Chapter 31 – The Lost Moments
~~~~Fall 1877~~~~
Nikola Tesla sat in his usual seat at the back of the lecture hall. It was almost 30 minutes earlier than the class was scheduled to begin, he liked to be here before it became filled with the mind-numbing cloud of idiocy he called his classmates. It had only been two weeks of school and he already found their pompous British arrogance irritating. It was bad enough he had to study alongside with them but he also had to live in the same dormitory as them, and he found that the cruelest twist of fate. He despised the British, but if he wanted to be respected anywhere, he needed to be educated here, but as soon as he could he would take his degree and get on the first ship to anywhere other than here.
He arranged his notebook in front of him and adjusted his inkwell so that it sat to his liking. He rarely took notes on the actual lecture, it was mostly stuff he already knew or found absolutely pointless, but he was required to attend the lectures to get his degree.
He would normally doodle ideas on his notebook to keep himself from mouthing off to the professor. It was that habit that had him, for lack of a better phrasing, kicked out of the Austrian Polytechnic. He had said good riddance and continued on to here, convinced to get his degree this time; as the useless air of the pompous school reputation was it proved it would ensure him better offers in his future.
So he endured the numerous and tedious lectures, bit his tongue at the continuously idiotic remarks from his fellow students, and every other high-horsed Brit he had to face on a day to day basis, purely for the reputation of being an Oxford graduate.
The door to the lecture hall opened, bringing Nikola out of his thoughts. He expected the professor, or even just another eager idiot coming to class early to prove that he's a good student.
What he saw wasn't anything he could've expected.
At first what he saw was the red, then he saw her face.
She was like a rare flower in a desert of black and brown. Nikola was drawn to the creamy expanse of her clavicle and sternum and what little cleavage peaked out the top of her dress.
It was highly inappropriate for him to stare; his mother, if sitting right beside him, would've smacked him behind the head and scolded him. Being the sibling to three sisters, he should know better about how to treat a woman.
But he couldn't help it; she was stunning. Was she lost? Women weren't a common sight in the halls of Oxford's lecture halls. Not that he agreed to that principle, most women he knew were more intelligent than the half drunk boors he usually shared this room with.
Nikola made no move to talk to her; just watched the girl in the stunning red dress descend the steps to the front of the lecture hall. She sat down, with purpose, placing her bag down on the floor beside her. She moved like a swan, gracefully and swiftly. She pulled out her notebook, inkwell and quill, arranging them on the desk. She removed the matching red hat, revealing her mass of blonde curls. It was the most beautiful blonde hair he'd ever seen, it was so perfect, not muddy, or freckled like many of the blondes he'd seen, it was seamless throughout. He found her enchanting.
His trance was broken, once again, by the door opening. The professor stepped through, stepping to the main ring, and placing his notes on the desk before him.
He looked up and immediately saw the woman at the front of his class.
She met his gaze without even flinching.
"Ah, you must be Gregory's daughter," the professor finally said. "I was told to expect you in my lecture hall."
Nikola leaned in slightly, intrigued by what her response would be.
"Helen Magnus," she said coolly, unintimidated by his status.
"I see, well, I'll have to ask you to sit in the back, the front rows are reserved for the students, not auditors," the professor said with all the grace and gentility of a broken wagon.
Nikola would've punched him out, if he wasn't trying to appear uncaring. It was not his place to intervene, especially since he did not know the beautiful woman personally.
"As you wish," she stood up, not arguing with him, but he could sense the distaste in her words.
She moved to the back of the hall, only a few seats away from him, and he watched her out of his peripheral vision.
She was remarkable, a strong-willed woman, auditing classes, standing up to authority, and making a point by wearing the most bright and enchanting gown she probably had in her closet. She was here to make a point, and he liked that. He liked the woman in the red dress, and he didn't even know her name.
Her blues eyes moved and locked with his, and a slight flutter happened inside him. She had caught him staring; this is where his mother would come in handy.
He averted his gaze and immediately attempted to distract himself by dipping his pen in the inkwell and pretending to jot a note in his book. He instead began to draw those eyes that had locked themselves into his memory. They were almost as enchanting as the red dress she wore with them. Everything about her was mystifying and marvelous.
At the back of his mind, he decided, he might disprove one or two of the professor's theories in today's lecture, just for her.
~~~~Christmas 1881~~~~
Nikola arrived on the steps of the Sanctuary, his suitcase in one hand, a bag of gifts in the other. This was the first time he was to see his friends in almost a year and he was nervous. He hadn't exactly given them a fair farewell, but he had sent a telegram, not too long ago notifying them of his arrival.
He clasped the knocker, shaking the snow of the fringe of his mustache.
He knocked three times and waited patiently for the door to be opened to him.
It took less than three seconds for it to come shooting open and for a blonde goddess to come racing out into his arms.
This was not the welcome he was expecting, but my, was he grateful for it.
She pulled back to look at his face, a bright smile dawning hers.
"Well, I see someone's missed me," he grinned at her.
She rolled her eyes.
"Did you think any less?" she sighed.
"Well, I…" he started but she shook her head.
"I'm just happy you came, like you promised!" she smiled and reached up to peck his cheek. "Now get in here before you catch your death."
Nikola sighed and shook his head.
"Said the girl in the evening gown, to the man in the winter coat," he muttered, she laughed and tugged him inside, shutting the door behind them.
"Where are the boys? I assume they're still alive," he teased and Helen smirked.
"They're out on the hunt, and won't be back till Sunday. Father's out on a safari, and I have given my staff the night off," she smiled at him. "It's just the two of us for the next three days; I opted to stay behind to see your welcome."
She removed his coat and hat.
"I'm flattered," he smiled.
"We have a whole year to catch up on, you know; we'll start by making you a cup of tea, and then you can tell me all about it," she turned to him grasping his hand. "Thank you for coming, Nikola."
"To tell you the truth, I didn't know how welcome I'd be, my departure was rather sudden," he looked down shyly.
Helen sighed.
"I was angry at first, but then I received your letters, every day, or at least close to, I knew you still had us in your heart, but this place was just to small for that brilliant mind of yours," she reached a hand up to run it through his slicked back hair. "I missed you though."
"I missed you too, your letters have been more than comfort this last year," he took her hand and kissed it. "Now, I'm famished, you wouldn't happen to have something to nibble on would you?"
Helen laughed.
"I think I can make you something," she took his hand and led him out of the foyer to the kitchen.
~~~~2 Days Later~~~~
Nikola watched her decorate the Christmas tree, she hadn't changed, in the year he had been gone she hadn't changed; she was still as lovely as when he left her, and his feelings for her hadn't changed either.
The moment he saw her his heart beat the loud erratic rhythm it had grown accustomed to in her presence. The way she smelt, the twinkling of her eyes, the way her lips felt on his skin, it never changed.
He watched her.
Oh, how he wanted to taste her. It was a highly inappropriate thought indeed, but it was one he had been having in quite sometime. Since becoming a vampire he saw blood in a whole new light, despite not wanting to feed and kill humans, he was curious as to the individual taste, the uniqueness of flavors. Like wine, or cheese, did age make them taste different; did genes? He wanted to know, but more than that, he wanted to know her, how she tasted, how her blood would feel curling around his tongue. He was nearly consumed by the thought most nights. It had only been heightened since his arrival.
Their seclusion together made the fantasies stronger.
He didn't want to fantasize about her in that way, it was lewd and not how a lady should be thought of, but sometimes he could help it. She did things to him no other woman could.
He swallowed dry, yearning for the feel of that warm red liquid to slide down his aching throat.
She moved towards him and sat next to him, smiling widely.
"What do you think?" she said, acknowledging her wonderfully decorated tree.
He wasn't looking at the tree.
"Marvelous," he breathed.
She giggled.
"You haven't even looked at it!"
"I don't need to, to know that it's marvelous," he shrugged simply.
"Now, really Nikola, indulge me," she smiled softly.
Oh how he wished he could.
He turned to look at the tree.
"It's beautiful," he looked back to her. "Perfect."
"I knew you'd like it," she giggled again. "So what would you like to do tonight? It's just you and me."
He gulped dryly.
Was this his opportunity? He had to go around this carefully. Damn he needed his medication.
"H-Helen," he stuttered. "There's something…pressing…that I need you to know."
Helen's smile faltered but she kept her grip on his hand.
"What is it?" she asked.
"It's my…m-medication, I've run out, just recently, I'm afraid I might go into withdrawals soon."
It wasn't exactly what he meant but it was the best he could do at this point in time.
"Alright, it will takes some time for it to distill, how long can you hold on for?" she asked.
He gulped again.
"That's the thing, you see, I'm holding on to the barest of threads," he knew it was an exaggeration, but he had to know, he had to have just one taste. "I know this is a unreasonable favor to ask, but if I could just have the smallest of samples from you, I know I could hold on till the medication was ready."
He saw her face pale.
"You mean blood?" she trembled slightly.
"Only a few drops, and you may shoot me if I lose control," he looked into her wide blue eyes.
"Helen, please, if not you, then who else, if I wait any longer I could end up hurting someone," he lied, smoothly, cursing himself for doing so, but he had to know.
"Nikola, I can't, I…" she hesitated. "I'd have to approach it from a purely scientific manner."
His heart nearly stopped; was she considering it?
"I'd have to remain objective, personally, I have been curious about the process," she looked to him. "It would have to be someplace safe, no major arteries."
He nodded.
"Agreed."
"And you should only take what you need, enough to get you through the next few hours," he saw the windmills of her mind turning as she thought his proposition over.
"I would only ask if I was desperate," it wasn't a complete lie, he thought.
"Meet me in my chambers in an hour," she looked at him. "That should give me enough time to prepare the ingredients for the medicine."
Nikola nodded.
"Are you sure, Helen? We could always do it in the study, or some place less private…for purely scientific reasons," he knew that what he was saying was just to cover that fact how much he wanted to be in her rooms. Could he control himself in there?
"I won't have it any other way, in my chambers, that way we won't be disturbed," she sighed.
His heart was nearly beating out his chest.
"I will see you in an hour," she stood up.
"Wait Helen!" he sprung up to follow her, just catching her shoulder. He should tell her not to worry about it, that he'll go and find a cat, he'll lock himself in his room till the medicine was ready, anything but go through this charade just to taste her blood. "Thank you, Helen."
He said, mentally cursing himself. He was such a bastard.
"You are one of my closest friends, Nikola, I would do anything for you, you know that," she came over and pecked his cheek. "I know you'd do the same."
Nikola felt something twist inside.
"I-I know," he nodded.
She smiled softly and patted his hand.
"One hour, sharp," she turned and left.
As soon as she was gone he smacked the palm of his hand to his forehead.
Sick, sick, sick bastard!
~~~~1 Hour Later~~~~
Nikola approached the door to her quarters hesitantly. He was going to go in and call this whole charade off, it wasn't right to trick her this way, not for this reason. He was taking advantage of their friendship to satisfy an ungentlemanly need that he should just quelch with some street animal, and no one will be the wiser.
He reached the door, mentally preparing himself.
Helen, it's ok, I've realized that it was a completely inappropriate request to ask of you, I will find a cat to tide me over; there is nothing wrong with that…right?
He shook off his nerves and knocked on her door.
Just say no, he told himself.
"Come in," she said through the door.
Nikola gulped and reached for the brass handle, turning it carefully. The oak door swung open and he froze at the sight. Her blonde hair was let down in a wave of curls, coming just below the curvature of her breasts.
She wore a black nightgown, obviously to hide any evidence of blood if he happened to spill. Nikola gulped, almost audibly.
He was not meant to see this.
She moved towards him and pulled him inside, closing the door behind him.
"What are you trying to do Nikola? I can't have any of the other residents see me like this, what would they think?" she huffed and he snapped out of his stunned state.
"I, uh, sorry, didn't know what I was thinking," he knew very well what he was thinking.
"Lets just get this over with quickly, alright," her cheeks flushed, embarrassed with her exposed state, sitting Nikola on the settee. "So, where to begin?"
Nikola bit his lip.
"I was thinking the wrist…or arm…" the least intimate place he could think of.
"No, no place like that, no where that it can be so easily detected," she took his hand. "Here."
She placed his hand on her inner thigh and his heart nearly exploded.
"H-Helen, I couldn't," he gulped again, how could she expect him to feed on her there, that place was so intimate, and he was not her betrothed, he was not even courting her. This was going too far.
"Yes, you can, it can be easily disguised and covered up; it's the only place that it can't be seen by accident, we can't take any chances. "Now, where do you want me?"
He blinked, did she have to say it like that.
"Uhh," he looked at the couch he was sitting on. "Here's fine."
He couldn't do this on her bed; he might lose control then who knows what could happen.
Helen nodded.
"Agreed, it's probably the best place, anyway," she moved to sit on the couch.
He stood up to watch her.
"Should I be sitting or lying down?" she looked up at him.
"Uh, l-lying," he had to stop himself, why was this so hard?
She nodded, lying back, swinging her legs on to the rest of the settee.
He was sweating, he could feel it, it was like a heat emanating from his pelvis and moving through his body to his head, forming in beads of sweat on his forehead.
"Do it quickly, please," she sighed, her cheeks flushed with shyness.
He stifled a groan, this was almost more than he could take.
He kneeled down in front of her, tentatively reaching a hand to the hem of her gown, slowly tugging it upwards, revealing her stocking clad legs. Helen took over, quickly pulling up the fabric and tucking it to cover her womanhood.
Nikola's hand skimmed the far knee, unhooking the stocking from the garter belt, pulling the silk down, just enough so he could see the creamy expanse of her thigh. He gulped once again, feeling that lump in his throat.
He gently brushed the skin.
"Nikola," Helen growled.
"I'm sorry, I'm just looking for a vein," he lied, he was memorizing the feel of her skin.
He sat up and inhaled slightly. The scent alone was nearly too much for him to handle. He had to stop, why couldn't he stop?
He felt his teeth extend and he lowered it gently to the skin, not piercing it just yet. He inhaled once more before sinking them deep in her inner thigh. A resounding gasp came from Helen and it was nearly is undoing.
Then the flavor hit his tongue and it was like ecstasy, slipping over his tongue and splashing down his throat, slowly and erotically, it was liquid sex.
His hand gripped her other knee, squeezing gently. Her eyes closed at the overload of sensation, her hand snaking around to grasp his head, tangling in his hair. It only served to push him further.
She tasted better than he imagined she would; could this woman become anymore remarkable? His hand yearned to snake farther and higher. Just a few inches and it could slip under the fabric and take her to the very high she was taking him to. But he stopped himself. Clenching his teeth to prevent anymore of the intense liquid to pass into him.
"Nikola…stop," Helen croaked, and he pulled himself away, fighting to control his urges.
He breathed in deeply, moving across the room, keeping his eyes off her, knowing that if her saw her beautiful state he would not be responsible for his actions.
He wiped his mouth and shook his head, reciting a page from one of his physics textbooks to calm himself down.
He heard Helen moved and snap her stocking back to her garter belt.
That was too close; he came way too close.
"I should go," he shielded his eyes from seeing Helen.
"Yes, I think that's best."
He moved to the door quickly.
"Call me when the medicine is ready…thank you, Helen," he said quickly.
"Your welcome," she said and he froze. "That was a very…unique experience."
He bit his lip.
"It won't happen again, I promise," he said before leaving, closing the door behind him.
He had to separate himself from her.
He moved quickly to his room, shutting his door and locking it.
He leaned against it.
She's too beautiful. He groaned, wanting to punch himself. This was it he was leaving, heading back to Budapest. He needed to be able to control these urges before he did something he regretted. As much as he wanted to, he didn't regret what he just did, her taste still lingered on his tongue, and it still sent shivers down his body.
He made up his mind. After this, he wasn't going to see her until he could control the animal inside him.