Chapter 16 – Unfair Goodbyes
~~~~January 1881~~~~
Helen sighed exhaustedly as she worked in the lab.
"Helen, you should get some rest," said James, ever the brother.
"Rest, who has the time?" she shrugged, half-heartedly.
"The world won't fall apart if you close your eyes for five minutes, but you might," he said gently.
"Well, I should check on Nikola, anyway, so maybe I can stop for a little and have a break," Helen sighed putting down her tools.
It had been nearly a fortnight since they had found a cure for his bloodlust, since then he's been even more recluse, she really was worried. How was she suspected to help other abnormals with their abilities if she couldn't help her best friend.
Helen nodded to James in thanks and leaved the lab in a swift step, moving past John who walked in with a tray of tea.
"What is up with our dear Helen?" inquired John, he looked at James with a small smile.
"What else? It's that bugger, Tesla, he's had her worked up in knots since he turned, and her mind has sorely noticed anything else," James said with a sigh, accepting the tea with a grateful smile.
"Do you suspect he's doing it on purpose?" asked John, taking his own tea.
"Of course not, I don't doubt that what he's going through is real, I've talked with him and he's just as terrified as Helen suspects he is, he's just too proud to ask for anyone's help, especially Helen's," shrugged James.
"But he's cured, what is there for him to worry about?" asked John.
"It's one thing to cure the cause, it's a whole other thing to cure the symptom," said James cryptically.
"It's been weeks," John said with a hint of annoyance.
"It's understandable, we don't fully understand how much the sourceblood has changed in him, have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up in another man's body, John? That's how he feels, just give him time," James put his cup down. "Now, I could use your help with George, daily injection and all."
John's lips curved into a smirk and he nodded to his friend in agreement.
~~~~Elsewhere~~~~
Helen reached the door to Nikola's room and took a moment to collect herself before lifting her white knuckles to the oak and rapping lightly.
The door opened faster than she would've been comfortable with.
"Helen! Come in!" Nikola said excitedly, immediately tugging her into the room and closing the door behind her.
Helen heard a distinct squeak sneak past his lips and he rushed past her.
"You seem to be in a different mood today, Nikola, been sleeping well?" she asked cautiously.
"Haven't been sleeping at all, haven't needed to, I've just been thinking, thinking thinking, thinking! I can't stop! It's marvelous! I see everything clearer, like it's before me in 3D, it's tangible, like I can reach out and grab it! I've had marvelous, even genius ideas before, but none so clearly laid out before me like this! I feel I understand Physics better! Electricity! It's like sex!" he made some sort of sound, like simulating a volcano erupting, probably trying to convey how he was feeling.
"I assure you I have no idea what you're talking about," Helen said, taken slightly aback from his choice of words.
"It's like James' said, the silver ling or whatever. Well, I found it! I don't know why it has taken me this long to find it, but I did, and it's genius!" Nikola was nearly hopping on the spot with his excitement. "And I wouldn't have seen it without you, I know I wouldn't have!"
He ran up to her grabbing the sides of her head and kissing her cheek tenderly.
"Nikola!" Helen squeaked with surprise.
"Your books! I couldn't sleep so I decided to still my curiosity and started reading up on what I am! Like you said I should, you brilliant woman! To understand what I've become, or rather, what I've always been! Or something! It's brilliant!" Nikola exclaimed and Helen let out a half-chuckle as he took her hands and pulled her up to his desk, covered with papers, notebooks, and journals.
"Wow, you really haven't been sleeping," Helen looked at the clutter with bewilderment.
"How could I possibly? There's so much I have to figure out! Especially when everything is so clear to me! Helen, I am an heir to a race of kings! Vampires ruled worlds, built cities, provided the world with an abundance of knowledge and technology, not the old wives tale of blood hungry creatures, I mean, obviously it's a factor, but the ancient ones must have been able to control it, or we'd all be vampires!" Nikola rambled on excitedly, making Helen a little nervous.
"Nikola, when was the last time you ate a proper meal?" Helen lifted her hands to his face, wondering if he was feeling feverish.
"I, uh, don't remember, but that's not important right now, listen!" He clasped her hands and moved them from his face. "I've figured out what I can do with this new ability…for the better! For the world! Nikola picked up a scrap of paper off the desk and pushed it into her hands.
Helen looked down and read the words on the paper.
"Budapest?" she asked, looking up at him.
"Mmm-hmm, this company is the leading front in electrical engineering!" he smiled widely pointing to the name on the paper.
"But what about us? The Five? Me, James, Nigel, and John, we need you," said Helen, a little crushed at his wanting to leave. She took Nikola's hand and looked into his eyes.
"With Watson's super brain and Johnny boy's teleporting powers, you don't need me, we've pushed the boundaries of science together with the source blood! Now it's time to utilize the gifts we were given, and mine are no use to you here, Helen!" he said exasperatedly. "We're not in Oxford anymore, Helen! James works part time for Scotland Yard, Nigel has his own little projects, Druitt is always assisting your father in their little 'surgeries', you yourself take on patients behind closed doors, you all have lives outside The Five, why can't I?" Nikola ran his hand through his hair and turned from her to stare out his window.
"Yes, we all have our little side projects, Nikola, but we're still together, you are proposing to run off to Budapest on a whim, leaving us all behind! That's not fair to them, or to me!" she stepped up behind him and put her hand on her shoulder. "Why do you really want to leave?"
She felt him tense at her contact.
"I told you, Helen, I want to use this brain for something meaningful, and it'll only be for awhile, just enough to get me out of this rut, but I promise, every Christmas, I'll be back, you know I can't stay away," he turned to face her and cup her chin, giving her a chaste kiss. "Keep that as a promise."
Helen shook her head.
"It's too soon, Nikola, we've only just got the right dosage for you medication, we don't even know if there are any side effects yet, just stay Nikola, at least until I'm sure you won't eat your co-workers down in Budapest," Nikola sighed out with a huff.
"Fine, but the position will only be open till February, then, whether you have your permission or not, I'll be there," he looked at her seriously.
Helen nodded and wrapped her arms around him in a small embrace.
"I won't be able to convince you otherwise, will I?" she asked softly.
"No," Nikola laughed gently.
And she wasn't.
No more than a few weeks later he had left, without so much as a warning, just a forwarding address in Budapest and a goodbye letter addressed to her.
She swear she'd hate him for a long time.