Dane

Chapter 8

"I see," said Barnabas, carefully. He glanced in Willie's direction again, fury still gleaming in his eyes. When Julia looked at him, he forced himself to smile. "Then, I shan't detain you any longer."

Julia looked at him curiously. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to get rid of me."

"Nonsense!" he responded, too sharply. "I was merely stopping you from being late," he continued, uncomfortably.

"Well you needn't worry about that," said Julia off-handedly. "Dane can wait, this can't."

Barnabas cast another glance at Willie, "You can go, now," he said. "I'll call you when I need you." Willie nodded, hastily; the look in his employer's eyes telling him that Dane had better watch his step.

"See ya around, Julia," said Willie as he left. "Hope you enjoy your dinner."

Julia smiled. "Thank you, Willie. I'm sure that I shall."

They waited until he had gone, Barnabas bristling at Julia's comment, and trying not to let it show. "Well, what is it that you wanted to tell me?" he asked, clasping his hands in front of him.

"I was going through Eric's journals today, and I think I may have found a partial solution."

"Willie mentioned it. But Eric Lang has been dead for years, how can his journals be of any help?"

"Before his experiment, that brought Adam to life, he temporarily cured you. I think that by following the serum he used before, it might work again."

"But I was already cured, Julia. He only intended it as an alternative until Adam could live. Are you planning to go through all that again?" he asked incredulously.

Smiling Julia shook her head. "No Barnabas, I wasn't planning to create another Adam. Nor go through the experiment again. Just duplicate his serum. You must understand, Barnabas, that this wouldn't be a permanent cure, but it would ease the…urge for blood."

Barnabas was silent for a few moments, as he thought over what she had said. His hand brushed the pocket, that hid the velvet box, and he stole a quick glance at Julia. Her face was in profile to him, and the candlelight accentuated the colour of her hair, and reflected the string of pearls at her neck. She was a vision of loveliness that he had chosen not to see, or acknowledge.

Words and thoughts, that he wanted to say, tumbled around his head. But when he tried to articulate them, his throat would freeze. He had understood far better than she knew, what she had almost admitted, when she warned him not to trust Angelique, when she had cured him, in 1840. He had felt relief, when she had quickly changed the subject. Relief, because she had taken the step, he could not. Instead, he had tried to tell her to be patient, and that he would explain when he could.

He sighed. Patient! That's all she had ever been with him. It was unfair to her, who had been nothing but patient for the last four years. She deserved so much more.

"I've analysed your blood-work, and the tests, I ran today, were encouraging. You'll need two injections for the time being," said Julia, breaking into his thoughts. "I'll give you one now, and the second when I return from dinner."

"I've been thinking about that," he said thoughtfully. "And if I remember correctly, Eric had given me a blood transfusion first. The injections came later."

"That's right," Julia agreed. "But I've explained why the injections are necessary. Now, roll up your sleeve. I'll need to take another blood sample to compare your reactions to each inoculation."

Barnabas took off his jacket, taking care for his hidden prize, buried in its pockets. He rolled up his shirtsleeve, and after swabbing his arm, Julia took a little of his blood.

Barnabas watched, silently, as she took another syringe, and after dispelling a little bit of air, injected the red tinted serum into his vein.

The sting of the needle made him gasp, but the sharp sting of the serum when it entered his bloodstream, made him wince and his hand tightened into a fist. His arm shook.

"The pain will pass with each injection, Barnabas, " Julia explained. "How do you feel now?" she added, as he began to relax.

His voice was shaky when he spoke; "The pain is easing." He flexed his arm, before he rolled down his sleeve again, and looked at her, his dark eyes serious and full of loathing. "I never want to go through a night like last night."

"That isn't likely to happen, once the injections start to take affect," Julia agreed, the smile she reserved only for him, on her face.

He went to her, as he shrugged into his jacket. He rested his hands on her shoulders, and looked into her eyes. "I will never be able to thank you, for everything you've done, for me," he said. An awkward silence sprang between them, and for a moment, Julia had the wild idea that he was going to kiss her. Her heart thudded in anticipation, and she held her breath.

The moment of awkwardness past, and he released her, and stepped back. Confused and disappointed, she returned to her worktable, and began arranging test tubes and slides for later that evening.

When she was finished, she turned to Barnabas; "I'd better go. Dane is expecting me. Goodnight, Barnabas."

"Good night, Julia. Have a pleasant evening."

With a quick nod, she quickly left the basement. When he was satisfied that she had gone, Barnabas' eyes narrowed. "Willie!" he shouted.

Willie nervously entered the vampire's domain. "Follow them," he ordered brusquely.