Chapter 2 – A Decent Proposition
~~~~Old City Sanctuary~~~~
Nikola stood out front of the Old City Sanctuary. He fixed his appearance slightly before knocking on the heavy oak door. He ran a finger along the fine grooves of the wood while waiting.
The sun was beating down that fine fall day, and he almost regretted wearing so much, but presenting himself being dressed any less than to the nines, especially to his beloved Helen Magnus, would just be poor taste on his part.
So he stood there, suit and cravat and all, in the blazing sun, leaves falling all around him, waiting for someone to open the freaking door before he had a heat stroke.
The door finally opened to the hideous creature Magnus called a manservant, Big Goon, or whatever his name was.
"Guh guh! What're you doing here?" grunted Big Guy at the sight of the ex-vamp.
"Oh come on, is that any way to treat an old friend?" Nikola smirked cheekily.
"Guh guh! You are not my friend."
Nikola put on a mock sad face at the remark.
"Oh Hairy, I'm hurt!"
Big Guy grunted in annoyance and rolled his eyes before shutting the massive door on the obnoxious man.
"No wait! Hey!" Nikola grumbled and slammed his fists on the door erratically. "It's 90 degrees out here!"
He huffed and crossed his arms in annoyance.
The door suddenly opened again after a few minutes, but instead of the hairy butler, Nikola was greeted with the bright smile and sparkling eyes that is Helen Magnus.
"Nikola," she let out a breathy sigh and he gave her his most charming smile.
"Helen," he stepped closer to her.
"I got your letter," she stepped back to let him into the Sanctuary building.
"Of course you did, you always get my messages, that wasn't my concern," he stepped into the air-conditioned foyer.
Helen let out an audible sigh. Vampire or not, Nikola, was Nikola.
"My main concern was how'd you react when I arrived, coming to meet me at the door is definitely a sign in my favor."
Helen shook her head, already getting annoyed with his flirtatious antics.
"What do you want Nikola?" she huffed out, letting out an exasperated breath of air.
"Straight to the point as always, one of your most endearing qualities, my dear. Ok, I'll spare you the chitchat and get right down to it. I've found myself in dire straights, not so much in the area of being hunted, but financially. I've seemed to have run myself out of funds, wine and decent accommodations don't come cheap, and my, um, well, condition, hinders my, ehhh, lets just say willingness to use my usual methods for procuring more."
"You mean stealing," Helen shook her head slightly at him, trying not to roll her eyes.
"Let's call it opportunistic borrowing…anyways, I'm running low and I need your help."
"You want me to give you money so you can waste it all on your drinking habits and expensive tastes, the Sanctuary is not a charity Nikola."
"I don't want your money, I'm asking for sanctuary, Helen. No one else will take me in, and when the hounds come sniffing around for me again, I won't be able to protect myself like I used to, you are my only hope Helen," he held her hand gently and stared into her bright eyes.
"Your serious aren't you?" Helen looked back into his grey-blues.
"I wouldn't come to you if I weren't, I'd get on my knees but this suit is Italian, and I don't trust your hairy manservant with a mop."
Helen chuckled slightly.
"Fine, but you'll have to pull your own weight around here, that means lending your expertise when needed…" Helen glared hardly at him and he glared back, "…and staying away from my finest vintages."
"Oh heartbreak,' Nikola clasped a hand over his heart in exaggeration.
"I mean it, I'll keep a decent stock for your consumption, but there will be no draining of my wine cellar again!"
Nikola put on a fake pout, which failed and turned into one of his classic smirks.
"You drive a hard bargain Doc, but I guess I'll have to agree with your terms."
Nikola held out a hand for her to shake. She stared at it for a moment in distrust, but she relented and slipped her hand tentatively into his.
No sooner than her hand had came into contact with his then had he pulled her to him, their lips colliding into each other, his lips twisted into one of the most devilish of smirks.
Her hands came fluttering up to his chest and rested for a second before she managed enough will-force to shove the incorrigible ex-vamp a safe distance away from her.
"Damn you Nikola!" she blurted out and smacked his chest with the palm of her hand.
He jumped at the hit but just grinned even wider.
"You can't blame a human-magnet for trying," his voice chuckled at her as his breathing steadied.
She glared at him for a second before inhaling and exhaling to calm herself and stepping back so he couldn't try that again.
"I'll have Big Guy set up a room for you," she breathed and turned from him to return to her office.
"Oh he doesn't have to do that, I'll just pick one myself," Nikola shrugged nonchalantly.
"No, you won't," she laughed slightly clenching her teeth.
"Oh why not! Can't I at least pick the view?" he followed her, sauntering in that cheeky walk that made him seem even smugger than he already was.
"No!" she kept walking not wanting to look at him right now.
"Why?" he smirked, still keeping a steady pace behind her.
"Because I don't want you any where near my room!" with that she entered the elevator and closed the door before he could enter in and annoy her some more.
Nikola stood at the elevator doors and laughed. He was not here five minutes and he was already having so much fun. Maybe he should go pay a visit to Tiny Tim.
Helen made it to her office and sat down at her desk and tried to get the image of that flirtatious creep out of her head.
Another stolen kiss like the one they had in Rome. Each one she shoved away immediately, but she couldn't deny the butterflies they seemed to stir up in her stomach. He was sometimes so aggravating, and so charming at the same time; it made her want to hit him. Now he was going to be staying, for a non-prescribed amount of time. She'd have to endure that every day!
She let out another audible sigh and clicked at her computer and brought up the computer link with Henry.
"Hey Doc, what's up?" said Henry in his grizzly sleepy voice; he must've just dragged himself out of bed and to his lair downstairs.
"It's Nikola…" Helen skipped the usual pleasantries.
"Oh crap, what'd he do this time?" Henry sighed and rubbed his face.
"He's moved in," said Helen touching her hand to her forehead, trying to get over how weird that sounded.
"Haha very funny Doc, you had me going, real funny, no seriously, what's he done?"
Helen gave him a look and his smile dropped instantly.
"No, no, no! No Doc! Tell me it's not true! No!"
Helen sighed.
"I wish I could Henry, but I'm afraid so, I'm holding a meeting to make it official, tell Kate, Will, and the Big Guy, I want you all in my office in 20 minutes."
She turned off the link and groaned face palming.
With one swift motion, Nikola had flipped her whole Sanctuary upside-down, and it had twisted her life into one big obnoxious grinning knot!