What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…
Part LIV…
Guillermo's hotel room, Gran Ciudal Hotel, Mexico City…3:30 am…
Guillermo anxiously assisting a couple of downed members of the camera crew just arrived in Mexico, Phyllis glaring at them from her fixed post at his side…
"Phyl, please…Sue…It's ok…"
Susan standing now, in nightgown, tensely awake via adrenalin surge though starting to nod off…And rather confused though likewise in fierce guard mode by Guillermo…
"You jerks should let us know when you're around!" Phyllis, angrily, brushing back hair, smoothing suit. "You're lucky I didn't kill you, hiding out in my Boss' room!"
And you screwed my hopes for tonight, damn you…
"It's ok…Come on guys…Phyl…Sue, really it's ok. I'm fine." Guillermo trying to calm the waters…
"Ok…But why are they here?" Phyllis, grimly. "I thought they were just covering the Overlords…"
"What are…You here for…?" Sue eyes Phyllis, blearily…Frowning a little.
"To do what you're not up for, honey. Go back to sleep." Phyllis, offhand wave.
"Gui?" Susan turns to him. "Did I do something wrong…?"
"No, not at all…Just maybe you'd better go back to bed. I've got this." Guillermo notes, soothingly.
"No…What's going on? Why is she here?" Susan shakes head. Struggling to overcome the sleeping medication…
"She's here to help. It's ok."
"I still wanna know why these guys are here…" Phyllis frowns at the crew.
"They're just doing their jobs…Documenting everything." Guillermo insists. "It's fine…Just let them be. They have permission. It's important to your Mistress they do their jobs, Phyl. And we don't want trouble with the hotel staff."
Well…She relaxes slightly. "If you say so, Boss…I don't like it though…"
"Why is she here?" Susan, insistent now.
"Cause you're sleepin' when you should be protecting the Chief Minion." Phyllis, grimly, arms folded.
"Ladies…" Guillermo sighs. "You guys sure you're ok?" he addresses camera staff.
"Sorry if I was a little rough." Phyllis, now a bit nervous.
"You don't need to be here…" Susan, a bit heatedly, Phyllis whirling on her, furiously.
"Please…Ladies…" Guillermo hand out to each. "Not in front of the cameras…"
…
Jen, en route to the Residence in her car…Sunglasses, hair bunned, suit carefully brushed down…
"It's something, huh?" she smiles to camera. "It's really not that I think Ginny couldn't be self-sacrificing…She's always been that for her girls and her business…But geesh, ready to let one of us kill her? Just in a hope it might stop Dr. Van Helsing? Whoa… I mean I think I would if push came to shove…Die for Master Laszlo, sure. I know I would. Still…Impressive, huh? Not that it's all thrall and such…I think Ginny's right to hope it's something buried within, just brought to the surface. I mean people do give their lives for others, for causes…Maybe the thrall just focuses you? Anyway, I'm glad she's understood her Mistress doesn't want her to do that and I honestly think it would be no point. I don't think the Professor lies about things like that and the Overlords agree, so…Ooops…Davey on the phone, hang on, guys? Yo, daddy." She addresses phone.
"Sorry I couldn't call at lunch, honey." David's voice. "Busy day."
"Ok, so long as you cured cancer today…" teasing reply. "Or the common cold…"
"I wish. Just a long grant conference…Say, I did tell my buds Edwin and Xi about the question Mr. Cravensworth had on optical effects and vampires. Never would have thought he'd be a sci-fi/horror fan."
"Man of many qualities, my Lord. Lord Cravensworth…" she hastily corrected.
"That's not official, right? You say he never inherited the title…"
"Yeah, they cheated him out of it…"
Bastards…Hiss under breath…
"…but I'll consider him my lord client. Nice for business, huh?" grin to phone.
"I guess…Anyway the guys thought the easiest explanation is some sort of religious hypnosis, almost…You know, like the way faith healing works…"
"Yeah?"
"I think the idea is the vamp can't see himself in the mirror cause his religion taught him that vamps or 'dark creatures' can't. Given the vamp thing, it affects others via a kind of hypno telekinesis…Causing others to perceive the same…"
"Wow."
"Just a lot of hooey, as Xi said…But if you want a plausible sci-fi sorta sciency explanation…and the film and such records normally, not subject to that stuff, being machines. Of course then Edwin started wondering about human-level AIs…And if they might be subject to vamp influences…"
"That would be weird…" smile. "You boys really had a field day with this, I hear. But, how's my babe?"
"I'm good. You are home at a sane hour tonight, right?"
"By my own choice and the order of mein client…Seven at the latest. Suzie ok when you left her at day care? I called when I stopped to gulp some lunch but it was nap time. Trude said she was doing well."
"She seemed fine. Glad to know Mommie will be home on time."
Grin… "Right, way to guilt. Well, you better damned not get caught up in the lab. Or with the guys discussing sci-fi over beer…"
"I promise. Love you, Jen. Don't work too hard."
"Things are good and I'm just wrapping them up. Life of leisure next stop, minus mommie- and wifey-dom. Though…Maybe I could do some part-time. Seein' as I made partner today." Grin.
"Jen! That's great…Though…"
"No worries. It's a title, mostly. I won't be taking over the business. I'm sticking to plan, Davey."
"Good. And that really is great, honey. God knows you deserve it."
"You made it possible…Thanks, babe. For everything. I think we ought to celebrate tonight. I'll bring some champagne and cake…Or if I can't get good ones, ginger ale and cookies."
"That sounds good…See ya tonight, honey. Love you."
"You…" she blew kiss. "Gonna screw your beautiful brains out tonight, babe…So get ready." She shut off phone, beaming.
"And I will too…I really think our sex life, which has been pretty damned good, has gone into overdrive these past weeks." Smile. "And though, yeah…I do fantasize a bit about my Master…Most of it's my Davey. I do love him, whatever I feel for the Master. It's sorta…Now…Like the Master is my God and Davey is…Well, my Davey. Kinda plateaued and stable now, you know?" reflecting. "Erika's the same, I'd say. Though I think, given she has no one else just now, she kinda moons over the Master more than she gives out. European girls are more mature, they say. Better control over things. She does seem fond of Master Nandor, too…Maybe since we're blocked regards the Master, she's redirecting his way? But she does seem pretty stable, not so strident like Phyllis…Or even Ginny who does seem a bit obsessed with Lady Nadja at times. Though thank goodness or whatever none of us are turning out like that Renfield type from 'Dracula'…Bug eating and all…" grin.
"I hope poor Phyl gets to a good plateau soon but it does look like she's pretty fixed on Gui now rather than over her Mistress and threatening Master Laszlo, like when she began her service, which is much safer, for her especially…After all they are sorta like God…Or gods…By comparison. Right?" smile.
"I hope Erika doesn't have a lot of trouble with Troy Meister this afternoon. Thank God…" Hmmn…Doesn't seem to burn like it did Ginny. "…it's the last time any of us will have to be alone, more or less, with him. I feel a little guilty pushing him off on her but frankly…He was getting a bit too much with me. God knows he's got a miserable home life and probably hasn't made love to a girl who cares…Well, maybe never is the sad truth. Hetty's a holy terror and I do feel sorry for him sometimes. But it's no excuse…Though…" she puts up a hand. "Anything I did, I did mostly free choice…I'm not whining. It's just he was getting to be too much…I hope he doesn't get stupid, knowing this is his last shot, at least with us. Even Erika, who can handle the best of them with that European style…Keep them at bay, ya know? Even she was finding him a pain…" she eyes camera… "No, not quite that." Shake of head. "A lot of pawing, fondling, and bad jokes. And you know that last time what happened, I'm sure…Yeah, just once before…I just wanted to get through it and get him signed and settled and it seemed the easiest thing to do. But I couldn't go back after that last time…Guess it's a good thing the Master never asked for details, I mean considering Erika says Master Nandor seemed ready to rip his head off just over the little she told him about things with her. I wouldn't want that…Really. And it would be hard to explain, right? Nah, best to just finish it up and never see him again."
Reflecting a bit somberly a mo… "It's not been like that with most of my clients…I won't make that excuse. But please don't think I've been a total slut…I know Mistress Nadja thinks so…Though she's much nicer these days on that… I'm glad, truly she and the Master got me out of that sort of thing. It's a cheap and easy way, like lying to a client about a place which I've never done, honestly, and you can think you'll only do it once or twice, just with some guy who really seems nice and you like and things get a little…Busy…And you figure, ok, well, it would boost his ego and close the deal and he is kinda shy and nice, it's more like you're doing something nice for him. But it becomes a crutch and you start thinking you have to do it to get the deal through and sooner or later…" shrug. "You get a rep…And you get the Troy Meisters…" shrug, wan smile.
"But that's over…" pause. "Do you think Ginny seemed a little…Back there? I felt it was ok to leave her, none of us thralled folks were there and the other girls wouldn't kill her if the Professor came back. Though I hope he'd avoid scaring the willies out of them, since they don't know what's what. And I know she wouldn't disobey the Lady's direct order…Still…I mean terrific as it is to get the partnership…I hope I can work out some part time setup, I'm sure she'd agree…I'm a little nervous now. It sounded just a little… But I'll check in with her and see if Erika can go over after she's finished this afternoon. I'm probably just a bit overexcited…" Pause.
"Oh…Would you?" she beams at camera to an offer. "I mean there's an office full of unthralled folks there, she won't do anything stupid but it's just…She did sound a little…What's the word? Fatalistic? Really, guys. I appreciate it. But don't tell her I asked you to go…" she eyes the camera, suddenly…Distraught, almost a different person.
"Please…Go…" pleading tone. "Kind sirs, you must…"
What? She caught the stares…
…
"Ginny Zeller…How's my favorite girl in reality?" Simon Devious, in elegant grey suit, complete with greu top hat which he'd removed with flourish, standing in the main office, accompanied by a tall fellow likewise in suit…
The other looking a bit tense…As if uncertain of his surroundings or their security…Taking the hat from Simon's hand thrust at him...
Vamp…Ginny thought…Gotta be, though he's very controlled, he's definitely wearing makeup to cover the pallor.
And a young, quite beautiful brunette woman in very elegant gown…Nervously smiling at Ginny…
"Lesley Ciara…Have you seen her on the stage? Isn't she lovely? Sings like an angel…Or did, before she retired to be with…Me…" Simon, tapping fingers together at end like a happy child.
Thrallee…Ginny thought. Lesley darting eyes about…Holding Simon's arm tightly.
"And what a lovely place you've got here…And such lovely people…" Simon beamed, glancing round.
Colin keeping well back in his cubicle with Gwen…She peering out, wearily.
"I really appreciate you taking my advice on the windows…Aren't these things wonderful?" he smiled. "Lesley? Aren't they wonderful? Our friend Ginny had her whole office decked out with them, on my recommendation."
"Wonderful…" Lesley nodded. "Are they really able to block out the worst of the sun…?" she asked, anxiously. The other vamp guard likewise looking rather concerned.
"The beauty of day without the harshness…" Simon, elegantly. "I trust they did right by you…"
"It was a great price…" Ginny nodded. "Thanks…"
"Don't mention it…Really." He put up a hand. "So…Can we get down to business? I'm so eager to hear more about this wonderful old place."
"Sure…Just come on into my office. Anne? Hold my calls except for Jen or Martha…?"
"Sure, Gin…" Anne, filling in at Martha's desk, nodded.
"And how are you this lovely day, miss? Despite a few clouds…It's as lovely as you." Simon cooed to Anne.
"Uh…Great…"
"Good…Good…Enjoy life while you're young. It does go by so fast for you."
"Yeah, thanks." Anne nodded.
"Ok, then…Ginny." He gallantly moved to hold door and ushered his trio in after her… Lesley glancing about, eyeing each person carefully. The other vamp, relieved to be safely inside after a nervous, overcoated, umbrellad, dash up the stairs on leaving their car, likewise checking about.
"My friends are always making sure things are good for me. Such good friends…" Simon beamed as Lesley shut the door behind them.
"Well, what was that?" Billie from her cubicle…She a bit weary from her earlier close encounter with Colin.
"Simon Devious, New York playboy, financial powerhouse, owns three nightclubs in Manhattan and Yonkers, several banks and financial firms, controlling interest in several theaters and production companies, a lot of property in NYC generally, and seeking more…" Colin noted.
"Seemed like quite the oddball to me…"
"Quite…But they usually are…" Colin smiled.
….
"It really is so good to see you again, Ginny Zeller." Simon, taking seat. "It's been much too long since our last mutually beneficial relationship. Lesley? Have I told you how Ginny got me a fantastic deal on my newer club in Manhattan? Lesley sings sometimes there, Ginny. Voice of an angel."
He pauses, looking about the office… "My, my…Arg...Ah...What a lovely crucifix there…I'd no idea you were so religious, Ginny." Slight aversion of eyes from the area where the crucifix was mounted on a stand.
Lesley frowning…The other vamp carefully turned away, likewise frowning…
"A gift from my younger daughter, from an old village in Spain." Ginny notes.
"A treasure I'm sure but…Would you take it badly if I mentioned I think my grandmother would be a little offended if I spent the afternoon staring at it? She suffered so, during the War, poor grandmother. Those camps, you know..." Sad-eyed expression.
"Sorry. I didn't realize. Let me put it on the back shelf." Ginny grabs the stand, avoiding touching the crucifix herself and places on a shelf in back of the office, turning it a bit.
"No, please…No offense at all…" Simon waves a hand. "Just, a bit of respect for poor Grandmother's sufferings."
"Of course…" Ginny, motioning for all to sit as she returns to her desk. The rest of the group now taking chairs…
"But of course, no complaints regards that pretty little piece you're wearing…" Simon beams at the silver chain on Ginny's neck, the small crucifix on it, tucked under her blouse.
"Thanks…Another gift. But if it bothers you…?"
"Yes!" Lesley, urgently.
"No, no…No. Not at all…Not at all. Please. You keep it right where it is. I know it's a personal keepsake and you were very kind to move the other. Lesley, it's fine. You agree it's fine?"
"Yes…Simon. It's fine." Lesley nods.
"Nice to know you're protected against the 'supernatural'." Simon beams, waving hands bizarrely to suggest the ridiculousness…
"Well, the girls like to give me things that follow our heritage…" Ginny shrugs.
"Yes…Of course…Are these the dear things?" he spies a photo frame of the two on her desk, pulling it close.
"Oh, pardon me…May I?" he asks.
She nodding, with smile. He taking up frame…
"What lovely girls…They've grown since I saw their picture before. Are they in high school?"
"Eloise is in college…Jackie…Jacqueta…Is in Spain with my ex-husband's mother."
"You are very lucky. Lesley, look at these lovely girls…Isn't Ginny lucky?"
"Yes, Simon…" wanly, looking over the photos.
"Lesley wanted children…But she's given that up for her career…And, Me…" Simon beams.
"You did want children once, didn't you, Lesley?"
"Yes, Simon…Before…"
"Yes…Well, perhaps later…You're young yet…So, Ginny…Stop me from wasting anymore of your valuable time and show me this wonderful place." He enthuses.
"Certainly, Simon…" She turns her computer monitor to face him.
"Ah, yes…What a beautiful, stately old place…And just on the market this month. You know…" he grins. "I've had my eye on this place for quite a while. And now you will give it to me, for the right price. Oh, delightful..." he tapped fingers together...
"Sounds good, Simon. If you like it and we can reach a fair settlement…"
"Hmmn-hmmn. You know…I understand the owners are old friends of mine…" Simon smiles. "The Cravensworths and Nandor 'Relentless'. Is that right?"
"Yes." Ginny, as casually as possible…
"And they're moving? To where?"
"Well, an old friend…You may know him? Baron Afanas…? Left them some property in Europe. I understand they want to go and see to it, perhaps stay."
"Back home, to Europe? And Barren left it to them? How wonderful…Yes, I did know him, slightly. Mainly by reputation. Old European aristocracy, an important politician there, I understand, retired just before his sad death here. Wow…Is it a castle?"
"I think it might be, yes…" nods.
"Oh, my…Well, now I really must reconnect with them. Who could pass on staying in a European castle, perhaps even offering some of my ideas on remodeling…Lesley? Shall we go to Europe and stay with my old friends for a time? You'd be happy to go, wouldn't you?"
"Yes, Simon…I'd be happy to." She nods, wanly.
"Can you put me in touch with them, Ginny, dear? I can't wait to see them again." Simon beams.
"I can give you their cell…Sure." She nods.
"Wonderful. Just wonderful…" Simon beams. "Just think, back in contact with my old chums…Living in their old house…It's a dream come true…"
"Of course…" he leans back. "I can't expect to obtain quite so good a deal as you did for me last time. You are, after all…Working for them." Quiet smile.
"Maybe we can work something out, Simon…They're reasonable people…Eager to sell." Ginny, carefully.
"I'm sure…But, I could never hope to persuade you to work as well for me now…You work for them and I'm sure your contract is…Unbreakable." Smile. Fixed stare…
"So which of them was it? Not Nandor…He'd have you locked in his room, tending his coffin. Now Laszlo's a bit more modern…He'd let you work on the outside, but I don't quite sense his stench on you…" grim stare…
"Don't change the window settings, Ginny…" he growls. "My friends would protect me and kill you after…"
She eyes him…
"Though I imagine you're now capable of putting up quite a fight…Ah, humans get so all adrenaliny when they're in service. But no need to 'duke it out', dear. And keep that crucifix down, please…I won't attack, I'm a reasonable fellow. And I'm here to our mutual benefit…Ah…" he beams, nodding. "Nadja…She took you, didn't she…The minx…Yes, I smell her on you. Correct?"
Ginny, saying nothing, slight nod.
"Lesley? Isn't it a neat job? She barely grovels or gives a stench of servility. Unlike you…But that was a personal choice on my part. How many others?…I don't sense any right now here."
"A few…"
"Yes, no need for an army…It gets troublesome. Though I did sense a terrible stench coming from that cubicle on the right as I came in…Victor?" he turns to the other vamp… "You sensed that terrible stench, didn't you?"
"Werewolf…" Victor, grimacing…
"Yes…Werewolf. Don't tell me my old friends have gone slumming with werewolves? Did they take him…Her?"
"No." Ginny shakes head. "She's independent. A friend…"
"A…Friend?" Simon, chuckling… "A friend, you say? Oh, my…How forward-thinking? I am stunned. My old friends have truly moved on in their social relationships. It makes me rather proud to think of some of my people capable of such. Remarkable."
"Werewolf…" Victor, darkly…
"Forgive Victor…He's of the old school. But he's fighting his inherent racism and one day, I am sure, we shall overcome…And all of us, human, vampire, werewolf, zombie, demon…Will march together, as brothers and sisters. But till that wonderful day comes, we must accept that some of us haven't quite got there."
He regards her…
"Ginny, Ginny…You know I almost took you then. I was certainly tempted. But I thought, no…She's a wife and mother and more important, I might need her business savvy, in daylight, again, untrammeled by thrall. And here you are, now, Nadja's groveling little housemaid…Though, truly. An excellent job. You could almost pass for a normal, piddling human rather than a slave." He sighs. "Sorry for the insulting remarks…It's just…My nature…"
"You said you were here for a reason." Ginny notes. "If not to buy the Cravensworth place…Then…"
"Oh, I very much want to buy the place…" he gave an anxious look. "It really is for sale, isn't it? And you will sell to vampires?…They haven't so abandoned their own as to lock us out?"
"They're willing to sell to you." She nods. "But…"
"Yes, I am here mainly for another reason." He smiles. "Dear, no doubt…No doubt, as a loyal slave, you are very much concerned for your Mistress' safety. You were probably quite willing to die for her just now, right?"
"Yes." Ginny, simply.
"Well, I am here to discuss a common enemy. A threat to your Mistress…And to all vampires of the tri-state area. I seek an alliance, dear heart. Though, if the price isn't too steep, I really do want that house as well." He regards her, leaning back.
"You've no doubt become aware that a famous Vampire Hunter, alas deceased…As we could kill him far more easily than eliminate him now…Is interested in this area and the vampires living here?" he eyes her.
