What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…
Part LXXIV…
The Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe…
Guillermo staring up at the strong, yet kindly figure of "Dr. Phillippe Acura" at the high, beautifully carved lectern…
"Thank you all for coming, dear friends, dear family." Acura beams at the crowd. "This was one of our dear Rosa's favorite passages…Psalm 23:1-4."
Dracula, about to read from the Bible? In a cathedral? Guillermo blinks...
Still, he really does look like that Christopher Lee, in one of his nicer guy but still a little menacing roles…
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restoreth my soul." Kind smile, nod to Guillermo. "He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. You prepareth a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever." Warm smile, nod to smiles and eager greetings from the assembly as he descends, passing Cecily Afanas on her own way to the lectern.
"Nice…" Susan hisses. "Hard to believe if it's true that he's…?"
"Yeah…" Guillermo nods.
It could be them, he…And Auntie are telling me. This could be them, up there…Free, sorta. The same people I know, my beloved friends, but… Free. And I know in their hearts, they want to be…They're crying out to me…
Well, maybe not Mr. Cravensworth, he's kinda a skeptic to be up there…But he'd be free...And Master Nandor…My friend…
I have to do this. I have to help save my friends. And these poor ladies. He glances at Susan who smiles at him, then over to Phyllis who gives him wan smile. This is my Duty. My Atonement.
Even if they kill me in doing it…
…
The Residence…
"You did like my lunch? I'm so pleased. There's plenty more if…" Jacqueline notes. Looking a bit anxious as she sits in chair in kitchen in her maid's uniform. Despite Nadja's initial reluctant suspicion, hair frizzled as Laszlo had eagerly suggested and Jen agreed was "classy".
"Sorry if I'm a bit antsy. I really feel like I should be working, especially what with the move today…I can't wait to see the new place, in the flesh, have you? Really nice, huh?...I have seen pics. Well I know I'm supposed to give you a chance to interview me since my…What do you call it, sirs? Ma'am? Enthrallment?" she nods at the word.
"Oh, I couldn't be happier." Warm beam at question. "I've never felt so loved and part of a family, even my own human one. And after I've been such a terrible person for so long, I know…" sigh, wan look. "But Lady Nadja says that's all over and done with now, I'm making up for it with my devoted service. And I so want to. I want to serve well and loyally. And to be a good sister to my sisters in service to my Mistress and her husband and friend. And follow Master Guillermo, our Chief Minion. Isn't it so noble that he didn't have to be enthralled to love and serve our Overlords? I wish I could've been like that, so good. Maybe it's not so but I feel like I've been waiting my whole life to love and serve Lady Nadja." Eager, nervous nod, smoothing apron of uniform.
"And of course, I need to do something for poor Roy Zeller whom I so led astray…I'll try to make him happy when the time comes and he gets out of jail, I'm writing him as the Mistress commanded. I should love him for all he did for me and I will and I'll try to help him stay on the right path. Hmmn?" ponders.
"I think…When we started out…I was attracted to him, but I was pretty desperate for success and money, you know? Just being a successful realtor could never be enough to satisfy me, so when I sensed I could wrap him around my finger…I'm not, you see, claiming it was him, like I did before. He may have already been pulling a few things but I pushed him. Then I abandoned him when he got caught after I made sure I'd grabbed most of what he stole. It's to be returned, from where I got it stashed overseas, anonymously, as soon as the police get my letters. They'll probably realize it was me in time, I mean my name can be traced on a few of the overseas accounts, but Lady Nadja feels it's unlikely any police or interpol or whatever will track me here. They may stop at getting the money back in any case. Probably not worth pursuing unless Roy's lawyer pushes him to use nailing me to get out. Anyway, Lady Nadja will let me stay here with her forever so, no prob." Smile. "I'll work it out with Roy later, then when he gets out, I'll see what's to be done to make him happy. I think that's all I have to say. I wish I could help more with the fight against this Dr. Van Helsing, all I can say there is, I'll die for the Mistress and her husband, Master Laszlo and her friend Master Nandor. I'd best get back to cleaning, busy day today." Rising, happy wave. "Let me know if I can get you folks anything, I'll be serving tea at 4 pm."
…
Mrs. Afanas having read her own passage and returned to seat, the service had moved to a quiet moment, seated.
"Nice job…" Susan looks over to Dr. Acura, who smiles and nods.
"Thank you, dear child…"
"Phyllis?" Guillermo looks to her, she having steadily moved closer to his left side since taking a seat in his front pew, Susan holding his right flank… "You ok?"
"Oh, yes…" Wan stare. "Just a bit tired. What a lovely service, Gui." Vague smile.
"Sure…" he nods, a bit concerned…Glance to Dracula who slightly puts up a hand, shaking it a bit to indicate nothing serious, he decides.
Lets hope so…
He wouldn't have bit her, the dangers of double enthrallment are pretty well out there and he's sorta the Good Guy semi-vamp. I hope.
Well, at least she seems calmer, lets wait till this is over…
Hope things are ok at home…Moving day one, I understand from Ginny…And they're still negotiating with Simon the Devious.
Who has a Vampire Hunter on his side? Maybe in love with him? Unless she's Greatuncle plus' special agent and managed to deceive the Devious? Ginny's still not sure.
Was kommt als nächstes? He thinks, unconsciously, in German.
…
"Delicate times…" Laszlo eyes camera, strolling about the Residence, checking that all is in readiness for stage one of the move, according to his report.
Just checking to see if any of his own stuff hasn't been boxed up or packed, Nadja notes, frowning, by his side.
"Hmmn…Anyway, this evening we officially kick the dust from this old rattle-trap and begin our new life at Cravenswood-Relentless. Has a nice 'Dark Shadows' ring to it, doesn't it?" he beams.
"Cravenswood would be better…" Nadja, pouting.
"So I thought at first, my love…But on pondering…After Nandor urged 'Castle Relentless'… The 'Cravenswood' is a bit too 'Collinswood'. This title confers uniqueness…"
"He's afraid Nandor will be pissed." Nadja, sourly.
"It's 'Cravenswood', impressively solid British name but also 'Relentless', likewise impressive and connotative of our relentless solidity." Laszlo nods.
Relentless solidity? Nadja stares.
"But today is also the return of Simon Devious to our home…As a buyer and, ostensibly, an Ally. But we all remember the last time he came, the deceitful louse, concealing his crew and feigning having fallen on hard times to play on our sympathies, when his fiendish plan was merely to again steal my beloved hat."
"Which I since destroyed." Nadja, firmly. "Bye-bye witch's sphincter."
Laszlo, sly grin to camera…Indeed…?
"What was that?" she fumes at him.
"What?"
"That sly grin…Laszlo? Did you recover that damn hat from the furnace?" she eyes him. "That damn cursed hat…You did, didn't you? No wonder Van Helsing's come for us and the Slayer is on her way and Simon is up to tricks, out to destroy us…It's cursed, you idiot and doom for whoever holds it. Where is it? Get it now!"
"I don't have the foggiest notion of…Mist…" he disappears in mist.
"You bastard! Laszlo!? You're putting us in yet more danger for a damned cursed hat?!" she cries.
…
"Sorry, needed to get to a more quiet place…" Laszlo, rematerializing in basement area. "Nadja still upset? Yes, I thought so. Well, best to lay low till the fuss and falderal of the move takes up all her attention."
"Oh, we have more things down here than I realized…" he looks about. "Sorry, I see well in the dark…Here, let me get you some light." Claps hands, light pops on.
"Not my Dark Power, we had a clapper thing installed. It is quite magical though, eh? Yes, look around…So much stuff. Junk, a lot I suppose…" He moves along, shoving things aside.
"Ah, look at that, the first crib I ever stole a child from…" eyes antique crib. "Uh…Perhaps we'd best not film that. People get sensitive when children are involved, even vampires seem a bit put out. But I only ate this one, I didn't turn her. And as I recall, the kid had the plague so…All for the best, really."
He pauses by a large portrait. "Ah, Gianna…What a voice she had." He lifts painting of young rather ample if beautiful woman in gown on stage to view. "Sadly, she could only sing under my thrall…Sort of like that 'Trilby' girl in some novel. Short-circuited her career when the townspeople found all those corpses in the inn I was staying at with her and I had to flee. Though really, I'd just been avoiding Nadja when she pissed me off then, it was only a passing fancy…For me. I think the poor girl spent the rest of her life in a madhouse…But I saw to it she was provided for and it was a decent enough place for the era and given she'd been a milkmaid when I met her singing to her cows, not all that bad a life."
"No, no…The hat's not here…" in response to a question. "I did manage to get it out of the furnace but the thing is, it's not burnable. I have it in a secure place. Now, who listens to old-wives' tales?…And there is such a thing as coincidence, correct lads?" he eyes the crew after one mentioned the past instances of woeful occurrences ala the said hat.
"Yes…And there's nothing quite like the feel of a tight witch's sphincter against one's scalp." Beam.
"But we came to discuss the day's and evening's events…" he takes seat in old rocker.
"This one Nandor and I found being tossed out. Still perfectly good. Better than the blood of the old lady who'd tossed it, for sure. Nasty old thing, that one, in spirit as well as taste. Talk about true witches… Called the police on some poor fellow who'd just wanted to take it for firewood. It's just my lady wife felt it clashed with the rest of the stuff in our crypt." He rocks in chair.
"So…" contented beam… "Our ladies fair have things planned out for the move…To be done carefully so as not to alert either Simon when he comes or if he is maintaining surveillance or Van Helsing's people. Our new beds have been installed today, we just need to get our coffins over and insert them into the beds. Very elegant and so nice to be more or less in a bed again. Meaning of course we'll be sleeping there from now on. Very exciting. I can't wait to use our home theater with that gigantic television screen. I'm thinking some sweeping epic, perhaps, for the first event. Or, perhaps a few episodes of "The Office", I do love that idiot boss Scott and his crew." Smile.
"And our little visit with Devious here tomorrow…I'm almost tempted to leave the place empty and put garlic on the front door, smear it on the doorknob…Hang some from the entranceway…But we need to know what he knows about Van Helsing. And he has made a preliminary offer which seems at least quite generous." Sly smile. "We're really taking him, if this comes off, Ginny says. Plus of course, the rats."
"Yes? Oh, right…Young Miss Dracula…" nod… "Or, 'Acura', as they like. Well, for the moment our plan seems to rest on Nandor's letter to her dad, who rather seems very much the junior partner in the Van Helsing-Dracula Redemptions and Vampire Hunting firm, if you ask me…Something of an embarrassment to have the vampire or part-vampire partner so much the sidekick and gofer, but that's how it goes. I suppose to be fair, Van Helsing was the hands-on type till he became non-corporeal which does make it difficult to be active in the business in many ways. Yes…Haven't perused it yet, I hope the old fool didn't give away too much about us." Sigh, wave of hand. "Nandor means well, but I can sense that he's been bitten by the Redemption bug…A disease for which there is only one prognosis…" pantomimes being staked and turns to mist with a "Mist!" then reforms.
Shrugging…"I suppose there's a certain Romance to it…Atone for your past crimes and seek Redemption and all that but really, I question the benefit to all parties. We, the Essences, I mean, so far as I can see get nothing but a one way trip to Hell, which I understand is a most unpleasant place…And that trip is Eternal, which seems rather unfair. Yes, by some lights we've committed a few horrible crimes but…Eternal punishment? Really a bit much and somewhat counterproductive and wasteful, when you consider the good we have done and could do… As for the Souls, well…It seems they're freed of any connection to us, hoorah, and free to move on to some promised Paradisiacal reward…Uh-huh…I'd take insurance out on that trip, Soul brother…Or, in certain cases, may even be required to undergo various forms of punishment, including a forced return to Earth, either via reincarnation…Back to suffer through birth, fend off disease and poverty or the temptations of wealth, survive to adulthood to take up not only a career or calling in the normal course of things but some duty to benefit Mankind…Or even held back here, in some hybrid version, like our 'Dr. Acura' probably far more limited in ability of our current vampiral form, again to strive to carry out some dutiful chores for all Humanity." Frown.
"Really? So, what is the great lure? Access to seeing people we spent our lives avoiding? The blessing of a very few, but largely the yawn of an indifferent Humanity after Herculean labors to assist the suffering or endangered, so they can suffer and die a little later? I'm at a loss…" shrug. "And yet the bug took Dracula, greatest of them all, by many accounts…And may be taking Nandor…" sigh.
"Of course, the poor fellow misses his family…Eight hundred years of separation and all can do that. And, if it were up to me…And Nadja wouldn't be out of her skull with fear it would move us up on the list…I'd gladly let the old boy have his redemption and wish him well." Nod. "I mean I suppose we'd miss the old gent but perhaps his ghost or his 'redeemed' self would pay us a call, no doubt urging us to join the cult." Shakes head.
"Hmmn?" to a question… "Yes, I know my soul was running about looking a bit in the Redemptive mode itself, but Souls? What can you do? Though I will say mine could have been a bit more straight-forward and honest. 'Laszlo, my old evil counterpart, I mean to see you in Hell.' There, a fair warning, honestly upfront. Instead, he gets his Soulful jollies and probably fingered us to his fellow ghost and his crew."
Pausing… "I wonder…Could it be Nandor who's responsible for all this? Pining after his family and all, stirring the pot and shaking the good doctor Van Helsing out of his sound graveyard sleep to summon the junior, Earth-based member of the firm? Though to be honest…I have noticed Nadja's misgivings and concerns about taking me getting unusually anxious recently." Sigh. "Could it have to do with some sort of menopause for vampires? Perhaps Nandor and Nadja have reached some transition point of no return, a sort of senility, really, that causes them to go gaga for Redemption? What? She said what? That she thought I…?" stares.
"Indeed…?" shakes head. "I dwelling on my transformation and showing more Humanity?" shrugs. "Well, I've always liked Humanity, both as a species and as what's for dinner, but… Poor silly old thing to think that. I've no quarrel with her taking me, it made me what I am today, a happy Unman, a loving husband, with allowances for her driving me to distraction occasionally and that burst of ennui that creeps in from time to time over an Eternal relationship. Troubling her, you say? Well...I must deal with that, can't let her be thinking I'm concealing some buried anger thing." sigh.
"Yes..." he smiles… "One true thing you can say about us is we keep little bottled in...All out there, in the open, no pained silences nonsense." shaking head. "No, I can't have her worrying about that. I am certain even my soul is happy to have her locked in matrimonial shackles with me."
"No doubt he gets a major kick out of it, watching us go after each other every decade or two..."
….
Club Vious…
"Welcome back, Humanity..." Simon beams at the video camera Lesley womans on its tripod in the VVVP lounge.
"We're here in my lair of lairs…With a few of my best buds…" Camera angels around room to show Count Rappula, Samarta, Lloyd, the bad-backed vampire still spread-eagled on ceiling… "Even if one or two ran out on me during our last attempt to recover my…My…Witch's hat!" rage growing…
"Simon…" Lesley, indicating the nervous crew. "We agreed…Bygones are bygones…"
"Right, right…It's cool, Rap…Todd. I did express negative feelings that I deeply regret at that time when you were, after all, trying to lend support. I get that. We're good, bros." nod.
Todd from ceiling, Count Rappula each nodding in turn…
I just want a line on that vampire hunter and his crew, Todd thinking. If handing Simon over to one of them and pledging to swear off humans gets me a free pass for existence…I'm there.
"Yes…My inner crew."
Right…Like I trust any of these dweebs…Except my Lesley and old Samarta, perhaps. Samarta being far too old and fearful of the modern world to consider betraying me…
What a story this will be if I can photograph his dusting…Samarta thinks. It could get me my old job back at the Post. "Intrepid reporter proves existence of vampires" she beams, picturing.
Simon, eagerly continuing…"Well…We are here at my moment of triumph…Well, tomorrow technically…And well, not the exact moment, in fact. But it is when I shall at last secure the home of my old friends…Those creeps…When I'll extract the last full measure of vengeance! Spitting on their crypt floors! Writing insulting graffiti over their old walls! Repainting their rooms…Those colors are hideous, you know. I mean what were they thinking?"
The rest eyeing each other.
That's it? We repaint their house?
"And of course, cutting them off from any hope of Redemption and condemning them and their Souls forever. Though that's not tomorrow, tomorrow we keep it businesslike. But…It's coming…Soon."
He gives leering nod… "And with their condemnation, we'll stick a rather fat finger in the eye of our people's worst traitor…Dracula! Yes, I, Simon the Devious, vampiral Prince, shall best Count Dracula and his friend, the famed Van Helsing! No offense, darling!" he calls to Lesley. "Strictly in terms of our eternal conflict…Family's family and his ghost is always welcome, minus a horde of vampire hunters."
"That's fine, honey. Thanks." Lesley beams.
"Oh, and we may get a crack at the Slayer herself, back to torment our poor people once more…"
Sure we will…Samarta, Todd, Lloyd, Count Rappula…But I think we'll leave her to you.
"…We're still good on killing the Slayer, right, Les? So long as we spare your friends…My solemn pledge." He gives solemn look.
"If she comes and attacks, Simon…I mean, self-defense and all that." Lesley nods, a bit reluctantly.
Surely if it's self-defense, it's not really murdering her per se…I mean she takes her chances, right?
"Of course, strictly self-defense…" Simon nods. "Anyway, tomorrow, we close…After a thorough inspection of course…I do have a right not to get taken here, though I realize it's an older place and naturally with vampires living there for a while, there are bound to be a few minor problems…I'm flexible. Though Laszlo's topiary? Gone! I'm installing a Grecian temple."
"But Simon…" Lesley cuts in, stopping video. "Oh, cut?" she noted to his annoyed look…
Lets keep this professional, shall we, darling?
"Cut…Yes?"
"If you close tomorrow, they're leaving. Do we know yet where to?"
"Well…Probably one of the girls' homes or perhaps some trailer park." Simon shrugged.
"I thought we had intel on them. You said…" she began.
"Hey, I've been busy. I have businesses to run, you know. We'll find out soon enough…Your ancestor will tell us, even if all my myriad connections, like a spider's web over the tristate area, fail me."
"I suppose…But he'll only tell at just the right time, if then." She sighed.
"Oh, I don't mean directly…" Simon noted. "I'm sure the old fool thinks he can use me and achieve all his goals and even 'save' you. As if you needed 'saving'."
Samarta rolling eyes…
From her idiot self, sure…
"He just doesn't understand me…" Lesley sighs. "I mean…I've always respected him but…He's so noble he can't conceive of ordinary people having their own concerns besides saving others and the world."
"It's terrible to get caught up in your career like that." Simon shook head. "And I respect him, too. Like I say, his specter will always have a seat at our table. To family, folks!" raises glass of blood.
"To family…Yeah." mumbles.
What the…I hated mine…Mom turned me herself, the bitch…Rappula frowns.
I wonder how mine is doing these days…Lloyd thinks. You know, if that Redemption thing isn't all that painful, maybe…
"Anyway, once we secure Devious Abbey…Cute, huh?" Simon beams to camera. "And sure to stick in Laszlo's craw…We shall be ready for the final scene, the decisive battle…"
But I thought…Lloyd blinks. The plan was we watch as Van Helsing's people, the Slayer, and the Vampiral Council fight it out with them and each other, making sarcastic comments and keeping well out of the way…?
"Of course, we shall be spectators…The puppet masters behind the scenes…" Simon exults. "Even the Vampiral Council will be lured to destruction, at last leaving me to take my rightful place as Lord of America, vampirally. Oh, I am the Devious One!"
That mean we could occasionally get out of the Tri-State area? Todd thought. Would be nice to see the West Coast, I never got the chance living and the damned Council has all these travel restrictions and regs on top of the usual problems our kind has regards distance traveling.
…
"Look…" Guillermo was walking with Dr. Acura, out of the service, having persuaded Susan to stay with Phyllis while he attempted to learn more, she frowning but agreeing after his promise to tell all…Phyllis vaguely distressed at his leaving, reassured by Susan that dear Gui would be right back…
"I understand my Duty and I'm ready now…I'll do what needs to be done."
"Good." Nod…Smile. "We knew you would accept your Destiny, son. You just needed a moment to see clearly. Though…Remember…" smile. "It's fine to accept your Duty and Destiny, but even better to achieve it…And best of all to achieve it without dying in the process. As George C. Scott put it in a way not unsimilar to words both I and your friend Nandor have used before battle 'No poor dumb bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.' Truer words about war never spoken to my knowledge." Smile.
"Yeah…But, about Phyllis? She's my responsibility too."
"I haven't harmed her, Guillermo, just a bit of hypnosis to calm her. Her presence here concerned me, since you didn't suggest she come. Though I now believe she came simply out of love for you."
"For me…" sigh.
"I understand, son. But it's one way to allow you to protect her. However I do think we should confirm that there was no other reason for her coming here. We need to be sure your friends have not deduced what and who you are…"
Guillermo blinks. "You think…?"
"No, much as they love you, you'd likely be dead…Especially if any of the human minions found out, and as much as they love you. But you need to question her. Unfortunately my powers are not what they once were and she is protected a bit by her enthrallment…But I have been able to put her in a state where she is more susceptible…I think she would answer questions, put by the right person…And could be made to forget they were asked."
"You can do that…?" Guillermo stares.
"No, you can…She's attuned by her enthraller to you as his chief minion. I can strengthen and narrowly focus that hold through you though I can't truly control her myself. But be careful, she'll only obey what she perceives as no threat to her true Master, Nandor."
"Right…" nod.
"Gui…" Phyllis startled him… "I thought you might need me? I heard…I told Sue I had to use the ladies room but…I came…"
"Yes, Phyllis…" Dracula intones. "Guillermo does need you here and summoned you…He has questions which only you can answer, if you truly love him. And which you must forget, if you truly love him."
Guillermo staring…
I guess that's kinda neat in its way if…
Not that I still want to go vamp…Or get girls this way…No.
Come on, no…
"Great…" she beams. "Gui?"
"Answer his questions, Phyllis…You must answer truthfully, if you love him." Dracula notes, carefully…Staring into her now blank face.
"All right, son…Hurry."
"Phyl…Phyllis…? You hear me?" Guillermo asks the blank-faced Phyllis.
"Yes, darling." Sudden warm smile.
Dracula, shrugging at Guillermo's wince… "I can only do so much and it actually helps she thinks she's in love with you, kid."
"Phyllis, why are you here? Can you tell me?" Guillermo, gently.
"I love you. I was worried. I had to come." She notes, still smiling. "Are you all right, darling?" anxious look that faded immediately.
"I'm fine. Phyllis? Master Nandor didn't order you here?"
"No. No one knows I came."
Dracula, impressed. "She's truly obsessed with you, Guillermo, to have so skirted her duty to her Master and left him."
"Even though you left Master Nandor…?"
"I…I shouldn't…But, Master…Darling…"
"Guillermo is fine, Phyllis. Just call me that."
"Gui…" faint smile. "I thought maybe it would serve him, protecting you. And you might be working on something to protect him from Van Helsing…So, it seemed…Sorta…Ok. And I couldn't see you go off and get hurt, just Sue…" frown. "…to help you." Wan stare. "I love you so…"
"Yeah, but I'm fine. I'm just hear to see my Auntie. It's fine, Phyllis. You believe that."
"Yes…Oh, but…" anxious look. "What if there is something? That doctor? That lady you and the Overlords knew. Something isn't right."
Amazing, Dracula shakes head.
"It's kind of you to worry, Phyllis, but I am fine. I'm fine. Believe that."
"Really? Oh, I want to but…I'm worried for you." Anxious look.
We are definitely not making progress here, Dracula sighs.
"My boy? You had better take a different tack. She's truly afraid for you and seems to sense some danger to Nandor reinforcing that."
"Like what? What do I say? Should I tell her Nandor will be displeased?"
"No, I think not. In her state that might create an irresolvable conflict." Pause. "Did you ever read Issac Asimov? His 'I, Robot' collection about the three laws?"
"Of Robotics, sure. But…"
Dracula? A sci-fi fan?
But why not, I guess…He can't be too eager to read and watch 'Dracula' stuff.
"The stories were balances of conflict among the three laws. We face a similar situation here. Phyllis, dear soul, is committed to protecting her Master and obeying him so long as that obedience doesn't conflict with protecting him. You to a lesser degree personify him and for whatever reason, perhaps you seem less threatening, perhaps she feels it more an independent choice, that feeling is backed up by the love she has conceived for you."
"That's just…"
"What matters is she believes it. So, she is torn between pleasing you, obeying you, but above all, protecting you. And of course, beyond that, protecting her true Master. I have strengthened her obedience a bit, but her emotions are very powerful and she is channeling her no doubt very powerful frustration and even, horror, at being controlled into those feelings of love for an object that represents her Master but is not quite her Master. You represent her last bit of independent thought, Guillermo."
"You've really thought this out, Doctor." Guillermo blinks at him.
"I've seen similar, many times. I've been on the thraller end too often in my existence, son, much to my shame. And have had a long time to discuss the matter, usually hypothetically, sometimes not, with the world's best psychologists and therapists, trying to do what I could for some of my victims or those of ones I dragged into the darkness." Dracula smiles sheepishly. "I am not here because I have nothing to answer for, son, much as my wife and children believe in me and my Redemption."
Whoa…Guillermo, realizing as he stares into those sad eyes…
I really have no idea the torment this man has gone through…What he must blame himself for?
Is this what my friends will have to endure if I "help" them? Or am I saving them from even worse? He sighs…
No, I've made my commitment…I'm saving them. No matter what, it's the right thing, I know that much at least.
"So? What do I do?"
"I think it best not to try to cancel out her concern for you or her Master. She'd simply become anxious and fraught, blame herself for abandoning you if you should come to harm."
"No!" Phyllis murmured. Looking round anxiously…
"No, it's ok. The doc and I are just discussing…I'm not in any harm's way." Guillermo, hastily. "It's ok, I promise."
"Ok…" she whispered. "It's ok…"
"I suggest you let her stay and keep close till your return. Just be sure she keeps with you rather than wandering about on her own where she could come to harm…Or ever harm others."
Guillermo, starring.
"She wouldn't…Phyllis? You wouldn't hurt anyone, I mean, over me?"
"I did." She said, flatly. "Two bad men tried to assault me outside your aunt's place. I killed them. I thought they were probably thieves. I knew they might hurt you."
"You what?" Guillermo, staring. Glance to Dracula who shakes head.
"Thrallees can be very dangerous…The adrenalin when aroused to protect their Masters or Mistresses gives them incredible strength. Not to mention it puts a strain on the heart." Dracula notes.
"It's ok. I buried them." She notes. "No one will find them and if they ever do, it'll just be another cartel murder."
"My god…Phyllis?"
"They probably would have killed her or at the very least, raped her." Dracula points out. "What's done is done, Guillermo. And hardly her fault, poor child. It certainly counts as self-defense."
"Phyllis, don't ever kill anyone without clearing it with me, ok?" Guillermo, tensely. "That's a direct order, ok? Master Nandor wouldn't approve either."
"Yes, darling. I'm sorry if you're angry. I guess I should have…"
"No, no…It's ok. They were bad men. But don't kill people, please. Just knock them out or call the police…Run. Anything else that works."
"Ok." Nod. "Unless…I have to protect you and Master Nandor…I have to."
"Just try to do anything else first…And clear it with me, please."
"Ok. I'm sorry…" mournful look.
"It's ok. Just remember, they might have kids or families who aren't bad. Just try to get help next time or clear it with me."
"I would have…You weren't there, no one was. I'm sorry."
"No, it's all right, just…Like I said, for the future. Besides you'll be staying with me…And Sue…From now on…We'll be going home soon, anyway?"
"You don't mind? I'd love to." She beams.
"That's the right track, son." Dracula urges.
"Yeah…I'll tell Roderigo you came in with some urgent business…For Sue. Or something. And I'd prefer you stay instead of driving in from the city. I'm sure he'll agree it's too dangerous."
Sigh…Eyeing Dracula…
"But it's time anyway? Isn't it? Now I'll made my decision, it's time to go home and face the music, right?"
"Yes. I think so, my boy. But you won't be alone." smile.
…
