Conspiracy

[Author's note: this chapter references Mary, a character who first appeared here, and whose story is fleshed out here. The reader may or may not have met Mary briefly already on paths leading here. For the sake of this branch, assume that Jessica has not encountered her yet.]

[Jessica's POV]

In an unused room in the bowels of the mansion, Jessica sits at a table. It is 4pm, and Jessica feels terrible. Her body does not handle being awake during the daylight hours well, but there is no other time to meet. She struggles to keep her eyes open. A pitcher of blood sits on the table, but Jessica (for the first time, she notes sardonically) is not hungry.

Around the table sit Jessica, Carmilla, another vampiress that Jessica doesn't know, and - surprisingly to Jessica - Catherine.
The vampiress that Jessica doesn't recognize extends her hand to Jessica and smiles warmly.

"Hi, I'm Mary" the vampiress says. "I split with Elizabeth before it was cool" she says, chuckling. She is tall and lithe, a gorgeous brunette with refined, elegant features. Jessica shakes Mary's hand.

"I've never seen you around the mansion. Are you won of Elizabeth's?" Jessica asks curiously. Mary laughs.

"Yes....and no. I'll tell you my story another time, but we have business to attend to. Let's just say I became disillusioned with Elizabeth's callousness, like Carmilla" Mary says. Jessica nods. Can we trust her? Jessica wonders.

"Catherine...I have to admit that I'm surprised to see you here..." Jessica says suspiciously, giving Carmilla a concerned look.

"Don't worry. She's aligned with us, not Diana" Carmilla assures Jessica. Carmilla still can't see that Elizabeth is the problem, Diana is just an instrument Jessica thinks.

"If you're wondering if I've discovered some newfound sympathy for the cattle" Catherine scoffs, "don't worry, I haven't". Catherine, ever the pot-stirrer, pauses for a reaction. Jessica keeps her expression neutral.

"I have no problem with killing them all" Catherine continues. "But I like to hunt. I love that moment of realization on their faces, right before I drain them, when they understand that the horror stories about us are true. Elizabeth's vision sounds so... boring. A lot of work, and for what payoff exactly, other than stroking Elizabeth's megalomania? I can fuck and eat whoever I want now.
Why mess with that? "

Jessica nods. Catherine is chilling, but we need all the allies we can get she thinks.

"We are apex predators. Not sure why we'd want more of us competing for food. Going to the human store to buy a meal sounds so dull" Catherine says, her lips curling into a cold smile. "I'm still not sure why Elizabeth turned you after all" she says, turning to Jessica. Jessica does not rise to the bait. She doesn't know if she can really trust Catherine, but what choice does she have?

"Okay, okay" Carmilla says, rolling her eyes, "we don't have a lot of time here."

"Can we count on anyone else?" Jessica asks.

"No" Carmilla answers. "Miko, Jade and Elizabeth are firmly in Diana's camp."

"You mean Elizabeth's camp?" Catherine says curtly. She's a bitch, but at least she's realistic Jessica thinks. Carmilla doesn't acknowledge the correction.

"The humans slated for capture tonight are a lost cause" Mary says, clearly trying to steer the discussion back on track. "We can't save them. Jessica, you need to go with Diana and Miko as planned tonight. Jessica nods. "Try to be...enthusiastic" Mary tells Jessica. "Also...welcome to our little conspiracy" Mary says, winking at Jessica. Catherine rolls her eyes, but Jessica appreciates it.

"Attacking Elizabeth here at the mansion or at the factory is hopeless" Mary continues. "Elizabeth is always on edge. There's a fifty percent chance she knows about this meeting" Mary laughs. Jessica's eyes go wide. "I'm kidding" Mary says. "Elizabeth will be particularly alert tonight. But Jessica, Miko and Diana will be separated from her during the capture of the bus."

"She plans to go to the blood factory tonight, after the capture of the humans" Catherine cuts in. "It will be only me and Jade with her, and I can neutralize that poseur Jade" Catherine laughs. "She'll be too guarded on the way to the factory. But after... a little drunk on her delusions of grandeur after seeing the blood pumping? I think she'll let her guard down a bit."

"Agreed" Mary says. "We ambush her car on her return trip to the mansion. Jessica, you will need to handle Miko and Diana" Mary says matter-of-factly. Jessica sighs loudly, throwing her hands in the air.

"And how am I supposed to 'handle' two older vampiresses?" Jessica asks incredulously.

"You don't need to kill them...yet" Catherine says, rolling her eyes. "Just divert them enough so that we can take care of Elizabeth. Unless you want that job?" Catherine sneers.

"Catherine, come on" Mary chides, smacking the table.

"Okay, so the blood factory goes as Diana planned. We capture and drain the humans. Elizabeth visits and inspects. Her vanity gets the best of her. On the drive home, Catherine, Mary and Carmilla surprise her. Catherine from inside her limo? And I prevent Miko and Diana from coming to her rescue?" Jessica says, trying to lay out the pieces.

"Yup" Mary nods.

"It's not very sophisticated. I thought we'd have something more elaborate to be honest" Jessica says. She expected more.

"Sophisticated is easy to mess up. We don't want a lot of moving pieces. It is just about timing, the pieces being in the right place.
Catherine and I discussed a lot of alternatives, but decided that surprise and superior numbers had the highest chance of success against Elizabeth" Mary explains.

"Elizabeth is smarter than all of us" Catherine says. "A complicated plan will fall apart, I promise you. Our only hope is that Elizabeth won't see the simple plan coming, it is almost insulting to her."

Jessica shrugs. She doesn't have a better plan. Carmilla has been oddly silent throughout this, looking pensive. Finally, she speaks.

"Elizabeth will be reined in. But not killed" Carmilla reminds the group. Catherine and Mary nod, but Jessica can sense that it is disingenuous. Carmilla probably can too. She still loves Elizabeth immensely Jessica thinks sadly.

Over the next hour, Jessica, Carmilla, Catherine and Mary discuss the details, timing and logistics of the plan. If you can call it a 'plan' Jessica thinks. Catherine continues to throw her barbs at Jessica, with Mary keeping things in order. Carmilla looks depressed more than anything, and rarely contributes to the discussion.

Around 6 pm, they return to their beds, so as not to be found awake before sunrise. It will be a long night.