Chapter 9
~~~~London Sanctuary~~~~
Helen poured over the canister, swabbing sample after sample, running it against a whole manner of herbology, Chinese legends, and even some native salamander sputum.
She had taken samples to experts in the city, Chinese immigrants, even to some of the residents with an increased ability for smell or taste, anything to understand the makeup of the organic acid in this canister.
Nikola had been right when he said he couldn't have run the tests himself.
James came into the lab and placed a cup of teas in front of her.
"Any luck?" he asked.
"As far as my research goes, zilch," she sighed. "Blasted secret family recipes."
"Are you even sure it's of Chinese origin?"
"It was Nikola's theory, and it makes the most sense. The Chinese have a much longer history and understanding of organic chemistry than any other country. I've even looked into some Hindu cults just to be sure. But with these kinds of things, they are close guarded family secrets, tracing back to the Xia Dynasty, maybe even further than that."
"Have you ever wondered if you are over thinking it?" asked James.
"We're talking about the race of people who invented gun powder while trying to create an elixir of immortality while the rest of the world was in the dark ages," sighed Helen. "I severely doubt it's something as simple as a pinch of salt and a dash of cumin."
James smirked.
"Au contraire, dear Helen, for what is alchemy if not the combination of the world's most simplest elements," James said casually.
"Go on," coaxed Helen, clearly intrigued.
"Tell me, what do we know of the substance so far?" asked James.
"It is harmless until mixed with water then it's chemical make up changes from relatively benign to incredibly volatile and acidic in nature, even more potent than some of your garden variety acids."
"So, what's water made up of?" asked James again.
Helen gave him a skeptical look.
"We both took the same chemistry class at Oxford James."
"So then you should know what elements come together to make water," he said nonchalant.
"Hydrogen and oxygen, but that's..." Helen trailed off, her kind started to pick up the pieces.
"There you go, glad I could help," James smirked. "Call me when you want me to get the car ready."
He waltzed out with a certain smug spring in his step.
Helen looked out the window at the dark clouds, obliterating the night sky.
She bit her lip and looked back at the canister.
She didn't know why but she felt as though she should hurry.
"Nikola," she muttered. "What have I gotten you into?"
~~~~Elsewhere~~~~
The loud crack of deep rumbling thunder knocked Nikola of his deep and peaceful sleep. His arms still around the woman he had inexplicably fallen for.
That should've been enough for him to close his eyes and return to the peaceful realm of dreams he was in but there was something. Something in the air, so subtle only he could've smelt it.
Instinctually he sprung up, his vampire senses tingling, letting out a growl.
Laren was awoken and sat up, her hand rested on his shoulder.
"Nikola, what's wrong?" she was soon wrapping her her arms around his middle and kissing his back, as if he'd woken from a bad dream, but his dreams had been full of beautiful images of her.
"I don't know," his deep vampiric voice rumbled out his throat. He almost hadn't realized he'd changed. "I have a feeling."
Another crack of thunder drew his attention to the window and the sudden out pour of rain falling on the roof of the old castle.
He pulled out of her embrace and went over to the window.
"Oh god," Laren understood.
She got up, grabbing his shirt and her riding pants, quickly changing into her practical outfit.
Nikola was still searching outside the window for a threat.
She brought over his rumpled clothes and he took them absently.
"Is he out there?" she asked.
"I don't know," he shook his head.
Suddenly, the ringing of the phone in the hall pierced through the still night air.
Nikola was quick to throw on his trousers and run out of the bedroom to answer it.
"Hello," he said hurriedly.
"Nikola! Nikola are you alright?" Helen's voice sounded excited and concerned at the same time.
"Helen, what is it?" His concern matched hers.
"The canister you sent me, the liquid, it's extracted from a series of plants only found on the border of Southeast Asia, said to have certain chemical properties. Whoever you're dealing with must have a knowledge of ancient Chinese alchemy."
"And what about the resin covering it?" asked Nikola.
"That? It seemed to be a simple concoction of beeswax, honey, and lanolin, completely organic, I assume it effects almost as a neutralizing agent to the acid," suggested Helen.
"Hmmm," Nikola bit his lip as he thought.
"This isn't just some child's game Nikola, whoever is doing this must be highly intelligent, highly organized, and well versed in Asian culture," warned Helen.
"So what? Radicals?" he asked, looking over to Laren. She listened to the conversation intently.
"I don't Nikola, but this has officially become a lot bigger than we surmised," she said authoritatively.
"Helen, don't, whatever you're thinking don't do it," he warned.
"James and I will be there as soon as we can..."
"No, Helen, no..."
"We just need you to-"
The line suddenly went dead.
"Helen? Helen!"
"What's wrong?"
"The line's been cut," he put the phone down.
"Ralph?" worry washed over her features.
"I'd assume so," he nodded.
"What are we going to d-"
She was cut off as Daniel bolted up the stairs.
"Fei Yin has gone missing!" he cried.
"What?" Nikola barked and ran past him, down the stairs to the servants quarters. All the rest of the maids slept soundly, almost hauntingly so.
Laren and Daniel followed after. Laren immediately went over to one of the bed and felt around for a pulse.
"They're alive," she let out a gasp of relief. "He must've drugged them."
"Chloroform no doubt," Nikola added moving towards the one empty bed.
"I heard her scream," said Daniel. "I thought maybe she was having a nightmare."
Nikola growled to himself.
"I didn't hear her," he looked over at Laren and then looked back at the cot. "I should have."
"I didn't hear anyone coming or going though, and by the time I got down here she was gone," continued Daniel. "What do you think he'll do to her?"
"Nothing," Nikola said sternly. "She's not the target, not directly anyway. Whoever is doing this is smart and vengeful and using a brute and his affections as a means to an end. I bet you anything he has kidnapped her in some demented idea that he is keeping her safe from whatever is going to transpire here."
"Here?"
"Someone wants you dead," Nikola turned to Laren. "Or wants this castle destroyed."
"Me?" Laren said.
"You and your late husband make a lot of enemies during your time in China?" asked Nikola.
"It was a time of war, none of it was personal," shrugged Laren.
"How did George die?"
"What? Well, he was...he was MIA, presumed dead, he wasn't amongst the POW's that were released after the ceasefire, and there hasn't been word of him for years. I searched for him that full year, looking for him anywhere because I did not, I could not believe he was dead. Do you think he was killed by someone specifically?"
"Yes, and whoever it is that killed him is here to finish the job. How long have you been staying at the castle?" Nikola continued,
"Only the last year full time, the rest of the time I had been..."
"Searching. It's taken them this long to find you and now they are seeking their vengeance."
"Who? We never harmed anyone directly," Laren said earnestly.
"It doesn't have to be direct, it could be a lonely man whose family was killed because of the protest, a group of fanatical idiots seeking revenge on all the British and American soldiers that played a hand in the dissolution of their homes, of their way of life. It doesn't have to be personal."
Laren bit her lip.
"But whoever it is will not care about who he has to hurt to get his vengeance on you. Honorably, Ralph does care about Fei Yin."
"What can we do?" she asked.
"We need to wake up your father and brother, we need to wake all of these women up, smelling salts or any kind of strong potent odor should do the trick. Then we need to take them someplace safe, the less casualties the better. Put Finn on guard duty, bar the windows, and get yourselves into a well armed, and secure place inside the castle. Also, do you happen to have beeswax, honey and lanolin?"
"Wool wax? Yes," nodded Laren. "My mother used it to waterproof our winter clothes."
"Excellent, combine all three of those elements in a bathtub and cover yourself with it, and whatever else you can think of," Nikola ordered firmly.
"What about you?" asked Daniel.
"I'm going to go get Fei Yin," Nikola moved past them to return to the stairs.
"Wait, I'm coming with you," said Daniel, grabbing his arm.
"Your intentions, though honorable are futile. I'm not going there to cause a fight, I'm going there to convince Ralph that Fei Yin will be safe with me. You are more help to Laren than to me," he made the young man release his arm.
"What if you can't convince him?" asked Daniel. "What if you are putting her even more in danger?"
"Then only one of us will have to die instead of two, stay here."
"But, I..."
"I know, and if you really do love her you will wait here and let me protect her," Nikola growled.
Daniel stepped back, feeling dejected.
Nikola began running up the stairs again.
"Nikola, wait?" Laren called after him, running up to him. "Be safe."
She grasped his head and kissed him soundly.
"You better come back in one piece," she whispered huskily.
Nikola grinned.
"Yes ma'am."
He kissed her one last time.
"Remember, beeswax, honey, lanolin," he whispered as Laren nodded.
"How much of it?"
"As much as we have," he turned and continued up the stairs.
"Wait, take my hunting rifle!" called Daniel.
"Don't need it," Nikola answered and kept going, leaving the two of them at the bottom of the stairwell.
Laren patted Daniel's back.
"It's ok, he'll bring her back safely."
Daniel nodded and began ascending the stairs slowly.
Laren bit her lip nervously as she watched him go. She was unsure and scared about all of this, but she had to do what she was told. If not for her sake than for the sake of all the people under her care, her family...and for her new found lover.