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Jenica headed to the diner on foot deciding it shouldn't take all that long to get there and also because she needed the time to think. If this was just a case of someone parading around pretending to be her brother¡ she drew a deep breath at the thought. Not one for getting her hopes up after having experienced more than a few disappointments where a reunion with family was concerned.?
?
Naturally those masquerading as her brother were dealt with in ways that made even Alastair envious. She had become capable of things that all those centuries ago were just beyond the edges of what made her who she was. In many ways she had stepped up and it all went back to a crossroads deal.?
?
She reached the diner a few minutes later noticing a blonde standing a few feet from its door carrying on a conversation with someone over a cellphone. There was a moment when she considered walking away as feelings of doubt began to grow. Did she really wish to put herself through yet another poser?
?
Initially she wasn't paying as close attention to the parked cars as she was on keeping an eye out for signs of movement. She figured if he arrived ahead of her then odds were he¡¯d either gone inside to get the ¡®lay of the land¡¯ so to speak or opted for lurking in the shadows where he could not be observed as both were ways she normally handled things.?
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Vlad stared at the girl, body full of tension as his mind attempted to decide. Was it? Could it be? He simply didn't know. It had been too long and memories of facial features, body build, they either became blurry or shifted, taking on new features and angles as the mind struggled to fill in the holes that time eventually made even for vampires.
?
?
?
"the girl there," he at last said to Mina.
?
"She is at least a...person of interest."
?
He scowled, hating being here, hating feeling any traces of old human emotions. A tiny part of him suddenly wished for Father Marcus's presence. The priest was saving souls in LA, where he claimed he was most needed though.
?
"He really should change his name to Father Luke," He grumbled suddenly under his breath as he suddenly opened the car door.
?
"Let ius go speak with her and find out...whatever there is to find out," he told Mina who followed suit, opening her own door without a word.
?
?
?
The 2 walked across the parking lot? hand in hand.? Both, due to Mina's insistence and Felix's help before he left after his sister, wore modern clothes. Mina a black lace skater dress, black stockings and red and black high healed strappy sandals. Showing far more skin than she ever would've had been a way to annoy Vlad during their times of marriage trouble, but now it was a way to get him undressed quicker and it was easier to take on and off. Her long dark hair hung straight today. For his part, Vlad's muscular stocky frame was squeezed into tight black pants and a tea shirt sporting a bleeding skull. Felix's jab at art he felt the impaler could appreciate. Vlad did not so much mind the art, but didn't enjoy it particularly on clothing. He had to admit, however,? that it wouldn't raise brows and these days they did need to fit in.
?
The clothing was for LA, though so if they were here longer, Felix may have to come shop, Vlad found himself thinking as they approached the woman wordlessly. He would let? her speak first...if she wre even the one. He approached someone who may be his sister, or someone he would have to kill for impersonating her and thought of clothing. Detaching Franceska would say. The thought made him frown.
?
?
?
?
I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed.
I get along with the voices inside of my head.
|
Jenica slowed her footsteps to a halt at feeling eyes on her, looking toward the door leading into the diner she noted the odd reaction the blonde had. One eyebrow lifted as she turned a wary look in the direction the woman had been looking. It was probably nothing but little things set her on edge.
?
At first glance she couldn't make out their faces only their clothing which made her think neither one was a local. From what she could tell the pair seemed like the type who would be far more comfortable on the club scene in one of the larger cities. There was a swift intake of breath at first glance once they were closer.?
?
Her primary focus was, of course, the man who bore such a striking resemblance to her brother. It could just as easily be a descendant or perhaps a doppelg?nger. Funny how her mind instantly went to those things instead of accepting the reality it could well be Vlad himself.
?
She tore her gaze away upon realizing she'd been staring and it was then that she recognized, or thought she did, the woman at his side. ¡°Ilona?¡± The name was spoken with a slight hesitation as it couldn't be her¡of course, if it weren't and he was who she thought him to be then a whole other conversation would be taking place.
?
When she spoke again it was in their native tongue. ¡°You remind me of the family I lost. Sorry to trouble you.¡± It was just easier to assume she was mistaken than to risk feeling that since of loss again. Besides the odds were against either one understanding a single word she'd said, which was good¡they would simply chalk her reaction up to a confused or possibly intoxicated foreigner and that would be that.?
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Mina stopped in her tracks, high healed sandals making a slight scraping sound on the sidewalk as she halted. She drew a sharp intake of breath at the name only Vlad had used in this life time. Tears sprang to her eyes as unexpected emotion filled her and she also replied in their native language. A tongue Dr. Van Helsing had helped her to recall unknowingly with those hypnosis sessions used to track Vlad.
?
"Yes...It is I."
?
Before she could say more Vlad's hand tightened on hers as his scowl deepened.
?
"This is likely a trick of the Turks. There is no other possible explanation," he growled.
?
?
He also spoke in Romanian, not wishing?casual passers to understand this conversation.
?
?????
I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed.
I get along with the voices inside of my head.
|
¡°But¡how?¡± Jenica kept a close eye on the couple watching for any sort of tells that might suggest this was all a trick of some kind. Shapeshifters? But if it that were the case, how had they gotten all the details so dead on? Both her brother and Ilona supposedly died centuries ago? Even as the list of questions began to grow she smiled in spite of herself.
?
Her brown eyes moved from the woman who was the closest thing she ever had to a sister (assuming she was who she claimed to be and so far nothing suggested otherwise) to the man at her side when with but a gesture he silenced her. ¡°Don¡¯t EVER so much as lift a finger to help the damned Turks. I am NOT Radu.¡± She shot back with a look that was a distinct mix of hurt and anger.
?
¡°How about this?¡± She began when he assumed that to be the only possible explanation for her standing there before them. ¡°When I was seventeen years old I crept out of the castle late one night terrified that if I didn't do something I would lose my brother. So, I made my way to the crossroads where I struck a deal¡my soul for the power to keep him safe.¡±
?
It was the first time she had told this story since her decision to be honest with Sam about who she was back before the whole Gordon Walker ordeal. ¡°I was made a witch and used the ten years I had left to learn everything could in order to keep my brother safe.¡±
?
She had never forgotten the fear caused by the old gypsy woman's predictions or her singular focus on protecting Vlad it was why she never started a family of her own. ¡°Somewhere along the way I lost track of time then one day I heard its howl. It followed me¡stalked me¡this big black dog and I just knew what it was¡.a hellhound.¡±?
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There was a sharp intake of breath before she continued her tale. ¡°I did what I had to do in order to keep my family from witnessing my death. I ran as far and as fast I could out into the woods where it caught up with.¡± If this was her only chance then she would tell them everything. ?
?
¡°Each day in hell¡I was strapped to a rack¡.unable to escape as a demon named Alastair took great pleasure in cutting until there was nothing left and each day I would be made whole again so that he could start all over again. This went on for centuries until hell had finally burned away my humanity leaving only a demon.¡±
?
Her gaze drifted back and forth from one to the other wondering what they might think of all she'd revealed so far. ¡°Eventually I managed to claw my way out of the pit when someone opened the Devil¡¯s Gate. I found my way to a hunter whose was targeted as a baby by one of the knights of hell and¡I did everything in my power to help him because his brother made a deal at the crossroads to raise him from the dead.¡±
?
She took a small breath then went on to fill in the final blanks. ¡°His brother insisted on doing things the way their father taught them and cut me out of the fight. He was the killed that night when the hellhounds came while Eve and his brother watched. As for my part¡I had been dragged back to hell before all of that happened after that bitch found me.¡±
?
¡°It took a long time but I managed to convince Eve that I was sorry for helping the Winchesters and she let me out. I went back to helping him¡Sam. He was on this self destructive path because of his brother dying for him. Fortunately that changed. Things were looking up or at least they were until a group of hunters led by a man named Gordon Walker got the drop on me at the roadhouse.¡±
?
While it meant a lot to her that Sam had taken action when she was killed she still wished that bastard had been killed. ¡°They tied me to a chair at the center of a Devil¡¯s Trap¡tortured me with holy water¡salt¡and my own knife one capable of killing demons. After several hours, Gordon drove the blade into my heart. Sam got there¡but he was too late. He called the police with an anonymous tip about a murder and the men involved were arrested.¡±
?
There was a long pause as she regretted deciding to have this conversation here instead of somewhere with a nice cold drink. ¡°Obviously that wasn't the end of my story but the rest is a bit of mystery as months later I was back though this time I was human¡no longer having to possess someone just to interact with this world because someone out there decided to resurrect me. It was so strange at first¡.to look in the mirror and see my own face.¡±
?
Throughout her tale she had spoken in Romanian to avoid the wrong people knowing what they were talking about and now that she'd reached its end she could only wait to see whether either one believed her.?
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When she asked how, Vlad took one step forward, at once a gesture of protection toward Mina as it placed her slightly behind him and allowed a more aggressive stance toward the quite likely impostor.
?
?
"A very good question," he said a bit too calmly.
?
?
When she used the disgusting name of his sodomite brother his lip curled.?
?
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"And that's not a? name all the history books know," he scoffed dryly.
"A name sure to spike my ire. A name anyone who even googled me would know to use. I am bored," he announced.
?
Idly he thought Franceska would be proud of him for remembering the web search term even if he rarely troubled himself to use it preferring to set the more efficient Renfield? to the task even still. If only the man wouldn't complain so much. Developing a love life had given him far too many opinions.
?
?
The girl's continued explanation distracted him from his silent barrage of mental complaints. He listened?without interrupting,?his expression slowly becoming one of amused annoyance.
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?
Mina had crossed herself when talks of hell and deals with the devil came into play, but likewise remained silent. She just hoped Vlad wouldn't buy into all this with his beliefs that only the devil had a love for their kind. She had worked so hard with Father Marcus to bring Vlad back to god. Though her?husband still insisted on reciting?Lilithh's name rather than Mary's when working the rosary, she thought?at?least in part this was to annoy herself and father Marcus from?whom Vlad appeared to enjoy attention.?
?
?
So it was to her relief that he gave a laugh at the young woman's conclusion.
?
"I get it," he? said, switching suddenly back to English.
?
?
?
"This is a joke from Felix because I dragged he? and Mihnea into helping out for once...I am almost unamused. It wasn't at all...sporting of him to use family names so we shall have a talk, but the rest of the story I like! And finding? someone who spoke the language was a brilliant touch from my favorite jester. Tell him that for? me. The plot reminds me of one of those delightful television shows he exposed us to, so recognizable...again very well done."
?
Mina frowned. Felix using a pretty girl to play an elaborate joke yes, but it wasn't like her fun loving friend to be hurtful and using the name of Vlad's sister...it wasn't like him. She bit back her objection, though, not wanting to interfere in this now. She would express the concern when the time was suitable, for now leaving it to Vlad to handle.
?
?
"Not to mention I never needed a girl to fight my battles for me and never will so my headstrong little sister wouldld have wasted her time unwisely," Vlad added.
?
That may have in truth been something she would have considered, he silently admitted. How had Felix known that? The rest of the trite yet amusing tale had Felix written all over it, though. Whoever he found it amusing to ad potentially painful bits in, though, was beyond the vampire king's comprehension and something he planned to find out.
?
I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed.
I get along with the voices inside of my head.
|
Jenica hardly knew whether to hope this were an imposter or for it to be her brother though the former would make certain remarks sting far less. One eyebrow rose at his stance something she'd be a fool not to realize was intended to protect the woman claiming to Ilona. ¡°The only thing I used google for was to find out what became of my family following my death.¡± She struggled to keep her temper in check as it would get her nowhere fast.?
?
¡°And I suppose that google knows all about the little wolf my brother carved as a birthday present for me because of how much I enjoyed listening to them each night as they roamed the woods? Oh, wait¡it doesn't. Only he and I knew.¡± It was back when she still so young and he¡¯d not made of giving it to her so no one else in the castle knew a thing about it. ¡°It was always at my bedside right up until the day I died.¡±
?
She shot him a look of pure annoyance when he reached the conclusion this was all some sort of joke planned by a man whose name she'd never even heard of until that exact moment. Though the second name he used brought a look of sadness to her eyes that couldn't possibly be faked as her nephew was someone else she dearly missed.
?
¡°Glad you find my suffering so amusing.¡± She stated with a coldness often reserved for those who found themselves on seriously dangerous ground with her for one reason or another. Tightly folding her arms across her chest as she struggled once more to keep her temper in check.
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¡°She wouldn't have thought so. Family was everything. At least the ones who were loyal.¡± Her eyes flicked to Ilona and back again, tipping her head as a thought crossed her mind. ¡°If you're as powerful as everyone says¡read my mind¡look into my soul¡whatever it is you do and tell me if I¡¯m lying. Unless¡you're afraid of what you might see¡¡± Her words meant both as a challenge and warning as demons could do far worse than any tortures inflicted by the Turks.
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(ooc: apologies if this posts more than once.)?
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The mention of that wolf got a reaction. A flickering of pained emotion in his hardened features and Mina stepped forward and put a hand almost protectively on his arm.
?
?
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"Indeed Google would not know this...at least I do not see how it should," he murmured half to himself.
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Could Felix have gotten that from a dream even though he did not dream? The boy had bags of tricks, that was for sure. Was he of a mind to prove his family's power again...to prove how...hard they were because his sister had been attacked on an errand for him? if so he could almost forgive the personal nature of the attack as sometimes more painful measures were called for and that? he could respect.
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Vlad stared at her and frowned when she suggested he simply read her. He could not. He thought as much to Mina and felt her stiffen, the hand she'd placed on his arm tightening just a little. She was alarmed, likely concerned about demons.
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"What do you think would happen if I called our priest to pore holy water upon you," Mina asked quietly.
Vlad found himself mildly curious himself and watched the girl intently for her response.
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Drawing out his phone he hit the button that called Felix.
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"You."
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"You have made your? point? and I respect your stance. I of course was unaware that Franceska or? Renfield were going into any sort of danger, but it happened nonetheless. I did move to solve the problem at once, but if that? was not enough, your point is proven and as we are all friends here perhaps you should just tell me what you want."
?
"What you talkin' about man? I'm just chillin with Ren and Franny. Iss all cool. Mihnea is on the Damon problem. It involves a pretty girl or 2 so I don't think even he minds too much."
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Felix's light hearted easy tone sounded usual for him, Vlad silently analyzed. He was probably good enough to fake it, though Vlad had never seen him do so.
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"So the girl you sent," he pressed.
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"She appears human but why can I not read her? is she one of your demons?"
?
"Wa? I didn't? send no one. I swear man. Is this the thing about your sister you texted Franny about? i didn't even know you had one! Has up with that anyway? You need help?"
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The ready sincerity caused Vlad pause and though he wanted to continue to? mistrust, it may detract from figuring out this situation. He recalled Franceska's words some time ago. //Either we're friends now and we're good or we're not.//
?
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"you would just tell me," he asked Felix slowly.
"Because if you just tell me I will not be angry and I will provide you with whatever satisfaction you require, but if not, and if this is your doing, and you continue to? play, this shall strain our friendship perhaps beyond repair for their is no longer a reason to prove a point. I have chosen to become your friend some time ago and this is not the way in which I treat friends."
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Felix gave a short laugh.
?
"Dude I swear I don't know what the fuck you're talking about and I'd be straight with you. Don't be weird. I didn't send no body to you. Are they saying I did?"
?
"No."
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"So has up?"
?
Knowing she could hear the conversation, as cell phones were so strangely loud, Vlad looked at the girl claiming to be his sister.
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"A person not a vampire that I can not read claims to be my long dead baby sister, but the story she weaves reminds me of one of those tv shows that you showed me and Mina."
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Felix laughed.
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"Wow. I don't know man. I can find out when she goes to sleep if she dreams."
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"You can find her by thinking of my sister? That is how it works?"
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"Yeah and if you text a picture it won't hurt. Keep her close and see what she want's and be careful. Mihnea will be annoyed shit happens where you need babysitting right when he's gone. Parents always need babysitting."
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"Thank you," Vlad said dryly, ignoring the bits about Mihnea and parents.? Hanging up he studied the phone with a perplexed frown.
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"How do I take a picture with this thing? it isn't as if I ever take pictures," he grumbled.
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"Here," Mina said, taking the phone and snapping a picture, then texting it to Felix.
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Vlad hadn't bothered to hide anything from this person as she should know exactly where she stood. If she was lying...he had a dungeon and a slow death for that.
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"If you are not my sister,? I will handle you the way I handled my enemies back when I earned my reputation. then I shall come for whoever sent you."
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Though he may seem nearly comically inept with some items of technology that he did not find useful, at times like this the act he was truly dangerous showed in his calm calculating delivery of such facts and the look of promise in his glittering green eyes.
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Though Mina was a far kinder soul, when people hurt her family she never interfered with Vlad's judgments so she remained calm and mildly impassive.
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"Google may not know of that wolf, but surely demons could," Vlad stated, at last explaining his reason for not readily opening his arms to a likely impostor when it could be more than dangerous to do so.
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I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed.
I get along with the voices inside of my head.
|
Jenica caught the flicker of pain at her mention of the wolf and for a moment felt a sliver of hope she might not have been mistaken to reach out. She wished that Sam were here as she found herself in need of a little emotional support with all of the memories and emotions this encounter dredged up. Her mind kept going back to the very real possibility it was all some sick trick.
The question of holy water brought her attention back to Ilona pushing down the urge to lash out somehow due to the pain and anger she felt in that moment. She gave herself a handful of seconds to collect herself before responding. ¡°I¡¯d get wet.¡± There was a time when anyone splashing that on her would have been insanely painful but that was before her resurrection. Someone out there gave her a second chance at a human life.
She watched with a single eyebrow raised as he called a ¡®friend¡¯ making similar accusations when they picked up. Felix, she presumed. Saying nothing as she'd opted to see what could be learned from the conversation instead of making any sort of contribution. Finding it a bit odd when he¡¯d claimed to be unable to read her though remaining quiet on the subject.?
Someone who could potentially dream stalk her? Oh, that was a comforting thought! The rest of what was said she'd chosen not to react to in favor of sorting out how she felt about her current predicament. Oh, there was most definitely a growing desire to knock him down a few pegs as she was still a little on the angry side.
His threat did little to persuade her the idea of falling asleep in his presence would be wise. For all she knew he¡¯d kill her while she slept without waiting for proof one way or another. ¡°If I went along with this¡whose to say I would ever wake up again?¡±
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Vlad chuckled.
?
"If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't have to wait around for sleep. I don't need Felix or anyone else to kill my enemies."
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His smile became suddenly cruel as his eyes hardened to granite.
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"I rather prefer doing it myself, a fact my sister would be quite aware of.
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"If it makes you feel better, we don't have to be there when you sleep," Mina said quietly.
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"Felix has your picture so he can find you. We can call you or text upon his findings. I am sure this, if true, is quite a lot for all of us to take in. I don't understand how Jenica could be..."
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Her voice caught a little and Vlad's hand tightened on hers. How she could be alive but Elona had died herself...Been torn from him by those sons of bitching dog fucking Turks and he'd learned to go on as best he could. Then to only have her returned to him...But dare he hope his sister could do the same? When everything soft had been taken from him it had been easier to become as cold as he needed to be like the steel blade of a sword to slay his enemies and be thus covered in the blood of vengeance. Having too much returned had made him at times softer, admittedly, so he had to be cautious, more than ever.
?
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I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed.
I get along with the voices inside of my head.
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¡°It wasn't your ¡®friend¡¯ I was worried about.¡± Jenica pointedly replied while looking him square in the eye, making no bones about who she suspected would step into the role executioner while she slept. ¡°But since you bring it up¡what's to keep your friend from acting on his own? He might not bother with proof.¡± One eyebrow arched as those last words were spoken.
The idea of a complete stranger poking around inside her head was a source of concern for someone who trusted so few people. She looked between them when the woman at his side took it upon herself to be the calming influence here. ¡°Not sure anything is gonna make me feel better about being dream stalked.¡± Probably not the expected response but it was an honest one.
¡°So, what am I supposed to do? Take some ZzzQuil? Listen to a little Kenny G?¡± Whether she liked it or not this was happening, might as well accept her fate or at least prepare some kind of defense just in case her suspicions about his ¡®friend¡¯ were accurate.?
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Mina gave a soft nearly sympathetic smile.
?
"You don't have to do anything. I'll just?have him seek you out during?your normal sleeping hours.?Until then...we could go in and sit down to continue our conversation if you like...?"
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She ended on a question, arching slim dark brows.
?
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She? glanced down t her phone as a return?text came in, but didn't respond to it yet.
?
"If you are who you claim to be we have?much catching up to do. Are you living in the?area?"
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Vlad glanced around, expression plainly saying he wasn't impressed?with said area.
?
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I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed.
I get along with the voices inside of my head.
|
Jenica felt some of the anger slipping away at seeing something that bordered on sympathy being shown though not surprisingly it hadn't come from the man she hoped to be her brother. If it hadn't been for all her time spent around Sam her past might well have remained buried and along with it a desire for family. ¡°This¡¡¯friend¡¯ of yours¡he isn't inclined to play ¡®judge and jury¡¯, is he?¡±
She didn't care whether they reached the conclusion that she wasn't exactly a trusting sort based on her question or any other actions taken on her part. ¡°I guess it couldn't hurt.¡± The brunette took a look around the diner parking lot with her gaze settling briefly on the vintage black impala that so closely resembled the one driven by a certain hunter that she dared hope he might be inside.?
It wasn't all that difficult to see this was awkward for all involved parties and likely would remain so until the matter of identities was resolved. ¡°No. I haven't had a home since my first death. I¡¯m just¡passing through.¡± She was hesitant to say anything about the two sisters with who she and the others would be hunting a weapon to take down Eve.?
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Mina laughed.
?
:Oh god no! Felix doesn't need to judge anyone!"
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Her frown at the idea of Felix daring to judge, considering some of the things she knew he'd done faded as her eyes softened.
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"He's a good friend, though. A good loyal friend and a nice guy."
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"Not to mention an entertaining jester," Vlad said with a chuckle causing Mina to roll her eyes at him.
The couple could obviously be light hearted at times in their way.
?
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"Do you need to eat,"Mina asked, seeing her gaze at the diner.
?
Her tone was concerned.
"I assume you eat? Do you have extra powers due to your...resurrections or are you a completely normal human? Forgive all the questions, we simply never? knew such was possible."
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"Still don't, in fact,"Vlad muttered darkly, glittering green gaze still full of low key suspicion.
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Mina gave him a tired look but made no comment. Because he was right, but kindness wouldn't hurt in case it was true. His sister was probably very alone. At least Mina got that impression. That this young woman, whoever she was, was very alone.
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As her gaze slid awaay from Vlad Mina felt her vision darken. Odd taht had never happened to her before...She blinked rapidly a few times to?clear her eyes?and looked at Vlad again.
?
"Are you alright," he asked, one strong hand shooting out to firmly grasp her upper arm.
?
"I...My eyes felt strange for a moment. Things looked dark."
?
JHer voice came out hesitent.
?
Vlad frowned. "We are vampires. Vampires do not have problems with their eyes or anything else."
?
"I know what we are," Mina said tartly, but smiled at him in amusement to soften her words.
?
"I don't know what it was, but I think I'm fine now."
?
But was she? When she looked at Vlad once again he looked different. Nearly as though she was seeing some fort of overlay of a different face that was not his.
?
?
I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed.
I get along with the voices inside of my head.
|
¡°It's been my experience that doesn't always keep people from rushing to judgment.¡± Jenica tried not to think of all those months spent trying to prove herself to a hunter who more than once aimed the very gun she'd helped get back into working order at her head or heart while making threats. Those memories stirred up a feeling of resentment within her.
She looked to her brother, or at least the man thought to be him, when he made what she supposed passed for a joke about this Felix person. So far there wasn't much they'd said that made her any more comfortable with the idea of a stranger taking a stroll through her subconscious while she slept. Honestly, someone having that kind of access was unnerving.
It was difficult to tell whether the possibility of her having been telling the truth was a welcome one but the woman she'd known as Ilona seemed more open to the idea or at the very least willing to show kindness in the event she was. ¡°I do eat, yes.¡± She followed her gaze towards the diner along the way catching a glimpse of the Impala.
Her apology was met with a look of understanding as she offered a response. ¡°I suppose not. It's something that I have had a great deal of experience with ever since the deal I made¡encountering people who have returned from the grave. It actually happens a lot more than you¡¯d think, though not so much that your average person would notice.¡±
She gave the question some thought. ¡°I suppose, it's possible¡I mean, when I died I was a witch so that power might still be inside of me.¡±
Her gaze shifted to Vlad who made no effort to hide his suspicion, head tilted slightly, keeping quiet about one key piece of information until such time as he believed her about who she was. ¡°Really? Says the guy who joined the ranks of the undead.¡± Given the reality of his own existence it did come as surprise that someone else coming back to life was unthinkable to him.
When she looked back to the woman who'd been like a sister to her all those years ago there was concern in her eyes. Keeping quiet as she could see no point in echoing his words though judging by the way she'd looked at him something was amiss. But pointing that out so soon after her admission that it was possible she'd retained her power as a witch would only raise more suspicions.
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"I wasn't asked when joining the ranks of the...undead as you call it,"Vlad told Jenica distractedly, gaze still on Mina.
?
"And I wasn't dead yet at the time, just close to it."
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Mina pressed her hands to her face, shaking her head.
?
"Something is wrong..."
?
She blinked at Vlad. "Who are you! And don't lie! What has Mihnea done?"
?
Her voice was rising in upset and panic, uncomfortably close to hysteria and Vlad took her hands.
?
"Mina, it's me. You know that! What is happening?"
?
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"Where is Mihnea! What has he done? You...I see you now, and you aren't Vlad...You're someone else...He didn't want me...He was he was married to..."
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Glaring at Jenica she nodded. "To her!"
?
"What?"
?
Vlad gave a short incredulous laugh, eyes turning to his sister. He could sense she had done nothing and he better not be wrong, or she'd be torn limb from limb slowly. Mortals died too fast for that treatment so he'd turn her into a vampire first.
?
"Mihnea wanted me to be a vampire so he...he made me think you were Vlad! But I can see you now and I know you aren't."
?
?
"Mihnea didn't even know you until i turned you, Mina," Vlad said, tone frustrated as it began to sink in that something had been done to Mina.
?
"No! I know he tampered with my memories and I can see you now!"
?
She attempted to push away from him as she burst into tears and Vlad drew her closer instead with a frown.
?
"No. Lets not do anything irrational until I sort out what has been done? to you. Because you're correct. Someone has tampered with your head but it certainly wasn't me or Mihnea.
?
His words hardly touched Mina's hysterics, though...he'd never seen her like this...she didn't have it in her...he felt a rising anger which nicely combated the fear that was creeping in. A good thing because he really hated being afraid and people suffered for it.
?
?
?
?
I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed.
I get along with the voices inside of my head.
|
Jenica was on the verge of asking questions about his being turned when things started getting strange. Her brow furrowed in a mixture of concern and confusion when it appeared that without warning Mina became convinced the man at her side wasn't Vlad. Under any other circumstances she would have been quick to convince her otherwise but there was just a bit too much uncertainty within her own mind at present.
While keeping a close watch she cast the occasional quick glance around half expecting to catch sight of whoever might be responsible. Some liked to do this sort of thing when they were close enough to savor the fallout while others preferred to do so from a safe distance to avoid possible retaliation. Her search being quickly abandoned at hearing that bit about her being married to Vlad.
¡°Whoa! Time out. I am not now nor have I ever been married to my brother.¡± Quite honestly she'd never taken a husband, a thing that had a lot to do with her focus being on the safety of her family. She'd done what she felt was necessary to ensure that and it had hardly seemed right to marry when her fate was sealed.
The fingers of one hand lightly touched her phone as she considered calling Sam as the scene continued to unfold. She wondered a moment just how much her brother, if it were him knew about what was going on in this town. Had someone or something chosen to take advantage of the situation? Old enemy of his? Doubtful it was one of hers as she¡¯d gotten them off her trail when she'd buried ¡®Ruby¡¯ and became herself again.
¡°Anything strange happen lately? Aside from learning about me.¡± She'd quickly added that last bit as a way of implying she'd had nothing to do with whatever this was. ¡°Anyone take some of her blood?¡± She knew of a few spells that might require that to pull this off.?
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"Of course not,"Vlad snapped to the question of anyone having taken Mina's blood.
?
"Where is Mihnea," Mina tearfully demanded, glaring from one to the other, eyes hostile as well as upset.
?
"He's on an errand for me. You know that, Darling," Vlad said, trying to sound patient.
"Or rather you knew that. I set him to protect? Renfield and the gargoyle princess as well as taking care of the upstart who threatened them."
?
He bit back another? insistence that she knew that and instead turned his attention on Genica.
?
"Do you have any knowledge of Turkish mages? Or...anyone the Turkish vampires could've hired to do this to her? I will teach them all the joys of eternal impalement for this," he added darkly. "They forgot who they're attacking," he spoke in a near growl.
?
Mina smiled. "Do you remember when Mihnea impaled that one upstart vampire in our dungeon and forgot about him for a few years? IT was positively ghastly," she said with a chuckle, for a moment her green eyes clear.
?
?
Vlad dared hope as he turned to her with a nod. "Yes. HE forgot about him. An amusing oversight. Starved and suffering."
?
?
Mina blinked."I remember that but I remember...something else too. Mihnea turning me and you rejecting me...Not you, Vlad, and Mihnea made you pretend to be Vlad. I see Vlad's face under yours sometimes then another image on top? of it that is not Vlad."
?
She pressed hands to her eyes as Vlad took her firmly into his arms."I am Vlad. Mina you are being tampered with and I need you to fight? it."
?
A sob tore from her as her eyes squeezed more tightly shut. "I...I don't know."
?
releasing her suddenly, Vlad needed to at least get one uncertainty out of the way and had decided how to do it. Lunging for his sister in a blink, he tore into the side of her neck. IT only took a second and he drew back, emotion twisting his face. He would know the bloodline of his family. It was her..."But...how...why?"
?
It was just all too much to take in. And why this now at the same time this was happening to Mina?
?
"Not her, someone else with dark hair," Mina said, staring at Genica but seeing someone else's face. Someone who looked Egyptian.
?
"I am sorry...You weren't married to Vlad but why are you pretending to be his sister? Why would Mihnea pay you to do that just to keep me sane because it isn't working!"
?
Vlad drew her close again vowing silently to find new and far worse tortures for whoever did this. He gave his sister an emploring look, hating to implore anything from anyone.
?
"It's like she's fading in and out. Lucid one moment and having overlapping memories of our reality and another at the same time. Who could do this? Some witch curse," he wondered, cursing himself mentally for not bothering to learn more of Turkish magics as they changed over the centuries. He had believed himself untouchable as the vampire king by such. He had his own witches and wolves, but someone striking?out at Mina, they knew what they were doing and they knew his weakness. And now he had another family female to protect. Would they strike at? Genica next?
?
I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed.
I get along with the voices inside of my head.
|
¡°Seriously? Might wanna lose the attitude. Cause ya know what? I¡¯m just trying to help. There are countless things one can do magically speaking IF they get the blood of an enemy.¡± Jenica had learned several of those during her time spent as a demon and had made use of quite a few of them. Something she wasn¡¯t inclined to volunteer at present given the tension.
?
¡°Not a clue.¡± She hadn¡¯t seen nor heard from her nephew since she was human the first time around though she got the feeling it was suspected that she at least knew of his whereabouts (which she didn¡¯t). It bothered her to see Ilona this way and reminded her a little of the few people she¡¯d met who suffered from Alzheimer¡¯s, a thing she thought it best to keep to herself.
?
¡°So, there¡¯s an actual Renfield? Huh. Who would have thought?¡± She didn¡¯t sound all that surprised only mildly intrigued at the possibility and tempted to ask whether he ate bugs. One eyebrow rose slightly at what was said after the obviously familiar name. ¡°Gargoyle princess? Wait. Is that a thing?¡± It could be either amusing or fear inducing if it were.
?
¡°Killed quite a few in my demon days.¡± She admitted with a small shrug of her shoulders. There were a lot of things she¡¯d picked up along the way, sometimes too many things to recall. It had also become a habit to withhold too many details of what she might or might not know unless she was talking with Sam.
?
If she were anyone else listening to the shared story about someone, even a vampire, who her nephew had impaled only to later forget about would have been unsettling but she listened without being at all phased by it.?
?
She decided to risk offering her opinion on Mina¡¯s condition, drawing a breath first, ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better I would think someone found a way of giving a vampire Alzheimer¡¯s or some other form of dementia.¡± It¡¯s what it looked and sounded like to her but she didn¡¯t know how someone might pull that off. Wa there something about ¡®shattered mind¡¯? She could swear she¡¯d heard it before.
?
While she was puzzling over that last thought she¡¯d been caught off guard when fangs tore into her neck before she could even act. One hand coming up to press against the bite mark on her neck as drops of blood trickled down. She shot a glaring look in his direction both angered and hurt he¡¯d do that to her. ¡°That¡¯s rich. You attack me...then turn around and ask ME ¡®·É³ó²â¡¯.¡±?
?
She hadn¡¯t fully registered the emotion on his face in that moment as it was too difficult to accept that her brother of all people would hurt her. That was a thing she couldn¡¯t just ppshake off. But now after this vampire had had his little snack he expected her help when he didn¡¯t even believe she was who she said was.
?
Even though she knew something was a little off about Mina with her emotions being what they were in that moment...she¡¯d had it. She was done with all the hoops no matter how badly she missed her family. ¡°You know what? That¡¯s a good question, why am I? Since that¡¯s what you believe...that I¡¯m pretending...maybe I should just go because not interested in being someone¡¯s snack whenever they get the munchies.¡±
?
She hesitated a moment then said. ¡°You might wanna start making a list of witches you pissed off because they¡¯re your best bet.¡± With that said she started to turn away knowing she should get her neck taken care of before other vampires caught the sent of fresh blood if there were any close by.?
|
?
"People have died for less.I would have a care,"
Mina told Jenika when she told Vlad to lose the attitude. Her words were more
concerned for the other woman rather than harsh and she moved protectively to
stand in front of her before giving Vlad a confused look.
?
"That's right,"Vlad told her. "I have killed for
less but only because they deserved it."
?
"You are...are Vlad," she gave a sob as he drew her
hard against his chest, rage and fear clear on his face. He was far more
comfortable expressing the former.
?
?
When his sister misunderstood the question he moved
to stop her, open hand on her shoulder. "Why did you do such a stupid thing. I
worried about my soul and you...I believed myself to be a demon but you...and
for me? I can take care of myself and I did...I was supposed to protect you and
you...did that. WHY did you not believe I could care for myself?"
?
His free hand remained in Mina's in case she took
it into her head to run off. She hadn't showed signs of that yet but he had no
idea what to expect. And how could this bee true? Demons? Real demons? Their
priest would shit himself. The fact they had a priest was unbelievable and soon
they would have one who shit himself.
?
Trying to turn the conversation to something
easier, Mina smiled at Jenika. She had asked about Renfield, after
all.
"That book was indeed real, and Stoker was a bit
of...well he fancied himself to be a Van Helsing..." Mina began, then wondered,
were the two the same?She'd known only an instant before, hadn't
she?
?
?
"Renfield is very real. His uncle was described in
that novel, though he himself was my servant, not his uncle. Renfield has become
a problem of late, though," he said, a briefly distracted frown passing over his
features. "And the gargoyle princess is not to be killed. Nor are any members of
her family."
?
"Gargoyles aren't real," Mina said, then gave
Genika a surprised look when she mentioned killing some.
?
"No. You're not serious! Please don't feed his outrageousness."
And she was back to herself again just like that. Vlad clung to
that.
?
"Can you tell us more of how the attack is working," he asked her, turning
here face up to look into his.
?
Her lip trembled and she nodded. She didn't want to think about it when she
was feeling herself, it flickered in and out so much. She told the other 2 as
much, adding,"I see Vlad then I see an...overlay? Is that the word where he
appears to be someone only trying to look like Vlad via vampiric suggestion.
It's the way you charm others to make them think you look different."
?
?
"I do not."
?
"He does," she told Jenika.
?
"And you...At times you look like yourself...like my dear sister
returned to us and at others you look like someone else, another woman."
?
She squeezed her eyes closed.
"Just make it stop! I feel it shall break my mind."
?
"Which is just what the Turks want. I need you to fight, Mina. Not to
believe that which you know not to be true."
?
"But that's just it. In the grips I don't know!"
?
Feeling helpless wasn't something Vlad was interested in.
?
?
"I have pissed no witches off as you call it. I have them working for me.
They serve me. I command witches," he concluded proudly. With a frown he
added,"Unless there are Turkish witches...Then well I have pissed off quite a
lot of those but they had it coming as you are very personally aware."
?
"I shall let Mihnea know that the Turks may have demented his mother so
that he can contact the magic user with whom he deals who is stronger than most
witches."
?
He took Mina's phone and slowly painstakingly began to text. He rarely
needed such trifles he was no good at them.
?
?
?
?
I'm friends with the monster that's under my
bed.
I get along with the voices inside of my
head.
|
Kat
Hugin