Chapter 7 : Before the Clash

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"There are two helicopters and boat ready in Kovalam, doctor Magnus." Ravi, the Mumbai Sanctuary head said, while welcoming his guests in the great hall of his Sanctuary.

Helen Magnus greeted him by a small smile and the Indian man leaved the hall. Helen glanced at Nikola, some feet away from her, looking all around him, a hand resting on his waist. Will and Henry were leaning on the wall next to the main entrance focused on a PDA, the young protégé clearly not feeling excited to return in this place where he almost died. Kate was still with Declan and his team, helping to drive Sally, the mermaid, at Kovalam.

"Boss? How much time before we leave?" Henry questioned walking toward her.

"Less than two hours." She replied. "Use this time to get ready."

Henry and Will nodded and both dashed out the hall. Helen drew her attention back to Nikola.

"You don't want to sleep a little more?" She asked walking toward swing door.

"No." Nikola answered following her. "..and I couldn't."

Helen pushed the door and entered a small library. She slowly crossed the room, her friend still behind her. They reached a window and Nikola dropped a small sigh of surprise of the sight in front of him: A grand garden recovered by palm trees and graze and behind this expanse of green, there was the sun high in the sky making the water of the sea sparkles under its light.

"I have never been in Mumbai before… and I spent more than twenty years of my life in India." Nikola softly admitted not drawing his eyes away from the landscape.

"Is there were you disappeared after '43?" She suddenly exclaimed facing him.

"I've always been impressed by the whole Hindu mythology…"

"Please Nikola, respond to me."

Nikola finally detached his glare from the window to look at her and lightly nodded.

"That is why I couldn't find you anywhere." Helen whispered.

"You were searching for me?" Nikola asked with an enigmatic sparkle in his eyes.

"You could have told me…"

"Please, Helen, I responded to your question, so maybe you could do the same now."

"I asked to a few of contact if they hadn't see you anywhere…" She wasn't lying but 'a few of contacts' were actually a hundred. She had been searching for him for years and finally gave up to the idea that's she'll never see him any time soon.

Helen drew her attention back to the landscape in front of them. Nevertheless, her old friend wasn't captivated by the same sight than her. He was staring at her face. She was gorgeous under the golden sunlight. Nikola was suddenly hit by the idea that maybe one of them will not make it after that clash. He never took that story seriously until now and wanted to enjoy this day as if it would have been the last. He mentally kicked himself to think that, but a voice deep inside him was screaming him to say or do what he could regret of not doing if he would die.

His knees shacked under his weight when he made two steps toward Helen. He lifted a hand to the dark and sweet curls of her hair to push them away from her neck. He slid a finger under the strap of her satin slipover and let it fall on her shoulder. He bent over and his lips lightly brushed her collarbone. She felt a shiver travel down from the skin under his touch to the small of her back and softly whispered his name. The hand that was in her hair was now resting on her waist, slowly drawing her against his chest. She didn't try to move away even when he laid a kiss under her ear and another ones along her jaw. Nikola smiled against her soft skin when she let out an almost inaudible moan. He was going to pursue his exploration when the doors of the small library flew open. Helen and Nikola quickly turned round to see Henry Foss entering the room.

"Goddamnit…" Nikola whimpered unhappily.

"Doc! You'll never believe what Ravi and I just discovered!" Henry exclaimed, clearly not aware of what was happening before he came.

"Go ahead." Helen said walking to him.

"It's Wexford. He is no longer a member of the Sanctuary Network." The young man announced.

"What? How?"

"According to Ark Fong-Li, he was accused of fraudulent funds from the network." Henry explained.

"Very odd…"

::

The team was all reunited in Kovalam, all perfectly aware that what was waiting for them was not going to be easy. Kate, Henry and Will were sitting next to the helicopter which was supposed to transport Sally and Nikola. Declan and Helen was kneeling in front of the bomb already set in the boat that Helen will have to drive alone to Big Bertha. The bomb made a sound and the little screen on the front lighted up.

"Alright, to start the countdown you use this key." Declan said and showed the little metallic key that Helen was wearing as a necklace.

Helen nodded and got out the boat joining her team back. She noticed the tension surrounding everybody and was sure it became worst when she arrived.

"Everything is ready, now… we have to go."

"Helen…"

Magnus looked at the helicopter where the mermaid was waving her hand toward her. She joined her and put her hand on the little small aquarium where Sally was sitting.

"Please, my friend… be careful." Helen heard her voice reason in her head. She softly smile reassuring her and leaved the helicopter.

"Good luck everybody." Helen whispered loud enough to be heard by everybody.

"Good luck to you, Magnus." Will quickly added.

Four member of Declan's team reached the other helicopter while Declan himself joined Sally, waiting for Tesla. Except Magnus, the others where staying there and praying. Helen was walking toward her boat but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. She turned over to face Nikola and was suddenly surprised to find herself tied up in a tight hug.

"There's no reason that something goes wrong… but, please, just leave the bomb and come back..." Nikola whimpered. He drew back but they were still very close.

"Try to be safe too…" Helen said catching his hand.

"I promise."

Helen leaned forward and laid a single kiss on his lips. She began to step backward, away from him. He didn't let go her hand until she was too far to hold it anymore. Kate watched the scene her heart in her throat. Why everybody was having that horrible feeling that something bad was going to go happen.

TBC