What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar...
Part XLVIII...
Jennifer walking to her front door, Ginny's car heading off...
"Well, that was quite a night." She ruefully grins to camera. "I'm still coming down off it all...Though of course I know Ginny didn't mean anything by considering killing me. It was all for the Mistress. But it was odd that Van Helsing seemed to think I'd be different. I mean I appreciate that he thinks I'm kind-hearted but really I'd do whatever it took to save Master Laszlo and I hope his people get that. But it's nice in its way...I mean I try to be good to people as much as I can and I really would feel badly having to kill anyone, though I wouldn't slack in my Duty to my Lord, I promise you that." Putting up hands. "I just believed him when he said killing one of us while possessed wouldn't change anything. And I'm sure Master Laszlo wouldn't want me to kill Ginny or anyone without some purpose." Sigh.
"Unfortunately it didn't really make much difference in any case...He didn't tell us much, just that someone who knew the Master summoned him. Which I guess could be important..." shrug... "Though who it could be is impossible to say. Ginny wants to research it with the Master tomorrow and maybe he'll have an idea but it seems far-fetched to me that we'd find anyone living who'd reach out to Van Helsing. Seems to me it would have to be someone in the afterlife, some relative. I don't think the Master was married during his human time but maybe his mom? A sis?" she shrugs, brushing her blazer.
"Jen?!" call from the front door...David staring over.
"Gotta go. Say wouldn't it be something if Van Helsing takes me again, here?" grin. "Well, I shouldn't wish that for Davy's sake." Rueful smile, nervous glance to the house... "He might either try to get me to a doctor or start asking questions, so please don't, Doc." She rubs chin. "You guys get the feeling he may be playing with us? He sure doesn't seem to like giving out specifics. Coming, honey! Just a sec!" she waves to the perturbed...Not these camera guys, again?...David.
"But I guess if it were me, I wouldn't want to put my friends in danger by telling too much. Thank God at least Master Nandor found everyone safe and sound. No attacks by vampire hunters or Slayers as yet." Warm chuckle... "Isn't it a hoot though that 'Buffy' was a real person? Who've thought, huh? Of course Ginny was arguing that it could be her, still...The Slayer summoning Van Helsing to get his people to help. But none of our Lords or our Lady have met her, why would she be so interested in them, given there are plenty of more dangerous vampires around, from what our guys have told us?" shrug. "Well, I gotta go and see to my guys, ok? Talk to you tomorrow and thanks for checking in. Let the Master know I'm home safe and sound, will ya?"
She hurries off to the front door, David casting annoyed glance at the camera crew...
"Don't these guys ever let up?" he grouses to her as she enters.
"They were being nice, seeing we got home ok. Come on, honey...They're just doing their job. Besides, Mas...Mr. Cravensworth's promised he'll get us a copy of the filming with me. Be nice for Suzie to see me in action one day, on the biggest job of my life, right?"
He sighs.
"And the last big one, for a while at least, I promise, David." She crosses heart. "But it's going so well, and means so much for our future, right?"
"I suppose..." reluctant tone...
"One more week and alls set. Honest." She kisses him. "Now, lets go see Suzie and have dinner, I'm starved."
"Is that wax on your sleeve?" he eyes the drops of candle wax on her blazer sleeve.
"Oh, yeah...They use candles at the old house. Very British, I guess..." she grins, pulling him along. "Don't worry, it'll clean off easy. And now I can buy all the ones I want...Though I think I'll be more in the market for a nice nightee. Come, sweetie." She tugs.
"Yeah. Jen. You know the dry cleaner called about the other one I dropped off. She said there were blood stains she couldn't get out on the jacket."
"Really?" she stares. "Well, I have been crawling around both places. I must've cut myself. That's a shame, I liked that one. But, like I say..." smile. "In a week, I can buy all the blazers I'll ever want, if I ever want another."
"I hope so." David, shaking head. "Well, come on in and lets give Suzie a look at Mom."
...
Ginny, pulled up at her home, a large townhouse...About twenty minutes later...
"Weird..." she shakes head. "I can't believe someone was walking around in my body. A guy at that... Creeps me out, I tell ya. How did Jen manage to handle it so calmly, like it happens everyday? Still, at least he didn't do anything strange or kinky in me... Though that would've been fine if he'd given us anything to really work with." She opens door and climbs out...
"As it is, all we got was that someone...Some bitch who knew Laszlo or knows him...Maybe someone he took but who abandoned him? Someone he fed on and spared, foolishly? Summoned that bastard Van Helsing to kill the Mistress and the others." She shakes head.
"I still wonder...Could it be that Devious guy? Would he maybe have found someone human he could induce to summon an assassin or bunch of assassins to take out our Overlords?" she ponders. "I think I better try and get him to come over, see what I can get out of him. He can't thrall me now and if he gives any trouble I'll just smash a window and destroy him. Maybe I should in any case, just as a precaution. Besides, the Mistress doesn't like him."
Sigh...
"I feel bad about nearly killing Jen. But it was my Duty to the Mistress if it could have ended her danger and Jen understands that. She've done the same, maybe. Though she is a little too sweet on those things sometimes. I wonder...You know..." she eyes camera. "If Van Helsing is so keen on helping us, maybe putting some of us in danger...Or an innocent, say my girls?...If there was a threat to them? Maybe we could still force him to back off and get his people to do so? I mean maybe just have us all threaten to commit suicide? Or I could threaten to kill my girls and Martha her boys? He'd have to back off, if he's as good and anxious to save people as he claims to be, right? I know it may sound a little harsh to threaten my own girls but it's only right I offer my own...and there's always Jen's little girl. She ought to be willing to sacrifice Suzette for her Master if she's truly devoted, right? And we wouldn't really have to kill anyone, just convince Van Helsing we were willing to. Which if he is as good a vampire expert as they claim he ought to believe. Certainly not more than one to prove we mean it..."
She looks off, a bit uncertain... "I don't want to hurt anyone but I can't see anyway clear to saving our Overlords if we don't know anything about who's coming to kill them unless we make it clear we're ready to do whatever it takes to save my Mistress and the others. I mean, humans have immortal souls, right? It's not like, if we did have to kill someone to send Van Helsing a message, that they'd be dead forever. But our Overlords would be sent to Hell, if I understand correctly. And Hell's...Well, Hell. We can't let that happen. Besides, I'd be willing to be the one if I must...After I see Devious and learn his game and then see the deal through, natch. Though who knows how much time we have..." she twists hands in frustration.
"Well, the Mistress wants me to rest and she's probably right...Master Nandor told us she and Master Laszlo were all right, so I guess it's best I get some sleep. I'll talk to Erika and the others tomorrow. And see what's up with Susan and our Boss, Gui, in Mexico. God, let them come up with something..." she turns to open her mailbox and takes some mail out. Staring at one and quickly opening, scanning...
"Jesus, this is from Roy...My ex-... Ummn, you guys mind if I finish reading this inside? It shouldn't have anything to do with the Mistress and the others. I'll let you know if there's anything that does. The skunk probably needs money, but I'll be giving this to the police, you can be sure. I'm taking no chances these days." She pauses. "He asks about the girls..." her voice trailing...
"Guys? You're not thralled, right?" Hesitant...
"Am I a monster now?" she eyes them.
...
Laszlo and Nadja's crypt in the old residence...About one am...
"Well, Nandor stopped by to check on us which nearly sent the lady wife into a fit of hysteria..." Laszlo sighs in armchair.
Nadja, beside him in her own chair, grim look...
"I was not fitting hysterias. I was startled by the knocking on the gate after finally getting to sleep." She grouses.
"Well, in any case..." Laszlo, rolling eyes... "And it did prove I locked the gate, eh?...It was sweet of Jennifer to be concerned for us."
"I suppose..." Nadja, still grim.
"And Nandor, in that damned old uniform...What was he planning to do in that?" Laszlo, chuckling a bit. "Unless he was hoping the Slayer or Hunter would laugh themselves to death."
Nadja, slight smile...
He did look silly.
"Of course I suppose it was rather noble of him to be ready at his post and all that..." Laszlo shrugs. "But I wonder why he'd not donned his armor, even if it's not fully stake-proof, it would shield him from sunlight if they very understandably chose to have an edge like that."
"I don't think he expected to do battle..." Nadja, suddenly nervous. "Laszlo, he was expecting to be defeated...That was his burial shroud." She eyes him.
Laszlo eyes her...
...