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As much as Renfield enjoyed the more varied work since being employed by the Count; even sitting around in cemeteries doing the crossword, was more interesting than property law. The long evening hours were starting to play havoc with his sleep patterns. And other than hanging about with dead…or soon to be dead people, his social life was currently non-existent.
So, when Count Dracula asked him to book a private meeting room at a London hotel, in Renfield's name, and then insisted his thrall also attend his business meeting. Well Renfield was just excited to get out and meet some new people. Of course, Frank had never expected to see so many familiar faces walk through the door.
First what looked like Dr Helsing but wasn't, then a tall man with long slicked back blonde hair, but it was the final face; the same as the one Frank saw in the mirror each day, that almost caused his heart to stop.
"Urghhhh."
"Do sit down Frank before you strain something." His doppelganger insisted as he hung up his umbrella and overcoat, not even turning to glance in his direction.
Across the room Count Dracula tensed as he was faced with three decidedly undead people. Agatha hadn't been lying after all and Dracula was not sure how he was meant to deal with that fact. That there was a whole undead society, he knew nothing about, and was only now being inducted into; Dracula had lots of questions.
Of his three guests, the long-haired blonde man seemed the most gleeful to meet him, Agatha appeared nervous, and Frank's vampire twin looked almost bored, he had so little expression.
"Agatha won't you introduce your friends?" Dracula asked, breaking the tense silence that had descended. Honestly, he wasn't sure how Renfield wasn't shitting himself, the only mortal in a room filled with apex predators. Perhaps he should consider giving the man a raise?
Nodding Agatha managed a tremulous smile, turning first to the blonde man. "Count Dracula may I introduce Council Elder Baron Gilles de Rais…" and then to Renfield's better dressed clone…"and Mr Mycroft Holmes."
"Gilles de Rais…The Gilles de Rais?" Dracula spluttered in what for him was almost excitement. "Former Marshal of France? Weren't you hanged and then burnt at the stake?"
Beaming at being recognised, Baron de Rais offered Dracula his hand, which Dracula shook gladly.
"It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance Count. We have heard so much about you over the years, it feels as though we already know you intimately." Gilles offered with a leading smile, his hand lingering in the handshake, a few moments longer than was social convention. "Although I confess, I never expected you to be quite so tall."
If a vampire could blush Dracula would have, flattered by the blatant interest from one of his own boyhood heroes…that matter with the child murders had little to do with the man's military genius, and besides Dracula was hardly one to talk. Of course, if the man had already been turned, that would explain the sheer number of corpses, in such a short space of time, and how he survived being executed.
"And I you, I would enjoy hearing your account of how you lifted the siege of Orleans, if you could spare the time."
"Oh, I am certain I could fit you in… but only if you give me the pleasure…of hearing your own account of beating back the Ottomans." Gilles replied, only for Mycroft to cough less than subtly, and remind his elder why they were really here.
They were not here to flirt and share war stories, but to officially welcome, induct and begin preparing Count Dracula for entry into their society.
"Holmes was it?" Dracula asked, his eyes narrowing as the Renfield clone did not offer his hand, but merely bowed in acknowledgement. "Some distant relation to my lawyer I assume?"
"1st cousins 3 times removed, on his mother's side." Mycroft answered simply, placing his briefcase down on the conference table, clicking it open and retrieving a copy of the official documentation.
"Oh, joy paperwork." Dracula deadpanned as Mycroft pushed a manila folder across to him. "Renfield…" He prompted, and his thrall scurried across, to take the papers, only for Mycroft to slam his hand down on top of them.
"Those are not for mortal eyes." Mycroft hissed, showing more emotion in that one sentence, than he had all evening.
"Renfield is my lawyer, he handles all my paperwork Mr Holmes."
"Fine but after he has finished reading and explaining them, I will have to kill him; nothing personal Frank." Mycroft added with an insincere smile, that came nowhere near his icy gaze.
"Master?" Renfield asked nervously, turning to Dracula to see if under those terms he should still go ahead and read the documents.
Pausing Dracula had to consider his options; on one hand he would have to find himself a new lawyer, on the other he would have to read his own paperwork…
"Oh, for god's sake." Agatha cursed, reaching over and retrieving the papers from a scowling Mycroft. Stalking across the room she pushed them firmly into Dracula's chest.
"Blasphemy Sister Agatha." Dracula feigned a swoon. "Taking your precious Lord's name in vain, what would Mother Superior say?"
"She's dead, you killed her remember, so I suppose we will always wonder." Agatha deadpanned. "Read your own damn papers."
"Captain Van Helsing, I should not need to remind you of your place here." Baron de Rais tutted, his gaze cool as he stared down his nose at the young female vampire; whilst Dracula repeated her new title under his breath, almost impressed despite himself.
"You may not speak to Count Dracula in such a manner, officially recognised or not, he is your Elder. In fact, you owe him double the deference, as I understand he is also your clan leader…Apologise now, and I might allow myself to forget, such a flagrant disobedience of protocol."
Unable to contain his smile, Dracula watched as Agatha squirmed, her face looking like she was sucking on a lemon. Oh, this was precious. Leaning in Dracula studied her face closely, watching every tick in her jaw, and the blazing fire in her gaze…there she was…that was his Agatha.
"Yes, dearest one apologise." Dracula baited, yet of all the reactions, rage, or defiance, he hadn't expected fear to suddenly flood her face; for a moment he almost regretting playing along with Gilles.
Of all the things she had ever expected Dracula to call her, that was not in the top one hundred, and yet that was the second time in twenty-four hours Agatha had heard it. Once just now, and once in her dream…and Agatha was quickly coming to understand, that her dreams were no longer as safe as they had been.
"Captain Helsing…"
Shaken Agatha dipped her head, unable to meet Dracula's concerned gaze for a moment longer. "My apologies Count Dracula I overstepped."
"You are forgiven. On one condition." Dracula replied, hiding his growing disquiet under his usual fake smile, the others didn't know him well enough to call him out, and Agatha who did was suddenly afraid to.
There was more at work here, and Dracula was damned if he wouldn't get to the bottom of. Nobody had the right to inspire such terror in Agatha, not even he had been able to do that when she was mortal. He would get her to tell him, of that Dracula was certain…he just needed to get her alone…
"Condition?" Agatha lifted her head, the things that Dracula might demand running through her head, each worse than the other, and yet as her elder and her clan leader she would have little recourse to refuse him.
"That since I am not permitted the assistance of my lawyer, you will assist me with understanding and transitioning into this new society." Dracula suggested, and he smiled genuinely when Agatha's relief was palpable. At least it wasn't him she was afraid of.
"Hemm Hemm." Mycroft Holmes was clearing his throat again and Dracula resigned to the man's interruption.
"Yes?"
"Forgive me Count Dracula, but the council has already assigned me as your liaison…"
"Well I don't want you." Dracula spat back just as rudely. "I don't know you Mr Holmes. I know Agatha, I carry her blood in my veins and she has proven her trustworthiness. Plus, as Baron de Rais has pointed out, I am her clan leader, as such she owes me her deference."
"Captain Van Helsing is unsuited for such a task, she already has her assignment and besides she is unschooled in…"
"Mycroft, I am sure the Captain can be temporarily reassigned." Baron de Rais cut in, and Dracula watched in amusement as Mycroft abandoned his argument, feigning a condescending smile.
"Of course, Count Dracula. I shall provide whatever support Captain Van Helsing needs."
"Excellent…well gentlemen it has been a pleasure meeting you." Dracula insisted, holding out his hand to the Baron once more, who was more than happy to shake it, and rub his thumb sensually over Dracula's wrist.
"If you don't have places to be for the remainder of the evening Count Dracula, I am having a small exclusive gathering of our kin. It wouldn't be too much of an imposition to add an additional guest. And it would be quite my honour to introduce you to my friends."
"Ahhh." Dracula paused, his expression almost crestfallen, as he appeared torn between accepting the offer and glancing down at the papers which he still held to his chest. "Another time Baron. I really should read everything first, get up to speed as it were. I wouldn't want to commit a faux pas and embarrass you."
"A pity." The Baron replied, his smile now a little brittle around the edges. "But as you say there will be other opportunities. Come Mycroft…Count Dracula." The Baron dipped his head in a half bow, which Dracula returned.
Waiting until the two vampires had left and it was just him and Agatha…oh and Renfield…but it wasn't like he counted.
Placing the paperwork back down on the conference table, Dracula leant against it, his gaze once more drawn to Agatha's face. Her expression was blank, a carefully constructed mask, and Dracula decided then and there that he hated it. Reaching out he caught her chin between his thumb and finger and lifted her face to meet his gaze. His concern growing when that haunted look from earlier seemed to return, yet at least she was showing some emotion.
"Well Agatha my dear you were right, you do have the most interesting friends."
"They are not my friends…well Mycroft on the right day could almost be a friend…" Agatha trailed off, twisting her face out of Dracula's grasp, her hands reaching for the dossier. "So where exactly did you want to start…"
"Oh about 2 miles due east." Dracula retorted, a teasing smile on his lips, as her gaze shot back to him. "Come on my dear, let's get out of here; I figure after today we could both use a drink."
"I am not going hunting with you." Agatha snapped back. "I don't kill to eat, and that is one thing even my clan leader cannot force Count."
"Honestly you are so suspicious." Dracula tutted, offering her his hand. "It's all ethically sourced, I swear it. Agatha please, just hear me out, meet me half way…"
That he made it a request, and not an order sealed the deal, and Agatha breathed out some of the tension she had been holding. It had been a hell of a forty-eight hours already and the future was probably going to be just as difficult, and she was hungry…
"Just one drink, and then down to business."
Smiling broadly, Dracula avoiding making any one of the many suggestive innuendos, that had just popped to mind. Now was not the time to push his luck. Instead he gestured to his waiting hand; pleased when Agatha huffed, her expression once more openly showing her annoyance, and yet she still placed her palm in his.
Wrapping his larger hand around hers, not putting her hand on his arm like the day before but holding her hand firmly but gently in his own, Dracula led her towards the door. Agatha was coming home with him, and they were going to be spending many many hours in each other's company. Dracula would make sure of that. Well that alone was worth having to put up with other vampires.
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