What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."

Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…

Part LXX…

The next morning…

The Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe…Mexico City…

"What a beautiful church. Am I gonna be ok here?" Susan, in the dark blue suit she'd thoughtfully packed, hair styled by Auntie Rosa's personal hairdresser, nervously to Guillermo in his black suit, tugging at collar as they emerged from the limousine which had brought them from the ranch estate…

"You're not a vampire, you won't burst into flames. You might feel a little headache or vague terrifying dread, that's all. But don't use the holy water, don't look at the saints' statues or the missals or the hymnals, don't pray, just mumble something that sounds like what they're saying, and if some old lady gives you the evil eye, just tell yourself she hates rich Americans. You'll be fine." He pats her hand.

"Though, really…If you'd prefer…" he begins.

"No. No, I wanna be here for you." She shakes head. "Hey, if you can do it and the Doctor can do it and Mrs. Afanas can, I'm sure I…"

"Well, if it's any comfort even Master Nandor and the Cravensworths came to the funeral of Nandor's granddaughter times 30 or so."

"They did?" she blinks.

"Yeah…Of course they nearly burned to death but…"

"Guillermo…" Phyllis had emerged from her rental, smoothing black suit, hurrying over…Hugging him to his startle. "I heard from Ginny when I called this morning. Oh, honey, I'm so so sorry…Heya, Susie." Brief glance, quick hand wave.

"Yeah. Heya." Susan nods. "How's tricks, Phyl?"

Including packin' a black suit…Cute.

"Great. Doing just fine. Tracking down a few prospects, doing my research…Like Gui requested."

"Talked to Ginny, huh? Did you finally come clean about being down here?" Susan eyes her.

"I'm entitled to a sick day or two…How I use it's my business." Stern look. "I mean so long as Gui passes on it." Fond smile at Guillermo.

"Sure…" Guillermo nods, hastily. "I'll tell Ginny I asked you to come and keep it secret. We'll just say I thought back-up was a good idea but I didn't want to alarm Master Nandor or the Cravensworths."

Phyllis, innocently warm beam… "Gui, you're the best…And really it was a good thing to have me here, just in case, right?"

"Oh, sure…" Susan nods, before Guillermo could answer. "Did Ginny have anything new? How did the closing go, I haven't had a chance to ask her?"

"Everything went great, she and Martha say. Our…Clients now own the Fielderson estate." Phyllis beams.

"That's terrific." Susan agrees… "Right, Gui? You must be so pleased, great job."

"It was all you guys, Susan." Guillermo shakes head. "I just cleaned up a few things. You ladies did all the work, including most of the cleaning."

"He always sells himself short, our Gui." Susan notes to Phyllis…As Dr. Acura and Mrs. Afanas came up to them.

Now this is gonna be something…Guillermo thinks. To see Dracula enter a cathedral for a funeral Mass and actually do a reading.

But Roderigo asked, he and Auntie having worked together for years, and he agreed without a moment's hesitation…

"Guillermo, ladies…" Dr. Acura nods kindly. "A beautiful place, isn't it?" indicating the cathedral.

"Very…" Susan agrees. "Roderigo chose well."

"Yes, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world…" Mrs. Afanas smiles. "Rosa would be very pleased. How are you, dear boy?" she addresses Guillermo.

"Fine, Mrs. Afanas. Just glad Auntie's at peace and not suffering…"

Or stalking about at night, seeking the blood of the living…Though I guess, in a few decades, someone as sweet as Auntie would settle down.

Still…One result of all my "experiences" recently is that I really don't wanna be a vampire anymore. Even if there may be potential for becoming one like Dr. Acura or at least my own friends. Seeing Auntie like that, before I staked her…

"She is, I know she is…" Mrs. Afanas, startling him with a warm hug… "You did right, boy." She whispered in his ear. "She's content and grateful."

"Thank you…" he whispers.

"Doctor? Could we talk a moment?" he turns to Dr. Acura.

"Yes, I need to speak to you as well, my boy." Nod. "Ladies, will you excuse us?"

"Sure…" Susan nods. Phyllis and Mrs. Afanas likewise…Though Phyllis gives nervous glance at the doctor as he leads Guillermo away. Susan rather more resigned…Whatever Gui has going with the good doc, sooner or later he'll let me know.

"I should speak to Roderigo for a moment about some items Rosa would want kept on her person…" Mrs. Afanas notes.

Crucifix, some holy water…No doubt the boy did the job right but Rosa's an old friend and some ole enemy might one day seek to disturb or raise her remains, and she did ask me that I make assurance double sure. "Excuse me just a moment, girls."

"Oh, sure…M'amm." Phyllis nods. "What's up there?" she immediately hisses to Sue, indicating the doctor and Guillermo now walking along the side of the cathedral…

"I wish I knew. But Gui'll tell us in his own…Phyl?" As Phyllis strides off to follow the pair.

Nandor, in coffin at crypt…

"Well we had a most amazing adventure last night…It seems the adoptive Daughter of Dracula is far more able than we might have believed…And a very charming young lady as well. Vlad is indeed a fortunate creature." Sigh.

"She resisted my dark power across the Ether. Clearly, she has been trained to resist by her father, but she must possess a powerful Will to best my hypnotic influence. Quite a girl, really." Beams.

"As yet no repercussions. My old foe and friend Vlad remains in Mexico, at Guillermo's aunt's funeral. We are now more than ever convinced this doctor Acura…I love that play on his name, by the way." Smile. "Is indeed unquestionably, the one and only, Dracula. Though why he should be so interested in Guillermo's Auntie Rosa, poor thing?" Sigh. "She died the other day, you know. My heart is heavy for poor Guillermo, my Chief Minion. But it is strange Vlad should be so attached, there must be some connection to us and Van Helsing's scheme, though I do understand from our Miss Virginia that Guillermo and Susan have learned his auntie worked with him as a nurse for some time." Rather sad look.

"It must be rather nice…Redeemed, out in the daylight, working at a profession everyone respects, many good friends who honor him…According to Miss Jennifer, he is a leader in his field…A lovely, sweet, and apparently well-informed, yet tolerant of your past, daughter at home to care for you. Vlad may still be working on his full Redemption, but he has clearly won a lot of the marbles." Pause. "If it truly was what he sought, I am sincerely happy for him, as an old sort-of friend." Wan smile. "But he is the lucky son of a donkey's bitch's ass."

"I am a bit worried regards Guillermo and Susan…I now suspect somehow Guillermo learned of Dracula's interest in his auntie and in him. Perhaps it was just kindness that led Vlad to come here and ask to speak with him but he may have had the ulterior motive, trying to learn of our defenses…I worry Guillermo's new position may have gone to his head and he is trying to act on his own. Guillermo, very brave but stupid…" shakes head. "This is Dracula…He may be a much nicer guy these days…Like me…" slight pause of bemused wonderment. "Yes, I suppose I am rather nicer guy, apart from my random killings…But anyway there are bound to be limits to Vlad's nicerness as there are to mine own." Shake of head.

"And poor Susan is endangered as well. I'm just a bit worried that if Vlad knows Guillermo is my minion…And he must sense Susan is enthralled, it sticks out like a pustulating wound to any vampire worthy of his blood…He might have hoped to learn about us through Guillermo, but now I must fear he might indulge in a bit of revenge for our trespass last night. Althea and her governess/surely his familiar will doubtless alert him. I can hope his Redemption would keep him from any harsh acts and that he would merely urge his allies among Van Helsing's people to be quicker about destroying us, but one does worry about the kids, you know? They being only human." shrug.

….

"A rather exciting night…" cut to Laszlo, seated by Nadja in their crypt…Jacqueline in maid's uniform dutifully providing each with a vial, which each downs.

"Very nice…Was that?" Nadja asks.

"Erika, my Lady." Jacqueline nods. "She dropped it off just a little while ago."

"Delicious. But she should get rest, she was out very late with Captain Adventure here." Frown at Laszlo…Who shrugs.

"Just doing what we can to gather information… But let me tell you…" he excitedly addresses camera. "…what we have learned as a result of our expedition. There can be no doubt now that Dracula lives and is a doctor in Poughkeepsie. And his daughter, Althea Droxima Acura…Don't you love it…?" grins. "Thanks to Jennifer as always for ferreting that out. Yes, Althea Dracula to properly christen her is very much aware of her father's heritage, clearly. And possesses her own unique powers…Or at least skills she received by training from her father."

"Skills, eh…?" Nadja, sourly. "Like what 'skills' does this pretty little slut of a teenage Dracula, female, have, my darling?"

"Now really…" he frowns. "Nandor was the only one of us to speak to her…"

"Lucky for you." She notes. "And lucky for you my Ginny only had to spray that water at you once."

"Once only…" he insists. "Which for me, you must admit…"

"It's why I'm not chasing you round here with an axe or paying my own call on Ms. Dracula. Be glad it wasn't holy water."

"Should I…Do something, Mistress?" Jacqueline, nervously glancing between the two.

"No, no…Go and set about your duties, child. Laszlo actually did well and I am just making with the tease. Go ahead now." She waves Jacqueline out.

"You best be careful what you say around her. She seems very literal-minded." Laszlo notes, watching the woman head out, carefully pulling the crypt door closed behind her.

"She has orders to check with me before killing you, don't worry…So long as I have not a reason to kill you."

"I'm much more easily-going…" the Soul Doll suggests, with smile to Laszlo.

"Shut up, you!" Nadja glares. "I may not be able to hurt you but I can send you back in the Ether by tearing this host Doll to shreds!"

"She is cruel…Isn't she cruel, my darling?" the Doll notes to Laszlo.

"Ladies…"

"He's my darling, not your darling!" Nadja insists. "You miserable home-wrecker of a soul, why don't you go find his soul and make out with him?!"

"Been there, done him..,Much as you can do a soul." Smile.

"Really? We hooked up in the Afterlife? I mean the Light Side Afterlife?" Laszlo, rather eagerly.

"In manners of speaking…Yes." The Doll nods.

"What? You couldn't get Soulboy aroused?" Nadja sneers.

"We are saving ourselves post-Redemption…" the Doll, a bit peeved, insists.

Ooops…

"Ah, hah!" Nadja, triumphant. And rather radiant…Me…Soul or Essence…He always chooses…Me!

"I knew you were here to kill us. All right, Laszlo, you can tear its head off now!"

The Doll frowning, shaking head. "Right, I'm here to kill you. Am I going to do it with these?" she feebly raised cloth arms. "I haven't even got proper hands and fingers!"

"You are spy. You are telling Van Helsing and Dracula when to come and finish us!"

"No…Just you. Then honey sack and I can find eternal bliss in Paradise." Lewd grin at Laszlo. "After some centuries of redemptive work…Saving people, saving the world, eh, that sort of thing."

"So…We'll be like Dracula only a couple?" Laszlo, rather intrigued.

Already thought that could be very popular in fiction…This could be a unique concept, "the Redeemed Redempionistas" or something like that. I can visualize movies, a television series…The charming and romantic redeemed vampiral heroes.

I mean if it worked for the loutish "Angel" and everyone knows how charming and romantic Barnabas Collins was.

"Exciting and romantic…Isn't it my little honey bear?" the Doll, slyly coy.

"You bitch!" Nadja, rising. "It's the furnace for you!"

"Nadja, darling! Wait!"

….

The Cathedral, Mexico City…

"Thanks for helping see that Auntie was settled and Roderigo didn't get any ideas about how she died." Guillermo notes, discreetly as he and the doctor stride along near the wall of the cathedral.

"Not at all…Rosa was expecting transformation. She hoped it would be you who prevented her from rising but Cicely and I made sure we were at hand. One gets the occasional exposure to vampire blood in the course of the work, it's rather an occupational hazard." Dracula sighs.

"Son, we have a slight problem."

"Yeah, I see her…" Guillermo indicates Phyllis, carefully strolling behind them.

"Oh, yes." Nod. "Very devoted to you, enough so she may even violate your orders to keep you safe. We'd best beware and not let her hear us." Dracula urges him along.

"But that's not the matter I wished to discuss. I had a telephone call from my daughter late last night."

"Your…" Guillermo blinks.

"Adopted but beloved." Dracula smiles, then sighs. "It seems a couple of your friends decided to pay a call on her at my home in Poughkeepsie."

Dracula lives in "Poughkeepsie"?

"She's ok?"

"I wouldn't be here if she weren't, son. True as I am to my Redemption." Frown. "I believe they just wanted information, but apparently one tried to summon or hypnotize her. Nandor I imagine…He was always proud of his skills there…We used to compete a bit in my bad ole days."

Hmmn…Guillermo, picturing a hapless young woman veering back and forth between younger, fiercer-looking Nandor and Dracula, both in medieval military dress.

"I think that would've been Master Nandor…" sigh. "But he didn't…"

"Althea is a special young lady. And I've trained her to resist vampiral hypnosis. I always feared some schmuck might learn of her relationship to me and try to wear her, my darling girl, like a prize."

"She's not…" Guillermo hesistating…

"No, son. She's not my wife reborn. That joy yet awaits me, though Elisabete and I keep close through the Ether and her soul loves Althea as our own daughter. We adore her and think of her as one of our true daughters though she is not a resurrection of them. Though I'm not without blood family in this world. But Althea is very precious to us. I couldn't bear to see her harmed nor could I let Elisabete suffer at seeing it. I trust you understand." Stern look. "I want Nandor and your other friends to have their fair chance at Redemption. And to be honest, like Jacob Marley, it's a part of my own Redemption to help them. But…I am a devoted father." Firm nod.

"I get it, sir." Nod. "I'll try to warn them to keep away from her. I'm sure they just wanted to see what she could tell them."

"Very little, though, obviously she is aware of my nature and past. Guillermo, to be frank, I'm not so much worried about your vampire friends as your lady minions, like the misses here." Dracula, glancing over to Phyllis who was trying to seem casual as she strove to creep closer.

"In their devotion…And I would assume it was they who uncovered Althea's identity and my address…They may strive without fear of harm or death far more than even your masters and mistress would consent to. I've no desire to harm them or any human but…"

"You'll protect your daughter." Nod. Slightest gulp.

Yeah, he is Dracula…He may be a wonderfully kind doc and a nice guy, but I can still see Dracula in that stare.

"We understand each other, good." Nod, pat on arm. "I'm sure you'll be able to control them and together we'll save them and my old friends from their terrible potential fates."

"Yeah…" sigh. "I guess I'm committed now."

"That's life, son." Dracula, sympathetically. "But you owe Life, you know…As do I."

"Yeah…"

"Gui! You better come inside and get your seat!" Phyllis had come over to them, eyeing Dr. Acura carefully.

"Yes, Guillermo, I'm keeping you too long. I'll see you inside shortly." Dr. Acura nods.

"Yeah, maybe you and I can talk a little, doc. I'm interested in hearing more about Gui's Aunt." Phyllis notes.

"I'm delighted to talk of dear Rosa, please my dear…" Acura offers arm. Guillermo staring…Uh…

"We'll see you inside, Gui." Phyllis nods. Clearly determined to get what she could outta her companion.

Uh, boy…Please don't kill her...Glance to Dracula who gives kindly but amused smile.