Chapter 7

Pushing her hair out of her face she looked anxiously around the room and then down at her body. Her clothing was no longer on her body and she felt as if she had been invaded sexually looking around the room. The darkening shadows were crawling with their deceptive calm over the room and she stood up, dragging her robe over her body.

Was it a dream? Had she been so chaste for so long that in her dreams she had imagined she had a lover in her bed? Moving with practice caution around the room, she put on the lamps and searched the corners. With input of the light the shadows became nothing more than a remnant of a rather disturbing dream she moved to her bathroom and showered.

A soft frown edged her lovely features while she lathered her body and let the hot steamy water ease the tension from her muscles. Washing her hair and rinsing off, she made her way to the bedroom and once again looked over her room. Shaking off the feeling she moved to the wardrobe and found a clean pantsuit and quickly dressed.

For some reason she felt famished and was more than ready to fix her a Vicki something to eat. Moving out into the common area of the cottage she moved to the guest bedroom and knocked lightly. Opening the door she peered in to find the bed had been made and Vicki was no longer there.

Lydia frowned and moved to the living room area and found the neatly scripted letter left by her sister. She apparently had awakened and decided she wanted to go on home to Barnabas. Laying the note down, Lydia moved to her refrigerator. Opening the refrigerator she looked inside to see nothing that appealed to her.

Closing the door she moved to the table by the door and snagged her keys from the bowl and headed to her car. She was determined to shake the feeling she had upon waking from her dream and get back into the swing of things and helping the town that had become so important to her. The first order of business was to check on her father and stepmother before going to find her brothers.

Tucking her keys in her pocket she moved towards the path that led to the big house. Grabbing her flashlight from her car she moved through the heavily wooded area noting that the looming shadows lay threateningly around her were nothing more than downed trees from the storm.

She approached the small clearing that branched off in two directions she took the path that led to the big house. She would back track and take the next path that led to the old house and check to make sure Vicki made it home safely.

Progressing on she suddenly became aware of a snap of a twig under pressure of a foot fall. Stopping she listened and reached for her service weapon, pulling it out she looked around, snapping the flash light off and tucking it in her waist band she let her eyes search the wooded area and her ears trained to listen for more footfalls.

All that met her ears was silence. Poised on the pathway she tilted her head and listened and then it came. The rush was such a powerful blow that it knocked her to the ground and the weight of the body pinned her to the ground. The impact had sent her weapon flying up to land a scant five feet from her outstretched hands.

The beast was pinning her with his weight his eyes sought hers and held her gaze with his own hypnotic glowing red eyes. His voice was deep and guttural. "Dooo nooot sttttruggle huuuman." Lydia lay placidly under its weight and waited. "Yooouu wiilll taaakke a meesssage tooo thhhe darrrk oone. Ifff he vaaaluues hiiis claaaim ooon yoooou, heee wiiiilll haaaave tttttheee chhhhhildren reeeturn ttttooo usssss."

As quickly as the beast had pinned her it was gone leaving her confused and pissed. Slowly, with extreme care Lydia stood and retrieved her weapon. Standing up she watched a tear appeared in the fabric of time and Camron with Josette stepped through. Letting out a soft sigh of relief she watched Josette and Cameron approach her.

"Aunt Lydia? What happened?"

Lydia brushed her clothing off and turned to look at the dark handsome man at her niece's side. "Something just attacked me, it was big, foul smelling, and made a demand about the Incubus children."

Camron moved into the opening and looked around, muttering words of arcane magic he listened to the air around him and then took off at a sprint towards the old house. His action immediately elicited a soft curse from Josette, "Damnit to hell Camron."

Josette took off in a sprint following with a call back to her Aunt, "Go check the big house. The hags are on the prowl looking for their charges."

Needing little else to spurn her on her way, Lydia moved off at a fast pace jog to the big house, a soft prayer being emitted with her chagrining down the pathway towards the house. Lydia broke the wood line and paused looking at the calm exterior of the big house lit up with the outside security lights.

Reaching for her flashlight she uttered a soft curse realizing she must have lost it when the hag pinned her to the ground. Pushing herself further she dashed across the lawn to the Porte conchere to arrive just in time for the front door to open and watched Carolyn step out.

"Lydia! Oh I was just coming to get you." Her voice was light and happy sounding standing and holding the door open to admit her.

"Carolyn, has anything unusual happened here say within the past ten minutes?"

Carolyn laughed lightly and said rather drolly, "Lydia its Collinwood. Unusual is the norm for us here you need to be a bit more specific."

Having already deduced that the hag had not come to here she covered with a forced joviality. "Of course you are right. How silly of me. Are mother and dad all right? No ill affects from the storm?"

Carolyn stepped back into the room and invited her in guding her to the drawing room. "No we were lucky, Mother had opened up the ballroom and there has been survivors arriving all day for shelter. We have the staff on overtime cooking and the local medical people are dividing their time between here and the hospital."

Lydia nodded and looked around the house assuring her self that all was well. Entering the drawing room she came up short when she saw Gerard sitting comfortably in front of the fire. He turned his dark penetrating gaze on her and a easy seductive smile edged his lips he watched her enter the drawing room. "Oh now I am doubly blessed. I now have two beautiful women to share my company."

He stood and moved to Lydia fixing his gaze on her he gently took her hand and drew it to his lips. Lydia watched him draw her hand up to his full sensual lips and placed a soft kiss on her wrist, then on the back of her hand and tucked it close to his chest. In the deepest abyss of her mind, Lydia could have sworn in that moment so tender and private in her mind she heard. "You belong to me now."

Barnabas moved to the front bay window. His gaunt face wrapped in concern to the point of abject worry. Bridging his fingers together he watched the front of the house. Sarah moved to stand next to her father. "Poppa, she will be home soon. The reports say that fallen trees and debris block most the roads. Besides you know if mother came across someone that needed her help she would stay with them or get them the help they needed. She will contact us as soon as she can I am sure."

Barnabas gathered his youngest daughter to him and gently placed a kiss on her forehead. "I know my sweet Sarah. I am just worried."

The sound of the door opening drew their attention to the hallway and as the click of the door was heard, he knew with every ounce of his being that his love, his heart, his Victoria had returned. The transformation to his face when the relief filled him with its comfort was amazing.

Vicki rounded the wall and entered into the drawing room and paused. Sarah was witness to her parents reuniting and it was heart warming. Vicki glanced to Barnabas and her eyes lit up with a sparkle, her face glowed with the love she felt for the man in her sight. Rushing towards him Barnabas enveloped her into his warm embrace and held her tightly. Pushing her back to kiss her with the passion he had held for her his entire life. "My love, my precious love you are home and safe."

Barnabas heard his wife's sweet voice utter into his ears. "My beloved, I am home and with you my precious darling."

Her breath was caught with emotion as she felt his warm secure embrace and she held to his body like a drowning man seeking a life preserver. Barnabas felt her tremble in his hold and held her tighter. "Why whatever is the matter my dear?"

He tried to push her back only to feel her tighten her hold on him. "I was afraid I would not see you again."

Barnabas chuckled softly, "Why would you believe that?"

Vicki sighed and finally was secure enough to turn loose and look at Sarah. "The damage and the storm was so severe I was afraid I would not be able to make it home."

Barnabas pushed her hair from her face and smiled into her gaze. "But my dear you are home and safe with the rest of us. Where were you during the storm."

Vicki stood back and moved to the familiar feel of the room and the fireside chairs. Slowly she lowered herself to its comfort and glanced to the two that stood over her. "I was trapped in town. Lydia and I were able to meet up and we tried to get back here but found our way blocked each road we tried."

Sarah turned to her father. "See Poppa I told you she would get back here. Momma is there a lot of damage?"

Vicki nodded absently as she lowered her lashes but kept her sight on Barnabas. She could see the toll her absence had taken on him and for a moment she could see his age beginning to show. Sheltering her gaze behind the fall of thick dark lashes she fixed it to the face of her husband.

"Yes darling the main street area was hit pretty hard, from what I understand the gazebo is gone, the weather vane from the top of the Collinsport Inn took off with about half the roof, and the Sheriff's Office was pretty well destroyed. I suppose we will be having a fund raiser to build a new station for the Sheriff's Department."

Barnabas moved to his wife and sat gingerly on the edge of her chair and placed his hand on her back and spoke soothingly to her. "We will do what we can in all due time. I am sure my dear there are others that have lost more than we can imagine."

Vicki nodded. "I suppose Mother and Father are using the Ballroom as a shelter?"

Barnabas nodded and Sarah raised her hand to her mouth in dismay. "Oh I forgot, Aunt Carolyn called and said she would be need our help when we had time. I am going to scoot on over there to do what I can."

Vicki looked up and smiled at her daughter. "I really need to rest for a bit my dear. Tell Aunt Carolyn I will be over once I am more refreshed. You can explain how we had a hard time getting back here."

Sarah skipped to her mother kissed her cheek then her father's cheek and dashed to the door. Opening the door they heard a moan. "What dear?" Vicki and Barnabas rose to see what had elicited such a pitiful moan. There they saw to the eastern seaboard a roll of heavy clouds were making their way to the shoreline and a good thunderhead was building.

"Sarah dear, take an umbrella and be careful on the pathway to Collinwood."

Sarah took the umbrella her father held out to her. "Yes dear and if this is what it looks like you might wish to stay at Collinwood for the night. If it blows through quickly you can tell your Grandmother and Grandfather that we will be there."

Sarah got another quick kiss from her parents and darted on nimble legs to the pathway and was soon lost from sight. Vicki shut the door and turned to Barnabas one more time. Going into his welcoming embrace she laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. "Darling please hold me. Hold me close and never let me go."

Barnabas looked at his wife with concern. "My precious? What is this about?"

Vicki smiled into his concerned gaze and spoke softly, "I was so afraid I was not going to get home. If I would never be able to see you, be with you again, I really don't know what I would do."

Barnabas smiled. "As I am incomplete without you my dear."

Taking his hand into her hand she led him to the stairs and looked up towards their bedroom then back to him. "Come my love, I need my husband and I want my husband."

With a smile and an expression of mischief he let her lead him to their bedroom and to their bed. Vicki's passion for her husband was unquenchable. She sought his touch and the feel of his hands on her body. Closing her eyes she was bathed in the love that was her husband and the remembrance's of the past slowly being erased.

They both rose to the occasion of finding completeness in each other Vicki sighed with a soft moan of satisfaction and normalcy that was her life. Curled comfortably and securely in the arms of her husband and her lover she closed her eyes and for the first time in what seemed a very long time. She slept the peaceful secure sleep of familiarity.

Barnabas had noted his wife's intense emotions and feelings appeared to be pacing the progression of the storm while it raged outside their bedroom windows. Now lying in their bed with her wrapped securely in his arms he looked down on the beauty that had claimed his heart.

Placing feathery soft kisses on her brow he buried his nose into the soft scent of her hair and counted his blessing once again for this woman that shared her body and his life with him. Carefully he started to pull away only to feel her hold on his arm to tighten and a soft whimper as she spoke half asleep. "No, don't leave me." Gently kissing her forehead he curled into her and held her close.

"No, no my love I am right here for you." He saw her smile and relaxed in his hold. His thoughts were running with a myriad of conflicted emotions. She had acted as if this had been their first time together and now she clung to him like she had that time she had been taken by Vlad.

That part of their life had been long over and to his knowledge there had been no resurgence of Vlad back in their lives. Now he studied his wife and a slight frown edge the darkest part of his mind. He wondered if this action by her had been because she had been unfaithful to him. He only gave vent to those thoughts for a moment before he shook his head and looked at a face that still held a hint of her youthful innocence and once again gave into his thoughts. There had been something almost frantic about their lovemaking and for the life of him he could not understand what it had been.

Hearing the deep breathing he knew she had entered her rim sleep and he carefully disengaged himself from her warm body. Rising he moved to dress. He always dressed impeccably and meticulously in his dark suit. Moving to the window he peered out at the storm that raged outside. His mind was as tumultuous as the storm that seemed to crescendo with his thoughts.

Chewing on his knuckle he was so lost in his thoughts that he failed to notice his wife awaking and sitting up to study his outline in the window. The soft flames of the fireplace danced over his image giving him a surreal feel and for a moment Vicki thought she saw not her husband but Nicolai outlined in the fire before her. Catching her breath she drug the blankets up to her chin and looked in terror at the image in the window.

Barnabas sensing her unrest turned with a look of concern. "Victoria?"

He moved to her and when he came into view she relaxed dropping the blankets to smile embarrassed into his eyes. "I am sorry love I think I was dreaming and I thought you to be someone else. Forgive me?"

Sitting on the edge of the bed he cupped her chin in his hand then gently stroked her cheek. "Always my darling. Our lives have been a varied road of ups and down and I can understand your trepidation upon waking."

Drawing her into his arms he kissed her deeply feeling the intensity of her emotions in the kiss' return. "I guess I need to see if Cook is ready to serve dinner."

She pulled away with a feeling of regret as she slid her feet into her house shoes. "My sweet Vicki why don't you go get a hot bath, change and I will have Cook take care of dinner and serving us."

Vicki smiled moving to her husband to place a chaste sweet kiss on his lips. "As you wish my love. I am very tired."

Barnabas watched his wife disappear into the bathroom as he let himself out of their room. There was something bothering his wife and he would not rest until he knew what it was. He knew she would not be forthcoming until she was good and ready. Moving with a determined set of his shoulders down the stairs to the kitchen. The goal was set in mind and so was his intent set.

Liz Patterson moved into the drawing room and seeing Penny smiled brightly at her. "Penny darling. How good to see you." Moving to her stepdaughter's side she placed a light kiss on her cheek. "How are things in town?"

Lydia accepted the fact her stepmother would always call her Penny so letting out her breath slowly she smiled and kissed her cheek in return. "Well it's a big mess and I believe FEMA will be setting up and helping and I understand that surrounding counties are sending in help."

Liz sat and crossed her leg over her knee and laid her head back on the sofa. "Well Collinsport has stepped in to help out those in the ballroom. I know the cannery did not suffer any damage and for that I am grateful. Most the fleet is in tact so we won't be down on business. For now though I believe that David and Carolyn should consider offering some kind of assistance to those employees that were devastated by this storm."

Lydia nodded and felt a pair of penetrating eyes upon her while she sat and listened to her mother. Glancing over she saw the smoldering look of unconfined lust dancing in Gerard's eyes. He smiled and winked at her.

Feeling the warm flush of color rush to her cheeks she lowered her gaze. For the first time since she met him she was uncomfortable. This set off internal alarms that cried out to her instincts to look into this Gerard Stiles a little deeper than she had. Making a mental note she sat through the civil chatter of polite talk.

The storm raged outside, Lydia found herself being talked into staying the night in her old room. Making an excuse to leave the room she made her way up the stairs to change the bed clothing. Noting that the storm was playing havoc with the electrical wires she just hoped her father had remembered to have the generator checked.

The lights failed again she moved to light a candle. Finding one of her old gowns she padded her way down the hallway to the bathroom to take a quick shower. Her day had been long and exhausting and she had hoped the team had found the hags. Moving back to her room she paused feeling a change in the atmosphere of the room. Someone had entered her room.

Dousing the light she edged her way over to the doorway and pushed it open. Letting her eyes adjust to the room she did not immediately see anyone and began to think it was one of the ghosts until a hand clamped over her mouth and she was shoved down on the bed knocking the breath out of her.

Taking only seconds to get her breath and bearings she rolled from the bed only to feel her body captured and held in a vise like grip. Drawing on her training she used her body for leverage and flipped the assailant over her head and darted to her table pulling out her 45 automatic weapon. "Freeze Sucker!"

From the now darkened room only lit by occasional lightening flashes she saw it but too late. The lamp was thrown at her. Ducking she dodged the heavy glass antique lamp as it crashed into her chest and then the floor.

When the lamp hit the floor the lights flickered back on. Sprinting forward, Lydia was out into the hallway and noting no one was there or any sign of other life. Cursing softly under her breath she made her way to the hallway juncture and then the entry hallway where the grand staircase met the upper balcony.

Jogging down the stairs she was met by her father in the main entrance. "Pumpkin? He looked concern over her disheveled condition and the fact she was holding her duty weapon made he pause in concern.

"Did you see anyone come down here Dad?" He shook his head no and led her into the drawing room where Liz sat looking pensive.

"We heard a crash was that you?"

Lydia sat down on the sofa. "Someone was in my room and attacked me. I thought they might have come down his way?" Liz stood her face showing her alarm.

"I am sure it was not any of the survivors that were in the ballroom. Most of them are too hurt or tired to want to come to the main part of the house and attack its residents."

Lydia shook her head. "I know Mom, I just thought it was someone that might have made their way here thinking to rob us."

George frowned and moved to the desk and pulled out a notepad. "Here honey are the names of everyone that is being taken care of in the ballroom. Do any of these names look familiar as a regular for you or the boys?"

Lydia took the tablet and sat down to study the names. "No they all appear to be our upstanding citizens no one from the regular picks ups." She handed the tablet back and frowned.

"George, why don't you take Penny back to her room so she can rest easy that there is no one else in her room."

George nodded, "I will be right back, why don't you lock the door to the drawing room until I return." Liz followed them over to the drawing room doors and waited for them to exit when they did George listened to the click of the lock being slid into place and he followed his daughter back to her room.

Upon arriving in the room George was shocked to see the heavy lamp lying in the floor shattered. "That had to hurt, are you ok pumpkin?"

She nodded, "It glanced off of me Dad. Thanks Daddy I will be fine now, I will slide the bolt across the door." She kissed his cheek and he kissed her forehead. Watching him go down the hallway she slid the bolt into place and moved to her bed. Looking around the place one more time she was unsettled but to tired to give it more thought for the night.

Putting out her light she slid beneath the blankets and began to drift off into an uneasy sleep that began just like the one had earlier. A man dark and handsome was in bed with her and together they were involved in some of the most intense lovemaking Lydia had ever experienced in her young life.

She could hear her moans of pleasure as he sought and found the most personal parts of her being. She was soaring on the highs that were mixed with shear lust and pleasure. The lovemaking began to take on a more desperate act of fruition. The more phrenic it became the more her partner demanded and at the last of the lovemaking she was roughly brought to a climatic high.