Jeff stood in the library, alone but for the books and their silent voices. He'd already walked its considerable length, looked out through the bay of windows, sampled the sandwiches, cookies and tea set out on the table in the center of the room and actually pulled a book from the shelves. It was a classic. An old tome that discussed, amongst other things, the viability of Darwin's 'new' theory of evolution. A first edition, hundreds of years old. It felt brand new.
Returning it to the shelf Jeff scanned more of the titles. The books were fastidiously arranged according to the Dewey decimal system, but none of them had been marked with call numbers. They were as they had been when first purchased.
The shelves he stood before were non-fiction, starting with religion and the science of dreams at one end through to collections of poems where the walls of the room met. The poetry books had shown a little more wear and tear, some of the spines stained with what had to be juice or wine.
He'd noticed some more modern book jackets on the opposite side of the room and one shelf, set apart from all the others, had a collection of gun magazines carefully organized on it. The latest editions were laid out on top, but they were a year old.
An odd room, but what more did he expect from the rich.
The dark haired woman from the bus had introduced herself as Helen Magnus. She had been the one to greet him when he woke for the third time. She had with her a change of clothing and the promise of a real explanation. From his cell ( a word that Miss Magnus strongly disapproved of), she led him up a set of stairs that had locked doors on either end, down a second dark hallway, up another set of stairs and finally into late afternoon sunlight filtering into a large entryway. Dark woods, ornate walls, browns and russets greeted him; all of it tasteful, wealthy, and very old school.
Miss Magnus told him that where he found himself was called the Sanctuary, and the reason for that name would also be included in the future explanation.
"For now I'm sure you'll want to freshen up. I have some business to attend to but I will meet with you in the library the moment I'm free."
She was bright, happy, very English and hiding something behind her lovely blue eyes. Something in the set of her shoulders under the white blouse, the stiffness of her legs looking just the right amount of classy in the pencil skirt and heels. It was the same something that had made her 'bloody hell' so memorable to him.
"The library is…" Jeff asked, speaking over the pile of clothes before he was shown into a large bathroom.
"I'll have someone take you there." She said with a tight smile. She was polite, informative, and clearly comfortable in the environment. But she wasn't someone's secretary. She was the one in charge in this 'Sanctuary', whatever it was.
Jeff nodded his thanks and ducked into the full bath setting the pile of clothing on a counter. At the sink he leaned toward the mirror and stared at his own face for a moment. Blood shot brown eyes, reddish brown hair sticking on end, spindly, skinny and now bruised arms poking out of an oversized scrub shirt. Maybe the irritation hiding just under Miss Magnus's you're-welcome-in-my-home attitude was aimed at him. His appearance alone was unacceptable. Letting himself be kidnapped on a city bus then having his blood stolen by a fake doctor with a fake accent made him entirely unworthy of an audience with the rich and reclusive.
Chagrined Jeff stepped into the shower, shaved with the equipment he found in one of the drawers, dressed in the brand new jeans, shirt, jacket and shoes and opened the door cautiously when he was done. Across the hall, leaning against the wall with an electronic tablet in his hand was yet another resident of the Sanctuary that he didn't recognize.
In fact if it weren't for the fact that Jeff's hair was red and he'd never been able to pull off facial hair without looking grungy, the two might have been brothers.
"Hi. I'm Henry Foss." The stranger said, leaning away from the wall to offer a hand.
"Jeff O'Donnel. Hi." Jeff shook with Henry, and then stood with him in an awkward silence that managed to basically describe their relationship to one another. Total strangers, one at home, one an alien.
"Magnus had some food sent to the library for ya. I'm supposed to make sure you get there."
There was something refreshingly open and honest about Henry. Willingly Jeff fell into step with the other man as they traveled down the hall.
"Gotta admit that sounds good. I don't even know how long it's been since I last ate."
Henry winced a little in sympathy. "Ah, well, assuming you ate before we…you know…um..about two days."
By the time they reached the library Henry's tablet had squawked at him a dozen times. His fingers were flying over the glossy surface already working on the issues presenting themselves. Leaving Jeff at the library, Henry walked away, distractedly promising that Magnus would join him shortly and with the food calling to him, Jeff didn't bother to follow.
That had, however, been almost an hour ago. It was 5:10 according to the grandfather clock on the mantel and the sun was setting. Jeff counted almost 59 hours of time spent wondering what in hell was going on and even with the sense of curiosity that had made him an amateur inventor in the first place, he was running thin on patience.
"I apologize deeply, Mr. O'Donnel. We don't often have guests, and we've never before had a guest with circumstances such as yours." As if summoned by his impatience, Magnus stood in the doorway, her hands in front of her, fingers laced. Whatever tension she had been hiding before seemed to have been resolved and released. Jeff turned from the window as she walked into the room, headed for the tea service at the end of the table. "You've been waiting patiently for quite some time, and I understand the confusion you are feeling. I'll do my best to answer your questions as I can but…some of what you want to know will have to remain a mystery, for the time being."
Quietly she poured tea into two china cups, setting one in front the chair nearest to the head of the table. Clearly she meant it for him, and she meant for him to join her. She sat before her own cup, unconsciously plying the steaming liquid with sugar and lemon. Seeing no reason to leave a lady sitting on her own Jeff sat as well and after a moment's thought, plunked a sugar cube into his cup.
He stirred, she stirred. She sipped, he sipped. She seemed a lot more pleased with her drink, than he was with his. But then he'd never been a tea drinker.
She sat for a moment, manicured finger tips resting against the lip of her cup, her eyes meeting his before she took in a breath and began.
"By now you must realize that this all has to do with your time under the care of…who you might have known as Dr. Baumschlagger."
"You mean the unlicensed conman that stole my blood earlier today?" Jeff asked, rubbing at his sore arm.
Miss Magnus smiled, a look that was sympathetic, mildly condescending and almost fond. Jeff must have given her a shocked look in return. Her eyes widened and the smile disappeared. She cleared her throat and laced her fingers together on the table top, back to business.
"I blame myself for the lapse in security that allowed him into your room. We underestimated his abilities, given how new they are. Believe me it won't happen again."
"So…he's what…black market or something? Steals people's blood so that he can…sell it.."
Miss Magnus gave him that same condescending smile. He was way off track, and he knew it the minute her teeth appeared. She sat, brows furrowed, considering her approach. When she finally decided Jeff could see a flicker of delight cross behind her eyes.
"His name is Nikola Tesla. And he's a vampire."
Jeff laughed after four seconds of silence had passed. He expected her to laugh as well, join in the fun of the joke but she didn't and he became silent again. He looked around the room, expecting a camera somewhere, a crew of people hiding out waiting for the culmination of the gag. But the room was empty and still. Jeff picked up his tea cup and brought it to his lips under the unchanging gaze of Helen Magnus. The cup trembled and Jeff barely managed to get it back onto the saucer without dumping the hot liquid all over himself.
He shifted sideways in the chair and folded his arms in front of him awkwardly, leaning his right shoulder against the chair back. He took a few breaths and opened his mouth in preparation to ask a question, any question that might ground him once more in reality. Before he got the chance Magnus interrupted him.
"You're a vampire too. Or so I have to assume given Nikola's behavior."
The door of the library opened breaking the brief silence. The young man that had been on the bus two days ago leaned in now covered in mud, including his mega-phaser, wearing torn stealth clothing and out of breath, as if he'd run a marathon.
"Magnus..oh. Uh…"
"What is it Will?" Helen asked, standing.
"Tesla. We got him."
Magnus sighed and nodded then turned back to face Jeff, who was having trouble breathing. She cocked her head in concern and reached a hand out, placing it lightly on Jeff's shoulder.
"Will you be alright?" She asked.
Jeff nodded.
"You should…probably stay here. I'll return shortly." Her tone apologetic, glossed lips frowning, Magnus gave him a reassuring and very English wink, then turned and strode purposefully out of the room.
