What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…
Part XLVI
Ginny Zeller's car…
"That was something…" Ginny eyes Jennifer in passenger seat briefly as she drives. "How do you feel?"
"Not like a Dutch doc and vampire hunter, if you're wonderin'." Sheepish grin to Ginny's quick stare. "Honestly, I don't know why he chose to take me for his mouthpiece."
"You were the first of us our Lady and Lords took…" Ginny shrugs.
"In this batch…Gui's told us they've had other enthrallees. Just never so many at once."
"There's nothing else? No reason he'd choose you?" Ginny, wonderingly but slightest edge.
"I've no idea. I could even be family but I don't know of any connection." Slight frown… "Gin? I hope you're not questioning my devotion." Jen asks, sitting up.
"Well, you do have a nice family…David and little Suzette. Could be there's something in you…?" shrug to Jen's stare. "Look, I don't mean anything…It's just we have to find some way to be ready for this guy and his helper or partner or more…"
"Cicely, the Vampire Slayer…" Jen noted. "And I get your concerns, though you have two girls yourself."
"Whoever…" Ginny shrugs… "And I've offered them to the Mistress, no hesitation." Sighs at Jen's forlorn expression… "Sorry. I know you're as devoted as any of us, if not more so. But maybe the Doc Helsing likes little kids or feels protective about them?"
"I guess that's possible…" Jen nods.
"Unless he just has a thing for wearing French-American blondes like suits." Ginny grins.
"Was it that bad?" Jen stares.
"He definitely liked what he saw." Smile. "But the doc was a gent…Though it's not hard to see that he must've liked the ladies in his day."
"Now that's creepin' me out a bit…" Slight nervous brushing back of hair… "He really didn't do anything?" earnest look.
"No. Sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you, Jen."
"I've just hated to have done anything…Weird…In front of the Master and Mistress." Jen sighs.
"Just acting like a pretty macho vampire killer and telling us your…I mean his…Partner would be killing our beloved Overlords soon. Sorry…" at Jen's wincing… "But, Jen…" Ginny, a bit distraught now. "We gotta come up with some way to fight this. I couldn't bear to see the Mistress die. And you know that's coming from a girl with a pretty good sense of self preservation and centeredness… I know you're as concerned as I am at least. More so, maybe..." troubled sigh. "You know better than anyone just how centered on myself I've been."
"I never thought you were self-centered, Gin. Just very focused and anxious to succeed." Warm smile. "It's a tough business and you've had to be tough, especially what with Roy and all... We all have done what we had to do until our Masters and the Mistress woke us up to what's really important." Jen notes, patting Ginny's arm. "But…You're right. And I couldn't lose Master Laszlo, I'd rather die myself. But maybe Gui and Sue will find something in Mexico. Maybe even that guy who came looking for Gui is the one."
"He should have let us know…Guillermo." Ginny shakes head. "I love him, too, of course…I get he's concerned for us…And I would never question his authority, in any normal sit. But…Jen? He's not exactly equipped to fight a great vampire hunter, let alone some kind of superpowered Vampire Slayer."
"Sue will keep us informed, if it really looks serious…"
"More of us should be there…Phyl would go in a heartbeat. You know she's gaga over him now, since she settled down a bit." Wan smile.
"She is?" Jen eyes her. "I kinda thought she was showing some interest the other day at the house, but she'd been so fixated on the Mistress. I've been afraid for Master Laszlo with her, you know."
"She is…She asked me yesterday when I was checking on her and giving her some more of the lowdown on the real situation if you or I were involved with him. She was like a high school kid having her first crush. Though I did point out Sue had asked first…And that I…Well…" slight blush.
"Gin? Really? Not making fun…That's sweet. After all, I'm pretty fond of the Boss myself." warm smile.
"He's Chief Minion…And a nice kid… How can we help it? But, as Mistress Nadja pointed out to me when she was explaining that I should follow his orders but kinda watch out for him, I am pretty experienced and he probably should be with someone near his age and without grown kids." Slight winsomeness.
"I'm sure she didn't mean anything…" Jen offers.
"No, it's ok…I wouldn't want to hurt him or more likely, embarrass him. And there is Richard. I'm really very fond of him and Mistress Nadja thinks he'd be good for me. Yes, I love Richard." Ginny nods. "He'll be my husband and a good father to my kids and the Mistress will be pleased." She beams.
"I really do like him…" she concludes, a bit carefully. "Jen? You're so together on this…Balancing the Master and the Overlords, David, Suzette. Can we really still manage it? Love someone else and still serve the Great Ones above all? I mean is that even possible…?"
"I don't know…I just do." Jen shrugs. "I know it pleases the Master and our Mistress that I'm happy in a good marriage. Frankly, I think I was headed for trouble before…"
"My fault…" Ginny sighs. "I pushed you guys all too hard. I see that now, praise my Mistress. Even if I still waste too much time on business."
"Nah. Ginny, I made my own choices and some were bad ones." Jen shrugs. "Among them, Troy Meister…And a few others. I put my marriage in jeopardy and nearly hurt David and Suzie. And I made the bad call, myself. For reasons I knew and know weren't really justified whatever I tole myself. But now, I really find it easy to keep things in balance. Easier than when I wasn't thralled…" smile.
"And God knows you shouldn't lose your hard edge…It got the Master his new home. We don't want to all go broke and worry them you know." She grins.
"I guess that's so. And I do care for Richard. I think I could be happy with him." Ginny notes.
"I'm sure. But remember the Mistress would want you to be really happy, not just please her." Jen notes.
"I am. He's a good man, I liked him a lot before I stepped up in the plane of existence. I even kinda put the cash on the back burner, given he's not exactly loaded. I was just afraid he might find me too high-pressure and the business with Roy…If he heard the details…Someday…"
"Wasn't your fault Roy was no good." Jen pats her arm. "You only did what you had to, to save all you'd worked for. And your evidence helped get him convicted, in the end. You're a good person, Gin."
"I guess…Anyway, Gui's great but can he really handle this, if that guy is the One. Our most feared enemy?" Ginny, anxiously. "Besides, I thought this 'Cicely' was a girl." she frowns, puzzled. "Though if you mean the Van Helsing sub…? He'd fit the bill, I guess. But…"
"She might not be female now." Jen pointing out to Ginny's fleeting stare.
"Or, yeah, she might be partnered with him." Jen shrugs, considering. "And Dr. Van Helsing might not have been telling us everything. As for Gui, we have to trust he'll be careful and Sue will let us know if help's required. Gin, if we all went down there…"
"I know. It's just…The thought of Mistress Nadja being in danger and me no use to her worth a damn. It's unbearable, Jen. I love her more than my life."
"I feel the same way about Master Laszlo…I've had nightmares of him being…Hurt."
"Oh…?" Ginny, quick fixed stare. "Like how…Hurt?"
"Someone in his crypt, stakes him…His cries ringing in my ears. I can't stop the killer in time."
"Uh-huh…And who is the killer?"
"They're in the dark…I can never make them out."
"Man or woman?" sharp tone…
"I don't know…Gin?"
"Just curious."
"I'm not Van Helsing in hiding, Gin." Sigh.
"You might not know…" Ginny notes. "He's taken you. Maybe he could kill through you. They trust you, he could be counting on that. Hell…You could be the reincarnation of Cicely, in hiding till Van Helsing triggers you."
"Gin…You're scaring me. And you could be, just as easy. If she's that easy to take in thrall."
"I guess…But we should have all of us checked out. Master Nandor could force us to talk, even if Van Helsing is hiding in us."
"He could've killed them already if one of us could be used that way. And the Overlords and My Lady didn't seem to think I was." Jen points out.
"Yeah…Meaning we don't have a clue…" Ginny sighs. "I think I should go back as soon as I drop you…"
"You're no good to them too tired to fight or work the prob here, Gin. Mistress Nadja wants you to rest some."
"But Van Helsing keeps getting closer…And we're doing nothing, while my Mistress is in danger…" Ginny, a bit strident at end.
"We've done a lot, at least Master Nandor has…" Jen points out. "And we won't stop trying…"
"I know…But what if Van Helsing and his friends attack tonight? Master Nandor's alone on guard…" Ginny nervously. "He could be dead already and…" slight hysteria building…She pulls over suddenly.
"Sorry…" clenching and unclenching hands on wheel.
"Gin…" Jen pats her shoulder. "They're fine. Look I'm dialing now. Hello? Master Nandor? Yes…Hi, it's Jen. Yes, good evening to you, too. No, not yet…But we wanted to check in with you. Is everything ok? Good." She gives Ginny a thumb's up.
"Well, we can't help worrying, Master. Good to hear alls well. Is Mr. Robinson with you? Great."
Wonder how much help Mr. Beige will be, Ginny thought. Still I did sense he has great power too, in his weird daylight capable way.
But anyone can see, even with a bit of thrall dulling their suspicious nature, that Robinson has his own agenda, separate from the Mistress' and Masters'.
"Yes, ok Master…I'll let Martha know alls well. We'll see you bright and early, minus the bright light, in the morning." Jen continues.
Tell him to be careful, Ginny hisses. "And check on the Mistress and Master Laszlo, as much as he can."
"Ginny says hi and please check on her Mistress and my Master? Thanks so much, Master Nandor. Sure, we'll make sure Martha doesn't get upset. I think it's best we keep all this from her now, actually. Yeah…Ok. Ginny will be there with Erika at daybreak and I'll be over a bit later. Yes, I will, thank you…Good night." She hangs up, beaming.
"He's always such a thoughtful man. He wanted me to give Suzette a kiss for him. I think he really loves kids, poor guy." Sigh.
"Just hope it doesn't affect his fighting edge…" Ginny shaking head. "Jen?" sidelong look. "If Van Helsing really likes you, could we possibly use that against him?"
Jen eyeing her…
"I mean, maybe if you appealed to him…Lay it on a little thick…He might back off."
"I don't think he'd believe me, he'll be sure I'm just trying to save my Master. But I can try…Though…How?"
"Maybe we could try a seance…" Ginny suggests.
"Us? We don't even know how. And we don't have all the extras the Master had us fetch."
"Oh, yes we do." Ginny smiles. "I had Erika put them in the car here with us. I told her we'd get them back to the church later. And I will… Before I get home. But first…? If you're ready to go the distance for Master Laszlo…?"
"Of course…But…If he takes me again?"
"Maybe if he were killed in a human body?" Ginny suggests, eyeing her.
"I don't think Master Laszlo wants me to do that…Not unless we could be sure…" Jen shaking head.
"And you said I didn't seem willing to die for my Mistress…" Ginny, censoriously.
Jennifer sighs…
"If I were sure, Gin…I wouldn't hesitate. But it would mean one less of us…And I think the Master would be hurt."
"I could claim it was an accident in the dark tonight. I'll smash up the car with your corpse inside and if I get killed too, well…We saved them." Ginny notes, somewhat strident at end. "That's all that matters."
"I think we should hold off till we're sure about this…" Jen puts up hand. "Ginny, if I thought dying with Van Helsing inside me would save Master Laszlo, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But they didn't think killing me was the right idea before…"
"Maybe…But I still say, anything's worth a try." Ginny frowns. "Our lives mean nothing. David could find another mother for Suzette. I'd do it, if Van Helsing would choose me. You know I'm ready to take on that Devious guy if he tries anything."
"Well, I think the séance might be worth a try…Maybe he'd just appear to us and I could try to talk to him." Jen offers.
"All right. We can do it in the office, we're nearly there." Ginny notes. "And then I'll take you home…It shouldn't take long. And even he says no, maybe you could get something out of him."
"Like what?"
"I don't know…" frowns. "When his people are coming. What they or Cicely may look like… You know how to play a client, give him the works and get all you can out of him. I'll try too, natch."
"Fine…But I doubt a ghost…"
"Guys are guys, Jen…And he liked what he saw." Ginny smiles. "Come on, this is for the Master, right?"
"Right…But not too late, Gin. I really want to get home and tuck Suzie in."
Sure…But if the opportunity arises and I gotta take it…I'm sure Susan or I or Erika could step in as new wifey/mom after a decent mourning period. Or maybe Annie could be taken and made to fit the bill, being a younger kid. And she seems good with kids, Suzette likes her.
The Mistress would want Suzette to have a mom who knew her mother.
….
Mexico City…The Gran Ciudal…
"Gui? Really, you could come to my bed…We're consenting adults, after all." Susan calls to him in the other bed. "This feels like a really old movie where even a married couple couldn't be shown in the same bed. We don't have to do anything but cuddle. I'd really like a cuddle, honey."
"Susan…I think it's best if…" he gasps as she plops beside him, in a rather lovely, fairly decorous nightgown.
"I promise not to let you take advantage of my poor thrilled state…" she beams at him. "Gui, I get it. You're a good man and you feel this is some sort of hypno rape. But I'm happy just to be with you, ok? I can wait till you feel it's right. Besides, we should talk…"
Why do I feel talking is the main reason for coming on to me…? He sighs to himself. Though I know she means to be sincere about caring for me.
"I don't think we've learned much more to talk about…" he shrugs, wincing a bit as she hugs him close.
"You're such a teddy bear, Gui." Grin. "I could eat you up…"
I'm sure…He sighs. Oh, no…God, please no… Don't do this to me, I'm trying to be a good person here.
Think peaceful, calm thoughts…He tells himself. As she kisses him…
"Sue, please…If you wanna talk, lets talk." He insists, nervously pulling from her.
"And we could talk from across separate beds…"
"Not as discreetly…" she smiles. "Gui, don't be mean to me. I swear I won't blame you if I ever come outta thrall…I think in fact…"
"Susan." He sighs. "You'd never have looked at me if you'd not 'met' Master Nandor. You've no idea how angry or ready to kill me you'd be if you ever came out of thrall."
She stuns him by copious weeping…
Oh, God…Come on…I know I deserve Hell for what've I done and let happen but…
"You think I'm terrible…Stuck up and full of myself." She weeps. "And only drugs or this would make me a decent person…"
"You're a very decent person, I'm sure. That's not why I mean. But it is true about the drugs and this…Thrall is like a date rape drug, Sue. You can't help yourself."
"Ok…Ok, then…" she wipes eyes. "Then it's your Duty to protect me. Keep me close and see I don't get hurt or do something I'll regret, right? I'm not asking you to screw me, Gui…Though frankly, I've screwed guys who made you look like Cary Grant. And not for the job, but because I liked them." Stern frown. "But lets say you're right and I can't 'help myself'. Then you should do whatever it takes to keep me safe, right? And letting me be here, safe with you…That's your Duty."
"Fine. But just…"
"I'll be good." Smile. "Think of me as your sister…Who wants to share all her confidences with big brother Gui. I'll back off a bit, ok? Lets just talk…I think we should go over the day. And what did that lady the widow of Mr. Afanas give you anyway? Gui, it wasn't something that could help here?"
"I doubt it would help…It's just a book, a Bible. My Auntie gave it to her to keep safe when she took ill and asked her to give it to whomever she designated when the end was coming. Me, I guess, though she'd not told her who I was till a little while ago."
"Then she didn't know you were the one when she stayed with you at the house?"
"Actually, I think she did. Auntie told her before that."
"I see…" Susan frowns, propping head on pillow. "Meaning this isn't something she wanted to let Master Nandor know about…"
"Maybe…But I think she just thought it was personal…And waited for the right time."
"Can I see?"
"Sure…" he reaches under bed to pull the Bible Mrs. Afanas had given him…Paired with the Book, just in case the thrilled minion asked. He hands it to her.
An old, well-thumbed Bible…But nothing unusual about it, except notes and underlinings written in…
"It's got some passages Auntie loves underlined…" he notes.
"Ow!" she drops it on bed after taking it.
"Sorry." He picks it up. "I forgot the Master's blood in you might make it hard to handle… You ok?"
"Yeah, but it burns my hands some." She eyes the Bible.
"I guess that means you have some faith in it…" he notes.
"I don't…I guess…I did go to church as a girl. But I don't generally worry about it. Haven't been to church in a while."
"Neither have I and certainly not the Master but he reacted when he went to Church for his granddaughter X30." Shrug. "Like riding a bike, I guess."
"But it doesn't bother you?"
"I'm not bit." He sighs. "I was completely voluntarily in choosing this…But you would think I'd be roasted alive for handling this."
"You're not Evil, Guillermo." Susan, fiercely. "Don't you ever think that!"
"Nah, I'm just the Nazi who only followed orders…" he sighs.
And got rid of the corpses…He did not say…Weeping suddenly to Susan's stunned horror.
…
