When Vicki and Henry arrived at Will's offices, the place was abuzz with activity. Will's medical facility was also located next to his research facility. They catered to the specialty population of Canada. Many came from other areas. Will was working on getting more facilities open for the sake of convenience.
Will motioned Vicki and Henry in, they had no problem getting in. Everyone there knew who they were.
"Yes, I realize that but you must understand, we have to find out what is causing this and quickly, " Will sounded exasperated.
"Allright..yes..as soon as you hear anything..goodbye.." Will slammed the phone down.
"I cannot believe this is happening.." Will said, pacing behind his desk. He was nervously rubbing his head, his chin and wringing his hands alternately.
"Will, what is going on?" Vicki finally said. Will stopped.
"Oh, my, I'm so sorry Vicki," Will walked around his desk and hugged his sister-in-law first, then his brother-in-law.
"It's okay, tell us what's going on," Vicki said sitting down along with Henry in the chairs facing Will's desk. Will chose to lean back onto his desk directly in front of them.
"Well, it seems that we've got three vampires here that are in trouble. They seem to be.." Will looked between the two.."regressing, aging if you will." Will waited for a response.
"And..?" Vicki waved her hand forward for him to continue.
"And," Will said stepping around his desk, "they have lost their vampire abilities, no fangs, no sensitive hearing, no healing quickly, nothing. They no longer want blood either."
"Do you think someone has contaminated the blood supply?" Henry asked.
"No, not possible. Ever since your little Texas incident, "Will was refering to the looney woman Marion getting her hands on Henry's blood supply, "our security is ten times what it was. It is checked and double-checked. No, I'm afraid this could be more serious."
"Serious how?" Vicki asked.
"In that maybe there is no easy cause nor cure, it could be viral." Will sighed.
He explained that he thought someone might have created a germ warfare of sorts against the vampire population, or rather that was his theory thus far. Loose to be sure, but it was something.
"Viral? I thought vampires couldn't get sick? And why would anyone intentionally want to do this? How fast are they losing their abilities and aging? How.." Henry stopped her.
"Victoria, honey, take a breath. Let him answer one at a time." Henry said putting his hand on hers.
"Sorry, this could get a little personal for me you know considering like ninety percent of my family is either vampire or part vampire.." Vicki said protectively.
"True." Will said. "What about London by the way? Anything yet?"
Vicki shook her head no.
"No, just the magical ability and telekinesis, so far anyway. She only has a few teeth and the twins didn't pop anything out until they were almost two, so that still remains to be seen. "
Any layperson would find this conversation on the odd side, but to them, this was everyday normal conversation.
"Let's start with them getting sick," Vicki glanced over at Henry as if to say.."better?" He nodded.
"That's the first sympton, they get a common cold or it appears that way, then it progresses to the aging, graying hair, vision problems, one has arthritis already, putting on weight, things that would normally happen as you age. The wrinkling is disturbing to one of them too, she is not happy." Will darted a glance at Vicki after this last revelation.
Will took a breath, "As far as how long, it is really depending on how old they were when they were turned and how long ago it was. Say if they were past forty, and they were turned within the last ten years, the progression would be much faster than if it happened to Henry or myself."
Vicki sucked her breath in and closed her eyes.."Don't even speak those words Will." She opened her eyes and they were silver, she was distressed.
"Sorry, Vicki, I'm just trying to lay the groundwork." Will stood up and went to bend down in front of Vicki.
"I think you need to come and see my patients, maybe interview them and get some ideas." Vicki agreed.
Henry, Vicki and Will all started off toward the hospital wing. The facility was large, Will had a golf cart handy for travelling.
When they arrived at their destination, Will stopped Vicki before they went into the rooms. They had them quarentined until they could figure out what was going on.
"Now, I must tell you, Vicki, you might be disturbed by what you see." Vicki shook her head.
"I've seen worse," and started off toward the rooms.
In the first room, there was a man who appeared to be in his seventies, gray and weak looking. He was hooked up to monitors, iv's and all sorts of machines. Vicki felt so sorry for him. Will had their pictures in each room so that they would not lose sight of what the vampire actually looked like. Vicki looked at his picture. He was ruggedly handsome. Deep brown, wavy hair, piercing gray eyes and a jaw set like a lumberjack. He was handsome and yet now, he looked a former shell of himself.
She asked him a few questions but nothing stood out as extraordinary. The second man was about the same, again he had been handsome. The whole thing upset Henry as well. To see fellow vampires this way was disheartening.
"Okay, last one but I need to tell you something first Vicki," Will said.
"Stop it Will, damn! I'm big girl, really.." Vicki was in the room before Will could stop her.
She froze in her tracks...
"Mom??"