Chapter 6 – John's Story
~~~~London, 1884~~~~
Two lovers: John and Helen.
John watched the performance below him, his hand entwined with the beautiful blonde-haired woman sitting next to him.
"Good seats, huh?" he whispered into her ear.
She smiled, keeping her face glued to the binoculars.
John squeezed her hand affectionately. He couldn't possibly care what was going on beneath him. He had seen the particular production many times. It was her favorite.
When he saw the posters he knew this was fate. This was going to be the night he was going to tell the woman he loved just how much he loved her. It was perfect.
He leaned over and kissed Helen on the spot beneath her ear. Her hand immediately moved to shoo him away.
"John, not now! This is the best part," she giggled slightly.
"You've seen it a million times, Helen, the words haven't changed," he whispered to her.
"That's the beauty of Shakespeare, each time the words get more and more meaningful," she clutched her hand to her heart dramatically, her focus entirely on the play.
John smiled at her.
Helen loved the Twelfth Night more than anything, he should've taken that into consideration, but he knew the moment they left the theatre her focus would be right back on him. It was how he knew he loved her and that she felt the same way.
As the curtain fell on the last scene and the lights to the theatre came on Helen finally turned to John, a contented smile.
"I never get tired of that play," she squeezed his hand, holding her skirts as she stood up. "I love it every time it comes to town."
"I know," John said with a soft smile, standing up beside her.
They had been courting for almost two years, the best two years of his life. He had never been happier. It all started when she had cured him, helped him accept who he had become and learn to live with his powers and how they were affecting him. This made him love her more than he already had. He simply couldn't picture his life without her in it. If that meant seeing every production of Twelfth Night until his death, so be it.
He offered her his arm and she took it in her delicate gloved hand and kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you, darling, such a lovely treat," she smiled at him again and kissed him on the corner of his mouth.
John escorted her out of the box, best seat in the house. It had taken him a fair bit of work to get them but it was worth it for the smile on Helen's face.
Helen stepped out into the light summer air and sighed.
Their carriage was not far from the front steps and John, still holding Helen's hand, moved to open the door for her; a light laugh escaping his lips as she scooted past him and into the cabin. She uttered something about his health, which he retorted with a witty remark about her title as a working physician. It all seemed to happen at the back of his mind. He could feel the box in his pants pocket press against his leg as he moved to sit beside her.
"Where to miss?" asked the driver.
"A turn through Piccadilly to start, please," she said before John could change the subject. She gave John a look that he knew meant the night was far from over.
John couldn't help but be transfixed by her radiant beauty. He knew this was his opportunity.
He shifted so that he was facing her.
"You've done so much for me," he started.
"John, I hardly," she looked at him, she had talked with him many times before about this.
"Let me speak, doctor," he looked at her sincerely. Helen saw the seriousness in his eyes. The pure honesty he was trying to portray. "I've spent my entire life lost in a void, afraid of who I am," he paused slightly to rephrase his statement. "Of what I am…if not for you I fear I would've remained lost."
Helen smiled slightly, her hand in his.
"Instead I can now see that I am neither a freak of nature nor a devil, but a man," he lifted her hand to his lips gently and kissed her lily white knuckles causing a shy smile to crest her lips. "Very much in love."
Helen's smile faltered slightly, a little confused about where he was going with this.
"And someone who wishes to spend the rest of his life repaying his savior for all she's done," he lifted the tiny red box up to her and her expression changed once again as she stared at the simple diamond ring lying inside.
Without a word he took it from the box, resting it aside gently. He gently took her hand and looked into her big smiling blue eyes.
"I promise to make you happy, Helen, for all eternity," he said with the utmost sincerity as he slipped the ring on to her finger.
Helen looked up and smiled brighter than he could've imagined.
"You've planned this all along haven't you," she wrapped her fingers in his.
John let out a small laugh that she muffled with her lips crashing down on his. Her hands came into his hair and a joyous laugh reverberated off her lips on to his. She felt like she could sing, he felt like he could never stop looking at her, orholding her.
The carriage missed the turn to Piccadilly and went straight back to the Sanctuary; the night had just begun.
~~~~129 Years Later~~~~
Helen admired the beautiful diamond ring on her finger, it was unlike anything she had ever seen, of course, Nikola couldn't just give her any ring. He had made it out of lord knows what, the diamond wasn't really a diamond but it was more beautiful than anything she had ever seen in a jewelry store.
Just a few years ago the thought of dating Nikola Tesla, let alone marrying him was scary, but now she was planning her dream wedding to the man she loved more than she ever thought possible. He had become a permanent fixture in the Sanctuary home, a member of the team, and now he was to be her second-in-command, and life partner.
The team had taken it better than she expected. Henry and Kate nearly jumped for joy. Big Guy grunted his approval saying: "It's about time!" Will gave her a skeptical look, "Really, you can't do better than him?" earning him a slap from Big Guy. Then he laughed and hugged Helen, admitting he was very happy for her.
It was all planned to perfection.
Kate was her maid of honor, as well as Erica, Henry's girl friend, who was flying down for the occasion and Abby, Will's girl friend who became a more and more frequent sight at the Sanctuary in the last few years.
Nikola had to choose from Will, Henry, and Big Guy to be his best man, so naturally he chose all three and told them to work out who would hold the ring.
Gregory had been messaged down in Praxia about the news of his daughter's nuptials, which earned the reply: "You're going to marry Nikola? For heaven's sakes why?"
In her despair, Nikola made a trip down to Hollow Earth to make his case before her father, and to earn his blessing. She was expecting his arrival shortly so he could be at her wedding.
Everything was perfect, except for one thing.
She had to tell John.
It was harder than she ever thought it would be, and Nikola had been perfectly patient with her, allowing her to do it on her own time; at this point she was definitely abusing his love for her.
When she learned what he had done to get her father to the wedding she put her foot down. John was to meet her soon. She had to figure out how to put this delicately. If she was marrying someone else, anyone else, it would be different, but it was John…and Nikola.
She heard the door to her office open and her eyes glanced up, her hand immediately dropping out of view.
"Helen," he said calmly.
"Hello John," she tried to keep the nerves out of her tone.
"What is it you want to talk to me about?" he asked, taking a seat on one of the cushy chairs that sat across from the couch.
He always sat there.
"I…don't know if you've heard," she started.
"About you and Nikola, yes I've heard," he said, a hint of bitterness in his voice.
"It's not just that, John…he's asked me to marry him and, and I've accepted," she lifted up her hand to show him the ring.
"Does your father approve?" he muttered, looking at the ring with distaste.
"Yes, actually, he's coming down for the wedding," she stood up and moved to the couch so she could look at him.
"I'm sure he's very proud," he remarked sardonically.
"He took some convincing, Nikola wasn't his favorite out of the four of you, neither were you, in fact, he always wanted me to marry James," Helen tried to be humorous but it fell flat in front of John's hard gaze.
"Is this all you wanted to talk to me about, or is there something else?" John's patience was wearing thin; she knew he would act this way. He had been less than thrilled when he learned Nikola had taken up residence at the Sanctuary, why she was even surprised he would act any differently.
"John, please, you are still very important to me, I would like you to be there, like it or not you are part of my family," she looked at him sincerely.
"So you see me as somewhat of a estranged brother or cousin," he laughed bitterly. "So what we shared together over a century ago was just a small case of incest, is that it?"
"Of course not John!" Helen felt her own patience wavering.
"Oh right, you had all those memories annulled from your mind, it might as well have never happened!" he stood up to leave.
"John, don't be like this, can you put your selfish ego aside for one moment!" she followed him.
"Not for him, Helen! He tried to kill you and you are playing right into his hands! Do you think he has stopped scheming? Do you think he wouldn't trade you for the chance to rule the world? Helen, be reasonable! He's using you, just as he uses everybody!"
Helen snarled.
"And you're so much different! You had your chance and you threw it away like it was garbage!"
"I was not thinking clearly, you know that!"
"Seriously John, before you go pointing out Nikola's faults you should go and take a good long look in the mirror! I was trying to reach out as friend and end this feud between you too, but I see you are too pigheaded to see beyond your own reasoning! Face it, John! I am marrying Nikola! You can either support me, as an old friend, or you can leave! I don't care anymore!" she went back to her desk and sat down, her eyes refusing to look at him. She wasn't going to give him any benefit of doubt.
John stood there, his face turning red.
"I wish you every happiness, Helen," he said with a distinct menace in the sharpness of his words. "You're going to regret marrying that fool."
He teleported away, the force slamming the door shut.
Nikola peeked his head through the other door.
"I'm assuming you've told John the happy news," he said, quietly making his way over to her.
"Yes," she sighed.
"He didn't take it well?" he came around the desk behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders.
"It's John, what do you think?" she leaned into his strong hands as he started to knead her tense shoulders.
"I'm sorry Helen," he said softly, putting aside his ongoing animosity for John Druitt to comfort his fiancé. Having John there was important to Helen, if anything to give that relationship closure. "Here, I have something to show you."
He took her hand, kissing it lightly and leading her out of the office.
"Close your eyes," he whispered softly into her ear.
"Why?" she whined.
"Just do it," he kissed the side of her head gently, encouraging her to shut her eyes. "No peeking."
Helen sighed but let him lead her to wherever.
She heard him open a door and a light breeze hit her.
His hand left hers for a moment.
"Alright, open them."
Helen opened her eyes carefully.
Nikola had let her out into the garden, everyone was there, big smiles.
She looked at Nikola who was holding a single rose for her.
"What is this, Nikola?" she smiled shyly.
"This is your engagement party, I've been planning it for awhile, it just happened to fall on this day, so forgive me for my horrible timing," he handed her the rose.
Helen smiled at him.
"You have perfect timing," she said coming over and kissing him, earning a cheer from the partygoers.
Helen buried her head in his chest to cover her blush, instantly feeling like a teenager off on her first date.
"Helen," came a familiar voice.
"Father," she gasped turning to her father's smiling face. "You weren't supposed to arrive for another few days."
"Well, you're fiancé pulled some strings to get me here sooner to surprise you," Gregory Magnus was pulled into a tight hug by Helen, causing him to grunt slightly.
"He did?" she released her father to turn to Nikola.
"It was nothing really," said Nikola.
"Why didn't I marry you sooner?" she said going back to him to hug him.
"Because you fell into the worldwide belief that I was crazy, and not marriage material, personally I blame Edison," he joked.
"Shut up," she placed a chaste kiss.
The whole garden was decorated with lights, and flowers, and all of Helen's closest friends dressed in their best with a glass of champagne in their hands.
She kept her arm around Nikola the entire night, unaware of the figure in the shadows watching, a distinct shade of green flashing through his eyes.
~~~~2 Years Later~~~~
Helen heard the door to the office open; she looked up from the desk.
"Hello Helen," said John calmly.
"John, thank you for coming," she struggled to stand up, her pregnancy making her equilibrium unsteady.
"Your welcome, how long?" he gestured to her round stomach.
"About 8 months," she sighed.
"Nikola must be excited," said John without any hint of sarcasm or bitterness.
"Terribly, he's taken me off the work list, every time he leaves to manage this place I sneak back over to the guest and fill out some reports, don't tell him, he thinks if I even lift a finger the baby will break," she laughed.
"That sounds like Nikola," he sat down in the chair and pushed a small gift bag across the coffee table.
Helen sit down on the couch and looked at the parcel.
"John, what is this?" she looked up at him.
"Call it a peace offering, my actions 2 years ago were unacceptable and selfish, I want you to know Helen that I am very happy for you and Nikola," he smiled genuinely at her.
"Well, thank you," Helen felt relief wash over her. "I was actually quite nervous about asking you here today, I wasn't even sure you would come."
"What you said to me that day made me think, and I've moved on, shed myself of all those burdens I had put upon myself, I would very much like to be friends again, Helen," he gestured to the gift.
Helen leaned over, with some difficulty, and picked it up. She opened it carefully and pulled out a sealed bag of tea.
"It's a special tea, made a special way, I though you would enjoy it, it's supposed to be very soothing during pregnancy," he said with a soft smile.
"That is very sweet of you, John," she placed the bag of tea on the table and smiled at him. "I didn't think of getting a gift."
John laughed lightly.
"It's no problem," he waved off the idea.
"I was hoping I could ask your help with this next mission," she said looking at him.
"Of course, Helen, don't even think about it," he stood up.
"Oh thank you, if you go and see Will and Henry they will inform you of the details, the pregnant lady doesn't really know anything," she joked.
"Yes of course, enjoy the tea, and tell Nikola congratulations," he took Helen's hand and kissed the top lightly before leaving the office.
He transported himself into the infirmary, placing a device on the wall, disrupting the camera feed. He walked into the OR and looked at all the items on the crash cart till he saw what he needed.
John reached into pocket and pulled out a vial or a clear liquid, a toxic poison he constructed; it was lethal when mixed with the hormones produced during childbirth. A gift for his good friend, Nikola Tesla.
He dumped out the contents of the hypodermic and filled it with his liquid.
"Good luck, Nikola," he muttered.
He placed it back on the cart then retrieved his device, teleporting away before the feeds stabilized.
~~~~Later~~~~
"NIKO!"
John looked at the now dead form of Helen Magnus, the love of his life…who he had poisoned.
"You did this! You killed her!" he snarled at Nikola.
"It was an accident," growled Big Guy.
"What did you do, Nikola? Did the scent of blood become too much for you to handle?" accused John angrily.
John turned back to Helen, a twinge of guilt in his gut at he bloodied and dead body. He had to do this, it was to be expected, marrying Nikola Tesla led to death and despair. Something was going on behind him; more talking, he didn't care.
"You were supposed to protect her, not mutilate her to pieces!" shouted John, angered by the extent of damage he had done to her. The poison would've killed her without such gruesomeness.
"It wasn't like that!" cried Nikola. John found himself pushed against the wall, Nikola's own rage burning in his eyes.
"I could've saved her," said John bitterly. He had no mercy for this man; no pity.
"You weren't here, maybe you could have!" John could see the tears forming in Nikola's eyes. "Maybe she would've had a chance."
"John leave," Big Guy stepped up to the two of them.
"I'm not leaving her with this bastard!" shouted John.
"She was my wife!"
"She was my fiancé!"
"She chose me!"
John bit back his rage at that statement.
"She settled for you, there's a difference!"
"Get out!" snarled Nikola. He was weakening; John could see it, he was getting to him.
"Shut up! This is not what she would've wanted, guh!" the two of them fell silent at Big Guy's words.
Nikola pathetically turned to Helen and began to sob miserably over her. Big Guy managed to pull him away and John watched half-amusedly. Nikola was beyond broken.
He stepped up to Helen and lent down to her ear.
"Forgive me Helen, but I told you that you were going to regret marrying that fool," he took the white sheet and covered her up before striding away, trying hard not to smile. This was only step one of his plan, he'd been working on this for a long time, this was going to show the world that no one messes with John Druitt, especially not Nikola Tesla.