Angelique's Revenge, Part 30 (Conclusion)
Date: 3/17/98
From: AngeliqueBouchard

11:00 AM

Elizabeth knocked on Vicki's door before entering. "It's time dear," she said. Elizabeth had developed doubts about the wedding again, but chose to keep this from Vicki. The day before Nicholas had seemed like the only man special enough to marry her daughter, but today the attraction was gone. Elizabeth had already given her blessing to the marriage however and was not about to take it back now.

Everyone took their places and Vicki once again descended the stairs on Roger's arm. She touched the brooch with her free hand. How touching of Julia to let her wear this old family heirloom. Vicki fumbled with her veil upon reaching Nicholas. She could hardly see with it over her face, but it was so pretty she just had to have it for this special day. Nicholas helped her pull it back so it hung down her back. Vicki looked into Nicholas' face and gasped. She blinked several times thinking herself to be in a nightmare. There before her stood a grotesque, demon-like form in a tuxedo. No smile on his face, but a sneer was formed by his black lips over which jutted sharp, pointed teeth. His eyes were red like two fires blazing. His skin was dark red, almost maroon and two curved horns stuck out of his head.

"Victoria, what's wrong?" Nicholas asked. The voice was so kind and totally out of place coming from such a hideous creature.

Vicki looked about the room filled with her family and friends wearing inquisitive looks on their faces. Roxanne seemed to be nodding as if she knew what Vicki was seeing. "Trust yourself," Jeb whispered.

"Vicki, if you're not feeling well, we can postpone this," Julia said tactfully.

"Yes, Vicki," Elliot added. "You don't look well to me either."

Vicki turned back to Nicholas. He still looked repulsive. "I can't marry you," She sputtered.

"What?" Nicholas said, finding it incomprehensible that his magic on Vicki had failed. "Vicki, please, tell me what's wrong."

"You're... a devil," she breathed out in barely a whisper. "I just want to go back to my room." Vicki began to walk towards the drawing room doors.

"No!" Nicholas yelled in a deep demonic voice more fitting with the image Vicki beheld. "You will marry me now or I will destroy everyone in this room."

With that the doors slammed shut and the room darkened. The very air seemed to turn a deep red. The laughter of demons could be heard. Everyone in the room froze. Elizabeth screamed and shook a small creature with pointy ears off her leg. The minister fell down unconscious and a hooded figure took his place proclaiming in a loud voice, "I will conduct the ceremony."

"Come to me now Victoria," Nicholas commanded.

Vicki had backed up into a table and her hand rested on a familiar book. She looked down at it, "The Collins Family Bible." It was laid out for Vicki and Nicholas to add their names to its pages along with the couples of previous generations. She quickly flipped to the back. What was that she learned in Sunday school so long ago? She found the Book of Revelation and read the verses condemning the devil and his minions to the lake of fire.

"Stop!" Nicholas commanded. "Obey me now Victoria!" The room began to shake and the floor to crack. A thunderous roar sounding like a freight train grumbled.

"Don't stop Vicki! Keep reading!" Elliot yelled over the chaos.

"I command you to stop," Nicholas bellowed. "You will marry me!"

"I refuse! I will never marry you!" Vicki yelled back.

"You have failed, Nicholas," a deep voice boomed. Nicholas screamed as the scene faded to blackness.

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11:00 AM

Elizabeth knocked on Vicki's door before entering. "I'm afraid Nicholas hasn't arrived yet, dear."

Vicki exhaled. "That's okay, mother. I almost feel relieved for some reason. I don't know what came over me, but I don't feel the same."

"I had the same thing happen to me, but I wasn't going to tell you," Elizabeth said.

"I wonder what the meaning is of all of this," Vicki contemplated. "Perhaps Nicholas just came into our lives so we could be rid of that horrible spirit."

"Yes, maybe you're right," Elizabeth replied with a smile. "Perhaps he was an angel in disguise."

The Collins family did not let all the expensive champagne and refreshments go to waste. They had a joyous time despite the odd circumstances of the past few days. Tom stood over Angelique who was holding his daughter. "I don't know how to care for a baby. You know I don't even know her name."

"Why don't you give her one then," Carolyn suggested.

"all right," Tom said, "How about 'Beth', after the woman whose diary helped us clear the name of our great grandfather."

"Great idea," Quentin agreed.

"As for caring for the baby why don't we hire a nanny?" Elizabeth offered. "I think Maggie Evans would be a wonderful person for the job."

"Maggie Evans," Tom mused. "Now I've always had a crush on her."

"Well you had better do some pretty quick romancing if you want to make Quentin and my double wedding a threesome," Chris said.

"You mean you and Roxanne are finally getting engaged?" Barnabas asked.

"You bet!" Chris replied excitedly, "and we plan to get married at the same time as Quentin and Daphne."

"Well that's wonderful," Carolyn said raising her wine glass. "A toast to only happy days ahead at Collinwood!"

THE END