A/N A million thanks again to my reviewers.
Nikola comes to a difficult decision. What happened in the Chamber over a year ago.
SEVEN
"You're a fool." Nikola winced as Ylena slapped him up the back of his head. He rubbed the back of his head ruefully.
"Watch the suit." That only earned him a second cuff, harder than the last one. He growled, "You've picked up a bad habit from the hairy butler. It's unbecoming of a lady."
Ylena snorted. "I'll behave like a lady around you once you stop acting like a child. The Sanctuary needs your help."
"She didn't ask for it." He winced, waiting for the next blow, but it didn't come. Ylena just shook her head at him instead.
"Fine. Hide here in your vineyards because you don't like being asked questions that make you uncomfortable. Keep your precious secrets—"
Nikola grit his teeth, "You don't understand…"
"And you don't want to enlighten anyone," she snapped back. "Do what you will. But know that Aurelian and I are on a red-eye flight back to Old City. We do not forget our friends." With that Ylena patted him on the cheek with more force than necessary and left the office.
Nikola huffed irritably as she sat alone at his desk, fingers steepled under his chin. He looked outside his window and saw a flock of pigeons fly by.
The Chamber of Silver, One Year Ago
The ceiling of the chamber collapsed around him, and he had to fight every impulse not to run away. The black presence in his mind screamed, wanting to be free of the chamber and furious that he wasn't trying to save himself.
A large chunk of rock fell on the back of his head, and he fell into the shallow pool, pinned. The breath was knocked from his lungs and black stars exploded in front of his eyes.
More rocks fell, buying him, and his body twitched. He couldn't breathe, and he slipped gratefully into an inky void of endless sleep where there was no more pain. His heart stopped beating.
The energy elemental fled from his body, unwilling to remain in a dead host. It looked like a swarm of black flies as it rushed out of his nose and swirled upwards, trying to find its way out of the temple.
What no one saw in the heart of the falling chamber was a small silvery wisp left behind from the elemental. It curled upwards and vanished inside Nikola's mouth. His eyes opened and his heart felt like it was going to explode.
:Fight.:
The floor of the circular pool suddenly began to slide open, revealing a chasm the water disappeared into. Lightheaded, and unable to breathe, Nikola grappled with his throat and the rock pinning him. Lights exploding in front of his eyes, Nikola finally managed to push the rock from him with a superhuman effort.
He pulled himself into the tunnel and found himself falling. His breath returned in violent gasps and he felt himself colliding into freezing water.
Nikola slipped into unconsciousness again. When he next woke he was slumped against a riverbank. He blinked sluggishly, and saw a stone culvert the water was running out from. It had some runes carved around the edge.
Nikola heaved dryly, spitting out some water. Weakly, he crawled up out of the water and collapsed onto the grass. He felt the back of his head and discovered a deep gash that was still oozing blood. He growled, feeling his joints crack as he set his multiple fractures straight. At least he was healing.
Dizzy, he looked up at the night sky. He wasn't sure how, but he was alive. He could swear he heard the faint sound of a woman laughing.
Helen woke, blinking sleepily. She hadn't realized that she had dozed off, and when she looked out the window it was to see the plane still parked on the airstrip. She was mildly confused, the plane was supposed to be in the air twenty minutes ago.
She pressed the key to the intercom. "What's the reason for the delay?"
"Boarding a new passenger, Doctor Magnus," the pilot replied.
New passenger? This was Helen's private jet.
The answer became clear when Nikola Tesla made his way down the aisle, brushing an invisible speck of dust from his immaculate suit jacket. He winked at her and sat down in the seat beside her.
"I thought you weren't coming," Helen said coolly, trying to mask her surprise.
"And here I am. You … me … completely alone thousands of miles in the air for several hours. People will talk."
Helen felt herself blush and her mouth dropped open, incredulous. A day ago he'd been moody, withdrawn and hurtful. Now he was back to smirking, perfectly pitched sardonic form. She could only shake her head in wonder.
He merely grinned, his fingers playing with the edge of his armrest. "I'm completely at your mercy … I only ask you to be creative."
"And what brought about this change of heart?"
He grinned. "I like having you owe me. I like collecting … with interest."
Helen mock-pouted at him. "I thought friends were supposed to help each other out of the goodness of their hearts."
Nikola whispered cryptically, "I never said I was a good friend."
"Like the feel of the wind through your hair?"
Druitt skimmed his fingers over his smooth head with a wry grin. The wing whipped through Kate's hair, buffeting it about and obscuring her face. They both stood on the rooftop watching the night skyline.
"Penny for your thoughts," Kate pressed.
Druitt absent-mindedly kicked a pebble off the edge of the roof. "My thoughts at present aren't worth anything."
He suddenly stiffened, staring at something on the ground. "What is it?" Kate asked, peering over the edge and trying to follow his line of sight.
"Someone is at the door."
Will only had a chance to see a flash of gold hair before he was swept up into a fierce hug. Aureliano let out a barking laugh before slapping him heartily on the back.
"I have not been eaten by a giant squid yet."
"I've got to admit, I did not expect to see you here, buddy." Will laughed, hurrying them inside. Henry gulped slightly when Ylena, or Ylerin, brushed past him with a smile.
"Do you have a record of Declan's message?" she asked Henry. His brain had gone fuzzy for a moment, he still nurtured a small crush for her, and the blank look on his face made her chuckle.
"Aurelian and I can read facial expressions better than you can. We can check for any deception?"
"Right." Henry quickly trotted off to his lab with Ylerin in tow, glancing a quick look at Will who gave him a jokey thumbs-up.
"How did you guys know?" Will walked with Aurelian to the kitchen where he grabbed some sodas for the both of them. They sat down at the table.
"Your Sanctuary was blown up, William … word travels fast. We thought Doctor Magnus had died."
"Where is she, by the way?"
Aurelian looked confused. "You mean she has not returned yet? I thought she'd be back before us."
Will sighed heavily, looked at their sodas and went back to the fridge to bring out two beers instead. They 'cheers'ed, knowing there were many sleepless nights ahead.
Helen was enjoying the first peaceful sleep she had been denied for a week. Unknown to her, it was with her head resting on Nikola's shoulder as he looked at the window and watched the plane touch down in Old City.
Nikola paused for a moment before the door of the Sanctuary. He steeled himself inwardly, feeling like a stranger, before stepping inside. Helen's smile of encouragement did nothing to quell his nerves, though he refused to let them show.
He hadn't expected to see the Sanctuary with his own eyes again.
Helen whispered something to Druitt that he couldn't hear, Druitt grasping her arm fondly. She left, presumably to unpack and start working immediately. Druitt and Nikola stood in the foyer, both considering each other tersely.
Nikola finally broke the silence. "How are you feeling, Johnny Boy?"
"Fantastic," he growled sarcastically.
Nikola smirked, straightening his collar. "I was hoping your mood would have improved somewhat. Try traveling, it does wonders for the soul."
"And what do you know of my soul?"
Nikola gave him a curious look, bearing an expression he couldn't fathom and disappeared down the hallway without a parting shot.