What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…
Part LII…
"So then..." Nadja, head cocked, fond tone as she sat in chair by her coffin… "I got my grandmother to a fine home and dumped Grandfather's foul drunken body into the Danube. It was a great pleasure to tell her she would never be beaten again, though it was not long before my mother convinced her I'd been taken by, turned to, Evil and she refused to have more to do with me. I should have killed Mother, that witch...But, it would have hurt Grandmother."
Slight chuckle… "Of course though Grandmother would have no more to do with me and cursed me, surrounded that fine merchant's house with a holy circle to keep me away...I think it was with that Host thing we used the other night...By the way, did you return it to the church...?"
"Yes, ma'am." Ginny, on low settee by her, nods "Before I went home..."
"Good...We would not want to do sacrilege beyond what was necessary...So, as I was saying...Grandmother rejected me but she kept the house and didn't refuse the human slaves...The owner and his wife...I'd bestowed on her. A practical woman, though the wife told me when I summoned her to see how Grandmother was faring, that she was claiming to stay to protect their souls. Please, those people had no souls long before I enthralled them. Cruel and arrogant to the core, they were far better off after I took them… The husband had asked the local militia chief...Paid him off to so...To drive us out. Not too particular about how or if we Gypsies survived the driving out. His attitude took a major change...Probably to his soul's benefit, though who knows or cares..." smile.
"What, child?" to Ginny's downcast look…
"I don't think you'd've liked me much before..." sad look. "I didn't drive off any Gypsies but..."
"Well, you did seem a bit...What is word today? Hard in the nose? Hard-nosed? But I think you were just trying to survive in the business world. You were employing many women and training them to be successful, that is good." Nadja, reassuringly.
"I suppose you think I was greedy..." sigh. "And even if Roy was the one who broke the law to begin with...I did kinda go along with it, at first...Till I saw where we were headed."
"Well...You made the decision to stop. That is first step. Did you ever see the 'Schindler's List'? Laszlo and I saw it at the cinema, years ago. Oh, that Liam Neeson..." grin.
"He is cute." Ginny smiled.
"Very rugged looking, not pretty boy...Much like my Laszlo..." fond nod. "Well, Mr. Schindler was not a nice man till he saw true Evil being done. But then he made choice, like you. That is what matters, Virginia. You did the right thing, in the end."
"Well, it was partly to save my business...But I did think of my girls and the guys...My other girls, in the office..."
"Then you made moral choice. The right one. Good for you." pat of head, eyeing her watch. "Say, it's eleven-thirty, don't you have work at your office?"
"Oh, Martha can handle the office...And Jen anything in the field...Unless Mr. Devious calls, I think it's fine for me to stay today, if I may, Mistress?" fond pleading look up.
" 'Mr.' Prick Devious…." frown. "You think he will call?"
"I don't know..." shrug. "He said he would if he could...And if he does plan to come in, I want to be there." firmly.
"Ginny? You are not to confront him. Leave him to us." Nadja, sternly. "That is my direct order, little one. I would not have you killed or turned, you have too much to live for."
"If you say, ma'am...But Mistress..." earnest tone, Ginny putting hands together as if in prayer… "You...Are my life now. Nothing else matters."
"Oh, sweet one...That is kind. If inevitable under thrall...But you have two lovely daughters, a business, friends...And a new boyfriend who seems nice...So far...It is just that you have us as well, now. Whom you best serve by surviving as human, to protect us from the world. You can't do that Dead...Or even Undead."
"No..." nod… "I suppose not..." Ginny nods considering…
"How are your girls by the way?"
"Oh, delicious, I'm sure..." eager tone. "They're very healthy girls..."
"Ginny. No. I mean...Though I appreciate the offering...How are they doing?"
"Fine, last time I spoke with them...Jacqueta's still in Spain visiting my mom. Though my oldest was having some trouble at school. I had to go out and see her, that weekend before you took me."
"Yes, caught with the drugs and the boyfriend after hours...I remember."
"Well, he was the one with the drugs...She was just going along, I think. Just lucky the student dean's an old friend and very understanding..."
"And since? Have you been firm with her?"
"Well...I talked with her. She was calling for me just the morning you took me to speak to the police about David, the boyfriend. I said no. She hung up on me. Hasn't called since."
"Not answering your calls?"
"Well...I've been busy. I really haven't followed up with her..."
"Virginia?!" Nadja shakes head. "This is your daughter. Are you sure all's well for her with college? And these police?"
"Ma'am...I had to work on your new place and then see to my office windows and make sure the new enthrallees and the rest made no trouble and then Dr. Van Helsing...I knew they'd contact me if she was going to jail, I'm sure she wasn't charged." woebegone look to Nadja's frown. "Sorry, if I've displeased you, Mistress."
"No, this is my fault too for not asking before, but...You can't leave this. What if they make her leave her college? Did you make sure all was well there?"
"I...Will...Right away, ma'am. But I think she'd or the school'd call..." Ginny pulls out cell and dials
"Yes, but this could ruin her future...You must make certain...And see this bad boyfriend is no longer with her, if he is ruining her."
"Yes, ma'am...Hello? Hey, it's Mom. Are you in trouble? Have you been expelled? What? Well, just asking. Did you get rid of that punk David like I said? Hello?!" Hmmn...She looks at Nadja, shrugging. "She hung up."
"Call her back...But not so direct, in the questions, dear. You should know better, you work with people."
"I just wanted to get you the information right away, Mistress. It's ringing again..."
"Take a firm tone but don't be so direct...Let her tell you what's going on unless you have to press..."
"Yes, ma'am...I think you're right. Hey...Sorry. I was just worried. Come on...Honey?"
Nadja, bending close in to listen…
"Just tell me what's going on…Ok? Yeah, I'm sorry. El, I've been very busy. I did come down there a couple of weeks ago you know. Ok… Did you get my money order? Ok, good. So...What did the dean say? Uh-huh. Well, probation isn't too bad. Sweetie, you did have the stuff in your dorm. Oh? Well, I can't say I'm sorry. He belongs in jail. Oh, come on...Elsie..."
Frown at phone...Nadja frowning as well…
"Sorry, Mistress...I'll dial her again."
"No, leave her be a moment..." Nadja, considering.
"I think we shall need to pay her a call."
"Oh, yes..." Ginny beams. "You could take her, she can learn the office to handle things when I'm gone or turned...If you ever so choose to honor me, ma'am."
"No...I'm thinking more along lines of a good lecture...Perhaps a little hypnosis to strengthen the message." Nadja notes. "She needs to have her life start, Ginny. Finish her school, meet some decent person...Bear children if she wishes and can be a good mother. Thrall can come later, in good time, if I ever need her."
"Yes, Mistress. I see." nod… "And you'd be safer, away from here for an evening...With me." beam.
"What matters is your daughter. We need to see to her as soon as possible. I'll speak to Laszlo and Nandor later. And what about the younger one? Have you called her since I took you?"
…
The, more or less…Fifty percent just right now...Living room...
"Master Nandor?" Erika offers bottle of special vintage.
"Oh..." Nandor seated on couch, still in his uniform… "Thank you, dear. Very kind..." taking swig. "Is all well about?"
"Everything seems secure. The alarm system is working. Master Laszlo and his wife are safe. My Lord is sleeping just now, the Lady is with Ginny in their crypt."
"Very good. Seems we have managed to survive another night…" he smiles.
"I pray this will continue..." Erika notes.
"Well, we shall see...But I am sure all will be well..." to her distressed look. "And you, my dear? Have you rested and eaten?"
"Yes, Master Nandor...I'm quite well. Ginny was a bit tired this morning but Mistress Nadja is taking care of her."
"Good, very good. And our friends at your office? Martha?"
"All very well, sir. She and Jen are coming over in a bit to replace us and Ms. Knieve will be coming soon, after an appointment, to help guard here."
"Oh, really?"
Werewolf guards...Interesting…Who would have thought, a mere few weeks ago…?
"Mein Lord arranged it, sir." Proud tone. "Oh, please forgive me, Lord Nandor..." as her cell buzzed.
"Not at all...Please..." Nandor gave polite wave.
Damn...She eyed the phone...Sighing.
"Yeah, hello, Troy..." she told the phone. "Oh, sure...I was planning to be there at two as scheduled, no delays that I can see." pause… "Did the roofing crew finish?"
I know they did, damn...She eyes camera. "Ok, then...I suppose Hetty...Just us, then...Great. Well, we should be able to wrap up."
Nandor discreetly watching…
"Sorry, mein Lord...A client." as she closes phone.
"One you do not care for…?" he notes shrewdly.
"I can deal with him..." shrug… "He ist just rather annoying. But the work with him is just about done, should be wrapped up except for the closing after today's meeting. I just must review the work and have his confirmation...If I may have your permission, I'll check on Master Laszlo and his wife then see that Jennifer is en route before I leave."
"I see. Of course…" nod… "But...If he remains… 'Annoying'...I will pay him a call tonight."
"Oh, sir..." shake of lovely head… "There ist no need to endanger yourself. I'm well able to deal, truly sir. We encounter a number of his kind in our profession. It was Jennifer who had the most trouble with the gentleman...I took the case over to help her. He's not so inclined to press me too much, not knowing me so well."
"Indeed..." Nandor frowns. "He ought not to 'press' any of you. This man seems unworthy of the title 'gentleman'."
"Perhaps not..." wan smile. "But honestly, sir...I can manage him. It's not a problem." warm smile. "But it ist kind of you to be concerned for me, not your own servant."
"My dear..." Nandor, firmly. "You are all a part of our family now...And any insult or injury to our family will be dealt with. Just keep me and your master informed."
"Sir..." she bows head.
…
Nadja to camera, Ginny having been sent by her to see to the office…A bit reluctantly, but accepting the necessity…And Jen and Martha to be shortly on their way to take over guard/cleaner duty.
Besides still a chance Devious might call or even drop by…And she had no intention of letting any one less experienced with him dealing with that problem…
Strictly within the bounds of the Mistress' strict orders of course…
"I would never criticize Virginia's raising of her daughters to her, directly." Nadja, carefully. "And please...Say nothing to her… But that older girl at least sounds of lacking her mother's attention. I realize she has a business to run and that's important but young women need a mother's guidance. Especially when the father is schmuck. But even when he is decent. That is why I make sure Laszlo makes Jen attend to her little one. It's easy for the enthralled to neglect their families, even let children starve while providing attentive service to their Overlords. It's part of being a good Mistress or Master to see that our servants take proper care of those in their old lives. Unless of course we need to kill them for learning about us and threatening us or if they are schmucks or during famine times." Shakes head. "Well, we shall see to the older daughter and help her back on to a good track of life. Get no-good boyfriend out of her life and see she resumes her proper focus on her studies..." sigh. "The younger seems safe, with her grandmother, in Spain. Jacqueta, such a pretty name. I did think Virginia had some Spanish to her..."
Confidential tone...
"I do regret not having the learning Laszlo has had. I have tried occasionally, usually in secret, to take the night courses and study when possible but it's hard to focus not having the back ground from human days. I sense he finds me limited that way sometimes, though he...Wisely...Never points it out. And I do have the practical wisdom, of my people." proud tone. "And Laszlo lacks the common sense at times, as you've seen, so we fit well." beam.
"You heard his minion Miss Erika..." shy smile. "He loves me, she feels it. You can't fake that, you know. It bleeds through the Ether, like hate. And true hatred would contaminate it… Oh, I could Undie happily now." beam.
Uh...Well, she gave offhand wave… "No offense intending to you mortals who follow a faith in Afterlife but I would prefer to Unlive and not gamble on religious notions, if possible. After all his soul may not hate me per se...But it might not be particularly fond of me." slightly wan smile.
"I know...I fret too much over such...But when one is Immortal, more or less, one must think of big picture, over eons..."
