What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…
Part LXII…
Late afternoon…The Cravensworth crypt…
"Very curious…Very curious…" Laszlo paces crypt. Nadja frowning after him, too nervous to remain seated…Nandor, seated in uniform, an old but polished to gleaming sword by side, but minus armor. Martha, nervous, seated by his side on a rather plush crimson settee…Eyeing sword, then watching Jen facing the Cravensworths, seated with Ginny, a bit carefully on a small deeply purple loveseat…Jen having just made report after Ginny.
Best to kill her, in my own op…She thinks. All this stuff about possessions and seeing things in mirrors and windows sounds dangerous.
Why take chances? Billie or Angie could replace her, no problem.
Although it would be nice if Ms. Phyl would deign to make an appearance…Hello, our owner-gods in jeopardy, dumbass. What is our existence for, now, but to protect them? Some nonsense about her kid needing her today and it might be suspicious if she didn't take care of him? He's a grown boy, practically. I got two, after all. Real pains in the ass sometimes too.
Though I suppose my Lord being fond of kids, he'd probably want me to take care of them, easier as it would be all round to open their throats and catch their blood for him in a bucket…
Of course, really, I have nothing against being Master Nandor's current one and only protector/servant, Guillermo and Sue being away…I know I understand him better than Erika or Jen over there…Eyes Erika standing by Jennifer, awaiting any questions on her role in today's events…Ever could, being Laszlo's…Or Ginny being Lady Nadja's girl.
Heck, I know I understand him better than Sue or even the Boss Minion…
No offense intended, Boss…
"So, Simon is involved with but not in control of a descendant of Van Helsing's, an actual Huntress?" Laszlo addresses Jen who nods.
"Are you sure she's not the Slayer, in disguise?" Nadja, anxiously. "Simon is such a vain prick, she could fool him easily or even get him to work with her."
"I couldn't say, Mistress Nadja…" Jen shrugs. "Nor I…" Ginny shakes head. "But if she were the Slayer, I'd think she'd be more proactive and have Van Helsing's people in support."
"Unless she's up to something, maybe with Simon…Or fooling him, the dimwit." Nadja frowns.
"I'm so sorry I can't tell you more, ma'am." Ginny sighs. "Sorry, Mistress Nadja." Jen looks down.
"No, no…You both did well." Nadja, reassuring. "Ginny, that was exemplary handling of the Devious."
"Yes, indeed…And you too, my Jen…" Laszlo, nodding. "We couldn't have better or braver minions. And that includes you, Erika."
"Thanks, Master mein herr." Erika bows head. "But I am sorry we failed to learn more."
"Yeah, you should've." Martha, firmly.
"Not at all…Martha." Nandor, turning to her, reprovingly. "What have I said about jealousy, my girl?"
"None is to be allowed in your service, Lord!" Martha, stridently…Then a bit downcast. "I'm very sorry, guys. I'm sure you did your best and far better than I would've…They'd've probably killed me easy." Sigh.
"Martha…Balance." Nandor, shaking head, patting her shoulder. "You'd've done just fine, I'm sure."
"Thank you, Master." She beams, Nadja briefly frowning at her rather catlike stretch of contentment.
To be sure, Nandor doesn't take advantage but still…You'd not find my girls…Or if Laszlo knows what's good for him…And experience has been a good teacher to him, his…Acting so.
Though I imagine the poor thing like my Phyllis and his Susan fancies herself in love…Probably hasn't had a man in years.
Of course, Laszlo thinks he rather likes her as well…
But, as my own dear joked, Nandor the Relentless probably hasn't had a woman in centuries. Though, to be fair, there is something admirable in trying to be faithful to your thirty-seven wives for seven hundred years plus…
Indeed there was just that one time I can remember, at that village festival…Though given he killed that female daywalker Colin Robinson seemed to be interested in, it was probably just his then rather fierce objection to lesbian relationships at the time than real interest in that one.
Odd, I seem to remember there was one more thing about that night…Colin smiling as he always does through all Laszlo's and Nandor's jokes about the dead one…What was it?
"Oh, dear God!" shriek of pain as all stare at Nadja. "Grandmother! Save me!"
"Nadja…?!" Laszlo, by her collapsed side, she rising, staring about… Ginny rushing to her, Jennifer just behind.
"Mistress!" Ginny cries. "Lady Nadja!" Jen…
"What?" Nadja, staring as she rises to her feet on Laszlo's arm, his worried gaze frightening her most of all…
"What's happened?"
"Is she all right?" Martha asks Nandor who's risen as well…
"Nadja, you screamed and collapsed…" Laszlo, shaking head. "What was it? A vision of Van Helsing?"
"What can I do, my Lady?!" Ginny begs.
"Wait, what?" Nadja, looking about at the worried faces, nervously.
"I what?"
"You cried out, my Lady…" Ginny, a hair less anxious now but glancing about as if to spot any possible enemy.
"I didn't…I didn't cry out…What?" Nadja, a bit annoyed now though still more frightened.
"My dear, sorry, but you did…You cried out for the uh-bearded One…" points thumb heavenward… "Then called on your grandmother and collapsed…Don't you remember?"
"No…..No, I don't…Called out?" she blinks. "For…?" Rolls eyes upward… "And Grandmother?"
"Indeed." Laszlo nods.
"Yes, ma'am, you did…" Ginny agrees. "You did, my Lady." Jen nods.
"That's ridiculous…Call on…Him? And my grandmother? Why?" Nadja shakes head.
"You must have seen or heard…Something…" Laszlo points out.
"Stop telling me what I saw or heard…I saw and heard nothing…" she insists. "I was talking and reading, then…" she looks about.
"I just found myself there…" she indicated the spot on the floor where she'd initially fallen…
"Ginny? Is Laszlo joking? Answer truthfully…"
"No, Mistress…You did cry out to Go…ow!..d and then spoke about your grandmother, crying to her as well…"
"You did, dear Nadja…" Nandor agrees.
"But why?" she blinks. "And why can't I…?" pause.
"Was it Van Helsing?" she eyes Laszlo.
"I seriously doubt it unless he's really gotten in touch with his feminine side." He shrugs. "You were very different from what I've seen of the Doctor, in Ginny, my Lady." Jen agrees.
"You were very different from Jen with the Doctor in her as well, Mistress…Truly." Ginny nods. "I don't think you were possessed by him."
"Then, perhaps someone else?"
"Mrs. Van Helsing?" Laszlo ponders. "Lord, lets hope we're not getting the whole family involved…"
"She called on her grandmother…" Martha notes. "Did Mrs. Van Helsing have a gran she'd ask for help after dying?"
"Perhaps…" Laszlo shrugs. "But my money's on it being Nadja…You are very attached to the memory of that old lady, dear."
"Yes, Mistress…Remember you told me about how you tried to keep her near you, after you were turned?" Ginny chimes in.
"Yes…I'm very fond of Grandmother…But…" cold shock.
"Laszlo? Could it be…Have been…"
"Yes?" he asks… "Have been, what?"
"My soul, you idiot!" she frowns. "It could have been my soul!"
Nandor and Laszlo exchanging glances…Hmmn…
Yes, well…Every vampire at some point is sure they're in touch with their old human soul…They were too good a person to just end all contact and all that.
"Well, I suppose…" Laszlo began.
"Don't humor me, you idiot! We've been seeing our souls for days, ever since Van Helsing appeared to us for the first time. Those images in the mirrors and windows…" Nadja notes.
"Those images? Our souls?" Laszlo blinks. "Really, dear, I think it unlikely. The soul as a concept is rather interesting but…"
"Shut up! Nandor? You are most connected to the Ether…What do you sense?"
"Well…Dear girl…" Nandor, diplomatically.
"She must be crazy…" Martha notes.
Well, equal likelihood…Laszlo inwardly agrees as Nadja glares.
"Nothing…At all?" Nadja, insistent, to Nandor…Who shrugs.
"Sorry, my dear…"
"But why would your soul pop in and want to speak with your grandmother?" Laszlo asks.
"How should I know? But get that smug look off your face…" she fumes.
"You should rest and feed, Mistress." Ginny urges, offering her neck.
"No, thank you, dear…Just bring me the bottle from that dresser stand…And one of the glasses." Nadja points. Ginny hurrying over to procure said decanter and glass. Nadja carefully taking decanter and glass and pouring the red liquid to glass, returning the decanter to Ginny's waiting hands and quickly downing the contents of the glass.
"Better?" Nandor, politely…
"Thank you yes, and not suffering from neuroses or hysteria…" Nadja eyes him and then Laszlo. "Do not start quoting your Austrian doctor at me, Laszlo."
"The guy giving us trouble is Austrian?" Martha hisses to Jen…As Laszlo puts up hand…No intention of such, dear…
"Well, we must ponder this latest in a bit…But to the question at hand…" Laszlo resumes…
This coddling of minions and distraught wives is all very well but we have life and Unlife issues at stake…Ouch…Here, people.
"Simon has clearly negotiated in some way with Van Helsing. He has a Hunteress, apparently voluntarily, on his side. He claims to be protecting us from the Council acting to pre-emptively strike us, as part of his deal with Van Helsing. Yet he also claims to want an alliance…? Why? Surely he'd like nothing better than to see us dust and seize on my witch skin hat."
"He'll never get his hands on it or you while I'm around, Master." Jen notes firmly.
"Thank you dear." Laszlo smiles. "I'm sure of that…But why would Simon want to stop Van Helsing from killing us?"
"He doesn't want us…" Nadja, shuddering a bit. "Redeemed. Laszlo…My soul? The Doctor did say he was saving us. This is all about Redemption."
Hmmn…Stares about the room…
"Us?" Nandor blinks. "Redeemed?"
"Makes one feel like a soda pop bottle…" Laszlo frowns. "Do they still accept those for money? Remember when we made that ten thousand that way, during one of the Depressions, Nandor?"
"Before Colin Robinson deigned to tell us he'd moved our stocks out safely before the Crash of Traders' Markets, yes." Nandor agrees.
"Oh, yeah…" Martha nods eagerly. "My boys collect them…Well, steal 'em sometimes…From the neighbors' garbage cans and around town to get a little extra cash." Beaming at Nandor… "If you do come over, maybe you can speak to them about that, too? I mean they should get the neighbors' permission I keep telling them."
"Certainly, an honor, my dear…" he pats her hand. Nadja rolling eyes at Laszlo who winked.
"Enough…I told you that homedeprived woman was seeking empty tin cans of soda for money, not food, Laszlo. The one I fed on last week?" Nadja notes. "Remember I made you give her that five dollars you had? Before the police came and took her away for loitering?"
"Ah, right…" he nods. "Well, the starving used to scrape out the remains…Amazing how much food you people just throw away these last couple of centuries." He notes to the humans...
"Stop…" Nadja, frowning. "Can't you see? My soul, our souls? They are peering back out from us…Seeking…Escape. Redemption."
"Nandor? You sense nothing?" Laszlo turns to him.
"Nothing but I cannot be sure what a soul would be saying to me, Laszlo Cravensworth."
"Kill me…" Nadja, quietly. "Kill us…"
"Dear…?" "Mistress…" Ginny gasps…Jen and Martha looking a mix of terrified and distressed…
"No, I don't mean that…" Nadja raises hand. "I mean that's what our souls want…"
"That's insane…" Laszlo frowns. "Souls are supposed to be immortal. Why would they object to us living forever, sort of proving the concept of Immortality."
"Souls do tend to view Unlife as not the best case scenario…By accounts I've heard…" Nandor notes.
"Our own souls want us dead?" Laszlo sighs. "What self-righteous flummery…"
"Girls…We don't seek Death, just right now, you understand…" Nadja insists to the enthrallees.
"Yes…Ditto on that, dears." Laszlo hurriedly.
Nandor pausing a bit…
"Master?" Martha eyes him…
"Oh, yes…Of course, Martha. No killing us just right now, please." Nandor agrees.
Folding hands a moment in reflection…
I wonder…
Would I see them all, again?
Well, of course, hardly the time for such reflections…
"Ma'am…" Jacqueline, entering in her work clothes with pile of Nadja's laundry. "I've hand washed and dried and ironed your undergarments and blouses. I'll bring the dresses you asked about to the dry cleaners in the morning."
Jen and Ginny exchanging slightest of smiles…
After all, it's not like she was ever useful in the office…And the Master and Mistress need a full-time maid.
"Very good, Jacqueline…Set that down by my dressers then come and sit. You can hang up and put away the clothes later."
"Yes, ma'am." Jackie nods, heading out.
"Lets refrain from discussing this matter of souls and killing around Jacqueline for now, please all…" Nadja notes to the group. "She's still a bit confused in her thralldom…"
"Yes, no need to have her decide it's a kindness to stake us…Which it is decidedly not, ladies." Laszlo, urgently. "Ought to get her a proper maid's outfit, if as Miss Virginia says, she's best suited to work here with us." he notes, attempting offhand casual.
"A French maid's like that one of yours I killed…Back then…?" Nadja eyeing him.
"Well, she wasn't French but…" Laszlo shrugs. "And this one's yours, after all…I'm just thinking we should have properly dressed servants in the new place."
Pity…That frizzled black hair of hers would suit a lacy French maid's outfit.
"I can get a French maid's costume to wear…" Jen notes, hopefully.
"Sir, if you'd like me in…" Martha begins to Nandor…
"Enough of that…" Nadja glares. "You ladies have your work in the world. And Laszlo gets enough titillation from you all as it is."
"You are quite pretty just as you are, Martha." Nandor, gallantly.
Oh…Martha gasps… "Master…" weeping.
"Now, Martha…" he shakes head. Nadja shaking hers in turn at the two on settee.
Get a crypt…Or, better yet, a hotel room, after sunset.
"Still, perhaps something dignified, since we've decided Miss Jacqueline is best suited to working at the Residence full-time." Nadja reflects. "Dignified, Laszlo." Stern glare.
"I'd not have it any other way, dear." He nods.
Dignified simplicity being sometimes the most alluring of outfits…Why I remember this librarian, about 1900…
Bunned hair, glasses, and starched dresses to the ankles can be quite seductive…Especially as they come off…
Though come to think of it now, she was my co-star in an early porno film…Ah, right "Varney the Vampire at the Library". A true classic…
Agile little thing she was, too… Pity that classic movies channel doesn't include it in their run of early silent every weekend.
Hmmn…Lewd as his foundation, Laszlo does have a point…We will be expected to have a proper staff at the new place… "Jacqueline…" Nadja turns to the re-entering Jackie who pauses…Ma'am?
"When you go out tomorrow, see about getting yourself a proper maid's uniform, something for your daily work and perhaps a fancier one for any special occasions at our new home. Use the credit card account Colin gave you for the dry cleaners and supplies, don't spend your own money. Something dignified, please…"
My own money, plus what Roy stole for her…Ginny thinks, frowning slightly.
"Yes, Mistress. I'd be honored to represent you properly every day of my remaining life." Jackie, nodding.
"And you did write Virginia's husband in prison, telling him the truth about your feelings for him?"
Ginny, satisfied beam…
"Yes, ma'am. I mailed the letter this morning before I came. I told him I'd had fun with him but he shouldn't have any illusions while in prison, I wasn't ever in love with him, it was the money that was important to me." Jackie, flatly.
"Which was the truth, yes?"
"Yes, ma'am…I did like him. He was kinda fun but I wasn't going to stay with him once I'd got my hands on what he'd embezzled. Especially after he got caught…"
"Ginny?" Nadja turns to her. "This and Jacqueline's legally dissolving her partnership and clearing your name of any involvement in her schemes is satisfactory as your vengeance goes?"
"Yes, Mistress." Ginny nods. "So long as she's out of my hair and Roy knows she was mostly just using him, I'm happy, thanks, Mistress." Smile.
"Well, you deserve some consideration…But now you must forgive Jacqueline and treat her as a sister amongst you. You can do that, yes?"
"Yes, Mistress. Whatever you command." Ginny nods. "I forgive you, Jackie." She addresses Jacqueline still standing near, awaiting orders, rather blankly… "We're sisters now, till death."
"That's right…" Jen nods. "Welcome, sister."
"Good…Thank you, girls. And you are truly sorry and ashamed aren't you, Jacqueline?" Nadja asks. "You understand now how wrong it was to hurt Ginny like that? You love your sisters and would die for them as you would us…Us first, of course. You sincerely feel that, now?"
"Oh, yes, Mistress. I'm so ashamed and sorry, Ginny." Weeping. "Please forgive your sister who loves you and would die for you…Please…"
"That's fine, dear. Have a seat." Nadja put up a hand...Offering tissue which Jacqueline took, daubing eyes as she took seat. "And you did write the authorities about the money you'd hidden, Jacqueline? In your accounts across the water?"
"Yes, ma'am. I…" hesitant.
"Yes?"
"They may come after me, ma'am. I did identify myself as guilty of some of Roy's crimes and others."
"Well, all the better you are safe with us. I doubt anyone will look for you as our maid. And there is only that Roy, and your sister you do not like and her family, as family goes, yes?"
"Yes, ma'am. Just them." Nod.
"Still, I do want you to write your sister a few times a year. We'll see the letters are posted so you cannot be located. Was it a serious quarrel between you?"
"She…Bored me, Mistress." Sigh. "She never wanted anything but a nice husband and family, no ambition. We grew up very poor and I wanted…Everything. She didn't. Plus…I always thought she looked down on me…Thought I was a bad person. I just wanted all the things I'd never had, Mistress and I was willing to do anything to get them, more or less."
"I see…" Nadja nods. "Well, family is family…You should try to make an effort, even if you must be careful not to expose yourself to the police."
"Dear?" Laszlo cuts in… "If we may…? Unlife and Life situation?"
"Fine…Jacqueline, take a seat. Ginny?" Nadja turns to eye a somewhat downcast-looking Ginny.
"What ails you, child? Isn't this revenge enough?"
"Oh, yes, Mistress." Ginny nods. "Quite enough, thanks…" Wan shrug… "I was just thinking of how badly Roy will feel. I did love him once, ma'am. And he is father to my girls. They're angry at him, but…"
"He remains their father, yes." Nadja sighs.
"Do you want him back? That can be arranged…" she eyes Ginny.
"Oh, God…Ouch…No, Mistress." Ginny, shaking head. "I'm really happy with my life as it is and maybe if things work out with my boyfriend, especially since Master Laszlo likes him…" Laszlo offering smile…Indeed.
A delight talking to someone who shares my love of History…And topiary gardening…
"…and you approve of me having a relationship…But I'm sorry for Roy. Bad as he was, I think he did love me for a while…I know I did love him. I just hate to think of him getting that letter and having nothing…Not Jackie or the money…Or his girls."
"That is very good of you, Virginia. You are a kind soul, inside. Well, he must do his punishment…But perhaps, since you are willing to forgive, he may find someone waiting for him, since Jacqueline will need someone to help her endure older age and she did somewhat like him anyway. Would you object if I arranged that? It can be someone else…"
"No, that's fine…" Ginny nods. "I know he likes her and I honestly want him to be happy once he's done his time. Just so long as I never have to be bothered with him again."
"I shall see to it." Nadja, rather grandly. "Jacqueline…You will write letters to Mr. Roy, periodically, indicating despite your last letter you do feel badly for him. We'll work on them together and see if we can't gradually…If I deem him worthy of some happiness and your care…Work out some sort of happy ending for your sordid affair."
"Yes, ma'am." Jackie nods. "Thank you for thinking of me, ma'am."
"Certainly…You may fetch tea for Ginny and the others now, and have some yourself."
"Yes, ma'am." Dutifully. Heading out the crypt door a moment later.
"I think she'll make a fine maid, with some training." Laszlo notes.
"Yes, she should do well…" Nandor agrees. "Now as to our matter with Simon…For the moment I think it would be best to accept his offer. Maintain contact but share as little as we can…Clearly the lady Huntress and perhaps other sources have given him information and contacts we lack. An alliance is therefore of use, if we apply military strategy. No matter how much communication may go on between Van Helsing and company and Simon, they are fundamentally, enemies…"
"And the enemy of my enemy…And so forth…" Laszlo nods. "I suppose I agree, if we are very careful with him."
"If I may, Master?" Jen raises hand, Laszlo graciously nodding… "I think we should demand he tell us his whole history with this Huntress and of his dealings with Dr. Van Helsing's ghost and people."
"Eminently sound, dear Jennifer." Laszlo, polite nod.
"What about taking this Hunter…Hunteress…?" Ginny asks. "If she's not already taken as it seems…I suppose it would be difficult to keep that from Mr. Devious…?"
"Impossible, I'm afraid…Even the best thrall sticks out like a sore thumb…" Laszlo ponders. "However…Nandor is very good at hypnosis…" he eyes Nandor who gives pleased nod at the accolade.
"No!" Martha rising… "The Master must not be endangered!"
"Martha…" Nandor, patting her arm. "There, there…I would be quite fine."
"Against a Hunteress…Nandor? Please get the real thing…As they say now." Nadja shakes head.
"You mustn't, dear Master!" Martha, anxiously pleading now. "Let someone else do it. I could learn hypnosis, my boys watch these videos on You Tube all the time. Or I could beat it out of her…" hopeful tone.
She very possibly could…Nadja noted to herself eyeing Martha's pleading face.
"Girl…The Devious would never risk his Huntress. She'd have either her people or his in support at all times." She notes
"I think the Mistress is right…And who knows what your soul…?" Ginny, shaking head, cutting off as Jacqueline reappears at the crypt doorway, pushing a cart.
"Tea, ma'am...Folks." Jackie calls, brightly.
I think Jackie's found her true calling…Ginny eyes Jen with slight smile. "…Simon would never risk such a card without protecting it very well and she'd be very dangerous to deal with, even alone, if the stories about Hunters are true."
"And she could always be the Slayer…" Jen adds… "Though I realize you don't think so, Master." Nod to Laszlo. "We should always consider the worst case scenarios and the Slayer is somewhere abouts."
"But we might still be able to get intel out of her…If we can get some surveillance on her and Simon…" she notes. "David always says, the least person in any organization can yield all kinds of useful stuff if you're patient and keep a close watch on them."
"Your husband is a wise man and clearly a fine officer…I agree wholeheartedly, Miss Jennifer." Nandor nods.
"We might need a few more people…To keep a close eye on his place and find out what's what…" Jen, carefully.
"More humans…" Nadja sighs.
"Well, given enthrallment sticks out to your people, my lady…" Jen, carefully… "Maybe there's another source of help…Gin? You still have that detective agency's number handy, right?"
"Right." Ginny beams. "Great idea, Jen. Mistress? Masters? We could hire these guys and stake out Simon's club. None of their people need to know the reasons so if one gets taken, nothing too serious."
"Well, he'd know we were having his lady followed…She'd surely detect him even if his people failed to." Laszlo notes.
"Oh, but we stick with the small fry…Lesley is incidental…" Jen explains. "That way, we can do a cover story that we're just rivals keeping tabs. Someone could hire them who isn't even connected with us but might be a believable rival keep watch on Simon." Pause. "Of course you or Master Nandor might have to take them, my Lord." She turns to Laszlo.
"I know some Manhattan club owners who probably aren't vampires…And they don't like Devious." Ginny nods.
