Shadows on the Wall Chapter 51: “What Little Girls Are Made Of” by Luciaphil Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. --“Fire and Ice” Robert Frost * * * Voiceover (Marie Wallace): In the small hours of the morning, the inhabitants of Collinwood are engaged in separate trials: tests of will and strength through private worlds of pain, deceit and loneliness. As expectations and hopes shatter, one woman, who has traveled back through the folds of time so that she may change the future, knows that she will soon need to stand on this proving ground herself. * * * **Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess. She had a complexion like cream, hair like fire, the body of a goddess and eyes filled with passion. She grew up happily enough in the company of people who she thought loved her, unaware of who she really was. Then one day, the voices came.** “Jenny,” Quentin said for a second time, perhaps hoping that this wasn’t real. “Oh, dear God.” **The voices told her that she didn’t belong with “her family”. She was a princess, they said. A *real* princess like in the gadjo fairytale books. She had a glorious future, the voices told her, but she had to do what they said. What they told her do often only made sense to her, but she obeyed them without question. There were times when the voices went away. But they always came back** Quentin’s eyes darted back between his wife and Beth. “Jenny, thank God. I’ve missed you so much,” he lied hastily, trying to stomach his revulsion at the sight of her. **One day, long after the princess had run away from the Romani, she met her the man of her dreams. He was everything a prince should be: tall, handsome and rich. He lived in a castle, they said, or as close to a castle as could be.** “Why did you go away?” “It’s . . . complicated.” Quentin smiled at her. “I should never have left you, Jenny. Can you ever forgive me?” **The princess had been forced to go and work in a low, common place. She was above the people who worked in and frequented the concert halls; they thought so too, for they called her “duchess”. She was proud and cold, they said, but when the prince cast his eye over the girls in the concert hall, it was her aloofness that first caught his attention. He pursued her. The more she ran, the more he chased, until one day, when he proposed to her like a proper prince should, she stopped running. They were wed and lived happily ever after.** Jenny swayed back and forth. Her lips moved upward in what was supposed to be a coquettish smirk, but instead highlighted every trace of her insanity. Quentin swallowed. **But the princess discovered that “ever after” was over very soon. The prince took her back to his castle. There were witches there. The prince told her they were her sisters now. They would love her, he promised. But the princess knew that this was not to be. They were cruel to her. The golden-haired crone, the one who shimmered with fire whenever the princess looked at her, wanted what the princess had. Her husband began to drift away. His brothers and his friends mocked her. It was very lonely. The queen liked her well enough, particularly when she sang, but when the queen fell ill, the princess had no one. That is, until the voices came back.** Beth moaned. Jenny didn’t pay any attention. She waltzed slowly to the music, holding the folds of her rusty black dress in her hands and moved closer. Quentin tried to sound calm, but his voice was cracking, “Jenny, everything is going to be all right. We’re going to be together, just like we were--” “--In the beginning?” “Yes, just like we were in the beginning,” he assured her. “But first we need to get Beth some help. A doctor--” Jenny stopped dancing. “All right.” “Thank, God. Now I’m going to call for a doctor and then we--” “Kiss me,” the princess commanded. Quentin steeled himself. It was only for a minute, he told himself, long enough to calm her and then he’d have her committed to the first asylum that would take her. They must have been keeping her here, he realized. Another crime that sister Judith was going to have to answer for. Trying very hard not to retch, he closed his eyes and bent down slightly to plant a chaste kiss on his wife’s lips. **The princess wasn’t always sure of the distinction between reality and illusion. They took her from her airy bower and moved her to a tower cell in the castle. The hag with the black hair, the bitter one, first took away all of her pretty dresses and then her children. The princess wept for her babies every day. She had to keep her babies safe, the voices told her. The prince would come back and he would hurt her children. The princess couldn’t let that happen.** Quentin’s attempt at a peck on the lips was foiled as his wife pulled him into a torrid embrace. “That’s enough, Jenny,” he said as he tried to fight free. “We can be together later.” Jenny didn’t seem to hear him. Only after she’d plunged the knife into his chest, did she answer. He was startled at first, staring with shock at the blood rushing out onto his shirt. In the husky voice he’d once found so appealing, she told him, “You must die.” * * * It was a scene of the utmost respectability. Dedicated Tim Shaw pouring over his employer’s ledgers, his nimble fingers making an occasional notation or two on a separate piece of foolscap. Judith knew no ill of Mr. Shaw. He seemed to be remarkably competent at his job. Beth had reported that aside from trying to befriend her when he’d first come to Collinwood, he kept to himself. Efficient, well-behaved, impeccable manners, an ideal secretary for her brother. Why then, did she have a feeling that he wasn’t all he seemed? As if aware of her thoughts, Tim Shaw glanced up. “Miss Collins.” She was supposed to be meeting with Dirk. He would wonder where she was. He’d been so difficult since Grandmama had died. Judith wasn’t anxious to see him. Their liaison had become tedious and boring a long time ago. Tim Shaw rose. “I hope I wasn’t keeping you awake.” “No, no,” she assured him. “I couldn’t sleep.” Judith approached the desk. “Those are the ledgers from the business. Why is Edward having you look at those?” He cleared his throat. “It was my own idea, Miss Collins. I thought I might be of some greater use than doing Mr. Edward’s private correspondence. I have a few ideas,” he hesitated. Diffidently, he started again, “If I’ve overstepped--” Her suspicions somewhat alleviated, Judith relaxed. “No . . . I’d . . . I would like to hear those ideas of yours.” He smiled at her, smoothly moving from behind the desk. He pulled a chair next to his and invited her to sit down. As Mr. Shaw began to detail his thoughts, his eyes now and then meeting hers, Judith thought less and less about her difficult lover who was surely waiting for her. * * * Good little girls, Nora had always been told, sat quietly, played quietly, spoke quietly--but only when addressed first. Good little girls did as they were bid. It wasn’t as important as it was for Jamison for her to do well on her lessons, Father said, because she was supposed to be pretty and sweet and one day she would marry and her husband would do the thinking for her. Without giving it much consideration--“Mummy was in Egypt;” Great Grandmama had been dying and had never given her much thought anyway and Aunt Judith seldom had time for her--Nora accepted that. Jamison always took charge; Nora looked up to her big, bossy brother. He would take care of her. And then one day, so would her husband. That was the way things were. But she was alone now, in desperate need of help, and there wasn’t a male in sight and in her panic, the heretical thought that none of the ones she knew would be of much use anyway crossed her mind “Mummy,” Nora whispered, tears welling in her enormous brown eyes. Laura Collins stirred faintly and moaned. Nora knelt down and stroked her mother’s golden hair and tried to think what to do. “So cold . . . so cold. Nora, you must help me. Help Mummy. You’re the only one,” Laura begged. A low voice called through the door, “Nora, are you all right? Did you have another nightmare? Shall I come and sing for you?” She had screamed, Nora realized, so Miss Trask had come to see what was wrong. Miss Trask, who Nora liked, must not come inside. She wouldn’t know what to do. Nora stood up and padded to the door. Carefully opening it a crack, she pretended to yawn. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up.” Nora peered up at Miss Trask. Her governess looked strange, Nora thought. Not quite awake herself and yet alert in some other odd new way. “I’ll be all right,” Nora told her. “Good night, Miss Trask,” she said sweetly. Charity Trask nodded and drifted away. The good little girl bolted the door behind her. She was going to have to start a fire. * * * The knife went in and out of his flesh like a needle into cloth. Quentin realized he was going to die. Grandfather had said he would die at the hands of a woman . . . who would have thought that the old boy was such a prophet? Beth fell out of the chair Jenny had placed her in. She pulled herself into a sitting position. He was still conscious enough to realize this and to hope that Jenny didn’t turn her attention to Beth as well. He had to do something. Her voice sounding like a rasp, Beth addressed her charge, “They’re crying, Jenny. They need you.” “Where? Where are they?” Beth kept her eyes focused on Jenny. “They need you. You have to go to them.” The knife fell to the floor. Seizing his chance, Quentin reached out and curled his fingers around the handle. He didn’t know if he was going to leave this good earth, but if he was, then his darling wife was going with him. “Whither I goest, thou goest,” he murmured to himself. It took a tremendous amount of strength, but he got to his feet. The last thing Beth saw before she passed out was Quentin slitting Jenny’s throat. * * * Laura warmed her hands by the fire that her daughter had lit. Nora, poor thing, was sitting white-faced in the child’s rocking chair that the little girl had almost outgrown. What Nora wanted most was to be hugged and held and reassured that Mummy was never going to go away again. Laura ached to fulfill those needs and she would, just as soon as she was a little stronger, but now she needed the fire. “Did you hear me calling to you?” Nora nodded. “I knew you were coming back. Jamison didn’t believe me, but I *knew* it.” “Jamison didn’t hear me?” “No. I showed him the scarab and everything.” Nora looked down at her hands. “He took it. We were going to show it to Uncle Quentin--” “Quentin?” Laura asked quickly. So he had come back home. “Why?” “Jamison wanted to,” Nora informed her mother. “But we couldn’t find him. I don’t think Jamison believed me when I told him how I got it.” Laura absorbed this. She had thought her link with her son stronger. There had been moments when she’d felt something getting in the way between them. The way back, she’d believed, would come through Jamison. Instead it had been little Nora, who had not wavered once. She felt a pang that her son had pulled away from her so, but she would get him and his love back soon. Meanwhile her little girl needed her, “Come here, sweetheart. Come to Mummy.” She held out her arms. * * * Edith Collins had never thought much of men. One manipulated, used, and/or dominated them. If they became too troublesome, one eliminated them. Before she had known any better, she’d endured them. They tended to be simple creatures, most of them. Even her former favorite, Quentin, who thought himself such a miracle of complication, was when it came down to it, a greedy little boy. Women were the ones to watch out for. Trained at dissimulation in the name of femininity, they would stab one in the back, looking terribly demure all the while. Daphne had been like that, Edith thought, her lip curling in distaste as she remembered what a thorn in her side her sister-in-law had been. That aside, inhabiting a man’s body was proving to have some unexpected benefits. It wasn’t necessary to hide one’s abilities because men were respected for strength and intelligence. As Tim Shaw, when she wished to she could be as direct as necessary and it was considered forthrightness. As a man she could go almost anywhere she wished without having to explain it or having to have a proper escort. It was really, when one thought about it, rather refreshing. And of course, there were other advantages. Mr. Shaw was a handsome man, and from the ease with which Edith controlled him as well as from her little experience with him her first night as Beth, one evidently accustomed to using his looks and his body to advancement. All of which was proving most useful in her plans for dear Judith. She was almost grateful really, for her granddaughter’s lusts. The animal appeal of that disgusting caretaker had apparently palled and Judith was ready for something and someone new. There was still some residual revulsion at the thought of lying with her own granddaughter, but not much. She’d survived Quentin’s embrace, how was this worse? She’d been with women before. There might be some awkwardness in a mechanical sense of the word; she was still a little clumsy at times with this new body, but that could be eliminated by practice--with that stupid idiot of a governess perhaps. Or maybe Judith would enjoy “teaching” her lover. It really didn’t matter and besides it wouldn’t be for long. Tim Shaw, if Edith had her way about it, was going to become a widower soon after he married. * * * The darkness was so alive. Charity wondered why she had never noticed it before. Everything had taken on an edge and a reality that she marveled at. Her God had done that to her and she was grateful. She longed for his touch. He said he would summon her. Charity couldn’t wait for that to happen again. Never, not even with Tim, had she ever felt like this before. Every fiber of her being vibrated with energy, a fire that she had never known she had, burned within her. She was awake for the first time in her life. Her little chamber was frigid. The Collinses did not waste coal for fires in her room, but Charity hardly noticed. Charity crawled back into her narrow bed and pulled the covers over her. She hesitated and then ran her hands over her body. The nightdress was a prim, plain affair, but it did nothing to impede the sensations she felt. It was a far cry to being with Him, but it was better than nothing. She explored her own flesh and wondered why she’d been so shy about her body before. This was surely heaven. Despite the warmth her fingers drew out of her body, Charity gradually became aware that the temperature in the room was turning Arctic. “Whore,” came a bodiless whisper. Charity stilled her hands. “Slut.” “Who’s . . . Who’s there?” It wasn’t Him. It sounded nothing like Him. Charity swallowed. “Please, who’s there?” There was laughter, dry, humorless laughter. And then the sheets were ripped off of her. Charity pulled her nightdress back down below her knees and tried to cover herself. “’Then the eyes of both were opened and they knew that they were naked.’” Charity’s eyes widened. “Papa?” No, it wasn’t possible. He was dead. Oh, so very dead. “Have you no shame? First you conspire with that thief and murderer and then you rut like a whore--” “I didn’t conspire with anyone and I didn’t--” Charity licked her lips nervously. “I’m not a whore!” Whoever or whatever was in the room with her slapped her across the face. “God will smite you down for your sins,” it whispered to her. Charity leapt out of the bed and tried to back away. “Please, no. Please go away and leave me alone,” she begged. For a moment there was silence, but then she felt the cold that was surely a living thing advance on her. She watched in horror as a seam of her nightgown seemingly tore apart. “No. No, please don’t!” Not caring now what part of her body was exposed, Charity did the only thing she could think of. She ran and she ran blindly. Unfortunately what she found by the time she slowed for breath was more disturbing than what she left behind her. She was too tired to scream with her mouth. Her mind, however, had energy enough. * * * Laura hugged her sleeping daughter to her and watched the flames shoot higher. Nora’s needs were simple; Laura wished she could say the same for her own. It had seemed so clear before she’d returned. Collect her children, introduce them to their unique family heritage, and go home--their real home. It was difficult only in that the timing was not yet right. She would be forced to spend some time in Collinsport, but still it the plan had seemed straightforward. Why then, did she feel so confused? Quentin? He was here. That had not been part of her agenda. He should be punished for what he’d done to her; it could be so very simple. But was it a betrayal when you were happy with the outcome? Jamison’s apparent distance from her? Once they were together, though, she was confident that he would come around. The fact that Edward was apparently trying to replace her? Surely, not. Her children were never going to have “a new mother,” however much he might like to think so. As for his acquiring “a new wife,” well that was as much a fantasy as the other. Technically they were still married; Laura thought that she might enjoy ruining Edward’s pathetic little plans. It might be amusing to play at being mistress of Collinwood now that the old bat had finally died. There had been a time when Laura Murdoch had wanted that more than anything else. Her relations had never understood such ambitions. They kept to themselves, preferring to live in their decaying enclave on the outskirts of town, marrying into the same sets of cousins, bound to their traditions and customs and the madness that seemed to take most of them sooner or later. Laura had decided quite early on that it wasn’t going to take her. Nora stirred, but curled up readily enough again. The child was strong, more powerful than Laura had thought. She would serve Ra well. * * * He had come just as Charity knew he would. She stared at the bodies lying entwined on the floor. Quentin and Beth, she recognized. The other woman in the filthy dress and the wild hair, she was a stranger. “Are they dead?” Barnabas stood up. “This one isn’t; she’ll recover, I think,” he said pointing to Beth’s unconscious body. “Who is she?” “She’s Miss Collins’ maid,” Charity said blankly. “Her name is Beth. What about Quentin and that woman?” She indicated the other corpse. “You don’t know who she is?” He saw Charity shake her head. “They’re both dead,” his voice cracking with anguish for Quentin. “Listen to me very carefully. You are to return to your bedroom and stay there. You saw nothing. Heard nothing. I will take care of this.” Charity didn’t want to disobey him, but the thought of going back to what awaited her in her room terrified her. “Please, I can’t.” He took her in his arms. “You can and you will. You must do as I command. I will come to you when I need you.” Hadn’t Papa always said that the will of God must be obeyed? Charity took one last reluctant look at her savior and disappeared. Barnabas watched her leave and wondered not for the first time if he was going to regret using Miss Trask like this. He had no idea what he should do now. Quentin was dead. Had he and Vicki traveled to this time for nothing? This couldn’t be. It would change the future inalterably. “If only there was a way to bring him back,” he said to himself. “There is.” * * * Judith calmly detached Dirk’s hands from her waist. “Not here.” He didn’t like that answer. “Everyone’s asleep,” he whined. “No one will know.” “Dirk, please. We have to be careful. I’ve told you that time and time again.” “Not anymore,” he said complacently, reaching for her again. A nasty portent of scenes to come crawled down her spine. “What do you mean?” Dirk nibbled at her neck. “Well, you don’t have to answer to anyone now. We can get married.” She pushed him away so hard he nearly fell onto the sofa. “What did you go and do that for?” He steadied himself and stared at her. “You know, that’s what we’ve been planning all along. We’ll get married and we can be together. Are you worried about your brothers? Because I can handle anything Edward or Quentin wants to dish out. It’s going to be fine, Judith.” For weeks now, she had dreaded having this discussion. Despite her wish to end this sordid affair, Judith did not want to hurt him. He had been . . . convenient, and the fact that she had used him made her uncomfortable. “Dirk, I like you very much,” she lied gently. “But I think it’s time we both moved on.” “Moved on to what?” Dirk demanded. “Ended this,” she amplified. “You’ve been very kind to me.” What was she saying? Kindness had nothing to do with their relationship. “But I think it’s best if we stop seeing one another.” “No.” “It wouldn’t work. We’re not suited to one another.” “We are *not* ending this!” “I’m too old for you.” There, that was true enough. With another man, she might have mentioned money, but she decided that was not the wisest course to pursue with Dirk. Dirk opened and closed his mouth half a dozen times, moving restlessly throughout the room, running his fingers through his sandy hair. She watched him, compassionately at first. When he actually stamped his foot, she felt the corners of her mouth twitching. “How can you just dismiss everything we have together?” So much for hoping he would accept the situation gracefully. “We don’t have anything together. That’s why we have to stop.” Dirk paced for a few minutes more and then finally stopped and put his hands on her shoulders. “Look, you’re just scared,” he informed her as if he was speaking to a small child. “But it’s all right. I’ll take care of you, Judith. You’ll see and you’re not too old for me.” He clasped her to him. “I love you, don’t you know that?” It was only thanks to years of trying to keep her emotions from showing that Judith managed not to laugh. Had he always been this dramatic? She wrenched herself out of his embrace. “No, you don’t. Dirk, please don’t make this more difficult than it has to be. You’re a wonderful man with many fine qualities,” she said a little desperately. “But what we *had* wasn’t love. I don’t love you. I’m sorry if you misunderstood my feelings for you, but it’s over.” “Like hell it is!” “Dirk, please try to be reasonable. Can’t you see that it wouldn’t be suitable for us to be together?” “Because I’m just a servant and you’re one of the mighty Collinses?” Judith’s pity and amusement dried up. “Because I don’t love you,” she repeated bluntly and sounding very much like her grandmother. ”This is not a matter for debate,” she said imperiously. “You can accept this or you can leave. You’ve been a good caretaker, but if you can’t handle the reality of the situation, then perhaps you should find another position elsewhere.” Dirk’s face turned bright red. He advanced toward her and for a moment Judith was afraid he was going to strike her. He stopped and then stormed out of the drawing room and out of the house, slamming the door behind him. Hidden in the shadows at the top of the stairs, Tim Shaw watched the caretaker exit. * * * Barnabas spun around. “You!” His face clouded with fury and then confusion. Was he surprised? Angelique moved forward from the shadows. “Is that any way to greet your wife?” She was, in truth, a little disappointed. He’d been so responsive to her in his dreams. “What are you doing here, Angelique?” “Miranda,” she corrected. Barnabas blinked. Angelique sighed. “That is how you must refer to me,” she said simply. “You are to call me ‘Miranda.’ Barnabas, my darling, it’s how it has to be. You must trust me.” “Trust you?” he cried incredulously. “How can you even think of asking me that? After everything you’ve done to me and to my family! After all of the things you’ve done?” Her blue eyes hardened. Why did he always make it so difficult? “Do we have to go through all of that again? If you had not fought me, none of that would have been necessary. We belong together. I don’t understand why you can’t--” Slowly enlightenment came to him. “It’s you. You have been trying to control me through my dreams!” “No,” she corrected, “Not controlling. You want to be with me. I simply found a way for you to for you to do that. Can’t you see how easy it could be if you would just let it happen?” “Get out of here,” he hissed. “Before I destroy you.” She laughed, a sound that he’d heard in his nightmares, as well as his fantasies, for generations. “You tried that once before,” she told him without humor. “I’m back and you need me, just as you will always need me.” Angelique pointed to Quentin’s corpse. “Didn’t you say you wanted to bring him back? I can do that, Barnabas.” “Then do it.” “It’s not that simple.” Barnabas looked at her suspiciously. “You must promise me something first.” He looked at what had been Quentin and then at his wife. “I should have known that you would try to profit from this. It’s not enough that you destroyed everything I ever cared about--” It was with difficulty that Angelique retained her composure. She was often annoyed and enraged by others, but no one ever frustrated her the way Barnabas did. After what they shared, she simply could not comprehend how why he continually fought her and their destiny at every turn. “You’re asking me to do a very complicated spell, Barnabas. I need you to give me something in return,” she told him angrily. “Angelique,” he began menacingly. “Miranda,” she said again. “You will call me ‘Miranda’,” she said enunciating every syllable like the thrust of a knife. “You will keep quiet about me and who I am. And,” Angelique cried, her voice rising with excitement, “You will not interfere with my plans.” “Which are?” Angelique’s smile was nearly as angelic as her name. “You will do this,” she repeated, “or Quentin Collins dies. I’m not sure why you’re here or how you escaped your coffin, but you want this man to live; I know that.” She paused. “Well, Barnabas, what is it to be?” “Do it.” “You agree to my terms?” Barnabas nodded, hating himself. He was not ordinarily given to introspection, but even he could see that he was caught with her in a vicious cycle, from which neither of them seemed to be able to escape. * * * It was nearly dawn when Edith heard the knocking at her door. She was exhausted. A night’s skulking and some forays into spell casting had taken its toll on her hold of her host’s body. It was growing easier for her to keep possession, but she was far from her full strength. Glancing at the clock, she rolled over. Whoever it was would go away and she could get her the rest she required. “Mr. Shaw,” Judith hissed through the door. Edith had expected Judith to fall prey to Tim Shaw’s charms, especially after Dirk’s dismissal, but never had she dreamed it would happen so quickly. Tired as Edith was, she couldn’t afford to ignore an opportunity like this. Rising and hastily tying a dressing gown on, she opened the door. “Miss Collins?” “Oh, thank God, you’re awake!” Before Edith had time to paste a charming smile on her face, let alone to inwardly and sourly reflect that God had nothing to do with it, Judith was dragging her down the hall toward the west wing. “I went to speak with my brother,” Judith explained when they reached Quentin’s room. “I’m sorry to involve, you but I didn’t know who else to ask. I couldn’t find Edward and this isn’t something--I know I can rely on your discretion.” “You’re shaking,” Edith observed surprised. “What happened?” Judith looked slightly nauseous and seemed intent on staying pressed up against the far side of the corridor wall. Her granddaughter, for all of her considerable shortcomings, was not a coward and Edith didn’t like what Judith’s atypical behavior implied. “In there?” After Judith nodded, Edith went inside and surveyed the carnage in silence. “Mr. Shaw?” She returned to the threshold of the door. “I don’t want you to worry, Miss Collins. I’ll take care of everything.” Well, she’d wished for a crisis to manage. This wasn’t quite what Edith had in mind, but it would do quite nicely. * * * Oblivious to the fact that his beloved fiancée was wondering if it would be physically possible for her to lift the silver epergne and bring it crashing down on his skull in order to shut him up, Edward continued to read aloud from the morning paper. On the whole, he was very pleased with Victoria. Their marriage would make up for every highly unsatisfactory moment he’d ever had with Laura Murdoch. If only he had possessed the sense to marry someone like Victoria to begin with--a proper young lady, who knew her place, with the docility and fragility becoming to her sex. He set the paper down. “I’m afraid that’s all this morning, darling. There’s nothing else suitable for a lady to hear.” “Thank you, Edward,” she said tonelessly. Yes, he thought, Victoria was exactly what he needed. Besides she was going to make such a wonderful mother to his children. “Would you care for some more tea?” Victoria smiled weakly. He rang the bell and waited. After ringing it a second time, he began to grow impatient. “Where the blazes is everybody? And where is Beth?” Vicki didn’t know and didn’t care. “It’s all right. I really don’t want any more tea,” she told him. “No, it’s not all right. Ever since Judith inherited Collinwood, this house has fallen to pieces. Discipline,” Edward told Victoria heartily, “is what is needed here. We pay a small fortune to these--” “*I* pay a small fortune,” Judith corrected as she stood in the doorway. “And don’t you forget that.” Victoria glanced up from her buttered toast. Judith and Edward’s secretary walked in and joined them. Neither of them looked like they had slept well. Her polite “good morning” was lost as Edward began his harangue about how the staff needed to be spoken to. Time was draining away like the sand in an hourglass and here she sat stuck listening to Edward and Judith’s pointless bickering. Her mother had told her she had to go back, but hadn’t told her how to change anything. Vicki sensed that whatever it was, it was coming soon, but that wasn’t going to be enough to help her figure out what she was supposed to do. She wished quite desperately that she could go back to being ordinary, plain, stupid, little Miss Winters. Magda called the Sight a gift. “You can see what is gonna happen,” she said. “The old woman, she would have killed for that. You should be grateful.” How could anyone want this? With the Sight, came dreams--incomprehensible visions--like bits of broken glass that cut deep when Victoria tried to make sense of them. What was she? She could barely remember some of the things she’d done; that didn’t make it easier, not having that recall, not when the events teased at the edges of her mind. Something was going to happen soon, but she and Barnabas were no more nearer to finding out what they needed to do than they had been before they’d come here. Soon, Victoria thought, and still they were crawling blindly near the brink of a precipice. “Beth is my maid,” Judith said sharply, unknowingly breaking off Victoria’s reverie. “She isn’t feeling well, so I gave her the day off. If you’re not happy with how I run *my* house, you can always go elsewhere.” Edward harrumphed, but continued to snipe away about the servant classes and the liberties they were taking. Could you kill someone with a grapefruit spoon? Vicki wondered. She realized that Tim Shaw was staring at her shrewdly and she dropped her gaze. The secretary made her uncomfortable although she was hard pressed to say why. Judith stood up and said something about needing to borrow Mr. Shaw. Watching them leave, Victoria recognized her opportunity to escape. Before however, she could paste a dimwitted look of love on her face and plead having to write letters (which as an excuse seemed painfully thin to her, although everyone else always accepted it without a thought), Nora skipped in. “Good morning, Father! I have a surprise!” Edward peered at his offspring. “Nora, where are your manners? And haven’t you been told not to run. Proper young ladies do not run.” Edward, Vicki thought, should be stuffed and used as an exhibit as to how not to raise a child. The little girl squirmed slightly. “I’m sorry, Father. I won’t do it again.” She turned to Vicki. “Good morning, Victoria.” “Now Nora, haven’t I told you before. Victoria is your new mother. You must call her so.” “And how should Nora address me, Edward? Seeing as how I’m her *only* mother? “ * * * Judith looked at her maid with distaste. All of this, she felt, irrationally, was somehow attributable to Beth. Beth had been given charge of Jenny. Jenny had got out. Beth had been told to be discreet with Quentin. She had not. It was quite clear to Judith what had happened. Jenny saw Beth and Quentin together and the bloodshed was the result. “Where is Quentin?” she demanded again. “I don’t know! I don’t know!” Beth wailed. “How many times do I have to tell you that? “ “Don’t lie to me.” Tim Shaw cleared his throat. “Miss Collins, I don’t think Beth is lying. Her story makes sense. It explains how your sister-in-law could have escaped in the first place.” “It doesn’t explain how Jenny could have dragged Beth all the way to Quentin’s room.” “Just look at the bruises, Miss Collins,” Beth said wearily. “Jenny was very strong. I have no reason to lie to you about this.” Judith crossed her arms. “No? Not even to protect my brother?” “She did tell us he killed his wife,” Tim reminded Judith. “Forgive me, but we have other concerns right now. Who else knew about Jenny Collins’ whereabouts?” “Edward,” Judith said after a moment. “Possibly Dirk. I can handle Edward. Dirk . . .” Tim interrupted, “I’ll take care of Dirk.” Judith hesitated. “All right.” Beth rubbed her throbbing temples. “What if he’s dead?” They both looked at her. “There was so much blood,” Beth told them weakly. “She stabbed him so many times. What if he wandered off somewhere and he’s lying there . . .” she started to sob. Judith was brisk. It was something she and Mr. Shaw had already discussed. “We’ll worry about that. I’ve told the others that you aren’t feeling well and that I gave you a day off. I wouldn’t waste my tears on Quentin. He wouldn’t have shed a drop for you.” * * * It would be cliché, Vicki thought, to say that Edward’s face was beet red with rage, but then everything about Edward was cliché. He lived for the banal. The fact that she could recognize that made her long for the days as a sweet young thing, and bright-eyed, fresh from school eager and anxious to find out about her family, too stupid to know that some things needed to stay buried. “Victoria, please take Nora upstairs.” Laura turned her attention to her replacement, looked her up and down and then dismissed her as worthy of notice. “So this is the famous Miss Winters,” she purred. “Really, Edward, shouldn’t she stay?” Vicki, who had absolutely no intention of leaving, watched Laura curiously. “After all, she does have a right to know what is going on. Tell me, Edward, does she know we’re still legally--” “--Nora, go upstairs at once!” The child gazed with equanimity at her father, but didn’t move. “Nora,” he threatened again. “It’s all right, darling,” Laura told her. “I’ll come upstairs to see you later.” “Yes, Mummy,” Nora said obediently. Edward’s fury increased, but he waited until his daughter had left the room, before exploding, “How dare you come back here? After everything you did--” Laura walked over to the fire. “I am still your wife, Edward. Saying that I’m dead isn’t going to make it so. You never bothered to divorce me. Nora and Jamison are still my children and you aren’t going to change that. Not ever. They’re mine, Edward.” * * * His head pounding from too much cheap gin and heartbreak, Dirk Wilkins stalked his way back through the Collinwood property fully intent on regaining what he considered to be his, even if it meant he had to throw Judith over his shoulder and drag her somewhere so he could make her see sense. Actually, Dirk decided, it wasn’t a half bad idea. Away from her family, Judith might realize he was right and that they belonged together. It wouldn’t be hard to do. He would just have to find a moment when she was alone. She’d be angry, sure, but eventually Judith would thank him for it. There were half a dozen places on the estate he could bring her. Changing his course, Dirk tramped through the woods until he came to one of the empty cottages that had once housed some old faithful retainer who had passed on years ago. Last time he had checked, it was clean enough. He would give it the once over and if it was still all right . . . well, Judith would be his in no time. To his surprise the door wasn’t locked, which didn’t make sense. Dirk made sure as a matter of course that everything on the estate was secure. The last thing the family wanted or needed was some no-account wandering onto the property and taking up residence. Cautiously he walked inside to find Quentin’s bleeding body stretched out on a kitchen table. “What the?!” Dirk ran his hands through his hair. Jesus, God, what had happened? Knowing it was pointless, but giving it a shot anyway, he felt for a pulse. “He’s quite dead.” Dirk spun around to see a blonde woman in an old-fashioned brown dress smiling at him in amusement. “Who are you?” “That’s not important. Who are you?” “I’m Dirk Wilkins--the caretaker, and you’re trespassing.” The woman trilled with laughter. “What’s so funny?” Dirk demanded suspiciously. “Look, I’m going to ask you a second time. What’s your name and what did you have to do with Quentin’s death?” “My name is Miranda, and I didn’t have anything to do with Quentin’s ‘death’.” She set down the candles she’d been carrying and moved closer to him. “Look at me,” she commanded. “I am looking at you.” “No, no, into my eyes,” Miranda clarified, still sounding amused. “You cannot look away,” she told him. “That’s right. Deeper.” Dirk couldn’t have explained why, but he felt compelled to do as she bid him. In a short time he was drowning in a sea of blue. * * * Edward having sent a message that he would be detained for the rest of the morning, Edith had taken advantage of the situation to try and get some needed rest. She would have preferred to do so in Tim’s room, but the office would have to do. She had to be careful not to overtax herself until she had a stronger hold on Timothy Shaw’s body. The events of last night had taken their toll on her. Not that she hadn’t made the most of the opportunity, but she was still exhausted and somewhat disturbed. That dreary maid hadn’t lied about what had happened; Edith could read her well enough. Quentin could not have left, not without leaving a blood trail and conversely, no one could have moved his body without doing the same. So where was the dear boy? She had drifted off when she felt someone shaking her awake. Irritably, she focused Tim’s eyes on the fool who was disturbing her. “Miss Trask?” Charity pulled her hands back to her sides. “Tim, please, I need to talk to you.” The girl was really becoming quite bothersome. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” “Please, it’s important,” Charity begged. “It’s about . . . it’s about,” she lowered her voice, “Papa.” She pulled up a chair next to the desk. “He was in my room last night.” Edith tried to reach into her host’s memories. She’d gathered that Tim had been engaged to this nit, but obviously there was more. “In your room?” “I know, I know. It’s impossible. He’s dead, but I swear to you, he was there, Tim.” Edith suddenly recalled her own nocturnal visitor: the spirit who had promised vengeance for his murder. “Calm down. Tell me exactly what happened.” She listened while Charity described the events of the previous night. “Go on,” she encouraged when Charity finished. “He tore your nightgown and then what?” “I ran out of the room.” “Where did you go?” Edith asked sharply. Had this creature been running around while Quentin was solving his marital problems? Charity turned away. “Nowhere.” “Have you been back to your room?” “Oh, yes. I didn’t want to return, but he told me I had--” she stopped abruptly. “Who told you to go back? The ghost?” “No.” “Then who?” Charity refused to say more. What was the stupid twit hiding? Edith concentrated and gazed inward trying to at least draw on her host’s memories: Money. Blood. A stern man, a clergyman? Well, that made sense, the apparition had quoted scripture. Money. Not much else that seemed comprehensible. If she could only get some rest, this sort of thing would be child’s play. Charity misunderstood the silence. “Tim, please, I know it’s over between us, but I don’t know what else to do. This morning when I was dressing, I . . . I felt him in the room again. I can’t tell anyone else about what . . . we . . . what happened.” She started to cry and flung herself into Tim’s arms. Edith rolled her eyes, even as she comforted the girl. She mechanically reached around to pat the Charity on the shoulder, her hand brushing the governess’ neck. Charity winced and pulled away. What was wrong now? Edith didn’t know Miss Trask well, didn’t particularly care to, but it was clear something was amiss. The creature was deadly pale, shaking, and icy cold to the touch. **“He must never be let out.”** Edith didn’t waste time. She reached out and pulled the fabric of Charity’s dark blue dress away from her neck. There, just like the accounts she’d read described, were two puncture marks. The effect that this measure had on Charity was electrifying; the girl jumped several feet back. “Where are you going, Miss Trask?” Edith inquired pleasantly. “I can’t--He’ll be--” **“He must never be let out.”** “I’m not done with you yet.” She forgot her weariness. This was more important. If she could get enough rest tonight, there wouldn’t be any danger of losing Timothy Shaw’s body. Edith had enough strength to hypnotize the girl. Her agenda was clear: find out what Charity knew, where the vampire slept, who else was under his power, then wipe Charity’s memory of the little tête à tête they were about to enjoy. Tomorrow Edith would have to see that the threat was destroyed once and for all. She had enough power to do that. Charity shook her head wildly. “I have to leave.” “How can you when you can’t even move?” Edith got up and walked over to Charity, who stood immobilized. “We haven’t finished our talk yet.” She turned Charity’s chin so that the girl was looking at her. “We can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way. Which would you prefer?” Charity stared. “You’re not Tim,” she realized in a moment of horrified insight. “No, I’m not,” Edith agreed pleasantly. “Very well, I rather prefer the hard way in any case,” she remarked as she gathered up her will. * * * **Nothingness. No hellfire. No brimstone. No angels. No harps. No Old Testament biblical God. No horned devil wielding a pitchfork. No pagan god of the hunt. No queen of the fairies. Nothing. Vast expanses of nothing that swallowed him up unthinkingly as an elephant might a fly. He was insignificant. Nothing he’d ever said, done, thought, felt, none of it mattered. Nothing.** Quentin sat bolt upright, shaking and sweating. It took him several minutes merely to focus. That something smelled foul was his first sensation. Then he realized it was him. He fumbled with the buttons of his shirt and recoiled at the stickiness of the half-dried blood. The wounds that Jenny had made were gone. “Beth?” He glanced around the room. Where the hell was he? This wasn’t Collinwood. Then he saw Dirk, or rather what he knew in an instant was Dirk’s corpse. “A life for a life,” came a voice from behind. “No, stay where you are. You’re still weak.” She walked to face him. “You are Quentin Collins and I am Miranda and I have brought you back from the dead,” she said simply as if that explained everything. Quentin cast an eye on Dirk. “And I thought he never cared,” he quipped uneasily, keeping his gaze fixed on the woman in front of him. She was beautiful, not in the classical tradition, but lovely nonetheless. Miranda wasn’t interested in the former caretaker. “A sacrifice was needed.” “And Dirk made it,” Quentin finished. “Who are you?” She smiled. “I told you. I am Miranda.” “Out of ‘The Tempest’ by way of Salem?” he suggested. “Miranda what? Why did you choose to be my particular savior? How did you get me out of Collinwood?” “So many questions,” she laughed. “You must trust me.” Quentin nodded affably. He had a wide acquaintance with women and while he was certain he had never met one anything like the mysterious Miranda, he was equally certain that she wasn’t someone to trust. “You will see,” Miranda promised. * * * Victoria sighed and repeated everything she’d said to Barnabas. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.” But that’s my line, she almost said. “Nora and Jamison’s mother, Laura, is the same woman as David’s mother. I know it doesn’t make much sense, but I know it. Please don’t ask me how. I just do.” Barnabas hesitated. “Do you think this is what we were supposed to change?” Before Vicki could reply, the object of discussion walked into the room. “I do hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Only Victoria heard Barnabas gasp. “Not at all, Mrs. Collins.” “Well, it’s refreshing to see that someone grasps the reality of the situation. But please, call me Laura. After all, you were almost married to my husband.” She turned to Barnabas. “I don’t believe we’ve met.” Introductions performed, Barnabas quickly made his apologies and left. Vicki made to follow. “Victoria.” “Yes?” Laura was pleasant, but brisk. “I think it would be best if you left Collinwood. I don’t mean this instant, of course, but as soon as you can arrange it. There’s no place for you here.” “I have never tried to replace you as the children’s mother,” Vicki said evenly. “And I never knew you were alive.” “Oh, I know that and please don’t think there’s anything personal in this, but you don’t belong here.” If only that were true, Vicki thought. She nodded briefly. “I’m so glad you understand,” Laura said with a smile. Vicki was evasive, “If you’ll excuse me. I have a great deal to do.” * * * Victoria found Barnabas in the folly in the garden. “You recognized her.” “Yes.” She waited. It was obviously something that was causing him a great deal of pain. Barnabas paced up and down the few feet the folly afforded. “She was my father’s mistress. I only saw her once. I was just a boy, but I’ve never forgotten her face.” “What happened to her?” “I’m not sure,” he admitted. “It was entirely an accident that I even learned who she was. It wasn’t until I was much older that I understood what her relationship must have been with my father. My father and I were never close and he never discussed the matter with me.” His voice was distant, “He and my mother were not . . . it was not the happiest of unions.” So much pain, Victoria thought. Why did there always have to be such misery? “If she’s a witch, the only way to kill her is to burn her to death, preferably at a crossroads.” “There is a connection with fire,” Vicki said suddenly. “I don’t know what it is exactly, but it’s there. We need to find out more about her. Did you know her name? Was she married?” Barnabas considered. “Laura Stockbridge, I think. I don’t know if she was married. There were Stockbridges who lived at the edge of town. I remember that. There was,” he paused, “there was a fire.” * * * To be continued by the amazing Wicked Nick!