Synopsis: Differential Derivative (a Sir Differel adventure)

One morning, Eile and Sunny are making breakfast when they hear a loud noise in the foyer. When they go look, they find Dracula collapsed unconscious on the floor. As they examine him, Eile hears a noise in the closet. When Sunny looks, she sees an eight-year old boy hiding in the back. Despite her coaxing, he refuses to come out or speak, so she leaves him alone. Snowshoe Kitty goes in and shmoozes against him, and he picks her up and holds her, as if for comfort.

The girls decide to call Giovanna to help them. Sunny makes a sandwich and a glass of milk for the boy and leaves it for him in the closet. As they wait for the girl vampire, the boy comes out and introduces himself as Henry Plunkett. Eile asks him what happened, and he states that he was at school, on his way to lunch, when the huge man appeared out of nowhere and grabbed him. Next thing he knew, he was here. He hid in the closet when he heard them coming. They ask him where his school is and he states that he goes to Triglon Weir in Dunwich. When they ask him where that's at, he replies in Suffolk. They ask if that's in Virginia, and he replies, no, in England. He then asks where he's at, and they reply Denver. He then asks them to call his school and have them alert his family, but they state that he's in Colorado, in the US, not Norfolk.

Giovanna arrives, and with her help they get Dracula into the basement. He looks like he's in torpor, which is inexplicable. Going into Medb's command chamber, they ask the artificial intelligence that runs it, Masie, to contact Mabuse and inform her they have a medical problem with a vampire. They then contact Sir Differel. They inform her what happened and that they have called Mabuse to check out Dracula. When they mention Henry, she visibly starts. She says nothing for some moments, then she announces she is coming out there. When the girls ask what's up, she tells them Henry is her son before she disconnects.

While they wait for Mabuse, the girls ask Henry about his family. He states that he lives with his grandmother, Lady Plunkett, and his aunt Emily. When they ask about his parents, he claims both are dead, killed when he was three in a car accident. Eile shushes Sunny before she can contradict him, much to her frustration. Eile asks him who they were. He explains that his father was Lord Plunkett, Viscount of Dunwich, and his mother was Isolde Wilmarth. He has little to say about her; apparently, he doesn't know much about her or cares much for that matter, but it's equally obvious he knows a lot about and loves his father.

They are interrupted by Masie, informing them that a call is coming in. It's from Aelfraed, informing them that Differel will be on a courier plane within the hour and in Denver is less than four. He gives them the location of a secret airstrip used by the Caerleon Order where she will be landing.

Mabuse arrives and Giovanna loads him into her van. She and the girls go to the lab Medb gave her, and they take Henry with them for safe keeping. Once in the security foyer, she has them checked over before allowing them to enter. She explains it is a new set of precautions she has instituted to guard against infiltration by Fomorians or Serpent People. Part of it, however, is that now that they are here, she won't let them leave, or at least if they do, she will not let them back in, not until she knows what's wrong with Dracula. So they contact Wendy Cleasa to look in on Snowshoe Kitty, then Medb to meet Differel and bring her to the lab.

Over the next few hours, while Mabuse examines Dracula with Sunny's help, Eile keeps Henry entertained. Eventually, Medb arrives with Differel. Mabuse meets with her, Medb, and the girls, and reports that Dracula has been infected with a virus that has altered his immune system to attack the parasite. She has isolated the virus and is sequencing its DNA; based on that, she hopes to understand what was done and how to reverse it. The girls then take Differel to see Henry. When she introduces herself as his mother, he screams she's a liar and hides behind Eile. Sunny takes Differel away while Eile comforts Henry. She and Sunny then give him something to eat and put him to bed.

They go looking for Differel, and find her drinking Scotch in Mabuse's office. They tell her what Henry told them, and she gets upset that he's been lied to. Then she explains the truth:

His full name is Henry Abraham Vlad Helsing-Plunkett. The girls of course know how she and his father met. Though at the time she felt some mild hostility towards him, later she realized she must have fallen in love with him from the start. And though she found his persistence irritating, she also admits to a grudging admiration. Even so, she deleted his messages, shredded his letters, and had Aelfraed dispose of the flowers, chocolates, wine, and other items he sent, hoping he would give up in time. She realizes she could have just told him to leave her alone, but for some reason she never thought of it, perhaps because of a subconscious block. In any event, the only reason why she agreed to have lunch with him was so that he could see she had no interest in him. The problem was, she him so charming and friendly that she relaxed and had a good time. She became comfortable, like she did with Aelfraed or Dracula. And perhaps, with Dracula gone, she needed the companionship of a strong male character. In any event, they stayed together for the afternoon, and afterwards, when he sent her a dozen roses, she had Aelfraed place them in a vase in her bedroom instead of trash them as she had ordered before.

She continued to see him through the end of the year, as comfort turned to affection and friendship turned to love. She was overjoyed to discover that he reciprocated, and she was indescribably happy when he proposed to her. She was still a virgin when they made love that same night; she had never been interested in sex, though she rationalized with the belief that she should save herself for the man she would love. She was glad she did.

They were married soon after that, and Henry was born in due course. That year was also marked by the reappearance of Dracula, after a near three-year absence. Though at first concerned, Differel was gratified to see that Victor was not intimidated by the master vampire at all, and that Vlad treated him with respect. She was particularly gratified that he was extremely gentle and protective of her while pregnant and then Henry after he was born; he even helped Aelfraed babysit.

The subsequent three years were the happiest in her life outside of childhood, and it brought out the best in her. Though she was busy rebuilding and strengthening the Caeleon Order, she found her home life a stable, nurturing source of comfort and happiness. She became more open, less severe, and more prudent, no longer so eager to throw herself at her enemies or even lead from the front ranks. She laughed more often, even in public, and did not seem quite so grim. She even considered retiring, or at least taking a more advisory role, so she could devote more time to her family.

Yet it was not to last. In 2005 Monsignor Canarde was appointed the new director of the Holy Order of St. Antony Demons-Bane, and he began a more aggressive campaign of eliminating monsters, even sending agents onto British and Commonwealth soil. Tensions between the Caerleon Order and the Antonians mounted, as clashes erupted between both forces, until it came to a head in later summer. Somehow, Canarde got the idea that the Caerleon Order had been infiltrated at the highest level, and he dispatched an Archangel, Raphael, to kill her and her family. He attacked them at Victor's ancestral home, where security was more lax; he attacked on a Sunday morning, when Differel had her guard down. Fortunately, Dracula was with them. On Differel's orders, he whisked Henry away to safety. Before he could return, however, Raphael killed Victor.

In a fit of blind rage, Differel attacked the Archangel with only Caliburn, and slew him. Such a feat was unprecedented: Archangels could take on vampires with their bare hands and survive. Yet Differel felt no satisfaction. Her world was shattered, her life virtually destroyed. She became cold and hard. She retaliated against the Antonians and escalated her reprisals to their responses until open warfare threatened. No one could get her to back down, not her superiors, not Medb, not even Aelfraed. And Dracula, who might have been able to do so, instead encouraged her. Finally, it took a command from the Queen, backed by the threat of indefinite imprisonment in the Tower of London, to open her eyes to what she was doing. She took a fortnight's leave while cooler heads diffused the crisis, and only Dracula knew she spent the first night crying hysterically over Victor's photograph.

The next morning, she visited his grave for the first time, alone, and as she stood over it, she vowed never to allow herself to ever get that close to anyone again. Unfortunately, that included her own son. He had been in the care of Victor's family since his death, and she left him there, acquiescing to their demand that she refrain from visiting him, in exchange for a yearly package of photos, movies, and a report. In the years since, she has come to regret her decision, but assumed there was nothing she could do about it; suing for custody is a bourgeois American custom, and she is too much a British blueblood to do that. However, she had never expected her mother- or sister-in-law to lie to Henry. Now, when she has a chance to reestablish some sort of relationship with him, she can't because he doesn't know her, and she doesn't know what to do about it. The girls tell her just to be with him; they'll be busy helping Mabuse cure Dracula, so her babysitting would be a big help to them.

The next morning, Mabuse calls a meeting. She explains that she has finished sequencing the viral genome and now understands how it altered Dracula's immune system. She describes it as a masterpiece of genetic engineering and indicates that it has all the hallmarks of Serpent People biotechnology. However, reversing the alterations will not be simple. She has already created antibodies to clear the virus from Dracula's system, but that won't affect the changes already in place. She will need to create a new virus, and that will take time. Differel leaves with the others, but then decides to go back to ask a question, but when she does, she finds Mabuse has fallen asleep over the conference table and decides to leave her alone.

Instead, she meets with the girls and tells them that in the rush to save Dracula they are all overlooking one vital problem: what did the Serpent People want with her son? The girls promise to look into it, then take her to see Henry. Before the meeting, Eile and Sunny had given him breakfast and started a movie for him. Differel finds him still watching it. He is suspicious when she approaches him, but he lets her join him and they finish watching it together. She then apologies for her remark the day before, saying it was a bad joke. It was just that she and his father were so close she often felt like a second mother. Henry is eager for stories about his father and asks her to tell him some. Differel agrees.

Over the next few days, Differel spends every minute with Henry, even foregoing attending Mabuse's meetings, instead getting reports from the girls after Henry goes to sleep. The lab doesn't have much to entertain an eight-year old boy, and Differel is in fact surprised to discover just how much adult oriented material is present. However, with the girls' help, she is able to keep Henry entertained. They discover they have interests in common; they both discover the joy of video games. And they spend a fair amount of time exploring the lab.

It was on one such occasion, while they were in a security lab, that an alarm sounded and the lab sealed. Differel tried to use the computer system to find out what was going on, but it was locked down. Then Mabuse appears on a screen. She explains that her lab has been infiltrated and the security protocols compromised. Whoever did it activated the riot suppression measures, sealing the labs and flooding them and the halls with anesthetic gas. She was able to make it to the conference room, which is a secure location, but she cannot access her systems from there. There are only two places where that can be done: her office or Command and Control. She is trapped and cannot get to either; neither Medb nor the girls are answering her calls. Differel is closest to C&C. If she can get there, Mabuse can walk her through how to reboot the systems and activate the anti-infiltration protocols. When Differel states she and Henry are also trapped, Mabuse explains that access to the corridor beyond can be made through a ventilation duct. Unfortunately, it's too small for an adult, but Henry might fit through. Differel is reluctant to put him at risk, but he eagerly volunteers. The gas should be no problem; it will have dissipated by now.

Henry makes it through the duct and into the corridor, then opens the lab door. He and Differel then proceed to C&C. Along the way, Differel is ambushed by a lizard-hound. It throws her against a wall, breaking some of her ribs, and tries to tear out her throat. She just barely holds it at bay. Henry attacks it, and when it turns to swipe at him, she pulls her gun and empties it into its skull. Henry helps her to her feet and to get to the control room. Once inside, Differel seals the door and contacts Mabuse. When she learns Differel is wounded, she instructs Differel to inject herself with three drugs. Then she has her run a program isolated on a secure server. The program shuts down all systems, then reactivates the computer. It runs through a security diagnostic, wipes compromised programs, reloads them from a secured archive, then reboots the system, reestablishing control. Mabuse informs her that she has dispatched robots to guard them until the infiltrator can be found and eliminated.

At that moment, a lizard-hound crashes through the wall. Differel shoots it dead, but it slams into her, causing more internal injury and breaking a leg. Medb walks into the room, and Differel realizes she is the intruder. When she tries to shoot her, Medb attacks her and knocks the gun from her hand. She takes her by the throat and lifts her off her feet. Differel summons Caliburn, but Medb breaks her sword arm. Then Medb vanishes, and in her place stands a Serpent Man.

He taunts Differel, explaining how he got past Mabuse's precautions. When Differel asks what they want with her son, he tells her that one day he will replace her as head of the Caerleon Order. What better way to get a foot into the British government than to have one of their agents in charge of the organization that defends it? But now that she is here, they can gain control immediately. Which in turn makes her and her son expendable. It then forces her into a chair and makes to tear out her throat when its head explodes as bullets slam into it. It drops and Differel sees Henry standing off to one side with her pistol in her hand. He helps her to lie on the floor, and she assures him help is on the way. Before she passes out, he asks her if she really is his mother, and she answers yes.

When Differel awakens, she finds herself in a hospital bed, surrounded by Mabuse, the girls, the real Medb, and a restored Dracula. As it turns out, she has been unconscious for a week. Mabuse reports that once she introduced her engineered virus, Dracula recovered quickly. He isn't fully recovered yet, but he will be soon. Medb reports that she and Aelfraed made sure there was no "palace coup" to depose her as head of the Caerleon Order while she was out. The girls announce that once Mabuse releases her, she'll convalesce at their house until she is fit enough to return to England. She orders Dracula to protect her son at all costs, even if that means sacrificing her. They then leave so she can be alone with Henry. She apologizes for not being there for him for the past five years, but if he will allow it, she'd like to be more of a mother to him now. He asks her if the stories she told of his father were true. She confirms they were, except for any parts that would have revealed their relationship together. He asks if she loved him; she confirms she did. He asks if she loves him; she confirms she does. He tells her he would like to have a mother, and he hugs her and kisses her on the cheek. The girls then come in and take him out, explaining that he will stay with them and return with Differel. They leave her alone, and in the darkness she cries, this time from happiness.

Three weeks later, Differel is sitting on the patio in the girls' backyard. Mabuse has released her and Dracula will take her back the next day. She is watching Henry play in the backyard with William Cleasa, Wendy's boy. Sunny comes out with a tray and lays it on the picnic table, calling the boys to lunch. She passes a plate to Differel, along with a glass of iced tea. Dracula appears in a spectacular fashion, causing the boys to laugh with excitement. Sunny informs him William has Wendy's permission to see Victoria Falls with Henry that afternoon. They wolf down their sandwiches and chugalug their milk, and after Henry kisses Differel, Dracula takes them off to Africa.

A few minutes later, Eile comes out, leading two women with her, one elderly, one a little younger than Differel. They are Lady Muriel Plunkett, Viscountess of Dunwich, Victor's mother, and his sister, Lady Emily Plunkett. They have come to take Henry home. He has been away too long, his education will suffer, and technically Differel's association with him violates her agreement not to see him. Differel tells them to shut it and states the agreement was nullified when they lied to him about her. Lady Muriel states it was for his own good; she doesn't want him to have anything to do with the Caerleon Order. Differel responds that they have no choice in the matter, the oldest Van Helsing always assumes the directorship. Muriel points out that he isn't a Van Helsing, but Differel replies that he has the bloodline and Dracula recognizes him as his future master. Muriel threatens to go to the Queen if Dracula ever comes near Henry, and Differel states it is too late; they like each other and will not be separated.

Muriel is livid, and then Differel states that by rights she could sue for custody. Muriel counters that if she does so, her position as Director of the Caerleon Order, along with a full disclosure of what her organization does, would be revealed. Differel agrees that would be undesirable, and offers a compromise. She will relinquish all custody rights and get royal approval to relieve Henry of responsibility for the Caerleon Order, in exchange for visitation rights and the privilege of him staying with the girls in America for two weeks every year. When Muriel refuses, Differel produces a letter from the Queen. She states that Her Royal Majesty orders Muriel to agree to any demands Differel might make in exchange for custody, and explains that if Muriel refuses, Differel can sue her in court, and if Muriel brings up the Caerleon Order during the hearing, she will be the one punished. Differel hands her the letter, which she reads, and while it's obvious she isn't happy about it, she accepts Differel's offer. Differel explains she will be returning home tomorrow, and Henry will be coming with her. He will spend a few days with her, then she will return him to Dunwich.

Muriel and Emily leave, and when Eile returns, Differel announces she would like to take a walk. As they help her out of the chair, she remarks she feels so good she could probably walk clear around the park.