What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…
Part LVIII…
"So you're one of them...A Hunter?" Ginny eyes Lesley.
"I was...Till Simon captured me...And made me his..."
"Plaything, dog, doll...Info source on Vampire Hunters..." Simon helpfully notes from his seat.
"Anything you like, my darling..." Lesley, beaming at him.
"And you came when he did...Your distant relation, the ghost of Van Helsing?" Ginny asks.
"No...I've been here a couple of years. I was sent to kill Simon since I wanted a career on Broadway and had a good shot, which helped me get close to him, through his theater connections..."
"A woman of many interests...Till she met me." Simon beams.
"But your...Whatever distant...Relative, Van Helsing sent you?"
"Not in person...I've never seen his ghost...Though I knew people, in our group, who took orders and got information from him." Lesley shrugs.
"Did you take any of them?" Ginny turns to Simon. Who sighs…
"No...They were too careful. They keep separate and only exchange information by various means...Even old snail mail. Lesley's never met any of the local Hunters. Too dangerous that one of us might take one...As I did." smile…
"And she told you Van Helsing was urging his descendants to hunt our owners?" Ginny, eyeing Lesley. "Is that true?" to Lesley who eyes Simon…
"Please, dear...We don't want to get off on the wrong foot with our allies...No, she didn't." Simon shrugs. "She'd no idea, did you?"
"No..." Lesley agrees. "I never heard a thing about anyone but my own targets. Including Simon..."
"That's hardly getting off on the right foot, Simon..." Ginny notes. "How did you learn Van Helsing was after my Mistress and my other Overlords?"
"Excuse me? Virginia?" Jen, standing in the doorway, in her cleaning clothes, to the startled looks of Simon, Ginny, Victor...And the quick tensing of Lesley. "Really sorry to interrupt but you weren't answering when we tried to reach you." she closes door.
"Miss Jennifer, how nice to see you again..." Simon, pausing… "Oh..." he eyes her carefully as she regards him sternly.
"Dr. Van Helsing, I presume? So...We meet again..." he notes.
…
"Lesley had no idea she'd been possessed when our friend the good Doctor last spoke to me, through her…" Simon eyes Jen, cool stare.
"Did you, dear?" turns to Lesley who shakes head, a bit stunned.
"No...I didn't, Simon...I'd never lie about that..."
"Of course not, dear heart...You weren't allowed to remember. As Ginny here doesn't remember..."
"And she/he threatened you...Demanded you not kill my Mistress? And the others? Is that true, Jen...Doctor?" Ginny, glance to Jen.
"We did..." Jen nods.
"Why?" Ginny stares. "You want them dead...Why did you threaten him…? And after he took your own descendant, a Hunter?"
"They must not die by foul and unclean hands, at the wrong time, Virginia. And my descendant's fate is a separate matter...I haven't abandoned her, she must know that." careful nod to Lesley.
"You can't take me away from Simon..." Lesley frowns. "Simon…?"
"Calmly, dear...No one is taking anyone. Right now."
"Part of the deal? You'll have to let her go?" Ginny eyes Simon. He smiles...
"Simon...No...Please..." Lesley, anxiously. "I love you..." She glares at Jen… "Let me kill her now..."
"We've discussed this, dear. It won't do any more good than killing yourself as you offered after I first told you he'd used you to approach me. Now, hush and let the good doctor...Lady...Speak."
"You violated our agreement, Mr. Devious..." Jen notes. "You were not to interfere nor harm these creatures and those they'd enthralled."
"No one..." grim tone… "No one, especially a mere mortal, even if from beyond the grave, tells Simon the Devious what to do...But, I've not harmed them...Yet. And, thanks to me, the Vampiral Council's too busy quaking in said boots to learn about their involvement here and prevent you from your oh, so noble quest… You and that foul old traitor..."
"You…?" Ginny stares. "You had his people kill those other vampires...To throw your Council off the track, thinking he and his were here for them?"
"Vampires in general, in the tri-state area..." Simon nods. "Now, after all, thanks to my suggestion, a poor innocent baby was freed from his curse. And his almost human protector, that worthless wuss, was sent to his own just reward, no doubt in Heaven...For his compassion..." mock saintly pose, hands together in prayer, head leaning on them.
"They have to die at your hands...I mean, your people's hands...The Slayer's hands..." Ginny, to Jen.
"They are not dying, my dear Virginia..." Jen sighs. "They are being saved. And they must not be killed by the unworthy nor at the wrong time."
"Something to do with salvation, redemption, that sort of nonsense..." Simon shrugs.
"I can't let you kill them, Doctor." Ginny shakes head. "I won't kill Jen now, I know it's no use but I will kill anyone you send or use to attack them...Or die defending them."
"That's the spirit...You cannot find good help like that easily nowadays...I can tell you." Simon beams.
"But why come here, Simon?" Ginny frowns. "Why not leave the Doctor and his people to do their business. You want revenge on my Mistress and her husband...And Master Nandor...Don't you?"
"Dear girl..." Simon mock-shock. "Would I hold a grudge? Against my old chums in favor of the sworn enemy of our people?"
"Yes, you would..." Ginny nods. "I see. You're trying to stop this but not to save them...You mean to kill them yourself..."
"Darling..." mock-horror. "I would never dream of such a thing...Now."
"Virginia...He wants to prevent their salvation." Jen sighs. "He doesn't want them released..."
"Ginny...I am here, unselfishly and at risk, to save my dear friends from destruction. You and I must work together, to save them from this fiend who would take their Immortality..." Simon, noble pose.
"It's your duty, as their minion and familiar..."
"You can't bear the idea the greatest Vampire Hunter of all time is here, back from the grave, to save my friends, can you? And that he isn't even interested in helping you." Ginny sighs at Simon…Who glares. "But...It's true...I have to save them from you, Doctor...Even if Simon's only interest is malicious..." she eyes Jen who nods sadly.
"I understand, Virginia...But don't let your soul despair. We will free you and them. Devious…?" she eyes Simon. "You've broken our agreement and interfered. But you have been of use. Stay out of this and you'll survive...As you are. I can do no more for you. Continue to interfere and your black essence will return to Hell sooner than it might otherwise."
"No one tells me what to do, Doctor! Lesley! Victor! Kill her! Kill! Kill!" he stares at the two...Gasping now…And sinking into his chair...
Damn it… As Victor dusts at Jen's staking...
"Dear one...Keep back..." Jen, holding stake, pulled from jeans' pocket, cautions Lesley who fumes at her…Tensing for a rush...
"Jen…?" Ginny, uncertain…
"Ginny?" Jen stares, looking down at the stake in her hand… "Where are Master Laszlo and the others? We were on our way to Erika and Eloise…What's happened?"
"It's all right, Jennifer. But I must take this child and leave you now..." Lesley smiles at them. "I assure you, she'll be safe."
"No! No fair!" Simon cries from his seat, trying to stand… "She's mine! Damn you! And damn that miserable Colin Robinson!"
"Shouldn't you kill him?" Ginny eyes Lesley. "You said you couldn't break our masters and my Mistress' hold, don't you have to kill him to free her?"
"I like that…!" Simon, hurt tone. "I come here to help and..."
"She's my descendant. My people can help her...And his time is not come, though it will avail him little, he must have his chance at redemption."
"I see." Ginny, quietly. "She was very brave..."
"Yes...And she knows your soul thanks her...Good-bye, for now." Lesley, beaming...
"Kill her, you fool!" Simon fumes at Ginny. "She's a Hunter, she'll kill your Mistress! Jennifer, do your Duty and save Cravensworth!"
"Gin?" Jen, confused… "What should I do? Should I kill anyone?"
"She's not here to kill our Overlords...Let her go." Ginny shakes head. "Doctor!" she eyes Lesley, now retreating to her office door. "We spared your descendant. Let them be. Let us be. Or we will have to work with Simon and the Vampiral Council to stop your people...And the Slayer."
"Presuming a lot, aren't we? After this shocking betrayal..." Simon, struggling… "And tell that bastard Robinson to stop draining me! Lesley?! You don't want to leave me!"
"That cannot be, Virginia...Jennifer. But don't fear." Lesley, reassuringly. She went out the door.
"Have to get some things for Mr. Devious." she notes to the rather sleepy Anne in passing, Anne nodding...Sure…
"Colin...You can come in now..." Ginny calls to him. He entering, smiling.
"Mr. Robinson?" Jen, puzzled.
"Stop...Draining...Me...Now…!" Simon fumes at Colin as Ginny closes door and moves to desk, pressing to answer Anne's buzz.
"Sure, put her through...Hey, Erika. No, it's fine. Simon's not making any trouble now."
"The thanks I get..." Simon, shaking head.
"Yeah, tell Eloise she and you can come in...What? Oh, they should go home. It's not safe. Tell them to go back, everything's ok here. And we have our buyer..." smile at Simon who eyes her.
"Jen, you better call them too...Tell them Van Helsing's left and things are ok, for now. They need to go home. But be careful."
"I think I'll have to go to them, wherever they are..." Jen notes. "Martha doesn't know how to drive that van of theirs. Hello? Martha? No, I'm not Dr. Van Helsing now..."
Simon glaring at Colin who smiles thinly at him… "Hey, Simon. How's tricks?"
But I know the answer…
Just perfect, partner… Colin thinks.
...
