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

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

Part LXXXIII…

Hotel Gran Ciudal de Mexico…

Hotel room of Dr. Philippe Acura…aka Prince Vlad of the Dracule, Dracula…Dad to his daughter, Althea…Philippe to modern day friends and colleagues…Vlad to wife, sis, and old (pre 1890s) frienemies and associates.

"So, my dear…" Dr. Acura beams at the seated Susan. "Now that I've assured you that I've done nothing more to your friend Phyllis than calm her anxieties a bit for the funeral, what can I do for you?" he took a seat across from her.

"I'd ask you to leave my friends in peace…" she shrugs. "But I have a feeling the answer would be no."

"It would…But I wouldn't be leaving them 'in peace', dear. I'd be sentencing them to eternal death. I know you can't understand that in your current state…" he nods, a bit sadly… "But I assure you, I mean them nothing but the best."

"Even if they don't want it?" she sighs. "They prefer to live…Unlive…And we love them. Can't you just leave us all be, for now at least?"

"This is a critical time for them…The moment is coming…It may not come again, possibly ever. I know I'm taking a risk telling you that, but I feel it's important you understand the gravity of the situation, Susan." He nods. "Believe me, or please, try to, that I do care for them and pity their situation. They should not fear…And they will not die…"

"Right, 'cause they're already dead…"

"Debatable, but I am being quite literal. They won't die, Susan…If all goes well…"

"If…" sour look. "You mean they'll remain here, souled like you, some power, seeking to do good things and all to earn their ticket to Heaven?"

"Something very like that, yes."

"And if it doesn't go well? They go poof…"

"Probably not 'poof'. Sadly, that's mainly in the movies. But if we can redeem them, even that will not be the end for them. They'll be safe."

"Uh-huh…In Heaven?"

"Probably more like the Catholic Purgatory, if you're familiar with the concept…Some atonement required. Or they might be reincarnated, as Althea and my wife have been, in my case and theirs, to do what good we can."

"I was raised on it. Reincarnated? As mortals, like me?"

"Indeed…Though I'm selfish enough to hope we get them to stay as they are, with souls restored. They're needed in this world."

"Fightin' the good fight, with you?"

"I hope so…" he smiles. "It would be something to go to battle with Nandor at my side again, in a less military scenario."

"It's not what they want. I know I can't fight you myself, but they will." She sighs. "And we'll be with them, fighting as best we can."

"That would not be wise…Nor what even in their current states I believe they want."

"No…They're good people, whatever they are, they don't want us hurt." She agrees. "But we can't sit by and watch them suffer. We love them."

"I understand. But know that when they are free, at last, they will be glad of this…And both honored and ashamed to know of your efforts to protect them." Firm nod.

"I'm not…Eager…To die…" she sighs. "But you of all people know I and the others will, for them. Isn't it wrong? Against your redemption creed or whatever? To put us at risk like this?"

"It's worse to leave you as you are…Trapped. Oh, my dear…" he shakes head. "If you could realize how your poor soul is screaming every second through the Ether…Begging for help, as all those poor souls I enslaved once did. As do your friends, the Cravenworths and Nandor."

"Ok…I see…" she shrugs, rising. "I get it's no point to argue and I won't be silly about it, making threats I know I can't keep. But you are risking us…And people you care about, Doctor. And you and your friends could just walk away. It will be on your hands…"

"I accept that." He nods, solemnly. "You're a remarkable young woman, Susan. I sense even through the thrall a very kind and courageous heart. Guillermo is very lucky. One day, I suspect he will understand just how lucky."

"I get you…" she smiles wanly. "Thanks, that means a lot coming from you, since even Gui refuses to believe it. Well, it's been very fun and quite a trip spending time with the real Count Dracula. Thank you for all your kindness to us…Me and Gui, I mean." She offers a hand which he took, beaming. "I guess we'll see each other at Master Nandor's reception. I'm looking forward to meeting your daughter. Jen says she's a peach."

"She is indeed. And I look forward to it as well…" he releases her hand, giving a slight bow.

"Ok, then…So you European guys really do do that?" she smiles wanly.

"We old school types, yes." Nod, smile. "Take care my dear. And know I and the others will do everything possible to protect you and the other ladies."

"We won't. I hope you know that." She eyes him. He, nodding, a bit sadly.

"All too well, dear. All too well."

….

"So…" Althea continues…Smiling at the camera… "My mom reincarnated several times…Naturally she had only the vaguest impressions of my dad that only surfaced over time as she grew up, but when they did, they became obsessions that led her to seek him out."

"Not however, as in the films…So much sex and women who turn into doormats when 'the Count' confronts them…" Elisabete frowns.

Though some Counts are a bit more suited to the role than others…Picturing Christopher Lee for a moment, in his cape…

"No, not like that…" Althea agrees. "Much more like Julia Hoffman…Trying to seek him out, once or twice feeling compelled to join the Hunters' Corps and even to try to do him in, though always realizing in time and hesitating, seeking some way for him. And for his part, Dad always recognized her…" fond smile. "No matter what she looked like, he could sense her…"

"After a time…It wasn't that easy…Lets not over-romanticize, darling." Elisabete smiles.

"Maybe…Still, he never harmed her." Althea insists.

"No, never…" Elisabete nods, clearly comforting…

"But…Tragedy always intervened. Something or someone always came between them…"

Yeah…Elisabete nodded to a comment from one of the crew. "Vladimir did tell Stoker one true story. That Harker fellow was real…Different name of course but he did exist, a very nice fellow…And Vlad was bitterly jealous to find Elisabete engaged, then married to another man, a mere mortal, however nice and even brave. But Elisabete…Or, Mina, as she actually was named then, was a faithful and devoted wife and she stood firm with her Mr. Harker. Obviously, Vlad did not die as a result of the encounter, nor did he kill her. He did bite her in desperation…And with some bad advice from a certain sister…" sigh. "But Mina/Elisabete has/had a very strong will and with help from, yes, Abraham Van Helsing, she and her husband of the time did fight Vlad's influence off. But that was the start of the final road, you see…" smile. "Vlad spared her and her husband, and Abraham saw it…And saw my brother was more than a monster. A human soul, buried and trapped, still lived about the creature he'd become, shared existence, horribly, but for some victims, mercifully, with him. Then, shortly after, poor Mina died in childbirth…And the final terrible chapter began. She was reborn, again…But someone, something…Evil and determined to stop Vlad's redemption…Had become involved. A vile creature who rejoiced in building an empire on the sufferings of Mankind. Hmmn?" she paused.

"Oh, no, not Simon Devious! Please. That pissant of a vampiral prince…"

Althea, grinning…

"D'Hoffryn, lord of Vengeance Demons."

Althea, scowling now… "Rat bastard."

"D'Hoffryn the monstrous demonic lord who took pleasure in suffering and so loved to torment and trick Humanity and even its Undead, he doomed himself to eternal damnation…He preyed on the desperate and oppressed…Uh, yes, like the character in 'Buffy'…" Elisabete nodded. "Though more charming in the TV show than real life. And as in the show, he found those women and men who, treated badly by the world, were easy prey for one like him who gave them small bequests of power to torment those who'd wronged them and others, even innocents they could delude. He feeding off the chaos and pain."

"He wanted Dad for his stable…And a Slayer…" Althea nods. "Me, since I was to be born as last of the Slayers…The one to remain Slayer through rebirths until the source of demonic power via dimensional portal to other worlds, the 'Hellmouth' on 'Buffy' was sealed, sealing the fate of all demonic creatures, even the hybrid vampire/humans like Dad and your friends. And my mother was the key to his plans. As both victim and instrument…"

"A terrible, dark plan…" Elisabete nods. "Fueled by Vlad's despair, the sufferings of Elisabete in her new form, the fears of Althea's other self, Cicely…And the jealousy of Cicely's Watcher…A great scholar and wizard."

"Another story…And one I rather prefer to tell another time…" Althea sighs. "But Mom was reborn and this time my poor mother…" shakes head. "I don't know if I believe in God per se, but if he exists, she has a hell of a lot to answer for. I know we make our own Fates but this…What my poor mom suffered…Was beyond cruel."

"She was a delicate and loving creature…A clairvoyant, as she'd usually been…Her link to Vlad usually manifesting as great psychic ability." Elisabete, sighing. "And that monster D'Hoffryn arranged for a lesser monster, and victim, but to me a monster…A monster, Althea…I know you feel for him but he was…A selfish, cruel monster like me…A vampire of considerable power…Sensed her ability, her innocence…And her link to Vlad. And struck."

Althea…Rather downcast…

"I suppose it must have made the vamp boys around the bar table howl…He took the reincarnated wife of Dracula, the son of a bitch…Angelus…Yes, that Angelus…" Elisabete notes grimly.

"He couldn't help what he was, Aunt Bete. And Mom's forgiven him."

"I've not your mother's, my brother's, or your kind heart, Althea…I don't." Elisabete, coolly.

"He tormented my poor sister-in-law, drove her mad, cut her off from Vlad as well as her current human family…Those he didn't kill…And finally, turned her."

"The Drusilla of 'Buffy'…" Althea sighs. "My mom. Countess Elisabete of the Dracule. After centuries of fighting to save my father and nearly reaching him on the last try."

"Even then, lost as I was…My heart broke as much as it could then, for Vlad…" Elisabete shakes head. "For me it was the first real stirrings of Humanity again…And for him, the final blow, almost."

"And for D'Hoffryn and his pal, my Watcher…" Althea, grimly. "The end."

"A New Hope…" Elisabete grins. "Like 'Star Wars', and I love that film, a new hope arose out of total despair and the seeming victory of Evil. But first, more darkness…But not just for Vlad, who seemed doomed to sink into despair and depravity…"

"D'Hoffryn wanted me, too." Althea notes. "And my own mother was to be his tool, the bastard." Icy tone.

"He sent Drusilla's soul, in her despair, lost and cut from the world, a messenger, one of his own…Who promised her a companion…If she'd do as he commanded…One for all eternity."

"My William…" Althea nods. "Kinky, eh? And believe me, he knew who Mom was. And who I was, as Cicely."

"But once that tragedy had passed…" Elisabete continues… "And all seemed lost…Abraham came, to save us all."

"My unk…" Althea beams. "No great wizard, no magician, no special powers…Just a great heart and a killer brain."

"Abraham was brought in by those in the Council and the Hunter Corps who had doubts, to probe the mystery around…Well, the death of Cicely Addams Walthrop…And the transformation of her husband…" Elisabete notes. "And he quickly learned of the Watcher's role and the involvement of Drusilla."

"There was a little difference there between real life and 'Buffy'…" Althea notes. "My William rejected Drusilla and went off on his own, hating but avoiding me, whom he thought had rejected him and driven him to Dru. Not true, but…I had allowed D'Hoffryn to trick Will…I thought him in danger staying with me…I didn't know one of his vengeance demons in my form would drive him to Mom…As I say I'll tell you guys the rest of that one another time…But it was too late, I was pregnant by Will and was poisoned by my Watcher, and shortly after, died."

"Van Helsing having learned Drusilla had been used to help destroy the Slayer, kept probing…And found, at the heart of the mystery…" Elisabete smiles. "My brother…Who'd pursued his own researches, despite his despair, not completely willing to give up. After all, his Elisabete was still present on Earth, even if in hideous form…If her soul could be recovered, the monster could be driven out."

"But that couldn't be done by a vampire condemned himself…" Althea beams. "So, he turned to the one man who'd once offered his help when Dad felt ready to take it. Uncle Abraham. And together, they lifted the curse of the Dracule. Freed Dad…And saved Mom. Though her spirit had to be set free for a time as a requirement for Dad's redemption."

"A small penance…But what's that in Eternity, once you know your beloved is safe and free, eh?" Elisabete nods. "Hmmn? Oh, Althea's cousin dealt with the Watcher."

"Cicely's cousin, Alex…Sorta a 19th century version of Xander Harris from 'Buffy'." Althea, fond tone. "Great guy. And Auntie herself took care of D'Hoffryn." Eyeing Elisabete with smile.

"He was no match for a daughter of the Dracule still cursed once I could confront him in his own dimension. Vlad was too weakened by his redemption at the time to tend to it himself, so I was happy to help." Elisabete nods. "Of course, I had to offer to join his ranks but once in, it was easy." Sly smile.

"Auntie's very good and when she was bad…" Althea, teasing.

Elisabete, somewhat embarrassed…

"But she's the dearest of sweeties now…" fond pat. "And a great cook…Wasn't that cake terrif? And since Dad helped her free herself, she's been helping him free others. Like your friends. She's incredible."

"I only do my Duty…" Elisabete shrugs, quiet smile. "Whatever I can do to help Vlad help those trapped as we were…I do."

"And doing so, freed me…" Althea beams.