Subj: Winds of Change Part 12
Date: 8/3/99 4:03:24 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Mysterious Millicent

Winds of Change Part 12

Collinsport Courthouse-----

Ben Stokes walked up to the Judges and put his left hand on the Bible and raised his right hand. Judge Trilling once again said, "Do you Benjamin Nathanial Stokes swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?'

"Aye, that I do" Ben replied.

"Very well, take the witness stand, Mr. Stokes." Judge Trilling replied.

Ben walked to the Witness stand and stood waiting for Mr. Bradford to question him. He was visibly nervous but very alert. Peter walked up to Ben and said, "Ben, do you know the accused, Victoria Winters?"

"Aye"

"Where did you meet her?"

"At Collinwood, I was working for the Collins family then. I was working on the fireplace when she came in and started talking to me."

"Did she seem strange to you, Ben?"

"No sir. She seemed like a very nice person. She got me confused with someone else that was all."

"What happened, Ben?"

"She tole me to git away from her because she was afraid of me, and Mr. Joshua came into the room and got mad at me for talking to the women folk. But, Miss Winters explained why she acted that way. I reminded her of someone she knew someplace else."

"Do you think Miss Winters is a witch, Ben?" Peter questioned

"No sir. I know she ain't the witch."

"And why do you know that Ben?"

"Because I know who the witch really is." There was a slight stirring amongst the judges with this last outburst.

"Who is the witch, Ben?" Peter asked

"Angelique Collins is the real witch. I know coz she made me do her biddin. She made it so I couldn't tell noone who she was."

"Then how is it that you now can tell us what she is and who Ben?" Trask asked

"Because Mr. Barnabas killed Angelique and now I can say her name." Ben said with a great deal of authority.

"Your honor, I submit that Mr. Stokes is a convicted criminal and his testimony is nothing more than a means to get him a reprieve from his sentence." Trask stated suddenly. "Angelique Collins is not here to defend herself and I know that she herself once accused Miss Winters of witchcraft."

"That ain't true! I know coz, I seen Angelique put a spell on Mr. Joshua and turn him into a cat. I watched her make the clay look like a cat and Mr. Joshua, he turned into a cat that very minute. I seen lots of other things she done. I know what she can do. She put a spell on me and made me do whatever she wanted." Ben shouted

For a few minutes there was general chaos in the courtroom as Trask, Ben and Peter shouted at each other, each one trying to outdo the other. Until a presence suddenly appeared at the door and all fell silent. In the doorway stood a beautiful blonde woman in a cape watching what was going on.

Ben almost shrieked with fear. "She's dead! I buried her! I know she's dead!"

Again for a few minutes, there was general chaos, and then Ben ran out of the courtroom shrieking, "She's dead, she's gonna kill me!"

Following this outburst, Reverand Trask went up to the judges and said, "Your honor, I would like to call Angelique Collins to trail."

The judges looked up at the woman and decided to let her testify. "You may approach the bench and be sworn in, Mrs. Collins." Judge Trilling finally said.

Vicki watched in horror as Angelique walked slowly up to the judges and was sworn in. Peter was now very scared for Vicki. For if this woman really were a witch, she would make it impossible for Vicki to excape execution for being a wtich. He tried to protest but was held back by the judges.

Angelique walked to the witness stand and waited for Trask to begin questioning her.

"Mrs. Collins, do you know the accused, Miss Winters?"

"Yes, we were servants together at Collinwood."

"Miss Winters is accused of witchcraft, do you believe this?" Trask said smugly.

Angelique looked at Vicki who was showing sheer fear and terror in her face. What in the world would Angelique say?

"No, Reverand Trask, I do not believe that Miss Winters is a witch." Angelique replied.

Trask turned around and looked at Angelique and said, "You do not believe that this woman inflicted terrible harm and death on the Collins family?"

"No, Mr. Trask. I know, Miss Winters had nothing to do with what was going on at Collinwood and the Collins family. It is true that I know nothing of her previous life before Collinwood, but I know that she is not the witch you seek." Angelique replied.

"Why do you say this, Angelique Collins, and remember that you are under oath." Trask pressed.

"Because very simply, Reverand Trask, I AM THE WITCH!" Angelique spoke the words with authority and firmness.

There was a rush of gasps in the courtroom and Judge Trilling hammered his gavel on the desk. "Order! There will be order!" When it became somewhat quieter, he continued. "Mrs. Collins you are not on trial here and yet you implicate yourself in this crime?"

"I have told you the truth, your honor. Miss Winters did nothing at Collinwood. All of the deaths, incidents and strange occurances were arranged, made and conducted by myself alone. Ben Stokes told you the truth."

Trask was not hearing any of this. "Mrs. Collins, if you continue to speak this way I will see to it that you will be convicted with Miss Winters and hang on the gallows. Is that what you want?"

"I don't think that you would do that Reverand." Angelique said quietly

"And why is that?"

"Because if you are going to convict me, then you will have to convict yourself and Lt. Forbes. Because it was under your instructions and the Lt's that I carried out my orders."

"What?!?" Trask said, his eyes now showing a bit of fear.

The judges gavel came down again with a firm THUMP! "Order! It will be quiet here!"

After a small pause, the Judge continued. "Mrs. Collins, are you telling us that you are a witch and that Reverand Trask and Lt. Forbes are part of your coven?"

Angelique looked up at the judge and said with a smile, "Yes, your honor. Mr. Trask is no reverand. He has always been a practioner of the black arts. And Lt. Forbes joined the coven many years ago, when a young man in the Navy. They have practiced their witchcraft in many other towns, including Salem, which is where I met them when the Countess du Pres and I were traveling from New York on our way to Collinwood."

"Your honor, this woman is lying, I have never practiced witchcraft and I want her testimony stricken from the record!" Trask shouted.

Angelique simply smiled at Trask. She said nothing. Judge Trilling now appeared to be very concerned at this testimony. "I am going to overrule your objection Reverand Trask. I wish to ask Mrs. Collins more questions myself."

Both Vicki and Peter now stood looking with both fear and awe at Angelique. What was she up to?

"Mrs. Collins, you say that you are a witch. You know you will be convicted and hung because of this piece of evidence? And yet, you still tell us that you are a practioner of the black arts and also ally yourself with Reverand Trask and Lt Forbes. Is this truth? Or are you lying? You are under oath. State the truth, madam."

Angelique smiled at Vicki and then said, "Your honor, I speak only the truth. I have been a witch for a very long time. When I was in Martinique working for the duPres' family, I fell in love with Barnabas Collins. When he decided to marry Josette du Pres, I was determined to stop the wedding. On the way to Collinwood, traveling with Josette's aunt, the Countess duPres' I met Mr. Trask who was then with Lt Forbes. I knew right away that they were warlocks and we discussed the black arts. It was at this time that Mr. Trask mentioned his family's dealings with the Collins family, who he knew to be very wealthy and he wished to disgrace that family for dealings Mr. Joshua Collins had made with enemy's of Trask's family during the war. I did not find out the particular's of that business transaction but it was something that had discredited the Trask family and sent them into poverty, while bringing more wealth to the Collins family. Trask stated at that time that he was going to curse the family somehow, and now that he knew both the Lt and I were going to be in Collinsport, he needed our help. I found the situation to my liking and made sure that Trask would help me to stop the wedding of Josette to Jeremiah, in return for my help in bringing the Collins family to their knees. All of what happened at Collinwood was the work of Trask, Forbes and myself your honor. Miss Winters is totally innocent."

"Your honor, this is a lie, a fabrication from a woman's fertile mind. I have never indulged in the black arts. I am a man of the cloth. This woman has admitted to witchcraft and should be convicted as such." Trask shouted.

"That is for the court to decide, Reverand Trask." Judge Trilling shouted. But he did not have time to finish his statement, because Trask began to recite what appeared to be a form of exorcism in the courtroom.

"I call upon Almighty God to come down and show that the devil is indeed in this woman. Show this court that the devil is here........."

But Trask did not have time to finish his recitation because a wall of fire suddenly appeared between himself and the judges. The words the judges heard were not those that Trask had just spoken, but instead, they heard this,
"Heart of Fire! Heart of Ice! Fire that burns in the heart of ice. Fire that burns in the icy eye. Appear to me now and separate me from those who would accuse me. I call upon Beelzebub to defend me. Now! I summon thee!"

Trask turned around and looked with fear at the fire that lay before him. He knew the judges would be burned and tried to move towards them to help to free them, and as soon as he stepped into the fire, he felt NO warmth. Only the cold sensation you feel when you touch icicles in the winter. He found himself standing inside the wall of fire for what seemed like many minutes. The judges somewhat frozen in their seats watched this little scene. And as suddenly as the fire had appeared, it disappeared!

Angelique looked up at the judges and said, "Your honor, I ask that you free Miss Winters. She is innocent of all charges of witchcraft."

Trask, recovering from this latest scene, shouted to the judges, "No! Your honor this woman is a witch and is in league with Miss Winters! She should be convicted of witchcraft and hung at dusk this very evening!"

Angelique smiled at Trask, and said, "You cannot kill that which is already dead, Mr. Trask." And there appeared a fine mist surrounding Angelique's body and she suddenly vanished before the eyes of the members of the court!

Trask, showing fear in his eyes, moved to the spot where Angelique had stood. "Witch! Witch!"

Judge Trilling dismissed one of the other judges who returned with the jailer. "Take Mr. Trask to the jail cell, and find Lt. Forbes!"

Trask was led out of the courtroom yelling. "Witch! Witch! Witch!"

Vicki had gone to Peter during this whole ordeal and was clinging to him for dear life. The judges looked at the couple and then whispered amongst themselves for a few minutes. Finally, Judge Trilling addressed Vicki.

"Miss Winters, in view of the events we have just witnessed, we find you innocent of any and all charges of witchcraft and release you from jail. You are free to go wherever you wish, and we wish to offer our apologizes for thinking you guilty of the charges of witchcraft. This court is adjourned!"

Vicki and Peter shouted with joy and glee and embraced each other, hugging and kissing and holding onto each other for a few minutes. Then, as they left the courtroom with Abigail Collins, Vicki turned to Abigail and said, "Thank you, Miss Collins! If it were not for you I would be probably preparing to go to the gallows." She hugged Abigail and kissed her on the cheek.

Abigail was very taken by this act of kindness and tears filled her eyes. She looked at Vicki and said, "Miss Winters, if it hadn't been for me you would never have gone through this ordeal to begin with. I hope you can forgive me for what I have done to you. And I hope that you and Mr. Bradford enjoy a long and happy life together."

Vicki looked at Abigail and smiled. "I forgive you Miss Collins. And I understand why you acted the way you did. I hope that you have a long and happy life ahead of you as well." And the three of them left the courtroom. But as they came outside the building, they met Lt. Forbes entering the building, in the company of two officers of the court. They exchanged glances briefly and Forbes was taken inside the building from which a man's voice shouting at the top of his lungs could still be heard, "Witch! Witch! Witch!"

to be continued---------