Meeting of The Collinsport Ghost Society

A meeting is scheduled to night to bring two families together, or so David Collins hopes. He has relied for years on his secret society, The CollinsPort Ghost Society. But now he suspects the threat against his family is growing. HIs young cousin from England has been viscously attacked and murdered — and then turned into the un-dead. He seeks help from another family, related secretly to his own — but tonight will not bring these families any closer, in fact in giving comfort to their enemies they will become further apart.

A shimmering oval, a hole in the fabric of reality, begins now to abruptly appear in the air outside the church. Formulating in the trees, where the portal would be obscured, through the gathering swirl of blackness with its glowing violet edges, two forms just suddenly fell. They plunged the six feet down to the ground, with the robed one falling on top of the one in the leather jacket. “Nix! Damn!” and other curses came out of the robed one’s mouth as he picked himself up, then apologized profusely to Medri. “This just happens, Medri . . . It’s not my specialty, you know.”

Medri Harker rises and grabs at his side where only moments ago Rhyaad has fallen atop him, “Ow . . . ow. . . .ow. . . my ribs. . . “

“Sorry. . . . again, very sorry. But it’s not east to travel a hundred miles in an instant, you know.” Rhyaad explains, standing to rearrange his robes, even as he looks about to try and get his bearings.

As he brushes off leaves, Medri Harker mumbles, “Didn’t even want to come.” He looks around seeing he was outside a large church, “Well, here we are, I assume?”

“They will be in this edifice . . .. yes. It’s the right place.” It was a bit disturbing just how relieved he seemed to be to say those words. Rhyaad walks up to the doors and pulls them open. “After you, fearless one.”

“Oh no . . . last time you said that . . . I got my ribs crushed . . . You first buster.” Medri said as he was still rubbing his side.

“Oh. . . I suppose you’re right.” Rhyaad tells him. He has his own concerns, “But these churches, with all those crosses . . . they give me the creeps.” He steeled himself and went in, keeping his head down as he walks slowly onto the red carpet.

At the front of the church two individuals, David Collins, head of the Collins Family, and the Reverend Trask, stand on the church’s front dais. For Harker and Rhyaad’s, the sight of them standing there together held little meaning, but for those residents of Collinsport it would have seem very, very unusual to find Trask and Collins together as it is been long assumed they are at all on friendly terms. More like mutual enemies.

“Ah, Mr. Harker. Mr. de’Annar, it is good that you could come.” David Collins greets them as he stands rather casually, his hand in a jacket pocket.

Medri gave the man a strange look, “. . . And you are?”

“”That would be Collins up there, Medri. Come . . . we must greet them.” Rhyaad says softly to Medri. Then he swallowed and resolutely walks up the red carpeted aisle to the front of the church, “David Collins, I presume?”

“Yes, I am David Collin—it so good to finally meet you Mr. Harker.” David says stepping forward. “Mr. de’Annar.

Passing by the church, Esther, just happen to notice a car arriving at the back of the church – and at such a late hour . . . and the fact that the Reverend Lamar Trask was opening a back door, looking very suspicious as he seemed to be looking to see if anyone was watching – and then she saw David Collins get out of his car and hurry over to the open church door. Oh, now that was unusual. Those two together? Even more unusual was to see them actually shaking hands. Yes, Esther said to herself, this certainly needs closer looking into. This was definitely some kind of a clandestine meeting – and so she moved a little closer. She had been waiting outside loitering, occasionally smoking a cigarette – and then she had seen the two other men walking from the bushes and entering the church. She really wanted to see what was happening once she recognized one of the men as Rhyaad de’Annar.

The minister on the dais with David Collins now spoke, “Welcome, it you wish, please have a seat. I am Reverend Trask.”

“It is time we talked.” David said.

Rhyaad stepped forward, “Reverend” He bowed slightly to each of them in turn in what seemed to be a quaint European style. “It’s good to finally meet you, Mr. Collins”, he said to David.

“Mr. de’Annar. I would assume you have several questions. One of which I am sure is why would I ask you to meet me here? I know this seems an odd place to meet, but, I wanted us to meet here . . . because this is where the Collinsport Ghost Society is housed –away from far too curious eyes, and upon hallowed ground.”

Esther peering in through a window is aware something of importance seems to be happening, David Collins and the Reverend Trask are there on the front dais before the altar, and Rhyaad and the other man are standing before them. It’s some kind of a meeting. Silently, she slips in through a side door, makes her way down a darken corridor and pushes open, slightly, one of the interior doors leading to the sanctuary. When the church is empty the old place really echoes, and she can hear almost all that is said now as Rhyaad replies, “It does seem odd, that a ghost society would meet in a church . . .”

“Medir Harker, who seems entirely ill-at-ease just wants to know, “What’s a ghost society?

“I don’t know yet, my friend”, Rhyaad said, feeling responsible since he is the one who asked Medri to come.

“As a way of explanation,” David begins, “I am more than certain that both of you are quite acquainted with what here in Collinsport is called “The History,” which is something we all know to be another way of saying the paranormal – the supernatural – the unexplained. Here in Collinsport we have had more than out fair share – as you of all people should know, Mr. de’Annar.”

David sounded as if he were addressing a Board meeting.

‘As a boy, I fairly well explored just about every inch of Collinwood and Collinsport. I heard all the rumors. All the stories.” He told them, “ I was a rather adept detective. For my efforts – I discovered a fair amount of information about those things, which most people, the adults around me refused to believe were true. In fact, I was possessed twice by Ghosts – and have had contact with numerous others.”

Esther moves in a little closer, putting her hear to the crack of the door.

“And so, as I grew older, as I gained control of the family business, access to finances, I created this Society – a secret society – here in Collinsport, which watches over and guards not only Collinsport, but most of New England.”

“Possesed?” Rhyaad’s eyebrow shot up. “That is very unusual, Mr. Collins.”

“Collinwood – the estate, and perhaps even the whole of this town Mr. de’Annar is either haunted or cursed.” He explained. “And so, as I built the family’s wealth back, restored the company, I have been building this society from Collins family funds.”

Medri looks at the man intently, “So what, you’re like the freemasons?” And he smiles, “and how does. . . one become possessed by ghost?”

“In some cases very easily.” David told him. Reverend Trask stood silent but was quickly becoming unimpressed by the pair David had invited. David had explained how these two men had gone into battle with a coven of Vampires and took out one of the Trinity of Brides. Trask, listening now, could not believe it.

“No, we are not the freemasons. We are a dedicated group who feel it is our duty to fight the evil that lives among us.”

Medri looked at him, “Oh. . . ”

Trask now spoke up, this was not going well, as he had predicted. “It has come to our attention Sir, that you and this Mr. de’Annar, quite recently went into battled one of the greatest threats we have had in a while.”

Rhyaad nodded. He could not help but wonder why David had said ‘you of all people’. . . . just how much could the elder Collins know?

“One of the Brides of Dracula.”

Medri shrugged, “Well it wasn’t just us two . . . it took quite some time.”

The preacher’s words surprised Rhyaad even more, and it showed. “You know about that?!?”

“And for that reason, David and I have discussed it and we want to offer you membership in the Society.” The Reverend said cutting to the matter at hand.

“And yes . . . Medri and I had quite a lot of help. We’d both be dead if we hadn’t . . . .”

Medri was impressed that the preacher knew . . . but than again wasn’t at all surprised . . . after all in New England how many twists can there be.”

David Collins did not smile, “We know a lot of things, Mr. de’Annar.”

“Oh..well.” Medri replied.

“What you do not know is that while you battled Patricia, our agents in London were in a battle with the Second Bride.” Collins informed them. He remained standing as he had since they had arrived. David Collins had grown up to obtain power and he knew how to weld it.

“I see. . . ” Rhyaad pondered. “I am. . . flattered by your offer.” He looked to Medri for guidance, seeing what he might say. “No. . . . I did not know that at all.”

David looked down at them, “Together we have been successful in stopping two of the most powerful Vampires in the world from fulfilling their nefarious plans.”

“Two. . . with the third remaining?” Rhyaad asked.

Esther quietly breathed under her voice, “this S***’s deeper than I thought . . . ”

David Collins clearly was not pleased to report, “We have lost all trace of the third. I have agents in Europe working on it right now, but she has apparently gone to ground since the defeat of the other two.”

Rhyaad stood and pondered. “I am to assume that you know exactly who . . . and what. . . Medri and myself are?”

But Medri suddenly interrupts, “ . . . .Wait. . . there was another in London?!. . . But why?”

“I assumed you were aware that they were attempting to unite their powers to form a Vampriric Trinity.”

“I didn’t know that either . . . ” Rhyaad glanced at Medri again.

“Precisely why Mr. Harker we need to unite. I do not know their ultimate plan. I just know that they were attempting the same thing in London that Patricia was trying here.” David took a step forward, hoping to play now his trump card. ‘You are aware Mr. Harker that our families are connected by marriage.”

Medri holds back a very befuddled look “. . . What?”

Suddenly, David turns as if he hears something. Esther holds her breath afraid she has been discovered only another door opens.

“Oh, I am sorry, one of our members is a bit late, please join us.” David says a figure enters from the side of the church.

“That is serious . . . and such activities not only result in the deaths of many innocent humans, but also draw a lot of attention from *other* communities.” Rhyaad said and nodded to Medri. “Yes, I’ve read it. It is true, Quincy was it, I think, who married a Collins?”

“Sorry, David, I had to get Phil to cover my shift.” Samantha Evans says as she joins the group.

Medri has never heard of any of this – and so, he would have to have a talk now with his Grandmother, which now he wondered if she was involved.

Medri looks at the new girl*. . . Um hi.”

Rhyaad gave that little bow of his head to her. “Miss Evans. Good evening.” And he did his best to mask his feelings for here was the woman his new friend Nikki Collins loved – and she was part of this secret cabal. What did she know? What did she know about Nikki?

“Which brings me to a delicate subject.” David said looking at Samantha.

“Good Evening, Mr. de’Annar. Nice to see you again.” Sam told him, well aware he was looking at her with ever mounting suspicison.

“My cousin.” David looks at Mr. de’Annar, “I think you know Nicole.”

Esther’s eyes widen in shock – they know!

“Ah, Nikki. I was hoping you would explain what danger you think she is in.”

Harker was still cery concerned about the fact he had never having been told about the Collin and Harker families. “ . . . Uh yeah?”

“I have been counseling Nikki for some time . . . helping her to control her . . . problem.”

“Yes, her Problem. From the research I have, it would appear that because our families have aligned—fate had ordained that one of the Collins was to have become a “slayer. I think you both know what that would have been”

“Nikki?” Rhyaad asks – this information put everything he knew into question.

Esther told herself she need to be taking notes, so she fumbles around for a pen and pad from her coat pocket.

Before continuing, David looks to Mr. de’Annar and nods, ‘For your help, I have been thankful. To say the least it can not have been easy for her.”

The Reverend now spoke up, “Miss Collins is a tragic case to say the least.”

He looked at Medri and then back to Colins and Trask. He nodded. “Glad I could be of help. I care for your cousin, Mr. Collins.”

“I pray for her soul—departed as it is.” The Reverend replied solemnly.

Rhyaad shot up an eyebrow at that. “Departed? I think not. She has just recently made amazing progress.”

David looks at Mr. de’Annar, “We know what she is.”

Esther is trying to write as fast as she can in the little light she has available – how long have they known?

“I am thankful that you have been able to control her –” David says softly.

“You do know quite a lot, Mr. Collins. And apparently so do you, Reverend.” Rhyaad looked back and forth between them. “I have not been able to control her. Nobody can ‘control’ another. I have taught her how to realize herself and put down her Beast.” He didn’t like the way they were talking of her. “All the progress she has made, Shehad made, because she wishes to.”

David nodded and looked back to Medri Harker, “From the information we have obtained it would appear that Patricia somehow discovered that Nicole’s destiny was to become a slayer – and so, she put out – I guess the best way to say it, is a ‘hit’ on her to stop her from becoming one.”

“We discovered it too late, Trask said, “And we were not in time to stop it.”

“A hit.” Rhyaad said softly in a voice two octaves lower, and clenched his fist. “Is that what it was?”

“I see – from what you know are there others – like her – like me that this has happened to?” Medri asked.

The Reverend answered, “No, Mr. Harker, that is one of our concerns—especially for Nicole. Certainly Slayers have been cut down before their time in the past—but a future slayer has never been turned.”

“That we know of—“ David adds.

“And for that we have no idea that what this means.” Sam added, “As far s we know it has never happened before.”

‘More importantly, we don’t know turned her.” David remarked evenly. “Which is why I called this meeting, bringing us together. First of all we need to share information, but second of all we need to combine our forces as our families need to become aligned.”

Medri said, “Maybe not before . . . but, perhaps this has happened since. . . ”

Rhyaad’s anger at hearing the explanation for Nikki’s ‘turning’ turned to surprise as he listened to Sam. . . so she had known all along. . . ”

Esther listens now with renewed with interest. – not Sam.

“We have to be prepared as I assume that the Trinity of Brides are still about their business—and that business concerns us.” David said. “Apparently now the Collins’ and the Harkers.”

Medri nodded his head, “Alright . . . well we will need to keep an eye out for all three of them . . . Patricia hasn’t shown herself in Scarlet Creek since…”

“So you knew. . . ” Rhyaad’s anger could no longer be contained as she nearly spat the words at Sam. Sam said nothing but looked at him, her eyes trying to explain that she had not betrayed Nikki, but Rhyaad was not ready tolisten to anything she had to say and so quickly turned back to David and Trask. “Do you know what happened last night at my establishment, the Nightingale?”

David looked at Harker “The Second Bride, whom we have come to know as Veronica, was nearly destroyed, she was badly wounded and has disappeared into Eastern Europe.”

Reverend Trask took a step forward, “Something happened?”

“Yes, Rhyaad, I knew.” Sam says much too softly

Rhyaad nodded at her, but he was still very mad, He looked over at the Reverend, “An sudden blast of wind blew the doors open. And Nikki was as if she was bewitched. She went outside for a minute, then came back even more pale than usual. She told me that her Maker was here. In Collinsport. And that she had spoken to her.”

Medri interrupted, “Listen Mr. Collins as much as I am a family kind of guy . . . I don’t think I’m the one you should be talking to—it’s my grandmother . . . unless . . . she already knows . . . she knows doesn’t she?”

David looked down for a moment, then went forward, ‘I would assume so, Mr. Harker. She seems to know a lot, but we have not talked in a long time, and I never actually told her about the Society. We have kept it a well-kept secret. Even the Interfaith group doesn’t know. I brought them here to use their resources.”

Esther mumbles under her breath.

“Oh. . . Clever of you, Collins.” Rhyaad began to see that perhaps things in Collinsport were quite different from what he had thought.

Medri said more to himself than anyone, “Wow, so we are like cousins?

“This is most upsetting Mr. de’Annar.” Trask now said to Rhyaad, “We have no information at all on who turned Nikki. We know that Patricia used someone very powerful to do it, as they were killing a slayer.”

David looked at Harker, “Yes, and as such we are now fated into a destiny that links us to what remains of Dracula’s empire.”

Rhyaad nodded. “Nikki described her as very powerful. That’s what I am worried about, Sir. This vampire in town poses a threat to the life of Nikki, and anybody else that happens to get in her way or wind up on her menu.”

“David we never anticipated this.’ Trask says in an aside to David Collins.

Medri looked over at Rhyaad, “Has this vampire made any other appearances?”

“I never saw her at all. Only Nikki.”

Sam spoke up, “And why not, we knew she was out there — we just didn’t know why she refused all contact with her.”

‘Dear Lord, David,” Trask suddenly asks, “Do you think it is because Harker defeated Patricia? That for some reason she stayed away because of her?”

David looked back at the Reverend, “Patricia gave the order we know that.”

“Then we can assume this vamp is here on Patricia’s orders?” Rhyaad said.

Medri shook his head, “Key word here is assumption.”

David now looks down at Medri Harker, “Then, perhaps Patricia is not as defeated as we first thought.”

“This is most troubling David,” Trask said looking at him and Sam.

David now turns to his cousin, “So, what do you say, Cousin Medri, shall we join our families finally?”

Esther cracks her neck, strained from leaning against the door. She is afraid someone might have heard it.

Rhyaad looked to Medri and nodded his head slightly, trying to indicate he agreed with that suggestion. “Your fates twist like vines around the same tree, my friend.”

“Rhyaad, I do want you to know that even though I am aware of Nikki’s condition, it does not effect how I feel for her.” Sam tells him aware that he feels she has betrayed her.

Rhyaad nodded to Sam. “I will tell her this as soon as I can. And . . . thank you.”

The Reverend Trask could not contain himself as he had to say, “Which Miss Evans is a sin, and I can not help but say so.”

Medri looked at the man. . . a bit weirder out by the whole cousin sentiment after all it was only just he and his grandmother for all these years now he find out he has this whole new family of weirdnees . . . .Medri would have to ponder this as he look to Rhy than back to David: “Look I barely know you . . but Nikki is my friend I will do what I can to help her . . . but if My Grandmother knew and kept away for all these years . . . there may have been a reason for that . . I’m afraid that decision isn’t mine . . . ”

Esther feels this breaking up and so she folds up her note pad and looks about before heading back down the narrow unlit corridor.

‘Shut up Trask.” Sam snaps.

“Of course, you may wish to speak to Gwen . . . “Rhyaad says, I would like to speak to Gwen.” He glanced at the little discourse now between Trask and Sam. “A sin to love a vampire, is it?”

There is suddenly a knock on the church door.

David nods ascent, aware that he wanted this agreement between himself and Medri “Very well, but please do think about it. I fear that here in Collinsport, what we call the “History” is about to begin again.”

Medri looks up at the Reverend and shrugs “its a sin for man to love a man. . . and its a sin for a man to love a vamp yeah yeah I’ve heard it.”

David looks to Trask, “Trask—the door.”

“Then we are both sinners, you and I. For you loved men, and many have ‘sinned’ with me.” Rhyaad said.

“I am sorry, Mr. Harker but I can not condone Sam and Nikki’s relationship—same sex relationships are a sin against god . . .” and rather stand and debate, the Reverend descends the steps of the front dais of the church and moves up the red carpeted aisle to the front doors. The discussion continues as he can hear the echoing reverberation of voices, and he unlocks the door, opening it to see a well-dressed man in dark glasses. There is the look of officialdom about him — he looks like a F.B.I. Agent. “I am sorry, but we having a Church Business meeting.” Trask tells the man at the door.

Rhyaad looked to David Collins, “Back to the issues at hand. . . .”

Medri Harker, looking back at the minister at the door, and, waiting for the Reverend to turn back once more to look at the front of the church, he times his moment perfectly as he says “. . . oh . . . well in that case. . . ” and looking to Rhyaad pulls him in close for a passionate kiss than pulls off a horrifed look from to the minister. Medri then says, certain he hopes that Trask can hear, “Come on darling lets have same sex vampiric human fornication.”

Rhyaad looked stunned at Medri’s embrace, then laughed. “I’ll see YOU later, my sweet”, he said, and blew a kiss after him.

The well dressed man having entered coughs. He removes from his jacket a small wallet and shows the Reverend a badge and credentials. Trask steps back and escorts the man down the aisle.

In an attempt to recover his composure Rhyadd says, “I don’t know what to think about the identity of this vampire. But I know I want to protect Nikki. I even asked my Slayer friend here for help. Whoever she is or why ever she is here; the Maker of Nikki has come to Collinsport, and it can only be for evil reasons.”

“That is precisely the reason I am here, Reverend.” Agent Peeters of the EUMO states, as he comes to a halt at the foot of the dais.

“And you are?” Sam asks.

No longer in the mood for this whole endless discussion on matters of which he knows less than half, and certainly not in the mood to hear any more from this preacher, Medri Harker is in the process of turning to leave and calls from over his shoulder: “Mr Collins you know where to find me . . . ” Only to stop short when he sees Peeters, “Agent Peeters?”

David looks down, “Is that Agent Peeters?”

“I am Mr Peeters of the EUMO.” He answers Miss Evans, “Mr. Harker will vouch for me.”

He looks over to David Collins: “I come baring grave news.”

David nodes, “I was told you would be coming tonight.”

As he steps forward, David looks down at the agent, “I was hoping you had news from London about the Second Bride.”

“Agent Peters! Good to see you again. You are part of this little club?” Rhyaad’s asks more than surprised to see the agent.

David looks at the returning Reverend with a stern look, ‘Trask, let’s not have any more of your sermonizing tonight please.”

Although he now hated the church, Medri Harker stopped his exit for at the moment he wasn’t going to ignore Peeters.

Agent Peeters stands solemn, “Unfortunately, our focus has been on a much greater menace. And no, Officially, I am not part of this “club”.

Returning his level gaze to David Collins, Agent Peeters continues: “The problem goes much further than the brides themselves.”

David frowns, “A greater menace?”

Rhyaad looks to Medri, trying to get him to keep from leaving, as he knows Harker is ready to be out from this “place of worship.” Oh, Medri, do stay and talk with Peters. Have you seen him since the fight? And you and I can fornicate later.”

He shot a wicked grin at the Preacher.

Trask glared but kept silent owing to orders from Collins.

Agent Peeters reaches into his suit jacket and extracts a series of papers,” While we have been focusing on the trinity, the singular has returned.”

“Singular?” Medri asks.

Straight-faced, with a stoney voice, Peeters looks at Harker: “The “big man”. Vlad III Drăculești. I have here a written statement from him. It states—“

“Vlad III?” Rhyaad shot up an eyebrow again.

David stuffs both hands into the pockets of his Brooks Brothers suit jacket, “Damn, Peter Cairo was right! He said this was all a plan to revive him!”

“Plan?” Agent Peeter replies with a slight laugh, “It has already happened. I have met with him.”. He then points to Medri Harker, “Your grandmother has met with him recently in my company.”

“I thought the crazed megalomaniac bastard was in torpor somewhere . . . . ” Rhyaad says under his breath.

“So I’ve heard.” Medri says to them.

David Collins teaches down and takes the papers from Agent Peeters and quickly scans them: “Mr. Harker, we will need to see your grandmother—this changes everything.”

Agent Peeters begins now to read the last of the papers aloud: “I am, indeed, a cultural icon of Romania and responsible for many thousands of tourist leus every year. I saved my country from the invading hordes of the heathen Turks and my people worship me for it. But now this so-called European Union dares to enter my demesne and rattles their sabers. They demand that I, Vlad Dracula Tepes, revoke my claims to the land I saved. They wish to place me, Lady Sucorsa, my family, and all of us, in their concentration camps! I am Dracula. I will never capitulate. Stand with me, my minions, and we shall crush the European Union and their agents. ”

An angry knock sounds on the front doors of the church.

Medri looks over to Rhyaad and whispers: “I already texted her. . . before I left the manor. . . “

“This appears to be a declaration of War against the European Union.” Agent Peeters informs the gathering, “Something that we cannot afford at this time.”

“Gads! What a lunatic. He should be in a camp. . . ” Rhyaad replies, looking over his shoulder toward the knocking on the door.

“The Styrian Crisis was bad enough. . . ” Peeters acknowledges.

The Revened Trask looks at David; they are not expecting anyone else tonight.

David nods for the Reverend to get the door and so Trask excuses himself once more. “I am sorry, excuse me someone is at the door.”

Peeters continues his thought, “– at least with them, we could rely on the Austrian Military. Here, I fear he may have some control over the local populous.”

Trask hurries down the aisle and opens the door.

“Dracula? Control? Today?” Rhyaad, preparing for the storm about to enter the church, looks at the well-dressed agent “Are you as mad as he, Peeters?”

Gwendolyn Harker had received Medri’s text from the firm and had one of her employees’ use a location spell to teleport her to Collinsport. The Reverend Trask opens the door to find her standing before him. It’s easily visible that Gwen was not happy.

She presses past the minister: “Excuse me Reverend.”

“At times, I wish I was.” Peeters replies, “I have interviewed the man twice. He seems convinced he can rely on the people of Romania to support him.”

David having read through the papers supplied by Agent Peeters suddenly slaps them against his thigh, “Goddamnit, that is what they have been doing. His brides have been building a global network of vampires to work for him—they are preparing a Terror War!”

Rhyaad shakes his head as he looks at Peeters, “You have seen the old bat himself? He walks? Damn. . . .” He paced the marble floor. “I should have killed him when I had the chance. . . ”

Peeters trying to reorganize the meeting now saying, “Gentlemen,” nods to Samantha, “And ladies, We must not let this escalate any more. We must stop this now. Indeed. Although he mostly sits.”

Gwendolyn Harker walks down the aisle and Medri now sees her “- Gram?!”

Gwendolyn cuts a look to Rhyadd, ” Rhyaad, take Medri back to the manor. . . now!”

“I agree.” David says and looks at the most unhappy Gwen Harker, “First, we need to talk to Medri’s grandmother, if anyone knows about Vlad it is her.”

Agent Peeters nods, “Agreed”

“Mrs. Harker!” David steps forward — “This is an honor!”

Rhyaad blinked at Gwen. Then looked to Medri. “Take him back now?”

” Save it Collins!!” She looks to Rhyaad, “Yes, now!”

Medri looks at her, “-uh. . . I’m twenty one Gram I think I can m–”

Gwen shoots a look to Rhyaad.

Medri having seen her look before says, “- Ok ok ill see you home.”

Gwen looks to David Collins’ “You have a lot of nerve!”

“I am sorry, Mrs. Harker?”

Rhyaad curled a finger at Medri. “If you desire my services. . . outside, where I can plant my staff in the Earth.”

David turns to her, “What have I done to displease you?”

“There was an agreement . . . that you have broken . . . endangering our entire family . . . the Collins and the Harkers . . . you approached the young one?!”

“That agreement did not include my Cousin being murdered in the streets of Paris—this became personal.” David snaps back.

Medri looks to Rhyaad, “I don’t want to be here if she snaps”

Agent Peeters sensing a confrontation steps off to the side.

“It has always been personal . . . but when my Children were murdered . . .I did not go to your children and ask for there aid . . . did I?”

“She is not a woman you argue with.”. Rhyaad agrees with Medri, “I certainly would never want to be on her bad side.” He walked to the door and waited for Medri.

“And why not!” David asks, his temper growing short over the implication that the Collins would have done nothing. That the reason the Collins had not assisted was on her shoulders, as she said, she did not ask for aid. “I called this meeting because of his success against Patricia — at no time did I anticipate putting him in danger. The fact is I am trying to untied the families because we are all targets now. Surely you see that — they have changes the rules and if we don’t evolve to meet their threat we are all in danger.”

Gwen Harker stood her ground, well aware that David Collins unlike many others was not going to be intimidated. “I realize that David. . . but when I allowed Nikki to become a client of mine . . .I did not once overstep my boundaries. . . our families closed contact for a reason. . . ”

Rhyaad could not help but nod, “It’s true. Your families have the same enemy. My enemy as well.”

Agent Peeters clears his throat, “If I may . . . The targets at this juncture seem to include all of Europe, if not the world”

“Mrs.Harker, you know me.” David says now trying to control his temper, to be reasonable, “You know my intentions and my heart—I would not have taken this step lightly. Can we not discuss this—rationally, events have changed.”

“Can this not wait until after we have averted this catastrophe.” Peeters wants to know.

‘The agreement was at a different time under different circumstances.” David tells her.

Gwendolyn calms herself . . . her eyes . . . unforgiving toward David but regains composure and looks to Agent Peeters: “Mr Peeters . . . go on”

“With the dangers that Dracula pose, we can foresee major conflict by the end of the week unless we all put our brains together and think of something.”

“And that threat is even possibly here in Collinsport. The woman who turned Nicole is here. Why?” David adds, ” We both know that Patricia ordered her death!”

Gwendolyn remains standing regal, “Mr Peeters what is going on in Transylvania . . . is no Surprise to me . . .the Count has those fools caring for him . . .eliminate him you eliminate they’re resource” Then she looks hard at David, “I do not know . . .but it strikes me odd how none of you could see what she was . . .from the beginning. . . .

Rhyaad, who has not taken Medri as directed, still lingers, “Ahem. . . not to interrupt. . . but if you need suggestions along the way of weaponry. . . anti vampire weapons. . . . I’m your man. . . um. . . vampire, as the case may be.”

Gwen struck hard at David, a guilt she knows he bares, “I take responsibility for that — Her father disappeared and we thought under the care for Dr. Juila Hoffman, who had actually taken care of her father, she was safe. I regret that mistaken opinion.” But David would be damned if she will win this over that mistake, “And so I can not afford another mistake. We have never have a potential slayer turned. They have come at us now from a new direction — they have changed the rules — and we have to change with them.” Knowing the stakes at this point are too high, he is willing to take the blame for not going to her, even though he knew this would be her answer, “I am sorry, I did not speak with you first.”

“I thank you Mr de’Annar.”. Peeters responds to Rhyaad’s offer, “R&D department has developed weapons that are quite capable of eliminating most vampires. Your assistance would be most useful if you have something up your sleeve that can eliminate the Dracula. This, it would seem, requires much more than an “anti-vampire Round, Mark IV”.

Gwendolyn is very harsh in what she said next: “Your family never had a slayer . . .. Mine was nothing but slayers. . . .” Medri knew that Gwen could sound cold. . . .years of knowing manners and composure makes one realize the experience she had in giving the cold shoulder.

“So — what you are saying is we keep the old accord?” David asks Gwen because what he has just heard her say, in his mind, was that she did not give a tinkers damn for his cousin — that she had been coldly murdered. . . cruelly turned . . . a young woman who had not done a goddamned thing to deserve her fate, and Gwendolyn Harker was fine with it because she had the monopoly on slayers, and so what Nikki got she deserved!

David was livid!

Agent Peeters takes Rhyaad aside to talk while Harker and Collins discuss the past.

David snaps, “FIne. That’s fine by me!”

“I’d show you my bullets, Peters, but removing them from the jacket would burn me and make me blind.” Rhyaad explains.

“Not to mention the poor taste of showing weaponry in a church . . . ,” Peeters adds.

David’s eyes have grown icy, “Just remember, when it comes to my family — I can be just as strong-willed as you.”

Gwendolyn seeking his reaction now is aware her last statement may have gone too far with Collins! “I say I will help . . .only because . . . you need us . . . but I say if you ever go behind my back . . .to put my grandson in any danger again . . .you will make yourself a new enemy . . .and trust me . . .those Brides will seem like Ladies in the eyes of God compared to me.

“However, if you have enough to spare, we would greatly appreciate a sample to reverse engineer.” Peeters replies unaware of the confrontation taking place on the dais.

Rhyaad nodded. “Indeed. But one of these rounds went through 5 vampires like a knife through hot butter. . . if I got your english expression right. They were developed by a Professor of the Miskatonic to kill Dracula.”

David steps forward, his eyes meeting Gwen, and there is absolutely no give in them, “NO! The old accord is too goddamned important — to hell with lives.”

“Then they would be most valuable –“. Peeters aware something has just happened.

“Trask!”

“Yes, David”

Rhyaad unaware that Peeters attention is now on the two confronting each other on the dais continues, “Unfortunately they are perishable. And I doubt you’d be able to reverse engineer them. You could however talk to Professor Sirovana. I could introduce you.”

David says in a voice that is as cold as a grave, “We are done!”

“Yes, Sir.”

Gwen looks at him, “So, now you refuse the help I give you is that it? ”

“Let my cousin go to hell because she is not a Harker!” David keeps his clenched fist in his coat pocket, “I am sorry I ever called this meeting for it is all for nothing — it seems the past is far more important than saving innocent lives. Maintaining the sacred Harker slayer line – be damn everything else.”

“I don’t know what all this means about the Old Agreement. . . why can’t they just join sides?” Rhyaad wants to know.

“So, I will take this battle forward. You can rest assured on that, madam! The past can sit on the side lines and look at their scrap books and count all the fucking lines of slayers because they are to be only Harkers. To hell with an innocent girl,”

David turns to go, but stops and looks back at Gwendolywn Harker, “And if I found out it was YOU who told Patricia about Nicole, then it won’t be the wraith of Brides Ladies you will feel, it will be more like the Wraith of GOD himself.”

“Mr Collins. . . ” Agent Peeters asks.

Gwen takes a step forward: “Oh please david . . . you know I would help. . . ”

Samantha has known David a long time and she has never seen him this mad – ever.

Trask, slowly walks up the aisle, he has seen this look in Davids eyes before. He intends to to to the enrgaged man, but then thinks better of it.’

David turns to Samantha: “Sam watch Nikki as best you can.”

To Trask he barks, “We contact your contacts in Europe — work with Peeters in the morning.”

“Yes David—but what if “she” makes an appearance?” Sam asks.

“I don’t understand. . . the old agreement. . . what is it?” He asked Peeters.

Gwen and the departing David looked too angry to be willing to explain.

David looks to Sam “Do the best that you can – Mr. Rhyaad?”
Rhyaad well aware several eyes are on him still says, “Sir. And I shall protect Nikki, you can rely on that.”

Gwen stands her regaining her composure as no one as ever stood up to her as Collins has this night, and she and walks to Peeters, “When you can… we must talk. . .”

From his stance on the dais looking down at her David says in a voice filled with vengence, “Gwen, as you leave, remember this. The blood of the innocents this time will be on YOUR hands!”

Gwen looks to David “Coming from a Collins. . . I’d say it was quite hypocritical.”

Cue Music End of Episode