The Old House on the Collins Estate, and Nicole Collins has arisen from a day of troubled rest. Answers about her past, her linage � her very conception has left her with even more questions. Her guardian Julia Hoffman had told her to return to Collinsport for answers � instead she has found only questions. Questions to which she now fears finding answers . . .
Act 1
The chill of a November night. She misses the Thames and double-decker buses and the traffic. The scent of exhaust. She misses The Tower and the clock. London. Maine is all isolation and hard edges along a rocky seacoast. She shifts the Ferrari and accelerates � the cold wind in her hair. 80-90-100 down a back road. What does she care � a sudden swerve; smash the car to bits; wrap it like a steel ribbon around an old oak tree and she would just walk away. The speed does not even cause her heart to race.
The lazy little town � Collinsport. Much too fast, an old man stepping out of the Starbucks looks at her as she passes, shaking his head. Damn Collins�! She downshifts hard and tyres grasp as she slows for the rotary and pulls the black Ferrari to a halt. The sound of the sports car pulling to a stop outside Collins Investigations can be heard.
Nicole Collins gets out and looks over the repair work that has been done to the old wall of the Matigan & Wiley building (their names still paint faded on the windows � changing it would mean acceptance of some form of permanency: an acquiescence to this life she is making for herself). Odd, how well the workman have filled in the shattered brick where the Guardian had smashed through the wall. It looks almost seamless.
Nikki�s languid saunter seems filled with disdain as she strides to the door and opens it, and sees Esther working already at her desk, �Good evening, Esther.�
Envelopes dropping like rain to the desk, �Bills . . . bills . . . more f***in� bills . . . I tell ya nik, this thing did more damage to our funds then to our office.�
�I would assume we�re not bringing in as much as we are spending, what with damage and lost clients.” Nikki says walking over to Esther’s desk.
�Not enough to pay the heating if we keep going at this rate.� Esther says with a wave of her hand, �Plus you keep taking the cases for free . . .�
“You�re right. I mean the whole Endecott case, with research and trips to Ispwich and Akham.” Nikki sighed heavily and shifted her weight.
�Endecott . . . That was a while ago, wasn’t it?� Esther takes her seat, �seems like ages . . . �
Nicky nodded and looked dismayed as she picked up Esther’s stapler and idly began to play with it. �Still don’t know the resolution to that one, either.”
Nikki languidly seemed to slide into the chair and sat staring off as if into some distance, distracted.
She clicked staples and let them fall to the floor.
�Well.� Ester noticing an odd sense of depression from Nikki � reaches for her crumpled pack of cigarettes. �If we solve it, then we can start takin’ other cases, NOT commiserate . . .
Smoke rising as she lights up the cigarette, she looks at the staples being wasted as Nikki continues to click them upon the floor.
Suddenly, Nikki looked up, “Well, just put this month’s bills on my desk � I’ll pay them out of the trust fund.”
�Sure thing Nik.� Esther nods, �But if we don’t move on to a case with an actual funds attached to it, this place is going to get a lot colder.�
Yes � of course, you are correct.� Nikki looks down at the staples she has let fall to the floor. She puts the stapler on the desk and stands up. �Maybe, I should just close everything up.�
She walks to her office and closes the door.
What insanity ever made her think she could make a business run? Julia Hoffman had taken care of every receipt. Paid for her foolishness. Nikki pulls her chair back and sits, looking at the top of her desk.
Esther had seen Nikki�s moods before, but she could not remember anything like this. She sits at her desk, very upset because she knows that her friend is horribly upset. Something is wrong. Esther reaches over and stubs her cigarette out.
Nikki sits for a moment looking at the closed door then glances around the office. The old chairs from Matigan & Wiley, the barren walls, her father�s old heavy, ornate desk, the wooden file cabinet. That was from Matigan & Wiley too � wasn�t it? She sighs and places her arms on the top of her desk, and then rests her head upon them.
Esther grabs the stapler and opens it. Refills the staples. She looks at the closed door. She sits back down and reflects on what Nikki said. Esther gets up and walks to the office door.
Knocks on it lightly.
�Yes, come in.�
Esther opens the door expecting to see Nikki as usual pouring herself a drink from the decanter she keeps in the lower desk drawer � only instead she sees her sitting with he forehead on her arms resting on the desk.
�Nik . . . I know you�r feelin� down but . . . we can worry about the money later, eh? Let�s go find our what that Lil� Miss Porn Star is up to?� Esther closes the door behind her softly. �When Rhyaad gets here, we�ll head on down to th� house again and see what we can do �bout those tapes.�
Nikki looks up, �Oh, it�s not the money � I sort�a knew going in that I would have to carry things a while. And you�re right, yes, we so need to find out what is happening at Snow�s house.�
Esther looks at her friend, concern rising.
�Do you ever feel just when you think you have some idea about the direction of your life � some totally unforeseen thing just comes out of nowhere? Nikki asks as she sits back with a heavy sigh.
�Well can�t say I�ve ever had much direction, but I have been blindsided by things. Such as you, and Rhyaad, and the world I choose to forget . . .� Esther replies and rather than standing at her usual spot, now has a seat across from Nikki, �What�s on your mind Nik?�
Nikki looks at Esther and feels guilt, guilt that she is even contemplating telling her, laying yet one more insane part of her totally f****d up life before her � �Well � I so hope Rhyaad does stop by tonight . . . �
But she has no one in her life like Esther � a best friend. Nikki starts to speak, stops, hesitates, and looks at Esther � sighs. �You see, he stopped by the Old House the other night. You remember that Doctor, Praetorius, from the Diogenes Club.�
Esther thinking back, �Vaguely . . . the fellow that offered you into the gentleman�s Club?�
�Yes, that is the one. � Nikki seems so undecided as if to continue . . .
�Nik, what is it. Tell me.�
�Apparently, he had a conversation with Rhyaad afterwards.�
�A conversation about what?�
�Esther � I know � I know I have burdened you with what seems to be the soap opera of my life . . . but I do need someone to talk to � and you are my best friend.�
�No problem Nik. If I�m not hunting, filin� or generally watchin� your back, that�s what I�m here for.�
Nikki leans forward; there is a hint of anger in her voice. �I don�t know it it�s lies, or truth, or half-truths . . . what Rhayad told me. I have not found his Dr. Praetorius to confirm anything � but, he wants to meet tonight at the Collinsport Inn.�
Esther watches well aware now that whatever Rhyaad had told her it had upset her tremendously.
�God, Esther I thought my life was totally screwed up, but I never knew how much.�
Nikki opens the drawer and takes out the decanter and pours a drink, the last of the blood, which makes only half a glass.
She sips the drink.
�What are you talkin� about Nik?�
�If Rhyaad does not stop by tonight, will you go with me? To see this Doctor.�
��Certainly Nik, by all means.�
Nikki looks at Esther, she wants to rage against �what? Lies or the truth? “Rhyaad tells me that this Doctor says � that my mother � that my mother is not my mother.�
Esther is now well aware that Nikki is fighting hard not to be emotional about this . . .
�He says . . . he says . . . that Elizabeth Bathory is really my mother. Not my sire � but my mother.�
�What?� Esther asks. �That�s Horses**t.�
�I am apparently the product of some � experiment!�
�This all nuts. Nik. You are not some science experiment. Even it if is true, I have told you time an� time again. You are a person.� Esther says now mad at this Doctor, a little mad at Rhyaad for having told her this to begin with, �Not a freak. Not a Monster. A person. And- my best friend,�
Nikki smiles to hear her say it, �Esther��
They look at each other.
“All this time I grew up without them; they disappeared when I was 8 months old. But I have lived believing they would come back for me � I have researched and studied them . . . they were all I had to hold on to and if this is correct, then my life � my life, what a joke, is nothing but some notation on a folder somewhere.� Nikki said, letting out now the emotions that a 100-mile-an-hour drive on a lonely street could not do earlier, �Even after the horror of becoming what I am, I still clung to the hope that I would find them and they would . . . they somehow would understand . . . all that I have done . . . was for them . . . and they would know � know that I am not a monster . . . and now . . . and now . . . my f*****g mother is a mass murderer!�
�Nik . . . I . . .Nik I . . � Esther sighs. �Look. Maybe it�s not that bad �maybe Rhyaad misheard him, or maybe he�s F***ing with us.�
�I know, I hold out hope that is some scheme � some crazy plan of his for some reason I can not fathom � but I am not looking forward to talking to his Doctor . . . at all. I somehow fear � now�he is telling the truth.�
�Look, how much do we know about this guy anyway? He could be one of those cultists for all we know. Take what he says with a grain of salt.�
�And that I will find out the reason that they left me when I was so young was that they didn�t love me, because I was just some experiment to them.�
�Nik . . .� Esther is so at a loss for words, she can think of nothing to say.
Nikki takes another long sip of her drink.
�I know,� Nikki says, �I couldn�t even talk to Sam about this � will she look at me differently if she knows my mother is � the greatest female mass murderer in history?� She shakes her head; �Nothing makes sense to me anymore.�
�Nik. We aren�t defined by who are parent�s are other than by DNA. If Hitler had a kid, and was raised in the 1950�s America, he would not be different from any other baby boomer.�
�I know I am letting this all get the best of me � and I am working from less than all the facts. But I can�t find Bathory! I could not get this Doctor to answer my calls until he called me last night . . . � Nikki admitted, �It�s all so much and there is the Vera case I should be putting all my attention on, and we�re not making any money.�
�We�ll take care of doctor douchebag tonight,� Esther tells her, �Vera can wait until tomorrow.�
A familiar rumbling outside could be heard from the outer office as Rhyaad drove up, parked the car and came into the offices. He took note that Esther was not at desk, and Nikki�s door was closed.
He rapped lightly on Nikki�s door. �Nikki?�
�Oh, Rhyaad, please come in.�
�Rhyaad opened the door and came in, nodding in that little manner of his to Nikki and Esther. �Tonight is the night we go visit Doctor P, isn�t it? Can I call him Doctor P?�
Esther looked at him, �You can call him Doctor Douchebag.�
�Esther! What do you have against his man? Have you even met him?� Rhyaad said taking a seat.
�He�s f***in� with Nik. That�s all I need.�
�Rhyaad, I was just telling Esther about what you told me�that Dr. Praetorius told you about Bathroy being my mother and � that I am�the product of some experiment.
�I admit, it was strange that he chose to tell me about this and not Nikki.� Rhyaad said, �But I am sure he had his reason. So, all right then, when we meet him, I will confess that I have told you, and then we�ll see what his reaction is.� He looked sideways at Esther. �Do we really need firearms?�
�We always need firearms Rhyaad. You should know that by now.� Esther replied deadpan.
He sighed. �You�re right, Esther. It�s just that I miss the times then I could amble about peacefully without worrying about ancient gods and befanged monsters dropping on me out of nowhere. What ever happened to the Age of Aquarius? Pease, love, flowers, and all that stuff?�
�And I long for a time when I could go shopping in Paris and none of this was even a strange concept in my head,� Nikki said finishing her drink. �But, then I would not have met the both of you. And so, all in all, having you as friends has made this all worth it.�
�Well, I am glad I met you, Nicole Collins. And I hope the worst things we will face tonight is the �wraith of Doctor Douche-bag� when he finds out you know the truth.� He smiled, �and thank you for the sentiments, Nikki.�
�We�re behind you 100% Nik, Don�t you forget that.� Esther reminded her.
�So, Rhyaad can we call upon you to give us a ride to the Inn?�
Esther stood up,� As my Bubby used to say. �Nu, shoyn!� Let�s go
Act 2
The black convertible rumbles its way slowly around the parking lot, an automotive vulture in search of a parking slot. Night, and yet through the break in the landscape and nearby business establishments the cold grey sea glinted in the moonlight. It’s Maine, a cold November, with a stiff breeze coming in from then Atlantic but neither Rhyadd nor Nikki wear a coat. Esther sits bundled in her overcoat and a warm fuzzy hat.
They walk silent if not solemn toward the front of the Collinsport Inn. Through the revolving door, whump, whump, whump, they enter the warm lobby.
Esther wipes her boots at the entrance, wondering once again why they did not just walk. She enjoyed the warmth. Yes, walking would not have been as cold as riding in the convertible with the top down – crazy vampires.
Nikki saunters into the dimness of the Inn and looks around in anxiety and anticipation. She takes note of the Doctor sitting at a table toward the back of the main lobby, “There he is.”
Esther whispers to Rhyaad, “The saying that follows that is “get him.” But I’ll hold back my urge to say it for now.”
He nods and they both follow now in Nikki’s wake.
A bit self-conscious as she crosses the spacious lobby, Esther hopes the receptionist does not comment on the revolver. Only, the ringing of the phone as she is turning to look at the newly arrived guests quickly distracts the tall, dark-haired receptionist.
Nikki walks up to the table and looks at the impeccably dressed Doctor.
“Ah, Miss Collins. I have quite a few text messages from you,” Dr. Praetorius says as he sips a small glass of gin.
Her contempt very apparent, Esther stands behind ‘Nik’ with her arms crossed.
“Doctor, I hope you don’t mind, but I have brought a few of my friends with me.” Nikki says, but her voice gives no hint of an apology – rather it says very precisely that she doesn’t care what he thinks.
“Strength in numbers?” Praetorius says with a wry smile. “Please, everyone, do have a seat. I ordered some drinks, but not sure if you really want them – or not . . “.
Rhyaad, who had seen the young receptionist’s momentary stare at the well armed Esther, and had been preparing for a confrontation, was at easy as the woman had judged an incoming phone call more important. Perhaps a woman entering the Inn armed with a revolver and a huge hunting knife in her boot was a more common-day occurrence at the Collinsport Inn. He watched Doctor Praetorious’s reaction to them being with Nikki and was heartened to see the man was comfortable with her having brought friends to the meeting. “I have looked forward to seeing you again, Doctor.”
“Oh, I am sure you have . . . .”
Ever wary, Esther stands and waits for Nikki to sit down.
The Doctor looks up at Nikki and Esther, “Please have a seat. I am certain you must have something on your mind.”
Rhyaad’s eyebrow shot up in his characteristic little way. “How so, Doctor Praetorious?”
Nikki sits down.
Esther follows suit.
“Well,” Dr. Praetorius, begins as he takes a drink, “Gin — you know, my only weakness . . . Let’s see — If you were not of the undying, or being that you are, I dare say that you are what now Nicole . . . 30?”
Nikki nods, “31 last month.”
“Then this conversation has been 31 years in the making.”
Esther looks at Nik and wonders what no party or even a tiny celebration � wasn�t she always saying she was the party girl? What had Nikki done on her birthday — had Nik gone and sat in that cold crypt at Eagle Hill Cemetery where they had first met � knowing that was where she secretly went to think . . . to be alone. Alone on her birthday . . . Esther realized now how much Nikki had been changed, at some essential core, how similar they were, how solitary, like her, Nikki really must be. It was no wonder they had become such good friends.
Dr. Praetorius continued in his very mannered British tone, “I assume, Mr. de’Annar has discussed certain matters with you.”
Rhyaad sniffed at the drink. “I’m . . . somewhat older. And I would drink tea.” He slid the rejected drink away and nodded to the Doctor. “Doctor, I think that Nikki is made stronger by knowing the truth about her parentage.”
“Oh, I so do agree.”. Praetorius nodded, “It is perfectly obvious I would not have told you had I not expected you to tell her.”
That seemed to relieve Rhyaad, “I’m glad you understand, Doctor. I had some trepidation that you would be irate about it.”
“I am sitting right here Doctor — � Nikki said evenly. “I would like it if for once I was treated as something other than a object of discussion.”
Dr. Praetorius smiled: “To be sure. Now, Miss Collins, is there anything you would care for � perhaps a drink? I know these foolish looking things on the table are quite disgusting for someone of your tastes.”
He takes a flask from his evening jacket pocket and passes it over to her.
Nikki’s slender, long fingers accept the flask from him and upon opening it she discovers it contains fresh blood.
The feeling that he had also been guilty of talking about her instead of to her suddenly stung Rhyaad, “Perhaps if the Doctor would explain what he means about 30 years in the making.”
“Oh, yes � here.” And like some clever magician Praetorius from a pocket removes a shot glass, which he hands it over to Nikki. “I assume this will not be easy, my dear.”
The scent of the blood ticking his nose, Rhyaad watches Nikki placing the tiny flask cap on the table.
Nikki pours a shot, and with a smile, passes the flask over to Rhyaad.
She downs the shot. AB, her favorite.
Nodding silently as he takes the flask and then glances about. Since nobody seemed to be watching, Rhyaad downed the rest of the flask’s crimson contents.
Esther not at all out for blood wanted information, ” So cut to the chase Doc. Why are you doing this to us?”
“Well, to answer your question Mr. de�Annar, I was there at the moment of Nicole’s conception � thirty years ago. You see, my dear,” and now he looks at her, “I was working with your father to help him find a cure for Angelique.”
That surprised him, and Rhyaad’s eyebrow shot up higher than before. He did not know the doctor himself had a hand in these experiments.
“You see, my dear,” Dr. Praetorius looks at Nikki, “I was working with your father to help him find a cure for Angelique.”
“So, I noticed you did not say when you found a cure for my mother.”
“Most observant my dear.”
Rhyaad nodded. Saints and mad doctors aside, he still doubted such a cure was possible.
“To begin, you father was aware of a series of experiments done here in Collinsport years before by a Dr. Lang. Dr. Lang, you see, who was a descendent, also had access to Victor and Henry Frankenstein’s journals.”
Nikki’s blue eyes were darkening with impatience, “What has that to do –”
“With you?” Dr. Praetorius’s fingers slowly turning the base of his glass, “Everything. You see, Dr. Lang’s experiments long ago, in the 1960’s had led to a cure for your father. You see, Lang had jolly well used your father’s lifeforce to animate . . . his . . creature, but in doing so he was able to separate and drain off the vampiric mutated lifeforce.”
[WE KNOW: but the show was a soap opera and they really did this]
Rhyaad shuddered at that last name. Doctor Frankenstein. But then listened with a mixture of revulsion and intense interest as he described Barnabas being ‘cured’.”
“Now you see, Barnabas, he was endeavoring to try and replicate the experiment in order to do the same for his Angelique. But his premise was all wrong, don’t you see, for one, he did not have all of Lang’s papers, and for two, Angelique was a succubus and not a vampire.”
Dr. Praetorius lifted a finger and shook it: “A very important distinction, as she lived on lifeforce rather than blood, and so as I explained to him the experiment he was trying was just all wrong end around and doomed to certain failure.
“You see,” He took a drink, “I was Victor’s professor . . . his mentor . . . I helped him with his experiments.”
“That is all so fascinating Doctor,� Nikki said coldly, “But pardon me, what the bloody hell does that have to do with how I was�conceived?”
Rhyaad nodded. “Please tell me she is not the product of Frankenstein’s work. And you, Doctor? His mentor?”
Praetorius turned to Rhyaad, “No � not a product of Frankenstein�s work, but now to the story as that was all preamble.”
He turned to Nikki, “And please understand, I was a friend of your father’s. So, as you know in England there is the Diogenes Club but there is also another organization that was set up centuries ago by order of the Queen. It was put in place by Dr. John Dee. This group is known as The Undertaking, and they . . . as they are wont to say, collect things.
Nikki’s blue eyes were ever darkening Rhyaad noticed, her patience with the Doctor’s story, no matter how interesting did not seem to be moving toward the topic of her upmost interest.
“They have a very, vast “Collection” kept at what is called the Mausoleum.”
“The juxtaposition of Undertaking and collecting things sounds disturbing, for some reason.” Rhyaad said.
Esther seemed now to speak for them all, “You ramble on like a politician. Cut to the chase.”
“Especially when you say the collection is housed in a place of the dead.” Rhyaad finished his thought.
The Doctor nodded, “You would not like The Undertaking � it is their job to collect and maintain things, was well as people, that it has been determined should never see the light of day or darkness of night ever again.”
“Would her Majesty order the collection of corpses?”
“I said nothing about corpses.” The doctor took a drink.
“I know Victoria investigated the supernatural . . . Oh, now you make it sound even worse. I hope these things they collect are, in fact dead. Yes?”
“No.”
“So, this Undertaking, they � they undertook an experiment with you and my father?” Nikki asked.
Praetorius shook his head, “No, my dear. Your father and I did something very dangerous. We broke into the Mausoleum.”
“This gets worse.” Rhyaad said, “To obtain a body to animate to cure Angelique?” and he glances at Esther, knowing how she feels about bringing back the dead.
“As luck would have it, they had added a new item to the ‘Collection.’ Countess Elizabeth Bathory.” Praetorius explained, “Under various wards and spells cast by the Undertaking and Diogenes Club sorcerers, she was boxed in a viewable coffin in a catatonic state.”
Rhyaad let out a gasp at that. Then calmed himself as he realized – so that was how it began. How they converted her.
Dr. Praetorius did not look at Nikki as he now continued, “It was our mission to enter into her viewing room and extract certain specimens.”
“What you mean Doctor is that you broke in and stole eggs out of her ovaries.” Nikki’s eyes narrow and grew very, very cold.
“Yes –” He smiled nervously, “You are so very bright, young lady. You see, I am kept alive by an elixir of life, an elixir of my own invention. My plan was to use it in order to reanimate her eggs, and in vitro fertilize them with your father’s sperm � sorry this is a bit nasty to have to discuss, don’t’ch know. And so, once successful, we then implanted them into Angelique � The idea was that by using a vampire fetus, you would filter out the mutatgens from her and she from you and both would cancel each other out, leaving you both human.”
“Then � my mother � my mother really is Eilzabeth Bathory?” Nikki says very softly.
Rhyaad wrinkled his nose. How they could think that… and the nature of the experiment… but then again this gentleman by very definition was a mad scientist and so he listened without interrupting.
“Oh, yes. You are her daughter. Her’s and Barnabas'” He finished his drink and then motioned to the waitress for another.
Nikki sat quite. She had come to hear, had sat impatient, anger rising � wanting to know but not wanting to hear what she had just heard. What she had feared she would hear. She looked at Rhyaad and motioned for the flask back.
“Now, as you have no doubt already surmised � the experiment was a failure. It did not work as I had expected � so is science.”
“I was an experiment?”
Rhyaad handed the empty flask back, speechless. He wondered how all this would affect Nikki, and stared into her eyes.
Esther sat back and sighed, “I need a drink. Waitress! Heineken!”
“Now I wish I hadn’t drank…”
Dr. Praetorius now looked at her – in the eyes, “In some sense, yes, but that does not all detract from the fact your father was overjoyed. He had never thought he would have a child.”
“That part, at least, I can understand.”
Nikki picked up the flask, but found it empty. She set it down, “Goddamned, this couldn’t get me drunk anyway!”
The waitress brings the beer for Esther and sets it down with a disdainful look.
“Oh, my dear, please � in vitro children are very common today. It does not mean your father did not love you very, very much.” Dr. Praetorius said, “Remember I was there � I saw his reaction to Catronia Kaye, the Chairman of the Ruling Cabal when she played her little game �”
Nikki’s eyes have darkened, no longer darker blue, “Experiments, schemes, little games � did not one person give a bloody damn that I was a child! That someone was bloody f**king with my life!”
“I’m sorry, Nikki. But I know Barnabas must have wanted you so much that he would do anything.” Rhyaad tried to comfort her knowing this was very painful for her.
The waitress brings the Doctor his glass of gin, sitting it down, He smiled at her, “Oh thank you every so much.” He then turned to Nikki, ‘Yes, there was one actually, other than of course as Rhyaad said, your father. Elizabeth Bathory.”
Esther sets the beer down.
“Yes � Doctor and do tell me now how that happened? Did you not say she was catatonic in a coffin — so how pray was she ever concerned.”
“I can in some small sense understand how Barnabas must have felt. How much he must have been desperate to have a child.” Rhyaad says thoughtfully.
“Precisely, as was Angelique � who had wanted a child for at least a hundred years.” Dr. Praetorius, sat for a moment, then looked once more at Nikki, “Well, my dear, this is the part of the story I fear you are not going to like . . . and before I do tell you, I do want you to know that I have been authorized by the current Chair of the Ruling Cabal to tell you.”
“Oh. Only THIS part she is not going to like?” Esther says sarcastically.
Dr. Praetorius continues, “I had spoken to Mr. de’Annar in the hopes that you would be at least prepared for the story of how you came to be � now I have to explain how you are alive.”
Rhyaad grimaced. It was going to get even worse? And this Ruling Cabal – what exactly was that?
“To put as best a face on this as possible, The Diogenes Club has for it’s existence fought various paranormal entities � but for the most part, we have stood before a group of entities, some call them gods, sometimes known as the Great Old Ones, who would seek to destroy all human life. And so, decision’s made are made within that context – the very survival of mankind in a never-ending war with immortals. And so among our members, we have at times recruited some of the more nefarious individuals. So, you see � Catronia Kaye, the Chair at the time of . . . our experiment . . . became aware of our little let’s say plot to clandestinely enter into The Undertaking’s mausoleum.”
“Hrm”… Rhyaad thought this was beginning to sound like something out of that bizarre, yet fascinating book in Barnabas’s library.
“Thus, she and The Undertaking actually allowed us to gain access. We were not as good at stealing as we thought.”
Nikki turned to look at him, her face very stern, her teeth clenched, the sharpness of her fangs visible, “They let you do the experiment?”
“Yes � unofficially of course, plausible deniability, you know, but we were unaware they knew.”
He takes a drink of gin as if he knows this is going to get even worse � why THEY sent him to tell her. “Well, it seems — Catronia, after it became evident that Angelique was able to carry you, and so, some measure of the experiment was working, sent in some Valuable Members to place your father and I under house arrest.”
“How treacherous of them.” Rhyyad remarked.
“Your father attacked with various spells at his command, but they brought a far more powerful sorcerer. We were overcome.” He looked now at his glass. “And they took Angelique from us. They told her it was in order to ascertain that the child was alright � it was only later I discovered why she was taken.”
“And this organization, this Club asked me to join?” Nikki asked bewildered, “After they had done this to my father, my . . . mother?”
Rhyaad braced himself. “Why, Doctor, did they take her.”
“You have to understand, what I was doing was in fact regressing to some of my more inglorious days � and we had broken into The Undertaking.” But the Doctor knew there was nothing for it, but to move straightway along, “Well, once they had Angelique, and you, Catronia Kaye, stormed into The Undertaking and forced them to wake Bathory up.”
“Inglorious” Rhyaad wondered now just what that entailed, since the man had revealed he was Frankenstein’s mentor. “So… Bathroy was allowed to know what was being done?”
“You see, they had gotten her via a dangerous raid into Russia where she had been handed over to the Soviets for experimentation in a project of theirs to created Vampire Super Soldiers � you see, one of her rivals, a Count Petofi was the one who masterminded it all, handing her over to the Russians, owing to a painting he had that allowed anyone to control Bathory.
“So that’s how it began! The Russians and their damned vampire soldiers! I always wondered who did that.” Rhyaad was at a lost to how much this man knew � how much he was knowingly revealing.
The Doctor nodded, “So, then, as we say, they ‘unboxed’ her and brought Bathory into an interview room, where she was bound in silver chains – and I must they do hurt a vampire . . . leave nasty burns – plus they had several wards and spells on her so she was helpless.”
The Doctor took a drink finishing the gin and shook the ice in his glass, before turning to Nikki. “Elizabeth knew that someone had cut into her, and wanted to know why. Catronia told her it was for experimentation purposes. Bathory was in a rage about how she was being used by two governments who were cutting her up for body parts . . . but then with that damnable power of hers to read minds, she knew it was about a child.”
“Read minds?”. Nikki asked.
“Oh, yes, telepathic . . . You should have inherited that from her.” The Doctor answered rattling the ice in his glass wanting another, “Now, of course, Catronia knew about her powers and had made certain she had parts of her mind blocked, allowing Bathory to see only want she wanted her to see.”
“Ah. So, that is what Bathory meant by ‘My dear departed daughter’.” Rhyaad recollected.
“I am sorry � really, this is all very fascinating � but you were answering my question about some who actually gave a damn about what they were doing to me.”
“I am telling you my dear.” The Doctor said, “This is not easy. Catronia Kaye sat very calmly in front of Elizabeth Bathory, across a table much smaller than this one, and told her she had a child. That it was alive. And that Bathroy had a choice to make.”
Nikki’s eyes narrowed, “A choice?”
He rattled the ice in his glass and did not look at her, “As I said you are not going to like this � she told Bathory, she was going to abort you.”
“Abort . . . me?”
Rhyaad gasped.
“Yes, amid their banter, Catronia, whom was very more powerful in my opinion that Mycroft, looked her in the eye and told her she, Catronia, was there to let her know that she had a child, a daughter, and that she was then going to re-box her, put her back in the collection; and then she was going to abort you.”
Nikki sat in silence.
Dr. Praetorius continued, “She proceeded to tell her that she wasn’t totally cold hearted, and so�she would see to it that they put you in a jar beside her coffin.”
Esther was disgusted with all of it, “What kind of a f***ed up person do your work for!?”
“And you f*****g asked me to work for these bastards!” Nikki�s eyes had narrowed and gone darkest blue. Her right hand had formed a fist and she did everything in her power not to lash out at this supercilious bastard.
Rhyaad suddenly drew insight and knew where this was going, “She used this to terrify Bathory into submission.”
“Yes, precisely, Mr. de�Annar” Praetorius said, “A huge calculated risk that was of course against everyone’s better judgment but Kaye believed she could recruit Bathory. And so, owing to Bathroy�s mind reading skills, Catronia knew that she was going to have to play a high hand. So, she had Angelique sequestered in an operating room ready to do so.”
“Ok Doctor “Gantseh Macher”; here�s the deal. You�re going to cut to the chase real soon�or we�re going to leave.� Esther said not wanting her friend to have to listen to any more of this bulls**t.
�As you can imagine, The Countess was at once engaged, but chained and trapped as she was, could only ask � the choice. Very succinctly, Catronia mere feet away from The Countess told her she had to renounce her old life and agree to work for the Club as an Extraordinary Member.�
�I am so sure she leaped at the chance.� Rhyaad said sarcastically.
�No, actually I think her first reaction was to tell Catronia she was going to kill her. Only, Catronia playing her highest hand gave her little time to discuss the matter further as she picked up phone; and said the choice was Bathory’s. The child lives or the child dies.”
“Did she not know that loyalty begot of such twisted and torturous manipulation is always false?� Rhyaad said grimly, �If I was Bathory, I would have ripped her throat out at the first opportunity to do so and get away with it.”
Dr. Praetorius smiled, �Well, what she said was �sure, she was all for it, whatever� because as soon as she was released she would steal the child away. Being what Catronia had precisely expected she would do, if released, and so she told The Countess, no, she would not, because once she agreed to work for the Club . . . then and only then would Contronia would use the painting against her to make certain she would not try to attempt to find out who or where the child was.”
Nikki sat listening to them talking about her � as if now she wasn�t there � as if she was never there � just something in a womb to be snatched out if some game was not played out to a proper conclusion.
�The surgeon was on the line � asking for permission to proceed. And Bathroy looking across the table knew full well Kaye was ready to give the order; and so she agreed. She has been a member of the Club every since�
Turning now from Rhyaad, the Doctor looked at Nikki full on, �So, yes, Miss Collins, someone cared for you, very much � your mother.�
�And you have since gotten rid of this Kaye, yes?� Esther asked, her tone indicating that if they had not, then Esther herself would do so.
“But this painting . . . of her . . . the one that gives one control over her it somehow fell into other hands. The Brides of Dracula?� Rhyaad interjected
�Yes, it had been rather brilliantly stolen by an art thief � whom we still have not quite ascertained who he was working for � but then, it was recovered by a law firm . . . Harker & Hawkins � it was to be returned, but it disappeared from the law firm and thus, Elizabeth Bathory was commanded to kill her daughter in Paris.”
Rhyaad was confused, �But she didn�t know who her daughter was, you said.�
The Docotor looked at Nikki, “You see, when you were 19, Catronia relented, and she told Bathory, who I might add had become a bloody damned fine member of the Club by then, who you were. From that time she constantly watched over you, but never let you know because she felt you would not want a mass murderer for a mother.”
“Is this Kaye b****h dead?� Esther asked again.
Dr. Praetorius nodded, �Catronia died � a few years ago, yes. And as you see, the new chairman wanted me to come here to ��
�To get me too work for them like my mother?� Nikki said coldly.
�And to tell you the truth.�
“I’m glad to hear that.� Rhyaad said looking across the table to Nikki, �At least this new chairman has the decency to admit to a horrid bit of this Club�s past � she apparently has far higher morals. And I am glad to heard that Catronia is dead.”
“Yes, one can only imagine the horror The Countess was forced to endure as those who had the painting taunted her with it, knowing she had a daughter and so ordering her to go and kill her � kill your daughter. I must say, I have talked to Elizabeth several times since � and to this day she is forever haunted by that night and refuses to forgive herself.”
Nikki’s hand suddenly shattered the shot glass she was gripping � gashing deep her hand which bleed a dark red upon the white linen tablecloth � �And so, you and your bloody Club, they sent you here to manipulate me, to work for you, to join this damnable Club of yours!”
Rhyaad was startled by the sound of the shattering glass, and stared at Nikki, her bleeding hand, but nodded in understanding. “I don’t blame you for feeling like that Nikki. But the old bitch that did this is dead. And Pretorious has come clean, at least.”
Esther rises, she physically hurts for Nikki: �And you sit there. All nonchalant with brandy and a tux, talking about this like it was a baseball game. I’m not having it. Not listenin� to anuther d****d word. Come on. Let�s go.�
“Where is the painting now, Doctor?” Rhyaad asked.
“Yes, well, I do totally understand Miss Friedman, and I would expect Miss Collins to do what Elizabeth did last night when I told her that you were being told.”
“Elisabeth would do nothing to hurt Nikki. But you, Doctor, should be afraid. What did she do?” Rhyaad too was controlling his anger.
Dr. Praetorius smiled, “Well — she does move rather fast as you know. So she came across a table, you see, grabbed me up by the throat and carried me, oh i would estimate a least forty meters before she slammed me good and proper up against a wall, fangs extended, hissing you know, as she lifting me a meter from the floor. To ask me why she shouldn’t kill me for good. It was really quite painful, actually”
Rhyaad: “I’m amazed she didn’t kill you, Doctor.”
“It was a very intense conversation � I am sure you can imagine, my dear,� Looking at Nikki, �Oh, I must say, you do so have her eyes, and I should jolly well know seeing as how I got to look at them very up close as she explained rather than just ripping out my throat, perhaps she would tear out my spine instead.”
“I see see she did neither.” Rhyaad offers.
“No, she just hurled me clear across the room. Of course, that was after I explained why it was decided to bring this all out in the open.”
“No broken bones I gather?� Rhyaad looked at him, �You see, this is what you get when you treat people as puppets. And in her case, much worse. Still she showed remarkable restraint, given her history.”
Nikki looked at him, �You never answered the question about the painting. Where is it?�
�You want it?� He asked.
�I want to know where it is?�
“My understanding is that an American organisation, the Delta Green, they salvaged it from the Conrad, and Bathory stole it back from them.”
�I thought it was back in the restricted area of Harker & Hawkins.� Rhyaad claimed.
Dr. Praetorius did not look at Rhyaad and instead continued to look only at Nikki, �Because if you want it � it is yours, you see. Which is something I do so wish you will talk to her about, I have asked her repeatedly to destroy the damned thing � as you see, she went and stole it back from Hawkins & Harker and placed a duplicate in it’s place, because she is so guilt ridden she is determined to give it to you so that you can do to her what you will.
Nikki shakes her head — “This is all — too much . . . .”
Rhyaad shrugged. “Then accept the painting, Nikki, from her. Then when she is gone, burn it. T his all puts Elisabeth Bathory in quite a different light. I now think you can trust her Nikki. Perhaps I can also. I would not, however, extend that to any of the Diogenes Club.”
He looked at the Doctor, his gaze cold. “Not after what you did to her.”
Dr. Praetorius, really wanted a fresh drink, “Now, I know everyone here at this table is very upset, upset with The Club, with Kaye, with me, perhaps even with Barnabas � but no matter what you are feeling, especially you Miss Collins, be warned. An old villain is on his way here for reasons for which we have yet to gain a clue.
Suddenly Nikki read a thought from him, �Vera? Vera Endecott.�
The Doctor looked at her wide-eyed, �Oh, so you have inherited it from your mother? Yes, we know Vera Endecott is involved somehow . . . something you need to find out.�
“And this has something to do with an old villain?” Nikki asked.
“Miss Collins you would not believe all the tangles the Collins Family has had with the Great Old Ones since 1692.” The Doctor cautions, “I have been assigned to stay here and be of assistance to you. . . ”
�Assist us?” This was more than enough for Esther.
Dr. Praetorius ignored Esther�s comment, “Vera is they key � I don’t know precisely what for, but Pefoti’s minions are already here in Collinsport.”
Esther glares at him, �I would not trust you not to stab me in my sleep, and you and your organization want to watch over Collinsport? And us? So you�re moving in? Filling the power vacuum left by those d****d cultists?�
“I know you feel that way, but understand, when the experiment with Nikki began to go bad, when Angelique’s mutagens began to attack her, I did everything I could to save her. I have never done anything to harm you Nicole.” He told Nikki, �And so I am here to help, you see David helped build a Lab on a small island off the coast, I will be staying there.”
�Oh. It�s the British invasion all over again is it?� Esther snaps. �Well stay on your d*** Island. I’m going back to the house. Anyone coming?�
Esther rises.
“A mad scientist lab, where you do your wicked experiments?” Rhyaad asks interested.
“Not so wicked these days I assure you.”
“This is all, you must admit, Praetorious, a bit much to take. Esther’s reactions are completely understandable. And you can thank the fact of my crusty old age that my ire is not raised against you also. Perhaps we should leave, and give Nikki a chance to digest the bitter news you have shoved down her throat.” Rhyaad also rises and drops his napkin.
�What next, Impregnating elephants with werewolf babies?� Esther says angrily, �Come on Nik. Let�s go.
Nikki stands and from her pocket she withdraws the card given to her stating she is a member of the Diogenes Club. She looks at it, running her fingers over the raised letters, [i] Nicole Collins[/].
“I shall accompany Nikki.� Rhyaad tells the Doctor, �Perhaps tomorrow, if she still wants to ever see you again, Doctor, we will visit your island.”
“Before you toss that into my face � which you have every right � I would go home and think about it.”
Nikki looks at the card and then at the Doctor, “Let’s got Rhyaad,” and she slips the card back into her pocket.
Esther, hands in her jacket pocket, leads the way out of the building, leaving the doctor with the bill for her beer. Nikki and Rhyaad follow.
“She does have her mother’s walk, that is for certain.� Dr. Praetorious says to himself as he watches her walk away, �Waitress, another Gin please and make it a double.”
Act 3
Esther feels she has ridden in the eye of a hurricane, and that as she enters the house, holding the door open for her friends, the backside winds are about to be unleashed. Nikki sat quiet, too quiet for too long as Rhyaad drove them home to the Old House.
Nikki storms into the foyer and stands a moment, as if undecided as to where she is going next, her teeth clenched — jaw tight.
Rhyaad follows behind Nikki, still shaking his head in dismay at the evening’s revelations.
Esther closes the door, takes off her coat; someone has to say something, “The nerve. The f***in’ nerve of him….”
Nikki says nothing as she marches into the kitchen and opens one of the kitchen cabinets from which she removes what looks like a wine bottle, the label bearing a crest and lettering in Romanian. She slams the cabinet shut and comes back into the sitting room with two glasses and the bottle.
Nikki pulls the cork out and pours two glasses of imported blood, “From Mother!”
She sets the bottle down hard on the table.
“Thank you, Nikki. We can use it.” Rhyaad says and sits in one of the comfortable Victorian chairs, still looking dismayed.
Esther sits down in what has become to be considered her chair.
“It’s actually very good, fresh � she gets it sent in some how daily” Nikki informs him off-handedly.
Nikki clenches her fists, “I am so goddamned bloody tired of every moment of my life having been part of some bloody sinister plot!”
“I understand, Nikki. I do.” Rhyaad offers reaching for one of the glasses filled with the dark red liquid, “I’ve never known anybody who’s history was quite so . . . manipulated by secret forces.”
“What is next?” Nikki asks, and sits down, “It is like it never ends?”
“I shudder to think.” Rhyaad had decided not to question for now how Elisabeth got fresh bottles of blood ‘imported daily�. “It does seem like that.”
“D***it Nik, you are not some creation. Not some…thing. You are a person, and people make their own futures.” Esther said. “If that group think’s they can control you then I’ll show them what’s what.”
“Oh thank you Esther, but the more I learn the less I have any life that is my own � ”
“Your life is your own, Nikki. What did I tell you . . . I just didn’t think it could be true so *literally*…” Rhyaad is still trying to process this latest revelation.
Nikki rubs her fingers against her forehead, “They were going to f*****g abort me! I was not even born and they were using me � using me still. Collins!! God this name is a curse!!”
Rhyaad nods thoughtfully, “It would seem your family is cursed. But you know what… I don’t believe in destiny. Never did. Your life will be what you make it, curse or no curse.”
“Yeah. No way are we gonna let you be controlled like a puppet.” Esther agrees, “F*** Destiny.”
Nikki rocks slightly, “I don’t know Rhyaad. Do I have any control over my life? I am so tried of being a puppet!” She looks over to Esther, “You are staying here tonight, aren’t you?”
Nikki takes a long drink of blood and puts her glass down.
“Of course you do, Nikki.” Rhyaad answers, “We all do. Esther puts it crudely, but her attitude is the right one.”
“Yes. I will stay here tonight and,” Esther looks at her watch, “well today now. th’ 21st….’ She looks down and sighs.
“Please, and don’t let me go out � I so want to kill something � anything�watch me, please.” Nikki takes a long drink of blood and puts her glass down.
Esther looks up. “Sure thing Nik. I’ll watch you tomorrow.”
“I am so mad � so tired, tired of trying to be good � to do the right thing while everyone is . . . Rhyaad, is there anyway I can get drunk, I so want to get drunk!”
“Mix alcohol with the blood, Nikki. That will work.” He tells her.
Nikki reaches up and grabs the pearls, which seem to be bothering her, and snaps them off, spilling pearls across the floor.
She gets up and heads back to the kitchen.
Esther gets up and goes over to Rhyaad.
Nikki opens the upper kitchen cabinet and searches for and finds a bottle of Vodka.
“Rhy . . . The 21st, can you watch Nik for me?” Esther asks looking back toward the kitchen to be certain Nikki is all right.
Nikki strides back into the sitting room. Opens the bottle of Stolichnaya and pours the vodka into the blood and takes a long drink.
“Certainly, Esther. You will be away?”
Esther, looks down, “Yeah . . . ”
Rhyaad now kneels on the floor and begins gathering up the pearls. “Not for long I hope?”
Nikki closes her eyes and now feels bad that Rhyaad has gotten up to pick up her pearls, “Please leave them Rhyaad, it�s my mess I will have to clean it up.”
Esther bends down to help, “No . . . just that day. Is that alright Nik?”
“Oh, yes Esther certainly � I’m sorry . . . I can’t expect you to not have a life of your own . . .”
As she rises, putting what pearls she had in her hand on the table, Esther waves her hand dismissively, “Oh no. It’s just the one-day. I really don’t have a life, but November 21…”
Rhyaad put a handful of pearls on the table. “One of the Jewish Holidays.”
“No. . . no . . .”. She looks slightly distressed, “It’s . . . well it’s my birthday. There. I said it.
“Your birthday?” Rhyaad smiles brightly, “AH! Stay! We will give you a party. A festive occasion would be so welcome for a change.”
“Oh, Esther � your birthday� � Nikki suddenly thinking of what she had done for her birthday; she certainly wanted Esther to have a happier one. “Yes we have a party � a grand party Rhyaad!”
Esther still looks solemn. “. . . No you misunderstand . . .”
Nikki takes another drink of blood and vodka.
“I’ll be taking a bus back to Norridewock.” Esther says.
“Why? What’s there?” Rhyaad asked, �You can stay with us here and have a grand party.”
“You don’t get it. It was my birthday remember? 13 years ago tomorrow? I’d rather morn alone. Thank you but no. This is tradition.”
Nikki suddenly is horrified that she had not made the connection, had not seen, read Esther’s emotions, being so bloody pre-occupied with herself — “Oh, my god Esther.” Aware of the trauma, the horror as a young girl Esther had gone through, her fingers to her mouth, “I am so sorry . . . I so completely understand. I want you to know we are here for you — I am here for you.”
“Thank you Nik. I don’t want to seem selfish. But please, just the 21st.”
Nikki steps over and puts her arms around her, “Selfish no, never � not you. Not my Esther. I’m the one being selfish. . . No, you take the 21st � and don’t take the bus, please take my car.”
Rhyaad sighed. Her history. Always bloody history. “Yes, Esther. We will be with you in spirit, then. And if there is anything you need, just ask.”
Esther grins a bit, “Nik, you know I can’t drive”
“Oh, I am sorry, I did forget that, I would ask Sam to drive, but, would that be okay — or would you rather be totally alone?”
I’ll take the bus. But enough about that. You wanted a party. There is always thanksgiving. I know it means little to you Nik. what with you bein’ from ‘cross the pond an’ all. But what do you say to turkeyblood?
Nikki feels so badly now, reflecting on her own pre-occupation � horrified at how much she had not really changed from the spoiled, party girl, little bitch she had thought she no longer was � owing to her death, her undeath she thought she had changed. Esther poor Esther, her whole family — watching that horrendous massacre . . . How could she have asked . . . “I am so, so sorry, Esther I am the one who needs to apologize for being so bloody selfish � being so damned busy obsessing about all this insanity in my life and asking you to be here . . . I am so sorry.”
Rhyaad rolled his eyes. “Turkey blood.”
Esther smiled at him, “Well, can you eat actual turkey?” And she saw the a red tear in Nikki’s eye, “An’ don’t worry Nik. We both have our pasts. Let’s think about the future.
“We can use some of Elizabeth’s imports � but yes lets have a thanksgiving”. Nikki said,” Here, all of us, I know Sam will love it.”
He nodded. “The future. And yes, have turkey and invite Sam.”
Nikki goes silent for a moment.
Esther looks at her as the awkward silence continues.
Nikki turns and looks at them, “Sorry, I was just thinking � should I invite . . . . My mother?”
“Don’t know,” Esther shrugs. “What do ya think? Do you trust her any more now than you did before?”
“I trust she will never harm Nikki.” Rhyaad thought aloud, “But I don’t think I would extend that trust . . . to people that Nikki does not know, though.”
“From what I heard tonight � there is a good chance I might not be here without her . . . I think I need to try to get to know her � better.”
Esther nods, “Well then. Thanksgiving sounds like the perfect time to get to know her better.” And then looks at her watch, “Oy. It’s late. Nik, will you be all right if I go to bed now? Or do you think ya need watching longer?”
“Rhyaad’s Vodka-and-Blood seems to be a marvelous medicine,” Nikki tells her, only Esther is the medicine, as she had made her realize her own selfishness, “so, no, you please get some rest, thanks!”
“Ok. Good night” Esther begins to leave and then stops and turns, “And, thank you for the 21st.”
Rhyaad nods his head, “Good night, Esther Friedman. A’a seldane vara lle.”
“Shalom Alechem Rhyaad d’annar.” She smiles at Nikki, “Good night Nik.”
“Good Night Esther!”
Another sip of the blood-and-vodka, Nikki began to feel relaxed, “I wish I had known about this before. A lovely drink Rhyaad.”
“She�s a good woman, Esther. We�re luck to have her.” Rhyaad said as he watched her ascend the stairs to her bedroom and took a sip of his vodka-and-blood.
“I don’t know what I would do with out her,” Nikki says, and looks at him, “Or you. You are my family now.”
“Thank you Nikki. That warms my old heart.” He took another sip.
“Am I overreacting?’ Nikki asks putting more vodka into her blood, and taking a sip, “It is all history really.”
“No . . . you’re not over-reacting. Give the horrific things that were done . . . not at all.”
“Well I am going to get drunk tonight and decide things tomorrow.”
Cue Music and End of Episode