Chapter 24

Victoria could feel the baby becoming restless. Huzitt sat close by and watched her with an anxious look. It was not his child but he was as nervous as the father of a child would be. "Perhaps you should lie down you seem to be in pain?"

Victoria smiled and shook her head. "No not pain it's the baby has grown restless and I anticipate its birth soon. She moves now and I think she is turning to get herself into position to be born."

There was a rough hard kick as she felt it and gasped and then smiled, "Do you want to feel?" He moved to her side and looked down at her stomach and watched in amazement watching the child push her hand out against Victoria's stomach and the whole outline of that hand could be made out.

"Here, give me your hand." With gentleness born of uncertainty he reached his hand forward and pressed against where she laid his hand. Then it hit, a strong kick. He smiled and shook his head. "She will be strong."

Vicki laughed and nodded. "Yes she will be strong, brave and a hope for the future."

Huzitt sat back on his haunches and frowned. "I guess when she is born you will be gone?"

Vicki nodded, "I must return to the time I belong and she will be cared for by all the elements and a goodly lady named Naomi, who will make her a wonderful mother."

Huzitt sighed, "I shall miss you Victoria. You have come to mean so much to all our tribe. You will be kept in the hearts and minds of many of our tribe and many stories will be told about you around the campfire."

Vicki sighed and smiled, "Then I shall go and feel honored. I know that you and your tribe will always keep an eye out on this child, she deserves to know more of you and your tribe and be a part of her other family. I shall ask Naomi to bring her to visit with you often if that will be permitted."

Huzitt nodded and stood moving to his post at the window, "I am sure that Askuwheteau will make sure that she will be allowed in the village, he is the chief of our tribe and will wish to see that she is continued to be protected."

Vicki relaxed knowing this and looked down a bit sadly, in her time and her universe she was middle aged and had near grown children and this opportunity to feel a child move in her again had been a blessing to her. It was a blessing; one in disguise but a blessing nonetheless.

The sound of an approaching wagon allowed Vicki to know of the arrival of who she thought would be Ben and Daniel. However when the wagon got closer she realized that it was a woman with Daniel and she smiled.

"Oh Huzitt it is Naomi, come meet her." Vicki stood and then felt a pain from a cramp that hit her mid section and she doubled over. "Oh!" she exclaimed when the pain was sharp and alerting her to the impending labor that was about to begin.

Showing his concern Huzitt stood and frowned moving to her side. "Gaho! Are you all right?"

Vicki nodded and sighed rubbing her swollen stomach. "It is pre labor I just need to breathe and do it slowly."

Huzitt moved help Vicki reseat her self on the sofa and then followed her gazed to the door opening and a strikingly beautiful woman stepped into the room. He was caught by how much she looked like Victoria with her bright beautiful eyes and her dark hair and the shape of her face was much like Victoria's.

"Naomi, please come in and meet one of my guardians. Huzitt, this is the lady I spoke of earlier." Huzitt moved to Naomi and sniffed her and then held out his hand how Victoria had showed him was customary for Europeans to greet one another.

Naomi took his hand in her small slender one and he held it to his lips and placed a light kiss on her knuckles. Though he spoke in his native tongue she knew his words meant friendship and peace. Victoria translated his words, "He says you are very pretty and that you must be a great lady to be able to care for one not your own. He welcomes you to our home."

Naomi smiled and in return she spoke gratefully. "I thank you for your kindness and for taking such good care of Victoria she needed help and the great father sent you and the others to protect her and our new hope."

Again using Vicki as the translator Huzitt smiled and became the proud warrior for being so complimented on his bravery and concern over Victoria and the new life that grew within her. Again as Vicki sat still she felt another cramp and then the water broke and she jumped up with surprise.

"Oh my! The baby is coming, my water just broke." Naomi looked distressed hearing this. "Oh dear and that is why I had come today. I wanted to bring you back to Collinwood to have the baby."

Victoria looked confused and frightened at the thought. "Victoria I had a long talk with Jeremiah and he has promised me that once the baby is born in Collinwood that he will leave Collinwood and not bother us again."

Vicki looked at her rather dubiously not knowing what to believe. "Well I am not so sure I will make it to Collinwood to deliver this child. She is coming soon and she wants out. She has been restless all day and now she is ready to meet this world."

Huzitt looked confused not understanding the words and began to pace sensing Vicki's reticent to go to do something that was being asked of her by Naomi. Pacing to Vicki's side and seeing the wetness of the broken water he really grew concerned. "The baby comes Huzitt and we must make a trip back to Collinwood, so the baby may be born on the hilltop that you call the hill of great wind and big house."

Huzitt did not like the sounds of this travel with her in labor. "Are you sure you should do this?" Vicki smiled reassuringly through her pain that was now beginning of her labor and it was coming on in earnest.

"It will be fine. We must ask the elements to get us there, and I would wish you to be present Huzitt to see her birth and then you can go back and tell your tribe the balance to nature is restored."

Naomi looked surprised, "The elementals have returned?" As if on cue and having given the impression that they had been there all along Aureliegh, Fieria, Carmanea, and Earathei appeared in the room and together they spoke, "We have always been here dear sister of the circle. We come now since the new born to come has called us to help her and the vessel that carries her."

Naomi relaxed, "Then you surely know what has transpired at Collinwood?"

Fieria spoke, "We know of the undead one that fathered the new hope, he speaks the truth when he agrees to turn his fate to you."

Naomi for the first time since her talk with Jeremiah was happy to hear this news. "How do we proceed to take Victoria back to the land she needs to birth on?"

The elementals smiled and shook their head. "You allow us to do what we do the best. We all need to join hands and as she has requested the presence of Huzitt he must join our sacred circle now."

They joined hands in the circle the whole area became a glowing ember of wind, water, earth and fire they were transported to the front door of Collinwood. Victoria bent over in pain and screamed out with another hard labor cramp.

"We must hurry, she labors close and the child is anxious to meet us."

Naomi flung open the door and moved in with Huzitt following and carrying Vicki into the grand foyer. His gaze going wide at the expanse of the grand foyer and staircase, "This way Huzitt, she must be made comfortable and we must call the midwife."

Aureliegh shook her head and smiled, "Earathei will deliver the child she is versed in the way of birthing."

Naomi relaxed the elementals would be present for the birth to give the blessing and to see to the safekeeping of this child. Leading Huzitt up the stairs past some very astonished servants he carried her into the room that had been hers when she had been permitted to stay there.

Laying her gently on the huge bed he stepped back as the four elementals surrounded the bed and Earathei moved to disrobe her and prepare the birthing area for the delivery. "Who better than mother earth to deliver your baby Victoria dear."

Vicki tried to smile her thanks but felt the pains of labor clouding her mind. Panting her way through one wave of labor pain she felt the baby shift.

"She is moving to the birth canal." This from Earathei as she looked to see the baby was crowning.

Huzitt watched in amazement seeing the birth of this child knowing how important she was to have all the elements here for her birth made him feel more special. He watched Vicki struggled through another spasm of labor pain and then a command from the earth mother to push. Victoria bore down on her stomach and pushed. "Almost there, we have the head in hand next pain Victoria, pushed hard."

Vicki nodded panted and then as the pain hit she gritted her teeth, bore down and pushed as hard as she could. The baby slipped from her mother's womb and when Vicki opened her eyes she smiled and then an incredible event occurred, Vicki felt her body shift and consciously she was no longer in that bed.

The body of the woman she had inhabited was now lying still her eyes glazed over and she was no longer breathing. She thanked whomever for allowing her to hear the baby girl cry fighting her way into that world but now Vicki's job was done and she felt her consciousness spiraling down into a vortex to fall headlong into a black abyss and nothingness.

There she stood and looked around hoping this was Michael's doing to bring her home to her plane of existence and her family.

In the room the elementals noted that the body that had held the baby was now nothing more than a shell and that what had been Victoria was now lifeless.

Huzitt felt her passing and he threw back his head and screamed out his grief at her passing. The baby's opened her mouth to scream out her arrival to the world in another part of the house another passed away in her sleep. Little Sarah that had been struggling with her respiratory problem could fight it no more and she quietly slipped away in her sleep to meet the vale of death and a new beginning for her spirit.

Josette had sat quietly by her side and watched her when she took her last breath and turned her face into her brother's chest his sweet little sister moved on. Barnabas has picked her frail body up and cried into her neck telling her of his love and how much she will be missed.

Then as Sarah passed the sound of new life could be heard heralding its arrival into the Collins family home. The howl of the angry and sadden Native American was now making it's sorrow known as death seemed to overflow the halls of Collinwood.

Naomi knew as she held the new life in her arms that death had claimed her precious daughter. She turned with mixed tears of joy and sorrow to the elementals and spoke softly, "Watch over her for me while I go tell my daughter bye."

Fieria nodded to the corner and smiled, "She is here Naomi, she has come to you."

Naomi turned and there in the corner was her precious daughter looking sweet and healthy and she stepped forward and smiled, "Mother may I see my little cousin before I move on?"

Naomi moved to her daughter and bent over to allow her to see the newest arrival. "So this is Victoria?"

Naomi nodded, "Yes darling this is Victoria Katherine Collins." Sarah sighed and touched the little pink nose and watched the baby's eyes went cross-eyed following her fingertip. "I think I love her already mother."

Naomi smiled and sighed softly, "I think she loves you as well my precious."

Sarah being a typical child of nine turned and smiled to the other four women and the male Native American in the room. "I must go now but I won't be too far mother I will watch over her and you too."

Sarah then leaned over and placed a small kiss on little Victoria's forehead. Then she turned and moved to the bed and the body that lay there. "Come on Katherine it is time to leave." The body that Vicki had occupied lay still in her death but from her being a new soul in transparency rose up out of the body and stopped to peer down at the beautiful baby girl that was held by Naomi.

With a tenderness that was touching and a bit sad Katherine's spirit smiled and then reached for Sarah's hand and together they moved to the growing shadows of the room and disappeared from view. With the set of the sun Naomi could feel Jeremiah had arisen from his death sleep and she turned to the others.

"It is time to take the nice young man home and when you return I will have completed my task." The women nodded and turned taking hands and holding onto Huzitt the room glowed again with the warmth of a fire, the soothing coolness of water, the gentle touch of a breeze and a smell of earth the door opened they too disappeared leaving Naomi alone with the body that was Katharine and the baby she had birthed.

Jeremiah with an anxious concern look to the baby then with complete sadness as he looked down at the now deceased Victoria. "She is gone Jeremiah, she died in child birth but not before she delivered a beautiful baby girl."

Jeremiah moved forward and held out his arms to take the child for his one and only time he knew he would hold his daughter. "Name her Victoria Katherine and see she grows up strong and happy Naomi."

Naomi sighed and looked at the child in his arms. "Consider it done. If you wish Jeremiah and you can control your blood lust you may sit with your daughter until dawn."

The look of love and wonder filled his gaze as he moved to sit in the chair in Victoria's room. "Thank you Naomi be sure that when you strike you hit my heart to make true your mark."

Naomi looked from the now tranquil looking woman that had carried the baby that was Victoria and then to Jeremiah. "You may not be aware of this Jeremiah but Sarah died tonight as well as Victoria, so I must go and make arrangements to have them buried."

Jeremiah looked up from the warm pink bundled in his arms and frowned, "I am sorry Naomi, Sarah was a sweet child that was cherished by us all."

Naomi had held her emotions in she watched Victoria die and little Victoria be born and now she had to go and see to the care of her baby girl's preparation for her burial.

"Jeremiah, please understand should you try to harm that child in your arms, you will feel the wrath of all elements that will rain down hell on you." Jeremiah looked down in the small form in his arms and then to the woman that had bore her and he shook his head. "I will turn her over to you first Naomi before I harm on bit of dark hair on her tiny head. She is a part of me and shall guarantee our future."

Naomi looked at him one more time before moving to the door bracing her self to go and see to the care of her daughter's body. When Naomi left; Jeremiah stood and moved to the bed to peer down at the serene look on Victoria's face.

"I am sorry Victoria, I should have been a better husband for you." He looked down at the quiet child that sucked on her thumb and looked intently to her father. "I am sure that you know that Victoria will be cared for and treated I am sure like a princess."

He leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and then stood and moved to peer out the window to the majestic ocean that was the Atlantic.

"Jeremiah Collins because you are so readily to give up your life so your daughter may live, I shall give you a glimpse of what is to come."

He turned to look at a figure of a man that stood like an angel before him. "My name is Micah. Bring your daughter and touch my hand."

Jeremiah took the hand that was offered and Micah shifted through the plane of time, pausing to let him see an adult Victoria now married and children of her own, her oldest son names Jeremiah.

Shifting further into the future he saw a man that looked very much like him self he stood looking out over the front lawn to the ocean, from the doorway another called to him, "Quentin, will you go see Jamison to bed, he is asking for you."

Jeremiah smiled watching his future great grandson moved up the stairs to bid his own son good night. Micah shifted time again and he found himself in a house that was odd with modern fixtures and a family that was sitting in the great drawing room. There he saw Victoria sitting primly by the fireplace she watched the fire, she was pregnant and she turned at the approach of another entering the room and he was startled to see his image again in form move into the room.

"How is David?" The man moved to kiss her forehead and then put his hand on her stomach and smiled " Anxious wanting to know when his sister will be born."

She put her hand over his and smiled, "She is kicking feel?" The look of wonder filled his vision as he nodded. "I see." Standing he moved to the window to peer out and look up at the half moon. He sighed softly, "So much to prepare for my love, so much to do before the full moon comes."

Vicki stood and moved by his side and spoke softly, "When the time comes my love I shall make sure you are safe and comfortable." He turned and kissed her forehead and then bent down and spoke to her stomach.

"And you my little precious one, shall be born for greatness." Then the time shifted again and Jeremiah was suddenly locked and unable to move as he felt him self constricted by the cross he stared at and the coffin he was bound in was chained shut and the hunger was great.

The child was no longer in his arms and he found that what Naomi had done was not kill him, better that she had he was now trapped for what seemed an eternity in this coffin that was his prison. Micah spoke through the coffin, "And now you know she could not bring herself to kill you Jeremiah so she sentenced you to eternal damnation in this coffin but you are about to be freed."

With those words said Micah disappeared leaving the tortured soul of Jeremiah trapped in the coffin. From his prison he listened and then he heard what? Footsteps? Then the door to the secret room opened, he would know that sound anywhere. Slowly agonizingly so he heard the chains being removed, then a light filled his coffin and he looked up into all too familiar eyes as he stared back into the same blue penetrating gaze that was so like his own and a face that was so like his own. The voice was even familiar as the figure bending over him smiled, "Hello Grandfather it is I Quentin Collins welcoming you to a brand new world."

Josette shifted and began to travel through the void and felt the familiar feel of her mother she gathered her momentum and then she saw her standing there in the darkness of the abyss of nothingness. "Mother?"

She rushed to her mother's open arms and felt those familiar loving arms move around her. "Oh mother I was so worried I would not find you."

Victoria held her daughter close and kissed her forehead and whispered softly, "I had to complete this last assignment my love and now I am ready to go home to our family and your father."

Josette looked confused and asked, "Assignment, what assignment was that mother?" Victoria smiled and looked up seeing Michael standing in the distances and noted his holy light was shining down on both of them.

"It is something I was destined to complete and now it's done I am ready take me home my loving daughter take me home to our house and our family."

Shifting the time space continuum she moved through the planes arriving back to the hallway from where Victoria had disappeared. "I suppose you don't want to talk about it?"

Josette said shifting to the time frame and felt the cascade affect begin to reverse itself. The balance of all nature was returned to a normal flow Victoria sighed and looked tired.

"Not now my sweet maybe later, I am just as sure there are things you will want to tell me so we can exchange stories but for now I want to hug my children and find my husband and hold him."

Josette walked down the familiar hallway to her mother's bedroom and entered the room. "Father is at Collinwood mother do you wish to go there?"

Vicki walked over to the picture that had been painted of her in Josette's dress and had been delivered the day she had married Barnabas and looked up at the image. In another time, another place, another plane she did exist as Katharine. "Give me a moment honey, I just need to feel home first then we will go see the family."

Josette not understanding but respecting her mother's request stepped quietly from the room but not until she looked back to look at her mother studying her portrait with a sad smile and distant look. "I suppose you will tell me some day but not today mother as I will tell you of how the world nearly folded in on us all."

Moving down the hallway to her room, Josette moved over to her bed and collapsed in a heap on its comfortable surface and then smiled as she rubbed her stomach, there was new life in her womb and soon enough she would have to tell Camron and her parents that they were going to be grandparents. This thought put a happy contented smile on her lips and she closed her eyes to dream her dreams of the days to come and how she was going to be a mother.