Excerpt: Differel Derivative-4

Copyright (C) 2010 by Kevin L. O'Brien

As Differel sat in a lawn chair on the patio of the Girls' backyard, it was hard for her to decide just how the past three weeks had passed. Looking back on it, the days seemed to fly by, yet looking ahead, it seemed like every hour just crawled forward. Mabuse had kept her at the lab for the full week, as she grew stronger and progressed to solid food, but while there was plenty of reading material, especially on the mad scientist's research, movies to watch, and, thanks to the Girls, video games, as well as visits from them and Henry, she often found time weighing heavily on her mind. On the day Mabuse discharged her, the Girls took her to their home and installed her in the extra guest bedroom; Henry had the other, while Medb stayed in her own room. Having Henry around full time was more stimulating than she assumed it would be, particularly as he was not always the perfect gentleman the Girls had described him, and despite an initial reluctance, Differel had to discipline him on occasion, being as the Girls were too indulgent, or so she thought. But there was more of everything to keep her entertained, Aelfraed sent her daily reports via Vlad, who had completely recovered from the virus, and the Girls went to great lengths to prevent her from being bored. In fact, sometimes they went a little overboard, and Medb had to reel them in to allow Differel to get some rest. At least they refrained from their more boisterous erotic antics with Henry in the house, but she really missed her cigarillos. The Girls wouldn't let her smoke in the house, and Mabuse had told them she shouldn't smoke during her convalescence, so she couldn't enjoy any outdoors either.

Now, however, her enforced inactivity was coming to an end. The day before, Mabuse had declared her fit to return home and enter the care of her regular doctors, and Dracula would be taking her and Henry back the next day. The Girls had put on a brave front, but it was obvious how sad they were over the news. They had grown quite fond of Henry, and enjoyed having him as a guest. She couldn't blame them: being a typical young boy, he was adorable, and endearing, and exciting, and exasperating, and exhausting, and absolutely loveable. She would have missed him, too, were she in their place. For his part, Henry enjoyed the unexpected vacation from home and school, but Differel figured he would miss Snowshoe Kitty and William Cleasa most of all. Even she felt a soft spot for the snowshoe cat, being as she often napped in her lap during the day.

Presently, Kitty was curled up in a bed on the patio, dozing in the sun, and William played catch with Henry using a Frisbee. Wendy, who had tended to her when she first met the Girls, was a daily visitor, though this time all she needed to do was administer the drugs Mabuse had prescribed through IV's. The administrations were made twice a day, before breakfast and after dinner, so Wendy usually dropped William off on her first visit and picked him up on her second. The Girls had a large backyard, so the boys were able to run and play and roughhouse in wild abandon. Her own experience with the English school system had taught her that, while Henry certainly had opportunities for playing sports, he would not get this level of activity until middle and high school, particularly in the secondary school. She often wondered if, in this instance at least, American schools didn't have the better idea in allowing younger children ample opportunities for play. Technically, she was supposed to be watching them to make sure they did not hurt themselves or get into squabbles; though rare, the latter did happen on occasion, particularly over culture clashes. However, the warm sun was so relaxing, and the boys' antics so enjoyable, that she pretty much let her mind wander. Besides, Sunny was in the kitchen making lunch, and she could see them out the window over the sink.

Speaking of which, Sunny stepped out through the open glass door in the breakfast nook carrying a tray filled with plates and glasses.

"Come and get it, you two!" she yelled as she laid it on a picnic table. The boys sprinted over and sat down on opposite sides, waiting for Sunny to put plates and glasses in front of them: sandwiches, kidney bean salad, and milk. They began eating as if the food would disappear in seconds if they didn't consume it first.

Sunny laughed. "Take it easy, you two, or you'll get tummy aches!" They grinned at her, but hardly slowed down at all.

Sunny took a plate and glass over to Differel and set it on the tray table sitting beside her. It was essentially the same meal, except her sandwich was bacon, lettuce, and tomato on toasted wheat, with iced tea, whereas the boys had ham, turkey, and cheese on Kaiser buns.

"Eile called; she'll be arriving in about fifteen minutes."

Differel nodded. Eile had gone to the airport to meet a couple of visitors who had come to see her. She wanted Henry out of the way before they arrived, but as long as Vlad was on time, that should happen with moments to spare.

And indeed, as she took her first bite, the master Vampire appeared in a spectacular display of lightning, fire, thunder, and smoke, pirouetting in place so fast he was just a blur, then coming to an instant stop, arms flung wide, one ahead and one behind. All that was missing was the shout of "Ta-da!" Sunny and the boys clapped, laughed, cheered, and whistled, and he removed his hat and crossed it over his heart with a grand flourish as he bowed.

He walked up to the picnic table as he put his hat back on, the boys eating even faster than before. "I talked with Wendy," Sunny said, "and she said it's okay for Billy to go with Henry to see Victoria Falls, as long as he's back here by six."

"That should be no problem," he rumbled. He glanced at Differel as she took another bite of sandwich. He grinned and inclined his head. She wiped her lips with a napkin, swallowed, and nodded back.

"We're done!" William yelled as the boys leapt up from the table.

"You mean you're finished," Sunny corrected.

"See, I told you!" Henry admonished his friend.

"Alright, that's two fer you," William conceded as they skipped up to Vlad.

"Henry!" Sunny called out, "don't forget!"

"Oh, yeah, sorry," he said, and streaked over to where Differel sat.

"Good bye, Mother, see you later." And he kissed her on the cheek.

Differel smiled. "Have fun, my lad, and be good!"

"I will," he grinned, and he raced back to join William. Vlad picked them up and settled them into the crook of each arm as they grasped his coat lapels.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Ready!" they shouted in unison.

"Then let us be off!" He spun in place and they all winked out in a clap of thunder.

"I'm gonna miss him," Sunny sighed, still staring at where they had stood.

"I'm sure he'll miss you, too," Differel added

Sunny turned to look at her. "At least you'll be closer to him than we'll be. It must be wonderful to have a child."

"Yes," she admitted, then she felt a mischievous urge. "However, the pregnancy was a real pain sometimes."

Sunny went over to the table to collect the dishes and load them onto the tray. "Yeah, Dad once told me I was a difficult birth, like I didn't wanna come out!" She giggled. "But Mom always said I'd probably drop babies like kittens."

"I'm sure you'll have your chance some day."

Sunny gave her a sad look. "No, I'll never be able to have children."

Differel knew why, and she cursed herself for mentioning it. "I'm sorry, Sunny, but what I meant was you may still get to be a parent."

Sunny brightened. "Yeah, there's still Eile. Now that we're married, we've been discussing having children, we just haven't figured out how to go about doing it." She picked up the tray. "I've got some things I need to do inside. Ring when you're finished."

Differel glanced at the bell sitting beside the plate. "I will, don't worry."

Sunny crinkled her eyes. "Okey-dokey," she said and she went back in.

Differel took a spoonful of salad and a bite of sandwich before washing both down with tea. The Girls had taken very good care of her; in fact, they tended to fuss over her a bit too much. She had had the devil's own time trying to convince them she didn't need their help showering or going to the bathroom, and she was ready to sic Vlad on them when they finally decided she was strong enough to manage on her own. If she had any complaint, it was with the food. The meals they served her were wholesome, filling, and quite tasty, for American faire, but she was used to British cuisine, and especially gourmet dinners, considering that Aelfraed was Le Cordon Bleu trained. At least their breakfasts were substantial, though it took some doing to convince them that more courses was better, and that one could serve fish, potatoes, vegetables, and savory puddings along with bacon, eggs, sausages, and biscuits. Though she had to admit, bagels, muffins, cereal, and fruit did make interesting changes of pace. She was particularly gratified that they adopted afternoon tea for her sake, but they now seemed to enjoy it as much as she did. Still, Sunny could do wonders with simple foods, and she had surprised her on a number of occasions with the gourmet quality of her dishes; her pork medallions marsala with mushrooms over rice was superb, and she had said so. Differel knew that she and Aelfraed had exchanged recipes, being as her butler called each day to inquire as to her health, so she had no doubt she would eat it again some day, though prepared after his own fashion.

Sunny stepped back outside. "Eile's here," she reported. "Do you want us to leave you alone?"

Differel turned her head to look at her. "No," she replied without hesitation, "but don't get involved. I have everything under control."

"Okay," she said, and she stepped over beside Kitty's bed.

A few minutes later she heard Eile walk out, followed by two other women. She didn't turn around; she didn't have to see them, because she knew they were coming. One would be her mother-in-law, Lady Muriel Plunkett, Viscountess of Dunwich, while the other would be her sister-in-law, The Hon. Emily Plunkett.

They stopped just outside the house. "Go ahead," Eile said, "she expecting you." She heard the other women approach her as Eile whispered an argument with Sunny about whether to leave. She took another bite of sandwich as the Ladies Plunkett came around on her right side to stand in front of her. Differel had only met them three times in her entire marriage, and never after that, so she didn't know them as well as she should. She didn't even know how old they were, though Muriel looked to be in her late fifties or early sixties, and Emily just a bit younger than herself. Muriel had that ageless, elegant patrician look, with her pepper gray hair and ice gray eyes, whereas Emily looked like a mod bird with her straight, bosom-length chestnut brown hair, red-hazel eyes, and thin, androgynous figure.

"Why did you not reply to any of our letters, telegrams, or telephone calls?" Muriel demanded. Her voice was finely cultured, aristocratic, and eminently British.

"No 'How are you', 'Sorry to hear', or even 'Hello'?" Differel asked.

"We have had a long and tiring flight," Muriel replied with contempt, "and your friend, Miss Chica, picked us up in a rented van instead of a limousine, so I am not in the mood!"

"Well, excuse me, Lady Hoity-Toity!" Eile ranted, but Sunny shushed her.

Muriel had glanced up at her in irritation, but she looked back down when Differel said, "Very well, I didn't answer your inquiries because I wanted to hash this out face to face."

"There is nothing to discuss," Muriel objected. "We have come to take Henry home. He has been away far too long, his schooling will suffer. And technically, your association with him is a violation of your agreement not to see him."

Differel worked to keep her temper under control. "I was not about to sit idle while my son was in danger," she said in a testy tone.

"You should have let the authorities here deal with it."

"Oh, bugger that! The authorities would have been singularly unequipped to deal with this threat."

Both women reacted with shock and outrage at her language, as Sunny giggled and Eile muttered, "You go, girl!"

"How dare you —!" Muriel began.

"If I hadn't intervened," Differel interrupted, "Henry would now be dead. I will not sit here and have you second guess my judgment where his safety is concerned!"

Muriel turned livid with rage. "I will not be spoken to in that fashion, not by an upstart little trollop whose head has been swelled by too many honors she does not deserve!"

"Shut up!"

Muriel started. "I beg your pardon?"

"I said, shut it! Now, you listen to me! Our agreement was nullified the moment you two lied about me to Henry."

"It was for his own good! I do not want him to have any association with your family or the Caerleon Order, do I make myself clear? It would only put him in danger, as this incident proves."

"We don't have any choice in the matter, the oldest Van Helsing always assumes the directorship."

Muriel flashed her a leer. "Henry is not a Van Helsing. I am afraid your line is extinct, unless you have a bastard brother somewhere."

Differel smiled mentally. If Muriel was hoping to enrage her, she would be disappointed; her sad attempt at an insult had the opposite effect. She reached inside her jacket and pulled out a cigarillo. Vlad had smuggled it from home and given it to her in secret, in case she found time to smoke it when the Girls couldn't see. She had had no opportunity before now, but this would be the perfect time. She bit off one end and spat it out, then puffed it alight with a match. For a moment she sat looking at Muriel, who began to realize her jibe had not been the deep cut she had hoped it would be.

Exhaling a cloud of smoke, she removed the cigarillo from her mouth. "Actually, Henry has the Bloodline. Vlad can sense it, and he has recognized him as his future master."

Enraged, Muriel advanced on her. "If that monster ever comes anywhere near Henry, I will go to the Queen! She will have your head on a platter by the end of the day!"

"It's already too late: they like each other and have become inseparable."

"This is outrageous!" Muriel screamed. "The Queen shall hear of this; I promise you, I will —"

"You will do nothing, except what I tell you!" Differel shouted back. The force of her words made Muriel step back, and Differel saw a trace a fear cross her face. Her control of the master Vampire was an implied threat, even if she would never use it.

"By rights," she added in a more level voice, "I could sue for custody."

"If you do," Emily said, to give her mother a chance to collect herself, "your position as Director of the Caerleon Order, along with a full disclosure of its activities, will be revealed. That would prove a great embarrassment to Her Majesty's government, which would put you in ill-favor with the Queen, the Prime Minister, and the Privy Council. The best you could hope for under such circumstances would be your forced resignation, though I'd imagine impeachment and imprisonment would be more likely, assuming the Queen didn't simply have you locked up in the Tower. In any event, I doubt the court would find in your favor after that."

Differel rolled the cigarillo in her lips while she listened. "I agree that would be undesirable, so I would like to offer a compromise. I would be willing to relinquish all custody rights, and to obtain Royal Approval to abdicate Henry from any responsibility for the Caerleon Order. In exchange, I would require visitation rights, and the privilege of allowing Henry to stay with Eile and Sunny here in America for two weeks of every year."

"We would never to agree to that," Muriel said, "and we do not need to. It is your neck on the block, Differel. You are in no position to make demands."

"I had a feeling you would say that," she said as she reached back into her jacket. She pulled out a gray envelope. It had once been sealed with red wax, but the seal was now broken and the envelope opened.

She held it up. "This is a letter from Her Royal Majesty. In it she commands you to agree to any demands I would make in exchange for custody. If you refuse, she authorizes me to sue, and if any mention is made of the Caerleon Order during the hearing, either in court or in the press, you and your family will be the ones held responsible." She then held it out to Muriel.

"That cannot be genuine," Emily protested as Muriel took it, though there was some apprehension in her voice and manner. "You've had no time to petition the Queen, and your butler couldn't do it for you."

"I asked Mayv to do it," she replied as Muriel removed the letter and read it. "You remember Mayv Hair-rayn, she came to mine and Victor's wedding."

The look on Emily's face told Differel that she did indeed remember the former queen, and none too fondly. But it was the expression on Muriel's face that interested her the most. She clearly wasn't happy with what she was reading, but it was equally clear that she accepted it at face value. Differel had no concern that she might try to destroy the letter. Though clearly the original, she figured Muriel would know, or at least suspect, that copies of the letter would be in the hands of the Queen's secretary and the Privy Council, and possible Medb as well. Besides, Muriel's aristocratic propriety would prevent her from taking such inappropriate action.

When Muriel finished reading, she folded the letter up and inserted it back into the envelope. Her manner was subdued, as if she had accepted defeat. "Very well, we accept your offer. Have your solicitors contact mine and the arrangements will be made. Have you decided on a schedule?"

"Mother?" Emily asked, but Muriel ignored her.

"Not yet. I would need a schedule of his activities to coordinate. However, I will insist upon visitations during the holidays and his birthday, and when he's off school."

"I understand. May I keep this?" she asked, holding up the letter.

Differel nodded. "Yes, I have a copy with Aelfraed." Muriel handed it to Emily, who immediately pulled it out and began reading it.

"Now, may I see Henry?"

"I'm afraid he's in Africa with Vlad. However, I will be returning home tomorrow, and Henry will be coming with me. He will stay a few days with me, then I will have Aelfraed drive him down to Dunwich."

"Very well, since we have no more business here, Emily and I will be leaving."

"I'll show you out," Eile said, with a tone that suggested good riddance.

Emily walked past and behind Differel, but Muriel paused as she came abreast of her. "Just one question: why are you giving custody to us?"

Differel had been dreading that question, but she was prepared for it. "I've never liked you, Muriel," she said as she crushed out her cigarillo on her plate, "mostly because of Victor, but when I found out you lied to Henry, I really despised you. However, I've had a number of discussions with him while I've convalesced. He loves both you and Emily; I have no desire to interfere with that. And you can provide him with a stable home environment, which I cannot." She then looked up at her and stared her in the eyes. "But understand this: Henry wants me back in his life. As long as you respect that, we'll get along just fine, but try to come between us, and I will break you."

Muriel kept control of her temper and managed a smile and a nod, but Differel could see her eyes burning with fury.

She didn't watch them go back in the house, she just looked out into the backyard and took a last bite of her sandwich.

Sunny came up to her as she took a sip of tea. "I've finished eating," she said.

"You only ate half your sandwich," she scolded, "and you barely touched your salad! Though it's ruined now by that nasty cigar ash."

"I haven't much appetite right now."

"Smoking does that, you know."

Differel gave her a leer that mixed humor with irritation. "My apologies for smoking, but I couldn't resist."

"Yeah, it's addictive, too."

Differel scowled. "Bog off, you slag."

Sunny giggled as she picked up the plate. "You've got the quaintest way of saying things." And she carried it back into the house as Differel shook her head. It was inconceivable to her that anyone could be that innocent, but if she wasn't, that meant she had skin as thick as an elephant's.

Eile and Sunny came back out a few minutes later. "Well, they're off," Eile said.

Differel nodded. "I'd like to thank both of you for letting me see them here."

"Heh, no problem, Differe," Eile said with a grin. "It was worth all the hassle watching you trounce them."

"Do you think they'll honor this new agreement?" Sunny asked.

"Only time will tell," Differel said, "but it is to their advantage. However, I'll expect you two to give me a report of everything Henry tells you about them when he visits."

"Sure, and thanks for arranging that!"

"He likes both of you, and I think his time with you two will be beneficial."

She took a large swallow of her tea. "I think I'd like to take a walk. Then afterwards, we can have afternoon tea."

"Anythin' you like," Eile said, and she and Sunny helped her to stand.

As she leaned between them, she added, "Today, I feel so good I could probably walk clear around the park."

"We can give it a try," Eile replied.

"Come on, Kitty, we're going for a walk!" Sunny called out.

Kitty raised her head, shook it, blinked, and sneezed. Then she crawled out, stretched, and yawned. But she managed to get ahead of the Girls and Differel before they entered the house.