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

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

Part LXXXXVI…

[Note-Naturally we are diverging from the new season storyline into AU territory]

The entrance to the new residence…

A nervous Guillermo, accompanied by Phyllis/Van Helsing, by the door, now trying to slip over to Claude and Derek, currently outfitted in the waiting attire of the temp staff…Claude eyeing Guillermo as if to say…Chill, man…

"Gr…Phyllis? Why are they here?" Guillermo hisses to his companion who eyes him innocently.

"You mean those two?" she asks, confused look. "Hey, whoa!…I'll spill this, Guillermo!" as he pulls her over to a corner, annoyed.

"Granduncle…" Guillermo, frowning… "I know it's still you and this is no time to be funny."

"Sorry…" she hisses back. "But there's no need to attract attention to them, they're not here to fight, I'm sure."

"You don't sound sure…" he notes.

"Well…I didn't send them, I promise you. But all the…" pause as Ginny comes up, Ellie following a bit reluctantly.

"Gui! Phyllis, you know Ellie. Gui! This is my daughter, Ellie." Warmly fond smile…Ellie a bit uncomfortable in her gown, staring.

Mom? What's the deal? You're friends with this creep? Her look saying…

"Ellie? This is Gui, our…Good friend and Mr. Relentless and Mr. Cravensworth's chief assistant."

"Hey."

"Hiya." Ellie, coolly. "Hey, Phyllis."

"Hello…You look lovely." Phyllis, smiling.

"Guys? Did you want some champagne?" Ginny indicating a passing waiter…Derek in fact, baring a tray he'd just been told to take round.

"No, thanks…" Guillermo…Eyeing Derek who avoids his glance.

"I'm fine with the wine, thank you." Phyllis raises her glass.

"So…I see my date and one daughter's lost to Laszlo and History for the evening…" Ginny grins at Guillermo and Phyllis, indicating Laszlo, Jaqueta, and Professor Devers intently engaged once more in conversation…Jennifer, holding Suzette standing by, watching with amusement. David, just by her, already in happy discussion with the others and Shaun of the history of the Chinese Empire.

"That sounds about right…" Ellie, a bit sullenly. Ginny sighing at her words, a What now? expression on the girl's face.

"So, Gui?" Ginny turns to him, he blinking at her. "How's it feel to be a multimillionaire?"

Ellie, a bit startled, turning…

"Very strange…I won't deny it." he shakes head.

"What's really strange is you don't deny being a multimillionaire…" she smiles. "Be careful, the ladies will be snappin' round you."

"I don't mean to sound…" he begins.

"You never do…" fond pat of his arm. "Ellie, this guy is the best. I only wish for your or Jacque's he weren't taken…By our Susie."

"Susan? The one who works for you?" Ellie blinks.

Him? Her expression clearly stating…

"Yeah, they're engaged or practically so…" arch look at Guillermo who blushes.

"Well…Nothing's quite settled so far…" he stammers.

"Wow." Ellie, clearly thinking anything but the word. "Sue? You must be doing well."

"Susan was ready to take him without a dime, Ellie." Ginny eyes her daughter. "He's that good a man."

"Great for her." Ellie, shrugging. "Can we go get something to eat?"

"Go. I'm talking." Ginny points to the table.

"Sorry…" As Ellie sulks off toward the dining table… "My girl's got an attitude problem just now. It's really me she's mad at." Ginny sighs to Guillermo and Phyllis.

"Kinda wish…You know…" she hisses.

"Don't ever wish that, Ginny." Guillermo, firmly. "Never. You'll regret it terribly one day just thinking it."

She eyes him, Phyllis as well. "Like I said, you're the best, Gui. I get it." Rubbing fingers a bit anxiously.

"It's not your fault…Just don't ever wish it. For your sake as well." He notes.

"Maybe you're right." She nods. "Well, quite a party…"

"Indeed." Phyllis, smiling. "The Cravensworths and Mr. Relentless know how to make one, with your help, Virginia."

"And everyone's…" Ginny nods, looking about, shaking head. "Can't believe I'm going to be living here…Phyl? Any chance you and Sean would like to come along? It's a huge place."

"I couldn't really say right now, Virginia. Let me talk to Sean and we'll see." Phyllis smiles. "Thanks for the offer, it is an amazing and lovely place. I'm sure you'll take excellent care of it."

"Thanks…" eyeing her. Glance to Guillermo who was looking for a chance to slip off to confront Derek at least…Both he and Claude now making the rounds of the great dining hall bearing their trays of champagne.

"Dr. Van Helsing…" Ginny finishes, coolly eyeing Phyllis.

The basement of the new residence…Really the wrong word for such a magnificent area, more lower grand ballroom/ reception hall.

Where former field commanders Vlad Dracula and Nandor the Relentless were now engaged in fearful and deadly combat…Or, rather their well-crafted model soldiers were…On the famed battlefield of Varna. Nandor having offered to take the role of Ottoman Commander and retired- then-temporarily-restored Sultan Murad II, Dracula happily accepting that of the doomed…Well, in the original battle, by his own and the folly of his Crusader comrades…Władysław III of Poland and Hungary…

"Wladyslaw, poor young fellow, was the nominal commander but handed command over to…" Acura, stern grimace. Nandor frowning as well… "John Hunyadi…"

"You remember your uncle, my oft-mentioned brother, God rest his soul, was the Wallachian commander, Mircea, Althea." Acura, peering over the large model, eagerly notes to Althea who struggles to repress her glee at watching the two acting like eager children hovering over the battlefield simulation. Acura/Dracula having been in something like rapture upon seeing the accuracy of the miniature battlefield.

"Of course, he was murdered by allies of Hunyadi, that sob, a few years later…" sigh. "An act which our friend Nandor here opposed." Eyes Nandor's surprised look. "Yes, I learned you tried to intercede for him, Nandor. And you should know, to my shame, I did nothing to help him, such was my ambition to seize the Wallachian throne...An ambition that preceded my Undeath."

"Your father is too kind, Miss Althea." Nandor, shaking head. "It was largely political…Your uncle Mircea II was popular but not so much as your dad and I merely suggested the Sultan try to have him freed to create a power struggle among the living Christian allies of the Ottomans to keep them in bounds, dependent on him. I don't think it can be placed to my credit, sadly. I did meet him once when he came to pay homage to the Sultan, a fine young man."

"A good man and brother, a true patriot, despite lies spread against him, betrayed by me…No, it's only the truth, Nandor." Acura put up a hand. "And one of many reasons why I cannot possibly blame you for your acts. You thought to save your people, even after your Undeath…I think you of all people know how little I did to save mine."

"Water under the bridge at Drina, my friend…Even for those of us still human then, those were very different times." Nandor, shrugging. "I only wish we could have fought together to save the Holy City when a chance still existed. A pity you weren't born a century earlier."

"Yes, hard as it may be for you to believe, I am by far the youngster in our relationship, my girl." Acura smiles to Althea.

"But a remarkable general and personal fighter from the moment I encountered him." Nandor, nodding. "So…Here is the battlefield…I have tried to follow the account the Sultan Murad II gave his son, which I witnessed and had written down and what I was able to obtain from the Wikipeople and other historians."

"Lets see…Althea? My dearest girl, would you do me the honor of taking my brother your uncle's command of the Wallachian forces?"

Grinning with push of glasses, Althea nods… "He was the one who got our people out after the defeat, right, Dad?" she smiles.

"See, she knows her history…" Acura, chuckling. "A born Wallachian/Byzantine."

Near the entrance, in a little knot of three…Ginny cautiously maintaining her calm as she confronts her beloved Mistress' nemesis in Phyllis' form.

"Gui?" Ginny, eyeing him… "Did you…?"

Guillermo nodding… "It's ok. He just wants to observe."

"The boy's quite right, Virginia." Phyllis nods. "I mean your Mistress and Masters no harm, including in their current states."

"There's no need for you to be here, Doctor." Ginny glares. "We're perfectly fine and your being here…If we really matter to you…Puts us in more danger than if you'd leave us alone."

"I can't agree with you there, Miss. I can only say no harm will come to anyone tonight through me." Phyllis smiles.

"Let me talk to Phyl…Phyl?"

"Not just yet…But I assure you she's fine." Phyllis put up a hand. "I'd suggest we move a bit so as not to attract attention?" she suggests. Ginny reluctantly nodding.

"Wait…I want to talk to Guillermo alone. Just for a moment."

"Of course. I'll go fetch a bit more of this excellent wine, with your pardon. Guillermo?"

"Sure."

Ginny leading Guillermo out of the entrance foyer and into the mammoth kitchen, where several serving staff were busy, among them Derek and Claude, both arranging fresh drinks on their trays.

"Here…" she waves him over to the far end of the kitchen, as much out of earshot as possible…

"Gui? You knew he was here?"

"Only a moment ago…He promised he meant no harm."

"Eh…Gui…I don't mean to doubt you, but…" she sighs. "You know he's bent on destroying them."

"Not tonight. It's not the right time, with all these people here."

"How do you know that?!" annoyed tone, then sheepish look. "Sorry, Boss…I'm just worried for her, for them." Anxious look.

"I believe him. He's a man of his word, Ginny."

"Yeah?" frown. "Maybe…"

"He wants to be sure you come to no harm…And them too."

"He's the enemy, Guillermo." Ginny, stern-faced look. "And I think he knows the Overlords are going to flee."

"It won't help anything to confront him here. And hurting Phyllis won't hurt him." Guillermo notes firmly. She glares but relents…

"I suppose…You know best, Gui. But all the more reason…" she pauses as Ellie returns, bearing plate and glass of wine.

"Over eighteen, Mom." Ellie to Ginny's look.

"Ok, but don't overdo it." Sternly.

"So, you worked for these guys…Is that how you made 'multimillions'?" Ellie eyes Guillermo.

"He inherited it from an aunt. But the Cravensworths and Mr. Relentless were ready to load him up. He's like a son to them." Ginny, fond smile to Guillermo.

"Nice. Sue knows where her bread is buttered, I guess."

"That's a lousy thing to say, Ellie. Apologize. Right now." Ginny, angrily.

"Fine. Sorry, Daddy Warbucks." Ellie, sauntering off.

"You sure I shouldn't think it?" Ginny to Guillermo…Grimacing as both watch the girl head over to the wonderous sofa and sit, annoyed look.

"Just a little, maybe?"

The battlefield…A view of plastic human and horse model corpses and turned over plastic model cannon as far as eye could see.

Damn…Nandor, eyeing his shattered forces… Sighing. "I yield my sword and for the sake of my little plastic men, surrender to you, King Władysław and Prince…Well, for historical accuracy only… Mircea. By the way, my girl…That last charge was brilliant. I was sure we had you."

"Darkest before the dawn, sir." She beams. "But I always thought the battle could have been won, even with the long odds. After all, they nearly did in the original."

"A glorious triumph…No thanks to me…" Acura grins. "Nandor, you broke my center with that same charge you used in 1476. I should have known…Althea, I crown you Queen of Poland and Hungary in my stead, you've earnt it, my wonderful girl."

"Thanks, Poppa…I'll take it." She nods.

"Believe me, she's as good in personal combat…" Acura notes to Nandor, proud smile.

"My ole friend…" Nandor smiles wanly at Acura as they stand by the battlefield display. "I know it's saying something to go that far…But I do believe we are ole friends."

"Indeed…After all this time, and all we've been through together and apart, there's not much else we can be." Acura beams. "So…" shrewd look. "You wanted to make the great sacrifice…" grin. "Sorry, no offense intended, old fellow." To Nandor's slightly annoyed look. "It's just for both of us, such heroics are a trifle absurd even if true. After what we together have witnessed, it's amazing that we can even consider such. Yet, it's what I have hoped to see, for many, many years." Smile.

"Vlad…If I may presume to use your old name." Nandor eyes him.

"It's still my name, though my beloved Bete is right, my Phillippe is sportier and currently legal." Chuckle.

"Well, I still like it." Taking firm pose… "Prince Vlad, you know my wishes. I am ready to take on the consequences of my actions and accept my punishments by the Powers That Be. I ask only that my friends, Laszlo and Nadja Cravensworth, and Colin Robinson, our energy vampire, be allowed to remain at peace. They will do what they can to make amends in their own time but spare them for now, I beg you." Earnest look.

"Ah, Nandor…" Acura beaming… "You are a hero warrior, always were. And as your old friend I wish I could grant your request to honor such a noble gesture. But it is out of my hands…And that's truly, I assure you, as your friend, for the better for your friends. But…Welcome, old friend to the Redemption you have so earned. I only hope it will be as joyful for you as it is for me."

"God bless you, sir." Althea smiles.

"What?" Nandor, staring.

"I'm afraid that's it, Nandor." Acura chuckles. "No great fireworks, no great test…Though I understand my Althea's soulmate, William the Bloody, did undergo some rather sadistic trials. You've done your duty, my friend. And won your Redemption, and new burdens, I'm sorry to say. Though burdens relieved by the joy of knowing you are free and your soul is again your own."

"I'm…Redeemed?" Nandor, blinking. "But…"

"From the moment you put your friends' and the dear enthralled ladies' existence ahead of yours, yes." Acura nods.

"Somehow, I'd thought…Well…I suppose now you tell me, I do feel a bit less…Bloodlusty. But not quite human."

"That will come more and more in time, my friend." Acura nods. "Of course, it also means weaker powers and a bit more restraint. But I think you'll find being able to walk among your fellows in the daylight, as you shortly will...And enjoy some other delights of the mortal world…Will outweigh what's lost."

"It takes a bit of time, sir." Althea agrees. "But you'll soon notice the changes creeping up on you."

"Jahan…?" Nandor stares down the reception hall at where his ghost horse has appeared near the far wall. "Have you come back to me, old comrade?"

"Ah, Jahan…That wonderful horse of yours." Acura smiles, peering. "Yes, he's come no doubt to show you his pleasure that you've made it back, old friend."

"I feel rather strange…Jahan? I'd thought you went off with…" Nandor, pausing. "My God…My soul is back."

"Indeed it is…" Acura nods, beaming. "Congratulations."