This chapter sucks. It literally hurts me on the inside, but it was necessary. I need Helen to be out of school. We're closing in on the end. Next chapter is going to be Helen's graduation (which is mostly there for some nice Nikola/Kiri fluff I have planned), and the chapter after that will be the injection of the source blood, so we're in the home stretch. Next chapter will be better, I swear, so don't hate me. Most of what was supposed to happen Senior year ended up happening Junior year, so that's why I buzzed through it. Anyway, enjoy, or not. Because I didn't.
PS - Phillip is named after a bouncy ball I won at a carnival last year that has since popped. RIP Phillip.
Disclaimer
When classes started for Helen again, the five of them stopped meeting as often, instead meeting at the lab only once a week. In addition to that, Kiri left two days into the school year, telling them not to expect her back until the following spring. Two days later, Minku appeared and stayed at the Magnus mansion. Over Christmas, the Five stayed at the mansion as well, helping Gregory and Minku with several abnormals Minku had apparently been chasing for the last year or so. The tall woman gave the group of them an ancient looking tome with writing none of them recognized.
"It is the ancient writing of the vampires. I thought you five would enjoy it," she'd told them. They had exchanged looks, and since that day they spent most of their time trying to translate the writing. The vacation passed quickly, and soon Helen was busy almost every day. Not only did she have senior work to do for her classes, but Minku and Gregory had apparently stepped up the amount of work she did with the abnormals, as once she graduated she would be working with her father as a doctor to the abnormals. Because of this, it was almost April before they had managed to refine the Source blood enough for the rats they tested it on to survive. They were amazed at the results it had on the rats, they seemed to gain special abilities from the blood. It was after one such experiment in late April, with only three weeks left of the semester, that Helen had the idea that they should test it on themselves. They were in the lab, just cleaning up, and Helen turned to face the others from where she was standing by Kiri in the corner.
"Do you suppose it would have the same effects on us?" she asked curiously, brow furrowed in the expression that told them all that she had an idea.
"Helen, if you're suggesting that we inject ourselves," John began, walking closer.
"And why not? We've done it with the rats, and they survived," Helen countered.
"They're rats!" John exclaimed, lifting one up by the tail.
"Mr. Druitt, don't do that. You'll hurt Phillip!" Kiri exclaimed, running forward to take the rat out of the man's hands.
"It's a rat, Kiri." John gave her a look that was a mixture of confusion and disdain.
"Just because they're not like us doesn't mean they don't deserve respect!" Kiri cuddled Phillip to her chest, glaring at John as she mumbled reassuring words to the creature in her hands. John shook his head at her as he turned back to Helen.
"I'm still not sure if it's a good idea." He gently placed a hand on Helen's arm and locked eyes with her. Since he had become her suitor, he had become even more gentlemanly, and Helen had grown to almost love him.
"I think it is an interesting proposition," James remarked, walking over.
"Are we really considering doing this?" John demanded, looking at the other men.
"Are you against this because you actually think it's a bad idea, or because you are afraid I'll get hurt?" Helen demanded, narrowing her eyes.
"I'm always worried about you, Helen." John tightened his grip on her arm slightly, a possessive look in his eyes.
"How very kind of you, John. But I am a scientist, and if I want to inject myself with the source blood, I am going to do it with or without your approval." She pulled away and walked towards the cages of rats. So far they had experimented on twenty, and no two rats had developed the same ability. The one she looked at now was one which had developed hard spikes along its back, and its head was covered in scales. As far as they could tell, that had been the most painful transformation, but John was right about one thing. These were rats; injecting themselves could yield drastically different results.
"What do you three think?" Helen inquired, turning to Nigel, Nikola, and Kiri.
"I'm curious as well. I would very much like to see what would happen," Nikola stated with a familiar light in his eyes.
"I'm in," Nigel added, nodding. Kiri cocked her head for a second.
"I do not believe it will have any adverse effects on you, if that is what you are asking," she remarked, blinking.
"Would you take it?" Nigel questioned, meeting Kiri's gaze.
"P-perhaps, were I allowed to. But my employer would no doubt be upset if I did something such as this," she answered, shrugging.
"If you insist on going through with this folly, I will as well," John told Helen, who nodded.
"Very well, we will do it then. However, I would like to wait until after graduation, if that's alright with you?" Helen raised her eyebrows at the others, who all nodded. With that, the five split up, with James and John going towards the pub together, Nigel heading home, and Nikola, Kiri, and Helen heading towards Nikola and Kiri's shared apartment, which was on Helen's way home.
"Does Minku have more work for you today?" Nikola asked Helen as they walked.
"Actually, Minku said she wouldn't be available for a while. I suppose she is chasing after another abnormal," replied Helen.
"Speaking of which, when did you get back, Kiri?" Nikola turned to the younger girl, who'd been watching some birds nearby.
"This morning. I didn't get a chance to return home before lab." Kiri smiled at him. When they arrived at their apartment, Helen waved goodbye to them as she continued on and Kiri beat Nikola inside, beginning to make them dinner.