Medford, Texas
2:30 PM - Thursday - March 13th 2059
Elsa couldn't just sit in her hotel room all day, she needed to get out, and do as her father had asked. Finding her mother wasn't difficult, she was where she normally was on a day like today. She was at the school volunteering her time for the drama club. When her mother had been human she had been an out-of-work actress. She had done some commercials, had some bit parts on TV, and modeling. But after only a few years, Kate found herself cast aside for newer, pretty versions of herself. She had been trying to find a way back, starting by hiring a personal trainer. That trainer had turned out to be an amethyst vampire, one who was looking for a human thrall for Art. Meeting Art had changed her priorities just a bit. Elsa smiled at the story of how her mother had come to meet Art.
Growing up Elsa never felt the need to choose between them. Both loved her, and both treated her as their child. But lately, especially lately, Elsa had begun to wonder if she had been unkind to not honor her mother more. It was Kate, not Nancy who bore her and brought her into this world. And it was Kate not Nancy whom deserved the honors and titles. Still, it was so easy talking to Nancy and seeing her as her mother. A good deal of whom Elsa wanted to be as a woman was styled from watching Nancy. Yet a good deal of who she was on the inside was from Kate. Dad was wrong on that, it wasn't him who gave her this wanderlust for adventure and her own way. She was fairly sure it came from Kate. Still as she waited for a good moment she wondered just how much of her father and mother made her this way. Or how much of what she was, came from here?
It was here in this place that Elsa and her brothers came to understand the life they would lead. Not as humans, but as vampires. They weren't alone, many of their classmates were just like them. Many had found friends, or lovers in this place. Art and Kate had hoped Elsa would have. But that didn't meet with Elsa's plans. Neither did staying here or following what all the other Aqua did. Elsa looked around the school remembering her time here at Medford High.
"Thinking about re-enrolling?"
Elsa turned and saw the green eyes of another Emerald vampire. One that had been one of her teachers growing up. Most of the emerald vampires all had the last name Summers, so it felt wrong to call them by that name. Rather, Elsa always used their first name. In this case Lauren, a tall and sometimes loud, red head who taught music. She was one of Elsa's favorite teachers when she went here.
"No, heavens no. I was waiting on mom to get done so we could talk. How are you Lauren?"
Quickly making her way to her place on the bleachers Lauren sat and scooted close. Lauren smiled and the small talk commenced with talk of her children and her husband. All Emeralds were family focused like the Aqua, but above that however came the desire to create life. Rare was the Emerald who was without more than a couple children at any time. Yet Lauren was different. Unlike a lot of the Emerald vampires, Lauren was slow to having more. Perhaps it was because her husband had so many already. In any case Lauren stood out among her people.
Lauren was around mom's real age, or at least that was what she thought. With vampires you had no way of knowing for sure. But with Emeralds it was worse. They could appear as any age they pleased to. They talked for a short time about where Elsa was now and what she was up to. When Lauren had walked up Elsa was thinking on her own senior year and decided to ask a random question. One Lauren wouldn't have answered when Elsa was a student. But it was something to ask and it was better than useless small talk.
"Why do they call Medford senior year, Zombie year. I never understood the reference?"
Lauren laughed and smiled. Crossing her legs and putting her hands together almost in mock prayer. It made Elsa smile herself, it was an unconscious act Lauren always did when she taught. More than one of the kids in her class had made fun of her for it.
"You know, its when most kids become like us. You and your siblings are special you all turned as kids. The rest of us had to become adults first."
Elsa thought about it, becoming a vampire explained why the year might be strange but "zombie?" Her expression caused Lauren to laugh. When she repeated the word Lauren explained.
"I had a friend who had dated the same guy from 8th grade all the way through junior year. Half way though zombie year she dumped him and started dating a guy twice her age. Kids who always said they would become something, suddenly changed their minds. Kids who swore they would leave Medford didn't. Come one, you never wondered what happened to all the other kids in your class… the ones who didn't become like you?"
Elsa was having big fights with mom that year, all because Gerold had left. It consumed all the oxygen in the house back then. Her senior year had kind of just happened. Clearly she was describing kids becoming thralls. She knew some had, but she never thought about it much.
"Sure I mean I knew a few did. One of my friends became a thrall to a ruby. She was in love with him anyway so it wasn't a big deal. But it wasn't like it was as ton of kids. Still I guess it makes since to call it zombie, if you were human and you didn't know…ok yeah I see."
Lauren looked at her like she was a moon cadet. So much so Elsa asked why.
"Sweetheart in Medford you are either a vampire or you are a thrall. All those kids serve one of us now. Was that way for… well ever."
Elsa looked at Lauren and asked how it possibly could be everyone. That was a lot of kids, and every year?
"Well, it was organized that way for one, Ivy was the last person to do the duty. But someone always selected which kid would end up with a certain vampire. A lot of time went into the choosing. Looking at a senior's background, their likes and dislikes. Then matching them up with vampires who needed a thrall. It's part of the reason for Medford to exist in the first place. Back then most vampires didn't hook up with other vampires. Their spouse was generally a thrall. That was why it was so important to choose the right person for someone. They would end up being their sexual partner."
Elsa hadn't heard this story before. Much less that there was an organized method to dolling out…. Children?
"No, not children. But when kids grew up it was time to figure out if you would become a vampire or not. Those that didn't helped those that did. That's the point of Medford, to help build the next generation of our kind dear. Keep in mind nearly all those kids that became thralls, had fathers and mothers or relatives who were vampires."
Elsa's mouth went open and she closed it quickly. She should have guessed there was a system like this in place. She just didn't realize it was this organized. I mean they needed thralls sure, but why not find one from out of town? It's what she did, hell it's what they all do now. Why upset your neighbors, and why feel the need to dole out the next generation? Lauren went on talking about why it was so hard in the past for vampires to reproduce their own.
"If you were an old school vampire and you wanted to have a vampire child. Then you wanted a human to mate with who has lots of vampire blood in their family tree. Because after thousands of years of breeding, the vampire blood becomes diluted. Vampire abilities lessen over the generations. Eventually people stop producing vampires altogether. But if you mate with someone who has lots of those traits, it increases the odds. I can't believe Nancy hasn't taught you all about this?"
Elsa pretended to follow along but no, Nancy had not told her about any of this before. She covered herself by asking about Ivy's experience. Ivy and Lauren were both Emerald's and had gone to school together. Ivy had told Elsa that at least.
"What a nightmare for her. Her and Nancy had a devil's time those last few years. Some real nightmares like Becky, but there were some success stories too."
Elsa asked about Nancy, just how involved was she in the program?
"Involved, hell she set it up. I can't believe she hasn't talked about it with you. You do know she founded the town right? The whole point of Medford, is a giant breeding ground for our kind. And it worked, it saved our clan, yours. And now with everything that happened in my generation, places like Medford won't be needed much longer."
Elsa quietly asked if this was still going on. Were they still doling out children like the old days.
"Nah, the humans found out and raised hell. More than that, they killed that one family over it. Tried to burn Ivy's home. Woman who organized it, well we killed her. Cut the AVL down for a bunch of years. But their back now….but its nothing to worry about. Now we get thralls a different way, well at the clans that need them anyway."
Elsa was confused, as far as she knew it wasn't hard to create a vampire. Hell, they turned normal humans all the time. Why would they need a breeding ground in the first place? Lauren loved the questions, probably the school teacher in her. Elsa was appalled but she was desperate to know more. Most importantly just how far had Nancy gone to make their clan… what it was?
"Back before your generation things were different Elsa. It wasn't like it is now where every vampire can have a vampire baby like it's nothing. That's why our kind called this place the garden. Vampires came from far away to try and build a life here."
Elsa saw Lauren was starting to disengage so she quickly tried to keep her on target.
"I love hearing about the Town, thank you so much for that. You know how mom is, she doesn't like taking any credit for anything. To hear her tell things she is just a simple person. Can you tell me anything else about her, it sounded like she was important back in the day."
Lauren smiled and leaned back again. The look on her face said she was excited to share.
"Nancy is Medford sweety, it was her idea. She came up with it, found it and charted it. She was the caretaker for 300 years, and trust me she was not someone you wanted to mess with. Your mom, oh my God. Even when I was coming up you knew she was not someone to mess with."
Elsa swallowed on hearing how Nancy was some sort of power on a throne. She encouraged Lauren more, which didn't take much. Her heart fell at hearing just how extreme Nancy had been. At least according to Lauren. She especially got descriptive when talking about the caretaker role.
"Nancy only let new vampires stay a season before they had to leave. It was very competitive and there were some incidents where folks didn't play by Nancy's rules. Nancy can seem like a sweet momma, and she is, but if you cross her she is capable of anything. There are quite a few vampires who are in Woodlawn either by her hand or on her orders. You don't mess with Nancy, let me tell ya."
When she was growing up Elsa knew she could ask Nancy anything. She always seemed to have good advice, and she was quick to offer hugs and cookies. Mom was a lot more serious and quicker to anger sometimes. She never feared Nancy, nor did she see any reason to. But Lauren didn't just say that to joke around, she said it like it was common knowledge. Something inside Elsa shuttered at thinking her step-mother was hiding a dark side. Elsa was very careful not to let the cold feeling that swept over her not to register over her face. Lauren continued on describing how things used to work for vampire's.
"Now take you for an example. Your dad and your mom owes their power to Nancy. She was the one who created them. Nancy is like a 10th or 12th generation vampire. So, you and your children won't be as powerful as say an Eleanor and Adad. And the longer you go from your children the weaker they will be. I am amazed you never heard any of this. You know it was your clan who discovered all this?"
Elsa was starting to understand that she was missing a lot. Why was Eleanor and Adad any different than her? She had heard both were really old vampires, so perhaps that meant they were lower in that generation number. Elsa didn't really understand the significance of that. Lauren was drifting from the topic of Zombie year. So, she asked a very pointed question about it. Did the kids know what was going on, and did the parents? Lauren was in the middle of talking about something called founders and stopped. She paused for a second pondering the question. When she started back up she was not as excited about the topic now.
"The kids, never. And honestly sometimes not the parents either. Not all humans in Medford knew what was going on. You know how it is, a family moves in for a job, or because they have distant relatives here. And then you have the occasional guest who arrives and stays for life. Come on Elsa, you have a thrall you know how it is."
Elsa tried to smile and hide her own shame. Oh yes she had a thrall. She knew precisely how it felt to be one of her clan. But Elsa despised the process, even if her body needed it. It was one thing for her to take a thrall, but for the town to ASSSIGN their offspring for the duty?
"Nancy and Ivy worked really hard to match people. I think the happiness that it created is proof it worked. There are a lot of beautiful marriages in this town that they created."
Elsa was going to ask more when Lauren got up suddenly. She said a quick goodbye as her mother approached. Elsa had a lot more questions she wanted to ask but that would just have to wait.
"I didn't see you come in, how long have you been here?"
Elsa smiled for her mom and gave her a hug which surprised Kate. She didn't pause long and returned it with an eagerness that softened Elsa. It was time to make amends and try to please her father. Thanks to Zeke that was possible now. She knew she could resist what her mom could toss at her. And her heart needed to know her mom was ok.
"Mom I am sorry about what I said, it's just so hard for me with the call. I didn't have it in me last night to argue."
The look on her mom's face was enough to know she had made the right decision with Zeke last night. She needed to make things right with her, and without that strength that Zeke had given her it wouldn't be possible.
Medford, Texas – The Hall
3:12 PM - Thursday - March 13th 2059
Hanna sat with her husband Jay and with Ashley in her office. The topic of conversation was Hope and Elsa and what was to be done. Things were getting far out of hand, and it was about to get worse. She looked over at Jay and wondered just what he would decide. Ultimately it was up to him. Ashley began again repeating what she had already said an hour before.
"We both know what Nancy is capable of. I can't see what else she could possibly be doing. If she is, then what do we tell Elsa? She doesn't have a clue what's really going on. Frankly it should have never come to this!"
Jay frowned at that, it implied that he had made an error of judgement. Something only Hanna or Ashley could accuse him of. Still, Ashley was taking her position too far in Hanna's book. It was time to remind Ashley of her place. It wasn't for her or anyone else to make that decision but Jay.
"Well, I don't see where Jay was wrong to keep things this way? What was he supposed to do? I don't exactly remember you having any bright ideas at the time, or for that matter… since."
Hanna had said it way too forcefully and Jay put a hand on hers and gave her a soft look. Then he stood and walked over to the photos on the wall. Spending a lot of time looking at the boy who Ashley felt guilty over. Ashley was upset at the rebuke and was looking away. Hanna didn't feel great about it either. The two women had been through a lot together over the last two decades. Once Ashley looked up Hanna whispered an apology to her. A moment after Hanna saw a small smile cross Ashleys face, then a nod.
Hanna didn't have to see what Jay was looking at, to know what he was thinking. Every time she saw a picture of her Jay in uniform it caused her hands to shake. Remembering that dreadful day….
"If Nancy is really re-writing Hope then there is nothing we can do to stop her. If the two of you couldn't reach Nancy in the link, then she doesn't want to be found right now. Forcing the matter isn't going to help, we just need to be patient. And if you will forgive the pun, hope that things work out."
Ashley then asked again what they would tell Elsa. She was concerned that telling Elsa that they had that power, would trigger the catastrophe. The very one all of them had been trying so very hard to prevent. That also didn't address the other issue. The council had ordered Jay to appear before them to review Hope's request. As King of the Aqua, it would be up to Jay to represent them and state their case. Otherwise, the larger group could render judgement on their own. That didn't always end in good ways. There were a couple humans sleeping for eternity in Woodlawn as proof. Jay took a long time to decide, when he did he said it with finality.
"The truth, all of it. She deserves to know, and I don't see a way we can get around it now. Travis has been watching her and she has been asking uncomfortable questions. Between Zeke and Lauren opening their mouths, she has enough pieces to start to question things. If she continues to question what she was taught, she will eventually find our lies. I think we have to act before she triggers her memories. If she does, then she could trigger others. We can't let that happen."
Hanna asked what they would tell the council. Jay was still looking at the picture of the boy who had died out in Guam and didn't answer. Jay had gone out to Guam after Ashley had come home. Hanna still remembered the poor soul who stepped into her living room that day. Ashley was a ghost of a vampire after that boy's death. Not long afterwards, Jay left to take up her post. And much to Hanna's horror at the time, had come to his own end. That war had decimated so much of Medford, even now two decades on, its wounds were not fully healed. And in truth they never would be. As long as there was a vampire who could remember those days… then it would never be really over. Everyone had scars that ran deep from that time. Ashley and Hanna were no exception. Ashley got up from behind her seat and went up to Jay and asked quietly how he thought Elsa would handle learning the truth. Ashley like always was expecting the worst.
"I don't know. But we have to be prepared for her to remember. If that happens then I should be the one to do it. It was my decision and I should be the one who has to live with the consequences."
Hanna thought of Kate and Art and how they would respond to Jay murdering Elsa. But Jay wasn't wrong, it wasn't just about Elsa. He had to protect all the Aqua children. Otherwise Ite's revenge would be complete and the clan, along with all its members would die in the most horrible way possible. At the hands of their own children.