Sequel to New Beginnings. Hope you like it.
A sigh escaped from Dr Helen Magnus as she sat at her desk. Despite her 150+ years of life she still got frustrated with paperwork and it still boggled her mind. She turned to the window and savoured the early morning light. It was always nice to feel the first rays of the day on her skin. She would have enjoyed staying there for a very long while but a soft knock at the door brought her back to reality.
"Come in".
She knew who it was before the door had even opened because she heard the jostling of a tray and cutlery and smiled when her old friend entered. He gave her the equivelant of a smile as he placed it gently on the table.
"Morning", he growled softly. "Breakfast".
Helen smiled.
"Thank you. How are you this morning"?
Her friend grunted and nodded.
"Fine. You"?
She smiled as she joined him at the table to pour some tea.
"Well enough. How is everything going with everything"?
Again her friend grunted.
"Henry has been up all night working on the new computer software…".
Helen smiled. Henry always did get excited over new tech. she took a sip of tea as her friend continued.
"Will is doing what he does, Kate is starting on checking the supplies that came yesterday. She thinks we received some incorrect insects".
Helen had to choke back laughter. Kate certainly focused on minor things. She smiled as she put her teacup back on the tray.
"And what about our newest member"?
Her friend gave her another one if his smiles.
"She is feeding the residents in the Shoe, including her friend Ali".
Helen smiled before going back to her desk to pull up the security cameras of the Shoe. It didn't take long for her to find the newest resident, a large scary looking creature that was rolling around its enclosure like an excited puppy, staring at the entrance. A moment later the door went up and she could swear the abnormal smiled as a small figure stepped into the enclosure, a large box in her arms.
As she watched, the figure put the box down and pulled out a balled up concoction of meats, vegetation and some other things that weren't very appetising but the abmormal loved it. it bounced around in front of the young woman who played for a moment, dancing around with the terrifying looking creature before throwing the ball into the trees. The abnormal glanced happily at the girl before racing after it. another moment later the woman left, closing the door behind her.
Helen smiled. Danny had been with them for almost six weeks and she was amazed at how quickly the girl had picked up the way they did things. Despite that, the girl was still very nervous around them. It was slowly getting better but after everything that she had been through, being guarded was the least she should be. She sighed, her thoughts wandering to the things they had managed to get out of her in the time she had been with them which wasn't much. They knew she had been orphaned young, on the streets before being abducted by the Kabal and experimented on for years. Even before being taken she was an abnormal, a telempath of unknown ability but what the Kabal had done to her made it impossible to predict what gifts the girl would develop.
She had managed to perform some tests while Danny had been recovering from injuries sustained from the abnormal Ali but the girl had put a stop to that very quickly. Despite trying to assure her that it would all be ok, Danny had refused everything medical. Helen knew that pushing the subject wouldn't get her anywhere so she had stepped back. Maybe giving the girl her space and time to get comfortable with them would yield more chances to test her genetics. Until then, what she had would have to do.
"Helen".
Her friends husky voice broke into her thoughts and she smiled.
"Just thinking".
She received a grunt as they glanced at the screen. Danny had finished her rounds and looked satisfied as she walked away. Helen knew where she was heading, the same place the girl always went in the early mornings after she ad finished her chores. She sighed as she stood, taking one last sip of tea.
"I'm going to go see how she is doing. Thank you for the tea".
Her friend grunted.
"You really should be eating something. Allllwwwways working".
Helen smiled as she left the room, trying to keep in a tired sigh.
It didn't take her long to get to the large library and she smiled when she found Danny exactly where she expected. The girl was curled up on one of the chairs with a large book in her arms. Danny didn't even look up as she entered the room.
"You don't normally come here at this time of the morning".
Helen smiled. Of course Danny had known she was coming. Even after such a short time with them, the girl had started taking control of her abilities.
"I thought I would come see how you were".
Danny nodded absent minded as she turned the page.
"No".
At first Helen was confused by Danny's comment and thankfully the girl continued.
"No tests".
Helen sighed as she sat across from the girl.
"I wasn't going to ask about doing tests…".
"Maybe not ask but you were thinking about it".
Helen smiled.
"In a manner but don't worry. When you're ready".
Danny shook her head.
"Never going to happen".
Helen nodded.
"Of course. So back to the original question…how are you doing"?
Finally Danny looked up and gave her a small smile.
"I'm ok. You seem tired. Have you s;ept much lately"?
Helen settled back in the chair she had sat in. Danny was right. She was tired.
"No less than usual. Just a lot on my mind is all".
Danny nodded.
"I don't have to be a telempath to know that. Is everything ok"?
Helen nodded.
"I was going to ask you the same thing. Are you settling in well"?
The girl shrugged.
"Well enough I guess. Everyone has been great. Declan too".
Helen smiled. Danny had saved Declan's life, getting badly injured in the process. Declan had become protective and the two had bonded. Although Declan had returned to the UK Sanctuary, they had kept in touch. Helen believed that was one reason why Danny had settled like she had. She also believed it was also thanks to Sally, the mermaid who had been helping the girl with her abilities.
She was just about to continue their talk when she saw Danny's face change. It was a look she had come to recognise so she waited patiently. Moments later, Danny's face returned to normal.
"You will be getting a visitor. Someone old…very old and…I don't know. Kinda weird. Wine".
Helen thought for a moment then sighed. She knew of only one person who was old and associated with wine.
"Do you know when"?
Before Danny answered, Henry came strolling into the room, a tablet in his hands and an annoyed look on his face.
"Hey Doc, Danny. We have a problem".
"What is it Henry"?
"We are about to have a visitor and you're not gonna like who it is".
Henry handed her the tablet and she sighed. It was who she thought it would be.
"What in the world does he want now"?
Henry shrugged.
"Who knows what runs through Vlad's head".
Helen nodded before handing the tablet back.
"Thank you Henry. Please let the others know. They will need as much preparation as possible".
Henry grinned before bounding from the room. Helen turned to Danny who was watching them curiously.
"Who's Vlad"?
"The pet name Henry has decided on for our visitor. Would you like to meet a…unique individual"?
After a moment, Danny shrugged before standing and putting the book away. They both walked out, making their ways down the halls to the entrance foyer. Helen noticed Danny begin to slow and drop back and she decided not to say anything. The girl needed to be comfortable in her own way. She smiled when her old friend joined them. The big guy nodded to her and grunted towards Danny who was standing back in the doorway they had just come through, her eyes nervous. Helen tried to give the girl her most reassuring smile.
"Our guest is an acquired taste but it will be fine".
Thankfully Danny nodded but stayed where she was. the doorbell chose that moment to ring and Helen took a deep calming breath before opening the big old wooden door and found a grinning man in a waistcoat and scarf.
"Helen. How good to see you".
Helen smiled, nodding.
"Hello Nikola. It's nice to see you too".
The first of a few. Let me know what you think.