A/N: next chapter. this took longer than i had hoped...
things are just so busy...
Despite the suddenness of his attack, I was able to side-step just enough so that Nikola's lunge caught me on the shoulder. My flesh burned as he, in full vampire mode, ripped into my shoulder and dragged me to the ground. Adrenaline and pain filled my body. Wait a damn second. I was dead, wasn't I? That's what the treatment was supposed to do. Change me from the inside, stop my heart, end that previous life. They told me that would stop the nightmares and visions. So why was blood pouring from the gashes? Why was the euphoria of adrenaline exploring my veins when my heart didn't beat?
Nikola took a swipe at my head, but I moved at the last second.
"What is wrong with you, Tesla?" I yelled, pushing hard on his chest.
He flew off of me and sat on the floor for a few seconds, dazed. I blinked. Wait another damn second. I had done that? I looked down at my hands.
"Huh. That'll make this a fairer fight."
Nikola snarled.
"Will you stop?" I snapped. "For three seconds? Please? Let me explain."
"There's nothing to explain. You're not Bell." His fist shot out and caught me on the jaw. My head snapped back, pushing me to the floor again.
"Yes, I am!" I protested, hitting back. My knuckle hit his lip.
Nikola sprang back, crouching, and then he attacked again. I grabbed his wrist and squeezed as the other hand scraped past my cheek, shallowly slicing the skin.
"When I was twelve--" I began, determined to prove it.
"No!" Nikola leaned his full body weight into me, crashing against my chest. He ripped his wrist from my grasp and closed his hand around my throat. "No more lies!"
As I struggled against him, it was true that I no longer needed to breathe to live. He would figure that out sooner or later and simply tear my jugular out, and I had no idea what that would do to me, dead or not. But breath was still necessary to talk.
"Nik..." I began. I grabbed a fistful of his hair and tugged harshly. With my new strength, it was hard enough for him to loosen his grip for a moment, and I inhaled hastily. When his hand closed again, I tugged on the folds of his suit jacket and pulled him down to me so I could speak directly in his ear. "When I was twelve, you taught me Chopin's Raindrop Prelude."
Abruptly, he released me. His eyes were wide with...Was that really fear?
"Rosabel," he said, his voice a low growl. "How?"
"Finally, you believe me?" I coughed a little, rubbing my neck. "My God, Tesla, that hurt!"
"Sorry. I'm not very used to people coming back from the dead," Nikola snapped. He pressed a finger to his mouth. "And I do believe you have split my lip."
"I'm sure you'll live. If you'll excuse the pun." I stood, dusting myself off. "Now, I need you to do me a favor and take me to Helen--Whoa!"
In the middle of my sentence, Nikola had grabbed my wrist and pulled me flush against him. It was a hug. An actual hug. From the Ice Prince himself. Maybe I had stepped into an alternate reality.
"Next time you decide to die," said Nikola, releasing me and stepping back, "give the rest of us a little warning?"
I rolled my eyes. "Will do, Tesla. Will do. Now, more importantly: What's with this 'Bell' business?"
Nikola raised his eyebrows, his eyes drifting suddenly. "Even more importantly, Rosabel: why are you naked?"
I looked down and yelped. The simple hospital gown had been ripped to shreds during the tussle and neither of us had noticed. I scrambled to cover myself. Nikola began to laugh.
"It's not funny!" I protested.
"Yes, it is." He smiled and took off his suit jacket, tossing it at me. "Here."
"You're loving this, aren't you?" I glared fiercely, putting on the jacket which was thankfully large enough to cover most of everything. It occurred to me how simple it was for him and I to go back to how things used to be.
"Yeah," he said. "A little."
"Helen," Nikola called, unable to conceal a small grin. "I have a present for you."
I jumped dramatically into the doorway, arms spread, mouth wide in a comical smile. "Merry Christmas!"
Helen's face lit up as she looked away from her computer screen. Henry sat wide-eyed.
"Rose," Helen breathed.
"The new and apparently improved," I replied in a game-show-hostess voice.
"How is this possible?" Helen now turned to Nikola, who merely shrugged.
"I'll let Rosabel explain that one," he said.
A/N: again, short. but the next chapter does a lot of explaining, so it'll be worth it. review pretty please. with sprinkles on top?
