What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…
Part XXXIX…
Evening…The old residence living room…
The full vampire community in attendance to receive Laszlo's latest, Erika's, report. Jen and Ginny sitting in chairs at Nadja's kind insistence, but carefully attentive to both the report and any possible requests by their overlords.
Guillermo currently off on his way to Mexico, in the company of Susan, whom he'd finally decided to take along, despite his misgivings, particularly at her eager acceptance and the eager encouragement of Master Nandor. Vaguely feeling it was wise to have one of the enthrallees along to avoid any question regards his behavior as well as a vague hope her presence might help him to make a decision, once he'd spoken to Auntie, in what secrecy he could arrange…
And admittedly, though shamefacedly, somewhat pleased to have her company…
"So this Ms. Reynolds likes the place?" Laszlo, eagerly to Erika who'd taken the client round a bit earlier over most but, of course, not all of the house…
"She seems to…I think she'll go for 3.7 million but I can try to hold out for four, sir."
"Should we haggle like this?" Nadja asks. "We do want to unload the place and be free for our move."
"With all due respect, Mistress…" Ginny speaks up. "I think we shouldn't seem too eager to sell. The price is fair but it's only natural to hold out." Jen and Erika nodding…
"Well, you're the ones with the experience, ladies. But what about Simon the prick-y Devious?" Laszlo notes. "We did hope to stick him with a huge bill and a large rat infestation."
"I'm waiting to hear if he still wants to come by tomorrow, Master Laszlo." Ginny explains, a bit concerned. "But is it safe to bring him here? Mr. Robinson thought so but…"
"Don't worry about the little bastard…" Laszlo sneers. "He surely knows it's our place…If he tries anything…We'll deal."
"I don't know, Laszlo…" Nadja, worried. "We can handle him, sure…But he might try to harm our friends, especially if he realizes they are our familiars."
"Maybe we should just kill him?" Ginny suggests. "He wouldn't be expecting us to go ahead and stake him, right out of the blue?"
Hmmn…The three standard vampires eye each other…While Colin grins…
Somehow, it makes one uncomfortable, even the staking of an enemy…
"I don't know, stakes are tricky things in the hands of inexperienced users…Accidents can happen." Laszlo shakes head. "Perhaps we'd best just overpower him and then expose him to sunlight…?"
"Laszlo? That's awful…Though deserved." Nadja sighs. "I can't agree to that."
"I agree…Most disrespectful. Equally important, it could even get the Vampiral Council up in arms against us again." Nandor, mouth puckering in distaste. "Besides I think financial staking is far more painful to Simon the Devious. Let us have him view the residence and if he makes the request, tell him…Five point five millions." Arching of eyebrows, smile.
"Oooh…" Laszlo grins. "Way above market, Jen?"
"High but not insanely so…He might go for it, if he tends to want what he's denied as you told me, Master." Jen nods, smiling. "Sounds like we could jerk him around to at least five…Then we tell him you aren't that eager to sell right now and hit him up to the five point five. He strikes me as the sort who'd bite."
"That sounds like ample revenge to me…" Nadja beams. "A stake right to the wallet…"
"Yes, but this could be a scheme on his part…" Nandor frowns, pensive. "Get him and a few of his crew in here and then, under the guise of business, he takes vengeance… The Trojan Horse stratagem, I must admit I'm rather fond of it myself."
"We'll never let him near you, Mistress Nadja…Master Nandor, Master Laszlo." Ginny insists.
"Yes, but I don't want you at risk, Miss Ginny." Nandor, shaking head. "And he will be expecting to encounter us."
"We could tell him you've already moved." Jen notes. "And really you should be away, out of any possible danger when he does come."
"It'll be during the day…" Nadja frowns. "The little bastard will try to be clever and catch us at our weakest, trapped in here, once the girls invite him in."
"Isn't it only the owner who can invite a vampire in?" Ginny asks.
"You're our minions, you represent us." Nadja. "Even without thrall a servant or trusted human friend can let him in."
"I say, we lie in wait and kill him as he comes through the door with stakes and daylight while you are all away, in safe hiding…Take no chances." Erika insists. "With your permission, Master mine herr?" She eyes Laszlo.
"Far too dangerous, ladies." Nandor shakes head. "Simon has many powerful vampiral associates."
"Yes, he might expect a trap like that…" Laszlo agrees. "Probably has his own army of human minions ready and waiting to pounce."
"I doubt it…" Nadja shrugs. "Simon is arrogant and vain and hates to be indebted to humans…He might possibly send a human representative to put us off but he's got no army of such. Still, he will bring other vampires if he can manage it and I would not like to see our ladies in danger. Though actually I doubt there's any need to engage him so long as you wear your crucifixes and avoid close contact. I'm sure he really does want to buy…He wants the place to wear like a bauble…Paint a lot of graffiti insulting us…Spit on our crypt floor, that sort of thing." Grimace. "Especially if we're not at hand to try and kill. But I fear he might try to kill a few of you girls as an act of disrespect, especially if he senses our hold…And sadly that's very difficult to mask to another vampire."
"Well, if we stay…" Laszlo offers.
"You mustn't, Master!" Jen, anxiously, the other enthralled women urgently agreeing. "It's too dangerous. Please, you must be away when he comes. We'll deal with him and anyone he brings, or die trying, I promise."
"Precisely the problem, my dear…" Laszlo sighs.
"Wait…" Nadja put up a finger. "I have an idea." Smile. "Virginia? You still have the number for those craftsmens who installed the opaque windows at your place?"
"Yes, Mistress." Ginny nods.
"This sounds…Devious, lady wife." Laszlo beams.
"It will be…" Nadja, coyly. "But that still leaves the true menace…Van Helsing." She shudders slightly.
Ooohhh…Groan from another chair in which the unconscious, Nadja-drained Jacqueline Williams lay…Ginny having successfully lured her uncomfortable "partner" to the meeting.
"Yes…" Laszlo frowns. "The so-called 'good' professor's appearance the other night is disturbing."
"Master?" Jen raises a hand which Laszlo graciously nods to… "Could it have been a trick by Mr. Devious? An illusion that fooled Eloise and me?"
"That's not impossible…" Nadja notes, nodding. "Simon is experienced with the theatrical and the human magic, from his club…He actually loves to dabble in such things."
"Eehew…Stooping to mere illusion?" Laszlo shakes head. "He may be devious but that's low."
"Could the Devious One be seeking our new home?" Nandor suggests, concerned. "Miss Ginny? There have been no other attempts to purchase our beautiful new place?"
"None, Master Nandor…" Ginny shakes head. "It was a difficult sale due to the size…I never received any offers before yours."
"I really…Sorry, Master…" Jen began, halting respectfully to await Laszlo's permission to speak.
"Please, dear?" gracious wave of hand…
"I actually don't think it was an illusion, on second thought. Eloise didn't sense any vampires or humans."
"Good point, my dear." He nods. "Well, it still could have been some sort of trick but given the man's rep as a vampire hunter we'd be wise to assume the Ghost of Van Helsing has taken an interest in us or in our new property."
"Indeed…Always best to assume the more dangerous threat in military matters…" Nandor agrees.
"But could a ghost threaten us…?" Nadja eyes the others. "And if I understand, he was mostly concerned with Jennifer as a victim of a vampire, not with us, specifically."
"Oh, no…" Jen, gasping. "I'm so sorry, Master…Mistress…"
"Oh, no…No, dear one…" Nadja, shaking head. "It's not your fault. It's just that the professor's ghost…"
"Self-righteous prick…" Laszlo interjects.
"…May be sensing your enthrallment and trying to do in Death what he did in Life."
"Returning perfectly content enthralled minions, happier than they've ever been in their miserable lives…No offense, ladies…" Laszlo notes. "…To the daily misery of independent mortal existence, with no omnipotent creatures like us to protect and nurture them. Cruel, if you ask me. What's he about, sticking his big Dutch nose in here? You're none of you unhappy or feeling oppressed, are you, ladies?"
"No, Master…" Jen shakes head vigorously.
"Not at all Master Laszlo…" Ginny.
"Never, Master…" Erika, firm shake of head. "We love you all dearly, with all our hearts."
"Well, hear that, Professor Morality?" Laszlo calls. "Hows about leaving well enough….?"
All staring as the figure of Van Helsing appears before them, ghostly lit, dressed as before, and bearing a ghostly, if ghastly to the vampires and their horrified minions, stake.
"Take heed, foul demons of Hell! And pitiful victims of Evil!" the figure cried. "Salvation is at hand for you all…!"
"Now, really…" Laszlo rises from his seat… "This is too much…Sir, I must ask you to vacate these premises." he advances toward the Professor's ghostly apparition...
"Laszlo! No!" Nadja cries, grabbing at him as the Ghost eyes him.
"Master! No!" Jen screams, jumping at Van Helsing and falling through him.
"Careful, my dear!" Nandor cries, rushing to help her up.
"Go away!" Ginny cries. "Avant!" Erika waves arms. "No one needs your help here!" she insists.
The Ghost fades immediately.
"Whaaa…?" a slowly awakening Jackie stares about in her chair… "You…" she eyes Nadja…
"Well…" Laszlo, looking round. "Lets hope the bastard got the message. Jen, are you all right?"
"Fine, Master." She nods as Nandor helps her to seat. "I just wish I could have caught him."
"Why must he bother us?" Ginny sighs. "We're not asking for his help, I promise you, Mistress." She turns to Nadja, now urging a kneeling if very woozy Jackie to her feet.
"I'm yours, Mistress…" Jackie notes as Nadja urges her up.
"Yes, sure…That's fine, dear. Sit back down, please. Give her some water, would one of you?" Nadja turns to the other minions.
…
"He must have been drawn here…" Laszlo notes as the group ponders the visitation at home base.
"By us…" Jen agrees, sadly. "I'm so sorry if we've put you in danger, Master."
"Danger?! To the Mistress?!" Jackie rose…Looking round, arms flailing. "I will…Kill…Mistress, where's…The danger?" she stumbles a bit. Erika helping her.
"Sit down, Jackie." Ginny insists.
"The Mistress is…In danger…I will die…Protect her!" struggling out of Erika's grip.
"Sit, girl!" Nadja commands. Jackie immediately sitting on floor.
"Fine, whatever. Drink your water and be quiet. There is no immediate danger here. Understand?"
"Yes, Mistress…Sorry." Jackie woozily taking up her bottle of water and drinking.
"I'm very tired…" she notes to Erika standing by her.
"Be glad you're not dead and able to serve the Mistress, bitch." Ginny glares.
"Ginny. Enough." Nadja, insistent. "Jacqueline is one of you now, a sister familiar. What's past is past."
"Yes, Mistress. I'm sorry." Ginny nods, sheepishly.
"But later, after resting, she will explain about your husband's missing money and make what restitution she can…And I think she ought to help the police locate the son of bitch Roy, eh?"
"Yes…Mistress." Ginny beams. "Thank you so much, dear Mistress."
"What about this Ghost?" Jen urges. "We have to do something…Perhaps we should all kill ourselves, Master?" she turns to Laszlo. "If he is here to try to save or protect us, he might leave if we're…The enthralled ones, at least…Are dead?"
Ginny a bit glum now…Uh…
Erika nodding…Anything to protect the Master!
"Oh, no…No…Dear? Don't even think of it…Over and above the call…" Laszlo, concerned.
"Certainly not…" Nandor agrees.
"No…Well, not necessary right now…" Nadja notes. "We'll see later…"
Hmmn…Ginny, eyeing the others… "I don't think it would be wise. There's so much to do on the sale yet and we couldn't protect you. And Mr. Devious might be deceiving…" she paused, startled by Jen's sudden glare.
"Ginny?!"
Erika looking angry as well…
Who would not die for our overlords?!
Jackie on floor drinking, struggling to rise… "I'm rea' to…Die…!"
"Help her to her chair, Jen, would you, dear?" Laszlo urges. Jen carefully leading Jackie back to chair as Jackie tries to insist on her readiness to die…
"Sure, Jackie, sure…We all are…" Jen, soothingly.
"I'm just sayin'…I would die for you in an instant, Mistress, you know that." Ginny pleads to Nadja. "I'm just thinking it wouldn't be useful for us to kill ourselves just right now."
"No, I agree, dear. Don't fret…It's fine." Nadja nods.
Colin from his seat, arch smile…
What did I tell ya…? She's slipping round, finding ways and excuses… I mean, yeah, I believe she would die if ordered to but she's in no great hurry…
Always fascinating to see how enthrallment plays out in these people…
"Well, the main thing is, we have to find out what Van Helsing's Ghost is up to?" Jen notes, patting Jackie, now seated again and drinking water.
"Van who?" Jackie, wearily.
"Later, Jacks…" Jen pats her. "Just rest for now."
"Why must he bother us?" Ginny sighs. "We're not asking for his help, I promise you, Mistress." She turns to Nadja.
"But it must be us..." Jen sighs. "He never appeared or bothered you that you know of before we were taken, right Master?" eyes Laszlo.
"Unless it has to do with the new property..." Colin points out. "Some ghosts take trespassers very seriously. If he died there, somehow, he might resent vampires moving in."
Shrug to Laszlo's stare… "Just throwin' it out there..."
"Maybe...But there's nothing I could find on the net about the real man, just a lot of movie and book references involving Dracula...And nothing about him ever moving to America except in TV stories." Jen frowns. "Master?" she turns to Laszlo… "What do your people say about him? You all had heard of him."
"Oh, yes...Certainly. Legends abound..." Laszlo nods. "But frankly..." shrug. "Most of it is the same TV and movie and book stuff you mentioned. I mean his name is spoken with fear and dread in our circles and there are those who say they've seen him or even been hunted by him."
"Liars..." Nadja frowns. "All tell vainglorious tales of how they bested the one who took down Dracula. And no one even witnessed that battle. Still...Vampires have been destroyed by him and his...Many vampires." a chill entering her voice.
"And always his card, left atop the pile of dust resulting..." Laszlo, nervously.
"That and a crucifix..."Nandor, even he speaking with some awe. "To prevent the defeated foe from ever rising again..."
"Geesh..." Ginny stares.
"There was one I spoke to, decades ago, whose story of seeing him in action seemed true..." Laszlo, solemnly.
"Oh, yes...Bruno..." Nadja nods. "What a moron. Stupidest vampire ever turned. I've no doubt Van Helsing didn't feel it worthwhile to waste a wooden stake on him at the time."
"But his story fit and he made no claim of fighting the Professor or his minions..." Laszlo ponders.
"What happened, Master?" Jen asks.
"Well, as Bruno told it...A last victim of Dracula, an English girl, was trying to raise her own clan of the Undead. A Miss Westerna…" Laszlo notes.
"Like the girl in 'Dracula'?" Jen blinks. "The friend of the wife of Mr. Harker?"
"Really? I hadn't got that far..." Laszlo… "Well, anyway, yes...Miss Westerna had been starting a clan and Bruno, poor fellow, happened to be traveling in England...Fleeing rather...From the Continent, where Dr. Van Helsing and his horde of self-righteous bigots had been slaughtering our people right and left, along with...Her..."
"Her..." Nadja gasps…
"Her." Nandor closes eyes.
"Her?" Ginny...Jen...Erika…
"The Slayer herself...The Greatest Slayer..." Laszlo intones.
"Cicely the Vampire Slayer..." he breathes…
The fire in the fireplace leaps up…
Which was especially odd as there was no fire in said fireplace…
"But I thought Dr. Van Helsing was the Slayer…?" Jen, puzzled.
"He was a Hunter...Human but brilliant and skilled. But Cicely was...The Slayer...A human endowed with the power of Demonity." Laszlo shakes head.
"One new Slayer and only one, born in each generation...Until the Greatest, the Cicely..." Nandor nods.
"Wait...Isn't that the Buffy story?" Jen stares. "Are you saying 'Buffy' is real?"
"Vampires sitting right in front of you having turned you into their servants..." Colin smiles. "Why not a Vampire Slayer?"
"But after Cicely, none were given the power of the Slayer except Cicely herself...The reincarnation of the First Slayer...Alpha and Omega..." Nadja, nervously.
"Now only she can return to be the Slayer...And her last personification died decades ago, having found and saved her beloved, at last...William the Bloody (Awful)." Laszlo shakes head.
"And if what I've read of his work as a poet is his, truly bloody awful." nod.
"Spike is real?" Jen stares. "Sorry, I was a 'Buffy' fan in the 90s."
"But the Slayer is gone from this world, away with her William, at peace after..." Nadja, gulping.
"Van Helsing helped her save, more or less, depending on your point of view...Him." Laszlo, nervously.
"So the real life 'Buffy' was this Cicely? And she's gone? Master?" Jen eyes him.
"It was said she'd found peace after her last reincarnation as Elisabeth..." Nadja hesitates.
"Summers…?" Jen blinks.
"Mr. Whedon was her nephew, by one account I've heard." Laszlo shrugs.
….
The stunned group in the residence eyeing each other…
Colin, as always, however, rather tickled pink to sense the fear and chaos rising…
"So… 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' was a real person, just born and died before the TV show?" Ginny eyes Laszlo.
"Ten years before, I understand...More or less." he nods.
"And Professor Van Helsing helped her?" Jen stares. "How could that be? He must have died in the 19th century."
"It was as Cicely, not Elizabeth that he helped her." Laszlo explains. "Though frankly there are those who say it's all poppycock from the TV series and not true. But I've met vampires who saw the Slayer in action..."
"Including Baron Afanas….He barely escaped her, or so he told us." Nadja notes.
"Master Nandor?" Ginny addresses him.
"I have heard of the mighty Slayers...And of the Cicely...It was said that one of them defeated Dracula's army in 1474. But she's not been heard of since that one, Elizabeth died, of, I understand, natural causes." Nandor nods. "Not having ever encountered such a creature, I felt it best to consider it a legend but be wary."
"But how can you be sure she's gone for good?" Jen, anxiously.
"My dear...If we believed every legend about vampires and vampire Slayers and Hunters, we'd leave the residence even less frequently than we do." Laszlo smiles. "I'd never seen her...Nadja never saw her...Nandor neither. And all those we knew who were expert on the subject were convinced she'd left this world."
"And there's no need to assume she's involved here..." Nadja, anxiously. "We have one problem, Van Helsing...Well, two, if Simon isn't playing on our fears...But Simon is little problem and we have plan to deal. Our concern is with Van Helsing's Ghost."
"My lady wife is right..." Laszlo nods. "Ladies, your concern is admirable but given nothing's been heard of the Slayer since Elizabeth Summers' death in 1980 or thereabouts, we can at least lay that dear lady to rest."
"Perhaps..." Jen, worriedly. "But if Van Helsing is back ...Where did this Cicely work?"
"Cicely? England. She was British." Lassno nodding. "Elizabeth however did her work largely in..."
"Sunnydale, California?" Jen asks.
"Actually, Cleveland...A true haven for American vampires in the 1960 through the 1990s when it got so bad even they left." Laszlo shrugs.
"America." Ginny stares. "But not Staten Island..."
"Never that we've heard or experienced." Laszlo nods.
"But something drew Van Helsing's Ghost to Staten Island...And now, here." Jen sighs.
"And if he's come or coming...Maybe this 'Slayer' could be on her way as well..." she notes.
"Now, now...Jennifer..." Laszlo, sternly as Nadja blanches. "You're frightening Nadja…There, there, dear."
"Mistress Nadja, I'm so sorry...Forgive me, I'm just worried about you and the Master and Master Nandor." Jen, anxiously.
"We must not panic..." Nandor puts up a hand…
Please do...Please...Colin beams…
"There is no reason to assume that the Slayer is coming...Van Helsing's Ghost may simply be bothered and unsettled by our taking so many lovely familiars..." Nandor notes, gallantly.
"Master Nandor..." Ginny beams, Erika likewise. Jen, a bit more apprehensive, but also smiling at him.
"Maybe we should try an exorcism." Jen suggests. "Drive off the Ghost before this goes any further…?"
Hmmn...Laszlo ponders. Perhaps not so as all that…As ideas came and went.
"Maybe a séance would be safer first? Could we not explain to the Professor he's wasting his time?" Erika suggests. "We don't need help from him, we don't want it. Mein Gott!" she looks to see herself in one of the large wall mirrors, in the same suit she wore, but hair askew, a desperate pleading, hands outstretched…
"What is that? Is that me?!" she cries… "Master?" she turns to Laszlo. "Do you see?"
"I did…" Laszlo nods. The image of Erika gone from the mirror now.
"What was that?" Nandor stares, having caught it.
"I don't see anything…" Nadja, eyeing mirror.
"Me neither…" Ginny, peering.
"It was just there for a moment…" Jen notes.
"Yes, just as I myself the other day…" Laszlo shakes head. "What is going on here?"
"Simon! If this is a joke…!" Nadja cries.
…
Meanwhile, at JFK International Airport…
"Gui, I'm so happy…" Susan beams, arm in arm with Guillermo who nervously accepts her attentions…
"Thanks so much for letting me come. I promise I won't inconvenience your family. But I'm so looking forward to meeting them." She went on, excitedly. "Do I look ok? Not too much, but you know…?"
"You look beautiful, as always. Don't worry." He sighs.
I sure hope this was the right thing to do.
What if enthrallment has a range limit and she kills me as soon as we reach it?
Well…Maybe that's my destiny, too…
"Pardon me…" A distinguished-looking older gentleman in suit had risen from a seat near the gate of their flight.
"Oh, Doctor!" Susan beams. "Gui, this is Dr. Acura. He came to see you just this morning."
"So I did…Thank you for remembering an old man, my ego is much flattered, my dear. So…You are off to see your dear aunt Rosa in Mexico? What a delightful coincidence as I am also heading to see my dear old friend."
"Oh, we're on the same flight?" Susan smiles. "Isn't that nice, Gui?"
"Yes…Very nice."
"It is good to meet you, Guillermo. But let me properly introduce myself… I'm Philippe Acura, an old friend of Rosa's. I had hoped to find you at home while I was visiting New York City but I was expecting we'd meet at your aunt's. I am so sorry it must be under such heavy circumstances." Sigh.
"Yeah…" Guillermo nods.
And sure…I believe we just happened to run into each other…Booked the same flight tonight.
"My dear…Could I possibly borrow your friend for just a moment's talk? I have some important matters of his aunt's that I am pledged to discuss only in private, I'm sorry. I promise I'll return him in ten minutes. It's just that we have this chance to talk before our flight…"
"Well…? Gui?" Susan eyes him.
"Just for a moment, Sue…"
"Ok…Could we have a moment, Doctor? I want to pick up a gift for his aunt and I need Gui's opinion." she smiles at Acura who beams…
"By all means, dear. I'll just wait here a moment." he retakes his seat as she and Guillermo move off into the airport hallway,
"Gui? Is this guy dangerous? What's up with him?" Susan hisses, startling Guillermo.
She may be in thrall but she's no slouch…He can't resist smiling at her.
"I think he's ok…"
"But he only showed before dawn and now it's after dark…Is he a vampire?" she whispers, glancing over to where Dr. Acura had retaken his seat, smiling at them.
"I don't know, maybe, but I'm not really getting the vibe. You're kinda more… 'Attuned'…Do you get anything?"
"No, that's the strange thing. I should sense it, I think. I actually asked Master Nandor this morning at the house and he said I should sense vampires like a divining rod finds water. But maybe he's very good at concealment? Why's he following you? He must have arranged this."
"I think so too. But it can't hurt to hear what he has to say. It could be important."
"But what would your aunt have to do with a vampire? Gui? Is this a threat to our Masters and Mistress?" she asks, anxiously.
"I don't think so…I don't know but we should find out what's what, right?" he eyes her stricken face.
"I don't like you taking chances like this. Maybe we should confront him, together?"
"I think that might just make him mad or he might just go…Let me talk to him, Sue. I think it'll be ok. He won't try anything in a crowded airport."
Hmmn… "I dunno." She shakes head. "You stay right close. And if there's anything…Anything…You duck and let me handle him. I've got a lot of control over my adrenalin now, I can get up some pretty good strength in a hurry."
"Thanks…I'll be fine." Nod…Gasp as she grabs and kisses him.
"I love you, Gui…! Be careful!"
"Yeah…Yeah…Thanks." He nods hastily, gulping.
"Sorry, Doctor!" she calls to Acura, waving a bit. "I hate to let him go. He's all yours for ten minutes."
"Ten…Minutes." She eyes Guillermo who nods.
….
Guillermo, with Dr. Acura, strolls just bit by the next currently unused gate to take a couple of seats by themselves, Susan watching, anxious but smiling to their glances, from her seat by the active gate.
"Well, thank you for indulging me, son. …Guillermo…Yes. I am…" smile.
"Dracula." Guillermo nods. "Count…Dracula…"
Chuckle…"Well, I didn't expect that my current name would fool anyone for long, I hope you believe me." Dracula grinned. "Though it actually is my legal name these days."
"And the title really passed with my Wallachian principality in the 1700s so, Dracula is just fine. Or Dr. Philippe Acura, if you care to use what currently is my full, legal name." Smile. "The medical title is actually real and earned. A little tribute to your great ancestor and my dear friend, Professor Van Helsing." Fond nod.
"Tell me, how is your dear aunt? Have you spoken with her?"
...
