Henry sat staring at the circuit board on his workbench morosely, his thoughts cycling through the memory of the phone call. The call that, despite knowing intellectually that the woman who raised him, Helen Magnus, was always one step ahead of danger and destruction, he had never really expected to get.
It was too weird. Magnus, woman of action, broken and comatose from a simple wrong way driver on the highway. Will had been driving. It was a miracle he wasn't dead, but nearly every bone in his body had shattered. He was having his third surgery today. No one knew if he would make it.
When his mind wasn't replaying the phone call it ran in frantic circles of anxious thoughts. What would happen to the Sanctuary? In the initial weeks after the accident Henry had let everything go. Tesla had been useless. Despite being married to the boss for the last year he didn't know the first thing about running anything except his own lab. Magnus had always been reluctant to delegate, except to her handpicked second in command Will, and they were all paying the price now. Never had the Sanctuary turned away so many before, and the abnormal community was feeling the lack.
At least Kate and Big Guy were there to help with feedings and medical care. If it hadn't been for them Declan would no doubt have intervened and sent his own people to deal with it. Magnus would have hated that with a passion.
The phone rang. Henry jumped, startled out of his ruminations and picked up.
"Yes?" "You mean-She's awake?! Is she…has she said anything?" "Yes! Yes, of course, I'll bring her husband and-Oh my god, he'll be ecstatic! Can I see her too?" "Great, we'll come immediately!"
He hung up and ran out of the room, yelling "Tesla! Helen is awake!"
…
Nikola went into the room first, eyes sliding over the wires and beeping equipment until they found her pale, slim face. The stitches were gone, the bruises faded, but her body seemed so frail. He sat gingerly by her side. "Helen?" He covered her hand with his own. It was cold. "Helen!" he cried, involuntarily alarmed at her lifelessness. Her eyes fluttered open, the blue gaze so bright in the white, sterile room it was electric. "I was so happy when they told me you woke up! You-do you know you were in a car accident?" Helen swallowed and licked her lips slowly. She tried to speak, then coughed weakly. Nikola reacted with disproportionate alarm, "Do you need water?! I can get some-" She shook her head minutely. "They said I hit my head…" she slurred softly. Nikola waited expectantly, but she said nothing else. "Ah, yes. They said you hurt your, your brain." He whispered, as though it were some sort of secret. "And, well, you've been in a coma for months, but you woke up!" He smiled at her, tears in his eyes, as he gently patted her hand. "You're going to get better." He stated, trying to encourage her, as he watched her eyes cloud, presumably troubled by what he was saying. "Is…is something wrong?" He whispered as her eyes darted about searchingly, her face radiating distress. "I-I need…" she stuttered, "Where is my father?" Nikola swallowed down tears and lied, "It's okay. Gregory is traveling right now. Don't worry, I'm here with you." Helen's eyes narrowed as she stared at him distrustfully, then she slowly asked, "Do I know you?"
…
Henry came out of Helen's room to find the doctor telling Nikola about the symptoms of traumatic brain injury. "She will be confused for a while. Short lived amnesia is not uncommon, so don't worry about it too much at this point. Of course, it's likely she'll never remember the crash itself or events surrounding it. But hopefully, she'll start to recognize her family in the next couple weeks. Oh, Mr. Foss, did she recognize you?" Henry shook his head no and the doctor nodded slowly. "Well, yes, she's still at that stage, so I should let you know what to expect over the near term and the long term. We already assessed her for sensory issues and verbal ability and it seems that she is able to see, hear, smell, taste, move her limbs normally, speak and understand speech. We'll do some more tests and keep her under observation for another week, and if she is doing well she can go home. She'll likely have mental difficulties for some time, possibly permanently. Have either of you had any experience with recognizing seizures?" Henry shook his head and was surprised with Nikola nodded, "I had mild seizures when I was young. So did my brother." He muttered, his dark brows drawn together over stormy grey eyes. The doctor nodded perfunctorily. "Yes, well, you'll have to keep a close eye on her initially. But, she is assessing well, so…she may be fine. Anyway, here is some literature that goes more in depth about the effects of injuries like these. We'll let you know when she's ready to go home, and of course, at that time we'll talk about any physical or other types of therapy she'll need on an ongoing basis."
…
The hospital didn't let them visit Helen during the assessment process as they felt it would tax her resources too much. After the week was up they called. Nikola answered.
"Tesla speaking." "What's the issue?" "That was a pre-existing condition." "Yes, she was getting treatment from Dr. Zimmerman, but I understand that he is still recovering. By the way, do you have any information on his condition?" "Yes, I'll wait." "Hello? Good, I'm glad to hear it was a success. Yes, Dr. Zimmerman was her personal psychologist, but I suppose she'll need a substitute if he'll be in the hospital for that long." "Thanks, but we'll find someone ourselves. When can I come pick my wife up?" "Good, I'll be there in an hour."
Nikola hung up the phone and walked down the hall to Henry's lab. "Come on. We're going to pick up Helen."
…
Henry pushed his boss and adoptive mother out to the van in the hospital provided wheel chair. It was unnecessary, as she could walk just fine. Her broken bones had mended long ago and her coordination was surprisingly good for the severity of brain injury she had suffered. Henry supposed it might have something to do with the Source Blood's effects. It not only gave her greater longevity but also slightly accelerated healing.
Nikola helped Helen into the van and went so far as to buckle her seatbelt for her, as though she were a child. Henry smiled a little at that then sobered as he remembered how she had been injured. He felt nervous as he got behind the wheel, the weight of responsibility falling on his shoulders. He tried to reassure himself that a wrong way driver was very unlikely, that he had been driving for almost twenty years and had never had an accident. Surely that had to say something about his ability? But Will was a safe driver too, and that didn't help, whispered in the back of his mind. He sighed and pulled slowly out of the parking lot. Life didn't come with guarantees, he knew.
…
"Do I own this?" Helen asked, awestruck by the castle-like building the husky young man pulled up against. He pressed a button and the garage door opened, revealing a cavernous space filled with multiple cars, each more sleek and luxurious than the last. "Yeah, you definitely don't have to worry about money." The dark haired young man-Henry, she remembered-said softly as he turned the car off. The wiry fellow who claimed to be her husband opened the door for her and helped her down. What was his name again? Nick? She thanked him and followed Henry into the house, if such a palace could even be called that. God, what kind of person was she that she felt the need to buy this monstrosity? How would she keep from getting lost? As it was she could barely remember right from left, much less navigate a mansion.
They took her to her room, then paused awkwardly at the door. Henry cleared his throat and mumbled, "Well, I'll leave you to it then. See you tomorrow doc." Then abruptly took off leaving her with Nick. He gave her a long look then sighed, opened the door and gestured for her to enter.
Helen stepped inside the sumptuously appointed bedroom. It was all lovingly polished old-fashioned cherry wood furniture, heavy embroidered tapestry curtains, warm lit and comfortable. It was…familiar. She immediately felt at ease here and found herself drawn to the bed. She pulled back the comforter only to find black silk sheets. Somehow that was jarring. Why? She looked up expecting to see a cloth canopy and found, a mirror? "What on earth?" she muttered bemusedly. Nick came over and stuttered, "Uh, sorry, if you don't want it anymore, I'll get rid of it." He was actually blushing. She shook her head slowly, uncertain what to make of the situation, until she glimpsed something hanging on the wall. She walked over to the framed canvas print. "Us." She mused, gently straightening the frame.
The portrait was a formal studio shot of them in their wedding clothes. The brunette woman in the photo had a Mona Lisa smile, eyes soft and warm, looking happy to be by the side of an exceedingly sharply dressed version of the man next to her. His face was so serious. There was something strange about that severe expression in the photo. Wasn't he more prone to…she couldn't recall. She sighed and slumped exhausted. She turned to what was evidently her husband and asked, "Nick, do you have somewhere to sleep? I want to go to bed." There was a moment of silence as he stared at the floor for the moment. "It's Nikola. I suppose it's the Serbo-Croatian version of Nick…" He nodded slowly as she repeated that she really wanted to go to bed. Avoiding eye contact, he quickly headed for the door. "I'll be in the room right across the hall, okay? If you need me, I'm right here. Goodnight."
…
Every morning, Nikola knocked on her door and brought her breakfast in bed. He chatted with her briefly, asking all sorts of prying questions. Did she sleep well? Did she have any pain? Was there anything she wanted? It went on and on, until she was cross and exhausted. No, she did not sleep well and she was tired still. No, she wasn't in any pain. No, she couldn't think of anything she wanted except to be left alone to nap, now please couldn't he just give her her food then leave her be? Nikola smiled tightly, and said, "Of course. See you at lunch." He left. And true to his word she would wake up to find him with another tray, another set of annoying questions and the conviction that she absolutely had to take a walk in the garden. He gamely ignored her complaints until she gave in, let him lead her there and made her walk about for twenty minutes or so. Then he brought her back to her room to rest. "Henry will bring you dinner." He always said the same things. As if she didn't know. How annoying. Didn't the man have some kind of work to do? Finally after weeks of the same routine she asked him. He nodded slowly. "Yes, I usually work a great deal." Helen feigned the sort of polite interest that one has when making small talk with a stranger. "Oh? What do you do?" The man looked down and said simply, "I'm an inventor." Helen nodded, "Ah, I see. Well, that explains how you can take so much time off." Nikola suddenly stared intensely into her eyes. "Do you remember what you do Helen?"
Helen thought a moment, but was distressed to draw a complete blank. She huffed angrily, "Well, no. I don't. Why don't you just tell me?" Nikola shook his head and said, "It's a bit complicated, but essentially you're a philanthropist." Something about that…didn't sit right with her. Was he lying? Considering that he was in control of her entire life at the moment she decided not to call him on it, but made a note to ask Henry when she saw him for dinner.
…
Henry asked her intensely personal questions that he was obviously emotionally invested in. It caused her a great deal of discomfort and almost made her miss Nikola's doctor-like checklist. She felt bad that she didn't remember Henry. He told her that she had adopted him when he was a little boy, that now he worked for her organization the Sanctuary, that she had been coming back from a business event with her employee Will when they had the accident. Will was evidently her personal psychologist. Somehow, Henry seemed a great deal more trustworthy than Nikola and she began asking him questions as she started to have more energy and focus. "Did I have a mental illness, that I needed to have Will with me so often?" Henry shook his head, "No, not really. He's the psychologist for the whole Sanctuary. He helps our clients, not just you. And he also does a lot of administrative work for you. Since he's in the hospital, I've been doing it. Not very well, I'm sorry to say." "What about Nikola? Can't he do it?" Henry pulled a face. "He's been kept pretty out of the loop most of the time he's been here." Helen seized on this tidbit, "Why? Isn't he trustworthy?" Henry started to look really uncomfortable. "I don't know if I should tell you-" "I deserve to know! You have to tell me." Helen pressed, staring her adoptive son down.
Henry rocked back and forth nervously then blurted out, "Tesla, I mean Nikola, had an undiagnosed mental illness for most of the time he's been with the Sanctuary. He was this arrogant asshole with delusions of grandeur, constantly scheming and a liar-" "What?! Then why was he ever hired?" Henry sighed, "Well, that's the thing, he wasn't hired. He's been your friend since college. After he was finally diagnosed, with pretty severe mania by the way, and recovered, you told us all that you had actually known him from before he developed symptoms. So, I guess you felt some kind of responsibility or loyalty to him-" Helen interrupted again, "Wait, that still doesn't tell me what he was doing here. Was he just a charity case, or what?" "He was making some new technology for us, updating the computers, security systems, that kind of stuff." Helen nodded slowly. That made sense. Henry looked relieved and continued, "So, anyway, he recovered from his mental illness and became, like this whole other person, honest, reliable, still snarky but not a complete jerk, and he was still great at his job, so…I guess you guys, uh, picked up where you left off in college? Long story short, you got married about a year ago."
Helen shook her head, wondering if their complicated history was the entire reason why she didn't trust everything Nikola told her. "Am I really a philanthropist?" she asked abruptly. Henry was briefly taken aback. "Well, yes. Essentially the Sanctuary helps people that have genetic abnormalities. You're also a medical doctor. And a zoologist. And, um, a conservationist of rare and endangered species. And a veterinarian. I think that's everything…" he trailed off. Helen was overwhelmed. Was she really all those things before the accident? "Oh…" she said in a weak voice. Suddenly, she felt very small and sad. The reality that she might never be any of those things again pressed in on her. She might never even remember this young man in front of her, how she became his mother, why she had decided to adopt him in the first place… "I-I don't feel well. I think I need to rest." She told her son and turned away from him as he left her alone in her room. Her eyes fell on the wedding portrait on the wall. The two strangers stared at her from the canvas as she tried to fight off loneliness and fall asleep.
…
Henry hoped that bringing Magnus her favorite meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes with brown gravy and green beans would cheer her up. He could tell that she had started to understand what she had lost and was worried about the future now. He brought some of the pictures from her album, hoping they would help her remember or at least cheer her up. After much deliberation, he brought pictures of Ashley as well. After she had died Magnus had taken down all her pictures, because it made her too sad to see them around the house. They had all been carefully scanned and digitally archived, a thumb drive with the files placed in a safety deposit box and the originals stored in an album in a fireproof safe.
...
After an especially delicious dinner, Henry asked her if she'd like to see some family photos. She thought for a moment, then nodded hoping it might help her remember this kind young man with the sad eyes. The first photo was of a little boy. "Oh, it's you!" she exclaimed, getting a flash of memory. "You were so happy because you found that video game you lost." Henry laughed and smiled, his eyes crinkling at the edges charmingly. "Yeah, that's right! I knew you'd start remembering!" Helen searched her mind for more details. "You were ten, I think." "Yes!" Henry showed her another photo. This one was of him at his high school graduation. "You were excited because you got accepted to UBC, and I remember we went and got ice cream after the ceremony." "That's right!" Helen looked at her son and had the strangest feeling of something snapping into place. She recognized him. "You turn thirty one this year, but we don't know when because no one knows what month you were born. So we just celebrate it in March when you came home." Henry sniffed, "Yeah, I missed you." He whispered, "Can I give you a hug now?" Helen laughed and opened her arms and hugged her son. "Oh, I remember you, I remember!"
Henry pulled back after a while and asked seriously, "Do you remember Ashley?" Helen replied, "Ashley?" and paused searching her mind. Henry took out another photo. It was a young woman, blonde with icy blue eyes. "Oh, Ashley!" The memory of her daughter crashed down on her with an avalanche of grief. "My baby…" she whimpered as tears flowed down her face. She was gone, that was all she could remember. She was dead. How could she be dead!? She didn't even know her own daughter. Helen wailed as she realized she was mourning a loss she couldn't even understand.
"What-What did you do?!" Nikola yelled, as he opened Helen's door to find her crying hysterically while Henry hovered helplessly nearby. Then he spotted the photos. "You told her about Ashley? Are you insane?! Get out! Get out!" Henry left reluctantly as Nikola came over to Helen and tried to comfort her. "I'm here. It's okay. I've got you." He said soothingly, trying to hold her close, but she pushed him violently away. "No! I-I don't want you here! Leave-" Helen sobbed, jumping out of bed and physically pushed him toward the door. "Please Helen, I can-I'll help you-" Nikola pleaded, resisting her until she hit him, then shoved him out the door and yelled "I don't know you. Leave me alone!"
…
Nikola stood for a moment outside Helen's closed door, wiping away his tears, then stalked down the hall only to run into Henry who had been watching from a distance. "What the hell were you thinking? Trying to jog her memory that way is-maybe it's even dangerous to her health. You're so negligent." He said to Henry in a calm, deadly serious tone. Henry just nodded looking shell shocked. "She was getting better. She remembered me. Remembered being a mom…" Nikola tsked in disgust, "Well, you better hope that you didn't do any lasting damage with this stunt."
…
After learning about Ashley Helen was depressed for a while. She hardly ate. She refused to go for walks. Anytime Nikola tried to talk to her she just ignored him. She was willing to talk to Henry though, so Henry had to take over meals while Nikola requested a recommendation for a psychologist from the New York sanctuary and tried to stay on top of Sanctuary business. Eventually, he found one and they started daily therapy. After a week, she seemed to improve. She was also starting to remember details of Ashley's life. Maybe that was why. Whatever the reason, Nikola was glad when she started eating better and exercising. She still didn't remember him though, and he couldn't help but feel bad about it. But on the other hand, she couldn't seem to remember much about herself either, so maybe it had something to do with more recent memories coming back sooner?
…
"Have you heard about Will?" Nikola shook his head absentmindedly as he created another digital version of the paper forms that Helen had loved so much. He figured at this rate he'd have her entire system digitized in another month. "They're doing another surgery. The last one was only partially successful. They said, he, he'll be in a wheel chair most likely, if he recovers…" Henry trailed off uncertainly, not wanting to say anything for certain. "That's good." Tesla said carelessly. Henry huffed, "Well no, not really." He watched as Nikola swore at the computer and erased a bunch of code and started over. "You know, that's really not as difficult as you're making it. The-" "Shut up. Go feed the inmates or go work on that excuse for engineering on your workbench." Henry shook his head exasperated. Why was Tesla bothering to program routine forms anyway? "Alright. I'll leave you to it."
After Henry left Nikola found his concentration was broken. He glanced at the clock. It was 11:24. Almost time for Helen's lunch. She had mellowed toward him since beginning therapy and was even starting to ask him questions about them as a couple. Where did they meet? How long did they date? Given their unique history, he was having to be a little creative with his answers. As usual, he got the impression that she could tell, but wasn't hassling him about it anymore. He was hoping that enough of what he told her was familiar that she would start to remember on her own, as he really didn't want to tell her the truth and be accused of insanity, or worse yet, make her question her own sanity.
He left the lab for the kitchen and threw together some of her funny little cucumber sandwiches, a slice of cantaloupe and hot tea with cream and sugar exactly to her taste. Over the last year he had observed her carefully and felt confident he could replicate her preferences easily. He put the lunch on her favorite silver tray and took it up to her room.
…
Helen turned away from her easel at the sound of three rapid knocks. It was Nikola. "Come in." She rinsed her brush and put it down to dry. Her psychologist had recommended art therapy to give her something to do now that she was feeling better. Painting appealed to her, though she had no originality of vision and merely attempted to reproduce what she saw. Her current painting was a still life of a rose, nothing special. But it filled the time pleasantly.
Nikola put the tray down on a small folding table and sat down across from her customary seat on the bed. "You know, I think I'm done taking meals in my room. Surely there's a dining room in this place." Nikola nodded. "Yes, that would be nice. Will you want to paint in the solarium?" She was pleased by the thought. "Yes, I'd like that very much. Do we have many plants there?" Nikola nodded again, then pushed her tray toward her, not so subtlely hinting that she should eat. She daintily picked up the bone china cup and blew across the steaming hot tea. After a moment of savoring the scent she tasted it. Excellent as usual. "Do you make it for me or are there servants somewhere?" Nikola got that ever so slightly wide eyed look that she was pretty sure meant he was lying and said, "Well, there's a butler, but I make it for you." "Will I be meeting him?" Nikola looked away briefly then smiled a little too wide. "Of course, but at the moment he's vacationing. Try the sandwich. I made that too."
Helen mulled over the questions she didn't feel safe asking him. Why was he concealing things from her? Were they involved in some sort of illegal activity? Did he have some kind of inability to tell the complete truth, maybe a lingering effect from his mental illness? Or could it be that she was simply misreading him? Instead of asking him any of these things she simple asked, "How long have we known each other?" Nikola smiled quickly and said, "Oh, many years. Since college and that was ages ago now…" Helen frowned, "How old am I anyhow? Henry said I raised him from the age of eight and he's thirty one now…and I obviously had a lot of schooling to have mastered so many fields. I look forty something…" She mused to herself.
Nikola nodded vaguely then changed the subject. "Do you remember meeting at Oxford? Remember the park and the pigeons, how you asked me where I was from?" Nikola pleaded with her, his eyes sad. Helen searched her memory. "You were wearing a long red dress, silk. Your hair was blonde then, longer and curly. Do you remember?" Helen shook her head, "I really can't…Besides how would I remember what I looked like that day? What did you look like?" Nikola's eyes widened and he cursed softly. He muttered under his breath, "Maybe that's the key." Then told her, "I looked really different back then, slicked my hair down; parted it in the middle. I had a moustache." Helen laughed, "Were you going through a hipster phase in college?" Nikola scowled rather cutely. "I have no response to this outrageous mockery!" he ranted, just to make her laugh harder.
…
"Growing a moustache huh? Do you think it will bring back some memories?" Nikola nodded at Henry as he straightened his hair. It had been a long time since he had carried a comb on a regular basis. Henry pulled a face. "God, you really look like a science textbook." "Uh huh. The burdens of worldwide celebrity are mine to bear." Tesla snarked. "It's still a little thin. Maybe give it a few more days," Henry shot back only to be met with a stormy gaze. "Good enough. I think she'll recognize me."
…
Helen was amused by Nikola's new (old?) look. Combined with his predilection for suits he looked like he had stepped out of another era. It still hadn't brought back any memories, but somehow it made him seem, what, friendlier? More honest? Almost innocent…no, just younger. It was strange, shouldn't facial hair make a man seem older? He was an elegant diner, perfect posture, precise movements. Such a dainty eater, much more than herself to be honest. That must be why he is so slim, she mused as she watched him sip his wine. Who has wine with breakfast? He was probably constantly buzzed. With that figure he must be a lightweight. Maybe he was a mild alcoholic, dependent on his thrice a day habit. "Did you live in France for a while?"
He was visibly surprised. "Yes, I worked in Paris for two years. Why, do you remember something?" Helen sighed, "No, you just drink like a Frenchman, that's all." Nikola smirked, "Well, Serbians generally drink more." "Oh? So this is you restraining yourself?" Helen asked archly. Nikola shrugged. "I used to drink brandy when I was young, but now I stick to wine." "Getting older are we? How old are you anyhow?" Nikola replied softly, "Six years younger than you." Helen chuckled lowly, "You're waiting for me to remember myself, aren't you?" Nikola raised his glass. "Got me."
After they finished their meal, Nikola rose and helped her out of her chair. "Leave the dishes for the help today. I'd like to show you my lab." Helen nearly skipped after him in excitement as he led her on what to her, seemed like an exciting adventure. They got in the lift and descended a level. He led her to some heavy double doors and opened them with a flourish. "Welcome to my kingdom." He grinned maniacally and sat her down. "Let the show begin!" With those dramatic words the lab became pitch black.
Helen gasped in surprise as suddenly a mysterious light appeared in the darkness. It illuminated the thin, angular face of her supposed husband. After her eyes adjusted she saw that it was a large light bulb, but inside were flickering tendrils of red, blue and purple, flame-like rather than the usual white light. Nikola played with the globe-like surface and she watched entranced as the tendrils followed his finger as he traced it over the glass. He then tossed the bulb from one hand to the other. Strangely the moment it lost contact with his hand it went out, only to resume its strange burning in his other hand. After a couple passes he tired of this trick and put it behind his back, the bulb vanishing through some trickery, then said "Lights!" In response the overhead lights turned on. Helen clapped like a little girl at the circus delighted by the show.
Nikola smiled widely then bowed. "And now, my greatest invention!" He strode across the room and abruptly flipped a switch on the wall. A large cylindrical pillar with a great metal ring at the top spat lighting with a great boom. Helen jumped in her seat, and watched amazed as Nikola approached the electrical storm. He produced a metal wand with a flourish then touched it to the coil. Suddenly he was enveloped in a cold white fire, yet he did not burn. The awe inspiring sight lasted for a dozen of her terrified heart beats, then he pulled away from the coil and turned it off.
There was a deafening silence until Helen gasped, "You! It's-My god, it's you!" She burst into tears and leapt to her feet. "Oh Nikola, how could I forget you?" As they embraced, tears wetting their kissing lips Nikola whispered passionately, "My Helen, I knew you would come back to me."
…
Henry couldn't find Magnus anywhere. He'd already checked her room, the solarium, the den, the kitchen, the library…even the gardens and the hallways. She couldn't have gotten to the lower levels? That would be a disaster. Finally, he headed to the labs, hoping Tesla would help him look for her. When he opened the door he found them cuddled on the couch Tesla sometimes slept on in there, chatting happily about their shared history.
"And did you succeed at worldwide wireless power?" She was asking raptly. Tesla seemed relieved to be interrupted. "Ah, Heinrich." Henry rolled his eyes and grinned at the old nickname. He hadn't heard it in a long time. "Helen has remembered our college days, her longevity and the night of the Source Blood experiment. Other than that, there's a big gap between then and when she had Ashley, so I was filling her in a little." "Does she know you were a vampire?" Magnus gasped, "What?! The serum was supposed to avoid that result!" Tesla shushed her and patted her hand, "Well, we didn't count on any of us having a vampire ancestor, did we?" Magnus shook her head, marveling. "Do you mean to say, you're immortal?" Tesla shook his head, "No more than you are my dear. Rather recently I invented a device to reverse the effect-" "Oh, is that why you were manic? A side effect of vampirism?" Tesla scowled, glared at Henry briefly, and then explained, "I suppose so. Since I was de-vamped I have…well, I've changed…" Helen smiled lovingly and stroked her husband's arm. "Yes, you're lovely aren't you?" Tesla actually blushed, stood and straightened his suit. "Thank you Helen. Now Henry, what was it you wanted?" Henry was already leaving. "Never mind, I'll let you two keep catching up!"
…