Chapter 2
The rest of the day flowed nicely into the evening. True to his word Nikola improved his mood significantly, keeping his biting sarcastic comments to himself and even managing to crack a smile every once and awhile. Though Helen knew he would never quite be comfortable in the cabin he really was trying to be good.
The day had involved them scouring the woods, exploring the area around them. A mile off, where the bridge was, was a raging river that wound through the valley like a snake. Nigel had managed to find a path that led to a shallower bank of the river where the rapids weren't nearly as strong and deemed it a perfect spot for fishing. He and James were already making plans to fashion fishing rods out of sticks and string like they did in their childhoods. John briefly considered grabbing one of the shot guns he'd found in the cabin and hunting some wild game but Helen had fought strongly against it. There were enough dead animals in the house as it was.
The friend of Helen's father had apparently come about a day before them and stocked the cabin's cabinets, pantry and cellar with food. Cured meats, sausages, cheese, bread, a selection of fruit and some canned preserves of almost every variety from jams to soups. Everything they would need to survive for two weeks. He had also stocked them up with a load of firewood and plenty of matches. Helen had the keys to every door in the cabin, including the cellar which was accessible via a trapdoor in the corner of the living room, there was a cold storage down there for some of the canned goods and about a ton of potatoes, and Nikola's favorite, the wine. If it weren't for the dirt down there Nikola would've locked himself in and never left, unfortunately Nikola could only stand being in there for about three minutes before the overwhelming urge to bathe himself came upon him.
Despite the rustic nature of the cabin it actually had electricity and water. Well, it had a water pump, but it was clean. John and Nikola had already filled the rooftop tanks for the shower stalls in the back of the cabin. With the sun beating the way it was they could have nice warm showers by tomorrow evening. Helen had filled a basin for Nikola and put it in his room with some clean cloths.
By the time the sun went down they were fully settled in to their new surroundings.
James, Helen, and Nigel set up their lab in the living room, Nikola assisting in setting up the Bunsen burners. They were there for a reason, despite their adventuring. Helen wanted a quiet desolate place to conduct their experiments.
John had gone down to the cellar to fetch something while they prepped the experiment. Six months of hard work went into this project and it was finally coming into fruition. Vampire blood. The key to unlocking a whole new world of science...as Helen would like to believe.
She and James chattered over notes in the corner while Nikola and Nigel set to prepping the saline solution.
The key to this experiment was creating a formula for a serum, the main component being the source blood and Helen was sure she got it, running a few successful tests on some mice. Helen was sure this was it.
Nikola could not say no to a chance at greatness.
John re-emerged from the cellar holding a bundle in his arms.
Helen looked up.
"John? What is that?" she asked.
"I don't know, I found it in the cellar," he shrugged.
"Put it back, it could be a dead animal," Nikola moved away from him, a grimace crossing his features.
"It's too solid to be that. I think it's a book," said John.
"It's probably a diary or something private, Nikola's right you should return it," James said sternly.
"If it turns out to be so then I will, but you can't deny me the curiosity of opening it, can you?" John gave the two of them a sly grin.
Nikola rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"It could be the diary of a dead pirate, like Sir Francis or Captain Kidd," Nigel gleamed like a young boy fantasizing of adventure.
"Or the young Missus of the man who owns this place," James countered.
"Could be something boring like a log for taxes," suggested John.
"Could be a home for maggots, open it outside!" Nikola growled.
"Oh hush, Nick, old chap, it's not going to kill you," John rolled his eyes, carefully unbuckling the tight belt securing the enwrapped curiosity.
John unwound the many layers of cloth until he finally reached the book. It was bound by a whole feast of twine wrapped crossways over the covers of the book and beneath that another layer of fabric.
"Whoever did bury this book they sure went to a lot of trouble to make sure nobody read it," muttered John.
"All the more reason to put it back where you found it," said James.
"Not now, I've almost freed it," John laughed.
"John, please," Helen sighed.
John gave her a look then put the book down.
"Fine, at least until we're done with the experiment," sighed John. He lazily wrapped the book back up in the fabric and placed it on a stand near the settee in the living room and went to stand by Helen.
She whispered a thank you to him and squeezed his arm gently.
Nikola watched the interaction carefully, trying not to squeeze his hands into fists. He relaxed them quickly and stretched out his long fingers, then turned back to his task. Sterilizing.
The water and vinegar was boiling quite well and he picked up a cloth, wiping off the small syringe in his hand with it before plopping it in the bubbling water.
Nikola sighed and put down the cloth.
"Five minutes until we're ready," he announced to the group.
Helen smiled brightly at this.
"Excellent," she nodded.
"Uh, Helen, may I have a word with you in private before we commence with this...experiment?" asked John.
Helen turned to him in surprise but nodded.
Nikola felt his fist clenching up again.
"Why don't we step outside?" Helen suggested.
John nodded and the two of them left. Neither James nor Nigel had paid much attention to this interaction but Nikola had heard every word.
He turned back to the table and watched the boiling pot with almost a kin spirit. A moment later he put the cloth in his hand down.
"I'm going to fetch more firewood," Nikola muttered.
"Would you mind chopping a few while you're out there?" asked James. "We've already burnt through a good chunk of it."
"Yes, yes," Nikola sighed, irritably, waving his hand aimlessly as he moved to the door.
Swinging an ax might actually make him feel better right now.
Beside the house near the wood pile was an old thick tree stump used as a chopping block and an old rusty ax that had probably been left one too many times out in the rain. Nikola placed a log on the block and with all his might brought the ax down in one fell swoop ending the motion with a satisfying "khunk" as it hit the wood.
He hit again, and again until he finally felt drained of all his anger and he gathered up the pieces of firewood he'd made into a pile in his arms and was heading back to the cabin when he heard a sound.
It was coming from the back of the house.
Following his curiosity he peeked around the side of the house to see Helen and John lip-locked in a tender embrace.
He immediately ducked out of sight behind the side of the house, pressing his back against the wall, trying to suppress his pained groan at seeing them. His eyes squeezed shut as he tried to push the memory out of his mind.
"John, please," Helen's voice broke through his thoughts.
Nikola opened his eyes again.
"I mean its lovely and all but we should really be headed back inside," Helen moved to step out of his embrace.
Nikola peeked around the house again.
"Wait, Helen...I didn't bring you out here just to kiss you," John blushed sheepishly at the admission. "I actually wanted to...to give you this before...before we underwent the experiment."
John handed Helen a box. It was too big to be a ring, and too small to be anything practical.
Nikola heard Helen gasp.
"John, it's beautiful," she held up a beautifully engraved locket on a chain.
"Open it and read what it says on the inside," John coaxed her. She did so.
"My dearest Helen. Forever, love John."
Helen smiled brightly.
"Thank you John," Helen leaned up and kissed him.
Something twinged in Nikola's stomach.
"I know it's not much, but..."
"Oh, no! It's wonderful!" Helen put a hand on his chest.
"I thought it would be a nice gesture to...to commemorate our courtship," John smiled bashfully and Helen kissed him once more.
"I love it, I will keep it with me always," she turned around to let him fasten it around her neck.
She tucked it carefully under the collar of her camisole so that it wouldn't dangle over the Bunsen burners while they worked but smiled brightly none-the-less.
Nikola was envious of that smile.
He had known of their private courtship for some time, but pretended that he didn't because it was easier that way...most of the time. He suspected James knew of it as well but didn't bother to mention it or even pay attention to it more than necessary. Nigel was the only one blissfully in the dark, though he wouldn't be surprised if the short cockney had his suspicions.
This was the main reason he did not want to be trapped here, in this tiny cabin for two weeks. He saw all the shared glances and knowing smiles, flirtatious touches and secret meetings, and it killed him. Being here was torture, and because of this he was beyond miserable. At least at the Sanctuary he could lock himself in the opposite end of the premises and ignore the fact that Helen was in love with...him.
"Now, we should head back inside before James starts sending Scotland Yard after us," teased John and Helen laughed.
"Yes, back to work," Helen took his hand and they started walking towards Nikola.
In a panic Nikola quickly ducked behind the workshed to escape detection, still carrying the firewood.
When Helen and John passed without noticing him he let out a sigh of relief and leaned against the side of the shed, his eyes closing once again.
There was no point in pining for her when she had clearly chosen the man she wants, but he couldn't, he just couldn't drop her; he was passionately, painstakingly and irrevocably in love with her. He dreamt about her at night, he fantasized about her when he was alone with his thoughts; she utterly consumed him night and day.
And she was in love with John. It made him want to scream.
Nikola sucked in a deep breath to control himself. Yes, he loved her, but she would undoubtedly cast him out if he tried to split her from John...or laugh in his face if he was forthcoming about his feelings. It was better to just pretend. Pretend he didn't see the looks or the stolen kisses, or didn't hear John quietly sneak into Helen's bedroom while everyone else slept. It was easier just to pretend that everything was normal.
With that, Nikola walked back to the house with his armful of wood. Unceremoniously and without announcing himself, he quietly slunk back into their now makeshift lab and made his way over to the furnace in the corner, placing the wood in the wood bucket and taking the poker to the open flames.
Helen and John were already back at work.
"Nikola! What took you so long?" asked Nigel.
"I, uh, needed some kindling," Nikola lied, keeping his gaze to the floor.
"Oh. And?" Nigel prodded him.
"I couldn't find any, I'll look tomorrow," Nikola tried to shrug nonchalantly but every muscle in his body felt stiff and tensed.
No one seemed to notice, thankfully, not even James.
Nikola went over to the pot of boiling water and with a pair of tongs removed the syringe from inside, picking up his cloth to once again wipe it down thoroughly.
"It's ready," he managed to say.
"Who's going first?" asked Nigel, staring at the empty syringe.
"I am," Helen announced firmly.
Nikola's eyes widened and he tuned to look at her.
"Helen, it might be best if..." James started.
"No. This is my experiment, my project, I will be the first to try it," Helen said defiantly. "I have complete faith."
She smiled warmly but it did very little to ease any of the four men's minds.
This is why he loved her. The most intelligent, brave, and relentlessly beautiful woman the world has ever known.
"Then I'll be the one to give you the injection," stated James.
"No, I will!" John stepped in front of him.
The three men were about to erupt into an argument but Nikola spoke directly at Helen.
"Helen?" Nikola asked, looking past both of them. "This is your experiment. Who do you need?"
Helen met his gaze with an almost imperceptible smile.
"John, you are the strongest, I need you to sit next to me, in case the transformation is too strong for me. Nigel, I need you en point with your darts, in case I should become too violent for John to control. James, you are the most medically trained. I need you close by should I fall unconscious...or worse. And Nikola...Nikola has the steadiest hands of all of you, we'll need that to carefully get the serum into the place it needs to go."
She said this looking straight at him and Nikola felt a warmth burst in his chest at the honor of being the one she trusted most to help her with this experiment.
Nikola nodded, coming over to grab the serum from her to fill the syringe with. His fingers just brushed against hers as they came to wrap around the cool glass of the vial.
Nikola felt the air get trapped in his lungs at the touch, but he quickly let it out and lowered his gaze, taking the vial from her and darting back to his station.
He berated himself inwardly for being so desperate, but it couldn't be helped. He couldn't help the feeling when she touched him.
Helen settled herself in a chair in the centre of the room, and John knelt beside her, grasping her hand. Nikola tried not to twinge with jealousy and kept focused on filling the syringe with the serum.
"I will be with you every step of the way," John said lowly, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Thank you, John," Helen put her free hand on his shoulder.
Nikola sucked in another breath to calm his jealousy and held up the glass syringe to examine it before wiping the needle one last time.
"It's ready," he announced, keeping his voice passive and even.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked James.
"Yah, you don't have to go first, James and I could have a go," suggested Nigel.
Nikola brought over the needle and knelt on the other side of Helen, gently taking her arm and rolling up her sleeve. How he wanted to kiss her porcelain skin just once before he potentially marred it forever. He would've lent down and laved the spot on her arm for the injection with his tongue and soothe her fears with his lips, but he couldn't...more than that she would never let him.
"Thank you gentlemen, but it has to be me," Helen looked at all of them with bright shining eyes. "It is my experiment, I will be the first one to test its merits."
He could feel her gaze shift from the general room to laser focus on him.
"You may proceed, Nikola," her voice was soft and he chanced a glance up at her. She was so close he could almost taste her, and if this experiment failed drastically he'd never have the chance to touch her in his life...but she had specifically chosen him to do this, steadiest hands or not...he was honored to be the man she trusted most. His eyes shifted over to John whom held Helen's other hand tightly, their fingers entwined.
Nikola looked back down to hide his loathing. If this experiment was a blooming success she would no doubt share her triumph in the arms of the man sitting opposite him.
He gently took her arm and rested it on the arm of the chair, his hand gently cupping it underneath to hold it in the position he needed it to be in for him to access the vein properly.
As slowly and precisely as he could he placed the needle on her skin, feeling her jolt slightly at the touch of its cool tip on her warm flesh. He held firm and began pressing the needle into her skin, his thumb coming up to rest on the stopper as he became sure he'd gone deep enough. Helen winced ever so slightly at the intrusion and she squeezed John's hand. Nikola gulped and hesitantly brought the stopper down. This was it...the moment he dreaded...everything lied in the balance...this was the moment he could either help her achieve her greatest triumph or lose her forever. God, she was the bravest woman he'd ever met.
As soon as the blood entered her system she jolted again, letting out a pained moan before her eyes widened in significant pain. Nikola panicked that he had possibly missed the vein or pushed too far. Immediately her body began to convulse and his hand was quick to leave her arm and swipe up to her hand, letting her squeeze it heartily. As soon as the syringe was empty he pulled it out and replaced it with his hand, letting his thump press into the small puncture wound in the apex of her elbow.
Helen let out a pained cry, her eyes screwing shut.
He prayed he didn't screw up, he prayed that this would work.
She squeezed his hand tighter and tighter and writhed ever so slightly before going completely limp. Nikola half thought she'd passed out, and was about to check her pulse when her eyes flew open and she sucked in a breath.
"Oh my," she gasped.
"Helen, are you alright?" asked John.
James was kneeling in front of her, playing the doctor, checking her vitals and eyelids.
"Did it work?" asked Nigel.
"Helen..."
Helen's eyes fluttered between all three of them before coming to rest on Nikola, her lips curling to a smile.
"Something happened to me," she finally said.
"What? What happened?" asked James.
"I...I don't know...but it was something, I felt it..."
"I suspect we might not see any changes for awhile, no doubt it's still working in her system."
"How long?" asked John.
"We'll check in the morning," suggested James.
"So what do we do until then?" asked Nigel.
"We wait," said James.
The whole conversation seemed to happen in the background for Nikola. He was too lost looking into Helen's eyes. They were wide, and almost fearful with a twinkle of excitement. His hand was still entwined with her hand, his thumb was still pressed against her skin now rubbing soothing circles on her forearm.
"Helen...do you need anything?" he asked softly. The boys barely heard him.
"I would...I would like a glass of water," Helen blinked, never taking her gaze off of Nikola. She could feel him looking into her soul and she couldn't avert his gaze.
John immediately launched to his feet.
"I'll get it," he muttered.
"Nikola...would you...help me to my room...I need to rest," she sighed.
"Yes, of course," Nikola nodded, gently standing and, keeping a firm grip on her arm, helping her to stand. She stumbled slightly and he was instantly around her to keep her from falling.
Luckily the room was a short distance away, by the time they reached the door Helen had seemed to regain her footing, eventually walking without Nikola's help.
"Thank you, Nikola, I think I shall make it," Helen patted his hand before gently prying it off her arm.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes, quite sure," she nodded.
"We will check in on you periodically to see how you're doing!" James called to her.
Helen waved her hand in acknowledgment of his statement.
John pushed past Nikola to catch Helen, putting the small wooden cup in her hands.
"Thank you, John. Goodnight gentlemen...goodnight Nikola," Helen gave one last piercing look to Nikola before heading into her room and closing the door.
Nikola hadn't realized he was frozen in place until John was standing right beside him.
"Feeling all right, old chap?" John's low timber echoed through his brain and he forced his eyes away from the bedroom door.
"Yes, just tired," Nikola shrugged. "I think I will retire as well."
"I think that may be best for all of us, you three go, get some sleep, I'll keep first watch, John will take second, Nigel third and Nikola last," ordered James in his typical brotherly fashion.
Nikola felt his heart sink. He would stand there all night if he must, in case she needed him.
"Nikola," he heard John beside him. "Go to bed."
He couldn't tell if that was friendly advice or a warning. It was honestly hard to tell with John's low, rumbly voice.
Nikola nodded, and finally pulled himself away from Helen's bedroom door. He chanced a look at the three of them and his throat went dry at their concerned gazes. He was acting out of it, he knew he was, but he couldn't help it, Helen could die in the middle of the night, or transform into some unrecognizable creature, or become violent...or need him and he wanted to be there for her at any time but he couldn't exactly voice these fears and desires to the group. Not when John was already her suitor and James would no doubt take John's side in the matter; he always did.
Nikola bit the inside of his cheek and nodded, quickly darting off to his room to avoid them. Maybe sleep wasn't such a bad idea.
He reached his bedroom and loosened his cravat, nearly ripping it off his neck.
He felt like he was on fire, and not in a good way.
He went over to the basin and splashed some water on his face then wiped both his hands on the towel by the side of the basin.
He needed to calm down, lest he give himself away.
Something happened between him and Helen, he felt it, he knew she felt it, she had practically told him so with her eyes. What was it?
Nikola shucked off his waistcoat and vest and kicked off his shoes before trying to lie comfortably in the bed. He focused on his breathing and stared up at the ceiling.
Maybe he was just kidding himself...maybe he just wanted there to be something between him and Helen. Lord knows he wanted there to be something between them.
He let out a long deep breath and closed his eyes. Everything would be better in the morning.
~~~~Author's Notes~~~~
Already with the feels! Ahh! *clutches heart*