What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…
Part LXXVIII…
Simon Devious, facing video camera currently unwomaned by Samarta, Lesley being out to negotiate with her fellow local Hunters…
Sadly the untrusting humans refuse to ever give a proper meeting place and even refuse to tell each other about their different groups…How was a vampiric lord to collect them all in one spot for mass killing?
Oh, yes, but quite alright for Van Helsing's ghost to dash about, often with those treacherous Souls, finding our people's resting places for genocidal purposes. I mean, it's not like we would ever wipe out Humanity, our food source and in a sense, if one buys Darwin, evolutionary ancestor.
Just seems unfair…Simon notes to camera.
"Well, anyway, to sum up…" he begins…
Nandor, at the new Residence, likewise making summation…
"To put the summings up up…" he begins…
Simon: "Tonight, I seize upon my new home, my sanctum santorium…And open formal negotiations with that wretched crew, the Cravenswoods and Nandor. Should be delightful, Nadja is always so entertaining…Such a gracious hostess…" beam. "No plans for an attack by my crew as yet, given even my Lesley knows nothing of the Vampire Hunters' plans and we can't risk that they're lying in wait, seeking to strike us down. And of course I am still rebuilding said crew after the last unfortunate series of defections." Frown. "Though while the loss of Elvis and Neal, Patrick, and Harris, is hard to bear…Let alone Carol…Oh…" sob. "Carol…How could you leave me?...Pray excuse me, better now. Yes. Hard to bear, I have the happy news that Count Rappula is back with me and ready to take on his counterpart, Dracula…"
Say what, fool? Rappula, blinking in corner… Take on…?
"Only of course in the event fisticuffs are necessary…We plan merely to observe the battle and twist it to the favorable outcome I desire. Namely the destruction of the Cravensworths and Nandor the Relentless sans Redemption, their essences and souls bound in blood and evil forever…The destruction or at least whittling down of the Vampire Hunter Corps, oh not by us, I have a pledge to my own sweetheart to make no personal or crew attack here…" solemn look. "And…" grin… "Best of all, the destruction of the Vampiric Council. It's time for a strongUnman to seize power and end this modernish flirting with a kind of republicanism. Democracy and such is all very well for short lived mortals, but for the Immortal, we need the stability and permanence of a monarchy…Even…An Empire. Todd?! Display the crown for our viewers, soon to number in the billions."
Todd holding up said crown, a rather well made imitation of Napoleon's.
"Got it wholesale from this guy I know…Handles historical memorabilia for the movies and TV? A lovely human being, always delivers. Several movie Napoleons wore this one. Ok, put it away, safely, Todd. Great… And how will I accomplish the destruction of so many powerful vampires, you ask? Or you should, common courtesy, you know? The answer is simple… I simply see that a dime is dropped to let the Council know that the fiends who murdered so many are escaping Justice but are vulnerable if attacked at the right time and place."
Gleam in eye… "Sadly that right time will be just when the full force of the Vampire Hunter Corps has arrived to engage our friends. Oh, I expect a massacre of epic proportions…And we must be ready to film it, for posterity." Beam. "And, doubly sadly, in that brutal, hideous massacre, I fear my friends will have no chance to earn their desired Redemption as their pitiful human minions, enslaved dears that they are, are sacrificed…And their guilt in such, along with the said bloody massacre is sure to ensure they do not see the light of day again, ever." Sigh.
"So much blood…I mean, gone to waste. It's like seeing a crop destroyed by some greedy first world nation trying to force prices up as the innocent masses starve…Sheer waste."
Not if I can bring my bucket along…Todd thinks.
Nandor, in his new bedroom/crypt…
"My old frienemy, Count Prince Vlad of the Dracule has kindly accepted my invite, I am informed by telephone calls from our Miss Virginia Zeller and my dear Guillermo, he currently with Dracula in Mexico attending his aunt…" nod, stare…
"Bit strange coincidence that, that Vlad was a friend and colleague of Guillermo's auntie. But she was a nurse, he a heart doctor. And we believe he decided to use that contact to check out Guillermo and his companion, my Susan and see what he could learn as well as reestablish contact with his old nemesis, namely me. Being a gentleman of the old school, he is sending a formal acceptance, isn't this nice?" beam. "But he wanted us to know he was happy to accept via speedier route, the modern world so often now requiring speed in affairs."
Smile… "It will be nice to see Vlad again and hear of his doings and about his dear wife. I understand he has even helped his sister the Dowager Countess Elisabeth to redemption. She was a grand old lady vampire, in her day. Really kept up the old forms and style till the Turks destroyed her castle in the 1900s and forced her to join her brother in England, only to find he'd gone Redemptionist."
Roll of eyes…
"And mustn't that have been the kick to the head…And the stake in the chest…?" he chuckles. "But they seem to have found peace. Our Jen says she looks quite good, human or humanish hybrid, apparently in her thirties, which is nice. Very protective of her adoptive niece, as I'd expect from a female of the Dracule. They really care for their girls…Lovely." He beams. "And of course to meet and see the wonderful Althea. She seemed like such a delightful child the other night. And so kind to our Jen…You can see Vlad and his sister have raised her well. I don't say the modern world doesn't have its benefits to a bright young woman…Had Vlad's Countess had Althea's advantages, she would have either commanded forces alongside Vlad, in the field or at least had first-rate intel and not be fooled by my stratagem." Sigh.
"But, hey…After 500 years, it's all worked out."
…
Auntie Rosa's…
"So…Big man…" a rather plastered, wiry, if rather of the slick variety, Enrique, in rather unsomber suit, rising to confront Guillermo. "Got it all, huh? You and your fancy American girlfriend…Took it all, huh?"
"Enough, Enrique. This was Auntie's decision." Guillermo sighs. "And Roderigo got part, it's not all going to me."
"You…And Roderigo, punks both of you. What about the rest of you, you stinkin' Yankee, you gringo?!"
"Hi…" Phyllis had even beaten Sue, now by Guillermo's side, looking fiercely at Enrique, over to Enrique. Smile… "I'm Gui's friend, Phyllis. And if you take one more step his way, I'll break your arm."
"Phyl? Please…" Guillermo tries.
"Oh, ho, ho…You got your Yankee women fightin' for you now, huh?!" Enrique sneers. "How about you, blondie? You gonna break ma arm too?"
"I'm gonna snap your neck in a minute." Susan, coldly, from beside Guillermo. "Show your aunt some respect and sit down."
"You talk to me like…! Hey!" Enrique cries as Phyllis grabs his arm, twisting.
"Self-defense classes…" she explains to a stunned cousin of Guillermo's.
Whoa…Nice. I need to get the online link, the cousin thinks, nodding.
"Now sit down and be nice. Guillermo will take care of you, don't worry." Phyllis notes as Enrique gasps in her grip, groaning.
"Ok, fine!" he chokes out…Glaring as she releases him but quickly taking seat. Dr. Acura and Mrs. Afanas chatting with relatives, both casting slight, amused glances.
Phyllis winking at Guillermo, Susan nodding to her. Well done, sister.
But it's still no way in Hell as to the sharing thing…
…
Jen, at the old Residence, in jeans and old blouse, blonde hair tied up, lugging what is clearly a corpse in large trash bag…
"Hey, just back, working on a few last things we found in the attic and basement. This one was really bad, guess it got stuffed in a cubbyspace. Of course we could have left it for Simon Devious…" grin. "But we want the place in tip-top shape for the closing. The rats come back later…"
"Miss Jen! The salt works just fine!" call from above from Jacqueline. "I should have it all clean and ready for paint in twenty minutes!"
"Great, Jacks!" Jen calls up.
"So…Come on, I'll give you the low down as I get this poor lady to her final resting place…" she grabs bag.
Hmmn? Stare at question. "No, not really. I try to be respectful of the dead, natch. I still say a little general prayer when I dump the bodies. But no, doesn't get to me. It's just the Circle of Life, right? We raise animals to butcher who never get a chance to live. These people had lives…Some not very good ones…But they had their lives. And our Overlords have the right to Unlife, just like them." Pause to glance at bag..
"Besides, they mostly use us as their blood supply now. And who knows why this lady came into their lives…Familiar? Someone looking to rob them? Unwary real estate agent?" slight grin. "No, that's a bit mean. I've no way to know what or who she was or why she came to be here. But I'm just sayin', you and I don't get all worked up about the chicken we have for lunch? Should my Master lament having to kill somebody who he needed to take? I mean, lets be fair, huh? Anyway, let me get her outside. Anywhere's better than stuffed in that hole." She takes up dragging the bag again.
"So, as to better subjects…Count Dracula…' '…Has accepted Master Nandor's kind invite and he and his daughter and his sister and probably one rep of the Vampire Hunter's Corps will attend the reception at the new place, under truce. Hopefully it'll be fine but we'll be there in strength, ready to fight or talk about the place. There'll be some historical society folks and my Davey will be there…Maybe Suzette, haven't decided yet. Ginny suggested we include the nearest neighbors, so they can get to know the Cravensworths and Nandor. I understand they're mostly nice folks with large places who like to keep a low profile but have respect for the history here, so they should get on nicely with our guys. And the presence of so many innocents should keep things peaceable. Though Master Nandor does intend still, despite our efforts to plead with him, to offer himself in exchanger for Master Laszlo and Lady Nadja, and for our sakes." Sigh. "I can't bear to think of it…But Master Laszlo is sure Dracula won't be able to settle for just one of them. So, it means war, later on…Though it will be a short war, if Master Laszlo can make his plan work and they can get out. Hey, could you give me a hand with this on these stairs here? I don't wanna break the bag or any bones. Poor thing's been through enough…Yeah, thanks. Great…" puffing a bit as she lays bag down in the pick-up space outside in the back.
"Phew, glad she seems to be the last of them…Poor thing. It was hard to really be sure, but I think she was fairly young. Well, peace, honey…Whoever you were. And thanks for helping my friends." Jen, stepping back.
"God forgive me…" she murmurs, turning to climb the stairs.
"What? I didn't say anything, just now." she eyes camera…A bit perturbed.
"Well…So the plan is, they skedaddle and when the Vampire Hunters show, Ginny and a few of us are here, keeping the place…Oh, Nadja wants Ginny to have her history professor move in with her, which I can tell ya, is fine by Ginny Zeller." Smile. "Anyway, our cover is that Nadja, Laszlo, and Nandor went off on a research tour for Laszlo's new book…Nandor being the sort of wisecracking best friend like in the movies who goes everywhere with his friends, the married couple…And Ginny and family are house-sitting. She is actually ready to look at a new place for herself anyway, kinda shake the dust of her old life with Roy from her feet, you know?" wry smile. "So the VH guys come storming in, with stakes out, the Slayer in the lead, no doubt. No vamps here, the Souls are clammed up ("Another little deal, my Master worked out…"proud beam), saying nothing, and we poor innocent clueless human ladies and Rick the professor naturally call the cops. The VH folks are tied up for days at least, our folks get clean away." Smile.
"Nice, huh? Naturally if Simon and his guys show, hoping to see the bloodfight, they either get dusted before the cops show or they play human too. I think it's a good plan, cuts down on the risks to everyone. No one but maybe Simon and co and any VHers fighting them gets hurt. Good all around." Contented nod.
"And of course, we stay in thrall…And, in time, our Masters and the Mistress return. Maybe a few years but we'll be waiting. Not that we won't get on with our lives…I'll be with Davey and Suzie and Ginny will have a nice life with Rick and her girls. Sue might even wind up in Mexico with Gui. And Phyl and Erika and Martha and Jackie will be fine. Leading their lives with a sort of newfound serenity, ya know? An extra dimension to our existences…It won't lame us up, it'll expand our vision, really. I just hope we'll live to see them again, even if it's years from now. They'll try to keep in touch, but at least we'll have the contentment of knowing we helped to save them. We can live on that." Smile. "And watching Simon Devious flee the old Residence in terror of the rats…If he survives." beam.
"But tonight…Simon's a guest and a potential ally, though we'll be on guard constantly, natch. Ginny's detectives have been following a couple of his junior crew. It's surprising how much they get out, the vamps…And how many humans he must have working for him, probably a lot clueless like that Ms. Reynolds. Ginny and Erika couldn't detect a trace of thrall on her. Nothing very useful yet but they're keepin' an eye out. And good ole Eloise'll be here to help out if there's any trouble. But I think Simon will keep it cool, tonight. He needs to know what we know as much we do, he. Oh, that must be Martha at the front door…Come on, we can talk a little with her." Dropping to whisper as she hurries over. "I think she's feeling a little left out, so I'm sure she'd appreciate talking more with you guys." Raising voice to Jacqueline's call. "No, I got it, Jacks, thanks!"
…
Martha in front doorway, looking a bit wan…
"Hey, Jen. Hey, guys." She nods. "Jen, I had the doc take a pint and a half from me…I hope with what we got…" offers sachel which Jen takes.
"It should be fine, Martha." Peering into the bag. "But that might have been a bit much, you ok?"
"Sure…Sure…Fine…" nod. "Just need to sit a minute." Breathing deeply as she takes seat in the parlor.
"Lord Nandor around…?" attempt at casual, while gasping a bit…
Uh…Jen blinks, looking round.
I mean, in daylight, where else would he…?
"Is that our Martha I hear at the door?" Nandor's voice from his crypt area.
Martha, rapturous expression. "Here, my Master!" eager call of a young girl.
"Just a minute, I'm coming up…" Sound of coffin lid dully slamming.
Martha eyeing Jen quickly…
Hmmn…I have the feeling, I'm not wanted…Jen thinks.
My, my…Is that a new dress? She eyes Martha, Martha now clearly somewhat eager for her fellow minion to off and about…
"You must have a lot to do for the move and tonight…" careful stare, glance to the door to the hallway down to the stairway for the crypts.
"Plenty. I'll get right back to it."
"I'll be by to help as soon as I see what my Lord wants of me." Martha offers quick wave, calming now.
"Ah, there she is…And our Jen, busy as a beaver." Nandor's booming voice in the hallway. Martha rising hurriedly to meet him.
"I've got to get back upstairs and do a little quick painting with Jacqueline." Jen explains hurriedly as she moves to the stairway up, passing Nandor's beaming figure, decked a bit in part of the uniform he planned to wear to the reception.
"She's exhausted, make her rest, my Lord." She hisses as she passes him. He nodding…
"My Lord…You look amazing…" Martha gasps, looking him up and down.
"Oh, it's just part of my old dress uniform, I wanted your opinion about it for the reception." Nandor.
"Oh, it's so…Wonderful…"
"Oh, now…Speaking of wonderful, that's a new dress, isn't it?"
Jen giving giggle to camera as the crew follows her on stairs. "Lets give em a moment, ok?" she whispers, grinning.
…
