What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar...
Part LXXXIV…
Morning…About 7:30 am.
Benito Juarez International Airport, Mexico City, Mexico…
Mens' room…
"Guillermo,
Sorry I did not travel back with you. As I sense your Susan is a woman of indomitable spirit, even in her thrall, and Miss Phyllis likewise, I felt it best to leave alone, my dear friend, to prevent any possible tragedy occurring with regards to their devotion to our friends. Know, my dear Guillermo that I understand your pain and your concerns here…Believe me, few could better…But, I also know your devotion to our friends will continue leading you on this difficult but noble path. Looking forward to seeing you and our friends on the 27th. Do give my best to old Nandor.
Yours,
Phillippe Acura
P.S. Tell Nandor it was my Elisabete who chose the 'Phillippe', during one of our reunions in spirit. Some ages ago she'd led a life in France and she thought it suited me."
Guillermo looking up from the note Acura had left with Roderigo for him, sighing.
So, I guess that's it. I'm on my own now in this business.
At least till Dracula, his Slayer daughter, and the Vampire Hunter Corps with the ghost of Van Helsing in support come storming in…
But it's me who'll have to do the job. I know that now.
Great…I know I deserve it but…
Just great.
And of course I've gotta wait for just the right moment…Which I'll somehow "know".
Wonderful.
So will the ladies kill me before or after? Either to stop me from killing their Overlords or for letting their Overlords take them?
Something fun to think about while I await the "right moment".
Nice…
I had to be a hero's descendant. And I'm not even some kinda genius like him.
Well, what can you do?
I guess I should get a will drawn up, now I'm rich. Leave it all to the ladies with apologies for helping enslave them?
Maybe a note for Susan? Something she can crumple up and spit on before she desecrates my grave.
Of course, maybe I'll just spend the rest of my life in prison…The pervert kidnapper. No, not even that…The prevent kidnappers' assistant/errand boy.
But I want to help them, my friends…Sue…Jen…The other ladies. And I think…I know…I'm the only one who can.
Well, I hope Master Nandor enjoys the reception/housewarming.
….
Nandor, in his new bedroom, eagerly peering out the large UV/sunlight screening windows. An anxious Martha standing by his side…Jacqueline, in her daily maid's uniform by her, assigned by Nadja in support over her modest protest…
"Nonsense, child…There's no need for four of you here with us. We will have Jennifer, Ginny, and Erika watching us like Superb Owls. Go and stay by Nandor in the case the old fool opens the window or resets the controls. Shut up, Laszlo…" Nadja in antique nightgown had turned to Laszlo in his nightshirt that night previous. Erika, the minion free of routine family duties, having stayed for the evening at her anxious request, in modern nightgown seated on a small couch in the new Cravenworth bedroom. "I know the windows are unbreakable and the controls are fused to safe settings but I know you and Nandor can defeat any safeguards. And one never knows if this might be Van Helsing's way of dealing with us."
"Don't think he means to fry us Undead, love." Laszlo, smiling to Erika.
"I will never allow it, ma'am!" firm cry from Jacqueline, Erika nodding anxiously in agreement.
"Perhaps not and I know you would do your best, child." Nadja, shaking head. "But these two idiots will find a way if it's possible. In any case, Nandor should have more support. Jacqueline. It is my order that you be with Nandor at daybreak to help his minion Martha guard him. Though do not sit up all night waiting. And girls? Make sure Martha does not either, she ought to go home and see her children."
"Master Nandor gave her such an order, ma'am." Jacqueline nods. "She wasn't keen to go but he insisted. She's coming back about 4 am."
"She'll exhaust herself." Sigh. "Still, she'd probably fret more not being here and after tomorrow morning we'll all feel a bit more used to the place and…" pause in her words as Nadja contemplated the sad necessity of vamoosing after Nandor's reception. "…we won't be here that long anyway."
Nandor in the present, eyeing the rising sun… "Look at it, Martha. So beautiful…" sighing. "To think I have Unlived to see this day. The blessed sun smiling at us once more. All due to you dear ladies…" he turns to beam at a very nervous Martha, not hesitating to pull at his dressing gown, and Jacqueline looking apprehensive.
"Please don't take such chances, Master!" Martha begs. "Master Nandor, be careful, sir, if I may." Jackie. "Oh, I need to see to my Mistress! May I be excused to check on her safety, Lord Nandor?"
"Oh, no need there…" Laszlo's hearty voice. "Good morrow one and all…A bright and sunny new day, eh?" he enters room in his own dressing gown, Nadja following…A look of wonder on her face as she looked out Nandor's window.
"Mistress! You're all right?" Jackie cries, hurrying to her.
"Fine, she's fine, girl. Don't fret." Laszlo notes cheerily. "Alls well and it's a beautiful morning, eh Nandor?"
"Indeed…" Nandor breathes unnecessarily. "I cannot believe how beautiful the dawn is."
"You mustn't take chances, Master!" Martha, urgently.
"It's fine, Martha." He notes kindly to her worried face. "Today is not my day to die. Though I must admit…I could die content on such a beautiful morning."
"Lovely morose sentiment…" Nadja frowns as she enters the room following Laszlo.
"Ah, my dear, no such thoughts." Laszlo, gallantly. "Far too beautiful a morning…What a pity it took Humanity so long to develop such technology."
"I still don't trust it." Nadja, suspiciously. "Simon passed on such to Ginny. What if he had these windows installed here?"
"Oh, you must get back, Nandor!" Martha, shrieking a bit. "Uh…My Lord Nandor." To the stunned faces staring at her.
"I'm so sorry, Master. Forgive me." She bows.
"Not at all. Very sweet and kind for you to be so concerned. And to show I mean it, I will back away a bit. But I think we have nothing to fear." Nandor, stepping back a few paces but eagerly scanning sky and ground.
"I'd forgotten how beautiful the green grass looks…See the trees there, Laszlo!" he points.
"Yes, indeed. Very handsome." Laszlo agrees.
"Laszlo?" Nadja, a bit anxiously. "It's not…Calling to you? Is it?"
"What?" he blinks.
"I mean…You aren't feeling compelled to go out and roast? And leave me, forever?"
"Nadja…Not this again…" he sighs.
"No need to worry, he'd be safe with me." The Soul Doll, in carrier strapped to Nadja's back, notes archly.
"Damn you!" Nadja hisses. "If I didn't believe that…" weeping suddenly.
"Mistress?! Oh, dear Mistress…" Jacqueline hurries over to her side. "Oh, please don't cry." Fretful wringing of hands. "What can I do? Should I burn this evil doll?"
"Bugger off, feeb minion." The Doll sneers.
"Stop that!" Nadja glares. "Jacqueline is just trying to serve me. No, don't burn her, Jacqueline. Not yet."
"Must you be so cruel to her?" Laszlo to the Soul Doll, sternly.
"Is no cruelty to state the fact of matter."
"Which would be…?" Laszlo, hard stare.
"My darling…" the Doll, coy smile. "We both already know."
"All right! Burn the dratted thing, Jacqueline!" Nadja cries.
"With pleasure, my Mistress…" Jacqueline, firmly, grabbing the squirming Doll.
"Wait!" Laszlo calls… "Nadja?! We need her! She's our link to Van Helsing and co."
"I'm your only hope…!" the Doll calls, trying to still squirm free of Jacqueline's fierce grip, Jacqueline moving for the door.
"DAMN! Jacqueline! Wait!" Nadja, sighing.
"Mistress?! Let me destroy her!" Jackie, anxiously.
"You can't anyway, poor girl." The Doll notes, smiling. "But you would deprive your Mistress of her way to know when the Hunter Corps is coming."
"You lie!" Jacqueline, angrily shaking doll. "If you know anything, say so now before I throw you into the furnace!"
"No, Jacqueline." Nadja orders. "Bring her to me."
"Wise restraint." The Doll smiles. "Do as I say, girl."
"You are not my Mistress!" Jacqueline fumes.
"I'm more her than she is." The Doll, proudly. "Given it be my body she stole."
"Not quite true, girl." Laszlo frowns. "We are, after all, a part of the whole. The Dark Part." Smile.
"Not so dark as all that, my love." The Doll beams at him. "And it's 'Dark Side'. I was watching Star Wars with you last night on phenomenally large screen."
"Fine but could you please stop that love chatter? It's annoying the Missus." He notes.
"I'm only letting you know that I love you with soul as well as demonic essence." Arch look. "And I'm being kind thereby. Letting her know she was not acting in evil when she took you."
Kind smile to Nadja, who stares…
"In loving you, we are One."
…
The Acura residence…
"Mmn…Sorry." Althea eyes the camera. "Even if I knew the exact time we move on them, I couldn't tell you folks, however much you swore to secrecy. They might take one of you or you might even feel compelled to warn them. I know how lovable they are, even their demonic essences. It's why they are candidates for more than a merciful staking."
"It's very much a mercy." Her aunt frowns at the question put. "Althea doesn't kill the vampiral out of pleasure, she's very much, dangerously so, aware they were human beings and not at all necessarily evil or weak. And that the souls of the trapped long for such mercy, beg for it…" tears welling.
"Auntie…" Althea, patting.
"You can't understand what it's like to see yourself a monster…Killing the innocent, betraying them, tormenting…Even children…" Elisabeth sighs. "It's horrible. And you ask yourself, as the Devil hopes you will, am I responsible? What terrible things did I do, even as a mere human, to deserve such a fate. How much of this evil is my own? And you find…You find in your heart…" woebegone stare.
"Auntie…You were not a bad person." Althea shakes head, rubbing Elisabeth's back gently.
"I was arrogant…I didn't hear the cries of the suffering, even our own peasants…Now…All I can hear, sometimes…"
"You've done all you could to make amends. You were a victim, too, Auntie. Don't punish yourself." Althea, gently.
"I try. But so much weakness in me…Where was my courage and faith?"
"Not Dad, not Mother…And I know not me…Can fight this, not at least for a long time and with help. But you have fought and won, Auntie."
"I hope so, I hope so. God forgive me."
"She or He must've…Or you couldn't ask." Althea smiles.
"You are a blessed angel, Althea." Elisabeth notes. "You people have no idea what and whom you're talking to in this sweet girl. She is the Savior of Humanity countless times over."
"Too much, Auntie. I'm just the descendant of a girl a bunch of frightened magic-inclined scholars gave a load of power to, eons ago, to use. No need to swell my head, as Dad would and my William will say."
She eyes the camera with faint smile… "No, I've no idea when my husband will show…"
"Not till you have a proper marriage, Althea." Elisabeth, firmly. "Though there could be none better or worthy. Your mother would insist."
"Right…Fiancée for now." Smile. "But I honestly don't know where or when he'll show. Only that he will, no matter how long it takes."
"It's time for Althea to get back to her studies…And you should return to your…Friends." Elisabeth, just a bit sourly on the "Friends". "A safe journey back and beware…They may be very kind within their limits, but those limits exist, nonetheless."
"Yeah. Tell them not to be scared." Althea rises. "We mean them only good."
"Devious and his…Foolish lover?" Elisabeth to a question from the director. "Sad as I am for Abraham, that woman betrayed her trust for Immortality and she may get it, to her sorrow. As for him, God rest his black soul, no one else can."
"I wish we could help her…" Althea sighs. "I get she's in love with Devious…Auntie." To Elisabeth's curt look. "I was in love with two vampires, and Will wasn't souled at the time we met, even if he did fight himself free." Quick proud stare, shrug. "But Lesley has to want to be helped…Else her fate's likely to be bound up with Simon's and not a very happy one. I will do what I can for her, but we can't let her interfere…"
"Sir." Elisabeth, sternly to the director's coy question. "My niece is no deceiver nor a liar."
"But if she was working for us, true…I wouldn't tell you…" Althea grins. "Well, see you at the reception. I'm looking forward to it."
