"What have you done to me?" Helen gasped out, glaring at the impassive woman who stood before her.
"Tell me about Vienna," her captor bit back, crossing her long arms delicately before levelling Helen with a malicious glare.
"You won't get away with this," she tried, vision swimming. She had to stay awake, fight whatever it was they pumped into her every time she fell asleep. Whenever she awoke from a blackout, she was back on the metal gurney in the corner, another set of needles buried in the crook of her arm. Once they'd even shot her with what looked like a very sleek, very lethal tranquiliser gun.
She couldn't keep time straight in her mind. Each time she saw the captors they were dressed differently, talking about different things and... and... and it was making her crazier. Oh yes, she was crazy, Helen was more than aware that she'd lost it long ago. Between the all too vivid memories that seemed like dreams and her new found inability to see any less than two copies of any given object, Helen knew she'd finally lost her marbles.
Gritting her teeth, Helen snarled at the woman, shuffling further back into her corner.
Vienna.
Vienna. Vienna was a happy place.
Happy.
Happy.
Happy.
Helen shivered as she peeled away the sodden layers of her dress. Taking a dip hadn't exactly been on her list of things to do today considering the cooling breeze but she was thankful for Nikola's quick thinking regardless. If he hadn't dumped them both of the side of the bridge... Well, she shuddered to think about it and it had nothing to do with her nearly frozen limbs.
The fire was roaring and took the edge off of her chill but it wasn't enough. Patting herself down with a small cloth, she tried desperately not to let her teeth chatter.
The one thing worse than the frigid, filthy waters was the walk home that had taken over two hours. And, of course, the sun had disappeared half way through their walk, leaving her shivering and bare foot on the rather chilly streets of Vienna with only a coatless vampire to keep her warm.
Nikola shivered at the sight before him. She was... she was beautiful. And she was naked. Completely, one hundred percent unclothed. He knew he should look away, continue reading his book in the closet he'd been shoved into rudely.
She'd pushed him in there haughtily, giving him a candle to read by before slamming the door. Only the latch hadn't taken and the door had drifted open ever so slightly. Nikola hadn't even noticed until he heard her little sigh and looked up. But boy was he aware of it now.
Snatching her thin nightgown from where it lay on the sofa, she pulled the cotton over her damp hair. It didn't do much against the cold but everything helped as she stepped closer to the fire. She worked the now damp cloth against her head for a moment, wringing out the damp curls that fell down her back. Suddenly she lamented leaving her hair so long, it would take an eternity to dry after this.
Sighing heavily, she sat on the sofa and rummaged through a small bag she'd taken from the closet before shutting Nikola away. The lotion was one Nigel had created for her, it smelt of lavender and honeysuckle and was the one concession she made to 'feminine pursuits'. It calmed her like nothing else and she found the entire ritual of massaging it into her legs and arms relaxing.
He watched with wide eyes as she carefully pulled up the cotton nightgown she wore, allowing it to pile on her lap. The creamy skin she exposed was beautiful, almost shimmering like silk in the dappled light. He yearned to touch it, to run his hands up and over her legs to pull her close. He wanted to toss her nightgown aside and pull her down to the plush rug before the fire place.
He wanted to hold her close as she cried out in pleasure.
Snapping his book shut, Nikola stood and swallowed.
She worked the moisturiser into her legs methodically, massaging the tired muscles. Running through that blasted park had exhausted her despite the adrenaline that had kept her going at the time. Why abnormals always felt the need to chase her was a mystery she never expected to understand. Whether she intended to help or capture or, on rare occasions kill, it didn't matter. They all ran. Or tried to kill her. Either way it ended up with many dresses and shoes and stockings and all number of items destroyed for her efforts.
Today, of course had been different. This creature, whatever it had been had escaped from somewhere, she was certain of it. The industrial buildings they had chased it from were not its home. It was a creature that sought electricity like a moth to a flame and there hadn't been even a skerrick of the power it required in those dilapidated buildings.
Plus the dead bodies did suggest that there had been a struggle of some sort.
It had unsettled her, seeing those bodies. They were not her first corpses by a long shot and it was unlikely to be the last time she came across such a scene but to see human flesh burned to the point of disintegration in the middle of the day made her stomach turn just thinking back to it. The only way she'd been able to make out their genders was from the large skirts one of the corpses still wore. Her skirts had been singed with soot, the blue velvet turning dark with what Helen strongly suspected to be blood. The men beside the female victim had been in no better of a state, their clothing smoking slightly.
She was getting distracted, he noticed from his position peeking through the gap. Her hands had slowed on her thighs and her eyes were glazed. Breathing deeply he took in the scent of her lotion and smiled. How glorious it would be to be surrounded by those delightfully perfumed legs.
Wicked thoughts were running through his head and he couldn't stop them. She was beautiful, mouthwatering, everything he could possibly need in a partner all wrapped up in the most delicious parcel.
Recently, he was ashamed to admit, he'd begun to doubt the depth of his feelings for her, wondering if perhaps they were nothing more than the fanciful longings of a young man who had yet to experience the world.
But he was wrong. He loved her as much as he ever did and it was no childish infatuation. He loved her in a way that damaged him, weakened his resolve and broke his heart. He needed to be allowed to sweep across the room and tug her into his arms, he needed to know that he could hold her without fear of recrimination.
And he needed to know why she suddenly looked so sad and forlorn. It made his heart ache just watching her.
Biting her lip, Helen forced the images from her mind. The cold was starting to seep into her consciousness again so she stood, straightening her nightgown absently as she strolled towards the plush bed beside the fireplace.
"Nikola?" she called as she pulled back the quilts.
A brief crash followed her words and she turned, frowning until the door slowly opened and he emerged sheepishly.
Arching a brow she waited for him to explain but the words seemed to catch in his throat. His eyes were glued to her, travelling slowly down the length of her body before finally his gaze caught on her face.
He had been watching.
She didn't know how she knew it or how she felt about it but it was true. He had been watching from his spot in the closet.
She swallowed and he gave her a tentative smile.
Helen was not an innocent young thing anymore and as she stood before her oldest, closest friend in nothing more than a nightgown she was fairly certain he could see through she was very much aware that she was no longer the young miss who had let his hands wander beneath her skirts one lazy evening before the fire.
She stood now as a woman, as someone who knew the pleasures his body could give her and those she could give him.
This was what she needed, a small voice told her. This was what she needed to finally free herself from the plague that had cursed her these past few years. Nikola would be the one to break John's hold on her, he would be the man to claim her body and allow her to move on. Finally.
Only she didn't know how. She had never seduced anyone in her life, only the stories of women delicately raising their skirts to guide her actions.
And what if he did not think her attractive? What if her body did not please him? What if she could not please him? She knew of bedroom matters, yes. She knew what brought her pleasure and she knew what she wanted but... but she couldn't be that forward. She couldn't say such things to Nikola, her dearest Nikola. With John it had been different, their courtship had slowly introduced her to what he liked about her body and how he liked her to act and when they had finally lain together there had been an understanding that this was merely the precursor to their lives together as man and wife.
This was... not courtship. She wasn't foolish, she didn't believe that a physical relationship need necessitate any legal bindings but this...
A shiver ran through her body and before she could even finish the thought, Nikola was on her, bundling her into the bed quickly and drawing the covers up and under her chin.
"I shall take a seat by the door," he said, brushing a damp curl from her cheek. "I'll keep watch for you."
"Actually," she reached out and grabbed his hand as he went to pull away. "Would you sleep with me?"
Her cheeks pinked at the statement but she didn't release his hand until he smiled faintly and nodded. He rounded the bed and she twisted to watch him, a little afraid that if she lost sight of him that he would disappear.
"Turn," he commanded, wiggling his fingers at her. "I have to undress."
"If we are to share a bed, Nikola, I hardly think me seeing you in your smalls is going to make a difference."
He pulled a face so she sat up, crossing her arms firmly.
"Helen, please," he tried again.
"Hurry. Niko. I'm tired."
With one last pleading look he relented, turning his back and stripping off his clothing far quicker than she had expected. And then, with alarming speed he dove for the covers, pulling them up to his chin and blinking owlishly up at her.
She frowned.
After the spectacle she'd accidentally given him, she wanted at least a peek at his chest. He always felt so solid behind her despite his lanky frame. Quickly as she could she tore the covers back, grinning evilly as he gasped in surprise.
He was small and pale, as she had expected but his abdomen was startlingly defined. Further than that, there was a light dusting of soft brown hair that ran down from his bellybutton to disappear beneath the waistband of his cotton undergarments. It was curious and she had half a mind to reach out and touch his abdomen but he was too quick, tugging the blankets back up and over them.
He frowned and muttered something under his breath in Serbian before grabbing her by the waist and pulling her down to the bed.
"Go to sleep," he ordered, trying to sound stern.
Helen merely smiled, shuffling closer to him until they were only a hairsbreadth apart.
"Nikola?" she breathed and he turned onto his side, something uncertain swirling in his eyes.
Neither of them spoke for a moment as Helen steeled herself. Slowly, so as not to frighten him, she shifted even closer, pressing her body to his.
Tentatively they arranged themselves beneath the covers and Helen smiled as he tucked her against his chest. It was almost as if they were made to fit together like this.
He hummed happily, his arms tightening around her slightly.
"Can you feel it?" he whispered. "The residual energy."
"It tingles," she agreed softly, placing her hand flat on his back to increase the sensations.
"Must be because of the water," he began to hypothesise.
"Shush," she ordered. "Sleep now, science later."
And that was it, within moments they were both fast asleep, clinging to each other in the darkness.
Vienna! Yay!
Sorry for the delay, last night was full of football and politics and it all got away from me.
xx
