What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…
Part LX…
"Well, Auntie…" Guillermo begins… "I've come…"
"So you have…" sudden frown, sitting up a bit more… "Tell me you've not wronged that poor girl…Your 'fiancée'…" Rosa, stern look at her increasingly hapless nephew…
"No. No…" he shakes head, putting up hands. "I only want to protect her…"
"Protect her…Uh-huh." Glare… "She seems pretty unprotected to me…" hands folded, sharp gaze.
"I swear, Auntie…I haven't taken advantage…" he squirms a bit…
Do we have to do this in front of others…? Nervous glance to a sympathetic-looking Dracula, Mrs. Afanas likewise offering somewhat kindly glance.
"I hope not. For your sake…Soul and body…Guillermo, Guillermo…" shakes head.
"I suppose…I must seem a great disappointment, Auntie…"
"No…" Rosa eyes Guillermo, now by her bedside. "After all, you are not entirely…" quick cough…
He eyes her anxiously…
"It's just a cough, boy…Not entirely to blame…" Rosa, resumed, sternly, brushing back silver strands of hair. "You were taken away, to America, by your mother before you had any chance to learn our past and calling. The instinct, drawing you to the suffering and them to you, still existed, but without guidance, it took another form, now hopefully curbed and returned to its proper path, thanks to your great-great-great granduncle…And your mother, God rest my sister's foolish soul, was not the sort to give you even vague guidance. I'm sorry but that is the truth. Flighty woman, mind of a flea…" sigh, vexed wave of hands.
"Papa was the Hunter…? He wasn't of your direct family though he and Mama were third cousins…"
"She also had Hunter blood, of course…But never was trained in any way, since I was the one called and she'd had no interest in any case…I don't believe she even knew of us, outside family legends that bored her, or that your father hunted the undead until after his death."
"Father died killing vampires? Mama always tole me…"
"Hit by a truck on a US interstate when his broke down. Yes, he was. This is real life, boy. We don't always die romantically fighting the Evil. In fact we rarely do these days."
Frown at Cicely Afanas' slightly arch look… "Yes, Cicely…Your husband played a role there, tempering down matters and tamping down ambitions, such as they were. He was wise in that and you in guiding him…" nod with slight frown.
"An old argument of ours…" she notes to Guillermo…
Who suddenly pictured two young, quite vibrant Huntresses…One fiercely waving the other off with stake from the somewhat weakened Barren Afanas, a bit more human in appearance at this time. The other, recognizably a young Rosa, grimly holding her ground, ready to strike.
"Guillermo…Am I boring you with my dying words?" present day Rosa, sternly.
"Sorry…You were saying, Auntie?"
"Yes, well…In truth, vampires rarely go beyond a few thrill killings and ritual massacres over and above what they need to survive. And unlike in 'Buffy' the Apocalypse has never been in the balance, at least not till nuclear weapons and this global climate change…I'm afraid we don't save the world every week, boy."
Dracula, faint smile…Well…Perhaps every once in a while…
"Though we do play a role in helping the suffering and freeing their innocent victims. Perhaps that's why so many of us with the calling in our family turn to nursing, as even you did…" Rosa notes with wry smile.
"Nursing…Vampires…" stern look, faint smile immediately. "Though I do like the 'geriatric nursing fellowship' bit. That was clever…And will be a good cover for you in the future. However long that may be…"
"It really was a fellowship…I never lied about that."
"That's true. I've kept an eye on you besides just sending money and gifts and having you come for visits at Christmas and Easter…In fact, I saw to it Philippe here was on the review committee for your thesis…"
"I honestly thought it well done…" Dracula smiles.
"I'm so sorry, Auntie…" Guillermo forlornly. "I should have left them long ago…"
"Someone should have gotten you away from them long ago…If I'd known your foolish mother had taken up with a vampire as his cow…That is what she was, boy. And was indulging your fantasies…I'd've had him killed sooner and taken you from her care."
"You had 'Uncle Morris' killed?" Guillermo stares.
"Wish I could have done it myself and gotten you away then…Would have if my people had said you were being abused."
"He was very kind, what I remember…He never took too much from Mother or any from me. I didn't even know he was a vampire while he lived with us. He just always had to leave for work before sunup and came home after sunset."
"And that's why he died at peace…When I finally tracked you and my fool sister down and learned of your situation." Rosa nods. "His soul free… His decency couldn't be smothered completely even by the demonic drives…So…We chose, and colleagues were able, to give him peace." Sigh. "Though it did no good for your Mother to be freed from him…Mind of a flea…As you know all too well, my love." Sigh, a kindly look now, reaching to pat his arm.
Actually I think she was a lot more stable with him, Guillermo thinks. She only really went down hill after he died in his "work accident". Especially in her choice of partners…He winces.
"I know I should have intervened and tried to take you from her in those days, when we first located you, Guillermo, before she fled with you again." Rosa regards his downcast look. "But I didn't believe it right to do so then, interfere with a mother's natural right, and I hoped, always, my sister would find herself, and a decent man. I must admit frankly…" wan smile to Dracula… "That vampire of hers was in fact the best of them… Then, she and you had disappeared and I feared to lose all contact with you if I tried to act beyond answering her occasional requests for money. But I see now, I should have…" sigh…
"Then your mother died, still human, thank God…And I thought you were free and that it was best I keep all the family secrets from you, you having borne enough in your life. Unless and until you gave signs of the Calling…"
"And it was after that you became obsessed with vampires, my boy?" Dracula, gently.
"Mother told me what he was…One night when we were watching 'Interview With the Vampire' just after he died. And that it wasn't true that vampires had to be cruel and evil. Though she never said anything about our family's heritage. So…I started reading up and watching some movies. Then Mama died and I was alone…Except for, you Auntie and the folks here. I dunno, I thought about what she'd told me…And I kept thinking she might have turned, I mean since he'd fed on her steadily and I wasn't sure then what was involved. I hated the thought I'd be separated from her by that…And he'd been the only person among her boyfriends who'd ever been good to her and kind to me." shrug.
"Then in college I got into some groups that were all about the supernatural and the Undead and finally met some real familiars who told me it was really neat to work for vampires, including a nurse who cared for one. That they weren't really evil, like Mama said…And you could make a real difference in their lives…Though I did run away when she tried to lure me to the house where her Master lived and she was enthralled it turned out. But others who weren't told me you didn't have to be enthralled, you could volunteer in exchange for eternal life later…And even a good deal of money and such, a really nice lifestyle, if your vampire or community of them was fond of you. It sounded so glamorous…They'd take care of you now and all that power once you were turned. And living forever… And…Well, I was a kid who was always kinda fat and not too pretty…The idea I could have any girl I wanted really appealed… I just felt called to it, in the end. Then I answered a Craigslist ad for a geriatric care aid, after a vampire familiar told me what it was really an ad for, and met Master Nandor…"
"You felt a call…?" Rosa askes. "Apart from the cheap glamour, power, and your raging hormones?"
"I dunno…I just felt that it was the career path for me. It did kinda fit into my geriatric nursing training, in some ways…And after I met Master Nandor, I felt like this was my place…Like I was where I was meant to be."
"Yes, you were…A bit roundabout, but you were in the place Destiny intended for you." Rosa nods.
"It's a difficult path sometimes, honey." Mrs. Afanas notes sympathetically. "Most of us get training and support when young, at least of a kind…And still some are lured by the power and immortality…Or, as in my case, by love." She smiles fondly at the memory…
"They're not truly evil…I mean Evil…" Guillermo sighs. "They don't really enjoy killing…Well, maybe sometimes…Usually just when people are jerks or evil themselves. And they've never tormented anyone. Held them captive against their will, for months, maybe. But generally…"
Rosa eyeing him…
"You care for them…For your Master, Nandor?"
"I know it's wrong…Evil, wrong, I guess…But I do…" Guillermo shakes head.
"That's not Evil, Guillermo." Dracula smiles. "Confused, perhaps...But not Evil, evil."
"No, it's how we should feel…" Rosa agrees. "But you must move on to see that what you love is not the Darkness in them, not the demonic side…But the souls you can feel dimly, crying out to you."
"I've done terrible things for them…And nothing for the people they...I let them…" Guillermo, sobbing now.
"Poor boy, no…" Mrs. Afanas pats his shoulder. "Well, perhaps some terrible things…But…"
He looks round at the three…
"Did I do it…Deliberately? Was I trying to earn their trust, not knowing…? All in order to kill them?"
"You were learning, Guillermo…" Rosa sighs. "You were learning to love them and believe them worthy of your efforts. And you needed to. Only loving and having faith in them can you have any hope of saving them…Not simply destroying them, removing them from the Earth. This is the noblest part of our calling…And it's rare any of us are chosen for it. As Cicely was…As the Slayer was, when she transcended her calling, for love…And now, you are…" smiling.
"And now…You can hope to help them, with our help." Dracula nods.
Polite knock… "Auntie? Folks?" Roderigo's voice… "Miss Susan here is feeling a little better. Ok to come in?"
"We'll talk more later…" Rosa notes. "Don't worry, there's time."
"Auntie…?" Guillermo eyes her strong look with careful sidelong glance. "Are you really dying?"
"Yes, my darling…" wistful look. "But…There's dying…And there's 'dying'." She smiles.
…
"Well…" Laszlo notes to camera, still under rug in transport van, face lit by camera light… "A bit anticlimactic…We're withdrawing to our Residence, Jennifer having rejoined us safely. As Jennifer…Right, my dear?"
"The Doctor is out, yes, Master!" Jen, smiling, at the wheel…A somewhat wary Martha beside her in passenger seat.
"We've not yet reached a decision regards Simon. His alliance might be the way to go, for now. So long as we leave our options open. But there is the profound attractiveness of having Ginny and Eloise drag him out into the light and finishing him once and for all…"
"Yes…" Nadja nods. "Still, he has contact with Van Helsing, controls one of his descendants or did, and he has other sources of the information. And if he dies, at our hands…The Vampiral Council surely will learn of it from his people…"
"Indeed…" Nandor agrees. "From a military point of view I would say our best option is to let him live for now…Make the alliance but maintain constant guard."
"At least it would allow us to unload the rattrap and move on to our wonderful new place…" Nadja notes. "Do you think he really doesn't know where we plan to go?"
"Possible…" Laszlo shrugs. "The transactions are secure and none of our people have been taken as yet that we know of…"
"If any of the unthralled ladies had been taken, surely Colin Robinson would have sensed it…And they would have moved to help protect him." Nandor notes.
"Yes…Might be wise for one of us to pay a call and check everyone, just in case." Laszlo points out.
"Well, we did plan to attend the celebration for the closing…And sign there." Nadja suggests.
"Is that wise, ma'am?" Jen calls. "Simon might try a strike there and then…"
"If so he will either strike there or at the Residence anyway…And we can handle Simon and his idiots." Laszlo waves a hand. "Have no fears, there, Jennifer."
"No, Master." She agrees.
"Wasn't my Ginny magnificent back there? Jennifer?" Nadja, enthusing.
"She was, ma'am…Gin's always been level-headed in a crisis!" Jen calls back.
"And you, my girl…" Laszlo calls. "Excellent work…"
"Gotta thank the Doctor on that, sir." She replies.
"Well, you still performed very well. I am pleased."
"Thanks so much, Master." Slight blush… "I live to serve…"
"Well, did you remember anything from the Doctor?" Martha asks, a bit tersely.
Didn't seem all that wonderful to me…And as she says, it was mostly the Doctor.
Though I guess Ginny did her job well…
"Not really…" Jen sighs. "Sorry, guys…Master."
"Quite all right, dear…" Nadja calls. "As Laszlo says, you did well."
"As have you, dear Martha…" Nandor calls.
"Oh…Thank you, Master!" Martha, beaming.
"Excuse me…" Laszlo opens Nadja's buzzing cell… "Yes, Virginia? Are Erika and Eloise there now? Excellent…Yes, as to Simon…One mo…" he looks at the other two as all sit under rug pondering…
"Probably best to hold off for now…" Nadja, shrugging. "Thumb's up."
"Agreed." Nandor nods.
"Right…Virginia? Yes, he can go in peace…I mean, don't stake or roast him, let him go home…Tell him, yes, we agree to an alliance but we'll work out the details later. Give him Nadja's cell number and tell him to call us tonight, say…Nine?" another look round.
"Good for Jennifer and the others." Nadja nods. "Not too late." "Yes, very good." Nandor agrees.
"Nine…" Laszlo tells phone. "See he gets off all right but have Colin keep him down till he goes. And keep a close eye on your ladies for the rest of the day. I don't want him taking anyone. Good. We'll all gather at the Residence tonight…If that works for Erika and Eloise…They can phone in if not…That'll be fine."
"Yes?" Martha had opened her phone. "Oh, hi Jackie. No, we're on our way, they're not dead(er)…No, I don't think so. Master? Jackie is at the Residence, she didn't have the pass code and was knocking. She wanted to know if you all were still alive and if she should kill herself if her Mistress is dead?"
"Yes, as to alive…" Nandor notes.
"No as to killing herself, the silly child…" Nadja calls. "But she must be still exhausted…Tell her to go home and rest and come back tonight. That's an order."
…
"Real estate? Really…A very interesting and I hear, profitable, profession…" Rosa smiles at Susan.
"Well, not so noble as Gui's work with the elderly…But it can be fun and if you're good you can make out pretty well."
"So, Guillermo will be marrying you for your money…As well as your beauty?" Rosa, wicked grin, Guillermo wincing...
"He deserves both…And everything else I can give him." Susan, fondly.
"I do hope so…" Rosa nods. "Well, this has been a fine first visit but I'm afraid I must rest for a bit. Don't look that way, Guillermo. I've no intention of dying any sooner than I must. Besides, you all should have some lunch…Roderigo?"
"It's all set, Auntie. Come on folks…I'll be right back, Auntie." Roderigo waves all to the door.
"Just one moment, Guillermo." Rosa calls him back. "We'll keep it brief, Roderigo." She assures his worried look.
"We'll see you later, dear Rosa." Dracula calls…All but Guillermo leaving room and Roderigo closing door on the two.
"You've read the Book?" she asks…Guillermo nodding.
"A little hard with Sue there and some other stuff going on but…"
"Was it informative? I always found it a bit too specific and dry but useful on tactics and the history, but not much help strategically…" she notes.
"Yeah…" he nods. "Kinda dry…And it didn't help me make a decision…"
"Only you can, Guillermo…You know that."
"It would help to know when and why…?"
"That will come to you…The Book is to provide you with proof that we can defeat these creatures and some tactical help to do so. Think of it as a training manual…."
"Auntie, you really have fought and killed vampires, right?"
"A number, in my day…Some outside my day…" smile.
"Did you ever care for any of them? Like them?" he eyes her. "Have one who was like a father to you? Well, maybe…An uncle? Friends…?"
"No, I didn't…Among those I hunted. Though Philippe Acura, as he is now known, is a dear friend and a good and courageous comrade in the fight." Rosa sighs. "But, believe me, Guillermo…It's a vital part of what you've been called to do here that you care for them like this…I was never chosen for such, the hardest and noblest part of our calling. Saving those we hunt..." she eyes him solemnly.
"And, my darling...My dearest..." she sighs. "You know what the price may be, even if you succeed."
"Yeah..." nod. Sigh…
"Auntie...Did Great x whatever Granduncle care for Dracula?" he asks.
"Yes. They became the truest of friends and brothers during their quest…Which is good, since otherwise one would have inevitably killed the other, leading to the doom of many lost souls. Perhaps even the Slayer's."
"You know the Slayer? She really is here, back from the Dead?" he eyes her.
"No, I've never met her. But…She's in the world…Where just now? I can't say." Shrug. "And no, she cannot do this for you…As you've come to realize, only you can, Guillermo. But she will appear when you need her help." Wan smile…
"Particularly in this case…It involving relatives…"
"Auntie?"
"You should get some lunch and see to your lady friend…And I need a bit of rest…We'll talk more later."
