move towards Vicki and she stepped down into the crowd shaking their hands and hugging most of them making her way to Ragnar. When she approached Ragnar she saw him draw his sword, from behind a lone male had stood at the back of the crowd and waited for his opportunity. When she had cleared the crowd the lone figure saw his chance and charged forward with knife drawn. "Death to the Witch!" He shouted and Vicki spun, holding out her hand she summoned the guardian's light and it hit the man knocking him to the ground.

The light was so brilliant and beautiful that most in the village began to fall to their knees and chant, "The foretold of an angel so lovely none would be able to look upon her! Here she stands our angel of hope!"

They lowered their heads in prayer and she turned to Ragnar. She saw that he too had dropped to his knees and bowed his head along with him men.

He spoke softly, "The Guardian of Hope, we will be released and glory will come to the lands now that you have come our angel."

Vicki stooped, lifted Ragnar's chin and spoke softly, "This must not get back to Nicolai, or he may have me put to death."

Ragnar frowned, "None will harm you as long as I live."

Vicki smiled, "Come we must go back to the castle and I will order the materials to help Mrs. Watson."

Ragnar covered her hand and looked at those that now gathered around their angel. "You will not need to do that Highness, we will do it for you and show the house had been blessed by our Angel of Hope."

Vicki was touched by their generosity. Letting Ragnar lift her with more reverence than before they headed back to the castle. "You know that you have created the first ray of hope this country has had in a long time."

Vicki smiled resting her covered head against his broad back. "I just do what kindness I can to help those that are less needy than me."

Ragnar thought a moment riding along at a steady pace with his men behind him. "My lady you must know that there was great darkness that covered this land and then you came and a ray of hope was sparked in the court and now to have witnessed the angels power? It has given me thought and my men who are now totally devoted to you."

She was charmed and happy that she had at least lightened the burden of these few people. They arrived at the castle and once again Ragnar lifted her and let he slid down his body and he was enflamed with his passion for this woman he held so close.

She could feel the hard press of his manhood against her and flushed, stepped away, paused turned back and place a gentle sweet kiss on his cheek then turned and went into the castle to check on her patient.

Nicolai met her in the hallway, "I am looking forward to tonight my dear. You should bathe you have the smell of the unwashed on you."

Vicki looked at Nicolai, "And you smell like a whore house, so I guess we are equal." Nicolai rolled his eyes and studied his fingernails. "I am a lonely man and my wife refuses to lay with me, so I find my pleasures where I can."

Vicki turned away, "Then you need a bath too, before I do lay with you, I want the smell of your whores off of your body as much as you want the smell of the unwashed off of me."

He reached for and held her arm tightly and she knew she would find a bruise from him in the morning. "After supper I expect to see you in my room."

She nodded and tugged her arm forcing him to release her. "I will be there, until supper then. I know I need a bath more so now than earlier." She left that comment for him to mull over making her way to her bedchambers.

Vicki moved down the hallway, her gown flowing behind her while she walked to the the servant's quarters. Pausing outside the door she looked for someone to direct her. Lisette moved out of her room and paused seeing Vicki she immediately genuflected to her.

"Highness."

Vicki smiled, looked around and then spoke softly, "What room was given to Mrs. Watson?" Lisette looked about nervously and then brightened, "You mean the sick lady from the village?"

Vicki nodded. Lisette spoke softly and looked around. "The King wanted her put in the dungeon but the doctor took her to the town."

Vicki frowned, "Why did the King want her in the dungeon?"

Lisette looked about moved closer to Vicki, "He said he wanted to make sure you would do as he asked and bed him this night. That he expects an issue to come of this union and that should you not full fill your part of the bargain he would have the poor woman as lev . . "

She struggled with the word, "Leverage?" Vicki offered and she brightened and shook her head.

"Yes, leverage." Vicki nodded. "I see, thank you. This conversation never happened. Will you do me a favor?"

Lisette liked the new Queen and would do anything she asked. "Of course malady."

Vicki smiled, "I have to make sure that a special tea I made in the kitchen is delivered to the King's chambers for us. I more now than ever need that tea brought to our chambers this night. You will make sure Sadie brings that tea to our chamber upon our retiring." Lisette smiled as she nodded eager to please and make sure she pleased her Queen.

Vicki took a deep breath and began to wonder if she had painted herself into a corner by allowing Nicolai to see that his whole kingdom would be his leverage against her to get what he wanted. She moved back to her bedchambers and began to pace furiously back and forth her mind fixed.

These people needed a strong leadership not to be bullied and beaten down to accept a king that was the heart of darkness. This she could not allow to happen. This was not her time, her body, or her life but these people were her concern.

They had looked to her for fairness and justice and now believed she was their angel of hope. Oh life would have been far simpler had she not been dropped in this reality. However, she had been tossed here and now she was stuck and she needed to make things right.

All she needed to do was get through this night and then she would have a chance to take a breath and think things though and form a plan. Feeling the pressure change in the room she looked to the door and her maid came in.

'Highness, I am here to prepare you for dinner." Vicki nodded and watched as she went to draw her a bath and lay her clothing out for dinner. It had become quite a ritual each night, the same cream colored gown, jewels, under garments, stockings, shoes, and additional jewelry, except this night a second set of clothing was being laid out, her night gown that she was expected to wear for Nicoli for their night of passionate love making, at this thought she rolled her eyes.

Dinner had become rather long boring and tedious she sat through the pompous spouting's of Nicolai and his inept attempt at joviality at her expense of a sly wink and a hint of what was to come after dinner. Vicki sipped her water and looked around at the other guests, which included her mother in law, the King's mother, her father in law the King's father, the arch Duke of Cantilever Sir Reginald, the King's brother and his wife Cecily who was a milk toast pale blond that was extremely naïve and had an irritating laugh.

Nothing to set her apart from any other blond, with pale skin, blue eyes, a hook nose and uneven teeth, Reginald was a lot more pleasant to look at with his dark hair, smoldering brown eyes and thick lips and aquiline nose. He did favor his mother where Nicolai favored his father. The conversation would elicit a series of irritating giggles from Cecily. Rising from the table before the meal was over; Vicki excused herself, to a parting shot from Reginald, "I think your bride is anxious to make your night brother."

Vicki moved to her bedchamber and waited while her maid undid Vicki's elaborate hairstyle and let it fall down her back and over her shoulders. She stood and let her undo her dress, stepping out of the dress; she waited for the corset to be unlaced and was so grateful that she could finally take a deep breath again. "Thank you so much."

Analise took the dress and hung it up. Vicki was then led to her bath and once again she was bathed and oiled and scented. The gown was of the softest silk she had ever felt and she sat before her mirror and allowed Analise to comb her hair. When it was all said and done, Vicki felt like the vestal virgin being taken for the sacrifice.

Since her arrival she had not felt scared or apprehensive as she did tonight. Always before she had control, this night she was relying on others and was hoping if not praying that they would not let her down or she very well may have to submit to his desires. Taking a deep breath, Vicki moved on shaking legs to the hall, where she was met by two of Nicolai's guards. She found it ironic he felt she had to be escorted to his bedchamber.

The guard opened his door to allow her entrance. She walked in to find he had not arrived. A soft knock on the door and Sadie stood in the door with a silver teapot, she smiled when she entered the room, "Just as you requested your Highness."

Vicki smiled with relief and took the tray. "Thank you Sadie, you may retire for the night." Walking to the wine decanter, she took the potion she had brewed earlier and to make sure it was her potion she sniffed and was satisfied it was, she poured half into the wine and half into a goblet that had rested with some foul fluid by the bed.

Then she moved to a chair by the fire and waited. Nicolai breezed into the room and smiled seeing her sitting in the chair. "So nice to see you here my dear."

Vicki relaxed and smiled as she watched him move about his room pealing off various layers of his clothing. "You will excuse me while I take a shower?"

She inclined her head, "Of course." She watched him disappear into his bathing chambers. Standing she stood and moved about his bedchambers and found them adequate if not a bit over stated. She did paint a pretty picture of understated beauty with her long dark hair trailing down her back and over her shoulders.

The purity of her white gown accented the light tan of her skin. She moved about the room and when he finally came from his shower, with his house robe half tied about his body allowing her to glimpse his manly attributes Vicki was unimpressed

He moved to the goblet that sat on his bedside table and drank his fill and smiled, "A little concoction to assure I shall have the stamina to create memories and children with you my dearest Josephine."

Vicki sighed and stood pulling off her housecoat, "Shall we get on with this?" She moved to the bed and lay on her back looking up at Nicolai as he smiling down at the delectable woman that now shared his bed.

"YOU have to spend the whole night with me." Vicki waited and watched him throw his robe from his body and scrambled into the bed and curled up next to her, Vicki with a dead panned expression watched the ceiling and smiled, on the ceiling were naked cherubs dancing in a field of flowers and wheat. "Come on my dear you can show some interest."

Vicki wryly said "Take me Nicolai, I am yours now and forever take me as the rutting stud you are."

Nicolai crawled on top of her and looked down at her, "Yes, oh yes Nicolai, ravish me as the wanton stud you are." Nicoli lowered himself on top of her, then she felt the weight of his body pinning her under him and his face lay flat into the pillow, and he began to snore.

"Good grief, you could have brushed your teeth." She wrinkled her nose and as she rolled him off of her, she heard him fart. Sighing Vicki mused the bed covers and moved about the room to make it appeared they partied and romped all night. She moved to the chair and sat watching him and dozing in a restless sleep.

With the approach of dawn he began to moan, she ran to the bed, mused her hair, crawled under his arm and legs and whispered in his ear, "You were a wild stallion last night you made a conquest and you remember how wonderful the night was and how romantic you were and how wild we were together as you fulfilled your husbandly duties. "

Lydia moved into the hyperbaric chamber and sat down. "How can this be happening? Why am I jumping from reality to reality?" She looked at Aden through the chamber door.

He pushed the button on the intercom. "We think that Vicki being trapped in an alternate reality is creating this ripple and it's affecting certain parts of Collinsport. So until we can get her back and the lady in the chamber next to you back in her body, we are going to experience these ripples."

Lydia sighed. Looked around and then sat on the bunk that was in the chamber. "How long do I have to be in here? I have a town to protect and a Incubus to catch."

Aden looked at the clock then back to her. "You will be cleared in about eight hours dear. I promise you that once we can clear you from the affects of the ripple, we will take you back to the time you went to Collinwood to check on your parents."

Lydia was not happy but she had no other choice. "Aden what about the Incubus?"

Aden nodded to the computer terminal in the chamber, "Press the space bar and take a look at what we found when we went into its nest."

Lydia moved to the computer and pressed the space bar, the computer's screen came to life and then she saw the cavern and the male babies in the basinets, then the screen shifted to the ante chamber and there she saw tubes with male children floating in a sebaceous fluid. The male babies appeared to be preserved or dead. "What is this?"

She looked over to Aden and he smiled, "It's a nest of male infant incubi."

"Where were they found? " He laughed, "Your nephew JB actually fell down a hole and found them. They were in an underground cavern not far from where we think the hellmouth is located. JB, Cameron, and Logan were on site we had to send in Radu to back them up. We have discovered that a chaos demon caused your tornado and he has been contained."

Aden leaned against the container and folded his arms. "However, due to the other anomalies with the potential of a cascade affect due to what happened between the Vicki from this timeline and the Vicki in an alternate reality in another timeline we are all having a ripple affect."

Lydia sat back and thought a moment. "So when I went to another timeline in an alternate reality I saw my other choices?"

He nodded and moved to pull a chair over to the tank. "Yes, and your brush with those timeline opened up a whole different can of worms."

Lydia was concerned about her brush with another timeline and the outcome. "What is the worse case scenario?"

Aden sighed, and looked down at his hands. "We could suffer what the call a catastrophic failure and the worlds would fall into each other and destroy everything."

Lydia thought about this and the more she thought about it the more she was not liking where her thoughts were taking her. "What did you do with the babies?"

Aden had to word this carefully and began to explain, "When we have problems of a certain nature such as demon babies that sole goal upon reaching maturity we have one option that is available to us. That is to do what we called a deep six, which is we bury them at an island facility that requires top-secret clearance. On this island we have facilities that take care of our undesirables or those that cannot be rehabilitated."

Lydia looked concerned and tried to comprehend what he was telling her. "Are you going to try and rehab them?" Aden nodded and stood and began to pace.

"Since we have so many infants, we will attempt to rehab them so they can be put into society. However, we are not so sure that is going to be possible. They have an inherent propensity to want to build a nest and no woman is safe when they exert their charms and start to build their own nests."

Lydia sighed and sat back on her bunk. "So we need to make sure that we do not turn home bred rapists back out into society?"

He nodded, "We are working on a solution and we are seeing to the needs of these children. That is why we captured the harpy crones that were trapped with the children. The Harpy crones are not vulnerable to the charm of the children. So, we took them all captive and are having them deep sixed."

Lydia knew he was right but somehow the thought of several male infants needing a mother and not having one was beyond her limited perception. That they could very well grow up to become rapists made her sick. Lying back on her cot, she put her forearm over her forehead and closed her eyes. Maybe things would be better when she had a chance to get out of here and back to where she was really needed.

Thomas sat in the trauma bay and waited while Tim sewed up his cut. Apparently he had taken a good hit to the head and had a fairly nasty head injury that needed stiches. Connie looked with worry and concerned for her husband watching Tim finished his stitches. "The squad car is pretty messed up, probably totaled, the weather vane from the inn was planted in the radiator."

Connie put the bandage over his forehead and spoke softly, "Well worry about it later, from what I hear your sheriff's department is also in bad shape, the roof was ripped off and most of your furniture was pretty well taken with the tornado. Thomas felt his heart plummet. "What about Karen she was on duty?"

Connie moved to the counter and cleaned up the paper and gauze pitching them. "She took shelter in the basement and was using the back up dispatch radio off of the generator. She is fine just over whelmed with all the calls that were flooding the switchboard for help. I think the State has called in extra help for you from all over the state."

Connie turned back to study her husband and knew he would be sore for a few days. "We also have FEMA people coming in to assess things. I know the hospital here has been over whelmed with all the injuries coming in. We have called in all off duty medical personnel and your brother Jason has been working in a field triage tent to help the walking wounded. The college was hit and Lydia is out checking for survivors on the east end."

Thomas was tired and he looked around. "So did you draft the nursing students from the college?"

She nodded, "We needed all the help we could get." Thomas pulled his shirt back on and looked at the blood soaked shirt took it off and threw it in the trash.

"What about mom and dad?"

Connie smiled, "They are wonderful, they are offering the West Wing ballroom as a temporary shelter for those that have lost their homes. Your mother has called in for extra contractors to be bussed into the area so that those that did loose homes can rebuild."

Thomas leaned over and kissed his wife. "Our home and kids?"

Connie leaned into the strong arms of her husband and smiled, "They are fine Bobby and Donna are helping in the lobby handing out sandwiches and coffee or cokes, and the house has minor damage but otherwise it is fine. Some shingles have been ripped from the roof."

Thomas relaxed, "Any deaths?"

Connie had avoided that question but was finally forced to admit there had been three deaths on Old Plank Road where some mobile home residents had refused to seek shelter and that they had just recovered three bodies from that location. "The Fisher Family did not get out in time, they were in their mobile home when it was ripped apart."

Thomas sighed and looked down. "I am sorry to hear that, I really like old Eb and Gert, was it their daughter or son Elyse?" Connie shook her head.

"Elyse was at school, it was Del, he had just got home when the hail hit and according to the neighbors the Pennington's they said he just went through the door, the home was lifted up and then slammed down and they were thrown from the house. I know the EMS people are checking a nearby pond for more bodies; we have at last report about 15 missing people. "

Thomas winced and then looked around and knew he needed to vacate the trauma bay and let another that needed the facility. "Well babe, I am going to take your car and head back to what left of the department. Once I find a car that is usable, I will get someone to bring your car back."

She kissed his lips and then stepped back, "You be careful babe, and I will see you later." He moved out into a sea of utter organized chaos looking about at every wheel chair, every cot and all rooms filled with the injured.

Moving into the emergency waiting room he was surprised to see Carolyn, Maggie, and his kids working to help those that needed just comfort. His son waved to him and he smiled and waved back when he felt his waist encircled and his daughter held onto him. "Daddy!"

He could feel her slender body tremble holding onto him tightly. "Oh Daddy!" He could feel her tears that dampened his t-shirt.

"Its okay baby, Daddy is fine and I am so proud of you and your brother." He pushed her back and peered down into her tear filled eyes.

"When they brought you in I thought you were dead!"

He smiled, "It would take more than a side board to take me out."

She wanted to hold tighter but he was holding her back, "I want you and your brother when you get done here I want you to go to Grandpa and Grandma Patterson's okay?"

He brushed the tears from her eyes with his thumbs and kissed her forehead. "Now Daddy has to go and check on his people." She hugged him one last time and reluctantly released him.

She watched as her father moved out into the remnants of Collinsport. Turning as Maggie came to hug her, "He will be fine baby, and now come on I could use some help."