Helen opened her eyes slowly, hoping it was all a dream. She sighed gratefully when all she found was in her bedroom. No harsh lighting or incessant beeping, only the soft glow of a candle and the crackle of a fire. Snuggling deeper under the covers, Helen closed her eyes hoping to drift back to sleep.

An odd buzzing from her bedside table broke through her sleepy haze. Cautiously, she peaked over the edge of her bed. A small shiny object was dancing across the wooden surface and lighting up sporadically.

"Bloody hell!" Helen cursed, jumping away from it.

"Sorry!" Nikola exclaimed, jumping up from the couch by the fire.

Grabbing the strange little object, he stuffed it in his pocket and gave her a sheepish smile.

"I was trying to be quiet," he admitted.

"Where am I?" Helen demanded.

Now that she really looked, this was most certainly not her bedroom. It was similar, no doubt, but there were subtle differences. It at least felt more familiar than the last place she'd woken up in, lending a small amount of comfort. She suspected that was why she'd been moved here, in the hopes that familiar surroundings would help keep her calm.

"You are in your home, Helen," Nikola stated calmly.

"This is not my home," she replied just as evenly.

"Perhaps not the one you think, but your home none the less."

"What is that supposed to mean? Do not play games with me, Nikola," she snapped.

"Tell me, what's the last thing you remember? Before waking up here."

John had escorted her to her room after they had all injected the serum she'd derived from the ancient vampire blood her father had found. They had all agreed that the boys should stay at the house that night, in case of any adverse reactions. She remembered very clearly, she just wasn't sure whether she should tell him. He seemed like Nikola, but there was something about him that wasn't the same. She didn't want to reveal their experiments to an imposter.

"You can trust me, Helen," he said, coming to stand closer to her.

"Can I?" She challenged.

Nikola sighed, a sad look in his eyes. Hesitantly, he sat at the edge of her bed. She was suddenly very aware of what she was wearing or rather lack there of. The material was silk, but it was nothing more than a scrap that barely covered her modesty. It was horribly scandalous. Nikola seemed to notice her discomfort.

"Trust me, it was one of the more modest things I could find. I'm not complaining though, I'm quite enjoying the view."

Her hand connected with his cheek, a resounding slap echoing around the room. He looked genuinely shocked for a second, but subsequently burst into laughter. Helen glared at him. She failed to see what was so funny.

"I apologize, that was inappropriate," he said.

"Completely," she huffed.

"I forgot that you may not be used to our normal banter."

"I fail to see how that is normal."

"Maybe not for you," he replied. "Which brings me back to my previous question. What is the last thing you remember."

Helen bit her lip, looking away from him. Should she tell him the truth? She wanted to trust him, he was after all the only person she was familiar with in this strange place. They were so close, at least where she came from, it was hard for her to imagine keeping anything from him.

"Its important that you be honest with me, Helen. I need to know so that we can help you get better."

Was there something wrong with her? She felt perfectly fine.

"John had just escorted me to my room. He kissed me on the cheek before biding me good night and then I went to bed. When I woke up, I was here."

"What year is it?"

"Eighteen seventy nine."

"Interesting," Nikola mused. "And you have no memories after that? Nothing at all?"

"Only of waking up in a strange place full of strange people."

"Yes, I could see where this would all be terribly confusing for you."

"Oh stop being so cryptic and just tell me what is going on!"

"Where to start?" Nikola seemed to ask himself.

She watched him carefully, seeing a thousand emotions playing across his face.

"I guess the simplest way to put it would be to say you seem to have a rather extensive case of amnesia."

"Amnesia?" Helen gaped at him.

"It would appear so. It must be from the head injury you sustained in the explosion."

"Explosion?"

"Yes, but you wouldn't remember that either, would you? No, of course not," he was mumbling to himself now.

"Nikola, look at me," Helen said seriously, reaching for his hand.

He jumped at the touch, looking up into her eyes. The blue-grey orbs she was so familiar with seemed so much deeper, held more pain than she remembered. The man before her was so similar, yet so different to the one she knew.

"Tell me? Everything?" Helen pleaded.

"I'm afraid not even I know the whole story. You live a very mysterious life, Dr. Magnus."

Doctor? That was new. She had aspired to be a doctor, had been training under her father, but apparently she'd succeed. A thrill of pride swelled in her. She had done it! Helen wondered what else she'd done in the time she couldn't seem to remember.

"Start from the beginning?"

"That could take a very long time."