Chapter 52 - The Villareal Files

"When we were kids, my sisters and I used to love playing hide and seek," Genie explained as she led her friends down into the kitchen. "Big old house, lots of places to hide... but we almost never came down here, because the kitchens and stuff, that's Stephens' world."

"Well, one time... I don't really remember when exactly," Genie continued, "I did... come down here, I mean. Looking for a new hiding place, I guess. Anyway, I snuck into the wine cellar... 'cause the twins would never look there. In the back, there was a door I'd never seen before. It was a little bit open, so I peeked in.

"I kind of remember there was a hallway on the other side," Genie mused, "but mostly I remember mom and grand-père were there. Mom went ballistic... dragged me upstairs, yelling the whole time. I was in so much trouble... and from then on, we weren't allowed in the wine cellar."

"I asked grand-père what was back here," Genie added. "I remember he smiled, this secret smile he had sometimes. He said it was his secret place... and there was a dungeon for punishing bad girls but also a place where he hid his treasure. So... I think that's got to be it. That's where grand-père hid his files. His treasure, right?" 

"Genie, you're brilliant," Mariah grinned, feeling real hope at last.

"Of course, the one problem is that the door's locked and, knowing her, Mrs. Control-Freak has the only key," Genie said.

"Not a problem," Mariah said, her old confidence peeking through as she settled herself in front of the door. "I'm good with locks."

"Damn girl," Aadi grinned. "Where did you learn how to do that?"

"My wayward youth," Mariah chuckled grimly. "I can also boost cars and spot a Sulani vice cop at fifty paces. Now, let's find grand-père's treasure."

"I'm a little curious about his 'dungeon to punish bad girls,'" Aadi said. "I bet grandpa has some nice whips and chains."

"Huh? Ewww! Aadi!" Genie moaned.

"Well, not a dungeon," Mariah said, stepping through the first door.

"Are those gold bars?" Aadi asked, shocked.

"Yes," Mariah said, playing it cool. "Yes, they are."

"Look at all the shinys!" Aadi exclaimed. "Old grand-père wasn't kidding about treasure."

"Not the treasure we're looking for," Mariah pointed out. "I'm going to check this desk. You guys look around, see if you can find anything."

"You mean other than a fortune in gold, jewels and art," Aadi said, "not to mention literal bags of money?"

"Yeah," Mariah said. "Other than that."

--------------

"Knight," Mariah answered the incoming call.

"Bishop," Snow said quickly.

"We're close," Mariah said excitedly. "I've got a drawer full of stuff on the Landgraabs here. If I can get this other one open..."

"Kid, listen, you've got trouble," Snow cut her off. "I've got one of Alto's guys on the exterior camera, approaching the house. Looks like one John Parker, aka..."

"Johnny Pretty," Mariah said. "Proco cane! What is he doing here?"

"Johnny's here?" Genie said.

"Madonna," Mariah groaned. "Genie, please tell me you aren't banging Johnny Pretty too!"

"OK, that's not what's important here," Genie said. "Actually, maybe it is..."

"Genie!" Mariah snapped.

"Listen, I can find out why he's here," Genie said. "Besides, if no one answers the door he'll get suspicious... and someone knocked out my butler."

"Trust me," Genie said, dashing off. "I've got this."

"Agent Genie on the job," Aadi grinned.

"She's going to get herself hurt," Mariah muttered.

"Genie can handle herself," Aadi said, hoping they were right. "You better get working on that drawer."

--------------

"Hey babe," Johnny Pretty laid on the charm. "Great digs."

"Johnny," Genie smiled, trying to hide her nerves. "What are you doing here?"

"What, I can't come looking for you hot girl?" Johnny grinned.

"All the way to Windenburg?" Genie asked. "Across the bay in a ferry, to my folks' house?"

"OK, well... maybe not just looking for a hot girl." John admitted. "There's some shit hitting the fan... like, at work... and Marco, he's kinda, like our... manager... is looking for Mariah. Heard you guys had headed out this way and I offered to come find her."

"Wow, well, she's not here," Genie said. "Yeah, she and Aadi went to... umm... Pan Europa. Yeah... I'm... I'm going to join them. I just needed to pop by home to... get something."

"Oh," Johnny smiled. "Cool. Well, maybe you can... get something... and we can catch up with them. I hear it's an awesome club... Pan Europa."

"I'm... I'm good," Genie took a quick breath. "Yeah, got what I needed. Let's go."

Following Johnny down the path, Genie was sure she had this. She could handle Johnny Pretty. All she had to do was smile, dance a little, and then ditch him in the crowd. She'd let Mariah and Aadi know where she was as soon as she shook him loose. She might have to make her own way back to Britechester, but that's what they invented car services for.

Johnny, leading the way, smiled to himself. This was too easy. The boss was going to pleased. He almost felt sorry for the girl. Almost.

--------------

"Aadi, take this," Mariah handed them a file folder.

"That's it?" Aadi asked.

"I know. If we had a couple of boxes, and maybe a truck, we could take down the leaders of the all the Families," Mariah sighed, "but this is going to have to do."

"Genie's not back yet," Aadi worried. "You think..."

"She's in trouble," Mariah nodded. "I'll find her."

"We'll find her," Aadi insisted. 

"Aadi, I need you to get that file to Snow," Mariah said. And I need you to stay safe, she didn't say out loud.

"OK, OK, I'm going," Aadi said. "You help out little lost Genie. We'll meet up at the coffee shop."

"Aadi," Mariah groaned, as the pain, worse then before, shot through her. "Aadi, wait..."

The pain was so bad, it came out as a whisper. Aadi, disappearing into the hallway, couldn't hear her.

Al diavolo! Mariah thought. I need to help Genie. 

I need...

I...

Darkness enfolded her.

Chapter 51 - Straud Manor

The little village of Forgotten Hollow stood in the mountains above Windenburg, almost unchanged for four generations. It was a favorite destination for hikers and tourists who visited for the old architecture and the slightly sinister history. It was said that four generations ago the town had been wiped out in a terrible disaster, leaving only one survivor - Count Vladislaus Straud I. The reclusive country nobleman had gone on to rebuild his little community, as well as making a fortune investing in the mountain lumber mills which served the growing city.

A statue honoring this famous figure stood in the village square.

Miranda wondered why no one ever commented on the fact that all of the equally reclusive heirs, down to the current Count Vladislaus Straud IV, looked exactly like their forebearer. Somehow, she supposed, people found it easier to accept an uncanny family resemblance than the fact that Vladislaus Straud had already been an ancient vampire when he'd first claimed Forgotten Hollow as his own almost two centuries ago. 

Of course, Miranda realized, apart from the odd speculative article about her beauty regimen, people didn't really seem to question the fact that these days her mom looked more like her sister than her mother. She still wasn't entire sure how old Gwen really was. 

She was distracting herself, Miranda thought. Trying very hard not to think about the quiet old houses, the prominent mausoleum in the old graveyard... and the vampires she knew without any doubt slept in the dark beneath them.

She tried to stay calm and confident as she took the long winding path up the hill to where the sprawling house that was Straud Manor loomed over the village. 

No one had seen Vladislaus Straud since she had confronted him before the Glimmerbrook Gate, years ago. She assured herself it was unlikely that he lurked in the shadowy depths or sinister towers of the old mansion.

"You know what I love about this place, Bluebell?" Miranda said, as she approached the manor gates. "The simple, understated elegance of it."

You know what they say, Bluebell chimed. If it ain't baroque, don't fix it.

"That's terrible," Miranda laughed.

A whispered Word opened the doors silently and easily. Another Word kindled flames in the candles, bring light to the manor's dark interior. The place smelled of dust, mildew and a hint of dry stone and cold earth... the scent of the grave. 

You're letting your imagination get the better of you, Miranda thought. Still, as the heavy doors silently swung shut behind her, she was reassured by the feeling of the Moonwood Wand, tucked into her jeans.

"Well, we're here," she whispered to Bluebell. "Let's have a look around."

Carefully, she checked the cobweb draped dining room, no doubt long disused even before the disappearance of the master of the house. The ancient kitchen was covered in thick dust. Its wood burning stove and old icebox would, she thought, no doubt be of fascination to historians but were of no help to her. 

Turning from them, she found the spacious sitting room and its shelves of books. Carefully, she searched through the musty leather tomes. There was far less dust here, she noticed with a chill. 

"This is it," Miranda whispered suddenly. "The Ultima Vampirica... this is it!"

Good, take it and let's go, Bluebell chimed softly.

"No," Miranda breathed.

No? What do you mean no?

"He's been here," Miranda replied quietly. "Even if he's not sleeping here now, he's been here recently. Look at the dust, the fresh candles. If I take it, he'll know it's gone. He'll come looking for it."

If you don't take it, and he finds you here...

"It's a risk," Miranda allowed, "but not as much as if would be if he knew someone had stolen it."

You mean to read it here, Bluebell chimed.

"I do," Miranda said, calling light from the candles. "Watch my back."

--------------

"I think... yes, I think I found it," Miranda said some time later. "Blood, wolfsbane, garlic... this... wouldn't this be toxic to a vampire?"

Bluebell swooped low, looking over the page herself.

It will burn out their dark essence, the fairy chimed. Only the mortal parts of them would remain.

"That doesn't sound like much of a cure," Miranda mused.

The Old Families were trying to protect themselves. Stripping the vampires of their dark essence, of their powers, would do that.

"But an older vampire, or a powerful one, would be full of the dark essence," Miranda said. "This would probably kill them."

Bluebell was silent.

"We didn't make this to cure them," Miranda said at last. "We made this to kill them."

They killed you... drained your blood and your magic to feed their own.

"After we created them. Enslaved them," Miranda said. "Even their vampirism... we created it by carelessly experimenting on them. We did this."

Again, Bluebell hung silently in the air.

"It's Claudette all over again," Miranda sighed. "What she did was wrong... but she wasn't wrong about the arrogance, the prejudice, of the Old Families. We've created these enemies... and Straud created his. From what Snow told Mariah, he created Ms. H. Her hatred of him drove her to turn Mariah, to get to me... a weapon against me, and I'm a weapon against Straud. All this hate... and we started it. There has to be a better way to end it."

If you extended the hand of friendship to Vladislaus Straud, Bluebell chimed, he would bite your wrist and drain you blood and magic. His hatred is too old and runs too deep.

"I know," Miranda sighed, "but there still has to be a better way."

You have Mariah's cure.

"And for her, it will be a cure," Miranda said, "because she won't be steeped in the dark essence yet."

And you have the weapon.

"No," Miranda said. "Maybe it can be one, but I won't use it like that. I won't. There has to be a better way."

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Author's Note: With thanks to the Sims modder Zero for the idea that the cure could actually be poisonous to vampires. I didn't actually use that mod, but I was inspired by the notion. - Leo

Chapter 50 - Crumbling Isle

"I still can't believe you actually got a tux," Genie said.

They stood on the beach where they had been deposited by the private ferry that ran between the old city of Windenburg and the Crumbling Isle - a gloomy name for the home of Windenburg's rich and powerful. Snow, who had driven them from Britechester, had parted company with them in the city, saying she needed to make some calls and find a place with decent wifi.

"Do not mock the tux," Aadi preened. "I am Secret Agent Double-Oh-Aadi."

"You're a goofball," Genie grinned.

"Listen up guys," Mariah cut in, closing her phone. "Snow says she's in position. She's hacked into the security cameras at your place, Genie..."

"Seriously?" Genie laughed. "That's kind of... awesome... in a creepy way."

"I told you we were spies," Aadi said in their sing-song voice.

"Anyway," Mariah sighed. "Snow says your folks just left the house. So, that's good. We won't need to talk our way past them."

"They're probably off to an emergency wine and cheese tasting at the Bjergens," Genie rolled her eyes.

"You rich folks are Stah-Range," Aadi grinned.

"Whatever," Mariah sighed again. "Let's get moving."

-------------------

Genie led the trio of friends along the quiet paths of the old island. This was her home. She'd walked these paths all her life, played on them as a child. Now, knowing the dark secrets of her family, everything seemed different.

Mariah tried to hold on to her usual strong facade, but as they passed an old graveyard, her confidence faltered. Would she soon lay in a grave, her dead-but-not-dead bones resting in a coffin, rising at night to obey Ms. H's terrible will?

Even the usually irrepressible Aadi was quiet. In the face of the island's misty old ruins, the concepts of vampires and witches seemed all too reasonable. There are times, Aadi felt, when grim moods needed some humor... but, for the moment at least, seriousness seemed like the right way to go. 

-------------------

Finally, Genie led them toward one of the big houses that dotted the island.

"Be it ever so humble," Genie said sardonically, "there's no place like home."

"Seriously?" Aadi said, looking at the sprawling mansion. "You guys live like this?"

"Hey, even I'm impressed," Mariah muttered.

"Is that..." Aadi chuckled softly.

"That's Stephens," Genie said. "And yes, he is our butler."

Mariah groaned as a painful spasm twisted her gut. "Talk to him, Genie. Get us inside so we can look around."

"No problem," Genie said, casting a worried look at Mariah over her shoulder.

"Good evening Ms. Genevieve," Stephens the butler intoned formally. "Ms. Huntley and Mx. Bheeda, welcome to the VonWindenburg estate. I am afraid, Ms. Genevieve, your parents have just left for an unexpected engagement."

"That's alright Stephens," Genie said. "I just wanted to show my friends around the house... the library, the music room, the wine cellar... no big deal."

"I am sorry, Ms. Genevieve," Stephens replied, "but your mother's instructions are that no one but your parents and I are permitted to access the wine cellar." 

"Really, Stephens, that's just silly," Genie said with feigned cheer. "We're not going to run off with one of the bottles... and besides, so what if we did. We're all old enough to drink. I mean, you've served me wine at dinner yourself."

"Your mother's instructions are quite clear, miss," Stephens said firmly.

"Really, I so wanted to show Mariah... Ms. Huntley... our collection of Rossi wines," Genie smiled with false sweetness. "You know the Huntleys are close friends of the Rossi family, of course."

"Your mother's instructions are quite clear, miss," Stephens repeated coldly.

"Va bene," Mariah put in suddenly. "Really, Genie... it's alright. You can show us the wine cellar some other time. Mr. Stephens here is just doing his job."

"Yes, miss," Stephens said. "Thank you for understanding."

"Prego!" Mariah said, extending her hand.

Stephens, nonplused, couldn't refuse the gesture and took her hand politely.

Mariah triggered the stunner she'd palmed. Inwardly, she winced a little. Liberty had hit her with one during training. The experience wasn't fun... but it was effective.

There was a moment of shocked silence as Stephens sank to the floor.

"Mariah, did you just kill my butler?" Genie asked, stunned.

"He'll be fine," Mariah said. "It's an Agency stunner. He'll wake up in a couple of hours with a killer headache, but yeah, he'll be fine. I assume we need to go the wine cellar."

"Wow," Genie said. "Yeah... right... this way."

"Say, can I borrow that on Friday night?" Genie added. "It would be great to have at the next frat party."

"No," Mariah said. "You can't take my top-secret spy gear to fend off horny frat boys."

"Hey, I'm Representative Elderberry's daughter," Genie said. "It would be, like, protecting national security."

"Girl, maybe you should cut back on the frat parties," Aadi chuckled. 

"Genie, seriously, no," Mariah said, trying to hide the sudden, worsening pain shooting through her. 

Hurry, Miranda, Mariah thought. Please... find the cure.