What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…
Part XLV…
The old residence…The living, more or less, though currently, the War room.
"Naturally, I prefer not to make war in my own home…" Nandor, in his simple field uniform of cap, short jacket with a sort of epaulets on shoulders, trousers. "…but if negotiation should be impossible, I shall defend our bastion to my last breath…Or simulation thereof…"
"Beware, my Lord…Of Jealousy…" Colin seated in chair nearby, grinning…
Nandor staring…
"Sorry…Had this 'Iago' moment come over me…Please…" he waves.
No doubt he thinks I mean a hunchback servant of a mad scientist…I seriously doubt Nandor is an "Othello" fan. Hell, he's probably not even a "Frankenstein" movie fan.
"My old battle armor stands ready…" Nandor indicates suit of armor. "But it's very hot, so I'll just be putting on the chest protector for now…"
"Well, should be stick proof…" Colin eyes said chest piece. "But I imagine modern-day Cicely or Van Helsing, Inc, uses a high-powered stake-firing assault rifle."
"Could you please, Colin Robinson? Just lock it in behind?" Nandor had lifted chestpiece and put arms through the front.
"Now am I thy lieutenant…" Colin grinning, snapping clamps of the suit on the rear.
"If you wish, granted. Ah…My old sword…" Nandor lifts rather impressive old sword, elegantly carved hilt. "I have not used this since my last major battle in the 1400s…As commander of the Sultan's Army of the Undead, you know."
"Army…Of the got-Slaughtered." Colin notes to camera. "So…" he turns back to Nandor, who is practicing sword moves. "How did your Army of the Undead make out? I understand the Slayer and some human allies kinda put a stop to you?"
"We had known numerous victories in the Sultan's name…" Nandor frowns. "The Euphrates ran red…"
"Nice…"
"Then the Sultan grew fearful of us…Despite our proven loyalty in battle."
"Shame…" Colin smiles. "How could a human not trust a vampire army?"
"He summoned the Slayer and her vampire hunter allies…And betrayed us. We were ordered to march as part of the army into a narrow pass. I should have remembered Byzantine history…Never march into narrow passes. It lead to two major defeats…"
"Right, the one where an Emperor got his skull turned into a drinking cup…" Colin grins. "And the other killed all hope for reconquering central Turkey and doomed the Byzantines. But still you decided it would be a-ok to go right in, eh…?"
"I trusted my Sultan…And his human scouts." Nandor sighs. "I had pledged him my loyalty, just as I had his predecessor when I'd been human…In order to make the best terms for my human Christian and then Undead, Demonian peoples."
"And he decides to go and kill you all…Kinda stupid, I suppose, really. An army of vampires to help him and he sells you all out."
"We had developed a reputation of brutality…Killing, turning, destroying whole populations. Sadly it wasn't always the enemy's population. I suppose were I him, I would've done what seemed necessary."
"Big of you…But of course you and a handful escaped." Colin eyes the rather sadly reminiscing Nandor.
"It forced me to flee. I had substituted the Sultan's service for my country. Now I had nothing…Not even the vampiral harem I'd collected. And my family hated and feared me, any descendants who knew of my legend."
"Well…Now you can take vengeance on the Slayer or whoever…Maybe it'll be the soul of the same girl, huh? You can gut her like a fish or maybe turn her. Or whoever is coming…But lets hope it's the girl…" Colin, enthusiastically.
"I have no wish to gut Cicely or her descendant like a fish, Colin Robinson." Nandor sighs. "If she or the one coming will heed me, I will try to negotiate for our lives. If my sole life is sufficient…And they would spare the Cravensworths..."
"That's cowardly." Colin, angrily. "You can't humiliate yourself begging some kid or some feeble human guys…No offense, fellas…" to camera. "You're Nandor the Relentless, feared killer vampire and Lord of Darkness. And there's your sword…Just run her or whoever through. No more pesky humans threatening…Voila."
Hell will I let the bastard go nobly…No way is he winning redemption now, at this last moment. Shit!
"There are other kinds of courage than fighting to the death, Colin Robinson. And we have our poor human ladies to think of. I cannot risk them trying to fight for us. My sword is not here for fighting…I shall offer it to our opponent, in surrender."
Jesus, damn you! For any part you're playing here! No! I will not let this son of a bitch die well! None of them!
"Nandor…The ladies'll be fine. The Slayer or Hunter would never harm them. Just tell them to stand down." Attempt to maintain calm and monotonous tone.
"Sadly…" Nandor sighs. "That is one order their devotion to us will not let them obey. No, I will face the Slayer or Hunter or Hunters, offer this, my sword, and do what I can to make peace, if it costs me my life. After all, it's my guilt that is heaviest…From the human pov." Shrug.
"It's shameful for you to go down like a wuss, crying for peace! Fight, kill…Don't let them take you that way!"
"You are very agitated, Colin Robinson." Nandor eyes him.
"As a vampire, even a psychic one, I'm offended…" Colin, sternly. "It's embarrassing to have you surrender to humans like this. When did you get a soul?"
Nandor, shrugging…
"Time has mellowed me, Colin Robinson. I had hoped to live in peace here, enjoy a few virgins and non, even not killing them when possible, destroying a few evildoers to improve my record. Perhaps some bit of Humanity has returned to me." Sigh. "But I will go down fighting if the Slayer or Hunter…Hunters…Choose to refuse my offers and seek to harm the Cravensworths. I am pledged to their defense and that of our ladies." He regards Colin. "I expect you will survive, Colin Robinson. I charge you to negotiate the safety of our human minions, though my death will free three of them. Don't let the Hunters kill them out of ignorance should Laszlo and Nadja fall."
"Sure…" nod…
Why of course I will…Grin.
…
The Gran Ciudal, Mexico City…
"Well, we ought to get to our beds…" Dracula notes. "Miss Susan, Madame Afanas…" he rose, bowing to them. "Shall we breakfast tomorrow and see what time is best that we each visit Madame Rosa, so as not to overtire her?"
"That would be great…" Susan nods. "Yes, wonderful." Mrs. Afanas beams.
"Guillermo, my boy." Dracula smiles at him. "Don't be too troubled, lad. Your aunt is comfortable and she'll be very pleased to hear of Miss Susan, I'm sure. Friends, a very delightful evening…See you in the morning." He nods again and heads for the restaurant exit.
"Might I have the favor of Guillermo's company to my room, dear? Just for a moment." Mrs. Afanas turns to Susan, smiling serenely. "I'd like to give him a small keepsake of mine from his aunt."
"Uh…Sure…" Susan smiles. "Gui, I'll get a shower. Don't be too long, you should get to bed too."
"I promise I will not keep him long." Mrs. Afanas nods. "Guillermo?" she rises, offering an arm to him as he rises, a bit uncertain.
"Not long, Gui." Susan, hugging him, urgently as Mrs. Afanas kindly pulled back, waiting. He nodding…Yeah.
Hmmn…Phyllis, watching from a seat at the bar, somewhat hidden by a pillar and other customers.
What's with the middle-aged broad? Another of our sisters? Some old minion of Master Laszlo's? Jen said he'd had older ones, she liked that about him…
…
"The young lady is…Enthralled?" Mrs. Afanas asks quietly as she and Guillermo ride the elevator up to her floor…
"Yeah…One of Nandor's."
"I see. And she loves you?"
"No, she thinks her Master, Nandor, would like it if she loved me. And he would, I guess. And I'm Chief Minion which, so long as they trust me, makes me pretty popular among our ladies." He sighs. "Of course, she'll kill me when she learns who my ancestor was…And what I may be destined to do. They all will."
"You know your Destiny so well?" wry smile.
"I'm a Vampire Hunter…Well, that's my heritage. I kill vampires."
"So was I. I married a vampire and loved him dearly." She eyes him.
"Cicely…" he regards her. "Are you…The new reincarnate, I mean…?"
"No, I'm not that Cicely…You needn't fear that." Cicely Afanas smiles. "Vampire hunteress, but not a full Slayer. Though I am related…"
"Your grandmother…" Guillermo nods. "But she's returned since…She was even put on TV."
"Oh…Her…" Mrs. Afanas nods. "Yes…Elisabeth, 'Bethy' the Vampire Slayer, in her last reincarnate form."
"So…Buffy the Vampire Slayer is modeled on this one, 'Bethy'?" Guillermo stares.
"Well, the fellow who created and wrote most of the series was her nephew. I believe she used to babysit him."
"Joss Wheldon? His babysitter aunt was a vampire slayer?" shakes head.
Does explain a lot, though…
"I really do have something to give you, Guillermo. That Rosa gave to me, years ago…" Mrs. Afanas notes. "It may help you…Both to reach your Destiny and to save your life." Hard stare.
…
