The news wasn't good when they returned to the hotel, a bit of a cold shower for Nikola, who just realized he had been taking Helen's recovery for granted, and now hated himself for having left her side while she was still in danger.
"But what happened?" he gave a puzzled look to the doctor, who shrugged.
"Everything was going well, Mr. Tesla, and then she suddenly started developing a fever, shivering... I must say I am quite helpless, although, of course, blood transfusion is never without risk…"
"Nikola, you utter idiot, did you give her your blood?" Annabelle snapped at him, another completely unexpected occurrence. He turned to her and gave her a disbelieving look.
"What was I supposed to do? She lost a lot of blood, and frankly, I had every reason to believe mine would help her," he added with a coded meaning.
"You can't just give her blood, you smitten fool, she doesn't have the same blood group!" Annabelle explained impatiently, and then she bit her lip, realizing where and when she was.
"The same what…?" he raised an eyebrow, just as she expected. "And did you just call me a smitten fool?"
"There'll be time for that later, Nik. Right now I need you to ask your friends to leave. I mean no disrespect, doctor," she addressed the physician directly, "but I know how to save her and you don't have to see how I do that."
The doctor, as puzzled as everyone else, turned to Nikola for advice and with a protest in his eyes.
"Please, do as she says," Nikola instructed him politely. The doctor still hesitated.
"You have no idea how to help her," Nikola reminded him. "Please, go."
"Very well," the doctor bowed, and he and the nurse left.
Annabelle removed her cape and sat on the edge of the bed where Helen was fighting the shock she had received.
"You can breathe, Nik, she's going to be fine," Annabelle said without looking at him, taking Helen's hand into hers. "You're going to be fine, Helen," she smiled at the injured woman, too.
She started singing. Her voice was clear and pleasant, and somehow had the quality of physically caressing the soul. Nikola watched her from a corner, his heart flooding with happiness. He knew it was some sort of a chemical trick Annabelle was playing on people, but he couldn't help himself.
Then she suddenly stopped and looked up at him, partly pensively and partly with an amused spark in her eyes.
"What do you say, Nik? Shall I stop now?"
He shook his head in confusion. "How the hell am I supposed to know?"
"Very well," she smiled, agreeing to stop teasing him. "Her blood's clean now. No infection in the wound, it's healing nicely. But I'm thinking, if I stopped now, she would still require some time for the rib to heal… and maybe give you some chance to look after her…?" she explained her conspiration plan.
Nikola opened his mouth, but surprise wouldn't let him give her an instant reply.
"You wouldn't," he eventually dared her with a broad smile, and she winked at him.
"I won't tell anyone. Honestly. The pain will be bearable, I promise," she tempted him. "And you'll have the perfect chance to be an 'attentive friend'…"
"You're unbelievable," he concluded, loving the idea and loving Annabelle for even proposing it. It was devious and it was brilliant at the same time.
Another wink from her.
"Fine," he gave up, and she flashed a radiant smile at him. "Are you sure she can't hear us?"
"Don't fret, my dear vampire friend, she's in deep, siren-induced sleep. Courtesy of yours truly. And now tell me you're not a smitten fool," she added victoriously.
"All right," Nikola gave up. "If you insist on hearing it: I love her. I really do."
"You can thank me later."