Chapter Three

The moment Dan mentioned Mirela Vale's name to Herbert, the reaction from his friend's head was priceless, but also stunning him to his core. He had always taken Herbert West as a man who wasn't capable of feeling any form of emotion, given the well-being of those around him were an afterthought for him, only concerned all in the name of science. However, the mention of Mirela...it sounded like she had been someone he truly, genuinely cared about. As much as two women Dan had cared about before they had been taken away from him. One whose picture rested on his bedroom nightstand after all this time, whose death had set in but the pain stopped, the good memories setting in.

But now there was another woman who caught his attention, but it wasn't Mirela Vale. Her secretary, Celeste Roberts, reminded him of Meg, although she didn't pry or engage him in conversation for the sake of it. She was beautiful, too, long blonde hair spiraling. It had been a long time since he had the time to notice a woman, just putting his head down and working, focusing on Herbert and his own life...until Dr. Vale and Miss Roberts came along.

They reminded him of Snow White and Rose Red, two sides of the same coin. Like him and Herbert, though female versions. Mirela and Celeste were roommates, having been best friends for some years now. They never spoke of their lives outside the workplace, but one odd factor was that they never seemed to eat or drink anything, much less go out in the sunlight. Dan wasn't sure why both women intrigued him so much, but one thing for sure: Mirela didn't seem interested in him beyond friendship, but Celeste...

He just couldn't stop thinking about her every day, and every night. His main fear was losing her the way he lost Meg and Francesca.

Mirela seemed suspicious about his request about aid in a "private operation" at his house, but what could he say? For all he knew, she wouldn't have believed him or perhaps called the police, but she would find out eventually. Guaranteed, her reaction wouldn't be positive, but there might be no way she'd say no. How could she, when she and Herbert knew each other back in Switzerland? Herbert had stubbornly ended his story when Dan tried to pry, but he and Mirela were more than just friends.

Weren't they?

~o~

Mirela Vale had come to Zurich while Herbert West was still in his third year; now a period of four months had passed. He had to admit how wrong he was when he assumed she wouldn't be any different than any other woman he'd met in his life. She was gifted and provided with her own theories about improving the re-agent; the process was very delicate and could not be taken into account so lightly. Ever since she moved in with him and Dr. Gruber, physical mixing of the solution began right away.

She was just like Herbert in so many ways: she never left the lab, never seemed to eat much - or not at all, yet she still managed to keep herself so perfect. She dedicated herself to the work and nothing else, but unlike Herbert, she actually looked to other people and returned the kindness when they deserved it, even spat back when disrespected. She was a fiery female, not taking resistence from anyone.

Their working relationship had improved in the last four months, always studying together, always communicating about the work and school altogether, but there was one factor missing from each of them: their personal lives. Which Herbert wasn't willing to share, but Mirela had revealed some details once before, last month.

"I was married, before I came here." She'd flashed him the ring then, her eyes glazing but not spilling tears. "He was a wonderful man, taught me everything I need to know about being a doctor. Back home in Romania, he was a doctor himself, and I was his apprentice as you are Dr. Gruber's now. We got married before I got into medical school, but sadly it was cut short. He was murdered, and I would rather not discuss it." Her eyes had hardened then. "I loved him passionately, but no man can match up to the one he was."

Love, marriage, and every relationship form were never up Herbert's alley because when he was younger, in high school, he had one who tried to tear him away from the important matter which was working hard for the desired goal, and when she got tired of it all, she let him go. Herbert had never once been with a woman ever since then, and now Mirela...

"You should ask her out on more than just a mere study date, my boy."

"Why, Doctor?" he'd asked haughtily as he fixed his tie that morning before school. Mirela was busy in her own room, probably readying herself up, too. Women took longer than men ever did.

Hans laughed heartily and shook his head. "Because I know you like her, and she likes you, too. The both of you really have gotten closer; you fight less and less now. It's obvious she's not like the first one and your mother, for that matter. You do know what I mean, don't you?"

Herbert snorted. "I don't do flowers, movies, dinner and -"

"Gentlemen?"

Both men looked up and saw Mirela in the doorway, one hand on her hip and the other above her head as she leaned to the side. Her blouse was black satin, her skirt white and stopping above her knees, blending with her icy skin. She was paler than Herbert was. "Talking about more than study dates, are we?" she asked slyly, and while Herbert would not let her see, he was blushing, but damn Gruber for humiliating him.

"Herbert is too shy to ask you himself, Mirela dear, but would you do the honors of going out of the house tonight?" he asked with a laugh. Herbert glared at him with a look he knew said "Why would you betray me?!"

Mirela's response was what he dreaded the most. "I haven't...been out with a man since I lost my husband, but I suppose I could use a night out that doesn't involve work."

However, it went smoother than he thought it would. She knocked him off his feet in a ruched purple velvet dress which bared her arms and legs, barely showing her chest curves, and her raven hair was cascading down her back. Their topics didn't involve work, just enjoying a sumptuous dinner Herbert did not remember having in his life, and he could not ever remember the last time he had a normal conversation with anyone.

However, Mirela did not even eat dinner, which he found strange as much as he tried to persuade her to, but she refused. He wondered if she was on a...special diet, but didn't ask. "You really have to tell me eventually," he told her as soon as they returned home, and by then, Dr. Gruber must have been passed out in bed upstairs.

"I know I have to, but if I did, you'd shun me and be afraid to come near me."

He frowned; she was implying she was far from human, and he could tell she was. She was so pale and cold as ice, her eyes abnormally dark, her mannerisms far too proper than his own, her refusing to eat and drink, much less go out when the sun shines...

He didn't always read scientific reason in textbooks and his own, but one subject in mythology fascinated him on the line of immortality but not exactly the one he was aiming for:

Vampire.

Herbert laughed. "Need you ask? If you were going to, you would have a long time ago. But I seriously doubt you would feast on the blood of any human being around us. But what keeps you alive -?"

She silenced him by placing a single finger on his lips. "Sshh. Save the questions for tomorrow. Tonight was the first night either of us have taken things beyond just science partners and housemates." Her dark eyes were windows to oblivion, reading no emotion, but Herbert could almost see himself in the irises. They drowned him in darkness, knowledge...and seduction. She thrilled him without much physical contact, but her finger on his lip sent chills through his body that he wanted more...and it brought forth the chills of fright, coupled with the growing heat in his pants.

Mirela noticed this and smirked. "This tells me everything. And don't deny it; I can read everything about you. You're afraid, but you want it. You're afraid going too far will result in the fear of loss." He stiffened; he had made it clear he hated it when people read him too well, but she understood him without abusing it. He nodded, pursing his lips in a thin line. "Herbert, don't be afraid. As my husband taught me a long time ago, go for it when you know the time is right."

Herbert was stunned at the bold statement, and then her hands were now roaming over his chest, her fingers massaging him and delivering the chills which aroused him to the point where he couldn't wait any longer. He was still a virgin, but he wasn't afraid of any pain. "Mirela..." His voice failed him, and then her lips met his, carefully bringing his head down to meet with hers. How long had he wanted this? He had cut off all emotional and physical ties long ago, afraid for known and unknown reasons alike, but this incredible immortal being he felt an immensely strong bond with had awakened the senses he never knew existed.

"Come...let's go to bed."

He let her do everything from beginning to end. It occurred in her bedroom, when the window curtains were drawn, her bed was a canopy and hung with sheer gossamer curtains, and Dr. Gruber's room was far down the hall from them. Herbert's heart thumped faster than it had ever done so in his life, Mirela's delicate, black-tipped hands removing his tie and then his shirt, baring his skin to her eyes. He had long ago removed his shoes at the door, but she wanted his socks to be saved last for her own reasons. Herbert admitted he loved how she was treating him with such care when he was long ago informed the man was supposed to be in charge.

On the contrary, given their actual age differences - she was a hundred and fifty-eight years and he was barely twenty-five - he was a young one compared to her. He gasped softly when his nakedness was exposed for her eyes and hands, now roaming over his body gently, chilling him and firing him up at the same time. "Oh, Mirela..." Never in his life had he ever been touched like this, and he wanted to get into bed with her now. "Please?"

"Lay down," she whispered, her voice still soft but now deeper and richer. He obeyed and laid back against the dark-colored, rich textures, gasping and arching up when she softly nibbled on his neck, taking his jugular vein between her teeth - he almost panicked when he thought she would bite him - but then she moved to his shoulder and repeated the same gesture, then moved down his body and kissed his skin, and once she was finished with her hands and mouth, her body joined with his for the first time.

~o~

"Dr. Cain, watch out!"

At this time of year in January, there was still ice on the ground, even when it rained after snow, so Dan was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't see the speeding car coming his way until too late. He was just getting into his Hyundai when the other car turned on its side, ready to flatten against the side of his vehicle and smash him into a pancake. He slid down on the cold, wet ground while still against the driver door, ready to get squished like roadkill -

- but nothing happened.

"Are you all right?"

He frowned and raised his head, looking up to see who had rescued him and stopped the other car. The back corner of the rear had collided with the right front headlight of his, but the side of the black Chevy had been pushed away with a bare hand, saving his life altogether. He found himself staring into a pair of bronze-colored eyes and plump pink lips parted slightly. "Dan?" Celeste asked when he couldn't speak, her eyes narrowing then. "I'll take that as a yes."

People were beginning to crowd around, helping him up and asking him a buzz of questions; he barely acknowledged being taken back inside to be examined. He wanted to say he was a doctor and could handle himself, but his protests were drowned out, and his head was spinning with one question:

How did Celeste stop that car?

Celeste saving Dan was inspired by Edward saving Bella in "Twilight". :) That's also the moment where she now knows he's not as human as he appears. And now Daniel thinks that of Celeste - and Mirela, too.