Chapter 9

Mount Desert Island Castle Lochia

The large black limo pulled up in front of the castle, the driver stepped out in the driving rain, pulled an umbrella from the front side door and walked to the rear passenger door opening it to hold the umbrella over the first occupant's head that exited the door. From the front of the double arched doors, two more servant s exited the home and walked down with umbrellas covering the second occupants head. They both turned and looked around at the desolate and isolated area they had arrived, "Well I suppose this is our new home for a while Petru, let us not keep Vlad waiting." Rudolpho Banal walked up the steps to the door and entered. For him he had long cared about the weather or its affect on him. Entering the cheerfully decorated and now set foyer he looked around and sighed softly. "I suppose we must resign ourselves to this earlier architecture, this is a new country a fledgling of sorts."

"Ahh, Petru, Rudolpho, do come in and forgive the primitive surroundings they are the best would could do on short notice." Vlad stepped forward extending his hand to his father in law, the kindly face, white haired gent with white hair and a white pointed goatee. He smiled watching Vlad approach him while the servant helped him divest himself of his coat.

"Vlad my dear boy." Taking his hand he drew the man into an embrace that would be expected from father to son. Turning he looked around and sighed. "I know this is the best you could do, I am glad to see some of the ornamentation from the old country."

Vlad smiled turned to offer his hand to Petru a tall pale man with starkly handsome features and piercing blue eyes, with a shock of blond hair falling over his forehead. "I am so glad you made it ahead of the storm, I held it off as long as I could do come into the drawing room and make yourself comfortable. I am having rooms prepared for you and our impending guests." Vlad had tolerated Petru and his petulant moods, thus why he had decided that Petru would be a perfect match for Carolyn. Walking with both men into the large room that must have been a social room for the early days of this country's inspection he walked to the large fireplace where four chairs arched around the cheerfully burning fire.

"Or would you prefer to join me in my library it is a little more intimate and I have their pictures so you might be able to study them." Vlad smiled and waited for them to decide what they wished to do.

Rudolpho was interested in the woman that Vlad had selected to replace his dear and sweet Miriam. Petru was somewhat curious to meet his future wife and see if she would bend to his will. He was more interested in seeing his little sister once again. She had been the heart of his life. They had grown up so close and together that he was terribly bereft when he had learned of her subsequent death and the transformation that Vlad had undergone to wreak his vengeance on those that had denied his sister her rights to a dignified burial. "Perhaps your library so our thoughts could be expressed in private?" Rudolpho offered and watched Vlad turn and smile.

"This way, the place is obviously not as well appointed as my castle. However, once we have completed all processes of the transformation of Elizabeta, then we may return home and begin our life anew" He was walking them down a long wide hallway towards a rear room. The area was lowly lit and the carpeting muffled their footfalls. Vlad stopped outside a set of double mahogany doors and opened them into an airy wide room filled with bookshelves and antique books. The room held a very masculine feel with the large furnishings, the fireplace burning brightly against an inside wall. Vlad walked to a large maple colored desk, going behind it he looked down at a row of pictures laid out on top of his desk.

Reaching for a picture of Liz, he handed it to Rudolpho. The picture had been taken of Liz while she waited outside Collinwood before the large doors for the estate car, she wore a scarf over her had and her herringbone coat covered her. She appeared every bit the grand dame of her home and Rudolpho noted from what he could see, she was every bit as beautiful as her daughter. "Lovely, she almost reminds me somewhat of Queen Miriam." He glanced up handing the picture to Petru. "Do you not think she reminds you of your mother?"

Petru carefully studied the woman in front of him and smiled. "She does remind me of Mama. I think around the eyes mostly, she has lovely eyes Poppa you should find comfort with her." He laid the picture down and took the one that Vlad had picked up. He peered at the sassy looking blond with flashing eyes and an easy smile. "Lovely, you say her name is Caroline or Carolyn?" He cocked his head and studied the woman that was slated to be his eternal mate. She at lease was lovely and a budding beauty; he would reserve judgment until he met her.

"It is Carolyn, she is a hand full according to Sorin and Radu. She is willful and flighty too, I suppose after a few years she will temper her self to your will and make you an excellent wife." He reached for the two new photos he had just received earlier from Radu when he had visited. "This is Lady Margaret, the one that Collins took as his first reincarnation of Josette Collins." Petru looked at the vibrant and beautiful redhead and smiled.

"She reminds me some what of Cecily of Normandy. Do you remember her father? Saucy thing with a hot temper and a vixen on bed." He chuckled hearing his father's admonishment.

"How would you know her tastes while in bed Petru? You were way too young to recall such a thing about a woman of that repute and beauty." Rudolpho did recall her and she was a wanton vixen and had crawled into his bed with he and his wife one night. Rudolpho had been so outraged he had her expelled from the castle much to his wife's relief. Needless to say the next time Petru had seen her, she was not as young but she was still very beautiful and she was a vixen in bed he remembered she was his first but was not about to tell his father.

"I just remember mother talking about how deplorable she was and how you would never allow a strumpet like that back into the castle." He had wondered if this was her reincarnation and if he would fine out about her tastes in men and in desires. "Who will be the recipient of this delightful woman's charms?" Petru was curious he had known Vlad had selected mates for all of them including Sorin and Radu. The problem was Sorin had rejected every mate that was selected for him as for Radu he was just as hard to please so the previous two that were taken and offered were then offered to high placed members of the council. With which those two marriages had sealed those houses closer to the house of Tepes.

He took the other picture and smiled, "She is lovely, what is her name?" Petru was fixated on the picture of Daphne, her brown eyes shown with the love she held for the man whose arm she held and Petru studied the man and frowned. "He has the mark of the wolf." He glanced up waiting for Vlad to tell him of this person and the one she was with.

"That my dear brother is Quentin Collins and his betrothed Daphne Harridge. She is a nurse and is also related to Julia Hoffman Stokes." He frowned mentioning Julia. "She will be offered to Radu or Sorin. As for the Collins cousin he is an immortal with the help of a Charles Delaware Tate portrait he keeps the wolf contained." Vlad walked to his desk and took a seat. Sitting back he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Now how this all played out according to my sources that were able to obtain the information was this way."

Vlad began to explain what happened with Barnabas with Angelique, and when he spoke of her he was containing his anger. Her curse on the family, and her curse on any called Collins. Then he told them of Magda and her curse on Quentin and Petofi's plans to take over Quentin's body. Before he was through Rudolpho and Petru knew most the history surrounding the Collins family. Vlad picked up pictures of Barnabas, Roger, George Patterson, Joe Haskell and Chris Jennings, finally he laid the picture of Willie down on the desk. "He will be the one to do what Barnabas Collins tells him to do because he is under Barnabas' thrall. He is the slave that protects him.

The men sat and studied the pictures and Petru picked up the picture of Vicki and smiled. "She does look like Elizabeta." He took his fingers and drew them across Vicki's cheek. "I missed her poppa, you met her, is she like Elizabeta?" Petru looked up studying his father.

Rudolpho smiled and sat down taking the picture from his son he nodded slowly. His memories of his daughter had not diminished over the many years since her passing and when he had first met Vicki he was astonished by how much she not only looked like Elizabeta but how much she was Elizabeta. "Petru she played as Elizabeta did, she curtsied and show the respect without even being told to address me and she was so much of Elizabeta but without her memories. Her smile, her hesitant look, the hidden fear that danced in her eyes,. You would have thought your sister had returned." His words and the manner in which he expressed his feelings about meeting her for the first time was evidence that Vlad had been right in pursuing her.

"So, when do we get to be together again as a family? When will your next guests be arriving." Vlad looked up to the door and saw his servant standing politely awaiting his Prince's attention. Turning that attention to the servant he motioned the Prince to him.

"My Lord, I beg your pardon and request a moment of your time." The servant looked apologetically to the Duke and his son, "My pardons my lords." He bowed to them and turned to speak softly to the Prince. "My Prince the witch and her brother have arrived and we have placed her in secured quarters and he is demanding to speak with you. He is saying it's an outrage to be treated so poorly and threatening to go to someone called Diablos."

Vlad smiled, "Let him bellow all he wants, when Sorin gets here, allow him to deal with Mr. Blair and make sure the witch is left with nothing and I mean noting, she is to be kept gagged, and her hands bound. If you have to sedate her then do it. However, I do not want her with any abilities to cast any kind of spell. As for Blair, why not tell him that I shall see to his demands shortly. Then sedate him as well. Sorin when he gets here can deal with them."

The servant bowed to the Prince turned with a guard and left him with his guests. Vlad walked into the room, going to his desk to sit behind it and he was looking very upset. "I hope I did not make a mistake bringing them here." He let out a cleansing sigh to relieve the tension that had built in his body.

"Whom might that be my brother." Petru stood and walked to the window to peer out at the front courtyard. He had noted that since their arrival the storm had begun to grow in intensity. Shoving his hand into his pocket he stood with his back ramrod straight and seeing more with his gaze than any mere mortal.

"The witch was very naughty, it would appear that she decided to exact her type of revenge on Elizabeta a few days ago and it nearly caused her grievous injury. Were it not for the fact I came in on her while she was in the middle of performing her sorcery. I would have surely lost Elizabeta to a fall down the stairs and a broken neck."

Rudolpho frowned, "Will our sweet one be safe around her when she comes to join us?" He was concerned he would not have his family complete turning to look at Vlad Petru leaned against the table that sat in front of the window.

"She is very beautiful is she not and she is the woman scorned her anger should be directed at Collins and not Elizabeta, why has she set out on this vendetta?" Petru was feeling a hint of anger at the woman and had she been there and tried to hurt his sister in front of him he would have broken her neck without a second thought.

Vlad nodded, "She is beautiful and thinks she can manipulate and lie her way around her deeds and actions and then she has an annoying brother who postures and quibbles his position and demands and threatens me with Diablos. When it is I that Diablos will try to appease. The woman will be dealt with by Sorin on his arrival and as for the brother I have half a mind to summon Diablos myself and have him take him back with him."

Rudolpho frowned deeply, "Never really trust their kind or their dealings with wanting to try and control us and let us do their dirty work by taking over the world for them. I know you too well Vlad to not know you have a plan in store to curb further interference by the witch." He stood and looked around. "By the way where is the bottle of you know?" He smiled and watched a smile cross Vlad's face.

"On the table, Petru be a good son and pour your father a 1768 vintage B positive." Vlad folded his fingers together and prepared to celebrate their next move that was about to be put in place.

Old House Dining Room

Vicki sat at one end of the table, while Barnabas sat at the head of the table; she smiled graciously looking around at their guests. Quentin, Daphne, Sorin, Willie, Marie, Elizabeth, George, Roger and Carolyn had already seated themselves and they waited for David, Julia and Elliott to join them. The outside had grown nasty with the advent of a nor'easter blowing in with a Canadian low and now the land was encased in snow and ice. That meant they would be having company this night. Mrs. Evans and her husband Herbert had been put up for the night. It appeared they were all icebound in the house and were now beginning to relax from the tension of wondering if their little town would be spared. Apparently it was not to be and now the old house was filled with life, love and laughter once again.

With the arrival of Julia and Elliott all that remained was for David to show up when Mrs. Lewis told them he wanted his supper in his room he was trying to work out a new solution to his photography equipment Roger had brought back from Boston. Barnabas signaled Mrs. Cook to go on and serve those that were seated at the table. Vicki would occasionally look up to see her husband staring at her with the love written in his eyes and a promise for some late night passion while he carried on a conversation with Elizabeth and George who were seated on each side of him. Vicki shared one side with Sorin and the other with Carolyn and noticed that Carolyn was happily engaging Sorin in a lively discussion of the dark arts and the study of them.

Sorin had sat covetedly watching Vicki who had grown quiet and distant while the conversations around her had taken on a personal note about her sudden disappearance one night because of a séance. Carolyn had even mentioned how Josette had on three occasions used Vicki as her medium and even had possessed her. Vicki had grown shy and withdrawn at the mention of her possession looking down at her plate and he realized she had barely touched her meal. He knew it was an extremely palatable and tasty meal and was wondering what had affected her now to ignore such fine fare.

"Is the meal not palatable Vicki?" He smiled and remarked on her barely touched plate. He was delighted to note that wonderful shade of pink slide over her cheekbones and heighten the color of her face.

Vicki folded her elbows on the table and leaned over her plate and smiled, "I suppose I am feeling a bit queasy. I am sure it is an after affect of the accident. It will pass." She smiled apologetically for his benefit. She spoke softly, "If you all don't mind, I am having a little bit of a headache, it may just be the weather affecting me but I really do need I think need to lie down." The others at the table had heard her complaint and Julia became concerned.

"Vicki do you need me to examine you my dear?" She smiled and started to stand when Vicki stopped her.

"No Julia, I just feel a bit off and I am sure it is more weather related than fall related, I just need to lie down for a while and then perhaps later will join you all for tea and cordials in the drawing room?" Vicki stood and the men at the table all stood and she smiled, "Please reseat your selves and enjoy the meal. I happen to know Mrs. Cook is an excellent chef and she put her heart into this meal for you all tonight." Vicki inclined her head in deference to her guests, turned and walked from the room, paused turned and looked at Sorin. She smiled and her whole demeanor seemed to shift and change, she spoke to him in his language, "Aștept cu nerăbdare să mai multe conversații, cum ar fi am avut pe plaja dreapta soțului meu." Turning she lifted her chin, her eyelashes fluttered and she collapsed in the doorway.

Because most of the table had resumed their conversations, only three had heard Vicki speak in the strange language. Barnabas, Julia, and Sorin. Sorin was pleased to hear she recognized who he was by saying she looked forward to more walks on the beach with her husband's right hand. It was an archaic term used during royal times where a close and trusted friend was appointed to do the King's bidding. He had always been referred to as the Right Hand of the King. He was concerned that those that had heard may have thought of him as a problem. He along with Barnabas and Julia had risen and Sorin was the first to reach her. Lifting her from the floor he turned to Barnabas. "Do you wish her in your bedroom?"

Julia nodded passed Barnabas and lead the way to the bedrooms taking them through to the kitchen and up the servant's stairs. "It will be quicker here. Barnabas will join us shortly." Julia opened the door to the opulent and comfortable looking bedroom with a cheerfully burning fire in the fireplace. Walking to the bed she noticed that Mrs. Lewis must have turned down the beds. Arranging the pillows Julia smiled. "Put her here, will you wait here with her while I go get my medical bag?"

Sorin nodded and watched her leave the room. Sorin had felt him the moment he entered the room. "Radu! Show yourself and be quick about it before the doctor returns."

Radu stepped from the secret tunnel pushing the panel back. "The Prince needs your expertise in handling the witch, she was the one that cast a spell on the Princess and caused the fall down the stairs. He wants you to come and attend to her and teach her a lesson."

Sorin looked to the window and saw the weather outside was near impossible for normal means of travel and sighed deeply. "I will have to wait until later but you can assure him telepathically, I shall be there before the cock crows. You may also tell him that Elizabeta tried to break through tonight and she spoke to me in our language. I hope she did not give me away."

Radu smiled, "She spoke the night she fell in our language and demanded to be brought back to her husband and the doctor silenced her and demanded that the personality of Vicki be returned. Which reminds me, there is a new order for our collections. We begin tomorrow with the mother and the daughter, then we follow up with the fiancé of Quentin Collins and Lady Margaret then you may begin what you had planned for the good doctor." Radu looked up then disappeared into the secret tunnel just as Julia entered the room.

"I don't like she is still unconscious. Was she speaking to you in that language earlier before she collapsed?" Julia had watched Vicki's face for signs of awakening. Lifting her eyelid she looked at the man standing by her side.

"No I don't think so, I did not understand what she was saying. She jabbered some nonsense and then just went down. She had been complaining of not feeling well." He watched her eyelashes flutter against her cheeks and then she opened her eyes and sat up embarrassed at being at a disadvantage of not knowing how she found herself in her bedroom.

"What happened?" She tried to get up but Julia quickly pushed her back down. "Julia?"

Julia looked to Sorin, "Please go get Barnabas if you would be so kind?" She watched Elliott's assistant leave her and Vicki then Julia hiked her hip on the side of the bed and spoke softly. "Vicki earlier you complained of a small headache, and not feeling well, you stood up with the intention of coming up to lie down and you spoke in that strange language you have used before. Do you recall any of that?"

Vicki shook her head, "No Julia I remember sitting at the supper table and was enjoying the meal and suddenly I felt as if I had been taken out of my body and was in that safe secure room that Josette used to take me when she took control of my body. I don't recall saying anything other than polite chitchat. Carolyn was dominating the conversation with Sorin and that is all I remember." Vicki took her fingertips and pressed them to her forehead. "Julia what is going on with me? This is beginning to frighten me. I feel I am loosing my mind!"

The door opened and Barnabas with a look of concern entered the room. "My dearest one?" He walked to the bed and sat down on the edge next to Julia. "Are you feeling better?" He reached for her hand and lifted it to his lips.

Julia turned and spoke softly "She does not remember getting up to leave or speaking in that language, she just recalls that during dinner she felt she was disassociated from her body the same feeling she described when Josette took over her body and 'moved' her to that safe place." Barnabas tilted his head and frowned.

"My love?" He leaned over and gathered her close to him hugging her tightly. "Was Josette using you again?'

"No, I did not feel Josette this time my love, I felt something different, something like Josette but different and I was afraid that I would not be allowed to come back." She held to Barnabas and then her body stiffened, she arched her back, her eyes rolled back in her head and she began to tremble.

"Barnabas help me lie her flat she is seizing and I think she had quit breathing!"